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Nimbus ropes in Vodafone, Imperial Blue as WSH sponsors
MUMBAI: Nimbus Sport, the marketing partner of Indian Hockey Federation promoted World Series Hockey, has roped in Vodafone and Imperial Blue as associate sponsors for the tournament which went underway Thursday.
Nimbus Sport COO Yannick Colaco said the organisers are talking to two more companies for sponsorship. The company had recently signed Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone as the title sponsor of the tournament for the first season.
“We have done one year deals with our sponsors and partners. They will have the first right to renew the deal for four more years. Once people see the proof in the pudding, they will see value in associating with the event,” Colaco said, adding that the aim is build associations with premium brands.
The organisers are targeting a viewership of 1 TVR in the first year and are hopeful that Indian team’s recent win in Olympic Qualifiers will boost interest in the tournament. He draws a parallel to the Indian Premier League (IPL) which benefitted after India won the first edition of the Twenty20 World Cup.
“In terms of television viewership we are targeting a TVR of 1. India‘s performance in the Olympics qualifiers has created interest in the sport,” Colaco asserted.
Colaco adds that advertisers associate with the event as they believe in the project. At the same time they look for ROI. He adds that the big challenge for the agency has been the politics that has been going on while issues like logistics have been taken care of.
Stated Vodafone India Sr. VP Consumer Insights and Communications Anuradha Aggarwal, “We have been associated with marquee sporting properties like IPL and F1. There is a definite upswing in terms of awareness and sentiments for our national game (Hockey). WSH has tremendous long term potential and we would like to create interesting and engaging outreach programmes for our subscribers around this property.”
Offering a media buyer‘s take, Lodestar UN COO Anamika Mehta says that the league is a good idea. At the same time over the years there has been little effort to grow the sport at the grassroots level. Mehta feels that the older TG will tune in who have watched Indian hockey in its glory days. The challenge is that youth don‘t have an emotional connect with hockey unlike leagues like the EPL in soccer.
“A lot of work has to be done to bring the youth into the game. The parties in this initiative have to be in it for the long haul. At the same time the negative publicity around the event hasn‘t helped. While clients haven‘t been extremely enthusiastic, it is the first time that the event is being held,” she says.
Mehta adds that WSH cannot be just about the event taking place once a year, contending if that happens then the buzz will die down. It is important that franchises do marketing and promotional activities regularly across the year.
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Barista partners Ginny Weds Sunny 2 with mango campaign
Cafe chain blends cinema buzz with summer menu and 20 per cent offer.
MUMBAI: Love may brew slowly, but marketing clearly doesn’t especially when coffee meets cinema and mangoes steal the spotlight. Barista Coffee Company has partnered with the upcoming hindi film Ginny Weds Sunny 2 as its official beverage partner, in a move aimed at tapping into youth culture through entertainment-led engagement. The collaboration is not just a logo placement exercise. Instead, Barista is translating the film’s high-energy vibe into its cafés with a themed summer menu titled “Main Hoon Mango”, accompanied by a limited-period 20 per cent discount on combo offerings across outlets.
Actors Medha Shankr and Avinash Tiwary feature in the campaign, seen engaging with the mango-themed menu inside Barista cafés, a visual cue designed to blur the lines between reel and real-life consumption moments.
The strategy reflects a broader shift in how consumer brands are leveraging hindi film industry not just for visibility, but for immersive, on-ground engagement. By embedding the film’s narrative into its product experience, Barista is aiming to drive footfall, especially among younger audiences who increasingly seek experiential touchpoints over traditional advertising.
Barista Coffee Company CEO Rajat Agrawal described the partnership as both a branding and growth play, focused on expanding reach beyond the existing customer base and aligning with evolving consumer preferences.
The emphasis on a seasonal, flavour-led hook mango, one of India’s most culturally resonant ingredients adds a timely layer to the campaign, aligning with summer consumption trends while riding on the film’s promotional momentum.
For Barista, the move is part of a larger positioning shift. Rather than operating purely as a coffee retail chain, the brand is increasingly framing itself as a lifestyle destination, one that intersects with entertainment, conversation and shared experiences. By integrating cinema into its physical spaces, Barista is effectively turning cafés into micro-extensions of the film’s universe, where consumers do not just watch a story unfold but participate in it sip by sip.
The 20 per cent offer further nudges trial, lowering the barrier for consumers to engage with the themed menu while amplifying recall through a tangible incentive.
Brand-film collaborations are hardly new, but their execution is evolving. Where earlier partnerships relied on co-branded ads or product placements, the current playbook leans towards immersive storytelling and retail integration.
In that sense, Barista’s “Main Hoon Mango” push is less about promotion and more about participation inviting consumers to experience a slice of the film within a familiar, everyday setting. As the film industry continues to act as a cultural amplifier, such partnerships underline a growing truth, in today’s attention economy, it is not enough to be seen brands must be experienced.
And if that experience comes with a mango twist and a cinematic backdrop, all the better.
