MUMBAI: Starting today, MiD DAY introduces an all new distribution system to ensure India‘s leading afternooner is even more easily accessible to its target audience of Young Urban Mobile Professionals across India (YUMPI) by setting up vending machines in corporate offices and buildings across Mumbai, Delhi & Bangalore.This further strengthens & enforces MiD DAY‘s commitment to Engaging with the YUMPI.

The distribution system will include a combination of exclusive MiD DAY vending machines and those that are owned by Grabit, which will have a shelf for MiD DAY and also dispense snacks etc.

Machines have already been placed at offices such as 3G, I Flex, Infosys, IL&FS , Network 18, GE Capital Services, Erricsson India Pvt. Ltd, Reuters, Deutsche Bank and in corporate complexes such as Peninsula Corporate Park.

The impetus for the move comes from MiD DAY‘s strategy of engaging urban professionals within the space of their working day. In today‘s urban scenario where time is a scarce commodity, and there are multiple media vehicles and messages competing for people‘s attention, MiD DAY‘s focus has been on offering real value to both marketers and readers and being able to assess its efficacy on these parameters.

MiD DAY‘s strategic advantage of being the only major English Daily available during the afternoon hours, a space which, barring the internet and mobile, is a virgin area for media reaching executives in their offices, helps the brand in its focus on the YUMPI more fully. By adding a distribution channel that reaches directly into the audience‘s offices, MiD DAY hopes to further strengthen reader loyalty and engagement in this segment.

MiD DAY firmly believes that the YUMPI today is the most attractive audience for any advertiser, be it automobiles, FMCG, services, consumer durables, real estate, etc. A look at the YUMPI lifestyle however makes it apparent that this is a group that is very difficult to engage. As a group deprived of time and bombarded with multiple messages and media, advertising messages are more likely to be a ‘ship in the darkness‘ versus the desired ‘apple of the eye‘.

To encourage audience engagement, and create value for advertisers in the process, MiD DAY has introduced audience-relevant sections in the afternooner such as What‘s On, Fun@Work and Life@Work that provide the reader with a glimpse of how YUMPIs can make a day at work enjoyable and are in line with MiD DAY‘s mission of Making Work Fun. Sections such as Zing! are his guide to Style@Work while Hot Property guides him plan his house-hunting weekends, while Big Break gives the YUMPI opportunities for great career moves, overall adding value to his reading experience.

Says Abhijit Pradhan, Director Sales and Marketing, MiD DAY Multimedia, "MiD DAY‘s effort is to fully engage the YUMPI through content and brand experience, through below-the-line activations, constant innovations and ideas. We are looking to create value for readers and advertisers through content, experience and delivery."

"The introduction of vending machines helps us to further solidify our reach within offices during the afternoon hours, which are typically the time YUMPI‘s would take a break," he adds

MiD DAY is available in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. Launching soon in Pune.

MUMBAI: In the grand finale of Amrita TV‘s novel talent hunt ,Best Citizen Journalist, Ratheesh(28),from Kollam bagged the coveted crown .Ratheesh, a cable TV operator, fought it out with 3 other finalists in front of an invited banquet audience at Hotel Leela,Kovalam Beach,Trivandrum on June 4.

The jury panel was headed by Mr Sashi Kumar,Chairman Asian College of Journalism,and the panel comprised Ms,Sevanti Ninan,noted columnist,and media watcher,Mr. M.G.Radahakrishnan, Special Correspondent, India Today, Mr. K.L.Mohana Varma, noted novelist, and Mr C.P.Nair, IAS,Ex-Chief Secretary, Govt.of Kerala

Ratheesh as Best Citizen Journalist, won prize worth Rs 2.50 lakhs, while the second prize worth Rs 2 lakhs was bagged by Bonimol(23),social worker, and the third position went to Harish(22),a student of law.

Best Citizen Journalist, which has been acknowledged as the first television reality show to discover talent among persons not trained in journalism, had contestants in the 20-30 age-group which included a dentist,naturopath,freelance trainer and social worker.

The show which started in February 2008 as a weekday primetime programme, evolved into a highly recognised programme with insightful segments like ,Investigative Round,Environmental Issues Round,Anti-Corruption Round,Poverty Issue Round,Human Rights Issue Round and Expose Round .Running into 85 episodes,the permanent jury of the show consisted of Mr Sashi Kumar and Mr M.G .Radahakrishnan which was complemented by celebrity judges comprising eminent persons from civil services,police,media and cinema.

The grand finale of Best Citizen Journalist will be telecast on June 7 at 7 pm exclusively on Amrita TV www.amritatv.com

MUMBAI: "When everybody walks out, he is the one man who will walk in." That‘s what Manyata Dutt has to say about her husband Sanjay Dutt, on the only show that takes you behind the glamour and into the star‘s real life - Inside Bollywood with Rohit Roy. Catch superstar Sanjay sharing stories about his colourful life with Rohit Roy, accompanied by Bollywood‘s ‘Anna‘, Suniel Shetty. Both larger-than-life stars share TV screen space this Sunday, June 8, at 8:00 pm, only on Zoom, India‘s premier glamour and entertainment channel.

Sanjay speaks about moments both happy and sad. Referring to his much-publicised addiction to drugs in his youth, he recalls a time when he asked his cook to serve him something, saying he was hungry. Apparently, the cook burst into tears, telling Sanjay that the latter hadn‘t eaten in two days. He hadn‘t felt a thing. "There is nothing cool about taking drugs," says Sanjay, a true survivor who finally kicked his deadly habit. He also recalls the many hardships he has faced, and speaks about his rock solid family who always stood by him. "I am lucky to have sisters like Priya and Namrata," he says. "The only people I miss are mum and dad."

Suniel Shetty also speaks of his old friend‘s helpful nature and his not-so-publicised social work. He defines Sanjay as a man with a heart of gold, and mentions difficult times when the former supported him.

The episode also takes a closer look at Dutt‘s career - now spanning more than three decades - from hits like Vaastav, Munnabhai MBBS and Shootout at Lokhandwala, to failures like Shabd, Tango Charlie and Deewar. Speaking about his transformation from deadly Dutt to lovable Munnabhai, Sanjay agrees that the film played a significant role in his life, while creating a revolution of sorts across the country. He also speaks about the upcoming Munnabhai Chale Amrica, his fitness regimen and more.

Find out why Sanjay and Suniel received much applause from their audience this Sunday, June 8, 2008, at 8:00 pm. Only on Zoom!

MUMBAI: After a rocking Birthday Bash in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh witnessed another feast from MY FM in Indore - The MY FM Car Treasure Rally.MY FM Indore, which recently won the Best Station Launch at the India Radio Forum, organized a Car Rally on 1st June. The rally was an exhilarating, fun-filled activity aimed at creating awareness among people about Road Sense and importance of driving sensibly. The rally showcased that Indoreans were ready to help themselves as well as the authorities by being considerate about the environment and traffic.

The listeners were registered after on-air contest about sensible driving and 50 winners were invited to participate in the car rally which was flagged off by the City Mayor Dr. Uma Shashi Sharma at 11.30 AM. The participants were only provided with the flag off point and the first stoppage destination. The event had a total of 5 stoppages and participants had to reach each point within 15 minutes after listening to the announcements on air carefully as the RJs gave the directions and route plan for each stoppage point after every 15 minutes. The rally participants had to follow all traffic rules and reach the broadcasted destination on time. The listeners present en route and at destinations cheered up the Treasure Rally participants.

Speaking about the event Mr Harrish M. Bhatia, COO - Synergy Media Entertainment Ltd. Said "MY FM has always created innovative ideas to involve its listeners in meaningful yet fun activities like the Car Treasure Rally. As a radio station that prides itself in being an integral part of its listeners‘ lives, we wanted to address the issues of sensible driving in a way that was fun so we decided to do something that was exciting yet drove the point home. The participation from Indoreans proved that there are enough concerned people and that they can make a difference if provided with the right platform"

MUMBAI: "I‘m not an environmentalist. I‘m an Earth warrior."

In its constant endeavour to spread awareness about a clean and green environment and with an aim to keep Mumbai pollution free; RED FM in association with ELF Engine Oils, will be conducting free PUC Camps across 17 locations in Mumbai on the occasion of World Environment Day, on June 5. Vehicles arriving at the camp will be checked for the emission of smoke and a free PUC Certificate will be provided.

Commenting on this initiative, Akash Verma, National Activations Head and Station Head (Delhi), Red FM said, "Through our anti-pollution initiative, RED FM is taking a step towards a clean and green environment for our future generations. Bajaao for a Cause presents a socially responsive facet of our brand philosophy ? Bajaate Raho, which compels us to not only raise issues, but also drive action!"

Dr. Shubha Raul, Hon‘ble Mayor of Mumbai, said, "I appreciate the efforts of RED FM and ELF Engine Oils in preserving the environment and I urge Mumbaikars to get their vehicles checked for the emission of smoke and get a free PUC certificate."

Red FM has constantly been able to build tremendous equity and goodwill as a socially conscious radio station, continuously raising and talking about issues that affect the common man. Recently the station undertook a highly successful cleanliness drive in Delhi and a Quit Smoking campaign across various cities.

Join RED FM, as they support the green cause on

World Environment Day!

Heal the Earth, Heal Ourselves?.

MUMBAI: ‘Krazy Kiya Re‘ - the fun fulfilled musical journey on SAB is surely making big waves on the small screen. Creating fun and frolic with each whacky episode, the contestants are making music history with every performance.

Highlights of the show:

" The judges bring in a few elements of surprise with funny comebacks and connotations.

Tune in to this exciting episode filled with excitement, emotion and inevitable disappointment as one of the krazingers will be eliminated. s

Don‘t miss ‘Krazy Kiya Re‘ every Friday at 8:00 pm only on SAB.