Suvarna TV is coming up with a new reality show that would be hosted by actor Sudeep. Reality shows are usually associated with elaborate sets and palatial bungalows. Suvarna’s new reality show, titled ‘Pyate Hudigeer, Halli Lifu’, is set in the natural and scenic surroundings of a village.
Nick India has tied up with Zapak Games to announce the launch of ‘Roary, the Racing Car, one of the most popular shows on Nick internationally as well as in India. The channel has launched a range of 23 variants, including eight different types of racing cars such as push along vehicles, friction cars with sound, Roary toolbox playset, and Roary RC, among others. This range is priced from Rs 399, going up to Rs 5,999. This range will be available in all leading retail stores.
RK Swamy Hansa has appointed Tyronne Devdros as Vice President, Hansa Outdoor. He would be reporting to Surojoy Banerjee, CEO, Hansa Outdoor. Devdros will manage and grow the divisions business across the country and also build, lead and motivate the Hansa Outdoor teams to deliver OOH solutions that add significant value to clients businesses.
CK Harish Kumar has joined Suvarna News 24x7 as General Manager – Ad Sales. He will be responsible for revenue generation for the channel across India. Kumar is reporting to Shyam Sundar, Business Head, Suvarna News 24x7. Prior to this, he was with The Printers (Mysore) Pvt Ltd, Deccan Herald and Prajavani, where the last designation held by him was that of Deputy General Manager. Kumar has also worked with AJS India Pvt Ltd as Regional Sales Manager – South, and Hitakshi Media Solutions Pvt Ltd as Business Manager.
The Walt Disney Company in India has named Raju Venkataraman as Vice-President and General Manager of the newly named Disney Media Distribution. Disney Media Distribution (DMD) is the new business name for Disney-ABC International Television – the integrated media distribution arm of the Walt Disney Company. In his new role, Venkataraman will report to Mahesh Samat, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company India Pvt Ltd. Venkataraman was in charge of Business Operations for Disney Channel in South East Asia prior to taking up the Channel Distribution mandate. He has 22 years of experience in a variety of industries, both in India and in South East Asia, and is a Fellow Member of CIMA, UK.
After zeroing on four flavours from a whopping 1.3 million ideas from consumers as part of its ‘Give Us Your Dillicious Flavour’ campaign, Frito-Lay India is set for the next phase of this campaign, wherein it will test these four flavours in markets across India for the next two months with the theme ‘Bachega sirf tastiest’ (Survival of the tastiest).
Mountain Dew, the beverage brand from the Pepsi stable, has sought to build greater brand connect that takes forward its ‘Darr ke aage jeet hain’ proposition with a series of on-ground activities executed by outdoor media firm Jagran Solutions. The activation is being executed in cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, and Varanasi, among others.
Kannada publications have reason to smile with most of them registering growth in AIR as per the IRS 2010 Q1 data. Four of the top five Kannada dailies have seen growth, while among the top five magazines, three have registered growth and two have witnessed decline in AIR.
After the success of Times Food Guide, Times Internet Ltd, part of The Times of India Group, has decided to make content of a similar kind available on a new interactive portal focused on specialties and lifestyle within city parameters. The new lifestyle portal has been christened Timescity.com.
As per the IRS 2010 Q1 data, Assamese publications continue to see a general decline pattern. However, dailies have somewhat stemmed the decline seen in the previous round, with three of the top five dailies registering growth in AIR. No such luck for the magazines though, all of which have seen their AIR go down in the latest round as well.
Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has promoted Rajiv Bakshi to Vice President – Marketing for India region. In his new leadership role, Bakshi will be responsible for creating and implementing strategic marketing initiatives for Discovery’s entire portfolio of six networks in India. He will continue to report to Rahul Johri, Senior VP & GM India.
Equinox, a division of ZenithOptimedia, has been assigned the media duties for Mitsubishi’s portfolio in India, including Outlander, Lancer, Cedia, Pajero and Montero. The win comes on the back of a multi-agency pitch. Senior sources close to the development have confirmed the win and pegged the account size at Rs 30 crore. Contract Advertising remains the creative agency for Mitsubishi.
It is known from sources close to the development that International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to go with Ogilvy Mumbai to handle the 360-degree advertising for World Cup 2011, which is slated to be jointly held at three venues – India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is learnt that the communication was sent to agencies via email by ICC. The account size is estimated to be upwards of Rs 250 crore.
“The industry is being oversupplied with too many agencies doing the same thing. So, we have to find a point of difference. There is no point of discount rates and failing to deliver. My ambition is to build a very prosperous company for long term growth. And we are not going to get that by just offering the same services with the existing competition at cheaper rates,” says Nick Waters, CEO - Asia Pacific, Aegis Media.