MUMBAI: One of the best ways for a brand to imprint itself in the mind of its customer is to get involved in a big way with their daily lives. Keeping this in mind, MTV India continues cementing its bond with the youth through the mobile phone.
In 2001, it kicked off a one of a kind multimedia alliance with BPL Mobile. Now the broadcaster and AirTel, which claims to be India’s leading cellular service, have launched the AirTel-MTV mobile card.
The alliance should strengthen the aim of both parties, which is to understand and reflect the ideas, lifestyles and values of young people. The BPL initiative had the dual goal of giving a person a chance at getting a date with a VJ as well as promoting its show MTV Loveline. The latest Airtel tieup looks to go further by creating an exclusive community of AirTel pre-paid customers. It will offer them custom made products, value added services, benefits and privileges.
An official release informs that these have been designed on the basis of customer feedback and extensive market research. MTV’s role in the venture involves bringing exclusive content. This includes special ring-tones, unique provision for setting up rescue rings, and even wake up calls.
Research conducted shows that youth get a part of their indentity through the usage of mobile phones. In addition, it also provides them with a strong outlet for self expression. The same logic applies to the credit card which is why last year MTV Asia tied up with Citibank. This was a part of its 360 degree brand initiative. MTV uses its events to promote the card and also creates creative promos for the same. Its efforts did not go unnoticed. Last year it got the Gold award for best Youth Programme at the Mastercard Asia/Pacific annual meeting
In addition, MTV Asia has also announced a three-year marketing collaboration with electronic goods manufacturer Phillips targeting youth. The tie-up is for an interactive programme MTV Whatever Things. An on-air programme will air across Asia. There will also be a dedicated microsite, as well as on-the-ground events in seven Asian markets including India.
The campaign kicks off with a launch event in Singapore on 29 and 30 August at The Heeren Shops. MTV Whatever Things will celebrate the individualism and free-spiritedness of youth who seek to do things in their own unique way.
The television programme aims at bringing humour and reality programming to a new level in Asia. The programme will encourage viewers’ participation through a 10-minute on-air segment commencing on 30 August 2003 on MTV India, MTV SEA MTV Philippines, MTV Indonesia, MTV Mandarin, MTV Korea, MTV China. Running till February 2004, viewers can send their playlist of music videos to complement crazy home videos and goofball stunts shot by the MTV Asia’s production team. The graffiti-like vignette will feature candid stunts and music that will appeal to the youth who crave for content with a stylistic edge.
The dedicated microsite (accessible from www.mtvasia.com, www.mtv.co.kr, www.mtvchinese.com, www.mtvindia.com and www.mtv-china.com) will allow fans to preview the weekly stunts, submit their playlist of three music videos they feel are suitable for the stunts, and creatively express themselves through composing captions for the music videos and stunts. Upon reviewing the submissions, the best composition gets airing space on the show across MTV channels in the region.
The on ground activities will feature the channels VJs, experiential product displays and giveaways by Philips as they launch their new range of consumer products in the different markets.