Category: Press Release

Franchise India 2013 Asias largest Franchise & retail show

NEW DELHI : Franchise India 2013, the 11th edition of Asia’s Biggest Franchise & Retail Opportunity Show is to be held on 19th & 20th October, Pragati Maidan New Delhi. The show will provide a platform for highly evolved prospects, top notch Education businesses and entrepreneurs from across India, neighboring countries and delegations from the other parts of the world to meet face-face with some of the most accomplished Business Ideas, attend unparalleled business summits and seminars and learn more about India and fast growing MSME industry in India. Franchise India 2013 is presented by Asia’s largest integrated franchise and retail solutions company, Franchise India, with the support of Indian Franchise Association.

Some well prominent Education brands are participating like Sesame Street Pre-School. Planet Kids, San Fort, Kids Gurukul, and many more.

Mr. Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Franchise India said ” The education industry is an $80billion industry growing at 13 percent. An average Indian household spends as much as 10prcent of its discretionary income on education, while american and asian households spends 2 percent and 7 percent respectively, therefore it becomes imperative that educational institutes live up to their image of providing lifelong learning. The upcoming Franchise show will bring along 100s of business opportunities of national as well as international brands.”

Spanning over two days, the show will comprise of a comprehensive Exhibition covering all the industries extensively with massive domestic and international participation, informative and enlightening Conference & Workshops with prominent international and national speakers to impart knowledge and the highly prestigious Franchise Awards 2013 and Star Retailer Awards, to recognize the excellence in franchise & retail industries. Mr. Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Franchise India said “Franchise India 2013 will bring new opportunities, new trends, new faces and new lateral thinking for the business fraternity. The exhibition will be a window into the future, presenting opportunities that radars on the direction of tomorrow’s consumer demand. The conference will be the greatest source of ideas for businesses; some that don’t even exist yet and yet have a huge built in growing demand”.

The show displays Indian and global brands and is an “Opportunity Show” for liasoning with brands to offer a pool of out-of-box business ideas and practices delivering India’s biggest business exchange for Education sector.

The exhibition also features, Franchise Talk, an open forum conceptualized by Indian Franchise Association to enhance the brand recognition. It’s a podium for a franchisor to present his business as an engrossing opportunity, to express his insight for 20 minutes & influence the prospective franchisees. The Exhibition clearly puts forth a spectrum of opportunities in franchising, retailing, licensing, real estate and retail supply from all possible industry verticals. The show not only features dedicated industry pavilions for focused business positioning but also boasts of an exclusive international pavilion showcasing enormous opportunities from countries like UAE & Middle East, USA, Cyprus, France, Russia, Singapore and UK.

Attracting over 25000 serious business visitors, the show is highly successful for all its participants. Gleamed with top business opportunities, the show promises an insightful view of franchise options in varied investment range. This show recognizes this platform as a trusted launch pad for them to showcase their brand or opportunity to discover the serious business investors or potential partners. Franchise India 2013 Delhi Show will comprise over 500 national and International companies for doing business in India.

October 3, 2013
Vocational training Generating Employable India

NEW DELHI : Around 38-40 per cent of Indian population, between the age group of 14 and 25, who are on the verge of entering different skill level jobs do not possess marketable skills which are an impediment in getting decent employment and improving their economic condition. To counter this challenge, they require tailored short-term courses which directly lead to employment. This need is boosting the vocational education sector and opening numerous investment opportunities to investors as well.

The major segments in vocational education and training businesses in India include the various trades related to restaurant, retail, IT training, airlines, and so on. Vocational education in India aims to develop skilled manpower through diversified courses to meet the requirements of mainly the unorganised sector. Also, the education aims to impart selfemployment skills in people through a large number of self-employment oriented courses.

Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Franchise India, “The role of vocational education in facilitating social and economic development has long been recognized by the Indian government. Vocational education improves functional and analytical skills and, in turn, opens up opportunities for persons to achieve greater access in the industry.”

There are various educational institutes participating at India Franchise Show 2013 to expand further franchisees at bigger platform. Few of them are Jaipuria, Aisect, Gras academy, Learning place and many more.

The vocational education market in India is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 25 per cent during 2011-2015. The current market size is of USD 4.8 billion and is forecasted to scale up to USD 7.3 billion by the end of 2015.

October 3, 2013
E Lounge unwind with Anil Kapoor

MUMBAI : This week CNN-IBN’s weekend entertainment show ‘E Lounge Unwind’ brings you Anil Kapoor in a candid conversation with CNN-IBN’s Piya Hingorani where he talks about his much awaited debut on the small screen through the action thriller 24 on Colors that is to hit the screens on 4th October 2013. On the show, Kapoor talks about the challenges faced in getting the license to bring this hit American TV show to India and the difficulties he faced to carry out the stunts at the age of fifty-three. He also opens up on how his children have always discouraged him from doing comedies like No Entry and Welcome.

Don’t forget to tune-in to this captivating episode of ‘E Lounge Unwind’ on Sat, Oct 5th @ 10:30 PM, only on CNN-IBN.

October 3, 2013
Carry yourself in style with Gron Stockholm Knitted Kids Dress

NEW DELHI : Gron Stockholm, a well-known brand for organic kids wear is expanding its range with fashionable Knitted Collection. Inspired by organically cultivated cotton from Bamboo fabric which is a natural textile made from the pulp of bamboo grass.

The collection includes Navy and Pink Cable Knitted Dress and Pocket knitted Bodysuit in various colors with baby cap to match the attire. The knitted dresses is soft luxurious and vibrantly presented to make a perfect fit. The range is available in monochromatic solid body with full sleeve which is best for your little angels.

Gron new collection is sophisticatedly made up of comfortable organic cotton and seventy percent bamboo. Bamboo fabric traps warm air in its cross-sectional fibers to keep you warm in the winter, while its breathable nature and wicking properties keep moisture at bay for greater comfort in hot times.

Nowadays kids always want to be dressed in trendy clothes to look fashionable and with Gron one can definitely carry them with flair. The brand brings a special touch to children’s wear that is sure to catch everyone’s attention. So grab and feel it!

October 3, 2013
Fluence signs Malayalam Cinema Actress Manju Warrier

MUMBAI : CA Media Digital’s first venture, Fluence – India’s leading online influencer network around celebrities and brands has recently signed renowned Malayalam cinema actress Manju Warrier.

Fluence helps brands maximize their impact on audiences, by utilizing the online influence of celebrities and providing specific demographic and psychographic analytics of the celebrity fan base highlighting campaign effectiveness. Currently, Fluence will focus on various digital platforms for Manju including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, and Bubble Motion and focus on the monetization strategy for her on the digital platform

“We are thrilled to have a national award winner and a fantastic actress like Manju Warrier on board. The crux of Fluence is connecting our prospective celebrities via their digital platforms to both fans and brands across verticals. Manju is already very popular on Facebook with over 4 lakh followers. Fluence actively ensures that the celebrity engages with their fans across genres and regions in India.” said Rishi Negi, Executive Vice President Operations.

Keyed up about the association, Manju Warrier commented, “Social media continues to evolve and has become an integral part of modern society. For celebrities however, there’s so much more that goes into how we use and leverage our social media platforms to connect with our fans. I am excited to work with the young talented team at Fluence as I believe that Digital media is definitely the way forward.”

Fluence has been managing celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor, handle their digital life which includes; their social media presence, their digital endorsements, online/mobile monetization and equity-linked investments in the digital space. Brands that are actively spending on Fluence are Nestle, Thums Up, Suzuki, Kalyan Jewelers and Binani Cement. Fluence is also in active discussion with other Celebrities from Bollywood, the south and Indian cricket to get on board.

October 3, 2013
Sundance Channel Global Expands with New European Launches

NEW DELHI : AMC/Sundance Channel Global, the international division of AMC Networks (NASDAQ: AMCX), has announced today new launches for Sundance Channel in Europe. The company has also appointed Geraud Alazard as Vice President of Marketing, AMC/Sundance Channel Global. Bruce Tuchman, President of AMC/Sundance Channel Global, made the announcements today ahead of the company’s participation at MIPCOM.

Sundance Channel has launched as a 24-hour linear network on the cable/IPTV platform Bouygues Telecom in France, one of the fastest growing pay TV platforms in France. This partnership adds to the network’s broad distribution in France on Numericable, Virgin, SFR on Neufbox and Free. In addition, Sundance Channel is now available as a 24-hour network on the cable TV operator VOO/BeTV in Belgium for French-speaking audiences. This deal enables Sundance Channel to be seen widely across Wallonia to complement the network’s extensive distribution across Brussels and Flanders on Belgacom and Telenet. Both deals include access to authenticated on demand programming.

In Eastern Europe, Sundance Channel has experienced substantial growth in recent months. The network has expanded in Poland, where it has been widely seen across numerous pay-TV platforms, via recent deals with Inea, Promax and many other local operators. The network is now also being carried on UPC Hungary in standard definition and high definition on the basic tier, which has significantly increased distribution throughout the country. Sundance Channel has previously been available in high definition on UPC Hungary. Today’s announcements follow numerous recent launches, including Sundance Channel’s debut last month for the first time across Latin America.

The company has also made a personnel announcement to help bolster growth across the globe. As Vice President of Marketing, Alazard will oversee marketing and multiplatform media campaigns for AMC/Sundance Channel Global to support affiliates and drive consumer and distributor demand for the company’s international brands, Sundance Channel and WE tv. Based in New York, he will report to Tuchman. He will also report to Ed Palluth, EVP Global Distribution, on affiliate marketing matters related to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Alazard has an extensive background in international marketing and distribution. Most recently, he served as managing director at PureScreens in Paris, France, where he negotiated and executed distribution on European pay-TV platforms for The Museum Channel. Prior to this role, Alazard served as Director of Marketing, Sales and Business Development at Televista, which operates French lifestyle channel Vivolta. He has also held positions at A+E Television Networks in the US and Germany. He holds a MS in International Corporate Strategy from ESSEC Business School, Thunderbird Graduate School and a BS in Politics and Management from Sciences-Po Paris, Heidelberg Universität .

Tuchman commented, “These exciting launches reinforce the strong demand for the globally renowned, high quality programming exclusively available on Sundance Channel.” He continued, “Geraud is an accomplished brand strategist with a wealth of valuable experience. His experience in identifying global marketing and distribution opportunities will enable him to play a key role in our rapid multi-platform expansion.”

Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of first run original drama and other iconic programming, award winning and locally appealing independent films and documentaries. It is available to pay-TV operators as a standard and high definition linear television channel, VOD service and via mobile and online authenticated streaming.

Additionally, select VOD program offerings are available during theatrical windows so audiences can watch films that are still in theatres from the comfort of their own homes.

In addition to Sundance Channel, AMC/Sundance Channel Global offers WE tv in Asia, a women’s lifestyle focused network featuring top industry figures in food, weddings and fashion with acclaimed series by Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray and Joe Zee, inspiring viewers with their expertise and innovation.

October 3, 2013
Indulge in the most authentic Marwari food by our Mahara

MUMBAI : Turbans hidden with mysteries, bangles hiding the arms, colors washed over walls and camel rides that are an antidote of a time machine. Marwar offers not only a visually enthralling experience but also a cuisine this is as delightful as its colorful surroundings. Sahara Star hosts a special Marwari food festival starting 7th October offering the most scrumptious and authentic Marwari food to please every tastebud.

“Marwad” is known for tough people and tough food, same have reflected in their cuisines as well over the years. Marwad was influenced by both the war-like lifestyles of its inhabitants and the availability of ingredients in this arid region. Scarcities of water and fresh green vegetables have affected the style of cooking. Food that could last for several days and could be eaten without heating was preferred. Sahara Star now presents Marwari food festival and highlight the regional cuisine known for its taste and variety.

The festival will be hosted at Earthplate- Global Cuisine restaurant and will feature a wide array of Marwari delicacies specially prepared by ‘Maharaj’ with the assistance of Chef Kshitiz Skekhar and Restaurant Manager VikasJatania.

The festival will be on till 21st October and will feature mouthwatering delicacies from the land of Rajasthan. Immerse yourself in the indulgent food fare comprising of one round of welcome drink and mathri or Namak Parathat will be served on the table in a compartment bowl. Menu will showcase the best of the delicacies from Marwad, which includes Mirchkhilmaachaar, Paneerlaunglathika , Gatthekasaag , chaat counters and other live counters, Malaighewar to name a few.

Special cocktail and mocktails menu will be designed as per the theme.

To add to the magic of Marwari cuisine, you can enjoy the Live magic shows on weekends. Separate bangle and paan counter are being set up to make the food festival an entertaining experience. So get ready to tantalize not just your taste bud but your mood as well. The entire décor, food, separate counters and magic shows will certainly transport you to the world of your home town.

The food festival is operational from 7.00 pm to 12:00 pm every day. It will mainly have vegetarian cuisines and there will be a separate section for non- vegetarian affair. 10% discount for Star Gourmet members will be offered.

October 3, 2013
Sony LIV shines at Microsoft DevCamps

MUMBAI: MSM’s video-on-demand brand, Sony LIV, was showcased at Microsoft’s DevCamps in Mumbai. The brand’s application was among the top ones in the country to be applauded at the premier technical camp for app developers and marketers. Microsoft conducted the Dev Camp on September 27 to train developers on building skills to develop apps for Windows. Sony LIV was showcased at the event.

Mr Nitesh Kripalani, Executive Vice-President – New Media, Business Development and Digital/Syndication at Sony Entertainment Network, presented the Sony LIV application at the workshop. He highlighted the unique features of Sony LIV like the Mood Wheel which allows users to watch videos as per their mood/genre. He pointed out how users can also create playlists of their favourite shows through My Q and be rewarded as a LIV Guru, by consuming Sony LIV content. He also elucidated Sony LIV’s innovation of introducing short-content formats like Catch-up episodes, Quickisodes and crunch episodes for the benefit of Sony’s time-strapped viewers.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kripalani said, “We are proud to have partnered with the fast-growing Windows Store to leverage its wide customer base. Our objective is to be present wherever the viewer is and Microsoft allows us to achieve this goal seamlessly. He further stated, “We have pulled out all stops to make Sony content from the last 18 years down to last night, available in innovative formats on Sony LIV. Through this platform, we aim to not only showcase our endeavour but also share knowledge in this space so the application segment in India can progress collectively.”

Commenting on Sony LIV’s partnership with Microsoft, he added, “We are proud to have partnered with the fast-growing Windows Phone Store to leverage its wide customer base. Our objective is to be present wherever the viewer is and Microsoft allows us to achieve this goal seamlessly.”
The Sony LIV app is available on the Windows store catering to the huge range of tablets, laptops and other devices running on the Windows 8 operating system.

October 3, 2013
Junior Masterchef kids step out of the kitchen to visit Adlabs Imagica!

MUMBAI: After weeks of grueling competition, Junior MasterChef contestants had a reason to rejoice! The kids were surprised by the Chefs with an experience that would bring them close to different flavours of food and at the same time pump them up with an adrenaline rush as they geared up to battle it out right till the Finale!

For the first time, the kids were taken out of the kitchen for a fun outdoor trip to Adlabs Imagica, India’s largest entertainment theme park at Khopoli. Chef Vikas, Chef Kunal and Chef Surjan Singh Jolly along with the entire unit of Junior Masterchef Swaad Ke Ustaad were seen shooting a special outdoor segment at the theme park through the day. While the little contestants were thrilled to experience the rides, the Chefs were taken back into time and reminisced their childhood days. From the roller coaster – Gold Rush Express to the Magic Carousel, a merry go round, the judges and the kids ensured that they made the most of this experience and tried every ride!

With the MasterChef team around, one thing you can be sure of is that they would skip a chance to satiate their taste buds – try out the food palate offered. The Chefs and kids tasted different cuisines at Red Bonnet American Dinner to the Imagica Capital to Roberto’s Food Coaster.

Talking about the experience, Chef Kunal said, “This place reminded me of all the fun things that I have done as a child with my friends. It was really great, the contestants and all of us bonded well, we had good time together something that we have been planning for a while. The kids really brought out the child in us.”

Sakshi who was amazed to be at the park said, “I had never seen such a huge park and such huge rides. We enjoyed most of the rides and would have loved to stay a little longer. It was funny to watch the Judges getting scared and screaming on the big rides!”

Tune in to Junior MasterChef Swaad Ke Ustaad every Saturday and Sunday at 9.00 pm only on STAR Plus!

October 1, 2013
Showbiz India finds a new home on B4U music

MUMBAI: B4U MUSIC- the leading global Bollywood channel will now be the new home for Showbiz India, a weekly programme showing the very latest in Bollywood movies and music.

Showbiz India is the leading entertainment show presented by the talented Reshma Dordi for over 15 years in the USA. From exclusive updates and Bollywood news to in-depth interviews with the biggest stars, Showbiz India covers all.

What sets Showbiz India apart is a driven team of producers, writers and correspondents with exclusive access to Bollywood and Hollywood stars.

From the Bachchans to the Khans to the Kapoors, almost every star in Bollywood has shared their stories on Showbiz India. As if that’s not enough, Hollywood biggies like Mike Myers, Justin Timberlake, Chris Rock and Cindy Crawford have all dished the latest on their lives with Showbiz India.

Besides the film world, the programme also focuses on fresh and unconventional fashion and lifestyle segments and covers the latest South Asian events in USA.

The programme will be aired in USA and CANADA and in over 100 countries including UK, Middle East, and Africa.

Reshma Dordi, Executive Producer and Lead Anchor states, “We’re excited to collaborate with B4U Music, a channel that has always been a Bollywood lover’s favorite. We at Showbiz India are excited that our new home with its global reach will showcase the best of Bollywood and Hollywood to a worldwide audience”

“B4U is extremely excited to join forces with Showbiz India and provide a platform for the show to expand, evolve and reach a global audience. This affiliation means that B4U will further be able to bring our viewers the very best in worldwide entertainment, with exclusive interviews and exciting events” says Kevin Rego, Head Of B4U Sales And Marketing (International).

Showbiz India will air weekly on 4U Music Saturdays 11am EST and Sundays 2pm EST from 5th October and in the UK from November.

October 1, 2013