iWorld
RCB posts the coolest job ever on Naukri
Mumbai: In one of the most unique marketing ideas this T20 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has teamed up with Naukri to recruit their ultimate “Fan-in-Chief” through a quirky and hilarious selection process that gets hosted as a fun seven-episode Instagram video series, to the delight of millions of die-hard fans. The activity kicked off with RCB posting the fan-in-chief “Job” on Naukri, that’s home to millions of young professionals who of-course love the T20 league.
The first phase saw 100,000 plus fans apply for the job and now the video series promises to chronicle the auditions & selection criteria tasks in a comical manner, and ultimately revealing the chosen fan in chief. The idea was creatively constructed by Burman Sports and Naukri. It was brought to fruition via RCB’s expansive reach and distribution of their digital assets, players and scripted, directed and conceptualized by Danish Sait.
“Doing content with or for RCB is always a pleasure for me because A) I am a fan B) the franchise has such immense faith in the creative process that it lets one be free. Naukri as well has had such an open minded approach to the whole journey that my team and I truly enjoyed penning this one down” Danish Sait
The job description is anything but conventional, emphasizing skills such as crafting quirky chants that rhyme with player names (yes, even Mahipal Lomror!), and possessing adequate forearm strength to shake Virat’s protein shake. With humor as the cornerstone, the campaign aims to engage fans at every turn.
As the campaign goes live, Naukri EVP & head of marketing Shail Gaurav said “We wanted to tap into the T20 craze in a fun way but with an idea that could uniquely, unmistakably, only be from Naukri. Finding the sweet spot between our core proposition “Jobs” and T20 with a partner like RCB is what makes this so special & resonant with the younger audience base”
RCB’s diehards went buck wild, more than 100k job applies and hundreds of fan reels bombarding @naukridotcom displaying their undying passion and loyalty towards their favourite team.
“We are delighted to partner with Naukri for this innovative campaign. This collaboration offers fans an exciting opportunity to engage with RCB and we are looking forward to a successful association together.” commented Royal Challengers Bengaluru VP and head Rajesh Menon.
It’s a first-of-its-kind product & content integration facilitated by Burman Sports.
“Rather than offering Naukri a conventional sponsorship deal, we presented an innovative concept aimed at resonating with fans while upholding Naukri’s value proposition. Kudos to the team at Naukri for playing bold.” said Burman Sports founder Shiv Burman.
Do not miss any moment of this whacky chase for the ultimate Royal Challengers Bangalore “Fan-in-Chief”! Stay tuned to @naukridotcom and @royalchallengers.bengaluru for a wild ride!
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
