MxMIndia

Tag: HT

  • Captures spirit of motherhood #HTSalutes in new film

    Dentsu Impact partners with HT editorial initiative

    By Our Staff

     

    Dentsu Impact, in partnership with Hindustan Times (HT), has rolled out a new campaign for Mother’s Day. The film captures the unwavering and boundless ethos of motherhood. #HTSalutes is a Hindustan Times’ editorial initiative, which celebrates the story of a woman who finds motherhood while caring for a lost and hurt child in a war zone.

     

    Said Aparna Bhawal, Vice President, Marketing – Hindustan Times: “Mothers are the epitome of resilience and strength, and it is the bond between a mother and her child that gives us hope in the most adverse of times. Motherhood is an emotion unbound by any restraints and is not defined by borders or birth. We found Mother’s Day to be the most fitting occasion to celebrate this very spirit of motherhood and its soft yet strong nature. This video is our tribute to the beautiful bond marked by unconditional love and solicitude.”

     

    Added Anupama Ramaswamy, Managing Partner & National Creative Director, Dentsu Impact: “The world needs more mothers. Because mothers work ceaselessly to keep humanity and hope alive, wherever they are. With all that is happening in the world today, we believe only a mother can lead us on the path of kindness, love and empathy. It is a mother’s spirit to make the world a better place that #HTSalutes. And this film is our humble attempt to celebrate this spirit.”

     

    Talking of the project, Bob – Director, Good Morning Films said: “The story when narrated to me by Anu (Anupama), had such a different take on motherhood and was so boundless that I immediately got excited to do the film. Also, hats off to the team at Hindustan Times, to do a film that potentially arouses various sentiments within the system and beyond. This happens around us; we sometimes forget that motherhood is not just a state of being, but also a spirit. Through our film, we have captured the spirit of motherhood that knows no boundaries. And also have broken the format of normal stories set in a native context. Ours is a classic story that can be felt across borders. It was a mammoth task to shoot within a day, but thanks to the entire crew for their support (Robin and the Istanbul line production team) and most importantly, my cinematographer, Satchit Paulose, who battled with me to finish the film in the given 16hours.”

     

  • Will include digitised versions of original historic creatives

    HT launches NFTs on historic events

    By Our Staff

     

    With the advent of technology and the constant-evolving digital space, Hindustan Times is foraying into web 3.0 by launching NFTs (Non-fungible tokens) that will include digitised versions of original historic creatives which were published in Hindustan Times through the decades under the banner of ‘HT Timeless Tokens’.

     

    To begin with, HT has launched NFTs that celebrate India’s Republic Day on January 26, 2022, which are available on Beyond Life, an NFT marketplace and platform that facilitates the creation, sale, and purchase of ownership rights to digital works of art via NFTs.

     

    Said Kamesh Elangovan, COO & Co-Founder, GuardianLink.io: “With industries like tech, finance, lifestyle, music and media advertising companies moving into the crypto/NFT ecosystem, new opportunities are set to be unlocked in the space of Web3. The secondary marketplace for NFTs at GuardianLink.io will see more and more collectors investing with knowledge on the future monetization of their NFTs. The partnership with Hindustan Times, opens yet another avenue to explore the world of NFTs in the media and marketing industry.”

     

  • The event is powered by RK Jewellers, South Extension

    HT and Sunil Sethi Design Alliance to present India Couture Week 2018

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has announced the dates for the ‘Hindustan Times and Sunil Sethi Design Alliance present India Couture Week 2018’. The event will be held from July 25 to 29 in New Delhi.

     

    This five-day affair will showcase top 10 couturiers – Anju Modi, Pallavi Jaikishan, Rahul Mishra, Reynu Taandon, Rohit Bal, Shyamal & Bhumika, Suneet Varma, Tarun Tahiliani, and debutants Amit Aggarwal and Falguni & Shane.

     

    Speaking on the association, Rajeev Beotra, CEO Hindustantimes said, “Hindustan Times is happy to be presenting the FDCI India Couture Week with Sunil Sethi Design Alliance. There is great resonance with our readers as far as fashion and lifestyle space is concerned, and such marquee events are a great platform to showcase Indian design talent before the world.”

     

    Sunil Sethi, President – FDCI commented, “This is going to be the 11th Edition of India Couture Week and it is undoubtedly the best fashion event in the country. Our tie-up with the main presenting partner will take this fashion extravaganza to the next level of importance and unprecedented showcasing of the event.”

     

     

  • After the successful start of the One India scheme for advertising, a special scheme is being planned for paid content of lifestyle parties and brands by some of the leading newspaper brands

    HT, TOI, others ink deal to start ‘One India Medianett’?

    By A Special Conespondent

     

    New Delhi, April 1, 2014: In a move that has been welcomed by several brands and party organisers, it is learnt from reliable sources that newspapers like Bennett, Coleman and Co Ltd and HT Media Ltd are getting together on a special project.

     

    It may be recalled that since 2005, the year when DNA was launched as were Mumbai Mirror and HT’s Mumbai edition, the two New Delhi-headquartered news media groups have got together on various projects. The HT’s print facility has been used by TOI. Then there’s a no poaching agreement between the two organisations so if an HT journalist had to join TOI, there would have to be interim employer in between. HT ads have appeared in TOI and vice versa. So while there is intense competition on the ad sales and editiorial front, there’s friendship too.

     

    Last week, HT Media and a few other top newspaper brands like Hindu and ABP got together to launch One India (not to be confused with the website company run by BG Mahesh and majority-owned by Rajesh Jain, now affiliated to the BJP). Many media planners, buyers thought it was a brilliant idea with pedigreed B-school graduates several thousand crores of adspend budgets appreciating the innovation of these media managers to create a pull for print.

     

    Buoyed by the success of this initiative, the high priests at a leading newspaper group had a whirlpool of an idea. Why not look at a combined deal for paid-for, promotional content.  Feelers were sent to competition, and after some reservations, a deal was struck so as to attract advertisers and individuals who appear on the party pages without paying. A formula has been hammered out, and the feature is likely to be announced soon.  This will be done at a tony nightspot in Mumbai and Delhi and will be held at no cost to the media organisations in question as the costs will be offset against free content space in the papers.

    For details, click here.

     

  • HT Media unveils new multiple media campaign to promote Mint

    Mint celebrates 7th anniv with new campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

     

    HT Media has unveiled a new advertising campaign to capture the story of its business daily Mint as it celebrates its seventh anniversary this month. Notes a communiqué: “Since inception, at the core of Mint, lies ‘innovation’. From the Berliner size format to the design of the paper; from the content and presentation style to the name ‘Mint’ – everything was new, energized and refreshing!

     

     

    Rajan Bhalla

    Said Rajan Bhalla, CMO, HT Media on the Mint story said, “Before the inception of Mint all our efforts were in the direction of putting together a differentiated business daily which was fresh, clear-minded and straightforward while being extremely credible and well-rounded in its analysis of the business world. That’s how the product was born, exemplifying the concept of ‘innovation’.  It is this line of thinking that provoked the name of the paper as well – ‘Mint’. Our readership numbers, and the loyalty of our readers over these past 7 years, validates that we have been successful in providing ‘Refreshing Clarity in Business’, which is what we aim to continue doing.”

     

    The campaign will run in print, digital and radio.

     

  • The Kala Ghoda festival, which has been a property The Times of India has supported for the last 8 years, will now bear the Hindustan Times name on its title

    HT gets aggressive in Mumbai, replaces TOI as Kala Ghoda festival partner

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Hindustan Times is finally exerting itself in Mumbai via various city-linked activities. First it was promoting the various editorial features on improving Mumbai’s infrastructure. Then it was the awards for public-spirited citizens and organizations. And, now, there’s partnering the Kala Ghoda festival which has been a property The Times of India has supported for the last 8 years.

     

    The festival will now be titled ‘Hindustan Times Kala Ghoda Arts Festival’.  The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Momentum’ and the festival will also have a new section on Urban Design and Architecture.

     

    Speaking on the collaboration with Hindustan Times, Maneck Davar, Chairperson of the Kala Ghoda Association, said: ” Starting with its 16th edition in Feb 2014, the Kala Ghoda Association is proud to be associated with HT. In the period that it has been in Mumbai, HT has been aware of the aspirations of citizens and has instituted many campaigns that reflect the needs of the city.”

     

    Commenting on the collaboration, Nitin Chaudhry, Business Head, HT Mumbai said, “It is a great moment for Hindustan Times to be hosting one of the biggest traditions in Mumbai city. It reiterates our belief in the city and gives us a great opportunity to offer more to the city.”

     

    Speaking on the Kala Ghoda Festival’s role in building the HT brand in Mumbai, Shantanu Bhanja, VP Marketing said: “The true goal for us in Mumbai is to bring meaningful change in the city – change that is socio-economic, infrastructural and cultural. Hosting Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is a significant step in that direction since it integrates us with the arts and culture of the city.”

     

    The Hindustan Times Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (HTKGAF) will be held over nine days from Feb 1- 9, with 450 programmes conducted across 15 venues in South Mumbai.

     

  • Hindustan Times organizes an awards event without any frills and long speeches with the focus on changemakers and changemaking

    ‘HT for Mumbai Awards 2013’ awards changemakers

    By A Correspondent

     

    We should’ve carried this report Hindustan Times on Monday, the first edition after the awards happened on Friday, November 22, so our apologies to our readers. It’s one of those events which gladdened our hearts and worth the wait. It was a no-nonsense event. The chief guest, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, entered the venue premises much ahead of the scheduled time of start. An emcee kicked off the proceeds, the Mumbai editor Soumya Bhattacharya spoke a bit, the speech short and sober, as the occasion demanded.

     

    There was just one av promo of the paper and then the six awards were given away. Very short speeches again by the winners and by the CM Prithviraj Chavan. Mr Chavan left soon after the awards and when a panel discussion on the topic ‘Giving back to Mumbai’ started.

     

    According to a communiqué, HT for Mumbai Awards recognized and rewarded people and organizations who share a passion for change by giving back to the city of Mumbai, and making it a better place to live in (www.htformumbaiawards.com). The inaugural edition of the awards saw an eminent jury: Dr Aroon Tikekar (distinguished historian and former editor), Chandra Iyengar, an IAS officer, Rahul Bose (actor, director, sportsman) apart from , HT’s Special Projects editor Smruti Koppikar and Mr Bhattacharya.

     

    The winners in the Individual Category were Kishore Bhatt, Pankaj Joshi and Sunjoy Monga, whereas the winners in the Organization category were Majlis, LEARN and Akhsara. There was a Popular Choice Award category too where the winners were selected by voting via SMS and a digital microsite. The Lifetime achievement award was awarded to the noted historian and author, the Late Sharada Dwivedi.

     

    Our view: excellent event. We think the ‘HT for Mumbai’ awards evening should be conducted on a bigger scale next year. It should be promoted on television like various other ‘awards’ are so that it motivates more citizens and organizations to turn changemakers. There could be an award for corporates doing great work in an effort to encourage them to take up work for the community. And while it’s a healthy sign that the event happened without seniors from Delhi (Nitin Chaudhry, Business Head – West and team were of course present), it would be seen as a huge commitment to Mumbai and the Mumbai edition if the big bosses from Delhi were also in attendance.

     

  • HT has integrated Shine.com, the job portal, to Facebook as the first step. The TVC conceived by Dentsu India will go live today.

    HT to focus on digital business

    By A Correspondent

     

    After announcing the partnership with Apollo Gobla, Inc (USA) to launch Bridge School of Management this year, HT has revamped its job portal Shine.com and has integrated recruitment services through Facebook. HT has integrated Shine.com, the job portal, to Facebook as the first step. The TVC conceived by Dentsu India will go live from June 5.

     

    Earlier this year, Shine.com announced a strategic partnership with social recruitment platform MyParichay. But this is only the first step, Rajan Bhalla, Group Marketing Head, HT Media Ltd told MxM India.

     

    In an exclusive interaction, Mr Bhalla said, “Our news portals are set to take the next digital leap. Our journalists are being trained currently since video will be the next big thing on digital media. We are also building a strong mobile marketing capability for our clients. Even our Desimartini.com will be scaled up and prepared for the next leap.” HT has already geared up to take Times of India head-on in various markets: tie-ups with The Hindu in the South and The Telegraph in the East markets have resulted in “creating stronger ad packages to break the monopolistic hold of TOI,” asserted Mr Bhalla.

     

    HT is also “looking strongly at social networking and leverage that platform for our clients,” said Mr Bhalla. With an aim to create disruption and a first step in this direction, Shine.com has integrated Facebook. Hiring through social media, whilst once seen as nascent, has now reached mainstream recruitment as a credible tool in a savvy recruiter’s toolbox. 85% of Indian jobseekers use some or the other online social networking platforms for finding a job, and find both Facebook friends and LinkedIn connections useful in finding jobs.

     

    Amit Garg, Business Head, Internet Business, HT Media, said, “With Shine.com, HT Media has focused on recruiter needs and strive for innovative solution which provides tremendous value in the recruitment industry. After our candidate database crossing the 1 crore mark and with 2 Lac Job Openings on site, we are now the world’s first job portal to integrate Facebook hiring solutions with our mainstream offering. Our latest survey with candidates suggests that 65% of respondents are more likely to use Facebook over LinkedIn for job search – we now have a product that bridges this opportunity between recruiters and candidates. Our strong technological capabilities and a focused team working on integrating social media for recruitment have been instrumental in creating this unique product for this space. ”

     

    While talking about the idea behind the new campaign for this product, Mr Bhalla said, “The communication challenge was to showcase, how the power of personal network can help you with your next job search and the campaign is crafted around this thought. The core proposition of ‘a friend can now help you get your next job’ is very simply articulated with the campaign idea of ‘Yaar Tu God Hai’. It’s a story of two friends and the way one helps the other in getting his dream job through the face book network represented through a human pyramid and a high-energy hummable song – Govinda Ala Re. This is a very different and refreshing new take on the category normally associated with boss bashing and quitting because of not being paid well enough. We are positive that this campaign will strike an emotional chord with both the candidates as well as the recruiter fraternity. This will be a multimedia campaign comprising TV, Print, Digital and unconventional media. So catch it and discover a whole new world of job search.”

     

    The campaign, conceived by Dentsu India, will be seen on television (on general entertainment channel Sony with its flagship programmes like Crime Patrol), movie premieres such as Kai Po Che on Zee Cinema, English Entertainment channels, news channels such as Times Now, Headlines Today, CNN-IBN and NDTV, Regional channels across Marathi/Tamil/Telugu markets. The campaign will also be launched across movie screens Рchasing big properties in the next 6-8 weeks. Apart from radio spots, the print campaign will be heavily supported by Hindustan Times, Mint and Hindustan. Ambient media in Delhi/NCR, Mumbai and Bangalore would include campaigns across office areas, Mumbai locals, Delhi Metro, over 50 pubs and Caf̩ Coffee Day outlets.

     

    Soumitra Karnik

    Soumitra Karnik, National Creative Director, Dentsu India Group said, “The campaing brings alive the unique proposition of the brand through a very distinctive and memorable metaphor – that of a human pyramid of friends that helps one rise to the top, literally, and plays on the ‘backdoor entry’. In today’s connected world, social networking that helps one land one’s dream job is a powerful proposition.”

     

    Mr Garg told MxM India, “This the first phase of the campaign. With such a strong proposition in the market, we think it is important to invest continuously in marketing the product.”

     

  • Sets up India Education Services Private Limited which will run the Bridge School of Management

    HT enters higher education, jv with Apollo Global [updated]

    By A Correspondent

     

    HT Media, publishers of news dailies Hindustan Times, Hindustan and Mint, has entered into a joint venture with the Apollo Global of the United States. The jv is called the India Education Services Private Limited and will run the Bridge School of Management.

     

    On Saturday, the jv is hosting a half-day seminar with Professors Dipak Jain (former Dean, INSEAD and Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University) and Henry S Binen (former President of the Northwestern University) along with Adam Gutstein (Vice-Chairman, PwC US) and Rajiv Verma, CEO, HT Media speaking on the occasion.

     

    Mr Rajesh Puri, formerly President-operations and COO at Tata Teleservices and COO, Bharti Airtel is CEO of India Education Services.

     

    Update: The HT-Apollo joint venture was first announced in December 2011, by way of a communiqué to the Bombay Stock Exchange. While it was clear then that education centres in the areas of business were among the various initiatives mulled for the 50:50 jv, the setting up of a B-school wasn’t known. Apollo (not to be confused with similar business groups in India) is a leading private education conglomerate running amongst others the University of Phoenix.

     

  • Mr Rao was recently assigned a corporate role after Dr Bhaskar Das took charge of news cluster at Zee

    DNA’s KU Rao joins HT as consultant

    By A Correspondent

     

    KU Rao has joined Hindustan Times as a consultant. Mr Rao had joined DNA in October 2006 as CEO. In November 2012, he stepped down as CEO and was assigned a corporate role in the Zee Group as incharge of the Siti Cable business after former Times of India group President Dr Bhaskar Das took charge of the Zee’s news business late last year.

     

    Mr Rao, who joined DNA from Shell, helped the transition from the paper’s management by the Dainik Bhaskar group to Zee in 2008. An MBA alumni from Andhra University, Mr Rao commands a varied experience of 30 years in media and management.

     

    Mr Rao joins HT at a time when it has also engaged Sujoy Ghosh, former Director at Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd as a Consultant.

     

    Although MxMIndia couldn’t reach HT for a comment, it is learnt that while Mr Rao will work full-time with the HT Media, Mr Ghosh’s engagement is restricted to that of an external consultant for sales.

     

  • In his new role, Mr Chandra will have end to end responsibility of finance and related operational aspects of Radio business

    Prateek Chandra appointed CFO @ Fever FM

    By A Correspondent

     

    Prateek Chandra has been appointed as CFO, Fever 104 FM. Mr Chandra has spent more than 4 years with HT Media and in his last role as Senior Financial Strategist, he has been instrumental in adding value on various strategic initiatives and successfully driving several projects including IPO of HMVL. Mr Chandra will be replacing Ritesh Handa who, after 18 months of tenure as CFO, Fever, has decided to move on to pursue other opportunities.

     

    Prior to joining HT, Mr Chandra had spent almost 6 years with KPMG and EXL handling different aspects of Finance function. In his new role, Mr Chandra will report to Harshad Jain, Business Head, Radio with a functional reporting to Piyush Gupta, Group CFO. He will be a part of the Leadership Team of Radio Business, and have end-to-end responsibility of finance and related operational aspects of Radio business.

     

  • The Noida Special, which greeted residents on February 20, will start off with a special series on what Noida should be proud of, followed by a survey on Noida specific civic issues on February 24.

    Hindustan Times begins campaign for Noida

    By Akash Raha

     

    Hindustan Times has renewed its Noida focus with increased local coverage for residents of Noida and Greater Noida. The Noida Special, which greeted residents on February 20, will start off with a special series on what Noida should be proud of, followed by a survey on Noida specific civic issues on February 24. The Noida Special reinforces HT’s commitment to local readers.

     

    Speaking about the Noida initiative, Shantanu Bhanja, VP Marketing, HT Media Ltd, said, “Noida is today a world-class city. It has top-notch educational institutes, leading MNCs, a thriving film city and outstanding infrastructure . Hindustan Times’ increased Noida focus bears testimony to the growth the city has witnessed. Our Noida-focused approach, in which we will take up news stories and issues that matter to the resident of Noida, will benefit both readers and advertisers.”

     

    As part of this effort, Hindustan Times has also launched its Noida First initiative, aiming to help Noida truly embody its promise of a ‘City of Hope’. Apart from its superb infrastructure, Noida is an education and corporate hub and is also home to affluent HNIs who’ve chosen to live in this bustling metropolis. The editorial team at HT has lined up a series of articles that will explore the various facets of Noida. In addition, the paper has planned cultural events across the city in the month of March.

     

    “Hindustan Times has been the voice of Delhi for the last 87 years. With the city’s expansion into Gurgaon and Noida, we’ve gone hyper-local and tried to give our readers a flavour of the entire national capital region. The renewed focus on Noida is a step towards helping the city realize its potential,” said Sanjoy Narayan, Editor-in-Chief, Hindustan Times.