News Broadcasting
BBC’s Asian Network launches extensive marketing campaign
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has announced that Asian Network will launch its biggest marketing campaign next week across television, radio and online.
The New Sound Of Asian Britain campaign launches on 4 February 2008 and profiles the network’s passion for the best in Asian music and culture.
The BBC TV trail creates a new musical soundtrack, composed specially from many shorter musical scenes layered and looped together. It mixes modern influences like drummers and DJs with more traditional Asian sounds and instruments including Bollywood singing.
This reflects the range of Asian music played on Asian Network, and how new Asian talent is championed and different styles are fused together.
The campaign features Asian Network’s (and BBC Radio 1’s) award-winning Bobby Friction, hip hop turntablist DJ Kayper, rapper Mumzy and Bhangra singer H Dhami.
While hard-hitting journalism, like the award-winning Asian Network Report, is still central to the station’s output, playing the best in Asian music from across the UK and around the world is key to the station’s programming.
The campaign is made up of:
– a 30-second TV brand trail;
– two 10-second TV appointment to listen trails;
– an online game where fans can “mix their own desi track”;
– an online banner campaign;
– radio trails.
Said Asian Network Andy Parfitt acting controller, “The Asian Network campaign shows how music has been developed on Asian Network into a key part of the station’s identity. Music talent like Bobby Friction and DJ Kayper illustrate perfectly what Asian Network offers its young audience.”
Friction says, “Our listeners want to hear the best Asian music, new and old. Asian Network is all about supporting this music plus the up-and-coming artists, and you can’t get this great Asian music as deep, and on tap anywhere else. Taking this message to TV is huge and hopefully fans of Asian music will come and sample what’s on offer.”
The campaign consolidates a year of massive change for Asian Network and one where it celebrated Bobby Friction winning a Sony Gold Award in 2007 for his 10 pm specialist music show Friction.
Creative agency Fallon devised the concept for this campaign. Red Bee acted as production company with Guillaume Delaperriere as Creative Director (aka Giovanni Sample).
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
