Category: Press Release

Conax all-inclusive DRM portfolio for Latin America now includes in-the-cloud solutions for pay-TV operators and content distributors

MUMBAI: S?o Paulo, Brazil, August 5th, 2013: ABTA 2013 Expo & Conference — Conax, a leading global provider of solutions for securing multi-device and digital video content distribution, today announced an all-inclusive strategy for the Latin America pay-TV market. In addition to the recent announcements of secure DRM deployments at Cablemás, Nuevo Siglo and Montecable, content protection specialist Conax is partnering with systems integrator Bold MSS for a hosted IPTV solution, based on Conax Contego Unite™ and including middleware from Cubiware. Now operators of all sizes can readily embrace new pay-TV solutions, launching advanced platforms with low capital expenditure while positioning for market-differentiating offers such as OTT VOD and multiscreen services.

Bold MSS will provide a hosted IPTV solution designed for smaller Latin America operators keen to embrace VOD and other interactive services enabling enhanced consumer offerings. In addition to the expertise provided by the highly skilled technicians at Bold MSS, the new service will include world-class security from Conax and market-leading middleware from Cubiware.

“We are very excited by the tremendous demand for advanced services in Latin America and the opportunity to help operators grow. When selecting a security solution, operators should choose a partner with a solid security history and a long record of profitability to assure themselves a strong future. To help operators yield profits on their OTT investments, Conax is cultivating strategic partnerships to enable highly diverse pay-TV market segments to earn on advanced On-demand offerings – through flexible, fast-to-market and secure DRM solutions,” says Rohit Mehra, VP Americas, Conax.

Together with Bold MSS and strategic partners, Conax is offering a highly unique portfolio of advanced content security solutions tailored for the varying needs of operators and providers of pay-content delivery in varying market segments.

Secure solutions for all sizes of operations

Latin American operators of all sizes can maintain and increase their market share and make money by enabling a unique consumer experience by adding new features and solutions, through deployment of market differentiating services such as VOD, Live TV, and multiscreen offerings for a growing ecosystem of broadband-savvy consumers. Conax is offering operators secure, Hybrid OTT solutions with fast time-to-market at reduced costs allowing operators to profit on multiscreen content. A sample of solutions offered by Conax:

1) Conax Xtend Multiscreen™: Pre-integrated solution with fast time-to-market, based on Conax Contego Unite™ secure DRM, chosen by Cablem?s, Mexico

2) Conax Contego Unite™ – highly flexible OTT solution based on 25 years of market-leading experience and security track record, selected by Nuevo Siglo and Montecable

3) Hosted secure IPTV Solution, based on Conax Contego Unite™ and hosted by Bold MSS, for smaller operators in Latin America looking to enhance their broadband offerings by including pay-TV and On -demand services

August 5, 2013
Watch the Mythology special this week on BIG FAME STAR

MUMBAI: Competition is on the rise and the challenges just keep getting harder with each passing week! One of the biggest platforms for aspiring superstars, BIG MAGIC’s superlative reality show BIG Fame Star, will see contestants performing acts based onMythology this week.

The Hosted by the gorgeous Sara Khan, and judged by renowned industry stalwarts Varun Badola and IshaKoppikar, contestants need to impress the judges with their performances every week to get a step closer to achieving their dream. From solo acts to duets, all the contestants will be seen in completely different avatar. From grasping the nuances of dialogue delivery to learning about our mythology, the contestants have undergone a tremendous change.

The Krishna – Sudhama act is definitely something to watch out for as contestants NishantPandey& Vishal Dubey deliver a roaring performance attracting a lot of adulation from the judges.

From Draupadi’s cheer haran to Meera’s undying love for Lord Krishna, contestants go all out to showcase their acting prowess. Thursday will see 8 contestants in the danger zone battling it out to survive in this journey to superstardom.

Who will continue their journey and face a new challenge next week? Who will bid a farewell to this stage?

To find out, tune into BIG MAGIC every day this week at 7:00pm to revel in the Mythological performances!

August 5, 2013
P.V. Narayanamoorthy joins leading Out Of Home Analytics Company

Mumbai: P.V. Narayanamoorthy, a veteran in the field of media planning and advertising effectiveness,has taken on the crucial role of Director at Proof of Performance Data Services (PoP). Mr. Moorthy will spearhead the cutting edge technology based analytics platform which PoP has created for accurate measurement methodology and accountability in the outdoor media business. He willbe the key strategic contact for advising corporates about outdoor spends and how efficacy can be maintained and enhanced in outdoor media utilization.

Mr. Moorthy’s appointment is testimony that PoP that is constantly on the lookout for improving the qualitiyand accountability in the Outdoor media platform. He aims to bring to the forefront path-breaking tools and techniques which willmake the Out Of Home (OOH) media more efficient, effective and transparent.

Mr. Moorthy has already conceptualized and implemented a revolutionary metric called ‘The Visibility Index’for PoP which is perceived to be a major breakthrough in the planning of OOH campaigns by making available critical information related to OOH assets including hitherto untracked metrics like visibility distance and time for which a particular asset is visible.

Speaking on the occasion, Harjaap Singh Mann, Founder CEO and Managing Director, PoP said “Mr. Moorthy’sis considered an institution in the media planning spaceand his prowess is unparalleled and universally acknowledged by peers. We are sure it would be a new chapter of success for POP and are glad that he has joined us in our endeavor to revolutionize the OOH industry. I firmly believe that we, and the industry, will have a lot to learn from him.”

In his illustrious career spanning more than 35 years in Media and Advertising, he has worked with several advertising agencies including Clarion Advertising, Ogilvy Benson & Mather, RK Swamy, Ulka Advertising and McCann Erickson.

His last assignment was with Carat where he worked across the Asia Pacific region spanning 13 countries. He was a member of the regional board with responsibility for new business, strategy, tool development, training and research.

August 3, 2013
Esha Media Q1 net profit swells to Rs 62.14 lakhs on revenue rise from web-monitoring solutions

MUMBAI: India’s premier media monitoring agency – Esha Media Research Ltd has posted a robust rise in Apr-June net profit to Rs 62.14 lakhs, up over 4 times from the corresponding quarter last year and over seven times from the immediate preceding quarter of Jan-Mar.

The profit for the first quarter was driven by 142% rise year-on-year and 18.7% rise quarter-on-quarter in net sales to Rs 702.39 lakhs, aided by the positive impact of the web-media solutions launched during the quarter under review.

Total expenditure for the quarter grew by 134% year-on-year and 9.6% on quarter to Rs 640.25 lakhs.

Commenting on the quarter performance, Esha Media Research, Managing Director, RS Iyer said, “The launch of the web monitoring solution of TV content has received a phenomenal response from the corporate world as well as media agencies leading to an increase in revenue during the quarter. The web-based solution has been a win-win situation as it brought down the per unit cost for the subscriber as volume increased for a fixed price while Esha Media was assured of revenue subscription.”

Going forward, we are hopeful that more corporates and agencies would subscribe to our web-based services and the trend set in the first quarter is expected to continue in the subsequent quarters, Iyer said.

Esha Media is also in the process of expanding the ambit of its coverage by increasing the number of television channels monitored by it, he added.

August 3, 2013
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s specials to hit Indian televison exclusively on BIG CBS LOVE

Mumbai: BIG CBS LOVE, India’s number one English GEC amongst elite urban Indian audiences, is all set to bring a brand new variety of entertainment to its viewers. Introducing celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his food escapades from all over the world on BIG CBS LOVE’s latest offering: Jamie Oliver’s Specials. The 52 episode special presentation will showcase three unique food based programs by the renowned UK based chef and health campaigner. The three shows namely, Emmy winning Jamie’s Food Revolution, Jamie’s Food Escapes and Jamie’s 30 minute meals will begin airing back to back exclusively on BIG CBS LOVE on August 17, 2013 at 7 PM.

The shows are an eclectic mix of health food, world food and instant meals taught by the chef in unmistakable Jamie style. Kick-starting the three-show special is Jamie’s Food Revolution which is a grassroots campaign in the United States to curb obesity. In the first season of this Emmy Award winner in the Outstanding Reality Program category, his efforts are focused in Huntington, West Virginia, statistically one of the unhealthiest cities in the country. The show garnered a whopping six million plus viewership for its premiering episode and ranked amongst the top three positions in its time slot for the entirety of the season.

Up next is Jamie’s Food Escapes wherein Chef Jamie Oliver, who has been named the most influential person in the UK hospitality industry, travels across Europe and North Africa to find authentic ingredients and extraordinary characters. Oliver stops in Marrakesh, Athens, Andalusia, the French Pyrenees, Venice and Stockholm and uses local ingredients in each location to prepare exotic meals. He immerses himself in the myriad cultures, learns traditional cooking practices from the locals and partakes in their cultural ceremonies.

And last but not the least is Jamie’s 30 minute meals in which Jamie shows how to cook a complete meal in just 30 minutes, sharing his tricks of the trade, and preparing amazing healthy food, using ingredients that are fresh, and full of nutrition. The show focuses on home-cooked meals that could be put together within the titular timeframe, using simple, ‘not cheffy’ techniques, with an emphasis on educating viewers about the cooking processes themselves.

Jamie Oliver’s Specials will be promoted extensively through a multi-media marketing push with the help of RBNL’S marketing muscle and expertise that will promote the show across the platforms of television, radio, cinemas, digital, outdoor, on ground and road shows.

August 2, 2013
Percept Sports and Entertainment to execute ‘Fresh Faces 2013’

MUMBAI: Percept Sports and Entertainment is all set to execute 'Fresh Faces 2013' an international modeling event in partnership with modelmanagement.com. Fresh Faces is an international modeling event which recognizes models from all across the globe which will be coming to India as New Faces 2013.

This is an era where the youth now looks to getting into the entertainment industry more than any other profession. Thousands of youngsters today want to become a model or an actor and look forward to opportunities such as this. Contestants will require to log on to the website http://www.modelmanagement.com/new-faces-india/ & submit their pictures before 31st August and encourage their friends, families and well wishers to vote. The popularity of candidates through voting across social media platforms will be an important criterion in selecting the contestants. These entries will then be shortlisted to 200, by an expert panel of judges comprising of the top names in India's fashion industry. These 200 shortlisted candidates will have to go through an audition in any of the 4 zones of India, through which 24 promising candidates (6 in each zone) will be finalized. These 24 finalists will then be brought to Mumbai and put through an extensive 4 day training program to prepare them for the grand finale in Mumbai on 27th September.

Fresh Faces, launched in 2010, is the global state-of-the-art modelling contest by modelmanagement.com, discovering the freshest model talent from around the world. This highly acclaimed contest was the world's first to combine online voting, social media promotion and live events with a major modelling web 2.0 community. The Fresh Faces contest finals take place in prestigious and fashionable venues across the world and previous events have been held in the cities of Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Amsterdam. The 2013 edition of Fresh Faces finals will be held in the breathtaking city of Barcelona. Currently it is active in 42 countries in 2013 and works in partnership with some of the best known international modelling agencies in the various countries, such as Esee, Central Models, Fotogen and ModelKarma, representing and discovering models including Isabeli Fontana, Claudia Schiffer and Sara Sampaio has a top-class panel of international expert judges to select the final winners.

Commenting on this, Savio Sequeira, CEO, Percept Sports and Entertainment said, "The increasing recognition of Indian Fashion designers and styles is making Brand India fashionable.

The Indian look is grabbing eyeballs not just on ramps in the country but also in the fashion capitals of the world. Why should Indian Models be left behind? Percept Sports and Entertainment is excited to come on board as partner with Model Management to kick off the India chapter of New Faces as part of the worldwide Model hunt contest 'Fresh Faces'. It's a fantastic opportunity for all those aspiring to be on the cover of a leading Fashion Magazine or walk the ramps in Milan – who can now make that dream a reality. Go on, Get discovered!"

Andreas von Estorff, Founder & CEO – modelmanagement.com adds "We are very excited to start this global modelling contest in India with our partner Percept. There is so much great undiscovered talent in India and we believe that the demand for Indian models will increase dramatically within the next years, placing Indian Super Models right at the top with the Bollywood Stars or Cricket Players. The fashion and modelling industries will be scrutinizing India's New Faces at the Fresh Faces Grand Final in Barcelona where they will compete for a World title against models from other 40 countries.

"Having said that, beauty is everywhere and there is a 'long tail' demand for many different looks and modelling disciplines. We are not only targeting THE Supermodel. Together with Percept, we want to build the biggest Archive of Models and People for any kind of photo shoot or TV commercial. The demand for Models in Advertising in Media such as Websites, Print Magazines, Flyers, Brochures, Posters, Billboards and TV is huge and consistently increasing. So aside from nominating 2 winners, New Faces also gives many hopeful applicants the chance to find their place in the modelling industry", concludes Andreas.

August 2, 2013
Signum TV Cable selects Exset BV for DMS implementation

Patna: The Netherland-based Exset B.V. and Patna-based Signum Digital Networks Private Limited (Signum) have entered into an agreement to introduce the award winning Digital Monetisation System (DMS) platform to deliver path breaking service and the next generation content protection system to the end users.

As per the agreement, Exset B.V. will be responsible for providing DMS CAS and Middleware to Signum for its Digital Cable Platform. This association is set to help drive governance, television commerce, advertising and magazines services in a predominantly one–way environment to its entire end–consumers lighting up their TV space

Mr. Alex Borland, Managing Director and CEO of Exset BV said, “We are proud to be associated with Signum TV as their content protection and monetization partner. Exset is committed to the success of this platform and will offer the highest level of security and service”.

DMS bridges the gap between technology and Value-Added Services for digital TV deployments and allows digital television platforms to be created, which can then be monetised in a new dynamic way, which benefits the end users from new information and entertainment services. It enables the cable operators to meet the challenges of digitization, and also result in positive impact on their revenue stream.

Mr. Gouri Sankar, chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Chief Technology Offiver (CTO) of Signum said, “We are delighted to have Exset as a partner to secure our content and roll-out our Middleware/VAS strategy. This association will help us to explore new VAS streams – Advertising, On-Demand, Interactive, and Information Services to name a few. We are certain that with the highest level of security and the middleware value proposition presented; will help us to drive ARPU’s to new levels”.

Mr. Pradeep Acharya, Regional Director –South Asia of Exset said, “Exset’s value proposition is unparalleled in terms of offering the next generation of security and also paves the way for driving greater ARPU’s, unlocking new revenue stream, and consequently driving the platform to greater expanses and profitability”.

August 2, 2013
An India – Bhutan Foundation Initiative in association with SIYAHI

Mumbai, 01st August 2013: The Mountain Echoes Literary Festival, 2013 is a recognition of culture, traditions, art and everything in between; it is in the truest sense a celebration of the rich and giving past, an affirmation of the warmth of the present and a powerful beacon to the future. It is about getting together and celebrating everything that brings one pleasure – books, music, art, photos, drama, movies, sports etc.

The Chief Royal Patron of the festival is Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck.

An initiative by the India – Bhutan foundation, Mountain Echoes is produced by Siyahiand presented by USHA. Namita Gokhale and Pramod Kumar KG are the festival directors.
The sessions will be spread between Taj Tashi, Thimphu and Tarayana Center, Thimphu who are the hospitality and venue partners of the festival.

The presenting sponsors of the festival, Usha, known for their products in virtually every Indian household, hope to extend the reach of Usha’s Silai (Sewing) Schools Programme into the countless under-served rural communities, particularly those that suffer from a lack of electric power. This initiative, operated in conjunction with local NGO’s, will provide the entrepreneurial village woman with a sewing machine as well as training in sewing, simple mechanics for repair and the knowledge to transfer sewing skills to the future generations. The aim is for women to generate independent incomes and sustain their families and communities. Usha intends that the schools will give these communities, and the women who keep them alive, their fair share in the region’s future. Presently, over 2500 schools are in operation across all the 28 states of India and the number is growing at a thousand schools per year.

The festival takes off with Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck and Namita Gokhale, as they look back on her life as the Queen Mother of this mystic Himalayan nation. We have Dasho Kinley Dorji, Pavan K. Varma, Siok Sian Dorji, Kunga Tenzin Dorji, Ratnottama Sengupta, Bachi Karkaria with Malvika Singh blurring the lines between what is known, what is believed and what is said. Moving forth from the time-wrap of patriarchy and the taboo surrounding the word “Feminism” will be Lily Wangchuk, Aparna Sen, Rahul Bose and Namita Bhandare. Lyonpo Paljor Dorji and Dr. Lam Dorji will get down to the nitty gritty of environmental sustainability with Manju Wakhley.Ani Choying will talk about music that is inspired by and inspires emancipation, Amish Tripathi and Meru Gokhale will discuss the writing of the Shiva Trilogy and Amruta Patilpresents Adi Parva and its re-contextualization in contemporary times. Reading selected parts of their works will be Kezang Uden Penjor, Maria Rosa ‘Bing’ N. Carrion, Chorten Tshering and Jerry Pinto. Tarun Tejpal will talk about his work, ideas and the 'alchemy' that may or may not gild things as we know them now.

Kesang Choden T. Wangchuk and Tshering Tashi will contemplate on the vibrant mural tradition in Bhutan and Christoph Schuler plans to do a delightful presentation of whiteboard animation with Andrea Caprez. Barkha Dutt will speak candidly about her experience as one of leading TV Journalist and anchor with Namgay Zam. Jane De Suzaand Karma Tenzin ‘Yongba’ will bring forward the making of their detective stories withSathya Saran. Omair Ahmad, Lyonpo Om Pradhan and Pavan K. Varma explore the New Bhutan, Sudha Shah and Pramod Kumar KG chronicle history, defining the roots of a nation. Kunzang Choden and Dolma Roderwill revisit the Ogyen Choling manor.Mahesh Dattani will speak about his plays with Kalyan Ray. Outlining the history of the nation-state of Bhutan will be Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Dr. Yoshiro Imaeda, the chronicler of the consolidation of Bhutan talks about his work. Saad Bin Jung will speak about his expeditions and experiences. Kelly Dorji and Dorji Dhradhul read excerpts from their books. Ulap Leki takes on the critical nature of the lighter side of things.

For those interested in the fields of art, photography and history: Bhutan: An Eye to History is a photographic exhibition by His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck showcasing the evolution of Photography in Bhutan; and Kalpana: Masterpieces of Figurative Indian Contemporary Paintings will be showcased at theNehru Wangchuck Center. Tarayana Center, Thimphu will host an Art Exhibition: VAST Summer Show 2013.

Also at the Nehru Wangchuck Centre, films from various genres will be screened with the support of the Public Diplomacy Division. We have A la Cart!, Harmony Fest, The Joyful Rhythms of a Kashmiri Wedding, Lords of the Arctic, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Hello India, Six Yards of Grace, Silent Screams and The Great Adventure.

Mahesh Dattani, playwright, director, actor and winner of the Sahitya Academy Award, will conduct the Theatre Workshop open to all those who are interested. Jerry Pinto, journalist, writer and winner of the The Hindu Lit For Life Prize for Fiction in 2013 will lead the Creative Writing Workshop to help all the writers caught in limbo to bring out their latent abilities. The workshops are a step in helping direct the creativity of the youth and to inculcate the atmosphere for a free exchange of knowledge which helps all those involved, grow.

Bandish is an Indian band popular for its Rock, Pop, Indi-Pop, Sufi and Bollywood music. Ace drummer Chris Powell (Founder Member Nirvana, Ex-Euphoria) formed the band comprising Adil Manuel and Desmond Powell (founder Member Nirvana and True Colours) on guitar, Sanam on vocals, Ulrich Gomes on keyboards, Abhishek on bass and Rohit Kumar on Indian percussions. They are all very excited to be a part of the festival for the first time.

August 2, 2013
Calvin Klein Jeans announces Fall 2013 Campaign

MUMBAI – Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PVH Corp. [NYSE: PVH], today revealed the Calvin Klein Jeans women’s and men’s Fall 2013 global advertising campaign.
The Calvin Klein Jeans advertising campaign for Fall 2013 showcases members of the American alternative rock band Warpaint – including Jenny Lindberg (vocals, bass), Theresa Wayman (vocals, guitar), Emily Kokal (vocals, guitar) and Stella Mozgawa (drums).

Shot by Tyrone Lebon, Warpaint is featured performing for a crowd that includes models Tilda Landstrom, Louise Parker, Matthijs Meel, Sung Jin Park and Mikkel Jensen. The musicians and models are wardrobed in a mix of jeanswear, sportswear, footwear and accessories from Calvin Klein Jeans. The campaign highlights the brand’s latest introduction, the new rocker kick jean — ‘RCKR KICK’ – a sexy, slim silhouette with a kick flare at the hem.

Conceived under the creative direction of Calvin Klein’s in-house global marketing and advertising agency, the Calvin Klein Jeans Fall 2013 campaign will be featured across four continents, spanning from North and South America to Europe and Asia. The print campaign will be complemented by prominent outdoor executions and an on-line advertising campaign video, featuring Warpaints’s new song, “Love is to Die,” which will be included on the band’s next album scheduled for release in September 2013.

Calvin Klein, Inc. is one of the leading fashion design and marketing studios in the world. It designs and markets women’s and men’s designer collection apparel and a range of other products that are manufactured and marketed through an extensive network of licensing agreements and other arrangements worldwide. Product lines under the various Calvin Klein brands include women’s dresses and suits, men’s dress furnishings and tailored clothing, men’s and women’s sportswear and bridge and collection apparel, golf apparel, jeanswear, underwear, fragrances, eyewear, women’s performance apparel, hosiery, socks, footwear, swimwear, jewelry, watches, outerwear, handbags, small leather goods, and home furnishings (including furniture). For more information, please visit calvinklein.com.

PVH Corp., one of the world’s largest apparel companies, owns and markets the iconic Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands worldwide. It is the world’s largest shirt and neckwear company and markets a variety of goods under its own brands, Van Heusen, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, IZOD, ARROW, Bass, G.H. Bass & Co., Warner’s and Olga, and its licensed brands, including Speedo, Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Sean John, Chaps, Donald J. Trump Signature Collection, JOE Joseph Abboud, DKNY, Ike Behar and John Varvatos.

August 2, 2013
South African Tourism’s Brand Ambassador Jonty Rhodes Launches “My Travel Escapades in South Africa” travel guide

MUMBAI: South African Tourism Brand Ambassador in India, popular cricketer Jonty Rhodes, today launched “My Travel Escapades in South Africa”, a travel guide he has written in association with Lonely Planet Magazine India, to showcase the fascinating experiences in his home country.
After the successful launch of Rhodes’ “My South African Diary” last year, South African Tourism looked at a completely new facet of attracting travellers to South Africa by announcing an unprecedented ‘Take Me to South Africa’ contest. The four lucky winners of the contest embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa with Rhodes, who played the role of host and tour guide during this trip.

From the country’s magnificent wildlife, iconic beaches, adrenaline pumping adventure activities, to its world-class cities, shopping, nightlife, food & wine, the chosen winners were at the forefront of some amazing, unforgettable travel experiences. Inspired by this awesome holiday in his home country, Rhodes penned the new travel guide, “My Travel Escapades in South Africa”, aimed at showcasing the varied, fun-filled, adventurous and experiential holiday offerings of South Africa to the Indian travellers.

Talking about his travel guide, the charismatic Rhodes, who has proved to be a popular Brand Ambassador in the Indian market for South African Tourism, said, “There’s no other country in the world like my home country South Africa that combines varied natural beauty, amazing fun-filled experiences and cultural diversity so brilliantly. From the time I heard about the contest to the moment when the contest winners arrived in Johannesburg, I was ecstatic to explore the exciting itinerary put together by South African Tourism and to take the opportunity of showcasing my fascinating country to them. With this comprehensive travel diary, I have shared some of the group’s most memorable experiences through the two week trip. It was my pleasure to be their host and hopefully this travel guide will inspire and encourage more Indians to travel to and experience South Africa.”

“It was an exciting step for us to get Jonty on board as the brand ambassador to promote South Africa in India. The travel guide is part of our first unique initiative undertaken with him to showcase the varied experiences offered by South Africa. Jonty’s love for travel, his passion for his country and enthusiasm to promote South Africa among Indian travelers opened up the perfect platform for this unprecedented initiative. We would like to take this opportunity to thank him and all our South African partners for making this initiative a great success,” said Ms. Hanneli Slabber, India Country Manager for South African Tourism.

The “My Travel Escapades in South Africa” guide encapsulates Jonty and his group’s exciting journey through Johannesburg, Cape Town and surrounds, Garden Route, various game reserves, scenic winelands and the gorgeous city of Durban. The guide offers a 44-page narration of their extraordinary travel experiences across the magnificent country.
“Last year, we joined hands with South Africa Tourism to bring you a unique look at this country, and we are delighted to once again let loose Jonty Rhodes, kickass cricketer, all-round nice guy and alarmingly enthusiastic traveler, in his homeland. He went further this time, in the spirit of a true Lonely Planet traveler, and played host and guide to the winners of ‘The take me to South Africa contest’ , we don’t know whether they played cricket on the way, but clearly they had a very, very good time” said Mr. Vardhan Kondvikar, Editor, Lonely Planet Magazine India.

To further promote the guide, South African Tourism has partnered with NDTV Good Times as the electronic channel partner and Lonely Planet magazine India as the distribution partner. NDTV has captured the exciting South African journey of the four lucky winners with Jonty Rhodes in a three episode series titled “South Africa with Jonty Rhodes” scheduled to be telecast from 12th August, every Monday at 9:30pm. Lonely Planet will assist South African Tourism to reach out to the urban youthful reader profile of the magazine by distributing the travel guide with their September issue of the magazine.

According to the latest arrival figures, South Africa received 106,774 Indians tourists between January to December 2012. This is an increase of 18.2% to the corresponding period last year.

August 2, 2013