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Hollywood using the Net for promotions pays off in US
MUMBAI: This is a piece of news that should give movie marketers in the US plenty to think about. Online behaviour around this year”s
summer blockbuster movie season shows that the Internet continues to grow as a major source of information, advertising and commerce.
Claria Corporation, which studies online behaviour to marketing initiatives, has put forth the results of a study conducted by its division Feedback Research. This shows that increasingly, American film buffs are buying movie tickets, reading reviews, viewing trailers and exploring interactive content online.
Feedback Research analysed the actual online traffic of Claria”s over 43 million users. The aim was to gain insight into how the success of online film-related promotions impacts summer blockbuster movie-related behaviour online. Traffic was monitored from 1 May – 30 June 2004 among moviegoers.
The visiting habits to sites of the three biggest films of the summer Shrek 2, Spiderman 2 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was checked. Feedback Research also surveyed users in the weeks leading up to each individual movie release to gauge interest and activity around these three movies.
24 per cent of the movie going respondents said that they bought movie tickets online. Of the respondents who bought movie tickets online, 71 per cent had made a purchase 1-3 times in the past six months.
Fandango was the most popular site for movie tickets with 44 per cent of people saying they have used it to purchase tickets. Movietickets.com and Moviefone.com followed with 36 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. 43 per cent of survey respondents had seen a Spiderman 2 ad online, followed by Harry Potter at 41 per cent and Shrek 2 at 27 per cent.
39 per cent of total traffic to the three official movie sites came on Fridays and Saturdays. Survey respondents cited “watching trailers” as the most popular reason for visiting official movie sites. 66 per cent of respondents went online to see the trailer for Harry Potter, 53 per cent for Shrek 2, and 48 per cent for Spiderman 2.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
