MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • 9XO, the international music channel from the 9X Media Group, has launched a comprehensive international music store online called www.9xo.56060.in

    9XO launches online music store and WAP Portal

    By A Correspondent

     

    9XO, the international music channel from the 9X Media Group, has launched a comprehensive international music store online called www.9xo.56060.in. This is the second online store by 9X Media Group which has earlier successfully launched a Bollywood music store for 9XM. Besides www.9xo.56060.in, 9XO has also created a WAP Portal to download Videos, Wallpapers, Ringtones and Audio Packs.

     

    9XO in association with Techzone — aggregators, developers, publishers and distributors of entertainment content, boasts of an enviable collection of the best of international music. This online music destination will allow music lovers to stream as well as download the audio content of their favourite international music.

     

    Speaking on the initiative, Vibha Gosher, Sr. VP, Digital, 9X Media Group, said, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Techzone for this initiative. In India, International music is seldom promoted in comparison to other genres of music content. Despite of this, the consumption of international music on mobile is almost five to seven per cent of the overall music content in the country. In the age of smart phones and tablets, great content, at an affordable pricepoint powered by robust technology is a sure formula to make a significant footprint in the Music industry. The availability of a large repertoire of international songs on the store will definitely make it the preferred destination for international music enthusiasts.”

     

    Thrilled about the tie-up with 9XO, Naveen Bhandari, Director of TechZone says, “We are glad to be associated with 9XO in creating this online web store. Techzone is the only player in India that has presence in the international music market and captures majority for mobile. Our users are mobile and internet savvy and the online store is a part of our efforts to make the entire gamut of international music available to consumers legally and at a very affordable price. We are sure to delight our users with the large library of songs and video titles available through our online store.”

     

  • How does a vibrating chip relate to the Polo and the Vento? I really hope the cars don't vibrate while being driven, that would be quite alarming!

    Debrief: Volkswagen’s senseless ‘innovation’

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Volkswagen celebrated 9/11 with ‘shock and awe’. No, they didn’t drive their zippy cars into buildings, they did something even more spectacular: Stick a vibrator on the last page of certain newspapers, as the message read: ‘Feel the shiver of excitement?’. If this provided some, ahem, excitement to the female readers, that was short-lived; the gizmo was a cheap chip that vibrated the entire newspaper… this is Volkswagen’s method of showing us that they are an innovative company.

     

    Well, Volkswagen has fooled around with newspapers with their wild ideas on previous occasions too, so this was nothing new. Clearly, their strategy, much like that desperate cartoonist called Trivedi, is to get attention at all costs (and for Volkswagen, the cost of these tricks must be phenomenal). So, yes, the idea worked, people hotly discussed the vibrator in the social media.

     

    However, I would urge Volkswagen to try and put out ideas that connect with their cars. How does a vibrating chip relate to the Polo and the Vento? I really hope the cars don’t vibrate while being driven, that would be quite alarming! So this is trickery for the sake of trickery. And that’s not very smart thinking.

     

    Also, must tell you, I had to purchase the TOI from the street vendor after I heard about the vibrating newspaper. And this is because my own copy arrived all soggy and wet (9/11 was a very rainy morn in Mumbai), water had seeped into the contraption and it had gone kaput! Again, hope that sort of stuff doesn’t happen to Volkswagen’s gaadis in the monsoons, hehe.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 1. Silly, costly, irrelevant ‘innovation’.

     

  • Carrier Midea India Pvt. Ltd. has appointed DDB Mudra Delhi as its creative agency for the Midea Brand. DDB Mudra Group was entrusted with the account after a multi-agency pitch

    Carrier Midea appoints DDB Mudra for creative

    By A Correspondent

     

    Carrier Midea India Pvt. Ltd. has appointed DDB Mudra Delhi as its creative agency for the Midea Brand. DDB Mudra Group was entrusted with the account after a multi-agency pitch. The agency’s main focus will be on strategic planning and creative execution for both ATL and BTL requirements of the Midea brand. Led by Vandana Das, President, DDB Mudra Group, the account will be managed out of Delhi.

     

    Carrier Midea India is a new entrant in the Indian home appliances market and has aggressive marketing plans. The business was awarded to DDB Mudra Group based on its strong strategic recommendation and sharp point of view on positioning the brand Midea in the competitive Indian consumer durables market.

     

    Confirming the agency appointment, Sanjay Mahajan, Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Carrier Midea India said, “We are delighted to partner with DDB Mudra. They have a proven track record of creating brands, remarkable campaigns and fresh ideas. The team is proactive, extremely passionate and provides a good balance of thinking and doing. Also, we are poised for growth with major expansion plans and are confident that our partner agency will play a critical role in achieving our marketing goals. We look forward to work with them.”

     

    Vandana Das, President DDB Mudra Group, said, “Wins are always delighting, but this specific one, we are even more delighted as we would be partnering with Carrier Midea India for a full fledged launch of the Midea brand in the country. We would be adopting an integrated approach to launch it across all consumer touch points, in the months ahead.”

     

  • She will be the only woman ambassador for Brand Pepsi, which is also endorsed by the Ranbir Kapoor and M S Dhoni.

    Priyanka Chopra back as Pepsi’s brand ambassador

    By Nandini Raghavendra & Ratna Bhushan

     

    Priyanka Chopra is making a comeback as brand ambassador for Pepsi after four years, riding on her new, yet to be released avatar as a singer and her recent success at the box office, which the beverage-maker believes will help connect it with young consumers again.

     

    The deal is estimated at over Rs 4 crore a year, one of the biggest deals for the actress, an official aware of the details said. “It is likely that Pepsi will extend their association to Priyanka’s debut music venture as well,” he added. Earlier in May, PepsiCo and social networking platform Twitter announced a global music partnership, called ‘Live for Now Music’.

     

    Priyanka, one of Bollywood’s highest paid actors, who endorses Nokia phones, Nikon cameras, Hero two-wheelers and Garnier cosmetics, among others, had walked out of a deal with Pepsi in 2008 over endorsement fee, two people in knowledge of the development said. Over the last four years, Priyanka has reworked her movie career and will release her first solo album for Universal Music later this year. PepsiCo, on the other hand, is looking for fresh campaigns to beat a slowdown in sales.

     

    A PepsiCo spokesman confirmed the association with Priyanka as the brand ambassador for Pepsi. She will be the only woman ambassador currently for brand Pepsi, also endorsed by Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni and actor Ranbir Kapoor.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2012, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

    Photograph: Fotocorp

     

     

     

  • To begin with, it is the developers who went to court, it is they who should be paying the penalties on late VAT payment. Why are the developers being allowed to pass this burden on to flat owners?

    Anil Thakraney: Flat buyer ki VAT lag gayi!

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    One industry that rarely gets attention in the media is the real estate sector. And that is strange, it should be under the scanner all the time. In nexus with dirty politicians, certain developers have not only usurped public land, they have directly contributed to promoting massive corruption in the country.

     

    Developers are in the news these days (for the wrong reasons, of course), because the Maharashtra government is all set to levy VAT on properties purchased between the years 2006 and 2010. The developers’ association went to court against this order, but they lost the case in the High Court, though the final verdict has still to arrive from the SC.

     

    When I first read about this news, I almost collapsed from a heart attack. Imagine a middle class aadmi being suddenly ordered to cough up lakhs of rupees for no fault of his. (I bought my house in the year 2008.) Later when I discovered that the VAT is only applicable on properties purchased in under-construction projects, I shrieked hysterically with joy, as I don’t fall in that unlucky category. But thousands of residents who do, will now suffer. Simply because the developers are merrily passing on the VAT burden and the late penalties onto the flat owners.

     

    Where is the justice in this? To begin with, it is the developers who went to court, it is they who should be paying the penalties on late VAT payment. The residents had no fricking clue about this! So then why are the developers being allowed to pass this burden on to flat owners? Secondly, many developers hid the clause of the possible VAT payment from the buyers, while selling the flats. So why must the latter suffer today because of this deliberate omission of fact? To give you an example: If the developer had said to me at the time of booking the flat, ‘Dude, the total cost is Rs 75 lakhs, but you may have to shell out another five lakh rupees because of VAT’, I might have backed out of the deal altogether. But this wasn’t communicated to me.

     

    So, as usual, the poor consumer will suffer. The developers and the state government will both, as usual, laugh all the way to the bank (or wherever else they keep the loot). I really think the mass media and the business press needs to keep a sharper eye on the goings-on in the glittering world of real estate business. I am actually looking out for many sting operations to happen.

     

    ***

    PS:  Seems like Volkswagen’s ‘vibrating’ innovation has landed the company in a bit of bother. Someone from Volkswagen posted a highly sexist and offensive tweet, obviously miffed at all the negative comments in the social media. And then they quickly deleted the said tweet, but it was too late, the damage had been done. So who’s the one shivering now? Hit the link for details on the sexist tweet.

     

    http://lighthouseinsights.in/volkswagen-india-twitter-fail-story.html

     

  • The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has appointed Arvind Sharma, Chairman of India Sub Continent, Leo Burnett, as Chairman of the Board.

    Arvind Sharma appointed ASCI Chairman

    Arvind Sharma

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has appointed Arvind Sharma, Chairman of India Sub Continent, Leo Burnett, as Chairman of the Board. Partha Rakshit, Proprietor, Partha Rakshit Associates, was elected Vice-Chairman; and Vikram Sakhuja, CEO-South Asia – Group M Media India was re-appointed the Honorary Treasurer.

     

    I Venkat, Director – Eenadu, and the outgoing Chairman of ASCI said, “The last year has seen ASCI take various initiatives to strengthen the self-regulatory system. These included increasing the frequency of Consumer Complaints Council to twice a month, introduction of the Fast Track Service, having a National Conference on Strengthening Self-Regulation of Advertising Content, engaging with young creatives through a Mobile Film Contest at the Goafest, interacting with the Department of Consumer Affairs and participating in their conferences on misleading advertisements. ASCI has taken a giant leap forward in introducing the National Advertising Monitoring Service (NAMS) which monitors 1,500 TV and 45,000 newspaper ads per month. All in all a very satisfying year for ASCI. ASCI is the first self-regulatory body in the world to initiate monitoring of almost all newly released ads in print and TV nationally with NAMS.”

     

    Arvind Sharma said, “It is indeed an honour to be elected as Chairman of ASCI which has progressively contributed to effective self-regulation in advertising content. We are confident that the ad sector, industry body’s regulators, consumer activists and the general public will actively seek ASCI’s services and take self-regulation forward.”

     

    As a member of the Board of Governors for seven years, Mr Sharma has provided active support to self-regulation in the advertising movement.

     

    During the year 2011-12, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) met 16 times and considered 2,986 complaints against 176 advertisements. Of these, complaints against 103 ads were upheld, while 69 were not upheld and 4 were considered non-issues. In 89 cases, the complaint upheld ads have been voluntarily withdrawn or modified as per the CCC’s decisions resulting in over 86% compliance rate.

     

    The other members of the new Board of Governors include: Advertisers: Narendra Ambwani (Agro Tech Foods), Hemant Bakshi (Hindustan Unilever), Rajiv Dube (Aditya Birla Management Corporation), Shantanu Khosla (Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care), Media: Rajan Anandan (Google India), Sunil Lulla (Times Global Broadcasting Co.), Benoy Roychowdhury (HT Media), I. Venkat (Eenadu); Advertising Agencies: Subhash Kamath (BBH Comms India), Srinivasan Swamy (R.K. Swamy BBDO). Allied Professions: Dilip Cherian (Perfect Relations), Dhananjay Keskar (IBS), Pranesh Misra (Brandscapes Consultancy P. Ltd.).

     

  • Gone are the days when 'creative' lived in a world of its own. Media agencies have to embrace creativity and assimilate it into their thought and work processes.

    The Anchor: CVL Srinivas on 5 reasons all media agencies need to be creative

    CVL Srinivas

    By CVL Srinivas

     

    #1 Media is part of the overall creative product – media agencies cannot be divorced from ideas and creativity. While a great amount of number-crunching and accountability measures can be brought into play, ultimately it is the power of the idea that makes a brand. Media agencies need to contribute to these ideas and not come in their way.

     

    #2 The role of a media agency is changing from managing throughput to creating experiences. To be able to create experiences and not just deliver exposure for brands, media agencies have to think creatively about their business and their future. Otherwise media agencies will remain throughput engines and soon lose their relevance.

     

    #3 Digital is bridging the gap between media and creative. If digital media solutions are to be effective, media agencies need to contribute as much to the creative as to the digital media strategy.

     

    #4 The explosion of content is fuelling media solutions of a different kind. Today there are numerous opportunities to ride on existing content or create a solution through a piece of entertaining content. Media agencies are equipping themselves to deliver on this front. It’s like having a mini creative agency within a media agency.

     

    #5 Given the high level of fragmentation and the mushrooming of specialist agencies, be it in digital or analytics or content, media agencies need to creatively tap into the ecosystem and work with partners to ensure that they stay ahead of the game. Media agencies can no longer live in their own siloed world.

     

    CVL Srinivas is the Chairman, SMG India and Managing Director, LiquidThread – APAC

     

  • There is just one reason behind the PM's sudden burst of energy (following his comatose posture since the year 2009) and the announcement of a slew of economic reforms. Uski lagi hui hai, as my tapori pal from Colaba says.

    Anil Thakraney: PM’s last desperate act

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    There is just one reason behind the PM’s sudden burst of energy (following his comatose posture since the year 2009) and the announcement of a slew of economic reforms. Uski lagi hui hai, as my tapori pal from Colaba says. MMS has been battling one mega scam after another, and at this rate, not only are his own days numbered, so are his government’s. Singh has also been getting repeatedly trashed in the media, both local and international. He knows he’s going down the tube, and the reforms are a last ditch measure to gain a few quick brownie points. The reforms package announcement has also moved the media’s attention away from the assorted scams, and this must have been a part of the master plan.

     

    No matter. Whatever be the reason, the reforms are more than welcome, at least some of the foreign investor confidence shall get restored. Even if the Congress’s allies and its rivals put in roadblocks along the way. I was in London recently, and over a drink, my corporate friends out there said to me the India Inc story is pretty much over, that the focus is back on China. And this is the general sentiment across the world. Clearly, something had to be done and done fast, and one hopes that MMS, now that he knows he’s crashing out, will set into motion many more reforms. Not just in aviation and retail, FDI needs to be invited into many sectors, particularly those related to core infrastructural projects, education and health.

     

    That the UPA isn’t coming back in 2014 is a given. It is also true that things won’t be any rosier under BJP’s leadership. (Unless Narendrabhai becomes PM, which is highly unlikely, what with his aides being sent to prison enmass on charges of rioting). Therefore, am happy that MMS has woken up at last, and is thinking about India for a change.

     

    It doesn’t sound very nice that the fading Manmohan Singh will be best remembered for facilitating the arrival of Wal-Mart and IKEA into India. But I can live with that.

     

    ***

     

    PS: Although I am not really a fan of swear words – I believe it’s the cheapest way to get attention – it is true that they are being flung around quite freely these days. And the ad world guys and gals are most notorious for this habit. Here’s an interesting article on how to use swear words effectively, and without causing offence. And how it can actually help in bonding with people.

     

    Link: http://www.tatler.com/news/articles/september-2012/mind-your-language

     

  • The Dainik Bhaskar Group has put the Maharashtra success case study by IIM Bangalore before the industry to analyse

    Industry to analyse Dainik Bhaskar case study

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Dainik Bhaskar Group has placed IIM Bangalore’s recently completed classroom case study of Dainik Bhaskar group’s Maharashtra success, titled ‘Aspiring Growth’, for the industry to analyse.

     

    The case showcases the fast-paced expansion of the group into 13 markets and the successful launch of Divya Marathi in Aurangabad, Maharashtra with a roaring success with five editions within such a short span of time. The case leaves the reader with a pertinent question in the current scenario ‘Which market/ territory / language should Dainik Bhaskar Group enter next?”

     

    The contest will follow a two-stage process. In stage 1; teams registering at Dainikbhaskargroup.com will send in their summary of recommendation and approach. In Stage 2; 5 to 7 shortlisted teams will then finally make presentation to a jury of Bhaskar team, senior fraternity members and IIM Bangalore professor Ms Seema Gupta who has developed the case. The winner team stands to get Rs 1,00,000 as prize money.

     

    Elaborating on this further, Sanjeev Kotnala, Vice President, Dainik Bhaskar Group said, “Before the case was finalised, we had two classroom sessions at IIM Bangalore and the Brand team raised a simple question – what if the case was to be solved by the media-advertising-marketing fraternity. This was the birth of this unique innovative contest. We debated this with Prof Seema Gupta, who has been encouraging and excited by the innovative contest. She agreed that this will make the case that much stronger for future classroom discussions. We as a team are gearing to hear some totally differentiated point of view and approaches- as the professionals working within the industry definitely have an advantage.”

     

    The contest is open to professionals in media, advertising, communication and marketing and students of premier management institutes, he added Those wishing to register and download the case can do so at www.dainikbhaskargroup.com.

     

  • Hungama Digital Media Entertainment and ITC's Vivel Face Wash have unveiled a new TVC called 'MOBISur – Sitaron Ki Talaash with Shankar Mahadevan' to look for India's first digital talent hunt

    Vivel launches ‘digital talent hunt’ with Hungama

    By A Correspondent

     

    Hungama Digital Media Entertainment along with ITC’s personal care brand, Vivel Face Wash, has unveiled a new television commercial called ‘MOBISur – Sitaron Ki Talaash with Shankar Mahadevan’ to look for India’s first digital talent hunt, which will give millions of Indians an opportunity to become a singing star.

     

    This talent hunt enables participation from anywhere in the country; all that a participant requires is a mobile phone or an internet connection. This property empowers the participants to break the queue and forego travelling to the nearest city for an audition. The winners of the contest will get an opportunity to record an album with Shankar Mahadevan which will be released by T Series and Hungama. The winners will also receive Rs 5 lakh rupees.

     

    Developed by Meridian Communications, the TVC features well-known Indian musician Shankar Mahadevan encouraging aspiring singers, who don’t get enough time out of their busy schedules, to showcase their talent through this platform. The TVC also features the ‘Ghar baithe baithe famous singer bano’ concept that highlights the various ways to participate in the contest so that the aspirants can live their musical dreams.

     

    The contest has already received a phenomenal response since its launch with over 4,50,000 call-ins on IVR and more than  6,00,000 entries on the website in just 40 days.

     

    The TVC is currently on air across various music and other GEC channels. The latest TVC can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FonHDegCo9A.

     

    Credits:

    Meridian Communications Pvt Ltd

    Creative: Anurag Khandelwal, Satish deSa

    Account Management: Mohit Ahuja, Abhishek Nand

    Production House:

    Jack in the Box

    Director: Myles

    Producer: Ashlesha Bangia

     

  • The BIG CBS Network is readying to launch its latest home-grown property, India's Prime Icon, which will be dual-cast across its targeted channels – BIG CBS Prime and Bloomberg TV India.

    BIG CBS Prime, Bloomberg TV to simulcast India’s Prime Icon

    By A Correspondent

     

    The BIG CBS Network is readying to launch its latest home grown property India’s Prime Icon which will be dual-cast across its targeted channels – BIG CBS PRIME and Bloomberg TV India. The show aims to get Indians choose their icons – successful and celebrated personalities who inspire and influence them the most! The USP of the property is that it allows people to choose their icons from across all sectors of life, be it sports, entertainment, business, politics or social welfare.

     

    With BIG CBS Prime and Bloomberg TV India, both targeting premium audiences, the show has been designed to ensure it meets the entertainment requirements of the upwardly mobile males, seeking this quality content. India’s Prime Icon will bring forth the lifestyle of Indian society’s elite personalities and evaluate them basis qualities which will make them the prime icons of the country.

     

    Speaking of the show, Anand Chakravarthy, Business Head, BIG CBS Networks said, “Our country boasts of some of the most influential men and women who are an inspiration, role model and icons for the people. India’s Prime Icon is a new concept, which has not been explored in the past and which indicates at an opportunity to connect with audiences. Both BIG CBS Prime and Bloomberg India are premium channels, making them perfect platforms to reach out to the right audience mix, both for this show as well as for marketers.”

     

    The show is designed to give audiences a peek about the life stories of some of India’s most distinguished men and women. Seagram’s 100 Pipers collaborates in this initiative. Bikram Basu, VP-Marketing, Pernod Ricard India,commented on this association, “Seagram’s 100 Pipers stands for True Legends. Our association with BIG CBS Prime’s India’s Prime Icon show reiterates our common values, and brings our brand closer to India’s true icons.”

     

    Recommendations for India’s Prime Icons will come from none other than the audiences themselves, through a voting system, and will see prominent personalities – from across business tycoons, sports personalities, entertainers, Bollywood celebs etc. making it to the list. Following this, an eminent jury will qualify the entries and shortlist the top 20 icons. The 20 icons will be revealed on the Channel each evening during prime time and a voting window will be kept open for 24 hours so that viewers can vote for their favourite icons, which decided the Top 10 icons.

     

    The Top 10 icons will then battle it out to the coveted title of India’s Prime Icon, with each episode unveiling one icon showcasing never heard before stories of their lives, style statements, achievements, sex appeal, philanthropy popularity and more…

     

    To ensure optimal reach, BIG CBS Networks has planned an extensive marketing campaign for the show. The network will engage audiences on multiple touch points ranging radio, television, out of home media and social media.

     

  • For the second year in a row, Hansa Events and Activation has been chosen by Vodafone to showcase the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team F1 car across eight cities in India

    Hansa builds up F1 fervour; showcases VMM F1 car for Vodafone across India

    By A Correspondent

     

    For the second year in a row, Hansa Events and Activation has been chosen by Vodafone to showcase the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team F1 car across eight cities in India. This is part of Vodafone’s promotion in a lead-up to the races in New Delhi.

     

    Sujit Kote, GM, Hansa Events and Activation, Mumbai, said, “The show-car activity was a tremendous success last year due to which we have been chosen to handle this again this year. Besides Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai, the activity will also be done in Hyderabad, New Delhi, Kolkata and Bhopal. Over 300,000 consumers have already participated and are part of the social media buzz that’s been built around this.”

     

    Hansa Events & Activation, has included a car simulator allowing fans at the airport and malls in Mumbai to experience racing in a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car at racing tracks across the world.

     

    Hansa Events & Activation is part of the R K Swamy Hansa Group, a leading Marketing Communications and Services Group, serving over 250 leading companies in India and the USA.