By Rachana Khanzode
Pressmart, an e-paper technology expert and IMImobile, an end-to-end voice application service enabler are putting news on the mobile.
The mPaper application will only be available on WAP-enabled mobile phones. Users will also have the option of searching and saving articles. Both post-paid and pre-paid customers from Hutch, Airtel and MTNL can avail of the facility.
The service is currently provided by GSM mobile operators and, in the near future, will be extended to CDMA. The service, free for a month for promotional reasons, will be made available at Rs 30 a month for each paper.
So how is the application made available on the mobile? Bibhu Kumar, vice president, sales and marketing, IMImobile, explains, "Before the newspaper goes to print, Pressmart gets a copy and digitises the data. IMImobile takes this feed and repurposes it and transcodes the feed according to different phone models."
Won't the small screen of the mobile hinder reading? Kumar dodges the question. He says, "Reading a newspaper on your mobile will be a different experience. The idea is to provide information."
Currently, Hindustan Times (Mumbai and Delhi editions), Deccan Chronicle (Hyderabad and Chennai Editions), DNA, The Indian Express, The Asian Age, Financial Express, The New Indian Express, The Telegraph and The Pioneer have been brought on board. The mPaper is expected to be updated at 6 AM everyday.
IMIMobile and Pressmart have a revenue sharing agreement with the media houses - as well as amongst themselves.
What was the reason behind launching the mobile application? Sanjiv Gupta, CEO, Pressmart, says, "Today, the focus has shifted from print to mobile media. The ease and convenience of browsing news content on a hand-held device gives us the opportunity of reaching widely distributed mobile audiences."
Not to be left behind, the Times Group is also finalising the launch of its mobile paper TOI MOBILE and will bring this facility to its users through Times Internet. As of now, users can access the e-editions of The Times of India and The Economic Times on their mobiles, free. Why did The Times Group feel the need for a separate mobile application? Iqbal Singh, chief manager, strategic initiative group, The Times of India Brand, says, "Today, mobile screens are made for more text. The content on TOI MOBILE will have more text and be crisper, which will enable the users to download it easily."
But what advantage does a mobile paper have over an e-paper or the print copy of a newspaper, as far as brand value is concerned? R D Bhatnagar, vice president, projects & operations, DNA, says, "The e-edition or print copy of the newspaper is not as handy or convenient as a mobile edition. Moreover, the consumer can refer to it as often as he wants."
So, are mobile papers the next big thing in the news industry? Opinion seems divided. While Singh of TOI feels it is too early to comment, Bhatnagar sounds excited, but cautious. "We have the platform, but the key driver of the whole initiative will depend up
on how much business sense it makes for the media house."
rachana.khanzode@thebrandreporter.com
© The Brand Reporter
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
'Let's admit it - SRK is good in KBC III '
By A G Krishnamurthy (Brand Consultant, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Mudra Communications)
Irrespective of the bias against the anchor in the market - the show rocks!
What I've liked
KBC-III. Much talked about, the series has been the focus of many columns, analysis and audience participation programmes of late.
But rather than comparing this series with its predecessors, I would like to assess the show on its own. This is a show that hinges around its anchor and I must admit that the present host, Shah Rukh Khan, is coming through as a commendable one.
The show, of course, has been engineered very effectively. Every aspect of it, the script, the promos, and the mood have all been re-crafted to echo the host's persona. In this case, youthful, charming, suave, urban and lighthearted.
Shah Rukh rises to the occasion flawlessly every single time, delivering his lines with characteristic charm and ease. A word here about his clothes - his wardrobe too seems to be very carefully put together, so much so he looks straight out of a fashion magazine. Every show has him in a tasteful, well-turned out ensemble.
I can't think of a single area where this show suffers from lack of detailing. From the moment the host steps on to the show till the credits roll on screen, he is able to carry the audience along. The much famed finger-biting suspense that the show is well-known for continues to be present even in this series quite admirably, I thought, despite the jocularity of the host. To have achieved that balance too is quite a feat.
So here's my take on KBC-III. It is a very good series. Regardless of its history, its scores on the ratings chart and so on…if assessed for what it is, the show's creators and its host couldn't have done a better job. Long may it reign.
What I've learned
Body talk
Experts have concluded that it takes only 90 seconds for a stranger to form an impression about you - especially in formal, business situations where an introduction invariably takes places in a highly charged and judgmental environment.
Everybody is sizing each other up and this is how the cookie crumbles: A huge 55 per cent of the first impression you make is formed by your body language, a non-committal 38 per cent is awarded to your articulation and a meagre 7 per cent to content! I went through most of my career blissfully unaware of the nitty-gritty behind a "Hello, I am so and so…" but looking back on all my first encounters with clients and colleagues, I realise that there is a lot of truth behind this analysis.
A lot of what went into my "gut' feeling about people lay in the volume of communication that preceded the actual conversation. Come to think of it, I would invariably make up my mind whether I liked, disliked, trusted or was suspicious of a person long before we actually had a conversation!
The rest was just a confirmation of my initial impression. Every single detail gives you away in an encounter - the firmness or the slackness of your handshake, the length of your gaze - stare too long and you will be considered rude and intrusive, too little and it means you are ignoring their presence. The ideal length of a look apparently is 10 seconds. Look away after that, else your intentions will be misconstrued!
The general impression is that most people react positively when you have pleasantness about your face all the time, if you know how to listen and then answer, rather than doing a "fastest finger first" and blurting out an opinion before you understand the context, much like youngsters are trained to do these days. "Know-it-alls" are persona non-grata and again, oddly, most newcomers seem to have the impression that expressing an opinion on everything is a good thing.
To sum up, even though the extent body language can impact your career can be frightening, the good news is that if you are a good person your personality will manifest itself in subtle ways to win the day, even when all else seems against you…
agkbrandconsult@yahoo.com
(source : Business standard)
Irrespective of the bias against the anchor in the market - the show rocks!
What I've liked
KBC-III. Much talked about, the series has been the focus of many columns, analysis and audience participation programmes of late.
But rather than comparing this series with its predecessors, I would like to assess the show on its own. This is a show that hinges around its anchor and I must admit that the present host, Shah Rukh Khan, is coming through as a commendable one.
The show, of course, has been engineered very effectively. Every aspect of it, the script, the promos, and the mood have all been re-crafted to echo the host's persona. In this case, youthful, charming, suave, urban and lighthearted.
Shah Rukh rises to the occasion flawlessly every single time, delivering his lines with characteristic charm and ease. A word here about his clothes - his wardrobe too seems to be very carefully put together, so much so he looks straight out of a fashion magazine. Every show has him in a tasteful, well-turned out ensemble.
I can't think of a single area where this show suffers from lack of detailing. From the moment the host steps on to the show till the credits roll on screen, he is able to carry the audience along. The much famed finger-biting suspense that the show is well-known for continues to be present even in this series quite admirably, I thought, despite the jocularity of the host. To have achieved that balance too is quite a feat.
So here's my take on KBC-III. It is a very good series. Regardless of its history, its scores on the ratings chart and so on…if assessed for what it is, the show's creators and its host couldn't have done a better job. Long may it reign.
What I've learned
Body talk
Experts have concluded that it takes only 90 seconds for a stranger to form an impression about you - especially in formal, business situations where an introduction invariably takes places in a highly charged and judgmental environment.
Everybody is sizing each other up and this is how the cookie crumbles: A huge 55 per cent of the first impression you make is formed by your body language, a non-committal 38 per cent is awarded to your articulation and a meagre 7 per cent to content! I went through most of my career blissfully unaware of the nitty-gritty behind a "Hello, I am so and so…" but looking back on all my first encounters with clients and colleagues, I realise that there is a lot of truth behind this analysis.
A lot of what went into my "gut' feeling about people lay in the volume of communication that preceded the actual conversation. Come to think of it, I would invariably make up my mind whether I liked, disliked, trusted or was suspicious of a person long before we actually had a conversation!
The rest was just a confirmation of my initial impression. Every single detail gives you away in an encounter - the firmness or the slackness of your handshake, the length of your gaze - stare too long and you will be considered rude and intrusive, too little and it means you are ignoring their presence. The ideal length of a look apparently is 10 seconds. Look away after that, else your intentions will be misconstrued!
The general impression is that most people react positively when you have pleasantness about your face all the time, if you know how to listen and then answer, rather than doing a "fastest finger first" and blurting out an opinion before you understand the context, much like youngsters are trained to do these days. "Know-it-alls" are persona non-grata and again, oddly, most newcomers seem to have the impression that expressing an opinion on everything is a good thing.
To sum up, even though the extent body language can impact your career can be frightening, the good news is that if you are a good person your personality will manifest itself in subtle ways to win the day, even when all else seems against you…
agkbrandconsult@yahoo.com
(source : Business standard)
Thursday, February 15, 2007
More on multiplexes
Sharmila and Sameer Shah no longer take their five-year-old to a movie he doesn’t want to watch. These days, the couple doesn’t feel guilty about watching a film without him in tow. Their plan B comprises of taking their son along to the neighbourhood multiplex and leaving him in the foyer where he is happy bungee jumping or riding the giant wheel.
Welcome to a city where multiplexes are no longer about only watching movies. “We are constantly reinventing ourselves to provide entertainment options for the entire family,” says Devang Sampat, general manager, marketing, Cinemax. The Thane property of Cinemax has a gaming zone where kids can indulge in activities like bungee jumping or car racing while being supervised by a dozen or so attendants.
Meanwhile, Adlabs multiplexes are targeting not just parents with younger children but also older audiences. There are special shows specifically for these target groups, complete with facilities like nappy-changing corners and milk-warming stations. To ensure that the older patrons do not feel left out, there are special shows where escorts help the elderly to the restrooms or to the refreshment counters.
Besides, the lights do not go out completely at these screenings to ensure that the audience can move around safely.
“The idea is not just to enhance the movie-going experience but to also make it more of an outing for everyone in the family,” says Rishi Negi, who heads the food and beverage department at Fame Cinemas. The Fame chain of multiplexes offers themed birthday parties on their premises, complete with games, gifts, food and beverages.
For older customers there is a butler service which ensures additional comforts like being provided with blankets and pillows on recliner seats. And that is not all. Inox multiplex has ‘wine and cheese screenings’ while plans are afoot to give patrons a chance to enjoy movies over beer and popcorn. “We are constantly upping the bar by providing better services each time,” says Shrikant Hazare, vice president, marketing, Inox multiplexes.
Industry players point out that the additional facilities at multiplexes makes good business sense since they create a buzz without any additional cost to the managements. “We are trying to build brand loyalty through these services,” says Sampat while claiming that these initiatives are bringing in more and more customers every day.
Welcome to a city where multiplexes are no longer about only watching movies. “We are constantly reinventing ourselves to provide entertainment options for the entire family,” says Devang Sampat, general manager, marketing, Cinemax. The Thane property of Cinemax has a gaming zone where kids can indulge in activities like bungee jumping or car racing while being supervised by a dozen or so attendants.
Meanwhile, Adlabs multiplexes are targeting not just parents with younger children but also older audiences. There are special shows specifically for these target groups, complete with facilities like nappy-changing corners and milk-warming stations. To ensure that the older patrons do not feel left out, there are special shows where escorts help the elderly to the restrooms or to the refreshment counters.
Besides, the lights do not go out completely at these screenings to ensure that the audience can move around safely.
“The idea is not just to enhance the movie-going experience but to also make it more of an outing for everyone in the family,” says Rishi Negi, who heads the food and beverage department at Fame Cinemas. The Fame chain of multiplexes offers themed birthday parties on their premises, complete with games, gifts, food and beverages.
For older customers there is a butler service which ensures additional comforts like being provided with blankets and pillows on recliner seats. And that is not all. Inox multiplex has ‘wine and cheese screenings’ while plans are afoot to give patrons a chance to enjoy movies over beer and popcorn. “We are constantly upping the bar by providing better services each time,” says Shrikant Hazare, vice president, marketing, Inox multiplexes.
Industry players point out that the additional facilities at multiplexes makes good business sense since they create a buzz without any additional cost to the managements. “We are trying to build brand loyalty through these services,” says Sampat while claiming that these initiatives are bringing in more and more customers every day.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
PVR TG specific shows to attract Brand Sponserships
PVR Cinema is planning to tie up with Austria-based energy drink maker Red Bull in order to woo working executives with special facilities, such as drink and snacks, at no extra cost.
"We would introduce one such show, specifically meeting the needs of the working executives, in the next six weeks and are already in talks with energy food and drink companies including Red Bull, Dabur and Revital for sponsorship," Mr Gautam Dutta, Chie f Marketing Officer, PVR Cinema said.
Mr Dutta, however, said things are not finalised and 'talks are in progress'. Executives would be allowed to take their laptops during these shows. "We would beef up the security to make it possible for executives to carry their belongings with them," he said.
The show is expected to ramp up the revenue earnings from the particular show by up to 12-15 per cent apart from earning more add revenue, the CMO said.
The main aim of the show is to catch the executives on their way back home from office and for this the company has decided to reserve the evening slot for these shows, Mr Dutta said.
The company would also launch similar shows for women and children. PVR already has special shows for senior citizens, which is sponsored by Airtel. - PTI
"We would introduce one such show, specifically meeting the needs of the working executives, in the next six weeks and are already in talks with energy food and drink companies including Red Bull, Dabur and Revital for sponsorship," Mr Gautam Dutta, Chie f Marketing Officer, PVR Cinema said.
Mr Dutta, however, said things are not finalised and 'talks are in progress'. Executives would be allowed to take their laptops during these shows. "We would beef up the security to make it possible for executives to carry their belongings with them," he said.
The show is expected to ramp up the revenue earnings from the particular show by up to 12-15 per cent apart from earning more add revenue, the CMO said.
The main aim of the show is to catch the executives on their way back home from office and for this the company has decided to reserve the evening slot for these shows, Mr Dutta said.
The company would also launch similar shows for women and children. PVR already has special shows for senior citizens, which is sponsored by Airtel. - PTI
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