Google takes on the piracy battle in china

I am sure Google is the most prefered search engine all over the globe. But if something is hurting the giant,then it is the chineese market. China is one of the few markets where Google trailed leader Baidu.com. Yes, Baidu.com controls 60% of market share of the search engines. At the same time Chinese music market is crippled with the disease of piracy. Music majors like EMI, UNIVERSAL, WARNER AND SONY are facing stiff challenge from piracy. Majority of their revenues is lost due to this practice in China.The market is legitimately estimated to be $76 million, but piracy has made business miserable for these companies.
Google who is desperate to make a strong presence in China, does not leave this golden chance to slip from its hand. As a strategic move it decided to offer free download able music to Chinese listeners. The motive behind the move is

• It is a serious attempt to monetise the huge online market in China
• Google's strategy to overtake Baidu.com
• Stop the bleeding caused by piracy for music major companies like EMI, SONY and UNIVERSAL

South Africa may host IPL 2

Amidst of all the storms IPL once again came with a twist. This time not for big franchisee deals or astounding amount of contract money for players. IPL has moved to offshore and probably South Africa will get the nod ahead of England. English weather may hamper 70% of the scheduled matches so South Africa is considered to be a good option for IPL 2. It has the proper infrastructure and right mix of audience to make it a success, but i am afraid that can it match the aura of Indian soil?

I can surely say that it won't be the same as it was in inaugural edition, because the concept of IPL is based on the regional teams and so much belongingness is attached to it. When the team will play in a offshore venue the very purpose of belongingness will be lost. Cricket will be there but the adrenaline flow will not be the same. The money was made from television, but the real success of the tournament was felt in the stands. It was impossible to watch a game in the stadium and not be infected with the new kind of fervour and enjoyment these games engendered. Taking the games away would be to deny them their natural habitat.

The BCCI announced on Sunday that it would stage next month's event abroad after failing to get government clearance for security cover because the tournament dates clashed with the country's general elections. Obviously the management of IPL will go for the profit maximisation,they can not afford the loss of money and contacts that are already made. So the only way to avoid these losses is to conduct it anyway and anywhere. But at the end of the day the taste of fast food cricket should be retained !

Out of Home media Advertisements

While going through my summer internship programme(famously known as" SIP") interview I came to know about Armour display systems, which basically provide out of home media advertisement facilities to corporate houses at railway stations by their digital display systems. I really got impressed by the unique innovative way of advertisement. It started providing service initially at Chennai railway station and recently operating in number of railway stations. By their display systems they provide the necessary information about the train routes and timings, but the TV commercials are shown between important passenger information cycles. Core benefits of this advertisement are: it reaches mass effectively, minimize the audience fragmentation and no channel hopping. People will watch the advertisement because when they will look for information about trains ,they will watch those advertisements also. Passenger of all age groups and regions are able to watch those advertisements where it affects the purchase decision. It also provide a source of entertainment for those who are sick of waiting long for train. But there are some disadvantages also,when passenger are more keen about the information about the train schedules, showing Ads may not be an ideal idea. Language may act as a barrier also,sometimes passengers may not be able to understand the language used. But overall if we see then it is a very good concept for advertising where it taps the maximum number of mass.More advancements in technology will push it further. So let's see how the trend is shaping up.

IPL Blues !!!

Terror clouds are hovering over the subcontinent. But if some are least bothered about the dangers lying ahead, they are the BCCI and its ancillary, the IPL governing council. They're blissfully unaware of terrorists who might lurk in general elections booths as well as in IPL venues. The BCCI is adamant that both the elections and the IPL can run smoothly with proper distribution of security forces—some wishful thinking that. IPL commissioner Lalit modi a lso stated that not a single player has officially raised voice over the security concern. But as we all know our country can be affected by terrorism,so why to take chance. I am not against the tournament but the s chedule can be changed to post general election so that security will be more stringent. Apart from it BCCI should include FICA in the security management in twenty20 event, so that overseas players will feel safe to play. The IPL committee must be reviewing the monetary aspects related to the league and it may cost them heavily to schedule it later but it is the need of the hour. After all we all want to have a great tournament of cricket and entertainment . So let's hope for the best!

Green jobs for green world

Blue collar and white collar jobs are old now. The world is going green,let it be green marketing or green products which are environment friendly. IBM,GE AND TOYOTA are some of the big names which are thrusting heavily on green business to sustain the environment which is deteriorating very fast. "As more jobs are lost due to the current economic downturn, sustainable forest management could become a means of creating millions of green jobs, thus helping to reduce poverty and improve the environment," forestry expert Jan Heino of the Food and Agriculture Organisation said in a statement. New jobs could include forest management, agroforestry and farm forestry, improved fire management, development and management of trails and recreation sites, expansion of urban green spaces, restoring degraded forests and planting new ones. By this we can reduce the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentration in the air,mitigate the effect of hazardous elements on our environment and ultimately will have a positive impact on climate change than any other initiative currently being planned or considered.By creating more green jobs we will be able to reduce poverty to some extent also and this can attain more popularity in rural areas.So hail green jobs !

Let's save cricket !

"Our future as a nation is in our youngsters' hands. Sport helps to make good human beings. If the sport is not there, the children can do silly things."This was the statement of Younis Khan,captain,Pakistan cricket team,after the cricket community started denying to play in Pakistan. He pledged the world not to let die cricket in Pakistan. It really make sense to me. We all are familiar with the barbaric act of terrorism. Terror strikes hurt more number of people indirectly rather than directly. Latest attack on Srilankan players was the worst thing that can happen to any sports and sportsperson in the world. Now world cricket community is banning the Pakistan soil.But is it the solution to this perennial problem? Tomorrow the same thing can happen with any country,to any sports. what can we do? Should we keep banning all soils which will be affected by terrorism. Should we leave playing the sports? And by doing this the only thing we can prove is that we are handicapped,nothing else. Rather it is the call of the hour to uproot the prime cause.It is the time to give them an answer. Sport helps to make good human beings. If the sport is not there, the children can do silly things. We have to be very careful about that. Nobody wants to see children going down a bad path and finding themselves involved with bombs and things like that. We all must do something to stop that happening. So join hands to fight against terrorism and save cricket.