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Tag: Dhruv Dhawan

  • Thums Up partners with Ranveer Brar for Toofani Biryani Hunt S2 on Disney+ Hotstar

    Thums Up partners with Ranveer Brar for Toofani Biryani Hunt S2 on Disney+ Hotstar

    Mumbai: Thums Up, a homegrown beverage brand from The Coca-Cola Company, has announced Toofani Biryani Hunt season two. A sequel to the successful first, this new chapter seeks to rekindle the taste for the perfect biryani pairing. With celebrity chef Ranveer Brar back at the helm, the upcoming edition is all set to deliver an exceptional culinary adventure.

    Conceptualised and created by Disney+ Hotstar CreativeWorks, join the Thums Up Toofani Biryani Hunt season two as the esteemed chef Ranveer Brar explores seven diverse regions — Hyderabad, Bangalore, Visakhapatnam, Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata — to understand the toofani origin of each biryani. Through its one-of-kind storytelling, the hunt brings alive the untold stories of 21 of the hottest biryani makers in the country with the chef uncovering the inspiration behind each hotspot. The indomitable combination of Thums Up, Biryani and Chef Brar aims to settle the age-old question of “Kaunsi Biryani hai Sabse Toofani?”

    Commenting on season two of Toofani Biryani Hunt, The Coca-Cola Company category head, sparkling flavours, India & Southwest Asia Sumeli Chatterjee said, “We’re excited to present ‘Thums Up Toofani Biryani Hunt Season 2,’ in partnership with Disney+ Hotstar, serving up a sizzling flavour expedition on screen. This season, we celebrate the crisp chill of Thums Up paired with a steaming plate of rich, smoky biryani. With Chef Ranveer Brar bringing his exceptional talent back on board, the journey is set to be more delicious than ever as we uncover the best of biryani from seven diverse regions across India.”

    On his exciting collaboration with the brand, celebrity chef Ranveer Brar said, “Biryani is not just a dish; it’s a journey through time and taste, rich with history and fragrant with tradition. I am elated to return for another season of the Thums Up Toofani Biryani Hunt, as we uncover the history, legacy and bold flavours of biryani from various regions in India. Each episode is an adventure—seeking out the best biryani spots, learning their stories, and savoring the bold flavors that make this dish so beloved.”

    Speaking about the show, Disney+ Hotstar head of ads Dhruv Dhawan added, “At Disney+ Hotstar’s CreativeWorks, we continue to leverage the power of storytelling and solve the complex marketing needs of advertisers who want to forge meaningful connections with their audiences. Thums Up Toofani Biryani Hunt season 1 resonated well with our audiences and we are excited to bring in another season which exemplifies how we combine creativity and cultural relevance to craft memorable experiences. With season 2, we’re taking this journey with Thums Up to new heights, exploring the rich flavors and traditions that make biryani a dish close to every Indian’s heart.”

    Thums Up Toofani Biryani Hunt season two is set to kick off with the pilot episode on 28 August 2024. This season promises a feast for the senses, the local pride for their culinary best and biryani fans across regions vouching that their biryani is most toofani.

  • Disney+ Hotstar survey shows surge in budget over last year

    Disney+ Hotstar survey shows surge in budget over last year

    Mumbai: As the festive season approaches, Indian consumers are gearing up for a significant shopping spree, as revealed by the positive spending sentiment observed in the third edition of Disney+ Hotstar’s Festive Shopping Sentiment Survey. The survey reflects strong consumer confidence, with shoppers expected to boost their spending by a remarkable 47 per cent compared to last year. Millennials are predicted to lead the charge, with women shoppers notably increasing their budgets by 70 per cent over the previous year, focusing on multiple categories including clothing, mobile phones, food, and beauty products.

    Key Findings:

    . Increased spending capacity: Improved spending capacity will drive higher expenditures this festive season

    . Millennial vs. Gen Z spending: Millennials are expected to spend more compared to Gen Z

    . Women shoppers: Women shoppers will increase their budget by 70 per cent compared to last year and shop across more than two categories

    . Top categories: Festive shopping baskets will comprise clothing, mobile, food, and beauty products

    . Upgrading technology: Consumers are looking to upgrade to 5G-enabled mobile phones and smart TVs this festive season

    . Preference for online shopping: 59 per cent of consumers prefer to shop online

    . Influence of online video ads: Online video ads will be the top information source, with 58 per cent of consumers discovering brands and services through these platforms

    . Digital payment preferences: 67 per cent preference for digital payment options, with UPI leading the way

    Disney+ Hotstar head of ads Dhruv Dhawan commented, “We are excited about the upcoming festive season, given the positive consumer sentiment reflected in the survey. Disney+ Hotstar’s wide array of shows and movies across languages offers the perfect platform for brands to connect with consumers as they plan their festive shopping. Our

    platform is uniquely positioned to spotlight brands and their offerings through our innovative ad formats and comprehensive targeting options.”

    For the upcoming festive season, Disney+ Hotstar has an exciting line-up of shows across English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, as well as marquee live sports tournaments including the Premier League, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, and Pro Kabaddi league, making it the platform of choice for advertisers to engage with their consumers. Additionally, the platform offers festive packages for top-watched shows in multiple languages, simplifying campaign planning for advertisers. With innovative ad formats and over 1,000 targeting options, advertisers looking to capitalise on the festive fever will be spoilt for choice on Disney+ Hotstar.

    https://discover.hotstar.com/festive-report-2024/

  • Disney+ Hotstar collabs with PubMatic to scale advertising reach in India

    Disney+ Hotstar collabs with PubMatic to scale advertising reach in India

    Mumbai: PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM), an independent technology company delivering digital advertising’s supply chain of the future, has announced its association with Disney+ Hotstar, to transform the advertising landscape for digital advertising.

    The streaming platform has selected PubMatic to enable programmatic monetization of content across multiple buying channels, including audience-based and 1:1 private marketplace (PMP) and programmatic guaranteed campaigns.

    PubMatic’s sell-side technology allows publishers to connect with a broad set of global buyers while allowing them to maintain control over their user experience and maximize revenue yield.

    “We are thrilled to collaborate with Disney+ Hotstar,” said PubMatic chief revenue officer, APAC Jason Barnes. “With a rich and diverse catalog of premium on-demand content, Disney+ Hotstar offers premium video advertising at scale for advertisers. By leveraging PubMatic’s sell-side technology platform, advertisers across India and globally can now reach vast and highly engaged audiences.”

    “Collaborating with PubMatic aligns with our goal to provide a premium viewing experience for our users, while delivering measurable results for our advertisers,” said Disney+ Hotstar’s head of ads Dhruv Dhawan. “Utilizing sell-side technology like PubMatic offers the advantage of not limiting access to one set of buyers. This approach makes Disney+ Hotstar’s highly engaged audiences available to a broad spectrum of advertisers, and ensures advertising is relevant and engaging for our users.”

  • Naukri.com & Disney+ Hotstar launch ‘Hardly Working by Naukri’

    Naukri.com & Disney+ Hotstar launch ‘Hardly Working by Naukri’

    Mumbai: Naukri.com and Disney+ Hotstar have announced the launch of ‘Hardly Working by Naukri,’ a standup show that humorously explores the lighter side of office culture.

    The series features an exceptional lineup of India’s top comedians, including Prashasti Singh, Anirban Dasgupta, Shreeja Chaturvedi, Nishant Suri, and Kumar Varun. Each comedian brings their unique style and perspective to the show, ensuring a diverse range of humor and a fresh take on every episode. Notably, all these talented artists have had firsthand experience in the corporate world, adding authenticity to their performances.

    The show delves into relatable and comedic moments, from common workplace situations and quirky coworkers to awkward meetings and office politics, reflecting universal truths that resonate with anyone who has ever worked in an office.

    The show is part of Naukri.com’s ongoing commitment to engage with Gen-Z professionals and address all aspects of their careers. Having already established a strong foothold in creating purposeful content through the successful IP ‘Workwise with Naukri’ – which offers valuable career insights and advice, Naukri.com, with this new show, is foraying into creating content that explores the lighter side of professional life.  ‘Hardly Working by Naukri’ is produced by the Disney+ Hotstar CreativeWorks team, the branded content arm of Disney+ Hotstar, and is streaming exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar starting 19 July. Known for its award-winning creative and content studio, Disney+ Hotstar CreativeWorks helps brands strike the right balance between content and advertising, thus enabling brands to forge deeper connections with their target audiences by leveraging the power of storytelling at scale.

    Naukri.com EVP & head of marketing Shail Gaurav said, “At Naukri, we understand the nuances of professional life, and firmly believe that we are allies to Indian professionals, helping them navigate their career journeys. ‘Hardly Working by Naukri’ is our attempt to inject a refreshing dose of humor to the conversation about work life, while reinforcing our position as the number one career platform in the country.”

    Disney+ Hotstar head of ads Dhruv Dhawan said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Naukri for ‘Hardly Working by Naukri’. This series brings humor and relatability to the everyday office experience, showcasing the lighter side of professional life. It also allows Naukri to leverage the power of storytelling to connect with their audiences in the most entertaining and relatable way. With the exceptional talent on board and the expertise of our CreativeWorks team, we are looking forward to present a show that will appeal to our viewers.”

  • Disney+ Hotstar introduces pause ads on CTV

    Disney+ Hotstar introduces pause ads on CTV

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar has launched an innovative advertising feature: pause ads exclusively for its connected TV (CTV) feed, making it the first platform in the country to introduce this cutting-edge format. This move follows the earlier introduction of 3-D breakout billboards for mobile, reaffirming Disney+ Hotstar’s commitment to pioneering unique advertising solutions.

    On average, users pause content four-five times a day, with over 90 per cent of these pauses lasting less than 10 seconds*. Pause ads offer a seamless, non-intrusive ad experience by integrating advertisements into these natural user-initiated breaks.

    Commenting on the launch, Disney+ Hotstar head of ads Dhruv Dhawan said, “We are thrilled to introduce another industry-first offering for our advertisers. The response to our CTV ads has been overwhelmingly positive. The launch of pause ads has generated significant excitement among our clients in the CPG, FMCG, F&B, and Auto sectors, Marico, Mondelez and ITC have been amongst the early adopters. We will continue to innovate and bring best-in-class solutions to our advertisers.”

    Marico Ltd CMO Somasree Bose Awasthi added, “At Saffola, our larger brand ethos is to encourage Indians to embrace a healthier lifestyle. This year, on the occasion of World Health Day we collaborated with Disney+ Hotstar to launch a contextual campaign via Pause Ads on CTV. A powerful context relevant occasion was activated for the initiative every time the Disney+ Hotstar user initiated a break, this was built on the consumer insight that a large majority of content pause occasions are initiated around snacking. A perfect time for brand Saffola to remind our consumer to choose “better for you” foods from the Saffola Franchise as a healthier alternative. Disney+ Hotstar’s CTV Pause ads served as the perfect platform for Saffola to advocate healthy eating, and we look forward to strengthening our association with the platform other innovative disruptions in the future as well.”

    Mondelez India director consumer experience Anjali Madan added, “At Mondelez, we have always been at the forefront of pioneering innovation in advertising and are thrilled to associate with Disney+ Hotstar to launch CTV ‘Pause Ads’ in India with our ‘Tang Summer Break Bestie’ campaign. Through this campaign, we wanted to provide an interactive platform for mothers and their kids to beat summer boredom, unleash their creativity and design their own animated bestie using fun AR-like effects. Leveraging innovative format of CTV ‘Pause Ads’ enabled us to reach our consumers seamlessly and convey our messaging in a more non-intrusive and effective manner, thus fostering a more positive and memorable brand interaction. We look forward to continuing this successful collaboration and leveraging such new marketing technologies for our future campaigns.”

    ITC Ltd VP – health & hygiene, personal care products business Sanjay Srinivas added, “Innovative ad formats, especially on streaming platforms, help transform brand connect with audiences. Pause Ad is an interesting innovation that helps break the clutter without intruding the viewing experience and attracts attention. ITC Savlon is one of the first brands to deploy pause ads to deliver contextual messaging for its campaign on handwashing. The innovation has helped the campaign amplify reach and views in an engaging way.”

    In addition to pause ads, Disney+ Hotstar offers advertisers a diverse suite of CTV ad formats including auto-expanding CTV billboards, prerolls & midroll ads, and click-to-WhatsApp integrations. These options are designed to enhance brand equity and maximize engagement with CTV audiences, who are among the most premium and attentive viewers, providing advertisers with an exclusive opportunity to connect with them during their most engaged moments.

    *Disney+ Hotstar internal analytics.
     

  • Disney+ Hotstar launches Caught & Bold live cricket show for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

    Disney+ Hotstar launches Caught & Bold live cricket show for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

    Mumbai: For the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Disney+ Hotstar has announced a first-of-its-kind LIVE cricket show, ‘Caught & Bold’ featuring T20 World champions Harbhajan Singh, S. Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla; former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu, seasoned broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar and a host of other former cricketers from around the world. ‘Caught & Bold’ will be hosted by popular stand-up comic performers, Varun Thakur and Rohan Joshi, along with the content creators Ocean Sharma, Arjun Pandit and Navneeth Krishna as co-presenters. Starting June 2, ‘Caught & Bold’ will be aired live every match day on Disney+ Hotstar.

    Commenting on this unique show, Disney+ Hotst head ads at Dhruv Dhawan said, “With ‘Caught and Bold,’ we aim to enhance India’s cricket watching experience, both with our quality product and with content that resonates with the avid cricket fans in India, while giving our advertisers an opportunity to connect with this community beyond the live match. By blending cricket analysis with a dose of humour and interactivity, we’re creating an entertaining and engaging experience. We’re thrilled to bring this fresh perspective to our viewers and advertisers alike.”

    Hosted for the fans, this show will provide a fun take on cricket and will enable fans to share their opinions live and participate in quizzes. Presented with a bold, quirky and candid approach, it will showcase significant moments, stories, action & drama of your favorite heroes, teams, and the tournament, caught on & off the field during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Designed to strike a perfect balance between the intensity of cricket and the joy of entertainment, ‘Caught and Bold’ promises a refreshing blend of humourous segments and interactive discussions. ‘Caught and Bold’ stands out from the crowd of typical cricket shows. The show is not just about watching, it’s about participating. With interactive segments, you can join in the discussions and kickstart the excitement. And in ‘bindaas poll’, our hosts and comedians take on cricket with humour and wit, making you feel like a part of the action.

    It also offers a line-up of unique segments that are bound to catch your attention. From radical candour to relatable street cricket tales, this show is a breath of fresh air. Brace yourself for bold predictions and analyses, and the best cricket memes that will leave you in splits.

    This exclusive cricket show is also open for brand associations for the pre, mid and post match segments throughout the tournament as co-sponsor partnerships as well as segment ownership. To create a meaningful connection with the cricket community, brands can leverage individual segments of the show such as pitch report, playing 11, moments & highlights of the day, in a quirky way which resonates with the brand’s philosophy.

    With advertisers showing a high level of interest in associating with the show, Kent RO has come onboard as the title sponsor while Macho Hint has signed up as the co-sponsor for the Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Caught & Bold’.

    Get ready to witness the cricketing fun starting June 2, 2024. The tournament will be available to watch live and free on mobile on Disney+ Hotstar.

  • Xapads collaborates with Disney+ Hotstar

    Xapads collaborates with Disney+ Hotstar

    Mumbai: The dynamic changes in how people consume content have created exciting prospects for streaming platforms to connect with audiences in innovative ways. In India, Disney+ Hotstar, a leader in the streaming space, is seizing this opportunity by collaborating with Xapads to enhance its capabilities in Connected TV (CTV) advertising. The association between Xapads and Disney+ Hotstar is set to unlock new possibilities for advertisers in the MENA region.  

    As CTV continues to gain momentum, this collaboration underscores Disney+ Hotstar’s commitment to staying at the forefront of the evolving media landscape. Known for its extensive content library spanning movies, TV shows, live sports, and capturing the hearts of millions of dedicated viewers, together Xapads and Disney+ Hotstar will offer a distinct opportunity for advertisers to connect with the streaming platform’s diverse audience and revolutionize the way brands connect with their target audience.

    Expressing great excitement about the opportunities ahead, Xapads, COO Ramneek Chadha believes that, ‘ The powerful position Disney+ Hotstar holds in the streaming realm, combined with the proficiency in digital advertising, will bring outstanding outcomes for advertisers and create a more engaging and tailored viewing experience for the audience. Advertisers will gain direct entry to premium CTV and connected device audiences within the top 10 metropolitan areas.’

    Talking about the collaboration, Disney+ Hotstar head of ads Dhruv Dhawan said, “At Disney+ Hotstar, we are always looking for newer ways to enable our advertisers to make the most of our ads solutions. Our collaboration with Xapads will enable us to make strides in the Mena region, enabling us to grow our advertiser base.”

    Xapads country head, MENA Gagan Uppal said, “This will bridge the gap between brands and the audience, making content and advertising more engaging and accessible than ever before.  Advertisers will gain exclusive access to premium inventory, while the audience can enjoy interesting content and live streaming of matches.  Looking forward to witnessing the incredible stories and experiences that will unfold as a result of this development”.

    Together with Xapads, Disney+ Hotstar is poised to lead the charge in CTV advertising innovation, offering a new era of opportunities for brands and viewers in the MENA region.

  • Probus Insurance joins hands with Disney+ Hotstar for Pro Kabaddi League 2023

    Probus Insurance joins hands with Disney+ Hotstar for Pro Kabaddi League 2023

    Mumbai: After an overwhelming response during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Probus Insurance, one of the Insurtech brands, yet again joined hands with Disney+ Hotstar for Pro Kabaddi League 2023. Like their previous association, Probus will again be the exclusive partner for the action replay bug for Pro Kabbadi League Season 10, featuring their brand ambassador, Bollywood celebrity Hrithik Roshan.

    Pro Kabaddi League is the most popular kabaddi league in the world. In a testament to its widespread popularity, the PKL league achieved a staggering viewership of 435 million during its last season resonating with a diverse audience from avid sports enthusiasts to casual viewers, making it one of the most-watched sporting events in the country after the IPL.

    Probus Managing director Rakesh Goyal said in the announcement, “We are thrilled to embark on this new journey with exclusive rights for the Action Replay Bug for Pro Kabaddi League this season. Probus has a strong local footprint of 800+ cities, serving 15000 pin codes, where most of our penetration is rural. With this tie-up, we aim to reach out to the rural belt, where Pro Kabaddi League is also making the sport an aspiration for the people in Tier 2 3 cities, touching diverse segments of the population. This is exactly where our brand ethos binds us together, boosting the purpose of this association.”

    Disney+ Hotstar Head – Ads Dhruv Dhawan said, “At Disney+ Hotstar, it is our constant endeavour to enable our advertisers to meet their business goals by leveraging our tentpole events. We are delighted to associate with Probus across our marquee sports properties, such as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and now the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10. We hope to continue to build on this association in the future as well.”

    Probus’s online platform presents an array of insurance products, including motor, life, health, and SME. Having surpassed 1000 crore premium in the last year, the company has achieved a significant milestone. Aligned with IRDAI’s goals, Probus aims to expand into rural markets by deploying Bima Vahak, a specialised distribution channel, in every gram panchayat nationwide.