GECs
Star India expenses up, profit plunged in FY18
MUMBAI: Star India witnessed a nosedive of 93 per cent in profit at Rs 287 crore during FY18 as compared to Rs 554 crore during FY17. This was apparently due to higher programming costs, which went up from Rs 4,121.6 crore in FY17 to Rs 4,887.3 crore during FY18, according to a report by Economic Times quoting business intelligence platform, Tofler.
As per the financial data accessed by Tofler, the company’s advertising promotional expenses fell 6.8 per cent at Rs 691 crore from Rs 738 crore in the corresponding period. The company saw a rise of 7.8 per cent in employees benefit expenses to Rs 895 crore.
The company’s total expenses grew by 12.2 per cent from Rs 7,992 crore in FY17 to Rs 8,974 crore in FY18. Revenue from operations saw a slight increase of 3.6 per cent to Rs 9,148 crore from Rs 8,827 crore in FY17.
The broadcaster is planning to launch another regional channel to cater to the Bengali audience i.e. Star Sports 1 Bangla on 5 March 2019.
The broadcaster recently released its rate card after amendments on 21 February 2019 and added the channels in several bouquets. The company has now added new sports and English movies channels in existing packages.
The company has also decided to broadcast IPL Season 12 live in eight languages, including Hindi and English, across nearly twenty Star India Network screens. The other languages are Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi and Malayalam.
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.
