ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • Contract appoints Monojit Ray as Bengaluru head

    Contract appoints Monojit Ray as Bengaluru head

    MUMBAI: The Bengaluru arm of Contract has got a new head. Monojit Ray has been appointed as the general manager and vice president with immediate effect. He will take charge from Anitha Krishnan who was with the company for 10 years.

    Ray will handle not just the Bengaluru portfolio but also be responsible for the growth of Contract in south India. “Monojit’s diverse advertising and marketing experience of over 18 years, complimented by his entrepreneurial experience makes him an ideal choice for heading the Bengaluru office,” said Contract Advertising COO Rana Barua.

    Monojit Ray has 18 years of experience in the field

    Prior to this, Ray has worked with Ogilvy, Rediffusion, Radio City, Autocop and Everest. “I think it’s a great opportunity and a challenge to be part of a rejuvenated Contract. The vision that Rana has set for the agency is right up my street. And I sincerely believe that the Bengaluru office will play an extremely important role in achieving that goal. I, for one, am extremely excited to be part of this new journey, and I hope that I will be able to make my team as excited about it as we go along,” said Ray.

    Ray had earlier managed Sachin Tendulkar’s first major advertising assignment with Phillips. He was prominent in launching Tata Teleservices in Hyderabad. He is not new to the IT city, having worked there before. He was also the cricket coach and consultant for the movie Kai Po Che.

  • Verizon acquires upLynk assets and operations

    Verizon acquires upLynk assets and operations

    MUMBAI: Verizon Digital Media Services has acquired the assets and operations of upLynk, a technology and television cloud company. The move is a part of Verizon’s expansion plans to efficiently and quickly deliver live events, linear television and video on demand.

     

    upLynk simplifies the complex issues content owners face by streamlining the process of uploading and encoding ‘TV Everywhere’ for live, linear and video on-demand content. By using a single adaptive video format across all devices, upLynk simplifies encoding, storage, playback, ad insertion and analytics to eliminate complexity and enable more agile video workflows.

     

    “As the experience of watching broadcast television changes and the media marketplace shifts, the addition of upLynk’s unique capabilities allows Verizon Digital Media Services to better meet our customers where and how they want to deliver video,” said Verizon Digital Media Services president Bob Toohey. “Simply put, this acquisition provides intelligent, scalable and more flexible ways of streaming video for our customers,” he added.

     

    “Joining forces with Verizon is a turning point for upLynk, and we see incredible opportunity to deliver superior video solutions that streamline the complex challenges that content owners face. We look forward to even greater successes in the ‘TV Everywhere’ market,” informed upLynk chief executive officer Ralf Jacob.
    Based on its integration with national broadcast infrastructures as well as its advanced approach to over-the-top broadcast cloud distribution, upLynk delivers multi-device and cross-platform premium content to complement Verizon’s broad-based end-to-end solutions.

     

    With this acquisition of upLynk’s assets and operations, digital media services customers can take advantage of increased speed to market, simplified workflows and access to a highly efficient and data-rich broadcast cloud technology that leverages Verizon’s video platform and global network.

  • CNBC, Philips join hands for branded content campaign

    CNBC, Philips join hands for branded content campaign

    MUMBAI: Leading global broadcaster of live business and financial news CNBC and Philips have come together for a branded content commercial campaign based around CNBC’s new video series, Innovation Cities.

    The series was launched worldwide across CNBC TV and digital platforms and on innovationcities.cnbc.com today. It will feature innovations that can improve the way people live and work. Each two-and-a-half-minute episode will focus on one facet of city life and will explore innovations that can provide dynamic change.

    The nine-week video series will air once a week after the network’s flagship morning show, Squawk Box in the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions, and on the Al Bousaiah programme on CNBC Arabiya in the Middle East.

    Highlights of the video series will also air on CNBC in the United States, and CNBC World, while full episodes will be immediately available across all CNBC’s online video and mobile platforms.

  • IMG Media hires former ESPN Star senior exec

    IMG Media hires former ESPN Star senior exec

    MUMBAI: From broadcasting to selling sports programming and event properties – that’s the path Former ESPN Star Sports business development & corporate communication (south Asia) director Rathindra Basu has taken. Recently, he hopped on IMG Media, which is amongst the world’s largest indpendent producers and distributors of sports programming, as vice-president and head of sales in the Indian sub-continent.

     

    In his role at IMG Media he will be looking after sports media content distribution and sales for the SAARC countries; covering all forms of media rights – including TV, audio, fixed media, in-flight and closed circuit, broadband and mobile. His responsibilities include developing key relationships with major sports broadcasters and other TV networks including the public broadcaster.

     

    Speaking to indiantelevision.com Basu says: “In my new role I will be looking at expanding our reach across the Indian subcontinent and reaching out to as many broadcasters for distribution and sales deals.”

     

    Basu will report to IMG Media Sr VP and head of sales Asia Pacific Chris Guinness, based in the London office and IMG Media Sr VP and head of sales Asia Pacific Leena Singarajah, based in Selangor, Malaysia.

    He will continue to be based out of New Delhi.

     

    IMG produces more than 21,000 hours of television and more than 30,000 hours of radio programming annually. It provides a seamless solution for both rights holders and broadcasters worldwide. Be it live or studio, in stadium or on the course, across the US or throughout South Africa, it claims to be a stop solution to handle all production needs.

     

    With over 200 clients and events, including Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the ATP Masters Series, the R&A (governing body and organiser of The Open Championship), International Rugby Board (IRB), MotoGP, the National Football League (NFL) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). IMG operates from over 30 offices worldwide and has daily exchanges with over 4,000 key media contacts. It also maintains the world’s largest sports archive with more than 250,000 hours of footage.

  • Digital Asia Festival 2013 announces shortlist

    Digital Asia Festival 2013 announces shortlist

    MUMBAI: The Digital Asia Festival Awards, honouring the best digital marketing communications across Asia Pacific, has announced this year’s shortlist.

     

    Chaired by Jason Kuperman, vice president of Omnicom Digital Asia Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa, the jury consists of 40 industry professionals with a mix of leading client marketers, digital media practitioners and agency strategists, judged 506 pieces of work based on strategy, creativity and innovation, execution and results with a total of 80 entries making it onto the shortlist. Japan leads with the most shortlisted entries (14), followed by Australia (13), New Zealand (10), China (9), Hong Kong (9), India (7), Singapore (7), The Philippines (5), Malaysia (4) and Thailand (2).

     

    Commenting on the judging process so far and the quality of the work, some jury members had the following to say in a release:  

     

    “I found this year’s entries seamlessly integrating technology into the creative leap turning the communication into truly refreshing and engaging consumer experiences. Several of the shortlists had started with a fabulous consumer insight and market/media opportunity that had never been explored before. We saw a lot of first-of-its-kind innovations and we could see technology playing along beautifully with the big idea. That’s a very encouraging sign,” said Tigress Tigress founder, CEO and CCO Meera Sharath Chandra.

     

    “Judging the DAF awards this year demonstrates that the region is thinking big and acting big in digital.  It’s no longer just an add-on to a TV campaign, but brands and agencies are genuinely looking at how they can build participation throughout their initiatives.  In a world where we often seem to be obsessed with daily posts on Facebook, it’s brilliant to see how much scale and impact can be really achieved with digital innovation,” said Iris Worldwide planning director, APAC regional Paul Gage.

     

    “The work that stood out for me was based on a single sharp insight and a strong idea – simply presented and well executed. Several entries made me go, Aha, wish I had thought of it,” said Infosys global head – digital marketing Ashok Lalla.
    The winners of the 2013 awards will be announced online through www.digitalasiafestival.com on 18 November.

  • Vserv.mobi launches revolutionary AppWrapper.org

    Vserv.mobi launches revolutionary AppWrapper.org

    MUMBAI: Vserv.mobi, an award winning mobile advertising exchange across emerging markets, has announced the launch of AppWrapper.org, an innovative platform for Android app developers that automates the integration of multiple software development kits (SDKs) without any coding effort. The new AppWrapper is designed to enable crucial app development lifecycle services, such as ad monetisation, analytics, bug tracking and in-app purchases, in just one click, allowing app developers to significantly accelerate their time-to-market. 

     

    The new AppWrapper has been optimised for the Android platform given its status as one of the most widely accepted and used OS platforms. According to the latest mobile device report from IDC, Android dominates the market share in global smartphone shipments at more than 80 per cent. Estimates by IDC suggest that Android smartphone shipments grew by 51.3 per cent between Q3 2012 and Q3 2013. 

     

    “The new AppWrapper.org platform is based on the business insight that developers are integrating multiple SDKs into their apps, which often takes valuable time and effort that could have been spent improving the core functionality of the app instead,” said Vserv.mobi director – Global Marketing and Product Binay Tiwari. “AppWrapper.org aims to resolve this situation by offering developers a powerful platform to rapidly integrate multiple SDKs without any coding effort. While the original AppWrapper only enabled the Vserv.mobi ad SDK, with the launch of the new platform, we’re leveraging our patent-pending technology to help developers integrate multiple partner SDKs, with the same innovative one click approach.”

     

    Since its initial launch three years ago, AppWrapper has won many awards, including MMA Smarties, mBillionth, Red Herring Top 100 Asia, Mobby’s and others for its innovative technology. The AppWrapper has powered app monetisation for more than 20,000 apps and games, including those from Disney India, Electronic Arts, Gameloft, Herocraft and other top developers. The app works seamlessly in conjunction with any existing monetisation tool already integrated into the app to boost the revenues and capabilities of the app, without the developer having to worry about compatibility. 

     

    In addition to monetisation, the new AppWrapper is designed to automatically integrate multiple services such as analytics, bug tracking and user engagement, significantly reducing development cycles.

  • Neo@Ogilvy enters into JV with Smile Group, appoints Sanjay Ramakrishnan as country head

    Neo@Ogilvy enters into JV with Smile Group, appoints Sanjay Ramakrishnan as country head

    MUMBAI:Ogilvy India has announced a joint venture between Neo@Ogilvy and Smile Group. The move will strengthen the agency’s performance marketing, e-commerce and mobile offerings. The JV will also set up a global media delivery hub to service Neo@Ogilvy’s global media operations.

    Not only this, Neo@Ogilvy India has also announced the appointment of Sanjay Ramakrishnan as country head.

    Talking on the JV, Ogilvy South Asia chairman and creative director Piyush Pandey said, “This JV is one more step ahead in our digital journey. Harish’s experience in Digital Media and eCommerce will help drive rapid growth in these areas. And Sanjay Ramakrishnan is a fantastic young business leader with the right skills to lead Neo@Ogilvy in India.”

    Elaborating on the vision of the partnership Smile Group chairman Harish Bahl said, “The JV will help offer world class services to local and global clients of Ogilvy and Neo respectively, using the expertise and experience of Smile in the areas of performance marketing, e-commerce and mobile.” Adding he said, “Sanjay, who will be the country head of Neo@Ogilvy India, brings on board a good blend of e-retail and performance marketing expertise both in internet & mobile and is best positioned to build a leadership position for Neo India around this business focus, which we believe are the future high growth areas for digital agencies.”

    Ramakrishnan has over 15 years experience across digital media, e-commerce, mobile, telecom and consumer technology. He moves in from Vizury where he was the GM for India, S.E. Asia and MENA; prior to this, he was SVP marketing at Myntra. He has also held senior marketing roles at Google, Intel, Geodesic and Worldspace.

    The aim is to recast Neo@Ogilvy as one of the most effective digital media companies in the country says Ramakrishnan

    OgilvyOne India president and country head Vikram Menon said, “We’re really excited with the JV with Smile Group. Strategically this fits perfectly into our plans to offer the best capability across digital to our clients. The Neo-Smile JV, with Sanjay at its helm, will do just that. He will ensure that Ogilvy is able to deliver the best across digital media, performance marketing, e-commerce and mobile.”

    While OgilvyOne drives all digital strategy and creative services for clients in India, Neo@Ogilvy’s specific focus is on digital media, performance marketing, e-commerce and mobile marketing. Neo@Ogilvy’s client roster in India includes IBM, Diageo, British Airways, The Economist and The Which Group, among others.

    On his appointment, Ramakrishnan said, “I am excited to be part of Ogilvy and drive this JV with the Smile Group. The aim is to recast Neo@Ogilvy as one of the most effective digital media companies in the country with a clear focus on performance marketing, mobile and e-commerce. I have been a marketer all my life and I believe there is a gap in the way paid digital media is intergrated with traditional marketing and communication.The goal is to change that through Neo@Ogilvy. End-to-end e-commerce solution is another unique offering that this JV brings to the table and I’m keen to use the skills I have to drive it.”

  • TBWAIndia names R. Venkatraman “Venky” as creative director

    TBWAIndia names R. Venkatraman “Venky” as creative director

    MUMBAI: TBWA India has got on board R. Venkatraman (Venky) as creative director. In his new position, Venky will join the creative team in Mumbai, reporting to TBWA India chief creative officer Parixit Bhattacharya.

    With eight years experience in advertising, Venky has worked at Grey Worldwide, Creativeland Asia and BBH India. His brand experience includes Appy Fizz, Mango Frooti, LMN, Johnnie Walker, Red Bull, Kinetic Honda, Café Coffee Day, Gili Jewellery, Movies Now, Vaseline Men and Google.

    In recent years, Venky’s work was shortlisted at Cannes Lions and has won metal at ADFEST, Spikes Asia and GOAFEST. He also holds the accolade of Business World voting him as one of the ‘Top 5 Young Advertising Professionals’ in India.

    Commenting on the appointment, Bhattacharya said, “Venky has a stellar work ethic and a very matured head on his young shoulders. I am hoping that our rich roster of clients will nourish him with new opportunities to create an enviable body of work. Needless to say, by having him around, the laughter index of the agency will rise significantly too.”

    “My quest for work-type fun brings me to TBWA and I am very, very excited to be here,” Venky added. “Now it’s all about turning that excitement into work that will make a difference to the brands we nurture here.”

  • PMR appoints Anil Goyal as VP-outdoors

    PMR appoints Anil Goyal as VP-outdoors

    MUMBAI: Prime Market Reach (PMR) has appointed Anil Goyal as VP outdoors for its OOH (Out Of Home) operations. Goyal will be based in Mumbai and will handle PMR’s national operations.

    “Anil Goyal brings onboard keen understanding of the entire gamut of the OOH media business as a planner and strategist. We understand that his cross-functional skills will be an asset to PMR,” said PMR business head Amit Goyal.

    With outdoor media becoming an important part of client’s media plan, Anil Goyal is expected to expand business footprint and utilise PMR client and vendor relationships to the fullest.

    PMR helps implement campaigns at Delhi Hythros, with 200 street display units across South and Central Delhi.  These units provide eyelevel and uncluttered exposure to prominent locations near commercial, residential and administrative areas in form of well maintained and aesthetically designed display structures.

  • Zee’s Ditto TV makes free launch in the UK

    Zee’s Ditto TV makes free launch in the UK

    MUMBAI: The Zee Network is pretty bullish about its Ditto TV app. It has now launched it at no cost to SkyZee subscribers in the UK and also to those on other TV platforms and without a TV subscription. Phone and tablet users can download the app onto their devices and watch 17 channels at absolutely no cost, after verifying their account through a valid phone number.

     

    The app is available across all platforms, including iOS, Android and Blackberry, and there are a range of payment options to choose from, from a full monthly package to top ups via the embedded Top – up Wallet, which means subscribers can simply pay as they go.

     

    Says Zee Europe CEO Neeraj Dhingra: “Zee has been the pioneer and innovator in the media industry and with DittoTV we have demonstrated again that we are moving ahead with the times by launching a new digital platform for distribution of content across Europe. Apart from our focus on the linear channels on Sky and other platforms in UK and Europe, with DittoTV we aim to address a new segment of mobile users and make our channels easily accessible on the go. We are already seeing uplift in online subscriptions as a result.”

     

    The network has signed up Ankita Lokhande aka Archana of its most popular show Pavita Rsihta to push the app to Britasians in the UK. .The app is already proving popular with over 65,000 likes on Facebook and 7,000 app downloads to date.