MAM
AdFest 2014: India brings home 26 metals
MUMBAI: At the Adfest 2014 held at Pattaya in Thailand from 6-8 March, Indian agencies won a total of 26 metals, eight less than last year.
This year, McCann Erikson led the charge with 11 medals, of which three are Gold, five are Silver and three are Bronze.
JWT India and Grey Worldwide followed winning four metals each. Next are TBWAIndia and Creativeland Asia with two metals each and BBDO India, Taproot India and Linen-A Lintas Group with one each.
The most-award winning campaign by McCann was Audiobook – the William Shakespeare/Mark Twain/Oscar Wilde campaign, which received two Golds in the Print Craft Lotus category for Art direction and Best use of illustration; and for Point of Sale: small scale sub category in the Design Lotus category. The campaign also picked up Silvers in Point of Purchase – Display sub category in Outdoor; Poster sub category under Design Lotus and Best Use of Computer Generated Imagery under Print Craft Lotus. In addition to this, it also took home bronze awards in the Press Lotus category under Best of Communication Media & Publications sub category, and Best of Travel, Entertainment & Communication Media sub category in the Outdoor Lotus category.
Apart from this, McCann won a Silver each for its AIDS Awareness campaign under Media Lotus and Big Babol campaign in Best of food sub category under Outdoor. And, it won a Bronze for Rain catching Adshel campaign for Catchtherain.org in the Outdoor category.
Nike’s Parallel Journey’s campaign helped JWT India stuck Gold under Best of sports, fashion cosmetics and luxury goods sub head in Film Lotus. The campaign also got two Silvers in the Film Craft Lotus category. The Health Capital campaign for Rotract Club of Mumbai Shivaji Park in the Direct Lotus category got the agency its single Bronze.
Grey Worldwide picked up a Gold and a Bronze for Duracell Positive & Negative: Dock/Monkey campaign in the Press Lotus and Outdoor Lotus categories, respectively. For another Duracell campaign called Ageless Wonder: Music/Man/Woman the agency was awarded Silver in the Press and Print Craft categories.
Creativeland Asia’s campaign for Frooti helped the agency grab Gold in the Original music score sub category and Bronze for direction under Film Craft Lotus.
TBWAIndia won two Bronze medals for its Adidas Wall cricket campaign under External/street signs and street furniture and Guerrilla marketing sub categories in Outdoor Lotus.
Taproot India’s Times of India’s farmer suicide campaign secured finalists berth in many categories but was only able to win Silver in the Outdoor Lotus category.
BBDO was awarded Bronze for a public awareness campaign Stick It Art under Best use of ambient: small scale sub category in the Media Lotus category.
Lastly, Linen-A Lintas Group was the only Indian agency to get a bronze in the Radio category.
Brands
Tech2.com returns with AI-driven revamp to guide India’s tech consumers
News18 relaunches legacy tech platform with AI tools and expanded coverage
NEW DELHI: Tech2, one of India’s earliest and most recognisable technology news destinations, is staging a comeback with a fresh, AI-first approach aimed at modern digital consumers.
Originally launched in 2003, Tech2 built a strong following among India’s tech enthusiasts by simplifying complex innovations and guiding purchase decisions. Now, under the umbrella of Network18’s News18, the platform is being reimagined for an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping how users consume and interact with information.
The revamped Tech2 blends AI-powered tools with editorial expertise, aiming to deliver smarter, faster, and more personalised content. While the technology stack gets a significant upgrade, the platform is consciously holding on to its familiar brand identity, creating continuity for long-time users while attracting a new generation.
At its core, the new Tech2 is positioning itself as a decision-making companion for consumers navigating an increasingly complex tech landscape. From gadgets and apps to broader digital ecosystems, the platform plans to widen its editorial scope to reflect how deeply technology now influences everyday life.
A key part of its growth strategy includes expanding into multiple Indian languages, signalling an intent to reach audiences beyond metro cities and tap into the next wave of digital adoption.
The relaunch also strengthens News18’s portfolio of specialised digital properties, which already includes platforms such as CricketNext for cricket coverage, Showsha for entertainment, and Local18 for regional reporting.
With its return, Tech2 is not just revisiting its legacy but attempting to redefine it. In a market flooded with information, the platform’s success will hinge on whether it can turn AI into a genuine utility for users rather than just a buzzword.
