ITV

Category: Press Release

  • FOODFOOD integrates with Nagesh Kukunoor’s Lakshmi

    FOODFOOD integrates with Nagesh Kukunoor’s Lakshmi

    MUMBAI: FOODFOOD, the No 1 food lifestyle channel in India joins with director Nagesh Kukunoor’s film,  Lakshmi,  based on women trafficking, a frightening reality that haunts women from deprived backgrounds. A true story of a child-woman whose spirit could not be broken in spite of trauma and emotional battering she faced.

     

    As a part of the integration FOODFOOD is hosting a contest during its popular TV show Cook Smart with Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor who is joined by director Nagesh Kukunoor, stars Shefali Shah &the protagonist Monali Thakur (ex Indian Idol) on the show. During the episode, January 23rd, 5.00 PM, viewers will be asked three contest questions from the said episode and the questions will be posted on Facebook page of FOODFOOD. The winners will get Lakshmi movie merchandise and exciting prizes.

     

    Stay tuned to FOODFOOD on January 23rd, at 5.00 PM, to Cook Smart and win fabulous prizes.

  • BBC Worldwide appoints Akhauri Sinha as the COO of Content and Production

    BBC Worldwide appoints Akhauri Sinha as the COO of Content and Production

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide India has appointed Akhauri Sinha as the COO of Content and Production. Based in Mumbai, Akhauri will report to Myleeta Aga, SVP and General Manager India and Content Head for Asia, and will oversee BBC Worldwide’s production business in the country.

     

    Akhauri will head the production of BBC Worldwide formats and local originally developed concepts in both fiction and non-fiction genres, for the Indian market. He is also tasked to formulate and implement local development strategies to maximise commissioning opportunities within the territory.

     

    Akhauri joins BBC Worldwide from Moving Picture Company (MPC) in Bangalore where he headed the India studio for the global visual effects giant. Prior to that, Akhauri worked with Nimbus and UTV, managing the film entertainment division and business development, respectively.

     

    “I am very pleased to have Akhauri join the BBC Worldwide family,” said Myleeta Aga. “Akhauri has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the media industry and has managed major production and other media businesses. With him working closely with our team on the ground, I am confident that BBC Worldwide in India will continue to produce quality formats and local productions that will appeal to our growing audience.”

     

    Last month, BBC Worldwide India was recognised at the 2013 Asian Television Awards when Disney Q Family Mastermind (India) was awarded with the Best Game/Quiz Programme. The format was adapted from the classic BBC format, Mastermind, which was revised to include families as participants. It airs on Disney Channel India.

     

    The sixth and latest season of the Hindi version of Dancing with the Stars, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, which aired on Colors, achieved its best audience figures to date – the grand finale, on 14th September 2013, pushed the show to the top of weekend programming nearly doubling the ratings from 2012.  There is also a regional Bengali version of the show.

     

    Source: BBC Worldwide India

  • Conax demonstrating total service protection for Indian operators at Convergence India

    Conax demonstrating total service protection for Indian operators at Convergence India

    NEW DELHI: Conax, a leading global expert in total service protection for digital video content distribution over all types of networks and devices, today announced that it will demonstrate its total value chain broad portfolio of service protection solutions at Convergence India, January 21 to January 23. The company will be holding a feature event at Convergence India on  at 4 pm on the Conax stand with KCCL and partners to reveal the details of launch of new Conax technology in the KCCL operations.

     

    Conax’s 11 years of India success and broad spectrum of reference customers is a result of dedication to pay-TV operators in India, a pioneering approach to the needs of the market and its renowned open partnering policy for secure set-top-boxes for pay-TV operators. Conax is helping operators secure increased ARPU through digital service offerings, and easy, flexible upgrade for new, future solutions such as secure hybrid content delivery and multiscreen, anytime/anywhere content delivery.

     

    Equipping operators for the future, Conax is providing an entire value chain of service protection – future-proof, open and flexible solutions and partnerships for evolving new business models and capturing new segments well into the future, enabling operators to be first out with new services and solutions.

     

    Demonstrating Conax Value Chain of total Solutions at Convergence India

     

    Today’s marketplace filled with challenges and opportunities, thus service providers are on the move to identify the best technologies and solutions to positioning for future business. Meet experts from Conax to learn how we can bring your operations into the future.

     

    Conax Contego, the CAS solution with a broad portfolio of future-proof Secure Clients provides content security for any device with or without Smart Cards. It is designed to support operators of any size; small, medium and large, delivering unrivalled security to satellite, cable, terrestrial, IP and OTT networks.

     

    Conax is expanding its future-proof client portfolio with a cardless option that provides a unique level of cardless content security using new chip technology not offered by competitor’s pure software solutions. Conax recommends a combined approach using smart card security for high-end content operations and the cardless option for low-end ARPU content, based on the joint Conax security back-end.

     

    Hybrid, multiscreen and OTT content distribution for the future: The Conax team will feature Conax security hardened PlayReady Clients and Conax Xtend Multiscreen™, – cost-efficient, pre-st, 2013: Conax, a leading global expert in total service protection for digital – 23rd. The company will be holding a feature event at Convergence India on  at 4 pm on the Conax stand with KCCL and partners to reveal the details of launch of integrated, fast-time-to market solutions, enabling any operator to easily add and capitalize on a multiscreen offering.

  • Aegis Media and Dentsu Network join hands to create Dentsu Aegis Network

    Aegis Media and Dentsu Network join hands to create Dentsu Aegis Network

    MUMBAI: From 1 January 2014 Aegis Media and Dentsu Network combined to form the Dentsu Aegis Network. Together they form the first truly global communications network for the digital age, in 110 countries worldwide with over 22,000 dedicated specialists.

     

    Nick Waters will lead Dentsu Aegis Network in Asia Pacific and will be responsible for the management of the business and the development of network, specialist and local brands across the region.

     

    With over 5,500 employees in China including associates, full integration in China will begin in 2015. Until then, Aegis Media and Dentsu Network will continue to work in parallel, managed by Phil Teeman CEO Aegis Media China and Motohiro Yamagishi CEO Dentsu Network China.  KF Lee will take the role of Chairwoman Dentsu Aegis Network China working across the two businesses.  Motohiro Yamagishi will additionally lead the Dentsu agency brand across North Asia.  Rohit Ohri will lead the Dentsu agency brand across the rest of the region – Asia Pacific South.

     

    Luke Littlefield will lead Dentsu Aegis Network Australia and New Zealand as CEO and Rob Hughes, Dentsu Aegis Network North Asia. Ashish Bhasin is appointed CEO Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia and Dick van Motman takes leadership as CEO for the group in Southeast Asia. 

     

    Brand leaders:

    Motohiro Yamagishi                                 CEO Dentsu China & North Asia

    Rohit Ohri                                                 Chairman Dentsu India & CEO Dentsu Asia Pacific South

    Sean O’Brien                                              CEO Carat Asia Pacific

    Jean Lin                                                     CEO Isobar Asia Pacific & Global Chief Strategy Officer

    Ruth Stubbs                                              CEO iProspect Asia Pacific

    Kristian Barnes                                          CEO Vizeum Asia Pacific

     

    Nick Waters, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific said: “With our brand and leadership structures confirmed we have the opportunity to develop the Dentsu Aegis Network, and our client base, by delivering a wider range of distinctive products and services across the region. The new Dentsu Aegis Network has a unique position in the market, and with this brings the opportunity to grow our clients’ businesses with our own.”

     

    The Dentsu Aegis Network will be headquartered in London. Carat, the Dentsu agency brand, iProspect, Isobar, Posterscope and Vizeum will work together for the first time under the operating model of one P&L per country alongside growing multi-market specialist and local brands.

     

  • HDFC ERGO’s launches unique on-ground activation

    HDFC ERGO’s launches unique on-ground activation

    MUMBAI: HDFC ERGO General Insurance, India’s 4th largest private sector general insurance company, recently executed an innovative multiplex campaign which was a mix of online & on-ground activation at PVR Cinemas. The campaign was focused on HDFC ERGO’s Motor Insurance policy which can be bought or renewed through the company’s mobile website anytime, anywhere.

     

    This unique activation was executed during the opening weekend of Amir Khan starer blockbuster – Dhoom 3 screening at PVR Cinemas. The concept saw a person from the audience surprisingly walking into the big screen and coming back  to his seat enjoying the movie with other audience.

     

    Storyboard:

     

    On the onset of the ad, a host on big screen reads out a car number to find out the owner, and invite him on-screen to discuss something important. One of the guy in the audience identifies the said car number as his car and he walks towards the big screen. Suddenly audience sees him on the big screen with the host.  He is than reminded about his motor insurance policy which will lapse in a matter of hours and how he instantly renewed it with the help of HDFC ERGO’s mobile website.
     

    HDFC ERGO managed to perfectly synchronize the entire activation with the live crowd present at the cinema hall, capturing all natural audience reactions which holds the thrill.

     

    The campaign immediately caught the audience attention while simultaneously delivering its core message of renewing motor insurance policy instantly on HDFC ERGO mobile website. The campaign, once uploaded, immediately went viral and managed to garner an incredible 7.14 Lacs hits in 7 days on youtube.

    Bindi Thakkar, Vice President, Marketing & Corporate Communication says, “The campaign was innovatively conceived to connect with the customer and create buzz with curiosity. This is one of our first viral campaigns to receive such overwhelming response on our YouTube channel within few hours of its upload. We are confident that the campaign would be a great success across geographies thus creating better brand awareness.”

     

  • Star India to become FIH’s Media Partner in eight year broadcast & rights deal

    Star India to become FIH’s Media Partner in eight year broadcast & rights deal

    MUMBAI: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Star India, which runs India’s leading sports network Star Sports, are delighted to announce that they have signed an eight year strategic partnership to improve the production of international hockey broadcast and extend hockey’s reach worldwide. The ground-breaking deal will run from January 2015 to December 2022. During the period of the deal, FIH will look to host a major event in India each year.

     

    Enhancing production

    Star Sports will be the host broadcaster for key FIH events both in India and throughout the world and will be responsible for ensuring consistent and high level production.

     

    The partnership with Star Sports is in line with FIH’s strategy to put events at the forefront and also its determination to inspire and entertain a global movement of hockey fans and players. FIH recently introduced a strong focus on digital engagement, branding and promotion of events to improve the spectator experience. Making the television coverage more entertaining and compelling is fundamental to achieving this goal.

     

    Star Sports has an impeccable track record. In their position as the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) global Broadcast & Production Partner, the company has continuously raised the bar in their television coverage of all ICC events.

     

    Last year, Star Sports partnered with Hockey India to launch the pioneering Hockey India League (HIL). Star Sports showcased hockey in a completely new way, offering a TV experience relevant to the youth market. In its first season, HIL was broadcast in more than 80 territories across the globe.

     

    Extending hockey’s reach

    As part of the deal, Star Sports has acquired global media rights for all territories, excluding Argentina. Through its network of international affiliates and other national broadcasters, content will be distributed to over 200 countries, reaching billions of sports fans taking hockey’s global viewing audience to unprecedented levels.

     

    Leandro Negre, President of the International Hockey Federation, said: “This partnership is an incredibly important and exciting development for international hockey. Our vision is to entertain and inspire a global movement of hockey fans and players and Star Sports is an industry leader when it comes to significantly increasing the reach and popularity of sport. Not only will Star Sports promote hockey worldwide between Olympic Games’ cycles, which is incredibly important to sustaining interest in hockey, but it will make our sport much more interactive and entertaining. Star’s ability to deliver immersive, engaging and captivating coverage will draw new young audiences towards hockey. We look forward to working together to truly grow the popularity of hockey.”

     

    Kelly Fairweather, CEO of the International Hockey Federation, said: “Our partnership with Star Sports is a major stride forward for hockey, and one that I am personally very excited about. I consider it to be a game changer both for the sport of hockey and for the millions of fans who will watch FIH events on television and on the internet all around the world. STAR Sports share our determination to raise the bar in terms of the production values and the viewer experience in a rapidly changing multi-screen environment. Their know-how will be hugely beneficial, and we look forward to working with them to ensure that our incredible sport is presented to the world in the best possible way.”

     

    Nitin Kukreja, Head of Sports Business, Star India, said: “We are delighted to be FIH’s global production, host broadcast and distribution partner. The partnership ties-in well with our overall vision of promoting sports culture in India. Hockey is a priority sport for us and we are thrilled that India will host one key event every year during the eight year term. We believe that hosting an international event each year, which is produced innovatively, will significantly boost the popularity of hockey in India. The sport has a glorious heritage in India and we believe that it has a tremendous future. We will work closely with FIH and invest in production to ensure that hockey reaches its full potential. As we have done with HIL, we will aim to innovate and create an exciting visual spectacle for international viewers.”

  • Katrina Kaif is the new face of L’oréal Paris

    Katrina Kaif is the new face of L’oréal Paris

    Mumbai: L’Oréal Paris is pleased to announce Katrina Kaif as the new face of the brand in India. Katrina is one of the most successful actresses in the Indian film industry and has created an impact like no other. As the new L’Oréal Paris spokesperson, Katrina Kaif joins Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Freida Pinto as the fourth Indian face of the brand.

     

    “I am thrilled that Katrina joins our amazing roster of spokespeople. She exudes sheer glamour and is a beauty icon to millions across the globe. She has risen to the top through sheer hard work and is an inspiration to all. Today we are proud to welcome her into the L’Oréal Paris family and hope to have a fabulous association with her”, said Satyaki Ghosh, Director, Consumer Products Division, L’Oréal India.

     

    “I’m honored to be a part of the L’Oréal Paris family; it’s been a brand that I have always admired for its glamour and powerful message of ‘Because you’re worth it’. The stunning women that represent the brand across the globe are strong motivators. It is an incredible privilege to be joining this league of ladies. I’m looking forward to working with the L’Oréal Paris team in India and creating some new global beauty trends,” said Katrina Kaif.

     

    Manashi Guha, General Manager, L’Oréal Paris says, “In India, L’Oréal Paris has grown immensely to become an extremely important part of the L’Oréal consumer portfolio. We have made significant leaps in terms of our product range and their relevance to the modern Indian woman. Our spokespeople are passionate and talented individuals and sources of inspiration for our generation thanks to their vision, engagement and talent. Katrina beautifully embodies the qualities that represent our brand and we’re very happy to have her on board with us.”

     

    Global ambassador for L’Oréal Paris – Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who has been a part of the brand for 12 years said, “I would like to extend a warm welcome to Katrina to the L’Oréal Paris family. I am sure she will enjoy representing team India as brand ambassador and I wish her the very best.”

     

    Katrina Kaif has an outstanding film record and has carved a niche for herself in the Indian film industry. She has received multiple award nominations for the variety of roles she has portrayed and has been a part of several successful films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, New York, Ek Tha Tiger, Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Dhoom 3.

  • 4th Gionne Star GiMA sees outstanding success

    4th Gionne Star GiMA sees outstanding success

    MUMBAI:  The 4th Gionee Star Global Indian Music Academy (GiMA) Awards powered by Reliance 3G unfolded this evening at NSCI Stadium, Worli. Initiated by Wizcraft International to applaud the finest achievements in the music Industry, GiMA has grown into an established dais that unites the biggest musical talents in the country onto a common stage.

     

     

    The ceremony hosted by Ranveer Singh featured some of the best performances by some of the finest stalwarts in the music industry as well as some of the brightest stars of Bollywood. Asha Bhosle’s also paid tribute to music legend R.D. Burman with her performance on some of his most iconic songs Mera Naam Shabnam, Dum Maro Dum, Gulabi Chehra, Duniya Mein and Aa Dekhe Zara among others.

     

    The evening also saw a spellbinding performance by Sonakshi Sinha who performed as last year’s ceremony as well. With an exciting segment hosted by the hit comedian Kapil Sharma and some electrifying performances by Mika and Honey Singh, the evening hit all the high notes.

     

    The love story Aashiqui 2 walked away with 6 GiMA awards leading in the film category. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honour was awarded to Asha Bhosle in the Popular category for her outstanding contribution to the music industry. Pt Ram Narayan, considered the finest sarangi exponent in the country and the man who made it a popular instrument was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Honour – Classical.

     

    On winning Best Playback Singer Female, Shreya Ghosal said, “It’s very special when you win an award, it reminds you that there is so much work to do, so much more music to enthrall audiences, I am very proud to be a part of this industry. Aashiqui 2 has definitely been the flavor of the year.”

     

    The show also showcased a host of promising and upcoming artistes including Aditya Narayan, Shefali Alvares, Ankit Tiwari, Sreeram, Bhoomi, Aditi Singh Sharma, Siddharth Mahadevan and Nikhil Paul George come together in a very special act, rendering the chart busters of the year gone by. Usha Uthup also had a special performance singing a number of songs, most notably, Skyfall.

     

    The 4th edition of the Gionee Star GiMA Awards is presented by Gionee and Star TV and powered by Reliance 3G. Brand Partners for the event are Renault and the Videocon Group.

  • AHI registers record sales for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards

    AHI registers record sales for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards

    NEW JERSEY: In anticipation of the upcoming ceremony set to air live in the US on 26 January, on the CBS Television Network, Alfred Haber, President of Alfred Haber, Inc. (AHI) announced yesterday the company has racked up record sales for the 2014 56th Annual Grammy Awards, the 3 and a half hour extravaganza billed as Music’s Biggest Night.

     

    With the 2014 show marking 25 years of representation of the Grammy Awards by AHI, global broadcasters to sign on for this spectacular show that continues to be the world’s most popular televised music event include:  Channel 4 (UK), Rogers Media (Canada), ProSieben (Germany), WOWOW (Japan), D17/Canal Plus (France), Televisa (Mexico), Fox International Channel (Asia), Viacom 18 (India), Turner (Latin America), Shanghai Media Group (China), M-Net (Africa), TV 2 (Turkey), NetMedia (Indonesia), Ren-TV (Russia), TV2 (Denmark)  and Cignal TV (Philippines).

     

    “With over a quarter of a century of representation, we at Alfred Haber, Inc. are honored to once again be representing the Grammy Awards to the international television community,” commented Haber.  “Music has the ability to transcend all language barriers and borders and this remarkable event is something that, this season, will be enjoyed by audiences in more than 190 territories the world over.”

     

    Performers announced thus far for this year’s show include current Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles with four-time Grammy winner and 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year Carole King; nominees Daft Punk with nominee Nile Rodgers, nominee Pharrell Williams, and 25-time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder; nominee Kendrick Lamar joined by nominees Imagine Dragons; nominee John Legend; nominee Lorde; nominees Macklemore & Ryan Lewis; nominee Paul McCartney; eight-time Grammy-winning group Metallica with Grammy Cultural Ambassador to China Lang Lang; nominee Kacey Musgraves; nominee Katy Perry; nominees P!nk and Nate Ruess (of FUN.); nine-time Grammy winner Ringo Starr; Taylor Swift; nominee Robin Thicke with Grammy-winning group Chicago; nominee Keith Urban; and a special “Grammy Moment” featuring two-time Grammy winner Merle Haggard, three-time Grammy winner and 2014 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Kris Kristofferson, seven-time Grammy winner Willie Nelson, and current nominee Blake Shelton.