iWorld
NGC US teams up with VOD service provider Akimbo
MUMBAI: This is an initiative that sees National Geographic in the US trying to leverage the strength of emerging digital media delivery platforms.
American company Akimbo Systems which claims to be the first company to deliver digital-quality video-on-demand (VOD) to any television through a broadband-Internet connection has announced a deal with National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F).
NGT&F has joined a list of companies that provide video programming for the Akimbo Service. Akimbo offers consumers a video-on-demand (VOD) service that is delivered to televisions via the Internet and allows consumers to create their own personal television experience.
The Akimbo Service will be offering a selection of titles from National Geographic’s library consisting of 25,000 hours of adventure, science, natural history, current affairs and cultural programming. In addition, feature films will include Inside the Pentagon,, Ambassador: Inside the Embassy, Egypt: Quest for Eternity and 21 Days to Baghdad.
Akimbo CEO Josh Goldman said, “The National Geographic brand is recognised and respected worldwide. Movies and documentaries from their vast library represent the type of A-level programming that makes the Akimbo Service unique. Now, Akimbo users can access these informative and educational programmes on demand.”
The Akimbo Service works with the Akimbo Player. This is a set-top box that can store up to 200 hours of video, and provides consumers with viewing controls such as pause, rewind and archive. The Akimbo Player has an onscreen programme guide and a customised remote control. The Akimbo Player utilises widely adopted technology for playback including Windows Media 9 technologies for audio and video compression, and digital rights management.
e-commerce
ITC Sunfeast, Zepto host mango-themed experiential ‘Paglu Party’
Event blends Alphonso desserts, DIY sessions and interactive formats
MUMBAI: When mango season peaks, some savour it others go full ‘paglu’. ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations, in collaboration with Zepto, turned summer indulgence into an immersive brand experience with its ‘Mango Paglu Party’, a high-energy, mango-themed event designed to blur the line between dessert and discovery. Built around the brand’s ‘Mad Over Mangoes’ universe, the space leaned into a sensory overload bright, playful and unapologetically mango-drenched. From curated installations to social-first corners, every element was designed to be as shareable as it was experiential.
At the centre of the celebration was the fruit itself, elevated into a menu crafted using fresh, carbide-free Alphonso mangoes sourced by Zepto. The spread ranged from a flaky Mango Pista Kouign Aman to Mango Coconut Serradura Pudding and a Mango Mascarpone Cake, balancing indulgence with seasonal freshness.
But this was not a passive tasting affair. Guests were drawn into the experience through interactive formats, including a DIY dessert session led by the brand’s chef, where attendees created classics like Mango Tres Leches. Zepto chief business officer Chandan Mehndiratta also joined the session, adding a touch of brand personality to the proceedings.
A quirky highlight came in the form of the ‘Aam Paglu Prescription’, a playful, doctor-themed concept that positioned mango indulgence as the only “treatment” worth taking, turning a simple insight into a memorable activation.
The event built up to a theatrical finale, with the crowning of the ‘Aam Paglu of the Day’ followed by the cutting of an oversized mango-shaped Mango Mascarpone Cake, closing the experience on a high note.
More than just a seasonal showcase, the Mango Paglu Party reflects a broader shift in brand storytelling, where products are no longer just consumed, but experienced. For ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations and Zepto, mango season was not just about flavour, it was about creating a moment that audiences could step into, engage with and, quite literally, devour.
