MUMBAI: Telugu news channels ABN Andhra Jyothi and TV5 News have got relief from Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against the discontinuation of the channels by multi system operators (MSOs) and Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet Limited (APSFL).

Shreya Broadcasting, which owns TV5 News, had filed petitions against Master Channel Community Network, Bhimavaram Community Network, Machilipatnam Communication, Acn Cable Network, Act Digital Home Entertainment, Siti Siri Digital Network, and Sreedevi Digital System apart from APSFL for discontinuation of channels.

Aamoda Broadcasting Company, the owner of ABN Andhra Jyothi, filed the petition only against APSFL.

The tribunal had directed the MSOs to restore TV5 News within 24 hours while APSFL was granted two days time to do the same. Similarly, APSFL has been directed to restore ABN Andhra Jyothi on its platform within two days from 24th September.

MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) operator Independent TV has filed a fresh application in Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to partially modify the order dated 2nd July in the matter with Antrix Corporation.

On 2nd July, the tribunal had directed the DTH operator to pay either paying the amount of Rs. 5.83 crore along with a bank guarantee of Rs. 6 crore or on furnishing a bank guarantee of Rs. 12 crore valid for at least two months for the resumption of signals.

The tribunal had also directed Antrix to reconnect the signals to the DTH operator as soon as the latter complies with this part and furnishes the bank guarantee or makes the payment.

While hearing the application, the tribunal noted that instead of providing further security and bank guarantee to Antrix, the DTH operator wants only to clear the arrears of Antrix before the new arrangement kicks in. It also needs further help from Antrix in facilitating an agreement with some other entities who provide transponder capacity.

MUMBAI: After the formal announcement of Reliance Jio Fiber plans, other DTH operators are also taking measures to face the upcoming challenge. DTH operator Tata Sky has introduced an attractive offer for consumers.

Under the new offer, Tata Sky HD set-top-box and Tata Sky Binge bundle is available for new subscribers for just Rs 4,999 along with other benefits. Consumers will get the HD set-top-box worth Rs 1,499 under the same price and Rs 2,499 will also be credited in their account. Users can select different packs and the amount will be deducted from the cashback amount of Rs 2,499.
Moreover, they will get six months worth of Binge subscription for free which otherwise costs Rs 1,494 along with three months of free Amazon Prime subscription. The Binge service which was introduced earlier in May, the service offers digital content from, Hotstar, Sun NXT, Eros Now, Hungama Play. 

Sony Pictures Entertainment Films India has partnered with Google, their agency Sokrati and movie ticketing portals to go beyond gut, and used a comprehensive data analytics-based approach to execute a India-first ‘Trailer to ticket’ model for 'Spider-Man: Far From Home'. 

Through this, the entire journey of the movie-going audience was mapped right from the time the person viewed the trailer to the final purchase of the ticket.

“We, at Sony Pictures Entertainment India, have always believed in the power of a data analytics-driven approach. Hence we were looking at optimising the full funnel, from the ‘Trailer to ticketing’, especially for our Tent-Pole films. The Google team has been our biggest partners, helping us map the right ‘intent based’ audiences for our campaigns, from awareness to conversion. This not only delivered great engagement for our content, but also delivered spectacular returns on every dollar spent,” said Shony Panjikaran, Director and Head of Marketing, SPE Films India.

Mumbai: Following the unprecedented success of ZEE Maharashtra Kushti Dangal, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL), under the aegis of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has announced the launch of ZEE Kushti Dangal. The inaugural season of the dangal will kick start from November 3, 2019. With Member of Parliament and popular actor Ravi Kishan being the brand ambassador of ZEE Kushti Dangal, the property is all set to strike the right chords with the sports and entertainment seeking audience.

The 8 franchisee teams shall each consist of 7 players (4 male and 3 female), placed across 7 weight categories, who will feature in a total of 151 bouts. In addition to these 86 wrestlers, 30 grapplers (4-5 for each team/weight category) are reserved should there be an injury to a player in the main group. The Kushti dangal will be held in Banaras and Jaipur, while the players will be selected across seven states – Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

Mumbai: Times Network, India’s premium broadcast network won 10 prominent awards at the recently concluded 24th edition of Big Bang Awards 2019 for Creative Excellence.  The network bagged the special award, ‘Client of the Year’ and 9 metals (2 gold; 4 silver and 3 Bronze) for its breakthrough marketing campaigns across its news brands.

Times Network’s campaign in line with TRAI’s new tariff regime that captured the distinct attributes of its strong bouquet of influential brands – M.A.N (Movies and News) Pack campaign was awarded with a silver in TV Channels – Radio category and the network also received a bronze for India For Kerala Fundraiser in TV Channels – Press category for its exemplary efforts that helped rebuild the lives affected in the 2018 Kerala floods. With 6 awards across the categories of TV Channels and News Programs, TIMES NOW winning streak included 2 gold (OOH) and 1 silver (digital) for 2019 Election Result day promotion campaign- ‘India ka Result’ for successfully building intrigue and anticipation among viewers around election results. TIMES NOW’s one of a kind voter welfare initiative, Swachh Neta won 1 silver and 2 bronze across the categories, press, digital and OOH respectively.  MIRROR NOW’s witty and thought-provoking election campaign that reached out to first time voters, Get Inked – Dadi Vs Pota secured a silver in the TV channels – Digital category.

Mumbai: Produced by Endemol Shine India Pvt. Ltd, the 13th season of Bigg Boss in Hindi will open on 29th September at 9:00 PM, and thereafter every day at 10.30 pm followed by weekends at 9 pm on COLORS.

Speaking about the launch of the show, Nina Jaipuria, Head, Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network Viacom18 said, “The new season of Bigg Boss will tread beyond the usual and speed up the proceedings by presenting the action of two seasons packed in one. To add to the curveball is our Host, Salman Khan whose association with Bigg Boss for the past 10 years has only added more sheen and charisma to the show.”

MediaCom’s thought leadership and innovation lab BLINK_live recently made its debut in India. Also on her maiden visit to India was Bianca Best, Global MD, Blink and Strategic Partnerships, MediaCom who talked us through what Blink has to offer and how it helps businesses grow with their step by step process to tackle challenges.  She also shared her mantra on technology-enabled marketing and how brands to need to continuously experiment if they want to say relevant in the long run. Her advice to brands is simple and straight forward- Be Bold.

MUMBAI: Content producer and distributor JOP Network is in talks to raise funds to grow the company further.

Founded in 2014 by Urvi Agarwal, JOP Network provides homegrown high-quality content company in the fitness, health & entertainment space specializing in channel curation, distribution, and syndication. Aggarwal founded the JOP at the age of 23.

“Currently, we are cash flow positive with most of our inflows being directed at launching new channels. We are currently in talks with a few funds for a fundraise to help us grow faster,” she told TelevisionPost.com.

JOP was started with a seed capital of Rs 5-7 crore. “I have to mention my family’s backing and relentless support. My parents backed by me even at the ideation stage and helped me at every step of the way. The seed capital of approx. INR 5-7 Cr came from my parents.”

MUMBAI: Distribution platform operators (DPOs) have shared their comments to modify Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)’s draft on The Telecommunication (Broadcasting And Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019.  The industry has welcomed TRAI’s move to amend Schedule III of the regulation and believes that provisions related to watermarking, fingerprinting and digital rights management along with CAS and SMS is in right direction.

AIDCF said, “It is submitted that the provisions relating to watermarking, fingerprinting and digital rights management along with CAS and SMS, is a step in the right direction and AIDCF wholeheartedly supports the same. With respect to amendments proposed to be introduced by TRAI in the schedule III of the Interconnection Amendment Regulations 2019, AIDCF stands in agreement with the same and supports TRAI in bringing about the amendments in the regulations.”