Brands
Puma expands experiential retail concept in India
NEW DELHI: Global sportswear brand PUMA today announced the launch of its entirely remodeled stores at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad and Pacific Mall, New Delhi. Spread over 4200 sq ft and 3800 sq ft, respectively, it seamlessly combines technology, sports and experiential retail under one roof. This also marks the launch of the brand’s first PUMA SELECT shop-in-shops in India to range exclusive global designer collaborations.
PUMA India and southeast Asia general manager Abhishek Ganguly said, “In line with our efforts to continue to enhance customer experience, we are thrilled to launch two completely redesigned stores in India. With health, fitness and sports becoming a priority for many, we believe Sportswear is poised to grow significantly in the future. Our stores will continue to be a key touchpoint – offering a more interactive and personalised experience. Remodeling key PUMA outlets only reinforces our commitment to engage and serve our customers better. All our stores will prioritise safety of every visitor and team members. We will strictly follow established guidelines in this regard in our daily operations.”
The stores feature digitally connected offerings, personalisation zones and futuristic product range. Incorporating experiential elements from the PUMA flagship store at 100 Ft Road in Bengaluru, key highlights include:
PUMA x YOU: The customisation studio allows consumers to customise and personalise PUMA footwear, apparel and accessories using embroidery and print. The on-demand personalisation offers over 100 quirky and fun design options to choose from.
PUMA SELECT shop-in-shop: Fusing performance with culture and fashion, this premium product line will feature the brand’s latest global collaborations with streetwear labels and designers like The Hundreds, RHUDE and Charlotte Olympia among others.
Updated retail concept: The design is captivating with clean lines and a very modern look and feel. Taking the consumer on an intuitive shopping journey, the elevated layout and display like illuminated footwear walls focus on the products to ensure they demand attention, stand out and resonate with the consumer.
Interactive retail experience: Consumers can now access all PUMA products at the touch of a button. The interactive screen allows them to virtually scan through the entire PUMA range and not limit their selection to styles or colors available at the store. Thus, allowing them to place an order directly from the warehouse and have it shipped to their home.
Hygiene and safety are brand’s biggest priority. All PUMA stores have implemented the required protocols to ensure enhanced hygiene measures and social distancing norms are followed. Some of these measures include:
A cap on the maximum number of consumers inside the store at any given point
Contactless payments and billing
Hourly sanitization of store fixtures including cash desk, trial rooms, door knobs and hangers
Contactless temperature screening at the store entrance
Making masks mandatory
Sanitizing hands at the entrance and at all touchpoints across the store
Demarcated areas/ layouts that allow for social distancing within the store
Brands
TV bills on the rise: JioStar, Sony, and Zee crank up prices by 10 per cent
Broadcasters tune into higher tariffs as JioStar, Sony, and Zee reveal new prices
MUMBAI: If you were hoping for a cheaper night in front of the telly next year, you might want to look away from the remote. India’s broadcasting giants are flipping the script on pricing, with JioStar, Sony, and Zee all tuning into a new frequency of higher tariffs. Ahead of the 2026 financial year, the Big Three have released their updated Reference Interconnect Offers (RIOs), signalling a collective push that will see most monthly bills rise by roughly 10 per cent.
The synchronised move suggests that broadcasters are testing the price elasticity of their audience. In simpler terms, they are betting that your love for daily soaps and live sports is stronger than your annoyance at a slightly lighter wallet.
Sony is making a particularly bold play in the High Definition space. If you enjoy the crispness of Sony Entertainment Television HD or Sony SAB HD, your monthly bill for those channels will jump from 25 rupees to 30 rupees. The same 30-rupee price tag now applies to their sports heavyweights, including Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 3 Hindi, and Sony Sports Ten 5.
However, Sony is also expanding its horizons. Fans of regional content have new arrivals to look forward to, provided they are patient. Sony Sports Ten 4 Kannada is slated for an April 2026 debut, while Sony Vizha and Sony Vizha HD are expected by June. By August, Sony Telugu and Sony Telugu HD should be live. To keep customers sweet until then, Sony is offering “proportionate discounts.” For instance, the Happy India 2026 Smart Tamil bouquet, normally 42 rupees, will cost just 29.91 rupees until the new Vizha channel officially joins the party.
On the standard definition front, Sony is keeping its “strategic mass price” at 19 rupees for big hitters like Sony Max, Sony Marathi, and Sony Aath. Smaller channels see minor tweaks: Sony Max 2 is nudging up from 2 rupees to 3 rupees, while Sony Yay! sits at 6 rupees and Sony Max 1 remains at 5 rupees.
Zee Entertainment is also getting in on the act with a comprehensive 10 percent hike. Their flagship Standard Definition channels, such as Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee Marathi, Zee Bangla, Zee Sarthak, Zee Kannada, and Zee Tamil, are all locked in at 19 rupees. Interestingly, they have matched this 19-rupee price point for many of their HD versions too, including &TV and &Pictures.
For those who prefer the all-you-can-eat bouquet approach, Zee’s All-in-One Hindi SD pack has risen to 58 rupees. Their Marathi and Bangla packs are now 64 rupees, while the Southern trio of Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu SD packs will set you back 85 rupees. If you want those same Southern packs in glorious HD, the price climbs to a steeper 131 rupees. Zee is also shuffling its deck by exiting English entertainment but entering the sports arena, with Zee Cafe and &flix seeing price adjustments to 7 and 8 rupees respectively.
JioStar is perhaps the most aggressive of the bunch when it comes to regional favourites. While they have kept core Hindi staples like Star Plus, Colors, and Star Gold at 19 rupees, they have pushed premium regional channels like Asianet, Colors Kannada, Vijay TV, and Maa TV up to 30 rupees. This move is significant because any channel priced over 19 rupees cannot be included in a discounted bouquet, meaning fans of these channels will have to buy them separately, potentially driving up the total cost of a monthly subscription.
Even the youngsters aren’t spared, with kids’ favourites like Nick SD and Nick HD+ now priced at 19 rupees. As we head towards April 2026, the ball is now in the court of the cable and dish operators. They must decide how much of these increases they can swallow and how much they will pass on to the person holding the remote. For the average viewer, the message is clear: premium content is getting a premium price tag.
