MxMIndia

Category: MEDIA

  • With Star Sports snapping up sports properties in the last few years and also developing their own, industry observers feel that they are ready to break the bank when the IPL rights come up for bidding in 2017

    Sony-ESPN deal to heat up sports broadcasting industry

    By Soumalya Santikari

     

    Sports fans across India are overjoyed following the Sony-ESPN deal. When the American sports broadcaster decided to end its 18-year-old joint venture with STAR in South East Asia, viewers were sad that they will no longer more be able to watch cult shows such as ‘SportsCenter’ or some of the top sportscasters associated with the channel.

     

    After its split with STAR, ESPN had a clause which stated they wouldn’t be able to re-enter the Indian market for a period of three years in sports broadcasting. They were present in the digital medium with ESPNCricinfo and their move to collaborate with MSM (Sony Pictures Networks) did take industry observers by surprise.

     

    Prasana Krishnan

    Speaking to Economictimes.com, Prasana Krishnan, EVP & Business Head for Sports, Sony Pictures Networks India (earlier MSM Network) said that the ESPN deal is in complete sync with the aggressive growth strategy earmarked for the sports channels.

     

    “Sports is a very important vertical for us and we have been investing aggressively in this area. Our portfolio now includes some of the biggest events and leagues and we have been setting new benchmarks in sports coverage. ESPN shares similar values and is an acknowledged leader, both, in India and worldwide.

     

    “So this combination of Sony Pictures and ESPN promises to set new benchmarks and enhance the viewership experiences of sports fans,” he said.

     

    Prasana, however, declined to comment on the creative or editorial collaborations with ESPN. He said they are yet to take a call on the programmes they can source from ESPN’s library and other global offerings.

     

    With Star Sports snapping up sports properties in the last few years and also developing their own, industry observers feel that they are ready to break the bank when the IPL rights come up for bidding in 2017.

     

    Regarding bidding of sports properties, Prasana didn’t reveal the commecial agreement between Sony and ESPN.

     

    But the biggest benefit for Sony in this deal will be their digital properties as they would get access to some top-quality sports programmes and Prasana outlined his plans.

     

    “In collaboration with us, ESPN will launch a co-branded localised multisport website and app, which will provide coverage of cricket, football, tennis, the NBA, badminton, field hockey and more. SONY LIV will also benefit from the collaboration, increasing its current sports offerings significantly. ESPNcricinfo will complement and cross-promote the new digital properties and sports channels.”

     

    Analysts also feel that ESPN’s return won’t necessarily mean that bidding rights for sports properties will hit the roof.

     

    “Apart from cricket, no broadcaster has really paid any significant amount to acquire rights of sports properties. The two most most successful sports after cricket last year were ISL & Pro Kabaddi League, both in which Star has a stake. However, It will be important for Sony to create smartly packaged content…the ESPN tie-up will definitely help achieve the same,” Jigar Rambhia- Maxus Client Leader – ESP (Entertainment Sports and Partnerships) said.

     

    It would be interesting to see how the most aggressive player in this space – Star Sports – reacts to the entry of its previous partner. But till then, the sports broadcasting industry can only anticipate how the two giants battle it out for supremacy.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2015, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

    Licensed to republish

     

  • This was about the worst display of journalism that I have seen in recent times, mainly because the basics were ignored and no checks were carried out, writes Ranjona Banerji

    Ranjona Banerji: Results Day was #EpicFail for News Channels

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    The morning of November 8, 2015 was one of the most extraordinary in the annals of television news. The event was results day for Bihar state elections. We had whipped ourselves into a frenzy during the whole month of voting. Exit polls, predictions, astrologers, the underground betting market, the Intelligence Bureau were all discussed threadbare on TV, print and social media. Pundits and journeymen all gave us their considered viewpoints or shrieked louder than the rest.

     

    The chatter began on November 8 just before 8 am. Most exit polls had predicted a win for the BJP, a few had gone with a close contest. By 8.30 am, all the English news channels and some language ones as well were predicting a massive win for BJP and friends. NDTV has long been the main channel for many to watch for election results, mainly because of Prannoy Roy, the man who introduced the word “psephelogy” or election forecasting to India and NDTV was clear with a BJP win.

     

    At 8.30 am, I went on the Election Commission website. It showed no results or trends or leads because it said that counting in Round 1 was not complete. Where were these channels getting their figures from? By now, Shekhar Gupta, one of India’s most experienced journalists, was pontificating on how the anti-incumbency factor had done Nitish Kumar, Bihar chief minister, in. Across channels, various BJP spokespersons were looking smug and happy.

     

    On Twitter, a completely different story was emerging. Figures from local reporters, from newspaper Twitter accounts (the Times of India was at complete odds with TimesNow here) and local news channels showed the Grand Alliance of Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav and the Congress well ahead and the BJP struggling to catch up. On India Today TV, political economist Surjit Bhalla, who had forecast a clear win for Nitish Kumar in his Indian Express column the week before (in spite of being a clear Narendra Modi supporter so far), told Rajdeep Sardesai to check his figures of a BJP win because social media and the Election Commission was saying something else altogether. Sardesai looked flummoxed.

     

    This story was repeated between 8 and 9 am on all channels. I went to the Election Commission website just after 9 am. It showed the BJP leading in 5 constituencies and the Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan in 12. Soon after CNN-IBN made the first course correction and changed its figures around. However, it was the same CNN-IBN which decided not to carry the exit poll it had commissioned after the last round of voting. This was because Axis had given a huge majority to the Grand Alliance and CNN-IBN felt that this result went against the journalistic work it had done on the field.

     

    NDTV sadly was the last English news channel to see the light and this has cost it considerable goodwill amongst its ardent followers who trusted it to be the most professional. NDTV has said that the information it got from Nielson was wrong and hence the errors.

     

    There are some basic journalism problems here though. The first votes that are counted are the postal ballots. These are usually not representative of voting trends on the ground. Why then did all these news channels extrapolate such massive victory margins from postal ballots? Some had given the BJP a lead of about 30 seats and had reached the 100 mark for the party when counting in Round 1 had not even been declared. When you consider that the BJP by itself ultimately got only 53 seats overall, it shows journalistic sense at its worst.

     

    It is also hard to understand why no one in those TV newsrooms had even opened the Election Commission website. Where were the reporters on the ground picking up information from the EC itself? It is the only counting authority. Why ask outside agencies for information that anyone with a smart phone could have accessed?

     

    This was about the worst display of journalism that I have seen in recent times, mainly because the basics were ignored and no checks were carried out. It is tragic how TV news makes these mistakes over and over again in its desperate race for be first at everything. People come to the media for information and opinion not Bollywood extravaganzas. Social media is now a better weathervane and predictor. Like TV threatened and wounded the print media, TV news is getting a bashing from social media. A seasoned journalist told me that he only followed the results on Twitter and got an excellent sense of what was going on.

     

    As they say in social media terms, TV was an “#EpicFail”.

     

    **

     

    And then we have exit polls. More often than not, they get it wrong. If one of six gets it right, that’s about the worst statistics of believability. That’s not an inexact science, that’s just wishing on the air. And then when one does get it right, the commissioning newsroom does not carry it. Go figure.

     

  • Darshan is an avid artist and paints in his free time

    Rediffusion Y&R appoints Darshan Choudhari as Creative Head, Mumbai

    By A Correspondent

     

    Rediffusion has appointed Darshan Choudhari to join the Mumbai team as Creative Head. He will be working closely with CCO, Rahul Jauhari.

     

    Darshan comes from Creativeland Asia and has been behind some good work on Marico Corporate, Virgin Mobile, Parachute, Wego, Killer, Captain Morgan, to name a few. He comes with over 14 years of industry experience and big brand work to his credit, with numerous wins at local and international shows.

     

    In the past he has worked with agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi Mumbai, BBH India, Bates141, Enterprise Nexus Mumbai, Saatchi & Saatchi Bangalore and Enterprise Nexus Bangalore.

     

    Rahul Jauhari, Chief Creative Officer, Rediffusion Y&R said: “I’m delighted to welcome Darshan to our team in Mumbai. His work speaks louder than he does, and that works perfectly for me.”

     

    Upon his appointment, Darshan said, “It’s always great opportunity to work for big agency like Rediffusion and solid brand like Tata Motors.”

     

    Darshan is also an avid artist and paints in his free time.

     

  • Pro Wrestling League will be played from December 10 to 27, 2015 across six cities

    MSM acquires broadcast rights of Pro Wrestling League

    By A Correspondent

     

    ProSportify, the organizers & promoters of the first edition of the Pro Wrestling League in association with Wrestling Federation of India have got into a deal with MSM Pvt Ltd. (Multi Screen Media) and announced them as the official broadcast partners for the league in over 60 countries.

     

    Pro Wrestling League will be played from December 10 to 27, 2015 across six cities. The prestigious competition with 18 matches will be available live throughout, across a bouquet of broadcast platforms. In the Indian subcontinent, Pro Wrestling League Season 1 will be broadcast on Sony Max, Sony Six and Sony Pal with promotional support from the entire Sony Network.

     

    Speaking about the association, Kartikeya Sharma, CMD, ProSportify said, “MSM has an outstanding reputation as a sports broadcaster and has played an integral role in promoting and growing the sport events in the country. We look forward to this relationship and the widest possible reach ever for the Pro Wrestling League.”

     

    Commenting on the agreement, Vishal Gurnani, Director, ProSportify said, “ProSportify is delighted to have reached such a significant agreement with MSM and we are looking forward to working together to offer wrestling fans across India an extensive coverage of the tournament. MSM is an experienced partner in the broadcasting of major international sports events and their expertise will help this league gain the right platform in promoting the sport in India.”

     

    The partnershipis valid for the next five years wherein MSM use its production, packaging and presentation expertise to hone and preserve viewer interest in the sport. For MSM, this is the first opportunity to live telecast a combat sport. Till now, MSM’s sports rights portfolio in India includes the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, top European football leagues and the NBA, the basketball league in the US.

     

  • As a part of the campaign, two TVCs are already on air while the third one will be rolled out in a few weeks

    PepperTap unveils new brand campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

    PepperTap has launched the ‘Bahut Aasaan Hai’campaign that has been released through YouTube, social media handles, radio and print. The campaign will effectively carry the brand messaging of PepperTap being the easiest and most convenient option – the PepperTap mobile app works like a breeze with the experience being similar to that of buying from an actual grocery store. The campaign will run for two months between November and December. As a part of thecampaign, two TVCs are already on air while the third one will be rolled out in a few weeks.

     

    A series of three videos have been shot with inputs from Options Design creative agency. They have been produced by Teal Films with Keyur Shah’s adept direction skills adding that zing to connect with the target audience. The idea of the campaign is to highlight the journey from being a traditional shopper to a smart one. The story is told from the perspective of a distressed husband who makes this transition by simply adopting the PepperTap app. The first video, where the husband is clueless, carefully introduces the app to him. The second one takes over with him slowly getting the hang of it. The third and final one however, will show him efficiently using the app to make his life simpler.

     

    Talking about the relevance of this new campaign on social media, Tahseen Quadri, VP Marketing, PepperTap said, “This is an attempt at reaching out to our target audience. We believe that the power of our service needs to be conveyed effectively to the right people. So, there’s nothing that works better than a well thought of campaign, to create that recall we have in mind. Our objective is to connect with couples, nuclear families, bachelors and masses – all of whom can save so much time and energy by buying their monthly groceries fromPepperTap. We want to reinforce the fact that using PepperTap means spending more time with family while not worrying about grocery shopping.”

     

    With the campaign, the brand aspires to become the top player in the grocery delivery segment. So far, PepperTap has left no stone unturned in proving that it wants to capture that market share by giving its customers the very best when it comes to quality. Its mega sales, grocery festival and steal-deals have become quite a hit with its regular users who love a great bargain. This campaign will only consolidate its position further by generating more buzz and attracting new users who have reluctantly stuck to the traditional way of shopping for groceries.

     

  • This move will gradually fortify their position in the rural belt, making them easily available for discerning viewers

    Big Magic now available on DD Free Dish

    By A Correspondent

     

    BIG Magic Ganga and BIG Magic have strengthened their distribution with India’s leading free to air digital network – DD Free Dish. With DD Free Dish, BIG Magic and BIG Magic Ganga will now benefit with deep penetration across the rural regions of the country. This move will gradually fortify their position in the rural belt, making them easily available for discerning viewers. BIG Magic Ganga will be available on DD Free Dish Channel No. 16.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Ashwin Padmanabhan, Chief Operating Officer, Reliance Broadcast Network Limited stated, “We are happy to announce our availability on DD Free Dish, which allows our channels BIG Magic and BIG Magic Ganga to immediately grow across the geography. We are confident that our content will be thoroughly enjoyed by the new audiences, further enhancing our reach and position. Strengthening our distribution is a strategic move which will not only widen our audience base and popularity but will also give better value to our advertisers.”

     

    BIG Magic delivers more than 5 hours of original programming, compared to any other GEC channels in the region that only have syndicated content. A Channel which is based on the positioning of being positive, uplifting and nurturing a sense of pride amongst the aspirational audience pool of the region. It taps into the insights of Religion (devotion andbhakti); Reality (game shows, social), Family Movies and Fiction to help people in the region to excel and shed their backward perception and imagery.

     

    Popular shows like BIGMemsaab, TeekhiKhabar, election special RaagChunavi, blockbuster movies every weekend, along with upcoming devotional shows Mangal Utsav for Diwali and Chhath special, BIG Magic Ganga offers exquisite and dynamic content for family viewing which resonateswellwith the masses. With more unique shows in the pipeline, BIG Magic Ganga is poised to engage, enrich and entertain new audiences across the country.

     

    BIG Magic offers content which is cutting edge, quirky, differentiated and entertaining. With original content including a high degree of humour, viewers can enjoy shows in the non-fiction space, focused on building iconic characters which are stand out, quirky and funny. The content offered is platform agnostic with a large play in the digital and mobile medium.

     

    With this association, BIG Magic and BIG Magic Ganga markthe beginning of new prospects for the channel in terms of increased viewership, new audience base, robust expansion plan, etc.

     

    The channel will engage with viewers and trade partners locally and nationally through a multimedia campaign across its radio network, 92.7 BIG FM and other multiple platforms.

     

  • The mandate awarded to the agency was based on the incisive and insightful creative campaigns developed for the two channels

    Push Integrated Communications wins creative mandate for Malayala Manorama television channels

    By A Correspondent

     

    Push Integrated Communications Pvt. Ltd. has bagged the mandate to handle creative duties for MM TV Ltd, – MalayalaManorama’s television channel business – following a multi-agency pitch. The account will be servicedfromthe Bangalore & Cochin offices of Push Integrated.

     

    MM TV Ltd., the organisation’s television business offers viewers Manorama News, Kerala’s No. 1 news and infotainment channel, and MazhavilManorama that is among Kerala’s most popular general entertainment channels.

     

    The mandate awarded to the agency was based on the incisive and insightful creative campaignsdeveloped for the two channels.

     

    Commenting on the development, Anil George, Chief Executive Officer of MM TV said, “We are happy to have signed Push Integrated Communications Pvt. Ltd to handle our creative duties. They have done some great work with brands and also came out as the best at the pitch. Shree, Anil and team are a very creative lot and we liked their creativity, energy and enthusiasm. They are excited too, to do creative work for the MMTV Network – Manorama News, MazhavilManorama, MazhavilManorama International and MazhavilManorama HD.”

     

    Sharing his views on winning the mandate, V.A Shrikumar, Managing Director of Push Integrated Communications said, “I can trace my relationship with MalayalaManorama to the time I had chosen the field of branding and marketing communications. Manorama had a role to play in lining up my first client, and further on, in crafting my career itself. When the pitch document for MMTV came to me, it was a feeling of déjà vu. When the teacher calls upon the student to play a role in ideating and designing his future contributions to society, it is a moment of great pride. This empowerment also comes with greater responsibility. We understood the DNA of the brand and our solutions, both creative and strategic, found resonance with team MM TV. I am looking forward to our work for MM TV hitting the media landscape. It would be a moment I will cherish forever.”

     

    Anil Rajgopal, Chief Executive Officer of Push Integrated Communications said, “The opportunity to work with the one thing constant in your life as a Malayalee, MalayalaManorama, is both inspiring and humbling at the same time. Manorama TV is the stallion that is showing its pedigree by covering great distances at the speed of light. To be given the opportunity to build on its aura as their communication and strategic partner is a huge responsibility. We were asked to showcase our thinking on two contrasting properties, one on Mazhavil and one on Manorama News. It is an honour that the same work we presented for the pitch is going into a multi-media campaign. MM TV is not just a business win for us at Push Integrated. It is an endorsement of our thinking and creative ability by one of the most respected banners in the country.”

     

  • Indian news channels had even less business starting with analysis than others given their thin presence in Paris but CNN and BBC World were no better, writes Ranjona Banerji

    Ranjona Banerji: Can we be more circumspect please?

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    No sooner had the terrible attack on Paris happened than the faultlines inherent in 24 hour news television exposed themselves. People barely had time to register what had happened, when the panel discussions started on the “why” and the “who”. Obviously the “who” and “why” are vital but the first focus has to be on “what”. Journalists and experts can surely hold their horses for a few hours as facts emerge before they start yelling at each other?

     

    There are other stories yet to be done, vital news to be covered. Like the facts on the ground, details of each site of attack, the extent of suffering and damage, the official and personal response to the attacks, the human stories are all waiting to be told. For the viewer to be faced with analysis on a dynamic situation is both confusing and unnecessary.

     

    Unfortunately, almost all 24 hour news channels, national and international, succumbed to the urge to try and solve the crime before the facts of the crime were fully known. Indian news channels had even less business starting with analysis than others given their thin presence in Paris but CNN and BBC World were no better.

     

    Sadly, it is 24 hour news television that has the edge of all forms of journalism in events like these because it is not static. Twitter can be faster with the news at it happens, but it is still static. You have to engage two steps further to get to a picture or a video and so also with newspaper or journal websites. TV is still our best way of getting news during an event like this. But if TV decides to limit itself to a studio pontificating with one or two experts and no one has a clue as to what’s actually going on, then everyone is short-changed.

     

    Given the debacle of the Bihar exit poll and election results just a few days ago, one expected TV news to be a bit more circumspect. But no such luck.

     

    **

     

    Of the discussions held in the evening of November 14 here in India, NDTV carried a sober, insightful and informative discussion with a range of experts on the Levant and ISIS and geopolitics, moderated by Sreenivasan Jain. Because there were no politicians present, the discussion stayed on course and the viewer came away with the feeling that he or she was better informed at the end of it. Such discussions are however extremely rare on Indian news television. The next day, we were back to the BJP and Congress yelling blue murder at each other, although neither party knew anything at all about the Paris attacks. Newspapers as even became the better bet for analysis, information, observation and expertise.

     

    **

     

    Just before these terrible attacks of course we in India were treated to quite another kind of journalism which has become all too common in India: the reporter as a cheerleader.

     

    There was a time when international trips by Indian prime ministers meant that he or she was accompanied by seasoned and experienced journalists. They reported on the talks held and deals struck and the strategic, national and international impact. With the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, however we see young, callow and star-struck journalists who would be better suited to covering glamour and film events.

     

    The basis of Modi’s visit appeared to be, if you watched television, what Indian immigrants to the UK thought of him and why which singer was singing whatever song and the decorations at Wembley stadium, an extravaganza organised by Indian immigrants. Whatever other relevant and significant details there may have been about Modi’s visit to the UK were lost, ignored, deemed insignificant compared to what he ate with the queen of England.

     

    This included the massive protests against Modi in the United Kingdom. If it wasn’t for social media, you would have barely known that there were any.

     

    And when the Paris attacks happened, the rest of Modi’s trip was easily forgotten. Except for this remarkable story from PTI about where Modi’s official aeroplane was parked in Turkey. I have no further comment on this story except to say that we now need to start a new journal in India called “Parking News”.

     

    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/G20-Air-India-One-gets-parking-slot-near-Air-Force-One/articleshow/49791173.cms

     

     

  • Siju will report to Mr Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEEL, for the above role

    Siju Prabhakaran to head the Zee Tamil Business

    By A Correspondent

     

    Siju Prabhakaran , Business Head of Zee Kannada, will now take over as the Business Head – Zee Tamil. He replaces N S Easwaran who has decided to pursue his career outside ZEE. Siju has shown credible leadership in managing the Zee Kannada Business. He has been with ZEE for over 15 years now and has experience in sales as well. Siju will report to Mr Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEEL, for the above role.

     

    Elaborating on his new role, Siju Prabhakaran said, “Tamil Nadu is a market with huge potential. This is one market where television viewing is a habit that is quite difficult to break. I’m looking forward to bringing the necessary changes to this habit that will benefit Zee Tamil and help us grow in leaps and bounds.”

     

  • Mint announced the kick-off of this initiative by opening grounds for the Innovators under 35 -India competition

    Mint, MIT announce launch of EmTech

    By A Correspondent

     

    Mint in collaboration with Massachusetts (MIT) Technology Review has announced the India chapter of EmTech – an iconic global platform that has been inspiring innovation in the field of technology through the years.

     

    Mint announced the kick-off of this initiative by opening grounds for the Innovators under 35 -India competition – a search for the top 10 from India who exemplify the spirit of innovation in business and technology.

     

    Organized by MIT Technology Review since 1999, the prestigious Innovators Under 35 Global competition has honoured some of the world’s most brilliant minds like Mark Zuckerberg, JB Straubel, Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

     

    The India chapter of this international platform will recognize innovators from India who carry the highest potential to lead the future of technology. The nomination window for Innovators under 35 -India competition is open from October 29ththrough Dec 31st 2015.Anyone who is under the age of 35 as on 1st October 2016 and has a brilliant idea on technological innovation and applied research can be nominated. Categories span across biomedicine, computing, communications, health, education, digital, energy, materials, cyber security, fintech, wearables, robotics, web and Internet, transportation, and more. The jury for this competition includes acclaimed names like Amit Phadnis, Brian Bergstein, R Sukumar, RaghavNarsalay, Rajesh Janey,Prof. Amitabha Chattopadhyay, Ravi Narayan and Deepti Doshi. The winners of this competition will also qualify as finalists for the Global Innovators Under 35.

     

    Unveiling the launch of the Innovators Under 35 nominations, Rajan Bhalla, CMO, HT Media Group , said, “In keeping with Mint’s philosophy of providing cutting edge insights to its readers and being at the forefront of introducing the best of global practices to India, we are excited about leading this iconic technology platform in partnership with MIT Technology Review. Through EmTech India, we will unravel path-breaking technologies that are changing the face of business in India. The nominations are now open for the 1st leg of this initiative – Innovators under 35, and we are confident that this platform will showcase the most promising innovators who will lead this technological disruption in the country. It is our vision to evolve this into a one-of-a-kind marquee platform that will integrate the best of minds and companies to write the next chapter of technology transformation. The event is planned for early next year, and we are committed to making the India chapter a huge success.”

     

    The mission of MIT Technology Review is to equip audiences with the intelligence to understand a world shaped by technology,” states editor in chief and publisher, Jason Pontin. “Our goal is to extend this mission around the world, explaining the technologies that matter–those that will have lasting impact on our lives. We’re proud to work with Mint to identify young innovators and showcase their talents at EmTech India.”

     

    The final 10 winners will present at EmTech India– a platform where the world’s most influential leaders and innovators will come together to unravel cutting-edge technologies and take a glimpse at the future. This high profile event will be held on 18th and 19th March 2016 in New Delhi, bringing together a convergence of technology, business and culture. The event will be graced by the presence of business leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and change makers who are passionate about addressing major international issues by turning ideas into solutions. The India chapter promises to continue the legacy of this globally acclaimed platform, presenting a remarkable opportunity to get inspired from those who are driving the next generation of technological breakthroughs.

     

  • The Internet usage among males has been growing at a rate of 50 per cent while it is growing at 46 per cent for female users

    Internet user base to zoom past 400 mn by Dec’15, notes study

    By A Correspondent

     

    The number of Internet users in India is expected to reach 402 million by December 2015, registering a growth of 49 per cent over last year, according to a report ‘Internet in India 2015’, jointly published by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International. While Internet in India took more than a decade to move from 10 million to 100 million and 3 years from 100 to 200 million, it took only a year to move from 300 to 400 million users. Clearly, Internet is main stream in India today. And the large internet users base is definitely a good news for the overall growth of the digital industry.

     

     

    In October 2015, there were 375 million internet users in India. Currently, India has the third largest internet users’ base in the word but it is estimated that by December, India will overtake the US as the second largest Internet users’ base in the world. China currently leads with more than 600 million internet users. This makes India the second largest internet user’s base in the world behind China, but is ranked first as the largest internet users in a free market democratic setup.

     

    According to the report, 71 per cent male and 29 per cent female are Internet users in India. The Internet usage among males has been growing at a rate of 50 per cent while it is growing at 46 per cent for female users. However, in Urban India, the ratio between male to female Internet users is 62:38. Significantly, Internet users among females are growing at a rate of 39 compared to 28 per cent among males.

     

    Among the Rural Internet users, 88 per cent are males. The Internet users among females are growing at 61 and 79 per cent among males. 75 per cent of the rural internet users belong to the age group of 18-30 years. Another 11 per cent are in the age group of <18 years, while 8 per cent belong to 31-45 years age group.

     

     

    Significantly, there has been a huge spurt in the number of people accessing internet on a daily basis in Urban India. As on October 2015, 69% of Users are using Internet on a daily basis. This daily user base has gone up by 60% from last year. However, the high frequency usage is not restricted to only the youth and the College going students; this habit of accessing the Internet daily can be seen among other demographic segments as well including Older Men and Non-Working Women. 75% of the Working Women access Internet daily. 37% of the male internet users are daily users whereas only 23% of the female internet users are accessing internet daily. 75% of internet users among both genders access internet at least once a week.

     

     

    The findings of the report further reveal that in Urban India, Mobile Internet user base has grown at a rate of 65% over last year to reach 197 million in October 2015. The Mobile Internet Users have surged to 80 million by October 2015 growing at 99% over last year. The user base of Mobile Internet users in Rural India is expected to reach 87 million by December 2015 and 109 million by June 2016.

     

     

    Interestingly, the report also reveals that out of all the Internet non-users surveyed in the 35 cities as part of this study, 11.4 million Non-Users are willing to access the Internet in the next one year and over 2/3rd of them intend to do so through mobile phones.

     

  • Da Vinci Learning & Quintillion Media launch India’s 1st Kids HD Educational Channel

    Edu-channel Da Vinci Learning takes off

    By A Correspondent

     

    Da Vinci Learning announced its formal launch in India, building further on its global footprint extending across 100+ territories spanning three continents. Da Vinci Learning is a fun educational television channel for the whole family and will offer award-winning knowledge programming and documentaries to Indian audiences, with a special focus on curious young minds. The channel aims to offer safe and quality entertainment for the entire family.

     

    Da Vinci Learning is entering the market with a joint venture (50: 50) between Da Vinci Media GmbH and Quintillion Media Pvt. Ltd. (The Quint). The Quint is a digital venture founded by Ritu Kapur and Raghav Bahl, stalwarts of the Indian Media and Entertainment industry.

     

    Speaking at the launch, Ferdinand Habsburg, Founder and CEO of Da Vinci Media said, “It is an exciting phase in the journey of Da Vinci Learning. India has always been a key priority market for us and the time has now come to showcase our differentiated programming, aimed at triggering creative young minds bubbling with talent and curiosity to do more. Our association with The Quint will help the channel to effectively increase and strengthen our foothold in the country by offering meaningful and creative content to the Indian audiences.”

     

    Da Vinci Learning is targeted at the 6-12 year olds and their families; the channel aims at offering programming and content that makes “astounding scientific ideas understandable, arouse curiosity, spark conversation and motivate viewers to continue uncovering the mysteries of the universe.”

     

    The channel’s programming covers a wide array of topics, ranging from physics and chemistry to history and nature, and makes complex subjects understandable in an entertaining way. Da Vinci Learning turns TV watching from passive observation into a meaningful experience, helping children develop various skills early on, encouraging older viewers to keep asking questions and inviting families to take their learning journeys together. With its non-violent programs, Da Vinci Learning creates a safe environment for younger viewers.

     

    Commenting at the launch, Raghav Bahl, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Quint, said, “While Da Vinci Media brings expertise in knowledge-based programming content, this Joint Venture helps us to further expand, drive synergies and diversify our digital content portfolio’’.

     

    Ritu Kapur, Co-Founder & CEO, The Quint, said: “The Quint will help consumers access Da Vinci Learning content through our digital distribution capabilities. I am confident that the differentiated content of Da Vinci Learning will bring about a transformation in the knowledge and education based content space in India; and I look forward to seeing this transformation take shape.”

     

    Mohit Anand, Managing Director, Da Vinci Learning, India, added, “Arousing the curiosity of our viewers is our mission and we take pride in offering completely safe, non-violent, soft skills-based knowledge programming for the whole family. This has been our USP and we believe that there is a huge demand for such content in India as well. Our commitment is to find the best knowledge programming and make it available to Indian viewers because we understand “the rush of inspiration, the thrill of discovery and the pleasure to know.”