Category: Media and Advertising

Hakuhodo Percept creates TVC to launch Line’s new brand ambassador Katrina Kaif

MUMBAI: Hakuhodo Percept has created a TVC featuring Katrina Kaif- the new brand ambassador for social messaging app ‘Line’. The TVC showcases Katrina talking to a host of people over the phone with a catchy soundtrack which says ‘Wish one, wish all – Line free call’.

Released this festive season, the TVC reiterates its ‘free calls’ proposition. The list of people she calls from her phone book includes her best friend, neighbour, aunt, school teacher, gym instructor, the director she wants to work with, and more. The film ends with a super that reads, “These festivals, wish all – Line free calls.”

Hakuhodo Percept managing director Taro Muto said, “During the festive season, wishing your loved ones is a very important part of the celebrations. Line with its free call service lets people wish one and all. They no longer have to think whom to wish and whom not to.”

“The idea was to drive home a simple proposition that you can wish all your loved ones with ‘Line’ free call, but do it in a way that people remember and register it. So we decided to literally show the phonebook of our country’s biggest actress in a way that’s never been done before. This festive season, the ad will make the world repeat – Wish one and all, with Line free call,” Hakuhodo Percept executive creative director Sabuj Sen Gupta.

Line Corporation executive, chief strategy and marketing officer Jun Masuda on Katrina’s appointment said, “Katrina is a youth icon and we wanted a person with that kind of an image. Katrina is perfect for this role.”

October 31, 2013
Get set for a chocolaty treat with Arjun Rampal

MUMBAI: Won’t it be more fun if a chocolaty, dark handsome hunk is representing the chocolate you are having? Seems the dreams of many chocolate bingers are turning true!

Actor Arjun Rampal, who has wowed his fans with his roles in blockbusters like Om Shanti Om, Rock On, Rajneeti and many more, is all set to don a “chocolate hero” avatar for a new campaign by Mars Inc – one of the leading chocolate makers of the world.

The actor has been loved by all, not just for his movies but also for his hot-bod. He has maintained a position in the industry on the basis of his consistent performances that have earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards. With a personality that celebrates style and panache, Arjun is a perfect match for the new Mars India campaign. The cherry on the cake is that Arjun is known for is love for chocolates.

Talking about signing on Arjun for the new campaign, Mars International India Marketing Director Raghav Rekhi, said, “We are thrilled to have Arjun on board. He is a perfect fit for our new brand campaign as he has terrific mass appeal and strikingly brings alive the attributes that we are looking for our new launch, being passionate, sophisticated, and playful. We are confident that this association will drive visibility for the brand.”

On his part, Arjun was very clear that he only partners/endorses brands that he is satisfied with. “I believe in partnering with brands that I use and appreciate. Mars Inc is a reputed international chocolate manufacturer that makes and sells my favourite chocolates. This is the first time that I have shot for a campaign in which I play a character that is ‘me’- an actor. I am thrilled to be a part of one of the biggest Mars Inc launch campaigns in India and am looking forward to a great journey ahead,” he said.

October 31, 2013
Ad cap petitions adjourned till 11 November

NEW DELHI: The case challenging the adcap regulations sought to be implemented on television channels was today adjourned to 11 November by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.

TDSAT Chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh also rejected the interventions filed by Zee, Star and Viacom18, with the Tribunal asking them to file separate applications.

The News Broadcasters Association had moved TDSAT challenging the constitutional validity of the regulations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India enforcing the ad cap.

Several other broadcasters – mostly general entertainment channels – had later moved TDSAT, but the Tribunal had in 30 August accepted the argument by NBA that the cases of the general entertainment channels could not be clubbed with the petition of NBA.

The news channels are seeking relief from the 10+2 ad cap regulation prescribed by TRAI.

Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi on behalf of the NBA sought time as the pleadings were not ready.

Some regional channels from Kerala also wanted to intervene as petitioners, but TDSAT said their matter would be heard after the main hearing.

Channels that sought to move to the court today included 9X, B4U, TV Vision and Pioneer Channel Factory of Mumbai, Sun TV Network of Chennai, E24 Glamour, Polimer Media, Reliance Big Network, Eenadu TV, Sarthak Entertainment and Raj TV.

Later, some general entertainment channels including music channels had also approached TDSAT in various petitions and the Tribunal had decided to hear these matters after the NBA matter.

Counsel for TRAI said that an anomalous situation had been created with some channels having accepted the adcap with effect from 1 October. It was therefore requested that the matter be resolved once for all.

Meanwhile, TRAI had been forbidden on 30 August from taking any ‘coercive action’ against news channels who are not abiding by the agreement relating to advertisement time on news channels.

The Tribunal also said that while the news channels will maintain weekly records of the advertising time per hour on a weekly basis, they will not be required to submit this to the regulator as being done at present and will only submit these to TDSAT at the hearing of the case.

Counsel for the NBA A J Bhambani had said on 30 August that a delegation of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation had submitted a formula to the regulator but that did not preclude the broadcasters from challenging the validity of the Regulations. He also said that this was only a compromise reached between the broadcasters and the regulator and could not form the basis of penal action since it was not a regulation or legal provision. He had added that there were many members who were common to both the IBF and the NBA, and therefore the IBF had submitted a ‘proposal’ on 29 May this year, which the TRAI accepted. But this could not be construed as a regulation.

Even otherwise, he argued that TRAI was only empowered by its own Act to make ‘recommendations’ on issues like advertisements and not bring about or enforce regulations and resort to prosecution.

When the law was invoked by the Authority in May 2012, it was disputed by television broadcasters which had also challenged the jurisdiction of TRAI in this regard before the Tribunal.

October 30, 2013
Ogilvy Mumbai positions IDBI Bank as ‘Bank aisa dost jaisa’

MUMBAI: After a successful run of the elephant campaign, IDBI Bank and Ogilvy have decided to refresh the communication.

While friendship was always the ultimate message in all their previous work, it was time to say it differently. Elaborating on the association, Ogilvy & Mather executive chairman and creative director, south Asia Piyush Pandey said, “Our initial thrust for IDBI Bank a few years ago had been to tell the world that just because we are a big nation-building bank, does not mean that we are not approachable to address your smallest need. And now when we look at the next step in the evolution of the communication, what better than the universal emotion of childhood friendships to symbolise the role that IDBI Bank plays in its customers’ and partners’ lives.”

On the campaign, O&M NCD Abhijit Avasthi said, “When we started work on the new campaign of IDBI Bank, we were very clear that we are changing the campaign and not the values that the Bank stands for. The idea we came up with does exactly this. In an innocent and charming way we are telling people ‘What if a bank would do what a friend would do’. When you say something like this, you really don’t need to say much more.”

The challenge before the creative agency was to craft the dialogues for each one of them. O&M group creative director Harshad Rajadhyakasha explained, “We wanted moments from a child’s world, because anything else would have been unfair to the campaign and fake. In one film a kid says, “One day my pant tore in school and my friend walked behind me all day to cover me.” It had to be as honest and as silly as that.”

October 30, 2013
Rahul Mathew quits McCann

MUMBAI: Rahul Mathew, the executive creative director at McCann Erickson has put in his papers.

Speaking about his association with the company, Mathew says, “McCann is more than just another agency for me. My two stints here account for eight years of my advertising career. It has also helped me shape a lot of my craft. It has not been an easy move to make. It became even more difficult because of the fact that I will also have to leave behind a great art partner in Akshay Kapnadak.”

McCann is more than just another agency for me, says Rahul Mathew

Mathew has been in the advertising industry for about 15 years. He has been a part of many award winning campaigns that have received acclaim at both domestic and international levels. At McCann, he along with his team has won three Cannes Lions, four One Show pencils, over a dozen Adfest metals and many metals and honours at International award shows.

“But the pride of place on the very crowded mantelpiece belongs to the Grand Prix that the Mumbai office won at the recently concluded Spikes. Even at Goafest 2013, McCann Mumbai was one of the most awarded offices, accounting for a lion’s share of McCann’s metals including a Grand Prix. We also tasted similar success at effectiveness awards, both nationally and internationally,” he says proudly.

Talking about his work at the agency, he adds, “We’ve had great fun creating work on brands like Parachute, ACC, Pears, Western Union and many others. And have managed to fill the creative pool with some rare talent. And thus, there is reassurance that I’m leaving after making a positive impact at the place. And that I leave it in a good place.”

Prior to joining McCann, Mathew was with Rediffusion, Young & Rubicam, Ogilvy (Healthcare), Leo Burnett, JWT, Enterprise Nexus. He has been ranked among the top five creative professionals in India in 2009 by Campaign Brief Asia and was ranked the 8th most awarded copywriter in Asia (as per Haymarket Publications and Campaign Asia) in 2012.

Rahul finds the building and reinventing process a lot more exciting and challenging. And thus, he will look for an opportunity that allows him to do that all over again.

October 30, 2013
Ogilvy Mumbai positions IDBI Bank as Bank aisa dost jaisa

MUMBAI: After a successful run of the elephant campaign, IDBI Bank and Ogilvy have decided to refresh the communication.

While friendship was always the ultimate message in all their previous work, it was time to say it differently. Elaborating on the association, Ogilvy & Mather executive chairman and creative director, south Asia Piyush Pandey said, “Our initial thrust for IDBI Bank a few years ago had been to tell the world that just because we are a big nation-building bank, does not mean that we are not approachable to address your smallest need. And now when we look at the next step in the evolution of the communication, what better than the universal emotion of childhood friendships to symbolise the role that IDBI Bank plays in its customers’ and partners’ lives.”

On the campaign, O&M NCD Abhijit Avasthi said, “When we started work on the new campaign of IDBI Bank, we were very clear that we are changing the campaign and not the values that the Bank stands for. The idea we came up with does exactly this. In an innocent and charming way we are telling people ‘What if a bank would do what a friend would do’. When you say something like this, you really don’t need to say much more.”

The challenge before the creative agency was to craft the dialogues for each one of them. O&M group creative director Harshad Rajadhyakasha explained, “We wanted moments from a child’s world, because anything else would have been unfair to the campaign and fake. In one film a kid says, “One day my pant tore in school and my friend walked behind me all day to cover me.” It had to be as honest and as silly as that.”

The campaign will see four films wherein in each one there are two kids and one kid is telling people why the other one is his or her friend. Curious’ Vivek kakkad has directed the films.

October 29, 2013
Magic Square Entertainment has signed Chennai Rhinos’ deal for CCL

MUMBAI: Magic Square Entertainment has bagged the Chennai Rhinos marketing deal for Celebrity Cricket League (CCL).

Chennai Rhinos CEO Uday Sinh Wala said, “Magic Square Entertainment, we felt, was the best and most professional set-up to partner with us and to build the Chennai Rhinos franchise on a long-term basis.”

The deal is pegged at around Rs 50 million.

Magic Square Entertainment director and CEO Vijay Vishwanath in response said, “We are overwhelmed to sign up Chennai Rhinos for Celebrity Cricket League Season 4. We are fully geared up to market Chennai Rhinos Season 4. This season looks even brighter.”

On the marketing plans for this activity, Vjay Vishwanath added, “We have rights to exploit all forms of branding options. Our expertise is in marketing and sales on various events and shows. Our team has drawn up extensive plans of exposure for clients on all the segments, viz stadia, merchandising, and all kinds of BTL activity, covering a wide spectrum and gamut of activities.”

“I am sure this will be a great opportunity for the advertisers to showcase their brands. CCL is one of the most valuable entertainment properties with films stars adding a lot of fizz, entertainment value and brand recall,” Vishwanath added.

The Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) is a non-professional men’s cricket league in India, contested by eight teams consisting of film actors from eight major regional film industries of Indian cinema.

Chennai Rhinos is the most successful team in the CCL having won the tournament twice.

October 29, 2013
Arvind Sharma steps down from Leo Burnett, Saurabh Varma to take charge

MUMBAI: Tom Bernardin, Chairman and CEO, Leo Burnett Worldwide announced today the new leadership of the India operations. Chairman and CEO of Indian subcontinent Arvind Sharma will be leaving the agency to pursue other business interests outside the industry after a successful stint of 30 years.

The currently regional chief strategy officer of Leo Burnett Asia Pacific Saurabh Varma has now been appointed as the CEO Leo Burnett Group India.

I would like to start something totally new, says Sharma after his 30 years of successful stint with Leo Burnett

The appointment will be effective from 1November, 2013. In his new role as CEO for the India operations across Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore, Varma will report directly to Leo Burnett Asia Pacific President Jarek Ziebinski.

As chief strategy officer of Leo Burnett Asia Pacific, Varma oversees all heads of strategy and planning directors in the region. His role also sees him playing a key role in the management of regional and global accounts. A post graduate in Communications from Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad (MICA), Varma has 16 years of experience in the business. He has spent seven years with Leo Burnett based at Singapore. Some of the brands he has worked on include Indian Oil, Lakme (Unilever), Vicks (P&G), NIVEA, Fosters, Philips, HP, Blackberry, Samsung, Friesland Campina Asia Pacific (Dutch Lady/ Foremost/ Frisian Flag), MCYS and UOB Bank.

Varma has spent the first nine years of his career in advertising in India. He began his career with DDB India and within four years of being in the business, he was made head of account management at TBWA India. In the last three years, Varma has won more than 50 awards including the Effie Gold, the Appies Gold, the Grand Prix for Direct Marketing, the most effective media campaign at Hall of Fame, 2 Gold Lions at Cannes, the Grand Prix at the ADFEST, the Viewers’ Choice Award (Mediacorp) and many more. In 2010, Varma was awarded the ‘Strategic Planner of the Year’ at the Hall of Fame Awards.

His strength lies in being able to bring life into a strategic process, unearthing societal contexts and creating out of the box briefs.

Commenting on his new role, Varma said, “India is home to me. This new role is coming full circle to where it all began. Over the years, I have always kept a keen eye on the developments in India and in some ways, I felt like I have never left. I look forward to coming back with a fresh perspective gained from my time away and bring the best learnings of Leo Burnett network to India. Being a part of the regional team for Asia Pacific has given me a unique perspective and experience of diverse markets across the region and I look forward to bringing this understanding to my new role. Together with the management team, most of whom I already know and have the privilege of working with, we will be focused on driving a positive change for the agency to take it to the next level.”

Varma’s strength lies in being able to bring life into a strategic process, unearthing societal contexts and creating out of the box briefs

Bernardin, who is in Mumbai today with the regional management team for the announcement said, “We would like to take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude and appreciation to Arvind Sharma. He has worked tirelessly over the past 30 years to build Leo Burnett into one of India’s leading creative agencies and laid down a solid foundation for the agency to progress to the next level. During his tenure, Arvind built a stellar client base that includes blue chip multinational and local clients and nurtured some of the brightest stars within the Indian advertising industry today. Though he remains available for his advice and counsel, we bid farewell to Arvind today, in his official capacity, with our very best wishes and as a dear friend.”

Ziebinski added, “I’d like to thank Arvind for his contribution to our success and close collaboration over the past four years since I arrived in the region. I wish Arvind nothing but the best for his new future.”

While bidding adieu, Sharma had some fond memories, as he said, “I had a very long and fruitful run as the leader of Leo Burnett in India Subcontinent. As I approached the company-defined age of 58, I would like to start something totally new. I look back at my 30 years at the agency and 21 years of leading it with a great deal of satisfaction.”

The agency was awarded Global Agency of the Year by Leo Burnett Worldwide for 2003 and 2008. In partnerships with its clients, the agency has been recognised creatively across leading award shows globally including Cannes, Clios, D&AD, One Show and London International Awards. Work produced by Leo Burnett India has also run in multiple countries worldwide. Last year, the agency successfully completed the acquisition of digital agency, Indigo Consulting and integrated it into the Leo Burnett Group.

Continued Bernardin, “We are fortunate to have a strong management team on ground in India and equally fortunate in having the bench strength in the region in naming Saurabh to this role. Saurabh’s talent and track record is well-recognised within the network. His combined experience and knowledge of having worked across creative, media and digital agencies is invaluable as we look to elevate the agency to its next stage of development in India, a key market for the network globally. He will have the full support of the global and regional management in his new role.”

October 28, 2013
Mobil 1 installation at Terminal 3 and innovative branding at DND toll plaza

NEW DELHI: Mobil 1 is bringing Formula 1 enthusiasts closer to the F1 action with larger-than-life branding at Terminal 3 (T3) of the Delhi airport and the Delhi-Noida-Delhi toll plaza.

The marketing initiative leveraged on various platforms is a part of the company’s “Brings You Closer To The Action” campaign. With innovative installations at T3, posters, hoardings, wall paintings at the DND toll and online branding accompanied with radio advertising, Mobil 1 is going all out to promote its association with Motorsports in India.

The unique branding at T3 displays a life-size model of an F1 car and a mammoth cut-out of a Mobil 1 engine oil can, mounted in-front of the gantry creatively showcasing Mobil 1’s association with Formula 1. The site is back-lit and illuminated 24 hours. At the DND toll plaza, commuters and passengers cannot miss the eye-catching image of Mobil 1 and Jenson Button.

“Mobil 1 is committed to Motorsports and our aim is to ensure maximum visibility during this year’s F1 and thus we have used multiple platforms of branding. The out of home (OOH) advertising further re-instates our commitment to bring the F1 experience closer to enthusiast. The campaign aims to engage F1 fans, auto experts and I am especially pleased with some of the unique messaging on radio from Jenson Button and other auto experts. Delhites and NCR residents can expect more exciting F1 outdoor campaigns in the time to come.” said ExxonMobil Lubricants India GM – Marketing Ravi Sundar.

ExxonMobil has been involved in Formula 1 Grand Prix racing for over three decades, supplying race fuels and high specification lubricants showcasing its position as a technology leader in the development of advanced lubricants. Mobil 1, ExxonMobil’s premium flagship brand, is recognised as being one of the most technically superior automotive products in the world.

October 28, 2013
Huawei India to launch $ 10 million campaign in Jan 2014

BENGALURU: Huawei India plans to launch a multi-media campaign come January 2014, revealed Huawei India Devices sources. To that extent the company is evaluating offers from advertising agencies that have submitted offers.

“We’ll be taking a decision in about a week’s time about the agency that will create the campaign,” revealed the sources. “The $ 6-10 million campaign will cover corporate branding as well as products, devices,” added the source. Huawei plans to use television, outdoor, print and digital for its mass media communications.

The company is planning a three phase campaign revealed the source further. Initially, it’ll be about brand building over the first six months, followed by a sustainability campaign over the next six months, culminating with a leadership campaign.

Huawei officials were in Bengaluru late last week for the India launch of what the company claims is the thinnest mobile at 6.18 mm in the world – the Huawei Ascend P6. The P6 is being touted as the current flagship smartphone in India by the company, and will feature in lot of the company’s communications. Earlier, the phone model has its global launch in the fashion capital of the world – London on 6.18 (18 June, 2013). Huawei plans to launch other phone devices as well as products including tablets in India.

Huawei Devices India president Victor Shanxin said, “The Ascend P6 has already received a tremendous response from global consumers over the last few months, offering unsurpassed technology with a design that is simply stunning.”

Victor revealed that Huawei had received orders totaling five million units of the P6 from across the geographies where it had been launched and had completed supplies of around three million P6 handsets so far since the launch on 18 June.

October 28, 2013