Hindustan Lever (HLL) has finally hit the growth charts. After 17 successive quarters of subdued revenue growth, the quarter ending June is set to notch up double-digit growth.
Yamaha Motor India yesterday announced the launch of its latest 110 CC model Libero G5 - an upgraded, sportier and stylish version of the Libero. Answering a question on the possible launch of a 150 CC model, H Yanagi, MD and CEO, Yamaha Motor India, said, “Probably, that may not happen this year. Plans are on to launch products across various segments.”
According to Jaideep Banerjee, Programming Head, Radio City 91 FM, Delhi, currently FM stations are running on contemporary hit radio (CHR) format. He, however, said Radio City is the only channel right now in the market, which has dared to innovate. "Our programming is totally skewed towards listeners," said Banerjee.
Chennai-based Radaan Mediaworks, with interests in television production, film production, graphics, event management, and training, is slowly but surely going national. In a recent development, the media company has roped in Roy Joseph, who was VP-Operations at Zee News, as its COO.
The first quarter of 2005 saw a 56 per cent jump in print advertisng by commercial vehicles makers, with Tata Motors being the top advertiser. These advertisers also showed a marked preference for black and white ads.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended 100 per cent foreign ownership in satellite radio broadcasting with no entry fee for companies interested in this business.
Bennett, Coleman and Co (BCCL), the leading media group in the country, has picked up a 6.6% stake in Today's Writing Products (TWP), a listed company manufacturing writing instruments.
STAR India’s Ad Sales function has seen some key developments. As reported last week, the channel has restructured its team. The new structure clearly gives STAR India two approaches of selling under the supervision of Kevin Vaz, EVP, Ad Sales, STAR India. One would be of network selling to the top 50 clients. These clients will deal with one key team ‘account management’ or ‘client service’ team, which will be headed by Juhi Ravindranath.
The Daily News and Analysis (DNA), which has put most details into place for its launch in Mumbai on July 21, 2005, has now kicked off the process for its entry into the Delhi market. The first signal of its intentions for a Delhi edition is the purchase of a 10-acre plot in Noida, Phase 3, at a consideration of Rs 16 crore.
The fifth Promax & BDA World Gold Awards winners are announced and as has been the case so far, India has quite a few Golds, Silvers and Bronzes to its credit. STAR India has as many as 25 awards, MAX and SET have got six and four awards respectively. NDTV and Zoom have bagged three each and TV Today has got one award.
Reader’s Digest (RD), which has a 50-year heritage in India and is one of the best-read English magazines in the country, has strongly reconnected with its readers. The fruits of the quest, which began a few years ago, gave results when RD was recently adjudged the Best Marketer of the Year at Emvies 2005, sharing the award with Sony Entertainment Television (Indian Idol).
The Indian agencies Leo Burnett and O&M have made it to the final list of the Asian Brand Marketing Effectiveness Awards (ABME) 2005. The focus of the awards is on marketing effectiveness in relation to overall improved business performance.
Wieden + Kennedy UK's "Grrr" ad for Honda has swept the board in Cannes, winning the Film and Titanium Grands Prix and the Film Journalists' Award. The first Grand Prix from the new Radio Lions competition was awarded to a blast from the past: DDB Chicago's Real Men of Genius campaign for the US brewer Anheuser-Busch.
Technologies like PVRs and Internet have empowered consumers like never before. Consumers are taking more control of what they want to see, when, and where. Relentless client focus on ROI is a big reality. Welcome to the age of disruption in Adland. How does advertising business manage this disruption? WPP’s Sir Martin Sorrel, Newscorp’s Lachlan Murdoch, and influential others offer some answers. exchange4media Director and Group Editorial Head Amit Agnihotri comments from Cannes, in this final dispatch.