MAM
Agencies invited to tender for BBC Media Services
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC has begun the first stage in its search for a media agency for combined services.
Two BBC business areas have joined together for the first time to invite expressions of interest in an initial three-year contract for media strategy, planning and buying services.
The move – bringing together the BBC‘s Marketing and Audiences and Licence Fee Units – will improve financial efficiencies across the corporation while retaining a focus on quality and creativity.
Announcing the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) for the tendering process, director of media engagement and marketing and audiences North Simon Lloyd, said that the successful agency would be required to work closely with the BBC‘s Media Engagement team to assist in the media planning and buying of all non-BBC media.
Agencies will be asked to demonstrate strong digital and specialist media capabilities as part of the ?5m to ?6m annual contract.
“The type of media bought by the BBC has changed over the last few years, with a steady rise in digital space and outdoor media. More than half of the media bought by BBC Marketing & Audiences last year was digital, giving us the opportunity to communicate with our audiences using display and mobile channels,” Lloyd said.
BBC TV Licensing Head of Sales and Marketing Peter Kirk welcomed the joint tender across BBC Divisions, in a move which is intended to improve value for the licence fee payer.
“The appointed agency will be required to negotiate and buy media for the Licence Fee Unit across paid-for media channels including display, video-on-demand and search marketing,” Kirk added. “We‘ll be looking for an agency which demonstrates an understanding of BBC and TV Licensing strategic objectives and a solid commitment to achieving value for money”.
The appointed agency will be required to plan and buy media for TV Licensing in close partnership with BBC strategic agencies.
Successful media agencies are invited to complete and submit a PQQ by 25 January 2012. A short list of agencies will be selected and invited to formally tender for the business in March 2012.
Brands
Nodwin Gaming appoints Sonal Varma as global director of live events
Former Comic Con India VP to scale global gaming and pop culture experiences
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has appointed Sonal Varma as global director of live events, bringing on board a seasoned architect of fan communities as the company accelerates its global push in gaming, esports and youth culture.
Varma steps into the role with more than 15 years of experience creating large-scale fan experiences and cultural platforms. She is best known for her long stint at Comic Con India, where she most recently served as vice president and helped transform the convention into one of the country’s most recognisable pop culture gatherings.
At Nodwin Gaming, Varma will lead the strategy, design and execution of the company’s global live event initiatives. Her mandate includes expanding flagship intellectual properties and developing new formats that bring gaming communities together across emerging markets.
Over the years, Varma has been closely associated with building and scaling community-led events such as Comic Con India, Geekly and the Indian Cosplay Championship. Her work has focused on turning niche fandoms into thriving cultural ecosystems by blending entertainment, creator culture and brand partnerships.
Her appointment comes at a time when Nodwin Gaming is expanding its international events footprint through properties such as DreamHack India, NH7 Weekender, Comic Con India and the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series. The company has also been growing its presence across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa through esports tournaments, gaming festivals and fan conventions.
Nodwin Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee, said Varma’s experience in building fan-centric platforms would play a key role in the company’s next phase of growth.
“Sonal brings a deep understanding of how live experiences can bring communities together around gaming and pop culture. As we expand our global live events footprint, her experience will help us create experiences that feel authentic and meaningful for audiences across markets,” he said.
Varma said the scale of opportunity at Nodwin Gaming made the move particularly exciting.
“Joining Nodwin Gaming at this moment feels incredibly exciting because the canvas is so large. There are new audiences, new markets and new formats waiting to be explored. I’m looking forward to working with teams across the network to create live experiences that celebrate gaming culture while staying rooted in the communities that power it,” she said.
Over the past few years, Nodwin Gaming has built an ecosystem that stretches across competitive gaming, creator communities, music festivals and youth culture platforms. With Varma now leading global live events, the company is looking to further expand its flagship properties while experimenting with new formats that blend gaming, entertainment and fandom for audiences around the world.
