ITV

Tag: Vijay Mallya

  • Budget 2017: From highway to e-way media sector searches for sops

    Budget 2017: From highway to e-way media sector searches for sops

    MUMBAI: The Indian government today unveiled a roadmap for financial year 2017-18 that covers areas from “highways to e-ways” (PM Modi’s words while describing the Union Budget 2017) aimed at “strengthening the hands of the poor”, while looking at further easing doing business by abolishing Foreign Investment Promotion Board and hinting at a new FDI policy. However, for India’s media and entertainment sector, especially the broadcast and cable sector looking to reach the $ 100 million turnover mark, there wasn’t much to cheer about — unless an angel is hiding in the fine prints that are still being deciphered.

    Finance minister Arun Jaitley, while announcing the Budget, has brought in macro-level major financial reforms by slashing tax rates for middle level income groups and opening the FDI floodgates in favour of a rural economy.

    Jaitley’s budget focused on boosting infrastructure and lifting up rural incomes besides bringing in reforms in the financial sector such as the abolition of the FIPB to enable a new policy for FDI. The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), one of the world’s biggest e-commerce companies, will be now be listed, Jaitley said, aside from sending out an indirect warning to economic offenders such as Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya that for for absconders new legislation would be drafted soon.

    But a big thumbs up to the government for allocating Rs. 10,000 crore (Rs 100,000 million) to boost rural fibre optics network to give further leg up to all round digitisation.

    While the fine prints are still being read, some highlights are as follows:

    # The FIPB will be abolished. Further liberalisation in the FDI policy would be done in the next few days. (Star Den, etc to benefit)

    # SANKALP – Rs 4000 crore allotted for market-oriented training. (At least 4 million youth will be provided market-relevant training under Sankalp programme)

    # Cashback scheme – Petrol pumps card payments, launch two more schemes for use of BHIM app

    # In yet another boost for digitisation, the government has removed service tax on e-tickets .

    #IRCTC to be listed.

    # The government proposes to create a payment regulatory board at RBI. (The proposal assumes significance as there is currently no regulator for FinTech companies such as Paytm in India.)

    # Small and Medium enterprises (MSME) to be encouraged. Income tax reduced to 25% from 30% if turnover is up to Rs 50 crore or Rs 500 million.

    # Startups to pay tax on profits for three out of seven years, increased from three out of five years.

    # Under Bharat Net, optic fibre cable has been laid out In 1,55,000 km. (Recent spectrum auctions have removed spectrum scarcity.) Bharat Net allocation at Rs 10,000 crore.

  • Budget 2017: From highway to e-way media sector searches for sops

    Budget 2017: From highway to e-way media sector searches for sops

    MUMBAI: The Indian government today unveiled a roadmap for financial year 2017-18 that covers areas from “highways to e-ways” (PM Modi’s words while describing the Union Budget 2017) aimed at “strengthening the hands of the poor”, while looking at further easing doing business by abolishing Foreign Investment Promotion Board and hinting at a new FDI policy. However, for India’s media and entertainment sector, especially the broadcast and cable sector looking to reach the $ 100 million turnover mark, there wasn’t much to cheer about — unless an angel is hiding in the fine prints that are still being deciphered.

    Finance minister Arun Jaitley, while announcing the Budget, has brought in macro-level major financial reforms by slashing tax rates for middle level income groups and opening the FDI floodgates in favour of a rural economy.

    Jaitley’s budget focused on boosting infrastructure and lifting up rural incomes besides bringing in reforms in the financial sector such as the abolition of the FIPB to enable a new policy for FDI. The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), one of the world’s biggest e-commerce companies, will be now be listed, Jaitley said, aside from sending out an indirect warning to economic offenders such as Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya that for for absconders new legislation would be drafted soon.

    But a big thumbs up to the government for allocating Rs. 10,000 crore (Rs 100,000 million) to boost rural fibre optics network to give further leg up to all round digitisation.

    While the fine prints are still being read, some highlights are as follows:

    # The FIPB will be abolished. Further liberalisation in the FDI policy would be done in the next few days. (Star Den, etc to benefit)

    # SANKALP – Rs 4000 crore allotted for market-oriented training. (At least 4 million youth will be provided market-relevant training under Sankalp programme)

    # Cashback scheme – Petrol pumps card payments, launch two more schemes for use of BHIM app

    # In yet another boost for digitisation, the government has removed service tax on e-tickets .

    #IRCTC to be listed.

    # The government proposes to create a payment regulatory board at RBI. (The proposal assumes significance as there is currently no regulator for FinTech companies such as Paytm in India.)

    # Small and Medium enterprises (MSME) to be encouraged. Income tax reduced to 25% from 30% if turnover is up to Rs 50 crore or Rs 500 million.

    # Startups to pay tax on profits for three out of seven years, increased from three out of five years.

    # Under Bharat Net, optic fibre cable has been laid out In 1,55,000 km. (Recent spectrum auctions have removed spectrum scarcity.) Bharat Net allocation at Rs 10,000 crore.

  • CNN-News18 launches show with Vir Sanghvi titled ‘Virtuosity’

    CNN-News18 launches show with Vir Sanghvi titled ‘Virtuosity’

    MUMBAI: In line with its commitment to bringing the story behind the news to the forefront, CNN-News18 launched a new show Virtuosity. Hosted by one of the country’s top journalists, Vir Sanghvi, the weekend show features a big news story and provides added context, insight and nuance that may not be immediately discernible. The show will have Vir, in his inimitable style, break down the story being featured and make it relevant and relatable for the viewers. He will present the facts, make use of history, use a lifetime of his personal experiences to break through the clutter and bring forth the key aspects of the story.

    The show will air every Saturday at 9:30 pm with repeats on Sunday at 9 am and 10:30 am.

    In the first episode of Virtuosity, sories from the news aired last weekend, Vir Sanghvi delved into the decline and fall of India’s most flamboyant tycoon, Vijay Mallya. As his friends called the events surrounding Mallya “a witchunt” and industry insiders believed that Mallya “will come back with full honours”, Vir unravelled the link between the corridors of power and the banks that “kept lending money to KFA which they did not do to other airlines”. 

  • CNN-News18 launches show with Vir Sanghvi titled ‘Virtuosity’

    CNN-News18 launches show with Vir Sanghvi titled ‘Virtuosity’

    MUMBAI: In line with its commitment to bringing the story behind the news to the forefront, CNN-News18 launched a new show Virtuosity. Hosted by one of the country’s top journalists, Vir Sanghvi, the weekend show features a big news story and provides added context, insight and nuance that may not be immediately discernible. The show will have Vir, in his inimitable style, break down the story being featured and make it relevant and relatable for the viewers. He will present the facts, make use of history, use a lifetime of his personal experiences to break through the clutter and bring forth the key aspects of the story.

    The show will air every Saturday at 9:30 pm with repeats on Sunday at 9 am and 10:30 am.

    In the first episode of Virtuosity, sories from the news aired last weekend, Vir Sanghvi delved into the decline and fall of India’s most flamboyant tycoon, Vijay Mallya. As his friends called the events surrounding Mallya “a witchunt” and industry insiders believed that Mallya “will come back with full honours”, Vir unravelled the link between the corridors of power and the banks that “kept lending money to KFA which they did not do to other airlines”. 

  • Can corporate executives be good brand ambassadors?

    Can corporate executives be good brand ambassadors?

    MUMBAI: An old man with a moustache and a turban advertises a popular spice brand. A chain of resorts has a familiar character giving it a thumbs-up. A recent advertisement features executives from other companies talk about their experience flying with a national airline.

     

    Save for these examples, a majority of ads use celebrities to endorse products and services. Making one wonder why most brands prefer not to let their functional executives do the talking.

     

    Apparently, using executives might lend a lot more credibility. However, it may not really appeal to the masses as there is no known face involved.

     

    Brand consultant Harish Bijoor believes Indian brands don’t resort to using their executives as much as the West because Indian CEOs are rather shy and prefer to work behind the scenes rather than in front.

     

    Martha Stewart recently appeared in a cough syrup ad. How many of our CEOs sell a product?

     

    He points out that there are exceptions. “Vijay Mallya’s each and every move promoted his brand – Kingfisher. In the past, Mahindra used Pawan Goenka as well. So, it’s not always celebrities ruling the roost.”

     

    Overall, Bijoor is of the view that people may debate the overuse of celebrities but there is no immediate need to get executives to screens. “There are already a few doing the needful and I don’t think we need more executives to promote the brands. There is a healthy mix, so why clutter it?” he argues.

     

    Business head of Raising ibrows Ganapathy Visawanathan feels that in a country like ours where Bollywood and cricket is like religion, it is safer to use celebrities. “The brands normally use their executive to fight some crisis situation to build credibility, otherwise there will be a big disconnect between the brand and the masses,” he elaborates.

     

    Taproot India co-founder & chief creative officer Santosh Padhi believes product category plays an important role in choosing a brand ambassador. “For an FMCG product, it would be senseless to use an unknown face. Celebs – be it actors or sportsmen – are more relatable to for a common man and hence, it is better to use them. However, for a category like airlines, it is fine to use executives,” he says. The choice between a celebrity, model and executive is also determined by the brand’s strategy, according to him.

     

    Bang in the Middle MD and chief creative officer Prathap Suthan feels it’s a bad idea to use executives. “They shouldn’t get into advertising for their own brands. Essentially, brands need to have their own individual and original character. From the language, persona, tone, colors, design, advertising etc. All of this works together to create and craft a timeless personality for a brand – independent of everything else,” he says. “More importantly, a brand, if it is built on the shoulders of a CEO, what happens when the CEO quits and moves to another company, or cannot speak properly, or is not too presentable, or falls down and hurts himself, or gets into a controversy, or dies? All terrible situations if you build brands around publicly unknown CEOs,” he adds.

     

     Business director GroupM ESP Ameya Sule has a different take on the matter. “For me, the idea is a little conditional. There is no black or white to it. For instance, if a CMO or a senior executive of an apparel brand goes on to promote the brand, then it is more easy to connect it. There has to be a connect and authenticity attached to it, no matter who promotes the brand. It will be good to use an executive as it shows more credibility,” he signs off.

  • PVR set to release The Forest on 4 May

    PVR set to release The Forest on 4 May

    MUMBAI: PVR Cinemas is set to release director Ashwin Kumar‘s The Forest under its ‘Directors Rare‘ initiative on 4 May.

    The film will have a limited release in the major metros on about 19 screens to be expanded later on public demand.

    The Forest is loosely based on the ‘Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag, one of the stories of Jim Corbett. The film has Nandana Sen caught between her husband and an ex-lover amidst a treacherous jungle terrain stalked by an angry man-eating leopard.

    However, the leopard is not the only problem the trio has. It is the beast that hides behind civilised façades that poses greater danger.

    Produced by Ashvin Kumar and Judith James and presented by Vijay Mallya, the film has been shot on actual locations in the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttaranchal with a foreign crew.

    The horror-sex drama also stars Jaaved Jafferi, Nandana Sen and Ankur Vikal.

  • Kingfisher Airlines renews IPL Umpire partnership

    Kingfisher Airlines renews IPL Umpire partnership

    MUMBAI: Kingfisher Airlines will again be the Official Umpire Partner for the upcoming DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) 2011 season.

    In making this announcement, the DLF IPL – now in its fourth year – unveiled a line-up of match referees and umpires, who will officiate seven weeks of matches, starting tomorrow 8 April. Among those who will be on duty during the compelling action ‘in the middle’ are Asad Rauf, Rudi Koertzen, Simon Taufel, Billy Doctrove and Aleem Dar while others such as Roshan Mahanama, Javagal Srinath and Andy Pycroft will be match referees. There is also a full slate of fourth umpires.

    IPL Commissioner Chirayu Amin said, “We are happy with the continued partnership with Kingfisher Airlines for IPL 2011”.

    Highlighting the vital role which match officials play in international cricket, Kingfisher Airlines chairman and MD Dr. Vijay Mallya, disclosed his company’s involvement in the tournament would be reflected by a number of prominent activations, including the Fly Kingfisher Fair Play Award.

    This prize, which has been given annually since the DLF IPL’s inception, will again be presented to the team judged by the umpires to have played the game in the fairest spirit throughout the season. Umpires will be given criteria by which to judge teams. Reigning DLF IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings, copped the Fly Kingfisher Fair Play Award last year and in 2008, with Kings XI Punjab winning in 2009.

    “We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Indian Premier League as the Official Umpire Partner. As officiators of the game, umpires are not just an integral part of cricket, but also the universal symbol of order and fair play in the field.

    “The Indian Premier League is an innovative concept and has carved out a distinct position for itself in the international cricket calendar. We have planned a range of exciting promotions taking place throughout the league that will allow our guests to experience the excitement that the Indian Premier League has to offer this season” noted Dr. Mallya.
     

  • Kingfisher Airlines and DishTV introduce Live TV In-flight

    Kingfisher Airlines and DishTV introduce Live TV In-flight

    MUMBAI: Dishtv and Kingfisher Airlines have joined hands to bring Live TV entertainment for the very first time in the Indian skies. As a part of the tie-up, DTH player DishTV, will demonstrate its services on Kingfisher Airlines.

    The first aircraft empowered by DishTV complete with the Live TV service, will be ready to take-off by the end of December.

    Now on flying with Kingfisher Airlines, guests will be able to keep themselves updated and entertained with critical news or business event, sporting action, Hollywood and Bollywood movies, latest music, and popular sitcoms, with DishTV’s technology of making digital content services available on board, asserts an official release.

    Speaking on the occasion Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra said, “We are extremely pleased to join hands with Kingfisher Airlines, marking dishtv’s presence and dominance in the Indian skies. This marks a red letter day, yet again in the history of Indian entertainment when we have been able to take TV entertainment to completely unprecedented levels. This reiterates our commitment to not just be the pioneers in the DTH category but as true leaders, continue to innovate and lead from the front, giving the consumer the best he could ever imagine in entertainment, constantly. We look forward to such historical innovations with like minded corporates in the future as well.”

    Kingfisher Airlines Limited chairman and CEO Vijay Mallya added, “Today we take our commitment to take the best of Good Times, one step further for our guests. Our association with DishTV has helped us create yet another path-breaking innovation which will revolutionise the way Indians perceive In-flight Entertainment and we are very proud that dishtv will now enable Live TV onboard every Kingfisher Airlines flight. With the launch of Live TV onboard, we are not re-defining In-flight Entertainment, but creating history”.

    With this alliance, DishTV will now empower Kingfisher Airlines’ Fun TV with 16 Live channels from its platform. Fun TV also has five channels of the broadcasted video content and one moving map channel. In addition guests can enjoy 10 channels of chartbusting music from hip-hop to retro to old Hindi melodies on Kingfisher Radio, adds the release.