MxMIndia

Author: mxmadmin

  • We waited for a few days for the dust to settle on the issue. Here's Dr Bhaskar Das in the June 20 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das | Your views on the IPL media rights wins of last week? Will the new rights-holders be able to recover their spends?

    Bhaskar DasWe waited for a few days for the dust to settle on the issue. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the June 20 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

     

    If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

     

    Q. Your views on the IPL media rights wins of last week? Will the new rights-holders be able to recover their spends?

     

    A. That Disney would be a strong contender for the IPL bid for the next five years was a commonly held belief. The 30% growth might pose a challenge to recover (without digital rights) unless advertisers’ spending sentiment gets bullish.

     

    TV remains a primary way for audience to watch the IPL. That’s must have given impetus to Disney. But the online market might grow much faster with the spread of smartphones. Viacom 18, after winning the streaming rights, would get an unrivalled platform to grow streaming and other ancillary digital businesses. It must be said that IPL has reshaped cricket and has turned India into a promising sports market.

     

  • Viewers in the US can access any internet-connected device, including iOS and Android devices, and Xbox Ones, to watch India TV

    India TV now in the US on Sling

    By Our Staff

     

    Leading Hindi news channel India TV wlll now be available in the United States on Sling Television.

     

    Said Ritu Dhawan, Managing Director, India TV: “India TV’s aim is to inform and empower global Indians with accurate, indepth, unfiltered, fact-based journalism without any bias, outrage, or sensationalism. Making India TV available in the USA is one more step towards our goal. We are proud of our experienced team of TV journalists, anchors, producers, camerapersons and other skilled staff, who toil day in and day out to bring news as it happens to your drawing rooms”.

     

    Sling TV is a service that livestreams news, sports, and other TV shows from the internet, but without the set-top box. Viewers in the US can access any internet-connected device, including iOS and Android devices, and Xbox Ones, to watch India TV.

     

  • Announces slate of originals

    SonyLIV 2.0 celebrates two years

    By Our Staff

     

    SonyLIV 2.0 is celebrating the second anniversary of its relaunch. To mark the two years in its new avatar, SonyLIV 2.0 is expanding its content offering with 50+ Hindi and 50+ other language premium content.

     

    Notes a communique: “SonyLIV will soon foray into Tamil originals with its first web-series Meme Boys, Tamil Rockerz among others; followed by originals in Telugu and Malayalam.”

     

  • To provide services including reputation and crisis management

    PR Professionals bags Jindal Stainless mandate

    By Our Staff

     

    Integrated communications firm, PR Professionals (PRP) has won the public relations mandate for Jindal Stainless. The account will be led by PR Professionals’ Gurugram office and will provide services including reputation management, media relation, crisis management, establishing thought leadership, community engagement, and branding and marketing communications.

     

    Said Sarvesh Tiwari, Founder and Managing Director, PR Professionals: “We are honoured to partner with Jindal Stainless, India’s leading manufacturers of stainless steel. I am confident that PRP will be able to play a key role in augmenting Jindal Stainless’ vision of improving lives through trustworthy and innovative Stain-less solutions.”

     

    Added Sonal Singh, Head, Corporate Communications of Jindal Stainless: “With sustainability at its core, Jindal Stainless is committed to propel the Indian stainless-steel sector to newer avenues of growth. We take pride in developing world-class ‘Swadeshi’ stainless steel products that cater to the domestic and international markets, while voicing the concerns of the domestic stainless-steel players and supporting their development. We are excited to partner with PR Professionals for meeting our PR and communication objectives as we take up new challenges going forth.”

     

  • As Chief Group Public Affairs Officer, joining the Group Executive Board

    Abanti Sankaranarayanan joins Mahindra for PA

    By Our Staff

     

    Abanti Sankaranarayanan
    Abanti Sankaranarayanan

    Mahindra group has appointed Abanti Sankaranarayanan as Chief Group Public Affairs Officer.  In this role, Sankaranarayanan will lead Group Public Affairs (India & international), Group Sustainability and the Group Risk and Economist functions. Sankaranarayanan will be a part of the Group Executive Board reporting to Anish Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Mahindra Group.

     

    Speaking about the announcement, Shah said: “At the Mahindra Group, Public Policy and Sustainability are pivotal and we are committed to leading ESG globally. It is paramount that we engage with all our relevant stakeholders proactively and effectively. This is a diversified role, which needed a seasoned leader to manage multiple stakeholders. Abanti is an accomplished business leader with vast experience across corporate affairs, social impact, strategy and managing large businesses. I am confident that she will be able to build the functions and help us in achieving our goals. I would also like to thank Manoj Chugh for his exemplary services to the Mahindra Group. He has been an integral part of our growth journey, contributing significantly to the organisation in his various roles. I wish him all the best.”

     

  • TV's to be launched in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and Hindi

    Leo Burnett campaign for Canara HSBC LI

    By Our Staff

     

    Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance has rolled out a new TVC campaign for its rebranding. It has renamed itself as Canara HSBC Life Insurance.  The 3-film campaign is conceptualised by Leo Burnett.

     

    Speaking on the launch, Anuj Mathur, MD & CEO, Canara HSBC Life Insurance said: “We have had customer-centric approach since inception and have always believed in the ethos of making and fulfilling promises. Gloriously completing 14 years of Company’s business, we are proud to launch our new holistic campaign.  The Company will continue to firmly stand its ground to accomplish its dreams and aspirations with the new avatar. With our renewed promise of protection and customer service, we will continue to reinforce our core brand ethos and grow our digital and network presence, allowing customers to access our innovative products and best-in-class services on-the-go.”

     

    Added Saarthak Dutt, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett: “The last two years opened up a new world of opportunities and rediscovered bonds. And with that we also saw a huge reordering of our priorities for both ourselves and our loved ones. With this insight at heart, we wanted to reassure audiences that Canara HSBC Life Insurance will be partnering with you in this journey of new promises”

     

  • Media outrage is comparatively muted against the widespread arson and disruption of life by protestors opposed to the Agnipath scheme, writes Ranjona Banerji

    Media on Mute!

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiA week into protests over the Centre’s new armed forces recruitment scheme and the bulk of the media is still unsure how to play this.

    It went all out against a few members of the Muslim community who protested against their homes and establishments being destroyed by government-sanctioned bulldozers, and against the BJP’s comments on the Prophet Mohammed. How dare “they” attack trains and buses? How dare they throw stones? Democracy is about peaceful protests.

    Media outrage is comparatively muted against the widespread arson, vandalism and disruption of life by protestors across India who are opposed to this new scheme.

    However, let us not assume for a second that TV’s mainstream channels are concerned about why these young men are on a rampage. Because the scheme has come from the Modi government, these TV people are all in favour for it.

    And for the cynical, there is great studio hot air to be generated by fomenting hatred, which will definitely puff up bonuses.

    Apart from angry mobs, much of the anger comes from retired Armed Forces veterans. They find the scheme untenable and dangerous. Some of the less scrupulous of our brave veterans are TV regulars. They spend their evenings screaming at Pakistan, China and so on. Now they scream at each other. The fire is stoked by anchors who want to know who’s provoking these youths.

    In all this, as ever, some vital journalism has been forgotten. Before the debates, the basic job would be to educate viewers and readers on what exactly the Agnipath scheme entails. And speak to the mobs about why they’re so angry.

    Actually, because of the reach of social media, these armed forces aspirants who have spent years preparing for the usual recruitment drives, are more than willing to tell you why they’re angry, where they think they’ve been cheated and why they want the scheme to be rolled back. In most cases, they’re saying the same thing as the retired Armed Forces officers.

    https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/agnipath-a-fire-that-could-singe-india/article65537694.ece

    As usual with the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just issued one statement about how the scheme will not be rolled back, apart from a couple of anodyne and unhelpful remarks which amount to: no pain without gain. Given Modi’s persona and how he terrifies journalists, no one questions him.

    He carries on with his electioneering, yoga poses, inauguration of temples and whatever other publicity stunts he has planned.

    The Armed Forces chiefs are trotted out to defend the scheme.

    Various ministers make equally unhelpful remarks.

    No one wants to actually speak to those affected.

    BJP members try to reassure people that after four years, these former “agniveers” will be hired as security guards in BJP offices.

    Other BJP ministers claim they will have been or will be trained as electricians and plumbers.

    A few captive corporates honchos promise they will hire all these people after four years. They get full coverage on this.

    None of them have any track record of hiring jawans after they retire. They are barely questioned on this.

    The Indian media therefore retains its trend on getting adversarial with those who have no power while succumbing with joy to those who are.

    All Hail!

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal.

  • This ought to have been a Friday question, but then it's Summer Solstice today. Here's Dr Bhaskar Das in the June 21 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das | It’s Summer Solstice 2022. Or what’s called the Longest Day? Since the day is going to be longer than the usual, albeit by very little, what would you like to catch up on today?

    Bhaskar DasThis ought to have been a Friday question, but then it’s Summer Solstice today. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the June 21 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

     

    If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

     

    Q. It’s Summer Solstice 2022. Or what’s called the Longest Day? Since the day is going to be longer than the usual, albeit by very little, what would you like to catch up on today?

     

    A. Longest day has a scientific explanation of the reason the way nature functions during some part of the year. Science isn’t my strength. So, I don’t want to enter that space. But your question doesn’t concern space. Hence: no problem.

    But are you serious? Longest day would help us do more work? I don’t think it’s ever a function of duration of a day. For the procrastinators, no amount of time is enough. For a busy individual, the current supply of time in a day could create an optimised contribution to their list of priorities, to be attended to. In my long career, I never felt the need for stretching a day to be effective. So I have no change of plan for the so-called longest day.

     

  • India tour of Ireland & India Tour of England starting 26th June

    Sony Sports to live telecast India cricket with two bilateral series

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Sports Network will live telecast two bilateral series with India tour of Ireland and India tour of England in succession.

     

    Said Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer, Distribution and Head – Sports Business, Sony Pictures Networks India: “We are delighted to have India cricket back on Sony Sports Network with two back-to-back bilateral series. Viewers are excited to watch the much-anticipated fifth Test against England which has been a mainstay of all the cricket conversations in the past year, and fans across the nation have been looking forward to this closure. As we get a conclusion for the 2021 series, we are excited to start the next chapter with 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs. And to further provide audiences with a seamless and holistic viewing experience, we present our LIVE studio show, Extraaa Innings that features a star-studded panel and both the series will be live telecast in four languages.”

     

     

  • She will be Branch Head and Head of Client Servicing, Kolkata office

    Rediff appoints Sreeparna Gupta to head Cal

    By Our Staff

     

    Rediffusion appoints Sreeparna Gupta as Branch Head and Head of Client Servicing, Kolkata office.

     

    Gupta has over a decade of experience in Advertising and Marketing Communications in Kolkata. She started her career in Advertising with Rediffusion and subsequently worked with other leading agencies and brands in the city.

     

    Said Ruchira Raina, Executive Director, South & East for Rediffusion: “The coming in of Sreeparna will further strengthen our Kolkata office. It is good to have someone so young and driven on the team. Sreeparna’s mandate for Rediffusion Kolkata is to raise the creative bar, and provide cerebral leadership on our brands in the Eastern market,”

     

  • Introduces Dentsu Creative

    Dentsu expands its bouquet of networks

    By Our Staff

     

    Dentsu International’s Global CEO, Wendy Clark, and Global CCO Fred Levron have announced the launch of Dentsu Creative, Dentsu’s global creative network. Dentsu Creative will serve as the sole creative network for Dentsu international working with clients around the globe.

     

    In alignment with Dentsu’s global vision of designing a structure for horizontal creativity, Ajay Gahlaut, Group Chief Creative Officer, will now also be in charge of “infusing creativity” across Media and CXM besides Dentsu Creative in India.

     

    Led by Fred Levron, who joined Dentsu international as Chief Creative Officer in November 2021 and has demonstrated the transformative power of creativity throughout his acclaimed career; Dentsu Creative will comprise 9,000 creative experts in 46 markets connected to 37,000 media and CXM experts across Dentsu international and collaborate closely with Dentsu’s creative team in Japan. In the near future, further leadership announcements will be made as Dentsu Creative brings in the next generation of strategic, production, business and creative leaders.

     

    Said Levron:  “If you had the chance to build a brand new global creative network designed for the modern world, what would it look like? That is what we are answering with the launch of Dentsu Creative. Clients, talent and the industry at large are craving for a change: in the way we build brands, in the way we collaborate and in the role we give to creativity. If the current players have set the rules of the previous century, we have the ambition to set the rules for the decades to come.”

     

    Added Wendy Clark, Global CEO, Dentsu international: “At Dentsu, we’re building a modern agency network fuelled by horizontal creativity – a creativity designed to unify our people, their capabilities and our delivery for clients. We’re fortunate to draw from our Japanese heritage steeped in a relentless focus on craft, innovation and creativity. This legacy inspired our vision for modern creativity that was born in Japan and raised in a connected world. Dentsu Creative offers a simplified, modern creative proposition that answers clients’ needs for us to break down agency silos and inefficiencies and seamlessly connect our talent around the right client opportunities at the right time.”

     

    Said Amit Wadhwa, CEO India, Dentsu Creative: “Dentsu has over the years, time and again demonstrated innovation through creativity. With Dentsu Creative, we will unite our creative talent under one brand; this will further simplify client engagements and strengthen our creative prowess. Moving with times is important and now is the time to transform brands and businesses through the lens of Modern Creativity. Dentsu Creative ensures the best output for our clients and the best opportunities for our people, which is the most exciting part for me.”

     

    Added Gahlaut: “With Dentsu Creative, we will transform the creative face of dentsu as a network. As we add Modern Creativity to all the disciplines within the network and combine them, we will create a new-age powerhouse. Our aim is to bring profit and purpose together for our clients and our people. This is what the industry has been waiting for, and we are the forerunners of this breakthrough. Exciting times ahead!”

     

     

  • To promote brandnew Split ACs with WindFree technology

    Cheil & Platinum execute campaign for Samsung AC

    By Our Staff

     

    Samsung has unveiled a new campaign for its Split ACs. The campaign is executed by Cheil India in association with Platinum Outdoor, a unit of Madison World.

     

    Said Ankur Kapoor, Product Marketing Head, AC business, Samsung, said: “Our latest range of premium WindFree air-conditioners addresses consumers’ evolved home cooling needs and works efficiently by dispersing cool air through 23,000 micro holes. The new line-up is designed to give highest level of comfort by creating a still air environment, along with powerful cooling. We used innovative out of home hoardings to create awareness in key markets and it enabled us to connect with the right target audience for this product range.”

     

    Added Durba Mandal, Head – OOH Business, Cheil India: “At Cheil India, we believe in creating both value and impact for Samsung with our focused planning approach. The brief from Samsung for its brand-new Split ACs with WindFree technology was very precise, i.e. to use the OOH format innovatively and highlight the technology feature of the newly launched range and I am glad we carried out the campaign flawlessly.”