MxMIndia

Category: MEDIA

  • Select links of stories handpicked by MxMIndia editors

    Links of the day (23 May)

    Twitter tightens security after high-profile breaches

    http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/Pr63ETrDWd7nxyZ6BW9fwJ/Twitter-tightens-security-after-highprofile-breaches.html

    Livemint.com/AFP

    Twitter says it would implement a new login verification system, which is ‘a form of two-factor authentication’, says report

     

    New channel InSync to focus on classical music

    http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/37573_New-channel-InSync-to-focus-on-classical-music

    Afaqs.com

    Musical events management company Perfect Octave has announced the launch of a pay channel that will focus on classical music content, notes the report

     

    Viacom18 expands mobile footprint to engage youth & kids

    http://www.exchange4media.com/51086_viacom18-expands-mobile-footprint-to-engage-youth-kids.html

    Exchange4media.com/Synjini Nandi

    Viacom18 is all set to launch three new mobile products under three of its kids and youth-oriented brands in the country i.e. MTV, Vh1 and Teen Nick, informs this report.

     

  • The crorepati show is getting set to enter living rooms for a seventh season, and the consensus is that it is Amitabh's charisma which keeps viewers watching. Will it work for this season too?

    KBC7: Hit or Miss?

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    The registration promos for the seventh season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) have begun, and Indians from all over the country are queueing up in the hope of hearing the magic words “Aur aap jeet gaye hain!”

     

    The question however is whether KBC this year will be able to garner the same amount of interest amongst its audience and receive ratings on par with previous years’ or will it show signs of the seven-year itch. “It will open below last year’s rating, more close to 4.5 to 5.0 TVR. In any case fragmentation is happening which will cause a drop in viewership. For instance, the IPL may reach more people, but there has been a drop in actual TVRs. Also, there is some amount of boredom that has set in on KBC, which will be the main reason for a drop in viewership,” feels Hariharan Vishwanath, National Trading Director, MEC.

     

    Mohit Joshi

    However, others feel that host Amitabh Bachchan’s charisma is enough to draw people to the show, apart from being a format which everyone – young or old, male or female – can relate to.

     

    “This year will be similar too. Amitabh Bachchan is the key reason for these ratings and his charisma will continue this year as well,” says Mohit Joshi, MD, Havas Media.

     

     

    Neel Kamal Sharma

    Agreeing with Mr Joshi, Neel Kamal Sharma, COO – Buying, Madison Group adds, “KBC continues to be the channel driver and I am confident that it will be the channel driver this year as well. The real challenge for channel will be to bring some element of freshness for viewers so that it continues to attract them in an engaging manner.”

     

    Media planners feel that the format captures the viewers’ imagination by letting them be in the contestant’s shoes as they try to answer the questions. It is this that keeps them hooked to the show. And that is the reason for the show’s adaptation in various regional languages, too. After Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam, KBC was recently launched in Marathi as well.

     

    “Regional is the next big national. Let’s draw a parallel regional daily print titles (Tamil, Marathi, etc) have more readers in the regional markets than English (or even Hindi in these markets ) which clearly tell that there is an audience who will watch and they want to see content in their local language. Therefore, KBC does make sense in regional languages,” explains Mr Vishwanath.

     

    On the other hand, Mr Joshi feels that nobody can match AB’s magnetic personality. “The effort is always to get the regional celebrity to host it which is good. “I would say they do moderately well.”

     

  • Ogilvy and Mather dishes up something new for Vodafone every year, and this year the agency lived up to its reputation with the ultra-cute Minions

    Minions music video Zumi Zumi to end Zoozoo campaign

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    An added attraction of the IPL is the season’s Vodafone campaign featuring the Zoozoos, which have been a hit ever since they first appeared on TV four years ago.

     

    Ogilvy and Mather dishes up something new for Vodafone every year, and this year the agency lived up to its reputation with the ultra-cute Minions. The miniature versions of the Zoozoos quickly became popular, and as the IPL season concludes, the campaign ends with a new twist – a music video.

     

    A music video is a first for the Zoozoo campaign. So why now? “When the campaign started it began with a teaser wherein these Minions were getting ready for ‘something’. They got internet, gossip, jobs etc for the Zoozoos so we thought it would be apt for us to end them with an anthem of their own,” says O&M’s Rajiv Rao.

     

    Like the Zoozoos, will we have to say goodbye to the Minions as well when the IPL season ends? “We don’t know yet. Who knows, maybe after three or six months or maybe only next year will we be able to see them,” Mr Rao says.

     

    Rajiv Rao

    And what can we expect from him and his team next year? “Every year, it’s a new challenge and we will see what brief and challenges are thrown at us,” says Mr Rao. He was interrupted by Piyush Pandey who jokingly said, “The future of the campaign is me working as Rajiv’s assistant.”

     

  • The Hindustan Times has renewed its Gurgaon focus with increased local coverage for residents of Gurgaon.

    Hindustan Times launches Gurgaon Special

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Hindustan Times (IRS 21.83 lakh till 2012, Q4) has renewed its Gurgaon focus with increased local coverage for residents of Gurgaon. The special product for Gurgaon, which greeted residents last Friday morning, started off with a massive survey of Gurgaon’s residents, asking them about their opinion on all the issues that count to them. The responses highlight the problems that beg to be addressed- safety, sewage, power, water, roads and traffic in their city. And that is where Hindustan Times’ Gurgaon special intends to contribute – by doing in-depth stories on the various issues that affect the lives of the citizens, and helping take them to their natural conclusion.

     

    The efforts go beyond the printed newspaper. A special dedicated website has also been launched with the new edition of Gurgaon’s HT – www.htgurgaon.com, which will not only have more stories and information but also be a platform where the residents can share their views, suggestions and comments about this ongoing project to make their city truly world class.

     

    “Hindustan Times has been the voice of Delhi for the last 89 years. With the city’s expansion into Gurgaon and Noida, we’ve gone ahead and expanded our presence in these newer areas to fully cover them and seek to give our readers a flavour of the entire national capital region. The renewed focus on Gurgaon is a step towards helping the city realize its potential,” said Sanjoy Narayan, editor-in-chief, Hindustan Times.

     

    Shantanu Bhanja

    Shantanu Bhanja, Business Head and Vice-President Marketing, HT Media Ltd, said, “Gurgaon, as we all know, is a city of the future. Its breathtaking growth in the past decade has been awe-inspiring. Hindustan Times’ increased Gurgaon focus bears testimony to the growth the city has witnessed. Our Gurgaon-focused approach, in which we will take up news stories and issues that matter to the residents of Gurgaon, will benefit both readers and advertisers.”

     

    The Gurgaon Special has been launched with a multi-media campaign that affirms HT’s positioning to Gurgaon residents through the tagline “Your Gurgaon, Your Voice”.

     

  • Reliance Games has launched the official mobile game of the popular US dance-based reality show Dancing With the Stars, available on the Apple app store

    Reliance Games launches Dancing With the Stars mobile game

    By A Correspondent

     

    Reliance Games, a developer and publisher of mobile games, has set the stage for enthusiasts to groove along with the dance-based TV show, Dancing with the Stars. This rhythm-based mobile game is inspired by the enormously popular television show and lets users prove they are the best dancer on the virtual floor. Dancing With the Stars: On the Move can be played on iPhone, iPad and iTouch (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dancing-stars-on-move/id642440504?mt=8).

     

    Manish Agarwal

    “Dancing with the Stars: On the Move mixes the glamour and high-stakes drama of the competitive show with the rhythm-based gameplay people love,” says Manish Agarwal, CEO of Reliance Entertainment Digital. “Both new and seasoned casual gamers will be addicted to the combination of music, colourful costumes and amazing dance floor moves.”

     

    Players can also share their game progress with friends via Facebook Connect, allowing users to share their dancing outfit and show off their winning score.

     

    “It’s an amazing, immersive experience,” said Paul Joffe, VP BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment and Games. “It puts the excitement and energy of Dancing with the Stars in your hands. Fans get the chance to enjoy first-hand the journey to becoming a champion. They can even team up with their favourite dancers from the show.”

     

    Dancing With the Stars showcases paired celebrities and professional dancers who compete for the trophy.

     

  • The Dentsu India Group has announced that it has acquired an 80 percent stake in digital agency Webchutney

    Dentsu buys 80% of Webchutney

    By A Correspondent

     

    Rohit Ohri, Executive Chairman, Dentsu India Group along with Webchutney co-founders Sidharth Rao (L) and Sudesh Samaria (R)

    The Dentsu India Group has announced that it has acquired an 80 percent stake in digital agency Webchutney. With around 200 employees across offices in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, Webchutney has been credited with developing award-winning and memorable digital experiences for some of the biggest brands in the country, many of them of global repute like Airtel, Unilever, MasterCard, Coca-Cola, Bacardi Martini, Budweiser, ITC, Marico, Madura Garments, Titan, Bajaj, Reliance Retail and Saint Gobain.

     

    The work done by the agency has been awarded at various domestic and international events over the years including Adfest, Goa Fest (Creative Abbys), Yahoo! Big Idea Chair Awards, Campaign India Digital Media Awards, IAMAI Indian Digital Awards, W3 Awards and Olive Crown Awards among other prominent recognitions.

     

    Founded by Sidharth Rao and Sudesh Samaria in 1999, Webchutney boasts an impressive client roster and some of the most recognized digital work over the last few years spanning web design, social media, mobile and experiential digital advertising. Rahul Nanda, President, Mobile Initiatives, joined the agency in 2005 as Partner and Chief Operating Officer. The agency will continue to operate independently under the management control of its current leadership.

     

    Sidharth Rao, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Webchutney, commented, “In Dentsu and Rohit Ohri, we have found a partner who is willing to invest in and cultivate our passion to provide path breaking digital creative services to our clients. We are thrilled to be working with such a strong global leadership and are ready to enter a new phase of our growth. We could not have made it this far without the unfaltering support of our clients, our leadership teams and the talented bunch of team members. I am also personally grateful to Sarbvir Singh who has been my mentor for the last five years and his team at Capital18 for ensuring that we shared a wonderful journey together.”

     

    Sudesh Samaria, National Creative Director and Co-founder, Webchutney, said, “The Dentsu network is ‘future obsessed’ and that fits in perfectly with what we do here at Webchutney. We’re always trying to be ahead of the curve and we love people, ideas and technology that will help us and our clients get there faster. So in that sense both from a philosophy point of view as well as synergies across capabilities, we believe we’ve found the ideal growth partner in Dentsu.”

     

    Speaking on the new partnership, Rohit Ohri, Executive Chairman, Dentsu India Group, said, “Dentsu is the first global network that’s being built out in the post-digital era. We believe we’re building the network of the future. Our partnership with Webchutney is another step in that direction. We’re now going to be able to put world class digital solutions in the centre of our offering to our clients. I’m delighted to have Webchutney as a part of the Dentsu India Group.”

     

  • Was it right for Times to send a lawyer's notice to student blogger Aparajita Lath? Pradyuman Maheshwari, who has been in a similar position in the past, examines the case in Mediaah!

    Mediaah! Now, BCCL’s Times Publishing House takes on law student-blogger

    By Pradyuman Maheshwari

     

    I have been receiving various smses and calls since yesterday about the legal notice that Bennett Coleman’s Times Publishing House is said to have sent a student blogger on Spicy IP, a site that deals with intellectual property issues. It was a flashback to some of the stuff that I was subjected to many years back.

     

    But eight years since that happened, I am wiser, understand the law and what can be construed as defamation.

     

    My view on the episode:

    I have read the offending article, the TPH lawyer’s notice that the website has put up, the website’s reply to TPH and its coverage of the entire issue. (here, here, here and here).

     

    The student Aparajita Lath’s article discusses the two decades-old battle that Financial Times of London has had with BCCL’s company Times Publishing House (TPH) over the use of the Financial Times title which TPH has been using for a special edition published from a few centres.

     

    I don’t think it’s correct to use the words fair or unfair in business, but it would be perhaps be right to say that it was a smart business strategy which obviously BCCL has protected over the years.

     

    Over the last few years, Financial Times (of London) has been flexing its muscles with an eye on launching in India. Mint, the Hindustan Times group’s business daily, has covered the issue extensively. Mint, has been covering media extensively since launch, so it’s not an issue of a rival media group embarrassing BCCL with these reports. That it happens (the embarrassment) is I guess a welcome byproduct.

     

    Is Aparajita’s article defamatory? No, it isn’t, though it’s laced with some opinion. She bases her article on four Mint reports and a few posts from Spicy IP.

     

    Is it embarrassing for BCCL? Not at all, because Spicy IP isn’t read by the masses. It’s a site for a special interest group, and even if it’s popular amongst a small section of legal practitioners and the judges, it would hardly make any impact on the case.

     

    Yes, the reply from Spicy IP is strong, and I am not sure if all that the editor/publisher has written is warranted, but Aparajita’s post is hardly of the nature that TPH should’ve employed a lawyer to send a legal notice. There’s a technical error, admits Spicy IP, which it would’ve corrected.

     

    What is upsetting is why The Times of India group did not engage the student and the site either informally with a call or a face-to-face meeting or via a letter or simply a post on the site. By doing what it has done, it’s not only going to earn the wrath of the large and aggressive online fraternity but also have people digging for more negatives of the group. All very avoidable at a time when flagship daily The Times of India celebrates 175 years of existence. After all, doesn’t the group believe in Aman Ki Asha to foster peace with Pakistan and promote various improve-the-country-and-the-world movements like Lead India, Teach India and now I Lead India?

     

    Pradyuman Maheshwari is Editor-in-Chief and CEO, MxMIndia, but the views expressed here are his own and aren’t necessarily the stated position of MxMIndia. Reach him at Twitter at @pmahesh or BBM at 29fea79c.

     

  • While all hell hasn't broken loose as yet, expect a fair bit of it against the group in the coming days

    1 Minute View: Why Times erred in sending the blogger the notice

    It pains us much to see the way big media organizations react to critics or those who dare to question their doings. While no one likes to be criticized or made fun of, news organizations -  especially those in print media are most unsporting.

     

    Times have changed and so has the media landscape. The internet has democratized media, and you don’t need deep pockets to own a media entity. It isn’t the case here in India, but in the US, nobodies such as Drudge Report and Huffington Post have become must-reads.

     

    So Bennett Coleman and Company Limited’s Times Publishing House (TPH) was irked by an analysis young Aparajita Lath curated for a site for intellectual property practitioners and students called Spicy IP. While the article Ms Lath wrote was analytical, it borrowed heavily from various published stories in Mint (the business daily) and Spicy IP.

     

    Therein was the problem: a reporter (or his/her website/publication) is liable even if inferences are borrowed and paraphrased from a published work.

     

    However, for TPH to react by way of a legal notice was uncalled for. A simple counter via a comment or engaging the writer and the website and impressing upon them the TPH point of view would have worked. While all hell hasn’t broken loose as yet, expect a fair bit of it against the group in the coming days.

     

    Sad. Save the regressive paid content division, one has come to expect some good journalism and smart publishing practices from BCCL in the last 15-odd years.

     

    There’s only one expression we have in response: wtf!

     

  • The Press Club Mumbai's RedInk Awards presented by Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan and I&B Minister Manish Tewari

    Press Club Mumbai’s RedInk Awards presented

    By A Correspondent

     

    Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan and I&B Minister Manish Tewari presented the third edition of the Press Club awards held on Saturday, May 25 at the NCPA, Mumbai. Christened the RedInk Awards, the show was emceed by journalist Bachi Karkaria. A highlight of the evening was a panel discussion moderated by Times Now editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami on whether the media in India was free and fair. Former Hindu editor-in-chief N Ram, Minister Manish Tewari and Star India CEO Uday Shankar were the panelists.

    Veteran journalists Kuldip Nayar and N.Ram were awarded the RedInk Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2013 and around 20 other journalists received awards in various categories for excellence in journalism at the Awards event. Mr Nayar’s award was received by his wife.

    The sponsors of the event were Star India, Podar Enterprise, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Eros International, Yes Bank, Magarpatta City and Zee Entertainment.

    ** Detailed report and photographs on Monday, May 27 **

     

  • Neo's dual feed for French Open helps it get two co-presenting and five associate sponsors

    Dual feed ace nets Neo 7 sponsors for French Open

    By A Correspondent

     

    Neo Sports Broadcast has announced a list of sponsors for the event following the announcement of the dual feed coverage for the French Open. The co-presenting sponsors for the French Open this year are Renault and Micromax.

     

    In addition to these, five associate sponsors have also signed on for the event. These are Cadbury, Carlsberg, Nokia, Coca-Cola and Samsung Smart TV. The number of sponsors announced is amongst the highest for any Grand Slam in the country and with this, NEO is almost completely sold out on the French Open, a communique notes.

     

    As reported earlier, the dual feed innovation ensures that both Neo Prime and Neo Sports will show live feeds from separate courts. Consequently, fans will not miss out on any of the top action.

     

    Prasana Krishnan

    Prasana Krishnan, COO, NEO Sports Broadcast Pvt. Ltd said, “The French Open in 2012 had the highest level of viewership for any Grand Slam. This year, we expect this to go even higher with the pioneering dual feed coverage. We are pleased to note that sponsors have bought into this vision and are supporting us in a big way.”

     

  • Former Supreme Court judge R V Raveendran has been appointed Chairman of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA)

    Former SC judge R V Raveendran appointed NBSA chair

    By A Correspondent

     

    R V Raveendran

    Former and retired Supreme Court judge R V Raveendran has been appointed Chairman of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), the self-regulatory body set up by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA).

     

    He takes up the position left vacant due to the passing away of J S Verma, who passed away last month (April 2013).

    Born in 1946, Justice (retd) Raveendran completed his education from school to a degree in law in Bengaluru. He enrolled as an Advocate in March 1968 and practised extensively on the civil side till his elevation as a Permanent Judge of the Karnataka High Court in February 1993. He served as Chairman of Karnataka State Legal Services Authority for several years and popularised Lok Adalats in Karnataka.  He was elevated as the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court in July 2004 and as a Judge of Supreme Court in September 2005. Justice Raveendran has rendered several landmark decisions in the fields of Civil and Constitutional Law. He has served as the Chairman of Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. As Chairman of Mediation & Conciliation Project Committee, he was instrumental in developing mediation across the country.  He retired from the Supreme Court as a Senior Judge in October 2011, and si presently engaged in giving lectures and writing articles on law related issues and in conducting arbitrations.

     

    Photo courtesy: Supreme Court of India website

     

     

     

  • Select links of stories handpicked by MxMIndia editors

    Links of the day (27 May)

    TV and Bollywood – Made for each other

    http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/37514_TV-and-Bollywood–-Made-for-each-other

    Afaqs.com/Anindita Sarkar

    There is enough evidence to show that the relationship between TV and Bollywood is getting stronger by the day, notes the report.

     

    News Corp to take charge of up to $1.4 bn this quarter

    http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/pCNAXI4hEX64SIUUP8C8DL/News-Corp-to-take-charge-of-up-to-14-bn-this-quarter.html

    Livemint.com/Reuters

    News Corp says goodwill impairment charge primarily for Australia newspapers, though it gives no more details, the report observes.

     

    Lokmat refreshes look with new format & presentation

    http://www.exchange4media.com/51131_lokmat-refreshes-look-with-new-format-presentation.html

    Exchange4media.com/Abid Hasan

    Marathi daily Lokmat has undertaken a major refreshment in its design and story presentation