ITV

Blog

  • Sportskill launches Champions Club Elite Pass to back India’s top-ranked young athletes

    Sportskill launches Champions Club Elite Pass to back India’s top-ranked young athletes

    MUMBAI:  In a powerful push for grassroots excellence, Sportskill has launched the Champions Club Elite Pass — a performance-based initiative designed to identify, support, and celebrate India’s top young athletes. Far from a membership card, the pass is a golden ticket to advanced training, national recognition, and elite exposure — all backed by one of India’s oldest sporting institutions, the Cricket Club of India (CCI).

    The pass, awarded free of charge, is open to athletes who rank in the top eight nationally or top 16 in Asia across five racket sports — Tennis, Squash, Table Tennis, Badminton, and Pickleball. By eliminating financial barriers and prioritising merit, Sportskill is flipping the script on how early-stage sports talent is nurtured.

    “This is not just an endorsement; it’s a call to action for institutions across the country to come together and build a world-class, athlete-first ecosystem”, said Sportskill co-founder Chetan Desai.

    The initiative received ringing endorsement from Anil Nayar, a Harvard alumnus and 28-time national champion who’s been inducted into the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame. He called the programme “a win-win for champion players, club members, and budding juniors”, underscoring its potential to transform both player development and club prestige.

    With CCI lending its name to the pass, Sportskill has found a heavyweight ally. Known for shaping legends and hosting historic tournaments, the Mumbai-based institution’s support adds legacy value to a forward-facing initiative.

    Sportskill co-founder Abhinav Sinha added, “The support from CCI gives further momentum to our mission of building a transformative sporting culture for India’s youth. It’s time clubs moved from being venues to becoming talent incubators”.

    Pass holders will gain access to high-performance training, a dedicated athlete profile to attract sponsors, and entry into an invitation-only celebration featuring top talent across disciplines. Even their coaches will be formally acknowledged — a rare move that spotlights mentorship in Indian sport.

    Underneath the glamour sits a solid tech stack. Sportskill is evolving into a full-fledged sports tech as a service (STaaS) platform that leverages AI, video analytics, and data-driven coaching to deliver measurable improvement across athlete journeys. Its ambition: to support champions not when they make it, but while they’re making it.

    Applications for the Champions Club Elite Pass are now open at www.Sportskill.app. For queries, athletes and parents can write to connect@Sportskill.app.

    With this initiative, Sportskill isn’t just investing in India’s next sports stars — it’s building a structure to ensure their journey is seen, supported, and celebrated from the start.

  • Business Today to host jury meet for India’s most sustainable companies on 16 May

    Business Today to host jury meet for India’s most sustainable companies on 16 May

    MUMBAI: With the world watching corporate India’s green game, Business Today has announced the jury for the inaugural edition of BT India’s Most Sustainable Companies – Summit & Awards. The jury meet will be held on 16 May to evaluate the country’s ESG front-runners ahead of the grand ceremony in June.

    Chaired by State Bank of India former Chairman Rajnish Kumar, the jury features a high-calibre mix of financial, regulatory, and sustainability expertise. Among them:

    1    Reserve Bank of India former ED Deepali Pant

    2    CareEdge Group MD & group CEO Mehul Pandya

    3    HDFC Trustee Company Ltd chairman of the Board Vimal Bhandari

    4    Deutsche Bank Group MD & head of ESG – Asia Pacific Kamran Khan

    5    Corporate advisor Srinath Sridharan

    6    IIFM director K Ravichandran

    The awards, which will be handed out on 6 June in New Delhi, will celebrate Indian companies that have hardwired environmental, social and governance values into their business models. Companies will be recognised not just for adopting ESG checklists, but for delivering measurable impact through sustainability-led growth.

    Union minister for environment, forest and climate change, Bhupender Yadav, will attend the summit as Chief Guest, adding policy weight to a platform that aims to bridge business ambition with climate action.

    From carbon cuts and circular economy experiments to social equity frameworks and governance overhauls, the awards will spotlight companies leading by example. Business Today’s initiative signals an urgent and necessary shift: that the age of box-ticking sustainability is over, and real accountability is now the benchmark.

  • Remo stirs the floor as Dharmesh drops the mic on Hip Hop India

    Remo stirs the floor as Dharmesh drops the mic on Hip Hop India

    MUMBAI: If you thought the beats were wild, wait till you see the twist. Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 is serving up more shockers than a plot-heavy soap. Streaming exclusively on Amazon MX Player, the show’s latest promo has left fans reeling after judge Remo D’Souza dropped a bombshell, the grand finale will now be a Top 4 face-off, not the Top 2 as expected.

    With emotions running high and rivalries reaching breaking point, the fight for a finalist’s spot has never looked fiercer. And just when the heat couldn’t turn up any higher, in comes Dharmesh Yelande, not just to judge but to slay the stage himself. His surprise performance shook the room, electrifying both contestants and co-judges alike.

    The tension was thick enough to slice with a moonwalk. As dancers put everything on the line for that coveted finalist slot, the pressure pushed some to tears and others to thrilling new heights. This week promises not just jaw-dropping choreography, but a full-blown emotional rollercoaster.

    Between high-octane face-offs, musical curveballs, and one dramatic reveal after another, Hip Hop India Season 2 continues to raise the stakes and the swag. Stream it now on Amazon MX Player via the Amazon app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and Connected TVs.

    Because in this battle, the beat never drops, only the mic does.

  • Shivictry PR rolls out bi-annual appraisals to fuel faster growth and reward rising talent

    Shivictry PR rolls out bi-annual appraisals to fuel faster growth and reward rising talent

    MUMBAI: Shivictry PR has rewritten the rules of workplace recognition, becoming one of the few firms in the Indian communications industry to adopt a bi-annual appraisal cycle. The move is part of a broader talent-first approach introduced by founder & director Himanshu Kothari, aimed at championing employee growth with greater frequency, transparency, and impact.

    Beginning this year, the Delhi-based agency will conduct performance evaluations every six months—breaking away from the traditional once-a-year format followed across most corporate setups. The updated system includes feedback sessions, goal reviews, skill assessments, and compensation revisions—rolled into a twice-a-year rhythm that’s geared for agility.

    “We believe that exceptional talent deserves timely acknowledgment”, said Kothari. “By moving to a six-month appraisal cycle, we’re not only recognising performance more frequently, but we’re also creating new opportunities for learning, mentorship, and career advancement. Our people are our greatest asset, and this initiative is a step forward in empowering them to reach their full potential”.

    The new cycle will include personalised development plans tailored to each team member’s growth trajectory, aligning professional aspirations with business outcomes. The shift is also expected to help managers act on underperformance more proactively while rewarding creativity and consistency faster—giving high-potential employees more reason to stay, learn, and lead.

    With a portfolio packed with strategic brand communication wins and fast-growing client rosters, Shivictry PR has become a fixture among top Indian PR agencies. Much of that growth, the company maintains, has been driven by its team-first ethos—now reinforced by the bi-annual review model.

    In a competitive industry where churn rates and burnout are all too common, Shivictry PR’s move sends a strong signal: employee feedback shouldn’t have to wait for an anniversary. Sometimes, half a year is more than enough to recognise the value someone brings to the table.

  • Bryan Batista to take flight as Skyscanner’s next CEO, succeeding John Mangelaars

    Bryan Batista to take flight as Skyscanner’s next CEO, succeeding John Mangelaars

    MUMBAI: Skyscanner has named Bryan Batista as its next chief executive officer, effective 1 June 2025. Batista, who currently serves as chief operating officer, will succeed John Mangelaars, who departs after a four-and-a-half-year stint steering the global travel platform through a period of rapid growth and diversification.

    The leadership transition comes as Skyscanner records double-digit growth across flights, accommodation, and car hire, while expanding aggressively into high-growth markets such as India. The company currently serves over 160 million users each month across 180 countries and 37 languages, offering access to more than 1,200 partners in flights, hotels, and car rentals. Rail and package travel offerings have also been added in select markets.

    Mangelaars said, “After four and a half incredible years, I am stepping down as CEO and passing the baton to Bryan. The company is in a great position, and I feel that now is the right time for me personally to make this change and pursue new ventures. I have enormous confidence in Bryan’s leadership and determination to take Skyscanner forward in the next stage of its ambitious growth”.

    Batista joined Skyscanner in January 2024. Prior to that, he led Rentalcars.com and served as SVP of the Trips division at Booking.com, after an earlier leadership stint at Tesla. Since joining Skyscanner, Batista has played a key role in shaping and executing the company’s long-term strategy, which involves scanning 100 billion prices daily to help travellers plan their trips with greater ease and confidence.

    “We built Skyscanner because we are travel geeks at heart”, Batista said. “We love the thrill of exploring new places and we hate the pain of planning. Since joining Skyscanner, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with our incredible teams and travel partners. Stepping into this role is a dream. I get to lead a company that is on a mission to become the world’s number one travel ally”.

    With new products, smarter tools, and category expansions in motion, Batista’s elevation signals a continued focus on making travel discovery more intuitive and rewarding for users worldwide.

  • AB steps up to the crease for Sneaker LAB’s clean sweep in India

    AB steps up to the crease for Sneaker LAB’s clean sweep in India

    MUMBAI: When a brand believes in keeping your sneakers spotless and the planet spotless too, who better to lead the charge in India than cricket’s cleanest hitter AB de Villiers? Sneaker LAB, the South Africa-born brand making waves with its biotechnology-powered, eco-friendly sneaker care, has found the perfect partner in cricketing legend AB de Villiers. The campaign marks the brand’s official India debut and brings together two things the country can’t get enough of: cricket and sneakers.

    Tapping into India’s rapidly growing sneaker culture, the campaign showcases Sneaker LAB’s hero product, a probacterial formula that uses good bacteria to break down dirt and odour, long after you’ve wiped. It’s sneaker cleaning at its most sustainable and science-led.

    Sharing his thoughts on the association Sneaker LAB brand partner and South African cricketer AB de Villiers said, “When Sneaker LAB approached me, I instantly connected with their fresh approach and purpose-led vision. They are doing something different by combining science, sustainability, and style in a way that truly stands out. I am proud to represent a brand that is not just innovative but also committed to doing good in a country that I am deeply connected to.”

    Speaking about the campaign Sneaker LAB founder Jo Farah shares, “This campaign captures the essence of what we stand for at Sneaker LAB, a belief that innovation and sustainability can come together in everyday life. Launching the campaign in India is a meaningful step for us and having AB de Villiers lead this journey makes it even more special. His story, his values, and his connection with Indian fans bring depth to our message, and we are proud to start this new chapter with him.”

    As part of its launch, Sneaker LAB is rolling out a three-month ‘Golden Wipe’ campaign. Starting 16 May, five lucky fans who find a golden sneaker wipe inside select boxes will win a chance to meet AB de Villiers in person, a move that blends cricket fever with sneaker obsession in true collector-worthy fashion.

    With AB de Villiers on board and a swipe of science-backed style, Sneaker LAB’s India innings looks all set to bowl over conscious consumers one wipe at a time.

  • Amagi gets a Whitmore boost as cloud ambitions stream into EMEA

    Amagi gets a Whitmore boost as cloud ambitions stream into EMEA

    MUMBAI: Call it a cloud with a silver lining Amagi has just added some serious firepower to its global stream team. In a move that signals renewed focus on European and Middle Eastern markets, cloud-led broadcast tech company Amagi has appointed Emma Whitmore as its senior vice president of sales, EMEA. With over 20 years of industry expertise, Emma steps in to steer Amagi’s next phase of partner-led growth, regional expansion, and content innovation.

    Known for her sharp eye on industry collaboration and customer-centric strategy, Emma’s appointment comes at a time when cloud-first broadcasting is more than just a buzzword, it’s a business imperative. She will report to Amagi EVP, global SaaS sales, Dan Marshall, and work closely with partners and platforms across the region to scale Amagi’s suite of broadcast and streaming solutions.

    “I’m excited to join at a time of rapid growth and innovation across EMEA. This is a unique opportunity to work even more closely with our customers, expand our local presence, and ensure we’re delivering solutions that truly reflect the needs of today’s broadcasters and content owners,” said Amagi SVP of sales for EMEA Emma Whitmore.

    “Emma brings a combination of deep industry expertise and focus on execution,” said Dan Marshall, EVP, Global SaaS Sales Amagi. “As we continue scaling across EMEA, her leadership will be pivotal in expanding our regional impact, strengthening partner relationships, and delivering even greater value to our customers.”

    Her appointment follows Amagi’s acquisition of Tellyo and strategic investments in Europe, highlighting the company’s intent to become the go-to partner for live events, digital-first content, and scalable streaming tech across multiple markets.

    Sri Hari Thirunavukkarasu, who led sales for Amagi in the EMEA region for over a decade, will be relocating to the company headquarters in India to drive strategic initiatives at the CEO’s office. “It has been a memorable stint building the Amagi footprint in Europe, and working very closely with customers to drive cloud adoption and business transformation,” said Sri Hari. “With the appointment of a seasoned industry professional like Emma, I am fully confident that our customers and partners in the region are in good hands and will benefit from her customer-first approach.”

    Emma’s influence extends beyond the boardroom. She contributes to the UK Government’s Future of TV working group, sits on the Digital TV Group Council, and has been part of TM Forum’s innovation work on media sustainability. When not transforming media strategies, she’s mentoring women in tech or coaching youth hockey making her as impactful off the field as on it.

    As Emma steps in, Sri Hari Thirunavukkarasu, who has led Amagi’s EMEA growth for over a decade, will relocate to India to join the CEO’s office and lead strategic initiatives.

    Emma, alongside the Amagi leadership, will be present at MPTS 2025, ready to write the next chapter in Amagi’s global cloud journey, one that’s sure to be bold, seamless, and powered by serious streaming smarts.

  • Boat sails into smart savings with ‘Pay with Rewards’ checkout feature

    Boat sails into smart savings with ‘Pay with Rewards’ checkout feature

    MUMBAI: Who says good vibes can’t come with great value? Boat, India’s chart-topping audio and wearables brand, just turned up the volume on smart shopping. In a slick new collaboration with rewards-based payments network TWID, Boat has rolled out the ‘Pay with Rewards’ feature on its website making it easier for customers to redeem loyalty points across programs while checking out.

    No more hoarding reward points with nowhere to spend them. With TWID’s technology baked right into the boAt checkout, shoppers can now pay for their favourite wearables, earphones, speakers, and smartwatches using their existing points without leaving the site or jumping through hoops.

    Boat COO Gaurav Nayyar quoted, “At boAt, we always strive to enhance the customer journey. Our integration with TWID and the launch of ‘Pay with Rewards’ is a step towards smarter shopping. It’s about offering choice, convenience, and added value every time you buy.”

    Commenting on the partnership TWID, co-founder & COO Rishi Batra said, “Boat has always been at the forefront of innovation, bringing music and technology together in ways that resonate with today’s generation. With our ‘Pay with Rewards’ technology, we’re ensuring higher conversions and ROI for them and enabling customers to seamlessly redeem their points to make every transaction more rewarding, Our goal is to turn reward points into a powerful payment option, and partnering with boAt is another crucial step in that direction.”

    The feature is now live across Boat’s digital storefront, giving the brand’s massive fanbase a new reason to shop and save. With this move, boAt not only amps up convenience, but also reinforces its tech-forward, customer-first mantra, one reward point at a time.

  • Box office in all languages as Ormax cinematix gets a pan India upgrade

    Box office in all languages as Ormax cinematix gets a pan India upgrade

    MUMBAI: What’s the buzz across Bharat? Ormax Media may now have the answer in eight languages. India’s go-to media insights firm Ormax Media has given its flagship film tracking tool a blockbuster twist. Ormax Cinematix, long trusted for tracking hindi film pre-release buzz, has just dropped its Pan India version now equipped to track and forecast theatrical releases across eight Indian languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, and even Hollywood films dubbed for desi fans.

    The upgraded tool has been designed specifically for the multi-lingual film juggernauts that dominate India’s box office, think RRR, K.G.F., and Pushpa. These big-ticket releases no longer belong to just one region, and now, neither does Ormax Cinematix.

    The Pan India version offers a unified, real-time snapshot of campaign performance and box office projections for films that drop in up to five languages at once. Using weekly polls of 2,000 plus theatre-goers and tracking parameters like Buzz, Reach, and Appeal, it claims 75–85 per cent accuracy on first-day forecast numbers,  a stat that may soothe even the most jittery film marketer.

    Speaking about the launch of the pan India version Ormax Media head of business development (Theatrical) Sanket Kulkarni said, “With South Indian cinema seeing a significant surge in both scale and theatrical reach over the past few years, the need for a consolidated, data-driven tool that captures audience response across languages and markets has become critical. The Pan India version of Ormax Cinematix is a result of extensive research and data modelling, to ensure accurate language-wise forecasting of the first-day box office of films that release in upto five languages at the same time”.

    The tool, which operates on a subscription model, is aimed at helping producers, studios, distributors, and exhibitors decide how best to spread their marketing spends, scale their campaigns, and benchmark success all before a single ticket is sold.

    As storytelling becomes more pan-Indian, so does the science behind its success. With this rollout, Ormax is hoping to become the box office’s crystal ball no matter the language, region, or genre.

  • Drawn to attention Flipkart sketches a buzz for Motorola Edge 60

    Drawn to attention Flipkart sketches a buzz for Motorola Edge 60

    MUMBAI: When it comes to grabbing eyeballs, Flipkart and SW Network didn’t just think outside the box they drew outside the lines. In a bold and brilliantly visual activation, Flipkart collaborated with integrated advertising agency SW Network to bring the Motorola Edge 60’s stylus feature to life, literally. Shoppers at Nexus Select Citywalk in Saket, New Delhi, were treated to a live art performance, where artists wielded a giant stylus to doodle directly onto the mall courtyard, transforming the bustling shopping hub into a buzzing, open-air sketchpad.

    The larger-than-life installation drew crowds who watched in awe, snapped selfies, and shared the experience online turning an offline moment into a digital wave. By highlighting the stylus feature in such a hands-on and artistic way, the campaign cleverly bridged functionality with flair.

    SW Network Co-founder, Raghav Bagai commenting on the campaign said, “We believe creative ideas should solve real business needs. In this case, highlighting the stylus, quite literally, made the brand stand out and got people to sit up and take notice of an otherwise cluttered category. Mission accomplished.”

    SW Network, director of youthbeat Shubham Chawla said, “What looked like a simple doodle on the floor was actually the result of 12 hours of relentless effort and planning. But that’s the thing with good ideas, they often appear effortless, but making them real takes a whole lot of hard work behind the scenes.”

    The activation didn’t end at the mall. A newspaper jacket ad carried the campaign further, inviting readers to try the stylus themselves, extending the experience across media and minds.

    In a market where campaigns often blur into one another, this one scribbled its way into consumer consciousness showing that a bit of creativity (and a really big pen) can go a long way.