MxMIndia

Category: MEDIA

  • Web18's news portal, IBNLive.com, launched its latest app on the iPad, offering 360-degree news coverage, in just a tap. Within just a day, the app raced to occupy the No 1 slot for all Indian apps.

    News on ‘tap’ from IBNLive

    By A Correspondent

     

    Web18’s news portal, IBNLive.com, launched its latest app on the iPad, offering 360-degree news coverage in just a tap. Within just a day, the app raced to occupy the No 1 slot for all Indian apps.

     

    The IBNLive app, which is available as a free download on the iTunes store, now gives the user instant access to the entire gamut of news from the world of politics, business, sports, entertainment and technology, on the iPad platform, taking the user experience to a completely new level. This in-depth coverage is augmented with live TV, real-time coverage, blogs, photo galleries and videos on demand.

     

    Commenting on the offering, Mr Lakshmi Narasimhan, CEO, Web18 said, “The response of the IBNLive mobile app across all smartphone platforms was incredible and now, we have just taken news consumption to a new level with the IBNLive app for the iPad. This has been vindicated by the fantastic reviews and the app reaching the top slot in the iTunes store within just a day of its launch.”

     

    Speaking on the product, Mr Arunava Sinha, Head – IBNLive.com and Cricketnext.com, said, “The IBNLive iPad app was envisaged as a revolutionary offering to give our users the power to access News, on just a TAP. An array of unique features like integrated newsreading, newswatching and newsviewing; Live TV; and Cricket scores; apart from a host of other exciting features makes sure that we keep people informed even while on the move.”

  • The entrepreneurial bug seems to have cast its spell on yet another industry veteran as Nikhil Mirchandani, the business head (TV) at RNBL has decided to move on.

    Nikhil Mirchandani quits RBNL, turns entrepreneur

    By A Correspondent

     

    The entrepreneurial bug seems to have cast its spell on yet another industry veteran as Nikhil Mirchandani, the business head (television) at Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) has decided to move on and turn entrepreneur. While details of his venture are not known, senior sources at RBNL have confirmed the move.

     

    Mr Mirchandani, who started his career with GE Capital as a business manager, has held several senior posts across major networks. Mr Mirchandani has served as the EVP & GM at Star One, the Hindi general entertainment channel. Prior to that he was Managing Director of NGC Network and Fox International Channels.

  • NDTV released their quarter results which ended on September 30, 2011. NDTV consolidated income rose to Rs 114 crore from Rs 86 crore in the same quarter last year, an increase of 32 percent.

    NDTV shows growth in quarter results

    By Akash Raha

    NDTV released their quarter results which ended on September 30, 2011. NDTV consolidated income rose to Rs 114 crore from Rs 86 crore in the same quarter last year, an increase of 32 percent. Consolidated expenses have fallen to Rs 133 crore from Rs 152 crore in the same quarter last year. There is also a Sharp growth in NDTV’s lifestyle, digital and consultancy businesses.

    The operating loss this quarter stands at Rs 19 crore, compared to a loss of Rs 66 crore same quarter last year. NDTV 24×7 continues to enjoy market leadership in the English news genre. According to the latest study conducted by GfK Mode, with a sample size of 12,224 viewers across 14 cities, NDTV 24×7 is watched by 56% of the viewers (SEC AB, Male 25+).

    NDTV Good Times, the flagship channel of NDTV Lifestyle is the number 1 lifestyle channel in the country as per TAM ratings. Advertising revenue has seen a substantial jump in the second quarter of the year. NDTV Convergence, which operates www.ndtv.com, witnessed a jump of 66% in page views. With an average of 12 million unique visitors a month, this makes NDTV one of the most formidable news sites in India.

    NDTV Worldwide continues to strengthen its client base every quarter by providing solutions and media consultancy to more than 15 clients, across India and the world.

  • Reliance Broadcast Network’s BIG Street retains OOH mandate for the premium Line II of Delhi Metro till 2016.

    Delhi Metro Line II is BIG Street’s till 2016

    By A Correspondent

    Reliance Broadcast Network’s OOH arm, BIG Street, has retained the mandate for Line II of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). This 10.46-km stretch covers prestigious commercial, office, shopping and government office areas of central Delhi through its nine high-footfall stations.

    The stations are Vishwavidyalaya (Catering to North Campus of Delhi University and Residential Areas in North Delhi), Vidhan Sabha, Civil Lines, Kashmiri Gate (interchange between Lines 2 and 1, as well as connecting to the Kashmiri Gate ISBT (Interstate bus terminus), Chandni Chowk & Chawari Bazaar (Commercial Hub of Delhi), New Delhi (Connecting to the Reliance Metro – Airport Line as well as to the New Delhi Station of Indian Railways),Rajiv Chowk (Connaught Place – Office hub and shopping hub the central business district of Delhi), Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat (Interchange station with Line 6). DMRC has already been one of the most successful mandates for BIG Street, and especially Line II. BIG Street has successfully hosted a host of innovations for its clients that boast of marquee brands across sectors – BFSI, FMCG, consumer goods, automobile, fashion etc.

    With this retention of Line II and other DMRC mandates i.e. Line III (21 stations between Barakhamba and Dwarka)  as well as Delhi Metro Airport Express, BIG Street has access to 40 Metro stations and nearly 75 percent of the commuters, making it the largest OOH player in Delhi Metro. The lines on DMRC, when combined with its digital pods – across malls and DMRC stations, street furniture, large format hoardings, Reliance Metro – Airport Line (between IGIA and New Delhi Stations) and BIG Cinemas, provides BIG Street a reach to almost 25 lakh Delhi-ites each day.

    Commenting on the development, Rabe T Iyer, Business Head, BIG Street said, “We feel proud to have bagged this OOH mandate of DMRC for the second time in a row. The DMRC metro service is probably the most widely used public transport in Delhi whose passengers are mostly professionals across relevant SECs. Within a short time of being in the business we have firmly established ourselves as innovators for a wide variety of our clients who found value for money in campaigns initiated on their behalf by BIG Street. We will continue to provide innovative platforms connecting marketers to relevant audiences.”

     

  • According to the 2011 Forbes India Rich List, the combined wealth of India’s 100 percent richest people is down 20 percent from a year ago to US$ 241 billion.

    Rich list going down: Forbes India

    By Akash Raha

     

    According to the 2011 Forbes India Rich List inflation, corruption scandals and falling stock and currency prices are causing the wealth of India’s richest to diminish. According to the 2011 Forbes India Rich List, the combined wealth of India’s 100 percent richest people is down 20 percent from a year ago to US$ 241 billion. This year’s list also has 57 billionaires in all, a dozen less than last year.

     

    Mukesh Ambani holds the top spot for the fourth year in a row, with a net worth of $22.6 billion this year, despite seeing a drop of $4.4 billion. Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal remains No.2 with a net worth of $19.2 billion, down 26% from last year. Despite the recovery in steel demand, shares of his flagship, ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaker, plunged 40% due to surging costs.

     

    The biggest dollar loser was Mukesh’s younger brother, Anil Ambani, down $7.4 billion; he slipped out of the top 10 for the first time since his 2004 debut to No. 13 this year. His net worth is estimated at $5.9 billion, down from $13.3 billion last year.

     

    Third richest is Azim Premji, head of IT outsourcer Wipro, whose net worth of $13 billion is lower by 26 pecent from $17.6 billion last year. Mr Premji donated $2 billion worth of shares last December to a trust to fund his education charity.

     

    Naazneen Karmali, India Editor of Forbes Asia and Mumbai bureau manager of Forbes magazine, said: “This has been a turbulent year for India’s richest. Despite the economy growing at close to 8 percent, a spate of corruption scandals and rising inflation have taken a toll.”

     

    There are 14 new faces on the list this year. The richest debutante is Ajay Kalsi, coming in at No. 38 with a net worth of $1.39 billion. He is the founder and CEO of London-listed oil and gas outfit, Indus Gas, in which he has more than two-thirds stake.

     

    Father-son duo Kapil and Rahul Bhatia of travel group, InterGlobe Enterprises, make their debut at No. 51, with a net worth of $1.09 billion after their budget carrier IndiGo became India’s third-largest and most profitable airline. Making the list for the first time is also V G Siddhartha, who is ranked 84 on the list with a net worth of $595 million. He founded and runs Café Coffee Day, India’s answer to Starbucks.

     

    Indrajit Gupta, Editor of Forbes India, said: “Even though it’s been another tough year for the wealthiest Indian entrepreneurs on the 2011 India Rich List, the fact that there are as many as 14 new entrants is a clear pointer to the exciting and diverse business opportunities in this part of the world.”

     

    Among the 15 who dropped out of the top 100 altogether are Vinod Goenka and Shahid Balwa, former billionaires now in jail for their alleged involvement in a telecom corruption scandal; both deny wrongdoing. L. Madhusudan Rao of power producer, Lanco Infratech, saw his net wealth fall 78%, more than anyone else on the list.

     

    Only 19 of the 85 who return to the ranking are better off. One notable winner is Sun Pharmaceutical Industries’ Dilip Shanghvi at No. 11. He is the biggest dollar gainer and worth $6.7 billion, up by $1.5 billion from last year. The biggest percentage gainer is Hero Group patriarch, Brijmohan Lall Munjal, ranked No. 21 with $2.7 billion, who broke off his long-standing partnership with Honda Motor.

     

    This year, a minimum net worth of $370 million was needed to make the list of 100, down from $500 million last year. The full list of India’s 100 richest can be found in the October 2011 issues of Forbes Asia and Forbes India, which are available on newsstands now.

    The top 10 richest in India are:

     

    1) Mukesh Ambani; US$22.6 billion

     

    2) Lakshmi Mittal; $19.2 billion

     

    3) Azim Premji; $13 billion

     

    4) Shashi & Ravi Ruia; $10.2 billion

    5) Savitri Jindal; $9.5 billion

     

    6) Sunil Mittal; $8.8 billion

     

    7) Gautam Adani; $8.2 billion

     

    8) Kumar Birla; $7.7 billion

     

    9) Pallonji Mistry; $7.6 billion

     

    10) Adi Godrej; $6.8 billion

     

    Net worths are based on shares prices and exchange rates on October 12. Privately held companies were valued by comparing them with similar publicly traded companies. This ranking, unlike the Forbes billionaires list, has been broadened to include family fortunes.

     

    For more information and the complete list, visit www.forbes.com/india.

  • What’s-On-India’s distribution reaches 40 million, with 15 million homes added in October.

    What’s-On-India reaches its 40 million target

    By A Correspondent

    The What’s-On-India Channel – India’s premier TV guide and preview channel – is continuing to steadily strengthen its audience reach nationwide. With a view to further expand its horizons; the channel has now announced its launch on two of India’s most reputed DTH platfoms, DD Direct, Channel No 34, Reliance DTH Channel No 101 along with other reputed analog operators across India. The current addition with its existing distribution on Airtel DTH, DISH TV, Hathway, Digicable, and 1200+ cable operators now totals close to 40 million homes across India.

    Commenting on the development, Abrar Shaikh, General Manager, What’s-On-India, said: “We are happy to announce that our channel is now available on DD Direct, Reliance DTH and our distribution is now close to 40 million homes. We had stated 40 million as our target number in the beginning of the year and we are happy to be welcoming the promised new audiences into our fold.”

    A release from the company stated, “The six hundred plus channels strong Indian TV industry has more than one hundred news channels, over 50 movie channels and general entertainment channels, music channels, sports, infotainment and children’s channels, not to mention ultra specialist channels in genres such as Food, Crime, and Education. In that respect, Indian television has come of age in terms of the content offering to consumers. However this explosion of choice poses a serious challenge for consumers and that is to get to the right content. What’s-On-India is one of the first models in the country that is committed to bringing viewers closer to the shows and programs they seek based on their tastes and interests. “

     

  • Mid Day promoted Ask Me for the third time in one month.

    Mid Day hattrick for AskMe

    By A Correspondent

    AskMe was looking at promoting their positioning ‘sabka number ek’ and wanted to generate maximum attention through the promotion. Taking this brief forward, Mid Day created a package for AskMe inside which MiD DAY was wrapped. This package highlighted ‘sabka number ek’ positioning of AskMe along with focus on its features.

    This package was first delivered to Mid Day readers on October 14, 2011. Such was the impact of MiD DAY innovation for AskMe that AskMe implemented the same innovation two more times completing a hattrick for the innovation. Thus a second package was distributed to MiD DAY readers on October 16 and for those who could not grab their Mid Day AskMe package the last two times can grab the third package on October 31.

    Speaking on the innovation, Manajit Ghoshal, MD & CEO, MiD DAY Infomedia Ltd. said, “The effort with this innovation is to stand out and create buzz for our client. This is the third time we doing this innovation within this month which is a testimony to our success at creating hype and packing a punch. The prime motive of the innovation is to communicate in a simple, yet effective manner ensuring call to action. The placement of the number was also very strategic, so as to ensure maximum recall for our readers. Our focus is to adapt to each brand and clients requirement and leverage our strengths to deliver an effective communication platform.”

  • In association with T-Series, RED FM regales its listeners with superhit compilations.

    RED FM to launch Superhits TOP 30

    By A Correspondent

    This Diwali, RED FM celebrates the joy of the season with full-on entertainment and energy. Presenting an absolute dhamaka to its listeners, in association with T-Series, RED FM announces the simultaneous launch of 93.5 RED FM SUPERHITS TOP 30, across its network. To be unveiled on October 26, this Superhits CD boasts of a compilation of the Top 30 songs from Bollywood movies released this past year.

    93.5 RED FM SUPERHITS TOP 30 is a reflection of the CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) format followed extensively by the station. With the launch of the music CD, the station for expression will engage its listeners through exciting on-air contests giving them an opportunity to win their very own copy of the 93.5 RED FM SUPERHITS TOP 30.

    Speaking about the association, Mr Rana Barua, COO, RED FM 93.5 Network said, “Listeners tune into RED FM because they know that it is the only radio station that plays contemporary hit music across shows. Similarly T-Series has regaled the audience over the years with one chartbuster after another. Through this association with T-Series, the listeners are in for a very good time as they will be treated to an exclusive compilation of 30 rocking chartbusters. This endeavor, will surely usher the festive celebrations with gusto!”

    Says Mr Neeraj Kalyan, President, T-Series, “We are delighted to partner with RED FM in launching Superhits T30 music CD which is a compilation of chartbusters that has been serenading the airwaves all year round! Since RED FM is the only radio station that plays contemporary hit music, our synergies matched effortlessly. Through this partnership, we intend to reach out to maximum number of people across the cities this Diwali.”

    With songs from the movies such as Rockstar, Dabangg, Ready and Delhi Belly amongst others featuring in the CD, RED FM reinforces the fact that it is the only radio station that breaks the clutter by promoting contemporary super hit music!

    Says Nisha Narayanan, Senior VP Projects & Programming, RED FM 93.5 Network, “Superhit Top 30 has always been the trademark for Red FM. It is this show that is associated with RED FM across India. Thus, with the kind of response the show has received, Red FM has decided to launch the compilation of top 30 songs in a CD and who better to do it with than TSeries. The compilation consists of the best voted songs in the chartbusters for the last one year. We are happy to have associated with one of the best music company – ‘TSeries’ and hope that our clients and listeners like this gesture of us in the form of Superhits Top 30 for this festive occasion.

  • For BEST food, ZenithOptimedia is the best choice (for media)

    By A Correspondent

    ZenithOptimedia India has been appointed as media planning and buying partner for BEST Foods Limited, one of India’s largest rice producers, engaged in supply and trade of rice, health and wellness products. ZenithOptimedia won the business through a competitive pitch amongst the top 4 media buying agencies in New Delhi.

     

    Confirming ZenithOptimedia’s appointment, Dr Aayushman Gupta, Business Director of BEST Foods Limited said, “We are delighted to have ZenithOptimedia as our media partners for our India launch. Their deep understanding on launching brands in India and their holistic approach helped us decided on ZenithOptimedia.”

     

    “In an over-cluttered marketplace, it becomes imperative to communicate through effective communication mediums. Our neutral touch point approach will help optimize the best marketing mix for the launch,” said Mr Satyajit Sen, CEO, ZenithOptimedia India.

  • History channel has made its mark in the very first week itself, with 19.8 million viewers across India tuning in.

    History chalks up high in 1st week

    By A Correspondent

    Making History from the launch week

    Factual entertainment channel History, which debuted its India edition on October 9, has made its mark in the very first week itself, with 19.8 million viewers across India tuning in. With a connectivity of 50 million households across on leading cable TV platforms, History cuts across segments and demographics, and took the Factual Entertainment Genre up by 24 percent in just the first week. History also garnered significant market share in the launch week across market clusters. In All India 1mn+ (including Metros), History ranks as a strong No 2 with 24 percent market share vis-à-vis Discovery (32 percent) and Nat Geo (18 percent) and ahead of the other factual entertainment channels. In 6 metros, History with 29 percent market share vis-à-vis Discovery (32 percent) and Nat Geo (14 percent) further reduces the gap between existing players and fortifies its entry into the genre.

    History also leads the factual entertainment pack in time spent per viewer with 32 mins vis-à-vis Discovery (20 mins) and Nat Geo (16 mins) which is an indication of differentiated programming and the stickiness quotient of History’s content.

    Source: TAM, Week 42’11, CS AB 15+, all India 1 Mn+, 0600-2400 hrs

  • The application provides 2,50,000 minutes of free of cost content in 12 Indian languages

    Jigsee enables video streaming on common mobiles

    By A Correspondent

    Jigsee, a company with operations based in Mumbai, made it possible to view videos on the basic mobile phones with limited memory, low processing power and shorter battery life.

    What makes the service attractive is the ease of use—by downloading Jigsee with a Rs 5 per day GPRS connection any one can watch videos of their choice for a few hours. And there is 250,000 minutes of content to select from.

    Jigsee has now enhanced its content to 2,50,000 minutes coverage in 10 Indian languages — Assamese, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Tamil and Telugu in addition to Hindi and English.

    Jigsee’s patent-pending technology allows common inexpensive phone users to enjoy free and uninterrupted viewing experience for superior entertainment, education and informative content.

    Jigsee has 36 content partners including top tier content owners 1take media, Gypsy Videos,  Mukta Arts, Point Zero, Speed Records, Spice Digital, Soor Mandir (largest Rajasthani music label),, Manorama, Mayura (largest Rajasthani music label), UTV, UTV Bindaas, Wave Music (Vee Gee), Khan Academy (educational content, including IIT-JEE prep material),  and Yuki.

    In the first 30 days of its launch, the application has been downloaded by over 250,000 users, who don’t own smart phones, broadband and even ready access to television. If the phone has minimum data rates of 30 to 40 Kbps, videos of any length flow through Jigsee’s platform flow in a continuous stream and the content is free of cost (though internet connection is charged as per the operators’ plans).

    Jigsee Beta can be downloaded for free via http://m.jigsee.com and at half a dozen app stores, including on the Appia (Opera Mobile Store, Mobile2day, Zedge), Airtel, Getjar, Ovi and Tata Docomo.

    Jigsee was founded in Canada by Ray Newal and Areef Reza, and funded by Sequoia Capital and the Indian Angel Network. At the core of Jigsee’s products lie specialized technologies which allow video and other forms of rich media content to be delivered in a continuous and resilient manner to basic mobile devices, over low-bandwidth networks.

  • The line-up has a collection of enthralling, nerve wrecking and entertaining movies this October

    PIX brings you Dynamite Diwali

    By A Correspondent

     

    PIX is amping up the Diwali excitement with its Diwali Dynamite throughout October, 11pm onwards. Pix has planned laughter, suspense, drama and action, right from the sensuous murder mystery Basic Instinct to the outrageously funny Grown Ups.  Diwali Dynamite will include blockbusters like Social Network, Jurassic Park, Gladiator, Nacho Libre, Mighty Heart, Salt, Road Trip and Mini’s First Time.