News Broadcasting
Nick India to encourage kids play activity 2 October
MUMBAI: It may be struggling to build up viewer cachet in India but Nickelodeon India will nonetheless participate in a global initiative – Worldwide Play of day.
On 2 October, the channel will encourage kids to get out and play the whole day.
Nickelodeon India is doing a community outreach programme its biggest to date. It has partnered with 400 schools, reaching half a million kids. Sixteen winners per school (6400 kids in total) will win passes to a Worldwide Day of Play event. Through rounds of creative games, children are being encouraged to invent their own games or could even alter existing ones.
On 2 October events will be held from 12 noon to 7 pm in Mumbai at EsselWorld where Nick star Jimmy Neutron will be making an appearance, in Delhi at Appu Ghar; in Kolkata at Nicco Park and in Bangalore at Megabowl.
Apart from the various rides and play areas of these parks, there will be a separate Nick Play Area where Nick will be conducting games and giving away prizes. One of the games that kids will play is French Cricket. Another game is called Hoop The Ball. As the name implies this is a different version of basketball for kids.
The other games that kids will play are Thumb Wrestling, Grass Hurdle Race, and Make Pyramids. Nick is airing Public Service Announcements (PSAs) in order to get the message across to kids.
On 2 October, Nick goes blank across the world from 12 pm to 3 pm. In India, however it will only go blank for an hour from 3-4 pm. At that time instead of the regular programming PSAs will air telling kids to go outdoors and have fun.
Nick India director business and operations Pradeep Hejmadi added, “The Worldwide Day of Play is just Nick’s way of kick-starting the habit of play in kids. We hope, though, that it will be celebrated everywhere, everyday and by every kid.”
On air through the rest of the afternoon, Nick will reflect the day’s activities and fun with updates and video footage from many of the day’s global events, as well as capping off with a live television special filled with kid energy, music, star-power and a healthy dose of interactive fun and games.
The Worldwide Day of Play is part of the broadcaster’s Lets Just Play campaign. Nickelodeon has identified its Let’s Just Play campaign as especially crucial in Asia, where stress, resulting from studies, tuition and the competitive nature of society, is a major part of a kids’ life. This is increasingly leading to a generally inactive lifestyle, which could further contribute to a growing trend of obesity amongst kids.
The purpose of the Let’s Just Play campaign is to address all these issues in a fun and entertaining way, without being preachy and to help kids learn about active, positive lifestyles in a completely non-competitive atmosphere.
Hejmadi added, “It’s not so much about organised sports. Rather, it is about the games played in every gully back-alley of our towns, cities and villages – Gilli Danda, Kho Kho, Hide & Seek. These have become a part of the most enjoyable and enduring images of our own childhood. We want to make sure future generations have similar memories to cherish while receiving the lifelong benefits of a healthy and active childhood.”
Besides India; Australia, Singapore, Philippines and of course the US are participating in the Worldwide Day of Play event. Singapore and the Philippines will hold off-air events at local arenas, with designated play areas and booths including fitness and nutrition tips and workshops for adults on how to motivate kids through play.
In the US, one activity will see four teams, made up of Nickelodeon talent, celebrities and athletes compete. Their aim is to create the “Game of the Day” from a set of large-scale set pieces and props provided to them. The games will encourage creativity and will remind kids that anyone can play, anywhere and with anything.
Nickelodeon executive VP public affairs Marva Smalls said, “Worldwide Day of Play is Nickelodeon’s effort to elevate the importance of physical, active play as an essential part of kids’ lives. In this first-ever day of play, we call attention to the right kids have to play every day. We are thrilled that thousands of individuals and organisations from here and around the globe have joined us in this commitment to kids.”
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.
