MxMIndia

Category: NEWS

  • Zee Media to launch 500+ hyper-local multi-lingual social platforms evangelising need for better citizen governance

    dna to evangelise governance with 500+ multi-lingual social platforms

    By  A Correspondent

     

    Zee Media’s dna has launched ‘I Am IN – dna of India’, an ambitious technology-driven initiative, that promises to “enlighten, engage and empower citizens of India in getting involved in  the cause for better governance”. It gives power to the people to be vocal about local issues, to report news, connect with governance representatives and like-minded fellow citizens and more by way of a multilingual, hyperlocal, pan-India digital platform that will encompass over 500 local circles and neighbourhoods across the country over the next few months, notes a communique.

     

    Said ZEE Media Corp chairman Subhash Chandra: “We keep complaining about India, we keep saying we don’t know what to do and how to do it. We try to look at the big picture, not realising that it is made up of smaller problems. Solve the smaller problems and the big problem will be solved.  The change in India has to be ground up, and with the launch of “I am In – dna of India” we hope that can be achieved, enabled by technology and powered by the desire of 1.2 billion plus Indians who want a better tomorrow.”

     

    Dr Bhaskar Das, Group CEO, Zee Media added: “The power of hundreds of hyperlocal networks, each made of thousands of people, all of who act in a focused manner to improve their locality can surely bring the much needed qualitative change in our country. ”

     

    The hunt to find volunteers for around 200 localities / neighbourhoods that the platform is launching with, has already begun.

     

  • Two Indian entries amongst the $1,000 Special Awards winners

    8 of 18 Warc Asian Strategy prizes from India

    By A Correspondent

     

    A BBDO Guerrero for the Philippines Department of Tourism won the $5,000 Warc Prize for Asian Strategy Grand Prix. A total of 18 papers were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze and eight of these are from India (list below). Two Indian entries (Ogilvy’s Tagging Drive and Voltas All Weather AC campaigns) were among the five which won $1,000 Special Awards

     

    Leanne Cutts, the 2013 Prize chair and President & Managing Director Japan at Mondelez International, said the Grand Prix winner stood out due to the simplicity of the idea, and its potential to evolve across media and across time. “The winning campaign was not only an idea for its own category, but it spilled over into other parts of life. We felt that this was an enormously valuable idea that could be sustainable and grow over time,” he said.

     

    The 18 winning entries came from six different markets – eight from India, four from China, three from the Philippines, and one each from Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

     

    Winning entries (Agency / Client / Campaign Market)

     

    Gold

     

    It’s More Fun In The Philippines

    (BBDO Guerrero / The Philippines Department of Tourism / Regional)

    Also winner of the Grand Prix

     

    THPF Smoking Kid: A Personal Message to the Smokers

    (Ogilvy & Mather Thailand / Thai Health Promotion Foundation / Thailand)

    Also winner of the Asia First Special Award

     

    Voltas All Weather AC – how a pure play Indian brand turned a giant killer

    (Ogilvy & Mather / Tata / India)

    Also winner of the Local Hero Special Award

     

    Milo Cans: Twisted Football

    (Ogilvy & Mather Kuala Lumpur / Nestlé / Malaysia)

     

    Gillette: Shave Sexy

    (BBDO China, @PR / Procter & Gamble / China)

     

    Silver

     

    Nike China: Greatness Campaign

    (Wieden+Kennedy, Mindshare, AKQA, Razorfish / Nike / China)

    Also winner of the Cultural Connection Special Award

     

    Once Again: The Tagging Drive

    (Ogilvy & Mather Bangalore / Once Again / India)

    Also winner of the Channel Insight Special Award

     

    SMART TXTBKS

    (DDB DM9 JaymeSyfu / Smart Communications / Philippines)

     

    Also winner of the Market Pioneer Special Award

     

    Baileys: Cream With Spirit

    (BBH Shanghai / Diageo / China)

     

    Corona: Let the World Wait

    (TBWA\ Singapore, Digital Arts Network (DAN), INTO-DIGITAL OY, Wicked Digital Media / Grupo Modelo / Regional)

     

    Lifebuoy: Help A Child Reach 5

    (Lowe Lintas & Partners, PHD / Unilever / India, Indonesia)

     

    Realtime Olympics

    (NIM Digital / McDonald’s / China)

     

    Taking On A Religion Called Cricket

    (JWT India / PepsiCo / India)

     

    Women For Women

    (McCann WorldGroup / Stayfree / India)

     

    Bronze

     

    Ariel Shirt Flag: How a detergent not only lifted stains, but the spirit of an entire nation

    (Ace Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising / Procter & Gamble / Philippines)

     

    Mediker Anti-Lice Treatment: The Journey from Lice Negative to Life Positive in Rural India

    (BBH Communications India, Madison Media Group, Radiowani, Perfect Relations, School / Marico / India)

     

    Mission Kerala: Times Of India’s Final Frontier

    (JWT India / Bennett Coleman / India)

     

    Vat Man

    (BBH Communications India / Diageo / India)

     

  • It is learnt that BARC has asked three vendors to initiate tech feasibility pilots, and one among them will be finally awarded the contract

    BARC close to final decision on measurement vendor

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Indian media industry’s Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) is now close to the award of the contract of television viewership measurement in the country.

     

    The BARC board met on Friday and a spokesperson issued a press release saying it was recognized that “BARC has the opportunity to change the paradigm and the solution should last for the next 15 to 20 years.”

     

    Added the communiqué: “The Board agrees that there is a quantum jump in technology that is being envisaged. Considerable progress has been made in identifying suitable cutting edge technologies available for measurement of present and future Broadcast distribution platforms. The Board decided to authorize the BARC Technical Committee and the Management to initiate pilots with these solutions to assess the suitability in Indian conditions.”

     

    It is learnt that BARC has asked three vendors to initiate these technology feasibility pilots, and one among these three will finally be awarded the contract.

     

  • RBNL vehicles 92.7 Big FM and Big Magic take talent-based reality show to Hindi-speaking markets

    Talent hunt launched for ‘memsaabs’ across HSM

    By A Correspondent

     

    Close on the heels of a tie-up between Big FM and Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand, the Reliance Broadcast Network GEC  have tied up to take the popular reality show to the various Hindi Speaking Markets in the country.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Kumaran, Business Head, BIG MAGIC said, “We are excited to take this property national. There has never been a show of this kind, since it doesn’t have any caveats to the talent that the women can showcase. The collective power the television and radio, makes BIG Memsaab a property with unmatched reach, greater cost efficiency, offering a deeper connect with audiences and marketers across markets.”

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, 92.7 BIG FM added, “The show on radio has received phenomenal response and we are happy to be extending this opportunity to women audiences further across India. We have seen entire families coming forward to encourage the woman of the house to participate in this talent hunt and are confident of a fantastic engagement with audiences and marketers alike.”

     

    The property will be supported by a multimedia campaign across television, radio, print, digital and on ground. BIG Memsaab will be a 13-week property divided into phases like pre-promotions, city auditions, semi finale’s and the city finales, culminating with a national winner.

     

  • The captain-in-waiting's annual endorsement fee has seen a meteoric rise over the past year, rivalling the likes of Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor, the hottest brand ambassador in the film industry

    With deals worth Rs 17 cr a year, Virat Kohli beats Dhoni and Sachin in endorsements

    By Samidha Sharma

     

    India’s hottest young cricketer Virat Kohli is setting the world of brand endorsements alight. The Indian captain-in-the-making, whose exploits on the field, combined with his youth, good looks and never-say-die attitude, makes him a winner off the field too, has inked a Rs 10-crore per annum deal with German sports goods giant Adidas.

     

    The three-year contract, perhaps the most lucrative to be signed by an Indian sports star, will see the swashbuckling right-hand batsman endorsing the brand’s apparel and shoes.

     

    The Delhi lad has also struck a Rs 6.5 crore a year deal with a tyre brand that had master batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh as its ambassadors, a person familiar with the development revealed.

     

    The two deals will see Kohli topping the likes of Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Tendulkar in terms of annual earnings per brand endorsement.

     

    Kohli, who turns 25 later this year, pocketed around Rs 40 crore from endorsements last year, but that sum may swell up substantially with these two deals in his kit bag. Currently, he lends his face to as many as 13 brands, including  deodorants.

     

    When contacted, an Adidas spokesperson declined to comment on the development. Tendulkar, who is Adidas’ current brand ambassador, is perhaps at the fag end of his illustrious career.

     

    And Kohli fits the bill perfectly as he is being groomed to take over the top job from Dhoni after the 2015 ICC World Cup, an executive from a sports management firm, who did not want to be named, said.

     

    Bunty Sajdeh-led Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment manages the Indian vice-captain’s endorsement contracts. Mr Sajdeh was unavailable for comment.

     

    Kohli’s annual endorsement fee has seen a meteoric rise over the past year, rivalling the likes of Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor, the hottest brand ambassador in the film industry. Till last year, the cricket star used to command Rs 3 crore per brand annually, which went up to Rs 6 crore.

     

    The Rs 10-crore a year deal with Adidas propels him to a different league altogether. “For the past few years, Dhoni has been ruling the endorsement space, but Kohli is catching up very fast. While Dhoni connected well with the masses, Kohli has a more urban appeal which a lot of brands want to cash in on,” said Indranil Das Blah, COO of celebrity management firm CAA Kwan.

     

    The price escalation in Kohli’s endorsement contracts has meant that a lot of brands which had signed him early on must shell out much more to renew their deals or simply end their association with him.

     

    “We are willing to pay a premium, depending on what that number is. He has been a great fit for our brand which targets youngsters, and he has grown with us,” said J Suresh, MD and CEO, Arvind Lifestyle and Brands which has had the cricketer on board for three years as Flying Machine’s brand ambassador.

     

    The jeans-wear brand signed Kohli before the World Cup at a moderate price and its contract is up for renewal. With Rs 10 crore becoming the new benchmark, many brands will find it hard to match up to Brand Kohli’s price tag.

     

    Until recently, Kohli and Nike were in a five-year contract inked in 2008. However, things turned sour between the two sides when the US sports goods major went to court claiming Kohli had breached the contract by disagreeing to continue as its brand ambassador till 2014. But the Karnataka high court ruled in favour of the cricketer, allowing him to sign endorsement deals with other sports brands.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

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

    Licensed to republish

     

  • Ad industry strongman Anil Kapoor felicitated with AAAI lifetime achievement

    By A Correspondent

     

    They don’t make people like him these days. Forthright, never into any frivolous conversation, he is known as a no-nonsense man in the industry,” said Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands and Lodestar UM on Anil Kapoor, Chairman Emeritus, Draftfcb+Ulka group who was felicitated with the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) Lifetime Achievement Award last evening (Friday, September 27) at an event attended by top ad industry honchos and senior advertisers.

     

    Accepting the award from the AAAI, Mr Kapoor said: “There is never a dull moment in advertising. For me it was simply a passion. I strongly believe advertising agencies are solution providers and not suppliers of creativity.”

     

    Making his opening remarks, AAAI President Arvind Sharma said Mr Kapoor is a huge influence on the industry.

     

    Mr Kapoor was appointed Chairman Emeritus of Draftfcb + Ulka in 2010, after a 22-year stint with the company and its associated agencies. He is a Past President of the AAAI, Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulation of 2007-08 and was also on the Management Board of the National Readership Survey and the Television Audience Measurement Research. In May 2002, Kapoor was also inducted into the Foote, Cone & Belding’s Worldwide Board.

     

    Before joining Draftfcb+Ulka, Mr Kapoor was with the Boots for 14 years, where, as Marketing Director, he launched a string of brands, all of which went on to become market leaders. Before that, he was with the legendary agency MCM. He graduated in English Literature from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and then did his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

     

    “One thing that defines him is his ‘Never Say Die’ attitude. Anil Kapoor, who was seen as an outsider in the Industry, was soon accepted as an equal and may be as a ‘more than an equal’,” said Dr M G Parameswaran, Executive Director and CEO, Draftfcb + Ulka.

     

    Photographs by Fatema Rajkotwala

     

  • The portal set up by journalist Shaili Chopra has tied up an impressive list of sponsors for the maiden 'India Golf Awards' on November 5

    GolfingIndian.com’s golf awards in Nov

    By A Correspondent [updated]

     

    Golfing portal GolfingIndian.com has announced the ‘India Golf Awards’ to recognize and reward the game’s best ambassadors across the spectrum of professionals and amateurs. The awards, backed by title sponsor Take Solutions is powered by golfingindian.com, a portal set up by award winning business journalist and golf enthusiast Shaili Chopra with news focused on Indian players, golf courses and expert views.

     

    Speaking on the launch of the India Golf Awards, which will be held on November 5, Ms Chopra said:  We strongly feel there is a need to recognize golfing excellence beyond tournaments and championships. The very best in the game will get the recognition they deserve as for the first time golfing corporate honchos, celebrities, bureaucrats, national leaders will be rewarded for their game on the same stage as golf’s professional maestros from India and the world in a bespoke and stylized ceremony.”

    The Take Solutions India Golf Awards 2013 are also supported by three principal sponsors – airline major Lufthansa, The Oberoi (Gurgaon) and real estate major Nitesh Estates.  GQ India is the exclusive magazine partner for the India Golf Awards, which has additional support of Audi and Mauritius Tourism as associate partners.

    Said technology firm Take Solutions’ Vice Chairman HR Srinivasan, a prolific golfer himself: “The Take Solutions India Golf Awards powered by golfingindian.com will provide a superlative platform for golfing stars from all walks of life. We have supported the game through out and we felt ‘The India Golf Awards’ will also set new benchmarks and create pathways to bring about positive change to promote golf in a rapidly changing business, leisure and recreational environment.”

    Speaking on the launch of the awards Sangeeta Sharma, Head of Marketing, Lufthansa, said:  “We are delighted to partner with golfingindian.com for the India Golf Awards. Our partnership with this premier platform is a natural extension of our outreach to the new global Indian looking for a distinguished travel experience.”

    Kapil Chopra, President of The Oberoi Group where the gala event is being hosted said, “Since its opening The Oberoi, Gurgaon has been the preferred choice for discerning guests. The association with India Golf Awards gives us an opportunity to showcase our legendary service and provide an extraordinary experience to guests, who appreciate the finer things in life.”

    Nitesh Estates,  which is in the highend luxury real estate business, feels the awards are a perfect positioning for the brand. “Our properties aim to reach those people who have made it big and golf is a great indicator of their passion and past time. We are excited with the association,” a spokesperson said.

  • India TV institutes 'Officer's Choice Salaam India Awards' including awards in memory of the victim of the gruesome Delhi gangrape

    India TV honours bravehearts with Salaam India Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    India TV has instituted a bravery award in the memory of last year’s Delhi gangrape victim. This was a part of its effort to honour the bravehearts of the country with the first edition of the “Officer’s Choice Salaam India Awards” held last weekend. Other categories for Awards presented were Bravery, Gallantry & Special Awards etc.

     

    The 13 winners included Shareef Ibrahim Kutty for risking his life to save many innocent lives, Late Barun Biswas (posthumous) for his crusades against anti-social elements and eventually putting up his life for the cause he lived for, Captain Bikramjeet Singh for his exemplary display of valour during the recent Uttarakhand crises. Lakshmi for her decisive fight against the menace of acid attacks was one of the three winners of the Awards named after the gangrape victim.

     

    In his address, India TV chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma congratulated the winners and dedicated the awards as a salute to bravehearts of the nation who through their selfless and altruistic acts have kept the trust running into humanity. He also said that such deeds inculcate a spirit of courage and humanity among fellow citizens.

     

    The winners were decided on the basis of a stringent process that included call for entries, shortlisting by a high-power editorial board and final winners’ selection by a Grand Jury headed by noted jurist Ram Jethmalani. The jury included Mr Sharma, Kiran Bedi, Retired Army Chief, Gen. V.K. Singh and Retired Chief Election Commissioner Dr S Y Querashi.

     

    Amongst the powerful battery of dignitaries present included personalities like L.K. Advani, Rajnath Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani, Meenakshi Lekhi, Gulam Nabi Azad, Harish Rawat, Vijay Bahuguna, Shakeel Ahmed, Farooq Abdullah, Gen. VK Singh, KC Tyagi of JDU, Maninderjit Singh Bitta, Sudhindra Bhadoria, BSP and Gulshan Grover etc.

     

    Senior BJP Leader, L.K. Advani said, “I am glad that Rajatji initiated Salaam India Awards to honour the extraordinary courage displayed by ordinary citizens. As proven by the exceptional individuals here, bravery should not only be a characteristic to the defence personnel. For the cause of the great nation, that India is, individuals from every walk of life need to embody bravery and courage. This initiative by India TV is will act like a catalyst.”

     

    Union Health Minister, Gulam Nabi Azad, observed, “Unlike other awards, Salaam India Awards have the genuine potential to inspire individuals to step forward and replicate such exemplary acts of bravery. A great benchmark initiative by India TV.”

     

    Ritu Dhawan, MD and CEO, India TV stressed upon the need of such initiatives as humble but necessary steps towards a safer and cordial India.

     

  • Tata Chemicals appoints Draftfcb+Ulka for Tata Salt and retains Leo Burnett for Tata I-Shakti foods

    Tata Chemicals offers ‘namak’ to Draftfcb+Ulka, retains I-Shakti for Leo Burnett

    By A Correspondent

     

    Tata Chemicals has announced the appointment of Draftfcb+Ulka as its creative agency for Tata Salt, and Leo Burnett for its Tata I-Shakti foods portfolio. This announcement comes after a competitive multi-agency pitch. According to a communiqué, Tata Chemicals has identified its food business as a strategic priority for growth and therefore decided to engage two creative agencies.

     

    It may be recalled that there was a controversy around the Tata Salt Lite radio spots that won Leo Burnett four metals at the Creative Abby earlier this year. The issue had reached the Tata Chemicals bosses and ethics board which finally got Leo Burnett to withdraw the entries.

     

    Meanwhile, the release announcing the appointment added: “Tata Salt was recently reported as one of the Top 10 consumer product brands in India by the Kantar Worldpanel’s Brand Footprint 2013. Tata I-Shakti unpolished pulses were awarded the ‘Product of the Year- 2013’. It was also awarded the ‘Emerging Brand Award’ by the ‘World Brand Congress’ at the ‘Brand Leadership Award 2013’.”

     

  • The offices of MxMIndia will be closed on Wednesday, October 2 on account of Gandhi Jayanti.

    Gandhi Jayanti Holiday

    There will be no edition of MxMIndia tomorrow, October 2, as it’s a Gandhi Jayanti holiday.

     

    The offices of MxMIndia will also stay closed on account of Gandhi Jayanti.

     

    We can, however, be reached in case there’s anything urgent. Editorial: Editor@mxmindia.com. Sales:

    Sales@mxmindia.com

     

    We’ll be back with our updates, newsletter and viewsletter on Thursday, October 3.

     

  • Top Indian captains to speak at global CEO conference organized by the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA)

    ISA to host Global CEO conf with Unilever big boss Paul Polman

    By A Conference

     

    There are conferences and conferences, but this one could well be the mother of them all. The Indian Society of Advertisers, the apex body of advertisers, is hosting the first ever global CEO conference on ‘Navigating a VUCA World’ on October 30, 2013 at The Leela in Mumbai. The goal of the conference, as per a communiqué, is to sharply dissect the tough times we are facing in the current economic situation, and to find out how organizational processes and practices need to be recast to deliver to this new VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world.

     

    Paul Polman

    Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, will be the keynote speaker at this conference. Other key speakers at the event will include R Gopalakrishnan, Director, Tata Sons; Manu Anand, President – India & South Asia, Cadbury India; Marten Pieters, CEO, Vodafone India; and Ravi Kant, Vice Chairman and Former Managing Director, Tata Motors.

     

    Said Hemant Bakshi, Chairman, ISA, and Executive Director, Home & Personal Care, Hindustan Unilever, on the intent of the conference: “We truly live in the VUCA world, where things have become more volatile and uncertain. That’s one issue ISA needs to deal with and help companies understand the principles they need to follow in a changing uncertain world.”

     

    The ISA is organizing the conference in in partnership with exchange4media.

     

  • Turner International in India has consolidated creative services and partnered with Reliance MediaWorks for post-production services

    Turner consolidates creative services, partners Reliance MediaWorks

    By A Correspondent

     

    In a move that consolidates its in-market operations, Turner International India has announced the establishment of Creative Services in India for its entertainment networks including Cartoon Network, Pogo and WB. Turner has commissioned leading film and entertainment services company Reliance MediaWorks Ltd (RMW) to provide the full gamut of post-production services.

     

    With in-market end-to-end capabilities that will be a combination of in-house creative and outsourced production resources, this initiative will enable Turner to be even more poised and nimble-footed in responding to market requirements, notes a communique.

     

    Siddharth Jain

    Said Siddharth Jain, Managing Director, South Asia, Turner International India: “Turner has been consistently ahead of the curve with a proven track record of successful localization of our brands. We are confident this new move will give us further competitive advantages in this dynamic and constantly-evolving consumer and business landscape, especially as we seek to build on Turner’s strategic shift to further empower local markets.” He adds, “We are happy to work alongside Reliance MediaWorks and we look forward to continue the delivery of quality content on our leading platforms.”

     

    Commenting on the occasion Venkatesh Roddam- CEO, Reliance MediaWorks said: “We are pleased to be able to offer a one-stop production facility by combining the latest in television studio technology with the most experienced personnel to create winning solutions for Turner.”