MxMIndia

Category: RADIO

  • ‘Radio City Malayalam’ on PlanetRadiocity.com will feature back-to-back Malayalam hits

    Radio City launches online Malayalam station

    By A Correspondent

    PlanetRadiocity, the country’s first web radio portal, has launched Radio City Malayalam, its second regional offering after Radio City Tamil that was launched a few months back. The ‘station’ went live on January 19.

    Radio City Malayalam (www.planetradiocity.com/internetradio/radiocitymalayalam.php) caters to the strong fan-base of regional music lovers on the internet across the world. The playlist features popular Malayalam tracks and all-time favourites like EnteEllaamEllaam (MeeshaMadhavan), Chandanacholayil (Sallapam), Vaathililaavaathilil (Ustad Hotel)

    Speaking on the launch, Rachna Kanwar, SVP & Business Head, Digital Media & New Business, said, “Since the time we launched our first regional web radio station, we have been flooded with requests for more regional content on our portal. For us, Radio City Malayalam marks a foray into a hitherto untouched territory – Malayalam music. We hope to touch base with Malayalam music fans all over the world through this effort.”

  • In a quick Q&A, Red FM COO Nisha Narayanan talks of how 2013 was for her radio, her plans for the stations in 2014 and where the radio sector is headed in adspends this year

    Jaldi 5 with Nisha Narayanan: Small cities will be as important as Delhi or Mumbai

    With its ‘Bajaate Raho’ credo, Red FM has been making an impact – with content innovations as well as embarking on marketing tie-ups and affiliations to gain salience. Red Live, the network’s onground music and events has been very active and according to COO Nisha Narayanan, smaller, regional markets will see growth this year. In a quick Q&A with MxMIndia, Ms Narayanan talks of how 2013 was for Red FM and plans for this year as well as her forecast for the entire radio sector in terms of adspends in 2014.

     

    01. How was the year 2013 for Red FM?

    It has been a very busy and rewarding year for Red FM. Even though the metro markets were slow initially, the non-metros compensated by showing good growth. In terms of brand, we engaged our listeners and clients with some very interesting innovations on-air, on-ground and digitally. From our concerts under the Red Live vertical in Delhi and smaller towns like Varanasi and Guwahati to our programming-led activities such as Sachin-200 and Bigg Boss integration, the year has been abuzz with innovations. We have had some very good client-based innovations across our markets, such as Thappa and Tashanbaaz. Our digital wing has been engaging listeners online by continuously giving them interesting content. The Red FM Facebook page reached a milestone of half million likes and is a sizeable community for any brand.

     

    And what plans for 2014?

    2014 is expected to be a somewhat slow year in terms of market buoyancy. Regional markets will be very important and one of the keys to growth in 2014. As bigger markets get saturated, smaller towns will emerge with a vast potential which has not been realized yet. For Red FM, small cities across the country will be as important as Delhi or Mumbai.

     

    Most of 2013 was spent in waiting for Phase 3. Do you see it happening before the elections and ahead of the time the election Code of Conduct gets into force?

    We are still not very clear on when the Phase 3 will come in, where we are headed, what happens once the present license period gets over, and what kind of migration fee we would have to pay. We have already submitted our recommendations to TRAI.

     

    Though we would be happy to see Phase 3 earlier, but looks like it has been put on the backburner once again and will only happen after the general elections now.

     

    02. You spoke on digital… are you looking at an online rebroadcast of your stations?

    Our key focus in 2014 will be on digital engagement. Be it streaming music or offering more differentiated products digitally as extension of the radio brand, digital is one strong wing that any radio station today will have to eventually get into. The competition here will not be between different radio stations, but between radio and technology. The natural progression for the radio industry is to move towards digital. As and when the government policy allows us, we will be more than happy to broadcast Red FM online. It is imperative for a radio brand to have a strong digital presence as most of radio consumers are very active on the digital space and it is important for any radio brand to engage with them there. Digital is the way forward and a leader brand like Red FM will be present in anything that the youth (in terms of age or at heart) consumes. The consumption of internet in India is growing every day, and Red FM believes in remaining in tune with the times. With almost 50% of consumption of internet being on smartphones, it is important to be constantly innovate therefore. Red FM as a brand will keep on extending itself on these platforms.

     

    03. Tell us more about Red Live. And what plans do you have for it? Could it be an independent P/L?

    Red Live is Red FM’s IPR, under which we offer Live Super Hit music experiences to audiences in the form of concerts and other entertainment gigs. It helps us have a deeper level of engagement with the audience in a medium (radio) where one hardly gets to see the Voice one loves. Interactions with listeners on-ground help in creating a connect which would stay long after the radio has been switched off. They help in getting the brand and the RJs directly in touch with their listeners. 2013 has been a very good year for Red Live. With Mika Singh in Delhi, Sugandha Mishra in Varanasi and Zubeen Garg in Guwahati, we have had a rocking year in terms of Live music gigs across country.

     

    We will continue to grow Red Live in 2014, organising gigs every quarter, and expanding into both metros and non-metros. The year gone by with numerous successful concerts has strengthened our confidence in Red Live, and we plan to make it bigger and better in 2014. Innovation, consistency and excellence in the experiences offered to customers will be the mantra to success for its success.

     

    04. The adspend forecast for radio for the year 2014 is varied. ZenithOptimedia says it’s 5 percent while that of MagnaGlobal is 11%. Even the MagnaGlobal estimate has gone down from last year. Your comments?

    Even though 2013 was not a very industry-friendly year and so most of the agencies have lowered their growth expectations, the sentiments for 2014 are buoyant. Adex estimates suggest radio industry having shown a growth of 15% year-on-year in 2013. All three metro markets have shown a healthy double digit growth due to revival of real estate, BFSI, white goods and retail spending.

     

    We are expecting it to continue showing double digit growth in 2014 as well. With the general elections and elections in several state assemblies scheduled to be held 2014, political parties’ spending will be a substantial driver of revenue for radio. Adcap on TV Broadcasters will also help radio increase its share in the advertising pie as media planners are trying to diversify budgets and take maximum ROI on their money by better media mix of Print, TV, Radio, OOH and digital. Although expansion through phase III is being planned, the impact of that will be seen once we have more clarity on when and how it is happening.

     

    While one can look at healthy double digit YoY growth in H1 of 2014, the H2 should see flat growth till festive season, post which the spends should again pick up. Overall, one can expect radio growth to be in the range of 5-10% YoY in 2014.

     

    05. Is independent news on the FM radio anywhere on the horizon?

    The government considering to lift ban from news on private and community radio stations is a step in the right direction. It is high time we relooked at the rules that bar private FM radio channels from broadcasting news and current affairs. Radio, being the most accessible medium, is in fact the most suitable for mass dissemination of news and information. Indian FM stations are an anomaly in that none of the private radio stations in the USA, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Australia or most of the countries of the world are barred from airing news and related content.

     

    News and current affairs are the most relevant when they are localized, so as to suit the requirements of a particular community, city, town or village. It therefore makes sense to de-regulate the Indian radio industry, as opposed to the restrictive Phase 3 guidelines that allow private FM radio only to re-broadcast the news bulletins of All India Radio without any addition or modification. Surely, the 36 news generating units of AIR cannot cater to the local news requirements of over 200 cities that private radio is expected to cover in Phase III.

     

    At a time when all other media are free to broadcast news, including the digital medium where we see numerous news portals emerging every day, radio should also be evangelized a people’s medium, and not just limited to entertainment. The regulations that are holding back radio from reaching its full potential should be re-examined.

     

  • Actor Manoj Tiwari, who presented the show in the last season, will be the host of the show which will be available to listeners in UP, Bihar and Jharkhand

    Closeup and 92.7 Big FM bring back ‘Antakshari’ on radio

    By A Correspondent

     

    After a successful run in Uttar Pradesh, well-known brand Closeup and radio network 92.7 Big FM have got together to bring in the Antakshari format to listeners in Bihar and Jharkhand.

     

    Actor Manoj Tiwari, who presented the show in the last season, will be the host. As many as 12 teams from 12 different cities will be selected through a process of city finales, followed by elimination rounds on radio where listeners vote for their favorite teams. The finale for the contest will be held in Lucknow, where three teams will compete for the winning title and a grand prize.

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Commenting on the launch of the show, Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, 92.7 Big FM said, “Closeup Antakshari has been a much loved property on television and we are proud to have recreated such an iconic show on radio for our listeners. We have had an extremely successful season last year and we thank our partners again for this association.”

     

  • A quick chat with Ashwin Padmanabhan, National Business Head, 92.7 Big FM on his Mumbai’s station ascent to No 2

    Jaldi 5 with Ashwin Padmanabhan: 92.7 Big FM’s rise to No 2 in Mumbai is about content, not just music

    While the success of all radio stations is critical, when the all-important Mumbai station sees a steady growth to the No 2, there is some reason for celebration. On the back of turning its format to retro, the 45-station 92.7 Big FM network tasted much success in Delhi. It switched to retro in Mumbai in June 2013 and in around eight months rose to #2 in Mumbai as per RAM figures quoted by the station*.

     

    01. You’ve obviously achieved much with the retro repositioning. First Delhi and now Mumbai. In a country where the youth segment is huge and growing, what would you attribute as the reason for the success of the switch to retro?

    The kind music we play today in Delhi, Mumbai and a few more cities across the country is timelines – that’s why we call it as “Hit They Hit Rahenge” The appreciation and love for this music cuts across generation, the fact is the music has meaning, love, emotions and a king of connect that has universal appeal. The other aspect of our programming is that our RJ-speak is honest, responsible, reflects the current environment in the city and seeks to engage and entertain. In fact while we have become the No-2 Radio station in Mumbai, we also have the No 1 Breakfast Show there !

     

    It appears the results on ratings took more time to show in Mumbai as against Delhi. True? And would you be able to attribute any reason for that

    Not really, we moved to playing retro music all day in Mumbai at the end of June 2013, so it has taken six months to move to the No 2 spot – which has actually been a rapid growth.

     

    02. In which decade or age segment would you say is there maximum listenership for retro?

    The listenership is being driven by the 25+ audience…

     

    03. Have you looked at experimental with retro English or that in other regional languages?

    As a brand we will continue to create and deliver content that connects with the masses, English content is still a very small niche. In regional languages: yes. Our Kolkata station is also 100% retro. In Bengaluru, where we are a Kannada station; we have a five-hour Retro Band from 12noon to 5pm.

     

    04. On the back of retro, one finds you have also created some popular shows. For instance, Annu Kapoor has seen a new lease of life after the demise of Antakshari. Comments?

    Like I mentioned earlier, it’s not just about the music, it’s also about the content that we create. In 2013 and we will continue this year, we invested in creating some really entertaining formats like Suhana Safar, Yadon Ka Idiot Box, Caravan E Ghazal, with brilliant Artists like Annu Kapoor, Nilesh Mishra, Talat Aziz in Hindi;  Sabyasachi in Bengali and Shi Kay Chandru in Kannada. Entertaining content will always be key to get engage with listeners..

     

    05. What next, given that the retro format is easily replicable? In fact the retro zone does exist on other stations too.

    Most formats are replicable, it is the content that we build around it that helps in differentiation, and this is our focus, so in other words our success with Retro format is not just about the music, it about delivering superior entertainment to audiences.

     

    *Note: RAM does not supply figures directly to MxMIndia, hence these figures are unverified

     

  • The decision is on the back of the 45-station FM radio network’s performance in ratings

    Big FM hikes ad rates by 20-30% across markets

    By A Correspondent

     

    92.7 Big FM has announced an increase in its advertising rates by 20 to 30 percent. The decision for the hike is more a price correction given the network strength and more recently the superlative performance of the network Рboth in metros and emerging markets, notes a communiqu̩.

     

    The decision comes on the back of the 45-station network’s decision to go completely retro in some markets especially in the key metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. The Bengaluru station’s 100 percent Kannada music has also ensured it fares well in ratings.

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Speaking on the development, Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, 92.7 Big FM said: “Our product mix, ability to innovate, solutions approach and unparalleled reach sees us catering to almost 1800 clients on a monthly basis. It is now time to consolidate, while ensuring the aural experience is of best quality. This price correction will ensure that the core product and promise remain relevant to the audiences while delivering optimum value to the advertisers.”

     

  • Celebrities from various walks of life will be profiled every month in a two-hour radio show across all 17 stations

    94.3 My FM introduces ‘Jiyo Dil Se Heroes’

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Dainik Bhaskar group’s My FM radio station network has come up with a new initiative called “Jiyo Dil Se Heroes” in sync with its brand philosophy, Jiyo Dil Se.

     

    Celebrities from various walks of life will be profiled every month in a two-hour radio show across all 17 stations. The show kicked off on Tuesday, February 18 with author Chetan Bhagat talking about his various experiences of life and how he turned in to a full-time author.  Other names that feature in the future are Pandit Birju Maharaj and Geet Sethi.

     

    The show will be promoted extensively through 360-degree media campaign which will include promotions across platforms like cinema, print, digital and radio.

     

    Harrish M Bhatia

    Speaking on the initiative, Harrish M Bhatia, CEO of 94.3 My FM, said, “Jiyo Dil Se Heroes is an extension of the core values and beliefs at My FM.. We aim to communicate our brand philosophy and develop a stronger bond with our listeners through this innovative concept.”

     

    Added Viplove Gupte, National Programming Head of the network: “Every three weeks we will be featuring one hero and his story, his emotions, his journey. This is not a life-story show, this is the story of moments and emotions that make these people a hero, a hero who lives “Dil Se”.

     

  • The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued recommendations on 'Migration of FM Radio Broadcasters From Phase II to Phase III'

    TRAI gets into the act on FM Phase III, issues ‘recommendations’

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued its recommendations on ‘Migration of FM Radio Broadcasters from Phase II to Phase III’.

     

    Phase I of FM Radio broadcasting was launched in 1999 and under which 21 private FM radio channels became operational. Phase II of FM Radio broadcasting was launched in July 2005 and 221 more channels were added. As of now, total 242 channels (21 migrated from Phase I and 221 from Phase II) are operational. In Phase III, an additional 839 channels across 294 cities would be made available for auction.

     

    The salient features of the recommendations are:

    I. TRAI reiterates early implementation of its recommendations on minimum channel spacing of 400 KHz for FM Radio broadcast issued on April 19, 2012, which will in effect increase the number FM channels in each city for auction.

     

    II. The period of permission to operate the existing FM channels on migration from Phase II to Phase III will be fifteen (15) years. The Phase II permission period was ten (10) years.

     

    III. Cutoff date for migration is to be decided by MIB after the completion of auction process for Phase III of FM Radio. However, the cutoff date for migration should not be later than March 31, 2015.

     

    IV. For calculating the migration fees, the cities have been categorized into 3 Groups X, Y & Z. This classification is based on the numbers of FM channels available in each city for the Phase III auction. Group X consists of 17 cities where no channels are available for auction in Phase III. Group Y consists of 26 cities where channels available for auction are 1/3rd or less of the total channels in that city. Finally, Group Z includes 42 cities where more than 1/3rd of the total channels in that city are available for auction.

     

    V. Regarding how to calculate the migration fee, the recommendations vary for the three groups.

     

    (i) For Group X, since no auction is possible for the cities herein, the migration fee is proposed to be derived from the percentage increase in the Phase III auction prices obtained in Group Z cities. It is recommended that the migration fee for the operators in the 17 cities in Group X should be higher of –

    • Phase II average bid of the city multiplied by a factor of 1.5; or
    • Phase II highest bid of the city increased by the average increase in auction prices in Group Z cities (vis-à-vis their reserve prices) in the same category in Phase III.

     

    (ii)   Group Y cities are those where auction will be held, but for a few channels. Since this is deemed to be a scarce market situation, the recommendation is that the migration fee for the existing channel operators should be higher of-

    • Phase II average bid of the Y city multiplied by a factor of 1.5; or
    • Phase II highest bid of the city increased by the average increase in auction prices in Group Z cities (vis-à-vis their reserve prices) in the same category in Phase III.

     

    …but, the lower of

    • The above; and
    • Actual Phase III auction price obtained in the city.

     

    (iii) Group Z cities, have sufficient FM frequencies available for auction and as such the actual auction price obtained in Phase III will be the migration fee.

     

    VI. In all of these cases, the residual value of the Phase II permission, calculated on a pro rata basis, is to be deducted from the Phase III migration fee.

     

    VII. The methodology to be adopted for determining the reserve price for fresh cities in Phase III should be reconsidered as the current methodology might jeopardise the auction.

     

    VIII. The cities in each group are:

    (i) Group X – Kolkata, Indore, Baroda, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Raipur, Gwalior, Jalandhar, Trivandrum, Kannur, Trichur, Gangtok, Panaji and Shimla.

    (ii) Group Y – Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Nagpur, Jaipur, Bangalore, Jamshedpur, Rajkot, Amritsar, Varanasi, Kochi, Madurai, Bhubaneswar, Siliguri, Guwahati, Jodhpur, Patiala, Udaipur, Kota, Puducherry, Mangalore, Hissar and  Karnal.

    (iii) Group Z – Lucknow, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Asansol, Patna, Agra, Allahabad, Vijayawada, Rourkela, Muzaffarpur, Kolhapur, Nasik, Aurangabad, Sholapur, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Jalagaon, Dhule, Bilaspur, Akola, Nanded, Chandigarh, Ajmer, Bareilly, Jammu, Srinagar, Bikaner, Aligarh, Gorakhpur,  Jhansi, Kozhikode, Tiruchi, Tirupati, Mysore, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Gulbarga, Rajahmundry, Warangal, Shillong,  Agartala and Itanagar.

     

    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had sent a reference dated April 9, 2013, to the Authority, seeking recommendations of TRAI on Migration of FM Radio Broadcasters from Phase II to Phase III. The clarifications sought by TRAI were provided by the MIB by November 22, 2013.

     

    The TRAI issued a consultation paper on ‘Migration of FM Radio Broadcasters from Phase II to Phase III’ on December 3, 2013 seeking comments from the stakeholders. Open House Discussion was held at New Delhi on January 3, 2013. Taking into account the comments received during the consultation process and analysis of the issues, the Authority has finalised its recommendations.

     

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

     

  • Red FM RJs shine in Mumbai & Delhi bagging the most popular tag

    Red FM RJs outshine others in Delhi & Mumbai, notes Ormax

    By a correspondent

     

    A study released by research entity Ormax Media has put RJs from 93.5 Red FM as the most popular among the top 5 RJs across Mumbai and Delhi.

     

    According to the study, RJ Malishka was the most popular RJ in Mumbai for the third time in a row while RJ Rishi Kapoor seized the fourth spot on the list. In Delhi, RJ Swati is at No. 2 followed by RJ Raunac occupying the fifth spot. RJ Devaki in Ahmedabad and RJ Prateek in Lucknow both occupied the second spot in their respective markets.

     

    Since 2009, this periodic survey by Ormax Media identifies the most popular RJs in more than 15 markets. It help stations take content and communication decisions accordingly.

     

    Nisha Narayanan

    Commenting on this achievement, Nisha Narayanan, COO, 93.5 RED FM said, “It is a proud moment for us, as our RJs have once again been recognized for their talent and hard-work. Recognitions like these only help talents to raise their benchmarks and perform better. With our RJs amongst the top 5 in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, I am sure that as results are declared for the other cities as well, we will do well in them too.”

     

  • Inventory crunch pitfall pushes radio station to hike ad rates

    MY FM hikes ad rates by 25%

    By a correspondent

     

    In its bid to address inventory crunch facing the radio station, MY FM has announced a hike in its advertising rates by 25 per cent. The hike will be effective from 1st April 2014 onwards.

     

    Harrish M Bhatia

    Commenting on the development, Harrish M Bhatia CEO, 94.3 MY FM – Radio Business of Dainik Bhaskar Group said “MY FM understands the pulse of the market, our music and content is according to listeners preferences. This has enabled MY FM to enjoy an unparalleled leadership across its stations.”

     

    Adding further he said, “Our markets are growing at an exponential pace and advertisers have realized that radio is the most effective way of reaching out to the audience. The new price structure is designed keeping the interest of both client and listeners in mind.”

  • Hindustan Unilever runs Bihar's most popular radio on mobile phones… in fact the FMCG major has stopped advertising on traditional radio in the state

    Bihar mein No 1 radio station kaunbaa? Aapan Hindustan Unilever ke ‘Kan Khajura Tesan’

    By Sagar Malviya

     

    At Gosaidaspur, a village near Ganga river basin in Bihar, people regularly listen to movie songs, dialogues, radio jockey talk, jokes and shayari on their mobile phone. There’s no FM station covering this village 250 km east of Patna; villagers owe this special service to Hindustan Unilever.

     

    The country’s largest consumer goods maker has come up with a free radio-on-demand service to reach out to villagers in remote areas. And it says its lone channel – Kan Khajura Tesan, or ‘centipede station’ – is already the largest radio station in Bihar in terms of subscribers.

     

    This is how it works: any mobile phone user in Bihar can give a missed call to a specific number to immediately get a return call that will play Kan Khajura Tesan for 15 minutes. Besides a series of entertainment programmes, the channel of course plays advertisements of HUL brands.

     

    HUL has Stopped Ads on Radio

    “There is a lot of demand for content or entertainment in media-dark villages and mobiles become their only route to that world. So, we thought, can we institutionalise missed calls into an entertainment channel,” said Hemant Bakshi, executive director for home and personal care at HUL.

     

    “For consumers, it’s just like any other free radio station. But the one big difference compared with a radio is that we know who’s listening to our programmes,” he said.

     

    Mr Bakshi said the company has stopped advertising on radio in Bihar because its own channel reaches more people than any radio station. The company has printed the phone number for the channel on some of its product packs and has put up banners outside stores to increase its reach.

     

    It has already acquired more than 5 million subscribers, and interacts with about 1 lakh consumers everyday. That means about 25,000 hours of engagement daily with consumers in Bihar. And the company says it has more than 26 million ad impressions till date.

     

    Buoyed by its success in Bihar, Hindustan Unilever has launched this service in neighbouring Jharkhand and plans to take it to other states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

     

    Experts said Hindustan Unilever has reinvented “The notion that more advertising could mean more sales is diminishing. Also, impact of paid media is waning. HUL’s initiative is like a viral which will give much bigger bang for the buck,” said Alpana Parida, president at brand consulting firm DY Works.

     

    So, where did the company get this idea of running a parallel radio station? From a radio campaign for Wheel detergent it ran more than two years ago.

     

    The Active Wheel advertisement on All India Radio in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar asked listeners to give a missed call from their mobiles to a particular number.

     

    When they did so, they promptly got a call back with a recording of actor Salman Khan’s dialogues from his blockbuster film Ek Tha Tiger and his endorsement of Wheel.

     

    HUL got 16 million missed calls in four months and, by the end of the campaign, brand awareness scores for Wheel had increased 25% and its sales jumped three times in the region.

     

    To ensure quality programmes, HUL has roped in several third-party firms to generate content and services for the channel, which it had initially named ‘Mobile Vani’ before opting for a more sticky and colloquial name.

     

    Also, similar to a loyalty card system for retailers, HUL plans to develop strategies once it gets profiles of the listeners over a period. “Content and advertising are becoming more linked with each other than they used to be in the past.

     

    As we go forward and have richer profiles of our listeners, we can leverage the database and plan customised strategies for our brands,” Mr Bakshi said.

     

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2014, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

    Licensed to republish

     

    Editor’s Note: Many thanks to Sanjay Singh, senior journalist and now communications specialist based in Patna, for help with the Bhojpuri headline

     

  • The radio station has lined up an interesting line-up of highly engaging entertainment around the biggest cricket extravaganza

    92.7 Big FM chosen official radio partner for ICC World Twenty20

    By a correspondent

     

    92.7 BIG FM has been signed as the official FM radio partner in India for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 cricket tournament. The association marks the beginning of a series of exclusive offerings that kickstarted with the unveiling of the trophy in Bangalore and next in Mumbai.

     

    Last week, the FM network unveiled the prestigious trophy through an exclusive display at its studio in Bangalore. The trophy was unveiled at the hands of actress Ragini Dwivedi and cricket commentator Chandramouli Kanavi. In Mumbai, the network will conduct a special pre-tournament contest across 45 stations to select five lucky winners who will get an opportunity to travel to Mumbai and be part of the unveiling here.

     

    The radio station has lined up an interesting line-up of highly engaging entertainment around the biggest cricket extravaganza. Special coverage and expert opinion during the course of the tournament will include a match review and preview segment exclusively for the listeners of the station. Through the 22 days of the game, the radio station will invite a celebrity from the film fraternity who will be the ‘Match ka Star’, who will be seen talking about the day’s match and love for the sport. In addition, the radio station will also present exclusive, regular and detailed updates on team composition, key players, match trivia and score updates

     

    The network will also conduct a MEGA competition centered on the India-Pakistan match. Listeners will be able to participate in the contest on morning shows where RJs will test a participant’s knowledge on the matches between the two teams. Lucky winners stand to win an opportunity to watch the India-Pakistan match live in Bangladesh. Along with promotions on-air and on the digital medium, 92.7 BIG FM will also conduct special gully cricket tournaments across the country.

     

  • RED FM has been running a mega election awareness campaign- Dabaa Ke Bajaa!, and the same will continue through the entire duration of elections, to reach out to the masses

    DDB MudraMax installs hoardings with pledge-meters for RED FM

    By A Correspondent

     

    With an aim to encourage people to vote in the general elections 2014, 93. 5 RED FM has associated with the Election Commission of India. The idea is to motivate people to vote in the upcoming elections. RED FM has been supporting the Election Commission of India in urging people, especially the first time voters, to come out on the polling day, and press the button of the voting machines to elect the 16th Lok Sabha.

     

    Under the association, RED FM has been running a mega election awareness campaign- Dabaa Ke Bajaa!, and the same will continue through the entire duration of elections, to reach out to the masses.

     

    For the Outdoor leg of the campaign, Red FM has appointed DDB MudraMax on board to handle their OOH innovation. They have installed huge hoardings with integrated digital LED pledge-meters that reflect the number of people who have pledged to vote. The number keeps changing real-time, and is a cumulative of the number of pledges received on SMS, calls, Facebook application and the tablet application that volunteers are taking to people.

     

    The hoardings, located at busy and important junctions in the city serve as a constant reminder to people to come out and vote. The meter which keeps ticking, denotes the exact number of people who have pledged to go. These hoardings have been taken in five locations including,New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Pune.

     

    Commenting on this innovative marketing initiative, Rajat Uppal, GM- Marketing, 93.5 RED FM said, “Dabaa Ke Bajaa is our attempt at channelizing the energy of people in all parts of India into one simple, and yet difficult act- pressing the button on the voting machine! We have partnered with the Election Commission of India to increase the voter turn-out in the upcoming General Elections. The digital hoarding and the pledge-meter have proved to be highly successful in getting people to pledge to vote, and in reminding them of their responsibility till the D-day. As a brand we have always tried to innovate and this is yet another innovation which stands out amongst the clutter of OOH. DDB MudraMax has executed the project very well. We have also been amplifying the campaign with several on-ground initiatives across the country.”