MxMIndia

Tag: Ronnie Screwvala

  • The Ronnie Screwvala-co-promoted edtech venture has a Rs 100 crore marketing campaign and this appointment is part of the first phase of the same

    Starcom bags Rs 100 cr Upgrad account

    By A Correspondent

     

    Starcom India has bagged the media strategy and buying of Upgrad, one of the country’s largest online higher education companies. The mandate, which had been bagged by GroupM’s Essence last year, that has now been awarded to Starcom does not include digital.

     

    The Ronnie Screwvala-co-promoted edtech venture has a Rs 100 crore marketing campaign and this appointment is part of the first phase of the same. With an ambitious branding and communication roadmap,  the first phase in this roadmap targets Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities pan-India, across online and offline media. The media efforts would be directed to drive awareness and preference for Upgrad.

     

    Said Rathi Gangappa, CEO of Starcom India: “We are elated at winning the media mandate of the leader in the online education space. Upgrad was impressed with our strong, differentiated approach to planning, especially in the area of television, where we will look to drive significant and measurable ROI. The Starcom Human Experience (HX) premise and messaging, as well as our rich analytics and tech capabilities will bring in a huge impact for Upgrad on their media investments.”

     

    Added Upgrad Co-founder and MD, Mayank Kumar: “Online as a category is growing at a fast pace. Our campaign round the year in 2020 is to create larger awareness in the working professionals’ group on the urgency of constant learning, what we at Upgrad call LifeLong Learning.  We decided to partner with Starcom since their team stood out with their data-centric approach and ability to deliver on core business KPIs. They were able to demonstrate an effective, integrated approach to planning where all media is used to grow both short-term and long-term prospects.”

     

     

  • Appoints Tanya Ahluwalia as Vice President – Brand Marketing and Rahul Karthikeyan Head – Digital Marketing

    Upgrad strengthens senior leadership team

    By A Correspondent

     

    Online education company Upgrad has strengthened its senior leadership team by appointing Tanya Ahluwalia as the Vice President – Brand Marketing, while Rahul Karthikeyan will head Digital Marketing.

     

    Ahluwalia brings 18 years of experience working with leading organisations like Coca-Cola, BBlunt, Nike, Unilever, Delta Corp among others. Karthikeyan has been associated with the marketing and advertising industry for last 11 years in different capacities.

     

    Said Ronnie Screwvala and Mayank Kumar, Co-founders, Upgrad, in a statement: “Over the last two years Upgrad has developed a holistic digital education experience for working professionals and college students for upskilling and reskilling. We are happy that the new senior leadership brings diverse and rich learnings for upGrad to unlock the immense potential in the online education space and understand the Indian learners. We will continue this growth momentum, offering innovative opportunities for the working professionals and students to equip themselves with the new-age skills for workforce of the future.”

     

     

  • The film breaks the myth of online education being ineffective by showcasing how impactful the online education space is today

    Life ko karo lift, says Upgrad in latest ad campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

    Upgrad, an online education venture focused on building careers of working professionals, has unveiled its first ad-campaign featuring actor Vicky Kaushal.

     

    Created by Lowe Lintas, the ad campaign showcases upGrad as a brand which plays an important role in learner’s life by acting as an engine of transformation which gives them the ability to put their careers on a high growth trajectory.

     

    Announcing the launch of the new ad-campaign, Ronnie Screwvala and Mayank Kumar, co-founders, Upgrad said: “Through this campaign we are trying to create awareness on how Upgrad can help learners prepare for the future of work and help them thrive in their career. Online education for professionals is still at a nascent stage in India and to create awareness at a category level, we felt the necessity of a commercial that will change the consumer mindset and is relatable. Our association with Vicky Kaushal and the new TVC will help us increase our reach & create deeper connect across geographies.”

     

    Added Sagar Kapoor, Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas: “It was an excellent briefing session by the founders that led our creative thinking at Upgrad. The vibe was positive and the brief actually spoke about what Upgrad can do to lives rather than just what upGrad is and how continuous learning can make sure one keeps navigating his or her career forward. Inspiring stories of how lakhs have already done this successfully spurred us further. All that said the team believed in keeping the message and tone of the communication sprightly and involving. Hence the idea of “life ko karo lift”!

     

     

  • Top marketing gurus across industry to play the ‘Game of Marketing’

    IAMAI to host 14th edition of Marketing Conclave in Mumbai

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is set to host the 14th edition of the Marketing Conclave on December 5, 2018 at Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The day-long conference is themed after the famous television series ‘Game Of Thrones’.

     

    Based on the TV series the summit has divided into 3 houses namely House of Digital Marketing, Content & Martech, also there will be a case study room where industry experts will share their success stories. The event will have industry leaders like Ronnie Screwvala – Co-Founder, UpGrad; Ben Phillips – Vice President Of Strategic Accounts, Blis; Vivek Sharma-Chief Marketing Officer, Pidilite Industries; Ashwath Swaminathan – Head- Lakme, HUL; Pawan Singh-National Marketing Head, Deputy General Manager- Amul; UT Ramprasad – Head Marketing Communications, Tata Motors; Sandeep Verma – President Bajaj Corp Ltd among others and will have discussions around topics like ‘The art of brand storytelling’, ‘Marketing to millennials’, ‘Mobile location and audience data: The new oil’, ‘Designing digital experiences for the complete customer journey’ among others.

     

  • The IAA Knowledge series was about the disruptions Bahl and Screwvala plan to bring in their second innings

    Raghav Bahl and Ronnie Screwvala keep industry in splits at IAA KnowledgeSeries

    By A Correspondent

     

    When two people who have been successful entrepreneurs decide to exit their already successful businesses that they built and hit the‘restart’ button to build something different and new, that makes a good story and discussion. And, that is what IAA Knowledge series held on September 16 was about. With the core theme ‘Reshaping Markets Through Disruption’, the topic of discussion was ‘Can they do it again?’ The gentlemen in question, Raghav Bahl, Founder, Quintillion Media Pvt Ltd and Ronnie Screwvala, ‎Founder UTV Group, Unilazer Ventures and Swades Foundation, are known for disrupting the media business and now they have gone separate from the respective media empire they built and have started a new chapter in their lives. The moderator of the discussion was Mini Menon, ‎Co-Founder & Editor at Indy Network Pvt Ltd.

     

    The question that everybody had and was perhaps one of the important questions in everybody’s mind to Bahl was asked by Menon at the start. The time he founded CNBC TV18 to now, a lot has changes, so, what is his plan for disruption? “I do not think you can reinvent the model but you have to do better content. When we started CNBC TV18, our revenue line was about Rs 5-6 crores. Today, the business news market is roughly an Rs 550 crore market. As this equity literacy grows, investors will come in. The USP has to be content,” said Bahl.

     

    Screwvala pulled a fast one by saying, “We crossed paths during the launch of UTV-Bloomberg channel.” “And when the UTV ticker went out through CNBC channel,” he added.

     

    Bahl believes that our country is a late adapter in everything. He is of the opinion that you cannot disrupt an already established model but you have to come up with better content.

     

    Another popular belief that we keep hearing is ‘Digital is the future and it has arrived’. But Screwvala feels that the OTT is a tough model. According to him, platforms like Netflix will figure out that India is a local market and expensive series will not be successful here. “At the core of this is, if the consumer is willing to pay? So, that is the real disruption which will again only happen by the people who really want to shake up this market,”

     

    One popular opinion which was popping up time and again during the discussion as well as during the Q and A session with the audience was the timing of their exit. Many still feel they exited earlier than they should have. “One of the reasons we left the business is due to the regulations. There are still Draconian regulations in place,” said Bahl. “Exits cannot be timed. You cannot rewind the clock whether in media or in life. I have no regrets. The things are exactly exhilarating now as to when I started UTV,” explained Screwvala.

     

    And, finally what would their advice to the upcoming entrepreneurs? Bahl said, “Just go by your balance sheet. Do not go beyond it. Young entrepreneurs should not get seduced by the media. You guys have not become superstars. Be resistant to changing times because it is not a sexy, glamorous field to be in, but very stressful.” “You build what you want to build and stay constant about it and your vision. Today’s ecosystem is forcing you to grow a little bit horizontal, but do not go by what investors want. If you are not curious, then this is Netflix and Amazon have figured out that India is a local market and expensive series will not be successful not the space for you,” advised Screwvala.

     

  • Sanjay Ray Chaudhuri (RayC), who was Co-Founder of TV18 has come in as Co-Founder in Arre

    Arre co-founders increase stake in entity

    By A Correspondent

     

    As a precursor to the launch of Arré, the founders have realigned their shareholding. B Saikumar, Managing Director and Co-Founder has taken controlling interest in Arré, with Ajay Chacko continuing as CEO and Co-Founder. Sanjay Ray Chaudhuri (RayC), who was Co-Founder of TV18 has come in as Co-Founder in Arré.

     

    Speaking on the development, Ronnie Screwvala said, “Arré is now all set to launch and all of us are tremendously excited about its potential and trajectory. I am pleased that Sai and team are taking a controlling shareholding in Arré and I will continue as an investor with a significant minority shareholding supporting the company and mentoring the leadership team.”

     

    B. Saikumar added, “I am thrilled to welcome Ray C aboard as Co-Founder and we are delighted and honoured to have Ronnie continue to guide us. The trailer to our first show “I Don’t Watch TV” is now out and we look forward to the launch of Arré in the next few weeks.”

     

  • The Indian Express and Arré,the digital media property being set up by UDigital, the company set up Ronnie Screwvala, B Saikumar and Ajay Chacko, have entered into a strategic partnership in creating video documentaries to be distributed across digital and linear platforms globally

    Arre wah! Indian Express inks deal with Screwvala/Saikumar to produce docus

    By A Correspondent

     

    It’s a tie-up that could well change the world of investigative journalism in the country. While we can boast of a truly free press, how much of it is truly free to cover whatever it would like to. Or whatever ought to be covered.

     

    The Indian Express and Arré,the digital media property being set up by UDigital, the company set up Ronnie Screwvala, B Saikumar and Ajay Chacko, have entered into a strategic partnership in creating video documentaries to be distributed across digital and linear platforms globally.

     

    Commenting on the initiative Anant Goenka, Wholetime Director and Head – New Media, Indian Express said, “Arré is an ambitious and exciting project championed by a visionary leadership that understands the need for high-quality, original content produced in a made-for-digital format. Not digital-first, or digital-friendly, but digital-only.We believe that some of the journalism that we have been doing has the potential to reach an even wider audience. With Arré, there’s a meeting of minds in terms of commitment to quality storytelling and the need for a different and disruptive tonality. ‎We’re excited by the potential of this powerful combination.”

     

    Ronnie Screwvala

    Ronnie Screwvala, Co-Founder, U Digital said, ‘ We are delighted to partner with an institution like The Indian Express group, which has stood for journalism of courage and we hope to break new frontiers of storytelling for a new generation of Indian and global audiences. This collaboration represents a new generation of partnerships that bring together complimentary strengths in the digital era’.

     

    Sai Kumar

    B Sai Kumar, UDigital’s Co-Founder and MD said, “The raison d’etre of the partnership is to make documentaries that appeal to the mainstream and resonate with the youth.”

     

    While Goenka indicated that the output will be standalone content, the statement by Raj Kamal Jha, Chief Editor, The Indian Express, gave another picture. “Arré’s team has a formidable record of excellence in TV and cinema. Together, we shall work to translate our journalism — done first for print to the highest standards of fairness and accuracy — into the evocative language of a documentary. And ensure that the story always gains in translation”. Whatever it may be eventually, we can expect some good, solid journalism on a screen near you.

    Watch out, holy cows!

     

  • The venture plans to go live with Arré later this calendar year

    Arré wah! Ronnie Screwvala, B Saikumar & Ajay Chacko enterprise gears up for launch

    By A Correspondent

     

    UDigital, the recently announced digital media venture founded by Ronnie Screwvala, B.Saikumar and Ajay Chacko, announced its brand name РArr̩. The venture plans to go live with Arr̩ later this calendar year.

    Arré is an original content destination that will be a unique storytelling platform across genres and formats.

     

    Arré, according to a communique, will express itself across mediums, from text to graphic art to podcasts and video in multiple genres such as reality and fiction, factual and opinionated as well as pure entertainment. Arré is working with collaborators across the spectrum in developing original content; from writers, artists, journalists and storytellers to independent filmmakers, established production houses as well as upcoming talent in fiction, reality and non-fiction genres.

    Said B.Saikumar, Founder and Managing Director, UDigital: “Arré was born out of the need to create a truly disruptive digital product. Our philosophy is to continuously challenge the ‘moulds’ of format, media and structure to create content that is reflective of good storytelling in a digital environment. Much like the name, we hope to make Arré, the brand, a part of daily conversation in India and globally!”

    The logo and visual identity of Arré is being designed and developed by Area 17, an interactive agency that has worked with Vice, Quartz, The Atlantic, Style.com, Facebook, Pinterest and more.

     

  • Vox Pop Clothing founded by Siddharth Taparia is a collage of unique expressions, designed for people who can speak their mind and wear their attitude

    Think Ink Communications wins Vox Pop Clothing biz

    By A Correspondent

     

    Mumbai based PR agency, Think Ink Communications has won the PR mandate for online clothing brand Vox Pop Clothing adding to its cache of leading clientele including Ronnie Screwvala, Zindagi, Shashi Sumeet Productions, Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa, Culture Machine, Swades Foundation amongst others.

     

    Vox Pop Clothing founded by Siddharth Taparia is a collage of unique expressions, designed for people who can speak their mind and wear their attitude. It is the official merchandise partner for some of the most loved and iconic brands like Marvel, Walt Disney including Superman, Batman, Game of Thrones, Dexter and Star Trek amongst others.

     

    “We are delighted to partner with a dynamic brand like Vox Pop Clothing. This win helps us reinforce our credibility as the preferred communications partners focused on creating customer delight. For Vox Pop, we aim to take its stories to consumers and media, making it standout as the preferred fashion destination for self-definition”, said Radhika Nihalani, Co-Founder – Think Ink Communications.

     

  • In its first phase, the venture aims at launching multi-genre, multi-lingual content across video, audio, text and other traditional and 'new age' art forms

    Ronnie Screwvala returns to media with digital foray, with B Sai Kumar as MD, Ajay Chacko as CEO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sai Kumar

    Media veteran who promoted the entertainment conglomerate UTV Ronnie Screwvala is making his first major foray in the media after exiting UTV. Along with former Network18 Group CEO B Sai Kumar, he is setting up a digital media company. Based in Mumbai, in its first phase, the venture aims at launching multi-genre, multi-lingual content across video, audio, text and other traditional and ‘new age’ art forms. The investment envisaged is an outlay of up to Rs 150 crore across two phases – while the first phase would be largely domestic-focused, the platform will evaluate new geographies and verticals in its second and subsequent phases.

     

     

    Ajay Chacko

    The venture with Mr Sai Kumar as Managing Director, has roped in former Network18 COO Ajay Chacko as CEO and is said to have commenced a global search for talent in creative, product and technology functions across entertainment, current affairs & infotainment spaces.

     

  • Around 80 employees are currently serving a month's notice and will be given salaries for three months' towards their full-and-final settlement

    As UTV Stars goes Bindass, 80+ staff laid off

    By Shobhana Nair

     

    Last fornight, Disney India announced its first big move since the exit of founder-CEO Ronnie Screwvala. UTV Stars, which was launched with much fanfare in August 2011, was going to adopt the Bindass branding.

     

    However, while one expected it to be a minor rationalisation of resources, reports received by MxMIndia indicate that a sizeable part of the production team – including show producers, reporters, cameramen and editors have been given the pink slips earlier this month. Around 80 employees are currently serving a month’s notice and will be given salaries for three months’ towards their full-and-final settlement.

     

    Interestingly, UTV Stars was the only channel from the stable (other than the business channel which the group once owned) with a strong inhouse production unit. While the channel has a reasonable viewership given the nature of its offering and some of its shows have a fair following, what didn’t work for it was the fitment in the larger scheme of Disney India.

     

    The new Bindass-branded channel is scheduled to be launched in October this year with fresh packaging, content and a brand name. Sources say the company is mulling a music channel, given the opportunities in that space.

     

    The spokesperson from Disney India was unavailable for comment.

     

  • The former Disney UTV head Ronnie Screwvala's Unilazer Ventures has hired seasoned sports marketer Supratk Sen as its CEO for Unilazer Sports.

    Ronnie Screwvala sets up Unilazer Sports; Supratik Sen to head biz

    By A Correspondent

     

    Former Disney UTV head Ronnie Screwvala’s Unilazer Ventures has ventured into sports and has hired seasoned sports marketer Supratk Sen as its CEO for the venture. Supratik Sen joins in from Red Bull India wherein he was National Head for Sports and Events Marketing.

     

    Unilazer Sports, a division of Unilazer Ventures, led by Mr Sen will focus on teams, leagues, academies as well as creating IPs and franchises in two or three selected sports.

     

    This ex-national rugby player, who was also a professionally trained footballer and cricketer spent the last five years at Red Bull India leading all their marquee projects with athletes, sports projects and events in the country. Before joining Red Bull, Mr Sen worked with Australian major Repucom. He has also worked with sports, event marketing and media management companies Procam, Percept D’Mark and E-Sense Entertainment.

     

    Unilazer Ventures Ltd, promoted by First Generation Entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala is a diversified entity with focus on creating ground up businesses and being a Strategic Equity Investor in others. Unilazer brings hands on business experience from its Founders backed by an expert team that adds value to strong entrepreneurs/founders in varied aspects of their business growth. While Unilazer is sector agnostic it has a leaning to new greenfield and high growth segments like Agriculture, Healthcare and Pharma, Education, E-commerce and sectors deeply entrenched in the India Consumption Story