MUMBAI: Big RTL, the television JV between Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) and Europe?s entertainment firm RTL Group, has named its new channel as Thrill.

The new channel marks RTL Group?s entry into the Asian television market. This is Reliance ADAG?s second International JV in the broadcasting space, the first being with CBS Studios International.

Positioned as the ?first action entertainment? channel, it will be launched by the end of June. The company believes that there is a void in the action space. Thrill will serve international content from across the globe, dubbed in Hindi.

The target audience that the channel will cater to is males in the age group of 15-44, across metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in the Hindi-speaking markets, who are action and adventure lovers.

RBNL CEO Tarun Katial said, ?We are excited to offer India its first action entertainment Channel, Thrill which will showcase world-class international content, dubbed in Hindi. The channel fills a need gap that exist in the entertainment landscape and we are confident that our proposition, backed by consumer insights, will resonate excellently with viewers and marketers alike.?

In order to provide diverse programming content, the channel has signed strategic deals with various leading international content providers for successful global formats and series across a variety of genres: action reality, action thrillers, fighting and wrestling championships, shocking, never seen before films, extreme sports, late night entertainment and a robust library of hit Hollywood action movies, all dubbed in Hindi.

Big RTL has teamed up with DTH service provider Reliance Digital TV, a Reliance ADAG company, to distribute Thrill. The company says that this will help in giving the channel access to 3 million digital television homes across India. It is in the process of closing deals with other operators.

Thrill will be distributed as part of a 7-channel bouquet of RBNL which includes Big CBS Prime, Big CBS Love, Big CBS Spark, Big CBS Spark Punjabi, Big Magic and UTV Bloomberg.

MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) has appointed Simmi Karna as the business head for its television content production arm Big Productions.

In her new role, she will be responsible for creation and marketing of shows designed both for regional and Hindi GEC. She will also be responsible for the P&L (profit and loss) of Big Productions.

Karna will report to RBNL CEO Tarun Katial.

Her last stint was with Balaji Telefilms as chief revenue officer. 

On her appointment Katial said, ?Simmi?s vast experience across a variety of genres with her erudite stamp on programming makes her an asset to the organisation. Her ability to ideate and conceptualise basis audience preferences, while ensuring in line with clients? briefs is her strength which will work excellently when coupled with her people management skills to lead the business into its next level of growth.?

On her new role Karna added, ?The television industry is geared for exploratory programs and these are really exciting times for TV in India. RBNL has some great properties for television and I look forward to a challenging and exciting career in television production.?

Over the last 15 years, Karna has worked across television brands like Zee, Channel V and IMG, as a writer and creative director across genres of fiction, non-fiction, sports and fashion.

MUMBAI: The television broadcasting business of Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL), which houses four channels under the Big CBS JV and Big Magic, posted an operating loss of Rs 186.29 million for the three-month period ended 31 December.

In the year-ago period, the company had reported a loss of Rs 3.25 million under this segment. However, in the trailing quarter, the company had posted a segment loss of Rs 216 million.

The revenue from the TV segment was at Rs 59.30 million. The company has not posted the revenue figures for the earlier year for this segment. In the second quarter of the fiscal, it had reported a revenue of Rs 26 million.

RBNL employed Rs 785.99 million (segment asset less segment liabilities) towards the TV segment during the fiscal third-quarter.

Meanwhile, Big FM, the FM radio brand of the company, has reported operating profit for the fourth straight quarter, while all other businesses of the company are bleeding.

The radio broadcasting business? Ebit stood at Rs 44.15 million for the three-month period ended 31 December, up from Rs 22.12 million in the corresponding quarter of the earlier year. In the trailing quarter, the operating profit, however, was higher at Rs 120.33 million.

Big FM?s revenue stayed flat at Rs 480.69 million compared to Rs 483.89 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. In the trailing quarter, it was Rs 571.01 million.

Total capital deployed on the radio broadcasting segment stood at Rs 2.41 billion as of 31 December 2011.

RBNL CEO Tarun Katial said, ?Our radio and television businesses will gain from industry reforms like Phase III of radio and DAS - cable digitisation which will increase reach and addressability, while improving margins. We look forward to innovate and deliver exciting content across all our platforms to both consumers and advertisers alike.?

On a consolidated basis, RBNL?s net loss widened to Rs 287.39 million from Rs 45.86 million a year ago. In the trailing quarter, the net loss was at Rs 244.47 million.

Total income of the company jumped 18.88 per cent to Rs 821.35 million compared to Rs 690.92 million a year ago. However, expenses jumped 46.28 per cent to Rs 1.07 billion (from Rs 729.87 million).
Among the other segments, the outdoor business posted an operating loss of Rs 62.09 million, up from Rs 37.05 million in the year-ago period. Income from the segment was at Rs 101.04 million (from Rs 60.51 million).

Experiential marketing segment loss stood at Rs 25.53 million, up from Rs 14.20 million. Income from the segment fell to Rs 86.55 million, from Rs 126.59 million.

TV production business posted operating profit of Rs 0.15 million on an income of Rs 118.16 million.