ITV

Tag: covid-19

  • Star Sports celebrates IPL’s 13th birthday with #CricketConnected

    Star Sports celebrates IPL’s 13th birthday with #CricketConnected

    MUMBAI: In a special episode this week, Cricket Connected will celebrate the Greatest of All Time (GOATs) players and coaches of the Indian Premier League to mark the thirteenth birthday of the tournament. Hosted by Jatin Sapru, the episode will air on 18 April at 7 pm on Star Sports.

    The third episode will feature an ensemble of experts – Danny Morrison, Kevin Pietersen, Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra and Irfan Pathan – who will be picking their GOATs from the most decorated among batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders, coaches and captains along with a host of other prominent sports journalists of the country.

    The broadcaster has also urged fans to pick their favourite IPL moment using #CricketConnected on Twitter and may even stand a chance to have their selections up for discussion on the show.

    The experts on the show will be dishing out their thoughts on Brendon McCullum’s blockbuster of an innings of 158 not out against Royal Challengers Bangalore in what was a perfect curtain-raiser that kick-started one of the biggest sporting extravaganzas of all time. McCullum's blistering knock in the very first match of the IPL in 2008 propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to a crushing 140-run victory.

    The cricket legends will also revisit the incredible story of Team India’s first-ever Test series win over arch-rivals Pakistan in 2004 that came under the astute leadership of Sourav Ganguly.

    #CricketConnected is a non-live chat show to fill in the void left by the absence of live events. In times when the sporting world has been forced to press the pause button due to COVID-19, Cricket Connected has proved to be that medium where fans can connect with their favourite experts.

    Each episode has segments that encourage fans to engage and interact with the cricketing legends. Segments such as “#AskStar” gives fans an opportunity to share their favourite cricket moments by sending their questions using #AskStar for the legends to answer.

  • Taco Bell India pays tribute to India’s warriors through ‘Taco Bell cares’ initiative

    Taco Bell India pays tribute to India’s warriors through ‘Taco Bell cares’ initiative

    MUMBAI: Taco Bell India is thanking India’s frontline warriors and pledging support to daily wage earners and underserved communities in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis through its ‘Taco Bell Cares’ initiative.

    The brand has gone a step ahead and curated a special recipe known as the Taco Bell Care Power Bowl. The wholesome and filling Taco Bell Care Power Bowl has been developed by the brand’s Food Innovation team and consists of white rice, Pinto beans and spicy salsa. The brand has committed to distributing hundreds of meals each day across operational stores during the lockdown period. The meals comprising of the specially-curated Taco Bell Care Power Bowls will help sustain frontline warriors and daily wage earners as they put in long hours during the ongoing health crisis, often not eating for prolonged durations of time, as well as provide filling meals to underserved communities who are unable to access daily rations.

    Taco Bell Cares will be led through collaborations with various hospitals, NGOs and partner brands. Currently, the brand has started distribution across New Delhi and Bangalore and will extend the scale of the initiative as it reopens outlets across different parts of the country. The first such activity was kicked off with non-profit organisation Goonj where meals are being delivered to daily workers. The brand has also initiated a partnership with non-profit World Health Group for their community-driven Project Thali, which aims to connect the dots between partnering restaurants, NGOs and the government and ensure that those unable to claim daily ration get access to food & nourishment.

    A Taco Bell Care Fund has also been set up which will see voluntary contributions of one-day salaries by Taco Bell employees as their way of supporting the nation. The proceeds from the fund will be donated to the PM CARES Fund set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Sharing his thoughts, Taco Bell’s master franchise partner in India Burman Hospitality Private Limited director  Gaurav Burman said, “In these extraordinary times, we at Taco Bell believe that it is only by coming together as a community that we will be able to overcome this pandemic. I am extremely proud that every individual at Burman Hospitality has voluntarily given generously to The Taco Bell Cares initiative. The country’s unsung heroes are leading the fight against the pandemic, often putting their own health at risk in the process. The Taco Bell Care Power Bowls will ensure that our frontline warriors have a healthy and nourishing meal to keep them energised as they continue serving the nation.

    Taco Bell’s commitment to distributing meals is an extension of the unique digital activation that the brand-led in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Janata Curfew’ held at the end of March. Taco Bell created a virtual bell on its website and urged netizens to ‘Ring The Bell’ as a way of expressing their gratitude to the COVID-19 Warriors, with each bell rung translating into a meal commitment by the brand.

  • OPPO stands in solidarity, pays tribute to warriors fighting against COVID-19

    OPPO stands in solidarity, pays tribute to warriors fighting against COVID-19

    Uniting with the nation in the war against COVID-19, OPPO has paid tribute to the real warriors battling at the frontline against the pandemic in India. OPPO has rolled out ‘Hope is a form’ – a digital campaign to salute the brave-hearts working tirelessly at the forefront to serve the nation. The campaign symbolizes hope in the form of frontline warriors such as doctors, nurses, delivery agents, housekeeping staff etc. who are stepping out of their own homes to make our lives safer and simpler amid this public health crisis.

    Talking about this initiative, Mr. Sumit Walia, VP, Product and Marketing, OPPO India said, “The ‘Hope has a form’ campaign is an effort to instill hope and pay tribute to these “everyday super-heroes” such as doctors, medical personnel, cleaning staff for their service during such crucial times. The entire nation owes each one of them a tremendous debt of gratitude. The brand film is just a small attempt to recognize and express our gratefulness towards these warriors who despite all the odds are fighting through the contagion for all of us.”

    The campaign video celebrates these heroes through heart-warming posts on OPPO’s social platforms. In addition, the brand film also throws light on these everyday brave-hearts who are selflessly making our lives safer and together with their support, we are going to come out of this darkness.

    Standing tall with its commitment to extend every possible support to overcome the difficulties, OPPO has also partnered with the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, ISKCON Gurgaon, ISKCON Delhi, ISKCON Mumbai and The Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) to serve food to thousands of people stranded due to the pandemic. OPPO has also distributed face masks to the Uttar Pradesh Government for the use of healthcare providers.

  • One World: Together At Home special to stream for free on Hulu Japan

    One World: Together At Home special to stream for free on Hulu Japan

    MUMBAI: Hulu Japan has announced that One World: Together At Home, a globally televised and streamed special in support of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, will stream for free on Hulu Japan at 19th April AM 9:00 (JST)

    Launched by international advocacy organisation Global Citizen, and the WHO, One World: Together At Home will show unity among all people who are affected by COVID-19 and will also celebrate and support brave healthcare workers doing life-saving work on the front lines.

    Curated in collaboration with Lady Gaga, the One World: Together At Home broadcast special will include performances and appearances by Alicia Keys, Amy Poehler, Andrea Bocelli, Awkwafina, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Celine Dion, Chris Martin, David & Victoria Beckham, Eddie Vedder, Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John, FINNEAS, Idris and Sabrina Elba, J Balvin, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kerry Washington, Lang Lang, Lizzo,  LL COOL J, Lupita Nyong’o, Maluma, Matthew McConaughey, Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Pharrell Williams, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sam Smith, Shah Rukh Khan, Shawn Mendes, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, and Usher.

    Leading up to the global broadcast special, there will be a six-hour streamed event on Hulu Japan that starts on 19 April at 3 am AM (JST).

    The streamed event will include performances and appearances from Adam Lambert, Andra Day, Angèle, Anitta, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Ben Platt, Billy Ray Cyrus, Black Coffee, Bridget Moynahan, Burna Boy, Cassper Nyovest, Charlie Puth, Christine and the Queens, Common, Connie Britton, Danai Gurira, Delta Goodrem, Don Cheadle, Eason Chan, Ellie Goulding, Erin Richards, FINNEAS, Heidi Klum, Hozier, Hussain Al Jasmi, Jack Black, Jacky Cheung, Jack Johnson, Jameela Jamil, James McAvoy, Jason Segel, Jennifer Hudson, Jess Glynne, Jessie J, Jessie Reyez, John Legend, Juanes, Kesha, Lady Antebellum, Lang Lang, Leslie Odom Jr., Lewis Hamilton, Liam Payne, Lili Reinhart, Lilly Singh, Lindsey Vonn, Lisa Mishra, Lola Lennox, Luis Fonsi, Maren Morris, Matt Bomer, Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bublé, Milky Chance, Naomi Osaka, Natti Natasha, Niall Horan, Nomzamo Mbatha, P.K. Subban, Picture This, Rita Ora, Samuel L Jackson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sebastián Yatra, Sheryl Crow, Sho Madjozi, SOFI TUKKER, SuperM, The Killers, Tim Gunn, Vishal Mishra and Zucchero.

    One World: Together At Home is not a telethon; it is a historic, first-of-its kind global broadcast event to celebrate the heroic efforts of community health workers, and to support the WHO in the global fight to end COVID-19. The broadcast will feature stories from frontline healthcare workers on the COVID response, commitments from philanthropists, governments and corporations to support and equip frontline healthcare workers around the world, with masks, gowns and other vital equipment, and to local charities that provide food, shelter, and healthcare to those that need it most.

    For more information about Global Citizen and its campaign to support the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO, powered by the UN Foundation, visit globalcitizen.org and follow @GlblCtzn on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #GlobalCitizen.

  • News channels see viewership fall in BARC week 14

    News channels see viewership fall in BARC week 14

    MUMBAI: For the second consecutive week, news broadcasters have slumped marginally across languages in week 14 (4-10 April) of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India as against week 13 (28 March-3 April). Hindi news channels fell by nearly seven per cent and English by 10 per cent.

    According to a joint report of BARC and Nielsen India on crisis consumption, the news genre has continued to grow exponentially by over 200 per cent in terms of viewership than its peers. The growth in week 14 is compared to pre-COVID-19 combine weeks of two and four (11- 31 January)

    This is the fourth straight week that the audience has been flocking to watch the news more than any other category due to the rising concern over the COVID-19 crisis. Week 12 of BARC has so far reported an exponential rise in terms of viewership of news channels across languages.

    Aaj Tak has topped the chart for the straight fourteenth week in the top five news channels’ list. However, the channel fails to retain its earlier week's performance and slumped by over 13 per cent to 372,688 weekly impressions this week as compared to 429,900 impressions in the previous week.

    For the straight third week, Aaj Tak has become the number one TV channel in India in 2+plus category. Not just other news channels, the channel has also surpassed the most-watched general entertainment and movie channels in terms of viewership.

    Maintaining its second lead for the third straight week, APB News marginally fell by over five per cent to 295,264 weekly impressions in the current week than 311,382 impressions in the last week. The channel has become the second-most watched TV channel across genre in week 14 of BARC.

    Reclaiming its third spot after two weeks, India TV reported almost the same performance in terms of viewership this week as that of the previous week. The channel, however, grew with a very acute margin of 0.3 per cent to 283,103 weekly impressions this week versus 282,228 impressions in the last week.

    Republic Media Network’s Hindi news channel Republic Bharat, improving its ranking this week, has climbed up to the fourth spot from fifth. The channel, however, dropped slightly in terms of viewership by nearly three percent to 272,602 weekly impressions in week 14 as against 280,219 in the previous week.

    The channel's prime time debate shows – Mahabharat and Poochta Hai Bharat – become the most-watched between 6 pm to 9 pm during week 14. Republic Bharat was ahead of Aaj Tak with a mere 0.1 per cent, the former the lead with 15.3 per cent of the market share, whereas the latter giving cut-throat competition was at 15.2 per cent during the same time slot.

    Zee Media’s Hindi news channel Zee News has not only fallen in ranking but also in terms of viewership. The channel tumbled by over 10 per cent to 270,066 weekly impressions in week 14 as compared to 300,324 impressions in the earlier week. From the second spot in week 11, the channel is positioned at the fifth position in the current week of BARC.

    In the English category, Republic TV has maintained its dominance for the fourteenth week straight in terms of viewership. However, the channel, this week, declined marginally by around nine per cent to 1896 weekly impressions than 2082 impressions in the previous week. The channel has reported all-time high viewership numbers in the week 13 of BARC.

    Majority of the channel’s viewership is drawn from its super prime-team debate show hosted by the network’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami. For the fourth week in a row, Republic TV has been the most-watched channel from 9 pm to 11 pm with a market share of 63 per cent.

    Times Network’s English news channel Times Now has become the second most-preferred news channel for the straight fourteenth week of BARC. The channel, however, fell substantially in terms of viewership by over 28 per cent to 922 impressions this week versus 1284 impressions in week 13.

    Network18’s English news channel CNN-News18 has improved its performance not only in terms of ranking but also in viewership. The channel, securing third spot, has gained substantially by over 40 per cent to 917 weekly impressions as compared to 653 impressions in the earlier week of BARC.

    TV Today’s English news channel India Today fell to the fourth position from third for the first time in the last four weeks. The channel declined substantially by over 26 per cent to 866 weekly impressions in the current week as compared to 1182 impressions week 13. The channel had seen all-time high viewership gain in the previous week of BARC.

    Making it in top five English news channels’ list for the second consecutive week, ZEE Media’s Wion has report marginally gain by over 0.6 per cent to 627 weekly impressions compared in week 14 to 623 impressions in the earlier week of BARC.

  • MyGate delivers free e-newspapers to 1.6 million homes in lockdown

    MyGate delivers free e-newspapers to 1.6 million homes in lockdown

    NEW DELHI: With more than 425 million people reaching out to read a newspaper every morning, India is one of the top consumers of the print news industry globally. Despite the growing onslaught of the digital medium, print in India has held its own. It is still considered the most credible source of information by many. 

    However, the ongoing lockdown in the wake of a contagious COVID-19, the industry is facing massive roadblocks, including distributors denying delivering papers, and lower manpower in the logistics department. 

    But to make sure that the loyal patrons of many print dailies don’t miss out on their daily dose of information, MyGate, one of the topmost mobile-based visitor and community ecosystems in the country, is delivering free e-papers to them.

    MyGate COO and co-founder Abhishek Kumar told Indiantelevision.com: “The newspaper is a big part of the morning for most of our users. As they are not let into most of our gated communities during the lockdown, we wanted to figure out a way to deliver them their newspaper safely and provide access with minimum effort.”

    He added, “The pandemic has affected newspaper circulation across India. Although websites provide news, many readers still prefer reading the newspaper. Hence we have tied up with many leading publications.”

    MyGate is neither charging the publications or the users for these services and has tied up with several leading players including The Times of India, Indian Express, Deccan Herald, Deccan Chronicle, Financial Express, Loksatta, Prajavani, and Jansatta. 

    The service is benefitting 1.6 million homes that MyGate is present in across 17 cities in India.

    Kumar is elated at the splendid response the initiative has been getting and says that he will continue to deliver the services till the lockdown gets over. 

  • Household products, laundry saw slump in ad spends: BARC Nielsen

    Household products, laundry saw slump in ad spends: BARC Nielsen

    MUMBAI: As per the fourth edition of the BARC-Nielson report on digital advertising, there is a significant drop in the digital ad spends seen in most categories.

    Household product and laundry were worst hit post-COVID-19 with 40 per cent dip as compared to pre-COVID-19 period followed by hair care and personal care. Gaming sector saw a dip of 13 per cent. The media industry saw a dip of 16 per cent.

    In the digital video category sector, further drop was witnessed in retail, travel and auto. The travel sector witnessed a drop of seven per cent. The auto sector saw a drop of 23 per cent. The retail sector saw a drop of 42 per cent followed by banking finance investment, personal accessories and durables.

  • Anindya Banerjee thanks essential service providers who are extending their support during COVID-19

    Anindya Banerjee thanks essential service providers who are extending their support during COVID-19

    MUMBAI: COVID-19 pandemic is threatening lives across the globe. It has brought the entire economy and people’s life at a standstill. During this crisis, essential service workers are the ones who are risking their health so that society can function smoothly. FCB Ulka ECD Anindya Banerjee expresses his gratitude towards healthcare providers and other essential services personnel for their support during this crisis.

  • PM Modi’s lockdown extension address got 4 bn viewing mins

    PM Modi’s lockdown extension address got 4 bn viewing mins

    MUMBAI: Prime minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation regarding the first extension of the lockdown on 14 April garnered four billion viewing minutes, as per latest data released by BARC-Nielsen. 

    This address garnered the highest viewership among his four addresses to the nation regarding COVID-19.  In his recent address, PM Modi announced that the nation-wide lockdown will be extended till 3 May.

    The lockdown extension speech received 3937.3 million viewing minutes while the earlier one on 3 April got 1024.5 million viewing minutes. The PM’s first lockdown announcement on 24 March got 3862.9 million viewing minutes, the second-highest among the four.

    The latest 25-minute address of the prime minister was shown on at least 199 channels with over 200 million people watching it. The recent address was the most important one compared to the three previous addresses, as PM Modi was about to speak on the future of lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

    PM Modi’s first address (Janta Curfew) on 19 March had garnered over 1.2 billion viewing minutes. In his second address, he announced the 21-day lockdown, which helped gain over 3.8 billion viewing minutes. The third address was only able to achieve 1 billion viewing minutes, during which he urged citizens to light a lamp and candles to stand together in India's fight against the pandemic. 

  • HDFC Bank launches safety grid campaign to reiterate social distancing

    HDFC Bank launches safety grid campaign to reiterate social distancing

    MUMBI: HDFC Bank launched its #HDFCBankSafetyGrid campaign to encourage and reinforce #socialdistancing.

    Using the outer grid of HDFC Bank logo that is synonymous with trust, the bank has created physical markers on the ground to help people maintain the World Health Organisation (WHO) prescribed “social” distance while waiting in the queue at a shop or an establishment.

    After a successful pilot in Kolkata, the Safety Grid campaign has been launched in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar. ‘The Safety Grid’ will be painted in front of the space leading to various retail outlets such as pharmacies, grocery stores, and ATMs, among others. Each grid will be placed at an optimal WHO prescribed distance of 1 meter from each other. To begin with, “The Safety Grid” will be implemented at over 4000 essential services stores across the eight cities. So far, it has been implemented at over 1750 essential services stores. 

    “In this hour of need, when the nation is fighting the pandemic, we have decided to put the bank logo, known to millions of Indians, on the ground, for their safety and protection," said HDFC Bank CMO Ravi Santhanam. “HDFC Bank and its logo have been synonymous with trust for over 25 years now. We have defied convention, for our belief is that the safety of the people and social distancing is very important to fight Covid19. And we are honoured that we are able to use our logo to send a message across to the people. The cause that we are fighting for today is much greater than any marketing rules and norms. And every effort or contribution counts.” 

    Leo Burnett South Asia MD – India and chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das said, “Social distancing is one of the primary ways in which we can keep this deadly disease at bay. But in reality, one does need to step out to buy essentials. The grids are a physical manifestation of the social distancing individuals must maintain in any public setting. It’s a simple but extremely powerful idea a simple solution, albeit a bold one.”