MxMIndia

Category: MEDIA

  • Tangerine will support IndiaCast to publish its Video on Demand content

    IndiaCast appoints Tangerine Digital for digital content management

    By A Correspondent

     

    IndiaCast Media Distribution, a joint venture of TV18 and Viacom18 has appointed Tangerine Digital Pvt Ltd, digital content management agency to manage the digital content of their flagship channels on digital platforms. As India’s first multi-platform ‘Content Asset Monetization’ entity, IndiaCast is mandated to drive domestic and international channel distribution, placement services and content syndication for TV18, Viacom18, A&E Networks, TV18 and the Eenadu group. Tangerine will be responsible for curating and packaging all Video on Demand (VOD) content in order to aid discovery for IndiaCast while at the same time, ensuring stringent turnaround time for publishing of episodic videos.

     

    Tangerine will bring its experience in content management and metadata services for the broadcast industry. They will not only assist IndiaCast in its endeavour to increase operational efficiencies to consolidate their distribution functions of both media houses but also support the distribution venture reach newer markets. Tangerine will capture, curate and publish episodic videos of six channels (including Colors TV) within 45 minutes of its premier on-air telecast in India. It also will create individual episodic videos of shows like Balika Vadhu and Uttaran etc of Colors in addition to regional content from five of ETV’s bouquet of channels.

     

    Anuj Gandhi

    Commenting on the relationship with Tangerine, Anuj Gandhi, Group CEO, IndiaCast said, “Tangerine has been a very strong partner in growing our digital footprint. The team has always delivered successfully to our tight and aggressive schedules and has a rapid and effective response mechanism to meet dynamics of the digital environment. We are pleased to work with Tangerine and look forward to a long term fruitful association.”

     

    Kesavan Kanchi Kandadai, CEO, Tangerine Digital Pvt Ltd, said, “The media distribution industry is currently witnessing a phenomenal revolution in the way media content is circulated and consumed. Increased bandwidth and easy access of Internet through tablets and smartphones is fuelling exponential growth of online video consumption, in turn unlocking new channels in the way content is created, distributed and monetized. We at Tangerine are entirely focused on this evolving digital environment and will continue to pioneer new and creative ways to engage, entertain and inform audiences. We believe we have the capabilities and the focused strategic approach and expertise to add value to the brand IndiaCast.”

     

  • Jai Maharashtra, a 24-hour news and current affairs channel, was launched on May 1, 2013

    Aidem to handle ad sales for Jai Maharashtra

    By A Correspondent

     

    Media consulting, marketing and advertising sales company, Aidem Ventures, has been appointed as an advertising partner for Sahana Group’s Marathi news channel, Jai Maharashtra.

     

    Jai Maharashtra is a 24-hour news and current affairs channel that was launched on May 1, 2013. With Mandar Phanse as the editor and Tulsidas Bhoite and Ravi Ambekar as the executive editors, the channel boasts of having gained tremendous traction in the Maharashtra market, and of a modern infrastructure to broadcast Digital Quality Signals promising exceptional clarity.

     

    “Regional channels accounted for approximately 27% of total television viewership in 2012, which is proportionate to the advertising market share they commanded during the same period. Advertising interest in regional markets is strong and broadcasters see immense potential for revenues from local advertisers who are willing to pay a premium to reach their targeted audience. From our own experience with regional channels, we have come to realize that a staggering number of advertisers are seeing the benefits of developing localized communications strategies using sponsorships, promotions and integrated branded content around regional TV. It gives us immense pleasure to be associated with Jai Maharashtra and look forward to driving its vision,” said Alok Rakshit, Business Head, Regional and News Broadcast, Aidem Ventures.

     

    “The Aidem team has a good understanding of the Indian advertising market and we believe they’ll help us connect better with our advertisers better. We look forward to a continued association with them to help us achieve better yield for the channel over the long term,” said Waahiid Ali Khan of Sahana Group of Companies.

     

    “Given Aidem’s proven track record in the news TV advertising trade, this association is a great way to begin the new financial year,” said Adil Mateen, President, Sahana Films Pvt Ltd.

     

  • Big Magic, the regional general entertainment channel from the Reliance Broadcast Network stable has signed a distribution deal with Airtel Digital TV

    Big Magic inks distribution deal with Airtel DTH

    By A Correspondent

     

    Big Magic, the regional general entertainment channel for the core Hindi heartland of – UP, MP, Bihar and Jharkhand – from the Reliance Broadcast Network stable has signed a distribution deal with Airtel Digital TV, the DTH service arm of leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel.

     

    Big Magic will now be available on Airtel Digital TV on channel  631, making it the only DTH player apart from Reliance Digital TV to air the channel.

     

  • The Bobby-Pawar team will now go for the kill. Ms Srivastava brings a fair deal of experience and that will bring in some interesting clients

    1 Minute View: With Bobby-Partha-Ambika @ Publicis: Ab Aayega Mazaa!

    Friday, May 31 is clearly the day when Nakul Chopra can take a bow for what’s a masterstroke for his agency.

     

    It’s not that Publicis has been down in the dumps. It’s got a dozen-odd metals at the Creative Abby, and has some loyal clients.

     

    However, it’s performance is not what one would expect from a pedigreed agency.

     

    Mr Chopra is right in his interview to MxMIndia: it’s the combo of Bobby Pawar and Partha Sinha which will make the difference to the agency. The former JWT strongman (Mr Pawar) got the wrong end of the stick on the Ford Figo scam ad controversy. It is evident that while he was responsible for the act, he actually didn’t do it. And if the buck stopped at him, it finally stopped at the desk of someone else too.

     

    The Bobby-Pawar team will now go for the kill. Ms Srivastava brings a fair deal of experience and that will bring in some interesting clients.

     

    As our headline says: Ab Aayega Mazaa!

     

  • The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has announced Hyderabad based Celkon Mobiles as the Title Sponsor of the Tri Nation Series to be played by West Indies, India and Sri Lanka. The series will be known as the Celkon Mobile Cup and will be played in Jamaica and Trinidad from June 28 to July 11, 2013.

    Celkon Mobiles is Title Sponsor of Tri Nation Series

    By A Correspondent

     

    The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has announced Hyderabad based Celkon Mobiles as the Title Sponsor of the Tri Nation Series to be played by West Indies, India and Sri Lanka. The series will be known as the Celkon Mobile Cup and will be played in Jamaica and Trinidad from June 28 to July 11, 2013.

     

    Celkon Mobiles, one of leading manufacturing companies in India, is a pioneer in mobile phone solutions and wireless technologies in the Country. Celkon caters to the increasing smart needs of mobile users across the world.

     

    Commenting on the occasion, Y Guru, Chairman and Managing Director, Celkon Mobiles said, “Celkon Mobiles is delighted to be associated with WICB in the Tri-series as the Title sponsor. Cricket, as we all know is like a religion in India and connects instantly with the youth, a huge target audience for our brand. As a brand, and we believe cricket is right platform to connect with the youth of today that represents high energy, competitiveness and innovation. We look forward to an exciting series and a great association with all partners in making this series a huge success”.

     

    WICB CEO, Michael Muirhead commented: “We are delighted to have Celkon Mobile on board as the sponsor of the Tri Series. The Celkon Mobile Cup is a high profile series for us with the participation of two of the ICC Cricket World Cup champions – India – and the World Cup finalist Sri Lanka in addition to our own ICC World Twenty20 champions West Indies.”

     

    The title sponsorship of the series is part of the WICB’s granting sponsorship and marketing rights for the series to Technology Frontiers, an Indian based company and ITW Consulting which will be marketing the series to potential brands. Technology Frontiers acquired title sponsorship rights to the series, which includes on field, stump, sightscreen and some perimeter advertising.

     

    WICB Commercial Manager Nelecia Yeates said West Indies cricket will benefit from the association with Technology Frontiers and ITW. “We have leveraged the expertise of Technology Frontiers and ITW in the Indian market which have accrued benefits to the WICB and West Indies Cricket. This arrangement has become common practice in the sports business and we are pleased that Technology Frontiers have been able to bring Celkon on board along with other mega-brands in India,” Mr Yeates said, adding, “What is most exciting for us as a region is that for the first time in the Caribbean we will have fully digitized perimeter advertising for all the matches, which is now the norm in the IPL and Premier League football in England. This initiative takes us into a whole new realm of maximizing our cricket branding for international matches and is one in which we will be looking to repeat and expand for future series as well.”

     

    Managing Director of Technology Frontiers, Muralidharan Srinivasan commented: “Technology Frontiers is pleased to partner with WICB for the upcoming Tri Series with West Indies, India and Sri Lanka. At Technology Frontiers we have constantly endeavored to bring in innovation and technology into sports to elevate the brand experience and this series will be the first Tri Series to have 100% digital branding on ground similar to IPL. We look forward to an exciting tournament and partnership with WICB.”

     

  • The ITV network has become among the first media houses in India to be a signatory of UNWEP charter by signing up for Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

    ITV network signs UNWEP charter

    By A Correspondent

     

    The ITV network has become among the first media houses in India to be a signatory of UNWEP charter by signing up for Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

     

    A release said that ITV has always accepted that women are an invaluable resource of the economy and that their role in corporate world should be widened and reinforced. Along with the seven other Indian signatories, it has participated in encouraging the Indian private sector companies to become signatories of these principles.

     

    According to the Grant Thornton International Business Report 2013, globally, 24 percent of senior management roles are now filled by women. This is up from 21 percent in 2012 and 20 percent in 2011. On the other hand, the percentage of women in senior management in India is just 14 percent, a level that needs attention from the corporate and business world.

     

    Considering Indian women’s participation percentage in senior level management, there is a need to have significant transitions in work culture keeping in mind the gender bias inherent in every aspect of Indian society. It is time to create awareness and instinct among people about women empowerment and gender diversity.

     

    “We have launched this initiative to generate awareness among people about gender sensitivity, through our channel and persuade women of our nation to participate in the growing economy by their valuable contributions to the corporate world,” said R K Arora, CEO, ITV network.

     

    “Our main objective is to integrate a perfect blend of male and female participation in the organization to encourage diversity in thought processes and work cultures to achieve the business objectives in the best possible gender balanced way” said Shikha Rastogi, Vice President, Human Resources, ITV network.

     

    ITV has taken this initiative as it believes in these seven principles and has internalised them in its own operations. The company wants to build in the same trust among other organizations, so that efficient use of latent talent of women employees can lead this nation to a new paradigm of excellence.

     

  • Focus Circle, the creative arm of Focus, launches the first TVC created for worldoo.com, an online ecosystem for children. This will be the first time that a website dedicated to kids has come up with a TVC.

    Focus launches Worldoo’s first TVC

    By A Correspondent

     

    Focus Circle, the creative arm of Focus, launches the first TVC created for worldoo.com, an online ecosystem for children. This will be the first time that a website dedicated to kids has come up with a TVC. The campaign rolls out today with the aim of targeting kids, as a part of creating wider awareness about the platform.

     

    Speaking on the campaign, the creative team including Nayan Bagawde and Deepak Band from Focus Circle said, “Creating communication for kids is always a challenge. They have short attention spans and have strong opinions about what they like and dislike. Worldoo.com as a platform involves a number of interesting aspects and highlighting all of them in 30 seconds was impossible. Hence, we chose not to talk about Worldoo’s offering, instead we tried and teased the kid with words and expressions that intrigued them to find more about the site. The film is a collage of disorderly expressions constituting a Worldoo experience. We hope that the film will be a strong hook for kids, one that leads to a discovery in their actual game play in Worldoo.com.”

     

    Harsh Wardhan Dave

    Highlighting the vision for the website, Harsh Wardhan Dave, Head – Experience & Brand, Worldoo.com said, “The sole intention of launching the TVC for Worldoo was that of inviting children to explore the uncharted territory of online ecosystem. Worldoo is a unique platform which showcases role play of kids without any involvement of parents’, reinstating the fact that the platform is safe and is specially designed for kids to live, express and play. With the TVC we aim at reaching out to an audience spanning across metros, semi and non metros. We hope that we can hook the kids with the campaign and instills the sense of discovery in them.”

     

    This TVC release will be witnessed across the Category A media like Cartoon Network, Pogo, Disney and Zee Q. The TVC campaign will be supported by marketing efforts, on-ground activations and key strategic associations.

     

  • Network18's online news portal Firstpost.com has acquired FakingNews.com, which will remain as a standalone entity with Rahul Roushan as its editor.

    Firstpost acquires satire portal Faking News

    By A Correspondent

     

    Network18’s online news portal Firstpost.com has acquired FakingNews.com. FakingNews.com will remain as a standalone entity, and founder Rahul Roushan will remain its editor.

     

    “Two years after launch that we are a social news product is beyond doubt. Our audience through social networks and the interaction on our site, have proven, unequivocally, that social relevance will drive our future,” saidDurga Raghunath, VP Product and Exec News Producer, Firstpost.

     

    “Our first step into this future, is the acquisition of Faking News, a site that has defined satire and humour writing in India. Our strong belief is that those who are digital news addicts, are also those who have an enormous appetite for satire,” she added.

     

    Rahul Roushan of Faking News said, “It was clear that the ‘next step’ involved finding the right partners for growth, and growth in the right direction. Faking News had to continue being a “news satire” website and not lose its focus. And after a lot of thinking and evaluating various options, I decided to go ahead with Firstpost. Firstpost is not your typical “mainstream media” outlet. It values its readers, it believes in interaction, and doesn’t see the “social media” as its antithesis.”

     

  • The TRAI has releases a consultation paper on 'Monopoly/ Market dominance in Cable TV services'

    TRAI releases consultation paper on Cable monopolies

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper on “Monopoly/ Market dominance in Cable TV services”. MIB has sought recommendations of TRAI on restriction to be imposed on Multi System Operators (MSOs)/ Local Cable Operators (LCOs) to prevent monopolies/accumulation of interest in order to ensure fair competition, improved quality of service, and equity.

     

    Notes a communique: “There are currently no restrictions on the area of operation and accumulation of interest in terms of market share in a city, district, State or country by individual MSOs and LCOs in the cable TV sector. It has been observed in some States that the majority of the cable TV network is controlled by a single entity virtually monopolizing the distribution of cable TV services in these States. Such monopolies/ market dominance may not in the best interest of consumers and may have serious implications in terms of competition, pricing, quality of service and healthy growth of cable TV sector.”

     

    The full text of the Consultation Paper is available on TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in.

     

    Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by June 24, 2013 and counter comments, if any, by July 1 2013. The comments and counter comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form to Rajkumar Upadhyay, Advisor (B&CS), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, on the e-mail: rkupadhyay@trai.gov.in or traicable@yahoo.co.in.

     

  • Data from major e-tailing sites in the monthly tracker shows that online visits to designer labels and book segments has increased by 58 percent and 76 percent respectively, compared to the corresponding month last year.

    e-tailing websites saw 2253.35 million page views: IAMAI

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Internet Economy Watch Report for the month of April 2013, released by the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), indicates 24.84 million people accessed various e-tailing sites. There were 2253.35 million page views in the category. The user reach for job and matrimonial websites is 13.28 million and 7.17 million respectively with 447.68 million and 104.99 million respective page views. As compared to e-tailing and job and matrimonial websites, online travel segment has less reach with 11.14 million reach and 477.52 million page views. The total time spent by users on the e-tailing, online job portals, online matrimonial portals and online travel portals was 52014276 seconds, 25687398 seconds, 7281667 seconds, and 22959918 seconds respectively.

     

    Fig 1

    Source: IAMAI/ Different websites

     

    Report also states a significant y-o-y growth of 87 percent in online booking of railway tickets when compared with the numbers of corresponding month last year. Railway tickets booked online in April 2013 were 4.00 million as compared to 2.14 million in April 2012. The online bookings of air tickets witnessed a decrease of -37 percent with 0.57 million bookings in April 2013 as compared to 0.91 million bookings in April 2012.

     

    Fig 2

    Source: IAMAI/ Online Travel Portals

     

    According to the data captured from major e-tailing sites in the monthly tracker, online visits to designer labels and book segments has increased by 58 percent and 76 percent respectively, when compared to the numbers of the corresponding month last year. A significant increase has been registered in the online users visit to mobile segment. The number of visits has increased to 7.07 million in April 2013 from 4.52 million in April 2012. The online users visit to spa and restaurant segment decreased from 0.57 million in April 2012 to 0.57 million in April 2013, a y-o-y decrease of 38 percent.

     

    Fig 3

    Source: IAMAI/e-Commerce sites

     

    In April 2013, the number of profile uploads on matrimonial sites has indicated a y-o-y growth of 4 percent. The number of resume uploads in April 2013 was 1.06 million as compared to 1.09 million in corresponding month last year, a y-o-y decrease of 3 percent. The number of profile uploads on matrimonial websites was 0.64 million in April 2013 as compared to 0.62 million in April 2012.

     

    Fig 4

    Source: IAMAI/ Vertical Classifieds

     

    The monthly internet tracker by IAMAI is based on absolute numbers captured from various relevant sites, and encapsulates online usage for E-tailing, Online Travel and Vertical Classifieds.

     

  • The Star Network's Kannada General Entertainment Channel Suvarna will telecast its 5th edition of Suvarna Film Awards on 8th & 9th June, 6pm onwards.

    5th Suvarna Film Awards on June 8 & 9

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Star Network’s Kannada General Entertainment Channel Suvarna will telecast its 5th edition of Suvarna Film Awards on 8th & 9th June, 6pm onwards.

     

    These awards are given as a recognition of talent to the Kannada film Industry by Suvarna every year.

     

    Maiyas is the event’s title sponsor and Lux Fragrance is the powered-by sponsor.

     

    The show features Kannada film industry stars including Ravi Chandran, Radhika Pandit, Parul Yadav, Deepa Sanidhi, Shweta Srivastav, Prem, Aindrita Ray, Sindhu, Kitty and Deepika Kamaiah.

     

    The show is anchored by comedy trio Sadhu Kokila, Ravi Shankar and Tabla Naani.

     

    Anup Chandrashekharan, Business Head of Suvarna, said, “Our film awards is a stage where we recognize and honour the talent of the Kannada film industry. This is the fifth edition of the Suvarna film awards and I am very happy with the support we have got from the film fraternity. All the performers and the crew have worked very hard to make this event a successful one and I hope the viewers enjoy the show.”

     

  • Sunfeast Kannadada Kotyadhipathi, the Kannada version of the international game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and its Hindi counterpart Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), will air the 50th episode of its second season today at 8 pm with Radhika Pandit as the special celebrity guest.

    Kannadada Kotyadhipathi 50th episode special with Radhika Pandit

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sunfeast Kannadada Kotyadhipathi, the Kannada version of the international game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and its Hindi counterpart Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), will air the 50th episode of its second season on June 4 at 8 pm with Radhika Pandit as the special celebrity guest.

     

    Puneeth Rajkumar and Radhika Pandit have earlier been seen together in blockbuster movies like Hudugaru. Their on screen magic will now be seen on the biggest game show of Karnataka – Kannadada Kotyadhipathi.

     

    The show has caught the imagination of television viewers, contestants and many aspirants, and has already changed the lives of people who have taken the hot seat opposite its host Puneeth Rajkumar. Today, Kannadada Kotyadhipathi has emerged as a popular forum for many needy individuals of the society that include students, physically challenged people, senior citizens, economically backward people, homeless and philanthropists.

     

    Celebrity guests like Prabhu Deva, Upendra and Malashree have also come forward to donate their earnings from the game show towards various charitable causes.

     

    Anup Chandrashekaran, Business Head of Suvarna Channel, said, “It gives me immense joy and pleasure to see how Kannadada Kotyadhipathi has realized the dreams of so many Kannadigas. I would like to thank Puneeth Rajkumar for anchoring this show and for making it a successful project. I would also like to thank the viewers and the contestants who have made Kotyadhipathi a successful show.”

     

    Kannadada Kotyadhipathi airs on Suvarna Channel at 8 pm from Monday to Thursday.