After talks with three media agencies lasting over a space of a few weeks, Hyundai India Telecom has decided to allot its planning and buying mandate to MPG. Meanwhile, the creative kitty worth Rs 25 crore has been given to Contract Advertising, after a credentials round that featured four agencies.
At a time when Hindustan Lever and Procter & Gamble are busy trying to oust each other in the pricing game in detergents, Haier, the world’s second largest home appliance brand, launched its detergent-free washing machine.
This festive season is turning out to be a boom time for marketers. October saw automobile companies posting record sales growth. Now, consumer durables firms are witnessing a 30 per cent jump in sales over last year.
Encouraging the boom in consumerism, Kolkata is soon to receive a permanent trade fair complex – one like the Pragati Maidan of Delhi. Inaugurating the CII consumer fair, Consumer 2004 on Thursday, state commerce and industry minister Nirupam Sen said that the West Bengal Government, in association with the Centre, is working out strategies for the proposed complex.
Yamaha Motors launches two variants of Fazer 125, Fazer Dlx (Deluxe) and Limited Edition Fazer.
Reckitt Benckiser India, a leader in household and personal care products, announced on Thursday its foray into the personal grooming sector with the launch of Veet hair removal cream. The company, with an annual turnover of 90 million pounds, has plans to invest heavily on Veet, says Anne Engerant, Regional Marketing Director.
Tata AIG Life has announced a business association with cricket commentator, Harsha Bhogle to endorse its whole life insurance product, MahaLife. Tata AIG Life claims to be the first insurance company in India to offer a unique whole life insurance cover that ensures guaranteed annual tax-free income.
STAR News has announced the launch of its services in the United States. This latest initiative makes the channel the first and the only Indian news channel with a footprint in Asia, Middle East, United Kingdom and now in the US, claimed an official communiqué.
The ABC figures for January-June 2004 (ABC Serial Volume No. 111) puts Dainik Jagran's circulation at 19,10,562, making it the largest circulated newspaper among all Indian dailies across all languages.
There’s lot for the dotcoms to smile wide. The interest levels are high, business opportunities are increasing everyday and the figures look promising. The good news is that this year, corporate India has spent Rs 100 crore on online advertising – up by 75 per cent over last year’s 40 crore. Internet advertising is projected to grow to Rs 280 crore by 2007.
The ABP Group is effecting a reshuffle in its top brand management team. Sandip Ghose, Vice-president, who was looking after the brand functions of The Telegraph and Businessworld, is leaving the organization at the end of the year. Amitabha Dutta, currently VP, Ananda Bazaar Patrika, will take over as VP in charge of Telegraph, after Ghose moves out.
There has been a lot brewing at Zee Movie Zone. Rechristened ZMZ after the Zee-MGM break-up, the channel is starting the New Year operations with fresh faces in the team to handle content acquisition and content production.
For Hindi mass entertainment, 2004 means a continuous downfall. Courtesy: the leader constantly losing ground and no other player (like Sony Entertainment Television, Zee TV) gaining. TAM Media Research’s figures for the year 2004 put STAR Plus and shows like ‘Kyunki…’ and ‘Kahaani…’ in the downward mode. Has fatigue finally set in general entertainment?
“The key to success in the filmmaking business is to get as close as possible to the viewer or consumer. Hitherto, the film marketing and distribution business in India has been fragmented, disjointed and quite haphazard. We entered with a belief that no consumer, no market, no opportunity is beyond reach.”