FYI channels explain serial blackout/strike updat - Page 2

Day 9: Producers, workers summoned by Labour Commissioner

Indiantelevision.com Team

(18 November 2008 10:30 pm)

MUMBAI: The TV industry stalemate is going to another level. The FWICE and producers have been summoned by the Labour Commissioner to get their views. The Commissioner has called the workers and four producers' bodies for a hearing at 3 pm on 19 November.

"The labour commissioner had sent a notice to the workers and the four producers associations to meet at 3 pm tomorrow," says a representative of Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).

However, the chairperson of the producers core committee Mukesh Bhatt said, "We have not been informed about the meeting, nor did we get any such notice."

He said that the producers' association and workers federation will sit for a meeting on 20 November.

Certain TV broadcasting CEOs and TV producers are slated to meet tomorrow morning before the hearing.

What's complicating the matter, it is alleged, is that the FWICE has done some number crunching which has resulted in a figure of Rs 5 billion coming up as dues owed by producers to workers as arrears. Producers, say sources, have offered a 10-12 per cent hike in wages, but the FWICE is adamant in sticking to its 15 per cent increment demand.

Broadcasters in the meanwhile are reported to be under pressure to start airing fresh programming with the Advertising Agencies Association of India 10-day repeat-programming time limit drawing to a close on 19 November.

The Hindi GEC genre attracts close to Rs 24 billion in advertising annually and the segment has seen the launch of at least four new channels in the past 18 months.

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Advertisers turn the heat on Hindi GECs

By NASRIN SULTANA & ANUSHREE BHATTACHARYYA

Indiantelevision.com Team

(22 November 2008 9:30 pm)

MUMBAI: With the TV strike not cooling off, advertisers have started turning the heat on the Hindi general entertainment broadcasters.

The period of negotiations has begun and some have even moved their monies to other genres of TV content as the first week of ratings after the 'fresh programming blackout' have indicated a 13 per cent drop in prime time viewership.

Says Maruti Suzuki India Limited executive officer – marketing and sales Mayank Pareek, "Looking at the current situation in terms of the dispute between FWICE and producers, we have moved whatever ads we were supposed to air on Hindi GECs. We have shifted most of our ads to news and sports channels."

Agrees Yum Brands India marketing director - KFC Unnat Varma: "Since the strike began, we have withdrawn our ads from the Hindi GECs."

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited chief revenue officer Joy Chakraborthy admits some clients have pulled out, but feels the pinch is still very soft.

"We have 350 clients on Zee TV who are also spread across our network. We get 80 per cent of our revenue coming from the top 20 clients. We have annual deals and are not disturbed," says Chakraborthy.

Zee has offered its clients two options: advertisers can withdraw ads now and hop on to the channel when fresh content resumes; or they can continue with their ads on a negotiated rate. "We had a 10-day grace period. So we are telling advertisers that we can arrive at a mutually negotiated rate after 21 November. We can calculate the shortfall in early December."

So how many advertisers have opted to return only when original content is back on the channel? "Only 4-5 from our top 20 advertisers have settled for the second option," says Chakraborthy.

Some channels have already dropped their ad rates. "Though no advertiser has dropped out, we are offering 20-25 per cent discount to our clients," says the ad sales head of a leading broadcaster.

Advertisers like Emami are pressing hard to get reduced rates. Says Emami Group of Companies director Aditya Agarwal, "We would definitely try to bring the rates down. And I am sure that since we have enjoyed a long term relationship with the broadcaster, they will surely understand the situation."

Agrees LG India director - sales and marketing V Ramachandran: "We are trying to negotiate the price of the spots. Additionally, we our buying spots on GECs based on the programme and its popularity."

Advertisers are staying out of GECs when it comes to the launch of fresh campaigns during this period. "We launched a new campaign two days back, but have not put advertisements on any Hindi GECs. For the new commercial, we are mostly using a mix of Hindi and English news, movie, sports and infotainment channels," says Varma.

In this dry spell of content, news, movie and sports channels have been gainers. Says Max New York Life Insurance executive director marketing Anisha Motwani says, "After analysing the situation, we have moved beyond the Hindi general entertainment channels to sports, movie and news channels. When fresh content is back on Hindi GECs, we would first prefer to wait and watch for a week or so and then take a decision on how to use the space once again."

Chakraborthy, however, disagrees. "Advertisers have to concentrate on Hindi GECs. News and movie channels are running on full inventory while live cricket that is being shown now is not occupying prime time," he says.

It's back to work for TV stars today

24 Nov 2008, 0225 hrs IST, Bharati Dubey, TNN

MUMBAI: The entire television industry will be back to work from Monday morning but viewers will have to wait for one more week to watch fresh

episodes of their favourite soaps.

Broadcasters are likely to take a call on the date of telecast for new episodes on Monday afternoon.

Producers of Baa Bahu Aur Baby and Jasuben Jayantilal Joshi ki Joint Family JD Majithia said, "Shoots will begin in full swing from Monday morning. We have signed individual contracts with each and every worker and hope for a smooth run from now on.''

Core committee member of the producers' body Vikas Mohan, however, added a word of caution. "We have told our producers that in case anyone tries to stop the shoots, they should immediately contact the local police. Meanwhile, we will also keep a tab on the proceedings of the filming. It is a good sign that workers have agreed to come back to work. Now, viewers can expect to watch new episodes of television shows in a week's time.''

Tarun Mehra, marketing head of Zee Network and member of the broadcasters' body, said, "We have been told by the producers that normal shoots will begin from Monday. Only after that happens will we take a collective call on the telecast of fresh episodes.'' Another producer said, "Monday is going to be like a test for us. We hope there is no interruption from the workers' side like it happened last week. We cannot afford to take any more losses.'' Television industry suffered a loss of Rs 1.5 crore when shooting was cancelled last Monday.

Workers have already reached a breakdown point with no income for the last one month. A senior member of the workers' committee said, "With no earnings in the last one month, workers had started feeling the pinch. They don't have any other source of income and survive on daily wage. They had started to approach their respective producers and some had even agreed to work with them on their terms. Some members of the federation are still creating trouble but producers have decided to go ahead with the shoot from tomorrow.''

The FWICE had signed an MoU with the producer's body on November 19 according to which it was agreed that some categories of workers would get a partial raise. But make-up artists, production executives, hair dressers and sound recordists did not agree to the terms and struck work the next day. The FWICE had to cancel the deal with the producers, who refused to give in to their new set of demands.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Its_back_to_work_for_TV_stars_today/articleshow/3748704.cms