MxMIndia

Tag: BIG FM

  • FM radio network 92.7 Big FMpartnered Honda Cars to attain the Guinness World Record for the longest journey by a car in a single country

    Big FM partners Honda’s amazing feat

    By A Correspondent

     

    FM radio network 92.7 Big FMpartnered Honda Cars to attain the Guinness World Record for the longest journey by a car in a single country. Honda’s campaign – the Honda Amaze Longest Drive Through Amazing India – kicked off on September 15 and culminated on Nov 9 achieved the Guinness World Records. The campaign was supported by on-ground activities and on-air promotions across 30 stations of the 7 BIG FM network, connecting with Honda fans and dealers to create a buzz about their power campaign.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Hironori Kanayama, President & CEO of Honda Cars India Ltd., said “We are happy to announce that Honda Cars India has added yet another milestone to its journey by entering the Guinness World Records.”

     

    Speaking of the partnership, Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, 92.7 BIG FM stated, “It is our endeavor to offer audiences with clutter-breaking and highly engaging content, while offering our partners the best solutions through the effective use of the powerful medium of radio. Having worked with Honda in the past we have a long-standing association since they understand the power of radio.”

     

  • While the FM network will air live updates through the tournament, the Bihar & Jharkhand channel has live telecast rights for four matches of Team Bhojpuri Dabangs along with semi-final and final matches

    Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand and Big FM partner Celebrity Cricket League 2014

    By A Correspondent

     

    As the fourth edition of the Celebrity Cricket League is set to start, Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd’s Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand has acquired telecast rights to air four matches of Team ‘Bhojpuri Dabangs’ along with two semi-final and the finale match. CCL-4 starts January 25. Additionally, 92.7 BIG FM will also be associated and air live updates across its 45-station network.
    Team ‘Bhojpuri Dabangs’ is owned and captained by film actor Manoj Tiwari and consists of other celebrities from the Bhojpuri entertainment industry. The regional channel from the RBNL stable will also host programmes and contests around the property.

     

    Said Vishnuvardhan Induri, Founder and MD of CCL said, “We are happy to be associated with Big Magic Bihar and Jharkhand and 92.7 Big FM. We are sure this will help us reach wider areas and especially the regional hinterland.”

     

  • 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.

     

  • Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. (RBNL) has announced the consolidation and strengthening of functions within its radio business, 92.7 Big FM, through strategic elevations across key positions

    Big FM announces leadership changes

    By A Correspondent

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. (RBNL) has announced the consolidation and strengthening of functions within its radio business, 92.7 Big FM, through strategic elevations across key positions.

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Ashwin Padmanabhan takes over as Business Head from being Business Head for West and South; while Nitin Jain takes over as National Sales Head, at Big FM. Mr Jain will now oversee the national sales function as he leads the team from the front. Shalini Dureja has been appointed as Vice-President, Head Impact Sales West & South. In her new role, she will service key clients, sell key innovations and intellectual properties, while maximising revenues. Kiran Thangarajan gets promoted to Cluster Head, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

     

    Charanjeet Arora moves to the position of Regional Business Head – North 2, which includes the regions of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan. Sanjeev Sharma joined 92.7 BIG FM in 2010 as the Regional Head (Govt. Business) based in Chandigarh growing quickly through the hierarchy to his current role as National Head – Government Business, where he will be responsible for revenue generation for both the radio and television businesses.

     

    Tarun Katial

    Tarun Katial, CEO, Reliance Broadcast Network said, “We have always been immensely proud of the quality of our workforce. It is they who help create ever-growing value for our customers while driving profitable growth for the company. As the radio business continues to dominate key markets across India, we feel the need to streamline business divisions to derive maximum value within us. We are confident that these moves will help us transform into a more holistic radio business and see us achieving better growth in the near future.”

     

  • BIG FM has teamed up with Ambuja Cements to extend the successful arm-wrestling championship to the entire Punjab region

    BIG FM takes ‘Panja League’ pan-Punjab for Ambuja

    By A Correspondent

     

    After much success for the first leg for Ambuja BIG Panja League, Reliance Broadcast Network’s 92.7 BIG FM has teamed up with Ambuja Cements to extend the successful arm-wrestling championship to the entire Punjab region. The property is an extension of the radio station’s involvement in regional sports entertainment properties across Tier II and Tier III towns in the country.

     

    Kicking off this month, Ambuja BIG Panja League will witness on-ground activities and auditions being conducted across 30 towns across the Malwa and Doaba regions of Punjab including larger cities like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and Bhatinda. The end of this two-month initiative will witness the crowning of the ‘Panja Champion’ of Punjab. The finale on-ground event will be aired on Spark Punjabi.

     

    According to Rajneesh Verma of Ambuja Cement, “strength and Punjab are inseparable”. “Passion and spirit make Punjab very special. For Ambuja too, strength is second nature – strong cement builds strong homes. Strong people build strong organizations. Ambuja is built on these beliefs. Ambuja, thus, identifies with the spirit of Punjab – its faith in its own abilities and its faith in its own traditions. Ambuja BIG Panja League is an opportunity for people of Punjab to participate, show their panja power and celebrate this festival of strength,” he said.

     

    Said Vineet Mittal, Business Head – BIG Rural, “We are looking forward to creating and sustaining the sports entertainment genre while presenting offerings that appeal to audiences across Tier II and Tier III towns.”

     

     

  • HUL's Domex ran a campaign on Big FM, with characters Jaggu Jaundice, Tatya Typhoid and Danny Diarrhea spreading the message of toilet hygiene and sanitization

    Germs personified on radio for HUL’s Domex

    By A Correspondent

     

    While most toilet cleaner campaigns focus on TVCs and print, HUL’s Domex has taken to the radio waves in an innovative bid to target the markets of Maharashtra and South India.

     

    Big FM has carried out an innovative and engaging campaign on the pegs of toilet hygiene and sanitization, called ‘Germs Ka The End’, with characters Jaggu Jaundice, Tatya Typhoid and Danny Diarrhea spreading the message of toilet hygiene and sanitization.

     

    Led by National Solutions Head Dheeraj Kumar along with his team comprising Zara Zaki, Sreejith Vijayan and Usha Malasi, the campaign also saw a song rendition by music director and singer Bappi Lahiri, titled The End.

     

    Created against the backdrop of ‘shaayri’, the characterized germs poetically profess the ill-effects of unhygienic and unsanitized toilets through an imaginative exchange of dialogues.

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head – 92.7 Big FM said, “We are happy with the success of the campaign. To be able to tailor solutions to meet client requirements, while also keeping listener sensibilities in mind has been our strength which has been showcased once again with this campaign with Domex. The team has done an excellent job and we look forward to continuing to serve audiences and marketers alike, with innovative and highly engaging offerings.”

     

    George Koshy, Category Head (Household Care), Hindustan Unilever Ltd said, “Toilet cleaners category cues are such that consumers cringe on seeing any form of advertising. Our germ world campaign is our attempt at making this category easier on the eye. In order to make the germ world and its characters popular, we decided to use music as the medium. Mindshare created a unique tie-up with 92.7 Big FM and Bappi Lahiri to create a fun jingle around Domex’s characters – Jaggu Jaundice, Tatya Typhoid and Danny Diarrhea. Radio is a key medium with our audience residing in our key markets. The song enabled us to enter the realm of radio content and away from the by now done-to-death RJ integrations and station roadblocks.”

     

  • The second edition of the Big Marathi Entertainment Awards have been announced by 92.7 Big FM. The awards will provide recognition to outstanding talent in the Marathi entertainment industry across 16 unique categories

    Get ready for 92.7 Big FM Marathi and Telugu awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    The second edition of the Big Marathi Entertainment Awards have been announced by 92.7 Big FM. The awards will provide recognition to outstanding talent in the Marathi entertainment industry across 16 unique categories including films, television, theatre, and music among others.

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head – 92.7 Big FM said “The Big Marathi Entertainment Awards is a premier platform in the region which recognizes outstanding talent from the entertainment industry. After the phenomenal success of the event’s first edition, we are really excited to be back while bringing on-board an incredible panel of jury members and great lineup of partners. This year’s awards ceremony promises to provide excellent integration options to our marketers and advertisers thereby enabling them to reach out to their target audiences in the region.”

     

    These awards will be presented to the best-of-the-best from within the industry through combined votes received from the jury members and 92.7 Big FM listeners. They will be partnered by Majhi Saheli, a magazine, and OOH partner Bright Outdoor to accelerate the visibility and reach of the show thereby facilitating an overwhelming opportunity and platform for brand marketers to tap into a wider audience and consumer base.

     

    Renowned film and theatre personality Bharat Dabholkar and actor Vinay Apte have been roped in as jury members for the second edition of the awards which will also witness a high level of listener engagement via on-air voting polls.

     

    Similarly, 92.7 Big FM Andhra Pradesh, today announced the jury for the upcoming Big Telugu Entertainment Awards. Movie Artists Association President and director-producer Tammareddy Bharadwaja, Television Artists Association President and actor Vinod Bala and veteran actress Raasi will collectively judge the entertainers in categories from across fields which include movie, television and sports.

     

    Telecast partner for the Big Telugu Entertainment Awards, ETV will further expand the reach of the awards ceremony enabling audiences from across the region to watch their favourite entertainers receive the top honours.

     

    Mr Padmanabhan said, “Furthering our promise to award the best talent from the Telugu entertainment industry, we are proud to rope in Tammareddy Bharadwaja, Vinod Bala and Raasi as our esteemed jury members for the Big Telugu Entertainment Awards. We are sure that their inputs along with the volley of votes we have been receiving from our listeners for the popular choice awards will make the grand awards night an unforgettable affair. The 21 categories encompass the most outstanding talent from within the industry enabling us to provide multiple opportunities to our marketers and advertisers to reach out to their target audiences.”

     

     

  • Asheesh Chatterjee, CFO, 92.7 Big FM is positive about Phase III of FM radio licensing and the new spectrum being freed

    Jaldi 5 with Asheesh Chatterjee: FM will grow five times

    Asheesh Chatterjee, CFO, 92.7 Big FM is positive about Phase III of FM radio licensing and the new spectrum being freed. MxM India caught up with him recently to talk about the FM industry, pre- and post-Phase III.

     

    01. With Phase III coming into play, do you think that the issues such as royalty, taxes etc that the FM industry has been struggling with, will be sorted?

    I am very optimistic. If you look at the efforts the government has taken towards digitization, the intent is to have a consensus and resolve the issues and make the industry grow. Most of these issues have been identified, and yes, there will be solutions. The phase III guideline itself solves many issues. We tend to look at the glass as half-empty, why not look at it as half-full? There were many things which have been addressed, and some which need to be addressed which I am confident will happen soon.

     

    02. Does the current RAM measure the listenership of FM radio appropriately?

    Ratings and measurement requires investment. So once you have strong players with a pan-India footprint, they will have the necessary revenues for the investments to make these measurements appropriate.

     

    Yes, today the measurement is restricted to the top markets, and this is set to expand. You do not need daily or weekly measurement to tell you that radio reaches where literacy has not reached yet or where, because of electricity problems, TV does not work. It is enjoyed as a passive medium, even while you are working. Radio does not really have a prime-time at all. So research will capture all this and much more. I am sure with phase III, and stronger players, there will be sweeps that will be done to bring out the statistics.

     

    03. Prashant Panday of Radio Mirchi recently said that FM radio will have strong competition from internet radio. Do you agree?

    Digital is one of the areas, which by no means implies that FM radio has little future. FM radio is itself going to grow five times from its current numbers. There is immense future in FM radio. And also, yes, digital radio with its uniqueness to be able to search, social networking, and customize, will offer another product. FM players who have the understanding of the audience, as well as content, will be able to monetize internet radio better than anybody else. However, if you are going to make it a paid service, there are not going to be many takers for it.

     

    04. Phase III: Challenge or opportunity for FM radio industry?

    I see only opportunity: to make good use of the spectrum that will be freed after the Phase III auction happens, and to execute on product innovation and product differentiation to make a profitable business model for all stakeholders, whether it is the advertisers who will look at this medium for its cost-effectiveness or listeners who will look at it as a passive medium for enrichment and entertainment, and us as radio operators who like to reward both investors and employees. It is going to be a work-work solution for everybody. The opportunity is right there at the section point and we need to execute it to the plan.

     

    05. Are advertisers taking this medium more seriously in their traditional media mix?

    Advertisers have always taken this medium seriously. Nobody buys you cheap, you sell cheap. The fractured spectrum that some us have had, because we are there in two towns in Gujarat, does not mean that no advertiser can do a Gujarat-plan with you. So those are the problems that will go away, and you will have the spectrum to reach the targeted region or TG. I think once that gets corrected, advertisers will start using FM as the primary medium.

     

    As told to Ananya Saha

     

  • On December 24, 2012 Ms Kapoor will debut as an RJ with FM radio network 92.7 Big FM for a women-centric radio show called Big Memsaab, through a specially conceptualized segment, 'Big on Style'

    Karisma Kapoor debuts as RJ on 92.7 Big FM’s show

    By A Correspondent

     

    Actress Karisma Kapoor has taken on the mantle of an RJ with FM radio network 92.7 Big FM.

     

    On December 24, 2012 Ms Kapoor will debut as an RJ for a women-centric radio show called Big Memsaab. Through a specially conceptualized segment, ‘Big on Style’, she will play the role of a beauty and style guru who will share her expertise on fashion and trends. The segment will air on Big Memsaab every day between 11am and 12noon across 31 stations of the radio network.

     

    Apart from a multi-media marketing campaign across radio, television, outdoor, on ground and social media, contests will also be hosted on air, wherein lucky listeners from across the 31 cities stand to win a personalized grooming consultation with Ms Kapoor.

     

    Speaking about her association, Karisma Kapoor said, “Having worked in movies and television, I was extremely keen to try a new medium – so I decided to do radio. The Indian media scenario is constantly evolving and radio is the perfect medium for me to be closer to my fans than ever before. I am very excited about my radio debut on 92.7 Big FM’s afternoon show, Big Memsaab. I am confident that my fans will enjoy the show thoroughly and will continue to support me as I undertake this new journey.”

     

    Commenting on the occasion, Manav Dhanda, Network Programming Head, 92.7 Big FM, said, “Ms Kapoor makes a daily appointment with radio listeners, which is a pioneering move. The features of the show will be the first across media, which is very exciting. The format of the show, the pegs that we will touch upon and the innovations planned are what makes the show unique and appealed to her. Radio is a live medium and highly engaging allowing for direct interaction with crores of Indians and fans across the country for a celebrity.”

     

  • The actress is coming on board as a personal grooming and beauty expert on the special segment 'Big on Style', and will share tips on attire, accessories, make-up and hair

    Karisma Kapoor debuts as RJ on 92.7 Big FM’s women-targeted show Big Memsaab

    By A Correspondent

     

    Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor will be on board with 92.7 Big FM as an RJ for its women-centric radio show Big Memsaab. Through a specially created segment, Big on Style, Ms Kapoor will play the role of a personal grooming and beauty expert who will share her fashion and style knowledge by imparting interesting beauty and style tips to listeners. The segment will air on Big Memsaab every day between 11am and 2pm across 31 stations of 92.7 Big FM beginning December 24, 2012.

     

    Speaking about her association, Karisma Kapoor said, “Having worked in movies and also television, I was extremely keen to try a new medium – hence I decided to do radio. The Indian media scenario is constantly evolving and radio is the perfect medium for me to be closer to my fans than ever before. I am very excited about my radio debut on 92.7 Big FM’s afternoon show, Big Memsaab. I am confident that my fans will continue to support me as I undertake this new journey and will enjoy the show even further.”

     

    Commenting on the launch of the new segment, Manav Dhanda, Network Programming Head, 92.7 Big FM, said, “Beauty and style are two topics which never grow old with women. We are extremely excited about presenting the ultimate style diva, Karisma Kapoor as an RJ to our listeners for the first time ever. With the show reaching  audiences across 31 stations, our association with Karisma Kapoor, who is already a household name, will enhance our reach and enable us to keep our listeners engaged.”

  • 92.7 Big FM announces the 2nd edition of the Big Regional Entertainment Awards, to be held in 7 Indian regions including Central India, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will recognize talent from films, music, dance, theatre, sports and television

    It’s Golden Mikes time again

    By A Correspondent

     

    92.7 Big FM, India’s No. 1 FM radio network and winner of the Golden Mikes Broadcaster of the Year Award, today announced the second edition of the Big Regional Entertainment Awards – the biggest celebration of regional entertainment in the country. Big Regional Entertainment Awards is a first-of-its-kind property which honors regional entertainers who have contributed and brought to the forefront the rich cultural heritage and diversity in India. Being organized across 7 Indian regions including Central India, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu the Big Regional Entertainment Awards will recognize exceptional talent from across fields which include films, music, dance, theatre, sports and television.

     

    With close to 18 unique categories of awards being presented, the Big Regional Entertainment Awards are presented to entertainers who have been selected basis votes received from 92.7 Big FM listeners in the region. The Big Regional Entertainment Award will be promoted through a complete 360 degree holistic marketing campaign which includes on-ground activations, OOH, print, television, radio, and digital platforms which enable marketers to increase and maximize their brand visibility and target a wider audience base for their products while ensuring a long term presence in the market. The on ground events are scheduled to take place between December 2012 and January 2013 across all regions.

     

    Commenting on this initiative, a company spokesperson said, “The Big Regional Entertainment Awards is a unique property that celebrates and salutes the regional talent in the country. The Awards received a phenomenal response in every region last year and we are looking forward to replicating the impact while engaging more listeners. We will be deploying a more robust outreach strategy which will include further direct interaction, integration and innovations to ensure an increase in the value created for marketers.”

     

    The Big Regional Entertainment Awards promise to be a bigger and better affair this year while bringing together the biggest names and best entertainers from across genres including movies, music, dance, theatre, television and sports.

     

  • The month-long safety campaign 'Total Quartz Safety Month' – a joint initiative from 92.7 Big FM and Total Oil India, comes to a close with the very successful Total Quartz Safety Run across 21 citiesStory

    BIG FM’s Total Quartz Safety Month concludes

    By A Correspondent

     

    The month-long safety campaign ‘Total Quartz Safety Month’ – a joint initiative from 92.7 Big FM and Total Oil India, comes to a close with the very successful Total Quartz Safety Run across 21 cities of India. Garnering an outstanding response, the campaign reached out to 2 crore+ audiences across the 21 station powerful radio network of 92.7 Big FM. For the run itself, each city saw excellent local support from local traffic authorities, celebrities, NGOs and the local populace seeing over 30,000 people from across the country taking to the streets in support of this campaign. With an appropriate cause, superlative reach and mammoth support, the Total Quartz Safety Run is by far one of the most successful radio campaigns.

     

    With over 50 NGOs ranging Lions Club, Rotaract Clubs, Alert, SoS Care India, Yuva, CareForYou Foundation, Humanitarian Welfare and Research Foundation and NCC, and some of society’s well known faces like singers Sophie Choudhary and Shilajit, actors Hrishita Bhatt, Payal Rohatgi, Ramya Barna, Chirag Patil, Shekhar Singh and Sufi Sayyed, wrestler Sangram Singh, and sportsmen Raju Ganguly and Shanku Guha, along with the top notches in traffic authorities, the month long event has managed to successfully create awareness for the extremely serious cause of safe driving habits. With topics which ranged from dangers of drunken driving to talking on the cell phone when driving, to wearing the seat belts, safe driving tips and more, the response on air was overwhelming, with opinions pouring in from celebrities, experts, people who have been involved in drunk driving cases to just people who had a story to tell.

     

    Speaking about the Total Quartz Safety Run, a 92.7 Big FM spokesperson said, “This is yet another step in our endeavour of positively impacting the lives of listeners. We are extremely happy with the results of this mammoth exercise, across 21 cities of India and the difference which we have been able to create along with our partners Total Oil India. The response from authorities, NGOs, dignitaries, celebrities and the local populace in each of the cities has been overwhelming and extremely encouraging. Through this and each of our other initiatives, we continue to live our brand line Suno Sunao Life Banao.”

     

    Elaborating further, Mr B Vijay Kumar, Chairman & Managing Director, Total Oil India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Being in the business of manufacturing products which help keep your vehicle safe, we emphasise o the importance of road safety. Driving or riding a vehicle on the road is a responsibility and should be taken very seriously. We are happy with the results of the campaign and are happy to have partnered 92.7 BIG FM in this cause.”