Colors (TV channel) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the Indian TV channel. For the American TV network, see Colours TV. Colors Launched July 21, 2008 Owned by Viacom 18 Country India Headquarters Mumbai Sister channel(s) MTV India, Nick India, VH1 India, Studio 18 Website colorstv.in, colorstv.in/uk, aapkacolors.com Availability Satellite Airtel digital TV Channel 114 Tata Sky Channel 123 Dish TV Channel 111 Dish Network Channel 651 Sky Channel 829 Cable Hathway Digital Cable Channel 3 Colors, known as Aapka Colors in the U.S., is a Hindi language Indian general entertainment channel based in Mumbai,[1] part of the Viacom 18 family, which was launched on July 21, 2008.[2] The channel got a huge popularity just after its launch with Khatron Ka Khiladi: Fear Factor with Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and due to its successful ratings, it received a top position among other Hindi general entertainment channels for a little while, such as Zee TV, Sony TV, STAR Plus, and Sahara One. The network has successfully completed its 1st year. Currently, the channel is featuring a number of successful shows, such as Balika Vadhu, Jai Shri Krishna and Bigg Boss 4, Uttaran, Naa Aana Is Des Laado and Laagi Tujhse Lagan. The channels' most popular show, Balika Vadhu has been ranked in the TOP 5 shows of Indian television's TRPs charts, within 3 months of its launch.[3] On 21 January 2010, Colors became available on Dish Network in the U.S., where it is called Aapka Colors (Respectfully your Colors) because of a clash with Colours TV.[4] Amitabh Bachchan served as brand ambassador for the UK and USA launches.[5] Colors launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland on Sky on 25 January 2010.[6] On 9 December 2009, INX Media confirmed that Colors had bought 9XM's Sky EPG slot on channel 829 and on 5 January 2010, Colors secured a deal to join the VIEWASIA subscription package.[7][8] EPG tests began on 4 January 2010 using the 9XM stream, followed by Colors' own video and audio on 8 January.[9][10] Initially the channel was available free-to-air and then subsequently was added to the VIEWASIA package on 19 April 2010.[11] [edit] Shows Dramas • Balika Vadhu • Bhagyavidhaata • Laagi Tujhse Lagan • Matti Ki Banno • Na Aana Iss Des Laado • Rishton Se Badi Pratha • Uttaran • Vidhwa [edit] Food/Fitness Mallika-E-Kitchen [edit] Reality • Bigg Boss 4 [edit] Formerly broadcast by Colors • 100% De Dhana Dhan • IPL Rockstar • Aise Karo Naa Vidaa • Jaane Kya Baat Hui • Agnipareeksha Jeevan Ki - Gangaa • Jai Shri Krishna • Bairi Piya • Jeevan Saathi • Bandhan Saat Janamon Ka • Kahaniya Vikram Aur Betaal Ki • Bigg Boss 2 • Kitchen Champion • Bigg Boss 3 • Koi Aane Ko Hai • Chhote Miyan • Maat Pitaah Ke Charnon Mein • Chhote Miyan Bade Miyan Swarg • Chhote Miyan Chapter 2 • Mahavir Hanuman • Dancing Queen • Mere Ghar Aayi Ek Nanhi Pari • Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena • Mohe Rang De • Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi • National Bingo Night • Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi • Rahe Tera Aashirwaad Level 2 • Rocks India • Fear Factor – Khatron Ke Khiladi • Sajid's Superstars Level 3 • Sarvopari Shri Swaminarayan • India's Got Talent Bhagwaan • India's Got Talent Khoj 2 • Thoda Hai Bas Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai • Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam Viacom 18 Type Public Industry Television Founded 28 October 1996 Headquarters Mumbai, India [1] Key people Raghav Bahl, Chairman and Managing Director Website Official Website Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd. is a 50/50 joint venture operation in India between Viacom and the Network18 Group based in Mumbai. Viacom 18 owns and operates various channels of the Viacom group for the Indian viewers, as well as manage various Viacom's consumer products in India. [edit] Channels • Colors • MTV India • Nickelodeon India • VH1 India • Studio18 Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd. is a 50/50 joint venture operation in India between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B, world's leading entertainment content company, comprising brands like BET, MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures) and the Network18 Group, (one of India's leading full play media conglomerates with interests in television, internet, filmed entertainment, mobile content & allied businesses, comprising brands like CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz, Newswire18, moneycontrol.com, CNN-IBN, IBN 7, Homeshop18 and E18 amongst others). The joint venture includes leading brands across television, film and digital media to build one of India's leading multimedia entertainment powerhouse. Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd. includes the vibrant youth brand - MTV, the fastest growing kids channel - Nick, India's only International Music & Lifestyle channel - Vh1 , Studio18, a new-age motion picture brand that produces, acquires and distributes Hindi films and also launched the Hindi General Entertainment channel - COLORS. This apart, Viacom18 also runs Viacom's consumer products business in India. Viacom18 brings together the unique strengths of two formidable partners, thus forming an entertainment conglomerate that will have a competitive advantage in serving the needs of both viewers and advertisers. For more information on Viacom18, Viacom or Network18, log on to www.viacom18.com, www.viacom.com and www.network18online.com respectively. IMC New channel, Colors launched by Viacom18 has already created a stir among the Hindi GEC owing to its a little off line programming list. In its latest initiative to become the market leader, Colors is undertaking innovative promotions targeting Hindi speaking audience in 90 Indian cities. To begin with, it has used all media such as TV, radio, print, websites, mobiles, movie theaters and outdoor for promoting the channel. It has placed 1300 hoardings and launched road shows across the country. For a more concentrated campaign, 3000 taxis in Mumbai and 2000 auto rickshaws in small towns along with local trains and school buses have been painted with Colors brand. Even the efficient dabba service in Mumbai is used to disburse the channel message. Along with this 65000 ad spots are booked on TV while 15 million SMS have been send across all telecom operators. Coming to specific corporate marketing activties, at Big Bazaar stores, helpers and counter- guys are wearing Colors T-shirts and giving out information about the channel. In McDonald’s, the Colors brand is present on the menu while Fear Factor Khataron Ke Khiladi merchandise is available at Pantaloons and McDonalds. For program specific advertising, Colors has tied up with ISKCON for promoting its mythological show Jai Sri Krishna at all ISKCON temples. Also, 1000 temples across Hindi speaking states are being used to promote the show by putting banners on banner stalls and giving Krishna merchandise, literature and calendars. For the show Mohe Rang De, Colors has chosen Punjab and Delhi to organise street plays as these plays were the maximum witness to freedom struggle. The marketing strategies seems to be quite aggressive and innovative but ultimately it would depend upon programming quality and show placement to establish its positiong in the Indian television space. source FURTHER The channel broke the monopoly and monotony of family dramas. Not only did it attract viewers again to the Hindi general entertainment genre, it forced other channels to evaluate their programming strategy--now it faces the ‘real’ test I knew we had a pretty good plan in place where content, distribution and scheduling was concerned, which immediately differentiated us from other GECs (general entertainment channels). But what I didn’t know is that we were going to be so successful from Day 1,” says Rajesh Kamat, chief executive of Colors. He still wears a look of disbelief on his face as he talks about how Colors spiralled to the No. 2 spot in the competitive general entertainment space within 10 weeks of its launch in July. The ease with which Colors, the Hindi GEC of Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd, a joint venture between US media conglomerate Viacom Inc. and Indian media house Network 18 Media and Investments Ltd, managed to rise is surprising. There had been only one leader in the GEC space till then—Star Plus. The GEC run by Star India Pvt. Ltd, a News Corp. subsidiary, had held on to the top spot by a wide margin for nine years. When Colors debuted, the contenders included Zee Television of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd and Sony Entertainment Television of Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd, which complacently occupied the No. 2 and No. 3 slots, respectively, waking up only when a new entrant—such as NDTV Imagine of New Delhi Television Ltd or 9X of INX Media Pvt. Ltd—joined the race. But for all the high-voltage launches and marketing campaigns, these newcomers failed to make a real dent—and it was back to the status quo. Dream run: Colors CEO Rajesh Kamat says the channel had to cancel a few shows and change some to arrive at an ideal mix which was differentiated and disruptive. Madhu Kapparath / Mint Colors changed all that. Certain strategic challenges faced by this genre had till then virtually ruled out any changes in the channel hierarchy. First, the cost of content had been going up steadily. According to estimates by a media buying agency which did not want to be named, a 30-minute episode of a big-ticket programme, which cost Rs2-3 crore in 2000, now costs Rs20-30 crore to make. Second, the overall share in total viewership had been declining. According to TAM Media Research Pvt. Ltd, a Mumbai-based television audience measurement agency, the viewership share for the Hindi GEC genre fell from 24.2% in 2004 to 22.6% in 2007 before moving up to 23.2% in 2008.