Category: Press Release

  • Sony BBC Earth gave select students an unprecedented opportunity to be a part of the world premiere of ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’ followed by a live interaction with Sir David Attenborough

    Sony BBC Earth gave select students an unprecedented opportunity to be a part of the world premiere of ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’ followed by a live interaction with Sir David Attenborough

    MUMBAI: Set to enthral the world is BBC’s much-awaited landmark series ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’, which received a one-of-a-kind global launch on 7th October amidst students and guests in London, India and Africa. In India, Sony BBC Earth partnered with Royal Opera House to host this exclusive event for a select 500 school children who were the first few in the world to be a part of this global premiere and witness the biggest series ever produced on biodiversity.

    The grand event was hosted by actress Tara Sharma Saluja and graced by Maria Goretti and Cyrus Sahukar, all three are sincere environment advocates and big fans of Sir David Attenborough. The enthusiastic audience watched the first part – Antarctica – of the 7-part series, before joining a live Q&A session with the crew in London. The response to the first episode was overwhelming as students cheered in support of Weddell Seals and Baby Albatross and were beyond thrilled to quiz Sir David Attenborough and the production team about the challenges involved in making the series.

    Premiering in India in December, ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’ tells the story of earth’s spectacular and unique seven continents, each one full of life and how they shape the extraordinary animal behaviour and biodiversity we see today. For the series, filmmakers have employed new technology, including boundary-defining drone techniques, to capture unique perspectives, new species, and animal behaviour never before seen.

    As well as showing where humankind is negatively and positively impacting the health of the planet, viewers will witness sequences such as: the world’s most bizarre predator in the Iranian desert; grave-robbing hamsters in Austria; one of the largest and rarest animals on the very brink of extinction in Kenya; and polar bears using a never before seen hunting strategy to catch beluga whales in North America’s Hudson Bay.

    Complementing Seven Worlds, One Planet’s stunning landscapes and powerful stories is the potent combination of the unmistakeable voice of Sir David Attenborough and the stirring music of Hans Zimmer, delivering appointment to view television that’s sure to resonate with everyone who watches it.

  • Introducing Chhaa Jaa, Girl Effect’s first youth programme in India

    Introducing Chhaa Jaa, Girl Effect’s first youth programme in India

    MUMBAI: Introducing Chhaa Jaa (Go Forth and Shine), Girl Effect’s first youth programme in India aimed at empowering adolescent girls in India through digital media content. Chhaa Jaa’s focus is to inspire, inform and equip girls with the right skills and confidence to navigate their teenage years and reach their potential.

    Reflecting the seismic shift in India’s digital media landscape, Chhaa Jaa comes to life online and on social platforms to meet girls where they are already looking for information or increasingly will be. Chhaa Jaa launches with three digital media properties across social media platforms (Facebook Youtube and Instagram) designed to reflect the choices girls face as adolescents using entertaining, informative and authentic storylines. The content is underpinned by innovative behaviour change science designed to empower girls to make informed decisions about their future – from accessing information about sexual and reproductive health, to negotiating with parents about choices for their education, or preparing to find a first job. 

    Chhaa Jaa’s launch content is based on Girl Effect’s core belief that to deliver long-term change it is crucial to build up a girl’s sense of self, her identity and her ability to ask questions. Arre Sunn Na uses sketch comedy to tell the story of two friends – Sweety and Tannu – to deliver powerful messages on the need for girls to stand by their decisions, think of themselves as being more than their relationships, and show how to navigate difficult everyday situations. Khullam Khulla and Tumhari Meri Baatein follow the story of an everyday girl, Rani who busts common myths teens have, and hopes to take on the shame and stigma around sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge. 

    These storylines and characters are rooted in local culture and were co-created with girls, media, gender and culture experts after months of field research with girls, boys, parents and communities across India. A members-only online community called Bak Bak Gang will provide a moderated online space to take forward discussions raised by Chhaa Jaa’s content on topics like social pressures, relationships and career readiness. 

    Elaborating on the vision for Chhaa Jaa ahead of International Day of the Girl, Girl Effect CEO, Jessica Posner Odede, said: “Technology puts power in the hands of girls. Through Chhaa Jaa we see an incredible opportunity to use the power of mobile to engage girls with content they trust and empower them to make informed, positive decisions about their lives. Our ambition is to connect girls to services around them and create lasting change.”

    Over the next two years, Chhaa Jaa aims to deliver tangible, measurable change in the lives of teenage girls in Rajasthan, while also driving towards scale across urban centers in the Hindi belt. To help gauge the impact of Chhaa Jaa's programmes in India, Girl Effect deploys cutting edge quantitative and qualitative research expertise. Girl Effect’s Technology Enabled Girl Ambassadors (TEGAs), have uncovered authentic insights into the lives of adolescent girls and will enable Girl Effect to test and improve Chhaa Jaa’s content through feedback from girls and their communities.

    Girl Effect’s lead in India, Kanishk Kabiraj, added: “Despite better access to education, employment and health opportunities than ever before, girls still experience massive societal barriers and expectations that limit their potential. Chhaa Jaa is accessible on platforms that girls are using everyday and speaks to them in a language they understand about the reality of their choices and constraints. Girls have few role models in mainstream media to look to for support and guidance, and we want Chhaa Jaa to be the go-to for girls as they make decisions that will define their own futures.”

    Chhaa Jaa is currently funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and the Vodafone Foundation, supporting its aim to digitally connect girls to information and services they need. 

    Hisham Mundol, Executive Director, India and Child Protection at CIFF, commented: “We are proud and excited to partner with Girl Effect. Their model – which is a combination of fit-for-purpose digital channels, brand and community building as well as giving voice and knowledge to young girls – holds enormous promise in India. This will serve hundreds of thousands of young lives.”

    P Balaji, Chief Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer, Vodafone Idea Limited and Director in the Vodafone Foundation India, said: “At Vodafone Foundation, we harness the power and potential of mobile technology to drive impactful social change. With women and girls being the primary drivers of the desired change, their empowerment is crucial. We are delighted to introduce Vodafone Foundation's global partnership with Girl Effect in India with Chhaa Jaa, combining our expertise to deliver real change for young girls and women in India. I am confident that many young girls and women in India will benefit from Chhaa Jaa and will make more informed decisions about their well-being.”

  • Citroën partners with kotak mahindra prime to offer auto finance solutions

    Citroën partners with kotak mahindra prime to offer auto finance solutions

    MUMBAI: Citroën, a globally successful brand of the auto conglomerate, Groupe PSA, has partnered with Kotak Mahindra Prime Ltd (KMPL), a leading car finance company in India, to offer innovative retail finance and enable mobility solutions in India. The partnership with KMPL will offer innovative finance solutions and value added products to the customers and customised credit solutions to dealers in India. This tie-up, in addition to the earlier agreements signed with Axis Bank and ALD, will provide Citroën India customers with wide array of finance options, making their experience more rewarding.

    Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Roland Bouchara, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Citroën India said, “At Citroën, we are continuously looking-out for new collaborations that will deliver best ownership experience to our future customers and dealer partners. Auto finance is a big enabler for customers to  buy cars in India, hence, we consider this as critical to reach out to the prominent financial institutes like KMPL to offer  new-age finance solutions by supporting future customers to own their dream Citroën cars and dealers to have seamless access to customised credit solutions.”

    The flagship vehicle, Citroën C5 Aircross SUV, will be the first product from the Citroën brand for the Indian customers, which will be launched in 2020. The SUV will set a benchmark in style, comfort and innovation in its segment in India.

  • Launching #HaqSeHipHop, an original content and concert series by Rolling Stone India and Qyuki

    Launching #HaqSeHipHop, an original content and concert series by Rolling Stone India and Qyuki

    MUMBAI: With an aim to chronicle and promote India’s flourishing hip-hop scene, leading music magazine Rolling Stone India and digital media firm Qyuki have joined hands to launch #HaqSeHipHop, a first-of-its-kind multi-platform property. 

    #HaqSeHipHop will celebrate the success stories of India’s top hip-hop artists, visionaries and emerging talent by means of an audio and video podcast, an inspirational video series, masterclasses and pan-India concert series.

    The featured artists in #HaqSeHipHop include breakout rappers Naezy and Prabh Deep, producer Sez, hip-hop collectives Swadesi, Dopeadelicz, Khasi Bloodz and more.

    WATCH THE PROMO for #HaqSeHipHop:  https://www.instagram.com/p/B3aTvXxAer5/?igshid=18joht5v7jxu

    Rolling Stone India and Qyuki have been early supporters and stakeholders in India’s hip-hop ecosystem from its fledgling days, and with #HaqSeHipHop, both endeavor to give the diverse hip-hop voices in India a definitive mouthpiece they can claim as their own.

    Long before hip-hop attracted mainstream attention, Rolling Stone India consistently employed its editorial platform to promote talent and report every development in the scene — the magazine was the first to famously feature emerging hip-hop talent on its cover in 2016, following it up with another cover in 2019. 

    Says Nirmika Singh, Executive Editor, Rolling Stone India, “The #HaqSeHipHop property is our way of honoring the hard work, hustle and hope in hip-hop. We are at the cusp of a music revolution in India and its biggest impact is currently being witnessed in hip-hop. As curators of pop culture, we want to tell as many compelling stories as possible – via podcasts, gigs and masterclasses.”

    As India’s premier digital media enterprise, Qyuki’s contribution in nurturing budding hip-hop talent is unparalleled. Together with Universal Music, it is the co-founder of The Dharavi Dream Project(TDDP), a non-profit committed to the promotion of music and arts, which runs the After-School of Hip-Hop, Asia’s largest hip-hop institution where under-resourced artists are equipped with knowledge and skills of rap, bboying, beatboxing, DJing and graffiti.

    Samir Bangara, Co-Founder & MD, Qyuki, says, “Since the birth of hip-hop in the late Seventies, its form and meaning have always been challenged and redefined by artists. To preserve the true spirit of expression as a birthright, we conceived ‘Haq Se’ (by right) which specifically promotes independent hip-hop talent. Our investment in promoting local hip-hop started with The Dharavi Dream Project six years ago along with Universal Music Group and with #HaqSeHipHop, we want to widen the platform and nurture the incredible diversity in the genre from across the country.”  

  • Revolt intellicorp powered by vodafone idea 4g network & iot connectivity solution launches ai enabled smart electric motorbikes

    Revolt intellicorp powered by vodafone idea 4g network & iot connectivity solution launches ai enabled smart electric motorbikes

    MUMBAI: Vodafone Idea, country’s leading telecommunications service provider today announced its partnership with Revolt Intellicorp, the next-gen mobility company, created for the smart world. The collaboration between the two companies aims to give a ‘smart’ riding experience for India’s first AI-enabled electric motorbike.

    As a part of the partnership, Vodafone Idea Business Services (VIBS), the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea, provides Revolt Intellicorp with 4G IoT connectivity solutions. Building on the existing features of the new and fully equipped motorcycle – like app connectivity and four separate artificial exhaust sounds, VIBS is now providing exclusive IoT enabled solutions to enable features such as geofencing, bike locator and real-time bike information and diagnostics, with voice start feature to be introduced soon for the customers.

    Speaking on partnership, Nick Gliddon, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Vodafone Idea said, “We are extremely happy to announce this partnership with Revolt Motors and make India’s first AI based electric motorbike truly smart through our IoT solutions. Electric Vehicles will disrupt the Indian automobile landscape in the coming few years. Connectivity will play a pivotal role in ensuring that electric vehicles are a success. It offers us an ideal opportunity to collaborate and introduce comprehensive end-to-end solutions for our partners in the automotive industry and enhance customer experience.”

    Commenting on the collaboration, Rahul Sharma, Founder, Revolt Intellicorp said, “We are happy to partner with Vodafone Idea, as we progress to make urban commute convenient, clean and connected. This collaboration is an important milestone in our journey to offer smart mobility solutions and an enhanced riding experience to our customers. We are committed to the sustainable mobility mission and will continue to work towards bringing aspirational e-mobility solutions for the customers.” 

    The fully electric motorbikes-RV400 and RV300 can be purchased through the My Revolt Plan. This partnership will herald a new chapter in the Indian automotive industry and more particularly shape the Electric Vehicle revolution.

  • Rini Sanyal becomes first female Chairperson of IDSA

    Rini Sanyal becomes first female Chairperson of IDSA

    MUMBAI: Coinciding with Union Government's mission of empowering women, Ms. Rini Sanyal, Director-Regulatory & Government Affairs, Herbalife Nutrition, has taken over as new Chairperson of Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA). Mr Vivek Katoch, Director – Corporate Affairs, Oriflame India Pvt. Ltd., demitted the office after completing his successful two years term as Chairman.

    The election to form a new Executive Committee was held during 23rd Annual General Meeting of the of IDSA at New Delhi recently. Ms Sanyal is the first female to be elected to the coveted post of Chairperson of IDSA. Mr Rajat Banerji, Vice President- Corporate Affairs, Amway India Enterprises was elected as Vice-Chairperson of the Association. Mr Katoch will be the new Treasurer while Jitendra Jagota, Director Legal & Govt. Affairs, Avon Beauty Products India Pvt. Ltd., has been elected as new Secretary of IDSA. The new Executive Committee will hold office for two years.

    The new Chairperson, Rini Sanyal, professionally is a Food & Nutrition specialist, Trainer and policy professional for 18 years having expertise in the technical & legal regulatory affairs in Food, Retail, FMCG and allied areas. Deft in International Food Regulations, she has worked closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and remained an external consultant to Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and advised the authority on various strategic legal & Regulatory matters. She was also instrumental in drafting key regulations and was an active member in the effort towards Harmonization of Food Standards in India. She had started her career with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI).

    Ms. Sanyal said "with the notification of Guidelines on Direct Selling by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in the year 2016 to bring Direct Selling Industry (DSI) within a regulatory framework, clearly differentiating DSI from Pyramid schemes and providing a safeguard to consumers from dubious companies. This momentum has been further reinforced as the Consumer Protection Act 2019, recently passed in Parliament, has recognized the industry by including the Direct Selling definition in the Act, paving the way for regulation. The main focus ahead thus would be working in tandem with concerned Ministries in framing of rules & provisions and their implementation. This would enable the growth of DSI and protect the consumers interest as well. We also have to work with our members to pace up their growth in the country and take the sector and IDSA to greater heights.”

  • dentsu X India recognized in ‘Adweek Top 100 Fastest Growing Agencies’ globally

    dentsu X India recognized in ‘Adweek Top 100 Fastest Growing Agencies’ globally

    MUMBAI: dentsu X India, the integrated media specialist, has been recognized in the Top 100 Fastest Growing Agencies’ global rankings by the international advertising publication, Adweek.

    dentsu X has recorded stellar business growth, not just this year but consistently so, year-on-year in these past few years. Yes, India is a frontrunner in growth on a global scale but this recognition is much more distinct as dentsu X India is the only agency from India to appear in the list of Top 100 global agencies!

    Speaking on the occasion Divya Karani, Chief Executive Officer, dentsu X India said, “We are simply delighted! This growth, these accolades bear testimony to our differential design thinking and the good work delivered to our clients. They also reflect our culture of partnering our clients every step of the way. This recognition is both gratifying and motivating for us to stay the course.”

    dentsu X India has also been recognized as the ‘No.1 agency on the New Business Barometer 2018’ by COMvergence, an independent international report and RECMA.

    RECMA, a research company evaluating the media agency industry, named dentsu X as the 'Fastest-growing network in the world'. Forrester Wave, a global research firm, recognized dentsu X as ‘One of the most significant media agencies in 2019’.

  • Snapdeal’s second Diwali Sale showcases Festivity, Fashion & Fitness

    Snapdeal’s second Diwali Sale showcases Festivity, Fashion & Fitness

    MUMBAI: After a stupendous growth in the first phase of the sale, Snapdeal, India’s largest value-focused ecommerce marketplace, today announced the second edition of its “Snap Diwali” sale, commencing on 11th October until 13th October 2019.

    Witnessing a jump of over 1.5 times Diwali Sales volumes over last year in the previous sale and an excellent response from tier II & tier II city, the second leg of the sale has multiple offers across various categories. Some of the best offers are built around the themes of festivity, fashion and fitness, basis the demand and from the tier II and tier III consumers.

    According to Snapdeal, “the second Snap-Diwali sale mirrors the mood of our buyers – festivities, fashion & fitness. Our sellers have curated irresistible offers for buyers to adorn their homes and dress up for the celebrations. We also have special offers for those who believe that fitness & festivities belong together.”

    The festivity offers are all about adorning the home and the sale has an extensive collection of LED Diyas, Sky Lanterns, Fairy Lights, Ornate Lamps and Diwali Rangolis. Curtains, throws and carpets in festive hues are also up for grabs. Idols of various deities, small home temples, silver & copper utensils and Pooja Thalis are part of the festive range.

    Given that Diwali is also about cleaning the home, the sale offers a large collection of DIY hand tools, kitchen organisers, vacuum cleaners, fabric protectors and cleaning accessories like microfiber dusters, spray-mop sets, home ladders etc. Other offers include Aquarium decor like pebbles, diffusers, submersible lights, aquarium toys and glowing light with air stones. There is also a wide variety of ornamental plants in decorative pots. 

    Based on consumer feedback, Snapdeal’s fashion range for Diwali has a large selection of silk kurta-pajama sets and gowns for kids, embroidered Kurtis for women and Pathani Suits for men. According to a Snapdeal survey done before Diwali, Banarasi Silk Sarees, Art Silk Sarees, Gota-Patti kurtis and small pieces of kundan jewellery are expected to be high-sellers during the festive season. Accordingly, it has curated a large variety of these with attractive discounts.

    Fitness bands and smartwatches with multiple health trackers are emerging as popular gifting choices this year and feature prominently in Snapdeal’s sale. For many die-hard fitness buffs, fitness and festivities can co-exist together. For these users, the sale includes a comprehensive, value-priced range of fitness accessories like tummy trimmers, sauna belts, steppers and push up bars. A selection of dry fruits and berries offers options for healthy indulgence this festive season.

    Snapdeal users can avail up to 25% instant from bank cards, e-wallets or coupon codes. Punjab National Bank users get a 25% discount. Rupay and Bank of Baroda card users can avail up to a 20% discount. Federal Bank and RBL card users also get up to 15% off.

    Snapdeal’s first sale Diwali sale which concluded on 6th October saw its Diwali order volumes double across more than 120 cities across India. The overall orders rose sharpy by 52% over last Diwali, driven largely by strong buying trends from non-metro cities like Nagpur, Surat, Vijayawada, Chandigarh, Panaji, Jamshedpur, Shimla & Guwahati.

    In the 8-day, “Snap-Diwali sale” that ran from 29th September – 6th October 2019, the platform clocked more than 76 million visits – surpassing its monthly visits within the first week of October 19. During the sale more than 15 million users played “Spin the Wheel” game on the Snapdeal app to discover additional bargains and win sale coupons.

    Snapdeal has more than 500,000 registered sellers, who have more than 200 million listings on the marketplace.

  • TLC, India’s one-stop destination channel for global lifestyle, kickstarts 15th anniversary celebrations in India

    TLC, India’s one-stop destination channel for global lifestyle, kickstarts 15th anniversary celebrations in India

    MUMBAI: India’s leading and one-stop destination channel for global lifestyle – TLC – has kick started celebrations of its 15th anniversary in style by launching the best of programming line-up across genres such as Baking, Fashion, Food & Travel, Wedding and home and renovation-based programming. The channel has refreshed its brand identity and adopted a new fun, vibrant and bold packaging to engage deeper with passionate communities who are aspiring to indulge in exotic experiences from fascinating cultures, spectacular locations and the latest in global lifestyle.

    The newly launched anniversary campaign from TLC celebrates 15 years of limitless desires and the undeniable bond the channel has created with audiences in India. 

    Speaking on the occasion, Sai Abishek. Director – Content, Factual & Lifestyle Entertainment, Discovery, said, “AT TLC, we love to indulge our audience in exotic experiences from fascinating cultures, food, spectacular locations and the latest in global lifestyle. The 15th anniversary offers us a fascinating opportunity to capture every facet of global lifestyle with the best of programming across genres for our discerning audiences.”

    Th best of programming line-up on TLC:

                Genre

    Name of the show

    Best of Baking

    Cake Boss and Buddy Vs Duff

    Best of Food & Travel

    Master Chef Canada, Food Paradise, Jamie’s Quick & Easy Food, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and Bizarre foods

    Best of Weddings

    Say Yes to the dress, Bride by Design

    Best of Fashion

    Project Runway, American Beauty Star

    Best of Homes

    Restaurant Impossible, Property Brothers, Mediterranean life & Extreme Homes

  • Cisco 2019 CISO Benchmark study_ India Inc. Facing Longer Downtimes and Higher Costs from Cyberbreaches amid Rising Threats

    Cisco 2019 CISO Benchmark study_ India Inc. Facing Longer Downtimes and Higher Costs from Cyberbreaches amid Rising Threats

    MUMBAI: Organizations in India are facing longer downtimes and higher financial costs from cybersecurity breaches, compared to the global average, according to Cisco’s 2019 Asia Pacific CISO Benchmark Study, released today.

    According to the study, 37 percent of companies in India experienced a downtime of over 9 hours after their most severe breach in the past year, compared to just 30 percent globally. Longer downtimes often result in higher financial costs. This was evident across India, as 24 percent of companies saw a financial impact of USD one million or more from their most significant breach in the past year. 

    With the number of cyber threats increasing rapidly, the real challenge lies in what comes after the alert is received. How many of the alerts are investigated, and how many of those found to be genuine are eventually remediated. According to the study, 46 percent of respondents reported receiving more than 5,000 threat alerts a day; however, 43 percent of them go unattended, compared to 39 percent in 2018.  Of the threats that were investigated and found to be genuine, only 41 percent were remediated (down from 52 percent in 2018).

    Cyber-attacks are evolving rapidly. Hackers are no longer just targeting IT infrastructure but have started to attack operational technology infrastructure, intensifying the challenge for companies. In India, 25 percent of respondents have already experienced an attack on their operational infrastructure (versus 21 percent globally), and 34 percent expect this trend to increase in the next year. 

    The study also highlights that the use of multiple vendors is adding to the complexity for security professionals. According to the survey, 29 percent of companies in India are using more than 10 vendors, compared to 33 percent globally, and 4 percent are using more than 50 vendors, compared to 3 percent globally. When asked how challenging it is to manage a multi-vendor environment, 89 percent said it was somewhat or very challenging to orchestrate multiple vendor alerts. This is in line with the global trend, with 79 percent of respondents across the world highlighting this as an issue. 

    The study, based on close to 2,000 security professionals from across the APAC region, highlights that security practitioners in the Asia Pacific are being kept busier than their global counterparts.

    Vishak Raman, Director, Security Business, Cisco India & SAARC, “Organizations in India have made significant improvements to their cybersecurity postures, in the last year. They have increased their security budgets, focused on training their workforce, and have started integrating their security infrastructure. However, high workloads and alert fatigue continue to be a big challenge. Hence, enterprises in India are looking at increasing the level of automation in their security strategy as well as opting for an integrated end-to-end solution to secure their infrastructure.”