iWorld
Four out of every five readers look for festive offers in the newspaper
Mumbai: In the age of digital, consumers still look to The Times of India group publications for brand and sale offers re-iterating the fact that the print medium is still the best for discovery. And the festive season is no exception. With the stock markets at all-time high and many categories seeing healthy growth, brands are banking on the festive season to achieve their best performance of the year.
In its third edition, “Times Wishlist” was back this year asking the most important questions for the festive season. “Times Wishlist” is a one-of-a-kind campaign that asks consumers questions about their purchasing behaviour during the festive period.
This year was our most comprehensive analysis yet, with questions about not just what they want to buy but when they buy, where, and what sources influence their decisions. Emerging as the most popular choice, four out of five readers turn to newspapers for festive deals and offers and three in four prefer to shop in physical stores.
A whopping 56 per cent of readers are looking to buy consumer durables this year, while 48 per cent are in the market for mobile phones. 33 per cent of people looking to buy mobile phones, intend to spend over Rs. 40,000 on the same. More than half of the readers who want to buy a car are planning to spend more than Rs. 20 lakhs.
There is also a lot of excitement around the regional festivals, with around 69 per cent of readers in Kolkata looking forward to Durga Puja making festive purchases, while over 35 per cent in Ahmedabad will be shopping during Navratri.
It is now up to the brands to use these valuable insights to make their move, as there is a captive audience waiting.
Gaming
Konami concludes successful eFootball India campaign
Campaign featuring Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and other stars boosts engagement ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
MUMBAI: When cricket meets football in the virtual world, even the biggest fans can’t help but score and Konami’s latest eFootball campaign in India has clearly hit the back of the net. Konami Digital Entertainment has successfully wrapped up its India campaign for eFootball, which brought together cricketers Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy, actors Naslen Gafoor and Chandu Salim Kumar, and footballers Sahal Abdul Samad and Shubhasish Bose. The multi-star campaign generated strong excitement across gaming, football, and creator communities through social content, fan participation, and in-game engagement.
Building on the initial launch that featured a limited-time Lionel Messi card, the campaign united fan communities, lifestyle creators, football creators, and competitive eFootball influencers. It significantly expanded the game’s visibility and deepened engagement with fans across the country.
The campaign also saw thousands of entries submitted as part of its social media engagement challenge, reflecting high levels of community enthusiasm and active creator involvement.
Looking ahead, Konami plans to build on this momentum with more eFootball experiences for Indian fans as the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches. With global attention on the tournament set to rise, India will remain a key market for deepening community engagement and bringing fans closer to the action.
In a country that lives and breathes sport, Konami has shown that mixing real-world stars with virtual thrills is a winning formula leaving fans eagerly waiting for the next goal.
