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, the channel was sold to Disney in 2006. Currently Hungama TV is under Star India, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India.

History

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.
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.
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. In 2006, Disney acquired Hungama TV from UTV.
The channel started with both live-action and animated programming but, following the success of Doraemon, gradually shifted its focus to solely animated programming. In 2013, Hungama started adding original Indian series as a part of a localisation strategy.

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. 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.