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Tag: Jaideep Singh

  • Live Viacom18 brings second season of Comedy Central Chuckle Festival

    Live Viacom18 brings second season of Comedy Central Chuckle Festival

    MUMBAI: This monsoon season, Live Viacom18 will ensure that Indian audiences cackle, chortle and hoot with laughter as it brings to India the bright & funny and one of the finest names in international comedy, Russell Brand. Organized as part of the second season of the biggest international comedy festival ‘Comedy Central Chuckle Festival’ Brand who is also a renowned presenter, author and actor will entertain audiences with his famous one-liners and side-splitting stories. While this will be Brand’s first performance in India scheduled to be held across Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore on June 26th, 27th and 28th respectively this will be his third visit to India.

     

    Best known for his satire, whimsy and observational humour along with his comical acts in movies such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek, and the voice of Dr. Nefario in Despicable Me 1 & 2. A livewire comedian, he has brought the house down in most of his performances with his unique brand of humour. Far from being a traditional stand-up comic, Brand’s audiences engage not only with the lines he delivers on stage but also with the quirky persona he has created. All in all, these three nights are expected to be filled with fun, excitement and rip roaring laughter.

     

    Confirming the news Integrated Network Solution SVP Jaideep Singh said, “Live Viacom18 is in the business of bringing alive unique experiences in all genres of entertainment. We today have IP’s in all genres with the focus on experience and cutting edge programming. We believe in the power of comedy and our first edition of the ‘Comedy Central Chuckle Festival’ met with stupendous success. Having partnerships with artists around the globe has continually ensured that Live Viacom 18 continues to present vibrant world-class performances to a huge range of audiences in India. We can now deliver a landmark event to local audiences’ top- lining some of the most brilliant comedic artists working today. This time around who better than Russell Brand – a true heavyweight from the world of comedy to lead the show”

     

    Live Viacom18′ Chuckle Festival made a big bang entry into the Indian comedy scene in 2013 and has been a destination venue for world-class comedy since then presenting some of the best international comedy talent that the world has to offer. The festival reflects its growing profile in presenting the world’s best comedians to Indian audiences and recent performances include renowned names – from Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias to Eddie Ifft, Paul Varghese and now Russell Brand.

  • Vh1 Supersonic and Hungama.com announce strategic partnership

    Vh1 Supersonic and Hungama.com announce strategic partnership

    MUMBAI: Hungama.com, one of India’s largest digital entertainment portals, has announced a strategic partnership with Vh1 Supersonic. The alliance will launch exclusive content from both the brands across Hungama’s digital properties over the first quarter of 2015.

     

    As a result of the partnership, Hungama.com, which has the largest catalogue of Bollywood and regional content, will be able to build a new user base and also offer international music with fresh and youth-centric content.

     

    Beginning the partnership with the Vh1 Supersonic Goa Fest in December 2014, the alliance will also entail 30 club events and 30 college events till March 2015. Hungama.com will play the role of the digital partner for Vh1 Supersonic Goa 2014 and will conduct on-ground and social media contests. Gratification, in the form of pass upgrades and merchandize, etc. will be given out to the winners.

     

    A supersonic radio station, featuring EDM music’s best hits and most favourite artists, will also be established across Hungama.com’s digital properties. Over the past year alone, EDM as a genre has grown immensely with significant performances, music and events. Within the first quarter of 2015, this joint venture will witness the brands providing curated content for EDM lovers across digital platforms.

     

    Integrated Network Solution senior vice president and business head Jaideep Singh said, “Live Viacom18 has evolved in the last two years as a creator of brand engagement for consumers across platforms. While we strive to create memorable on-ground experiences for the audience, it is imperative for us to reach to digital audiences as well. The Indian Dance Music scene is constantly evolving creating demand among today youth, who spend most of their time on the internet. Addressing the need of today’s youth, we look forward to partner with Hungama to cater to the ever rising demand for Dance Music.”

     

    Commenting on the partnership, Hungama.com CEO Siddhartha Roy said, “As the leading platform for digital entertainment, at Hungama we constantly strive to look for content that appeals to the dynamic listening choice of our users, especially the youth. EDM is one of the most popular music genres at present. We are glad to partner with Supersonic, and bring some of the best tracks from the genre to our subscribers.”

  • Live Viacom18 takes engaged entertainment to an all-new-scale in India

    Live Viacom18 takes engaged entertainment to an all-new-scale in India

    MUMBAI: Launched in 2013 to enable the vision of OneViacom18, Integrated Network Solutions (INS) has grown at a swift pace. While the world toils to build ecosystems, Viacom18 takes the phenomenon to the next level by monetising its own ecosystem. 

     

    INS, in less than two years, has created close to 13 large format properties in the music and entertainment space. Moreover, it has engaged close to millions of fans across its 207 on-ground events.

     

    Live Viacom18, the creator of a wide spectrum of multi-dimensional and impactful properties in the music and entertainment space all year, entered a new phase in 2014. The division, amplified brand experiences by leveraging the several strengths of the network while engaging more than 20 million individuals on the digital platform and a further 75 million on television.

     

    INS SVP and business head Jaideep Singh believes that the future of entertainment is engaged entertainment. While in 2013, it built a strong foundation; in 2014 it spent scaling up its properties.

     

    “Our focus has been to bring engaged entertainment to the people no matter where they are, where they are from and what their preference in genre is. Thus we are taking our properties to tier II markets, to clubs, to colleges amongst others. It’s exciting time of Viacom18 and we believe in 2015 live entertainment will grow at an even more rapid scale.”

     

    What started as 16 on-ground events in 2013 has extended to 210 events in 2014. The much awaited, Vh1 Supersonic, which began as a year-end festival in its first year is now an IP which has increased its reach among consumers with 50 campus gigs and 50 club nights leading up to the main festival scheduled from 27 December to 30 December in Goa.

     

    Property extension for MTV Bollyland has manifested into 12 city concerts from its origins in one gala night in Delhi, while MTV Live saw concerts with key Bollywood musicians in three different cities this year. EMERGE associated with international artists like Dismantle, Go Go Berlin and The Virginmarys on three-city tours leading to nine Dance Music extravaganzas. In total, INS brought to fore over 320 artists performing at various events.

     

    To top it all, in December 2014, INS also helped global smartphone manufacturer, vivo, enter India. Commenting on the partnership of vivo and Viacom 18 Singh stated: “Viacom 18 is doing path-breaking work in the brand solutions space. vivo has a global partnership with Viacom and this is our first case study in terms of how INS can offer end-to-end brand launch solutions to a client.”

  • I am looking at large strategic partnerships, says Jaideep Singh

    I am looking at large strategic partnerships, says Jaideep Singh

    MUMBAI: A new mobile handset brand, Vivo, is set to enter the Indian market. And helping it have a presence in the already cluttered mobile market space in the country is the two year old Viacom18 Integrated Network Solutions (INS).

     

    Both Vivo and INS have forged a strategic marketing and communications partnership. “Through this partnership we are giving them all the services required to launch their brand in India. This includes advising them in the first phase about the youth insight, the media market of the country and the overall brand space,” informs Viacom18 Media INS senior vice president Jaideep Singh.

     

    Since the audience the handset is catering to is the same as that of Viacom18, INS will also select the right broadcasts and the right digital social media platform which Vivo can choose from the Viacom18 portfolio. “We have some of the best brands and properties to target them,” adds Singh.

     

    So how did INS bag the partnership? Answers Singh, “Well, in a phased manner, we did an exercise with Vivo, which involved making them understand the insights about youth, then profiling all the assets we have, from broadcast to live to digital and social media and then creating a package for them, telling what it will take to launch a brand in India.”

     

    As for the marketing strategy of the new brand, INS has created a package, which is a mix of broadcast, live, digital, social media, PR communication, media planning services and a big brand launch event.

     

    This apart, all the creative ideas to be used and executed through the launch is what INS is working on. Singh informs that the deal with Vivo is a long term one and this is just the first phase. “The first phase is till June-July and we are working on it. The discussion of the phase post July is ongoing and we will come up with a plan for that,” he says.

     

    As part of the first phase, INS will be promoting the brand through properties like ‘Roadies’, ‘Comedy Nights With Kapil’, ‘MTV Bollyland’ etc. It is also exploring other fun ideas on the digital front. “We will also be creating the TVC for the brand,” informs Singh adding that currently it will use the global TVC of Vivo, since there is not too much time before the big launch. “But as we move forward, the TVC will also be created by Viacom18,” he says.  

     

    INS has got a dedicated team to service Vivo. This comprises digital experts, marketing experts, creative experts and operations experts for ground activations. “It is a sizable team, which has been taken both internally as well as externally from the partners we work with,” he adds.

     

    According to Singh, the deal with Vivo helps the company leverage its consultancy services and in-house strong marketing capabilities for launching a brand in India. “A deal like this also opens up a new avenue for us in terms of having long term strategic partner, rather than trying to find many small partners on regular basis,” he says.  

     

    “I am looking at large strategic partnerships which will be of sizable ticket size and covers the sizable assets we have on the network and create more assets,” Singh further adds.

     

    So what’s the marketing budget for the handset? Says Singh, “Vivo is a major brand in China with 8 per cent market share. Presently the size of the marketing activities is substantial, but as we go in the second phase, it will be equal to the scale of any major handset in the country.”  

     

    Singh also informs that while as a digital strategy for Viacom18’s large content library, it will be looking at being present on multiple handsets, but currently there is no such arrangement on exclusive content sharing with Vivo. “They could have access to content on the properties they are partnering with us. The content partnership can happen in the later stage. It is the core to our heart and can be explored,” he further adds.  

     

    Talking about the integrations, Singh says that as part of the soft play, while integration with ‘Roadies’ has already started, the TVC will break in end of December and ‘Comedy Nights With Kapil’ will begin  from January.

     

    INS is positive about the feedback the new entrant will get from the consumers in India. “The brand film is looking good and so is the product. From the Chinese market perspective it would be the best product to enter the market. Once the film comes out and the product is integrated and the features are shown, the brand will have an appeal,” he opines.

  • Live Viacom18 announces musical extravaganza on World Music Day

    Live Viacom18 announces musical extravaganza on World Music Day

    MUMBAI: This World Music Day, LIVE Viacom18pledges to provide an array of music and entertainment experiences tailor-made for the Indian diaspora. It will provide anideal platform forpopular music genres by way of the wide rangeof IPs from Bollywood to EDM to Rock and much more.

     

    Bollywood music is an eternal favorite for most Indian audiences. With increasing global awareness, the average Indian is exposed to international music and trends &evolution. In recent times, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has also seen a surge in popularity, as anelectrifying genre with an infectious dance vibe.Live Viacom18 has been instrumental in creating an innovative genre called Bollywood Dance Music (BDM) which sees these two popular genres fusing in an avatarnever seen before. In celebration of this novel genre, an experiential property – MTV Bollyland was launched last year. MTV Bollyland has, as a focused decision, decided to expand its reach with 12 club nights for urban audiencesand 12 City Concertsfor Tier II cities with the aim of making this mesmerizing experience available to a broad audience.

     

    Emerge,true to its name,is a platform for upcoming internationalartists to provide invigorating new experiences for the Indian audience. Memorable performers from the past three editions includeJeremy Loops, Dinner and a Suit, and Engine-Earz and UK Producer Asa. The property’s impact will be amplified with a monthly presence pan-India, starting this August. There will be sixmulti-city club tours featuring upcoming artists from across the world and two large format, day-long city festivalsin the coming months till March 2015. Emerge will have upcoming artists and music trends from across the world performing over a period of eight months.  Artist announcements will follow every month.

     

    Vh1 Supersonic, the hottest EDM property on the block, which started off with a bang last December on the sunny sands of Goa, will travel across India in the form of over 100 gigs and concerts with electrifying performances from renowned international and Indian artists. Vh1 Supersonic Arcade is a series of concerts which will be held across the country from September onwards.Vh1 Supersonic ClubNights will see talented national and international DJs perform in clubs across various cities.Vh1 Supersonic Campus 101, created especially for the youth of today will be woven into college festivals across the country. All legs of Vh1 Supersonic will engage EDM lovers with a steady stream of gigs throughout the year and will seamlessly lead into the eagerly awaited main event Vh1 Supersonicin Goa this December.

     

    Music is consumed across a variety of platforms by the evolved Indian, today. To stay at the forefront of this phenomena, Live Viacom18 will engage with music aficionados across its revamped social media platforms. Independent web destinationswill serve as entertainment hubs for each of these genres.

     

    In taking these giant strides, the personal experience of mobile has also been integrated with dedicated applications for EDM fanatics and a mobile platform that will enable the discovery of new music for the discerning.The primary objective of these digital initiatives is to unite like-minded individuals to form a music community.

     

    On the occasion of World Music Day, Mr. Jaideep Singh, Sr. Vice President and Business Head – INS, Viacom18 Pvt. Ltd. says, “India’s youth population is at an all-time high of 70%. A considerable percentage resides in urban centres. They are exposed to myriad genres and have individualistic and multiple tastes, which often overlap. Bearing this in mind,we have conceptualized and created multiple IPs that experimentwith various music genres and mix sounds for loyalistspan-India. In fact, LIVE Viacom18 will reach outto a wide audience across a number of Indian cities and targetvaried audiencespectrum withdistinctive properties.”

     

    On World Music Day, through 150+ live events across various music genres, LIVE Viacom18 promisesevery weekend to become a musical weekend.

  • LIVE Viacom18 to host ETV Kannada Anubandha Awards 2014

    LIVE Viacom18 to host ETV Kannada Anubandha Awards 2014

    MUMBAI: Having successfully created over 12 IPs in 2013, LIVE Viacom18 a division of Integrated Network Solutions (INS), is now putting together its second event especially for the audiences of Karnataka – the first ever ETV Kannada Anubandha Awards 2014. The show is sponsored by Kanva Mart, a retail fashion chain.

     

    ETV Kannada is currently ranked as the most popular channel in the Kannada general entertainment channel (GEC) market, thanks to the new shows, that influences and inspires its audience. Events at ETV Kannada have gained immense popularity with its themes, high octane performances and execution, eventually leading to exceptional growth in 2013 for the channel.

     

    Commenting on the launch of the award show, Viacom18 senior vice president and business head – INS Jaideep Singh said, “The regional cluster is a vital segment in entertainment.  We have observed substantial growth and expansion in the metros and mini metros. ETV Kannada with its innovative shows such as MTS Dancing Stars and Bhima Bigg Boss, has brought in newer and younger audiences to the regional television medium. By introducing an award ceremony such as the ETV Anubandha Awards, we not only aim to create an on ground entertainment experience for our viewers but also give them a chance to vote for some of their favourite shows and its talent. ”

     

    “We are happy to partner with INS to bring alive the most coveted award show in Karnataka, ETV Kannada Anubandha Awards. The core value of the award show is in alignment with our vision. At Kanva Group, we too believe in bringing families closer to each other through varied brand propositions. We are utmost satisfied and positive that the event will be well received by consumers,” added Kanva Fashions CMD N Nanjundaih.

     

    Taking place in Bangalore on 31 May 2014, the award show will felicitate the work of ETV Kannada family and see performances and appearances by ETV Kannada family members and film celebrities.

  • Integrated Network Solutions appoints Shamik Talukder

    Integrated Network Solutions appoints Shamik Talukder

    MUMBAI: Integrated Network Solutions (INS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom18 Media has announced the appointment of Shamik Talukder as its vice president and head of revenue management and business development.

     

    With over 16 years of experience in revenue assurance, brand development and marketing in the Media & Entertainment industry, Talukder’s new role will include business development and revenue management of Live Viacom18 (large format Live event Impact properties), Be Viacom18 (On ground activations in film advertising and promotions) and Spotlight (creation, management and operation of digital media interfaces for individual celebrities across genres).

     

    Viacom18 INS senior vice president & business head Jaideep Singh said, “Our debut year has been a successful journey where we created multiple IPs. As we consolidate our offerings and build capacity across network we are happy to announce Shamik entry into the Viacom 18 family. Shamik’s keen understanding of the business and his contribution to the division will be vital to our growth story as we move into the next phase.”

     

    Talukder said, “INS has done some great work in the past year, and I am eager to be a part of it. With my new role at INS, I look forward to leveraging the popularity and strength of the existing IPs, creating engaging solutions for brands on the digital platform through Spotlight, build customized solutions for brands in the film advertising and promotion space. It is an exciting space to be in and combining the properties to create new business opportunities will be my focus.”

  • Viacom18 sets up unit for brand solutions across the network

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 has started a new division by the name of Integrated Network Solutions (INS) which will look at partnering with clients to create large format IPs and brand solutions across the network’s brands.

    The INS team will work with teams across the network from the television to motion pictures business and explore ways to best optimise their relationship with their clients. The division had a soft launch around a month back and the first project it worked on was the MTV Video Music Awards India (VMAI) where it partnered with cell phone manufacturer and marketer Micromax.

    INS is headed by Jaideep Singh in the role of Viacom18 – Integrated Network Solutions SVP and business head. Singh has been with Viacom18 for nearly six years now and has contributed extensively in developing MTV as a brand in India.

    Singh says, “Over the past five years or so, the individual brands of Viacom18 have established their presence with the audiences and the advertisers. We thought it was now time to leverage the strength of the individual brands at the network level.”

    Singh reveals that the network has relations with nearly 400-500 clients and the intent is to identify 20-30 like minded ones and create IP properties with them so that the network and the client benefit.

    INS will conceive and deliver strategic, creative solutions that will leverage the Network’s media assets and expertise from both a creative and business perspective. The scope of INS’ portfolio spans across live events, broadcast properties and digital and mobile media.

    INS operates under two verticals – Viacome18 Live which deals with the experiential part of business, and BE Viacom18 (globally known as BE Viacom) which will look at broadcast side of things. Further, BE Viacom18 has been divided into three function areas – motion pictures, multichannel IPs and international business.

    Under Viavom18 Live, the division plans to develop nearly 20 properties across the youth, comedy, kids and regional verticals. In case of youth and comedy, INS has already zeroed in on events like concerts and comedy festivals. “For the kid’s genre, the idea will be to leverage on the huge brand presence that Nick has in terms of Dora the Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants. We want to bring the Dora theatricals to India. We have already started work on bringing the Nick Kids Choice Awards, which are a huge success in the US, to India.”

    For the regional aspects, Singh believes that while award shoes remain the strongest prospect, there is huge potential in the culture music and art across India. INS, thus, will focus on creating events like cultural festivals, folk music events and art exhibitions.

    BE Viacom18’s motion picture vertical will look after the brand association for films produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures. “The idea will be to identify brands that are willing to associate with our movies and then integrate the brand into the movie through placement, promotion and on ground activities. If the fit allows, we may even look at embedding the brand in the movie’s script,” explains Singh.

    The team will also work on creating properties which can be telecast across channels on the network (like Big Boss). Apart from this, INS will work with the global team to bring international properties to India and also take a few Indian properties to the global stage.

    “With MTV VMAI, we have accomplished out first project. We hope to continue doing good work through INS so that our clients and audiences benefit. For now, our goal is to make a scalable and sustainable business out of the brand network solutions initiative and I am glad things have taken off on the right note,” concludes Singh.

  • Casbaa convention 2006 adds bandwidth to pay-TV

    Casbaa convention 2006 adds bandwidth to pay-TV

    News Flash: Saugato Bhowmik to head Viacom 18 Integrated Network Solutions, Jaideep Singh moves onMUMBAI: Tagged “From Bandwidth to Brandwidth”, the Casbaa Convention 2006, to be held from 24 to 27 October, is poised to shed light on using advancements in digital technologies to maximise the value of newly-available communications bandwidth for sophisticated brand development, innovative marketing and premium content.

    “Broadband and the multimedia revolution present immense opportunities for pay-TV platform operators, content providers and telcos of all types in Asia,” remarked Marcel Fenez, chairman of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa).

    As Asia’s foremost broadcast industry event of the year, the Convention opens on 24 October with the Casbaa Technology Showcase 2006, focussing on the products and technical solutions revolutionising the world of pay-TV. This day-long session will feature presentations from the developers of global wireless, high definition, broadband and interactive technologies, states an official release.

    On the opening day of the convention, 25 October, the Casbaa Pay-TV Piracy Survey 2006 will be unveiled. This fourth annual study conducted by Standard Chartered Bank in collaboration with Casbaa and its member organisations, reveals pay-TV piracy estimates for 2006-2007. John Medeiros, the Casbaa VP for Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, will look at the value of cooperation between government and the pay-TV industry and review government efforts to address the worsening problem of pay-TV piracy, the release adds.

    With regulation a crucial element for the broadcast industry, Kip Meek, Senior Partner for Competition & Content, OFCOM (UK) and Chairman of the European Regulators Group, will consider the need for regulatory supervision and effective governance and cast light on the relevance of a converged regulatory model to Asia. Meek will explore challenges and opportunities arising from the emergence of new media, technological innovations and the increasingly blurred distinction between carriers and content providers.

    The following day, 26 October, Charlie Ergen, Co-founder & CEO, EchoStar Communications (US), will present delegates with the realities of operating one of the world’s most advanced Direct-to-Home satellite TV services and look at market opportunities in Asia Pacific, including how industry players can focus on ‘brandwidth’ rather than ‘bandwidth’ in their business operations today.

    On the final day of the convention, 27 October, Irwin Gotlieb, Global CEO of WPP’s Group M in New York, will discuss the future of advertising and of media in the changing landscape, providing insights into effective strategies and tactics for pay-TV operators.

    “This year’s programme will offer delegates fresh perspectives on branding and the opportunities it provides in this new paradigm of abundant bandwidth and technological advancements. To make immediate and enormous strides towards becoming a digital leader, domestic markets should operate in sync with the rest of the world and gain the full benefit of a global marketplace,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of Casbaa. “Regulators will see the benefits of loosening restraints on industry growth, while industry players will gain insights into the latest business and technology trends as well as the hot issues of today.”

    The Casbaa Convention 2006 will be held at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 24 to 27 October, and is presented by InvestHK, with Star TV and now TV as the official partners.