GECs
TV cos take to the great outdoors to hawk their wares
Television companies have significantly increased the use of hoardings to increase awareness about the shows they have on air.
Although print medium (specifically newspapers) still takes the lion’s share of advertising, the total adspend on hoardings from TV companies have gone up by over 60 per cent over last year, Shankar Shetty, associate vice-president of Prime Site, estimates. Prime Site is a division of Mudra Comunications Ltd and coordinates what are known in the trade as out of home advertising.
Shetty said the market had dropped out of the business following the dotcom bust but post-October had seen TV companies filling the void to some extent. Shetty estimates revenues of over Rs 3,000 million at an all-India level with the TV industry contributing over Rs 800 million in the current year. Last year the TV industry spent below Rs 500 million on hoardings. The figures are collated from 22 cities in the Hindi speaking belt.
Industry sources reveal that the biggest spenders on hoardings are Star, Sony and Sahara TV. Zee TV has a much more modest budget where hoardings are concerned, the sources say. As for how much a Star or Sony spend, the sources said the figure was over Rs 100 million. And of this the biggest chunk was taken by Mumbai, with a Rs 70 million spend (per channel).
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
