Hungama TV
Hungama TV is an Indian pay television channel aimed at children. Originally a subsidiary of UTV Software Communications launched on 26 September 2004,[2] the channel was sold to Disney in 2006[3]. Currently Hungama TV is under Star India, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India.
Hungama TV | |
---|---|
Launched | 26 September 2004[1] |
Owned by | Star India (The Walt Disney Company India) |
Picture format | 576i (SDTV) |
Country | India |
Language | |
Broadcast area | India,Bangladesh |
Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
Sister channel(s) | Star Plus Star Bharat Star Gold Star Gold 2 Star Gold Select HD Star Utsav Star Utsav Movies Star Movies Star Movies Select Star World Star World Premiere Star Jalsha Star Jalsha Movies Star Pravah Asianet Asianet Plus Asianet Movies Star Maa Star Maa Movies Star Maa Gold Star Maa Music Star Suvarna Star Suvarna Plus Star Vijay Star Vijay Super Star Vijay Music Nat Geo Nat Geo Wild Nat Geo People Star Life (Africa) Nat Geo Music Baby TV Star Sports Disney Channel Bindass Disney International HD Disney Junior Marvel HQ UTV Movies UTV Action UTV HD |
Website | Official Website |
Availability | |
Satellite | |
Dish TV | Channel 503 |
Airtel Digital TV | Channel 453 |
Tata Sky | Channel 655 |
Videocon d2h | Channel 503 |
Sun Direct | Channel 532 |
Reliance Digital TV | Channel 606 |
Cable | |
DEN Networks | Channel 429 |
Siti Cable | Channel 447 |
Asianet Digital TV | Channel 322 |
History
UTV and Ronnie Screwvala formed United Home Entertainment with 51% and 49% ownership interests, respectively. The company was formed to launch an Indian kids channel. It hired TAG for channel packaging. Chief Operating Officer Purnendu Bose was hired and was expected to hire 100 employees for the channel. Rs 100 crore was the expected initial investment with expectations of break even in three years. In September 2004, Hungama TV started broadcasting as the first domestic kids channel in India.[4]
In March 2005, one of the UTV founders, Zarina Mehta became Humgama's head of programming. In early 2006, Mehta was promoted to chief operating officer of the channel.[5]
In July 2006, Disney India acquired a controlling stake in Hungama TV from UTV Software Communications while also taking a 14.9% share in UTV.[6] In 2006, Disney acquired Hungama TV from UTV.[7]
The channel started with both live-action and animated programming but, following the success of Doraemon, gradually shifted its focus to solely animated programming.[8][9] In 2013, Hungama started adding original Indian series as a part of a localisation strategy.[10]
Programming
Controversy
A Hindi dub of the Shin Chan anime started airing on Hungama TV on 19 June 2006, and it gained up to 60% of the channel's market share.[11] There were complaints from parents over the main character's behaviour and the attitudes exhibited towards elders on the show, both of which were seen as a negative influence on children. The show was banned from Indian television in 2008 but soon after it started airing again on Hungama TV.[12]
References
- "Star India launches Disney Kids Pack with new campaign - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media.
- "UTV Launches Hungama TV". The Financial Express. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- "Walt Disney offers to acquire it for about rs 2000 crore". Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- Bansal, Shuchi (9 April 2004). "Hungama TV to fight for ad share". Business Standard India. New Delhi. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- Adesara, Hetal (27 May 2006). "Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta". Indian Television. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- Leahy, Joe; Sundeep Tucker (13 September 2006). "Disney switches on to Hindi market". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
- Sinha, Ashish (18 June 2008). "'UTV investment is long-term play'". Business Standard. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- "Hungama TV banking on movies, four driver shows". 21 September 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- "Hungama TV to focus on animation now". 28 September 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- "Hungama TV gets new look, plans to add local shows | TelevisionPost.com". Television Post. Mumbai. 10 October 2013. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- "Shin Chan on Hungama TV - Disney India". corporate.disney.in. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- "India bans telecasting of Shin Chan". www.merinews.com. Retrieved 9 December 2017.