MxMIndia

Category: MEDIA

  • Top media and marketing pros are set to run the Mumbai Marathon on Sunday. Some are stressing about it, some running to destress & many others just for fun

    Marathon time for Mumbai’s media mavens

     

    By Shobhana Nair

     

    “I ran just once in my college when I saw a wild elephant,” says Ravi Rao, Leader, South Asia -Mindshare, “After that it’s going to be the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon that I will be running for!”

     

    Members of the advertising, media and marketing community are regulars at marathons held in various cities across the country. Especially the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon which sees them enter in reasonably large numbers. Sunday, January 19 promises to see an encore. Mr Rao may be debuting this time, but there are several others who’ve been running for some years now. For Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom 18, running has been a passion and he re-discovered it some 10 years back. Last year, Mr Vats did the full run in three hours, 59 minutes. Breaking his own record is not on the agenda but having a good run tops the list! “I think it is a great addiction and I am addicted to it. I would invite others to get addicted to it as well,” beams Mr Vats.

     

    It’s interesting to see many top captains for whom stress at work is never really a bother getting the heebie-jeebies. Well, almost. Says Times Television Network MD and CEO Sunil Lulla who is also a debutant: “I am completely stressed out right now and getting a lot of anxiety. I have no other expectations and want to have a good run, start well and finish well.”

     

    For many, running the Marathon is not just about fitness, but there’s a good cause as well.  S Yesudas, Managing Director, Indian Subcontinent, Vizeum has been offering support and commitment to two causes that are close to his heart. “An old age home and orphanage at Malad, Swagat Ashram Charitable Trust in Mumbai and the other is a tribal school, Vidya Vanam at Coimbatore. The person who manages Swagat Ashram, Brother Stanley stays in the same shelter with his family.  His children grew up with the orphans, eating the same food. These are men of God and they need support from other God-believers.”

     

    The training for the marathon begins way before the actual date and that really tests one’s power to achieve what is often the impossible. And there are some who believe it actually helps easing work stress. “The aim is to keep yourself fit, keep enjoying the run for a longer period of time. Once you do a long run during the weekend, it sets you right,” says Amin Lakhani, Leader – South Asia, Mindshare Fulcrum.

     

    “The marathon is a lot about challenging your mind over your body. The fact is that you will be running a long distance but how you keep yourself mentally focussed on the objective? You become more focussed in your personal and professional lives. It gives you an adrenaline rush when you reach that finish line,”reasons Simran Hoon, National Sales Head, Colors.

     

    There are many who participate not for the run, but the fun element. Paritosh Joshi, Principal, Provocateur Advisory admits that he is not a runner but loves to participate to soak in the atmosphere around him. “There are people who come on the streets to run and then there are those who are present just to encourage the runners. The spirit and the energy is what I like to soak in. In fact, I click pictures & tweet them. That’s how I enjoy it.” And not surprisingly, this is Paritosh Joshi’s ninthth consecutive “fun year” at the Marathon.

     

    Sanjay Tripathy, Senior Executive Vice President – Head Marketing, Products & Direct Channels at HDFC Life has another motivational reason to get up and run, “It is a competition with yourself rather than with anyone else. I think it is only the Mumbai Marathon that gives you a chance to run on the Sea Link and that should motivate you. Run just to feel how beautiful Mumbai looks in the morning!”

     

    If this hasn’t motivate you enough, then this should: veteran mediaperson Bharat Kapadia started running when he was 54 and still continues to do so in his 61st year. In fact, he accepts that if he can run, anybody can. So get hold of those sports shoes and run to experience the spirit of Mumbai this Sunday. Or simply do the run around your building, the road, the promenade or a jog track near you. And get set for 2015 edition of the Marathon.

     

  • The media mandate for Jindal Panther TMT Rebars is worth Rs 15 crore

    Starcom wins media duties for Jindal Panther TMT Rebars

    By A Correspondent

     

    Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) has chosen Starcom Worldwide to handle its media duties for its retail brand, ‘Jindal Panther TMT Rebars’. The agency won the account after a multi-agency pitch. The media mandate for Jindal Panther TMT Rebars is worth Rs 15 crore.

     

    The Gurgaon office of Starcom Worldwide will handle traditional media planning and buying for the client.

     

    On the win, Mallikarjunadas CR, CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group India said: “We’re looking forward to this partnership with JSPL.Our team in Gurgaon is strong, and we’ll be able to work hand in hand with JSPL to devise creative and engaging human experiences for their consumers.”

     

  • The annual India Digital Summit organized by the Internet and Mobile Association of India on February 6 and 7 in New Delhi

    ‘Digital First’ is theme of IAMAI’s Digital Summit

    By A Correspondent

     

    As a policy, MxMIndia does not link editorial coverage to business relationships. So even though we have concerns on the Internet and Mobile Association of India [IAMAI] policies on media partnerships for its events, our coverage of the trade body’s reports and events continues.

     

    And now that we are done with the disclaimer, here’s the main info: the IAMAI’s annual India Digital Summit will be held on February 6 and 7 with ‘Digital First’ as the theme of this year’s edition. If you thought that ‘Digital First’ would mean a lot of discussion on journalistic content, then the list of speakers doesn’t indicate that. The fourth edition of the India Digital Awards will be held on the evening of February 7.

     

    One of the key sessions in the Summit’s eighth edition is ‘Taking Digital Companies Public: The Journey & Its Learning’. The session will have Sanjeev Bhikchandani of Info Edge, Deep Kalra of MakeMyTrip, VSS Mani of JustDial and Suresh Reddy of Ybrant Digital discussing the merits of digital companies going public and response from public at large.

     

    The India Digital Summit 2014 will kickstart with IAMAI Chairman and Managing Director, Google India, Rajan Anandan delivering the welcome address followed by keynotes by Ajit Balakrishnan – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rediff.com and Chairman Emeritus – IAMAI and the often-on-News-TV Baijayant Panda, MP.

     

  • A quick chat with BARC chairman Punit Goenka & Benoit Cassagne. Senior VP, Mediametrie. Both are bullish on delivering a robust system

    It’s official now: BARC chooses Mediametrie as tech partner

     

    For BARC chairman and Zee Entertainment MD and CEO Punit Goenka, the announcement of Mediametrie as the technology partner and the signing of the Letter of Intent in Mumbai is a big step towards the new audience measurement regime. Ditto for Benoit Cassagne. Mediametrie’s Executive Director of audience measurement and Senior Vice President for whom entering a large market like India is a significant recognition of its captabilities. Soon after making the announcement, both Messrs Goenka and Cassagne took time out to speak with Shobhana Nair

     

    Technology & cost were factors in choosing Mediametrie: Punit GoenkaIn a sense, the future of the broadcast sector depends a lot on the decision to select Mediametrie as BARC’s technology vendor.  Are you fully convinced about the path chosen?

    The first and foremost is that fact that it is a far more advanced technology that Mediametrie has brought to us. Apart from the watermarking solution that they are using, it is an open source technology. And any PC-based technology is far better and cheaper than a propriety system.  Other than technology, cost too was a factor in choosing Mediametrie. The entire process of audience rating is broken into three different stages and no one stage can go to another vendor. This in itself brings in checks and balances on who does what.

     

    With so many parties involved, will it not complicate things?

    Yes, it will complicate, but that’s part of life if you want a robust system to come in. We see the same happening in the UK which is a large market. I don’t see any reason why we can’t make it happen here.

     

    TAM says it was appointed jointly by the three bodies – IBF, AAAI, ISA – for audience measurement. These three associations are also statekholders of BARC. Why do you think nothing can go wrong even now?

    I am not sure whether TAM was officially appointed by all three bodies. We can go wrong however we have to work very hard. We have taken solutions after studying the models adopted by several countries. Our core proposition is based on the UK-model of BARB where you outsource it to three to four agencies so that no single agency controls the entire process and there is complete transparency.

     

    Do you think you will be able to meet all your deadlines that you have set for BARC?

    I am very confident that we will meet the deadlines.

    		 Journey might be difficult but I know we will succeed: Benoit CassaigneThe technology you have has been adapted in stable markets like France. Do you think India is ready for this kind of a system?

    India is ready for the change. We have met the people at BARC several times and we think these people are very qualified about audience measurement and they know exactly what they want to achieve. They have a clear roadmap. My belief is that the journey might be difficult but I know we will succeed

     

    Is the watermark technology really the best way to measure television audiences?

    Watermarking is very precise and I am very confident in our technology. Watermarking is very precise for time-shifting audience and to make difference between a live and time shifting edition. This is beneficial for new screen measurements. I think it will work well here in India.

     

    Did you study the current Indian television audience measurement system. Being an outsider, did you study the current TV measurement system? What are the loopholes in them?

    This is not an easy question and I am not a specialist. I don’t know the situation here but I do know there are complaints. I don’t know whether it is a question of governance, size of panels or technology. I can’t say really what was wrong. I am too new and too far from this market. But I have a lot of respect for them.

     

    Are there any peculiarities about India for the development of a measurement system? Do you think it’s tougher to administer one here in India than it’s in your home market France?

    Media measurement is a small world and the Indian situation is not-so-special. TV ratings systems are very comparable from country to country. The technology is comparable but the size of the market is not. Likewise, the local channels cannot be compared. Clearly, the Indian demand and market conditions are not difficult.
    The announcement: BARC signs deal with Mediametrie, a joint industry body in FranceBARC announced the formal tie-up with Mediametrie of France for some key technology services and licensing for the proposed television audience measurement system. Mediametrie is the Joint Industry body in France, operating the TV, Internet and Radio currency ratings systems, engaged in multimedia audience research for the last 25 years. They have been designing and developing their own TV metering systems for 15 years.
They are pioneers in the development and usage of watermarking technology in audience research and have been using this successfully for the last seven years. This technology is used in 3 currency markets : France, Morocco and the Netherlands.

     

    Under the arrangement, Mediametrie will provide technological knowhow and licenses to BARC to use their TV metering system and also help BARC procure its own metering hardware.

     

    Speaking about the same, Punit Goenka, Chairman, BARC said “I am delighted at this association with Mediametrie. Our Technical Committee and the Management had scouted the global marketplace for suitable technology and we are happy with our choice. We will take a quantum jump in technology for audience measurement in the country with this.”

     

    Benoit Cassaigne, Senior Vice President, Mediametrie said “We are very happy and proud of BARC’s confidence in our solutions and expertise. We are thrilled to bring our know-how on such a TV market and share it with BARC a company very similar to us in its DNA. We are sharing a lot already in term of philosophy and vision and I am sure we will go far together”

     
  • Of the eight new regional practice leaders in Asia, four are from the India office

    MSLGroup elevates 4 from India to Asia regional practice leadership

    By A Correspondent

     

    MSLGroup, the Publicis Groupe’s strategic communications and engagement consultancy, has announced the appointment of eight new regional practice group leaders and two regional deputy practice group leaders across Asia to further strengthen the firm’s expertise and leadership.

     

    Glenn Osaki
    Jaideep Shergill

    The practice leaders will have as their mandate to ensure MSL’s regional leadership position in their respective practice through best-in-class client service and strategic counsel amongst.

     

    Said Glenn Osaki, President Asia, MSLGroup, said: “Most of these top talents and leaders have been with us for many years, some have grown with us for over a decade. We are very happy to appoint these experts to take on international leadership roles and to contribute to developing the future of MSLGroup in Asia and globally.”

     

     

    Amrit Ahuja

    Amit Misra

    Parveez Modak

    Narendra Nag

     

    The four Indians elevated to the role are: Amrit Ahuja (Business to Business and Technology), Amit Misra (Public Affairs), Parveez Modak (Employee Communication and Engagement) and Narendra Nag (Social Media). Meanwhile, MSLGroup India CEO Jaideep Shergill will continue his leadership role of the regional financial communications practice.

     

  • Star India will be FIH's media partner in eight-year broadcast and rights deal

    Star India bags hockey fed rights for 8 years

    By A Correspondent

     

    The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Star India have announced an eight-year strategic partnership to improve the production of international hockey broadcast and extend the sport’s reach worldwide. The deal will run from January 2015 to December 2022. During the period of the deal, FIH will look to host a major event in India each year.

     

    Interestingly, Star Sports will be the host broadcaster for key FIH events both in India and across the world (except Argentina) and will be responsible for ensuring consistent and high level production.

     

    Last year, STAR Sports partnered with Hockey India to launch Hockey India League (HIL). STAR Sports showcased hockey in a completely new way, offering a TV experience relevant to the youth market. In its first season, HIL was broadcast in more than 80 territories across the globe.

     

    As part of the deal, STAR Sports has acquired global media rights for all territories, excluding Argentina. Through its network of international affiliates and other national broadcasters, content will be distributed to over 200 countries, reaching billions of sports fans taking hockey’s global viewing audience to unprecedented levels.

     

  • The Technical Committee meeting was held yesterday (Jan 22) and the first findings of the study are scheduled to be released before the month ends, and in all probability on January 28.

    New IRS study findings to be released next week

    By A Correspondent

    The new Indian Readership Survey findings are scheduled to be released next week.

    It may be remembered that on the basis of a recommendation of  the Readership Studies Council of India (RSCI), the Media Research Users’ Council had awarded the IRS contract to Nielsen. The decision was arrived at after a comprehensive nine month process that began in November 2011, with the formation of the RSCI by its sponsors, the MRUC (Media Research Users’ Council), and ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulation). The RSCI was mandated by the industry to oversee the conduct of a unified Indian Readership Study (IRS), billed as the world’s largest continuous readership study.

    The Technical Committee meeting was held yesterday (Jan 22) and the first findings of the study are scheduled to be released before the month ends, and in all probability on January 28.

    (See also: http://www.mxmindia.com/2013/03/new-improved-irs-hailed-by-industry/)

  • Life OK ahead of Sab in Week 3 as per TAM ratings

    Life OK ahead of Sab in Week 3

    By A Correspondent

    Week 3 of 2014 saw some changes in the weekly TAM ratings. No change to the Top 3, but Life OK went past Sab.

    Star Plus was at 626 (previous week was 629), Zee at 471 (488), Colors a close third at 467 (the  previous week was not as close at 457), Life OK at 347, Sab at 318 and Sony at 258. In Week 2, Life OK and Sab were tied at 318 and Sony was at 258.

    As always, this info is based on what a TAM subscriber told us. Nothing official about it. But it’s reliable.

     

     

     

  • Do the government’s Jan 16 guidelines also impact Kantar’s tie-up with Tata Sky on the return path data audience research service?

    Sorry, but Kantar’s spokesperson knows nothing about the petition against the Govt of India

    By A Correspondent [updated]

    It’s possibly our ignorance that we didn’t figure that the ‘Like to know more?’ contact in the Kantar ad on Monday was none other than that of IMRB International’s Group Communications Manager – Shweta Ratnaparkhi.

    We had published the news on Monday that TAM was likely to go to Court against the Government of India on the issue of the guidelines towards television audience measurement.

    We’ve often backed TAM in the war that many have been waging against the measurement body. We believe that the government’s policy on crossholding is flawed. And that if there’s a problem with crossholding on measurement than so must it be for a newspaper or newsmagazine owners also running news channels or radio stations.

    We believe the various stakeholders paying for TAM’s services and representatives of the three key stakeholders ought to have been sitting together periodically from the last 15 years so that there was no gap in the expectations.

    We also have a strong view about the government’s FDI policy in the news media. So even as the I&B ministry believes that a majority or 100 percent stake in news and current affairs media  — print and television – cannot be permitted, it has allowed fully foreign-owned media buying and planning agencies knowing fully well that media agencies can significantly impact the financials of newspapers or news channels and hence potentially influence them.

    The esteemed spokesperson did not respond to a direct question on whether her company has taken her country’s government to court.  Hey, there’s nothing illegal in giving out a piece of information. Last evening, IndianTelevision.com had scooped the story on the government being taken to court. The story’s first version named TAM, but that was later corrected to Kantar.

    The Economic Times today reports that the “writ petition filed by Kantar on January 20 said the new guidelines have put the existence of TAM at risk even though the ratings agency has operated in the country for over 15 years”. ”The petition argues,” the reports adds, “that with the new guidelines restricting cross-holding in TV rating agencies, TAM would have to shut shop in the country”.

    While the hearing has been adjourned to next week (Jan 29), Kantar has been asked to submit documents relating to its shareholding by then.

    We too received the information from a reasonably reliable source – that Kantar had taken our government to Court. We tweeted about it.

    But in order to give more info, we needed a copy of the petition or an official confirmation. When we spoke to Ms Ratnaparkhi, she refused to disclose any information on the legal procedure her company has initiated.

    The lady must realise that by doing so she’s only forcing journalists to wonder whether she’s trying to hide something.  And even look beyond TAM.

    Like do the government guidelines also impact Kantar’s tie-up with Tata Sky on the return path data audience research service ? In April last year, Kantar Media Partners had announcement the commencement of this service that measures the behaviour and viewing habits of Tata Sky’s rapidly increasing number of pay TV subscribers. Since the guidelines pertain to all television audience measurement, the Tata Sky tie-up can also be affected.

    But, of course, Madame Spokesperson won’t answer this question. Or possibly any other. Sigh.

  • MSM’s sports channel will air the 45-day rugby tournament being played by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy and France

    Sony Six to air 2014 Six Nations Rugby

    By A Correspondent

    Sony Six is on a rights acquisition spree. It has now announced the bagging of the exclusive broadcast rights to the RBS 6 Nations Rugby tournament which commences on February 1 and concludes on March 15. The tournament will be shown at primetime – between 8 and 11pm on Sony Six and Sony Six HD.

    Six European nations – England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy and France – will play in the tournament.

  • The Sakal Media Group chairman is among the 127 Padma Awardees for 2014

    Padma Shri for Sakal chairman Pratap Pawar

    By A Correspondent

    Pratap Pawar

     

    There weren’t any names specifically marked ‘media’ or ‘journalism’  in the list of ‘Padma’ awardees released on Saturday. Even Pratap Pawar, Chairman of the Sakal Media Group, has been listed under ‘Trade and Industry’.

    Mr Pawar, a veteran mediaperson, becomes the fourth Padma awardee fromthe Sakal group, as per a report in the group’s Sakaal Times newspaper. Other than Sakal founder-editor Nanasaheb Parulekar being awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1969, Dr Banu Coyaji, a well-known doctor, social worker and director, was a Padma Bhushan recipient in 1989. Scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar who has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan this year (and earlier the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri), is also a director with Sakal.

    “Thousands of workers are working in organisations which I am associated with. I have been honoured due to their efforts,” Mr Pawar was quoted in the paper. “If the potential of the country is properly utilised, this country will progress. If every citizen does his duty, there is a bright future for the country,” he said.

    Though this year’s list did not have any names directly associated with the media, there were several names from films and a few who have written in publications (like Ruskin Bond who started out as a journalist) or a few others like Prof Ashok Chakradhar who have been regulars on television.

    Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities – art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year and conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan sometime around March/ April.

     

    Picture: Sakal group corporate website

  • In his new role, Mr Lulla will be working closely with Vineet Jain, Managing Director, BCCL Group and Satyan Gajwani, Chief Executive Officer, Times Internet Ltd overseeing a number of group initiatives in the areas of sports, music, international events and more

    It’s official. Sunil Lulla is now Prez-Corp Devpt, as MK Anand to join as MD & CEO, Times TV

    Sunil Lulla
    M K Anand

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

    By A Correspondent

    Bennett, Coleman and Co. Ltd. (BCCL) issued an announcement on Friday confirming the news that MxMIndia had carried over a week before. Sunil Lulla, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Times Television Network, is to be appointed as President – Corporate Development, BCCL Group. Mr Lulla has spent over eight years in various leadership roles at Times TV Television. In his new strategic role at BCCL, he will be working closely with Vineet Jain, Managing Director, BCCL Group and Satyan Gajwani, Chief Executive Officer, Times Internet Ltd. overseeing a number of group initiatives in the areas of Sports, Music, International Events and more.

    Meanwhile, M K Anand, an old BCCL hand, will return to the group after his stint of heading the broadcasting ventures of the Disney UTV group. Mr Anand will be taking over as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Times Television Network. He has previously worked with The Times of India group for 19 years, first with the print business for 14 years and later with the television business at zoOm from 2004 to 2009.