Category: MAM

  • IPL 2022: Acko signs sponsorship deals with KKR and Gujarat Titans

    IPL 2022: Acko signs sponsorship deals with KKR and Gujarat Titans

    Mumbai: With only weeks to go for the first match of the IPL 2022 season, insurance firm Acko Insurance has inked sponsorship deals with two more IPL franchisees – Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans, to take on the role of their official insurance partner. This latest association comes on the back of the brand signing on as insurance partner for the Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in a multi-team sponsorship model.

    As the country gears up for the widely anticipated fifteenth edition of the cricket tournament, the insurance brand has further expanded its partnership portfolio by adding to its existing team collaborations, bringing its tally of IPL team associations to five.

    The recent years have seen an increase in the number of brands opting for multi-team brand sponsoring partnerships. The IPL 2020-21 season saw Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore- all having boAt as their audio partners, while Colgate was the Smile partner of six IPL teams during IPL 2021.

    The first match of the IPL 2022 season is set to be played on 26 March between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and last year’s finalists, Kolkata Knight Riders at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The final will take place on 29 May. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune will host the last 15 matches.

  • KFC goes ‘Biryummmmy!’ with new Biryani Bucket

    KFC goes ‘Biryummmmy!’ with new Biryani Bucket

    Mumbai: KFC fans and Biryani lovers in the country are in for a tasteful treat as Colonel Sanders grants their wishes in true KFC style – with the all-new KFC Biryani Bucket. In a unique combination, KFC’s signature chicken now comes with flavourful Biryani rice and its nothing short of the biryani of your dreams.

    The quirky campaign, featuring actor Piyush Mishra, has been conceived by Ogilvy. The film opens with Colonel Sanders destressing at a laughter club and laughing away, when a fellow participant, Mishra, asks him how while KFC’s fried chicken is fantastic, when is he planning to make biryani. Colonel’s struggles begin as he gets questioned by fans asking ‘Biryani Kab Banaoge?’ practically everywhere that he goes! He rises and heads straight to the kitchen, to whip up a bucketful of KFC Biryani, before joyously announcing that ‘Biryani Loverzz…. Ab wait hai overzzz!’

    “There is something certainly warm and familiar about a Biryani, just as there is no greater joy than holding a bucket full of KFC chicken. The campaign film is a close representation of just how much KFC fans wanted us to bring together two of their greatest loves – their favourite KFC chicken and flavourful biryani,” said KFC India’s CMO Moksh Chopra. “We are thrilled to render a KFC take on this beloved cuisine, and the KFC Biryani Bucket is an earmark in our journey of designing innovative products.”

    “A KFC version of the Biryani was an idea whose time had come,” commented Ogilvy North’s chief creative officer, Ritu Sharda. “The KFC page was reflecting this craving from people for a while. So, when KFC finally dished up its own twist on the cult-favourite Biryani – all our campaign really had to say was: You wanted it. We got it.”

  • DreamSetGo joins ICC T20 World Cup 2022 as travel agent

    DreamSetGo joins ICC T20 World Cup 2022 as travel agent

    Mumbai: Premium sports travel and experiences platform DreamSetGo have expanded its portfolio of partners becoming the official travel agent of the much-awaited ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022.

    With this partnership, DreamSetGo will provide cricket fans from all over the world the opportunity to guarantee their place at the biennial event with world-class travel and hospitality. The bouquet of packages will include official match tickets, hotel accommodation, intercity transfers, guided tours, access to bespoke events, match-day programmes and other exclusive experiences.

    Speaking on the association, DreamSetGo co-founder and CBO Monish Shah said, “As an Official Travel Agent of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022, we will deliver a seamless, end-to-end, and truly world-class experience to cricket fans so they can fully immerse themselves in the action and drama of the T20 showpiece across Australia.”

    DreamSetGo curates end-to-end, authentic sports travel packages across cricket, tennis, motorsports, golf, football and has recently announced exclusive partnerships with leading English football clubs, Chelsea FC and Manchester City, to become their ‘Official Indian Fan Experience Partner’ and ‘Official Football Hospitality Experiences Partner in India’ respectively.

    It also offers multiple personalised experiences with sports celebrities including meet-and-greets, masterclass training sessions, signed merchandise, and virtual events tailored for high engagement.

  • Hygiene, health & wellness remain key consumer concerns: Kantar report

    Hygiene, health & wellness remain key consumer concerns: Kantar report

    Mumbai: Emerging from the pandemic, the Indian FMCD (Fast Moving Consumer Durables) market presents significant opportunities. While the pandemic caused much anxiety amongst consumers in general, there was a high demand in the FMCD health and wellness space, according to the latest Sustainability Report from Kantar. New-market segments such as air purifiers, ACs with purification filters, smaller sub-categories such as UVC disinfection categories, UVC Desk lamps, and growth of personal care health tech products such as smartwatches and fitness monitors saw amped-up sales, says the report. Consumption patterns have changed significantly – towards safety, premiumness and technologically advanced products.

    The data-driven analytics and brand consulting company unveiled the FMCD Sustainability Report – “Walking the Talk on Sustainability with Consumers – a roadmap for India’s FMCD Sector.” The Kantar report reveals that the Indian consumers are also becoming more conscious about the impact of human activity on climate change and other environmental factors. The report highlights how the intersection of the FMCD sector and sustainability will further enable growth. It aims to provide key sustainability roadmaps for FMCD brands to help them navigate the ecosystem with sustainable solutions.

    The India Story: Post-pandemic Consumer Attitudes and Behaviour

    According to the Kantar report, consumer reactions in the wake of Covid-19 continue to evolve and the Indian market presents several opportunities for the FMCD brands. The report further states that cautious consumption is the norm – hygiene, health and wellness are key consumer concerns, where 91 per cent Indian households are washing hands more often now, 47 per cent Indian households claim increased toilet cleaning, more so in rural (49 per cent) vs urban (43 per cent).

    Data also suggests that consumers are changing education and work codes, with work ecosystems being reshaped by digital transformation. With accelerated digital adoption, there is 125 per cent growth in usages of smart devices among internet users, paving the way for the emergence of a smart home. Some of them are – smart lights, smart speakers, smart air purifiers, smart display, smart home entertainment and smart cleaning.

    There is also evidence to suggest that ‘value’ is a key factor for consumers since post-pandemic financial concerns have cropped up, where 73 per cent attribute Covid-19 to have impacted household income, while 67 per cent pay greater attention to prices while shopping. This has led to an overall joint accountability of both businesses and consumers towards adopting a stronger sense of collective corporate responsibility, according to the report.

    “The FMCD sector is witnessing rapid growth even in post pandemic phase while we’ve also seen a great consumer shift towards sustainability and the environment urging brands to rethink their strategies,” said Kantar Insights Division Qualitative & Lead- Sustainability Practice South Asia managing director Paru Minocha. “Consumers have greater expectation from companies than from themselves; this is likely to be amplified in FMCD, where personal behaviors post purchase is led primarily by the policies/features of the product and company they use. With this report, we are putting forward recommendations to brands which help in solving customer tensions with sustainable solutions, addressing barriers such as packaging, service models, repairability, and return and recycling policies.”

    Commenting on the focus and relevance of FMCD, Kantar Shopper and CX Domain lead Sushmita Balasubramaniam said, “Consumers today are more aware and concerned about sustainability and other issues like pollution, carbon emissions, etc. For example, in the mobile phones category, consumers expect brands to address macro environment issues of carbon emissions and plastic pollution whereas in the computing category – carbon emissions, packaging and tax evasion are palpable concerns. In appliances, concerns exist on pollution (air and plastic) and emissions besides packaging. While we see consumers consciously making smarter choices, the responsibility resides with brands andmarketeers to provide sustainable solutions to resonate and build credibility with their audiences moving forward.”

    Launched at the recent CII’s FMCD Summit, the Kantar report also provided key recommendations for the FMCD brands such as embedding Green Lifecycle across portfolio and processes, connecting the environment and the everyday, addressing Consumer Knowledge Barriers and meeting accountability expectations. With the suggested roadmap, the report also highlights noticeable consumer trends that lead to a collective accountability of both businesses and audiences, seeking the path to a more sustainable world.

  • hoichoi premieres ABP Studios’ ‘Mukhyamantri’

    hoichoi premieres ABP Studios’ ‘Mukhyamantri’

    Mumbai: ABP Studios’ produced docu-series “Mukhyamantri” premiered on Bengali on-demand video streaming platform hoichoi on 25 February.

    The docu-series is directed by the famous Bengali director – Indranil Roychowdhury and is presented by Pratik Dutta and Shaoli Chattopadhyay.

    Through this docu-series, ABP Studios aims at introducing the layman to the effervescent landscape of Bengal politics. It’s a way of analysing Bengal’s modern political history through the eyes of the state’s eight chief ministers.

    Indranil Roychowdhury has produced and directed multiple award-winning films over a period of 25 years of his career. His renowned production company Flipbook produced Indranil’s first full-length feature film Phoring in the year 2013. Moreover, his noteworthy work includes – ‘Tapanbabu’, ‘Ekti Bangali Bhooter Goppo,’ ‘Bhalobashar Shohor’ and ‘The Lovely Mrs Mukherjee.’

    “We are thrilled to have forayed into Bengal with our very first docu-series,” said ABP Studios business head Zulfia Waris. “It’s a never-before-told story about the history of West Bengal told through the tenures of each of its illustrious chief ministers. We are committed to use our rich 100-year-old archive of stories not just nationally but internationally as well. ‘Mukhyamantri’ marks the first of many shows that ABP Studios will produce in the future that have its roots in the state.”

    ABP Studios is collaborating with emerging national and international talent, as well as National Award-winning writers and filmmakers, to realize their larger aim of bringing local stories to a worldwide audience. They are also excited about developing and presenting content from its recent acquisitions in adventure, horror, and crime drama genres.

  • GUEST COLUMN: Understanding the role of NFTs in influencer marketing

    GUEST COLUMN: Understanding the role of NFTs in influencer marketing

    Mumbai: Let’s start by understanding NFTs.

    The acronym NFT stands for “non-fungible token.” This signifies that it’s a one-of-a-kind code that can’t be substituted with anything else. An NFT is nothing more than a digital representation of a physical item. NFTs have monetary or sentimental worth and can be bought, sold, or traded. You can own them because they are digital assets. They are one-of-a-kind digital assets in the form of cryptographic tokens. Bitcoin tokens can be thought of as blockchain-verified dollar bills, and NFTs are works of art or other media files that have been confirmed on the blockchain.

    In the digital realm, the possibilities are limitless. NFTs are a gamechanger for digital content creation since they allow creators to create and sell art, music, books, films, and more. Digital marketers and content providers can communicate with customers on social media, give them valuable assets such as giveaway prizes, and more.

    How do NFTs impact influencers?

    NFTs have the potential to establish a new universe of intellectual property with copyright income for content creators and influencer-generated material that attracts influencers and content creators. We’ve seen over the last decade that viral moments may provide a monetary profit for their creators. Memes, short videos, and products are all examples of this. It can be used as a possible revenue stream for a variety of people and businesses, ranging from professional sports leagues to artists and others, who can now sell the NFT behind their brands instead of having to negotiate a three- or five-year usage of their image.

    Influencers can earn a lot of money, but their resources are limited. To make money, they rely on brand partnerships and collaborations. But NFTs change that by offering a completely new way to make revenue and improve marketing strategies. Because of its unique setup, the creator economy has enabled individuals to generate digital content using blockchain-based technologies, potentially altering the financial environment for the creators involved. They’ve made it possible for artists to make millions from just one piece of work. NFTs are being explored by creators as a means to deliver unique, paid experiences and communicate with their followers.

    NFTs also have the potential to be sold in the future. They can be configured to allow royalties so that when an asset is sold on the NFT marketplaces, the developer receives a portion of future sales.

    Naturally, the scope of influencers in the fields of lifestyle, fashion, and art is nearly endless. These influencers can sell exclusive content, such as digital art, while NFT ensures its validity and value. Influencers in the gaming industry are also getting involved, selling in-game weaponry and artifacts as NFTs.

    As a prize, NFTs can boost engagement. Influencers can organise a campaign and give away NFTs, which have a lot of value for their followers. NFTs are also excellent prizes for collaboration posts and user-generated content contests, particularly if they include a memorable moment, exclusive material, or a digital collectible.

    Moving Forward

    NFTs aren’t just the latest craze; they’re digital assets that exist exclusively online yet have real-world value. We’re getting more digitally oriented, and NFTs bring a popular activity, an investment possibility, and a status symbol into the digital realm. We like physical objects that we can hold and feel, but digital assets are the way of the future. Companies and influencers have a one-of-a-kind way to monetize online content and intellectual property, from unique digital art to a virtual baseball card to an unforgettable moment.

    It is critical to recognise that NFTs do not pose a threat to brand-influencer partnerships. On the contrary, by employing NFTs as a newer form of technology that will allow them to drive innovation, they will be able to improve their collaborations and continue to expand their ties.

    NFTs are popular because of their uniqueness and collectability. Creating products through limited partnerships between companies and influencers will be a whole new revenue source for both the brand and the influencer. Customers can gain access to a unique piece of the digital world with NFTs.

    Today, marketers are using Livestream product launches and other experience sessions with influencers in the form of tutorials to create experiences that are exclusive. The digital and crypto worlds are sweeping the globe as new generations of customers become increasingly accustomed to them and see the enormous value of this type of transaction and investment.

    (The author is CEO of Mad Influence, a social media marketing platform. The views expressed in this column are personal and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them.) 

  • HUL becomes biggest advertiser in week 7: Barc

    HUL becomes biggest advertiser in week 7: Barc

    Mumbai: With ad volumes of 4940.43 (against last week’s 5080.24), FMCG firm Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) was once again the top advertiser in the seventh week of 2022 (12 to 18 February), according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) data. It was followed by Reckitt Benckiser and Cadbury India at 3626.47 and 922.97.

    Procter & Gamble, Godrej Group, Amazon Online India, ITC, Tata Group, Colgate Palmolive and Marico followed, in that order.

    Harpic Power Plus 10X Max Clean was the most advertised brand with ad volumes of 491.96 (704.34 in week 6). Amazon India was second with 393.59. It was followed by Ultratech Cement (318.51).

     

    Dettol Foaming Handwash, Dettol Toilet Soaps, Dettol Antiseptic Liquid occupied the next three slots. They were followed by Moov Strong Diclofenac Gel, Rummycircle.com, Harpic Bathroom Cleaner and Strepsils Orange (new entrant).

  • WPP hits 2023 target in 2021; FY revenue stands at £12801 million

    WPP hits 2023 target in 2021; FY revenue stands at £12801 million

    Mumbai: London-headquartered global communications company WPP on Thursday announced its 2021 preliminary results with the full year and Q4 financial highlights. The full year continuing operations reported revenue at £12801 million (+6.7 per cent), against 12,003 in 2020. The company posted £1,494 million operating profit for the full year (£1261 million in 2020). Profit before tax stood at £1365 million, against £1,041 million last year.

    “It has been an outstanding year for WPP. Our top-line growth, driven by strong demand for our services in digital marketing, media, e-commerce and technology, has resulted in our fastest organic growth for over 20 years. As a result, we are two years ahead of our plan, hitting our 2023 revenue target in 2021,” said WPP CEO Mark Reed.

    “Cash generation continues to be very strong, underpinned by efficiencies achieved in our transformation programme, allowing us to make significant investments in our offer and reward our people for their huge contribution, while returning over £1 billion in cash to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks,” he added.

    The company is looking forward to 2022 with confidence, guiding to strong top-line growth, improving profitability and continued investment in people and services.

    Reed shared that the company has made substantial strategic progress, creating the world’s leading board-level communications firm through the merger of Finsbury Glover Hering and Sard Verbinnen, and acquiring capabilities in AI, commerce and technology services to leverage across all of WPP for future growth.

    “As clients seek to accelerate their growth and transform how they reach customers, the depth, breadth and global scale of our offer – which combines creativity with technology and data, through Choreograph, and the largest global media platform in GroupM – is proving its value for existing and new clients. The talent, dynamism and commitment of our people have also shone through. Our extensive partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, the expansion of our work with Google and the continuation of our longstanding relationship with Unilever demonstrate the value that three of the world’s leading marketing organisations place in WPP,” stated Reed.

  • Dabur Chyawanprash onboards Nagarjuna as South India brand ambassador

    Dabur Chyawanprash onboards Nagarjuna as South India brand ambassador

    Mumbai: FMCG major Dabur India has roped in South superstar Akkineni Nagarjuna as the new brand ambassador of its flagship health supplements brand Dabur Chyawanprash for the South Indian market.

    A new ad campaign, conceptualised by McCann World Group, will soon be aired across media platforms in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. With this association, Dabur aims to reach every household in south India and create awareness about the importance of strong immunity and the role that Dabur Chyawanprash plays in building immunity to fight illnesses, said the statement.

    “We are happy to have superstar Nagarjuna on board as the face of Dabur Chyawanprash for South Indian markets. Being a philanthropist and brand ambassador for HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, Nagarjuna has been a prominent face for several community development initiatives,” said Dabur India regional business head – South JP Victoria.

    “With Nagarjuna on board as the face for Dabur Chyawanprash, this campaign is expected to have a very good reach and connect with consumers in South Indian markets. With this communication, we are also establishing our strong sense of pride about ‘Made in India, by Indians, for Indians,’ and caring for every household’s immunity and well-being in South India,” Victoria added.

    Commenting on this association, Nagarjuna remarked, “The times we are living in today have underlined the importance of immunity more than ever before. Strong Immunity is the need of the hour. Dabur has relentlessly nurtured the country’s health and fitness through the science of authentic Ayurveda. As a consumer, I have been associated with the brand for years now. I really believe that together, Dabur and I, will take Dabur Chyawanprash to every household in South India and work towards building the nation’s immunity.”

    The campaign uses the south Indian martial art form Silambam as a metaphor to emphasise on the need to build immunity to fight illnesses.

    “Creative storytelling is all about making a product proposition more engaging for people to take notice of it. So, when we were tasked with introducing Dabur Chyawanprash for the South Indian markets, we struck upon the idea of using the ancient Southern martial art of ‘Silambam’ or stick fighting as a theme,” shared McCann World Group creative head – South Sambit Mohanty.

  • D2H signs Rishabh Pant as brand ambassador

    D2H signs Rishabh Pant as brand ambassador

    Mumbai: D2H has announced the signing of Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant as the new brand ambassador. Pant will feature in 360-degree brand communication for the next two years.

    “We are delighted to have Rishabh Pant as brand ambassador for our D2H brand,” said Dish TV India executive director and group CEO Anil Dua. “Our brands are our biggest strength. This investment in the D2H brand is going to make it even stronger. The close affinity between D2H brand and Rishabh Pant as brand ambassador will enable deeper engagement of D2H with its TG.”

    “D2H is a large DTH brand with a long record of disruptive innovation in the industry,” said Rishabh Pant. “It is wonderful to be associated with D2H and looking forward to working closely with the team to take it to greater heights. “

    “Rishabh has quickly developed into a distinctive entertainer on the cricket field, with his boundless energy behind the stumps and innovation in shot-making,” said Dish TV India corporate head – marketing for D2H Sugato Banerji. “He brings a spark each time he enters the field and appeals to the huge 18-35 age group across the country, our core audience. We see him as a strong fit with D2H Brand values. We are confident that this association with Rishabh will take the brand D2H to a stronger, more defined position within a short time through continuous investment in creating awareness and affinity.”