On the balance, the first half results of the Zee Network (of which Zee Telefilms Ltd (ZTL) is a part) are not something worth shouting about.

The network has chalked up a total income of Rs 1861 million which is a 45 per cent increase over the previous corresponding half. Operating income is up 68 per cent to Rs 901 million, while profit after tax has risen 59 per cent to Rs 588 million.

While the results for the half year seem impressive, its quarter to quarter performance is most abyssmal, with advertising revenue falling to Rs 1382.4 million as against Rs 1591.3 million in the first quarter this year. This indicates that the company is losing advertising market share to nippier rivals like Sony, Star (what with its KBC), and the plethora of new channels that have cropped up. Expenditure too quarter to quarter is down from Rs 1566 million to Rs 1413.4 million. Total income for the network is down to Rs 2274.1 million from Rs 2298 million in the previous quarter. However, profit after tax for the network is up from Rs 320 million to Rs 543.5 million.

ZTL on its part has notched up an income of Rs 1049.6 million in the quarter ended 30 September 2000, with net profit at Rs 320.5 million and its earning per share at 78 paise per Re 1 share.

According to ZTL chief executive R.K. Singh, the results could have been better. But he is optimistic of a turn around in Q3.

"We have taken the number of IRDs in the market to 21,000 for our pay TV operations. We will take it up further to 30,000 by end November. Additionally, we are also starting new programming initiatives like the Rs 100 million game show and are taking our channels into new markets like Australia and the Caribbean. These should start showing up in the third quarter results. We will be back with much better numbers," he says.

The markets on the whole do not seem to be buying ZTL chairman Subhash Chandra and his team‘s reassurances. The share plunged at the end of the day‘s trading to Rs 297, after drifting around in the Rs 310 range. To be fair to ZTL, the market too took a dive as players booked profits before the weekend and the coming Diwali season.

Sushma Swaraj does not cease to surprise you. The first statement she made after taking over as I&B minister was that she wanted TV to be programmed for the family, and vulgarity in programmes should be curbed. She reiterated this at the launch of Zed TV in Mumbai a fortnight later.

She additionally told the journos that the group of ministers of DTH had almost finished their deliberations and a draft was ready. A decision of opening it up would be taken up in the next 10-15 days. Whether these are just empty promises or not only time will tell. Previous I&B ministers have made similar proclaimations only not to meet their commitments because of the various pulls and pressures.

She added that while a common regulator is needed for the information technology, communications and information and broadcasting ministries, there is no need to merge the three ministries into one. This would mean that she is headed for a clash with the Fali Nariman commmittee recommendation which is believed to have recommended that the three ministries be merged.

Another major development yesterday was the announcement that the entertainment sector (including films) had been notified as an industry, thus making it eligible to get loans from financial institutions.

Zee TV announced last week that the host of its Rs 10 crore show, Sawal Dus Crore Ka (SDCK), would be Anupam Kher. It made another announcement a day later that it would be looking for a co-host for the show.

Shooting for SDCK has already commenced in Mumbai. The show is slated to debut on 23 October on Zee TV at 8:30 pm and will coinicide with an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati which has Bollywood actors Sonali Bendre and Aamir Khan in the contestant‘s seats, in a show which starts at 9 pm. It‘s going to take all the creative juices at Zee TV to make audiences stay glued to the channel after 9 pm. Especially after all the euphoria around wannabe IPS officer Harshavardhan Nawate‘s Rs 1 crore performance in today‘s episode of KBC.

Turner Broadcasting has split up its ad sales functions in to two - one looking after news, and the other after entertainment ad sales. The entertainment unit‘s ad sales are to be headed by senior vice-president David Dickman, who has been redesignated as Turner International Advertising Sales executive vice-president looking after Europe, west Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Asia Pacific. Responsibility for news ad sales falls on Kevin Razvi, who has been promoted as executive vice president of TBS International‘s Advertising Sales for the same regions.
Both executives will be based at TBS‘s European headquarters in London and will report to Andy Bird and David Levy, co-presidents of Turner Broadcasting International. Together they will oversee 10 CNN branded television networks, 33 TBS entertainment networks and 35 CNN and entertainment Web sites.

In addition to the promotion of Dickman and Razvi, Richard Chamberlain and Teri Carcano have each been promoted to senior vice president of Turner International Advertising Sales. Chamberlain is based in New York and is responsible for international advertising efforts across the East Coast. Carcano is based in Los Angeles and is responsible for international advertising efforts across the Midwest and Western regions.

They report to Dickman and Razvi. Dickman and Razvi who assume the responsibilities previously held by Levy, who was president of Turner International Advertising Sales, before assuming his current position.

"Turner Broadcasting‘s international businesses are some of the fastest growing areas for the company," says Levy. "This new structure will help us focus equally on our entertainment properties and news services, positioning the company for continued growth and success in the global marketplace and further expansion in the digital arena."

"As clients become more focused on worldwide strategies, this new structure will help us provide smarter, global cross-platform media packages," said Bird. "The speed at which we are developing our branded product and our new distribution channels gives us a real head start."

India‘s most comprehensive TV exhibit, Broadcast 2000, launches into its 10th year at the World Trade Centre in Mumbai from 19-21 October. Broadcast India this year is slated to feature 250 exhibitors from all over the world spread over 60,000 sq ft of exhibit space. It will encompass TV acquisition, edit, special effects, broadcast, satellite cable, film, FM, etc.

The show is expected to top last year‘s 30,000 professional attendees from South Asia and adjoining countries. The focus this year is on digital technology. Organizer Ramesh Meer says that this year the attendees will be "exposed to everything they need for work- from a screw to high end equipment."

On show will be acquisition equipment from world leaders JVC, SONY, Panasonic and Thompson Broadcast‘s Studio & ENG/EFP Digital & Analog Cameras. Camera lenses will be showcased by Canon, Fuji and Cooke Optics.

Film camera and equipment on display will include ARRIFLEX Film Cameras 65, 35, and 16mm. Lighting for Film and Television. Portable Film projection and Video Transfer System. Locpro 35 X-ray and Instrumentation Camera. ARRI TECHNO 35, Medical Analysis System-ARRI QANSAD. Cine Analyser ARRIPRO 35. ARRILASER Recorder. COOKE OPTICS LIMITED will feature Cooke S4 prime lenses, claimed to be the world‘s preferred 35mm motion picture lenses.

The edit suites will include - Sony, Panasonic‘s DVC Pro range, and Thompson Broadcast VTR suites, among others. The Associated Press‘ Electronic News Production System will also be showcased at the exhibit. Its features include scripting, programme rundowns, planning, contacts, messaging, third party device control, external publishing, news wire management, full text searching, tightly integrated resilience capabilities and the ability for journalists to work in almost any language.

The special effects platforms will be provided by Matrox‘s Digi Suite LX, Silicon Graphics ‘s UNIX and recently launched NT platform solutions. Discreet Logic in the largest stand in the exhibit, will showcase solutions on the UNIX and NT platforms including 3D Max and Edit. Besides International special effects heavyweights AVID/SOFTIMAGE, Combustion, US Animation, 2D CEL Animation S/W from Toonboom Technologies, Video Raid RT/SCSI from Medea Corporation, and DPS‘s latest version of Velocity and Reality engines.

Studer, Soundteam , Tascam and Tannoy will display the latest in audio equipment. Studer‘s range will include DigiMedia radio automation and the On-air flexible mixing system.

Orad Hi Tech Systems Ltd, which was recently acquired by Real Image Technologies, will display it‘s Virtual Systems, Real Time Live Graphics and animation systems, Virtual advertising system for live events. Seagate Technology International will display its full range of storage solutions for the broadcast, film and the multimedia industry. Distributor Compuaid Enterprises will show the Oxberry and latest LCD projector of laser graphics, Internet video solutions, Scientific Atlanta will offer solutions including video compression to deliver content to cable operators, the fiber optic and coaxial cable-based broadband access systems.

Broadcast India 2000‘s huge exhibition gives an opportunity for programme providers, broadcasters, film producers, technicians, FM aspirants and other professionals to sample the latest in digital technology.

After Sony now it is the turn of Zee Television to announce new programming initiatives. In the press conference in Mumbai, Zee elaborated on its programming run up for the coming months. Well actually three new serials, a series on theatre once in a month and the old blockbuster Antakshri will be in a new format.

Another new prime time serial is ?Ittefaq? launches erstwhile superstar Rajesh Khanna on the small screen. It is a story of people who are strong-willed but at the same time vulnerable and emotional. The serial is produced by Pawan Kumar and Sanjiv Narang and directed by Indrajit.

Considerable attention has been provided towards special effects, which is the heart of any fantasy serial. Even though the name of the serial seems to be suggestive of a children?s serial it is meant for all age groups.

"From two year olds to 80 year olds are our target viewers," replied Reena Wadhwa when asked.

The real innovative programme is ?Rangshala?, which covers theatre activities. On the last Saturday of every month it will show a drama on the small screen. The dramas will be selected from theatre groups all over India.

The shooting will be done on stage only, but will not be continuous. Veteran theatre and film artist A.K.Hangal said that the new initiative will definitely help theatre rather than hampering it, it will be interesting to see how theatre people adapt to television.

Answering on the expected TRPs and Advertising revenue on ?Rangshala?, R.K.Singh, CEO Zee TV said that not all programming is done taking into account revenue generation. "It is our endeavour to give something unique and creative. "

Talking on the overall programming strategy he said it is our continuous efforts to give new and innovative things to viewers. In eight years of programming on Zee, utmost care has always been taken to give entertainment and information of all kind and colour to society in the most holistic and composite way. As far as the cost of programming and the expected revenue is concerned Singh replied that cost forms percentage of revenue. Initially the cost will be high but revenues will follow later.

The Good old Antakshari will be in a new format with the slogan "Come, Play and Win the big money of Rs 1,28,00,000." The aim of the new improved programme is to appeal to all segments of society, with higher amount of prizes. Anu Kapoor and Rajeshwari Sachdev will now anchor the show.