MxMIndia

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  • The agency won the business following a multi-agency pitch based on its understanding of the real-estate business

    DDB India bags creative duties of Nirmal Lifestyle

    By A Correspondent

     

    In the wake of a multi-agency pitch, DDB India, part of DDB Mudra Group has won the creative duties for Nirmal Lifestyle. It will be handled out of Mumbai office.

     

    The agency won the business following a multi-agency pitch based on its understanding of the real-estate business. The size of the business is said to be in the range of Rs25-30 crore.

     

    Elated with the win, Rajiv Sabnis, President, DDB India said: “Dharmesh Jain’s vision of a Fit India and creating a living environment where people can enjoy sports, is what really excited us about the business. For any sports lover and someone whose passion has been sport, this is an opportunity to pursue their passion. We look forward to partnering the team at Nirmal in creating a very distinct sports lifestyle brand in the realty space. This is a brand to watch out for in the long run.”

     

    Confirming the win, Rajeev Jain, Director, Nirmal Lifestyle, “We, at Nirmal Lifestyle, have a vision to be the largest real estate company by 2020. In the last ten years, Nirmal Lifestyle has successfully built state-of-the-art residential and commercial spaces. Our Nirmal Lifestyle mall is one of the largest open dome malls inIndia. We are focused on making sports and fitness a part of everyone’s life in the next 10 years. Keeping this growth plan in mind, we wanted an agency to understand our vision, translate it into a visual and make it more relatable for our audience. We have found just the right partner in DDB India. We are happy to welcome them in our family and looking forward to a great working relationship with them.”

     

    DDB India has started the creative duties for Nirmal Lifestyle from February 1.

     

  • An industry first that enables a tapeless TV commercial delivery that is faster, cheaper and greener

    Star India invites advertisers to “Go Digital, Go Green” with STAR Content LIVE

    By A Correspondent

     

    In yet another game-changing move, Star India is pleased to announce Star Content Live, an industry first where the network will provide its advertisers and business partners a tapeless TV commercial delivery service which is faster, cheaper and greener.

     

    Star Content Live is a digital solution that enables the advertisers to deliver their TV commercials for telecast across the Star Network. This service will enable better cost and time efficiencies across the value chain and is a tapeless end-to-end workflow that is safe for HD and SD digital advertisement distribution.

     

    Star Network has always been extremely conscious of its carbon footprint and this initiative also forms an integral part of the movement to reduce the same by terminating the use of tapes for all TV commercials telecast across the network.

     

    With Star Content Live, the advertisers can turn around their campaign faster by instantly uploading their TV commercials. It is cheaper because it helps save costs incurred on betas for multiple campaigns, edits, languages and channels. It is also a greener option that helps reduce carbon footprint.

     

    Announcing this as an industry first, Kevin Vaz, President, Ad Sales, Star India Pvt. Ltd. said: “At Star, we believe that receiving tape-based commercials from advertisers is riddled with time and cost inefficiencies. The order-to-air cycle is slow and involves logistical and preparation costs such as purchasing tape, dubbing, shipping, digitising again for play-out and so on. It is also vulnerable to outside factors such as custom hold-ups, traffic which can further delay the process. Going tapeless, in addition to being a greener option, also eliminates many of these inefficiencies. We are sure that our advertisers, business partners and eventually the whole TV broadcast industry would move to this digital solution sooner rather than later.”

     

    Advertisers on Star Network can avail of this service by delivering their commercials using any one of the following three options:

     

    Option 1: Upload commercial as a file on http://content.startv.com/tvc via the internet.

    Option 2: Drop the commercial in a returnable hard drive at the Star TV kiosks located in Mumbai, New-Delhi and Kolkata.

    Option 3: If the commercial is being compiled at a Prime Focus studio, the studio can pick up the final files from the edit suite itself.

     

    STAR India is a leading media and entertainment company, broadcasting 33 channels in eight languages to more than 400 million people every week across India and more than 100 countries across the globe. Star India has defined India’s broadcast entertainment industry for over two decades with its unparalleled reach and unrivaled thought leadership position. Today STAR India is a sprawling media conglomerate, with a number of widely admired properties that transcend the barriers of language and culture and enlivens the lives of millions of Indians every hour of the day.

     

  • Surender Sharma's show on 92.7 BIG FM & BIG Magic, the first time inIndiathat a daily show features simultaneously on two media platforms

    Reliance Broadcast launches ‘Kings Of Kavis’

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) on Thursday announced the launch of their show with Surender Sharma – one of India’s most famous Hindi poets and humorists on 92.7 BIG FM and BIG MAGIC.

     

    For the very first time a top humorist will feature simultaneously on two media platforms through a single show titled ‘Hasya Panchayat’. The famous hasyakavi, popularly known as Sharmaji, will feature daily across 92.7 BIG FM stations in Hindi speaking regions as well as on BIG MAGIC, with his hilarious trademark one-liners to people’s queries on different subjects related to everyday life.

     

    Sharmaji, known for his straight faced, glum expression, offered fans a brilliant glimpse of his show at Shivaji Stadium Airport Metro where he, along with other eminent hasyakavis, participated in the ‘Hasya Panchayat’, and made the crowd burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter.

     

    Together with his fellow kavis, he presented a range of enjoyable poems and on a serious note urged listeners to reflect on modern-day issues such as inflation, corruption and unemployment. From the election fever in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab to popular Bollywood flicks such as Dirty Picture, the humorist took on some very hot topics and added his distinctive touch of humour and sarcasm to them.

     

    The 92.7 BIG FM show will entertain listeners for one hour every evening and will feature the best of Sharmaji’s performances on a special weekend show.

     

    The artist will simultaneously feature on BIG Magic’s daily show titled ‘Hasya Panchayat’ in a special segment, where he will present his hilarious take on different topics. People from the Hindi heartland of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Biharand Jharkhand will also get to watch shorter capsules featuring Sharmaji’s celebrated one­-liners.

     

    Speaking at the event, company spokesperson said: “Few things in life can compare to the joy one gets in making someone laugh. We’re proud to bring a much-loved persona like Surender Sharma into the lives of our consumers and trust his wittiness will give us many reasons to laugh. This double treat on 92.7 BIG FM and BIG Magic will ensure people never miss out on the King of Kavi’s rib-tickling humour.”

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited is a multi-media entertainment conglomerate with play across radio, television, intellectual properties and out of home. It is part of the Reliance Group and specializes in creating and executing integrated media solutions for brands.

     

  • The newspaper carried a 16-column colour picture with the lead story of the day, with both, the front and back pages working seamlessly together as a unified 'front' page

    Lokmat Media thanks record-breakers with innovation

    By A Correspondent

     

    In what is possibly the first instance of a broadsheet newspaper innovation, Lokmat Media Limited used the full 16 columns across the front and back pages for a lead picture to physically communicate the size and scale of a world-record-setting event. It also spread its ‘front’ page coverage seamlessly across the back page over a span of 16 columns, perhaps creating another world record for its latest media innovation.

     

    Rishi Darda, Editorial Director & Joint MD, Lokmat Media Ltd, said: “Lokmat Connect had just assembled over a lakh of people in the stadium, and another 40 to 50 thousand outside, on a mid-week working morning, to set a world record for singing the National Anthem. It seemed as if all of Aurangabadresponded to our call to set the world record. So when we had our post-event editorial meeting to plan the next day’s issue, one of our main priorities, apart from excellent editorial content, was: How do we give the readers a sense of the scale of the mammoth turnout? While a picture normally speaks a thousand words, our lead picture bespoke a lakh”

     

    “To the best of my knowledge and belief, it was a world-first: a 16-column colour picture with the lead story of the day, with both, the front and back pages working seamlessly together as a unified ‘front’ page, ” he added.

     

    Getting a lakh-and-half people, which is around 8 per cent of Aurangabad’s population to congregate on a working day morning, is no mean feat. “Lokmat’s media innovation is not just a celebration of that success, but, more importantly, our way of thanking everyone who turned up, putting their lives on hold for the hours they spent with us,” said Mr Darda.

     

    Lokmat’s innovation not just communicated the scale, but also had a clever element of surprise for the reader. When one picked up the newspaper and saw the front page, it had a beautifully aligned 8-column banner picture. The layout of the other elements on the front page looked like a normal, well designed front page. “Only when the reader opened the paper and glanced at the back page did the picture reveal itself to be a full panoramic 16-column spread, and the editorial content on the back page too merged, seamlessly, with the front page layout,” explained Darda.

     

    Explaining the world record attempt, Mr Darda said: “Media brands do several things to connect with their readers. Ours was an activation exercise driven by patriotism, and a solemn sense of our duty to the nation. We wanted to help people gift to the nation, a World Record around our National Anthem, on the eve of Republic Day. We were not only commemorating 100 years of Jana Gana Mana, but also celebrating 30 years of our solid presence in, and bond with, Aurangabad.”

     

    Fittingly, even the massive backdrop had only Jana Gana Mana on it, with a tiny ‘Lokmat’ below – like its salute to the National Anthem.

     

    The media innovation was made possible by the depth of Lokmat’s emotional and enduring connect with the people it has been partnering and serving in their day to day lives for the past 30 years. “It was a never-before connect managed brilliantly by Lokmat Connect, our Events specialist team, which has organized many mega events. This connect with the people of the city, across barriers of caste, community, gender and age groups is what empowers us to contribute to and make an impact on the life of every Maharashtrian in general and Aurangabadkars in particular,” said Mr Darda.

     

  • The 10 millionth vehicle, a Red Swift Vxi, was dispatched toCoimbatoreon Thursday morning from the Company's Manesar plant

    Maruti Suzuki attains 10 mn domestic sales mark

    By A Correspondent

     

    Maruti Suzuki India Limited crossed the 10 million cumulative domestic sales mark here on Thursday. It is the only automobile company inIndiato cross this milestone. The company, which had rolled out its first car in December 1983, attained 5 million domestic sales in February 2006. The next 5 million domestic sales have been achieved in six years.

     

    The 10 millionth vehicle, a Red Swift Vxi, was dispatched toCoimbatoreon Thursday morning from the Company’s Manesar plant.

     

    While Maruti 800 and Omni powered sales for almost two decades, the Alto has beenIndia’s best-selling car for the last over seven years. In recent years, the success of WagonR and Swift, among others, has accelerated the company’s progress towards the 10 million mark.

     

    Dedicating this milestone to customers, Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said: “Maruti Suzuki’s success story is closely linked with the success story ofIndiain the last two decades. Even asIndiahas grown and transformed, Maruti Suzuki has evolved to meet changing demands. We will continue to drive the growth and evolution ofIndia’s car market. I thank employees, dealers and suppliers for their support and commitment.”

     

    To mark the occasion, Maruti Suzuki has unveiled a celebration edition of its SX4 sedan. The exclusive special White SX4 carries the celebration dome decal and body graphics.

     

  • Ten Golf to be launched in India; official broadcast partner for PGTI tournaments

    PGTI, Ten Golf ink three-year deal

    By A Correspondent

     

    Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India, on Thursday announced a three-year exclusive partnership with the soon-to-be-launched sports channel, Ten Golf.

     

    The deal provides Ten Golf with the broadcasting rights for all PGTI-sanctioned tournaments within and outside the country from 2012 to 2014. Ten Golf  is India’s first exclusive golf channel.

     

    Announcing the partnership, Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said: “Professional golf inIndiahas had strong positive growth over the last five years under PGTI. We are at a stage now where it is important for us to showcase the depth of Indian talent and their achievements with the support of a professional electronic medium. To further grow golf, and project the opportunities and the potential the sport has, it is important to have a strong broadcast partner. With Ten Golf we see strong synergies, and are confident that their expertise, knowledge and bandwidth will substantially help take Indian golf to the next level.”

     

    Mr. Atul Pande, CEO, Taj Television India Private Limited, said, “Our sports broadcast strategy of building committed viewers in specific sports, has led to the idea of the golf channel – Ten Golf. Our tie up with PGTI will help in strengthening the Indian Tour. We will be working closely with Asian Tour and European Tour to bring world class golf action for viewers inIndiaand the subcontinent.”

     

    When Ten Golf launches in March, it will broadcast a weekly show titled “Inside the PGTI”. This show will highlight the best golfing action from PGTI events and will feature golfers on the PGTI circuit. The sports channel will also air special promos and fillers based on Indian golfers and the PGTI tour.

     

    Ten Sports bouquet of channels are the leading sports channels in Indian Subcontinent. Ten Golf will be the latest addition to the bouquet of products offered by Taj Television Limited, whose portfolio includes Ten Sports, Ten Cricket, Ten Action+, Ten HD. TEN bouquet of channel reaches 100 million households acrossIndia.

     

    Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognized official body of professional golf inIndia. PGTI’s objective is to promote professional golf in the country as well as give players an opportunity to be involved in decision making for all aspects of the game.

     

  • On an overall level, the index had peaked during the mid-months of 2011 but most months saw the index about 20 per cent lower than the July 2008 levels.

    Media hiring 9% higher in Jan than Dec

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Indian entertainment and media sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy, and has witnessed tremendous growth in last couple of years.

     

    In January 2012, hiring activity in the media sector saw a growth of 9 per cent above December 2011 levels and 3 per cent above the January 2011 levels.

     

    The May 2011 index at 1025 was the highest point on the job index in three years. The last three months of 2011, however has seen some dipping hiring numbers.

     

    Hitesh Oberoi, CEO and MD, Info EdgeIndiasaid “With the beginning of the new year, the recruitment scenario seems to be moving in a positive direction. However, this year, firms will be more particular about recruiting the right talent and employees who can make meaningful contributions to the firm.”

     

    Thus, on an overall level, the index had peaked during the mid-months of 2011 but most months saw the index about 20 per cent lower than the July 2008 levels.

     

    Naukri.com, India’s No. 1 job site, is the flagship brand of Info Edge. It revolutionized the concept of recruitment inIndia. Since its inception in 1997, Naukri.com has seen continued growth while outperforming its competitors in every sphere. Info Edge is the first internet Company to be listed inIndia.

     

  • In its seventh edition, the event continues with its focus on in-store environment, but with a delivery strategy that ensures that all content needs are addressed

    Build shopper equity with In-Store Asia 2012

    By A Correspondent

     

    Inflationary trends, recessionary portents, policy paralyses and cautioned consumer sentiments were some of the phrases that defined the overall business outlook for almost every industry inIndia over the past year and retail was no exception.

     

    But going into the new-year, Indian retailers and brands are expected to focus on managing overall profitability without any significant scaling down of expansion plans. If managing profitability is the key to the success of retailing in these uncertain times, then there never was a better incentive to invest in productive store environments, in-store practices and shopper marketing programs.

     

    And any investment made to understand and make most of the current shopper zeitgeist is not only an investment that will help harness mid-term profitability but an initiative that will ensure long-term profitable shopper equity.

     

    Thus helping build shopper equity this February is In-Store Asia 2012, slated to take place from February 16, 2012 to February 18, 2012.  In its seventh edition, the event continues with its focus on the in-store environment, but with a finely honed delivery strategy that ensures that all content needs across a range of formats and practices are addressed.

     

    Talking about the change in the delivery strategy, Sachin Jante, Chief Content Planner & Marketing Strategist, VJ Media Works, said: “The transformation in approach will be evident on various levels. At the primary level, existing modules have been tweaked to enhance effectiveness like, for example, the convention has been bifurcated along product service categories, further on the creation of an exclusive designer pavilion at the Expo. Then there is the addition of new modules and programs that enhance, recognize the varied aspects of in-store environment and people, like the Material Lounge, POPAI OMA Awards, a live VM challenge module and an exclusive VM workshop for students.”

     

    There is lot more to look forward to at In-Store Asia 2012; the three days are all set to offer everything from wisdom to solutions to help build shopper equity. Standing true to its essence In-Store Asia’s seventh edition promises to be a platform for leveraging and cultivating effective sophistication in retail endeavours.

     

  • Inorbit Malls have created an online forum on Twitter and launched a dedicated 24 hour customer SMS service

    Inorbit Malls’ interactive feedback mechanism on Twitter & SMS

    By A Correspondent

     

    Inorbit Malls, the pioneers in mall culture in India, now brings to its shoppers an interactive feedback mechanism that will enable them to connect with their consumers in real time as well as provide a forum for consumer interaction and response. Inorbit Malls have created an online forum on micro blogging site, Twitter as well as launched a dedicated 24 hour GSM customer short messaging services (SMS).

     

    The feedback mechanism will enable an expeditious and inexpensive forum to shoppers for resolution of complaints relating to certain services rendered by the mall. All that the consumers, who are active on Twitter, have to do is #InorbitMall on twitter while posting their queries or complaints and Inorbit Malls will respond immediately. A dedicated digital and social media team has been set up, which will monitor these posts and respond to shoppers in real time.

     

    Similarly, people who are not active online can send an SMS with key word ‘FEEDBACK’ on 9619792233. The query will be stored after the mechanism captures the key words, which will thereafter send an alert to the response team for further action. The response team will respond to all the queries within 24 hours.

     

    Talking about this initiative Kishore Bhatija, Chief Executive Officer, Inorbit Malls Pvt Ltd, said: “Consumer engagement and feedback is an integral part of brand awareness and commitment. As a brand, it is extremely critical to understand and connect with consumer on a personal level, as these help us in improving and furthering brand experiences. With this feedback mechanism, we will able to communicate with our shoppers in real time and build trust in the brand.”

     

  • The campaign, promising not to carry paid news during elections, was appreciated by the readers

    “No Paid News” in Dainik Bhaskar

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dainik Bhaskar has unveiled a campaign  ‘No Paid News’ with a promised to readers that they will not be misguided.

     

    Simple yet stark statements and visuals in a very common man’s language and imagery were used to drive home the differentiator and the message was amplified by radio. The campaign ran through the entire election duration ending with the polling.

     

  • She will be responsible for building both the DDB Mudra and Mudra brands in Delhi.

    Vandana Das to join DDB Mudra, Delhi as President

    By A Correspondent

     

    Vandana Das, President and Branch head at Brand David, a sister agency of Ogilvy, is all set to come on board the DDB Mudra Group as President. She will be responsible for building, both, the DDB Mudra and Mudra brands in Delhi.  She brings with her more than two decades of experience including more than fifteen years at Ogilvy.

     

    A post graduate in Psychology and Business Administration, Ms Das is credited with the significant growth that Ogilvy Delhi has enjoyed in the last few years. Besides successfully turning around many Dabur brands across the hair care, skin care, oral care and home care categories, she launched the hugely successful Maruti Zen Estillo Little box campaign, a completely integrated effort that spanned television, print, OOH, digital as well as rural marketing.

     

    She played a significant role in transforming Limca from an uninspiring brand to a very refreshing drink for the youth. She has also worked on Costa Coffee, Hindustan Times and Four Square Cigarettes. At Ogilvy Delhi, Vandana also served as a training leader.

     

    Speaking on the new development, Madhukar Kamath, Group CEO and MD of the DDB Mudra Group said: “I am glad that Vandana is coming on board. I look forward to working closely with her. In the Group, we are keen on building our Delhi operations around her. I was impressed with not just her dynamic leadership capabilities, but also her boundless energy and lively people skills. Both, in terms of culture and mindset, she will be a great fit and asset within the DDB Mudra Group.”

     

    Vandana Das said; “It has been great working with Ogilvy for the past 17 years and my time spent has been very enriching and will always be cherished. It is now time to explore other opportunities and I am excited. DDB Mudra is poised for even greater growth and I am looking forward to being part of the team that will steer it.”