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Tag: National Geographic Channel

  • Nat Geo presents ‘A Short Story of a Long Pipeline’

    Nat Geo presents ‘A Short Story of a Long Pipeline’

    MUMBAI: Have you ever found yourself intrigued by the ease with which you turn a knob on your stove and gas flows out? Ever felt curious about the origins of the fuel that you fill your car with, ever so often? Have you ever found yourself wondering about the lifeline of an entire nation? On 12th January 2014, National Geographic Channel, in association with Cairn India, will give you the opportunity to witness the realities of the fuel that drives our lives, on “A Short Story of a Long Pipeline”.

    A half-hour special documenting the resurrection of a jaw-dropping ~700 km long pipeline by Cairn India Limited, the film takes a look at the completion of the mammoth project that would be the resolution to the ultimate challenge faced by the biggest onshore oil discovery in India in the last 25 years. And while the engineers must put their skills to test in order to build a technological marvel that would have to ferry crude oil through the extreme weather of the Thar Desert, what makes the entire task even more daunting is that ~700 km of the line would make up the longest heated section of pipeline in the world.

    Speaking on the spirit of technology innovation that led to building this pipeline, Dr. Sunil Bharati, Head – Corporate Affairs and Communication, Cairn India, said, “Technological innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Cairn. This is aptly showcased by the technical ingenuity involved in building the world’s longest continuously heated and insulated pipeline – the Mangala Development Pipeline. The pipeline passes through two states and eight districts to transport precious crude oil from our Rajasthan block to various oil refineries, and in the process, brings the nation closer to its dream of attaining energy security. The Mangala Development Pipeline highlights Cairn India’s expertise in quick project delivery against all odds, apart from being the fastest growing energy company in the world.”

    Talking about the documentary, in light of the energy crisis, Ms. Debarpita Banerjee, Vice President, Marketing, National Geographic and FOX International Channels, said, “The global energy demands are on the rise and its impact shall be more on developing countries such as India. At a time like this, for Cairn India to have spearheaded the process of providing access to India’s monumental onshore oil discovery is genuinely commendable. We, at Nat Geo, are excited about being privy to this extraordinary event and giving our viewers the exclusive opportunity to witness history being made.”

    From the finer details & intricacies, to the realization of the entire construction process, catch it all on “A Short Story of a Long Pipeline” premiering on Sunday, the 12th of January 2014 at 6 PM only on National Geographic Channel.

  • NGC to celebrate events that happen only in India

    NGC to celebrate events that happen only in India

    MUMBAI: One way that the National Geographic Channel (NGC) has been building the brand in India has been through showcasing Indian themed documentaries and specials made by local production houses.

    Last year it had showcased specials like Leopards Of Bollywood and Skeleton Lake. Later this year it will unveil a major initiative It Happens Only In India.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com on the initiative, NGC senior VP content and communication Dilshad Master says, “NGC has brought a variety of quality programming produced by Indian production houses to its viewers.Leopards of Bollywood and Skeleton Lake received an overwhelming response from audiences. Bringing alive the frightening story of leopard killings in the heart of modern day Mumbai, Leopards of Bollywood was both relevant and relatable. Directed by Chandramouli Basu and written by Niret and Nikhil Alva, Skeletons Lake was aired on the channel as a part of the F.I.R series and was very well received by viewers.
     

    “Vultures: Death Watch was another documentary aired earlier this year that was very topical. Coming up very soon is a special series called It Happens Only In India. This is a combination of very interesting and diverse topics that will be explored in each episode.”
     

    Last year one of NGC’s major on-ground endeavous was Nokia Innovations. However Master says that there are no plans as of now on the Innovation series for this year. “However National Geographic Channel will continue to innovate and excite our viewers with properties that are compelling and original.”
     

    On the marketing front Master notes that NGC has always used and will continue to use innovative initiatives involving on ground and new media to reach its viewers. Programmes such as Mission Everest, Mission Mars,Nokia Innovation, Nat Geo Investigates among others have in the past been used to engage viewers in an interesting manner and our new programmes coming up later this year will also have a huge interactive angle.
     

    “For It Happens Only in India we have innovative on ground and online ideas lined up. As a channel affiliated to the Star Network we plan to use Star’s 7827 in house short code to connect with viewers. Interactivity is key in broadcasting today and we are definitely planning to reach out to our viewers with exciting and innovative contests and promotions through the mobile media.”
  • Relive India’s 80s with NGC

    Relive India’s 80s with NGC

    MUMBAI: The 1980s was one of the most ‘happening’ decades in the history of India. It wasn’t just in one segment that the country witnessed change. While Indira Gandhi’s assassination was one of the biggest events of the decade leading to communal violence and political turmoil, there were other interesting events like India’s victory in the Cricket World Cup. The introduction of national telecast and colour TV in 1982 was one of the biggest events of the country.

    Debarpita Banerjee says, the 80s was the decade that was responsible for paving the path ahead for a young, middle-class India, with a liberal perspective.

    Now, National Geographic Channel as part of its series The 80s is giving its viewers an opportunity to revive the memories of the 80s with a special feature on India. So far, the series according to the channel officials has got a pretty good response. While the whole series has been received well, the episode titled Tear Down These Walls which focuses on the many literal and cultural walls brought down globally during the decade, has had the highest viewership.

    NGC VP and Fox International, marketing Debarpita Banerjee says that across six weeks, the series has managed to revisit some of the most significant global events of the decade. “What I think genuinely worked was the fact that every viewer could relate to it, in their own personal way. Whether you were an 80s child or not, you are sure to have been left with some or the other lasting impression of the decade,” she says and adds that with a fairly good response to the series, it just made more sense to have one episode exclusively dedicated to India.

    Indira Gandhi and Kapil Dev after India won the cricket world cup

    “The decisions, the tragedies, the fads…this was the decade that was responsible for paving the path ahead for a young, middle-class India, with a liberal perspective. This episode will give the viewer both an analytical, as well as a nostalgic viewpoint of the ‘80s,” she says.

    To make the episode interesting and content-oriented, the channel has got on board many eminent people like established journalists, culturists, film-makers and eminent researchers, such as Vinod Dua, Anurag Kashyap, Mark Tully, Mahesh Bhatt, among others, whose anecdotes and commentary are strung in the feature to give the viewers a better perspective of the era.

     

    However, since there was a time restriction of just one hour duration, the channel had to make some tough choices in terms of the topics that would be covered. It had to ensure that the focus remains on events that were frontrunners in changing the course of India’s history. “Keeping this in mind, we chose personalities, who are not only stalwarts in their own fields, but served as eye-witnesses, as well as fans of this fascinating decade. Once they got to know that it was the 80s they were to talk about, the rest was easy,” says Banerjee.   

    Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi

    Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who was at the helm of his career during the 80s, recalls the era with a lot of fondness. Talking about the TV set, to which the Indian common man suddenly got an access to, he says: “Well, an Indian suddenly realised there was a way to amuse himself by staying at home…and community viewing – the family. India woke up to this thought that television was consumed by the entire family and that was the beginning of what is called ‘the great television revolution’ which was going to take place with the satellite age. I think the Indian loves to be at home with his family and listen to the stories which his father and grandfather told him, but nuanced in a modern way.”

    However, Ogilvy & Mather executive chairman & national creative director India, Piyush Pandey explains it in a better way. He says: “It’s not that in the late 70’s, people were not watching Doordarshan, but with the coming of colour television and its availability in households, one was very clear that this medium was going to go a very long way. We are a very audio-visual country anyway, we love our movies, we love story telling and we love emotions. TV was the best medium that was just waiting to be unleashed. And, it got unleashed in ’82. I think everyone, every marketer; every advertiser knew that this was the medium that was going to be the most powerful one in the days ahead.”

    The Indian audience was introduced to colour TV in 1982

    Since the episode is packed with many such info and interesting stories from the era, it made more sense for the channel to go all out to promote it and thus it has activated a digital campaign across Facebook and Twitter for the episode. “There is a radio campaign across Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore as well taking the listeners on a retro ride of ad jingles from the 80s and Mile Sur Mera Tumhara…,” says Banerjee.

    Nokia Lumia 1020 is the presenting partner and Hindware Italian Collection is the co-presenting partner of the series.

  • Relive Indias 80s with NGC

    Relive Indias 80s with NGC

    MUMBAI: The 1980s was one of the most ‘happening’ decades in the history of India. It wasn’t just in one segment that the country witnessed change. While Indira Gandhi’s assassination was one of the biggest events of the decade leading to communal violence and political turmoil, there were other interesting events like India’s victory in the Cricket World Cup. The introduction of national telecast and colour TV in 1982 was one of the biggest events of the country.

    Now, National Geographic Channel as part of its series The 80s is giving its viewers an opportunity to revive the memories of the 80s with a special feature on India. So far, the series according to the channel officials has got a pretty good response. While the whole series has been received well, the episode titled Tear Down These Walls which focuses on the many literal and cultural walls brought down globally during the decade, has had the highest viewership.

    NGC VP and Fox International, marketing Debarpita Banerjee says that across six weeks, the series has managed to revisit some of the most significant global events of the decade. “What I think genuinely worked was the fact that every viewer could relate to it, in their own personal way. Whether you were an 80s child or not, you are sure to have been left with some or the other lasting impression of the decade,” she says and adds that with a fairly good response to the series, it just made more sense to have one episode exclusively dedicated to India.

    Indira Gandhi and Kapil Dev after India won the cricket world cup

    “The decisions, the tragedies, the fads…this was the decade that was responsible for paving the path ahead for a young, middle-class India, with a liberal perspective. This episode will give the viewer both an analytical, as well as a nostalgic viewpoint of the ‘80s,” she says.

    To make the episode interesting and content-oriented, the channel has got on board many eminent people like established journalists, culturists, film-makers and eminent researchers, such as Vinod Dua, Anurag Kashyap, Mark Tully, Mahesh Bhatt, among others, whose anecdotes and commentary are strung in the feature to give the viewers a better perspective of the era.

    However, since there was a time restriction of just one hour duration, the channel had to make some tough choices in terms of the topics that would be covered. It had to ensure that the focus remains on events that were frontrunners in changing the course of India’s history. “Keeping this in mind, we chose personalities, who are not only stalwarts in their own fields, but served as eye-witnesses, as well as fans of this fascinating decade. Once they got to know that it was the 80s they were to talk about, the rest was easy,” says Banerjee.   

    Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi

    Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who was at the helm of his career during the 80s, recalls the era with a lot of fondness. Talking about the TV set, to which the Indian common man suddenly got an access to, he says: “Well, an Indian suddenly realised there was a way to amuse himself by staying at home…and community viewing – the family. India woke up to this thought that television was consumed by the entire family and that was the beginning of what is called ‘the great television revolution’ which was going to take place with the satellite age. I think the Indian loves to be at home with his family and listen to the stories which his father and grandfather told him, but nuanced in a modern way.”

    However, Ogilvy & Mather executive chairman & national creative director India, Piyush Pandey explains it in a better way. He says: “It’s not that in the late 70’s, people were not watching Doordarshan, but with the coming of colour television and its availability in households, one was very clear that this medium was going to go a very long way. We are a very audio-visual country anyway, we love our movies, we love story telling and we love emotions. TV was the best medium that was just waiting to be unleashed. And, it got unleashed in ’82. I think everyone, every marketer; every advertiser knew that this was the medium that was going to be the most powerful one in the days ahead.”

    The Indian audience was introduced to colour TV in 1982

    Since the episode is packed with many such info and interesting stories from the era, it made more sense for the channel to go all out to promote it and thus it has activated a digital campaign across Facebook and Twitter for the episode. “There is a radio campaign across Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore as well taking the listeners on a retro ride of ad jingles from the 80s and Mile Sur Mera Tumhara…,” says Banerjee.

    Nokia Lumia 1020 is the presenting partner and Hindware Italian Collection is the co-presenting partner of the series.

  • Ormax Media changes gear; talks expansion

    Ormax Media changes gear; talks expansion

    Five years is not a long time to learn the ropes of a business. But media insights firm, Ormax Media seems to have not just learnt the tricks of the trade but is also branching out well. Just a little over five years, the company already boasts of a clientele including big names in the film and television industry. The agency has witnessed continuous growth of 30 to 40 per cent year-on-year with annual turnover having grown three-fold in the last three years.

    Now, the company is busy reaching out to more markets with its different tools. It is also doing a lot of research work for the Marathi and Bengali film industry and soon wants to expand its operations to the South, Gujarati and other regional markets.

    Also, while till now the company has mostly been catering to the big film studios, it now plans to work with smaller producers who aren’t a part of the studios. Also on the anvil are many new products – one of its ambitious products is a “Promo Testing Tool” that will help test the promos of films and TV shows within a short span of two-three days.

    With Cinematix, one of the most popular tools for the film industry in its basket, it plans to expand to more markets by this weekend. It started by tapping six different markets, moved to 19 and now plans to spread to 29.

    Apart from general entertainment channels (GECs), kids and infotainment channels too are now coming on board. Recently, Ormax started working with National Geographic Channel, AXN, and has also entered the regional market.

    Colors' carries out extensive research along with Ormax to study the market. A still from 'Balika Vadhu'

    The best part is that almost the entire industry is admiring the organisation for its work. Recently, with its research, Ormax helped NGC understand the equity of the brand NGC and dive deeper into analysing interesting insights about the channel’s loyalists and what kind of variety seekers is it reaching out to. “With this research findings, we are well-armed while aligning the strategy and focusing on the target markets for the channel,” says National Geographic Channel VP, marketing Debarpita Banerjee, who thinks the company is target-oriented as far as achieving the objectives of the research study is concerned.

    Ormax Media has seen a meteoric rise under the leadership of CEO Shailesh Kapoor, an alumnus of IIT-Delhi and IIM-Kolkata.

    Always a TV and film fanatic, Kapoor’s heart beats for anything that is related to entertainment. However, that isn’t the reason he started Ormax Media. Growing up in the 90s, Kapoor instinctively knew that the entertainment industry was going to witness a boom with lot of scope for experimentation and thus after nearly 10 years of occupying key positions across functions like content, marketing, sales and strategy in channels such as Filmy, Zoom, Zee Cinema, indya.com and Sony Entertainment Television, Kapoor realised that just like in any other industry, even in media, “Consumers needed to be at the heart of a lot of decisions that a company takes.”

    That’s when he joined hands with Vispy Doctor, already into consumer research since a quarter of a century, to start Ormax Media in July 2008. “Doctor’s experience in the consumer sector helped us hugely in growing. He is still one of the driving forces,” says Kapoor, who also thinks that understanding the client’s perspective has worked in favour of the company.

    Arnab Das from Colors says that the research for TV is very different

    Over the years, Ormax has developed many different products to study the audience’s mindset. One of its most popular products is Ormax Brand Matrix (OBM), a viewership maximisation tool (VMT) that is used by broadcasters to increase their consumer base by up to 50 per cent. OBM can be used by channels across genres, such as GECs, news, movies, youth, music, infotainment, lifestyle, etc. The project design, such as markets and target audience demographics, is customised to the channel’s requirement.

    Colors head strategy and research Arnab Das informs that the channel has very strategically used the “Ormax Brand Matrix” to get a detailed understanding of its brand health. The channel has also used tools like “Showtracks” that is used to make content and communication changes to a running program for improved viewership, “Showbuzz” and “Character India Loves”.

    “We have worked with them across most of our major shows, including fiction and non-fiction, including Balika Vadhu, Bigg Boss, Sasural Simar Ka, Madhubala, Uttaran, Khatron Ke Khiladi, Aamna Saamna, etc.,” says Das, who is of the view that research in TV space is very different from other categories, purely due to the dynamic nature of the day-to-day business. “It is extremely important for any research agency to understand and work around these limitations – something that Ormax definitely has an edge on over others,” he says.

    NGC's Debaprita Banerjee thinks Ormax Media is target-oriented

    Even other channels have used its products well. Sony Max senior VP Neeraj Vyas says that they often work with Ormax Media with many different tools. “It’s quite a frequent affair to conduct a research along with them to study the consumer behaviour. The best part is that we get a fairly deep insight in to the consumers’ mind. Once the research on a certain programme is conducted, we model our campaign accordingly. It just doesn’t give us an organised way to go about it, but at times also gives us a reality check,” he says.

    After starting out as a TV research firm, Ormax spread it wings in 2010 and expanded to the film industry as well. However, it proved to be trickier terrain considering there was no concept of consumer research for films at all. “But once we started, we realised working on films is easier. Now, 30-35 per cent of our revenue comes from films,” says Kapoor, whose tryst with films started with Yash Raj’s Lafangey Parindey, Ra.One, Dum Maaro Dum and Khichdi: The Movie, among others.

    Interestingly, the Ormax Cinematix tool worked really well for the company with nine studios having subscribed to it. Cinematix tracks a film’s weekly report and measures awareness and interest of audiences to watch it.

    Yash Raj Films VP Marketing and Communications Rafiq Gangjee says that Ormax Media is their agency of first choice. “This largely stems from the fact that they are willing to listen and understand the brief. Often this becomes difficult in such a passionate industry,” he says and adds, “The film industry has always believed in ‘gut feels’ and it is nice to see someone factor in that aspect when chatting with us and come back with a grounded approach to the research required.”

    Lafangey-Parindey was one of the first films for which Ormax Media conducted a study

    Yash Raj recently commissioned an exclusive and extremely pertinent study with Ormax for its film Shuddh Desi Romance aptly titled – Shuddh Desi India ki Romantic Soch. “This was done essentially to figure out the changing face of perceptions, tolerance and acceptance of social and romantic norms we have so far held sacrosanct. We had done this to understand if we needed to approach our marketing somewhat differently since we were going out exclusively to the youth,” says Gangjee.

    After being so inclusively involved with its client, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Ormax has close to 40 clients in the film industry and they have tested 275 films in the last three years.

    “In the last one month, we have tested the marketing strategy, concept, TG, etc. for nine films. Unlike TV where channels don't talk to each other, the movie industry is very close-knit where word of mouth spreads very fast. We have grwon in the industry through such word of mouth,” says Kapoor.

    Besides working with its permanent products, Ormax also conducts research from time to time to test certain aspects of viewers. For instance, a particular research was: ‘And the remote goes to…’ where it studied ‘who controls the remote control in the Indian household’.

    Ormax Media recently conducted a research for Yash Raj Films for Shudh Desi Romance

    “These tools or products are developed to help the industry in whichever way we can. When we were taking up the study on who controls the remote, we didn’t really get a good response from the industry as most of them thought they knew the answer. But the revelations were surprising as unlike the general perception that youngsters handle the remote, it was women up to 35 years of age who controlled it,” says Kapoor.

    Since the company has tested waters in almost all areas in some way or the other, it is hoping that all its expansion plans will work well. “Now, at any stage, we don’t feel handicapped. In the five years of working, we have developed our resources well to take up multiple projects, big projects and go into the areas that were thought to be unreachable till sometime back,” he says.  

  • Unlock desire with Supercars season-3

    Unlock desire with Supercars season-3

    MUMBAI: Get ready to drool over the most envied cars as Supercars season three kicks off tonight at 10 pm. The show will be aired every Monday-Friday at National Geographic channel.

     

    Nat Geo’s Supercars is a series, based on the world’s most gorgeous and lust-worthy machines that are aesthetically stunning and boast of sheer engineering genius. In an all new season, the show will give viewers exclusive access into the awe-inspiring world of the most envied cars from the Aston Martin to the Ferrari FF, and what goes into making these marvels tick.

     

    For the first time ever, Supercars will also feature special episodes from Speedmakers – a series that takes a look at what happens off the track and roads, with people who build, innovate and accomplish feats in engineering.

     

    Commenting on the series, motorsport and moto-tech enthusiast, and face of the campaign, John Abraham said, “The way I see it, a supercar can be defined as this contraption consisting of wheels and metal, carved as if by the ‘Hand of God’, to inspire at least one out of the seven cardinal sins: envy! The head-rush that you experience when you get behind the wheel of a powerful machine, the revving of the engine, the surge in speed – it’s almost a spiritual experience for me. And with the third season of the show, the channel has ensured that despite all the restraint that you might impose on yourself, Supercars will have you drooling on these beauties of the 4-wheeled variety. I am thrilled to be associated with the show.”

     

    National Geographic and FOX International Channels vice-president, marketing Debarpita Banerjee asserted, “From the word go, the popularity of Supercars has been palpable. There is a reason why we strive to bring a new season of Supercars each year. Apart from the fact that every episode brilliantly showcases the manufacturing details of these engineering marvels, it is also a great opportunity that we offer our advertisers to associate with the world’s most classy and exclusive line-up of machines, ranging from the Maserati to the Lamborghini Aventador.”

  • NGC India premiers The Blackout

    NGC India premiers The Blackout

    MUMBAI: The thought of a complete blackout can give you goose bumps. But tonight at 9:00 pm, you can experience that as National Geographic Channel rolls out its two-hour, gripping new feature film -The Blackout. The film envisions the story of a national power failure in USA caused by a cyber-attack. Gritty, visceral and completely immersive, the drama exposes just how vulnerable the modern day reliance on technology has made our urban populations, and the hellish realities of a 10-day blackout.

     

    Just imagine how difficult life would be if you can’t use the ATM, or don’t get warm water for your daily showers, there’s no way to connect to the internet. We often don’t even think that these things can happen, but in the case of a blackout, this can be a reality. The film explores all these ideas and much more.

     

    The Blackout combines startling user-generated footage from real blackouts in New York & San Diego as well as when disasters such as Hurricane Sandy struck – all of this intercut with scripted, dramatic footage shot in feature-film style, resulting in a terrifyingly real feeling that this disaster could very likely be yours.

     

    “It isn’t science fiction anymore. Our team of researchers interviewed leading experts in various fields – cyber security, search and rescue, emergency medicine, sociology, engineering and more. This film is obviously a drama, but we were determined to be as informed as possible, and we spent countless hours trying to get it right. We needed to know everything that would be affected in a 10-day nationwide blackout … and that turned out to be basically everything,” said Raw Television director Jonathan Rudd. Raw Television is a multi-award winning production company behind the hit series Banged Up Abroad and the acclaimed feature documentary, The Imposter.

     

    Talking about the relevance of the path-breaking concept behind this film, National Geographic & FOX International Channels VP Marketing Debarpita Banerjee said, “While The Blackout is based on a cyber-attack that strikes USA and causes a complete power wipe-out hence, the truth is that any city or nation is just as susceptible to a crisis of this nature. In India, electricity and power issues are as acute as they could get. Add to that the fact that electrical back-up for our every need is something we take for granted. Poised at a time of technological advancement, such as this, if our power grids were to fail at a macro level, our lives would get paralysed, and we would be left feeling crippled in a very significant way. The Blackout gives the thinking viewer a subject to chew on, and tips to combat this very real ordeal.”

     

    So why don’t you get ready and open up your eyes for a similar calamity that might happen!

  • Time of the yore, once more

    Time of the yore, once more

    MUMBAI: She must have raised many eyebrows for her provocative choices. But nobody could match Madonna’s style at her vixen-esque best. She inspired almost all the young girls in the eighties and most of the guys were awestruck by her sheer screen presence. Now, the viewers have a chance to know all about Madonna and a lot more about the 80s with a new show on NGC.

    Retro never really goes out of fashion, and when one looks back on this era through the yellow window, amazing content is assured, says John Abraham

    Since the era has had its own glory with neon pop colours, Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ punching Argentina to footballing glory, the launch of the first personal computer, the rise of Bollywood’s very own “Disco Dancer” and Jennifer Beal’s “Flash” dance, the channel gives an opportunity to explore that.

    “National Geographic Channel provides factual entertainment that strives to give people something new and fascinating. The 80s is, at the very least – fascinating and quite trend setting. Trends that are still impacting our lives – in terms of fashion, gadgets, sports, music, etc. This not just makes for rich and interesting content, it is extremely refreshing for the whole genre as well,” says National Geographic and FOX International Channels, VP, marketing, Debarpita Banerjee.

    However, since the show would feature multiple domains – from fashion, gadgets and sports to media and politics, the channel has done a great deal of legwork. To recreate the entire decade across various arenas wasn’t easy. “Legitimacy and accuracy had to be ensured, since every story is told through a string of first-hand interviews and accounts,” remarks Bannerjee, further adding that the 80s icons and newsmakers like high-tech titan Steve Wozniak, media mogul Ted Turner, renowned director Oliver Stone as well as Jane Fonda, Calvin Klein, Michael J Fox, Joan Collins, David Hasselhoff and Bruce Weber have been brought on board to share their insights about the decade. “While on the Indian front, Piyush Pandey, Mahesh Bhatt, Vinod Dua, Mark Tully and Subhash Ghai are a few of the big-wigs that have been roped in,” she adds.

    “Retro” always interests people and that is what has got the channel interested in the concept. “Plus, this was the decade that witnessed the emergence of legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, rise of Rajiv Gandhi and the era that gave Madonna, in all her avatars, a manic fan-base and when the world was privy to a modern day fairytale – the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana,” says Banerjee.

    The 80s, according to the channel, has the best of ‘infotainment’ to offer to the discerning viewer, in way of fashion, technology, sports and some of the biggest moments in history. “So, while the decade may not be top of mind now, and may have acquired some dust, there is definitely a lot of sheen beneath it. We are quite confident that it will make a great watch,” she adds.

    To promote the series well, it is being supported by an extensive online campaign which has been activated on social media and across websites. The channel is hosting a #Flashback80s week from 21 till 25 October on the Nat Geo Facebook page for the three million plus fans. “The week will also see an ‘80s Music Quiz’ contest hosted on Twitter, Facebook users can hashtag #Flashback80s and tell us any three things that made the 1980s a memorable decade for them, whether fun or emotional or plain nostalgic. Also, we will be sharing videos, pictures, faux pas, gadgets, sporting events from the decade for people to relive a slice of the 80s,” says Bannerjee.

    Besides, actor John Abraham, the face of the channel, has also been going gung-ho about the concept. “The cherry on the cake would definitely be the show’s overriding theme! ‘Retro’ never really goes out of fashion, and when one looks back on this era through the yellow window, amazing content is assured. It was the decade that throbbed to the sounds of the Boombox, witnessed the death of Indira Gandhi and rise of Rajiv Gandhi and also the decade that saw the world holding its breath as the Chernobyl nuclear reactor went up in flames. I have no doubt that the show would appeal to people across all age-groups and is just as relevant today, as it ever was.”

    The show will air on Thursday and Friday at 10 pm every week.

  • NGC to premiere documentary on making of Buddh International Circuit

    NGC to premiere documentary on making of Buddh International Circuit

    MUMBAI: Chequered flags, pit girls, more than 95,000 fans, revved up engines…while the frenzy surrounding the Indian Grand Prix is already palpable, National Geographic Channel (NGC) is all set to take viewers at home, on a rollercoaster of a ride with their one-hour special documentary titled Buddh International Circuit: A Race Against Time.

    Premiering 25 October at 8 pm, NGC through the documentary, takes a look back at a crew of around 8000 people, as they battle adverse natural forces, strong winds, dust storms, heavy rains, and extreme heat, to make the daunting and inflexible deadline of building India’s first ever Formula 1 racetrack – The Buddh International Circuit.

     “It has been our endeavor at NGC to entertain as well as inform, through our key franchises. In some, we showcase some of the best mega-structures of the world, taking the viewers, not just into the splendor but also the challenges of putting together such a mammoth project. The Buddh International Circuitstands as a symbol of one of the most awe inspiring Indian infrastructure projects in recent history,” said NGC Network and Fox International Channels VP – marketing Debarpita Banerjee.

    “Against the backdrop of the upcoming Formula 1 season, documenting the resurrection of this world class racetrack has been a privilege for us. In sync with our brand philosophy ‘Unlock’, here is yet another special that will open up a lot of aspects about a subject India is getting increasingly passionate about. The Buddh International Circuit: A Race Against Time documentary in association with Jaypee Sports, allows us to showcase the making of India’s first ever formula 1 racetrack. And it has been one thrilling ride,” she added.

  • Tour De India announces John Abraham as its brand ambassador

    Tour De India announces John Abraham as its brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: As Godrej Eon Tour De India races ahead in its second edition, the property is ready to deliver the ultimate punch of dynamism and energy with the brand ambassador. The cycling event in the country which is being promoted by Maharashtra Cycling Association, Tourism Ministry, UCI, Cycling Federation of India (CFI) and ID Sports has announced John Abraham as its brand ambassador.

    John, who recently made to headlines for becoming a brand ambassador for National Geographic Channel, is making all the right moves.  

    John’s quintessential blend of challenging his own limits make him an ideal connect with Tour De India, which stands to believe ‘You are the Engine’. Godrej Eon Tour De India has shot an advertising campaign that showcases your vigor to ride a cycle. With John Abraham as the new face, Godrej Eon Tour De India is reinforcing its strong bond and connects with cycling enthusiasts through creativity, commerce, education and technology.

    Speaking ahead of the race 2013, ID Sports chairman and managing director Akil Khan exults: “Committed to drive participation and aiming to make cycling, a national sport, Godrej Eon Tour de India in 2013 could not be more proud to welcome John into the Godrej Eon Tour De India family. In the first year of Godrej Eon Tour de India we saw celebrity grand prix at F1 Circuit and this year we are excited about John being a part. John symbolises all that Godrej Eon Tour De India stands for.”
    He further adds: “He is a representation with intelligence, grace and a trendsetter who has always stood by his passion for sports along with an incredible blend of warmth with a vivaciousness and untiring charm. His connect with the common man and the highest segment of personalities shows his incredible versatility and makes him fit seamlessly into Godrej Eon Tour De India.”

    Expressing his excitement, John Abraham asserts: “It is a pleasure to lend myself to India’s noisiest and biggest cycling event that makes its presence felt. Godrej Eon Tour De India (TDI) stands for redefining the evolution of cycling and it is a great privilege for me to be associated with it. I tend to endorse brands very selectively as I need to relate to the brand and believe in it in my heart.”

    Godrej Eon Tour De India’s new campaign underlying ethos is about the spirit of the multi-faceted achiever who is the best in the world and hence deserves the best of all that the world has to offer. It deals with all the attributes associated with John which act as a representative of this changing face of the Indian youth be it health, sporting spirit or enjoyment. Moving forward ID Sports will be announcing the presenting sponsor soon.