News Broadcasting
Zee brings back ‘Khana Khazana’ in a new flavour
MUMBAI: The country’s longest running and most popular cookery show on Indian television is back in a revamped format on Zee TV. .
Sanjeev Kapoor, who made cooking a respectable, almost glamorous occupation via his Khana Khazana, is back with a new kitchen and fresh gimmicks on Zee from 26 August at 1:30 pm. This time round, the show is garnished with new sets, new graphics and new recipes, claims the channel. Fresh ingredients like themes for each episode (kids’ party, vrat ka khana, low calorie food) and guest segments have been added to the basic format of the show. The guest segment will have a prominent celebrity invited on the set to interact with Kapoor and help him prepare the day’s recipe.
Says Kapoor, “This is not a relaunch. Simply becauseKhana Khazana was never away. We have always been there. The telecast has been without any break.” Zee’s Khana Khazana, which made its debut in 1993, has had a run of over 450 episodes, all managed single handedly by Kapoor since the show’s inception. The chef’s rapport with audiences and his knack of converting even the most complex of culinary exercises into easy-to-dish-out dishes have ensured that the programme, the pioneer in the host of cookery shows that later followed on rival channels, retained its popularity and appeal among viewers. The programme, at the peak of its popularity, enjoyed a viewership of 150 million in 53 countries. Says Kapoor, ” Khana Khazana has stayed because from day one it struck the chords in many a food lovers’ heart. And , the original is always difficult to duplicate. People are smart. They know a good thing when they see it and then remain loyal to it.
Following the stupendous success of the show, Zee and Kapoor followed up with a spate of recipe books, CD ROMs and contests tied to the show. While the earlier telecast timing was Saturday noon with a repeat telecast on Sunday at 1.30 pm, the new KK is aired on Sunday noons, with a repeat is on Saturday 11.30 am. Kapoor says the only difference in his attire is that the chef’s uniform has been replaced by casuals and an apron. “Maybe this will encourage other male viewers that wearing an apron and dishing up exotic dishes on Sunday can be a lot of fun!” he says.
News Broadcasting
Rajesh Sundaram joins NDTV Profit as senior editor, assignment
The 32-year newsroom veteran has launched channels on three continents and covered everything from 9/11 to South African television
MUMBAI: NDTV Profit has bolstered its newsroom with a hire who has done rather more than most. Rajesh Sundaram, a journalist with over three decades of editorial, managerial and consultative experience across India and international markets, joins as senior editor, assignment, tasked with sharpening the network’s newsgathering and real-time response.
Sundaram’s career reads like a tour of Indian media’s most formative moments. He began at Businessworld in 1994, moved to Zee News as bureau chief across Mumbai and Chennai, then joined NDTV in 2002 as part of its political bureau during a particularly febrile period in Indian politics. A stint as India correspondent for Al Jazeera International followed, where he covered key geopolitical developments and got his first serious taste of the global newsroom.
What sets Sundaram apart, however, is his serial channel-launching habit. At NewsX, he helped get the operation off the ground. At Headlines Today, part of the India Today Group, he served as editor. At News Nation, he helped launch the Hindi news channel and its digital ecosystem. He then crossed continents to lead the launch of ANN7 in South Africa as editor-in-chief, overseeing both television and digital. Back in India, he launched Tamil news channels News7 Tamil and Cauvery News, and later served as principal consultant for the launch of Marathi channel Lokshahi. Most recently, he helped build and lead the Press Trust of India’s video service and content studio, before stints consulting for Business Today and The Himalayan Times.
Rahul Kanwal, chief executive and editor-in-chief of NDTV, left little doubt about what Sundaram is expected to deliver. “The assignment desk is where a newsroom’s intent becomes action,” he said. “Rajesh brings a rare combination of field experience and leadership in building news operations at scale.”
Sundaram has reported from across India and the world, covering elections, civil conflicts, the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the 2008 US presidential election.
At NDTV Profit, he will lead the assignment desk, driving editorial coordination and real-time response across markets and breaking developments. For a business news network sharpening its focus on speed and multi-platform delivery, it has hired a man who has built newsrooms from scratch on three continents. The assignment desk is in good hands.
