Report: 2014 in media starts off with a bang!
2014 will be remembered for the explosive start to the year with companies going bust, channel heads leaving and announcements that will impact broadcasters in months to come. BizAsia looks back at the first month of 2014.
The first biggest shock of 2014 came with the news that Sunil Rohra had handed his papers in at B4U Network after being at the helm for the past ten years. BizAsia was the first to report the story, which flared to all corners of the industry worldwide. It was a surprise as the news was not expected. A media expert who works closely with B4U told BizAsia, “Sunil kept his departure from the channel quiet. The B4U office was only informed about Sunil leaving in the morning and a few hours later you covered the story on BizAsia. It will be interesting to see how the channel changes the way it operates with Ishaan in his place.”
Only a few days later, BizAsia was the first to report that five companies associated with Dr Avtar Lit including Sunrise Radio Limited and Kismat Radio Limited had entered administration. The timing of the news rather than the story itself was the biggest surprise. The news is still developing and it will be interesting to see how the London market could change with new buyers for the 1458AM and 1035AM frequencies in London. Will Lit be able to retain the licences with his newly created consortium? BizAsia will keep readers up to date.
The third big secret, which BizAsia hinted at first through its Industry Whisper was about Rajan Singh leaving Star TV as Executive Vice President. Once again another first for BizAsia! Singh confirmed the news to BizAsia first that he had left the broadcaster on Wednesday 29th January. His decision to leave certainly got some questioning why he was leaving so suddenly. However, BizAsia understands that he was planning to leave in December. Gossip mongers said that Singh was leaving due to differences with the broadcaster, while others said he was retiring from the media business. However, BizAsia can confirm both are incorrect and Singh has plenty of plans, which will be unveiled later this year.
Other less big stories but surprised many – ZEE TV confirming that its four-year old show ‘Pavitra Rishta’ is moving time slots to make way for new Ekta Kapoor series ‘Kumkum Bhagya’. Colors following in the footsteps of Star Plus by extending weekday fictions to Saturday nights. Furthermore, BizAsia confirmed that BSkyB was planning to launch an Asian TV bundle as a weapon to compete with Virgin Media’s Asian Mela pack.
A spokesperson for a popular TV channel said, “This year has started like no other and we’re all waiting with bated breath to see what the next eleven months have in store. The next few weeks will be a deciding factor and will certainly impact how the industry will shape up. Channels changing their strategies with new models for consumers, plus radio stations getting new ownerships…all this will change the UK industry. The most interesting times!”
With the way 2014 has started, it only makes it even more exciting to see what the rest of the year has in store. How the market will change with new channels, new strategies and moreover new younger individuals taking broadcasters to places that they have never been. It remains to be seen!
