ITV

Category: Press Release

  • Paytm’s ‘Feed my City’ initiative serves over 10 lakh meals to daily wagers, contributions cross Rs 2 crore

    Paytm’s ‘Feed my City’ initiative serves over 10 lakh meals to daily wagers, contributions cross Rs 2 crore

    India's leading digital payments and financial services platform, Paytm today announced that it has raised over Rs. 2 crore for its ‘Feed My Initiative’. The company has been encouraging fellow citizens to donate on the app and contribute towards serving meals to the daily wage earners in Noida, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, & Hyderabad.

    Recently, Paytm partnered with KVN Foundation to serve meals to people who have lost their source of income due to the lockdown. The company has been requesting everyone to support this initiative by logging on to their Paytm App and clicking on the ‘Feed My City’ tab to donate. Together, Paytm and KVN Foundation are already serving over 1 lakh meals per day across the 5 cities. As the lockdown gets extended, they are targeting to serve another 20 lakh meals over the next few weeks.

    Siddharth Pandey, Vice President – Paytm said, "With generous contribution from our users, we have raised over Rs.2 crore in just ten days. This has helped us to serve meals to over 10 lakh individuals across India. We request everyone willing to contribute to this initiative to join this cause so that nobody sleeps without food."

    The 'Feed My City' initiative has also been supported by renowned personalities including Nandan Nilekani, Sunil Shetty, Saina Nehwal, Vishwanathan Anand, Mary Kom, Anil Kumble and KL Rahul. 

  • The hunt is on for ‘Patient Zero’ in the Flix First Premiere of the pandemic thriller on &flix

    The hunt is on for ‘Patient Zero’ in the Flix First Premiere of the pandemic thriller on &flix

    A deadly virus that threatens all of humanity, a group of survivors on a quest to find the cure and the world in a state of absolute pandemic – sounds familiar? In this reel-life scenario, it’s a poison-kills-poison situation in an ultimate race against time! This Sunday, witness the hair-raising pandemic-thriller and #LeapForth into a world of absolute chaos and despair as &flix brings the Flix First Premiere of a film so topical in today’s times, ‘Patient Zero’. Airing this Sunday, May 03, 2020 at 1 PM and 9 PM, the frightening and fast-paced action-horror film, is one that is sure to keep you on the edge! Directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky, the film boasts of a stellar ensemble cast comprising Matt Smith, Natalie Dormer, Stanley Tucci in lead roles along with Agyness Deyn and Clive Standen.

    The virus rabies has been mutated and it’s even deadlier than ever before! Such is the terrifying start to ‘Patient Zero’ – a film around humanity battling with intelligent, adrenaline-fueled creatures born from a supervirus.  With all of humanity infected and turned into streamlined killers, the only ray of hope is an asymptomatic victim who may hold the key to the cure. Morgan (Matt Smith) possesses the ability to communicate with those infected and together with his partner Dr. Gina Rose (Natalie Dormer), they struggle to find the one ‘patient zero’ before it gets too late. However, things go south with a breach in the system that raises all hell loose upon the sole human survivors. Can the two reverse engineer a vaccine to save humanity? Or do they succumb to those ‘living-dead’?

    In this catastrophic crisis, there is no plan B. The question is, is there a cure? And do they succeed?

    Prepare to get spooked in the nail-biting thriller as &flix brings the Flix First Premiere of ‘Patient Zero’ this Sunday, May 03, 2020 at 1PM and 9PM.

  • Burger King India and Delhi Police partner to provide burgers to orphanages

    Burger King India and Delhi Police partner to provide burgers to orphanages

    MUMBAI:   Burger King India partnered with Delhi Police to distribute burgers to children in orphanages and community clusters amidst the current Covid2019 crisis. The Don Bosco Ashalayam and Auxilium Snehalya in Palam Village and Asha Grah Children Home for Boys and Girls in Dwarka were served with burgers as mid-day snacks. Further, kids of JJ clusters in the area of Vikas Puri, GTB Enclave, Madhu Vihar, R.K Puram and Kalkaji were also served burgers. As part of this partnership, Burger King distributed 5000 burgers.

     Burger King India’s ‘Crown Standard Delivery’ ensures safe delivery of food from the kitchen to the communities. The staff delivering the meals wear protective gear like masks and gloves to ensure safety. Since the outbreak, Burger King has further strengthened its robust restaurant procedures around food safety, cleanliness and hygiene and increased its sanitization frequency in all restaurants across the country.

    Burger King CMO Srinivas Adapa said, “We work closely with police officers in our communities on a regular basis and in these unprecedented times, we would like to salute them for their selfless service to the nation. We are honoured to partner with the Delhi Police to provide safe and hygienic food to children in this hour of need.”

     The Delhi Police also appreciated the brand gesture and were happy to partner with this initiative which brought a smile on the faces of young kids.

  • Dice Media’s hit series ‘Firsts’ returns with lockdown-special Season 2 in partnership with Bumble and Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk

    Dice Media’s hit series ‘Firsts’ returns with lockdown-special Season 2 in partnership with Bumble and Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk

    Even while under the COVID-19 lockdown, India’s leading digital media entertainment company Pocket Aces is continuing to find innovative ways to create new content to keep its audiences constantly engaged and away from boredom. Pocket Aces has returned with the second season of its successful series ‘Firsts’ on its long-form channel Dice Media. Conceptualized, written, and  executed by the cast and crew completely from their respective homes, Firsts Season 2 unfurls the unusual love story of a couple that meets online in the middle of  the COVID-19 lockdown.

    The season stars popular digital actors and real-life couple Kriti Vij (What The Folks, Baked, Love Travel Repeat) and Pranay Manchanda (Baked, Love Travel Repeat, Official CEOgiri). The series is written by Dice Media’s  Pranav Tonsekar (Firsts S1, What The Folks) and directed by Pranay Manchanda himself.

    The season unveils the story of Tanya and Aman who, while stuck in quarantine, meet on Bumble, the dating platform where women make the first move. Bumble has come on board as the “Empower By Partner”. As the country stays home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the content partnership beautifully highlights how even during these tough times you can ‘Stay Far, Get Close’ and create safe, equal and meaningful connections virtually. Seamlessly in line with the brand’s value proposition, the protagonist Tanya (Kriti Vij) makes ‘the first move’ and the couple forges a special connection. They move from Bumble chat messages to voice calls and then video calls, get to know each other better, hit it off and soon experience all the ‘firsts’ of dating, but virtually.

    Over the course of 24, one-minute episodes, Firsts beautifully captures the sensitivities and insecurities of a new found virtual relationship. We see the two be vulnerable, go through the ups and downs of long periods of isolation, trying out new things together, consoling each other through their lows and most anxious moments, and finally meeting after the lockdown ends. Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk, as the “Associate Partner”, seamlessly finds its way into these everyday magical moments of romance, taking the brand theme of ‘Say It With Silk’ ahead.

    Commenting on the launch, Aditi Shrivastava, Co-founder of Pocket Aces, said, “If there is one thing that keeps people going in life, it is real meaningful bonds and companionships. This is even more true in this unprecedented pandemic, where the nationwide lockdown has jolted people emotionally. At Pocket Aces, our 220-member team has been hard at work not only trying to find innovative ways to entertain audiences, but also empathize with their mindsets during this time. It is from such a thought that this lockdown-concept for Firsts S2 was born. Content is even more important in these times to keep people un-bored, and we wanted to showcase one such story, proving that it is possible to meet new people and develop beautiful bonds even during this period of uncertainty. We are excited to have Bumble on board as their #StayFarGetClose campaign fits perfectly with what we aim to convey through the series, making the partnership an organic and seamless one. We are also delighted to welcome back Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk, who also partnered with us on Firsts Season 1, to the franchise – how can any love story be complete without saying it with Silk! ”

    Commenting on the partnership, Priti Joshi, Vice President of Strategy at Bumble, said, "During this period of social distancing we are seeing the dating app experience transition to an in-app dating experience. This partnership with Season 2 of Firsts beautifully highlights our message to users that on Bumble you can stay connected even when physically apart. We believe that it is possible to forge safe, equal and healthy connections virtually, and we are so excited to see this come to life in the 24 upcoming episodes of Firsts.”

    Karthik Nagarajan, Chief Content Officer, Wavemaker India, said, “We are thrilled with the success of Season 1 of Firsts and delighted to continue Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk's association with Firsts in Season 2. While we are all caught up in an unique global crisis, the situation doesn’t deter digital entertainment creators and brands from creating innovative and creative storytelling campaigns. Congratulations to team Dice Media for coming up with this season despite several constraints, and team Mondelez for recognizing the opportunity and continuing with this unique digital association. Here's to another successful partnership!”

    Firsts Season 1 received an overwhelming response from the audience earlier this year with over 32 million views. Catch the one minute episodes of Firsts S2 on Dice Media’s Instagram page.

  • EMPIRE STATE BUILDING LAUNCHES #HEROESSHINEBRIGHT CAMPAIGN TO THANK FIRST RESPONDERS

    EMPIRE STATE BUILDING LAUNCHES #HEROESSHINEBRIGHT CAMPAIGN TO THANK FIRST RESPONDERS

    The Empire State Building (ESB) today announced the launch of #HeroesShineBright, a weeklong campaign to thank every person putting their lives on the line to save others during the COVID-19 pandemic both in the United States and around the world. Every night from April 24 through May 2, ESB will dedicate its tower lights to a different First Responder organization, shining in their representative colors to acknowledge their bravery and service.

    On May 2, the final night of #HeroesShineBright, ESB will partner with the World Federation of Great Towers in a coordinated lighting that will see the Burj Khalifa (UAE), CN Tower (Canada), Macau Tower (China), Busan Tower (South Korea), Willis Tower (US), Euromast (Netherlands), 360 Chicago (US), Calgary Tower (Canada), One Liberty Observation Deck (US), Ostankino TV Tower (Russia), Tallinn TV Tower (Estonia), UFO Tower (Slovakia), and others shine their lights in a red heartbeat from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. in their local time zone to bring global awareness to those helping fight the pandemic. The Eiffel Tower will also dedicate its signature sparkle to the campaign that evening.

    The schedule of lightings is as follows: (Catch live in India at IST 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.)

    ·         April 24             Yellow/White/Blue w/ Siren Effect in honor of

    FDNY/EMS

    ·         April 25             Blue/White/Blue in honor of Doctors, Nurses and the Medical

    Community

    ·         April 26             Blue/Orange/Blue in honor of Correction Officers

    ·         April 27             Split lights:

    ·         North & South: Orange/Blue/White in honor of the U.S. Coast Guard

    ·         East & West: Blue/Gold/Blue in honor of the U.S. Navy

    ·         April 28             Yellow/Black/White in honor of the U.S. Army

    ·         April 29             Blue/Blue/Blue in honor of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

    ·         April 30             Yellow/Yellow/Yellow in honor of Essential Workers

    ·         May 1               Blue/Purple/Blue in honor of Police Memorial Day

    ·         May 2               Dynamic heartbeat lighting in coordination with the World Federation of Great

    Towers

    “The Empire State Building is the beating heart of all of us, and the international icon of the skyline of New York City.  She shines her lights to show First Responders and essential workers our appreciation, love, and support, which they deserve,” said Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. “Our tribute to the heroes on the front lines of our great city, one group at a time, will culminate with a worldwide show of support as the World Federation of Great Towers showers universal light to spotlight the contributions of First Responders around the world.”

    The Empire State Building encourages fans to participate in the #HeroesShineBright campaign, and leave comments on its posts and stories across its social media platforms thanking essential workers each night of the lightings. On May 2, the Building will share a celebratory compilation video incorporating videos of personal thank yous, fan comments, and inspiring videos of the lightings across the globe.

  • Edu-tech Platform Bada Business GainsMassive Popularity as Entrepreneurs Seek Professional Help In Sailing through the COVID 19 Crisis

    Edu-tech Platform Bada Business GainsMassive Popularity as Entrepreneurs Seek Professional Help In Sailing through the COVID 19 Crisis

    Leading edu tech platform Bada Business which offers valuable skills to help entrepreneurs scale up their enterprises is witnessing a surge in popularity as entrepreneurs seek professional help in reinventing their businesses and keeping them profitable during the COVID 19 crisis.

    Led by Asia’s top business coach and ace motivational speaker Dr Vivek Bindra, Bada Business has used the lockdown period to turn its focus on educating businesses about strategic approaches that can help them stay afloat and emerge stronger from the crisis. The platform is working to create an environment of positivity, hope, and confidence and help entrepreneurs optimize their resources and skills during this period. Demand for it online lessons has skyrocketed over the past month.

    Dr Bindra, who already has a huge fan base, has added over 5 lakh followers on his social media during the lockdown period, taking his total Facebook following to a whopping 31 lakh. Under a #learnathome programme, Dr Bindra is sharing valuable lessons on how entrepreneurs can polish their business skills and transform their enterprises to bounce back from this economic slump. A series of engaging audio-video presentations allow entrepreneurs to take stock of their businesses and choose viable transformational strategies – from technological automation to changes in business models – to be ready for a post COVID revival. In order to help accelerate the response to Coronavirus-driven changes, Dr Bindra’s team has been posting a series of posts on his social media platforms every day.

    Over 3 lakh entrepreneurs, students and wantrepreneurs recently attended India’s largest online business lesson organized by Bada Business. Besides Dr Bindra, it was addressed by Dr Bindra, Founder and CEO of Bada Business; Mr Paritosh Sharma, Vice President, Bada Business and Mr Sanjay Kathuria, Director, Bada Business. 

    “With the global COVID-19 pandemic changing our world for good, businesses need to adapt themselves fast to be able to sail through this change and restart sales quickly post the lockdown. We understand that entrepreneurs are worried about the economic losses. However, instead of fretting over it we advise them to utilize this time to bring about futuristic transitions in business strategies. Businesses must conduct extensive research to improve their product offerings while adopting greater automation to optimize their resources. We are sure Indian businesses have the resilience and capability to bounce back post this crisis and craft a renewed path of growth for the Indian economy. We are happy that more and more entrepreneurs are joining us and seeking our lessons during this time,” said Dr Bindra.

    Bada business’ primary focus is on helping small and medium enterprises scale us their businesses and achieve bigger outcomes.

    “Positive thinking and staying motivated is the need of the hour. One should not lose hope and be adaptable to the current situation,” Dr Bindra added.

    The revolutionary entrepreneur has many laurels behind him on digital platforms. He is the owner of World’s Most Subscribed Entrepreneurship YouTube Channel. With 10.1 million active subscribers on youtube, he is one of the World’s Greatest Influencers. He is also known for creating a Free Learning University on YouTube. He has an influential team of trusted advisors for over 500 corporate houses. 

  • The luxury industry shares its assessment of COVID-19 and the impact on global luxury businesses at Power Panel hosted by SP Jain Global

    The luxury industry shares its assessment of COVID-19 and the impact on global luxury businesses at Power Panel hosted by SP Jain Global

    How has the Coronavirus affected the global luxury industry? How can luxury companies emerge stronger, more innovative and purposeful after the battle against the Coronavirus has been won? To answer these important questions and more, SP Jain School of Global Management hosted, for the very first time, a ‘Power Panel Webinar’ bringing together luxury leaders and stalwarts from across the globe to share their insights, perspectives and relevant facts.

    The webinar was attended by over 300 participants from around the world and included an eminent panel comprising:

    Megha Malagatti, Business Development Director – L’Oreal, Paris
    Angelica Di Guglielmo, Luxury Brand Management Specialist & Worldwide Sales Director, Mischka Aoki, Milano
    Ajit Pai, CEO Audi, Audi Thane & Mumbai West Region
    Gauri Kohli, Director – Luxury, PR Pundit, Delhi
    Pareina Thapar, Co-Founder, Longform PR, Delhi
    Saurabh Dube – Director of Sales & Marketing, St. Regis, Mumbai
    Tarek Azmi – Founder- Here's Good News Training & Co-founder – Grey matter KSA, Dubai
    Sharing her experience of hosting the Power Panel, Ms. Smita Jain, Director of the Master of Global Luxury Management program at SP Jain said, “Through this panel, we wanted to highlight global perspectives across segments and economies, and understand the impact of the current crisis on luxury businesses worldwide. The perspectives that emerged from the panel indicate that certain segments within the luxury space may tweak their business strategies and more importantly, personalise experiences for customers. We are receiving tremendous response to the session, and are aiming to create an ecosystem of experts that will provide a robust stimulus to the industry.”

    In response to the most pressing questions facing luxury brands today, the panelists highlighted key trends that will set the tone for a possible new era in the global luxury industry.

    India to occupy a coveted top spot in the global automobile production space

    The automobile sector relies greatly on China, with the country accounting for 29% of the world’s total automobile manufacturing. While production in China cannot be avoided entirely, industry experts are expecting a shift to markets like India for production. India already has manufacturing capabilities; however, holds a small share of the pie at 2.9%. While the transition will take time, the shift is likely to put India on the global automobile map, as it holds the potential to impact the employment and economy in the long run.

    Domestic leisure travel to be the saving grace for the hospitality / aviation industries

    Arguably, the hospitality and aviation sectors are amongst the most impacted segments due to COVID-19, with the Indian Hospitality industry suffering losses to the tune of USD 4.5 billion. However, the industry is anticipating making a comeback by Q4, with certain sub segments ruling over the others. While Inbound and Outbound tourism is expected to be slow, owing to the restrictions placed by countries on international travelers, the domestic corporate travel may also take a hit depending on the state of business in the country. However, domestic leisure travel is said to rebound swiftly, and will be a major factor in helping the industry recover post the pandemic.

    In-store luxury experiences will continue to dominate in the post-COVID world

    While most sectors are shifting to digital means of shopping, the luxury retail segment has a unique stand. The segment is driven by the consumers’ need for indulgence and immersive experiences, which cannot be fulfilled through online platforms. Luxury holds a more symbolic value over function for most consumers, and industry experts believe that digitalisation of brands is a temporary solution. Although brands are acknowledging the need for omnipresence in times of the COVID-19, most retailers believe that in-store experiences will continue to dominate post the pandemic when it comes to luxury shopping.

    Conscientious, responsible luxury is the future

    Luxury brands have always enjoyed an air of exquisiteness, and an association with being glitzy. However, the industry is now witnessing a change in consumer behavior, with more and more people gravitating towards conscientious, responsible luxury as an effort to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. This has caused a ripple effect, leading brands and creators to seek slower lines of production that promote sustainability and creativity. Luxury brands are focusing on curating collections to address responsible consumption, and slow living, while maintaining their exclusiveness, and premium quality at the same time.

    These insightful, industry-relevant events are just part of SP Jain’s curriculum, which enables students to get hands-on learning, while hearing up-to-date advice and information from leading experts.

  • Is she truly worth ‘falling’ head over heels with? The heart-warming romantic comedy ‘Ode to Joy’ premieres on &PrivéHD

    Is she truly worth ‘falling’ head over heels with? The heart-warming romantic comedy ‘Ode to Joy’ premieres on &PrivéHD

    Based on a true story comes an inspiringly beautiful tale of how it hurts to take a pass at life’s simple joys. All it takes is the right woman to make you feel like a different person but having to give up true love or rather face your biggest weakness can be the hardest choice to make. For the first time on Indian television, &PrivéHD, the premium destination for nuanced cinema, is set to premiere ‘Ode to Joy’ on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 1 PM and 9 PM.

    The film features Emmy award winning director-actor duo Jason Winer and Martin freeman as they take you on a journey of highs and low through the life of Charlie.  Available with the Zee Prime English HD Pack, the channel brings to you a unique intertwined tale of the misadventures of a man with a self-sabotaging biology and an overzealous woman.

    Charlie (Martin Freeman), a kind-hearted yet reclusive Brooklyn based shy librarian suffers from a form of narcolepsy that causes him to collapse like dead weight at the sudden exertion of strong sentiments like joy and happiness. This causes him to lead a sedentary lifestyle sans emotion while passing through a monotonous journey with each passing day. He does whatever it takes, from avoiding cute dogs to thinking sad thoughts and reading depressing books to stay awake throughout his routine tasks. But life throws him a curveball when the over enthusiast and gorgeous Francesca (Morena Baccarin) comes along turning his life upside down.

    Will Charlie finally have his ‘happily ever after’?

    Jason Winer takes you on a humorous journey based on a true story as &PrivéHD premieres ‘Ode to Joy’ on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 1 PM and 9 PM

  • Switzerland Tourism’s new campaign urges travellers to #DreamNowTravelLater

    Switzerland Tourism’s new campaign urges travellers to #DreamNowTravelLater

    MUMBAI: Switzerland Tourism, while encouraging travellers across the world to stay home and stay safe, has launched a new campaign — #dreamnowtravellater — to keep hope afloat in travellers across the world giving them something to look forward to when the pandemic is finally behind us.

    As under normal circumstances, most of us right now would be diligently planning our summer vacations this year, but these are not normal times. As the Covid2019 pandemic spreads across major parts of the world, many countries are doing what they can to keep their citizens safe. Restrictions on domestic and global travel is one of them.

    A touching short video released by the Switzerland tourism board shares with the world the message to ‘dream now travel later’ against a backdrop of its stunning landscapes. It assures the world that the beautiful country will pause time and stay the way it is and be ready to welcome visitors when the world opens up. The video asks people to stay home and stay safe until that time comes.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_SSCGhDjBD/

  • AkzoNobel India extends support to over 12,000 painters

    AkzoNobel India extends support to over 12,000 painters

    MUMBAI: AkzoNobel India is supporting the painter community by providing an out of turn pay-out through the annual loyalty program – Colour Guru. As part of this initiative, direct online transfers is being made to the bank accounts of over 12,000 painting contractors.

    AkzoNobel India MD Rajiv Rajgopal said, “At AkzoNobel, our priority is to keep our employees, their families, and our partners safe and well. As the situation continues to evolve, we are constantly adapting our actions. We launched several initiatives to help communities cope with challenges caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Painting contractors are a significant part of our ecosystem and their livelihoods has been impacted by the pandemic. This early disbursement of funds is aimed at placing cash in the hands of painting contractors so that they are able to fulfil their essential needs and cater to any emergency during the extended lockdown period in India.”

    AkzoNobel India has adapted several existing projects launched as part of the company’s People. Planet. Paint. initiative – in response to the virus situation. These include e-health initiative for providing initial screening for coronavirus in villages near Bangalore. More than 1,000 people have been tested to date. Essential food items have been provided to 6,000 people who are mostly daily wage earners in Gurgaon, Gwalior and Navi Mumbai, including underprivileged children studying at AkzoNobel supported education centers.