Samsung India Electronics has launched a video CD promotion campaign all over the country this week. Under the promotion, 10 video CD movie titles will be provided free with the purchase of a Samsung VCD player. The promotion will be on for a period of two months.

The Korean company has one model of the VCD player in the market, priced at Rs 13,950. Another model will be launched later this month. "We are targeting a marketshare of 20 per cent in the Indian VCD market by the end of the year," Samsung India vice president-marketing J H Park said.

Alcatel's new mobile phone

Alcatel PCD (professional and consumer division), part of global teleco-mmunications giant Alcatel in association with Essar Cellphone, has launched its new GSM mobile phone - the One Touch View in New Delhi.

Targeted at fast-moving professionals, One Touch View sports an extra large screen for complete display of message. The phone is being sold through Essar Cellphone dealers anddistributor network in Delhi at an attractive price of Rs 8,995 (exclusive of the activation fee and security deposit).

Gold Flake contest evokes good response

The Gold Flake Open, the sub-continent's only ATP Tour World Series event, which saw the participation of former tennis world number one Carlos Moya, has received a huge 1,08,000 response from its advertisement-linked contests.The contest advertisement conceived by Bates Clarion, asked questions based on the television commercials that were aired during the event. The commercials portrayed the lighter side of the game while re-inforcing the theme of "Non-stop Tennis". According to marketing professionals, this was an innovative way of creating brand salience for the event and the sponsors. The prizes include a Honda City 1.3LXi car, HP home PCs, holidays for two courtesy ITC Welcome group, gift vouchers, tennis racquets and loads of Gold Flake Open T-shirts.

National Geographic ties up with Star TV

The National GeographicChannel's (NGC) has tied up with Star TV to act as its representative in India to sell advertising time on the Channel. The alliance will enable NGC to leverage Star TV's marketing resources (on-air promo and presentation, creative services, including cross channel promotions) in the country. Also, Star TV will now be able to add a natural history channel to the bouquet offered to its viewers, advertisers and cable affiliates.

As NGC's affiliate distribution arm in India, Brunei and the Middle East, Star TV has managed to increase NGC's distribution by 65 per cent in the Channel's first nine month's of operations. NGC will now be able to boost local ad sales through Star TV's ad sales offices in Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi.