ITV

Category: Marketing

  • Sam Balsara unveils 2nd OOH agency Platinum; ropes in Arminio Ribeiro as CEO

    MUMBAI: Madison’s chairman Sam Balsara has unveiled a second outdoor agency – Platinum Outdoor. Set to function as an independent agency, the company has roped in former Portland India president Arminio Ribeiro as chief executive officer. Ribeiro will join in early April.

    Commenting on the new venture Balsara said, “I see Outdoor as playing a more important role in the Advertisers’ marketing plans in the near future, given the clutter in established mass media like Print and TV. Whilst some sectors like Telecom, Financial and Media Sectors have used Outdoor to their advantage, many others haven’t, because Media Agencies are not convinced or are not alive to the opportunities that Outdoor can offer.

    “We need an Agency that can evangelise the medium and exploit every out-of-home opportunity. I am confident that Arminio with his wealth of experience in Advertising and Out-of-Home will do just that. We are looking to making Platinum our second network with its own repertoire of specialist units including Media.”

    On being asked what will be different about the offering of the new outdoor agency Ribeiro said, “At Platinum Outdoor, we will deliver a market advantage to potential clients’ OOH needs – one that moves beyond a business-as-usual approach to delivering the right OOH solution and demonstrates the value in a confident manner.

    “The focus will be on creative and innovative planning and spending, adding value and ensuring clients are delighted with their Return on Investment. We believe that if we want to be a significant player in developing the brand activation market and get into the new consumer congregation points we then need to build those capabilities.”

    Additionally, former Primesite vice president Gour Gupta and former Poster Publicity GM Lokesh Kumar have been appointed as COO and VP – business director respectively, informs an official release.
    To achieve this offering, a paradigm shift in talent base has been planned; a team consisting of brand and idea – thinking and experienced individuals with a culture of partnering clients is being put together. “Platinum Outdoor will make every effort to lift the bar in all out-of-home activities and from traditional formats to new formats coupled with accountability and measurability,” said Gupta.
    “The specialist OOH agency that adapts effectively to the increasingly changing outdoor environment and societal trends and invests in people and productivity tools will succeed in the near future,” said Kumar.

  • WPP arms foray into content globally, healthcare in India

    MUMBAI: Ad agencies are making forays into new areas in a bid to increase revenues. The leader WPP and its arms have taken the lead. Globally, JWT has already entered the content business and producing shows for television.

    Closer home, WPP’s Sudler & Hennessey, one of the leading global healthcare communications firm, has launched its operations in India in lieu for the forthcoming WTO (World Trade Organisation) norms which will change the name of the marketing and communication game for India’s pharmaceutical companies.

    Glossy men’s magazine Gear and ad agency J Walter Thompson are teaming up to produce pop culture TV programming.
    The first project is a half-hour music series called Conversations which will be hosted by Gear editor in chief Bob Guccione Jr. Guccione founded Spin magazine in the ’80s and still has many contacts with musicians. There is no word yet on where the show will run.

    The crossover from magazines to TV and film has become an increasingly popular trend. From CosmoGirl to Outdoor Life, magazines have been lending their names to TV programs to expand revenue streams and to expand brand awareness. Leading men’s magazine Maxim recently inked a deal to produce movies.

    Meanwhile, WPP’s Sudler & Hennessey (S&H) has entered the Indian market through 50:50 tie-up with Rediffusion DY&R. The JV firm will offer communication services for the healthcare segment. Formed nearly 60 years ago, S&H has a presence in more than 17 countries with an annualised billings of over $900 million. The group boasts of several global clients such as Glaxo Smithkline, Pfizer, J&J, Novartis, Roche – all of which have a presence in India.

    S&H will have two divisions – S&H Communications and Intramed. The first division will focus on OTC (over the counter) and prescription brands whereas Intramed will develop educational and awareness programmes. The various services on offer include brand positioning, medical education and communication, professional marketing and promotion, consultative assessment, consumer marketing and promotion, corporate brand identity, package design and market research.
    The unorganised sector comprises of a major chunk of the Indian healthcare segment and the absence of inadequate laws (related to patents) add to the woes of the organised players. S&H will offer a viable alternative to companies who wish to communicate and educate the consumers. S&H has also developed models to enable pharma companies to work with doctors and directly with consumers.

  • Dior launches watches, appoints Yana Gupta brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Christian Dior, the name that spells seduction, creativity and femininity in luxury goods, officially launched Christian Dior watches in the financial hub of the country on 22 April. To top that, the luxury goods maker also announced that Yana Gupta, the former face of Lakme would be the Brand Ambassador or Miss Dior for India..

    LVMH Watch & Jewellery, regional MD, Ravi Thakran, unveiled the Indian range, which is in line with the global collection. The launch follows LVMH Watch & Jewellery’s promise of bringing the latest products to the Indian market at the same time and at an equal price as the global markets.

    Explaining the strategy Thakran said, “consumers in India can now enjoy the latest international watch designs. Christian Dior watches are true fashion accessories – combining creativity and quality in the form of aspects from the French couture house and all the expertise of fine Swiss watch making. We have a fair price policy for India to match international prices and in some cases we have even bettered international prices.”

    The target is female clientele looking for young, fashionable and original timekeeping products. Gupta said, “ I have admired Christian Dior for its elegance and sophistication since my early modeling days. To be chosen to represent the brand is like a dream come true.”

    Dior watches are distributed in over 150 countries at 1,500 carefully selected sales outlets and 115 Christian Dior boutiques. Christian Dior watches are a part of LVMH Watches & Jewellery which claims to be the world’s leading luxury group.

  • NEC to sponsor CNN video blog

    MUMBAI: Under a new CNN initiative sponsored by NEC corporation, six men and women, wanting to make a difference in the world, will blog and post videos of their lives and jobs.

    Titled Be the Change, it aims to harness CNN International’s global reach, multiplatform services and cutting edge technology to reach deep into the lives of ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things around the world to benefit others.

    NEC’s sponsorship of Be the Change runs for a year from this month and is set to be broadcast worldwide while featuring online at www.cnn.com/bethechange

    The work of the six people and the global platform the initiative provides is expected to inspire others to make their own impact through similar ventures.

    CNN Asia Pacific VP news ad sales William Hsu says, “Be the Change is a fantastic initiative and we are delighted to have the support of NEC in this groundbreaking venture. To highlight and celebrate work that is rarely reported on and often barely visible to the larger community is hugely important and we hope that our global audience will share in these unique experiences.”

    NEC GM advertising division Junichi Shibi says, “Throughout its history, NEC has continuously sought ways to contribute to society through technological innovation and advanced solutions. NEC is proud to sponsor CNN’s Be the Change, which shares the goal of empowering people and societies around the world through innovative activity to effect change for the better.”

    Whether it’s building a sports complex for a disadvantaged community in South Africa, or aiding abused young people in Cambodia’s second largest city, the ‘Be the Change’ aid workers are committing their lives, their time and their energy to work for others.

    One video diary from a contributor will become a weekly segment on CNN International television, while blogs from each contributor will be hosted on a specially-produced web site, in addition to biographical sketches, links to their organizations and photo galleries. The site will be interactive, allowing visitors to comment and post questions to and for the contributors.

  • BBC World launches ad campaign for ‘World News Today’

    MUMBAI: With an aim to capture the Indian market, BBC World has launched a new advertising campaign in India for the new show World News Today which has started from 23 July.

    It has released four print ads, two TVCs, two radio spots and one internet ad for the Asia-centric news show hosted by Nik Gowing.

    BBC World marketing and communications head Vaishali Sharma elaborates, “As the show is focused for the Indian audience, the ad campaign is made to meet the needs of the Indian market. We are trying to reach out to the people by our ad campaign.”

    “With a common tagline for all the ads which reads ‘what affects the world, affects you’, the campaign stresses upon the fact how global changes affect our lives in India,” she adds.

    One of the print ads read ‘To know if we’re going to receive record rainfall this year, check the skies in Oman.’ The other ad states ‘To find out if petrol prices will rise. Keep an eye on America’s Middle East policy.’ To know if our foreign holidays will get cheaper one has to keep an eye at the US-China trade gap, explains one of the ads. The other ad asks to watch the show to discover how by walking into an Amercian mall, one can figure out job oppurtunities.

    Sharma says that the print ads will be placed in almost all the leading dailies of major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Srinagar, Hyderabad. Meanwhile, the radio spots will be aired on Radio City and Radio One.

    BBC World will run the 30-second TVCs only on Discovery, Travel and Living, AXN, Pix, Zee Café and Zee Studio who share a similar audience profile.

  • ICC to begin sale of sponsorship rights

    MUMBAI: Having locked in $ 1.1 billion dollars from the sale of telecast rights, the International Cricket Council will soon start the sales process for sponsorship rights to ICC events over the next eight years, including the World Cup in 2015.

    The period includes 18 ICC tournaments with two ICC Cricket World Cups, in Asia (2011) and Australasia (2015), and a minimum of three ICC Champions Trophy tournaments.

    Also included are the first two ICC Twenty20 World Championships, in South Africa (2007) and England (2009), the latter taking place in the ICC’s centenary year.
    The ICC intends to enter negotiations with prospective sponsors with a view to concluding agreements during the first half of 2007.

    Chief executive officer Malcolm Speed said: “The ICC’s executive board began this process in April of last year when it confirmed the venues for ICC events from the second half of 2007 to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
    “With those events and a broadcasting agreement to cover them in place, we are now in a position to go to market to obtain the best possible partners for cricket.

    “For the first time the ICC is able to offer one major event every year and the quality and variety of those events and the fact they span the globe mean they represent exceptional value for sponsors.
    “Live telecasts will be supported by an integrated promotion plan for major events and for the sport. It all means that companies have never had a bigger and more prestigious opportunity in cricket.”

    The ICC has already sold its broadcast rights for the period with ESPN Star Sports in December named as its Global Media and Production Partner in a agreement worth $ 1.1 billion.

    ICC Events 2007 – 2015

    2007    Cricket World Cup    March/April    March/April West Indies*
    Twenty20 World Championship    September    South Africa
    2008    U/19 Cricket World Cup    February    Malaysia
    Champions Trophy    September    Pakistan
    2009    Women’s Cricket World Cup    March    Australia
    ICC Trophy    April    UAE
    Twenty20 World Championship    June    England
    2010    U/19 Cricket World Cup    February    Kenya
    Champions Trophy    March/April    West Indies
    World Cricket League    TBC    The Netherlands
    2011    Cricket World Cup    February/March    Bangladesh/India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka
    2012    U/19 Cricket World Cup    July    Canada
    Champions Trophy/Twenty20 World Championship    September    Sri Lanka
    2013    Women’s Cricket World Cup    February    India
    Champions Trophy/Twenty20 World Championship    TBC    TBC
    2014    Champions Trophy/Twenty20 World Championship    April    Bangladesh
    U/19 Cricket World Cup    February/March    UAE
    World Cricket League    TBC    TBC
    2015    Cricket World Cup    February/March    Australia/New Zealand

    * broadcast and sponsorship rights for this event owned by News Corp Owned Global Cricket Corporation.

  • ESS plugs football presenters in Singapore

    MUMBAI: ESPN STAR Sports took to the streets in Singapore this week with an outdoor campaign featuring their English sports news presenters on wholly painted buses.

    John Dykes
    The campaign features John Dykes, host of ESS’ football news and highlights programmes; David Basheer, host of ESS’ UEFA sports news coverage; and Jason Dasey and Bethan Evans, presenters of SportsCenter Asia.

    The three-month campaign aims to establish the sports network’s most recognizable presenters as the sports experts who deliver the latest news to its audience in Singapore. Design was created by Litt Lindden Design & Associates led by Creative Director Suvajit Das.

  • E&Y expands marketing & advertising risk services with media audit unit

    MUMBAI: Ernst & Young LLP, has expanded its marketing and advertising risk services (MARS) practice through the launch of its media performance auditing unit.

    An official statement issued by the company states that with the establishment of the unit, Ernst & Young will offer a holistic approach to managing risk in marketing and advertising initiatives by providing advertisers with an objective, independent review of media delivery performance, agency contracts and compliance, review of advertiser business processes and related controls all under one roof.

    According to Ernst & Young LLP, MARS practice global director Kenneth Fakler, Ernst & Young created this service after recognizing the need that advertisers have for an independent verification of their media spend and understanding that there are many risks involved, including compliance risk, operational and financial risk and strategic risk. While media performance audits are common in Europe, they have become increasingly prevalent in the United States.

    “Unlike the Super Bowl, where there is no question whether an advertiser’s ad ran because almost everyone is watching, the majority of advertising, whether broadcast, print, or online, doesn’t typically have that kind of universal exposure. Therefore, advertisers may not know if their ad ran, ran correctly, and if the advertiser received the value it paid for,” said Fakler.

    “Media and advertising spend can account for significant direct costs for a company. We already perform agency contract compliance and process and control reviews for our advertiser clients, so it was important that we also include one of the biggest areas of marketing spend and risk — media performance auditing — to our service offering. Now an advertiser can come to our firm to get a comprehensive media audit that can help determine operational effectiveness and mitigate the risks involved.”

    The MARS practice is made up of a network of professionals with experience in the marketing communications industry and related financial and operational processes, including: marketing and advertising finance, agency operations, creative production, media buying, promotions, project management, sponsorship, public relations, branded entertainment and talent. The practice has a global reach with a presence in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific, adds the release.

  • Swatch ushers in Valentines spirit with ‘Singles Party’

    MUMBAI: Deafening! Pounding! Lots of Jumping! These are a few words that come to mind when one thinks of last nights event at the popular discotheque Fire n’ Ice. The occasion was India’s ‘First Singles Party’ organised by Swiss watchmaker Swatch. The event will air today on In Mumbai.

    Explaining the logic behind the concept, Country Manager Swatch Group India G Kannan said that the party was an attempt to offer Mumbai’s youth an out of the box experience and get out of the mushy feeling that one associates with couples in love.

    Music spun by DJs blasted in one’s ears accompanied by innovative Swatch TVCs, which were aired, on a giant screen. New actress on the block Esha Deol put in an appearance to unveil a special Valentine’s watch ‘Aiming For Your Heart’. The watch features multi coloured hearts covering the numberless dial. The gold toned hour hands are meant to symbolise cupids love arrows.

    James Bond fans may recall that to celebrate the anniversary of the spy last year, the company had launched the James Bond Series of 20 watches each named after a Bond movie. Swatch was launched in India three years ago.

  • Motorola kicks off special offer across Motostores

    MUMBAI: Motorola Inc. has unveiled special mobile offers throughout the multi-city branded outlets called Motostores.


    Motorola has set up shops across India targeting key cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Pune. These Motostores will provide the consumers with new ways to personalise their handsets.


    The mobile offers include select bundles of Motorola handsets and accessories available only at these select stores.









    Motorola‘s mobile combo offer is available across some of the newest handsets including: Motorokr E6, Motoming A1200, Motokrzr K1, Motorizr Z3 and many more. Each can be bundled with select bluetooth accessories including the Snoop S9, P790 portable charger or the HT820, H350, or H500 headsets, states an official press release.


    Motorola mobile devices India, Sri Lanka and Nepal director sales Sudhir Agarwal said, “We‘re working hard to help Indian consumers enjoy their wireless experience and we‘re committed to offering the best possible choice to them. Through our mobile combo offers, visitors to India‘s Motostores will be treated to exciting mobility bundles for some of our most popular handsets.”




    Along with mobile accessories in the bundled offer, the Motostores also offer customized phone tattoos and wireless photo imaging services.