Mumbai: The Board of Directors of the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council (USPBC), an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, today announced the election of P. Miles Young, Worldwide CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, as the Council?s new chairman. Young succeeds Jay Collins, vice chairman, Global Banking, Citigroup, who has served as chairman since 2006. The Board also elected A. Salman Amin, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Pepsico, as vice chairman. Amin succeeds Najeeb Ghauri, chairman and CEO, Netsol Technologies.

?As worldwide chief executive officer of Ogilvy & Mather, one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world, Miles brings a wealth of leadership to the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council,? said Esperanza Jelalian, executive director of the USPBC. ?Having served as a member of the Board of Directors, Miles has provided expertise and guidance in advancing the Council?s policy agenda. At this pivotal moment in U.S.-Pakistan relations, USPBC is truly fortunate to have someone of Miles? experience, insight, and vision to lead the Council?s efforts to strengthen the U.S. economic and commercial relationship with Pakistan.?

Ogilvy & Mather?s association with Pakistan began more than 30 years ago when they created an international campaign for Pakistan International Airlines. Ogilvy entered the Pakistan market through an affiliation agreement with Interflow Communications in August 1987 and in April of 2007, Ogilvy & Mather Pakistan was born through a joint venture with Interflow. It now ranks as one of the leading creative agencies in Pakistan. Ogilvy has raised more than $100,000 to aid victims of the 2005 earthquake in northern Pakistan and tens of thousands of dollars more for victims of the 2010 flood in Sind and Southern Punjab.

?We are indebted to Jay Collins for his dedication to USPBC over the past six years,? Young said. ?I would like to thank Jay for his outstanding leadership and contribution to the Council?s mission and advocacy agenda. I am honored to serve as chairman of the Council, an organization uniquely positioned to promote the bilateral economic and business relationship. I look forward to working with the Board to strengthen relationships, establish partnerships, and further involve the private sector in contributing to Pakistan?s economic growth and social development.?

The U.S.-Pakistan Business Council is the premier organization in Washington dedicated to the broad advancement of U.S. commercial engagement in Pakistan. Since 2002, the Council has provided a national forum for dialogue on key economic, commercial, humanitarian, and political issues of interest to American companies operating in or exploring business opportunities in Pakistan.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world?s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

Mumbai: McDonalds redefines lunch in India, with yet another value offering to its customers and a reason enough to start the New Year with a smile. Milestone Brandcom, a leading and fastest growing integrated OOH brand communications agencies in India, creates a dramatic announcement of the offer with meticulously planned teaser followed by a reveal communication & special reinforcements announcing the offer hours everyday.

Under the McValue - Super Lunch Super Deal offer any one can enjoy one Burger, one Coke and one Fries pack for Rs.55/- in Mumbai.

"The communication strategy put into practice Out-of-Home was to first tease & excite the audience about ?something? that McDonalds was up to, and about to change with ?Lunch will never be the same again? message," said Hanoz Patel, Founder Member & Managing Partner at Milestone Brandcom. To build up the anticipation until the offer launch, we installed a 36-hour reverse timer showing hours, minutes & seconds on 3rd Jan 2012 until it zeroed in at noon on 5th January 2012.

The offer so great needed a rather dramatic reveal approach, for which the agency employed a bell ringer to ring in the new offer on a giant bell installed on mobile billboard & hoardings at some of the prominent & busiest junctions in the city like Mahim Causeway, Peddar Road junction, etc. The giant bell was rung at an interval of every 1-hour between noon & 3pm on the day of the offer launch and continued for the entire campaign period.

"In addition to just creating awareness of the offer with the reveal campaign, we also went the extra mile to bring further reinforcement around the offer hours everyday between noon & 3pm". A giant clock was mounted on a hoarding, showing people the actual time; and when the clock would strike noon, 1, 2 & 3pm the arms would point to a Burger, Coke & Fries conveying the McValue Offer hours in the simplest but innovative ways. A reminder alarm was also set for every hour between noon & 3pm everyday, for the entire campaign period.

The campaign was executed across 6 cities including Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad & Baroda. A media plan encompassing 310 media touch points spread well across a selection of formats covering high traffic & footfalls along arterial roads, neighbourhood proximity and transit media & junctions. The media touchpoints comprised of - billboards, unipoles, gantries, bus shelters and display boards inside high footfall density stations.

"Since it was an offer starting midday, the plan was heavily skewed towards morning traffic movement for better recall for action relevant to the midday offering." added Patel.

Commenting on the campaign, Rameet Arora, -Senior Director Marketing (West and South) - Mc Donald?s India, said, "It?s always exciting to be doing innovation. It?s the difference between a good and a great campaign. I believe the work done on out of home in Mumbai was a critical success factor in a most successful launch."

Mumbai: For the last few days, people across the nation have been anguished by the traumatised condition of the two year old abandoned and battered baby Falak. Despite fighting innumerable indignities and courageously fighting the odds previously, the present condition of the child remains critical.

In support of the cause and aiming to give a new ray of hope to Baby Falak, NewsX in association with Fortis Healthcare has come forward with an initiative, ?A Home For Falak ? The NewsX ? Fortis Healthcare Challenge?. Through this campaign, NewsX and Fortis Healthcare invite people to express their support and care by donating for Falak?s future. In support of the same Fortis Healthcare will match the donation raised by the public. So for every rupee sent, Fortis will match the amount and hence the donation will be doubled! The money collected will go into a special account and be given to the person or organisation given charge of Falak.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Jehangir S. Pocha, Co Promoter NewsX says ?We?ve brought people Falak?s story and now we want to help people help her. It feels great for all of us at NewsX to use the power and outreach of media for good."

Viewers can confirm their participation by logging on to www.newsx.com or by sending their contributions through a cheque or demand draft favouring ? INX News PVT. Ltd. ? For Baby Falak? on NewsX?s office address: INX NEWS PVT. LTD., B-4, SECTOR 3, NOIDA-201301. You can also write to us at homeforfalak@newsx.com for getting more information.

So go ahead -it?s time for all of us to come together and be counted in order to give little Falak a better future!

NEW DELHI : BloombergUTV, India?s premier business news channel?s business reality show THE PITCH ? SEASON 2 has been won by Bengaluru-based Rajeev Pathak, Founder and CEO of eDreams Edusoft and will be awarded funding upto Rs. 5 crore by Mumbai Angels.

Mr. Harsh Mariwala, Chairman and Managing Director, Marico Ltd., who judged the final round, speaking on the occasion said, ?It?s been a fascinating experience to engage with the future change makers of the society. It was great to see that the business models were not only creative but also had a social value to them. India?s growth story will be strengthened by bright, young entrepreneurs like these who combine creativity, strategy and ?giving back to society? to fortify the Indian market place". Harsh Mariwala, Chairman & Managing Director, Marico Limited added on Rajeev?s business model, ?Rajeev?s business model was very innovative and he is leveraging on a social need; that of shortage of teachers, where there is a need to actually reinforce learning and making it fun. It?s a total package which was appealing".

Rajeev Pathak, speaking on his victory said, ?It?s obviously a great feeling to win on such a huge platform, and I would take this opportunity to thank BloombergUTV for providing a platform like ?The Pitch? which encourages entrepreneurship in India. But what I am even happier about is the great friends I made on the show. Each one was a winner in his/her own right. Interacting with great business icons like Mr. Ronnie Screwvala, Mr. Rajiv Bajaj, Mr. Harsh Mariwala and all others was like a dream come true for all of us. Each round had an icon from a completely different industry and that made the task all the more difficult and challenging.

?Mr. Deepak Lamba, Business Head ? BloombergUTV, said, ?My heartiest congratulations to Rajeev Pathak for winning the Season 2 of THE PITCH. As India?s premier business news channel, BloombergUTV not only aims at keeping a close eye on the domestic and international business environment for its viewers but is also actively involved in showcasing the vast entrepreneurial talent hidden in different parts of the country. I am sure Rajeev will put his funding to good use and take eDreams Edusoft to greater heights.?

Rajeev, through eDreams Edusoft, aims to improve the life of every child, globally, through studentcentric disruptive technology innovations. Rajeev?s team has built a patent pending product, ?FunToot?, an intelligent personal tutor that observes, assesses, diagnoses, interacts, encourages and helps every child depending upon the child?s multiple intelligence and other characteristics.

THE PITCH SEASON 2 saws industry stalwarts like Ronnie Screwvala of UTV Group, R Gopalakrishnan of Tata Sons, Ajay & Sanjeev Bijli of the PVR Group, Rajiv Bajaj of Bajaj Auto, Mahesh Bhupathi of Globosport, Neeraj Roy of Hungama.com, Ranjit Yadav of Samsung India, Rahul Akerkar of Indigo chain of restaurants, Surinder Kapur of the SONA Group and Harsh Mariwala of Marico Ltd. put the contestants through some tough tasks to test their business acumen, ability to be a team player, innovative thinking, sense of fair play and mental strength. Each episode of THE PITCH was judged by one industry stalwart at the end of which one contestant was eliminated.

Mumbai: Don?t talk to anyone. Don?t touch anyone. Beware the air around you. A deadly virus is mutating its way around the world in ?Contagion?, releasing on Blu-ray and DVD on January 17th from Reliance Home Video & Games. Featuring an ensemble cast of Academy Award? winners and nominees, this critically acclaimed thriller tells the story of the infectious paranoia and fear that accompany the spread of a lethal virus.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh from an original screenplay by Scott Z. Burns (?The Bourne Ultimatum?, ?The Informant!?), ?Contagion? brings together a stellar international ensemble cast featuring Academy Award? winner Marion Cotillard (?La Vie en Rose?, ?Inception?), Oscar? winner Matt Damon (?Good Will Hunting?, the ?Bourne? films), Academy Award? nominee Laurence Fishburne (?What?s Love Got to Do With It?, ?The Matrix?), Academy Award? nominee Jude Law (?Cold Mountain?, ?Sherlock Holmes?), Academy Award? winner Gwyneth Paltrow (?Shakespeare in Love?, ?Iron Man?) and Oscar? winner Kate Winslet (?The Reader?, ?Titanic?).

Summary: An international traveller reaches into the snack bowl at an airport bar before passing her credit card to a waiter. A business meeting begins with a round of handshakes. A man coughs on a crowded bus... One contact. One instant. And a lethal virus is transmitted. When Beth Emhoff (Paltrow) returns to Minneapolis from business in Hong Kong, what she thought was jet lag takes a virulent turn. Two days later, she?s dead in the ER and the doctors tell her shocked and grieving husband (Damon) they have no idea why. Soon, others exhibit the same mysterious symptoms: hacking coughs and fever, followed by seizure, brain hemorrhage... and ultimately, death. The numbers quickly multiply as the contagion sweeps across all borders, fueled by the countless human interactions that make up the course of an average day. A global pandemic explodes.

As the death toll escalates and people struggle to protect themselves and their loved ones in a society breaking down, one activist blogger (Law) claims the public isn?t getting the truth about what?s really going on, and sets off an epidemic of paranoia and fear as infectious as the virus itself.

Contagion is considered as one of the best movie made to date, about an epidemic. The film is enthralling, even as the tale becomes more and more dire, with scores of millions dead and societal upheaval imminent. The circumstances depicted in Contagion are terrifying, but the power with which the film is made blends the horror, as only the best art can, with beauty.

Mumbai: According to the TAM reports of week 3, 2012 (TAM India: CS4+ Males, Punjab 1 Mn+) BIG CBS Spark Punjabi, has acquired the top position amongst competing channels with shows such as Jerry Springer (Jerry Di Adaalat), Hawaii Five-O (Veer Hawaii De), America?s Next Top Model (Amreeka Di Next Top Model), Masked Warriors ? an international wrestling format (Zabardast Kushti), amongst others, all dubbed in Punjabi. The channel, which also features a judicious mix of Punjabi music, international dubbed movies and local programming in Punjabi, has resonated well with this specific audience. BIG CBS Spark Punjabi, which is a category creator from the Reliance Broadcast Network Limited and CBS Studios International JV is positioned as the first International Punjabi Channel.

Targeting the 15+ audience, the channel features the best of CBS content all dubbed in Punjabi, giving local audiences immediate access to world class entertainment. The channel is available across

Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh (PHCHP) region and is distributed on digital and analog platforms, with an extensive reach of over 6mn+ C&S households in the region.

According to the 3rd weeks, 2012 TAM report, BIG CBS Spark Punjabi with 39 GRPs has surpassed the channels like 9X Tashan, ETC Punjabi & MH1. The show Kadi Te Has Bol Ve ranks no.1 in the comedy Genre with 2.36 TVR. Also, the 4:00pm Monday ? Friday time band that airs Zabardast Kushti has been garnering the Best TVR of 2.36 in the sports genre. Prime Time shows like Amreeka Di Next Top Model, Jerry Di Adaalat etc have attributed to the channel?s success thus identifying the entertainment preferences of its target viewers and providing fresh and engaging content.

With RBNL?s existing leading radio brand 92.7 BIG FM, reaching 22 cities in the region and its OOH arm BIG Street?s 3000+ ambient media options across the markets, BIG CBS Spark Punjabi will offer marketers an integrated media opportunity like none other in the region. The channel is being supported by an integrated marketing plan leveraging multi-media. Added to this will be the media muscle of the entire Reliance Group.