ITV

Category: News Headline

  • Ad on the go gets a green glow as ETO and Cashurdrive team up

    Ad on the go gets a green glow as ETO and Cashurdrive team up

     MUMBAI: Billboards are so last decade now, your brand can ride shotgun on an e-rickshaw. ETO Motors, India’s largest electric vehicle fleet operator, has teamed up with transit advertising pioneer Cashurdrive to supercharge the future of green marketing. The duo has rolled out one of India’s largest sustainable advertising initiatives turning over 2,000 electric vehicles into roving, carbon-free ad canvases.

    This eye-catching, eco-conscious fleet includes 3-wheelers, 500-plus 4-wheelers and electric buses that will whizz through Hyderabad, Delhi, Kevadia, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Nagpur, and Bengaluru blending brand storytelling with street-smart climate action.

    “At ETO Motors, sustainability isn’t a buzzword, it’s a commitment,” said ETO Motors chief marketing officer Rajeev YSR. “We’re offering brands more than visibility, we’re offering visibility with values.”

    The move follows the success of a high-voltage pilot campaign at the Kumbh Mela, where an FMCG brand used ETO’s fleet to drive both awareness and impact. Building on that momentum, this initiative isn’t just innovative, it’s accountable.

    Clients can now access a real-time dashboard to monitor impressions, track kilometres driven, and even measure the environmental benefits of their campaigns. Advertising, meet analytics with a conscience.

    Cashurdrive, managing director Raghu Khanna calls it “a leap forward in green advertising.” He adds, “With ETO’s EVs and our expertise, brands get to go bold and green in the same breath.”

    As net-zero ambitions grow louder, this collaboration offers a timely marketing makeover: brand visibility that doesn’t cost the Earth literally. With mobility, measurability, and mission in sync, it’s advertising that hits the road running and leaves only impact, not emissions.

  • India TV’s grand screenplay: new OTT app offers a family plot twist

    India TV’s grand screenplay: new OTT app offers a family plot twist

    MUMBAI:  India TV, the erstwhile broadcasting juggernaut, has curtailed its dependence on conventional linearity, launching its brand-spanking-new India TV OTT App. This isn’t just another streaming service; it’s a calculated manoeuvre to expand the group’s digital footprint, offering a veritable smorgasbord of news, the cult classic Aap Ki Adalat, fitness regimes, devotional content, infotainment, lifestyle tips, and a plethora of podcasts.

    The timing is no coincidence, capitalising on the booming digital content industry where platforms enjoy a liberating freedom from the shackles of traditional censorship. This strategic pivot leverages India TV’s established reputation for credible news and its uncanny knack for understanding the Indian psyche.
    The move into the OTT arena is underpinned by a laser focus on “premium, exclusive and streaming audience-first content.”

    Forget dusty archives; this app is brimming with bespoke digital delights, including news, podcasts, learning shows, and even original AI-generated stories.

    What really sets the India TV OTT App apart in a rather crowded market is its commitment to delivering “meaningful content in a clutter-free, family-friendly space.”

    This audience-first gambit, coupled with OTT’s inherent flexibility and accessibility, positions India TV to significantly amplify its presence in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

    India TV managing director Ritu Dhawan said: “Our vision for the India TV OTT App is to be the single, trusted digital destination for every Indian family.” She added, “We’ve meticulously crafted it to deliver credible information and enrichment, fostering collective viewing experiences that truly strengthen family bonds. It’s our unwavering commitment to providing a safe, inclusive, and thoughtfully curated space for all.”

    For those keen to tune in, the India TV OTT app is readily available on the Play Store of Smart TV platforms. Designed for communal viewing, it spares households the tedious chore of flicking between multiple apps or wrestling with myriad subscriptions.

    Boasting a user-friendly interface, smart navigation, and seamless live streaming across genres, the app is undeniably future-ready. With this shrewd expansion into OTT, India TV continues to lead the charge in content innovation, reinforcing its pledge to serve a multi-platform, multi-generational audience with content that is not just credible and inclusive, but truly made for India.

  • WPP boss Mark Read to sign off at year-end after 30-year ad-venture

    WPP boss Mark Read to sign off at year-end after 30-year ad-venture

    MUMBAI: WPP plc has just hit ‘next’ on its leadership playlist. The British ad giant announced that long-time chief executive officer Mark Read will hang up his boots and step down from the board on 31 December 2025, marking the end of a 30-year run—including a high-octane seven-year stint steering the ship as CEO. The search for his successor is already underway.

    WPP chair  Philip Jansen, heaped praise on Read’s legacy, hailing him as a transformational force. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Mark for his contributions not only as CEO but throughout his more than 30 years of leadership and service to the Company. During that time Mark has played a central role in transforming the Company into a world leader in modern marketing services, with deep AI, data and technology capabilities, global presence and unrivalled creative talent, setting WPP up well for longer-term success,” said Jansen.” We are pleased that Mark will continue to lead WPP as CEO until the end of the year, remaining focused on the execution of the Company’s growth strategy and supporting a smooth transition to his successor, once appointed.”

    In a heartfelt sign-off, Read said leading WPP had been “an immense privilege.” When he took the reins in 2018, his mission was to simplify the business, power up its creative engines, and plug it into cutting-edge tech. By most accounts, he’s delivered.

    Said Read: “WPP is an incredible company with over 100,000 talented and creative people, wonderful clients and partners, and an unmatched presence around the world. It has been an immense privilege to serve as its CEO for the past seven years.

    “When I took on this role our mission was to build a simpler, stronger business, and put structure and new energy behind our creativity and performance, powered by world-leading technology. I am proud that our teams across the business have delivered that exceptionally well. Our clients today rate us more highly than ever before, we now work with four of the world’s five most valuable companies, and our revenues with our biggest clients have grown consistently.

    “Our business starts with creativity, and I was delighted for our teams that last year we were once again named Creative Company of the Year at Cannes Lions. We have also positioned WPP at the forefront of the industry with our investments in AI and, with the full launch of WPP Open this year, we are now leading the way as AI transforms marketing. We have an exceptional leadership team and a secure financial position that allows us to face the future confidently and capture the opportunities ahead.

    “After seven years in the role, and with the foundations in place for WPP’s continued success, I feel it is the right time to hand over the leadership of this amazing company. I am excited to explore the next chapter in my life and can only thank all the brilliant people I have been lucky enough to work with over the last 30 years, and who have made possible the enormous progress we have achieved together. I would also like to thank Phil and the rest of the Board for their steadfast support for me and the wider executive team, and I look forward to supporting them in the transition to my successor in the coming months.”

    WPP now works with four of the world’s five most valuable companies, and its largest clients are spending more than ever. He also gave a nod to WPP Open, the firm’s AI-powered platform, calling it a game-changer that’s keeping WPP ahead of the curve as artificial intelligence rewrites the rules of marketing.

    “I feel it is the right time to hand over the leadership of this amazing company,” said Read. “We’ve built the foundations for future success, and I look forward to exploring the next chapter in my life.”

    WPP, which employs over 100,000 people across the globe, is now on the hunt for a new commander-in-chief to build on Read’s digital-first, AI-fuelled momentum.

    The Mad Men era is long gone—WPP 2.0 is ready for its next act.

  • Kaur power drives WSO2’s APAC ambitions with digital push

    Kaur power drives WSO2’s APAC ambitions with digital push

    MUMBAI: She’s got the code to scale. In a strategic play to fuel its digital dominance across Asia-Pacific, Wso2 has appointed Navneet Kaur as vice president and general manager for the region. From India to Japan, and from SAARC to Southeast Asia and ANZ, Kaur’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on enterprise transformation in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.

    Armed with over 20 years of experience at tech giants like Salesforce, Mulesoft, and Capgemini (Aricent), Kaur has made a career out of scaling businesses and building high-performing teams across APAC. Now, she’s steering Wso2’s vision for the region at a time when cloud-native innovation and digital infrastructure modernisation are hitting a major inflection point.

    “There’s a wave of innovation and opportunity in the region,” Kaur said, adding that Wso2’s platform is uniquely poised to help businesses “modernise and compete in a cloud-first world.” Her leadership will be central to advancing the company’s open-source and SaaS offerings ranging from API management and integration to identity and access management for sectors like BFSI, telecom, and government.

    WSO2 already enjoys strong traction in India, and the company is doubling down on customer-centric strategies, strategic partnerships, and value delivery across APAC. With enterprises increasingly seeking secure and scalable digital experiences, the Sri Lanka-headquartered firm is betting big on Kaur’s deep domain knowledge and transformative vision.

    By investing in strong regional leadership, WSO2 hopes to unlock meaningful business outcomes in the region, one digital experience at a time.

  • Ted Sarandos spills the Netflix masala to Indian billionaire Nikhil Kamath

    Ted Sarandos spills the Netflix masala to Indian billionaire Nikhil Kamath

    MUMBAI: What happenswhen a video store clerk-turned-media mogul sits down with a new-gen Indian billionaire?

    Streaming gold. 

    In a riveting episode of People by WTF, Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos spilt the tea, dropped truth bombs, and dished out storytelling wisdom in an electric tête-à-tête with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. 

    From his Phoenix roots to Hollywood power tables—and yes, dinners with Shah Rukh Khan—Ted held nothing back.

    Sarandos shared his origin story: a would-be journalist whose real education came behind the counter at a video rental store. That humble setting gave him a ringside view of consumer desire—something he scaled up spectacularly at Netflix. “People hated late fees, but they loved discovering something new,” he quipped, summing up the genesis of Netflix’s ‘everything, anytime’ model.

    Sarandos’ India story was peppered with glam. He reminisced about his first meal with SRK—“very different in Mumbai than in LA”—and lauded Aryan Khan’s directorial chops in The Ba**ds of Bollywood*. His creative crush? Sanjay Leela Bhansali. “Heeramandi felt like a dare… he pitched it in LA like, ‘I dare you to make this’,” said Ted, still in awe.

    “For 10 years, I heard India was two years away,” Sarandos laughed. “Now, it feels truer than ever.” With local stories making global noise—think RRR or Kapil Sharma—Netflix doubled down. Sarandos noted that Indian audiences aren’t just watching Bollywood. They are binging Korean anime, true crime, Tamil action, and Turkish dramas with equal zest. “This market’s appetite is unmatched,” he said.
     

    Nikhil Kamath Ted Sarandos

    On leadership, Sarandos kept it brutally real. “Work-life balance? That’s a fantasy,” he shrugged. His playbook: take big swings, fail fast, and hire smart. He credited Netflix’s risk-positive culture to Reed Hastings, who saw streaming coming when dial-up ruled the world. “In 1999, Reed said, ‘Everything will come through the internet.’ It sounded crazy. Turns out, he was right.”

    Sarandos bet big on local stories going global. “Squid Game was never supposed to be a global hit. But great stories travel.” He stays bullish on AI—so long as humans lead the charge. “The art of the prompt will be a human skill,” he remarked, calling AI a cost cutter, not a creator killer. “It’ll help make better films, but won’t replace human imagination or emotion.”

    From gaming titles like Grand Theft Auto to video-forward podcasts, Netflix’s empire keeps expanding. Sarandos sees serious returns in content creation. “The best ROI? Still content. Delivery and monetisation are evolving faster than ever,” he noted.

    His advice to young creators? Make the coffee. “Be a PA, join a writers’ room, see if this is what you really want. Passion often follows excellence,” he urged, advising rookies not to reverse-engineer Netflix’s tastes, but pitch what needs to be told.

    The full episode of People by WTF featuring Ted Sarandos streamed on YouTube—popcorn highly recommended.

  • Totoro threads the needle as Uniqlo drops Ghibli gear this July

    Totoro threads the needle as Uniqlo drops Ghibli gear this July

    MUMBAI: When fashion meets fantasy, expect a wardrobe straight out of a dream or a Ghibli film. Uniqlo is all set to sprinkle a bit of My Neighbour Totoro magic into your closet. The global apparel giant announced the third edition of its highly anticipated UT collaboration with Studio Ghibli, titled “My Dear”, which will hit shelves across India on July 4, 2025.

    This latest drop from the cult-favourite collaboration features 14 designs celebrating the iconic storytelling and whimsy of Studio Ghibli. Expect artistic nods to beloved films and characters, from soot sprites to forest spirits, brought to life through UT’s crisp cuts and cotton charm.

    The line-up includes 11 styles for men priced between Rs 1,490 and Rs 2,490, and six adorable styles for kids starting at just Rs 990. All items will be available at Uniqlo stores across India and online, making it easier than ever for fans to wear their fandom on their sleeves quite literally.

    The visuals this time around are extra special, thanks to returning Thai artist Kanyada Phatan, known for her delicate interpretations of Ghibli’s universe, and Studio Ghibli’s own legendary producer Toshio Suzuki, whose sketches have been woven into the fabric of the campaign.

    The “My Dear” launch will also be marked by a special event, though Uniqlo is still keeping those details under wraps. Given the previous buzz around this collaboration which first launched in February 2022 fans can expect a summer splash of colour, nostalgia, and cinematic flair.

    With Ghibli’s emotional storytelling and Uniqlo’s wearable minimalism, this capsule collection is bound to enchant both fashionistas and anime loyalists alike. So mark your calendars, because on 4 July, your T-shirt drawer might just get its own fairy-tale ending.

  • Market makes the match as Nuvama partners with Network18 for 360 buzz

    Market makes the match as Nuvama partners with Network18 for 360 buzz

    MUMBAI: When it comes to the market, timing is everything and Nuvama has picked its slot wisely. In a strategic play to bolster its brand presence across India’s financial news ecosystem, wealth management major Nuvama Group has inked a year-long partnership with Network18, beginning 2 June 2025. The tie-up places Nuvama right at the beating heart of stock market discourse, the Market Hours segment across the CNBC Universe.

    Billed as the most-watched business news programming in the country, Market Hours will now see Nuvama integrated via contextual co-branded promotions, smart non-FCT elements, and in-program visual branding that go beyond the classic ad break approach. The integration will play out across television, digital, and Connected TV, ensuring a full-spectrum 360-degree brand presence.

    Nuvama will also be the presenting sponsor of CNBC-TV18’s India Business Hour, airing Monday to Friday at 8 PM, a prime-time perch to cement its presence in India’s financial storytelling. But the real kicker is a first-of-its-kind daily post-market wrap, served with expert insight and fresh analysis on market movements, economic indicators, and sectoral shifts a content initiative that adds serious thought leadership to the brand’s positioning.

    Network18 CEO, business news, Smriti Mehra said, “We are delighted to welcome Nuvama as a valued partner. This partnership is rooted in a shared vision for long-term collaboration, and we look forward to working together in the years ahead.”

    Nuvama Group CMO Sujay Rachh added, “We are pleased to announce Nuvama’s first-ever partnership with Network18, a strategic move that brings together two trusted brands with a shared commitment to empowering investors. In a world where information is abundant, but clarity is rare, this association is designed to deliver credible, actionable insights. We see strong momentum ahead as this partnership brings together trust, scale and thought leadership.”

    For a sector as dynamic as wealth management, timing a brand push to the right platform and moment can be everything. With this partnership, Nuvama isn’t just riding the ticker, it’s making its own headlines.

  • Breaking news, breaking records as Aaj Tak holds Hindi crown again

    Breaking news, breaking records as Aaj Tak holds Hindi crown again

     MUMBAI: Prime time isn’t just Aaj Tak’s time, it’s the time they broke the mould and the leaderboard. India’s leading Hindi news channel, Aaj Tak, has retained its No. 1 position in Week 21 of the BARC ratings for 2025 (HSM | 15 plus | 24 Hrs | Gross AMA’000), clocking a Gross AMA of 1,06,202 and commanding a 13.3 per cent market share the highest among the 14 Hindi news channels tracked. Its closest competitor, News18 India, followed with 1,05,147 AMA and a 13.1 per cent share, showing just how close the news battle can get when the stakes are sky-high.

    This win isn’t just statistical, it’s strategic. The channel’s decisive and sustained coverage of ‘Operation Sindoor’, a major national story that dominated headlines in May, proved to be a defining moment. Aaj Tak’s revamped prime time roster, featuring anchors surgically slotted into time bands with distinct formats, captured viewer loyalty and cemented the channel’s position across TV and digital platforms.

    On 8 May, during the peak of Operation Sindoor’s coverage, 2 million concurrent viewers tuned in to Aaj Tak’s Youtube livestream, setting another benchmark and demonstrating that the channel’s dominance extends far beyond traditional broadcasting.

    Weeks 18 and 19 had already seen Aaj Tak notch record engagement across rolled and unrolled BARC data. Now, with Week 21 locked in as a win, the message is loud and clear when breaking news breaks, India still turns to Aaj Tak.

    With competitors close behind, Aaj Tak’s consistent edge in editorial innovation, digital integration, and anchor-led prime time might just be the secret sauce to its continued lead. For now, the scoreboard says it all and the ticker at Aaj Tak HQ probably reads: still number one.

  • Poonawalla Fincorp goes full throttle: 24/7 digital loans now open for MSMEs

    Poonawalla Fincorp goes full throttle: 24/7 digital loans now open for MSMEs

    MUMBAI: Poonawalla Fincorp is giving Indian MSMEs a serious leg-up with a slick new digital tool in their financial arsenal—‘Business Loan 24/7,’ a fully online, branch-free business loan available any time of day, all days of the week.

    This isn’t just another fintech gimmick. It’s a proper game-changer. Backed by a pioneering digital risk assessment model and designed specifically for micro, small, and medium enterprises, the new loan product promises instant approval, flexible repayment, and a completely paperless ride from start to finish.

    “We believe that with India’s $4 trillion economy, MSMEs will be one of the most robust credit growth segments over the next 10 years, and our assumptions are based on India’s strong financial infrastructure—credit bureau data, GST information, account aggregators, and strong risk analytics. This product, which we will gradually build into the portfolio in a sensible, risk-calibrated manner, will be an industry,” says Poonawalla Fincorp managing director &n chief executive officer Arvind Kapil. 

    PFL’s digital model taps into India’s public digital infrastructure to vet borrowers using data-driven insights, not just legacy credit parameters. That means smarter risk assessment, faster decisioning, and credit that’s tailored—not templated.

    This move follows the successful rollout of PFL’s earlier 24/7 loan product for salaried professionals. With MSMEs now in its sights, the non-banking finance company wants to become the go-to lender for India’s credit-hungry entrepreneurs—especially in tier two and tier  three  towns where access to capital still moves at snail mail speed.

    Part of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, PFL boasts a ?35,631 crore loan book and a presence in 18 states and two union territories. With this new offering, it’s revving up to drive deeper into India’s growth engine—one digital disbursement at a time.

  • Zee5 reboots with a bang: new look, new packs, and a love letter to Indian languages

    Zee5 reboots with a bang: new look, new packs, and a love letter to Indian languages

    MUMBAI: Zee5 just hit refresh over the weekend —and it’s speaking your language, literally. The homegrown OTT giant has rolled out a bold new brand identity, tech-fuelled upgrades, and a strategic pivot that’s rooted in regional pride, promising to be India’s most culturally authentic streamer yet.

    With its shiny new tagline Apni Bhasha, Apni Kahaniyan (My Language, My Stories), Zee5’s relaunch isn’t just cosmetic. It’s a full-throttle shift to a language-first, audience-personalised platform designed to woo viewers from every Indian pin code—and beyond.

    From slick new UI/UX features and AI-powered recommendations to storylines inspired by folklore and forgotten heroes, the platform is now structured around three pillars: content, experience, and affordability. Each major Indian language will have its own vertical, with dedicated teams creating hyper-local narratives that speak straight to the heart.

    The streamer’s language packs start at Rs 120/month, while the Hindi + Punjabi + Bhojpuri bundle comes in at Rs 220/month. The all-access plan, covering everything from Bengali thrillers to Tamil dramas, is pegged at Rs 320/month. Annual variants are on offer too.

    Upcoming titles include:
    * Detective Sherdil and Chhal Kapat: The Deception (Hindi)
    * Sattamum Neethiyum (Tamil)
    * Maarigallu (Kannada)
    * Mothubaru Love Story (Telugu)
    * Aata Thambhahya Naay (Marathi)
    * Vibhishan (Bengali)
    * Inspection Bungalow (Malayalam)

    “Our new brand identity marks a pivotal step in our journey to become a deeply personalized, language-first platform that mirrors the diversity of Indian audiences,” says Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) president digital businesses and platforms Amit Goenka,. “Our strategic focus is clear – strengthen our footprint across India and global markets, deepen engagement through culturally relevant storytelling, and continue building a tech-enabled, scalable platform that’s personalized and intuitive. It’s a cultural shift in how consumers discover, connect with, and consume Indian entertainment globally.”

    Zeel chief marketing officer Kartik Mahadev added: “Our brand campaign with the tagline Apni Bhasha. Apni Kahaniyan is rooted in the idea that language is belonging, a celebration of a deeply personal emotion. A story told in your language feels like it’s lived in and not just watched. Going across seven languages, this multi-lingual campaign is designed to resonate with large and small towns alike, including tier two , tier three cities as well as with global audiences. Rooted in our language-first content strategy and hyper-local personalization, this campaign brings to life Zee5’s belief that in your language, stories are endless.”

    Zeel chief content officer Raghavendra Hunsur elaborated: “At Zee5, we’ve always believed that powerful storytelling begins with deep cultural insight. We’re deeply committed to serving audiences that have historically been underserved. By leaning into their realities, their languages, and their everyday stories, we’re expanding not just what we create-but who we create it for. Whether it’s long-form originals, short-form bites, or experimental formats, our goal is to delight viewers on their terms. This isn’t just a content strategy-with our language packs rollout, we are placing language at the centre of discovery, access, and engagement.”

    Zee5’s reboot to Z5 aligns with parent company Zeel’s  larger brand promise, “Yours Truly, Z”, and underscores the platform’s evolution into a truly Indian, truly inclusive digital home for stories in every shade and syllable.

    Watch the brand film here: Z5 – My Language, My Stories.