ITV

Category: MAM

  • Starcom appoints Rajendra Dwivedi as VP

    Starcom appoints Rajendra Dwivedi as VP

    MUMBAI: Starcom Worldwide has appointed of Rajendra Dwivedi as vice president. He takes charge on 25 August and will lead Starcom Worldwide, Mumbai.

    Dwivedi will report to Starcom MediaVest Group India CEO Mallikarjunadas CR.

    Along with the other branch heads of Starcom Worldwide and MediaVest Worldwide as well as the heads for Insights & Research, Digital and Business Impact functions, Dwivedi will be part of the National Leadership Team at Starcom MediaVest Group India.
     
    Dwivedi comes with an experience of over a decade in media, having worked at Mudra, Universal McCann and Group M. His last assignment was as general manager, Maxus Mumbai. He has led large teams managing significant businesses of leading brands in his previous stints.
     
    Says Mallikarjunadas CR, “Rajendra has proven himself as a reliable leader with a robust background in business development and client relationship management. We are sure he will continue his successful run with us.”

  • Padmanabhan joins Neo Cricket as national ad sales head

    Padmanabhan joins Neo Cricket as national ad sales head

    MUMBAI: Manoj Padmanabhan has joined Neo Sports broadcasting as Neo Cricket national head of ad sales.

    Padmanabhan will report to Neo Sports Broadcasting executive VP – network sales Raju Udupa.

    He moves in from Somerset Entertainment Ventures (Singapore), where he was senior sales advisor for nearly 10 months. During his stint there, he was instrumental in setting up and creating a business model for the Sri Lanka Premier League.

    Padmanabhan said,”Neo is in an interesting growth phase. With the best cricket content for the next few years, I look forward to creating value for the advertisers and maximising revenue for the organisation.”

    Before Somerset, Padmanabhan was working at Bloomberg UTV as VP sales for a period of 10 months. Prior to that, he worked at Ten Sports for a period of over four years as director of ad sales.

    Udupa added,”We have an action packed season lined up and I am glad to have Manoj on board. He is known for his sharp acumen and sales expertise and I am confident of Neo achieving greater heights.”
     
     

  • Ignite Mudra bags creative mandate of Phoenix Marketcity

    MUMBAI: Ignite Mudra has bagged the creative mandate of an upcoming mall in Mumbai, Phoenix Marketcity. The agency will handle all conventional media communications for the client.


    The account size is pegged at Rs 100 million and will be handled out of Mumbai.
     
    Earlier JWT was handling the mandate. Nearly 17 agencies participated in the pitch process.


    Ignite Mudra head Sudarshan Banerjee has said that they have already started working for the client.
     
    “The campaigns will primarily encompass outdoor and print and will be initially done only in Mumbai, gradually, we might also move into TV and radio”, Banerjee added.


    If things go well, the agency might also corner the creative businesses of Phoenix Marketcity’s other upcoming branches in Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata.
     

  • Railways approach Salman Khan to be its brand Ambassador

    Railways approach Salman Khan to be its brand Ambassador

    MUMBAI: The Indian Railways has reportedly approached Salman Khan to be their brand ambassador.

    It is said that the Railway offer comes from the belief that the Indian Railways is “used as a mode of transport by a very large number of population and as a star, Salman has a huge appeal among the masses. So it‘s a perfect brand fit.”

    Khan’s films like Tere Naam, Wanted, Dabangg have important scenes in trains or railway platforms. In his latest film Bodyguard, the actor will be seen bashing up villains against the backdrop of the railway station.

    If Khan accepts the railway offer, he‘ll be one of the many superstars endorsing national campaigns. Aamir Khan is the face of Indian tourism, Shah Rukh Khan endorses the Mumbai police website while Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador of Gujarat.
     

  • Sahara One’s ad rate hike comes amid signs of slowdown

    Sahara One’s ad rate hike comes amid signs of slowdown

    MUMBAI: Sahara One, the Hindi general entertainment channel from the Sahara One Media and Entertainment stable, has announced a 30 per cent ad rate hike effective 1 September.

    “The channel‘s consistent rise in GRPs and relative channel shares for the past couple of months powered by fresh programming initiatives and an aggressive distribution drive has placed it neck to neck with its closest competitor Star One,” Aidem Ventures said today.

    Sahara One‘s share is just 2.9 per cent in the Hindi general entertainment channel space with 36 GRPs (gross rating points), TAM data for the week ended 13 August shows.

    Aidem Ventures, which handles the ad sales of the channel, believes that a rate hike for the channel is due.

    “The channel has been consistently experimenting with its programming. The idea is to offer a healthy dose of drama, comedy, mythology, and fiction based shows to our viewers. The channel management has been proactively working towards presenting a wholesome family entertainment mix. New shows like Jai Jai Jai Bajrangbali and Kahani Chandrakanta Ki have been received very well by audiences attracting existing and lapsed advertisers,” said Aidem Ventures business head – Broadcast Media (Entertainment) Gunjan Rege Karkera.

    Sahara One recently launched a daily soap, Neem Neem Shahad Shahad, and is soon going to unveil their new slate of programmes.

    The rate hike announcement comes at a time when the industry is heading for a slowdown.

    “Sahara One will find it difficult to implement a 30 per cent rate hike. The fiscal first-quarter results of several media companies have indicated a slowdown,” said a senior media buying executive on condition of anonymity.

  • Percept Profile bags digital mandate for Saks and Karbonn

    MUMBAI: Percept Profile, which recently launched its Social Media Division, has bagged the digital mandate for two major brands, Karbonn Mobiles and UK‘s leading hair and beauty salon Saks Hair and Beauty.


    Percept Profile will conceptualise, strategise and manage all official social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Blogs for Karbonn mobiles and Saks hair and beauty salon. The company will also be managing their online reputation.


    Percept Profile COO Rahat Beri said, “It‘s a pleasure to be associated with Karbonn Mobiles and Saks Hair and Beauty. With our utmost dedication and research based services we plan to make these brands the talk of the town. Our newly launched Social Media Division will help create greater awareness and equity for the brand.we intend to provide strategic solutions to our new clients along with 360-degree communication across spectrum to help it reach the pinnacle.”


    Karbonn Mobiles, a joint venture between Delhi-based Jaina Group and Bangalore-based UTL Group, is a mobile phone brand, while Saks Hair and Beauty is planning to enter the Indian market in September 2011. Saks is officially acknowledged as the UK‘s Top Training provider and beauty therapists and is renowned for style and excellence.


    MD Pradeep Jain said, “It‘s a pleasure to be associated with Percept Profile considering the milestones they have achieved in the past. They have demonstrated deep understanding of consumer insights and their client requirements leading the path towards symbiotic growth.”


    Saks Hair & Beauty CEO Burzin Daver added, “We are excited to work with Percept Profile as our PR and social medial strategists in taking Saks Hair & Beauty India to our consumers. Percept Profile has designed our launch campaign with utmost care and creative innovations that will ensure us visibility amongst our target audiences.”

  • Allianz is title sponsor of Penang Bridge International Marathon

    Allianz is title sponsor of Penang Bridge International Marathon

    MUMBAI: In its 27th edition, the Penang Bridge International Marathon will see its first ever Title Sponsor with Allianz Malaysia.

    A memorandum of understanding was signed between the organising committee and insurance company Allianz. The one-year partnership was brokered by sports marketing company Total Sports Asia.

    An estimated 30,000 local and international marathon enthusiasts will be flooding Malaysia‘s longest and busiest Penang Bridge this year on 20 November.

    Since the inauguration of the Penang Bridge in 1985, the annual Penang Bridge International Marathon has become Penang‘s signature event which brings runners from all over the world, be it amateur or professional to the “Pearl of the Orient”.

    Allianz Malaysia CEO Jens Reisch commented, “We will be launching campaigns before and during the event to encourage people from all walks of the country to participate in a more active lifestyle.”

    Total Sports Asia Group CEO Marcus Luer said, “The partnership between Allianz and the Penang Bridge International Marathon is a perfect match. Both are aiming to create a healthier, better Malaysia. We will work with Allianz to create innovative sponsorship activation concepts to successfully leverage their title sponsorship and connect with their target group.”

  • Shankar bids adieu to Ignitee

    MUMBAI: Ignitee Digital Solutions chief operating officer Shankar B has moved out of the agency.


    Shankar had joined the digital solutions provider in December 2009 as national business director. In May 2005 he was promoted as the chief operating officer.


    Shankar has 18 years of experience in the field of media sales that includes eight years in television. He began his career in 1993 with Getit Yellow Pages and launched the Hyderabad Telephone directory.


    His experience also includes working with print brands like the Indian Express Group and Hindi newspaper, Navbharat.


    He began his television career in 1998 with Raj TV where he spent five years. He then moved to Turner International India as director — advertising sales to handle Cartoon Network, Pogo, CNN, Zee MGM and Zee English.

  • WPP Digital to acquire Rockfish Interactive

    WPP Digital to acquire Rockfish Interactive

    MUMBAI: WPP Digital, the digital arm of WPP, is acquiring Rockfish Interactive, one of the fastest growing digital marketing agencies in the United States.

    “Rockfish is a fantastic addition to the WPP Digital family,”WPP Digital CEO Mark Read said. “Kenny Tomlin (Rockfish CEO) and his team have built a smart company that understands how technology is changing communications and business. Its work demonstrates how it can apply this to drive innovation for clients. We‘re delighted that under Kenny‘s leadership we will be continuing to develop the Rockfish brand and helping the team to maintain the rapid growth they have shown since they started in 2006.”

    This acquisition continues WPP‘s strategy of investing in fast growing sectors and markets and further strengthens its capabilities in the digital marketing sector. The transaction, however, is subject to regulatory nod and the approval of Rockfish‘s shareholders.

    Rogers, Arkansas (AR) -headquartered Rockfish has offices in Little Rock, AR, Dallas and Cincinnati and boasts a client list that includes marketers like Walmart, Sam‘s Club, Cisco, Procter & Gamble, United Health, EA Sports and Tyson Foods.

    Tomlin added, “The rapid growth of Rockfish into one of the world‘s foremost digital innovation companies most appropriately aligns with WPP and their vision for our continued success. We believe that our best days are still in front of us and consider this an important next step in the evolution of Rockfish.”

    Rockfish was founded in 2006 and employs 150 people. It provides clients with strategic consulting, technology, mobile, design and digital marketing services. It was named “Small Agency of the Year”by Advertising Age magazine in 2009 and was third on their “Agency A-List” in 2010. 

    OMMA magazine, a publication devoted to coverage of online media and marketing, recognised Rockfish as its “Best Web Design and Development”agency of the year in 2010.

  • ESS targets Rs 1 bn from Champions League Twenty20

    ESS targets Rs 1 bn from Champions League Twenty20

    MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has set itself a revenue target of Rs 1 billion from airtime and on-ground advertisers for the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tourney.

    Nokia, which replaced Airtel as the title sponsor, will be spending Rs 1 billion over four years, according to market sources. Airtel had stitched a five-year deal for Rs 1.7 billion.

    ESS has signed up Toshiba as a sponsor for Rs 70 million, out of which Rs 42.5 million is for airtime commercials on the channel and the rest is for on-ground, sources add.

    ESS is looking for two co-presenting and six associate airtime sponsors for the cricket event that takes place from 23 September-9 October. The company also wants to rope in six associate on-ground sponsors.

    A company official said on condition of anonymity that ESS had earned a revenue of Rs 900 million from the last edition. He, however, did not give the split between on-air and on-ground revenues.

    According to Indiantelevision.com estimates, ESS can earn Rs 550 million from airtime commercials and Rs 350 million from on-ground sponsors.

    Madison Media Group CEO Punitha Arumugam said that two factors work in favour of this year‘s event. “It is happening just before the festive season. Also, the timings will be good as it is taking place in India. However, whether it generates the required buzz and talk is something that remains to be seen. Besides, India‘s poor performance against England could have its impact on viewership for the tournament.”

    The previous two editions disappointed in TV audience ratings, but ESS has made serious efforts to promote the property. While Amitabh Bachchan was the brand ambassador for the event last year, this time ESS has roped in Shah Rukh Khan.