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  • Bharat Express tunes into DD Free Dish, extends its fearless news footprint to channel number 69

    Bharat Express tunes into DD Free Dish, extends its fearless news footprint to channel number 69

    MUMBAI: From studio to screen in every Indian home—Bharat Express has dialled up its reach with its latest move onto DD Free Dish, India’s largest free-to-air Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform. As of 20 May, the channel now airs on channel number 69, adding yet another milestone to its rapid distribution expansion.

    Already present on Tata Play (535), Dish TV (671), D2H (753), Jio TV (495), Airtel DTH (327), Den Network (315), Fastway (308), Hathway (214/212), and NXT Digital (InCable – 314/317), Bharat Express has built an impressive footprint. The addition of DD Free Dish brings the channel deeper into India’s rural heartlands—where the platform enjoys its strongest viewership.

    “Our presence on DD Free Dish is a testament to our commitment to making quality journalism accessible to every Indian household. This expansion aligns with our vision of being a truly national voice, reaching audiences across geographies and demographics. With DD Free Dish, Bharat Express is set to gain significant reach among the Hindi news viewers which will also be beneficial for our advertisers”, said Bharat Express News Network CMD & editor-in-chief Upendrra Rai.

    Since its launch, Bharat Express has positioned itself as a national Hindi news channel committed to fast, credible, and impactful journalism. Its growing availability across networks signals rising popularity among viewers and increasing relevance in the national media landscape.

    The move also offers fresh value to advertisers aiming to reach viewers in tier two, tier three, and rural India—audiences that form the bedrock of DD Free Dish’s nearly 50 million user base.
     

  • Defender storms India’s streets with Laqshya’s OOH campaign built on grit, gear, and grand visuals

    Defender storms India’s streets with Laqshya’s OOH campaign built on grit, gear, and grand visuals

    MUMBAI: India’s city skylines have just found a new icon to stare at—and it’s not made of glass and steel. Jaguar Land Rover India, in collaboration with Laqshya Media Group, has launched a sweeping out-of-home (OOH) campaign to introduce the new Defender, painting a bold visual narrative across urban India.

    Titled the ‘Defender – Portal Campaign’, the effort unfolded in two visually arresting phases. The first set the scene with snow-capped peaks—featuring the Defender hurtling through frozen terrain with the calm of a seasoned explorer.

    Phase two flipped the scene entirely: desert dunes, golden and blazing, where the SUV charged forward with grit and grandeur.

    The campaign targeted premium high-footfall zones including malls, arterial highways, and airport corridors, capturing the eyeballs of luxury-inclined urban dwellers. Whether at a bustling junction or an upscale district, the Defender made its mark with placements too audacious to ignore.

    But this wasn’t just a car ad—it was cinematic storytelling at scale.

    One visual depicted the SUV bursting from a brutalist concrete portal into alpine wilderness, alive with icy momentum. Another creative threw it into the desert, every grain of sand kicked up with purpose. A standout frame combined a close-up of goggled eyes with the gleam of the Defender’s headlamp—blurring the line between human and machine.

    “With the new Defender, we didn’t just want to create another OOH campaign—we wanted to engineer a spectacle that mirrors the vehicle’s unstoppable spirit. From snow-clad peaks to sun-baked sands, we designed every touchpoint to make people feel the thrill of adventure and the power of possibility. This campaign isn’t just about seeing the Defender; it’s about experiencing what it means to be truly unmissable”, said Laqshya Media Group CSO Yuvrraj Agarwaal.

    The Defender’s OOH rollout may have traversed just a few cities, but its ambition roared across geographies. By combining tight location targeting with layered visual storytelling, Laqshya and JLR have turned each site into a portal of power and performance—reminding viewers that great adventures begin on the streets they walk.

     

  • Kho-Khoaching class act sets sport on global fast track

    Kho-Khoaching class act sets sport on global fast track

    MUMBAI: Kho Kho, the homegrown Indian game of agility and grit, just got a high-speed upgrade on and off the mat. As the sport stretches beyond its traditional roots to stake its claim on the global stage, the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) is playing tag with the future by launching its most advanced training initiative yet.

    The Advanced Level III-A Training Course for coaches and technical officials kicked off on June 2, 2025, at SGT University, Budhera, and will run till June 15. Organised by KKFI under the aegis of the International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF), the course is no ordinary classroom drill, it’s a knowledge sprint featuring 20 international coaches and officials from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, Australia, England, Korea and Malaysia, alongside 50 Indian coaches and 65 technical officials.

    From biomechanics to sports psychology, recovery techniques to anti-doping awareness, the curriculum mirrors a sport in metamorphosis. With morning fitness sessions and rigorous classroom modules, participants are being immersed in a next-gen playbook designed to take Kho Kho from kabaddi’s countryside cousin to a globally recognised sport.

    5 June was a masterclass in modernisation with sessions on sports science by Pooja Bhati, anti-doping education by Vikas Tyagi and Anurag, and tactical training by legendary coach H. V. Nataraj. The day began with a sweat-inducing physical drill by Ashwani Sharma, reinforcing the discipline behind the dash.

    “This course reflects our commitment to preparing a new generation of coaches and officials who are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and international exposure to take Kho Kho to the next level,” said KKFI president Sudhanshu Mittal. He also underlined how the sport is evolving with mat-based gameplay, a Decision Review System (DRS) and even the strategic ‘Wazir’ role.

    The training for coaches wraps up on June 11 with a practical exam and reflective session, before the officials’ segment begins from 12–15 June.

    With 135 participants in total and a syllabus as sharp as the game’s signature sprints, this course is more than just a seminar, it’s Kho Kho’s statement of intent. The message is clear: India isn’t just where the game began. It’s where the global future of Kho Kho is being written one pivot, one pass, and now, one world-class coach at a time.

  • Mayank Dayal switches gears, takes the wheel at LA Knight Riders

    Mayank Dayal switches gears, takes the wheel at LA Knight Riders

    MUMBAI: Mayank Dayal, a seasoned sports marketing whiz, has made a cracking move, transitioning from the dusty pitches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to the sun-kissed shores of Los Angeles. He’s stepped into the role of business head – Los Angeles Knight Riders, a full-time gig with Knight Riders Sports, effective June 2025. This chap knows his onions when it comes to brand building and fan frenzy, having honed his skills across two decades in global sports, media, and entertainment.

    Just five months ago, Dayal was the head of marketing for Gujarat Titans, where he was instrumental in driving brand growth and whipping up fan engagement for the IPL franchise. Before his stint with the Titans, he was a key player at Sony Sports for nearly three years, leading award-winning campaigns for behemoths like the Fifa World Cup, UEFA Champions League, Olympics, and even the WWE. Talk about a versatile player!

    His career journey reads like a thrilling sports documentary. Dayal spent over six years at Sony Pictures Networks India, climbing the ranks to head – marketing, sports, after a four-year stint as associate vice president. Prior to that, he spent a considerable nine years and one month at Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd, where he held various marketing leadership roles, including senior manager – marketing and director, marketing for channels like Comedy Central and Vh1.

    Dayal’s early innings saw him at Star India Pvt Ltd for nearly three years, where he served as an assistant manager and assistant manager – brand solutions, crafting innovative brand integrations. He also had a four-year, five-month spell as a manager – major accounts at Star News, where he was even awarded “The Best Sales Performer.” His foundational experience includes a brief stint as a trainee – marketing at Bharat Petroleum Co. Ltd and an executive trainee at Linterland – Rural.

    With a deep understanding of audience insights and digital media fandom, Dayal is all set to knock it out of the park for the Los Angeles Knight Riders. It seems his career is always playing on the front foot, driving brand, fan, and revenue growth in the global sports arena.

  • Sip, sip hooray HSBC wants you to retire to more, not settle for less

    Sip, sip hooray HSBC wants you to retire to more, not settle for less

    MUMBAI: Who says the best chapters of life end at 60? HSBC Mutual Fund is flipping that notion on its head with its new investor education initiative, #Retiretomore, reminding Indians that retirement isn’t a full stop, it’s a fresh start. Drawing from the HSBC Quality of Life retirement report, the campaign puts the spotlight on an alarming disconnect: 58 per cent of affluent Indians plan to work post-retirement not out of passion, but necessity. Despite nearly 8 in 10 knowing what they need for retirement, 4 in 10 still feel unprepared. The estimated retirement savings required in India? A cool USD 0.39 million.

    To address the gap between intent and action, HSBC Mutual Fund has launched a 360° campaign featuring three short films that portray retirement through lenses of Life, Passion, and Freedom. Targeted at professionals aged 30 to 45, the emotionally charged narratives underscore the idea that planning early with SIPs can unlock a more fulfilling future.

    “Retirement isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of your next act,” said HSBC Mutual Fund CEO Kailash Kulkarni. “But to enjoy it, smart financial planning through SIPs is key. With #RetireToMore, we aim to transform how India thinks about retirement less fear, more freedom.”

    Beyond the screen, the campaign rolls out across Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, regional languages, OTT platforms, metro wraps, and bus branding. A dedicated landing page allows users to calculate their retirement needs making the campaign both aspirational and actionable.

    #RetireToMore follows HSBC Mutual Fund’s earlier investor education drives like SIP Hai #FaydeWaliAadat and Apne #SIPKoDoPromotion. This latest chapter, though, may be its most important yet because as this campaign cheekily reminds us, retirement isn’t a choice, but planning for it is.

  • EaseMyTrip 2.0: Nishant Pitti plots a first-class upgrade for Indian startups

    EaseMyTrip 2.0: Nishant Pitti plots a first-class upgrade for Indian startups

    MUMBAI: Buckle up—EaseMyTrip is switching lanes. Chairman and founder Nishant Pitti has just rolled out EaseMyTrip 2.0, a turbocharged phase of growth where the travel-tech player won’t just book your holiday—it may just bankroll your next big startup.

    Announced on 2 June, the move marks a bold pivot for one of India’s most profitable online travel agencies. Rather than gunning for control or swift exits, the brand’s new strategy will focus on acquiring up to 49 per cent equity in promising businesses while letting founders retain full operational control. The model? Think co-pilot, not cockpit hijack.

    “We want to back founders who are building exciting businesses and not replace them,” said
    Nishant Pitti. “EaseMyTrip 2.0 is about combining their vision with our platform to create real, lasting scale.”

    The sectors in Pitti’s sights are as wide-ranging as a world map—from core travel segments like spiritual tourism (Ayodhya, Kedarnath, Varanasi), luxury escapes, and student travel to the more offbeat like air ambulances and intercity cabs. But there’s also a pivot to lifestyle. Wellness clinics, spa services, EMI travel payments, insurance, airport lounges and bespoke gifting are all part of the wishlist.

    This is not angel investing in yoga pants. EaseMyTrip 2.0 aims to fuse scale with soul. Founders can expect working capital, access to customers, co-branded marketing, and full freedom to operate—without ceding their vision.

    Entrepreneurs looking to hop aboard this flight can submit business plans, past financials and a three-year growth roadmap to vikash.goyal@easemytrip.com.

    Founded in 2008, EaseMyTrip has managed to do the unthinkable in the OTA space—stay bootstrapped, profitable, and pandemic-resistant. With a 47 per cent CAGR in pre-tax profits (FY20–24), a zero-convenience-fee model, and presence in 10 global markets, the company is now ready to scale new altitudes. And this time, it wants fellow fliers.

    As Pitti put it, ““We’re building an ecosystem; not just a travel company. “EaseMyTrip 2.0 is our commitment to helping India’s most promising businesses scale faster and with our expertise behind them.”

    Let the startups take off.

  • Cool runnings Glucon-D style keeps summer play in full gola swing

    Cool runnings Glucon-D style keeps summer play in full gola swing

    MUMBAI: This summer, as thermometers soared and playgrounds sizzled, Glucon-D didn’t just bring the chill, it brought it on a stick. In a refreshing twist on summer relief, Zydus Wellness’ iconic glucose-based drink launched Energy Ka Gola, an on-ground activation that reached over 10,000 children across Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Lucknow. The mission? To serve up joy and energy in equal measure, one colourful, icy gola at a time.

    But these weren’t your average roadside treats. Infused with Glucon-D’s glucose and Vitamin C, each gola delivered a burst of quick-absorbing energy and immunity support especially vital for active children facing heat-induced glucose depletion.

    Over 700 kilograms of these fortified golas were distributed across 100 plus playgrounds and sports venues, served in familiar flavours like Mango, Orange and Nimbu Pani. The initiative transformed overheated, abandoned fields into buzzing playgrounds again restoring not just hydration, but hope, spirit, and stamina.

    “Energy Ka Gola is nostalgia with a purpose,” said Zydus Wellness CEO Tarun Arora. “We’re blending science with sentiment to help children stay active and energised, even in sweltering conditions. Because children shouldn’t have to choose between chasing dreams and dodging the heat.”

    To drive the message home, Glucon-D also released a heartwarming film that journeys from deserted playgrounds to scenes of joyful, gola-powered revival. Adding more muscle to the movement were local influencers, coaches, and community leaders who helped spread awareness around fatigue, immunity, and the role of glucose replenishment during peak summer months.

    With scorching days becoming the new normal, Energy Ka Gola isn’t just a campaign, it’s a delicious defence mechanism. And Glucon-D’s latest move proves yet again that it doesn’t just fuel bodies, it fuels childhood.

  • Mumbai Falcons race into cricket with SoBo franchise and Rs 82 crore play for India’s sporting future

    Mumbai Falcons race into cricket with SoBo franchise and Rs 82 crore play for India’s sporting future

    MUMBAI: They’ve dominated global circuits at 300 km/h.

    Now they’re padding up for the pitch.

    Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited, known for flying India’s flag high in international motorsport, has switched gears with the launch of SoBo Mumbai Falcons, their new T20 franchise under the Mumbai Cricket Association’s T20 Mumbai League.

    Announced in Mumbai on 3 June, the Rs 82 crore franchise unveiling wasn’t just about the new jersey or the team anthem. It marked a bold crossover between two of India’s biggest sporting passions—cricket and racing—with a shared focus on science, data, and talent development.

    The occasion also saw the debut of ‘Agla Star – One in a Billion Hunt’, a national athlete development programme targeting India’s next sporting icons—not just in cricket but across disciplines. Lending gravitas to the vision, Kapil Dev has joined the SoBo Mumbai Falcons in an advisory and ambassadorial capacity.

    “We’re not here to be just another cricket team. We’re here to build something deeper, something more future-focused. The same dedication that built champions in racing is now being brought into cricket”, said the Mumbai Falcons leadership.

    Founded in 2019, Mumbai Falcons became the first Indian team to win an FIA-accredited international racing championship. Their focus on performance science has shaped careers of motorsport prodigies like Kimi Antonelli, Arthur Leclerc, and Oliver Bearman. In 2024, they clinched the Formula Regional Middle East title and secured second place in Formula 4 middle east.

    Now, the Falcons are extending that high-performance blueprint to the cricketing crease. The SoBo Mumbai Falcons will blend the instincts of gully cricket with a precision-led, data-first culture usually reserved for pit lanes.

    The initiative signals a new chapter in Indian sports—where cricket isn’t just about sixes and sledges, but also systems and strategy. From anthem to academy, the SoBo Falcons promise to be more than a team; they aim to become an institution for sporting excellence.

  • Kumar P V steps into VKC’s top sales role as chief sales officer to lace up expansion across channels

    Kumar P V steps into VKC’s top sales role as chief sales officer to lace up expansion across channels

    MUMBAI: In a move aimed at tightening its grip on the Indian footwear market, VKC has appointed Kumar P V as chief sales officer, tasking him with leading the company’s Channel One business operations. The portfolio spans General Trade, B2B online platforms, and institutional channels.

    With over two and a half decades of sales and marketing experience, Kumar takes the reins at a time when VKC is actively pushing for deeper market penetration and sustained top-line growth. His mandate includes expanding the brand’s footprint across untapped regions, sharpening customer engagement strategies, and boosting productivity across VKC’s distribution channels.

    Kumar previously held leadership positions at some of India’s most recognised names. His career features roles at Cavinkare, Cholayil (Medimix), P&G, Henkel, and Reckitt Benckiser. Most recently, he served as chief sales officer at a fast-growing startup, where he navigated volatile business terrain with a strong hand on sales targets and operational metrics.

    “With Kumar’s appointment, we are doubling down on our growth ambitions for Channel One”, said a VKC spokesperson. “His proven leadership across diverse industries is perfectly suited to scale our operations and deepen customer trust”.

    Kumar’s background also includes extensive work in trade marketing, distribution strategy, and category development across FMCG, personal care, food, snacks, beverages, and OTC pharma.

    As VKC eyes a stronger hold on India’s competitive footwear market, Kumar’s entry signals a fresh drive to outpace rivals on shelf space, sales volume, and supply-chain finesse.