ITV

Category: News Headline

  • David George takes charge of creative content & design at Gulf News

    David George takes charge of creative content & design at Gulf News

    MUMBAI: David George, a journalist turned brand strategist, has been named director of creative content and design at Gulf News. His promotion crowns a ten-year stint at the Dubai-based daily, where he has previously served as publisher–commercial and head of design.

    George cut his teeth at Emirates Today before moving to MEED and Bloomberg Businessweek Middle East, where he helped launch both the print and digital editions. Over the years, he has worked across newsrooms, commercial desks and design studios, bringing a journalistic rigour to branded storytelling.

    With more than 15 years in the region’s media industry, George has built a reputation for crafting campaigns and working at the intersection of journalism and brand storytelling. At Gulf News, he will now oversee strategy, design and branded content at a time when publishers in the Gulf are under pressure to monetise audiences and diversify revenues.  

  • Efficacy Worldwide bolsters leadership with three senior hires

    Efficacy Worldwide bolsters leadership with three senior hires

    Gurugram: Efficacy Worldwide, the full-service advertising and marketing agency founded in 2021, has added three heavyweights to its top deck as part of an aggressive expansion across India.

    Somnath Sarkarr joins as national investment director, bringing two decades of media-buying expertise from Madison, Vivaki, Lodestar UM and Initiative, where he was most recently vice-president investment. He will oversee digital and traditional media portfolios, blending programmatic with scale, and drive partnerships to squeeze more value out of spends.

    Prajesh Dutta, with over 20 years at Madison, Wavemaker, m/Six, Maxus and GroupM, has been named national director – strategy and innovation. He will spearhead P&L, sharpen strategy and strengthen teams.

    Meanwhile, Raj Choudhary takes charge as business head for the south. He moves from History TV18, where he was regional head, and has stints at Zee Media, Indian Express, Warner Media, Network18, Sony Pictures and Network India.

    “We are at a pivotal point in our journey and these three key senior appointments underscore our commitment to strengthening leadership and scaling operations across India,” said co-founder Sapna Sharma.

    In three years, the agency has bagged mandates from Kohler, Omega, Rado, Hero Cycles, Suzlon Energy, Foundit, Clear Dekho, UP Tourism and more. Efficacy has built a reputation for marrying creativity with technology, wielding AI-led insights, influencer SaaS tools and funnel optimisation to deliver ROI at speed.

    The trio’s combined half-century of experience marks the agency’s latest attempt to turn scale into clout.

  • Medusa Beverages raises a toast as sponsor of Filmfare Punjabi 2025

    Medusa Beverages raises a toast as sponsor of Filmfare Punjabi 2025

    MUMBAI: Punjabi cinema’s biggest night had an extra fizz this year, with Medusa Beverages stepping in as title sponsor of the Filmfare Awards Punjabi 2025.

    The awards, held on August 23 at the I.S. Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali, brought together top names from the Punjabi film and music industry, including Jacqueline Fernandez, Honey Singh, Satinder Sartaj and Neeru Bajwa. The event celebrated achievements across film, music and performance, with Medusa’s beers on offer at refreshment stations as guests mingled between performances.

    “The Filmfare Awards Punjabi 2025 was a perfect stage for us because it’s more than just an award show, it’s a cultural phenomenon that captures the pride, passion, and creativity of Punjabi cinema. Partnering with Filmfareallowed us to not only celebrate incredible talent but also to connect with an audience that shares our energy and spirit,” said Medusa Beverages, executive director,  Amardeep Singh.

    The partnership continues Medusa’s push into lifestyle and entertainment spaces. The brand has previously appeared at Delhi Times Fashion Week, Sundowner music festivals, concerts by Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan, and even art collaborations.

     

  • Logitech names Manoj Sahay as India country head

    Logitech names Manoj Sahay as India country head

    MUMBAI:  Logitech has appointed Manoj Sahay as its new country head for India, betting on the FMCG veteran to sharpen its consumer focus and push deeper into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

    Sahay, who has logged more than 20 years at Britannia, Reckitt Benckiser and Castrol, takes charge of Logitech’s India business with a brief to accelerate growth, expand distribution and strengthen brand presence.

    “India is a top priority market for us, and Manoj’s deep understanding of consumer behaviour, honed in the competitive FMCG sector, is precisely the expertise we need,” said Logitech, vice-president and head of global emerging markets, Moninder Jain.

    Sahay said he was “honoured and excited” to lead the company’s India operations, adding that his passion for building brands and mining consumer insights would help connect Logitech’s “legendary” innovation with local needs.

    The appointment underlines Logitech’s ambition to scale up across product lines ranging from PC peripherals and gaming gear to streaming and hybrid-work solutions.

  • Tata’s Trent serves Burnt Toast fresh as fashion for India’s bold youth

    Tata’s Trent serves Burnt Toast fresh as fashion for India’s bold youth

    MUMBAI: Fashion just got toasted and in the best way possible. Tata Group’s Trent Ltd. has launched Burnt Toast, a youth-first fashion label that’s less about fitting in and more about standing out. With its edgy name and vibrant catalogue of apparel, footwear, and accessories, the brand is baking in affordability, creativity, and a dash of rebellion for India’s digital-first generation.

    After making its debut with stores in Bangalore, Thane, and Surat, Burnt Toast is now setting its sights on expanding across more Indian cities. Designed for creators, trendsetters, and the scroll-happy youth, the brand is positioning itself as a community as much as a fashion line, a place where self-expression isn’t optional, it’s the whole point.

    The collection serves up a buffet of playful silhouettes, bold prints, and statement pieces that could just as easily double as wearable art. Whether it’s vibrant tees that pop on Instagram grids or footwear that walks the fine line between comfort and cool, the aesthetic is deliberately unafraid.

    “Burnt Toast is more than just a fashion brand; it is a dynamic lifestyle and a vibrant community crafted to empower India’s expressive youth,” said Trent Ltd managing director P. Venkatesalu. He added that the goal is to make global fashion accessible while fuelling individuality and shared identity.

    With Gen Z and millennials driving India’s fashion market, estimated at over 100 billion dollars, Trent’s youth-focused pivot is as strategic as it is stylish. Burnt Toast joins Trent’s existing retail portfolio which includes Westside and Zudio but carves a niche aimed at energy, confidence, and individuality.

    For a generation allergic to cookie-cutter clothing, Burnt Toast is serving something hotter, crunchier, and unapologetically fresh.

  • The Golden Elixir of Smoke: Hillfort Whisky strikes gold with smoky new campaign

    The Golden Elixir of Smoke: Hillfort Whisky strikes gold with smoky new campaign

    MUMBAI: Raise a glass! Hillfort Whisky has found liquid gold in its latest campaign.

    When the premium spirit joined forces with creative agency Black Cab, the mission was simple yet ambitious: take Hillfort from being just another label on the shelf to a whisky with a story worth savouring.

    Enter “The Golden Elixir of Smoke”, a campaign that promised more than just a drama. It offered discovery, drama, and a dash of heritage. Drawing on imagery of gold, relics, rulers and celebration, the visuals painted Hillfort as a hidden treasure waiting to be unearthed.

    The campaign leaned heavily on visual storytelling, weaving together motifs of gold, relics, rulers and celebration. Seven themes, including “The Discovery,” “The Treasure,” “The Smoky Affair” and “The Celebration”, were used to frame Hillfort’s character as rare, layered and connoisseur-worthy.  

    The results? According to the brand, the campaign reached 1.3 million people, drove over 38,000 engagements and nearly 9,000 link clicks, while also boosting its follower base by 1,600.

    For whisky enthusiasts, it was a smoky revelation. For casual scrollers, it was proof that storytelling still packs a punch in digital marketing. And for Hillfort, it was a golden moment in building a brand legacy that looks set to pour out many more chapters.

    As Black Cab cheekily put it, this isn’t just whisky. Its history, heritage, and a happy ending served neat.
     

  • Wild tales roar as Warner Bros Discovery unveils Dooars and Americas

    Wild tales roar as Warner Bros Discovery unveils Dooars and Americas

    MUMBAI: Nature is getting the star treatment this August, with Warner Bros. Discovery rolling out two blue-chip wildlife spectacles across Discovery, Animal Planet, and Discovery+. First up is The Dooars World, which premiered on 15 August with Dia Mirza lending her voice to the Eastern Himalayan wilderness. Directed by debutant Shaon Pritam Baral, the series transports viewers to the biodiverse Dooars region, where red pandas, one-horned rhinos, and vibrant birdlife share fragile harmony with local communities. “The Dooars is a living, breathing world,” Baral noted, calling Mirza’s narration the soulful thread that binds the storytelling. Interestingly, the project was spotted at Waves Film Bazaar, an NFDC initiative.

    Hot on its heels came The Americas, which debuted on 18 August with Hollywood heavyweight Tom Hanks narrating an 11-part odyssey from the Arctic to Patagonia. Produced by BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit with Universal Television Alternative Studio, the series has already snagged Emmy nominations for Hanks’ narration and Hans Zimmer’s sweeping score. Expect breathtaking animal drama, from species thriving in icy extremes to the urgent climate challenges rewriting their futures.

    Warner Bros. Discovery head of factual entertainment, lifestyle & kids for South Asia Sai Abishek summed it up: “It’s this mix of fresh voices like Shaon and iconic ones like Tom Hanks that makes our storytelling spectacular and memorable.”

    Airing weekdays at 9:00 pm on Animal Planet with simulcasts on Discovery, and streaming on discovery+, these shows fuse cinematic grandeur with conservation urgency reminding viewers why the wild will always have the final word.

  • High on hope News18 Kerala anti drug campaign heads to Kottayam

    High on hope News18 Kerala anti drug campaign heads to Kottayam

    MUMBAI: Kerala’s battle cry against narcotics is getting louder and this time, it’s echoing through Kottayam. News18 Kerala’s anti-drug drive, AD 2025, is drawing packed crowds, celebrity cheer, and spirited debate as it rolls across the state, determined to keep Kerala high on hope, not on drugs. After firing up audiences in Cochin on 10 June and Kozhikode on 15 July, the campaign now heads to K.E. College, Mannanam, on 26 August, from 10:00 am. The roadshow culminates in a grand finale in Thiruvananthapuram next month, but not before it sparks yet another round of tough conversations and cultural performances.

    Each stop so far has been more than a lecture, it’s been a movement. From unpacking the root causes of drug use to spotlighting law enforcement, from discussing how addiction tears through families to stressing early intervention and education, the campaign has stitched together the voices of government, media, NGOs and citizens into a single powerful chorus: collective responsibility.

    The earlier editions saw top dignitaries, police officials, excise officers, celebrities, and cultural icons share the stage, stirring both thought and emotion. Audiences, especially the youth responded with enthusiasm, pledging to act against a menace that has seeped into communities.

    The Kottayam edition promises no less. On the panel: the district collector, police commissioner, excise officer, a social influencer, a psychologist, a student representative and more, ensuring every perspective from law to lived experience is on the table.

    With turnout and public engagement already exceeding expectations, AD 2025 is proving to be more than a campaign. It’s becoming Kerala’s collective pledge for a drug-free tomorrow.

  • Winzo levels up, takes India’s gaming power play to the US market

    Winzo levels up, takes India’s gaming power play to the US market

    MUMBAI: From Delhi to Dallas, Winzo has just hit its biggest checkpoint yet. India’s largest homegrown digital entertainment platform has officially launched in the United States, levelling up its ambition to export desi gaming tech, IP, and talent to global arenas. The move marks Winzo’s entry into the world’s largest gaming market by revenue, hot on the heels of its Brazilian foray in 2023. That places the company squarely at the crossroads of three of the planet’s top four mobile gaming markets India, Brazil and the US together worth an estimated 65–70 billion dollars with over 20 billion annual game downloads.

    With a 250 million-strong user base back home, Winzo’s ecosystem already spans 100 plus competitive games across esports and social formats in 15 languages, backed by more than 100 tech patents. Among them: its Real-Time Game Engine, GenAI-powered vernacular companion, live streaming stack, one-click integration tech and AI-driven cybersecurity solutions.

    The platform also brings financial muscle via its 50 million dollars Zo Fund, fuelling early-stage tech ventures and creating a pipeline of Indian innovation for global markets. Alongside gaming, Winzo is rolling out Zo TV, its new short-video format, aiming to be a one-stop hub for interactive entertainment.

    “This is a proud milestone for India’s digital entertainment ecosystem,” said co-founders Saumya Singh Rathore and Paavan Nanda, noting that the expansion represents “Tech Exports 2.0” where Indian developers can finally take culturally resonant games and esports to the most lucrative gaming market in the world.

    While Winzo continues to expand abroad, it is also doubling down on its Indian audience, even as it responsibly rolls back select offerings impacted by regulatory shifts. For the company, the US debut isn’t just a market entry, it’s a statement that India’s gaming story is no longer just local, but truly global.

  • Johor to host ASEAN’s biggest digital content summit in 2025

    Johor to host ASEAN’s biggest digital content summit in 2025

    JOHOR BAHRU: Game, set… animation! Johor Bahru gears up to host the ASEAN Digital Content Summit (ADCS 2025) from 2–4 September.

    Organised by the Ministry of Digital through the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), in collaboration with the Johor State Government, the summit is set to transform the Persada Johor International Convention Centre into the beating heart of ASEAN’s creative economy.

    Timed with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, ADCS will bring together more than 50 global thought leaders, over 100 exhibitors, and country pavilions from more than 10 nations, all under one roof. Policymakers, studios, start-ups, investors and creators will unite to script the next chapter in animation, gaming and immersive technology.
    The summit opens with the ASEAN Roundtable on 2 September, a high-level dialogue designed to spark regional collaboration in animation, games, and creative technology. Fans of Japanese anime will also find a treat: Koji Morimoto, co-founder of Studio 4°C and one of the creative minds behind Akira, will headline the speaker sessions.

    Meanwhile, the Kre8tif! Business Xchange will act as a matchmaking arena for creators, connecting them with broadcasters, distributors, and investors. The exhibition hall promises a visual feast, from new game solutions to immersive interactive content, showcasing the latest from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and beyond.

    In a nod to talent and research, ADCS 2025 will also feature 50 global technical papers and 60 plus university projects, giving students and young creators a launchpad to shine. The initiative is supported by KL ACM SIGGRAPH and DICE 3.0, ensuring academia meets industry in the most creative of ways.

    MDEC CEO Anuar Fariz Fadzil called the summit a “game-changer” adding, “ADCS 2025 marks Johor’s bold leap toward becoming the beating heart of ASEAN’s digital content revolution. By bringing together innovators, storytellers, and tech leaders, Johor is stepping into the spotlight as the epicentre of gaming, animation, and immersive content.”

    And it’s not all about business. The summit has a festival flavour, too. Public visitors can look forward to e-sports tournaments, outdoor movie screenings, exclusive giveaways, and family fun at B5 Johor Street Market. The celebrations culminate with the Malaysia Animation Film Festival on 4 September, followed by nationwide screenings at GSC cinemas from 16 October.