HT Media’s Festival of Gifts 2024: A Centennial Celebration of Brands and Readers

HT Media Group has concluded the Festival of Gifts 2024, an extraordinary month-long campaign that brought together readers and brands across 19 cities, setting new benchmarks for festive engagement. Coinciding with Hindustan Times’ 100-year anniversary, the campaign celebrated its legacy as the Voice of the Nation while showcasing its ability to connect deeply with communities and redefine the festive spirit.

A Record-Breaking Celebration of Connection

The Festival of Gifts ran from October 1 to October 31, delivering unparalleled engagement across HT Media’s platforms, including Hindustan Times Print and Digital, Hindi Hindustan, and LiveMint.com. This unified campaign seamlessly blended tradition and innovation, offering brands a platform to achieve unmatched visibility while delighting readers with exclusive offers and exciting contests.

The campaign’s scale was staggering, with participation from over 950 brands spanning industries like Auto, FMCG, Retail, Health & Fitness, and Luxury Products. Brands such as Hero Motocorp, Hindustan Unilever, and Samsung leveraged the platform to connect with a vast audience during the festive season.

Over 6 lakh participants joined the festivities, competing in daily quizzes for coveted prizes, including smartphones, smartwatches, and speakers. The campaign crowned 930 winners, showcasing HT Media’s ability to create immersive reader experiences.

Digitally, the campaign delivered 11 million unique impressions and an impressive 1.49% CTR, underscoring HT Media’s reach and engagement capabilities. Patna emerged as a star performer, driving the highest engagement in the Hindi heartland, followed by cities like Kanpur. The campaign resonated deeply across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand, emphasizing its strong regional connection.

This year’s festival witnessed a 3.5-fold increase in brand collaborations, highlighting HT Media’s reputation as the go-to platform for impactful branding. The campaign blended traditional print reach with digital innovation, creating a cohesive experience for readers and marketers alike.

Marking Hindustan Times’ centennial milestone, this year’s festival was a celebration of its rich heritage and commitment to creating joyous experiences for readers while delivering value to brands. Rajeev Beotra, executive director of HT Media Group, emphasized the campaign’s impact:
"The Festival of Gifts 2024 reflects our strength in engaging audiences and driving brand value during India’s most vibrant season. This year’s unprecedented reach and participation reaffirm our dedication to blending tradition with innovation and fostering meaningful connections.”

As the Festival of Gifts 2024 concludes, HT Media celebrates the powerful connections it has fostered between brands and readers. With its century-long legacy, Hindustan Times remains committed to redefining festive engagement, promising even greater opportunities for brands and readers in the seasons to come.