IMAGINE… A Whole New World of Hindi Entertainment! NDTV Imagine announces the launch of its Hindi General Entertainment Channel
Mumbai, November 14, 2007: NDTV Imagine Ltd. today announced the launch of its Hindi general entertainment channel. With an engrossing line-up of fresh and distinctive programming, the channel, also christened NDTV Imagine will go on air in January 2008 and is targeted at the entire television viewing audiences, from 6 to 60 across all demographics.
With the launch of the new channel, NDTV Imagine makes a promise to Entertain and Delight audiences with show concepts that are absolutely fresh. The channel will offer programming across genres, ranging from light-hearted family soaps to period dramas and from high voltage music and dance entertainers to the most glamorous events in the entertainment business.
NDTV Imagine is spearheaded by Sameer Nair, a seasoned media professional with over 20 years of experience in the media and entertainment industry. The management team is further strengthened by experienced professionals from the media business, which include Shailja Kejriwal, EVP- Content; Harsh Rohatgi, EVP- Revenue Management and New Ventures; Manoj Vidwans, EVP- Marketing, Research and Communication; Gaurav Gandhi, EVP- Business Operations and Ancillary Revenues and Kuljeet Singh, EVP- Broadcast Services and Facilities. The multi-faceted film director Karan Johar is a creative consultant and brand ambassador to this initiative.
Mr. Sameer Nair, CEO,said, “ In this competitive environment, the launch of NDTV Imagine heralds the return of the GEC, the return of family entertainment for the Entire family… bringing fresh ideas and concepts into Indian living rooms and once again, bringing the entire family together to watch television. ”
Commenting on the launch of NDTV Imagine, Dr. Prannoy Roy, Chairman, NDTV said , “This is a proud moment for us at the NDTV Group. The launch of this new channel is our next big leap towards our stated objective of becoming a global media power house. I believe that Sameer and his team will deliver on the promise and the programming, making NDTV Imagine the new entertainment destination for television viewers across the country.”
Drama
Dharam Veer (A Period Adventure) – A show about friendship, loyalty, rivalry creating innumerable adventures
Ek Packet Umeed (A Drama) – A touching look at the individual lives and experiences of women who have fought adversity and have emerged winners
Jasuben Jayantilaal Joshi Ki Joint Family (A light-hearted Drama) - a rib-tickling, heart- warming reflection of the hopes, dreams, joys and sorrows that this joint family experiences in their day to day life
Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi (A Drama) – A story that drives home the belief that daughters are a blessing. A proud mother instills the right values in her daughters and believes in their potential to excel in whatever they choose to do
Raajkumar Aaryyan (A Fantasy Love Story) – A fantasy set in a time when magic, intrigue and illusion existed in the real world
Main Teri Parchhain Hoon (A Drama) - An emotional story of a young girl who follows her conscience and tries to set right, the wrong she has unknowingly and unintentionally brought upon a family
Reality Blockbusters
Dhoom Macha De (A Musical Extravaganza) - We’re not looking for talent… we already have it… in abundance! A first-of-its-kind show that puts a group of well established professional singers on stage in a bid to find the country’s “Best LIVE Performer”. The show features (in alphabetical order) Anaida, Baba Sehgal, Babul Supriyo, Devang Patel, Jaspinder Nirula, Jassi, Kamaal Khan, Richa Sharma, Sapna Awasthi, Suneeta Rao and Taz. Hosted by Malaika Arora Khan, this show promises unrivalled entertainment.
Nachle Ve With Saroj Khan (Dance based) - The undisputed “Masterjee” of dance, Saroj Khan will teach the viewers all the jhatka’s and matka’s and dance like the stars.
Adds Mr. Nair, “We hope our shows will speak for themselves. We have new ideas and we are working with the best production houses and the finest talent in the business. It is an exciting, explosive combination and we hope to create our best work yet.”
NDTV Imagine has partnered with the country’s leading production houses to offer the very best in Hindi entertainment. The channels’ production partners include Sagar Arts, Hats Off Productions, Rajshri Films, SOL, Sphere Origins, Endemol India, Synergy Adlabs, DJ’s A Creative Unit amongst others.
NDTV Imagine will hit TV screens in January 2008. The launch will be backed by a spectacular marketing campaign across multiple media and consumer touch points all over the country… the biggest of the season.
About NDTV IMAGINE
NDTV Imagine is the new entertainment initiative from NDTV Ltd. Spearheaded by Sameer Nair, the company has planned strategic forays into key businesses in the media and entertainment space. Ace director and producer, Karan Johar is a creative consultant and brand ambassador of this initiative. This is further strengthened by the experience of Dr. Prannoy Roy and other seasoned professionals. As part of its larger plans for this dynamic and exciting business, the company is launching a Hindi General Entertainment also christened NDTV Imagine. The channel, scheduled to be launched in January 2008, promises to ‘Entertain and Delight’ audiences with a whole new world of Hindi entertainment. Catering to the needs of the entire spectrum of television viewers, the channel will offer a wide variety of fresh programming across genres ranging from light-hearted family soaps to period dramas and from music based shows to the most glamorous events of the industry.
About NDTV
NDTV Ltd, founded in 1988, is India's largest news and infotainment network. It is home to the country's best and brightest reporters, anchors, camerapersons and producers; 23 offices and studios across the country host India's most modern and sophisticated production, newsgathering and archiving facilities. NDTV has an unmatched track record of successfully launching three news channels in India and two abroad: NDTV 24x7 is a clear leader in the English news segment, NDTV Profit, a 24-hour business plus channel, is India's number one business news channel, and NDTV India is amongst the country's leading Hindi news channels. It is credited with pioneering several broadcasting and programming initiatives in Indian television and has expanded into one of the nation’s biggest broadcasting houses by growing beyond news broadcasting and venturing into non news verticals.
NDTV Networks, a 100% subsidiary of NDTV was incorporated to seize opportunities in areas ‘beyond news’- entertainment, lifestyle, media technology and outsourcing. NDTV Good Times is the leading channel in the lifestyle space while NDTV MetroNation is fast emerging as one of the most watched city specific channels. NDTV Astro Awani in Indonesia became the leading news channel within three months of its launch. As an organization, NDTV is committed to one cause: to use its extensive expertise, technology and reach to create unparalleled coverage of the latest in domestic and international news, sports and entertainment for viewers at home and around the world. For more information visit www.ndtv.com
