MUMBAI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed Antrix Corporation to take a final decision on direct to home (DTH) operator Independent TV’s request for a two-year agreement for hiring transponders and granting a lease of three additional transponders.

Antrix has been granted four weeks time to communicate the decision on interim prayer for two-year agreement within four weeks. The final decision on the request for three additional transponders has to be made within five weeks.

“We expect that final decision in respect of interim prayer for an agreement for two years shall be communicated to the petitioner within four weeks. So far as leasing for additional three transponders is concerned, the petitioner shall be well advised to make a formal application along with requisite fees at the earliest. The respondents shall consider the application expeditiously and communicate the final decision within five weeks of making the application,” TDSAT said in its order.

Media conglomerate Viacom18 announced the launch of Colors Gujarati Cinema, the region's first 24-hour movies' channel. With the tagline, Filmo Matrubhasha Ma (Movies in your mother-tongue), the channel is positioned to leverage the vibrant cinematic heritage of Gujarat. Viacom18 entered the regional movies space last year with the launch of Colors Kannada Cinema.

"Four years ago we consolidated and rebranded our play in regional TV broadcast under the Colors umbrella. Since then, not only have we added seven more channels but also entered new markets through our broadcast, digital and films businesses. Over the last two years, our regional cluster has grown at a CAGR of 36.5 per cent in viewership and 22 per cent in revenue," says Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO and MD, Viacom1

MUMBAI: Madison Media has just announced yet another senior level appointment of Rajul Kulshreshtha as chief executive officer at Madison Media Plus. Kulshreshtha will look after the agency’s Delhi operations and will join from 3 June.

Madison Media & OOH partner and group CEO Vikram Sakhuja said, “I am delighted to have a dynamic leader like Rajul join our team. Am confident that Rajul will be able to add tremendous value to both our clients and our team in Delhi.”

MUMBAI: Having completed one year of operations, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd’s over-the-top platform ZEE5 is now taking rapid strides as the battle among streaming services continues to heat up. According to the Q4 numbers released by the company, ZEE5’s monthly active users (MAUs) grew to 61.5 million in March ’19.

“We have significantly stepped up the pace of our new launches and the content pipeline for the next one year is firmed up. Over the last three months, ZEE5 further expanded its telecom partnerships and is now available on all the major telecom networks. We will continue to scale up ZEE5 on the three pillars of content, technology and partnerships," said ZEEL MD and CEO Punit Goenka.

BENGALURU: The Subhash Chandra led Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) reported growth across all important parameters for the year ended 31 March 2019 (FY 2019, year, fiscal or period under review) as compared to the previous year FY 2018. The company says in its earnings release that it faced some revenue challenges in the fourth quarter (Q4 2019) because of the implementation of TRAI’s new tariff order (NTO).

Zeel reported consolidated operating revenue of Rs 7,933.30 crore for the fiscal under review, which was 18.7 percent higher than the Rs 6,685.68 crore for the previous year. Consolidated advertisement revenue for FY 2019 increased 19.8 percent to Rs 5,036.66 crore from Rs 4,204.76 crore in FY 2018. The company says that domestic advertising revenue grew by 20.9 percent YoY to Rs 4,769 crore. International advertising revenue was Rs 267.7 crore.

MUMBAI: A black-and-white web series on the story of India’s prime coaching hub Kota and the unusual journey of an IIT aspirant became the talk of the digital town recently. The Viral Fever’s (TVF) Kota Factory is just another addition to its avant-garde approach to content which boasts of smashing hits like Permanent Roommates, TVF Pitchers and TVF Tripling.

TVF finds itself confronted with more than 30 OTT players today compared to a handful a few years ago when it was the leading player. TVF chief content officer and originals head Sameer Saxena says that despite the changes in the industry, staying true to good storytelling remains the basic necessity.

MUMBAI: The high profile stake saleof one of India’s most iconic companies Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) is likely to be finalised by July, said MD and CEO Punit Goenka on Monday.

“We are progressing well and with political uncertainty behind us, we hope to sign a binary agreement by July," Goenka said during an earnings call after Zeel’s Q4 results were announced.

SelectDugout, a show for avid cricket connoisseurs, is back for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Star Sports’ Select Dugout commentary panel for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 brings together an illustrious line-up of cricket experts, including VVS Laxman and former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. 

Riding on the wave of popularity that the #SelectDugout received during its debut in VIVO IPL 2018 and the recently concluded 12th edition of the tournament, the experts now are ready to change the way ODI commentary is brought to the fans with deeper fan engagement and detailed analytical and predictive commentary. 

The Select Dugout will be aired on Star Sports Select 1 SD/HD during India warm up games, the opening day, all India match days and on all Sundays, providing fans with analytical experience coupled with a stimulating narrative during matches to stay ahead of the game. 

ESP Properties - the entertainment and sports division of GroupM – has released the second edition of Showbiz Report in India. Showbiz 2.0 is a consolidated India Entertainment Marketing Report which covers the Entertainment Industry in four parts – Film Marketing, Brands & Films, Celebrity Endorsements and Licensing in India.

The year 2018 saw a significant number of movies released across the nation. The total number of movies released nationwide took increased by 14 per cent from 951 in 2017 to 1,087 in 2018; resulting in growth in film marketing to Rs 606 crore.  

Initiative has retained media duties for Sony Electronics. The size of the account is estimated to be around Rs 200 crore.

Industry sources confirmed to exchange4media that following a multi-agency pitch, Initiative retained the integrated media mandate of Sony Electronics India. 

exchange4media reached out to Initiative and Sony for an official confirmation but did not receive any till the time of publishing the article.

The account is being handled by the agency’s Delhi office. Initiative has been handling this account for the past two years.