While ad agencies across India usually aim for MNCs, Oberoi Multimedia claims to be the only agency to focus solely on India-oriented family business. After maintaining a low profile for almost a decade, the agency is now in an expansion mode and plans to create 50 strong brands in five years.
Interactive Avenues has been recognised as an ‘Official Honoree’ for their work ‘We Know You’ for Sri Lanka Airlines at the 12th Webby Awards. Hailed as the ‘Oscars of the Internet’ by the New York Times, Webby Awards is an international award honouring excellence on the Internet, including websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile websites.
Orienta Cine Advertising has bagged on-screen media rights from Fame Multiplex across India. It will also have access to the 44 proposed cinemas to be set up in Maharashtra alone. The onscreen media rights specified to Orienta has given advertisers an opportunity to advertise in all 55 Fame Cinema screens.
As they try to diversify beyond the 30-second spot, agencies, in addition to getting digital, are vying to be the next place to source hot products. Ownership is the watchword on Madison Avenue, with agencies wanting stakes in everything from intellectual property to marketers themselves.
<b>IT:</b> Even the unlettered will be able to access information for business transactions.
Indiagames, a global developer and publisher of mobile games, has launched its retail game packs for its online gaming service – ‘Games on Demand’ (GoD) – through UTV Home Video’s distribution network. Indiagames will initially launch four different games pack collections at a piracy-beating price point.
Taking a road different from the bandwagon of general entertainment programmes in other channels, Amrita TV has launched the second season of its show ‘Sandhya Deepam’. The show, which went on air on May 12, captures the mood and ambience of the auspicious twilight, illuminating the homes in Kerala and the rest of South India.
Kolkata-based Emami Group has expanded its product offering with a new talcum powder variant, Navratna Active Deo. The new offering joins other products in the Navratna range. Emami has unveiled a new TV campaign for Active Deo with the proposition ‘Garmi Alvida’.
The impish and hugely talented young actor Darsheel Safari gives Horlicks a fresh connect with the young audience. The new TVC takes a humourous look at Safari’s various antics to look cool and impress a PYT in his class. He finds that ‘cool’ quotient in a pair of sunglasses coming free with every jar of Horlicks.
Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co recently launched its Malayalam language travel magazine ‘Yaathra’. Priced at Rs 50, ‘Yaathra’ is targeted at the middle and upper middle class audiences and has been strategically launched at this time of the year to cater to the needs of travellers and tourists planning their summer vacations.
Fondly referred to as India’s ‘biggest’ sports export, Khali aka Dalip Singh Rana, has caused quite a stir in the wrestling world abroad. So, when the 7 feet 3 inch tall Khali came visiting his homeland, it has become quite an event for thousands of his Indian fans. And whipping up some more frenzy are Laqshya Media and Ten Sports.
Rajiv Hiranandani, Co-founder and Head, Global Revenues, mobile2win, has been appointed to the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Board of Directors of the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA).
Big FM has appointed Viplove Gupte as Director- Programming. He would be responsible for strengthening the programming offerings of the FM player and also ensuring a wholesome entertainment mix to listeners across the Big FM network.
Sport 18, a division of Network 18 Media and Investments, has been appointed to handle the marketing of Volvo Ocean Race India stopover by the Consortium of the Cochin Port Trust and Kerala Tourism. The agency will market and mange this sport when the race touches the Kochi port in December 2008.
The Times of India’s Lead India campaign bagged ‘Best of Show’ award, while Mid-Day won first place in the ‘Print Advertising Sales Retention’ category for its initiative titled ‘Media Nights at Hard Rock Café’ at the 73rd Annual INMA Awards. The winners were announced on May 7, 2008 at the INMA World Congress in Beverly Hills.
M&C Saatchi has forayed into direct and digital communication services. Sumantra Sengupta, formerly Senior VP & GM, RMG Connect, Mumbai and Bangalore, has joined as CEO of the newly-formed M&C Saatchi Direct & Digital. Sengupta brings with him 22 years of integrated communication experience across several markets and clients.
The Ogilvy India Board has named Hephzibah Pathak, one of Ogilvy’s most experienced 360-degree team leaders, its new President for O&M Mumbai. During her time in O&M, Pathak has led brands across sectors such as FMCG, finance and telecom. More recently, as Executive Brand Director, she had successfully led the national brand team on Orange-Hutch-Vodafone.