MUMBAI: FoodFood, India?s first Hindi 24x7 Food Lifestyle Brand completed one full year of operations successfully. The most innovative and specialized 360 degree food concept , launched through its TV channel FoodFood saw a plethora of highly exciting programmes Chefs and shows during the year that have become almost a household name today.

Says Masterchef Sanjeev Kapoor, one of the promoters of FoodFood, "It has truly been a memorable year for all of us at FoodFood. The shows have been keenly watched by consumers across the country and from the comments I hear whenever I travel to the hinterlands of the country assures me that our consumers are getting emotionally attached to our shows. That?s the best testimony we could receive from our audiences."

The channel has been constantly ahead of its competitors since its launch in 2011 growing at the rate of 10% in a year.

FoodFood channel?s content is a classic mix of path-breaking cookery and food based lifestyle shows like Ladies First, Firangi Tadka, Mummy Ka Magic, Sanjeev Kapoor?s Kitchen, Turban Tadka, Secret Recipe, Tea Time with Rakesh Sethi, to name a few. The channel has also hosted India?s largest cooking reality show ?AMUL FoodFood Mahachallenge?. Cheered on by Madhuri Dixit and Chef Kapoor as judge, 16 contestants battled it out in the kitchen to prove their culinary mettle.

All the shows are produced and shot in scintillating high definition. The content is personally researched, directed and supervised by Sanjeev Kapoor and his experienced team of Food Specialists.

FOODFOOD is now also being telecast in the Middle East countries. It was brought to UAE by Etisalat, Middle East?s leading telecom operator and TV services provider. Etisalat is the first operator in the region to offer the FOODFOOD CHANNEL to its customers in the UAE. The Middle East, especially Abu Dhabi and Dubai are popular destinations for expat Indians , and therefore a very important and challenging market for food lifestyle and cookery based television content. "Going forward, we plan to enhance our presence across the world, appealing to the expat Indian population." Said Mr. Sanjeev Kapoor.

The resident chefs of FOODFOOD not only understand food and cuisine, they are also in tune with the audiences? lifestyle preferences. They, therefore produce and package content for the shows that are relevant to the Indian audiences. FoodFood is not just about stand-and-stir kind of shows, it features programming that is compellingly interactive with the audiences.

FoodFood?s focus on innovative and creative programming continues in the new year too?On the anvil are exciting shows like Mummy Ka magic in a whole new interactive format, How to Cook series with Sanjeev Kapoor, for those interested in learning to cook and many more.

The channel is available in both analog and digital formats pan India. On the DTH platform they are available on Airtel DTH at the moment and will soon be present with other leading DTH carriers in this year.

Mumbai: Mumbai?s favorite newspaper Hindustan Times returned with it?s unique, popular and inclusive initiative on January 28 this year. Last year on 29 January 2011, Hindustan Times Mumbai created No TV Day and made the entire city come to a standstill. What started as an HT initiative became a people?s movement in Mumbai. That made Mumbai the only city in the world to have it?s own special day. Hindustan Times called upon Mumbai to switch off TV and be open to the immense possibilities that their relationships and the city had to offer.To drive the message, TV OFF. MUMBAI ON, Mudra Max-OOH planned and executed an effective OOH media campaign for No TV Day (NTD)beginning 13 Jan 2012.The agency deployed a wide mix of OOH media namely Billboards, Gantries, BQS, DBQS, Pole kiosks, Inside train branding, Bus back/side panels, station branding & Domestic Airport branding.

Considering the growing population preferring air travel these days, a few interesting media vehicles inside domestic terminals (cutouts on conveyer belts & standees at strategic locations)were deployed.

To break through the clutter, Mudra Max -OOH executed a couple of innovations at marquee sites in Mumbai (Juhu Koliwada & Mahim Causeway).

Innovation 1: This was executed at Mahim Causeway (one of the important congregation points for vehicular traffic in Mumbai), the idea was to create the NTD facebook homepage on a billboard.The way one updatestheir statuses, likewise there was a daily change in the status & the number of growing facebook fans on the billboard. The status updated continued was for 5 days as a build up towards No TV Day.

Innovation 2: This was executed at Juhu Koliwada / Juhu Tara Road (one of main arterial roads of Mumbai), since the core essence of NTD is TV OFF, MUMBAI ON, this execution tried to bring that alive on a billboard by showing a father ? son having fun in a park. Father pushing the swing, while the kid enjoys being on it & the copy read as ?TV OFF, FUN ON?. The swinging movement on the billboardcaught a lot of attention & was really talked about.

Like last year Hindustan Times organized a plethora of activities on Jan 28,encouragingMumbaiites to step out of their homes and explore the citythey love with their family and friends.The activities ranged from school painting competition attended by around 34000 children with their parents, helicopter rides, and exclusive discount deals at more than 400 outlets in the city, heritage rides, dance workshops and many others.

Across the city around 250 housing societies registered for the No TV Day Best Society contest. A city specific treasure hunt was organized across three zones in Mumbai (western suburbs, Navi Mumbai and South Mumbai). While 1300 participants raced against time to reach the finishing point, 3 winners were selected in each zone. The engagement with Mumbai was sustained in the social media spaceas well with the HT Mumbai No TV Day Facebook page and a special microsite. In just 3 weeks, 1.5 lakh new fans were added to the No TV Day Facebook community taking the total strength to 2.5 lakh fans.The Facebook page also generated 6.5 million unique impressions and was the among the top branded Facebook pages in India in terms of engagement. On Jan 28th, the strong buzz about the initiative resulted in No TV Day featuring among the top trending topics nationally on Twitter.

There were various partners who joined in this initiative. These include organizations like Railways, Prince of Wales museum, MTDC, over 300 schools?.etcand brands like Surf Excel, Toyota, Lays, Micro Technologies and Scrabble.

Mandeep Malhotra, President, Mudra Max (OOH, Retail, Experiential), ?NO TV DAY is an annual property built by HT and we required to createa history connecting the brandwith Mumbaikars. Our aim was to establish a property better and louder than the last year?s campaign. In a city dominated by competitors, it was an indispensable task to keep Mumbai ?On? for a quality life. We along with HT, aleading national daily of India delivered the message effectively and took OOHfrom the position of a reminder medium to a call for action platform.?

Says Ajay Dang, Marketing Head (West and South), Hindustan Times, ?Very few times does an initiative by a brand/ newspaper becomes a people?s movement. Hindustan Times has added an important day in the calendar of Mumbai when the city pauses and takes time to reconnect to important relationships be it family and friends or the city that we call home.?

Mumbai: The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) announced today it will acquire, through a subsidiary, a controlling interest in UTV, one of India?s premier media and entertainment companies. The acquisition will be completed through a successful delisting offer and will enable Disney to integrate UTV?s current operations. In addition, UTV CEO Ronnie Screwvala has been named Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company India reporting to Andy Bird, Chairman, Walt Disney International.

?Increasing our brand presence and reach in key international markets is a cornerstone of our growth strategy. This acquisition expands our footprint significantly and allows us to more effectively build, monetize and brand multi-platform franchises, and deliver a rich library of content to the world?s second largest population,? said Mr. Bird. ?We couldn?t be more pleased that Ronnie, with his vast experience and proven track record, will now run our operations in India. Under his leadership, we will be able to deliver more programming on more platforms to this considerable audience.?

As a result of this acquisition and building on UTV?s success in the market, Disney will be India?s leading film studio and will produce both UTV and Disney-branded local films.

UTV is the leading TV producer in India with distribution in 20 countries in seven languages and across 27 channels. Its six owned channels have emerged as the fastest growing cable and satellite network in India. In three years UTV has also become a leading broadcast network in the country. After the transaction, Disney will be one of the leading broadcasters reaching more than 100 million viewers weekly in households across India. Disney will also gain a significant presence in digital media with the addition of UTV?s Indiagames, the country?s number one mobile gaming company, to its portfolio.

?In combining the creative capabilities of each company we will integrate a large stable of vibrant brands and franchises in the branded entertainment space,? said Mr. Screwvala. ?With the middle class expected to grow from 50 million to more than 500 million people by 2025, this market offers huge potential for us to deliver quality branded entertainment to consumers,? he said.

Disney currently owns India?s leading kids? television networks Disney Channel, Disney XD and Hungama and is the largest retail character licensor in the country. The Company?s mobile, internet and gaming division creates some of India?s most popular content, including Club Penguin, the virtual world for kids that launched in India in 2010.

Mumbai: Sudarshan Banerjee, Head-Ignite Mudra was invited to TEDx, a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading that brings together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.

The session titled - ?The Future of Social" broadly touched upon were how do we expect technology to shape in 2020 i.e The home appliances like TV, Refrigerators will be the new computers which have in-built sensors and are self-sufficient to communicate.

Furthermore with Web 3.0 that will enable accurate data mining to give solutions to the search, technologies will be married for multi-sensory virual expeirence that will lead to higher involvement/influence of Social media on people, for instance Shopping, hangouts etc to go social.

These experiences were well demonstrated by videos/movie clippings/ad films & images.

With all this going social & diminishing boundaries between virtual and real it will lead to creation of close groups indulging in such high involvement social activities- that will make "Social" more "Personal"

Mr. Banerjee says "It was a pleasure to be invited to TEDx, to speak amongst such esteemed personalities, which enabled the exchange of inspiring thoughts and innovations".

Mumbai: The Board of Directors of the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council (USPBC), an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, today announced the election of P. Miles Young, Worldwide CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, as the Council?s new chairman. Young succeeds Jay Collins, vice chairman, Global Banking, Citigroup, who has served as chairman since 2006. The Board also elected A. Salman Amin, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Pepsico, as vice chairman. Amin succeeds Najeeb Ghauri, chairman and CEO, Netsol Technologies.

?As worldwide chief executive officer of Ogilvy & Mather, one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world, Miles brings a wealth of leadership to the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council,? said Esperanza Jelalian, executive director of the USPBC. ?Having served as a member of the Board of Directors, Miles has provided expertise and guidance in advancing the Council?s policy agenda. At this pivotal moment in U.S.-Pakistan relations, USPBC is truly fortunate to have someone of Miles? experience, insight, and vision to lead the Council?s efforts to strengthen the U.S. economic and commercial relationship with Pakistan.?

Ogilvy & Mather?s association with Pakistan began more than 30 years ago when they created an international campaign for Pakistan International Airlines. Ogilvy entered the Pakistan market through an affiliation agreement with Interflow Communications in August 1987 and in April of 2007, Ogilvy & Mather Pakistan was born through a joint venture with Interflow. It now ranks as one of the leading creative agencies in Pakistan. Ogilvy has raised more than $100,000 to aid victims of the 2005 earthquake in northern Pakistan and tens of thousands of dollars more for victims of the 2010 flood in Sind and Southern Punjab.

?We are indebted to Jay Collins for his dedication to USPBC over the past six years,? Young said. ?I would like to thank Jay for his outstanding leadership and contribution to the Council?s mission and advocacy agenda. I am honored to serve as chairman of the Council, an organization uniquely positioned to promote the bilateral economic and business relationship. I look forward to working with the Board to strengthen relationships, establish partnerships, and further involve the private sector in contributing to Pakistan?s economic growth and social development.?

The U.S.-Pakistan Business Council is the premier organization in Washington dedicated to the broad advancement of U.S. commercial engagement in Pakistan. Since 2002, the Council has provided a national forum for dialogue on key economic, commercial, humanitarian, and political issues of interest to American companies operating in or exploring business opportunities in Pakistan.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world?s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

Mumbai: McDonalds redefines lunch in India, with yet another value offering to its customers and a reason enough to start the New Year with a smile. Milestone Brandcom, a leading and fastest growing integrated OOH brand communications agencies in India, creates a dramatic announcement of the offer with meticulously planned teaser followed by a reveal communication & special reinforcements announcing the offer hours everyday.

Under the McValue - Super Lunch Super Deal offer any one can enjoy one Burger, one Coke and one Fries pack for Rs.55/- in Mumbai.

"The communication strategy put into practice Out-of-Home was to first tease & excite the audience about ?something? that McDonalds was up to, and about to change with ?Lunch will never be the same again? message," said Hanoz Patel, Founder Member & Managing Partner at Milestone Brandcom. To build up the anticipation until the offer launch, we installed a 36-hour reverse timer showing hours, minutes & seconds on 3rd Jan 2012 until it zeroed in at noon on 5th January 2012.

The offer so great needed a rather dramatic reveal approach, for which the agency employed a bell ringer to ring in the new offer on a giant bell installed on mobile billboard & hoardings at some of the prominent & busiest junctions in the city like Mahim Causeway, Peddar Road junction, etc. The giant bell was rung at an interval of every 1-hour between noon & 3pm on the day of the offer launch and continued for the entire campaign period.

"In addition to just creating awareness of the offer with the reveal campaign, we also went the extra mile to bring further reinforcement around the offer hours everyday between noon & 3pm". A giant clock was mounted on a hoarding, showing people the actual time; and when the clock would strike noon, 1, 2 & 3pm the arms would point to a Burger, Coke & Fries conveying the McValue Offer hours in the simplest but innovative ways. A reminder alarm was also set for every hour between noon & 3pm everyday, for the entire campaign period.

The campaign was executed across 6 cities including Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad & Baroda. A media plan encompassing 310 media touch points spread well across a selection of formats covering high traffic & footfalls along arterial roads, neighbourhood proximity and transit media & junctions. The media touchpoints comprised of - billboards, unipoles, gantries, bus shelters and display boards inside high footfall density stations.

"Since it was an offer starting midday, the plan was heavily skewed towards morning traffic movement for better recall for action relevant to the midday offering." added Patel.

Commenting on the campaign, Rameet Arora, -Senior Director Marketing (West and South) - Mc Donald?s India, said, "It?s always exciting to be doing innovation. It?s the difference between a good and a great campaign. I believe the work done on out of home in Mumbai was a critical success factor in a most successful launch."