ITV

Tag: Sandip Tarkas

  • Songdew TV launches to promote independent music

    Songdew TV launches to promote independent music

    MUMBAI: Songdew.com, which has been promoting independent musicians, has launched its TV channel today. The online music publishing platform has struck a deal with Videocon d2h exclusively. The channel will show the best of independent music and live acts from across the country.

    The overabundance of music channels may pose a question of the new channel’s relevance. But the main factor playing to its strength is that it is the only channel dedicated to independent music.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Songdew director Sandip Tarkas says, “Differentiation is not at all a problem for us as we already have a differentiated content. While other channels are funky, we are not.” The channel will give a fresh outlook on music among the various Bollywood-dependent channels.

    The idea behind Songdew.com dates back four years ago when two batchmates Sandip Tarkas and founder of Songdew Sunil Khanna had been in talks about a music channel. They went to a music conference where artists were lamenting about lack of common resource to publicise their music. That’s when the idea of Songdew.com was ignited.

    “More than 28000+ talented musicians and bands creating outstanding music, lack a platform to present their creation to music lovers in India. Songdew TV is a giant step in that direction and we are delighted to partner with Videocon d2h as our first DTH platform,” Khanna says.

    The music channel will be promoted primarily through its own media such as the website and the app as well as through the Videocon d2h homepage. The new synergy will provide artists multiple levels of cross-platform promotion including promos of unplugged music.

    “Music connects people. With this insight, we launched Songdew TV on Videocon d2h. Besides offering fresh music to young viewers, it is also our way of promoting new musical talent across the country,” an official spokesperson from Videocon d2h said.

    Also Read:

    Jio Music, Saavn to merge; RIL to invest $100 mn in combined entity

    Dish TV adds 30 new Tamil channels

     

     

  • When advertisers turn singers for Sony Mix’s ‘Dhun Project’

    When advertisers turn singers for Sony Mix’s ‘Dhun Project’

    MUMBAI: The folks at Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) are in a celebratory mood not just for one but two reasons. In an all cash deal worth $385 million, the network has recently inked a pact to acquire the Ten Sports channel portfolio which was with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL). Second, it is the fifth anniversary of its music channel Sony Mix.

    To commemorate its birthday, the network has initiated The Dhun Project. Through this, the channel intends to pay tribute to Indian musicians and aims to give back to India’s rich musical heritage by raising funds to empower those musically oriented and donate to educational initiatives across levels.

    “This is our way of giving back to music, by empowering its creators, curators and everyone associated with the art in India,” says SPN senior EVP and business head Max cluster, Sony Mix Neeraj VyasI. “It is a tribute to the musicians of Bollywood. Several things go into the making of a song which do not get recognised. The name ‘Dhun’ because it is a key word for music and also goes with the channel’s name. We had launched in 2011 because we clearly saw a need gap wherein music channels were providing everything else but music. We came with an aim to play more music, with a clear mood map to match music with various moods and 12 minutes of advertising. There was very little variety. The last five years have been exceptional for us. ”

    “Music is an integral part with or without Bollywood. We always wanted to grow music in this country. According to me, this is a good way to contribute and I hope to make some difference through this initiative. With The Dhun Project we want to encourage talented musicians, to help them further contribute to music in India and inspire society with the melodies they create that harmoniously unite us. The advertisers featuring in the video have identified the cause, they connect to music and will take the communication ahead from there,” adds SPN CEO N.P.Singh.

    The new initiative will be promoted on the various channels under the network and by featuring the CXO’s of media and entertainment industry, the initiative hoped to get a push through each one’s Twitter and Facebook page. Championing the cause, it has brought together stalwarts from the advertising and media industries to record an exclusive music video for the anthem. Senior executives like GroupM’s CVL Srinivas , Madiso’s n Vikram Sakhuja, Lodestar’s Shashi Sinha, Future Group’s Sandip Tarkas, Mindshare’s Amin Lakhani, Zenith Optimedia’s Anupriya Acharya, Idea Cellular’s Shuchi Singhal, OMD ‘s Harish Shriyan, Mudra’s Sonal Dabral, SPN’s Rohit Gupta and SPN’s Neeraj Vyas feature in Dhun Project music video. The project will also be played live during Goafest in front of the entire media and entertainment industry.

    The first leg of project involves the channel’s contribution of Rupees 10 Lakhs towards helping a musician who needs medical support every year. The ambassador for this year is Roshan Ali (a dholak player). Ali has recorded with artists like R.D.Burman, Laxmikant Pyarelal, etc. The project is seeking help from the Indian Cine Musician Association head who suggests them a name which the channel will filter further and pin down on a person.

    It is also leveraging the crowdsourcing platform Ketto.Org, co-founded by actor Kunal Kapoor to raise funds for Spic Macay to organize a series of events across the country that will enable heritage musicians to perform in schools and colleges. Young students will be exposed to music performed by nationally celebrated musicians, who in turn will continue to earn a living from this artistic endeavour.

    To catch a glimpse of the music video, visit:

  • When advertisers turn singers for Sony Mix’s ‘Dhun Project’

    When advertisers turn singers for Sony Mix’s ‘Dhun Project’

    MUMBAI: The folks at Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) are in a celebratory mood not just for one but two reasons. In an all cash deal worth $385 million, the network has recently inked a pact to acquire the Ten Sports channel portfolio which was with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL). Second, it is the fifth anniversary of its music channel Sony Mix.

    To commemorate its birthday, the network has initiated The Dhun Project. Through this, the channel intends to pay tribute to Indian musicians and aims to give back to India’s rich musical heritage by raising funds to empower those musically oriented and donate to educational initiatives across levels.

    “This is our way of giving back to music, by empowering its creators, curators and everyone associated with the art in India,” says SPN senior EVP and business head Max cluster, Sony Mix Neeraj VyasI. “It is a tribute to the musicians of Bollywood. Several things go into the making of a song which do not get recognised. The name ‘Dhun’ because it is a key word for music and also goes with the channel’s name. We had launched in 2011 because we clearly saw a need gap wherein music channels were providing everything else but music. We came with an aim to play more music, with a clear mood map to match music with various moods and 12 minutes of advertising. There was very little variety. The last five years have been exceptional for us. ”

    “Music is an integral part with or without Bollywood. We always wanted to grow music in this country. According to me, this is a good way to contribute and I hope to make some difference through this initiative. With The Dhun Project we want to encourage talented musicians, to help them further contribute to music in India and inspire society with the melodies they create that harmoniously unite us. The advertisers featuring in the video have identified the cause, they connect to music and will take the communication ahead from there,” adds SPN CEO N.P.Singh.

    The new initiative will be promoted on the various channels under the network and by featuring the CXO’s of media and entertainment industry, the initiative hoped to get a push through each one’s Twitter and Facebook page. Championing the cause, it has brought together stalwarts from the advertising and media industries to record an exclusive music video for the anthem. Senior executives like GroupM’s CVL Srinivas , Madiso’s n Vikram Sakhuja, Lodestar’s Shashi Sinha, Future Group’s Sandip Tarkas, Mindshare’s Amin Lakhani, Zenith Optimedia’s Anupriya Acharya, Idea Cellular’s Shuchi Singhal, OMD ‘s Harish Shriyan, Mudra’s Sonal Dabral, SPN’s Rohit Gupta and SPN’s Neeraj Vyas feature in Dhun Project music video. The project will also be played live during Goafest in front of the entire media and entertainment industry.

    The first leg of project involves the channel’s contribution of Rupees 10 Lakhs towards helping a musician who needs medical support every year. The ambassador for this year is Roshan Ali (a dholak player). Ali has recorded with artists like R.D.Burman, Laxmikant Pyarelal, etc. The project is seeking help from the Indian Cine Musician Association head who suggests them a name which the channel will filter further and pin down on a person.

    It is also leveraging the crowdsourcing platform Ketto.Org, co-founded by actor Kunal Kapoor to raise funds for Spic Macay to organize a series of events across the country that will enable heritage musicians to perform in schools and colleges. Young students will be exposed to music performed by nationally celebrated musicians, who in turn will continue to earn a living from this artistic endeavour.

    To catch a glimpse of the music video, visit:

  • DDB MudraMax assigned franchise and venue management for Bengal Warriors

    DDB MudraMax assigned franchise and venue management for Bengal Warriors

    MUMBAI: Taking everyone by surprise, the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League has caught people’s fancy. And to keep the momentum going Big Bazaar’s Pro Kabaddi League team, Bengal Warriors, has entrusted DDB MudraMax with the complete franchise management.

     

    As the franchise management partner, DDB MudraMax spearheads the marketing communication and consulting on brand strategy and direction. With a mix of marketing touch points, the campaign communication has seen a burst in OOH, media, print, direct marketing, events, all integrated via digital platforms.

     

    The agency is also managing the venue for all the games that were held in the Netaji Indoor Stadium, home ground for the Bengal Warriors.  The last match at this venue was held on Saturday, 2 August, 2014.

     

    Future Group president Sandip Tarkas & Bengal Warriors CEO said, “Kabaddi is potentially the second biggest idea that India can export to the world after Yoga. It is an absolutely amazing sport that is played by really fit and skillful players, and the idea, like Yoga, is very Indian at the core. Frugal, simple, environment blended and works for an overall development of mind and body. Indian-ness is one of the core values of Future Group and we immediately consented to associate with the sport.”

     

    He added, “When the idea of Pro Kabaddi League was born. The choice of Kolkata was also a natural one, as Future Group does enjoy a special bond with Kolkata, the group’s first stores in both Pantaloons and Big Bazaar having been born here. Having done that, managing a sports event at this scale needs some special skills and we found in DDB MudraMax a willing partner who not just shared our enthusiasm for the sport but also had the requisite skills and was willing to invest. Our commitment to developing the sport in West Bengal also manifests itself in the recently concluded Junior Kabaddi League that was organised under the aegis of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India’s (AKFI) West Bengal Unit.”

     

    DDB MudraMax president Mandeep Malhotra said, “The Pro Kabaddi League is a rebirth to the best touch sport of our country, and it surely got me running for my breath. So when we got the opportunity, we grabbed it! My team and I have been on ground at the Netaji Stadium, for every single match, and it’s great to see how this sport has come back to life! I am proud of this association as an Indian and as a participant on building a great team sport. We are all one team and are working towards making Bengal Warriors the most successful franchise on and off the field in the Pro Kabaddi League.”

  • Budget 2014: Hope and growth on marketers’ mind

    Budget 2014: Hope and growth on marketers’ mind

    MUMBAI: “Ache din aane wale hai” will go down in the history of political campaigns in India as it helped Bharatiya Janta Party win by a landslide.

     

    Narendra Modi with the campaign clearly earned brownie points not only from the common man but also the marketing fraternity. While the new power packed government is gearing up to present its first budget statement, the world of business across is highly confident about the outcome.

     

    There is a list of worries that the government needs to pay attention to. Inflation continues to be high; it is currently over 6 per cent. With monsoon expected to be low this year it will also highly impact the subsidies on food, fuel and fertilizer.

     

    This has been reflecting on marketing spends by different sectors of the economy.

     

    Indiantelevision.com speaks to marketers from across sectors on their expectations from the budget.

     

    ‘Hope is new driver of positivity’

     

    Future Group president (customer strategy) and CEO (Bengal warriors & T24) Sandip Tarkas hopes that the budget addresses inflation, job creation and through it attains customer confidence.

     

    He believes that confidence will lead to consumption and thereby heightened economic activity in all spheres.

     

    “This will lead to more jobs, more ad spends, more investments and will impact the M&E industry as well. Consumption builds economy; and increased consumption resulting from increased confidence will start a virtuous cycle of investments as against a vicious cycle of holding on to spends that we are currently caught in,” he says.

     

    Philips India consumer lifestyle president ADA Ratnam is of a similar opinion. “I am expecting the government to come up with a strong and positive budget which will spur the growth. We need the good old GDP growth rate back and I’m confident we will be back on track soon,” he adds.

     

    ‘Be liberal on tax issues’

     

    Godrej Appliances business head and executive vice president Kamal Nandi has a sincere request from the FM on the direct taxes front. He is expecting an increase in the income tax slab values in line with inflation. According to him, there should be an increase exemption limit for medical expenses (from Rs 15000 to Rs 25000) under 80C.

     

    Along with this, he wishes for an increase tax exemption limit for conveyance allowance limit from Rs 800/month to Rs 1500/month with an increase limit for tax exemption under 80CC from current Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. “This will encourage purchase of hi-end and energy efficient appliances, exemption on interest, as applicable in the case of home loans, to be rolled out for consumer loans also,” he opines.

     

    As it is understood that real estate is the second largest sector that contributes to the country’s GDP growth, Tata Housing marketing – head Rajeeb Dash also thinks from the consumer point of view, there should be reduction in home loans and the slab of tax benefits should widen.

     

    “As a real estate brand what we are expecting from the budget is benefits for the end users. We know that the slowdown has hit the common people badly, with the budget announcement the economic momentum should come back in action. From a community point of view infra status is what is needed for the benefit of the developer,” mentions Dash.

     

    ‘Support the SMEs’

     

    American Swan director and CEO Anurag Rajpal thinks that there is a need to boost the growth of home grown industries to be at par with their counterparts in China and other Asian countries. He is of the opinion that a strong focus on the e-governance initiatives should streamline the procurement process of technology and services with a strong focus on participation from SMEs.

     

    He wants the policy reforms to be such that it is consistent and long-termed. Currently, he believes that homegrown industries are doing business on thin margins due to high rise in cost of raw materials and interest rates. This has been detrimental especially for small-scale industries to sustain their business.

     

    “The country today has abundance of talent but it is limited to very few skill sets. There is a need for change in the education system to further improve the skill sets of the youth which addresses the needs of different verticals. Focus on skills development will be helpful in the long-term in creation of job opportunities,” he concludes.

  • M&C Saatchi wins T24 Mobile creative account

    M&C Saatchi wins T24 Mobile creative account

    MUMBAI: M&C Saatchi has been selected as the creative agency for Future Group‘s T24 Mobile.

    T24 is an “unpaid” GSM mobile service and an alliance between Tata Teleservices and Future Group.

    Confirming the development, Future Media and Future Telecom, Future Group (Customer strategy) CEO Sandip Tarkas said, “T24 Mobile is one of the world‘s most unique initiative where we have loyalty programme associated with the services. We chose M&C Saatchi because we needed agency that has experience beyond creativity like in marketing and loyalty programme. To go forward with this the agency needs to segment customers and make segmented strategy and plan.”

    Tarkas also added that the company will spend close to Rs 250 million by the end of the fiscal on the creatives for T24.

    DDB Mudra and M&C Saatchi participated in the pitch.