MAM
Vivaki Exchange bags Indian Badminton League’s media biz
MUMBAI: VivaKi Exchange, a division of TLG India, has bagged the media mandate for Indian Badminton League (IBL) following a multi-agency pitch.
The $1-million IBL is a joint venture of Badminton Association of India (BAI) and Sporty Solutionz.
VivaKi will offer IBL not just traditional media but transcend into social and newer forms of digital media.
The account is estimated to be worth around Rs 25 crore in the inaugural year.
Hailing this association, BAI president and MP Akhilesh Das Gupta said, “The Indian Badminton League aims to bring long-term benefits for the players and will usher in a new era in the sport. We welcome VivaKi on board and hope this association will take badminton to new heights.”
Sporty Solutionz CEO Ashish Chadha said, “The world‘s biggest badminton league demands the maturity, size and depth for national and international launch and VivaKi posses the requisite skill sets. We are extremely pleased with the vibrant approach and enthusiasm of the entire VivaKi team.”
VivaKi Exchange CEO Mona Jain said, “Of late, sports category has seen a massive upward swing, largely due to plethora of sports channels and coupled with Indian accolades internationally. Badminton is undoubtedly the fastest-growing sport in the world and enjoys a massive following in India after Saina Nehwal‘s exploits in the 2012 London Olympics. I am sure IBL will be seen as a viable destination for large spending advertisers, who want to maximise their spends on media through sports this year.”
“Working on sports leagues is the most challenging part. We are thrilled on this appointment and with our bandwidth we will build IBL as the most lucrative sports property in India,” VivaKi Partnerships Unit COO Tarun Nigam added.
The inaugural edition of the IBL will be held from August 14-31. Almost all the top players of the world, including India‘s badminton players Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta, Parupalli Kashyap, Ashwini Ponnappa, and PV Sindhu have confirmed their participation in the League.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
