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SMIRNOFF INITIATIVE REIGNITES SOCIAL CONNECTIONS THROUGH CULTURAL ACTS AROUND THE WORLD

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LONDON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Smirnoff, the world’s #1 vodka[1], is today unveiling multimarket activations to boldly champion the power of the collective and reignite social connections around the world in a celebration of the spark that’s created when different people, flavours and ingredients come together.

 

 

With a recent report indicating that 79% of 18-29 year-olds feel their emotional connections are weaker today than they were in the past[2], this new initiative aims to tackle feelings of disconnection and isolation around the world. Rolling out in more than 20 countries including the UK, Canada, North America, Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, India and Australia, the initiative will bring local communities together through activities, partnerships and events that lean into local culture and passion points such as music, sport and dance.

These activations will be underpinned by a new global creative, Atomic, which brings this inclusive ethos to life through a playful “life is like a cocktail” metaphor. Embodying the spirit of togetherness, the spot, initially launching in the UK, shows a diverse group of people spontaneously turning into bubbles which mix together before turning back into human form and finally connecting with one another.

In the UK, Smirnoff is reigniting social connection with a focus on lowering social barriers through a new long-term partnership with Sinead Burke’s accessibility and inclusion consultancy, Tilting the Lens, and Stonegate, one of the UK’s largest hospitality groups, to make socialising more accessible.

Spearheaded by an event curated by legendary nightlife performers, Sink The Pink, the London launch took place last night, Wednesday 29 November, and was hosted by comedian Fats Timbo and actor Layton Williams. The night saw Drag Syndrome, a collective of fabulous Kings and Queens with Down syndrome, take to the stage alongside an array of performers including former Spice Girl Mel C.

The venue was transformed to showcase some of the ways in which barriers found in the built environment of our social venues can be addressed. The inclusion of features such as a low-counter bar, accessible viewing platforms, a quiet room, BSL interpreters and visual interpreting tools meant that Disabled guests were able to enjoy the night as their full, true, and diverse selves.

The ambition is that the brand’s partnership with Stonegate and Tilting the Lens will drive positive change for the Disabled community over the coming months by reviewing the settings in which people drink and engage with Smirnoff products.

Lady Mercury and Lady Francesca, members of Drag Syndrome, commented:

“As a collective of fabulous drag artists, we love performing and had a great time on stage alongside all of the other talented acts. Through the new partnerships that Smirnoff announced last night, we hope to see more events like this across the UK with easier access and representation of the Disabled community in the audience.”

Sinéad Burke, CEO and Founder of Tilting the Lens, commented: 

“Smirnoff’s commitment to implement measurable changes in accessibility, by working with Disabled people, is a much-needed approach to a sector that, for too long, has excluded Disabled people as customers and talent. Viewing accessibility not merely as a measure of compliance, but one of community and creativity means that through the inclusion of Quiet Rooms, British Sign Language performers, inclusive furniture, and trained staff, Disabled people can be who they are, as they are, not merely for one night only.”

Beyond the UK, Smirnoff has used the medium of dance to reignite social connections across Brazil through its partnership with popstar IZA to launch a unique track and dance challenge that has got everyone moving together. The initiative has spanned borders with interactive billboards in major global cities encouraging passers-by to get involved. 

In the US, Smirnoff has been using the power of sport to reignite social connections with an NFL partnership that encourages all fans to come together and celebrate their unique traditions and fandom for Game Days. A new national TVC campaign launched with custom spots that demonstrate the cultures of each fanbase alongside a coin toss activation that enabled fans to win delicious game day cocktails, demonstrating how Smirnoff brings people together.

Stephanie Jacoby, Smirnoff Global Brand Director, commented: 

“Despite there being more ways than ever for us to connect with one another, we know that feelings of loneliness and isolation are rising around the world. At Smirnoff, we fundamentally believe that we’re better when we’re together, which is why these acts feel so important and relevant for today. By reinforcing social connections and doubling down on our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusivity, we aim to make it as easy as possible for as many people as possible to come together.” 

More activities are being planned in markets all around the world over the coming months, including fresh partnerships and initiatives focussed on festival season and Pride – building on Smirnoff’s well-established commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community – and ensuring they continue to reignite social connections and bring people together like never before.

NOTES TO EDITOR

For all media inquiries and/or interview requests, please contact smirnoffglobal@smarts.agency
The Atomic creative spot can be viewed here and behind the scenes of production is available here.

About Smirnoff Vodka

Smirnoff is the world’s #1 vodka[3] and Diageo’s most popular spirit brand by volume[4]. Smirnoff is a brand for everyone and has been enjoyed for more than 150 years. To learn more about Smirnoff and any upcoming news, visit www.smirnoff.com

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray, and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

[1] Spirits Business, Brand Champions Report 2023
[2] McCann Worldgroup Truth Central Truth About Youth 2023
[3] Spirits Business, Brand Champions Report 2023
[4] Diageo Performance Results for fiscal year 2023

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Movate Appoints Industry Veteran Srijit Menon as Chief Revenue Officer for Digital Services to Drive Strategic Growth and Transformation

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BANGALORE, India, Jan. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Movate, a leading digital technology and customer experience (CX) services company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Srijit Menon as its Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) for Digital Services. In this pivotal role, Srijit will oversee Global Sales and Account Management across Movate’s key service lines, including Digital Infrastructure, Digital Engineering, Enterprise Products, and Content & Data Services. He will drive transformative growth through a consultative, outcome-based approach that enhances Movate’s leadership in the evolving digital services ecosystem by building strategic partnerships with global clients.

With over 25 years of global leadership experience in cloud and digital services, Srijit has held senior positions at reputed organizations such as HCL Tech, Wipro, IBM, PwC, and Siemens. Known for his ability to close large deals and acquire marquee clients, Srijit has spearheaded outsourcing engagements worth more than $2 billion for over 50 global customers. His work spans diverse industries such as Manufacturing, Hi-Tech, BFSI, Telecom, Retail, and Life Sciences, where he has consistently delivered measurable business outcomes through digital transformation initiatives.

Prior to joining Movate, Srijit served as Senior Vice President and Head of Manufacturing Industries at HCL Tech, managing a portfolio of several hundred million dollars for Global 2000 clients. His career highlights include cultivating high-impact customer relationships, leading strategic client engagements, and mentoring future-ready leadership. These achievements underscore his deep understanding of the market dynamics required to drive scalable and sustainable business growth.

Commenting on the appointment, Sunil Mittal, CEO of Movate said, “We are thrilled to welcome Srijit to the Movate family. With a stellar track record of driving strategic growth, building strong client partnerships, and spearheading transformative initiatives, Srijit embodies the leadership and vision that align with our ambitious goals. His deep expertise in harnessing AI and advanced technologies to shape customer-centric strategies will be pivotal in advancing our position as a digital innovator. With Srijit’s leadership, we are poised to set new benchmarks, elevate client experiences, and deliver unparalleled value on a global scale.”

On joining Movate, Srijit Menon said, “In an era where AI and digital technologies are reshaping industries at unprecedented speed, businesses need a trusted partner to navigate this complexity and unlock tangible outcomes. Movate’s unique combination of deep industry expertise, innovative digital solutions, and a relentless focus on delivering real-world value positions it as a standout player in the market. I’m excited to join this exceptional team and leverage my experience to reinforce Movate’s position as the digital partner of choice for Global 2000 enterprises.”

Srijit holds an MBA (PGDM) from IIM Ahmedabad, an MS in Software Systems from BITS Pilani, and a B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering from Calicut University. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is passionate about travel, photography, badminton, movies, and comics, and resides in Chicago with his family.

This appointment underscores Movate’s commitment to driving strategic growth and delivering transformative solutions that empower global enterprises to thrive in the digital era.

About Movate

Movate is a digital technology and customer experience services company committed to disrupting the industry with boundless agility, human-centered innovation, and relentless focus on driving client outcomes. It helps ambitious, growth-oriented companies across industries stay ahead of the curve by leveraging its diverse talent of over 12,000 full-time Movators across 21 global locations and a gig network of thousands of technology experts across 60 countries, speaking over 100 languages. Movate has emerged as one of the most awarded and analyst-accredited companies in its revenue range. To know more, visit: www.movate.com.

Follow Movate on LinkedInFacebook and Twitter.

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Tencent Cloud Recognized Again in the Gartner® “Competitive Landscape: Video Platform Services” Report, solidifying its Pioneering Position in the Asia-Pacific Market

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HONG KONG, Jan. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global technology company Tencent, announced today that it is once again recognized as a Representative Vendor in the Gartner® “Competitive Landscape: Video Platform Services” report. We believe this recognition highlights our leading audio and video technology and product portfolio advantages along with its comprehensive global services—reaffirming Tencent Cloud’s dominant position in the Asia-Pacific market for audio and video capabilities and its robust global competitiveness.

According to the recently released 2024 Gartner® “Magic Quadrant™ for Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS)” report, Tencent Cloud positioned highest in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of Ability to Execute, and was the only Chinese company recognized in the Magic Quadrant. Furthermore, Tencent Cloud has maintained its position in the CPaaS field as the Asia-Pacific region’s top market share holder for three consecutive years.

The Gartner® “Competitive Landscape: Video Platform Services” report pointed out, “Due to technological advancements, improved accessibility, and the rise of diverse and personalized content, the global demand for various OTT video content (such as streaming, entertainment, lifestyle, education, and social media digital platforms and applications) continues to grow. As a result, vendors are trying to differentiate themselves through additional services, expanding their product offerings beyond VPS workflow services, and integrating emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence.”

Industry Leading Technology Powers the Digital Transformation of Global Companies

Powered by globally leading technology, Tencent Cloud Media Processing Service offers a comprehensive, one-stop solution tailored for industries like M&E, e-commerce, and education, and expands its global footprint to drive the digital transformation of industries worldwide. Presently, Tencent Cloud has established close collaborations and provided stable technical support to numerous overseas enterprises, including Japan’s top karaoke application Pokekara, Singaporean streaming media service provider BeLive, Indonesia’s media giant TribunNews, Thailand’s digital content platform Ookbee, and Pakistan’s online TV platform ARY ZAP etc.

Serving the global market relies heavily on cutting-edge technological support. Tencent Cloud’s MPaaS offers a comprehensive suite of capabilities, including media processing (MPS), cloud live streaming (CSS), cloud video on-demand (VOD), and live event broadcasting (LEB). Notably, Tencent Cloud’s MPS boasts leading edges in encoding technology, image quality enhancement, media quality inspection, and media AI. Furthermore, Tencent Cloud keeps paying attention to media framework openness and fostering a robust industry ecosystem.

In terms of encoding technology, Tencent Cloud’s MPS possesses leading encoding capabilities in the audio and video industry. It can save over 50% of the bitrate without compromising quality, significantly reducing operational costs for enterprises. Its mainstream encoding formats support the most comprehensive standards, including H.264/H.265/H.266/VP9/AV1, as well as the Chinese standards AVS2/AVS3. In the MSU World Video Coding Contest held at Moscow State University in 2024, Tencent’s encoder took first place in all 15 indicators, once again achieving the best performance overall. Additionally, it supports the most comprehensive audio and video encoding standards, including VP8, H.264, VP9, H.265, AV1, AVS3, and H.266.

Audio and video quality is one of the industry’s major concerns. In this regard, for needs such as upgrading old video sources and enhancing image quality, MPS provides over ten enhancement capabilities through AI technology, including detail enhancement, color enhancement, SDR to HDR conversion, super-resolution, intelligent frame interpolation, and more, effectively helping enterprises and users address various audio and video quality issues.

In addition to its leading technology research and development capabilities, Tencent Cloud has actively participated in the development of the H.266/VVC standard, becoming the world’s first cloud provider to support H.266/VVC. Tencent Cloud holds key positions in the standardization organization, including as the joint chief editor and co-chair of the H.266/VVC standard, and is a significant technical contributor. Moreover, Tencent Cloud is the only Founding Member of AV1 in China and actively participates in the development of the AV2 standard, as well as the engineering of the H.267 standard.

On the ecological front, MPS collaborates with overseas ecosystem partners in areas such as audio and video processing and transmission. It supports technologies like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Nielsen, Nagra digital watermarks, and transmission standards such as SRT, SMPTE2022-07, SMPTE ST2110 with JPEG-XS, and NDI. This ensures that audio and video can be transmitted with low latency, stability, and smoothness.

The Tencent Cloud audio and video team actively leads or participates in the development of many open-source audio and video projects such as SRS, SRT, VLC, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between the cloud and the open-source community.

AIGC innovation: leading the future of new audio and video experiences

Staying at the global forefront demands ongoing tech innovation, and Tencent Cloud’s audio-video solutions are delving into deep integration with AIGC. According to the recently released IDC “China Video Cloud Market Tracker, 2024 1H report”, Tencent Cloud maintains the top market share in both the video live streaming cloud services market and video production and media asset management field. Particularly noteworthy is the integration of audio and video with artificial intelligence, which exceeds expectations in terms of interaction and content creation. For instance, Tencent Cloud’s brand-new media intelligence products have been introduced and extensively applied in scenarios such as short dramas and live broadcasting.

Tencent Cloud has launched an all-in-one solution for short dramas, offering intelligent functions such as subtitle extraction, translation, original subtitle erasure, translation subtitle suppression, voice cloning, and video synthesis to facilitate low-cost international expansion of short dramas. In live broadcasting scenarios, by leveraging AI capabilities, Tencent Cloud also provides real-time subtitles without language restrictions and real-time translation and synthesis substitution capabilities, assisting international clients in overcoming language barriers during live broadcasts.

In addition to media intelligence, Tencent Cloud’s rendering capability also integrates AI capability, enriching the capabilities and application scenarios of digital humans. In the past, high-precision real-time interactive digital humans required a significant amount of computing power. By integrating with AI capabilities and leveraging Tencent Cloud’s cloud-based real-time rendering capability, users can now experience ultra-high precision, smooth, and delicate digital human content on lightweight terminals such as mini-programs and H5, enabling seamless communication anytime, anywhere.

Furthermore, Tencent Cloud’s rendering has introduced various solutions such as cloud phones, 24/7 live streaming of digital humans, and native recording, among others, deeply applied in education, e-commerce, and other scenarios. Combined with fast live streaming capabilities, it provides a one-stop bullet screen interactive live streaming solution. Hosts only need a mobile phone to conduct bullet screen game live broadcasts in the live room without the need to download or install games and purchase broadcasting equipment.

As innovative technologies continue to converge, Tencent Cloud will persist in constructing an international business landscape from a global perspective. Leveraging its deep accumulation in the audio and video domain, Tencent Cloud will continuously optimize core technologies, actively embrace innovative technologies, and enhance the competitiveness of its audio and video products. Simultaneously, through deep collaboration with various industries, Tencent Cloud aims to assist industries in achieving high-quality development and provide a digital support and business innovation path for enterprise internationalization.

Gartner, Competitive Landscape: Video Platform Services, 18 December 2024

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Communications Platform as a Service, 24 June 2024

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

GARTNER and MAGIC QUADRANT are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

About Tencent Cloud

Tencent Cloud, one of the world’s leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel and transportation.

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SOURCE Tencent Cloud

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NIKON EXHIBITS AT CES 2025

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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CES BOOTH #19504 — Nikon Corporation (Nikon) will exhibit at CES 2025, one of the world’s largest digital technology trade shows, which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from January 7 to 10. The Nikon booth (#19504) will be located in the Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

As set forth in the Medium-Term Management Plan, Nikon is striving to become a key technology solutions company in a global society where humans and machines co-create seamlessly by 2030. The Nikon booth will offer interactive and experiential content featuring our state-of-the-art technologies that support society’s foundation and creativity, alongside co-creation initiatives with our partners.

Nikon is also pleased to announce that the Z6III mirrorless camera has been selected as a CES Innovation

Awards® 2025 Honoree in the Imaging category. The Nikon Z6III features the world’s first partially stacked CMOS sensor to deliver ultra-fast readout speeds and high frame rates, making it the most versatile, capable and powerful mid-range mirrorless camera designed to give photographers and videographers unmatched performance. The Z6III will be displayed at the Innovation Awards Showcase at CES 2025, as well as in the Nikon booth with other Z series mirrorless cameras and lenses.

Main Exhibits at the Nikon Booth:

Immersive video content: A drone video taken by Nikon Creates Corporation, a subsidiary of Nikon, will be shown at the booth entrance. The footage, shown on two large screens measuring 7m x 3m (23ft x 10ft) and 2.5m x 3m (8ft x 10ft), will offer visitors an immersive experience.Robot vision system: The system enables flexible robot operation, equipped with dynamic vision that surpasses humans and an image processing engine. The demonstration will take place in a futuristic kitchen setting where the robot vision system will pick up objects flexibly, swiftly and accurately. Nikon’s “C3 eMotion” is built into the robot arm, which packages the parts necessary for robotic joints.Riblet processing: Inspired by shark skin, microscopic grooves are created on the surface of materials using Nikon’s original laser processing technology. This reduces frictional resistance, such as of air and water, and can improve energy efficiency in various fields. Visitors will be able to view actual materials that have undergone riblet processing and participate in a quiz using a touch panel screen.In-vehicle camera system: Co-created with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, the innovative in-vehicle camera system integrates telephoto and wide-angle lens functions (released on December 19, 2024). Visitors can experience the view from inside a truck while experiencing the benefits of this system in checking both far away and in the close periphery simultaneously, as VR footage.Nikon Z Series mirrorless cameras and lenses: In addition to viewing the newest product in the Z Series, visitors will be able to have their portraits taken by a professional photographer using the new Nikon Z50II. This is an opportunity for show-goers to get a free updated headshot or social media profile picture captured with high-quality Nikon equipment. Attendees can sign up on-site to participate. Furthermore, Nikon Inc., a subsidiary of Nikon, entered into a Space Act agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to support the development of a Handheld Universal Lunar Camera (HULC) to be used for the Artemis campaign, where NASA will explore the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and learn how to live and work on the lunar surface as it prepares for human mission to Mars. NASA plans to use the Nikon Z9 (launched to the International Space Station in December 2021), modified to be compatible for space missions, starting with Artemis III, which will send the first humans to explore the lunar South Pole region. The CES 2025 exhibit will feature items such as a thermal insulation blanket that will protect the camera and its lens from the dust and extreme temperature changes in the moon’s environment.Virtual production: An experiential exhibit called “Studio Extreme*” will be set up where visitors can participate in creating videos that merge the real and virtual worlds. The shoot will use Studiobot LT, a robot arm and motion control system from Mark Roberts Motion Control Limited (MRMC), a subsidiary of Nikon. The end of the arm will have a cinema camera attached to it from RED Digital Cinema, Inc., which became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nikon in April 2024. Visitors can stand in front of a video background projected onto a giant LED screen and create their own weather forecast TV program as they pose as a weather forecaster.

Please check the special website for more information on the exhibit products. CES 2025 Special Website

About Nikon
Nikon Inc. is a world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and technologies for photo and video capture; globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for an award-winning array of equipment that enables visual storytelling and content creation. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional Z Series mirrorless cameras, digital SLR cameras, a vast array of NIKKOR and NIKKOR Z lenses, Speedlights and system accessories, Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras and Nikon software products. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers and visual storytellers to the Web’s most comprehensive learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Threads.

Specifications, equipment, and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.

*”Studio Extreme” will be a joint exhibit with Disguise Technologies Limited

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