MAM
WPP’s Broadmind Ent to acquire new film for TV channels
NEW DELHI: In an effort to leverage the strength of its expertise in providing integrated marketing solutions using opportunities in the entertainment sector, WPP Group’s Broadmind Entertainment is expanding its operations to include synergistic areas.
While speaking to indiantelevision.com, Broadmind Entertainment head Navin Shah said: “We are constantly evaluating the opportunities in our endeavour to provide clients with innovative and optimal marketing solutions in the entertainment space. We broadly categorise our operations into ten activities: marketing tie-ups, in-film product placement, consultancy, celebrity endorsements, acquisitions of movies for Doordarshan (DD) and private satellite channels, advertising sales, exports of filmed content, events, merchandising and marketing services (media planning/buying) to Bollywood”.
Shah added: “However, we are not an advertising agency to the film industry and we consciously stay out of the creative inputs area.”
With more brands seeking the entertainment marketing platform, Broadmind Entertainment is strategically placed and poised to capitalise on this strong trend. Already a dozen clients from WPP Marketing Communications’ large base of 250 plus clients have experimented successfully with the idea of leveraging entertainment assets to grow brands.
They include ICICI Bank, Kellogg’s, Pidilite Industries, UB/McDowells, Hindustan Lever, Onida, Castrol among others. Many new clients are expected to join the growing ranks of advertisers who are keen to harness the power of entertainment to grow brands.
Broadmind Entertainment is also re-entering the market to acquire films for DD and private satellite channels. Twelve films have already been bought and screened on DD National Network including ones from Jhamu Sughand library and Yash Johar library among the others.
“We had bought DD and satellite rights for this movie Filhaal where we tied-up with broadcasters for advertising time in return for allowing them to telecast the film. The advertising time was liquidated using the large base of WPP Marketing Communications clients. Broadcasters are relieved since it saves them some investments in programming which can be diverted to producing prime time programming. We are negotiating with producers for telecast rights of forthcoming films and hope to announce a deal or two shortly,” added Shah.
Broadmind Entertainment was recently associated on a multimedia project for Bagpiper for the recently released Hindi movie Andaaz. Broadmind had worked on similar assignments for two movies earlier this year – Dum and Hero with Bagpiper. BroadMind Entertainment was also instrumental in producing India’s first 3D commercial for Fevicol Acron Rangeela which was screened along with the 3D film Chotta Jaadugar.
BroadMind Entertainment is a specialist arm of the Rs 15-billion WPP Marketing Communications, India’s leading media specialist company. Other units of WPP MCI include Mindshare, Fulcrum, Maximize, ATG-MCI, mDigital and CIU.
Brands
UP govt, HGS unit to skill one lakh youth in digital push
MoU targets jobs, training and future ready talent across state
MUMBAI: Government of Uttar Pradesh has joined hands with OneOTT Intertainment Limited, the broadband arm of Hinduja Global Solutions, to train one lakh youth, signalling a fresh push towards jobs in the digital economy.
The memorandum of understanding, signed with the Employment Department Uttar Pradesh, aims to bridge the gap between skills and industry needs while opening up employment pathways for young people across the state.
The agreement was formalised by principal secretary, labour and employment, M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram and whole-time director, Hinduja Global Solutions and MD and CEO, OneOTT Intertainment Limited, Vynsley Fernandes, in the presence of labour minister Anil Rajbhar.
Under the partnership, OneOTT Intertainment Limited will roll out training programmes, workshops and knowledge-sharing platforms designed to equip youth with skills aligned to a rapidly digitising economy. The initiative will also include research inputs, technical guidance and policy-level support to ensure effective execution.
Principal secretary, labour and employment, M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram, said, “This collaboration will help align skill development programmes with actual industry needs and prepare the youth of Uttar Pradesh for emerging opportunities in the digital services sector.”
Hinduja Global Solutions whole-time director, and OneOTT Intertainment Limited MD and CEO Vynsley Fernandes said, “India’s progress is closely linked to strengthening the capabilities of its young workforce. At HGS, we see skills evolving alongside technology, and partnerships like this help build a stronger digital ecosystem.”
The state government will facilitate coordination across departments and institutions, ensuring the programmes reach the right audiences and deliver measurable outcomes.
As digital infrastructure expands and technology reshapes job markets, initiatives like this are positioning skill development not just as training, but as a gateway to opportunity for the next generation.
