MxMIndia

Category: NEWS

  • This year the Abby Entry Form that has been uploaded has many new changes and additions. Some sub-categories have been added and a brand new vertical has been added

    Changes in Creative Abby for 2013

    By A Correspondent

     

    This year the Abby Entry Form that has been uploaded has many new changes and additions. Some sub-categories have been added and a brand new vertical has been added.

     

    Branded Content and Entertainment is a new vertical added this year to cover original content creation and integration by brands. Six sub-categories have been added here to include integration of brand with entertainment content for television, cinema and the digital medium. Both fictional and non-fictional programs are covered.

     

    This new vertical will now cater to the Content Production and Media Channel industry with Feature Films and TV programmes, with brand content as well as entertainment on the internet being covered.

     

    Branded content started with TV content influenced or sponsored by brands including serials, reality shows, product placement in shows etc. Today it is a major category as the lines between entertainment and brand are blurring with more programming being influenced by brands.

     

    The interesting thing about this category is that the Abby will cover content production, television and other media channels and media companies, Event marketing and Agencies that plan on Entertainment brands.

     

    Experiential events involving integration of brand is also now a sub-category. So is the use and integration of music. Also featured is the best integrated content campaign.

     

    Based on feedback from creative directors, the Ambient Category now has more sub-categories so that super sized structures are in a different sub-category from small signages, live stunts are separate from transit media and digital outdoor is separate from instore advertising.

     

    There has been some rationalization of sub-categories in Digital and Craft in Digital has been introduced. Product design makes a debut in the Design vertical. Material submissions in Direct have been specified with some changes. Radio and Print Craft have some additions and changes.

     

    In keeping with the tradition of Abby being more than just an advertising award, these changes will add more substance to the multi-faceted appeal and prestige of this coveted award, said a release.

     

  • Production firms Great Guns and Equinox announced a joint venture in India recently, uniting the strengths of both production houses in their respective territories

    Great Guns @ Equinox optimistic about India

    By A Correspondent

     

    Production firms Great Guns and Equinox announced a joint venture in India recently. Great Guns @ Equinox will unite the strengths of both production houses in their respective territories. The collaboration will pave the way for local and global clients to work with a selection of internationally awarded directors, with specific emphasis on beauty and hair.

     

    Leading the charge for Great Guns @ Equinox would be Bijuriya Mather. Biju’s extensive career spans 15yrs at JWT, McCann and Grey, where she worked with a large range of clients and brands including: P&G, Wyeth, Ferrero Rocher, Unilever, L’Oreal, Maybelline, Barclays Bank, Unilever, Lux Sunsilk, Kelloggs and Smirnoff.

     

    Equinox has been one of the most-awarded production houses in India. Ram Madhvani of Equinox completed a World Tour hosted by Laura Gregory and Great Guns in 2012, covering LA, New York, Amsterdam and London. He has just finished filming his latest work for CCD – Sit down for Peace and also Paras Ghee TVC.

     

    Olly Blackburn also recently took home a Gold and Bronze Clio Healthcare award in NYC. The feature film and spot director, represented globally by Great Guns, received a lot of praise for his work on the commercial ‘See the Difference’.

     

  • The new category of books will be launched through a series of bookstore promotions across the country in February and March

    Scholastic India launches ‘Nova’ to target young adults

    By A Correspondent

     

    Scholastic India, a subsidiary of Scholastic Corporation that has been running a dynamic publishing programme for children since 1997, has launched Nova, a new initiative for the Young Adult segment. The genre will feature books around a variety of themes, with the focus being on ‘coming of age’ themes, science fiction, crime fiction, fantasy and romance.

     

    Nova is being introduced to the market with Rahul Srivastava’s murder mystery, ‘What Happened to Regina that Night’, and two collections of short stories, ‘Music of the Stars and other Love Stories’ and ‘Saleem on Earth and other Stories’.

     

    Scholastic India will launch Nova through a series of bookstore promotions across the country in February and March. Activities will include author interactions and book signings, special branded display racks, handouts and posters across chains such as Landmark, Crossword, Oxford Bookstores among others. Other special initiatives to popularize titles under the Nova list will include a major campaign for Suzanne Collins’ book Catching Fire, in The Hunger Games series, in tandem with the release of the film in November 2013.

     

    Commenting on the launch of Nova, Neeraj Jain, Managing Director, Scholastic India said, “The launch of Nova heralds a very exciting time in the journey of Scholastic India. We are keen to expand the Nova list year-on-year and are aggressively seeking new Indian authors who appeal to the 13-30 audience. While our children’s book division continues to do extremely well and grow every year, we expect Nova to add significantly to our revenues almost immediately.”

     

    Tina Narang, Managing Editor, Scholastic India added, “Scholastic India, after successfully publishing children’s books for over a decade, is now ready to target the older reader or the Young Adult. What makes this a greater challenge and more exciting is the fluid nature of this new segment of readership – both in the target age group which could be anything from 13 years and up and in the range of genres that can be picked from. For authors of adult fiction and non-fiction, who find writing for children more restrictive by virtue of language, story and form, this is an easier fit, and a bridge between the two very well defined readerships, that of children and adults.”

     

  • The co-branded credit card offers rewards and discounts on dining and movies

    Times Internet and HDFC launch Times Card

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Internet, the digital arm of The Times of India Group, has partnered with HDFC Bank, India’s second largest private sector bank, to launch Times Card, an exclusive, co-branded credit card that provides customers the widest range of discounts and deals on dining, movies and shopping. This credit card has been specifically designed to cater to the lifestyle and entertainment needs of young professionals between the ages of 24 and 38 years, and offers value for money in the movies and dining space.

     

    The Times Card comes with a specially crafted rewards program and year-long discounts. This includes 25 percent off on movie tickets, 20 percent discount on dining, and best-in-segment deals. Users also have the exclusive option to redeem accumulated points against air miles in addition to the usual catalogue based redemption options. Another first in the credit card space is the presence of the QR code on the Times Card plastic. The QR code can be scanned using any Smart phone to reach www.hdfcbank.timescard.com, where customers can view the latest offers and also apply for the Card.

     

    “The association with HDFC Bank helps us create a unique product in the entertainment space that is in line with our goal to consistently deliver unique products and services to our customers. We are sure the co-branded credit card will provide superior customer experience, enabling us to deepen our relationship with our wide customer base,” said Archana Vohra, Vice President and Business Head, Times Internet Limited.

     

    ” We now have a premium product of the highest quality and great customer value for the discerning youth of India and young at heart as they enjoy exclusivity. HDFC Bank’s partnership with Times Internet will further enhance our product offering and provide young Indians with an unrivalled entertainment experience,” said Parag Rao, Senior Executive Vice-president and Business Head, Credit Cards & Merchant Acquiring Services, HDFC Bank.

     

  • With an intent to reach the Bengali consumers, the company is also planning to launch a 35-second TVC and a 25-second radio jingle

    Nutrela launches ad campaign to tap Bengali market

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ruchi Soya Industries is set to target the West Bengal market with an aggressive marketing campaign for their premium brand, Nutrela Kacchi Ghani Mustard Oil. Bengal alone accounts for over a third (around Rs 110 crore) of the Rs 300-crore mustard oil market in the country. With an intent to reach out to Bengali masses, the company is also planning to launch a 35-second TVC and a 25-second radio jingle.

     

    With this campaign, the company is trying to create a bridge between the brand and true ‘Bangaliaana’, using a thoroughly Bengali concept ‘Jagai Bangaliana’, which aims at evoking the authentic taste of food every time they use Nutrela Kacchi Ghani mustard oil.

     

    The idea revolves around reviving and rejuvenating this ‘Bangaliaana’ and brings back the fading Bengali persona and spirit, reminding them of their roots. The campaign largely aims to reawaken authentic taste of Bengali food. It evokes the rich culture and tradition of the state and exhorting the people of Bengal to rediscover the pride of eating authentic Bengali food.

     

    “Bangaliyana”, a tradition involves inviting friends and family to the house and discussing music, literature, politics, food, culture, history and then savoring authentic home cooked Bengali cuisine together. Strengthening this connect further, the company has roped in veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee to sing a jingle for the new radio campaign.

     

    “We are sure that the campaign will rejuvenate the fading spirit of “Bangaliyana” and the need for kacchi ghani mustard oil as the predominant cooking medium. We are extremely excited about reviving ‘Bangaliyana’ and more so being able to make Soumitra Chaterjee partake in bringing the idea alive by singing a song for us,” said Sandipan Ghosh, Assistant Vice-President Marketing, Consumer Brands Division, RSIL.

     

    The television and radio campaign has been conceptualized and developed by Hammer Communications based out of New Delhi.

     

    The TVC and radio campaign will be simultaneously rolled out in Bengal and Assam. The 360-degree marketing campaign is the company’s first campaign centered around the three-year old mustard oil brand. Bihar and Jharkhand are next in the company’s radar.

     

    Meanwhile, Madison Media has just announced the win of the Ruchi Soya Industries, Consumer Brands Division account in Mumbai. Madison Media Sigma will handle traditional media planning and buying for the client with an approximate spend of Rs 30 crore. The account was previously handled by Mec.

     

    Gautam Kiyawat, Group CEO, Madison Media, said, “We are delighted with this new win and confident of taking Ruchi Soya group and Brand Nutrela to greater heights. We are looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership.”

     

  • Shahrukh Khan's 'Red Chillies' appoints Venky Mysore as CEO

    SRK gets KKR CEO Venky Mysore to also helm ‘Red Chillies’

    By Nandini Raghavendra

     

    Shahrukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO, Venky Mysore will take on the additional responsibility of Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt Ltd as CEO. He will take full responsibility for all the operations of the production house in addition to his role as CEO and MD of the KKR.

     

    Riding on the back of over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry across several global markets, Mr Mysore has held several senior leadership positions in the US, Canada and Asia and has built many successful businesses. He has been heading KKR since Oct 2010 and has led KKR to become a successful and profitable businesses also the defending champions in the IPL.

     

    “Venky is a seasoned business professional and I am delighted that he will take over as the CEO of Red Chillies which has established itself as one of the leading production houses. The VFX division is among the best in the business. Venky has done a fantastic job as the CEO of KKR and I am confident that he will be able to lead Red Chillies to a much higher level of performance and professionalism,”” said Mr Khan.

     

    As for the KKR CEO, the additional responsibility is an opportunity to work with “”The biggest brand which means huge opportunities ahead of us. I look forward to this exciting challenge as we strive hard to build a world class organization.”

     

    Red Chillies, owned by SRK and Gauri Khan, was founded in 2004 from what was previously called Dreamz Unlimited. So far, Red Chillies has produced ten films and co-produced five of which two are yet to release. The VFX vertical, a particular favourite of SRK’s has been involved in projects outside their own movies, the latest being Kamal Hassan’s Vishwaroopam.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2013, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

     

  • Madison Media Sigma will handle traditional media planning and buying for the client with an approximate spend of Rs 30 crores

    Madison Media Group wins Ruchi Soya AOR

    By A Correspondent

     

    Madison Media has announced the win of the Ruchi Soya Industries, Consumer Brands Division account in Mumbai. Madison Media Sigma will handle traditional media planning and buying for the client with an approximate spend of Rs. 30 crores. The account was previously handled by MEC.

     

    For the record, Madison Media recently won a host of new businesses including Max India’s corporate account, Cafe Coffee Day, Radikal Rice and Crompton Greaves.

     

    Gautam Kiyawat

    Gautam Kiyawat, Group CEO, Madison Media, said, “We are delighted with this new win and confident to take Ruchi Soya group and Brand Nutrela to greater heights and are looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership.”

     

    Sandipan Ghosh, AVP Marketing, Consumer Brands Division, Ruchi Soya Industries, “We wanted a Partner who values our business and brands and provides a turn-key differentiated media solution. Madison is an obvious choice for the same.”

     

  • RBNL's Big Magic has announced a strategic distribution tie-up with Telus and Cogeco

    Big Magic International strengthens reach in Canada

    By A Correspondent

     

    Big Magic International (BMI), part of Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. (RBNL), has announced a strategic distribution tie-up with Telus and Cogeco, providing the largest coverage in Canadian markets. This additional distribution sees BMI gain a stronghold in Canada. Having launched in 2012, with Ethnic Channels Group (ECG) as its exclusive distribution partner, the channel is now present in 5 of the 6 platforms, across GTA, East and the West Coast.

     

    With this move, BMI reaches out to the South Asian diaspora living across the length and breadth of Canada, with the extremely popular shows like Rasoi ki Rani and Big Memsaab Season 6, already huge hits locally in India. Also planned in the pipeline are local shows targeting youth and a business show on the success stories of Indians in Canada.

     

    BMI is the first variety entertainment channel to connect with the Indian community in Canada.

     

  • Powered by Hungama.com, Vh1 Pulse is a music streaming application on Facebook which will enable fans to listen to Vh1's picks of international music

    Vh1 India and Hungama launch app for Facebook

    By A Correspondent

     

    Vh1 has announced its entry into the digital space with the launch of a new generation app, Vh1 Pulse. The app will enable fans to be in sync with their favourite tracks, any time of the day.

     

    Powered by Hungama.com, Vh1 Pulse is a music streaming application on Facebook which will enable over 1.7 million fans of the channel to listen to Vh1’s picks of the best international music.

     

    On the application, all songs will be picked by Vh1 and fans can listen to the playlist specially created which includes the best of all English music.

     

    Speaking about the new app, Ferzad Palia, Senior Vice President & GM – English Entertainment, Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd. said, “With a fan base of nearly 2 million ardent music lovers, this addition to the Vh1 India Facebook page is part of our philosophy of ‘Vh1 Everywhere’.”

     

    Siddhartha Roy

    Siddhartha Roy, COO – Consumer Business & Allied Services, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment, said, “Social communities are the new media real estate for brands where they can increase interaction and engagement with their consumers. There is an increasing demand for international music and Hungama is committed at satisfying this need by powering this service via its platform and content.”

     

  • Raj Ahuja from Star India joins as the CFO, and Vivek Gour, CEO Air Works, joins the board

    One97 expands board; appoints CFO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Mobile-Internet company One97 Communications announced expansion of its key finance leadership. Raj Ahuja will be the new Chief Financial Officer and Vivek N Gour will join as Independent Board Director. Mr Ahuja comes to One97 from Star India where he was Executive Vice President of Finance. With over 21 years in the industry, he has been General Manager Business Finance with Wipro and Director, Finance & Operations at NXP.

     

    Mr Ahuja said, “I am excited to join the executive team at One97 that has been so smart and financially savvy with its operations. I am impressed by the team’s dedication growth and customer focus. I look forward to help driving and developing One97’s business.” He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sri Ram College of Commerce and holds ICMA of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India-ICWAI and FCA of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

     

    Nasdaq-listed MakeMyTrip’s board member, Vivek N. Gour’s appointment brings the number of board members to six for One97. In addition, he will be the Chairman of the company’s Audit Committee. Mr Gour is currently the Managing Director of Air Works, an Aviation MRO Refinishing Services. Prior to that Gour was Chief Financial Officer of NYSE listed Genpact Limited where he played an integral role in transforming Genpact from a captive unit of GE into a highly profitable public company.

     

    “I am honoured to join the One97 board and work with this exceptional team,” commented Mr Gour adding, “Over the years, I have come to know and admire One97’s management team. I am confident they have the leadership and vision to ensure One97’s success.” He is an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Sydenham College, University of Bombay.

     

    Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of One97 said, “With the scale that we are aiming, the addition of Raj and Vivek leadership brings a great strength to us. The Mobile Internet business opportunity is immense and their experience will go long way in the creation of a great company.”

     

  • The TVC will be aired across Hindi and English entertainment and movie channels

    Leo Burnett creates TVC for Samsung Galaxy Grand

    By A Correspondent

     

    Samsung Electronics has announced a new TVC aimed as a consumer connect initiative to showcase Galaxy Grand, recently introduced Dual SIM Smartphone in India. The commercial, conceptualized by Leo Burnett is aimed at the middle segment and bring outs fun, style and passion of everyday moments of a user.

     

    Strongly focused on creating a work life balance between personal and professional lives of youngsters, the TVC creates synergy between the consumers and the features of the Galaxy Grand by showcasing aspirations, passions and hobbies of an ambitious and confident individual. It begins with a young male professional aspiring to live a grand life by travelling by bike to see mountains kiss clouds, sky changing colours to every possible shade. He wishes to capture his memories with big screen experience & stay connected with his friends. Next thing you know, he mentions about reserving special place to watch movies. A super appears in the foreground that reads: ‘Samsung Galaxy Grand.

     

    It encourages younger generation to capture personal moments through technology purchase of the right smartphone in spite of budgetary constraints and highlights top-end hardware and software features with a very attractive price of Galaxy Grand.

     

    The TVC will be aired across Hindi and English entertainment and movie channels.

     

    Credits:

    Client:  Samsung India Electronics Ltd

    Agency:  Leo Burnett

    Creative: Sainath Saraban, Sumit Negi

    Account management: Ravpreet Ganesh, Ankur Bora, Rohan Bharel

    Account planning: Megha Deorani

    Production house: Cutting Edge Pictures

    Director: Julien Trousselier

    Producer: Billoo Sandhu

    Executive producer/Associate producer:

    Director of photography: Daniel

    Music director: Rupert

    Post house: After Post

     

  • It's a revival of cola wars as PepsiCo plans Rs 150-crore IPL splash to take on Coca-Cola

    Pepsi plans Rs 150-cr IPL splash to take on Coca-Cola

    By Ratna Bhushan

     

    PepsiCo is spending almost Rs 70 crore on top of its title sponsorship deal of the Indian Premier League to bag almost all possible on-air and on-ground sponsorship and branding deals for the upcoming T20 tournament.

     

    The US beverage and snacks maker has signed a Rs 50-crore deal with Multi Screen Media, owners of SET Max channel, to become one of the two presenting sponsors of the event, and will cough up another Rs 16-18 crore to become drinks partners of all eight IPL teams expect Mumbai Indians.

     

    Overall, it will be spending almost Rs 150 crore, or Rs 3 crore per day, on the 50-day tournament in what is seen as a strategy to block out arch rival Coca-Cola from the most lucrative sporting event in the country. In November, PepsiCo had bagged title sponsorship of IPL for five years for Rs 400 crore, or Rs 80 crore per year.

     

    Homi Battiwalla, senior director, marketing (colas, juices and hydration), at PepsiCo India, justified the huge investment, saying IPL is ‘the most relevant property’ in the season. “There’s a lot of opportunity to maximise the valuation… we are optimistic we will generate much more value over what we have invested,” he said.

     

    Experts said while the strategy of blocking Coke in peak summer season will surely help PepsiCo in branding and consumer connect, PepsiCo may be over-spending on a tournament which has been seeing declining ratings over the past two years. Also, it will have to back the plan with aggressive marketing strategy to make the most of it.

     

    “This could be the revival of the cola war,” said Basabdutta Chowdhury, CEO of Platinum Media, a division of media buying group Madison World that buys media for Bharti Airtel and ITC. “Though IPL coincides with peak season time for beverages, the investments are huge and will have to be backed by a robust marketing plan,” she added.

     

    The IPL will be played between April 3 and May 26. Navin Khemka, managing partner at media buying firm Zenith-Optimedia, said Coca-Cola may still buy advertisement spots. “I am not sure if they can be blocked off,” he said. As a presenting sponsor, PepsiCo will get a major share of advertising time on Set Max, which will telecast the matches live. Coca-Cola can buy limited ad spots at about 15% higher rates than what Pepsi-Co paid.

     

    An official directly involved with the developments said PepsiCo has bought 210 seconds of advertising time per match out of a total of about 2,500 seconds of ad time per match. PepsiCo’s Mr Battiwalla said: “The broadcast sponsorship allows us a very strong play of our portfolio. We are working on a series of customised innovations with MSM to maximise our association with the broadcaster.”

     

    Apart from its drinks brands, including Pepsi Cola, lime-lemon drinks Mountain Dew and 7Up, Mirinda orange, Aquafina water and Tropicana juices, PepsiCo will promote its snacks brands Kurkure, Lays chips and Aliva biscuits through IPL.

     

    It is also in advanced stages of negotiations with eight IPL teams to tie up as pouring rights partner, while Mumbai Indians already has a deal with Coca-Cola.

     

    With every team charging anywhere between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore for pouring rights and team activations, PepsiCo will end up paying close to Rs 16-18 crore to the teams.

     

    Coca-Cola was also in talks to buy pouring rights for the nine IPL teams, but opted out because it believes the valuation doesn’t justify the asking prices, a person aware of the beverage maker’s plans said.

     

    “Coca-Cola is minimising its association with the IPL and instead is looking to maximise branding activities outside of the IPL,” the person said. A Coca-Cola spokesperson declined to comment on the IPL association.

     

    Pouring rights gives a beverage maker exclusive rights to serve its beverages in the team’s home stadiums. The individual team rights also allow it to take space on T-shirts and jerseys of teams and advertise on perimeter boards at the stadium. Pouring rights is not a central sponsorship, and deals have to be inked individually between teams and interested companies.

     

    Meanwhile, Rohit Gupta, president of MSM, said the broadcaster expected 20% growth over last year from IPL. “We have 8-10 presenting sponsorship slots in addition to ad spots,” he said.

     

    This despite on-air rates having been cut this season by about 15%, in line with declining viewership. Data by TAM Media Research shows that the first 60 matches of IPL last year recorded average ratings of 3.27, down from 3.39 in IPL 4 and over 4.0 in the first three IPL tournaments.

     

    MSM has released a marketing campaign for the IPL with Bollywood director Farah Khan, and this season, the tournament will be simultaneously telecast on all MSM channels – Set Max, Sony Six and Sony Six HD.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2013, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved