India’s largest FM network BIG 92.7 FM, has announced Sonu Nigam as its new brand ambassador. The radio channel has also launched its new music positioning – Chillax Hits in Mumbai and Delhi. The channel promises its viewers to offer a refreshing music format which will de-stress and help the listeners to relax.

Tarun Katial, COO, BIG 92.7 FM said, “BIG 92.7 FM is introducing a new exciting music format – Chillax Hits that promises the listener an aural treat. Our new music positioning represents superlative music that is ‘easy’ to listen to, giving listeners a truly de-stressing experience, qualities which are best epitomized by Sonu Nigam. Our association with him goes back a long way, right since the inception of BIG 92.7 FM and he was the most natural choice for our brand ambassador. Sonu has offered the country some of the best Chillax Hits and has earned the respect and love of not just people in India, but from Indian’s across the world. We are delighted to have him as our brand ambassador.”

Sonu Nigam will be a part of the multi media campaign that includes Radio, Outdoor, Television, Online, Mobile and Print which will soon be launched.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonu Nigam said, “The intrinsic value of any genre of music is to relax the listener. Relaxing is a therapeutic act, and Music is the Healer. ‘Chillax Music’ from Big 92.7 FM is the healing station for today’s generation. With stress levels on the rise, ‘Chillax Healing’ is the need of the hour. I look forward to a long lasting music association with BIG 92.7 FM”

Posterscope Asia Pacific, Aegis Media’s OOH division has announced Ashish Bhasin as its new Director. Ashish Bhasin additionally also serves as chairman, India and CEO, Aegis Media South East Asia. Bhasin joined Aegis Media in June 2008 and has substantially contributed in the growth of the business.

Bhasin has an experience of 20 years in the industry. His successful career graph includes working with the top honchos of the advertising field. He worked with Lintas India and headed most of his divisions like Initiative Media India (as President), Integrated Marketing Action Group (as Director). He also additionally took the role of executive vice-president, Lowe Worldwide and Asia regional director for Integrated Marketing.

About his new role Bhasin said, “This is a great opportunity and I am looking forward to highlighting the strength of Posterscope in Asia Pacific and ensuring that our clients continue to get the absolute best from our out-of-home offering.”

Since its launch in 2008, Posterscope Asia Pacific has extended its reach across 12 cities in India and is serving almost 34 clients already.

Maruti Suzuki has roped in actor R Madhavan as WagonR’s brand ambassador. WagonR, is one of the top-selling Maruti Suzuki brands with an average monthly sale of 12,000 units, and has a customer base of 7.45 lakhs. The actor was chosen for his popularity which is not divided within geographical constraints.

Shashank Srivastava, chief general manager, marketing, Maruti Suzuki said , “Madhavan is a very geographically neutral face as he is well known across the country. WagonR’s contemporary, pragmatic and balanced brand value resonates well in his personality.”

He also adds, “Our research established that a famous face works well for a brand if both are just the right fit for each other. We feel that associating with a personality such as Madhavan will certainly reinforce the brand values of WagonR with the TG at an all-India level. Additionally, the tie-up is going to give a boost to WagonR’s KPI (Key Performance Indicators) in key Southern cities such as Bengalaru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin etc.”

The creative agency for Wagon R is Percept/H. The agency will launch an ad campaign featuring the actor with the tag line ‘Smart ideas lead the world.’

Harley-Davidson bikes will soon be ready to kick start its business in the Indian market. In sync with its launch in June 2010, Harley-Davidson Motor Company India Pvt Ltd has announced The Republic as its consultant on international brand and communication strategy. The PR and the media consultation will be taken care by Edelman, whereas the events and experiential activities will be handled by Seventy EMG.

All the agencies are experts in their respective fields. As of now, Harley-Davidson will concentrate on communication through virals, social media, website and other such forms to strengthen their bond with the Indian consumers.

An official communiqué from Harley-Davidson Motor Company India, stated, “These three agencies are already working together, having worked with us to manage the initial launch activity, including the creation of the Harley-Davidson India website and the recent Founders’ Ride in New Delhi on August 30, 2009. We have no plans to make further appointments at this time.”

The period between April-June 2009 has seen a total of 41 ads come under the scanner, reveals the latest report from The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). While six ads out of the 41 have been withdrawn, seven have undergone modification.

The ads that have been withdrawn include a television commercial for Videocon Washing Machine, Diageo and Rajasthan Patrika.

According to the report, while Videocon was unable to substantiate the claim that the products qualify to be eco-friendly, the ad for Diageo appeared to be a surrogate ad for a liquor brand. For Rajasthan Patrika, the circulation figures for NaiDunia, Indore and NavDunia, Bhopal, as mentioned in the advertisement were neither certified by ABC nor were the figures ever released by NaiDunia Media. The advertisement also intended to mar the image of competitors.

The period has also seen the discontinuation of United Spirits advertorial, a TVC for Telemax and the Hyundai Motor India ad for Verna.

Meanwhile, the ads that have undergone modification include a TVC for Surya Roshni, a TVC for Bajaj Auto and another ad from Hero Honda.

The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) has upheld eight ads for the period. These ads are still awaiting assurance from the advertisers/ad agencies ensuring that the claims will not be repeated. The CCC did not uphold 18 ads.

(Source: Indiantelevision.com)

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has announced OMD as its media agency. The council has taken the advertising route for the first time as they intend to aggressively the diamond market in India. The creative duties of the council are handled by McCann Erickson. The council’s ad spend ranges between Rs 15-20 crore.

The account was handed over to OMD after a multi-agency pitch involving Starcom and Lodestar Universal, informs a senior GJEPC official. According to the GJEPC official, the brand has always been advertising and pushing the gems and jewellery category abroad. But, after the recent ad campaigns and promotions by the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) came to an end, GJEPC took up the initiative of pushing the diamond category aggressively in India.

The Council will promote a national campaign, which will highlight the concept of a single line of diamond jewellery, titled Anant diamond jewellery. The Delhi-6 star, Sonam Kapoor is the official Brand Ambassador of the brand. The jewellery line will showcase rings, bangles, earrings and pendants with small and large diamonds.

The campaign will run for around 16 weeks, from September 2009 to February 2010. The media mix includes TV, vernacular dailies and magazines along with hoardings.

The Council has over 6500 members and primarily focuses on export markets but now aims to boost its sales in Indian markets as well.

Essel Group has appointed Atul Pande as the CEO for Essel Sports. Essel Sports has encouraged various sports initiatives like Indian Cricket League and Mumbai Football Club to promote India in the global sports arena through an all inclusive spirit of free and fair competition. Atul Pande earlier worked with Cholamandalam DBS, a financial services company as a Managing Director.

Apart from looking after the Mumbai Football Club, All Sports Magazine and ICL, he will also take care of all the new initiatives and the broadcasting business, which comprises of Zee Sports and Ten Sports.

Pande will report to Essel Group’s chairman, Subhash Chandra for Essel Sports Business and Punit Goenka, CEO, ZEEL for the broadcasting business.

Himanshu Mody, who headed these divisions in the past, has now been promoted as head – finance and strategy for Essel Group. Peter Hutton, continues to serve as Ten Sports COO.

Harbhajan Singh, the Indian off spinner has been signed as the brand ambassador by Neo Sports. He will promote his favorite sport on Neo Cricket. Singh will be part of all the media activities and promotions including events, on-ground activities and special presence in on-air shows of the channel.

Harbhajan Singh, said, “It is a privilege to be associated with Neo Cricket as their brand ambassador. We share a common passion which is cricket. The channel is bringing cricket to the homes of every Indian cricket fan. I am glad to be the medium of reaching out to the cricket crazy fans of India to promote the cricketing season on Neo Cricket.”

Harbhajan surely seems to be hooked with cricket..