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Tag: Sachin Tendulkar

  • Hero Indian Super League ushers in football revolution

    Hero Indian Super League ushers in football revolution

    MUMBAI: The most anxiously awaited Hero Indian Super League (ISL) finally unveiled its official emblem at a grand event attended by the organisers and franchise team owners. The league also saw the unveiling of its official line- ‘Let’s Football.’

     

    At the beginning, IMG Reliance chairperson Nita Ambani said, “ISL hopes to act as a foundation in creating an ecosystem to nurture talent and make our own national football heroes.” She also added that the Reliance Foundation plans to reach out to 10 lakh kids in India for the first year to help them play the game of football at the micro level.

     

    ‘Let’s Football’ – is an apt fit to its ambition in connecting with today’s youth and creating interest in millions to play the sport professionally. The emblem with hexagons combined to form a football symbolises collaboration of passion, energy and enthusiasm among its stakeholders. Colours chosen to represent the league conveys the values and emotions, with red signifying the energy, passion and action, while blue exudes confidence, trust and responsibility; both seamlessly combining to represent the league’s values.

     

    Star India COO Sanjay Gupta commented, “This is the birth of a footballing nation. This is something that has never been attempted before and marks a historic turning point for the future of football in India. What you will experience is a world class spectacle-in stadium, on television, on your mobile screen and across all digital devices.”

     

    “We plan to attract and nurture the best of Indian talent to play with marquee players selected from 20 countries, spanning five continents,” added Gupta.

     

    The event began with Nita Ambani leading the eight league partners to sign a pledge- committing to the vision of ISL, which is to bring a football revolution across the country.

     

    IMG football vice president Andy Knee said, “The potential for football in India is truly immense and the ambition for the league is to spark a revolution for the game so as to encourage teenagers, even hundreds of millions of Indians to start playing, following and watching the sport.”

     

    Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan was declared as the new team owner of the Chennai franchise. Joining him were other owners like Sachin Tendulkar, John Abraham, Ranbir Kapoor, Sameer Manchanda, Utsav Parekh, Kapil Wadhawan, Team Goa ambassador Varun Dhawan among others like AIFF president Praful Patel.

     

    Each of the teams said that they would help develop football at the grass root level, the announcements of which will be made in the weeks to come.

     

    Scheduled to kick off on 12 October 2014, the Hero Indian Super League will see some of the greatest players in action from the world of football.

  • Sachin Tendulkar launches ‘ShuddhPaani, Swastha Bharat’

    Sachin Tendulkar launches ‘ShuddhPaani, Swastha Bharat’

    MUMBAI: “According to national healthcare survey 2013, less than one-third of households in India drink purified water which is disturbing given the progress India has made otherwise since Independence,” said cricketer Sachin Tendulkar while launching ‘ShuddhPaani, Swastha Bharat’, a Livpure Foundation initiative.

     

    The cricketer has joined hands with Livpure Foundation, which works as a catalyst in policy advocacy, technological innovations and mobilisation of health providers and communities on clean drinking water and launched CSR campaign ‘Shuddh Paani, Swastha Bharat’.

     

    “Since worldwide infectious diseases such as waterborne diseases are the number one killer of children under five years of age, I feel proud to be associated with this initiative to safeguard children’s health to the best of my abilities for the wellbeing of every child in order to reduce/ eradicate child mortality in India,” added the cricketer.

     

    Livpure Foundation also helps develop partnerships that pool competencies and resources, particularly in its role as advocate, facilitator and coordinator, helping stem the spread of water-borne diseases.

     

    SAR Group founder Rakesh Malhotra said, “Access to safe drinking water on sustainable basis constitutes a fundamental and inalienable human right for everyone in India. Livpure Foundation has been established to bring into focus this critical problem facing a large population globally and especially India since as per WHO more people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence including war.”

     

    According to WHO, an estimated 5,02,000 Indians are affected by waterborne diseases annually. 3,61,000 children under the age of five die each year from diarrhea. Clean drinking water is the only solution to this epidemic problem.

     

    “There is an immediate need for more such movements/ initiatives/ campaigns because of consequential water contamination in the country.  Inadequate drinking water is an important risk factor, particularly in low-income settings. ‘ShuddhPaani, Swastha Bharat’ will restore the cleanliness of the water bodies and will help in maintaining the ecological balance of the environment and we can look forward to a clean and green country,” Tendulkar further added.

     

    The Livpure Foundation endeavours for a pan India presence with thrust in urban slums and the selected states which confront acute water crisis or water pollution. The focused states are; Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana.

  • Ten Sports gets patriotic before CWG 2014

    Ten Sports gets patriotic before CWG 2014

    MUMBAI:  T20 World Cup, IPL, FIFA and now the Commonwealth Games. It has been a remarkable calendar, so far, for major sporting events both at the domestic and the international level.

     

    With broadcasters acquiring broadcast rights of various sporting events, Ten Sports, one of the few players in the sports broadcast industry, has seen one such major acquisition – Commonwealth Games (CWG).

     

    The CWG, which begins from 23 July and go on till 3 August, will be telecast live on Ten Sports, Ten action and Ten HD live. The Games, which takes place once in four years, will be held in Glasgow, this time.  The sports broadcaster has launched an aggressive marketing campaign and pre build-up shows to educate audiences about sporting disciplines and medal prospects.

     

    According to media planners Rs 4.5 crore to Rs 5 crore has been spent on the entire marketing and promotional activities for these Games.

     

    The objective of the campaign was to create a larger than life stature of CWG in India and to engage fans to boost viewership. Once the Games begin, the channel will focus on throughout the day studio coverage and downlinking the match from Glasgow.  

     

    Fogg deodorants is the broadcast partner for the channel.

     

    Ten Sports global head Rajesh Sethi says, “Major sporting events like CWG and Asian Games gain a lot of fan interest in participating nations. I am confident that our comprehensive coverage will interest and engage every sports lover.”

     

    The channel’s special programming lineup includes Medal Hunt which will give an in-depth analysis of India’s medal prospects with current stars and past legends. Sporting Heroes profiles Indian sports stars. The profiling includes expectations from the Games, the journey to stardom, training regimen and life outside the sporting arena. The Commonwealth Show puts the spotlight on top athletes, showcases the venues, behind the scenes and insights about the events.

     

    The channel has come up with a total of seven TVCs. The videos have sportsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Heena Sidhu, Sushil kumar, Rupinder Pal Singh PV Sidhu and Siva Thapa asking viewers ‘Kya Aapka Bhi Dil Dhadakta Hai Hindustan Ke Liye/ Does Your Heart Beat for India?’ The promos are running on both Ten Sports network and Zee Network.

     

    Vignettes too have been created. Blast From The Past is where stars relive the most famous victories in the sporting arena sharing anecdotes from the memorable victories. Know Your Sports explains the fundamentals of the sport and the various equipment used in a sport.  For What’s in my Bag athletes  talk about their kit, facts about the maintenance of the gear and any lucky charms they carry in the bag. It’s my Life is where stars talk about how they unwind-their passions other than sports and their favourite cuisine. Golden Moments is rare archival footage highlighting the achievements of some of the greatest athletes of all times. Quick Takes is interesting facts of Commonwealth Games including trivia about Indian performance.

     

    As part of the outdoor campaign, bus wraps have been used in Mumbai and Delhi on BEST, NMMT and HOHO buses. It also has a special tie up with Red FM for its radio campaigns in major metros.  Recently to promote the campaign an event was held in Delhi with a captive audience of 15,000, wherein well known comedian Kapil Sharma enthralled audiences.  

     

    On the digital front there will be live streaming on live.tensports.com. Tens Sports has a dedicated page on its website as well. There is also a section where fans can post messages to cheer team India. On Twitter, Facebook and Google +, trivia around CWG, player profiles, medal tally’s and contests are being held.

     

    According to Group M ESP national director- entertainment sports and live events Vinit Karnik “Since the last games were held in India definitely there will be some rub off on the current game. The audiences have warmed up since the last time, as they are more aware of the games which carry a sense of national pride.”

     

    The Games will see 17 sports and participation from 70 countries and a total of over 6,500 athletes. CWG will involve athletes from the Commonwealth nations including England, Australia, Canada, India and Jamaica. India ranked second at the last Commonwealth Games held in 2010 with 101 medals. The Indian government has already set a target of 125 medals for this season.

     

     

    Ten Sports also acquired the rights for UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for a further period of three years till the 2017-18 season. The network has also acquired properties like German Football and the German Cup for four seasons. This promises to give audiences the opportunity to the see the world cup winners play for their clubs.

     

    US Open Tennis, I-League and The Ryder Cup in September and Hockey Champions Trophy in India in December are the other marquee properties that the Ten Sports Network has to offer in the coming months.

  • SMAAASH ropes in FW Sports Investment Fund as strategic investor

    SMAAASH ropes in FW Sports Investment Fund as strategic investor

    MUMBAI: FW Sports Investment Fund LP (FSIF), a Mauritius-based private equity fund, has acquired a significant minority stake in Mumbai based Smaaash Entertainment (SMAAASH).

     

    This is the first round of private equity funding into the company.

     

    Pioneering the field of sports simulation technology in India, SMAAASH has developed a unique concept that blends sports, music and dining into an immersive and involved social entertainment experience. It’s first such sports-based entertainment centre that was started in 2012 in Mumbai. The centre is home to highly interactive sports simulators across different sports such as cricket, football and racing, as well as many other thrilling and recreational attractions. The Company is promoted by serial entrepreneur Shripal Morakhia, who had earlier founded SSKI &ShareKhan.

     

    “SMAAASH is an emotionally and physically engaging proposition that uses technology to meet consumer aspirations. We are very excited at having FSIF as our partner. Our plan is to open multiple centres across India and globally over the next couple of years, and FSIF’s involvement will help us immensely with our global plans”, said SMAAASH founder director Shripal Morakhia.

     

    Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and STAR India are also associated with this unique venture from its inception.

     

    Sachin Tendulkar who is a strategic investor in SMAAASH said, “The advanced simulators at SMAAASH are fascinating and are very close to real life experience. Sporting enthusiasts can leverage the technology at SMAAASH to harness their skills and gain experience of challenges faced on the field. The facilities at SMAAASH cater to the demands of the young, sporting minds of the nation”.

     

    “SMAAASH demonstrates creativity and innovation at its best — principles that form the very core that drives Star. That innovation has meant that SMAAASH is quickly emerging as the sports entertainment destination among today’s youth,” said Star India COO Sanjay Gupta.  “We are very proud to partner this unique venture and its team led by Shripal from its very conception to pilot and now its growth phase. There’s no doubt SMAAASH will soon grow to be one of the biggest global enterprises in active sports entertainment.”

     

    This is the second major investment by FSIF, Asia’s first sports dedicated fund. Earlier this year, FSIF had acquired a significant minority stake in Technology Frontiers, a leading global provider of in-stadia activation solutions. The fund is led by Anand S. Krishnan, who has earlier been a managing director at JPMorgan in America and Asia.

     

    Commenting on the investment, Anand S. Krishnan said, “SMAAASH leverages sports as a medium to connect with customers – families, corporates, and retail. The company is uniquely positioned to expand its footprint throughout India and worldwide; its innovative, differentiated, and aspirational offering addresses the bourgeoning demand for active entertainment. We are excited to be a part of this story and look forward to working with the SMAAASH team.”

     

    Anand S. Krishnan and Sripat Pandey will be joining the board of directors of SMAAASH.

     

    EY India acted as the exclusive investment bankers on the transaction and J. Sagar Associates acted as the legal advisor to FSIF. EYIndia partner Ajay Shah, who led the transaction said, “The Indian sports-based entertainment industry has grown rapidly over the last few years, driven by an increase in discretionary spending ability of the consumer. SMAAASH now has a total equity capital base of approximately Rs 150 crore. This capital base will be a catalyst for the company to achieve its aggressive expansion plans and meet its objective of providing social entertainment via a fun filled, value-for-money experience”.

  • NDTV announces Indian of the Year Awards

    NDTV announces Indian of the Year Awards

    MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year again when we salute the ambassadors of brand India. 2013 has been an important year in the history of India. From instances of individual brilliance to examples of nation building, this year has given rise to a set of Indians, who are not afraid to wear their Indian identity on their sleeve. To honour the contribution of these role models, NDTV is back with the seventh edition of the prestigious Indian of the Year award in association with LIC.

     

    One of the biggest and most credible awards in the country, the NDTV Indian of the Year 2013 will recognize the Indians whose contribution to the country have strengthened the foundation of our society and helped build Brand India. These iconic Indians will be honoured at a glittering ceremony in New Delhi on April 29, 2014 at the Taj Palace Hotel. They will be chosen from four categories: Sports, Entertainment, Business and Public Service.

     

    Announcing the 7th edition of the awards, Vikram Chandra, Group CEO, NDTV said, “We take immense pride in presenting the 7th edition of Indian of the Year awards. The awards recognize the contribution of individuals, who through their determination and fortitude continue to take the nation forward. We are privileged to honour this year’s winners with these awards.”

     

    Over the years, the recipients of these prestigious awards have included Ratan Tata, Sonia Gandhi, Justice J.S Verma, Anna Hazare, Late Pandit Ravi Shankar, N Chandrashekaran, Sachin Tendulkar, heroes of the Mumbai terrorist attacks and many more.

  • ISL announces partners in its journey to revolutionise Indian football

    ISL announces partners in its journey to revolutionise Indian football

    MUMBAI: IMG Reliance and Star India promoted Indian Super League (ISL), under the aegis of All India Football Federation, on Sunday, 13 April reached a crucial junction on its path to rediscover Indian football, as it identifies and awards eight ‘League Partners’ across the country ahead of the proposed September-November 2014 inaugural season.

     

    Touted to be an unrivalled footballing tourney, the ISL – that is being planned under the Football Sports Development (FSD) – aims to ignite a revolution in the sport and ultimately enable Indian football to thrive and perform at the highest level on the international stage.

     

    “Today’s announcement is the culmination of several years of hard work and strategic planning,” said IMG chairman & chief executive and IMG Reliance chairman Michael Dolan in a statement. “We are enormously pleased at the level of interest the creation of the Indian Super League has generated. We believe the League signals the beginning of a new era in the development of football in India and, in the future, will be the source of great pride for the people of India.”

     

    ISL’s proposal for ‘League Partners’ received an overwhelming response from the business, sports and Hindi film industry, to own a team from the nine proposed cities in the contention. Four of the final eight cities – Delhi, Kochi, Guwahati and Bengaluru – will find itself in the mainstream football map of the country, which is traditionally being dominated by Kolkata, Goa, Pune and Mumbai, through the high-profile professional tournament.

     

    “Inspiring our nation to excel is a priority and comes naturally to us at Star India. With our expertise in marketing and production of sports content, our task is cut out to etch football in the sports culture of India,” said Star India CEO Uday Shankar. “The nation has been awaiting its second sport for far too long. And we’re delighted to collaborate with esteemed partners in the business and sports world to make that happen!”.

     

    The winning bids, which boast a good mix of corporates and celebrities, include – the Sun Group for Bengaluru; Sameer Manchanda led Den Network for Delhi; Venugopal Dhoot (Videocon), Dattaraj Salgaocar and Shrinivas V. Dempo for Goa; John Abraham & Shillong Lajong for Guwahati; Sachin Tendulkar & PVP Ventures for Kochi; Sourav Ganguly, Harshavardhan Neotia, Atletico Madrid, Sanjeev Goenka, Utsav Parekh for Kolkata, Bollywood’s Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh for Mumbai and Salman Khan together with Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan of the Wadhawan Group for Pune.

     

    “It is with great pride that I welcome the eight League Partners to the Indian Super League. We want to unlock the unbound aspirational energy of our youth through grassroots and community development programs,” said Nita M. Ambani. “Together, we will strive to build a vibrant ecosystem that will provide impetus to football in India. As Mentor of the League, I commit myself to development of football as a major sport for the youth of India.

     

    Ernst & Young, the designated international advisory firm, had the mandate of drawing up and validating the bid process. Each bidder was subject to strict eligibility norms and was required to submit the bids, as prescribed under the ‘Invitation to Bid’ document. Bids were evaluated by the jury panel in the presence of Ernst & Young representatives.

     

    The ISL represents a transformational progress for Indian football, progress that will be good for players, fans and the League Partners. It’s an opportunity to be part of one of the most exciting new properties in football anywhere in the world and Indian Federation, the AIFF has extended all its help for the success of the League.

     

    AIFF president Praful Patel said: “No period in India’s long and proud history in football is more exciting than today. This day will go down in memory as a special day for Indian football as eight high profile celebrities & corporates are being introduced into the sport through Indian Super League. With IMG Reliance & Star providing the perfect foundation, the League has become an unstoppable force which would change Indian football.”

     

    “I hope the grassroots’ obligation of the franchises gives a huge push to the development of the game. Along with the world class infrastructure that is being created for the Under 17 FIFA World Cup, and AIFF’s expression of interest to host 2015 and 2016 FIFA Club World Cup, Indian football is definitely turning a new leaf in its history,” he added.

     

    AIFF general secretary Kushal Das too is a firm believer of the fact that Indian football needs an innovative approach to amass popularity. “I have always believed Indian football needs an innovative and experimental format like Indian Super League to bring the fans back to the stadiums. Today, with the kind of owners and organisers that we have behind Indian Super League, we have the perfect recipe to a successful professional tournament. I wish the Indian Super League all the best.”

     

    Here is a closer look at the winning Bidders/Consortiums:

     

    A new Sun rises in the Garden City

    Bengaluru – Sun Group

     

    Sun Group is an Indian conglomerate, based in Chennai, India. Sun Group’s Sun TV Network is one of the largest media networks in India. It owns over thirty three television channels, 45 FM Radio Stations, Two Daily News Papers and Five Magazines with a reach of more than 95 million households in India. Sun Direct is one of the largest DTH service provider in the country having more than 9 million subscribers. Sun Pictures is the film division of Sun TV Network. The group is also present in the aviation business with SpiceJet and also owns IPL cricket team Sunrisers Hyderabad.

     

    Den to lay football Network in Delhi

    Delhi – Sameer Manchanda of Den Networks

     

    DEN Networks – led by Chairman and Managing Director Sameer Manchanda, is India’s largest cable TV distribution company serving 13 million homes in over 200 cities. Based in Delhi, DEN is a frontrunner of digitisation of Indian cable TV. DEN is also launching India’s fastest high speed broadband service with speeds of 100 Mbps and more. DEN aims to become the default destination for entertainment, information and interactivity for the Indian family.

     

    Goan sport to get Dempo, Salgaocar & Videocon’s push

    Goa – Salgaocar / Dempo / Videocon

     

    Dattaraj Salgaocar: His company has diverse interests in Mining, Hospitality, and Shipping. It exports over 4 million tonnes of Iron Ore every year. The company also runs the Goa Marriott and Hotel La Plaz Gardens in Goa.

     

    Dempo: Dempo Mining Corporation Limited is a prominent mining company from  Goa. Shrinivas V. Dempo is the chairman of Dempo Group. They are also the owners of Dempo Sports Club, popularly known as ‘the whites’ from Goa. The team has been a constant performer in all the national football championship and gained immense popularity in the last four decades of its existence. The team has several accolades and honours in its kitty. They have won the National Football League title in 2004 and 2006 and followed it with two I-League triumphs in 2006–07 and then in 2009–2010.

     

    Videocon: The group is a US $5 billion global conglomerate with a diversified set of products ranging from handsets, D2H, Electronic Appliance etc. The group has 17 manufacturing sites in India and plants in Mainland China, Poland, Italy and Mexico.

     

    John joins Lajong for Guwahati

    Guwahati – John Abraham and Shillong Lajong

     

    John Abraham: John Abraham is an established Bollywood actor, producer and former model. Known for his obsession for football, bikes and fitness, John is an avid follower of football and sports in general. He has bought a stake in Delhi team of Hockey India League.

     

    Shillong Lajong: Shillong Lajong is an I-league team based in Shillong. It was established in the year 1983. It was promoted to the 1st division of the I-League in the 2009-10 season. They have been associated with prominent brands such as Aircel and Adidas. The team plays its home matches in the Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

     

    God of cricket comes to ‘God’s own country’

    Kochi – Prasad V. Potluri of PVP Ventures & Sachin Tendulkar

     

    PVP is one of the largest investors of the country in media and entertainment industry and is listed on the BSE and the NSE. Prasad V Potluri, the known serial entrepreneur in the global outsourcing services space is the Chairman and MD of PVP Ventures. PVP was one of the bidders for Hyderbad team of IPL in 2012.

     

    Sachin Tendulkar: The batting maestro and a world renowned personality, also known as the God amongst his global fan base, will be associated with the team as its brand ambassador.

     

    Kolkata looks forward to Dadagiri in football

    Kolkata – Sourav Ganguly, Harshavardhan Neotia, Atletico Madrid, Sanjiv Goenka, Utsav Parekh

     

    Sourav Ganguly: Affectionately known as ‘Dada’, is a former Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian national team. Currently, a cricket commentator, Ganguly is regarded as one of India’s most successful captains in modern times. He is the 5th highest run scorer in ODIs and was the 3rd person in history to cross the 10,000 run landmark. In 2002, the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack ranked him the sixth greatest ODI batsman of all time.

     

    Atlético de Madrid: Spanish club based in Madrid that plays in the La Liga and has been the champions on 9 occasions. It is the third most supported club in Spain. They will be moving to a new stadium in the 2015 season which will have a capacity of 70,000 spectators. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world in terms of associates with more than 65,000 season ticket holders.

     

    Harshavardhan Neotia: Harshavardhan Neotia of Ambuja Neotia Group is one of the most prominent and respected businessman in India. The corporate houses headquartered in Kolkata has its forte in real estate and recent forays into hospitality, healthcare and education. The group has championed the cause of woman and child healthcare by setting up Bhagiarthi Neotia Woman & Child Care Centre in Kolkata.

     

    Sanjiv Goenka:  Sanjiv Goenka of RP – Sanjiv Goenka Group from Kolkata is a prominent businessman in India having interest in Power business in the city and national network of modern Retail chains across country.

     

    Utsav Parekh:  Utsav Parekh has been Non-Executive-Non-Independent Chairman at SMIFS Capital Markets Ltd. since April 1, 2009. Mr. Parekh has about 25 years of in-depth experience in merchant banking and financial services.

     

    Mumbai Wakes Up to Sid’s passion

    Mumbai – Ranbir Kapoor & Bimal Parekh

     

    Ranbir Kapoor is one of the leading Indian film actor of the current generation. Through his successful career in Hindi (Bollywood) films, he has become one of the highest-paid actors and one of the most high-profile celebrities in India. He is the recipient of several awards and nominations including five Filmfare Awards. Kapoor is the son of actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, and the grandson of actor-director Raj Kapoor. He began his career in Bollywood as an assistant director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2005 film Black and later turned actor to give many a hit movies year on year. A keen follower of football and an avid fan of FC Barcelona, Ranbir is often seen on the maidans of Mumbai playing football with his co-stars and friends when he is not shooting.

     

    Bimal Parekh: Bimal Parekh is a renowned Chartered Accountant from Mumbai.

     

    Pune will play its football Dabang style

    Pune – Salman Khan, Kapil Wadhawan & Dheeraj Wadhawan

     

    Kapil & Dheeraj Wadhawan: Kapil Wadhawan is the Chairman and Dheeraj Wadhawan is the Vice Chairman of the Rajesh Wadhawan Group, which has diverse business interests including financial services, food retail, hospitality, education and real estate. Sport development has been a major focus area of the Wadhawan family, which believes in taking sport to the grassroots level, thus enabling access for India’s young to good quality sporting activities and infrastructure. Over the years, Wadhawan Group has been associated with sports – especially cricket – either as sponsors or team owners.

     

    Salman Khan: Salman Khan is an Indian actor, producer, television presenter, and philanthropist. Known as the actor with mass appeal, Salman is the promoter of ‘Being Human Foundations’. He has appeared in the highest grossing film nine separate years during his career, a record that remains unbroken. He has starred in more than 80 Hindi films and thus far and has established himself as a leading actor of Hindi cinema.

     

    Leveraging the strengths of all its partners, the Indian Super League envisions creating new football powerhouses in this part of the world, which will rise to global prominence as the country and the sport further develops.

  • Toshiba India celebrates cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar

    Toshiba India celebrates cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar

    MUMBAI: Well, it’s been sometime that the Indian cricketing legend retired from the international format of the sport, but not just his brand value but even his charm among his fans remains the same. That seems to be the reason for electronic manufacturer Toshiba India that it has brought an initiative to connect with Tendulkar for whom it has been few months to have retired from all the international formats of cricket.

     

    Toshiba India announced the ‘WeAreSachin’ – a consumer initiative to celebrate Sachin’s unprecedented contribution to the world-cricket. This initiative will give fans a chance to be a part of one of the largest ‘fan mosaics’ tailor-made for Sachin Tendulkar. Five lucky winners will also get a chance to meet the God of Cricket in person.

     

    ‘WeAreSachin’ – is a three-week long activity, which will continue till February 15, 2014. Fans from across the country can participate in the activity to be a part of the magnificent fan mosaic of Sachin Tendulkar which will be created by famous artist Viveek Sharma – an artist awarded with the Maharashtra State Award for Artistic Excellence in 1994.

     

    To participate in the campaign, one needs to log in to http://bit.ly/wearesachin and upload his/her picture for the fan mosaic. Alternately, users can also participate directly through their Facebook account, by simply liking the Toshiba IndiaFacebook page and allowing Toshiba India to their profile picture for the mosaic. 

     

    Talking about the campaign, Toshiba India Country Head-DS Division Sanjay Warke, commented, “Toshiba has already established itself as a Thought Leader and front runner with the launch of World’s first Cricket TV co-created with Sachin under its ‘Cricket Series’. This initiative is yet another attempt by Toshiba to bring its consumers and cricket fans closer to the game and it’s most iconic player. ‘WeAreSachin’ is our way of paying tribute to the living cricketing legend, Sachin Tendulkar. Our aim is to give the fans a chance to meet their idol Sachin Tendulkar and we invite fans to participate and be a part of one of the largest fan mosaics which will be remembered for generations to come.”

  • The OMG! brand associations of 2013

    The OMG! brand associations of 2013

    MUMBAI: What’s common between Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Sachin Tendulkar? Well, apart from their popularity in their respective fields, they are also the most sought-after ambassadors for an entire sweep of brands ranging from FMCG, electronics, automobiles, housing, telecom, banking and what have you.

    With most products and services opting to play safe and going with ‘tried and tested’ names as brand ambassadors, the list of favourites’ doesn’t quite end with these three names.

    However, the flip side to this kind of predictability is that not only viewers can’t take it anymore but also one cannot connect the dots between the brand and its ambassador.

    For example, while Deepika Padukone’s endorsement of Vogue Eyewear was palpable, when Bachchan Sr – who sells everything from hair oil to chocolates to banking services with as much panache – endorsed Maggi Noodles, it surprised many who thought him too old to flog a product catering mainly to children and youngsters.

    However, with 2013 ticking to an end, indiantelevision.com decided to take stock of a select few brands which flew in the face of inevitability with their unlikely choice of ambassador. Here’s listing them…

    Hugh Jackman for Micromax

    This one could easily be the shocker of the year, with the Indian smart phone company getting the Hollywood actor of ‘Wolverine’ fame to sell its full HD screen device, Canvas Turbo. Are the Khans reading?

    Sachin Tendulkar for Musafir.com

    While the master blaster has been one of India’s most celebrated icons both on and off the field, after his retirement from active cricket not so long ago, there was a huge debate about whether ‘Brand Sachin’ would take a beating. Whatever the answer to that question, seeing him in a handlebar moustache, showing travellers ‘a new way to go ghoomne’ in an advertisement for a travel portal is certainly not what the audience expected.

    Mary Kom for Vodafone

    From the cute pug who follows his kid master everywhere to the equally lovable Zoo Zoos, celebrities are certainly not what one associates this telecom giant with. However, starting next year, Indian boxing champ and Olympic Bronze Medallist Mary Kom will feature in Vodafone’s new social media-led campaign ‘Vodafone Firsts’ to be activated across nearly 30 countries.

    Abhi-Ash for Prestige

    Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan were last seen in an advertisement for a bathing soap. While one can relate to the high-profile couple selling a lifestyle product, the latest commercial which sees them endorsing a kitchen appliance typically meant for the aam aadmi doesn’t strike a chord with viewers.Virat Kohli for Border Security Forces

    It’s well known that after Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli is the face of several ‘youth’ brands. But designating him brand ambassador of the Border Security Forces (BSF) is taking his popularity a bit too far. We can’t connect the dots… can you?

  • MCA appoints KyaZoonga.com as the official ticketing partner for Tendulkar’s 200th Test Match

    MCA appoints KyaZoonga.com as the official ticketing partner for Tendulkar’s 200th Test Match

    MUMBAI: Get ready with your credit cards and just wait for the clock to strike 11:00 am, still don’t get why? Well the tickets to the India vs West Indies second and final test match to be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will be on sale starting 11:00 am onwards on KyaZoonga.com – the official ticketing partner appointed by the Mumbai Cricket Association.

    Commenting on the occasion, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Jt. Hon. Secretaries Dr. P.V. Shetty and Nitin Dalal say: “In keeping with MCA’s tradition of making access to international cricket as easy, safe and democratic as possible, we have made tickets available online. On this historic occasion of the final test match of our local cricket legend and global icon Sachin Tendulkar, we’re thrilled to appoint KyaZoonga in this crucial role, given their impressive ticketing track record, world class ticketing services and previous experience with cricket ticketing in the Indian subcontinent. Their service delivery over the last several matches including the ICC CWC 2011 hosted by Mumbai make them the natural choice to deliver our objectives to fans. We look forward to a full house.”

     

    KyaZoonga.com chairman and CEO Neetu Bhatia says: “We are incredibly proud and excited to be continuing our long-standing partnership with MCA in ticketing all their hosted matches, especially as it prepares to host the final test of the local hero Sachin Tendulkar. It is an honour and a privilege for KyaZoonga to be bringing another momentous occasion yet again with the highest quality ticketing and access services to Mumbai and the world. We continue to ensure that the youth of the city and state and people around the world have the opportunity to witness world-class cricket between two of the world’s greatest teams.”

    The prices of the tickets are Rs 500, Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500. And only two tickets per person can be booked online. So get ready to book your tickets and be a part of history as Sachin Tendulkar dons the Indian colours one last time.

  • DDB MudraMax OOH refreshes brand Star Sports

    DDB MudraMax OOH refreshes brand Star Sports

    MUMBAI: STAR India recently revamped the branding of the sports network and unveiled a new brand for Star Sports across six channels — Star Sports 1, 2, 3, 4, HD1 and HD2 and starsports.com.

    To create the awareness and buzz for the new brand identity and to communicate the new brand philosophy – Believe, Star Sports partnered with DDB MudraMax OOH.

    The campaign was rolled out when India tuned in to watch Sachin Tendulkar play the last series of his sports career. The massive OOH campaign was executed in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata as well as across major cities in Gujarat and UP. The campaign used multiple visuals of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as well as the brand logo as part of the campaign creative.

    On the campaign, STAR India executive vice president marketing & communications Gayatri Yadav said, “The work done by DDB MudraMax OOH for the brand refresh campaign has been outstanding. The DNA and essence of the brand refresh was well understood and reflected in the manner in which the planning and media selection was done by the agency. Especially the Star Sports zone and roadblocks conceptualized and executed at Mumbai and Delhi airports are noteworthy and have created a great impact and buzz for the refresh. We are very impressed with the positive reviews received for the campaign. DDB MudraMax has delivered on our expectations yet again.”

    Commenting on this, DDB MudraMax OOH retail and experiential president Mandeep Malhotra said, “Sport is very close to my heart and when the opportunity to associate with a brand standing tall to the passion came up, was really thrilled to create magic. The team did a wonderful job on picking up unusual formats of advertising. Various touch points were exploited and the new identity made it to top of mind recall with a smooth transition.”

    DDB MudraMax OOH VP Spencer Noronha added, “Star Sports aimed at starting a revolution in sports broadcasting and the media strategy was to amplify this sports revolution through an occasion that is relevant to all and thus inspire every Indian sports fan. This soul of this campaign was “premium and classy” and hence it was crucial that the media selection had to be in line with that imagery. We selected the most impactful, most premium and the largest of available media vehicles in each of the target cities to create a statement in the OOH space. The quality of the selected media reflected class and helped the campaign to quickly get noticed and talked about. The eye catching creatives amplified the impact and recall manifold. It’s definitely one of the most memorable OOH campaigns in 2013”

    DDB MudraMax OOH DGM Anurudha Pawar said, “OOH is a communication platform where the brand is racing against time to grab attention and communicate with the TG while he zooms past the media within a few seconds. This makes it all the more important for the brand to use the right media mix and deploy an optimized communication tailor made for the medium. We exactly did this for the refresh campaign. The media vehicles were meticulously handpicked to project class; and the creatives were kept ultra outdoor friendly to specifically communicate the grandeur of the brand. We took the innovative branding route by creating the Star Sports Zone, Stadium visibility corridors and airport roadblocks, to ensure each and every person exposed to the communication carried a positive image of the brand with him in this mind. I am sure we have succeeded doing that.”

    A multimedia approach was used for the campaign. Large format A+ grade billboards and Unipoles, Backlit Bus Shelters, Backlit Pole Kiosks, 4 Sided Backlit Pillars, Large Backlit Glow signs, Drape, Prominent Mall Facades, Digital Screens at airports and Gantries were meticulously selected at key touch points in each city. The creatives were optimized for each of the media formats used. DDB MudraMax also brought in a couple of significant planning and media innovations to help portray the grandeur of the brand refresh and garner high recall value for the campaign. Visual domination was the key.