Cartoon Network Enterprises will be launching branded consumer products of kids entertainment television channel POGO in October 2006. The first phase of the POGO merchandising programme will commence with the launch of POGO Wheels, a high-performance toy.

Erehwon, an organisation engaged in imparting the mantra of innovation, has built up an impressive clientele. Asian Paints, ESPN-STAR Sports, Gillette, Hero Honda and Wipro are some of the companies that have imbibed Erehwon’s innovation techniques. The company is now seeking to expand to Europe.

Percept Profile has bagged the Nissan global LCV account following a competitive global multi-agency pitch. The new contract is on a one-year retainer basis and will cover countries such as Japan, Europe (Italy, France, Spain, UK), China and Mexico.

Himanshu Saxena, former Associate Vice-President at IMRB, is joining McCann Erickson as Vice-President and Business Director from September 1, 2006.

STAR News has announced a new auto show called ‘Top Speed’ that will be aired every Sunday at 5.30 pm. The show is a complete handbook for auto lovers that will offer a weekly dose of the latest on the newest cars and bikes.

Mauj Telecom, Mobile2Win, MakeMyTrip.com, People Group and Drishtee are some Indian IT companies that are featured in the second edition of Red Herring Asia 100 Award. The Awards recognise top 100 Asian tech companies on the basis of technology innovation, market size, customer acquisition and financial health.

Rajeev Sharma from Ogilvy One, Mumbai has put in his papers and will be joining as Head of Digital Solutions at Tribal DDB, the digital arm of Mudra, from September 1, 2006.

Huntsman Advanced Materials, best known for super glue Araldite, is planning to further strengthen its hold in the global market by launching new products and a new marketing strategy in India.

Following its successful marketing deal with ‘Krishh’, Percept’s film marketing arm, P9 Integrated, now seeks to repeat the success with Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’ (KANK). P9 has developed a co-branded promo spot for KANK and Compaq Presario based on the common premise that both are about relationships.

Sessions 1 and 2 on Day One of the 3rd EM2 Forum featured some though interesting discussions on film and TV marketing as well as the relation between brands and entertainment.

Day One of the 3rd Annual Entertainment and Marketing Forum – EM2 – had industry experts talk about entertainment as it is today and where it will be in the next few years. The forum is being organised by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India to provide stakeholders in the entertainment, media and marketing business means of discovering synergies and identifying new revenue streams.

Marketing, business communications and PR consulting group, Priority Consulting, and advertising and design services agency, Beehive Communications, have launched a 50:50 JV called Beehive Priority Consultants Pte Ltd. The JV is a specialist PR and communications firm that will offer 360-degree consultancy services to clients.

Percept India’s movie marketing vertical, P9 Integrated, has introduced two new business verticals – Bollywood Based Content and Cinema/Multiplex Activation. P9 has introduced these new verticals after firmly entrenching itself in movie advertising, publicity design, branding and media planning and buying.

FM station Radio One has made some key appointments to beef up its teams in Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

Hindi movie channel Filmy has shuffled its programming schedule by introducing more original content that has given the channel its distinct identity. The original programmes will be extended across all time-bands and movie content.