MAM
JWT, Starcom bag creative & media duties for Hungama
MUMBAI: UTV has finalised JWT as the creative agency and Starcom as the AOR for its kiddies channel Hungama TV which is set to launch in August this year. Industry estimates say that the mid-size account could be anywhere in the range of Rs 80 – 100 million.
“We decided on JWT for their strategic approach and creative inputs. The agency displayed exemplary understanding of the brief. And Starcom won us over with their out of the box approach and innovative media selection given that the media vehicles themselves are limited for a broadcast product,” says Hungama TV vice president content and communications Shalini Rawla.
“It was a very focused brief and a clearly differentiated product. As we discovered, most of us are still kids at heart and we had a terrific time working on the pitch. I believe some of our passion came through in our presentation. We look forward to lots of excitement on this account,” said JWT general manager and senior VP Tarun Rai.
“This was one pitch where the agency and the client minds matched one hundred percent. Many of our recommendations were also based on our proprietary framework Passion Group Marketing. We believe this year will be to Kids’ channels what last year was to News. Hungama TV has all the right ingredients and the roadmap to emerge as the leader in this segment. Naturally, we are happy to be part of the action,” Starcom MD West and South Ravi Kiran.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com about what gave them an edge over Mediacom who was also involved in the pitch, Kiran said, “We gathered child related insights from eight to ten markets around the world and found out how children consume and look at media. And our presentation was based on that. I think that’s what gave us the advantage.”
Brands
Uidai partners with Google to help users locate Aadhaar centres
Verified Aadhaar centres to appear on Maps with services and access info
MUMBAI: Finding an Aadhaar centre may soon be as easy as finding your favourite café. In a move aimed at making public services more accessible, the Unique Identification Authority of India has partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps. The feature, expected to roll out in the coming months, will allow residents to locate verified centres quickly and confidently.
More than 60,000 Aadhaar centres, including state of the art Aadhaar Seva Kendras, will be mapped. When users search on Google Maps, they will be directed to authorised facilities rather than unverified listings, helping curb misinformation and confusion.
The listings will do more than drop a pin. Users will be able to see the nature of services offered at each centre, whether it is adult enrolment, child enrolment, or limited to address and mobile number updates. Details such as operating hours, parking availability and divyang friendly infrastructure will also be shown wherever applicable.
Uidai CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, said the collaboration is part of the authority’s continued effort to improve ease of living for Aadhaar holders by making authorised centres simpler and faster to navigate.
The partnership will deepen in its next phase, with Uidai using Google Business Profile to manage information and respond directly to public feedback. Looking ahead, the two organisations are also exploring the option of enabling appointment bookings through the Google Maps interface, potentially allowing residents to plan their visits with greater efficiency.
Google India country head, strategic partnerships Roli Agarwal, said integrating verified Aadhaar centres would help millions access trusted services with confidence, bringing essential government infrastructure closer to the people who need it most.
If all goes to plan, a routine Aadhaar update may soon begin not with a queue, but with a search bar.
