Kids
Nickelodeon announces break with Zee
MUMBAI: When it finally happened, a terse three-paragraph statement was all that was offered. Viacom kids channel Nickelodeon India today formalised a break that has been speculated about for months now.
From 1 May, Nickelodeon India will cease to be on the Zee Turner Bouquet. Just ahead of that, on 30 April, the Nickelodeon India feed will migrate from AsiaSat-3 satellite to PAS 10, joining sister music channel MTV.
No one in MTV would offer anything beyond what was said in the official release as to what the future implications of this development could be. And certainly not about what the industry believes will happen in due course – MTV and Nickelodeon joining the Sony-Discovery One Alliance platform. One issue that is complicating matters of course is the amount of confusion that is currently swirling around the conditional access rollout.
The message emanating from MTV India at this point is that the two channels will continue to go it alone, independent of any distribution platform.
Nick will reportedly be witnessing a major marketing and programming push over the coming months, the initial impetus for which has been provided by the Nickelodeon Kid Marketing Forum that was held on Wednesday.
For the record these were the comments put out by Nickelodeon and former distribution partner Zee Telefilms:
“Zee has been a great support for Nickelodeon over the past few years. We will continue to have a warm relationship with them,” said Alex Kuruvilla, MD, Nickelodeon India.
Dev Naganand, Director Zee Telefilms and chairman Zee-Turner said, “Zee-Turner always valued Nickelodeon as part of its bouquet. Our excellent relationship with Viacom would continue.”
Nickelodeon has been on the Zee platform since October 1999, which was when it launched in India. Nickelodeon initially beamed off PAS-4 and has been an encrypted feed from day one, unlike its sister channel MTV India, which only turned digital free-to-air last August.
Kids
Sony YAY! launches ‘House of Masti’ to celebrate 20 years of Shin chan
Comedian Kiku Sharda joins the fun with a special rap track as the mischievous icon returns to Indian TV.
MUMBAI: Shin chan is back and this time, he’s bringing the whole house of masti with him! Sony YAY!, India’s leading kids’ entertainment channel, has unveiled ‘House of Masti’, a specially curated programming block to mark 20 years of the iconic animated series Shin chan on Indian television. The campaign transforms the beloved character’s mischievous world into a fresh, high-energy viewing experience. It features new episodes, fan-favourite moments, and themed programming stunts, all designed to stand out from regular broadcasts.
Adding extra sparkle to the celebration, popular comedian Kiku Sharda has joined the campaign. He anchors the integration with a lively rap track titled ‘Shin chan ka YAY! Dhamaal’, infusing contemporary music and humour into the beloved series.
Sony YAY! business head of kids and animation Ambesh Tiwari said, “Over the past 20 years, Shin chan has built a strong and enduring connection with audiences in India. With ‘House of Masti’, we are celebrating this milestone through a differentiated, campaign-led experience. Kiku Sharda and the rap track add a fun, high-energy layer that will resonate with today’s kids and families.”
Starting 27 April, viewers can enjoy the World Television Premiere of Shin chan along with new episodes and an exciting lineup of blockbuster movies on Sony YAY!.
By blending nostalgia with fresh, engaging content, Sony YAY! is ensuring that the cheeky, laughter-filled adventures of Shin chan continue to entertain and connect with new generations across the country.
In a world full of serious cartoons, Shin chan remains delightfully naughty and with ‘House of Masti’, Sony YAY! is making sure his brand of chaos stays as fresh and fun as ever. Get ready for some serious masti!
