MxMIndia

Category: MEDIA

  • This appointment is aligned with the group’s plan to strengthen its central management structure aimed at accelerating growth and furthering synergies between businesses

    Ajay Chacko is now COO @ Network18

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ajay Chacko

    In a significant development, Network18 Group has announced the appointment of Ajay Chacko as COO. This appointment is aligned with the group’s plan to strengthen its central management structure aimed at accelerating growth and furthering synergies between businesses. Mr Chacko has been with the group for over nine years and is presently President of A+E Networks I TV18, the joint venture between A+E Networks, US and TV18. He will currently continue to hold responsibility for the venture.

     

    In his new role, Mr Chacko will actively support management teams and leaders across functions in leveraging the network’s diverse strengths, be responsible for creation and management of network-wide properties and institutionalize processes and models that offer value across the group and its ventures. He is also mandated with strengthening the business planning and monitoring processes as well as other critical support and staff functions across the group. Additionally, Mr Chacko has been entrusted with the role of being the custodian of ‘Brand Network18’.

     

    Commenting on this, Raghav Bahl, Founder & Editor, Network18 said, “The dynamic nature of the media landscape in India today has necessitated the need to continuously evolve our internal operating environment to align with these changes. We have now embarked on a path of bringing together our various business units in order to successfully ride the opportunity wave and stay focused on returns to shareholders. In Ajay, we entrust the responsibility of strengthening our continued efforts to emerge as ‘one’ strong network. He has our best wishes and whole-hearted support.”

     

    Speaking on this development, B. Sai Kumar, Group CEO, Network18 said, “We’ve invested in and built a great set of brands across multiple platforms over the last decade. This network today, straddles broadcast, e-commerce, digital content and niche print businesses. In the next phase of Network18, we intend to consolidate the strengths of each of these businesses across the network, extract value through unrelenting focus on internal assets and thereby better our offerings to external constituencies all around. Ajay has been key to the success of some of these businesses and in this new role, he will bring his expertise, foresight, operational and people skills to achieve what we’ve set out to accomplish.”

     

    Mr Chacko said, “We have been seen to be a diverse and talented set of people running some of the country’s most successful media brands. I hope to be able to supplement Sai’s efforts to help strengthen the collaboration between our various business units and functions with a view to improve financially as well operationally and emerge stronger as one network.”

     

    In his earlier roles at Network18, Ajay has led many of the group’s businesses such as CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and Forbes India. Mr Chacko has also led the group’s efforts in the business media domain as well as the successful launches of key digital properties of Network18. He has been responsible for the functioning of the JV between A+E Networks & TV18. Prior to joining Network18, Mr Chacko worked in financial services and media for over a decade. His earlier stints were with IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services, India) and he has also been a part of the start-up team at Sharekhan. He started his career with the Indian Express Group where he worked in various capacities.

     

  • Mr Mehta joins as Head of Business – India and Senior Vice President at technology-led digital company Razorfish

    Razorfish gets Taproot’s Manan Mehta to launch India biz

    By A Correspondent

     

    Manan Mehta

    Technology-led digital company Razorfish has announced the appointment of Manan Mehta as Senior Vice President and Head of Business – India. Mr Mehta joins Razorfish from Taproot where he was Managing Partner and a founding member of Taproot India. His mandate will be to introduce and establish Razorfish in India and put together an A-team to run client operations.

     

    Speaking on his appointment, Mr Mehta said, “The opportunity to impact client’s business by combining cutting edge technology with creativity has compelled me to take up this assignment with Razorfish.” He further added, “In India, businesses at large have started acknowledging the active role that digital and technology can play in building their brands, and are gearing up to embrace this new world order. In fact, there are organizations that have started institutionalizing social thinking across departments. I have always admired Razorfish’s work, and today I am really excited to be part of the team.”

     

    Kanika Mathur, Managing Director, Razorfish said, “Manan is an enterprising young professional with solid fundamentals about business and brands. His experience in the field of advertising and communication will be a huge asset for Razorfish in providing focus and driving growth for us in India.”

     

    Recently, Publicis had announced the entry of the Razorfish in India with the acquisition of Neev Technologies, which would now operate as Razorfish Neev. Saurabh Chandra, CEO, Razorfish Neev said, “Manan spearheading Razorfish’s India business focus is going to be a great asset for us. His understanding of what brands want and need to succeed in India is superlative. Together with Razorfish Neev’s technical strengths this is a winning combination.”

     

    Mr Mehta, a Post Graduate from Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai (XIC), has worked with Brand David (then RMG David) in Delhi and Mumbai. He then moved to Leo Burnett, Mumbai, where apart from handling key brands as Brand Partner, he was also assigned additional responsibilities of Leo Entertainment as Business Head and Arc worldwide as Retail Director. From Leo Burnett he moved to Taproot India as a founding member in the capacity of Managing Partner. He has worked on numerous brands across various categories such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7Up from PepsiCo’s stable. Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Minute Maid and Maaza from Coca-Cola regional business, Airtel, Set Wet, Hair & Care, Tata Capital, Myntra.com, Times Of India, Mumbai Mirror, GQ, Conde Nast, Reliance Mutual Fund, Reliance Capital, Sony Entertainment Television, Reliance Mobile, Cox & Kings and LG.

     

  • TAM has fortified its TV Panel Home Security Process by setting up a dedicated vigilance desk, and has appointed a President's Medal awardee and veteran in vigilance, investigation and crime detection to head it

    TAM appoints top cop to guard its homes

    By A Correspondent

     

    TAM Media Research, industry’s centrally appointed Television Audience Measurement cell, in a bid to further fortify its TV Panel Home Security process, has set up a dedicated desk for vigilance, investigation and crime detection. This desk will be chaired by Ravi Ratanjankar as Head, Vigilance & Corporate Risk Mitigation.

     

    Mr Ratanjankar is a President’s medal awardee and a crime investigation veteran with over 22 years of experience in this field. His special role in TAM will help fortify the organization against any potential vested interest parties trying to break into the TAM system.

     

    Commenting on the initiative, LV Krishnan, CEO, TAM Media Research, said, “Our core service of Television Audience Measurement (TAM) has played a silent, yet, central role in helping the Indian Broadcast and Advertising industry reach the size and stature we know of today. This has only happened because of our regular proactive measures, one of them being constant expansion and enhancement of our TV audience panel home. Today, our TV audience measurement panel covers over 225 towns and cities across urban and semi-rural markets covering all the key states of India.

     

    “The key here is, and which a very few realize, that the complexity of such huge on-ground operations do run a risk of potential external threats. In our unrelenting focus towards quality and the need to protect the services from any types of external threats, TAM is taking further necessary steps that will ensure a deeper safeguard to the services via stronger walls of security and vigilance in the coming months and years. Ravi’s appointment towards this is not the end but one of the many more initiatives that Industry will see. I am very pleased to have Ravi as part of my team. We are very sure that his role and involvement will further elevate TAM to new performance benchmarks.”

     

    Mr Ratanjankar comes with an experience of over 22 years as Assistant Commissioner in Maharashtra Police and was leading teams in special investigations, traversing various types of investigative projects. Prior to joining TAM, he was with the HDFC Bank Ltd handling vigilance functions pan-India and helping the implementation of fraud management systems. His repertoire of experience has been enriched by stints in the CBI, Mumbai Crime Branch, various police stations in Mumbai, combat experience in Naxalite districts etc.

     

  • Get ready for a a hip, happening, slick Amar Chitra Katha-like channel called Epic

    1 Minute View: Yet another Hindi entertainment channel!

    Just when we thought the slowdown, the vagaries of digitization, LC1 markets and the tough fight put up by the big networks was not going to see any new entrant in the Hindi entertainment channel business, comes the news of Epic. For one, it’s being set up by a bunch of professionals and investors. Anand Mahindra is reportedly an investor, albeit in his personal capacity.

     

    According to unverified information available, Delhi-based restaurateur and impresario Rohit Khattar is among the directors. A representative from Mahindra and the founder and managing director Mahesh Samat (formerly head of the Walt Disney Company in India) are also directors.

     

    Mr Samat’s objectives are noble. Bring in quality content to television. He hopes to exploit the opportunities thrown up by digitization and launch what’s going to be a pretty niche offering. Unlike, say, a History Channel, this channel is going to bring in quality historicals, mythologicals and folklore, retold in a “very contemporary” storytelling format. In many ways, a hip, happening, slick audio-visual Amar Chitra Katha.

     

    It’s scheduled to launch in August this year and its success could open the floodgates for many more niche offerings.

     

  • Select links of stories handpicked by MxMIndia editors

    Links of the Day (15 May)

    BCCL buys 49% stake in Daiki Brands through ‘private treaty’

    http://www.livemint.com/Companies/n4TQ7L7FzRWYG1Dt1wvotO/BCCL-buys-49-stake-in-Daiki-Brands-in-private-treaty.html

    Mint/Zahra Khan and P R Sanjai

    Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (BCCL) has bought a 49% stake in Mumbai-based underwear maker Daiki Brands Pvt. Ltd through a so-called private treaty, as per the report.

     

    News channels opt for self-regulation on ad duration from today

    http://www.exchange4media.com/50979_news-channels-opt-for-self-regulation-on-ad-duration-from-today.html

    Exchange4media.com/Abid Hasan

    Starting today (May 15), news channels will adopt a new self-regulation on ad duration: 18 minutes of ads plus 3 minutes of promos for Hindi news channels and 15 minutes of ads and 3 minutes of promos for English news channels.

     

    DD News and Samachar beat pvt news channels: Prasar Bharati CEO Jawahar Sircar

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k13/may/may75.php

    IndianTelevision.com

    Must-read quote of Prasar Bharati CEO Jawahar Sircar: “Though we have our problems with TAM India, and we have filed a petition, even they have admitted that DD has started topping the English news channel genre, between 9 and 10 PM when DD’s ‘Newsnight’ is telecast in English.”

     

    ABC to Test Expanding Nielsen Ratings to Mobile

    AdAge/Jeanine Poggi

    According to this report, ABC will begin measuring advertising in videos viewed with mobile and tablet apps during a trial run with Nielsen, the network said at its upfront presentation to ad buyers Tuesday afternoon

     

  • From stars to ordinary folks, the small screen is the battleground for the wars of the dance shows. And channels are putting their best foot forward

    Channels step up the battle on the dance floor

     

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    For a nation that thrives on jigging and jiving in filmland, it is not surprising that dance shows are a hit. Starting with the longest running, Boogie Woogie, a number of other dance reality shows have made their mark on Indian television, and their popularity seems undiminished.

     

    Priti Murthy

    Although most shows are Indian versions of successful Western formats, they have been able to garner a strong following. What is about these shows that make them click with people? Priti Murthy, National Director – Insights at Maxus, tips her hat to the film industry. “Thanks to Bollywood, there is a big dance and music consumption in the country. And as a genre too, it has done well – nationally and internationally. Also, as a format it appeals to the whole family. Thus, such shows are bound to do well.”

     

     

    Ajay Bhalwankar

    “Dance spreads joy. It’s a beautiful medium of expression. People emotionally connect with the contestants as they become stories of common man becoming a superstar,” says Ajay Bhalwankar, Content Head, Hindi GEC, ZEEL.

     

    Zenith Optimedia’s managing partner Sanjoy Chakrabarty says, “There is a high level of involvement and engagement value is high too as people start liking a certain participant, vote of him/her. Also, they are on TV for a short period of time unlike daily soaps which go on and on. Hence, people like to watch them, no matter if celebrity or non-celebrity are participating.”

     

    Sanjoy Chakrabarty

    Color’s flagship show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa has always improved the channel’s ratings among the GECs. “Viewers always look out for something fresh and entertaining and dance reality shows provide them the same. The kind of experiment one does with dance forms and shows make them really exciting and refreshing. Like on our show Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa, viewers get to see a different side of celebrities that appeals to them. It is a show where dancers and non-dancers perform and entertain audiences on the same platform,” says Manisha Sharma, Weekend Programming Head, Colors.

     

     

    Manisha Sharma

    Star’s Nach Baliye finished its fifth season early this year and the channel has launched another show – India’s Dancing Superstar. While Nach Baliye has celebrity couples, the latest entry onto the bandwagon provides platform to dancers wherein there is no barrier of age, dance form or style. “We are extremely happy that within its launch week, India’s Dancing Superstar has emerged as the number one non-fiction show on television,” says Nikhil Madhok, VP marketing, Star Plus.

     

     

     

    Nikhil Madhok

    Same style, new twist

    Season after season, shows have been received well by the audiences, making channels very happy to reinvent their offerings every year to stay ahead of one another. “We will retain the format of original DID and instead of having just extraordinary dancers, this edition of DID will have extraordinary moms showing off their extraordinary dancing prowess which will shock and surprise the viewers. The biggest USP of DID SuperMoms is that it’s for the mothers. It’s for those women who don’t believe that marriage and kids are a barrier between them and their dreams. It will be the mother of all dance shows,” says Mr Bhalwankar when asked what will be the USP of DID this year.

     

    Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa has a new theme this year – Dance Ka Maza Ab Hum Chakhaenge. “Every year we try to do something different with our flagship dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. We have had a different line up of celebrities every season from all walks of life which adds a new flavour to the show. Like last season we had a sportsperson like Sanath Jayasuriya to a comedian Bharti Singh and this year we are bringing in Bollywood actors like Aarti Chhabria to singer Shaan,” says Ms Sharma.

     

    With the show the channel attempts to remain engaged with the audiences with new elements and constant innovation every season. This new season will also see an interesting line of up rounds as the season progresses and wild card entries with new twists and turns. “We have upped the challenge and raised the bar this year. It will definitely be bigger and better this year,” Ms Sharma adds.

     

    However, the question remains – is it necessary for such shows to invent themselves? According to Ms Murthy, dance and music shows have become a staple diet for Indians and reinventing shows by focusing on moms or kids in a particular season only adds to it as they target the whole family. “If a format has clicked with the people then such reinventions only add more value to them.”

     

    Similarly, Mr Chakrabarty feels it is important for such shows to reinvent themselves as the element of surprise is always good. “One has to keep taking it to the next level,” he adds.

     

    Dance to the marketing mix

    Although the shows are popular and get a lot of eyeballs to the channels, the channels don’t leave any stone unturned in marketing them to stay ahead of each other.

     

    For IDS’s launch Star’s marketing highlight was a massive on ground engagement during the audition phase. According to the channel, it helped in building traction for the show even before the first episode was shot. “We will be using digital in a big way through the show. Already the Chavat Boyz who featured in our first episode have started creating a cult following on digital for their innovative dance style,” says Mr Madhok.

     

    Colors on the other hand plans to go all out with a mix of TV (Home Channel + Cross channel), Radio, Print, Outdoor, Cinema and Digital for JDJ.

     

  • WeChat, a global mobile social communication application, unveiled its latest brand campaign with Bollywood stars Parineeti Chopra and Varun Dhawan as its brand ambassadors

    WeChat aims to reinvent social communication on mobile

    By A Correspondent

     

    L toR: Varun Dhawan, Dennis Hau, Parineeti Chopra and Rahul Razdan

    WeChat, a global mobile social communication application, unveiled its latest brand campaign with Bollywood stars Parineeti Chopra and Varun Dhawan as the brand ambassadors of WeChat in India to boost its marketing effort.

     

    The brand campaign captures the spirit of WeChat of being young, effervescent and instant. The campaign also showcases WeChat’s features like voice messaging, group chat and special emoticons in an engaging manner.

     

    Sharing his views on WeChat’s success in India,  Dennis Hau, Head of International Product Center, Tencent International Business Group said, “India is an exciting youth-driven smartphone market and we are committed to it. With its unique product features like Voice Messaging and Moments, WeChat enables Indian users to communicate with their friends and family in a richer manner. We are encouraged by the very positive response that we’ve got from Indian users so far, and with this brand campaign, we hope to consolidate our market leadership.”

     

    With a bundle of innovative features, WeChat is all set to re-define the way people communicate with each other. “With WeChat, we aim to provide users with our innovative mobile social sharing features and a more secure communication platform. WeChat not only allows friends to connect with each other, it also allows brands to interact with their customers creating a personalized two-way channel. We have also selectively released our SDK and API for developers to develop apps on WeChat. WeChat is creating a unique ecosystem where users connect socially with their friends as well as engage with celebrities, brands, and businesses making it an all-in-one app, to serve the different needs of our users,” said Rahul Razdan, Head of Tencent India.

     

    WeChat has also introduced “Official Accounts” on its platform, a feature that can be utilized by companies and merchants to build interactivity with their fans in a new and innovative way. Leading brands like Café Coffee Day, Big Bazaar, Yahoo! Cricket, Goibibo, Santa Banta, and Tradus are amongst the earliest brands to start their Official Accounts on WeChat in India.

     

    The global free mobile social communication application WeChat, was launched in India in July last year across iPhone, Android, Symbian, and Windows Phone platforms and was recently launched on the BlackBerry platform as well.

     

  • Seeing how viewers lap up myths and legends on TV, it's not surprising an entire channel dedicated to folklore etc is coming up. Will it be a tale with a happy ending?

    Will Mythology 24×7 work for Epic?

     

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    In the beginning there was Ramayana. It was the day, or rather the Sunday morning, when the world stood still as millions watched the televised dramatization of one of India’s best-known epics. Close on its heels was the sweeping soap opera of Indian mythology, the Mahabharata, and then came Bharat Ek Khoj which gave us facts laced with dramatized enactments of India’s myths and legends.

     

    Those were the days of Doordarshan. With the explosion of cable and DTH, and technological strides enabling better and better CGI, viewers are now spoilt for choice in the realm of mythology. The most popular currently is the magnetic Lord Shiva on Life OK, with the delectable Parvati and cutesy Ganapati capturing hearts of all ages.

     

    It is this raging popularity which has led Mahesh Samat, former Walt Disney India head, to plan an entire channel based around mythology. For someone who is has a passion for history this may seem an obvious move. “With digitization, today, people have access to various channels and hence, an availability to launch new genres. We did a lot of research and dipsticks before taking this decision. People want to have a connection with history,” says Mr Samat when asked about his decision to launch India’s first genre-specific Hindi entertainment channel – Epic.

     

    “Epic stands for story-telling. Here we are not just going to rehash history but create new characters from our history,” he adds.

     

    But is there really enough TG of this genre to launch a channel? “I think for such a genre, the TG is universal. Anyone who is in the mood to watch the genre will switch to our channel. Of course, we know that people won’t be watching the channel all the time. We would be an important part of people’s choice wherein they choose to watch us when they feel a need to watch something mythological or from our past,” believes Mr Samat.

     

    Pratap Bose

    According to Pratap Bose, COO, DDB Mudra group, for any genre, be it action or mythological, content is important for a channel to be a hit or a miss. “If the content is 10/10, nothing else matters. People should like what you give them and they will come to you if it appeals to them.” However, he does believe that apart from great content it is important that one effectively distributes and promotes the channel so that more and more people know about it.

     

    The channel launch is being planned for August, provided all regulations are cleared. And a 360-degree marketing mix has been planned for it. Aparna Pandey, who will be looking after content and packaging, will also be in charge of the channel’s marketing. Ravina Raj Kohli is the development head. The team is already in talks with various producers, though a lot of development work will be done in-house.

     

    Very few know that Mr Samat is a comic book writer and has authored a comic called The Adventures Of Vanayu – The Spirits Of Ixora. Will he be lending his talent to the channel, too? “I would leave that to my very talented and professional team. However, I wouldn’t deny I have a very good sense for such content.”

     

    With various networks launching regional channels or dubbed feeds, the Epic Television Networks Pvt Ltd knows the importance of regional space. However, they want to take things slowly. “We would like to build the brand in Hindi first and then go ahead… step by step,” says Mr Samat.

     

    And what about syndication? With Indians spread across the globe and an interest in Indian history at an international level, one cannot rule it out. “Syndication is a very good revenue option as well. But we will only think about it after we get it right here,” reaffirms Mr Samat.

     

  • Mr Rohit Khullar believes the media has gone unregulated for far too long and TRAI regulations are law…

    1 Minute View: The TRAI chairman thinks the media has had a f***ing free-for-all

    The Hoot editor Sevanti Ninan’s column in today’s Mint makes for interesting reading (May 16). It talks of TRAI chairman Rohit Khullar, his views on the media and what he plans to do to those who don’t adhere to the TRAI’s regulations.

     

    Sample this quote from Mr Khullar: “I don’t have to win a f***ing election. I am a regulator, I am answerable to Parliament, my job is to enforce the law. Once the regulation is issued, it is law. The telecom guys know this. The broadcasting guys are learning it late.”

     

    Note the asterisks are inserted by us, the quote, as published on the newspaper’s website, has the entire ‘f’ word. The TRAI chairman, Ms Ninan writes, is “short, feisty and bursting with expletives to describe the scenario that has been permitted to take hold here”.

     

    Ms Ninan says Mr Khullar believes the media has gone unregulated for far too long.

     

    Now, if TRAI really gets tough on the media, there will be a bloodbath. To start with, the ad duration regulation. All those who aren’t adhering to it, can get severely reprimanded and even lose their licence. The message that we get from the Mint article on Mr Khullar: F*** around with TRAI regulations and get f***ed.

     

    From what he tells Ms Ninan, there’s going to some tough policies on cross-ownership too.

     

    If Mr Khullar and his predecessors were able to be stringent with telecom players, the going will not be that easy with media biggies. It won’t be simple to get some of the big players to exit established interests in other media domains and/or entities.

     

    Needess to say, it will be interesting to see who f***s whom. Ufff. Enough of swearing 🙂

     

  • MxMIndia editors pick links of must-read stories from across the Indian business and trade media

    Links of the Day (16 May)

    Taproot’s Agnello Dias #59 in Fast Company list

    http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/37505_Taproots-Agnello-Dias-features-in-Fast-Company-list

    Afaqs.com

    The Taproot co-founder and CCO is in the business magazine’s Most Creative People in Business List.

     

    Digitization will heavily impact media stocks: Experts

    http://www.exchange4media.com/51005_digitisation-will-heavily-impact-media-stocks-experts.html

    Exchange4media.com/Abhinav Trivedi

    Analysts are bullish about the media sector post-digitization

     

    I&B Ministry launches multi-media campaign prepared by DAVP on flagship schemes

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k13/may/may84.php

    IndianTelevision.com

    The ministry via the DAVP releases several TV, radio and print ads highlighting some of the schemes of the present government

     

  • The IPL is being streamed live by Times Internet Ltd, the official digital partner of IPL, in partnership with YouTube

    IPL 6 records 52% growth in online viewership

    By A Correspondent

     

    The IPL’s sixth season is proving to be a smashing hit online. The 20-20 cricket tournament is being streamed live by Times Internet Limited (TIL), the official digital partner of IPL in partnership with YouTube. As per the viewership numbers recorded at 38 matches, which is 50 per cent of the tournament – IPL online across both www.boxtv.com and www.youtube.com/indiatimes combined recorded a 52 per cent growth viewership over 2012 (75.2M vs 49.3M last year.). Furthermore, the combined viewership of users watching highlights and clips saw a whopping 480 per cent growth in watch hours over 2012. That’s a staggering number and no other live event has ever created this kind of reach in India.

     

    In India, Bangalore and Hyderabad lead the viewership with 14 per cent each, with Delhi coming in a close second at 10 per cent. The matches that registered the maximum online views were: RCB vs PW on 23 April and MI vs RCB on April 25.

     

    “Over the last two years, we’ve offered IPL fans across the world a superior experience online and steadily grown a loyal viewer base. For IPL 2013, we’ve worked hard to make the online experience more social and interactive than ever before, and our traffic numbers so far are proof enough that IPL fans are loving it,” said Satyan Gajwani, CEO, Times Internet.

     

    Speaking about the response to IPL season 6, Praveen Sharma, Head of Media Sales, Google India said, “Better streaming experience, increased mobile and tablet device access and growing awareness about the availability of IPL online is fuelling the growth in viewership. In the past, we usually saw rise in the first two weeks of the tournament and then it picked up again during the final week. But this year, the growth has been consistent through the tournament. At this rate we are hopeful of registering strong growth in total viewership by the end of the tournament over last year.”

     

  • MSLGroup India, Publicis Groupe's strategic communications and engagement company, has announced the launch of its global digital and social practice in the country, Social Hive

    MSLGroup India launches Social Hive

    By A Correspondent

     

    MSLGroup India, Publicis Groupe’s strategic communications and engagement company, has announced the launch of its global digital and social practice in the country, Social Hive.

     

    Jaideep Shergill

    Jaideep Shergill, CEO, MSLGroup India, said, “While MSLGroup India has been a leader in digital and social engagement for years, the launch of Social Hive means that we are taking the practice to a new level, with even tighter connections across the globe. Digital and social capabilities are central parts of idea -based and fully-integrated client communications solutions. Our top talent at Social Hive makes us well positioned to continue to create award-winning work for our clients across all platforms”.

     

     

     

    Parveez Modak

    The Social Hive team in India is led by Senior Vice-President Parveez Modak and Vice-President Narendra Nag. The team comprises of more than 40 consultants in Mumbai and Delhi who manage 5 million people across communities. Social Hive’s strategic storytelling approach helps brands create stronger connections and relationships with the consumer.

     

    Glenn Osaki, MSLGroup Asia president, added, “In this fast-moving industry, keeping up is not enough. We have to lead. This large investment in Social Hive might be surprising given that we are already an industry leader in the digital and social space in India. But if we want to continue to attract the best talent and create the best campaigns for our clients, we have to constantly innovate and invest. Our expanding content creation capabilities, tools and insights will drive our digital and social leadership into the future.”

     

    Alongside Social Hive, MSLGroup has also launched a new proprietary and social tool: the Social Hive Index, which can benchmark a company’s social engagement and compare it to its peers.

     

    MSLGroup India’s social and digital communications is the leading practice of its kind, advising clients such as Sony, Monsanto, Volkswagen, KPMG, Singapore Tourism Board, Australian High Commission (OzFest), Whirlpool and eBay. The network has also won several international awards which showcase world class, outstanding performance in digital and social media, such as the International Business Awards (Bronze, Social Media Focused Campaign 2012, Sony Mobile) and the Bees Awards (Winner, Best Social CRM 2012, eBay India).