MAM
Interest in royal wedding stays high
MUMBAI: The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge, may be one of the most awaited events of the year, but couldn‘t quite beat the charm of Diana getting married to Prince Charles in 1981.
The event was watched by nearly 27 million viewers in Britain, which is way short of 28 million viewers that tuned in to see the Prince Williams‘ parents getting married.
In the UK, BBC was the overall winner with 20 million viewers, followed by ITV with 6 million, and Sky News at 661,000.
The numbers are substantial, and just marginally ahead of Only Fools Christmas special from 1996, which raked up 24.4 million.
Meanwhile, an average of 22.8 million total viewers in the US tuned in to the nuptials from Westminster Abbey in London, according to Nielsen. The event was carried by eleven stateside networks: ABC, CBS, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, BBC America, CNN, E!, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and TLC.
This number is way behind the viewership of February‘s Super Bowl, a record total of 111 million.
The tame numbers were a surprise given the predictions from some newspapers in the UK of a rating blowout. Some reports had even claimed a worldwide viewing of 3 billion — a target that would now appear outlandish.
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
