MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media‘s Hindi music channel Mix has signed carriage deal with the leading direct-to-home (DTH) operator Dish TV.

With the development, Mix has become the highest distributed music channel on DTH platforms. Apart from Dish TV (#672), it is now available on Tata Sky (#709), Airtel Digital TV (#388), Videocon D2H (#565) and Reliance Digital TV (#709). Post its launch, MIX has successfully established itself as a channel for pure Hindi film music.

Apart from the extensive and exciting library of Hindi songs from all eras, the channel aims to be a destination dedicated to music and all that belongs to it. While the in-house produced shows, ‘Once Upon a Time? Kabhie Kabhie‘ & ‘MIX Musicians‘ creatively use songs to tell stories and biographies, ‘Yun Bana Ye Song‘ gives insights into the heroes of Indian music industry through its host, award winning lyricist - Swanand Kirkire. As per the current viewership, for the past 15 weeks MIX has enjoyed the healthiest ‘time spent‘ figures and intends to keep improving that.

Commenting on the availability of the channel in digital services, Neeraj Vyas, Executive Vice President & Business Head - MIX said "We are pleased to announce the launch of ‘MIX‘ on 5 biggest pan-India direct-to-home (DTH) services. The DTH industry has witnessed tremendous growth in the past few years and this association will only help us reach out to a much larger audience. We hope that the new audience will also enjoy our pure film music channel and give it the same warm welcome that we have received so far from our viewers on existing platforms."

Rajesh Kaul, President - TheOneAlliance MSM Discovery said ‘We are extremely happy to announce the availability of MIX on all leading DTH services beyond its healthy presence on some of the biggest analogue platforms. We could not wish for a better timing keeping in view the ongoing Digitsation push in India. The channel has already carved out a niche for itself making its place in the hearts of several Hindi music fans. We hope that this association will help Mix, which is already becoming a fast favorite, reach out to more and more music lovers in the country setting new milestones in the music industry."

Mumbai: The landmark year witnessed a revolution in the English Movie Channel category with the launch of MOVIES NOW - India?s First HD English Movie Channel. The channel from The Times Television Network bouquet celebrates its first successful year on 19th December 2011.

Since inception, the channel aimed at challenging the existing status quo in the industry. It has not only dominated the ratings but has also catapulted the entire category viewership by a whopping 50% with an increase in GRPs from 50 to 74 points:

• A phenomenal increase in the reach from 46 million to 56 million viewers!
• An incredible increase in the TSV (Time Spent per Viewer) from 42 minutes to 55 minutes!

Month on month with consistent top deck ratings, MOVIES NOW, the proverbial new kid on the block has now firmly established itself as a leader in the English Movie Channel Category.

MOVIES NOW is the first 24 hour HD channel to launch in India for the discerning viewers. Today, the channel boasts of setting a high audio-visual quality benchmark for all channels hereby creating a new wave in the industry. The TAM ratings for the past 51 weeks (week 52, 2010 - week 50, 2011) across 8 metros are a strong affirmation of the channel?s leadership in the English Movie Channel category. With a relative channel share of 30% across all 8 metros and unrivalled performance in 1mn+ towns, all India & across time-bands, MOVIES NOW is the clear favourite of the audiences. *(Source: TAM, TG: CS 15-34 AB, All 8 Metros, Period: wk 52 ?10 - wk 50 ?11)

Congratulating on the channel success, Mr. Sunil Lulla, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Times Television Network said, ?Times Television Network is committed to deliver distinctive brands to its viewers and advertisers. MOVIES NOW has made a break-through on both fronts by redefining the viewing experience with its stunning picture quality and awesome surround sound experience. We congratulate our audience and our partners on being an integral part of this success!?

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ajay Trigunayat, Channel Head, MOVIES NOW said ?We had a clear mission for MOVIES NOW when we launched last year to bring a stellar brand to the viewers. The past one year has
been nothing less than a dream come true for all of us. I want to thank all our support groups: from our audiences who are our biggest critics, to our distributors and our business partners. We at MOVIES NOW are working towards ensuring that the product is even more entertaining for our viewers, so that we are loved more and watched more.?

With its superlative content and packaging, MOVIES NOW is the best partner for brands seeking urban affluent audiences! With over 200+ brands already advertising on MOVIES NOW, the channel has become one of the most sought after channels in the country. MOVIES NOW offers the highest Reach & TSV across all English Channels!

MOVIES NOW has always led by example and has been a pioneer of many FIRSTS. From its library led movie collection to innovative programming, from its zany promotional teasers to its reach, the channel has always had the foresight to offer its viewers something that never existed in the English Movie Channel Category. This strategy was backed with the zest of exploring potential markets. Apart from having a homogenous distribution across all 8 metros, MOVIES NOW has also partnered with all DTH platforms ? Tata Sky, DISH TV, Airtel Digital TV, Videocon D2H, Reliance Digital TV, and Sun Direct for a wider audience reach.

On the road ahead Ajay further elaborates ?MOVIES NOW will augment its phenomenal reach by enhancing Digital availability. Also, we are looking at aggressively increasing our reach from all metros to the 1 million + markets. We at MOVIES NOW have always believed that the English Movie Channel Category is a mass product and are continuously expanding the viewership base.?

MUMBAI: Lowe Lintas, one of India?s largest and most storied communication groups has won a staggering number of new accounts across the country this year. In just the first 9 months of this year, the agency has signed on 80 new clients; and with 3 months left to go this year, is hoping to cross the 100 mark for the year. Lowe Lintas has won these businesses across the country - in both metros and non-metros; and in advertising and in specialist communication fields like PR, Healthcare, Rural and Design.

So while wins for Lowe Lintas? advertising division include names like DLF, Suzlon, 3M, Tata Interactive, Birla Ultratech, Videocon D2H, GE Healthcare, UIDAI, Muthoot Pappachan Group and Expedia; its specialist PR division, LinOpinion?s wins include businesses like Tourism Victoria, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Samsonite and Times Now. Lowe Lintas? specialist Healthcare division, LinHealth?s wins include Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Sun Pharma; its specialist Rural Communications division, LinTerland has been signed on by Johnson & Johnson and Nokia.

Speaking on this performance, Joseph George, CEO, Lowe Lintas India said, ?I personally believe that the tremendous equity that Lowe Lintas enjoys is under leveraged. Which is why, we set ourselves an aggressive growth target for 2011 and simultaneously went about putting in place an ?enabling eco system?. I am happy to say that the first 3 quarters have been spot on plan; with every win making everyone across levels and functions hungrier the subsequent quarter. What is equally gratifying is that we have been able to win businesses across not just diverse categories, but also across all our offerings ? Lowe, LinOpinion, LinHealth, LinTerland, LinProductions, LinTeractive and dCell.?

Editor?s Notes: Lowe Lintas is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Interpublic Group, and one of the star offices in the Lowe+Partners network. Besides advertising, Lowe Lintas India offers holistic marketing services that include Public Relations, Corporate Identity and Design, Digital Solutions, Direct Marketing and CRM, Rural Communication, Branded Content, Healthcare Communication and Film Production. Employing over 650 people across eight cities in India, Lowe Lintas is the agency that gave the country its very first Indian television commercial, and is today a household name synonymous with exceptional communication platforms. Its client portfolio includes both long standing relationships with companies such as Hindustan Unilever, Idea Cellular, Tata Tea, Johnson & Johnson, Dabur, Bajaj Auto, ICICI Life Insurance, BPCL, Britannia, Maruti Suzuki, Titan, Tanishq, MRF and new successful partnerships with Havells, Micromax, ET Now, Tata Croma, Hindustan Times and Axis Bank.