News Broadcasting
India TV’s ‘Breaking News’ showcases German company marketing tissues bearing images of Lord Krishna and Rama
New Delhi, February 22, 2006: India TV has brought to light a German company marketing tissues with pictures of Lord Rama and Krishna on it. India TV took up this issue in its program ‘Breaking News’ on February 21, 2006 at 9:00 p.m. The story has evoked tremendous response from viewers and also within the Parliament.
The company, Sniff Tissues Paper Products Design (PPD), is based in Germany. Sniff Tissues Paper Products Design (PPD), is manufacturing novelty tissues bearing the images of Lord Shri Rama/Krishna and the Virgin Mary and distributing them worldwide. The manufacturers have refused to pull them from the shops because they believe they appeal to people for “fashion reasons.” The National Council of Hindu Temples complained to the company that the products were very unacceptable and offensive, and encouraged people to “blow their nose on holy images.”
The German company replied that in their opinion these tissues are used as accessories and for fashion reasons and furthermore many young people, Christians as well as people from other religions, are interested in the Hindu belief and the tissue might support this interest. “We have a great response for these products. Young people really like It because Virgin Mary and Lord Krishna have become cult characters, not because they make fun of them. On the contrary they start to think about religious things again. So we attract attention but in a positive way.”
Sniff tissues acknowledged that the products may have caused offense. “We’d like to express our apology if we hurt anybody’s feelings, but because of the reasons above-mentioned we won’t stop producing or selling these products.”
The travel-size tissues were pulled from sale in the Victoria and Albert Museum gift shop (London) recently after pressure from various Hindu organizations. The tissues were also found in South America, Wales and other parts of the world.
Viewers have entrusted India TV to responsibly take up issues pertaining to day-to-day lives. In response to that trust, India TV has consistently been examining issues that touch people’s live. Past undercover operations conducted by the channel include one on the casting couch in Bollywood; on blood banks; on the illicit trade in human eyes; on the cloning of mobile phones; and on police brutality.
The details of the company as we understand are as follows:
Paper Products Design (PPD)
PR Department
Michael Neunfinger
Am Hambuch 4
53340 Meckenheim
Tel: 02225-9935-45; Fax: 02225-9935-35
E-Mail: m.neunfinger@paperproductsdesign.de ; http://www.ppd.tv
For Further Information please contact:
Santanu Gogoi
Corporate Voice | Weber Shandwick
212, Second Floor,
Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III
New Delhi – 110020, INDIA
Tel: +91-11-26936834 (main)
Fax: +91-11-26936836
Mobile: +91-98-104-24271
santanu@corvoshandwick.co.in
www.webershandwick.com
News Broadcasting
News18 India to air Sabse Bada Dangal on 4 May counting day
Channel promises fastest results, live trends and analysis across five states.
MUMBAI: Ballots will do the talking and screens will do the shouting. As counting day approaches for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, News18 India is gearing up for an all-day broadcast of its flagship election show, Sabse Bada Dangal, on 4 May from 6 am onwards. The Hindi news channel plans to deliver continuous, real-time updates as votes are tallied, combining live counting data with on-ground reporting and studio analysis. With political fortunes set to shift through the day, the coverage will track every swing, surge and surprise as trends turn into results.
The broadcast will feature a mix of senior political leaders, analysts and experts, offering instant reactions and decoding the evolving electoral picture. Expect heated debates, quick takes and detailed breakdowns as the numbers settle across all five states.
For News18 India, counting day has long been a high-visibility moment. The network is banking on its reporting reach, editorial bandwidth and technology-driven coverage to stay ahead in what is often a fiercely competitive news cycle.
With multiple battlegrounds and shifting narratives, the day promises both drama and data in equal measure. And if all goes to plan, Sabse Bada Dangal will once again turn the counting of votes into prime-time spectacle.
