MUMBAI: Star Movies continues to scale new heights with 52 weeks of sustained leadership in the English Movie category. We celebrate this occasion in television history, as Star Movies continues being the preferred destination for English movie viewers.

As a category leader, Star Movies enjoys 29% more viewership than its nearest competitor and commands a relative share of 36 per cent. HBO follows with a relative share of 28 per cent while Pix and Zee Studio stand at 13 and 9 per cent respectively.

Commenting on this occasion, Saurabh Yagnik, GM, English Channels, Star India said, ?We believe that our leadership has been acquired through our deep insights on consumer tastes and behavior. Every aspect of our programming, marketing and scheduling has the viewer needs at the centre and this is how we maintain our leadership?.

Star Movies? exciting programming highlights include the biggest Hollywood releases such as Twilight and Wolverine to much loved film festivals such as ?For the Love of Bond ? The James Bond festival? and prestigious film industry events such as the Oscars thus making it the preferred choice for viewers.

MUMBAI: Deep Impact is a 1998 science-fiction disaster-drama film released by Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks in the United States on May 8, 1998. It was directed by Mimi Leder and stars Elijah Wood, T?a Leoni, Morgan Freeman and Robert Duvall.

Deep Impact was a major financial success, grossing over $349 million worldwide on a $75 million production budget.

A young man who‘s part of his school‘s astronomy club sees something in the sky that is not known. So they take a picture of it and send it to their adviser who, upon seeing it, jumps into his car and crashes. A year later a reporter who‘s investigating why a member of the President‘s cabinet resigns upon speaking with him says he wants to be with his family. Later she‘s brought before the President who asks her to keep what she knows under wraps for now. Later at a Press Conference, the President announces that a year ago that two astronomers discovered something; a comet. And eventually that it course will take it to earth but the problem is that the comet is so big that if it strikes it will cause what is known as an Extinction Level Event which will wipe out all life on the planet. And he announces that for sometime the government along with a few others has been building a vessel that will send to intercept the comet. The reporter then asks the President if the reason why his Cabinet member resigned is because he doesn‘t believe the plan will work. The President assures them that they have thought it out carefully. In the meantime the young man who found the comet is being hailed as a hero. And the crew who‘s going to stop the comet makes their farewells to their families.
 

MUMBAI: Webchutney‘s ‘Inside the Mind of the Wired Car Buyer is an exclusive report which provides substantial evidence to help auto marketers understand and leverage the impact of internet on Indian consumers‘ decision-making and purchase behavior. It maps consumers‘ attitude, usage and perception of internet and influence of the medium in driving purchase-decisions, along with its impact on increasing ‘consideration‘ for brands.

Based on a survey of 2024 consumers, the report presents deep insights into the shift witnessed in the traditional car buying process. 72% online car intenders refer to internet as their primary source of information on cars and owing to its ability to provide precise and detailed information, internet clearly emerges as a preferred choice for wired consumers.

Today the Indian consumer is spoilt for choice and car dealer‘s control over influencing purchase decisions of prospective or ‘in-market‘ buyers as the initial point of reference for information is fading. The report indicates that owing to the depth of information available on the net, consumers who are online today are far more likely to have decided which car to purchase much before entering the dealer‘s showroom.

The report explains the dynamics of current auto marketing strategies and highlights the need to change them keeping in mind changing consumer habits. Typically, while friends and family play an important role in influencing Indian consumers‘ purchase decisions, a substantial chunk of this network is actively engaging in brand conversations online. The report highlights that 62% people have shared vehicle related experiences across the online platform such as consumer review websites, blogs, social networking sites etc.

Commenting on the release, Sidharth Rao, CEO, Webchutney, says," Internet has fundamentally transformed the way the consumers behave today. ‘Inside the Mind of the Wired Car Buyer‘ aptly captures this change, concurrent to which is the change in auto consumers‘ information needs. It‘s time for auto marketers to raise the bar and expand the range of their online executions to pursue today‘s ‘connected‘ consumer. "

MUMBAI: Text 100, a leading global PR consultancy, has promoted David Lian to APAC Social Media Practice Lead. He will be responsible for providing senior consultancy on social media communications to Text 100?s offices and clients throughout Asia Pacific, sharing the latest insights and trends, and developing service offerings in conjunction with Text 100?s global social media leadership team. David, who formerly held the position of ASEAN Social Media Strategist, will split his time between client service delivery, new business development, thought leadership and internal training.

?As a digital native who has spent his entire career in Asia, David truly understands the nuances of this diverse region. It was a natural progression for him to take on this expanded role and provide leadership for our consultants and clients across Asia,? said Jeremy Woolf, Global Social Media Practice Lead, Text 100.

A core member of Text 100?s global social media leadership team, David will lead a team of 13 social media specialists across Asia whose mandate is to ensure Text 100?s 500 consultants are equally adept at both digital and more traditional communications consultancy.

?David will build on his ASEAN expertise to provide consultancy to clients across Asia Pacific on how best to navigate their complex markets, ensuring their communications programs appropriately use social media channels,? added Mr. Woolf.

David has worked in the public relations industry for more than seven years, consulting with blue chip clients on social and traditional media strategies. He?s delivered award-winning social media programs including the Nokia Insider blogger outreach program (Technology Campaign of the Year, Malaysia PR Awards 2008) and the DiGi Telecommunication?s DiGi Broadband launch (Gold Campaign of the Year, Technology Campaign of the Year, Consumer Launch of the Year, Malaysia PR Awards 2009)

?I?m looking forward to expanding my remit and helping our clients across Asia Pacific embed social media into their businesses rather than simply using social channels for standalone marketing activities. Social media touches more than marketing ? it influences all aspects of business - and it?s exciting to help drive this change,? said David Lian. ?A large part of this role is to encourage our clients and staff to be curious, continue to experiment and be willing to take risks.?

David is based in Text 100?s Kuala Lumpur office. He will report to Jeremy Woolf, Text 100?s Global Social Media Practice Lead, who has overseen the agency?s APAC Social Media Practice for several years.

MUMBAI: Whistling Woods International (WWI), Asia‘s largest Film, Television, Animation & Media Arts Institute has added two coveted feathers to its cap recently. The Hollywood Reporter, one of the leading trade publications of the International entertainment industry has featured the Institute in its list of ?The Best Film Schools in the World?. In addition, the Institute is now the youngest candidate member of CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cin?ma et de T?l?vision), the most prestigious international association of Film & Television Schools.

The ?Best Film Schools in the World? feature mentions the institute along with other established names across the world such as La Femis in France (founded 1986), Baden-W?rttemberg Film Akademie in Germany (founded 1991) and the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Italy (founded 1935).

CILECT aims to provide a means for the exchange of ideas among member schools and to help them understand the future of education for creative personnel in Film, Television and related Media. With this association, Whistling Woods International now has access to an incredible network of reciprocation and knowledge-sharing.

Ms. Meghna Ghai Puri, President, Whistling Woods International said, ?We are proud that we are the only institute from Asia which has been ranked on equal terms with reputed institutes worldwide by the Hollywood Reporter. It gives me immense pleasure that at a nascent stage of our existence, we have been successful in establishing the Institute as the preferred choice for students opting for film and media studies.?

This double-whammy of achievements has further cemented Whistling Woods International?s position as a leader in providing world-class education. Within a short span of time since its inception, Whistling Woods International has established itself as a leading Internationally recognized institute. The institute continues to scale greater heights and aims to be the institute of choice for media education globally.

MUMBAI: ?Issue centric movies excite me,? revealed Bipasha Basu, while speaking of her upcoming release Aakrosh, to ETC Bollywood Business host Komal Nahta. The dusky beauty, who plays a school teacher, doesn?t want to swing back into ultra-glam roles. ?I want to stretch my limits as an actor,?revealed Bips. So are her ?Bidi Jalai Le? days over? ?I did Bidi Jalai Le because of Vishal (Bhardwaj). I earned a lot of money from it!?

On her relationship with John Abraham, the Bengali bombshell revealed,?I can be emotionally dependant on a man but not economically ??

Bipasha Basu, who completes, 10 years in Bollywood, is quite confident with er new look and signs off saying, ?I am proud of my self?

Catch more of Bipasha?s candid confessions on ETC Bollywood Business on 16th September, Thursday at 8:30PM on channel ETC.