MUMBAI: Colors, the Hindi general entertainment channel from the Viacom18 stable, has roped in Balaji Telefilms creative head Prashaant Bhatt as the head of fiction.

He will be responsible for driving the fiction properties on the channel and take key decisions on new show productions.

Bhatt will join the channel on 1 December and will be reporting to Colors CEO Raj Nayak.

Nayak commented, "Given Prashaant‘s experience in delivering compelling content for multiple successful fiction properties over the years, we are confident that he will take the Colors‘ fiction shows to a new peak. I am proud to have him on the team, and look forward to co-creating new frontiers in fiction programming on Colors."

Bhatt added, "I have tremendous appreciation for Colors‘ constant attempts towards providing new and innovative content to the viewers through their shows. I am looking forward to working with this incredibly talented group of people and apply my knowledge and experience and contribute to the fiction programming."

Bhatt has over 16 years of experience as a writer and creative director of various fiction properties. In the last few years, he has also been involved in conceptualising shows and creatively heading them for various production houses, which include Rajshri Productions, Cinevistas, Creative Eye, AK Films, UTV and Shreya Creations among others.

MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms has managed to limit its second-quarter net loss to Rs 7 million, but is yet to show signs of recovery as its income from operations has reduced compared to the year ago period.

The television production house had suffered a net loss of Rs 64 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal as its average realisation per hour from commissioned as well as sponsored programming saw an increase.

Income from operations saw 7 per cent decline to Rs 354.7 million compared to Rs 380.8 million in the year-ago period. The expenses also came down by 14 per cent to Rs 374.5 million (from Rs 433.1 million in year ago period). 

The company?s Ebitda loss came down to Rs 15 million, as against an operating loss of Rs 51.5 million in the second quarter of FY?10.

However, on quarter-on-quarter basis, income from operations went up 25 per cent.

Balaji Telefilms? realisation per hour from commissioned programming (HSM) increased to Rs 2 million as against Rs 1.85 million in the previous quarter. Sponsored programming increased from Rs 390,000 in the previous quarter to Rs 480,000 per hour.

Hours of commissioned programming increased from 102 hours in previous quarter to 120 hours, while sponsored programmes reduced from 105 hours in previous quarter to 99 hours in the current quarter.

During the quarter, Balaji Telefilms? four shows were airing on Hindi general entertainment channels while five regional shows were on regional broadcasters. Two regional shows were discontinued in the quarter.

The company?s total investments stood at Rs 2.21 billion as of September 2011, including Rs 300 million invested in a wholly owned subsidiary ? Balaji Motion Pictures.