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Category: News Headline

  • Instamart to deliver JioBharat and JioPhone Prima Phones in just 10 minutes across 95 cities

    Instamart to deliver JioBharat and JioPhone Prima Phones in just 10 minutes across 95 cities

    MUMBAI: Instamart, India’s pioneering quick commerce platform, has partnered with Jio to launch the telecom giant’s popular mobile phones on its platform. Now customers across 95 cities in India can order JioBharat and JioPhone Prima2 phones on Instamart and have them delivered to their doorstep in minutes, a first-of-its-kind launch on a quick commerce platform.

    The models available as part of this launch include the JioBharat V4 and JioPhone Prima2 in the range of Rs 799 and Rs 2799, making them extremely affordable and accessible to Instamart’s consumers Whether for staying connected, gifting a loved one, or as a reliable secondary device, users across metros, tier 2, 3 and 4 cities can now access Jio’s value-driven mobile phones with unmatched speed and convenience through Instamart.

    On this partnership, Instamart CBO Hari Kumar G said, “At Instamart, we are continuously redefining the role of quick commerce in everyday life. Our partnership with Jio marks a significant step in making essential technology, like phones, more accessible than ever. By enabling the instant delivery of Jio phones across 95 cities, we’re not just offering convenience; we’re partnering with Jio to bring affordable connectivity and digital access closer to millions, within minutes.”

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd president Sunil Dutt said, “This strategic partnership with Instamart marks yet another step in our mission to empower every Indian with affordable digital connectivity. By making our popular JioBharat and Prima phones available for instant delivery across 95 cities, we are ensuring that the power of the internet and digital connectivity reaches our users within minutes. It’s about bringing the digital revolution directly to every doorstep, faster than ever before.”

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  • MP Tak Hosts ‘Baithak’ with Key Political Voices of Madhya Pradesh

    MP Tak Hosts ‘Baithak’ with Key Political Voices of Madhya Pradesh

    MUMBAI: MP Tak, the digital-first news platform from the India Today Group, is hosting its flagship event ‘MP Tak Baithak’ today in Bhopal. The Baithak is a platform for meaningful dialogue that brings together some of the most prominent voices from Madhya Pradesh’s political and cultural landscape to engage in candid conversations around governance, development, and pressing regional issues.

    The event features a distinguished lineup of speakers including Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, BJP State President Hemant Khandelwal, Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, and Minister of Sports & Cooperation Vishvas Sarang. Also joining the conversation are OBC & Minorities Minister Krishna Gaur, senior Congress leader Laxman Singh, Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuria, and Olympic bronze medalist in hockey Vivek Sagar. Adding a cultural dimension to the Baithak are renowned poets Jani Bairagi and Mahendra Madhur.

    Commenting on the initiative, Milind Khandekar, Managing Editor of TAK Channels, said: “MP Tak Baithak reflects our commitment to amplifying voices from the heart of Madhya Pradesh. As a platform rooted in the state’s political and cultural fabric, we aim to facilitate conversations that matter — directly with the key stakeholders. The overwhelming support from our viewers encourages us to create more such spaces that connect policy with people and highlight local issues through credible digital journalism.”

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  • Project Worldwide taps Rasheed Sait and Neha Lobo for top roles

    Project Worldwide taps Rasheed Sait and Neha Lobo for top roles

    MUMBAI: Project Worldwide is getting serious about India’s marketing boom. In a move designed to fire up its growth engines across South Asia, the company has appointed Rasheed Sait as chief growth officer, India/South Asia, and brought in Neha Lobo as managing director of GPJ India, its flagship experiential agency.

    The double announcement signals a renewed focus on scale, strategy and storytelling in one of the world’s most dynamic consumer markets.

    A name synonymous with George P. Johnson (GPJ) India, Sait now steps into a broader role across Project Worldwide’s South Asia operations. As chief growth officer, he will oversee new business development, M&A, and the expansion of a Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, while continuing to advise GPJ India and sit on its board.

    “Rasheed’s ability to build high performance teams, his entrepreneurial spirit, combined with a unique ability to straddle strategy with creativity, has been instrumental in GPJ India establishing itself as a trusted advisor to a number of our global and local clients. His deep knowledge of the India/South Asia market makes him the ideal candidate to bring our vision to life,” said Project Worldwide CEO Chris Meyer.

    Replacing Sait at the helm of GPJ India is seasoned marketing pro Neha Lobo, whose 25-year career spans leadership roles at IBM, including APAC stints in digital marketing and sales development. Known for building high-performing teams and client-centric growth models, Lobo is now tasked with scaling GPJ India’s offering and cementing its spot at the top of the experiential food chain.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Neha Lobo to the GPJ India family,” said George P. Johnson CEO Fiona Burder. “Her transformational leadership, deep industry knowledge, and passion for creating engaging experiences make her the ideal person to lead GPJ India into its next phase of growth. We are confident that under her guidance, GPJ India will continue to push the boundaries of experiential marketing and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”

    Together, Sait and Lobo form a high-powered duo primed to steer Project Worldwide’s next wave in India. As the market heats up, the agency is betting big on local know-how and global ambition—with zero plans to play it safe.

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  • IIGC kicks off Bengaluru chapter with bold moves

    IIGC kicks off Bengaluru chapter with bold moves

    MUMBAI: The Indian Influencer Governing Council (IIGC) turned up the volume on India’s booming creator economy with its third official chapter, held at Taj Bangalore, and used the stage to make a headline-grabbing declaration: December 2 will now be observed as World Influencer Day.

    The high-energy gathering brought together over 100 voices from the creatorverse—marketing heads, digital honchos, platform leaders, and star content creators. It wasn’t just selfies and speeches, though. The event introduced IIGC Protect, a major initiative focused on legal literacy and mental wellness for influencers, in collaboration with Trilegal, United We Care, and Adayu (Fortis).

    Among the key speakers were Nikhil Sachdeva (partner, Trilegal), Rana Atheya (VP – business, United We Care), Sachin Baliga (advisor – neuromodulation, Fortis), and creator Aneri Thakkar, who addressed the growing need for psychological and legal safeguards in what remains an unregulated digital jungle.

    Adding teeth to its governance efforts, IIGC also launched a Taskforce and outlined a Code of Standards for brands and creators. Key voices like Varun Oberoi (VP, marketing & comms, Nissin), Jaikishin Chhaproo (head – media & PR, ITC Ltd), Gaurang Thosani (head – digital & e-sales, Royal Sundaram), and Aparajita Mukherjee (head – brands in culture, Diageo) shared best practices on responsible influencing.

    BBC Media Action Tej Prakash Yadav said, “Influencers have the power to spark change, ignite conversations that matter, and build something bigger than a brand: a movement. Influencing for Good adds depth to social capital, strengthens credibility, and shows the world the human behind the handle.”

    Gunjan Taneja (@Gunjanshouts), added, “Being an influencer is not about the number of followers or views, but the impact we are able to create. We need to consider that with our every word, action and recommendation one or several of our followers will buy the product or service with their hard earned money. Which is why it is our responsibility as creators to be cautious of what we say, with maturity and sensibility before we put out content.”

    IIGC chairman & founding member, Sahil Chopra led the felicitation ceremony that honored board members, as well as winners of the Indian Influencer Ratings Weekly Picks, which recognizes both “Trendsetters” and emerging “Underdoggs.”

    With three power-packed chapters under its belt, IIGC continues its mission to professionalise, protect, and celebrate India’s creator economy—one policy push, one punchline, and one post at a time.

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  • Kavitha Jaubin to look after aha Tamil & Telugu content & strategy

    Kavitha Jaubin to look after aha Tamil & Telugu content & strategy

    MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based OTT aha has upped the ante in its Telugu content game. In March 2025. it expanded senior vice-president – content & strategy (aha Tamil) Kavitha Jaubin’s role to cover aha’s Telugu programming as well. 

    The industry veteran took to LinkedIn to share the news, calling it a “new chapter with renewed energy and vision.”

    Known for her sharp storytelling instincts and deep roots in southern entertainment, she’s expected to shape aha Telugu’s creative and strategic direction as it competes in an increasingly crowded OTT battleground.

    With over two decades in content across TV, radio, and streaming, Jaubin has worn many hats—from writer-director at Star Vijay, to producer under K. Balachander’s Minbinbangal banner, and later content head across four southern languages at Sun TV Network. Her tenure at Sun saw her drive content and brand integrations for multiple genres, including kids and GECs.

    At aha, she first joined in 2022 to lead content for the Tamil arm before rising to a dual-language SVP role earlier this year. Her promotion signals the platform’s intent to double down on premium, culturally resonant Telugu storytelling.

    Hashtag  #ahaTelugu just got a whole lot more ambitious.

  • Prime Video strikes deal with France Télévisions as streamers forge unlikely alliances

    Prime Video strikes deal with France Télévisions as streamers forge unlikely alliances

    PARIS: Streaming is making for some unlikely bedfellows. After Netflix’s recent tie-up to carry TF1’s linear channels in France, Amazon Prime Video has now inked a landmark pact with France Télévisions. The move brings the public broadcaster’s full arsenal of content—France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Info—onto Prime Video in France, available to all subscribers.

    The partnership opens up access to preview and replay programming, exclusive content and marquee events including the Tour de France, Women’s Euro, Women’s Rugby World Cup, plus drama, docs, entertainment, kids shows and rolling news.

    “With this unprecedented distribution method, our group is taking a historic step toward strengthening the visibility of its public service offering,” said France Télévisions president & CEO  Delphine Ernotte Cunci. “It allows audiences to rediscover the richness of france.tv in new digital environments.”

    “Following Max, Paramount+, Ciné+OCS, Universal+ and MGM+, alongside 43 additional channels, we are delighted to have reached this agreement and to be able to make France Télévisions’ extensive catalog available to all our Prime customers in France,” added Prime Video France general manager Christophe Deguine. “We are constantly looking for new ways to expand the quality content offering to our customers and confirm Prime Video as the number one entertainment destination

    As streamers across the globe cosy up to traditional broadcasters, eyes now turn to India. Netflix is already showing Sony’s evergreen cop drama CID.; JioHotstar is the home of HBO, Peacock and other global players. 

    Could a wider wave of streamer-broadcaster tie-ups be on the cards with Netflix, JioHotstar, Z5, SonyLiv  or Prime? Watch this space.

  • Dish TV brings back Gaurav Goel to chart new growth path

    Dish TV brings back Gaurav Goel to chart new growth path

    NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at sharpening its strategic focus, Dish TV has reappointed Gaurav Goel as chief strategy officer and senior management personnel, effective July 4. The decision was signed off by the board in a meeting on 3 July, following a nod from the nomination and remuneration committee. The company informed the Bombay stock exchange of the development through a regulatory filing. 

    Goel, a member of the promoter group, is no stranger to the satellite TV giant. He previously played a pivotal role in streamlining operations and driving business strategy during his earlier stint. With a background in digital transformation and partnerships, he is now expected to power Dish TV’s next wave of evolution in the increasingly digital DTH battlefield.

    A graduate of the Daniels College of Business, University of Denver, Goel is known for his strategic foresight and analytical chops, qualities Dish TV will be betting on as it navigates a shifting media landscape.

    The board also noted the exit of Rajeev Kumar Dalmia from senior management, effective end of business 3 July, due to a change in contractual terms.

  • Eenadu TV no longer an associate; NW18 assigns voting rights to promoter

    Eenadu TV no longer an associate; NW18 assigns voting rights to promoter

    MUMBAI: In a pivotal move linked to the grand consolidation of India’s entertainment landscape, Eenadu TV is no longer an associate, as Network 18 has assigned its 24.5 per cent voting rights in the broadcaster to ETPL’s promoter and continues to retain its economic rights. The transaction, completed at 2:06 p.m. on 7 July, effectively ends ETPL’s status as an associate of the media conglomerate.

    Network18 informed the Bombay stock exchange about this change via a regulatory filing. 

    The assignment of voting rights—mandated under a Competition Commission of India (CCI) order dated 27 August 2024—was part of the conditions for the greenlighting of the blockbuster merger between Viacom18 (now Studio18 Media Pvt  Ltd) and Star India (now JioStar India Pvt Ltd).

    Though stripped of control, Network18 retains full economic interest in the 24.5 per cent stake. The company said the promoter of ETPL has no ties to Network18’s promoter group, and the deal doesn’t qualify as a related-party transaction.

    As of 31 March 2025, ETPL accounted for a hefty 32.61 per cent of Network18’s consolidated net worth. But despite the shift in status, the company claims there will be no hit to its balance sheet, thanks to a fair valuation mechanism under prevailing accounting standards.

  • Samsung TV Plus adds B4U’s blockbuster channels to its Fast lineup

    Samsung TV Plus adds B4U’s blockbuster channels to its Fast lineup

    MUMBAI: Samsung TV Plus, India’s top free ad-supported streaming television (Fast) service, has amped up its entertainment play by onboarding four of B4U Network’s most popular channels — B4U Movies, B4U Music, B4U Kadak and B4U Bhojpuri.

    The tie-up boosts Samsung TV Plus’s tally to over 125 Fast channels, adding heft to its bid to dominate the connected TV (CTV) landscape. The platform continues to court the country’s digital-first viewers with a curated smorgasbord of films, music, and regional hits — all at zero cost.
     
    “Our mission is to deliver unmatched access and exceptional value to both our audiences and advertisers on the Samsung TV Plus platform. By introducing new Fast Channels from the house of B4U, we aim to enhance access to the latest from the world of entertainment. This collaboration with B4U underscores our dedication to this vision,” said Samsung TV Plus India head of partnerships Kunal Mehta.

    B4U, a stalwart in Indian broadcasting with reach across more than 100 countries, brings to the table a rich trove of Hindi cinema, chart-topping music and vibrant regional fare.

    “Connected TV (CTV) has emerged as a significant force in the Indian media landscape, revolutionizing how audiences consume content,” said B4U chief revenue officer Johnson Jain.“In line with this, our approach has pivoted on reaching a broader and more diverse audience base. We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Samsung TV Plus, bringing our curated set of channels to their platform. Through this partnership, we aim to engage viewers with high-quality entertainment — featuring top-tier movies and the best in music — delivered seamlessly on a premium CTV experience.”

    As the race to capture eyeballs in India’s connected homes intensifies, the Samsung-B4U alliance serves up a potent mix of nostalgia, pop culture and mass appeal — positioning the Fast service as a go-to destination for free, high-quality entertainment.

  • Badshah’s Badboy Pizza slips into India’s QSR scene with a bold, desi twist

    Badshah’s Badboy Pizza slips into India’s QSR scene with a bold, desi twist

    MUMBAI:  Critically acclaimed rapper, singer-songwriter and serial entrepreneur Badshah has fired up the ovens and stormed into India’s booming quick service restaurant (QSR) sector with Badboy Pizza—a mass-premium pizza chain that promises bold flavours, slick branding, and a desi-meets-global attitude.

    The artist, whose real name is Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, has teamed up with Ghost Kitchens India, one of the country’s largest cloud kitchen players led by serial founder Karan Tanna, to build what the duo claim will be “the most exciting QSR launch of the decade.”

    Ahead of the opening, the internet was set ablaze with a cheeky viral campaign featuring Badshah being slapped—by a pizza. The stunt, designed to juice the brand’s tagline ‘pizza that slaps,’ racked up over eight million views across platforms and turbocharged buzz around the brand’s launch.

    Badboy Pizza is now live with a flagship boutique outlet in Andheri, Mumbai, and is eyeing a footprint of 50 locations across India’s top five metros in the next three years. Built as a hybrid format of dine-in and delivery kitchens, the brand is chasing an ambitious Rs150 crore annual recurring revenue (ARR) target. The average bill: Rs 400 per person.

    At the heart of the venture is a 50-item cosmopolitan menu that fuses global favourites with desi swagger—from Truffle Cacio-e-Pepe and Korean Spice to Tandoori Tikka and Chicken Keemalal. There’s even a cinematic special called the Pushpa Pizza, spicy enough to match its namesake’s fire.

    Says Badshah: “Badboy Pizza is an extension of my personality — rooted, bold and real and this launch is special since I’ve always dreamt of having my own pizza chain! Drawing upon diverse culinary experiences from my travels over the years, my vision was to forge a brand that embodies international quality while resonating deeply with homegrown appeal. Partnering with Karan Tanna and Ghost Kitchens ensures we’re building not just a brand, but a truly world class and accessible culinary experience.”

    The crust, however, is the true hero. Made with Italian flour and cold fermented for 48 hours, it promises that elusive combo of crispy outside and fluffy inside—a far cry from the usual QSR fare.

    And the brand doesn’t stop at pizza. The menu includes garlic bread with butter chicken, spaghetti in bread bowls, flamboyant desserts like Fried Oreos with sea salt dark chocolate, and madcap sundaes in flavours such as Banaras Paan and Guava Masala.

    The brand identity? Loud, rebellious and proudly Indie-an. Badboy Pizza’s packaging mimics smuggled contraband—zesty lime and purple boxes emblazoned with bold typography and the playful wink of Jugnu, the mischievous mascot who glows when things get bold. The boxes double up as collectible street-art souvenirs—because why should a pizza box be boring?

    For Ghost Kitchens, the tie-up is a strategic masterstroke. Already home to brands like Starboy Pizza and Speak Burgers by Vicky Ratnani, the cloud-first company processes over 1.2 lakh orders monthly and is scaling fast after a $5 million Series A raise in 2024.

    Tanna said, “Badboy Pizza is poised to be the most exciting QSR launch of the decade. The brand reimagines what scalable QSRs of the future will look like. Badshah’s ability to shape trends and influence youth culture gives this brand an unmatched edge. Together, we’re building the future of QSR experiences in India.”

    India’s QSR market is surging—from $85.19 billion in 2025 to a projected $139.75 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.41 per cent, according to a press release issued by the company. The pizza segment alone is forecast to more than double to $11.8 billion by 2033.

    With the hype machine firing on all cylinders, a menu that dares to be different, and cultural cues baked into every bite, Badboy Pizza isn’t just selling food. It’s building a movement.

    And yes—this pizza really slaps.