MxMIndia

Author: mxmadmin

  • Media consulting and sales firm Aidem Ventures has been appointed as the media representative for Punjabi GEC GET Punjabi

    Aidem expands regional footprint, bags Get Punjabi

    By A Correspondent

     

    Media consulting and sales firm Aidem Ventures has been appointed as the media representative for Punjabi GEC GET Punjabi. GET Punjabi was launched in India in October 2011 GEE Info Media stable. The network has presence in US and Canada as Punjjabi TV in US and Canada.

     

    The channel is available across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh (PHCHP). Said Vikas Khanchandani, Director, Aidem Ventures, “We, at Aidem, intend to create an assortment of focused offerings that deliver a pan-India reach to our advertisers. With this deal coming through, we have expanded our footprint in the regional market with channels ranging from the Tamil Nadu’s Jaya TV, Jaya Max, Jaya Plus and J Movies; Odisha’s Lakshyya Entertainment, Mi Marathi and now Get Punjabi.”

     

    Alok Rakshit, head, broadcast business, regional and news, Aidem Ventures said, “We are pleased to have Get Punjabi on board, as it is a perfect fit in our regional TV channels bouquet. It will help shape our growth path for the next few years. The Punjabi-speaking population across Northern India is the target audience for many a brands. With Rs. 75 Crores riding on Punjabi entertainment genre, the growing trend is deemed to continue.”

     

    “We at Get Punjabi invest a lot of time and resources to reinvent our programming and cover every aspect of entertainment in order to connect with evolving viewer interests.  With Aidem’s thorough understanding of what drives profitability and cash flow and its market-oriented approach to business, we are confident that this collaboration will have a progressive bearing on our ROI,” added Manish Vasisht, Executive Director/CEO, GEE Info Media Pvt. Ltd.

     

  • With one of the key issues for India being how to integrate its citizens into an increasingly digital economy, Hindustan Times brought together a panel of experts to discuss the topic

    Digital Literacy conclave by HT and Intel

    By A Correspondent

     

    With one of the key issues for India being how to integrate its citizens into an increasingly digital economy, Hindustan Times brought together a panel of experts from the government, private sector and non-profits at Digital Literacy conclave to discuss the topic ‘Digital Literacy – Keeping India Ahead in the Information Age’.

     

    Moderating the discussion at the conclave, Gautam Chikermane, Executive Editor (Business), Hindustan Times said, “Digital literacy is an essential but unexplored component of economic development and citizen empowerment in the 21st century. With this conclave, we hope to build the foundations upon which this idea can be built.”

     

    Shantanu Bhanja, Vice President Marketing, HT Media Ltd, on the objective of the conclave said, “The need of the hour is to make our country and its people abreast with the digitization that the world is undergoing today. As a newspaper working in the field of education and literary, this conclave is a great platform to bring all influencers and players in the ICT ecosystem together to drive the urgency of making India Digitally Literate and to overcome the digital divide.”

     

    Speaking at the conclave, Debjani Ghosh, Managing Director, Sales & Marketing Group, Intel South Asia said, “One of the biggest concerns facing us today is the lack of user awareness about what technology can do to help their lives. If used effectively, technology can play a huge role in driving personal growth, be it in developing job skills or providing easy access to quality education, healthcare and critical government services. Unfortunately a lot of Indian consumers are still not aware of how they can benefit from technology. Not only does this limit growth, but will significantly increase the problem of haves and have-nots in India. Digital literacy is essential along with technology access, broadband and local content for improving national competitiveness. We are happy that the entire ecosystem is coming together to put in place a Digital Literacy mission. The sustained focus by all of us on digital literacy awareness, education and training will help India take a lead in the global digital economy and help us maintain our competitiveness and also shape a technologically empowered society.”

     

    Panelists on the forum included Sachin Pilot, Minister of State Communications & Information Technology, Govt. of India, Debjani Ghosh, Managing Director, Sales & Marketing Group, Intel South Asia, Sanjay Kapoor, CEO, Airtel India & South Asia, Osama Manzar, Founder & Director, Digital Empowerment Foundation and Rajendra S Pawar, Chairman & Co-Founder, NIIT Group.

     

  • Centuryply has entered the readymade furniture retail business by launching Nesta Furniture, a chain of complete home lifestyle solutions

    Centuryply expands its presence with Nesta

    By Tuhina Anand

     

    Centuryply, the brand of plywood and decorative veneers, has extended its footprint and has entered the readymade furniture retail business by launching Nesta Furniture, a chain of complete home lifestyle solutions.  It has opened its first store in Bengaluru and will follow it up with launches across the country.  It has ambitions to open 111 outlets in the next five years with a projected turnover of Rs 500 crore with an initial investment of Rs. 100 crore. The company plans to build Nesta as the foremost brand in the Indian readymade furniture industry through steady investments in the next 5 years.

     

    Sajjan Bhajanka , Chairman, Century Plyboards (I) Limited, said, “Retail business in India is at an interesting stage. Our latest venture in the readymade furniture retail business is a move up the value chain and a natural progression in the wood products category. We are keen to leverage the company’s experience and strengths in retailing the finished end product. Centuryply will have flagship stores in key markets and also adopt franchise model to tap other markets.”

     

    Talking about Nesta, Abhra Banerjee, Executive Business Head, said,” There has been a sharp increase in the popularity of genuine designer furniture over the last few years and Nesta will serve to be a retail hub for those interested in highest quality designer furniture and home accessories. We at Centuryply believe in providing utmost satisfaction to the consumer through best quality products and customer care. The designs are contemporary and they reflect the lifestyle needs of the India consumers. We will offer the latest designs and introduce a new collection every 3 months.”

     

    The store will provide the ability to visualize the furniture in a room. Customers can choose colours, different options for each room to get the perfect look, furnish the room dimensions and visualize how the furniture will look in your home on a giant LED wall in an exclusive zone ensconced to give them  privacy. The store will also have a mock-up of an apartment with approximately the same dimensions as a typical 1BHK flat, to help customers visualize how Nesta can transform their house into a dream home.

     

  • As marketers take the digital route, it's appears to be the best of times for digital agencies

    @dvantage Digital

     

    By Ravi Balakrishnan

     

    Never mind the famous introduction to Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities; digital agencies today can afford to stop at ‘It was the best of times.’ Because, there has been no better time to be in this space. For one, marketers no longer need to be coaxed into going the digital route. Also unlike mainstream advertising, almost every new campaign or assignment has the scope for interesting, maybe even ground-breaking work; considering best practices are yet to be carved in stone. And finally it makes a lot of business sense. Through 2012, independents in this space both in India and overseas are being picked at a rapid clip and the people doing the picking are some of the biggest names in the marketing communications industry.

     

    The one player that’s yet to announce a key purchase so far, Omnicom, is said to be keenly watching the Indian market, with a representative visiting practically every month. An industry insider is confident of at least three more acquisitions being announced before the year is through.

     

    Amar Deep Singh

    Not bad at all considering that many of today’s hottest targets started life a little over a decade ago, as a ragtag bunch of entrepreneur driven specialist shops. Many of them began either before, during or immediately after the great dotcom bust of 2000. It seemed a quixotic endeavour. Through the early years, most mainstream advertising and media agencies opted to ignore the space entirely. Says Amar Deep Singh, CEO, Interactive Avenues, “Traditional agencies missed the bus while advertisers saw value in using digital media. They now find it easier to buy than to build. It’s a win-win for both, because it gives traditional agencies digital expertise and it helps digital agencies get scale.”

     

    Today, even as ‘old’ shops like Indigo Consulting and Hungama Digital Services get picked up by the likes of Leo Burnett and JWT, agencies and their holding companies are casting the net wider. While Ignitee which has survived two name changes and 12 years in the business is an obvious choice, even the three and a half year old 22 Feet which has worked on Titan Fastrack, Kingfisher and Lenovo is being approached. Brijesh Jacob, founder and director of 22 Feet, admits, “Every offer is tempting because it’s either an agency you adored growing up or someone that’s done awesome work.”

     

    CVL Srinivas

    In the fray are creative and media agencies, larger digital shops, holding companies and even IT firms. But among the first two, there’s a rivalry that’s as old as the days of unbundling. They have squabbled over who gets more face time with marketers and more recently over credits at award shows. And now, many senior practitioners on both sides are convinced that their firms are quite literally the best support system for a digital shop.

     

    Media agency heads often argue that considering digital is a measurable, accountable, result driven medium, what better partner than a business that concerns itself daily with these very issues? Says CVL Srinivas, chairman, SMG, “Media agencies are ahead of the curve when it comes to digital. We hear this from clients and not just agencies.” Sudha Natrajan, founder of media consultancy, TMC and a veteran of Lintas Initiative Media believes, “The lines between creative and content, and analytics to chase, understand and convert consumers, do not exist. The talent and understanding in a media agency is more apt to capitalise on this, rather than a creative agency. Creative agencies have stopped understanding media a while ago; some are making a feeble attempt to understand the digital medium, but are failing.”

     

    Sudha Natrajan

    The creative agencies on the other hand argue that in the absence of ideas and content, there’s unlikely to be any consumer response worth measuring. Says Arvind Sharma, chairman and CEO, India subcontinent, Leo Burnett, “Agencies produce TV commercials and hand these over to media agencies who release them. But if you need to manage content on a live basis, just handing it over is not the future.” He believes media agencies can possibly work only in the short run and on specific clients where the communication is less dynamic.

     

    Mr Sharma counters the media agency claim about being result driven with, “Human beings are persuaded by content. In a simple thing like door-to-door retail, change the message and the productivity levels are up from 20% to 80%. Around the world, who are the bigger winners of Effies, creative or media?” Madhukar Kamath, group CEO and managing director, DDB Mudra says a tad philosophically, “I disagree with the point of view saying either digital or activation should rest with a creative or media agency. It resides with whoever thinks like a full service agency; addressing brand issues.”

     

    Arvind Sharma

    While pretty much everyone is speaking (or has spoken to) everyone else, a pattern is emerging where the more content and social media driven digital agencies find a space within a creative network and the more result and search engine optimisation focused shops opt for media companies.

     

    It’s an arrangement that Atul Hegde, CEO, Ignitee finds essentially flawed: “They should be doing the opposite. Why shouldn’t a media agency acquire a strong creatively led agency? It will bring completely varied skill sets.” Some digital heads claim they don’t have a dog in the fight between creative and media. This is especially true since it’s quite impossible to go in for unbundling in digital. Says Chhaya Balachandran Aiyer, founder and managing director, BC Webwise, “It will have to be pure play; agencies are okay either continuing independently or merging with an existing digital arm.”

     

    Atul Hegde

    The agencies themselves have earned the right to be spoken to on their own terms. The offers are a lot less diffused than they used to be. While previous conversations were primarily about money, these days, companies attempt with varying degrees of success to draw a roadmap. And given how digital firms have grown in size and scale and the frequent inability of the acquirers getting richer, the founders can take pride in their creations continuing to exist as standalone brands for the foreseeable future.

     

    Says Vikas Tandon, CEO of Indigo Consulting, “Being part of Leo Burnett gives us a chance to be at the table when a strategy is formulated at the top management level.” And yet he argues, “It would be foolish to not leverage the equity of Indigo.”

     

    Chhaya Balachandran Aiyer

    Gulrez Alam, COO, Resultrix says “We are the leading buyer of Google in India and Performics is the biggest buyer of Google worldwide. We will be representing Performics in India.” However the name remains unchanged even post merger with the Publicis Groupe firm – Alam says the only addition will be the line ‘a Performics company.’

     

    There are others who have been in conversations for years and are yet to hear anything they really like. Mr Hegde admits, “There have been no compelling offers; no network that can add value to our growth plans. Being independent is our strength today, allowing us to work across agencies and brands. One of the biggest things about acquisitions is someone comes to you for what you are. Once they acquire you, they try to make you who they are.”

     

    Vikas Tandon

    Besides, there’s a bit of scepticism about what value an acquisition really brings to the table. An industry insider believes Webchutney is pretty much unchanged and the same applies to Quasar. For the moment though, it sure feels good to be wanted. And digital agencies with their PC, Mac and Tab saturated offices, internet meme based humour and boisterous geeky staff are the unlikely belles of the ball.

     

    Source: The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2012, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

     

  • On Week 4 of our new Thursday 'getting personal' series, we will bring you media practitioners tell us how they unwind. Kicking off the series is Himmat Butalia, Marketing Head, PIX

    New series | How I Unwind: Himmat Butalia

    By Himmat Butalia

     

    I’m writing about my favourite ways to unwind while I’m sitting at my desk with heaps of work to finish (what an irony).

     

    Movies: I often think about how lucky I am to be working at PIX since I’m a huge movie buff. A great movie at the end of a hectic working day or a holiday is the cherry on the cake. My 500 (plus) DVD collection validates my belief in this mantra!

     

    Food food food: My personal motto is ‘You are what you eat’, but on more occasions than one I’ve thoroughly enjoyed food which I would not even dare name let alone eat. Yummy Italian food consisting of some good wholesome spinach soup, fresh steamed fish as the main course made with less cheese and lots of chillies and black pepper or some Chinese stir fried noodles and Sapo chicken with some dry chilly lamb (yup, I’m a foodie) are ideal meals at the end of a power packed day and a great way to relax, before hitting the bed( not to forget a good cup of hot Chinese tea post a scrumptious dinner)

     

    Yoga and Swimming: My defence background has instilled a great amount of self discipline in me and also helped me recognize the significance of good health. Yoga and swimming are not only a great way to unwind but also to keep mind and body healthy and hearty, thus a good way to start and end a hectic day.

     

    Himmat Butalia, Marketing Head, PIX.

    Compiled by Meghna Sharma

     

  • IndiaCast, TV18 and Viacom18's venture, announced the launch of the international version of MTV India in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region

    Viacom 18’s IndiaCast takes MTV India to Mid East, N Africa

    By A Correspondent

     

    IndiaCast, TV18 and Viacom18’s venture, announced the launch of the international version of MTV India in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. MTV India, featuring music & reality content from India in Hindi language, will complement Viacom International Media Networks’ (VIMN) existing MTV channel, which services the Middle East and North Africa region with Arabic and international music and entertainment content.

     

    MTV India is IndiaCast’s second channel in the region after its flagship channel Colors which launched in September 2010. The IndiaCast team in Dubai, which currently distributes and handles advertising sales for Colors, will be managing the distribution & sales for MTV India as well. This launch expands the offering for advertisers in the region, allowing them to reach both family and youth audiences. With this launch, MTV India’s international distribution footprint will now span 31 countries, while Colors is available in close to 50 countries.

     

    Speaking about the launch, Gaurav Gandhi, COO – IndiaCast, said, “Indians are passionate about their music, and Hindi music in particular has a huge following both in India and overseas. The launch of MTV India in the Middle East & North Africa region will give an opportunity for these audiences to connect with Indian music and reality programming that they love most. MTV India is our second brand in the region and we intend to grow our presence here with more offerings from our extensive news and regional channel portfolio in the near future.”

     

    Adding to this, Aditya Swamy, Business Head – MTV India, said, “MTV India has constantly engaged and entertained young India and now the opportunity to do so with young people in the other countries is very exciting. While we will leverage our cult franchises such as Roadies, Unplugged and Rush in these markets, we will also look at some region-specific initiatives which will resonate with the local audience.”

     

    MTV India will be available on Pehla branded packs across DTH, Cable, IPTV and SMATV across Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan and Mauritiana. MTV India will also be launching on other platforms shortly.

     

  • Resultrix – A Performics Company, India's leading performance marketing agency, announced the appointment of Tanmay Mohanty as its Chief Operating Officer for Indian operations.

    Resultrix appoints Tanmay Mohanty as COO – India

    By A Correspondent

     

    Resultrix – A Performics Company, India’s leading performance marketing agency, announced the appointment of Tanmay Mohanty as its Chief Operating Officer for Indian operations. Mr Mohanty will be directly reporting to Gulrez Alam, COO – Global, Resultrix.

     

    Mr Mohanty, with an extensive and diverse work experience of close to 14 years, has been a part of organisations of repute at the management level. As he joins Resultrix, he brings his vast experience in the field of Marketing, Advertising, Brand Management, Direct Sales, BTL, Strategic Account Management, Business Development, and Administration. Prior to joining Resultrix, he was the COO of Interactive Media And Communication Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (id8 Labs). He has earlier been associated with organizations like Jasubhai, Merchant Media, Dalal Street, and Urja Communications.

     

    Speaking on his appointment, Mr Mohanty said, “Resultrix has an excellent track record as a leading player in the search and interactive services industry. I look forward to working with the talented and dynamic team at Resultrix and being a part of the company’s future.”

     

    Mr Alam added, “It’s great to have Tanmay on board with Resultrix. We are looking at strengthening our leadership team at Resultrix as we continue with our focus on being at the forefront of the ever evolving digital and interactive services industry. Our clients will benefit from Tanmay’s vast professional expertise spanning across multiple industries. As Resultrix’s success story continues, Tanmay’s insights and leadership will give that extra fillip to take it to the next level.”

     

    Resultrix, founded in 2008, is a performance-based digital marketing agency, managing over 120 brands across multiple screens and mediums. Its bouquet of interactive services includes search engine marketing (SEM), search engine optimization (SEO), web design & development, web analytics, social media marketing & display advertising.

     

  • TBWA\India appoints Subho Sengupta as Executive Vice President and Head of the New Delhi/Gurgaon operation

    Subho Sengupta joins TBWA\India as EVP Delhi

    Subho Sengupta

    TBWA\India has appointed Subho Sengupta as Executive Vice President and Head of the New Delhi/Gurgaon operation. Mr Sengupta has 16 years of experience in the advertising industry. Prior to this, he was the head of Law & Kenneth’s Kolkata operation. He has spent a large part of his career working with JWT where he was responsible for the GSK business. Mr Sengupta has also worked with Saatchi &Saatchi and Bates and with brands such as Horlicks, Fair & Lovely, Airtel, Tata Steel, Close up, Vivel, Gold Flake, Carlsberg, Lafarge and Ananda Bazar Patrika.

     

    “I am very excited to be part of TBWA, one of the world’s most admired networks,” said Mr Sengupta. “TBWA is an institution with a unique and differentiated philosophy (Disruption and Media Arts) that is proven to deliver outstanding strategies and breathtaking creative for clients in India and around the world. I look forward to working with a team that is young, talented and hungry.”

     

    TBWA\India’s Managing Director, Mr Nirmalya Sen said, “It is a pleasure to bring on board someone who has the great combination of a sharp advertising mind and the ability to be a strong leader. With Kunal Gill already on board as the Executive Creative Director, TBWA\Delhi now has formidable leadership and I am confident this duo will soon make their presence felt in the market.”

     

  • Presenting the sixth edition of MxM Buzzer where the focus is on Doordarshan!

    MxM Buzzer # 6 | Quiz on Doordarshan

    Welcome to the Sixth edition of MxMIndia’s media quiz – MxM Buzzer, that happens every Friday and where our prizewinners are real people . Our quizmaster is Sorbojeet Chatterjee, Vice President – Marketing at Neo Sports. To enter this quiz, simply email the answers with your personal details (Name, email id and telephone number) and a five-word descriptor for EMVIES 2012 at editor@mxmindia.com with Buzzer#6 in the subject. Standard contest rules apply (see box below).

    Note: entries without the descriptor will not be considered for prizes.

    There will be two prizes for Buzzer #6. One First Prize of Rs 1001 and One Second Prize of Rs 101.

    If there’s a tie, the best descriptor for EMVIES 2012 will get the prize (note: tie-breaker question will change every week).
    Last date for sending entries: THURSDAY, August 30, 2012. Entries must reach us by 5 pm IST.

     A sitter to begin with – Which Bollywood superstar made his acting debut in a serial on DD called Fauji?
     Satyamev Jayate was simulcast on Star Plus and DD. Which current television programme on Zee TV is also simulcast on DD?
     Vasant Sathe is given credit as the I&B Minister under whom DD moved to colour broadcast with the Asian Games in 1984. However, an extremely popular and path-breaking soap was also his brainchild. Identify the cult programme?
     Swabhimaan was an afternoon soap opera on DD that was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and featured a stellar star cast. Which popular writer scripted it?
     Karamchand, a detective serial on DD, featured Pankaj Kapur. Which GEC revived it in 2007?
     Ramesh Sippy, the ace Bollywood director of several blockbusters including Sholay, directed a TV serial for Doordarshan. He fell in love with the actress Kiran Juneja on the sets and eventually married her. Identify the cult programme?

     This is the logo of which Doordarshan channel?
     Superhit Muqabla was one of the longest running No. 1 show on DD Metro. Identify the production house that created it?
     Which rib-tickling sitcom on DD Metro was inspired from the British sitcom Mind Your Language?
     This show on DD was so popular in terms of audience participation that the Indian Postal department introduced higher priced ‘Competition Postcards’ to increase revenue. Identify the popular programme?

    Winner of Buzzer # 5 is Anilkumar Sathiraju (Tel No xxxxxx 4896). Mr Sathiraju (who works with DDB Mudra) wins a Prize of Rs 1001. The Second Prize of Rs 101 is won by Jolly Garg (xxxxxx 0053) who works with Accenture.  Congratulations, Mr Sathiraju and Ms Garg. Please await our mail, send us your coordinates and we will wire/ courier/ deposit you the prize… within a month.

     

    Answers to Buzzer # 5

    1. South Korea or Bahrain or Republic of Congo, 2. Mudra, 3. Jai Jawaan, 4. CNN IBN & History TV18, 5. Sushil Kumar (Indian flag bearer in Olympics), 6. Aamir Khan (He has named his son Azad after Maulana Azad), 7. Rabindranath Tagore, 8. ABP News, 9. Mahatma Gandhi, 10. 9XM
    1. The families and employees of MxMIndia Private Limited and its associates are not eligible to win prizes.
    2. You can send as many entries as you would like. There is no entry fee.
    3. In case of more than one all-correct entry, the Tie-Breaker will be the decider. Entries without the Descriptor for the Tie-Breaker will not be considered complete.
    4. The decision of the Quizmaster and/or the MxMIndia editor will be final.
    5. If the winner is not reachable by phone/email, the next best entry will be awarded the prize.
    6. By sending your entry, it is assumed that you are in agreement with the rules.
    7.  Entries for Buzzer #6 must reach us latest by 5pm IST on Aug 30.
  • In a new fortnightly series on industry backgrounders, Hemant Jain takes us through the journey of the current boom in the travel media sector

    Backgrounder | Hemant Jain: What makes online travel so sought after?

    By Hemant Jain

     

    Back in the good’ol days, setting out on a vacation with family was not less than a whirlwind! Not only the options were scant but also the hassles of lack of hotels and commutation modes made it less alluring. But the phenomenon of tourism since 1950 has been remarkable in terms of growth, spread and diversification. The international tourist arrivals since then have grown from mere 25 million to reach 940 million in 2010. The fast growth and spread has not only resulted the globalization of people’s movements as never before but has also contributed in creating a vibrant industry and opportunities for millions of people. Little wonder that almost 20 million people are employed in India’s tourism industry.

     

    So what are the factors that have triggered the era of consumerism in the travel industry?

    Advent of Low Cost airline- Earlier air travel was considered to burn a hole in a traveller’s pocket. But with the emergence of low cost airline in India in 2003, air travel, which was just a dream for a traveller with minimum resources, turned in to a possibility. This also opened up gates for many private players who offered better services to the consumers at competitive prices. This was one of the major revolution from a consumer’s point of view because it all together explored a new avenue of travel besides roads and railways.

     

    Increase in travel agencies: The Indian market was introduced to the concept of planning and booking travels in early 2000. The travel industry had not achieved momentum yet but there were surely some signs of hope. IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) had proven to be a success and had demonstrated that Indians were warming up to booking online and ready to pay a premium for convenience. There were a couple of websites that offered air tickets but none could comprehensively claim to cater to travel needs across categories. But Innovation and differentiation are key drivers of growth today. While OTAs have gone beyond online travel to provide end-to-end travel and holiday planning solutions, innovation is the need of the hour. Cross selling of products is on the rise. Again OTAs have to engage with customers and listen to what they have to say. There is a need to make inroads into the customers’ life, without being intrusive and understand their needs better.

     

    Promotion by Government: The government’s ‘Incredible India campaign’ for boosting India’s image as a global destination has promoted tourism in a big way. It has promoted the destinations in India and abroad in countries like UK, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. This concerted effort has not only attracted a consumer’s attention at destination in India like Leh, Kerala and Sikkim et al but also towards international destinations. Today, the top International destinations are UK, Pataya, Singapore. Moreover the involvement of state government in projecting their state as a favourable tourist destination has also escalated the inbound tourism. States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Kashmir and Chhattisgarh et al spends millions on their marketing and advertising efforts in a year.

     

    Boom in Online Travel Industry: Initially online travel was marked by several challenges. Low Internet penetration was the major one. Another challenge was habit. The habit of buying an air ticket was through a travel agent and booking a hotel room was always through calling the hotel directly or by showing up. So it was a habit change that OTAs were dealing with and changing a habit obviously takes a long time. Also, there was limited confidence on online transactions. But eventually, online travel industry grew impressively. The travel boom, emergence of low cost carriers, proliferation of Internet and the growing acceptance of e-commerce, are key factors that have contributed to the emergence of this sector. The online travel industry is certainly marked for growth in coming years. The best is yet to come for the sector with broadband penetration just starting to take off. India is all set to become among the top three online travel markets in the world over the next decade.

     

    Increase in the No. of Woman Traveller: A study by Nielsen in 2011 tags women as the key decision makers for around 85% of all consumer purchases including everything from autos to health care and this includes the selection of preferred holiday destination also.  The study also highlighted that around 91% of the female booked trips with their friends and only meagre 8% travelled with their families. Also, shopping as an activity is widely preferred by woman enabling them to travel at far-flung areas.

     

    Change in Travel accessories: It is believed that the travel accessories (be it suitcase, briefcase, bags or pouches et al) a person carries during his travel says a lot about his personality. Gone are the days of bulky, ugly suitcases that threw a major challenge to passengers in terms of its handling. Today on consumers demand there is a host of lightweight travel accessories in different sizes, shapes and colours available to choose from. While female travellers can pick from the range of unusual colour palette in luggage including pink, purple and yellow, the males on the other hand can look out for cleaner and organised travel gear. There’s also a lot of innovation happening on other travel accessories in general beyond luggage. Like a travel Toothbrush that is a toothbrush and toothpaste rolled into one making a minute but simple travel accessory.

     

    Spurt of technological gadgets: Ever wondered what was it like to travel before the age of technology precisely gadgets like cell phones, laptops, e-Books, Music Players? Quite unimaginable, huh! Earlier books were the only tool that was used to pass away the time during long and tedious journey hours. And on top of it, a letter was the only medium to communicate to your near and dear ones about your safety arrival on a foreign land. But today, thanks to technological advancement there is a pool of gadgets that one carries during his travel. Gadgets like cell phones, laptops are not only a great mode of communication but are also used professionally. Besides gadgets like music players, e-books, cameras and all are a great source of entertainment for a person on a trip.

     

    The Social Media Influence: The social media plays a big role in travel. Earlier consumers use to book through travel agents. Now people use travel sites Cleartrip.com, makemytrip.com among many others. Sites like Facebook, Twitter are big influencers for travel. People post comments on travel sites, research on Google about place they visiting. Travelling in groups has been promoted in big way by websites like Thomas Cook. Even when people visit the destination, Google maps play a big role. Even the Internet on mobiles play a big role and people don’t get stuck in midway. Seeing other friends posting pictures on Facebook influences travellers. Travel blogs play a big role in making the decision where to go for a holiday.

     

    New avenues of travel options: This is an emerging sector with consumers moving towards more advanced forms of travel options including a helicopter, yatch or a cruise. Although the primary reason for its access remains cost but with the increasing purchasing power of the consumer’s the newer forms of travelling are gaining momentum in a big way.

     

    Undoubtedly there has been a magnum of changes in the travel industry over the past few years, but there is more to look forward.  According to a travel research firm, Indian travel industry is expected to grow by13% to $23 billion by next year. And by the year 2014, Indian tourism industry will contribute atleast US$16.3 billion.  The $4 billion online business is also expected to grow faster, at 28% to touch $7 billion. Now there are number of factors that can augment this phenomenal growth in coming times. Mobile penetration has increased considerable in the past few years and people are accessing the internet through their phones. Exploiting the mobile platform hence becomes very essential and going forward we can expect an influx of applications for mobiles. Application like Zomato.com, Yatra.com have already paved a way for the increased use of mobile platform for consumers to plan their leisure activities. Be it a dine out with family or planning a vacation abroad, the online travel industry is certainly marked for growth in coming years, especially through mobile platform. The best is yet to come for the sector with broadband penetration just starting to take off.

     

    India is all set to become among the top three online travel markets in the world over the next decade. By 2015, it’s estimated that shoppers from around the world will spend about $119 billion on goods and services bought via mobile phones, according to a study by ABI Research. Also identification of new growth sector like medical tourism is pivotal as the number of medical tourist arrival within few years is expected to cross two millions mark. So pack your bags and set out for your dream destination as the travel industry is witnessing a change that has never happened before and in a good way!

     

    Hemant Jain is Senior Vice President & Head – Domestic Business @ Hungama Mobile

     

  • The News Broadcasters Association has asked to I&B Minister Ambika Soni NBA to order an independent third party time-bound audit by a reputed agency to evaluate and measure the TAM systems and make the audit report public

    NBA urges Soni to suspend TAM data reporting until system probed, made robust

    By A Correspondent

     

    The News Broadcasters Association, the apex body of news broadcasters in the country, has written to I&B Minister Ambika Soni on TAM Media’s TV viewership measurement system suggesting actions to “protect” the industry and all its stakeholders.

     

    We publish the letter  (link: http://www.nbanewdelhi.com/images/uploadfile/36_PRESS-RELEASE-23-8-12.pdf):

     

    “We appreciate and welcome your voicing support for broadcasters and coming out openly with your thoughts about the TV viewership rating system of TAM.

     

    Certain media reports have highlighted ‘widespread corruption amongst broadcasters’ in light of the recent allegations made on TAM measurement systems, which in our view is completely misplaced.

     

    In this regard we wish to draw the attention of the Ministry to the “Code of Practice in relation to Measurement Based Studies” adopted by the NBA and adhered to by its member broadcasters. This Code was formulated and approved so that the use of measurement based studies by member broadcasters is carried out in line with highest ethical commercial practices (Copy attached)*. As you are aware TAM has been reporting viewership data to the industry despite serious concerns over their systems and methodology of measuring TV audiences. Data continues to be skewed and is seriously affecting broadcasters and their business. While IBF was instrumental in the formation of the BARC, the responsibility of implementing BARC will see the light of the day only if the ISA and the AAAI jointly take serious efforts to launch it in the immediate future. Content and its quality no longer is a creative judgment or product of talent or ability but has been severely compromised with the sole aim of gaining viewership ratings. Your dogged pursuance of this issue and your keenness to aid broadcasters in resolving this malaise with the intention to protect the industry and all its stakeholders’ interest, prompts us to request the Ministry to:

     

    1. Order an independent third party time bound audit by a reputed agency to evaluate and measure the TAM systems and make the audit report public.

     

    2. Efficient steps to correct deficiencies in the system.

     

    3. Help build a robust, transparent and dependable rating system.

     

    4. Direct TAM to suspend reporting data until the above is undertaken.

     

    5. Continue to engage and work together on this issue and give the industry and all its stakeholders i.e. broadcasters, advertisers, distribution companies etc., the confidence to be able to consume data derived from such system.

     

    We believe these measures and initiatives from the Government will go a long way in addressing this long pending concern and we offer you our complete support in this journey”.

     

    * Available on website of NBA www.nbanewdelhi.com

     

  • Celebrated South Indian playback singer Mano, popularized with the hit television music series Super Singers on Vijay TV, performed to packed audiences in Johannesburg and Durban

    Vijay TV’s Mano thrills fans in South Africa

    By A Correspondent

     

    Celebrated South Indian playback singer Mano, most recently popularized through the hit television music series Super Singers on Vijay TV, performed to packed audiences in South Africa last week with smashing performances in Johannesburg and Durban. The hugely successful concerts were organized by Vijay TV – the leading Tamil general entertainment offering by the Star Network available on TopTV’s Top Star bouquet.

     

    The star, who has over 20,000 songs in 15 languages and has over 3000 live concerts to his credit wowed audiences at his events in Johannesburg and Durban. Fans of the superstar arrived hours prior to the events hoping for a glimpse of him before his mind blowing shows.

     

    The South Indian community of South Africa enjoyed a three-hour-long special performance by Mano who belted out hits back to back for his fans at the premier shows at Johannesburg and Durban exclusively for subscribers of Top Star, TopTV’sIndian bouquet.

     

    Mano also made a special public appearance at India Club’s Incredible India Day where hundreds of fans had the opportunity to meet him personally with an opportunity for photographs and autographs with him and a live performance at the 66th Indian Independence Day festival in Gauteng. A surprise duet performance of his hit song, Mukala Mukabla with P Susheela’s grand-daughter, Keertika Ponugupati, had fans roaring for more.

     

    The superstar rose to stardom with his hit songs Muqabla Muqabla from the film Kaadhalan with music composed by A. R. Rahman, the movie was recreated in Hindi and Telugu due to its popularity. Thereafter hit songs ‘Shenbagme Shenbagame’ followed and when the highly successful ‘Velaikkaran’ was released, Mano became one of the most sought-after South Indian singers in the industry.

     

    Sarika Shankarnarayan, Assistant Vice President, Marketing for Star, said, “We are delighted with the tremendous response to Mano’s concerts in South Africa. This is the first of many more interactive initiatives that the Star Network will bring to the Indian community in South Africa.”