MAM
NDTV Media, MSN India poised to ink ad sales deal
MUMBAI: Trust him to pull it off and marketing whiz Raj Nayak has done it once again. This time, he’s shaking hands with MSN India for an undisclosed multi-million dollar deal to sell space on the portal.
According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, NDTV Media, which is spearheaded by Nayak as its chief executive, is poised to ink an agreement with MSN India (part of Bill Gates’ widespread infotech empire) to sell and market advertising space for the latter.
Considered to be one of the biggest deals in the Indian advertising and marketing industry, the NDTV Media-MSN India pact, according to industry sources, could range anywhere between $ 1 million to $ 3.5 million.
NDTV Media, a working joint venture between Nayak and the Prannoy Roy-promoted NDTV Ltd, would end up getting 15-20 per cent commission from selling space for MSN India. The present industry norm is that the ad concessionaires get 15 per cent as fee.
The mandate for space selling of MSN India, reportedly, was being handled by another television company along with another outfit till now.
Pursued by Indiantelevision.com on the MSN-NDTV deal, which has set the local industry abuzz with excitement, Nayak today refused to commit himself to any details saying, “It’s too premature to comment on the issue.”
However, industry sources insist that the agreement is on course and it’s only a matter of time before it is made public soon. Two other big agencies were also in the fray, amongst others.
Marketing and ad sales company NDTV Media was set up after Nayak left Star India in 2003 and later joined forces with Roy who was then in the process of establishing his news channels, NDTV 24X7 and NDTV India.
At present, NDTV Media looks after the ad sales and marketing activities of the existing NDTV channels, apart from other similar activities that Roy’s company undertake in India and abroad.
In a rare interview to Indiantelevision.com in January 2004, when asked about the agenda of NDTV Media, Nayak had said, “Once that is done (establishment of NDTV channels), one of our priorities is to then look at what are the other things we want to do. Doing similar kinds of work – sales, marketing, research, programme syndication, events for other channels, which are not in competition with NDTV.”
MSN India seems to an extension of the aforementioned belief.
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
