News Broadcasting
News Corp launches Mobizzo; MTV, CBS in separate cell phone deals
MUMBAI: A slew of announcements made yesterday looks as if everyone wants in on the mobile TV bandwagon. Media conglomerate News Corp. owners of Fox TV and Sky TV, has announced the launch of a new mobile content portal Mobizzo, to carry entertainment, games and music content on mobile telephones in the U.S.
Media magnate Rupert Murdoch’s group News Corp said Mobizzo would provide a single home for all of its mobile content ,and is currently available on Cingular and T-Mobile phones in the US before it rolls out worldwide.
Further, Mobizzo is planning to open a studio to develop ‘mobisodes’ like those developed for the VCAST launch.
Collections from popular Fox brands, such as “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “Napoleon Dynamite” will be available as content for download on Mobizzo. It will also feature content from movie brands along with downloaded games and music from labels such as Warner Music.
Says News Corp president and chief operating officer Peter Chernin.”The mobile market is exploding and it makes perfect sense for a media company like ours to create a real content destination for the billions of cell phone users around the world. From Fox television and movie properties, to original content produced directly for the mobile audience, we think we can create a unique and compelling mobile entertainment offering and deliver it directly to the consumer.”
With Mobizzo, consumers can download individual content likedownloads of videos, artwork, music and games for a fee charged directly to their monthly mobile phone bills. Pricing for the various products range from $1.99 to $2.49 and monthly subscription plans averaging $5.99 per month.
Murdoch has ruled out offering Fox shows via Apple Computer’s hit iTunes service.
Also announced was an agreement by Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks and wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. to provide programming from four cable networks to Sprint’s mobile device.
Music and programming will be available from CMT, MTV, VH1, and Comedy Central on Sprint TV. Sprint subscribers will be able to select clips from, “CMT Insider”, “The Daily Show with John Stewart”, and Laguna Beach”, among others.
Under the deal, Sprint customers would pay $5.95 per month to subscribe to mobile versions from the four cable networks. The Sprint TV Channel lineup is:
” CMT – Channel 46
” COMEDY CENTRAL – Channel 15
” MTV – Channel 36
” VH1 – Channel 26
Earlier, CBS had announced its plans to introduce a mobile video alert services as well as mobile soap opera’s for mobile devices. CBS would offer news or entertainment alerts to mobile customers, beginning next week.
Users can subscribe to the CBS News mobile-alert service for 99 cents a month or to the Entertainment Tonight mobile-alert service for $3.99 per month. Once subscribed, they will receive up to five alerts daily, with photos and video if the user’s mobile device supports such technology.
News Broadcasting
GenNext takes charge as Network18 reshuffles leadership
With Avinash Kaul bowing out, Network18 hands reins to younger leaders, streamlines operations, and pushes data-driven growth across TV, digital and regional markets
MUMBAI: Network18 is redrawing its leadership map just as a long-time lieutenant bows out. Avinash Kaul, a central figure in the broadcaster’s rise since 2014, is leaving after 12 years to pursue “professional and personal goals”, triggering a broad-based reshuffle that puts a younger cohort directly under the top brass.
Kaul joined at a pivotal moment during the company’s transition and went on to scale the television business, combining strategic nous with data-led decision-making and a sharp read of the news landscape. “Avinash has been an integral part of the Network18 story,” the company said, thanking him for his leadership of the broadcast business and wishing him the best for the future.
In his wake, Network18 is betting on what it calls a “young and restless” leadership bench. “The team has taken charge and proved its mettle in quite adverse circumstances,” the note said, adding that “GenNext has seamlessly stepped in as we continue to outperform our peers.”
Operationally, the structure is being flattened. Smriti Mehra, S Shivakumar and Mitul Sangani will work directly with the top leadership, as they did in the fourth quarter. Ganesh Iyer and Abhinay Chauhan continue in their existing roles, while younger executives are being handed wider mandates across social, digital, connected TV and linear.
The reporting lines are being tightened to drive revenue and product momentum. Prabhat Chatterjee, business head–Forbes, and Arun Thapar, president–content and communication for AETN-18, will report to Smriti Mehra, alongside Mallika Nath Handa, who will lead special projects spanning new shows and non-linear properties. Jayesh Gokalgandhi, CFO for AETN-18, will report to Ramesh Damani.
Mitul Sangani will oversee expansion in Hindi and regional markets, with Sidharth Newatia, CRO–ILC, focusing on reach and revenue growth, particularly in tier-II and III markets. Pankaj Soni, head of marketing–ILC, will also report to Sangani while working functionally with Ganesh Iyer.
The group is also consolidating its branded content play. Moneycontrol’s branded content business will be folded into News18 Studio, with Don Zarrar moving to work with Shivakumar while continuing to lead existing studio and Focus teams.
International and platform growth are being bundled together. Pranav Bakshi takes on additional charge of the international business alongside connected TV and social platforms, with Naveen Mathur, who leads revenue management for the international unit, reporting to him. Bakshi continues to report to Puneet Singhvi.
On the technology and operations side, Rajesh Sharma, head of broadcast technology and IT; Rahul Singh, head of events and technical operations; and Bhupender Bhardwaj, head of IT security, will now report to Singhvi. Darshil Parekh, head of sales strategy, planning and operations, will work directly with Ramesh Damani and the top leadership, with Stanley Cyril, who manages digital sales operations, reporting to him.
Data is being pushed to the centre of decision-making. Jitamitra Mohanty, who leads research and analytics, will now work with Santosh Menon to turn audience data into “actionable insights that drive content strategy, product innovation and sustainable viewership growth”.
The message is clear: fewer layers, faster calls, sharper bets. With Kaul’s exit closing one chapter, Network18 is handing the wheel to a younger crew and doubling down on scale across screens. The race, it signals, will be run at full tilt.
