Tag: State Bank of India

  • TCS hits hat-trick as India’s most valuable brand: Kantar BrandZ report

    TCS hits hat-trick as India’s most valuable brand: Kantar BrandZ report

    Mumbai: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) remains the nation’s most valuable brand for the third straight year, according to the new ‘Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands Report’ published today. With a brand value of $49.7 billion, TCS has seen a 16 per cent rise versus last year, driven by investments in innovation, particularly in AI and digital transformation. 

    India’s top 75 most valuable brands now have a combined value of $450.5 billion, marking a 19 per cent increase from last year. Brands across diverse business sectors fuelled this growth, with 54 brands boosting their brand value over the past year. This impressive growth outpaces most other BrandZ rankings globally and closely mirrors the 20 per cent increase seen in the global top 100.

    TCS tops a strong group of seven business technology and services platforms, collectively worth almost $100 billion, and equalling 22 per cent of the total value of India’s top 75 ranking.

    Financial services brands also dominate, with 17 brands, contributing 28 per cent of the ranking’s overall brand value. HFDC Bank (No.2; $38.3bn) retains its position as India’s second most valuable brand. State Bank of India (No.5; $18.0bn), ICICI Bank (No.6; $15.6bn) and LIC (No.10; $11.5bn) also feature in the top 10.

    Zomato (No.31; $3.5bn) is this year’s fastest riser with 100 per cent growth in brand value year-on-year due to relentless innovation and expansion into quick commerce. It has also boosted efficiency and elevated its customer experience over the last year.

    The automotive sector has also seen impressive results, led by Maruti Suzuki (No.17; +24 per cent), Bajaj Auto (No.20; +94 per cent), Mahindra (No.30; +78 per cent), TVS (No.34; +71 per cent) and Hero (No.35; +62 per cent). Mahindra’s SUVs now make up 53 per cent of India’s passenger car market (June 2024). The success of models like XUV700, Scorpio N, and Thar, which continue to see high demand and long waiting periods, has solidified Mahindra’s leadership in mid and premium SUVs.

    Rising disposable income and a growing middle class are driving demand for vehicles, shifting car ownership from a status symbol to a necessity. Improved infrastructure, government support for EVs and strong export growth expectations are further fuelling the industry’s momentum.

    India’s motorised two-wheel vehicle market is bouncing back, driven by a recovering economy and rising demand for personal transportation. Key factors include urbanisation, the need for affordable transport, and a growing young population. New models with advanced technology are also fuelling growth, meeting diverse consumer needs.

    Seven brands debut in India’s brand ranking this year, including jewellery retail brands CaratLane (No.45; $2.7bn) and Kalyan Jewellers (No.71; $1.6bn) and Real Estate brand, Lodha (No.63; $1.9bn). Godrej Properties (No.70; $1.66bn) also re-enters the ranking.

    Deepender Rana

    Kantar executive managing director, insights, South Asia – Deepender Rana said, “Strong brands consistently outperform the market. Over the past year, the companies behind India’s Top 75 brands have achieved an impressive 52 per cent stock market growth, outpacing the 37.6 per cent growth for the Sensex. Brands that thrive are those that create a Meaningful Difference by meeting evolving consumer needs, challenging industry norms, and forging strong emotional connections. The top performers in this brand ranking have excelled by embracing disruption and innovation, leading to significantly higher growth.” 

    Kantar BrandZ top 10 most valuable Indian brands 2024

    Rank 2023 Rank 2024 Brand Category Brand Value 2024 (US$ M)
    1 1 Tata Consultancy Services Business Technology and Services Platforms 49,657
    N/A 2 HDFC Bank Financial Services 38,286
    4 3 Airtel Telecom Providers 29,856
    3 4 Infosys Business Technology and Services Platforms 25,221
    5 5 State Bank of India Financial Services 17,979
    6 6 ICICI Bank Financial Services 15,604
    8 7 Jio Telecom Providers 13,744
    7 8 Asian Paints Paints 13,555
    10 9 HCL Tech Business Technology and Services Platforms 11,815
    11 10 LIC Financial Services 11,499

    India’s GDP growth outlook is bright, with an expected 8.2 per cent increase compared to the global average of 3.1 per cent, potentially positioning the country as the world’s third-largest economy by 2030. However, despite strong investor confidence, large brands face a looming challenge: a long-term decline in demand power. While they may remain stock market favourites for now, they risk losing relevance in the minds of consumers if they don’t adapt to shifting expectations.

    Soumya Mohanty

    Kantar’s MD & chief client officer, insights, South Asia – Soumya Mohanty said, “It’s not enough to make consumers want to buy, brands must build their saliency and relevancy across all touchpoints, from advertising to in-store experiences. Successful brands create a consistent presence that resonates with consumers, driving both awareness and loyalty. Those that thrive have combined strategic reach with compelling, creative messaging to capture consumer attention and drive significant brand growth.”

    Other key highlights from the Kantar BrandZ most valuable Indian brands report include:

    • Opportunity to expand beyond national borders: Many Indian brands remain heavily reliant on the domestic market, benefiting from a stable local economy. However, the global market of 6.7 billion people remains largely untapped, with overseas contribution accounting for only 26 per cent of the top 75 Indian brands. Indian brands must expand beyond their borders to unlock their full potential on the global stage.  
       
    • A blueprint for brand growth: Kantar’s new blueprint for brand growth is designed to help businesses build profitable, strong and sustainable brands in recognition that being meaningfully different to more people is a key driver for growth. While maintaining meaningful difference is a global challenge, it is more pronounced in India. With over 20 per cent of Indian brands lagging in this area, the need to adapt and differentiate is more critical than ever to remain competitive and see long-term growth.

    The Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands ranking, report and extensive analysis are available now at www.kantar.com/campaigns/brandz/india   

    Built on Kantar’s meaningful different and salient framework, BrandEvaluator is an innovative tool that delivers a robust brand equity assessment in as few as four days, empowering strategic decisions that drive sales and growth.

  • Collaboration between Sony Sports Network and UEFA Euro holds immense significance for the Indian market: Rajesh Kaul

    Collaboration between Sony Sports Network and UEFA Euro holds immense significance for the Indian market: Rajesh Kaul

    Mumbai: Sony Sports Network has geared up to elevate the sports broadcasting experience in India with its role as the official broadcaster partner for the ongoing UEFA European Championship (Euros). For Sony Sports Network, this partnership represents more than just airing matches—it’s about delivering premium football content that resonates deeply with Indian audiences.

    The network’s strategy includes enhancing the viewing experience with cutting-edge features such as high-definition broadcasts, multilingual commentary options, and interactive elements, ensuring every fan can enjoy the games to the fullest.

    Beyond technical enhancements, Sony Sports Network is focused on fostering a vibrant community of football enthusiasts in India. By engaging directly with fans and creating compelling content around the Euros, the network aims to deepen connections and cultivate long-lasting viewer loyalty.

    The growing popularity of European football in India is undeniable, with an increasing fan base eagerly following international tournaments like the Euros. This trend reflects a broader shift in sports preferences among Indian audiences, presenting Sony Sports Network with opportunities to expand its influence in the sports broadcasting landscape.

    Indiantelevision.com caught with SPNI’s Chief Revenue Officer – Distribution & International Business and Head – Sports Business Rajesh Kaul.

    Edited excerpts

    On the significance of Sony Sports Network being the official broadcasting partner for the Euros in India

    The collaboration between Sony Sports Network and UEFA Euro holds immense significance for the Indian market, as Indian audiences now have access to top-tier European club football.  Once we included regional language commentary in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Bengali it greatly enhanced viewership. The viewership impressions for UEFA EURO 2020 were more than triple those of the previous edition, reflecting the growing interest in international football in India.

    Moreover, the involvement of prestigious brands such as State Bank of India, Honda Motorcycles, Pepsi, and Yamaha among others, in addition to the ones we are in the process of onboarding, further amplifies the event’s appeal and commercial viability in the Indian market.

    Additionally, Sony Sports Network’s effective marketing strategies, like the appointment of Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan as the brand ambassador for football, aim to engage a younger, more affluent audience, expanding the sport’s reach beyond traditional markets like Northeast India, Goa, Kerala, and West Bengal. The integration of digital platforms like SonyLIV ensures that matches are accessible both on television and online, catering to the evolving consumption habits of modern viewers who prefer streaming content. Overall, the collaboration between Sony Sports Network and UEFA underscores the network’s commitment to enhancing the football viewing experience in India and fostering the sport’s growth by making it more accessible and engaging for a diverse audience.

    On Sony Sports Network enhancing the viewing experience through high-definition broadcasts, multilingual commentary, and interactive features.

    Sony Sports Network is dedicated to enhancing the viewing experience for football fans through a combination of high-definition broadcasts, multilingual commentary, interactive features, and expert analysis. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, Sony Sports Network ensures that all matches are broadcast in high-definition, providing viewers with a more immersive and engaging experience that captures every detail of the action on the pitch.

    In addition to high-definition broadcasts, Sony Sports Network has significantly expanded its multilingual commentary offerings. Recognizing the diverse linguistic landscape of India, the network provides commentary in multiple regional languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bengali. This approach not only makes the content accessible to a broader audience but also enhances viewer connection and engagement by delivering the game in their preferred language.

    To further bring fans closer to UEFA Euro 2024, Sony Sports Network has assembled a robust group of expert panellists. This distinguished lineup includes former France captain Patrice Evra, former India captains Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia, former India forward Robin Singh, India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and former international stars David James, Don Hutchison, Terry Phelan, Ashley Westwood, and Mark Seagraves. The in-depth analysis provided by these experts on the Football Extraaa show during the tournament will significantly bolster the viewing experience, offering fans valuable insights and perspectives.

    On the inspiration of “Universe Ka Sabse Bada Football Festival of 2024” campaign

    The “Universe Ka Sabse Bada Football Festival of 2024” campaign was inspired by our desire to celebrate the grand scale and universal appeal of UEFA Euro 2024 in a way that resonates deeply with Indian football fans. Football is growing rapidly in India, and we wanted to create a campaign that captures the excitement, passion, and festivity associated with this major tournament. Our goal was to not only highlight the tournament’s importance but also to engage a wider audience and bring the vibrant football community in India together in anticipation of the event.

    Kartik Aaryan was a natural choice as the brand ambassador for this campaign. His immense popularity, charismatic personality, and genuine love for sports make him an ideal figure to connect with our target audience. Kartik’s appeal spans across different age groups and regions, making him the perfect spokesperson to convey the excitement of UEFA Euro 2024.

    In the campaign, Kartik dons the avatar of an alien to symbolize the universal appeal and excitement surrounding the event, emphasizing that UEFA Euro 2024 is not just a football tournament but a global festival that transcends boundaries. His involvement adds a touch of entertainment and relatability, ensuring the campaign resonates with fans across the country.

    On sharing more details about the marketing strategy behind this campaign

    “Universe Ka Sabse Bada Football Festival of 2024” campaign aimed to maximize engagement, reach, and excitement for UEFA Euro 2024 among Indian football fans. Our strategy focused on tapping into various media channels, to create a ubiquitous presence, ensuring that the campaign reaches fans wherever they are. Recognizing India’s linguistic diversity, we are providing content in multiple regional languages, including advertisements, commentary, and interactive content in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bengali, to resonate with a broader audience and make them feel included in the excitement.

    Kartik Aaryan’s involvement as the brand ambassador is a crucial component of our strategy. His popularity and wide appeal make him an effective bridge to connect with our target demographic. Kartik posted the campaign look and video on his official X and Instagram accounts, which garnered over 127K engagements, highlighting the campaign’s wide reach and his influential presence. His portrayal of an alien in the campaign symbolizes the universal allure of UEFA Euro 2024, adding a fun and relatable element to the promotion. We have created a variety of engaging content, including new-look graphics, teaser videos, and campaign film, all designed to build anticipation and encourage fan participation.

    We are also partnering with famous sports personalities to amplify the campaign’s reach, and create maximum buzz and engagement for UEFA Euro 2024, making it a grand celebration of football that resonates with fans across India.

    On integration of original content and programming around UEFA EURO 2024 to keep the audience engaged beyond the live matches

    With football being one of the most followed sports globally and rapidly growing in India, we’re committed to providing an immersive experience that goes beyond just the live matches. For UEFA EURO 2024, we’re ramping up our efforts to keep fans engaged beyond the live matches. We understand that football is not just about the games; it’s about the analysis, and discussions surrounding them.

    The addition of football legend Patrice Evra to our esteemed panel for UEFA EURO 2024 will enrich the viewing experience for our audience. Alongside former India captains Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia, former India forward Robin Singh, India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and former international stars David James, Don Hutchison, Terry Phelan, Ashley Westwood and Mark Seagraves will provide in-depth analysis and insights, keeping fans engaged before, during, and after the matches.

    On the key areas of growth SPNI is focusing on within sports broadcasting, particularly in relation to football

    At Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), we are dedicated to enhance the sports broadcasting experience, particularly in football. Recently, we renewed our UEFA Club competition rights for the next four years, which includes broadcasting rights of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League. Additionally, we have the rights of the 2028 edition of the UEFA European Championship (EURO 2028), as well as the Bundesliga, the Russian Premier League (RSL), and the UEFA Nations League.

    Our commitment to football broadcasting goes beyond securing rights. We are the pioneers in providing language feeds for football, ensuring that fans can enjoy the game in their preferred languages. “Football Extra” on Sony Sports Network has set a benchmark in football programming with its in-depth analysis and engaging content.

    We are continuously exploring new ways to enhance the viewing experience. Our goal is to bring fans closer to the action and make football more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

    On your personal excitement about UEFA EURO 2024 and Sony Sports Network’s role in bringing it to viewers

    Football happens to be one of the most followed sports in the world and is also growing by leaps and bounds in India. For instance, how the EURO 2020 broadcast on Sony Sports Network captivated audiences across India with 61 million viewers tuning in to witness the thrilling matches. This demonstrates the immense affinity Indian audiences have for international football competitions. We understand the significance of this event for football enthusiasts in India and are committed to delivering an unmatched viewing experience.

    We aim to provide viewers with an unforgettable experience to witness some of the world’s finest footballing talents competing on the grandest stage. It’s not just about the matches; it’s about the shared passion and joy that football brings to millions.

    On the biggest challenges in sports broadcasting over the next few years

    As a sports broadcaster, we haven’t faced any challenges in the industry, especially with major events like UEFA EURO 2024, but one particular challenge that stands out, particularly in India is cricket’s dominant viewership. Cricket holds a special place in the hearts of Indian sports fans, and its overwhelming popularity can sometimes overshadow other sports events.

    However, at Sony Sports, we view this challenge as an opportunity to diversify and expand our offerings. We understand the importance of providing a multisport channel that caters to the diverse interests of Indian sports enthusiasts. By offering a wide variety of sports, including football, tennis, WWE, and more, we aim to appeal to a broader audience and elevate the profile of non-cricket sports in India.

    Through strategic partnerships, innovative programming, and engaging content, we are committed to promoting a culture of sports beyond cricket. 

  • ET NOW Leadership Dialogues 2024 sets the vision for India@2030

    ET NOW Leadership Dialogues 2024 sets the vision for India@2030

    Mumbai: ET NOW, an English business news channel hosted ET NOW Leadership Dialogues 2024 in Mumbai today. Marking the channel’s 15th anniversary, the inaugural edition witnessed leading industry voices, policymakers, and economic experts cover critical aspects of economic policy, financial regulation, and strategic initiatives to steer India’s progress.

    Themed ‘India@2030,’ ET NOW Leadership Dialogues 2024 delved into discussions and deliberations outlining visionary strategies towards India’s transformative journey to a $10 trillion economy, covering critical discussions on the exponential growth in Indian retail investments, surging profitability, and the identification of high-growth opportunities. pioneering funding mechanisms for Viksit Bharat and fortifying the resilience of India’s stock market. The immersive and insightful discussions with distinguished investors and eminent policymakers featured collaborative and thought-provoking sessions covering critical conversation points on the vision for the country, investment strategies and India’s financial markets through technological innovations among others.

    Shaktikanta Das – Governor, Reserve Bank of India delivered the keynote address, followed by a fireside chat on the key strategies for India@2030.

    Delivering the welcome address, Times Group executive director & group CEO (non-publishing) N Subramanian said, “As we celebrate a remarkable milestone of 15 years of ET NOW, we reflect on a journey marked by our unwavering commitment to integrity, innovation, and intelligence. Over the past decade and a half, ET NOW has been at the forefront of championing India’s growth story, empowering millions with financial inclusion and informed decisions and helping them Rise with India. Under visionary leadership and through groundbreaking reforms, we are poised to lead India into an era of remarkable growth and opportunity. I am confident that, today’s discussions with leading industry voices, policymakers, and economic experts at the ET NOW Leadership Dialogues will chart a clear path for India to become a $10 trillion economy by the end of this decade.”

    Delivering a keynote address and participating in a fireside chat, Shaktikanta Das, governor of the Reserve Bank of India, said “From our recent accolade as Risk Manager of the Year 2024 to projecting a robust 7.2 per cent  GDP growth for 2024-25, India’s economic landscape reflects optimism and momentum. Rural demand is resurgent, bolstered by favourable monsoon forecasts, while our external sector remains buoyant, supporting robust service exports. Amidst these successes, we confront persistent challenges, notably in tempering inflation amidst global uncertainties and supply-side pressures. Our strategy remains steadfast: maintaining a delicate balance between growth and inflation, and navigating through a slow but steady moderation of prices. As we reinforce financial stability with prudent policies and a watchful stance, our forex reserves have surged to $655.8 billion, a testament to our resilience and global confidence. Innovation must thrive within regulatory frameworks, akin to driving a Ferrari on public roads. As we advance towards a future-ready economy, the RBI stands resolute in its commitment to fostering growth, ensuring all sectors thrive responsibly under our regulatory stewardship.’”

    State Bank of India chairman Dinesh Khara said, “We anticipate robust growth averaging 15-17 per cent over the next three years, supported by a stable macroeconomic environment and diligent credit oversight. Despite facing liquidity constraints and adapting to evolving investment trends, our priority remains to fortify our liability framework amidst market dynamics. Our strategic emphasis on achieving a 1.10 per cent return on assets (ROA) exemplifies our dedication to sustainable expansion, avoiding immediate equity dilution. With a formidable capital foundation, State Bank of India is strategically positioned to bolster India’s economic revitalization.”

    During the fireside chat, National Stock Exchange (NSE)  MD & CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan spoke, “Over the past 30 years, Indian stock markets, led by National Stock Exchange, have surged from a modest Rs 4 lakh crore market capitalization in 1994 to an astonishing Rs 430 lakh crore today, transforming India into a capital-rich nation with 20 per cent of households participating in equity markets. This widespread trust in Indian entrepreneurs defies conventional economic theories. As the fourth-largest market by cap, India’s growth is a testament to its economic confidence, driven by technology and innovation. India emerges not just as an investment destination but as a global asset class, attracting international interest. NSE stands as a profitable entity and a guardian of regulatory integrity, ensuring India’s wealth creation journey remains resilient and inclusive.”

  • SBI General Insurance appoints Kishore Kumar Poludasu as managing director & chief executive officer

    SBI General Insurance appoints Kishore Kumar Poludasu as managing director & chief executive officer

    Mumbai: SBI General Insurance has announced the appointment of Kishore Kumar Poludasu as its new managing director & chief executive officer. He was nominated by the parent company, State Bank of India, for the position and has been appointed w.e.f 4 October 2022.

    Kishore Kumar Poludasu has been associated with the State Bank of India since 1991 and held several positions with the bank during his tenure. Prior to his current role at SBI General under State Bank Group, he was the deputy managing director, as the country head of State Bank of India, Singapore Operations.

    Poludasu is a seasoned BFSI professional with over three decades of experience in commercial banking, including large corporate/infrastructure credit, international banking operations, enterprise management, mergers & consolidation, etc. He has a strong track record of delivering long-term results, emphasising the organisation’s customer-centric culture, and providing value to customers at every touchpoint. The company is today poised for greater growth, and at this juncture, SBI General is vehemently driving focus on assertive strategies, agile processes, strategic partnerships, and right talent management. Poludasu’s experience will be of immense value to this roadmap towards the top.

    Prior to joining SBI General, at State Bank of India, he had been involved in key projects and responsibilities which consisted of planning and strategic execution for expansion, driving sales and growth for the bank. Poludasu has also been instrumental in supervising the integration of systems, processes, and human resources during the merger between State Bank of Mysore and SBI. As an officer on special duty (OSD) from the State Bank of India, he was involved in the establishment of the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), an All India Financial Institution (AIFI), for increased focus on financing and development of India’s infrastructure industry.

  • SBI General Insurance ropes in Paritosh Tripathi as the new MD & CEO

    SBI General Insurance ropes in Paritosh Tripathi as the new MD & CEO

    Mumbai: SBI General Insurance Company has announced the appointment of Paritosh Tripathi as its new managing director & chief executive officer. He was nominated by the parent company, the State Bank of India for the position. He officially took in-charge of the position from 5 July 2022. 

    He succeeds P.C. Kandpal, who has been posted as DMD (P&RE) at the corporate center, State Bank of India. He is now in-charge of the SBI General Insurance’s overall business strategy & growth, operations, budgets, and strategic growth.

    Tripathi brings with him over 32 years of rich and diverse banking experience. In the first half of his banking career, he had worked primarily in the MSME and mid-corporate segment, whereas in the latter part of his career he primarily worked in International Banking and Bancassurance.

    Before joining SBI General Insurance, he was the GM operations, Internal Banking Group with State Bank of India and was also on the Board of Sterling Bank, Nigeria and SBI Canada. From 2017 to 2020, he was Head Bancassurance, firstly with SBI Mutual Fund and then with SBI General Insurance. Prior to that, he was Head FI Relationship (East Asia) in Hong Kong and CEO SBI DIFC Branch in Dubai. Before taking up these international roles, he was with SBI Delhi Circle where he handled various assignments in the bank.

  • Brands doing moment marketing the Binod way

    Brands doing moment marketing the Binod way

    NEW DELHI: Internet is a weird place; from woke discussions on politics, society, and economy to reviews of movies, shows, and books, to national and international news, to good and bad memes, anything can be found on the web. The place has often provided brands great moment marketing ideas , like the costly bananas that Rahul Bose once ate and the recent Netflix release, Indian Matchmaking . 

    While most of these moment marketing themes had a context or content to spur the reactions and brand participation, the most recent bait to catch brands’ attention — Binod — left many scratching their heads. The faceless man is viral with no great feat achieved.

    The trend originated from a YouTube parody video covering weird comments that the creators, Abhyudaya and Gautami were getting on their channel Slayy Point and one fine gentleman named Binod Tharu had innocently commented, well, his own first name. After several days of the video going online, some bright minds of the web noticed the comment and started a hilarious meme fest over the weekend, which was soon joined by some of the brands.

    One of the first few to join the league was Paytm, which upon getting prompted by its followers, changed its name on Twitter to Binod.

    Here are some more brands that joined the moment marketing fest that Binod sparked.

    Amazon Prime India

    Call 112 Uttar Pradesh

    Disney + Hotstar

    Mumbai Police

    State Bank of India

    Surat City Traffic Police

    Tinder India

  • SBI launches ‘YONO 20 Under Twenty’ to celebrate young achievers

    SBI launches ‘YONO 20 Under Twenty’ to celebrate young achievers

    MUMBAI: State Bank of India (SBI) has announced the launch of ‘YONO 20 under Twenty’ to recognise and reward young achievers below 20 years of age across 10 diverse fields such as sustainability, performing arts, acting, entrepreneurship or innovation, sports, global Indian, disability champion  among others. The campaign aims to establish SBI as most preferred bank for the youth.

    SBI had kicked off the YONO 20 Under Twenty initiative in October 2018 by identifying 100 young individuals who have gone way beyond enjoying their teen age and visualised changing the world. The list of 200 boiled down to 60 with 30 male and 30 female nominees. These nominees were short listed by an esteemed jury panel of eight eminent personalities including Bollywood actresses Soha Ali Khan and Dia Mirza; sports journalist and author Boria Majumdar; Microsoft India MD Sashi Sreedharan; NPCI MD and CEO Dilip Asbe; and social media influencer Mallika Dua, among others. The entire process was managed independently by audit firm KPMG.

    Jury members shortlisted three names (3 males and 3 females) under each category. Eventually, one winner will be picked from each category.  Winners will be decided by an online public voting process that will open from 14 January and will close on 27 January 2019. People can vote for their favourite nominees by logging on to www.yonosbi20under20.com.

    The 60 nominees for this grand event include names like Bollywood actors Faisal Khan, Zaira Wasim, athlete Hima Das, cricketer Prithvi Shaw, global Indian Sparsh Shah, to name a few. Winners will be felicitated and conferred with the awards at a grand ceremony on 4 February 2019 in Bengaluru.

    SBI MD, corporate client group and IT Arijit Basu said, “YONO 20 Under Twenty is SBI’s endeavor to strengthen bank’s appeal and connect with the youth and we are very excited to host this unique concept. We believe these winners would positively influence, encourage and motivate the youth of India to dream big and become great innovators. It is a matter of pride for SBI to celebrate these young achievers who can make India proud. Achievers are not born with everything magical, it is the result of their effort, ideas and faith that makes them successful and we at SBI would like to congratulate them and wish them all the very best for their inspiring work and making India proud”.

  • Star Sports signs Rana Daggubati, Puneeth Rajkumar &  Diljit Dosanjh to push ProKabaddiLeague

    Star Sports signs Rana Daggubati, Puneeth Rajkumar & Diljit Dosanjh to push ProKabaddiLeague

    MUMBAI: It has been quite evident since the launch of its in-house campaign #AsliPanga that Star Sports is going out guns blazing to promote the fourth leg of its flagship sports IP, Pro Kabaddi League (PKL).

    The three promo videos that the channel released last month quite frankly make fun of the currently popular tropes in Hindi GECs, and caricatures the showdowns in the prime time news channels and doesn’t spare the overly VFX-fied south Indian films.

    And when we thought the network couldn’t get more mass than this, with less than two days  for the tournament to go on air, the channel has roped in three major personalities as its brand ambassadors — Rana Daggubati, Puneeth Rajkumar and Diljit Dosanjh.

    While Rana Daggubati of  ‘Bahubali’ fame is pleased to renew his association with the sport this season as well, Karnataka’s Puneeth Rajkumar, often touted as the region’s power star  is also all charged up to give a leg up to rustic sport as well.

    On the other hand,  Diljit Dosanjh-  singer, actor and television presenter from the Punjabi music industry who recently rose to fame with ‘Udta Punjab’ —  is also looking forward to witness many super raids, super tackles and other super moves of Kabaddi.

    In fact a promotional  music video starring Diljit Dosanjh and released on 21 June is already garnering massive eyeballs on social media courtesy his tremendous popularity in the north and now in the Hindi speaking regions of the rest of India as wel, following the Udta Punjab controversy. 

    Subsequently, the channel today released similar music videos featuring Rana Daggubati and Puneeth Rajkumar on 23  June.

    Speaking on its aggressive marketing strategy towards Star Sports Pro Kabaddi a Star India spokesperson said, “The first three seasons of the league saw an overwhelming response from TV viewers, stadium spectators and sports enthusiasts. There is a growing passion for the sport and this success helps us in our goal of encouraging sporting talent and nurturing heroes. Our brand ambassadors Rana Daggubati, Puneeth Rajkumar and Diljit Dosanjh lend their bold, powerful image to Star Sports Pro Kabaddi and re-iterate the spirit of Kabaddi. The fact that Kabaddi is now the country’s second most viewed sport, second only to cricket, brings us great pride.”

    The fourth season is set to take place a couple of days from now –  25 June to 31 July  with the existing eight teams participating. It will be the first time for an Indian league to be held two times in the same year.

     “Unlike cricket and football, in the case of kabaddi, fans have limited opportunities to engage with the live sport. So, we decided to have the league twice a year,” said Star India sports president and head Nitin Kukreja. The reason: the channel has more faith in the IP, thanks to the year on year growth of the franchise. 

    As per ESP properties SportzPower report 2016, PKL has seen a whooping 300 percent growth, pushing its revenue to Rs 480 million in 2015, that too without a title sponsor.

    The league has attracted premium brands – State Bank of India, TVS Motor, Bajaj Electricals, Flipkart. It added Gionee Mobiles and Idea Cellular as associate sponsors and got three new commercial partners in the form of PepsiCo, Indo Nissin Foods and Fair & Lovely Men Facewash in Season 3. Not to mention, Force Motors has recently announced itself as the principal sponsor for the Puneri Paltans for Season 4.

  • Star Sports signs Rana Daggubati, Puneeth Rajkumar &  Diljit Dosanjh to push ProKabaddiLeague

    Star Sports signs Rana Daggubati, Puneeth Rajkumar & Diljit Dosanjh to push ProKabaddiLeague

    MUMBAI: It has been quite evident since the launch of its in-house campaign #AsliPanga that Star Sports is going out guns blazing to promote the fourth leg of its flagship sports IP, Pro Kabaddi League (PKL).

    The three promo videos that the channel released last month quite frankly make fun of the currently popular tropes in Hindi GECs, and caricatures the showdowns in the prime time news channels and doesn’t spare the overly VFX-fied south Indian films.

    And when we thought the network couldn’t get more mass than this, with less than two days  for the tournament to go on air, the channel has roped in three major personalities as its brand ambassadors — Rana Daggubati, Puneeth Rajkumar and Diljit Dosanjh.

    While Rana Daggubati of  ‘Bahubali’ fame is pleased to renew his association with the sport this season as well, Karnataka’s Puneeth Rajkumar, often touted as the region’s power star  is also all charged up to give a leg up to rustic sport as well.

    On the other hand,  Diljit Dosanjh-  singer, actor and television presenter from the Punjabi music industry who recently rose to fame with ‘Udta Punjab’ —  is also looking forward to witness many super raids, super tackles and other super moves of Kabaddi.

    In fact a promotional  music video starring Diljit Dosanjh and released on 21 June is already garnering massive eyeballs on social media courtesy his tremendous popularity in the north and now in the Hindi speaking regions of the rest of India as wel, following the Udta Punjab controversy. 

    Subsequently, the channel today released similar music videos featuring Rana Daggubati and Puneeth Rajkumar on 23  June.

    Speaking on its aggressive marketing strategy towards Star Sports Pro Kabaddi a Star India spokesperson said, “The first three seasons of the league saw an overwhelming response from TV viewers, stadium spectators and sports enthusiasts. There is a growing passion for the sport and this success helps us in our goal of encouraging sporting talent and nurturing heroes. Our brand ambassadors Rana Daggubati, Puneeth Rajkumar and Diljit Dosanjh lend their bold, powerful image to Star Sports Pro Kabaddi and re-iterate the spirit of Kabaddi. The fact that Kabaddi is now the country’s second most viewed sport, second only to cricket, brings us great pride.”

    The fourth season is set to take place a couple of days from now –  25 June to 31 July  with the existing eight teams participating. It will be the first time for an Indian league to be held two times in the same year.

     “Unlike cricket and football, in the case of kabaddi, fans have limited opportunities to engage with the live sport. So, we decided to have the league twice a year,” said Star India sports president and head Nitin Kukreja. The reason: the channel has more faith in the IP, thanks to the year on year growth of the franchise. 

    As per ESP properties SportzPower report 2016, PKL has seen a whooping 300 percent growth, pushing its revenue to Rs 480 million in 2015, that too without a title sponsor.

    The league has attracted premium brands – State Bank of India, TVS Motor, Bajaj Electricals, Flipkart. It added Gionee Mobiles and Idea Cellular as associate sponsors and got three new commercial partners in the form of PepsiCo, Indo Nissin Foods and Fair & Lovely Men Facewash in Season 3. Not to mention, Force Motors has recently announced itself as the principal sponsor for the Puneri Paltans for Season 4.