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Tag: Pioneer

  • “AIWA India stays ahead by closely monitoring market trends and consumer behaviour”: AIWA India’s Ajay Mehta

    “AIWA India stays ahead by closely monitoring market trends and consumer behaviour”: AIWA India’s Ajay Mehta

    Mumbai: Founded in 1951, AIWA, a pioneer in consumer electronics, once dominated the audio scene with iconic cassette tape recorders. The company is best known for its speakers, boomboxes, and stereo systems. After a hiatus, the brand has resurged globally, including in India, with innovative devices meeting the demands of today’s tech-savvy consumers. Committed to quality and affordability, AIWA India strives to redefine the electronics landscape with a ‘Made in India’ touch and unparalleled after-sales service.

    Indiantelevision.com in an email chat with AIWA India MD Ajay Mehta gained insights on Aiwa’s differentiating aspect, capitalising on the evolving trends in the consumer electronics landscape, and more…

    Ajay Mehta has also been heading the MCC Group since its inception in 1991. Over the past three decades, Ajay has handled several brands, nationally, including, Canon, Polaroid, JVC, Mitsubishi Electric, and Toshiba.

    Edited Excerpts:

    On AIWA setting itself apart from other consumer electronic brands

    AIWA stands out due to its legacy of innovation, commitment to quality, and a customer-centric approach. We prioritise delivering cutting-edge technology combined with user-friendly designs, providing consumers with reliable and feature-rich products that enhance their lifestyle.”

    On AIWA’s strategic vision for establishing itself in the diverse Indian market aligning with upcoming product launches

    Our strategic vision revolves around understanding and addressing the diverse needs of Indian consumers. We focus on continuous research and development to introduce products tailored to Indian preferences, such as customized sound systems and smart home solutions. Our upcoming launches align with this vision by offering a blend of innovative features and localized offerings.

    On the company’s plan to adapt to or capitalise on the evolving trends in the consumer electronics landscape in India

    AIWA India stays ahead by closely monitoring market trends and consumer behaviour. We adapt swiftly by integrating emerging technologies into our products, such as IoT capabilities, eco-friendly designs, and enhanced connectivity options. This agility enables us to cater to evolving consumer needs while staying at the forefront of technological advancements.

    On the challenges that AIWA is currently addressing in the Indian market, and conversely, where does the company see significant opportunities for growth and expansion in the consumer electronics sector in India

    In the Indian market, we are addressing challenges related to intense competition and rapidly changing consumer preferences. However, we perceive immense opportunities in the growing demand for smart home devices, quality audio systems, and cutting-edge entertainment solutions. Our focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction positions us well to capitalise on these opportunities.

    On the vision and mission for AIWA India

    Our vision is to be a leader in providing innovative, high-quality consumer electronics that enrich people’s lives. AIWA India’s mission is to consistently deliver technologically advanced and reliable products, coupled with exceptional customer service, empowering consumers to enjoy superior entertainment experiences and smart home solutions.

  • Vdopia Inc. Ranks as No. 1 Video Ad Network by ComScore

    Vdopia Inc. Ranks as No. 1 Video Ad Network by ComScore

    MUMBAI: Vdopia Inc., the pioneer in mobile and online video advertising, became the first Ad Network in India and South East Asia to surpass 10 million Unique Viewers. ComScore’s Video Ad Metrix ranked Vdopia as the No.1 Ad Network in India for December 2013 with 10.65 million Unique Viewers.

    According to the latest analysis, Vdopia surpassed Yahoo and Times Internet properties in the online video rankings while closing ranks with Facebook with a marginal 12% difference in Unique Viewers.
     

    Preetesh Chouhan, VP, APAC, Vdopia says, “Vdopia numbers released by ComScore are very positive and reaching 10 million unique viewers is an important benchmark for us as an Ad network.  Vdopia always partners with premium content providers to deliver advertisers the right scale and reach for efficient and targeted campaigns.”

    This announcement follows Vdopia Inc.’s 100% global growth announcement, IMPACT’s ‘Digital Power 100’ ranking and a SMARTIES award, as it continues on a wave of global and regional recognition and growth.
     

    India’s consumption for online video has literally doubled with the adoption of devices, technology and content options. Vdopia will continue to strengthen its presence in the APAC region with a focus to make India the global operation hub.

  • TRAI ad cap: Broadcasters move Delhi High Court

    TRAI ad cap: Broadcasters move Delhi High Court

    MUMBAI: The 12 minute ad cap case has had a change in venue – from the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to the Delhi High Court (HC). With the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that TDSAT does not have authority to hear cases challenging the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulations, broadcasters had filed a writ petition in the HC last Friday.

    The case is set to be heard on 17 December in the Delhi HC by Justice Manmohan. The appellants include the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), 9X Media, B4U, TV Vision, Sun TV, E24 and Pioneer Channel. The hearing for the case is set to begin afresh but the priority of the lawyers representing the broadcasters will be to get a stay order from the HC to disallow the TRAI from taking any coercive action against channels which are reportedly not following the 12 minute ad cap. Under the TRAI mandate, it can persecute channels who do not toe the line that it has set.

    “We will ask for a stay order on TRAI taking any punitive actions against broadcasters. Since the TDSAT had given a stay order earlier and the bench was headed by a SC judge Justice Aftab Alam, we hope we get it from the HC too,” says a senior executive.

    The case will by and large remain the same with the focus on the fact that the ad cap is not a regulation at all. However, since it is now the HC, the crux of the arguments will be on constitutional grounds such as Article 14 and Article 19 that talks about the right to equality and freedom of speech respectively.

    The channels will now have to go through the long drawn process of the hearing proceeding in the HC and getting the stay order against the regulator taking them to the cleaners for violation of the ad cao reglation. They have been fortunate not to have got the stick so far from the TRAI which could have prosecuted them as it was within its rights to do so.

  • Close Trai Ad cap: Broadcasters get respite from Delhi High Court

    Close Trai Ad cap: Broadcasters get respite from Delhi High Court

    MUMBAI: The Indian broadcasting community has got a respite on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) ad cap case. The Delhi High Court today granted an interim order preventing the regulator from carrying out any coercive action against broadcasters violating the mandated 12 minute ad cap set by it.

    Broadcasters are heaving a sigh of relief as there were fears that the regulator would prosecute them for the same. Last week’s Supreme Court judgment had struck down the Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal’s (TDSAT) powers to adjudicate against TRAI regulations. This had nullified the efforts by the broadcasters to get a reversal in the ad cap case by TDSAT.

    The date of the next hearing is 13 March 2014. Broadcasters have to continue the weekly submission of ad duration data to the TRAI.

    The case is surely set to drag on for quite some months as compared to its briskness in TDSAT.  The broadcasters include the NBA, 9X Media, Sun TV, B4U, TV Vision, Sun TV, E24 and Pioneer Channel that had approached the HC after the case was dismissed by the TDSAT last week.

  • Brands come out in support of LGBT community

    Brands come out in support of LGBT community

    MUMBAI: There are brands and then there are brands. The difference between the two is that while some try to be safe and use the same-old formula to reach out to their target audience, others break free to connect with their TG through the issues that matter to them.

    The Supreme Court has turned back the clock on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that was earlier decriminalised by the Delhi High Court in 2009. As per the recent verdict, the 1861 law that criminalises any kind of sexual activity “against the order of nature” – including homosexual acts. While thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists and supporters came out on the streets and took to social media platforms to avenge and retaliate against the ‘regressive’ verdict, they surprisingly found unexpected support from few brands.

    Amul, for instance, has been the pioneer in putting the (ugly) truth out in the open with its cheeky remarks on topical issues. This time again, it has again taken a stand. In its recently released ad, the Amul mascot – the girl in polka-dotted dress offers condolences as she stands beside a tombstone with “Freedom of choice” inscribed on it.

    However, what is interesting to note is that it isn’t just Amul that is making itself heard as a brand. Other brands are shedding their inhibitions as well. The youth fashion brand, Fastrack which takes pride in being the in-your-face youth brand shared a picture on the social media platforms supporting the LGBT community. It read: “The road to equality has never been straight”. Even earlier, the brand had launched a ‘Come out of the closet’ campaign challenging the taboos and asking people to let go of societal norms because the brand is moving on with time.

    But what has surprised everyone the most is the coming of age stance of Tanishq that is largely known to be a brand following tradition. The jewellery brand from the house of Tata took the plunge with the latest advertisement on a social media site which read: “Two of a kind always makes a beautiful pair!” making an unexpected sassy remark on the issue. In a very subtle tone, the brand has made it clear what it stands for.

    Gradually, it is trying to break away from the other traditional counterparts. In October, Tanishq had launched a campaign for its latest wedding collection where a dusky woman was seen remarrying. With the film, the brand aimed to target young women who are looking for differentiated designs and not the old, traditional ones.

    Allen Solly too flaunted the ‘colours’ on the networking site.

    Even internationally, the brands have come out to support the cause with some times being appreciated for their initiatives and many times condemned as well. When United Colors of Benetton launched its ‘Unhate’ campaign featuring images of world leaders in passionate lip-locks with some of their biggest rivals last year, the campaign didn’t do much for world peace but it won an award at Cannes.

    Similarly, Kenneth Cole showcased an ad with two handbags and a headline that read: “We’re pro-choice, after all, she’s the one carrying it.” It was a tongue-in-cheek comment on the debate on abortion in the US.

    Eyewear style brand Ray-Ban was also praised for its advertisement in 2012 that was gay-inclusive. Released as part of its “Never Hide” campaign as part of the company’s 75th anniversary, the ad featured two sharply-dressed gay men out for a romantic stroll on a busy sidewalk.

    The popular coffee brand, Starbucks, which entered the Indian markets, has also taken a pro-LGBT stand. In an interview a US journalist, the coffee chain’s CEO Howard Schultz had revealed that he has once told an anti-gay marriage activist to sell his shares in the company if he disagreed with the company’s position on the issue. His rationale was that it was an important issue to Starbucks’ 200,000 employees, so at the end it was worth any lost sales. “Some things aren’t economic decisions,” he had said that time.

  • Volkswagen Motorsport India develops Rally-Spec Polo R2 Testing to begin at the Bangalore Round of INRC

    Volkswagen Motorsport India develops Rally-Spec Polo R2 Testing to begin at the Bangalore Round of INRC

    MUMBAI: Volkswagen Motorsport India will begin the testing of Polo R2, a specially developed rally car, during the upcoming IMS K-1000 Rally at Bangalore. Multi-APRC title holder Karamjit Singh, who has been driving for Team Slideways Industries, will get behind the wheel of the newly developed prototype. The Polo R2 will compete in a new category that will be introduced by FMSCI in the Indian Rally Championship (IRC) 2014.

     

    Volkswagen Motorsport India has been the pioneer of one-make car racing series in India. Polo Cup started in 2010 and is now in its fourth successful season. While young talent has been identified, trained and promoted to international racing series through the Polo R Cup series over the last few years, it was time for Volkswagen Motorsport India to expand to other forms of motorsport in India. The logical step was taken with the extension of technical support to rally teams competing with Volkswagen Polo in the Indian National Rally Championship.

     

    In an effort to further promote our association with Indian motorsport, Volkswagen Motorsport India has now developed its first prototype of the Volkswagen Polo R2 – a rally-spec version of the Polo. The Polo R2 will compete in a new category R2 that will be introduced by FMSCI in IRC from 2014 season. Before entering the competitive season, the Polo R2 will be tested at upcoming IMS K-1000 Rally in Bangalore and then at the Chikmaglur Rally in December 2013.

     

    The Polo R2 is powered with a four cylinder 1.6-litre MPI petrol engine that produces over 130 PS of power. The engine has been mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. Other modifications to the car include Reiger Suspension and uprated Alcon brakes (285mm front disc and 255mm rear disc). The bodywork modifications comprise of aerodynamic body kit, rear spoiler, a roof vent and stripped interiors. From safety point of view, the car has been equipped with FIA-spec roll-cage, fire extinguisher system and OMP rally seats with six-point harness for the driver and navigator. The Polo R2 will run on 15-inch alloy wheels shod with JK Rally tyres.

     

    Prithviraj Siddappa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India, said “The first running in of the car has been done and the feedback has been good so far. Karamjit Singh has been driving the Group N Polo this season for which we have been providing technical and spares support at the rally stages. He will now move up to the R2 which is a more powerful car. His inputs are crucial for us in developing the car further and we hope to see some positive steps after the K-1000 Rally.”

     

    Mahesh Kodumudi, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, commented “The Volkswagen Polo is a perfect example of German engineering. And when the engineering is right, it is always possible to extract more out of the car. Pushing the performance of the car to the limits and putting it through extreme driving will only bring out the Polo’s real potential. I believe that the Polo R2 is our next step in showcasing the capabilities of the car.”

     

    Motor sports enthusiasts interested in getting further information can log on to the website, www.volkswagen-motorsport.in. This website displays information about all the activities undertaken by Volkswagen Motorsport India.
    Follow Volkswagen Motorsport India on Facebook: www.facebook.com/vwindiam and Twitter: www.twitter.com/vwmotorsportind

  • Petro Vlahos, pioneer of blue & green screen technology passes away

    Petro Vlahos, pioneer of blue & green screen technology passes away

    MUMBAI: Petro Vlahos, who pioneered blue- and green-screen technology to Hollywood, has passed away. He was 96.

    Paying his respects to Vlahos, senior visual effects supervisor at Look Effects, a post-production outlet, Everett Burrell said, "All visual effects professionals and movie fans owe him a debt of gratitude." "It‘s hard to even conceive of how we would do what we do without the amazing number of processes and techniques he pioneered," he added.

    Although the technology was not new when Valhos started to use it-it had been seen before in The Thief of Baghdad and The Ten Commandments, his firm, Ultimatte, made the process much more realistic.

    Vlahos was awarded many patents for the techniques he invented in his laboratory, including the one which won him an Oscar, teaming up live action with cartoons on Mary Poppins. He was also associated with the Charlton Heston-starrer Ben hur.

  • Dhoni appointed brand ambassador of Gulf Oil

    Dhoni appointed brand ambassador of Gulf Oil

    MUMBAI: Gulf Oil, a Hinduja Group Company, has roped in cricket captain MS Dhoni to be the new face of the company.

    Dhoni will now represent Gulf Oil, one of the fastest growing Lube brands in India and a pioneer in the Long Drain Lubricants space, in India as well as in some of the markets worldwide.

    Gulf Oil Corporation Limited (GOCL) produces a wide range of
    lubricants for the automotive sector and is present in 80 countries.