MxMIndia

Category: NEWS

  • The latest TV commercial for Discover 125 takes a veiled dig at Hero's flagship brands Passion and Splendor as the old bonhomie between two industrial giants gives way to no-holds-barred marketing strategy

    Bajaj takes a dig at Hero’s Passion & Splendor in its latest Discover 125 ad

    By Rajiv Singh & Bhanu Pande

     

    “We have not yet beaten Bajaj, they’ve just been overtaken by us,” said Brijmohan Lall Munjal in 2001, when the reticent Munjal family patriarch and chairman of Hero Honda understated the fact that his company sold more two-wheelers than Bajaj Auto.

     

    Fast forward to 2012.

    The latest TV commercial for Discover 125 takes a veiled dig at Hero’s flagship brands Passion and Splendor as the old bonhomie between two industrial giants gives way to no-holds-barred marketing strategy in a fiercely competitive market.

     

    Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj said the advertisement reflects a strategic repositioning and it’s not about Hero: “Our campaign is based on a consumer research interpretation and has nothing to do with taking on Hero”.

     

    That’s the official line. But most people who have watched the commercial feel it’s unmistakably targeted at Hero MotoCorp, the new entity formed after the Munjal family-owned Hero bought out its 27-year long partner Honda last year.

     

    Industry watchers say the breakup with Honda has weakened the market leader in the world’s second-largest two-wheeler market and Bajaj Auto wants to make the most of it.

    “Now Hero is without the safety helmet of Honda, so it is the best time for Bajaj to inflict maximum damage on the leader that is weak and vulnerable,” ,” said Prathap Suthan, chief creative officer of iYogi, a global remote tech support company and the man who created the government’s ‘India Shining’ and ‘Incredible India’ campaigns.

     

    KYUN, HERO?

    The advertisement shows three men owning different commuter bikes (seen in the background) say they always desired Discover 125, but settled for something lesser to satisfy father or wife, or to avoid annoying boss.

     

    They sound apologetic and wistful about their bikes. When they name them, a bleep sinks their voice, but it leaves enough for viewers to guess they are referring to Hero’s Splendor or Passion. “Discover nahin hai, par chalta hai,” each of them says. And the commercial, created by Ogilvy & Mather, ends with voice over, “Discover 125, ye chalta nahin, daudta hai.”

     

    The only previous time a Bajaj commercial took on Hero Honda was back in the early 1990s when a campaign for its 4s Champion teased Hero Honda with a tagline, “Kyun Hero?”

     

    Bajaj Auto President, Motorcycles, K Srinivas said that the advertisement does not take a dig at any rival, but wouldn’t comment on the bleep sound.

     

    DOING A BMW

    Rajiv Bajaj says his company wants to do what luxury carmaker BMW did when it entered the US 30 years ago – reposition the leader: “Mercedes was already an established player. So BMW said that Mercedes is the ultimate sitting machine, while BMW is the ultimate driving machine.”

     

    Now Bajaj wants to do something similar. “As part of an internal discussion, we felt that if you are not a leader, position yourself and re-position the leader by projecting yourself as the opposite of a leader… that’s what we are doing,” said Mr Bajaj.

     

    With Discover 125, Bajaj seeks a large chunk in the biggest segment of the two-wheeler market. Discover competes in the executive commuter segment – or bikes in Rs40,000-50,000 price range – that accounts for two-thirds of the two-wheeler market that sells more than a million units a year. This segment is dominated by Splendor and Passion. But that may soon change.

     

    BATTLE ROYALE

    “Splendor and Passion have not changed at all over the last few years, except maybe a tweak in graphics. They are heading the way Bajaj Chetak did,” said Adil Jal Darukhanawala, Editor, Zigwheels. One of the most popular scooters in the country, Chetak was discontinued in 2009.

     

    Analysts say Hero is grappling on technology front after the exit of Honda and this opens up the largest segment to competitors like Bajaj Auto and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India that have planned aggressive model refurbishment and new launches.

     

    “For the first time in a decade, Bajaj is sniffing an opportunity to challenge the numero uno,” said Saurabh Uboweja, director of brand consulting firm Brands of Desire.

     

    He said that Bajaj’s take on Hero MotoCorp is deliberate and well timed: “By projecting buyers of Hero bikes as meek and compromising, Bajaj is also highlighting the weaknesses of Hero MotoCorp-withdrawal of Honda and its tech platform.” Without Honda, Hero might struggle to launch path-breaking products like it did in the past.

     

    “Hero has money but no technology. This is something that Bajaj is going to take advantage of with its slew of new models blitzkrieg that it has lined up this year,” said Mr Darukhanawala. The Discover ad is in line with Bajaj Auto’s aggressive stance in the market. Last year, one of its TVCs proclaimed that ‘Pulsar sells five times more than any Japanese sports bike in India’. With inputs from Lijee Philip

     

    Source:The Economic Times

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

     

  • Orbit won two Golds, a Bronze and an Appreciation award at Public Relation Council of India Awards

    Orbit Corporation Ltd Wins 2 Golds at PRCI Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Orbit Corporation Ltd has won four awards at the PRCI – Public Relation Council of India Awards 2011-12 for their outstanding Corporate Communication in the respective categories.

     

    Orbit won Gold in the Single Corporate Advertisement, another Gold in the Annual Report, a Bronze in the Table Calendar and an Appreciation award in the Corporate Advertisement (single) category.

     

    Amee Sanghvi, Head – Branding and Communications, Orbit Corp said: “Simple, single-minded communication, effective strategy along with unique creative executions is ‘the’ differentiator. Our unmatched media and sector expertise, added with luxury & lifestyle understanding are our key strengths. At Orbit, we pride in saying ‘People are our finest properties’. These awards are a recognition of our work on the global platform.”

     

    Orbit Corporation Limited is a leading premium developer in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area with significant presence in niche and premium locations of South and South Central Mumbai.

     

  • Red Digital will make use of consumer-centric platforms to help connect the online and offline worlds

    Red Digital bags social media duties for Mirinda

    By A Correspondent

     

    Red Digital has been awarded the social media mandate for PepsiCo’s Mirinda. Red Digital will build and execute social media strategies that will help Mirinda, as a brand, reach out to their audience on social media platforms. The agency will play a key role in creating online buzz about the brand’s new offerings along with launching various campaigns and building engagement across social networks.

     

    For Mirinda, Red Digital’s immediate mandate on social media is to create an impact for its latest breathless campaign, with which it has launched two new flavours, Mirinda Orange Masala and Mirinda Orange Mango, while continuing with the base Mirinda Orange flavour.

     

    The launch is supported by a robust 360-degree campaign called the Taste Twister Challenge, supported via Radio, Outdoor and On-Ground activities, along with social media.

     

    Red Digital will help in bringing the experience to Facebook and On-ground. The program requires consumers to call or SMS at 08800033333 to choose the Taste Twister of their favourite flavour and recite it repeatedly in one breath for as long as possible; longer the recording, greater are the chances of winning exciting prizes, including 10 MP3 players and 1 tablet PC every day. Red Digital has replicated this experience on Facebook and Android tablets for on-ground activation, making the programme truly 360-degree.

     

    Red Digital is also geared to exploit the new disruptive full sleeve packaging that captures the taste and fun experience of drinking Mirinda through applications on Facebook. These applications use the most prominent aspect of the packaging: the emoticons, to bring alive the new flavours. The applications range from allowing fans on the Mirinda India Facebook fan page to enter into an augmented reality world and play with the emoticons to classifying friends in various taste categories. The agency will also be creating an augmented reality iPhone and Android application.

     

    The campaign, for the first time ever, will also see Red Digital creating TweetMobs through the duration of this campaign. These will be high-impact subjects being tweeted by Mirinda and re-tweeted by a group of people within a specific time frame. Red Digital will connect with the Twitteratis and get as many people to tweet about the topic with various Mirinda branded hash tags creating a plethora of endorsements for Mirinda.

     

     

    Commenting on the development, Harsh Jain, Founder & Managing Director, Red Digital said: “Social media provides seamless opportunities to build interest groups. Digital is no longer just about showing banners and clicking on them. It’s about generating engagement, activation and creating convergence between the online and offline worlds. We are glad to have an innovative partner like Pepsi Co onboard and look forward to creating path-breaking innovations in new media in the near future. The new activities for Mirinda brand emphasize our continued focus on digital innovation aimed at bringing value to our clients.”

     

    Speaking on Mirinda’s partnership with Red Digital, Ruchira Jaitly, Executive Vice President – Marketing, Beverages (Flavours), PepsiCo India said: “Social Media has become a very important tool for engaging with consumers and having a dialogue with them on a constant basis. We are pleased to have Red Digital on board as our social media partner for this initiative. Their prior experience in handling leading brands coupled with a deep understanding of consumer behaviour in the digital space will ensure there is a high level of engagement and traction for Mirinda’s campaign on three flavours.”

     

  • Tweek can be accessed via iPad and will soon be launched for iPhone and Android devices. The application has been developed in partnership with GENWI

    Times Internet’s ‘Tweek’ hits the market

    By A Correspondent

     

    Tablet users can now discover a whole new world of information and entertainment at their fingertips, with the launch of India’s first tablet magazine, Tweek. Created by Times Internet Limited (TIL), Tweek can be accessed via iPad and will soon be launched for iPhone and Android devices. The application has been developed in partnership with GENWI, inventor and leader of cloud-based mobile publishing.

     

    The weekly magazine will offer content with an urban perspective. Keeping in mind people’s wide range of interests, Tweek will feature stories from around the world across business, entertainment, lifestyle and sport. Its interactive format will allow readers to not just instantly share stories through social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter, but also share their feedback with the Tweek team. Tweek has also enabled the reader to not just read a story, but also to listen to and watch it and thus, experience the content.

     

    In a first-of-its-kind, readers will be able to actively shape a magazine. They will be able to connect directly with the writers of Tweek, and share their feedback about the stories they enjoyed, effectively ‘Tweek’ing the magazine to something they would look forward to reading every week.

     

    “Tweek offers its readers an unparalleled experience in terms of interactivity, customization and usability. Its content will be kept fresh and relevant by the large database of content available within the TIL network. With its launch, we intend to pioneer the tablet magazine space in India” said Rishi Khiani, CEO, Times Internet Limited.

     

    Mr Khiani also said that they are interested in experimenting with different ways to monetize the content beyond traditional web advertising. Taking advantage of this new medium which incorporates the rich engagement features of the web into a mobile touch experience on a larger screen they hope can deliver new advertising concepts.

     

    GENWI’s Cloud Publish solution enables has enabled Tweek to deliver contextual commerce, rich-media advertorials that are geo-location aware, and switch out advertisers or ad units on the fly.

     

    Given the flexibility of GENWI’s mobile content management system, the partnership with GENWI will allow TIL complete creative freedom and control to deliver a beautifully branded magazine-like experience on an app.

     

    PJ Gurumohan, Founder and CEO of GENWI said: “With the power of the cloud, Tweek will save time and production costs by reusing design layouts from week to week – all in standard web-based protocols such as HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. But, the most groundbreaking aspect of the application is the way it surfaces existing content and takes full advantage of the tablet experience to create higher levels of reader engagement and the flexibility to explore new monetization channels.”

     

    Times Internet Limited, (TIL), is the internet and mobile venture of India’s largest media house – the Times Group. Indiatimes.com, TIL’s flagship brand, commands more than one billion views per month. The other key properties in the TIL portfolio are Timesofindia.com and economictimes.com.

     

    GENWI ( www.genwi.com ) makes mobile publishing simple – in the cloud. As the inventor and leader of cloud-based mobile publishing, GENWI enables publishers and enterprises to easily manage content across mobile platforms, deliver an excellent brand experience, and find new monetization opportunities.

     

    Also read
    http://www.mxmindia.com/2011/11/inma-toi-launches-tweek/

  • The IIFA Case Study showcased Zzebra’s campaign which followed an umbrella messaging structure that revolved around creating strategic communication

    Zzebra PR wins Gold from PRCI for their work on promoting IIFA Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Zzebra Public Relations has won the Gold in the Best Case Study from Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) for the outstanding work done in promoting the International Indian Film Academy(IIFA) Awards for its client Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

     

    The IIFA Case Study showcased Zzebra’s campaign which followed an umbrella messaging structure that revolved around creating strategic communication across key mainstream and regional publications, magazines, the online space, and television networks. The plan comprised of proactive and innovative PR activities to strengthen IIFA’s key attributes of being the global, glamorous and credible awards ceremony.

     

    Pooja Chaudhri, Joint Managing Director, Zzebra PR said: “Our understanding of the entertainment/lifestyle sector and media expertise is unmatched. Our domain knowledge on large scale events, both in entertainment and lifestyle, and our media networks across the country are our key strengths. We have successfully handled on-going communication for IP entities and large-scale events to the satisfaction of our discerning clients. Additionally, our understanding of media and their requirements when dealing with large international events and celebrity icons helps us to achieve better results for maximum client impact.”

     

    Zzebra PR is a leading communication company headquartered in Mumbai. Its portfolio of clients is spread across different industry sectors such as sports, entertainment, lifestyle, real estate, technology, automobile, retail and hospitality, among others. Zzebra is part of Concept Communication,India’s largest independent advertising agency.

     

  • 20:20 MSL will work with Hay Group to build brand awareness and manage its reputation as a global management consulting firm

    Hay Group appoints 20:20 MSL as its strategic communications partner in India

    By A Correspondent

     

    20:20 MSL India, part of MSLGROUP, Publicis Groupe’s flagship specialty communications, PR and events network and the largest PR and social media network in India, has been selected by Hay Group as their strategic communications partner in India.

     

    Hay Group, which entered the Indian market seven years ago, is one of the leading premium management consulting companies and is the largest people consulting organization by revenue and clients inIndia. 20:20 MSL will work with Hay Group to build brand awareness and manage its reputation as a global management consulting firm that works with business leaders to develop talent, organize people to be more effective and motivate them to perform at their best.

     

    20:20 MSL’s seven offices acrossIndiawill work with Hay Group on a nationwide mandate, spearheaded by 20:20 MSL’s National Capital Region (NCR) Office inNew Delhi. The agency has been tasked with drawing on its integrated communications expertise to creatively engage audiences that includes CEOs and CXOs of Indian industry, across traditional as well as social media platforms.

     

    As a newcomer in the consulting space in a niche sector of human resources, leadership & talent, Hay Group will draw on 20:20 MSL to build brand familiarity and also sensitize Indian businesses, including family-owned businesses to the value that leadership development and talent management can add to their enterprises.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Amrit Ahuja, Vice President, 20:20 MSL said: “As the Indian economy grows and Indian companies expand overseas, the focus on managerial talent and leadership has grown manifold. Indian businesses, including many family-owned businesses are on the lookout for experts and specialists who can help them achieve business objectives through development of competencies in the areas of leadership development and talent management. I am thrilled that Hay Group has chosen 20:20 MSL as its communications partner to reinforce its mindshare as the leading people consulting organization inIndia. We look forward to building the Hay Group brand inIndiaand aid the dissemination of global best practices and knowledge that it brings to Indian industry.”

     

    Prashanti Mikayla, Senior Manager, Brand & Talent, Hanmer MSL added: “Acquiring the right talent has become the third most important driver for organizational growth and CEOs worldwide have begun to factor this into their strategies. In the present turbulent market conditions with a dearth of the ‘right fit’, the need is to focus on attracting, engaging and retaining talent that reinforces the purpose of the company and promises a direct impact on the bottom line. With this appointment, we believe that the Hay Group can benefit from MSLGROUP’s Brand & Talent practice to fortify their Employer Brand in the Indian industry.”

     

    Gaurav Lahiri, Managing Director, Hay Group India of Hay Group commented: “We were interested on partnering with an agency that understands our philosophy of transforming people and organizations, realize their potential. With 20:20 MSL’s deep social media expertise, deep sector knowledge and experience, and its capability to seamlessly implement national campaigns, we hope to reach out to Indian business leaders, differentiate ourselves as a strong knowledge driven firm with proprietary insights and become the preferred partner of industry inIndia.”

  • Every year the PRCI looks at eminent professionals from the PR discipline in India and selects the chosen ones for inclusion in the Hall of Fame

    PRCI inducts NS Rajan in the Hall of Fame

    By A Correspondent

     

    NS Rajan, the public relations evangelist inIndia, has been inducted in the Hall of Fame by PRCI at the recently concluded Global PR Conclave 2012.

     

    Every year the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) looks at eminent professionals from the public relations discipline inIndiaand selects the chosen ones for inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

     

    NSR, as he is fondly called, has been nurturing and re-defining the public relations industry inIndiawith his strong belief in consulting and advisory approach at a time when the industry didn’t have these words in its dictionary. Grit, passion and innovation are the three cornerstones of NSR’s illustrious career spanning over two decades.

     

    “I dedicate this recognition to each of my colleagues, past and present, who have contributed to make what Ketchum Sampark is today,” said NSR, Managing Director – Ketchum Sampark.

     

    A postgraduate in Business Management, NSR is widely credited for bringing in ethics, moral values and a sense of pride to the public relations industry inIndia. NSR started his career with the Associated Cement Companies (ACC), followed by Essar Group where he headed its Corporate Communications Team. He successfully guided all communications related to Essar Group’s metamorphosis into one ofIndia’s largest industrial houses with interests in steel, oil, shipping and telecom – including helping the group raise several billion dollars from the capital markets.

     

    Under his stewardship Sampark, started in 1994, has developed and executed distinctive, high-impact global communications campaigns for several global and Indian brands like DSP Merrill Lynch, ICICI Prudential, Fitch Ratings, ICICI Venture, Bajaj Auto, Tech Mahindra, Hutch Vodafone, ABB, Exide, Lafarge and others.

     

    H K Dua, Member of Parliament and former Editor-in-Chief of Times of India, K Subramanyam, Director General of Police,Maharashtra, Dr. N. Prabhu Dev, Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka University, and CV Prasad, CEO, Gradatim, Chennai, M B Jayaram, Executive Director KPCL and Chairman Emeritus PRCI and Mr. ND Rajpal, President, PRCI graced the occasion.

     

     

    In 2011, Ketchum Inc. a leading global communications firm acquired a majority stake in Sampark PR Pvt. Ltd. after a four long year preferred partner relationship. The joint alliance Ketchum Sampark Pvt. Ltd., part of the Omnicom Group significantly expands Ketchum’s presence inSouth Asia, complementing Ketchum’s strong network in the Asia-Pacific region.

     

    Public Relations Council ofIndia(PRCI) is a national body of Public Relations, Corporate Communications, Advertising and Media Practitioners, Event Managers and also academicians. Established in 2004 PRCI strives to enrich the professional development of media practitioners and provides networking opportunities to further the course of the profession.

     

  • Kapil Dev & Romi Dev will inaugurate the www.millionweddingpics.com website and upload the first picture

    Bharat Matrimony to create the world’s largest wedding photo album

    By A Correspondent

     

    Kick-starting a two month long run-up to Matrimony Day (April 14), BharatMatrimony.com has set the ball rolling on February 14th in an attempt to create two world records – attempt a Guinness World Record in putting together the world’s largest wedding photo album; set a world record with 1 million wedding pictures online at www.millionweddingpics.com to create the largest collection of wedding pictures online.

     

    During the event, the celebrity couple Kapil & Romi Dev uploaded the first wedding pictures onto the website to officially launch www.millionweddingpics.com.

     

    The website opens up an opportunity for all married couples to participate in this momentous occasion and create history. They can also drop into any of the over 150 BharatMatrimony retail outlets spread across the country to participate in this record attempt.

     

    Spread over a period of two months, the grand finale of this attempt to create a Guinness World Record with the world’s largest wedding album will be unveiled on April 14, which is celebrated as Matrimony Day across the globe. The final lap of events will begin on March 1 to mark Matrimony Day celebrations.

  • The series will feature insights on key people and events that have shaped our nation as told by insiders who have held positions of power and privilege

    NewsX launches The Insiders with Kalyani Shankar

    By A Correspondent

     

    NewsX has launched a brand new series – The Insiders with Kalyani Shankar to boost its programming lineup. The Insiders is a series that provides viewers with an Insider’s perspective on events and people who have shaped the discourse and direction ofIndia.

     

    Hosted by ace political commentator, Kalyani Shankar, this series will provide groundbreaking insight into certain events of the past that shapedIndiaand changed the course of our collective histories. The ‘Insiders’ featured in this series have held key positions of power and been involved in policy and decision making processes.

     

    The events and people they talk about during the show are not ordinary either. From Pokhran-II to the 1971 Bangladesh War; from Kargil and the IC-814 hijack to the inception of insurgency in Kashmir; from the road to economic recovery in 1991 to when democracies collided with Mrs. Gandhi taking on the might of Nixon and theUSA, the show throws light on all these incidents that shaped our nation’s history.

     

    Commenting on the launch, Jehangir S Pocha, Co-Promoter, NewsX said: “The Insiders re-examines key events that shaped modernIndiathrough Kalyani Shankar’s free-wheeling and frank interviews with the key players involved in those events. The show brings new light to these stories and gives the nation a greater understanding of the issues and decisions behind the events that shook the nation.”

     

    Host of the series, Kalyani Shankar, is a political commentator based inNew Delhi. During her career spanning over three decades, she was theWashingtoncorrespondent and later the political editor of the Hindustan Times. She was a Nuffield Press Fellow atWolfsonCollege,Cambridge. Presently she is a syndicated columnist writing for Hindi and English newspapers, apart from doing a weekly current affairs programme on All India Radio. She has also authored Gods of Power and two other books.

     

    Following are synopsis of some of the episodes that have been featured on the show:

     

    1971:India’s finest hour

    In 1971, there was a brutal crackdown in, what was then,East Pakistanagainst the Bengali population. Thousands of Bengali students and intellectuals were systematically murdered in cold blood by the Pakistani Army. Millions of refugees floodedIndia’s borders and the then-Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi knew that she had to act and she did – ordering the army into action on India’s eastern borders. This campaign, once launched was swift and effective. The war ended in just 13 days, after the Indian troops closed in onDhaka. It was here that the instrument of surrender was signed and Gen. Niazi and his troops laid down their arms in what is regarded as history’s first ever public surrender of such magnitude. The episode features the story of how the 1971 Bangladesh War was won from the insider.

     

    Under attack

    In 1999,Indiacame under attack. In May, a mix of Mujahideen and Pakistani army regulars took over strategic positions in our side of the LOC in Kashmir in an attempt to block the only road to Leh fromSrinagarat the time. On Christmas Eve, an Indian Airlines plane (IC-814) was hijacked by armed Pakistani terrorists who forced it to make its way toKandaharinAfghanistan. Both situations were extremely tense and captured the imagination of the whole nation and world. The Vajpayee-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had to make some tough decisions. Also, it let go of three terrorists who were in jail in J&K against the wishes of the then-CM, Farooq Abdullah. This episode features interviews with Brajesh Mishra (Former National Security Advisor to the PM), Yashwant Sinha (Former Finance Minister) and  Farooq Abdullah (Former CM of J&K).

     

    Road to reforms

    In 1991, when the Chandrashekhar government took over,Indiawas perched on the edge of an economic crisis. As Finance Minister at the time, Yashwant Sinha was the man entrusted to pull us out of the crisis and keep our economy afloat. As Foreign Secretary at the time, Muchkund Dubey was involved in this effort. Hear the story of howIndiawas saved from going under and how the road to economic reforms was built, from insiders Yashwant Sinha (Former Finance Minister) and Muchkund Dubey (Former Foreign Secretary).

     

    Democracies collide

    Indo-US relations were at their all time low when Richard Nixon was the president of theUS. He had nothing but contempt for Indira Gandhi and she was no big fan of his either. Their battle of wits is legendary and evenIndia’s staunchest critics begrudgingly agree that Mrs. Gandhi outfoxed Nixon during the 1971 Bangladesh War. She not only built up public support forIndiaagainstPakistanbut also inked the Indo-Russia Friendship Treaty, which guaranteedIndiaa key ally in the Russians. Insiders MK Rasgotra, thenIndia’s Deputy Chief ofMissionin Washington and later Foreign Secretary and Natwar Singh, former Minister of External Affairs, and someone who worked closely with Mrs. Gandhi provide the flavour of those times in this episode.

     

    Kashmir: Insurgency’s inception

    On July 2, 1984, Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Jagmohan dismissed the then-Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah. Many see this as the turning point in allowing militancy to rule the roost in the valley. Hear from both these insiders into the circumstances surrounding this action, and why peace has eluded theKashmirvalley ever since.Sparkswill fly in this episode as both Jagmohan and Farooq Abdullah take each other head on – and spin the story of the inception of insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir.

     

    ‘The Insiders with Kalyani Shankar’ will be telecast every Saturday at 2.30pm and Sunday at 6.30pm on NewsX!

     

  • Sign three-year exclusive deal with YouTube to live stream all fights on a dedicated SFL channel on YouTube

    Raj Kundra & Sanjay Dutt partner with YouTube for Super Fight League

    By A Correspondent

     

    This summer India will witness a sport it has never been acquainted with. Raj Kundra and Sanjay Dutt, through their company Super Fight Promotions Pvt. Ltd., have launched India’s first professionally organized Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting league, Super Fight League (SFL). Super Fight League has tied up with YouTube to live stream the event on a dedicated SFL channel on YouTube at www.youtube.com/SFL.

     

    The SFL-Google partnership will add a new dimension to MMA event providing on-demand access to millions of MMA enthusiasts across the globe. Now fans from Mumbai to Melbourne will be able to join the action from all the fight night events of SFL and share their experiences on YouTube.

     

    The fans can also enjoy special content like fighters’ interviews, fight night highlights, knockout of the night, submission of the night, Bollywood acts, performances by international performers and much more at their convenience.

     

    Under the terms of the tie-up, Google will have exclusive online and mobile rights for SFL content for three years, and, both, Google and SFL will jointly share revenues from sponsorships and advertising on www.youtube.com/SFL.

     

    Raj Kundra, Founder Chairman, Super Fight League said: “This unique initiative by SFL to partner YouTube will give the league a global reach on a single platform. This will allow MMA fans anywhere in the world to view the action on-demand as per their convenience, thus making the SFL channel on YouTube the biggest virtual MMA arena in the world. Since we are offering this as a free service initially our events will have greater viewership than other MMA events. This strategic tie-up will give SFL the opportunity to give MMA fans worldwide the best fight night events with some of the industry’s best MMA Fighters.”

     

    Sanjay Dutt, Co-founder, Super Fight League said: “Martial Arts was invented inAsiaand MMA in the west, now with our partnership with YouTube we will show the world some of the best Indian MMA fighters. With this initiative, fans will be able to have interactions with fighters and celebrities on our YouTube channel. SFL & YouTube will provide a comprehensive site to catch up on all the action any time of the day. SFL will go live from March 11.”

     

    “We are thrilled to have the SFL as our global partner and bring this exciting Mixed Martial Arts sports content for the YouTube community around the world. The SFL format is super exciting and we’re working with SFL team to provide a unique experience to build greater awareness for the sport,” said Gautam Anand, Director, Content Partnership, Asia Pacific.

     

    “At YouTube we’re committed to bring all the exciting content for our users and this association will help us to build on that promise. Sports and entertainment are a big focus area for us and we’re working with companies to take their content to a global audience and also provide a great opportunity for advertisers to interact with a large number of viewers through interactive video formats,” he added.

     

  • 'Unprecedented response from leading brands proves that digital is where marketing wars will be fought'

    Delegates from 15 countries to attend ad:tech New Delhi 2012

    By A Correspondent

     

    With less than ten days remaining, ad:tech, the world’s No.1 digital marketing, media and advertising event, is on its way to be oversubscribed again. ad:tech New Delhi 2012 has been registering an unprecedented number of entries from delegates, exhibitors and sponsors from all over the world, to make it even larger than last year.

     

    The event is being held over three days instead of two days as last year, and has an agenda full of insightful keynotes, panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities. To be held between February 22 and 24 at Hotel Leela Kempinski Gurgaon, the first day of this conference and exhibition will be dedicated to in-depth master-classes on social media and search techniques for marketing professionals.

     

    The Master Classes will comprise of a hands-on, interactive workshop to provide in-depth learning on developing a web presence, digital brand building, SEO 2.0, evolution of technologies in PPC, social media monitoring, and imbibing search and social into an organization’s DNA. Leading experts from Google, Communicate2, Simplogy, Quova and Value Pitch will be conducting sessions during these pre-registered master classes.

     

    Rammohan Sundaram, Event Chairman, ad:techIndiaand Founder, CEO & Managing Director, Networkplay Media Pvt. Ltd. said: “This year is going to be a big game-changer forIndiain the digital marketing arena, and ad:tech is proud to be at the forefront in bringing the very best of minds together on one platform. We have global digital heads of top brands like Nestle and Pepsi are among the over 90 expert speakers fromIndia, APAC and the world.”

     

    Commenting on the people coming down to India to attend ad:tech, Mr Rammohan said: “Apart from India, we already have confirmations from delegates and speakers of as many as 15 countries, including USA, UK, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Korea”.

     

    As the largest gathering of online marketers, the event also promises to showcase leading Indian and global brands, including Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Facebook, Dell, FordIndia, IBM, Nokia, Sony Entertainment Television, Bharti Airtel, LG Electronics, MTV, Linkedin, Homeshop18, Godrej Appliances, comScore, Ogilvy, Avaya, mydala.com, Yatra.com, Kotak Mahindra Group, Tata Teleservices, MotorExchange, and Domino’s Pizza.

     

    Mr Rammohan said: “We see a renewed energy among brands this year. Such an unprecedented response from brands puts to rest any doubt on the future of digital media in India, and proves that digital is the new arena where real marketing wars will be fought, and probably much sooner than we expect.”

     

    Besides the master classes, this year’s ad:tech will also feature an exclusive exhibition area for start-up companies in the digital space, which is almost full booked already.

     

    ad:tech, world’s No. 1 digital marketing ,media & advertising event made its successful debut inIndiain April 2011, withNew Delhi being the first city to host the two day event. With 10 shows in 7 countries, ad:tech has been providing media, marketing and technology professionals with the tools and techniques required to succeed in a changing digital world for over a decade.

     

  • The channel, #1 in affluent India, is fastest growing amongst all international news channels

    BBC World News is the No 1 international English news channel

    By A Correspondent

     

    The latest Ipsos PAX survey (Q4 2010-Q3 2011) shows that BBC World News is the top international English news channel in India, and the fastest growing across all international news channels.

     

    BBC World News is also shown to be the most watched international news channel (35 per cent) amongst the evolved, upmarket audiences, including the affluent, business decision makers and top management consumers. The channel is also the most watched news channel amongst key audiences – thought leaders, international flyers and car owners. BBC World News viewers also have combined investments of US$8 bn.

     

    Sunita Rajan, Senior Vice President, BBC Advertising at BBC Worldwide News said: “This study shows that BBC World News is going from strength to strength acrossIndia. With such an amazing year ahead for international news, we’re pleased that the channel continues to reach so many audiences throughout the region.”

     

    The Ipsos PAX study surveys international and local media consumption and product consumption among affluent adults and business professionals in the Indian cities of Mumbai,DelhiandBangalore. The latest survey covers Q4 2010 to Q3 2011.

     

    BBC World News, the BBC’s commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel, is owned and operated by BBC World News Ltd, a member of the BBC’s commercial group of companies. BBC World News is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and over 300 million households.