ITV

Category: MAM

  • Pune Warriors ropes in TVS as team sponsor

    Pune Warriors ropes in TVS as team sponsor

    MUMBAI:New IPL entrant Pune Warriors received a shot in the arm with India‘s third largest two wheeler manufacturer, TVS Motor Company, leading as team sponsors.

    The deal was stitched together by Creatigies Communications.

    “In the recent past, TVS Motor Company has had successful associations with the game of cricket and when Creatigies presented us with this opportunity, we felt that it was a great platform to partner and support a new team like Pune Warriors India, as both of us are go-getters and are passionate about what we do,” said TVS Motor Company President – Marketing .H S Goindi.

    Sahara Adventure Sports director Abhijit Sarkar added: “TVS has been a home grown successful brand and we at Pune Warriors India are really thrilled with having such a brand as our Lead Sponsor. The values shared by both are similar, youthful, energetic and hungry for success”.

    The Pune Warriors India is in its first season with the DLF IPL, and is led by the World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh.

    “It is wonderful to see both TVS and Pune Warriors India finalise this partnership, as both valued the opportunity each presented,” said Creatigies Communications managing director Navroze D. Dhondy. “It‘s always a win-win for both partners when each finds synergy in the other. Both Pune Warriors India and TVS are looking at leveraging this partnership and maximising benefits for the respective brands.”

    Pune Warriors India, which won its first match, plays all its home matches this season at the Dr D Y Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai.

  • TMS to sell airtime for IPL’s broadcast on ITV

    TMS to sell airtime for IPL’s broadcast on ITV

    MUMBAI:Targeted Marketing Solutions (TMS) has acquired the rights to sell airtime and sponsorship of ITV‘s coverage of the IPL in the UK.

    With India winning the World Cup and a huge following for the game amongst the South Asians in UK, ITV has decided to market the appeal of IPL to that audience. ITV has partnered with TMS (Targeted Marketing Solutions) Ltd to penetrate into this local market.

    Recently, ITV secured a new four year deal with Nimbus Communications for the UK broadcast rights for Indian Premier League. Under the new agreement, live coverage of IPL matches will be broadcast free-to-air on ITV4 and simulcast live on ITV.com.

    The fourth season of the Indian Premier League kicked off on 8 April and runs over 74 matches to 28 May.

    ITV4 coverage will be produced by ITV Sport. Matt Smith presents live coverage of the opening match of season four. Joining Matt Smith throughout the tournament will be a host of big names from the world of cricket, including broadcaster and journalist Simon Hughes, current England Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood, and former England internationals Alec Stewart, Mark Butcher, Dimitri Mascarenhas and
    Vikram Solanki.

    ITV Group Account Director Leon Barnett said: “We are delighted to be working with TMS during the IPL cricket. TMS has an excellent knowledge of the South Asian advertiser market and we are confident that this association will open up new opportunities during the tournament.”

  • Ketchum acquires majority stake in Sampark PR

    Ketchum acquires majority stake in Sampark PR

    MUMBAI: Ketchum, Omnicom Group’s public relations unit, has acquired a majority stake in Indian communications agency, Sampark PR.

    Bela Rajan and NS Rajan, who founded Sampark PR in 1994, will continue to lead the India business as director and managing director and will retain a significant holding in the agency going forward.
     
    The leadership team of Bela Rajan, NS Rajan and managing partner Ajay Sharma will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the agency in India as Sampark PR will now operate as Ketchum Sampark.

    Sampark PR has offices across Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad and boasts a network of 80 associate offices that extend throughout the 25 states.

    “Today marks another important milestone for Ketchum as we continue to implement our global vision of providing consistently excellent communications service to our clients in the key business and communications markets where they operate,” said Ketchum senior partner and CEO Ray Kotcher. “Our investments over the past six months, in Russia, China and now India, are predicated on this strategy and fortify the foundation we have in place for our clients and our people.”
     
    The move will expand Ketchum’s presence in South Asia, complementing Ketchum’s network in the Asia-Pacific region which includes Greater China, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

    Ketchum had, last year, completed merger with Pleon to form Ketchum Pleon in Europe, creating a diversified communications consultancy in the region.

    In addition, it also established a joint venture in the Middle East and North Africa called Ketchum Raad Middle East and a new exclusive affiliate relationship in South Korea with local market leader Prain.
     
    Ketchum senior partner and CEO of international operations Jon Higgins said, “India occupies a powerful place in the world economy today. With Sampark, Ketchum has acquired one of the most respected PR businesses in India. Ketchum has worked closely with Sampark’s leadership team for some time now, and we have tremendous respect for their people and business. We are eager to put our enhanced partnership on a path of even greater possibility for our clients.”

    As part of the transaction, in addition to Rajans, the India operation’s board of directors will include Higgins, Ketchum senior partner, COO and CFO Robert Lorfink, and, Diversified Agency Services (a division of Omnicom Group) chairman and CEO Tom Harrison.

  • Wonderla Holdiays to up media spends, in expansion mode

    Wonderla Holdiays to up media spends, in expansion mode

    BANGALORE: Regional amusement park player Wonderla Holidays plans to increase its mass media communication spends to Rs 90 million this year, up from the Rs 50 million plus that it spent last year.

    Wonderla also announced two new amusement park projects in Hyderabad and Chennai by 2014 and its advent into the ‘three star’ category hospitality segment by way of resorts at the location of its amusement parks.

    The amusement park major has plans to invest around Rs 3 billion towards these new ventures. Wonderla also announced two new rides at its facility near Bangalore – The ‘Equinox’ ride and ‘Cine Magic 3D’.

    Currently, Wonderla has two amusement parks – one each near Bangalore and Kochi. It has been using the regional media – print, television, radio, OOH, and outdoor on a need basis.

    “We have been using two or three television spots per day on most of the regional channels in Karnataka and Kerala as and when the need arises. We typically spend around 10 per cent of our revenues on mass media communications, and based on our higher revenues we plan to spend around Rs 90 million this year. Some of these funds will go towards mass media communications for the new properties. Once we start operations in Hyderabad and Chennai, our media spends will also go up proportionately,” revealed Wonderla spokesperson.

    Besides within Bangalore and Kochi, the company also uses radio in the major towns around these cities. Typically, this would be 3 or 4 stations per town, and the spend would be anything between Rs.150,000 to Rs. 300,000 per station per year.

    Kerala-based Media Mate handles the creative work and part of the media buying, while Wonderla handles most of the media buying including television media buying directly.

  • Mudra Max appoints Anwesh Bose as branch head-North & East

    Mudra Max appoints Anwesh Bose as branch head-North & East

    MUMBAI:Mudra Max has appointed Anwesh Bose as its branch head for North and East.

    Prior to this appointment he was with the Dentsu India Group as chief growth officer-media.

    Said Mudra Connext EVP and country head Manas Mishra, “With Anwesh we have a seasoned media professional with experience in the Delhi market. His experience with the many national and international brands, the partnerships he has built with media and clients will all help us in further strengthening our operation in Delhi and Kolkata. We welcome him on board and wish him a long and successful inning.”

    Bose added, “I am delighted to be a part of the Mudra family and excited with the prospects of Mudra Max. Mudra Max is now at a very exciting stage in its journey and I look forward to being part of it at such a momentous time.”

    Bose has been in the media planning and buying industry for over 13 years. He started his career in 1998 and has worked with brands such as Yamaha, Honda, Suzlon, Canon, Grasim, Jaypee, Daikin, Raymond, Toyota, Panasonic, FedEx and Thomas Cook.

  • Gautam Talwar to replace Arvind Mohan as chief strategy officer for Rediffusion – Y & R

    Gautam Talwar to replace Arvind Mohan as chief strategy officer for Rediffusion – Y & R

    MUMBAI: Rediffusion Y&R has promoted Gautam Talwar as its chief strategy officer He takes over as head of the strategic planning function from Arvind Mohan who has decided to move on.

    Talwar joined Rediffusion – Y&R in April 2010 as executive vice president–new business development and special projects. He brings to the table more than 14 years of experience in the advertising and entertainment space.
     
    Rediffusion – Y&R president D. Rajappa said, “Gautam has been instrumental in leading the new business mandate at Rediffusion – Y&R. He is a Thinker and a New Media proponent who is well versed in brand strategy across different markets, with cross category experience amongst varied consumer segments.”

    On his new assignment Talwar said, “Rediffusion – Y&R has always been respected for its commitment to building great brands. With this opportunity I hope to leverage my strategic strengths and build further on this legacy by creating meaningful communication that will deliver on brand objectives and create campaigns that will work for our clients and the agency.”

    Prior to joining Rediffusion, Talwar was the creative and business head for Kaleidoscope Entertainment where he set up the mobile content division, developed original concepts and content for television and the mobile space. He was also the executive producer on two full length feature films.

    Starting his career with Grey Worldwide, Talwar then moved to Lowe in account management and strategic planning.
     
     
    At Grey, he worked on cross category brands like Johnson & Johnson, Cadbury Schweppes, Tropicana, Diageo, Emirates Airlines, Akai TV, TataTetley, Elf Lubricants and The Bombay Store.

    He spent three years with Lowe & Partners – Middle East and North Africa (Dubai) as the regional account director on the Unilever business. At Lowe Dubai, he worked on Fair & Lovely, Lifebuoy, OMO, Rexona & Axe, Lux Progress, Signal and was the strategic planner for the juice brand in MENA – Almarai juices.
     
    In his five years at Lowe Mumbai, he was the strategic planner on the skin and hair franchise for Unilever, planning on brands such as Fair& Lovely and Clinic franchise. He was also the planning force behind the very successful Balbir Pasha campaign for Population Services International.

     

  • The biggest revolution is happening in mobile apps

    The biggest revolution is happening in mobile apps

    VARCA: The biggest revolution is happening in mobile commerce, said Wunderman chairman and chief executive officer Daniel Morel.

    Adding leverage to his thought, he said: “In Kenya almost 20 per cent of financial transactions are through mobile commerce.”

    Morel was speaking in a session at Goafest 2011.

    Sharing his ideas about the development on the mobile front, Morel amplified the advantage of emerging devices and service applications in this field. He advised, “These mediums let near limitless real-time data be transferred. In the end, we are left with tons of data, which should be used.”

    Morel also presented his thoughts on the evolution of community marketing in the age of new media.

    To underline the effects and gravity of the current revolution, he shared an anecdote: “When I asked the Chinese premier about his opinion of the French Revolution, the Chinese leader replied, ‘It‘s too early to comment‘. Despite 250 years having lapsed since the landmark movement, the Chinese president is finding it too early; now I wonder–can we say the same about our current media revolution?”

    He titled the revolution of Marketing 3.0 as ‘The revolution that changed the world‘ and found this still at its infancy stage. The impact can be concluded in many years to come, he said.

    Morel affirmed that the main difference between the present and past revolutions is the speed at which they are becoming obsolete. As a marketer, one needs to be ready for change, adapt and evolve.

    Morel also said that the recent revolution in the Arab world was mainly fueled by the social media. He stated that in the current scenario the “virtual world is inseparable with the real world”. In fact, some people are more active in the virtual one, he pointed out.

     

  • Hegarty shows how the ad world has evolved from ‘Super Bowl to Super Social’








    VARCA: BBH worldwide creative director Sir John Hegarty‘s session at Goafest 2011 witnessed the highest turnout.


    In his presentation termed ‘Super Bowl to Super Social‘, Hegarty started off by declaring that a technological storm has hit the creative industry.


    “It would be incorrect to assume that this blizzard is destroying creativity. The problem is that creative people get nervous with technology. They should understand one fact: technology is an aid to creativity. Without an electric guitar, we‘d all be still singing folk songs,” he said.
     
    Throughout his talk, Hegarty continually presented various television commercials created by his agency.


    He smashed another common sentiment: digital change has given the consumer full control. Hegarty argued that customers were always in control. “They had the money, and didn‘t spend it on anything they didn‘t like. Now what has changed is that they can switch you off.”


    Hegarty also mentioned that fame has become a powerful force in the market place, “because it protects margins, resists competitive pressure and shortens the decision making process”. 
     
    Talking more about digital advantages, Hegarty said it “has huge potential as long as you have got the context right. Customers need to see value and return on their investments.”


    After showing an ad his agency created for Levi‘s hero brand, Hegarty presented an ad created for the launch of Xbox in Europe. The ad was responded by a round of applause by everyone in the seminar hall (all his ads received similar admiration). “The client was absolutely against the ad. We told him we‘d try making it viral, and if the TVC gets good response, we‘ll take it into broadcast. It got nearly 15 million hits around the world.”
     
     These two ads were followed by another five spots for Barclay‘s credit card, Barnardo‘s, Axe, Johnnie Walker and Yeo Valley.


    Talking about the Johnnie Walker ad Hegarty said, “The client had asked us to make a corporate video for journalists and other people who came to their office.” This ad with the brand tagline ‘Keep Walking‘ has received more than 100,000 views on YouTube and has become immensely popular.


    Hegarty proudly declared that after the Yeo Valley ad was shown in the first break of X Factor, it had out-tweeted the show for the next 14 hours. “So do something we believe in at BBH–be bold in one media, it‘ll be picked up in something else.”


    He advised, “Do something amazing and daring and something that‘ll cut through and get the kind of response you want.”
     

  • Hero Cycles in retail tie-up with Planet Sports

    Hero Cycles in retail tie-up with Planet Sports

    MUMBAI: Bicycle manufacturer, Hero Cycles, announces a strategic tie-up with Sports Division- Pantaloon Retail India Limited, part of Future Group, to market and sell their new range of premium bicycles.

    This association would enable Hero Cycles to display their merchandise and make their new range of premium bicycles available across Planet Sports, and its Shop-in-Shop formats within Central, Pantaloons, Brand Factory and Sports Warehouse across all metros and Tier I cities.

    Hero Cycles MD SK Rai said, “The tie-up is aligned with Hero Cycle‘s strategy to address the premium bicycle market, while continuing to be the market leader in the mass segment through its established brand loyalty. Owing to changing trends in retail and the evolving profile of consumers, our attempt is to expand our product line, by offering quality products, sound in technology and engineering, thereby enhancing the overall shopping experience for customers.”

    Pantaloon Retail India CEO sports division Ravdeep Singh said, “We are pleased to partner with Hero Cycles; this is sure to enhance the shopping experience for our consumers and reinforce our commitment to encourage an active lifestyle amongst our audience. The new bicycles by Hero are truly a class apart, sleek and stylish in their design and completely in line with the quality of products we display in our stores.”

    The new range of Hero Cycles boasts advanced features, cutting across all socio-economic segments. The premium range will be marketed through selective retail outlets of Future Group. Specific details on the alliance are to be confirmed; the timeline of the final unveiling is scheduled to be around May 2011.

  • Fali Vakeel is Lowe Lintas India vice chairman

    Fali Vakeel is Lowe Lintas India vice chairman

    MUMBAI: Lowe Lintas India has elevated its chief operating officer, Fali Vakeel, to vice chairman.

    Vakeel will continue to be based in Mumbai and his new role comes into effect immediately.

    Lowe Lintas CEO Joseph George said, “Fali was an obvious and easy choice. His personality, experience and fierce bias for the agency‘s well being will now play an even more pivotal role in helping us chart the future of this agency.”

    Prior to joining Lowe Lintas, Vakeel worked in London at JWT and McCann for over eight years and has now been with the organisation for over two decades. He has worked out of the agency‘s Mumbai as well as Bangalore offices.

    Chairman and chief creative officer R Balakrishnan (Balki) adds, “Fali introduced me to Lowe Lintas and he is one of the prime reasons why I am here. At Lowe Lintas, the combination of wisdom, irreverence and commitment means Fali.”