Indiantelevision.com Team

(16 November 2007 1:00 pm)

MUMBAI: INX Media has roped in Vodafone, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Future Group as long term advertisers for its Hindi general entertainment channel 9X.

In an innovative concept to rope in advertisers with long term contracts, the broadcasting company has come out with a lucrative package called Club INX Partner for the brands.

Club INX Partner will have three categories of advertisers - Platinum, Gold and Silver. Vodafone, RIL and Future Group have been roped in for the Platinum category which will get supplementary advantages across the channels in terms of committed number of secondages, rate protection, privileged pricing, preferential scheduling, priority check-in, co-branded contests and a relationship manager dedicated to the account in a three-year contract.

INX Group is also close to roping in an online partner and a real estate player under the platinum category.

Gold advertisers will be on board for two years, while silver advertisers will have a one-year deal.

Says INX Media group director sales Probal Ganguly, "These three advertisers have come under the Platinum category and will enjoy several benefits. Brands under gold and silver category will get different packages. We don't want to lose out on any of our clients. Hence we have come up with customized offerings."

Vodafone new business director marketing Harit Nagpal said, "Despite the clutter in the media space, 9X, promoted by veterans of this field, comes as a whiff of fresh air. Vodafone is delighted to partner INX Media in this unique concept."

In an already cluttered TV industry and with few other channels slated for launch, Ganguly says it was important to come up with something different. "It was not easy to get these brands. We decided to come up with a transparent rate card philosophy and offered benefits to the different categories."

INX is also in talks with banking and FMCG brands to advertise on the channel.