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Ad inventory for India-Australia series sold out
MUMBAI: India‘s poor performance on the home soil notwithstanding, the ad inventory for the India-Australia Test series has completely been sold out.
Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the series, has roped in 12 sponsors for the series that includes two-wheeler automobile major Hero MotoCorp as joint-presenting sponsor.
Tata Teleservices and Havells are the other two joint-presenting sponsors while Maruti Suzuki, Nokia, JK Cement, Max India, Panasonic India, Bharti Axa, Samsung Camera, Perfetti and Karbonn Tablet are the associate sponsors.
Hero which was the official on-ground sponsor of Indian Premier League (IPL) and ICC events, had decided not to renew deals for these two properties. The company had also pulled out of its sponsorship of iconic IPL team Mumbai Indians.
Star Sports spokesperson said, “ We are completely sold out for the India Australia Test series. In fact, over the last 2-3 days we have said no to multiple clients who were keen to leverage the forthcoming test series because we don’t have any inventory left with us.”
Platinum Media CEO Basabdutta Chowdhury said that the ad rates for the series fall in the range of Rs 55,000-65,000. Joint-presenting sponsors are paying Rs 40 million each while the associate sponsors are forking out Rs 30 million.
“The rates for a England, Australia or a South Africa are on par while there is a premium attached to an India-Pakistan series,” she said.
The first Test will be played in Chennai from 22-26 February, second at Hyderabad from 2-6 March, third at Mohali from 14-18 March and the last will be played at Delhi on 22-26 March.
MAM
Raymond Lifestyle appoints Kalpana Singh as CMO
20-year HUL veteran to lead marketing and brand growth from 5 March 2026.
MUMBAI: Raymond Lifestyle just stitched a marketing masterstroke because when your profits are feeling the pinch, you bring in someone who knows how to make brands irresistible. Raymond Lifestyle Limited has appointed Kalpana Singh as chief marketing officer (CMO), effective 5 March 2026. She will report to the CEO and join the senior management team, leading marketing strategy, brand development and customer engagement across the company’s fashion and lifestyle portfolio.
Singh brings 20 years of experience in brand building, consumer insights and category strategy, largely from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). Most recently she served as marketing director at HUL, driving integrated campaigns to strengthen brand positioning and customer engagement. Her earlier roles at HUL included Personal Care Business Group Director for the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa region, and Brand Development Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Russia and Turkey. She holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The appointment arrives as Raymond Lifestyle navigates a challenging quarter. Consolidated net profit fell 33 per cent year-on-year to Rs 42.86 crore in Q3 FY26 (from Rs 64 crore in Q3 FY25) and dropped 44 per cent sequentially from Rs 75 crore in Q2 FY26. The company cited headwinds in its international business, particularly garmenting and B2B exports, due to higher US tariffs causing deferred orders and margin pressure.
The company is focusing on brand repositioning, innovation in marketing and deeper consumer connections to support growth in India’s fashion and lifestyle market.
In an industry where every thread counts, Raymond Lifestyle isn’t just adding a CMO, it’s weaving fresh vision into the fabric, hoping the right marketing stitch turns the tide one campaign at a time.
