Mumbai Mirror, the compact from BCCL, has launched an afternoon edition from July 11, 2006. The first day has seen almost 40,000 copies printed. Mumbai Mirror Editor, Meenal Baghel, is overseeing this edition as well.
The failure of the launch of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s much-hyped communications satellite INSAT-4C is a setback to the broadcasting companies in India, which would have otherwise benefited in delivering direct-to-home TV broadcasting.
The idiot box has some real competition building up from cyberia. Across urban households the computer mouse is edging out the TV remote for the consumers' time. The rising popularity of the internet, with close to 25m Indians hooked on, is bringing about a sea-change in the way people consume television.
Paras Bali has put in his papers as Zee News’ Assistant Vice-President. He is joining India TV as Regional Head for the North from July 15. Bali was with Zee News, Delhi for two years.
Sanmarg, the largest circulated Hindi daily from eastern India, has introduced two new initiatives for its readers - the Sanmarg e-paper and the Sanmarg SMS service.
The third Promax|BDA Awards to recognise the work done in the field of promos will take place on July 11 and 12, 2006. The Awards are commencing on July 11 with Jim Chabin, CEO, Promax|BDA, and Sameer Nair, COO, STAR Group, who is assuming the role of the Conference Chair for the second consecutive year.
BBC Hindi has appointed Sanjeev Srivastava as India Editor, heading the radio and online operations in India. He has been promoted from his current position as BBC’s India correspondent and will be taking up his new role from August 2006.
RK Swamy BBDO’s Media Direction unit has set up Digital Direction to help its clients connect better with the growing audience in the digital world. The new group has roped in several experienced personnel, and has aggressive investment plans to emerge a leader in the space.
Dentsu Marcom Mumbai has bagged the creative and media duties of travel company Thomas Cook in a multy-agency pitch. The account size has been pegged in the region of Rs 10-12 crore.
After the success of ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Dwitiya’, which witnessed a rating of 7.90 TVR for the final episode, Endemol India has been given the production responsibilities of ‘The Great Indian Laughter Champions Dwitiya’ as well. The show begins on July 14, 2006.
Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd has launched its sixth FM radio station in the country – Radio City 105.8 FM – in Chennai from July 10. Speaking at the launch, Apurva Purohit, CEO, Radio City, said, “Chennai is an extremely important market for us. Our brand promise of ‘Namma City Namma Life’ will stir listeners to indulge in their kind of music.”
Yet one more step is seen in Sony’s new programming strategy and this time it is on the lines of reality. The channel is all set to bring one of the biggest names in international reality properties – ‘Extreme Makeover’ – later in the year.
O&M, which handles the bulk of Cadbury’s products, has been assigned the advertising duties of the confectionery major’s new offering, ‘Wowie’, as well. Though the officials haven’t divulged much on the ad spends, industry sources hinted that the spends would be substantial.
The whole media industry of today is self-obsessed. Mainstream media is in a crisis around the world. People don’t trust it as they used to. There are many examples of corrupt practices, journalists lying, media stories going wrong. Interesting media blogging is just a symptom of this crisis in mainstream media. To some extent, it depends on the individual journalists, individual organisations to find out ways to engage with bloggers. But it requires the will power of the journalist or the publication to make a difference. And there may be some resistance to that as well.