BBC Player and BBC Kids will be bringing hours of great British content to Indian audiences in one place for the first time, available in India as an add-on subscription through Prime Video Channels

Mumbai – July 20, 2023 – Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, and BBC Studios today launched BBC Player and BBC Kids on Prime Video Channels in India. The subscription-based service will provide Indian viewers a curated line-up of popular British content spanning from world-class original British dramas, comedy, documentaries, factual shows, entertainment to lifestyle programming and children’s shows – all on a single destination, for the first time in India. Prime members can now purchase an annual add-on subscription to BBC Player for INR 599 and enjoy full access to BBC Kids as well. Alternatively, members can also subscribe to BBC Kids only for INR 199 annually.

BBC Player will be an all-encompassing multi-genre content offering inclusive of BBC Kids, an international children’s brand from BBC Studios. Get ready to be entertained by new and old favourites! Be intrigued by crime thriller Six Four, get access to content for the first time in India such as British political thriller The Diplomat, and enjoy humorous titles such as comedy-drama Chivalry and comedy sitcom Citizen Khan. These will sit right alongside plot-driven, engrossing suspense and thriller shows such as Sherlock, Unforgotten starring Sanjeev Bhaskar, and BAFTA award winning Happy Valley. Don’t miss out on the world’s biggest motoring show Top Gear, the cliff-hanging baking battle on The Great British Bake Off and a lot more on the platform. What’s more, a documentary on Donald Trump, The Trump Show, medical comedy drama and BAFTA TV award winning This is Going to Hurt starring Ben Whishaw, mystery drama The North Water starring Colin Farrell, romance drama The Pursuit of Love starring Lily James and Dominic West, real-life experiences of London’s West Indian community in Small Axe with John Boyega, docu-series on climate activist Greta Thunberg Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World, and dance entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing, the original British version of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.

BBC Kids will offer BBC Studios’ well acclaimed kids’ shows targeted toward the age group of 0-12 years, as a separate subscription. Shows such as Hey Duggee, Go Jetters, JoJo & Gran Gran, Sarah & Duck, Junior Bake Off, among others.

On announcing the launch, Stanley Fernandes, Vice President, Distribution BBC Studios, South Asia, said, “We are excited to bring BBC Player and BBC Kids for the very first time to audiences in India. We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Prime Video to launch these subscription-based video on demand services. These brands will offer a curated, multi-genre content line-up, offering the best of British entertainment to the discerning Indian audience.  Subscribed members will gain access to some of BBC Studios’ latest hits as well as our classics shows, including our well acclaimed wealth of kids’ entertainment, all under one roof.  We have seen the success of these brands in other markets globally and we can’t wait to see the excitement in India with this launch on Prime Video Channels.”

Prime members can purchase an add-on subscription to BBC Player which also provides access to BBC Kids at INR 599 annually, or they can purchase a standalone add-on subscription to BBC Kids at INR 199 annually.

“Since its launch in India, Prime Video Channels has seen exponential growth in India with people subscribing to Channels of their choice from the length and breadth of the country. Our customers also have the convenience to access a significantly wider selection of Indian and international content through the 20 Channels. In fact, multiple global streaming services have chosen to launch and expand their reach in India with Prime Video Channels,” said Vivek Srivastava, Head – Prime Video Channels, Prime Video, India. “In sync with our philosophy of super-serving our customers with even greater choice and accessibility, we are thrilled to collaborate with BBC Studios. Their wide range of programming is highly renowned and enjoyed by audiences world over. With the launch of BBC Player and BBC Kids, Prime members in India too, will be able to enjoy their favourite British content on a single destination for the first time.”

Prime Video Channels benefits for Prime members include:

● No hassle login & billing: Customers do not have to juggle between multiple usernames, passwords and billing due dates. With Prime Video Channels, all premium content subscriptions are managed within a single destination – Prime Video apps and website.

● More time watching, less time deciding: Customers don’t have to spend time toggling between their favourite services to discover what’s new and popular. With Prime Video Channels they can browse in one place, search across all their premium subscription and get personalized recommendations. All of this without ever having to leave the Prime Video app or website.

● Enjoy your favourite features, no matter which service: Customers can enjoy IMDb’s X-Ray feature and a single consolidated watch list and download library for offline viewing. Subscribers can also manage data consumption and much more across all their premium channel subscriptions.

● More Choice: With Prime Video Channels, Prime members can access thousands of additional titles across 20 OTT services, including BBC Player, BBC Kids, Animax + GEM, Lionsgate Play, discovery+, Eros Now, DocuBay, ManoramaMAX, hoichoi, MUBI, AMC+, ShortsTV, VROTT, Acorn TV, NammaFlix, Stingray All Good Vibes, iwonder, Curiosity Stream, MyZen TV, and Museum TV.

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OMD India bags media mandate for SUGAR Cosmetics

OMD, part of the Omnicom Media Group, has won the media mandate for SUGAR Cosmetics following a competitive pitch. This partnership between the two brands will see OMD India handle the end-to-end media strategy for the leading cosmetic brand from the agency’s office in Mumbai.

Speaking of this partnership, Anisha Iyer, CEO of OMD India, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with such an ambitious brand that resonates with the pulse of new India, especially at a time when it endeavours to become a global force. Our partnership with them will see us bring the right amalgamation of innovation, creativity, empathy, and insights to create valued connections with their customers and build profitable business outcomes.”

Kaushik Mukherjee, Co-founder and COO, SUGAR Cosmetics, said, “We are very excited to partner with OMD India to deploy data-rich media strategies that will help us achieve the business goals we have set for ourselves. In today’s dynamic media ecosystem, their intelligent tech stack, agility and expertise will help us drive efficient campaigns to reach audiences across market segments. I look forward to working closely with team OMD India and building SUGAR Cosmetic’s existing position as the preferred cosmetics brand for makeup enthusiasts across the nation.”

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Air India, the country’s largest international carrier has appointed McCann, a globally renowned creative agency, as its Creative Partner. This strategic collaboration signifies a new chapter for Air India, as the airline embarks on a transformative journey to redefine its brand identity and enhance its customer experience.

McCann’s extensive experience and creative prowess make them the perfect choice to help Air India elevate its brand positioning and communicate its unique offerings to a global audience. With a deep understanding of the aviation industry and a track record of delivering impactful campaigns, McCann will work closely with Air India to develop innovative and compelling creative solutions.

The agency won the business after a multi-agency pitch.

Our McCann Global CEO, Daryl Lee, has genuinely supported and guided us. Also, support and input came in from Harjot Singh ( Global CSO) and John Wright who were an integral part of the pitch along with the stellar senior management colleagues Jitender Dabas, Alok Lall, Ashish Chakravarty, and their teams.”

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer, Air India, said, “We are building Air India as a ‘Global Airline with an Indian Heart’. This is a brand that is close to the heart of flyers around the world, and the new Air India will be a manifestation of the aspirations of the global Indian. With McCann Worldgroup as a partner, we expect to transform the brand into one of the most admired and trusted brands in India and overseas.”

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Brands2Life India, a leading communications consulting company headquartered at New Delhi, has announced its strategic partnership with Opensky Innoventure, a prominent digital media company based at Guwahati, aimed at expanding business opportunities and reinforcing its presence in North East India.

This strategic collaboration merges the agencies’ expertise and resources to augment their service portfolio and deliver comprehensive communication and marketing solutions to clients operating in the region.

Commenting on the partnership, Abhishek Katiyar, Founder, Brands2Life, said, “Our partnership with Opensky Innoventure in North East India enhances our presence and offers integrated communication and marketing solutions. By combining our strengths and resources, we strive to deliver exceptional results, drive business growth, and build lasting partnerships. Together, we aim to be the go-to agencies for comprehensive marketing solutions in the region”.

Vishal Gupta Co-Founder, Brands2life, said “Over the past few years, we have experienced an overwhelming response from the North East region. This strategic partnership will enable us to capitalize on these opportunities and drive aggressive growth. Our domain expertise and proven track record will be instrumental in successfully penetrating the market.

Likewise, Suniti Kumar Bhattacharjya, CEO, Opensky Innoventure, expressed excitement, stating, “Through our partnership with Brands2Life India, we unlock the vast business opportunities in North East India. Our comprehensive communication and marketing solutions enable clients to excel in this region, leveraging local insights and innovative strategies to thrive in this dynamic market. Together, we redefine the communication landscape in North East India”.

Brands2Life is a leading communications and marketing consulting firm in India, specializing in creating captivating brand stories, engaging target audiences, and delivering outstanding outcomes. With a strong emphasis on innovation and market insights, Brands2Life enables businesses to excel through comprehensive and impactful solutions. The company has diverse industry clients across the globe which include several fortune 500 companies. The company already has its offices in Mumbai, Lucknow and Hyderabad and operates in more than 200 cities across India.

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Healthcare Company GSK collaborates with veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan to raise awareness about shingles

Healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced a partnership with veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan to raise awareness about shingles, a painful condition that affects 1 out of 3 adults above the age of 50 years.

The campaign film evocatively captures the agonising pain caused by shingles and its debilitating impact on the people living with it. It gives an important message that it is possible to protect ageing adults against this pain through vaccination.

Bachchan expressed his thoughts on the partnership, stating, “Shingles is a known source of immense pain and is particularly distressing for senior citizens. I urge all older adults to consult with their doctors for preventive measures against shingles.”

Rashmi Hegde, Medical Director, GSK, said, “Amitabh Bachchan has been the face of several disease and vaccination awareness campaigns before, and his support has motivated people to take the required action to prevent these diseases. Today, India’s ageing population is rising, and we need to make them aware of diseases such as shingles which can impact their quality of life. We believe this will persuade more people to talk to their doctors about protecting themselves or their loved ones from shingles.”

The film has been conceptualised and executed by Lowe Lintas. The creative focus is on capturing the intensity of the shingles pain through powerful metaphors and images. The representation of pain is based on scientifically documented patient testimonies.

Commenting on the creative insight for the film, Sagar Kapoor, Chief Creative Officer (Global Brands), Lowe Lintas said, “Our challenge was to find a way to ‘show’ the unbearable pain of shingles, a sensation that can only be ‘felt’. That is why we have made use of imagery such as sharp nails piercing the body or a person getting electric shocks. We do not want to scare people, but we want to make them aware that Shingles can be extremely painful, and it can be prevented.”

Watch Campaign Video: https://youtu.be/a6rOyDzA9EA

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