News Broadcasting
Blockbuster, Coca-Cola announce global marketing alliance
Video-rental chain Blockbuster and Coca-Cola have announced a multi-million dollar, five-year global marketing and product alliance.
The global alliance builds on a distribution agreement the two companies have had since 1995, an official release states. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Blockbuster will continue distributing Coca-Cola products in up to 8,000 Blockbuster stores worldwide. Under the expanded agreement, Coca-Cola will purchase media assets and incentives from the home entertainment provider. The agreement also includes provisions for promotions in America.
From spring 2002, Coca-Cola will purchase space in the video company’s marketing resources, including the in-store television network and direct mail, point-of-sale coupon system.
The first national campaign, the “Steal the Scene” promotion, launches this week, the release states. It features an instant-win game on more than 90 million specially- marked packages of Diet Coke. Additionally, the promotion will extend to customers purchasing Coca-Cola at concession stands at more than 1,400 US movie theaters.
The grand prize is a star-treatment trip to Los Angeles with a walk-on movie role. Other prizes include Club Med vacations, DVD players and a year of free DVD rentals at Blockbuster, digital cameras and free diet Coke product the release states.
A new Diet Coke television ad entitled “Casting Call” has been developed to support the promotion. The ad is a continuation of the successful Diet Coke “Poetry” campaign that debuted in February. There is both a 30-second television spot and a special 60-second version for in-cinema use.
The promotion will also be supported by print and electronic media, including the Blockbuster Entertainment Network and direct mailers, as well as special packaging and point-of-sale materials.
Blockbuster is a publicly traded subsidiary of Viacom. It claims to currently have long-term partnerships with brands including Coca-Cola Company, AOL Time Warner, Daimler Chrysler, H&R Block, MCI and Panasonic.
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.
