MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. (RBNL) and RTL have finalised the launch of Thrill, an action entertainment channel, according to the European media company.

This is RTL Group‘s first television channel in India. Big RTL is a television joint venture between RBNL and RTL Group.

"The launch plan for the first joint venture channel in India has been finalised. Big-RTL Thrill will be a Hindi-language channel targeting young viewers with action-oriented content," RTL said.

The launch date, however, is still under wraps. When contacted, RBNL chief executive officer Tarun Katial declined to reveal the exact date.

In May, Big RTL had unveiled the logo of the channel, which is red in colour to signify energy, aggression and high action. ?Thrill? is embedded in bold font inside a rectangular block that reflects the personality and core values of the channels which are ?daring?, ?action-packed?, ?electrifying?, ?sporty?, ?challenging? and ?adventurous?.

Designed by Singapore-based agency BDA, the logo of the channel aims to connect with the mass male audiences in India.

RBNL already runs a separate joint venture in the broadcasting space with CBS Studios International.

Meanwhile, RTL announced its first half financial results. The media company managed to increase group revenue for the first half of the year by 3.3 per cent to ?2,815 million, reflecting higher revenue from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and FremantleMedia.

At Group level first-half EBITA was ?506 million.

A higher profit contribution from the German TV operations was offset by challenging market conditions in other areas, higher investment in programming and portfolio effects.

FremantleMedia?s lower profit contribution reflected continued pressure on volumes and margins, and timing effects.

Reported EBITA margin remained at a healthy level of 18 per cent. EBITA margin of RTL Group?s broadcasting businesses stood at 22.8 per cent.

In the first half of 2012, the European TV advertising markets clearly reflected local macro-economic developments: while the German TV advertising market grew slightly, the French, Dutch and Belgian markets were estimated to be down year-on-year; in Spain, Hungary and Croatia the markets continued to see a more pronounced softening.

In France, RTL‘s Groupe M6 reported EBITA fall to ?126 million as a result of lower advertising revenue and programming investment related to the European football championship.

For RTL Nederland, EBITA decreased to ?38 million due to a weaker TV advertising market and the scope exit of the Dutch radio stations.

FremantleMedia?s EBITA decreased significantly to ?40 million due to pressure from broadcasters on volumes and margins, and the timing effects of several productions that shall take place during the second half of the year.

On 27 March 2012, the Groupe M6 project ?6ter? was selected as part of the CSA?s call for tender for six new HD channels on digital terrestrial television (DTT). The new channel, to be launched in December 2012, will be a general entertainment channel for the whole family On 1 April, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland launched a new free-TV channel, RTL Nitro, mainly targeted at male viewers.

On 25 July, FremantleMedia Enterprises and Random House announced a creative and strategic partnership to develop scripted TV programming for the United States and international markets, based on the fiction and non-fiction titles published by Random House imprints in North Amrica and internationally On 3 September, RTL Nederland will launch its third digital pay-TV channel, RTL Telekids.

On the digital front in total, RTL Group companies have launched more than 220 mobile applications, registering 65 million downloads to date. In June 2012, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and cable operator Kabel Deutschland signed a deal to distribute RTL?s German family of channels in high definition. The cable operator will also offer a broad range of programmes on-demand, based on RTL?s ?Now? family of catch-up TV services

In May 2012, FremantleMedia launched ?The Pet Collective?, its first channel funded by Youtube. The move is part of the company?s strategy to produce original, quality programming for multiple media platforms. In July, Radical Media launched its first Youtube channel, THNKR, and in Germany, UFA will also launch two Youtube channels

Since taking over as joint Group CEOs of RTL Group in mid-April, Anke Sch?ferkordt, Guillaume de Posch has conducted a comprehensive review of the corporate strategy. RTL has defined three main investment areas:

- Core: to optimise and develop the existing broadcasting business and invest for growth in new territories. This includes launching new channels such as RTL Nitro and 6ter, and increasing distribution revenue from platform operators.

- Content: to further develop and acquire intellectual property and exploitation capabilities, in particular in areas such as general entertainment, US drama, kids entertainment, gaming and online video networks. FremantleMedia will be key for this strategic goal.

- Digital: to build sustainable new business models with strong cross-platform presence on all devices and screens, with internet properties and new on-demand services.

Mumbai: Big Magic, the regional entertainment channel from the Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) stable for the Hindi heartland, is introducing a weekend Bhojpuri movie band - ?Superhit Bhojpuri?.

Starting 18 August, the channel will air Bhojpuri movies every Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 pm.

The channel had earlier this year launched Bhojpuri music band titled ?Hamar Des Hamaar Sangeet?.

The channel will be airing movies like Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke, Kanoon Hamra Muthi Mein, Parivar and Ranbhoomi.

Big Magic is designed to ensure strong local connect through local characters, local shows, local films and on-ground consumer-connect, all packaged with a highly aspirational look. ?Superhit Bhojpuri? is an ideal opportunity for brands which are targeting Bihar and Eastern UP belts to leverage and connect with their consumer?s, the channel said.

Mumbai: 92.7 BIG FM, the radio arm of Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) has appointed Pankaj Vassal as vice president- regional business head for West and East.

Vassal will report to 92.7 BIG FM business head Rabe T Iyer.

He will be responsible for business growth and overall P&L for the business vertical. His key focus areas will be to grow the radio business, expanding the West and East Zones of the network from the revenue point of view.

He will be working closely Neeti Virmani who has been appointed as station head for Mumbai. Her role will involve - managing overall business and operations of the Mumbai station while managing the P&L, by driving functions including sales, programming, and marketing.

Iyer said, "We are happy to have the talented and well endowed duo of Pankaj Vassal and Neeti Virmani come on board 92.7 BIG FM. Am confident, their vast and in-depth understanding of the mass markets, coupled with their ability to delivery outstanding solutions to marketers requirements will deliver optimally to the business. I wish them the very best."

Vassal said, "I feel proud and excited to have joined a growing and vibrant organisation like RBNL at a time when the organization is transitioning into a media giant. I respect the vision and culture of the organization, and look forward to taking on new challenges and to contributing towards helping RBNL reach greater heights."

"I am delighted to have joined the dynamic RBNL family. The world of multi-media entertainment has fascinated me and I am eager to the take up this challenging role, and learn and contribute to the best of my ability", Virmani added.

Vassal brings with him close to 15 years of experience, having worked across organisations like Amway, Motorola, Asian Paints and Essel Packaging.

Virmani comes in with over 14 years of experience across general management, marketing and sales at mass consumer focused organisations like Aircel, Pepsi, Airtel, Aptech and STG.

MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) expects to achieve break-even from its television business on an operating basis for the fourth quarter of this fiscal.

The company?s confidence stems from narrowing operating loss led by a sharp reduction in carriage costs.

?Barring unforeseen circumstances, the company expects to exit the current financial year with TV business achieving break-even at an operating level,? the company said.

RBNL?s operating loss from television business in the first quarter ended 30 June 2012 was down nearly 55 per cent to Rs 116.93 million from Rs 258.79 million a year earlier.

The company said the reduction in operating loss was largely on account of a 70 per cent cut in carriage costs, but did not specify how much it spent in the quarter on account of the money paid to multi-system cable operators (MSOs) and direct-to-home (DTH) companies for carrying their television channels.

Revenue from the television business in the first quarter was Rs 66.34 million. It is against Rs 18.14 million in the first quarter of last year, which were initial days for RBNL?s television business. In the fourth quarter of last year, RBNL?s television business revenue Rs 103.36 million.

RBNL operates five channels ? three English language entertainment channels Prime, Love and Spark, a Punjabi language channel Spark Punjabi, all the four under its joint venture Big CBS Networks, and Big Magic, a regional general entertainment channel for the Hindi heartland. RBNL has a 50:50 joint venture with media conglomerate CBS.

The television financial results, thus, reflect the 50 per cent of the JV company Big CBS.

The operating break even will confine to the current television businesses of RBNL, a company official said The forecast does not include RBNL?s joint venture with RTL. The company plans to launch a channel called Thrill through the RTL JV this fiscal.

RBNL?s consolidated revenue in the first quarter was Rs 557.45 million, down 25 per cent per cent from Rs 751.72 million a year earlier. The revenue contraction was on account of a fall in revenue of radio and television production businesses.

RBNL?s revenue from the radio business fell 19 per cent to Rs 396.38 million from Rs 494.46 million a year earlier. Its revenue from production business at Rs 52.79 million in the first quarter was down 68 per cent from Rs 166.34 million a year earlier.

The radio business of RBNL actually slipped into a loss in the first quarter of 2012-13 with an operating loss of Rs 10.14 million against operating profit of Rs 74 million a year earlier. In the fourth quarter ended 31 March 2012, the operating profit from radio business was Rs 91.78 million. The company operates Big 92.7 radio station.

RBNL has, however, managed to narrow its consolidated net loss to Rs 287.04 million from Rs 291.34 million a year earlier. Its consolidated income from operations plunged 29 per cent to Rs 526.64 million in the first quarter from Rs 745.30 million a year earlier, but what helped the company narrow its loss was nearly halving of direct operational expenses (down 48 per cent) to Rs 268.96 million from Rs 521.12 milion a year earlier.

RBNL CEO Tarun Katial said, ?RBNL had a satisfactory quarter in the given environment, backed by product innovation and optimal cost management. Our key businesses of radio and television stand to benefit significantly from imminent industry reforms of Phase III and digitisation, respectively."

MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) has created a hybrid channel mixing entertainment content from Big Magic, business news from Bloomberg UTV and some of its owned televised awards and special shows.

The channel, Big Magic International, will launch in Canada and then move on to other international markets like the US, Middle East and Australia.

"About 60-70 per cent of the channel?s content will be from Big Magic. The intellectual property shows and business news from Bloomberg UTV will make up the remaining quotient of the content," said RBNL?s spokesperson.

Helping the launch in Canada will be Ethnic Channels Group (EGCL), a Canada-based television broadcasting, distribution and communications company that specialises in multicultural television channels for the North American market. The channel will be available across all major distribution platforms like Rogers Cable, Bell DTH and Bell Fibe.

"We will reach a relevant audience base of 0.2 million across these platforms. The revenue model is based on subscription and ad-sales," RBNL said.

Big Magic International has been tailored after closely mapping the entertainment preferences of the South Asian audiences in Canada. According to market estimates, the South Asian population in Canada is 1.2 million, accounting for 5 per cent of the country?s population.

Big Magic International?s programming will include a mix of daily sitcoms, shows on varied genres ranging from socio-mytho, dramas and crime.

RBNL?s intellectual property vertical?s televised award shows providing entertainment doses from across India include India?s Sexiest Bachelor, India?s Glam Diva, I Love Style, Big Hindustan Rising Star Awards, Big Hindustani Music Awards and Big Bangla Music Awards. Additionally, the channel will also feature shows that will appeal across age groups like stand-up comedies and cultural quiz shows.

RBNL believes the channel?s differentiator will be the half-hour updates from the Indian capital markets from Bloomberg UTV - India that will air thrice a day. The channel will also air a special weekend feature show created around the Indian business world and investments in India.

RBNL CEO Tarun Katial, CEO, said, "We are happy to reach out to the Canadian market with Big Magic International which has been designed to fulfil the need gaps in the infotainment genre for South Asian audiences there. The channel will bring an increasing variety of fresh and relevant programming to the viewers which will include not just entertainment but also daily business updates from India. With this move, we are optimising the use of our robust and extensive content library to reach out to both viewers and marketers in the market. The launch of Big Magic International opens new and exciting opportunities for the execution of our expansion and growth strategy."

MUMBAI: Former Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) business head- central India cluster Madhukar Pandey is launching his own venture.

Pandey is introducing an internet radio website, which is expected to go live by mid-July.

Titled Radiowhiskey.in, the tagline of the website says ?Nasha music ka?. The internet radio channel will predominantly be playing Indian music along with other popular music 24X7.

The core target of the website is youth, from school going students to 36-year-olds.

Pandey said, ?Internet radio is pretty known phenomena in West, but somewhat not very popular in India. The entire positioning of the channel is towards Indian music and not just Indian audiences. It will have a global feed. Internet radio is a very popular phenomenon in the US and hence we are also basing our server there. It will have the popular music around the world, though our main focus will be Indian music. RJ talks will be in Hindi and English.?

Pandey said the company has applied for licenses and is acquiring labels. ?We have got electronic confirmation for the licenses but will announce the names once we have license in hand. The background team is building the inventory further.?.

The company will be promoting the website on digital medium aggressively (Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, E-mail, SMS).

?We are telling the advertisers that whatever they pay FM channels for one city, we will be charging even lesser than that and entire globe will listen to you. Also, because our target is youth, who is not very interested in seeing or listening to ads, we will have not more than 3 minutes ads in an hour and that will be split into 6 slots of 30 seconds each. This will help the advertiser getting sure shot listener,? Pandey added.

Pandey has over 14 years of experience in life insurance and information technology. Prior to joining RBNL, he was with MetLife Insurance as GM regional head. He had also worked with NIIT, CMC, and Informatics in various capacities.