MxMIndia

Category: MEDIA

  • The government will introduce the Electronic Services Delivery Bill in the next session of Parliament, aiming to make public services available in e-mode over the next five years.

    IT use can bring transparency: Sibal

    By A Correspondent

    “Increased use of information technology will bring about transparency and accountability in the system,” minister for communications and information technology Kapil Sibal has said. Mr Sibal, inaugurating the 8th Assocham International Summit on e-Governance, added that the government would introduce the Electronic Services Delivery Bill in the next session of Parliament. This Bill is aimed at making public services available in only electronic mode in all State and Central government departments over the next five years.

    The scope of human intervention must be reduced with information and telecommunication technologies playing a lead role to curb corruption in public life and ensure good governance across the country, Mr Sibal added.

    He said that though the government is working on a new law to deal with the menace of corruption, only mass adoption of technologies for e-governance and m-governance can improve the quality and speed of public services delivered to citizens in urban and rural areas.

    “Much of the talk of corruption that we have had in the recent past will be dealt with through the initiative of IT. What we need to do is to ensure that the scope of human interface – which is the scope of all corruption – is excluded. IT should play an important role in finding solutions and we are in the process of doing it,” said Mr Sibal.

    By 2014, every gram panchayat in the country will be connected with fibre optic cables and the last mile connectivity will be with wireless broadband. The true empowerment of people is possible when government services are made available at the doorstep of every citizen – be it for tax returns, insurance premiums, banking operations or payment of e-bills, he remarked.

    Mr Dilip Modi, president of Assocham (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India), said digital inclusion is the critical pillar of the chamber’s agenda of making inclusive transformation happen.

     

    “E-governance can bridge the gap between deficits and surpluses in rural and urban India. With six lakh villages in the country, land records need to be digitised. We are quite bullish on the internet’s potential to provide fair transparent governance structures,” said Mr Modi.

    Mr Umang Das, chairman of the Assocham National e-Governance Council, said the concept offers a unique opportunity to move away from piecemeal reforms to an era of institutionalised transparency.

    India has 73 million internet subscribers and the figure is poised to grow to 275 million by 2015, according to Assocham.

  • A quick look at the IRS data for the top 10 dailies in a handful of states. Contribute your thoughts.

    IRS 2011Q2 | State Watch: Dailies

    By Ritu Midha

    A quick look at data for top 10 dailies in a handful of states brings out a few interesting observations. Do write to us at editor@mxmindia.com with your own observations and insights.

    Bihar: All the newspapers show a positive growth vis-a-vis the previous quarter. Even when compared with the same quarter previous year, all the publications show a good growth except I Next. Interestingly English dailies too have grown – and in case of Times of India, it has maintained the same level as the previous year same quarter.

    Jharkhand: When it comes to its neighbour and a part of Bihar till recently it is quite a different story – six out of top 10 dailies show a negative growth – and it is across Hindi & English dailies.

    UP: Just like Bihar, UP too has shown a growth in all the publications as compared to the previous year with the exception of DLA. Amar Ujala compact is growing the fastest with readership increasing to double in comparison to same quarter previous year.

    Uttaranchal: Uttaranchal too shows growth in all the publications but one, when compared to the previous quarter. Interesting thing however is that Amar Ujala compact that shows the fastest growth figures in UP, here shows a drop of 61%, as compared to same quarter last year.

    MP: If one compares data for Q2, 2011 with Q2, 2010, Nava Bharat (MP) and Raj Express are the only two publications that shows a fall. Another interesting factor here is that The Times of India is the only English publication in the top 10, unlike UP and Bihar where there is almost an equal number of Hindi and English Publications.

     

    Chattisgarh: In case of Chattisgarh, there are three English dailies in the top 10, however all three show a negative growth when compared to the previous quarter. Though, in case of The Times of India, if compared with Q2, 2010, figures show a 27.3% growth.

     

    Himachal Pradesh: Six out of top 10 dailies show a negative growth when compared with the same quarter in 2010. Amar Ujala, on the surface, seems to have gained at the cost of Punjab Kesai, while in case of The Hindustan Times, it is at the expense of The Times of India. A deeper analysis, perhaps, can throw more light on it.

     

    Haryana: In case of Haryana, q2 2010 to Q2 2011, three publications show a downturn, but when it comes to Q1 2011 vs Q2, the downturn is seen in seven publications – all the three English papers in the top 10 show a percentage fall when compared to the previous quarter.

     

    Punjab: In case of Punjab, only two publications of the top 10 have witnessed positive growth when compared to Q2, 2010 – These are Ajit and Dainik Bhaskar. However, if one compares Q2 2011 with Q1, 2011 even The Times of India and The Tribune show positive growth.

     

    Maharashtra: In Maharashtra’s top 10 dailies, Times of India and its co-publication Mumbai Mirror are the only two English dailies. Market, as expected, is dominated by Marathi dailies. Deshonatti is the only daily that sees a double digit growth when compared to Q1, 2011 – however, that too shows a 17% fall when compared to Q2, 2010.

     

    Gujarat: Gujarat too has just one English daily in its top 10 – The Times of India, and it shows good growth in both quarters. Other non Gujarati daily in the top 10 shows a growth of 83.9%, when compared to Q2, 2010.

    To be continued…

  • As the consumers are evolving and devising new media, this blog focuses on the new media develpoments with the perspective of media planning in the Indian context.

    Premjeet Sodhi’s Nascent Media: Stop over-simplification of media

    While, the core thought of this article about ‘over-simplification’ may apply to the overall domain of marketing, but I am using the setting of media planning to construct the view.
    Lets, first see what is the task or challenge that the media agencies take up in their business.Every advertiser expects the media planning agency to deliver performance for its business metrics. That is to say that – once a media plan is executed the brand manager expects sales to happen.

    Enough has been said about the increasing complexity of the market, the increasingly unpredictable and demanding consumer and the decreasing strength of brands. In such a scenario, the factors that lead to sales success are many. The classical models of marketing have now been replaced by far more dynamic models and media is only one of the many factors that influence sales. Hence, this is not a simple or easy expectation at all.
    Even a little bit of analytics will reveal that media has only got limited leverage to drive sales and this leverage varies for different categories and brands. However, there are other interim metrics leading to sales, such as brand recall, brand perception, brand enquiry, brand interactions, etc for which media can be held accountable for. There are so many marketing models and methods that help understand what a brand needs to deliver in media. None of these methods are simple.Looking at ‘media’ in isolation and expecting it to deliver sales is a naive simplification. 

    Media Planning is an intricate science. It deals with engaging extremely incredulous and volatile consumers to convince them of the merits of one of the score of brands that are available to them and possibly get them to move closer to buying the brand. In short, it deals with the wants and desires of people which can never be a simple subject to address.

    However, somewhere along the way in the past agencies have made advertises believe that this complex task can be broken up into two simple steps – (i) design the message and (ii) deliver the message to the desired consumer segment.

    Here, I will not comment on designing the message since I have already touched upon that in my earlier post titled “Creative is killing Creativity”. Lets look at the inherent simplification that has been cultivated in delivering the message.

    The first simplification was to strip each medium of its “qualitative” values and believe that each vehicle in a medium and across mediums can be represented by the measure of only “quantity”. 

    This made it very easy to measure media and trade media. One was only bothered about the count or reach as we call it. Research agencies made a killing setting up mammoth research projects measuring this lowest common denominator across media. Yes, there was a qualitative aspect but that was left to interpretation and application by the media planners. Now, we have the media planing community largely addicted and servile to these quantitative research databases totally oblivious to the qualitative value of the media they recommend.

    The second simplification was to believe that consumer minds can be affected just by managing the volume of this media measure. 

    The GRP was conceived – which is another simplification of the arithmetic that goes into making a media schedule and this GRP became the volume measure of  voice of the brand. Due to its simplicity, clients took to GRPs easily and it soon became a strong trading currency for media. Today, everything that is done is to create, deliver, manage, buy, sell – this GRP. This GRP comes in various reach and frequency packs and is available across media. This GRP has become the magic wand with which the client and the agency attempt to deliver market shares.

    The simplification is also evident in the remuneration structure that is prevalent in the industry. Everything that is done in communication is measured in terms of the traded value of media bought and the agencies are paid as a percentage of that. Since, actually estimating the real value contributed by media is difficult – so a percentage of spends keeps it simple.

    I guess, the whole media eco-system looks at the issues too simplistically and that is why “value-creation” is reducing day by day and leading to commoditization of media, media schedules, media talent and of media agencies. The advertisers will continue to simplify, but if, the media and advertising domain wants to enhance its value they will have to do away with this over-simplification. After all, Value is in the details.

  • Intel Capital invests in Atul Phadnis’s What’s-On-India, along with Sequoia Capital and Nexus VP

    First on MxM: What’s-On-India gets Intel inside

    By A Correspondent

    What’s-On-India, the Indian TV industry’s popular EPG company, has raised funding from a group of investors, including Intel Capital. What’s-On-India’s existing investors – Sequoia Capital and Nexus Venture Partners – also participated in the latest funding round. The investment is aimed at expanding the technology vertical into new and emerging technologies as well as strengthening the company’s owned media portfolio.
    Atul Phadnis, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, What’s-On-India said, “Over the last 3 years, What’s-On-India has made tremendous advances both on the Technology front as well as the Media businesses. We are delighted to have Intel Capital as an investor in this journey given Intel’s focus on smart TV and other technology areas.“
    “Smart TVs, digital set-top boxes and other IPTV devices are transforming the living room and changing the way people consume content. As these new gadgets get embraced, Whats-on-India is well positioned, through their technology and content, to create compelling user experiences,” said Sudheer Kuppam, MD, Asia Pacific, Intel Capital.
    What’s-On-India is India’s premier (and perhaps only) TV guidance company working with all major TV Networks and Operators. The company’s vision is to enable TV content search, discovery and guidance across varied platforms and technologies. What’s-On-India’s Technology vertical runs India’s largest multi-platform, multi-lingual, multi-device Electronic Program Guide (EPG) system that covers more than 550 TV Channels on the source side and powers EPGs into more than 20 million set-top-boxes and devices on the destination end.
    The media vertical of the company runs the “What’s-On-India” channel, that is currently available via cable, satellite and DTH other than on web portals and via widgets and apps on Tablets, Mobile and Smart-TVs.

  • Mohit Sainani, who was head of marketing at Mid-Day, has called it a day. He has now joined Star India.

    Mohit Sainani quits Mid-Day, joins Star India

    By Shubhangi Mehta

    Mr Mohit Sainani who was working as the marketing head, Mid Day for the past four years, has quit and moved to Star India.

    Industry sources confirm that Mr Sainani’s designation at Star has not been decided yet but he will be working closely with Mr Neville Bastawalla, AVP marketing,Star India Pvt Ltd. It may be recalled that Mr Bastawala had joined Star India as Head of Marketing for Star World and Star Movies. He too was previously with Mid-Day as Head of Marketing for a little over three years from where he exited early in December 2010.

    Prior to Mid Day, Mr Sainani had a stint with Compass BPO as a Marketing Manager where he reported into the CEO. Before that he worked with Times of India as Assistant Manager and as Relationship Manager with Citibank NA.

    Star India, the leading media and Entertainment Company in India has the highest reach among the country’s broadcasters, beaming to over 140 million people every week across India and over 65 countries across the globe. Its portfolio includes 33 channels in eight languages spanning the household brands Star Plus, Star One, Star Gold, Channel [V], Star Jalsha, Star Pravah, Star World, Star Movies, Star Utsav; along with the joint venture channels Asianet, Asianet Plus, Star Vijay, Suvarna, Star News, ESPN and Star Sports.

    Star India also manages a portfolio of business ventures including DTH operator Tata Sky; cable system Hathway, channel distributor Star Den, news channel operator MCCS, the film production and distribution business Fox Star Studios India and Star CJ Home Shopping.

  • Ormax Media launches research vehicle for television production houses

    TV companies can get on board this research bus

    By A Correspondent

    Ormax Media has launched a research omnibus for production houses making fiction and non-fiction shows on television. The product, called Television Omnibus, will address the consumer research needs of production houses in a cost-effective manner.

    Mr Shailesh Kapoor, CEO, Ormax Media said, Today, many production houses are research-savvy. They have the ability to appreciate consumer feedback on their programmes, as well as act upon it. However, unlike broadcasters, production houses may not be able to afford ongoing large-scale consumer research for all their properties. Television Omnibus is a product that will address their needs in a timely and cost-effective manner.

    Research under Television Omnibus will be conducted across the country using focus group discussions and depth interviews. While several production houses will subscribe to the product, each will have access to the findings of only their programmes. Additionally, production houses can also use Television Omnibus to test new programme concepts, as well as understand consumer trends such as weekend programming, mythological shows, youth channels, emerging trends, etc.

    Mr Kapoor added, Television Omnibus will help production houses pre-empt any drop in ratings of their programmes, by being in constant touch with their consumers. Three production houses have already signed up with us, and we expect another three to four to be on board in the next two months.

    Ormax Media, India’s first research and consulting firm specializing in the media and entertainment industry, works with broadcasters, film producers, radio networks, print publications, media agencies, DTH service providers, etc in the areas of qualitative research, quantitative research and consulting.

     

  • As information and broadcasting minister in 1980-84, Vasant Sathe fought many battles to bring in colour television to the country

    RIP, Vasant Sathe, grand patron of colour TVs in India

    By Pradyuman Maheshwari

     

    Not many amongst mediapersons and marketers may know that former minister and veteran Congress leader Vasant Purshottam Sathe, who passed away last Friday, was the man who fought with a variety of lobbies and brought colour television to India in 1982.

    I still recall the news reports on Sathe in the very early ‘80s where as information and broadcasting minister had a tough time with the black-and-white television lobby. Finally, it was the Asian Games and World Cup Hockey that did the trick. Guess the fact that Rajiv Gandhi was general secretary of the Congress then and was actively involved with the Asiad would’ve also helped.

    Sathe was also instrumental in spreading the Doordarshan network by setting up low power transmitters. This eventually led DD introducing the National Network.  He is reported to have faced opposition to introducing sponsored programmes, but later the pubcaster was receptive to the concept. And how!

    I don’t remember much about this, but I read on a bio on his website that he also helped in clearing the controversies around Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi.

    While it’s true that colour television would’ve eventually entered India even if Vasant Sathe had not intervened, but surely it wouldn’t have happened in 1982.

    1990 possibly.

     

    Photograph: Image of his book cover on vasantsathe.com

     

    **

    My Delhi trip and MxMIndia.com’s code of ethics

     

    Met the awardwinning CEO of an awarding winning channel at the Delhi airport while I was on my way back yesterday. I was in the Capital to meet the MxMIndia team and interview a few possible recruits as also attend a luxury magazine’s awards do. The event was at the Jaypee Greens Golf and Spa Resort which is located some 20 km from Noida in Greater Noida.

    I accepted the offer for a night’s stay because while Jaypee Greens is an excellent place, it is in the back of beyond. Plus I wanted a sneak peek at some of the facilities being created for the F1 next month.

    So how does a junket like this work with your Code of Ethics, the CEO asked me. One, our report on the event will clearly carry the disclosure in the story that we are subjected to the hospitality. And, two, while any degree of hospitality extended would amount to it being a junket, the only reason I accepted it was that I believed that attending the awards would help me understand the high-end luxury content space better as also interact with the people who matter in the business. Which I did. As a bonus, I also met a few senior mediapersons at the do.

    Had to trek back to South Delhi for my meetings and finally to the airport.

    However, having been quizzed by the CEO and realising that MxMIndia and I are going to be subjected to some scrutiny on this count, I guess there is need to be even more vigilant in ensuring that we adhere to the Code.

    Aatma chintan, as the BJP calls it.

  • NDTV�s flagship lifestyle channel, NDTV Good Times, completes four entertaining years

    Four years of good times with NDTV

    By A Correspondent

    NDTV Good Times, the flagship channel of NDTV Lifestyle, part of the NDTV Group, has completed four successful years of establishing a niche for itself in the lifestyle genre. It has made a firm place for itself among its target audience of socially upbeat, well travelled, cosmopolitan viewers who live in style, adore fashion, are adventurous about food and travel.

    NDTV Good Times has always presented world-class, aspirational lifestyle programming that advocates living large – giving its viewers affirmative mantras for how to enjoy food, both Highway and Michelin star, find good health through salsa and yoga, fashion on ramps both Indian and global and how to relish travel and luxury from both far and near. The line-up of shows has covered every aspect of the lifestyle genre to portray and cater to an increasingly global India.The programming has offered fresh, original content while constantly working with new, engaging out-of-the-box formats.

    The channel has announced plans to launch a series of new shows in the coming quarter, and also a new series called Yoga Sutra. Adding to that, The Kingfisher Calendar Hunt comes back for a new season, hotter than before and at a surprising new location.

    Ms Smeeta Chakrabarti, Chief Executive Officer, NDTV Lifestyle said, We always strive to offer something unique and exciting to our viewers and we shall continue to do so in the coming years. I thank our viewers for their continuous support.

    Ms Shibani Sharma Khanna, Channel Head, NDTV Good Times added, As India’s first lifestyle channel turns four, the bar has been raised higher. Audiences will see more energy, variety and zest along with new formats and genres.

    In these four years, NDTV Good Times has won several awards recognizing its unique programming with shows like Highway On My Plate, No Big Deal and Making of the Kingfisher Calendar, and was judged as the ‘Best Fashion & Lifestyle Channel’ at the ITA (Indian Television Academy) Awards for the last two consecutive years.

  • Fast company, any takers?

    Over the last few months, social activist Anna Hazare has become a household name. , and his feat has surpassed many notions mass movements.[didnt understand] Few young people would have encountered a mass uprising of this dimension, and the sentiment that Mr Hazare sparked has inspired many sections of society to make a difference. The rebellion encompasses men and women from all classes and social strata, and that is what makes this popular movement different.

     

    As Mr Hazare’s fast ran into the next day and the next, media houses kept notching up higher TRPs with every passing hour. Such events are news organizations dream come true, as they keep their platter full for days on end. Ramlila Maidan was filled with Mr Hazare’s supporters, militating for a strong Lokpal Bill, and media houses enjoyed a bullish viewership.

     

    But not everyone is convinced about the media’s activism and its role in the issue. The media has been repeatedly accused of sensationalism and blowing the issue out of proportion. It is blamed for supporting a popular movement, even without knowing what consequence it (the Bill) will lead to.

     

    Speaking on media’s role in the recent Anna’s fight against corruption Anupama Maitra, Lecturer at Calcutta University, said I have serious reservations about the role of media in general, and the Anna hype is no exception. There is a lot of money behind it and it is motivation enough to blow issues out of proportion.

     

    Apart from watching the media’s action from the monetary perspective, some also differ with its role ideologically. According to Aatrayee Ghosh, MPhil student at JNU, The whole issue is an overhyped mass craze that is demanding the destruction of its own democracy and its institutions; and the major role played in building this hype is by the media.

     

    However, not all is lost for the media, as some sections of society still feel that it has played a pioneering role in recent times. Sahil Mullick, Advocate, Bombay High Court, said, Alas; India as a country is acting critical, conversational[?] and ignorant on a common issue. Thanks to a relatively more pro-active and less commercial approach of the media, 121 crore people of my country know there is something going on.

  • Media Rights for UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League 2012-15 announced in Asia; Astro, Ten Sports and S Media awarded exclusive rights

    UEFA media rights announced

    By A Correspondent

    UEFA has announced the award of 2012-15 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League media rights to various territories in Asia.

    Malaysia and Brunei: Pay television operator Astro has been awarded exclusive media rights for the 2012-15 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Football fans in Malaysia and Brunei will be able to see live at least six UEFA Champions League and at least four UEFA Europa League matches per matchweek, as well as highlights and delayed match coverage for both competitions each week. Astro will exploit the rights across its Astro SuperSport pay platform throughout the territories. UEFA would like to thank long-time partner, incumbent UEFA Champions League rights holder ESPN Star Sports for its valued contribution to the competition.

    Indian Subcontinent: Ten Sports, operated by Taj TV, has renewed its exclusive rights for the 2012-15 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Ten Sports will broadcast live at least four matches per matchweek, as well as delayed coverage and highlights for both club competitions. Live and delayed broadcasts of the matches will be available on Ten Sports and Ten Action+, with highlights being broadcast on Ten Sports. Ten Sports has acquired the rights across all broadcast platforms which shall enable it to reach significant audiences throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

    Myanmar: S Media has been granted all rights to the 2012-15 UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. S Media will broadcast live at least six matches per matchweek on its pay television channels, as well as highlights and delayed coverage, in respect of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.

    All rights have been granted on a platform-neutral basis, so all broadcast partners will exploit the rights via television, internet and mobile.

    Commenting on the award of these media rights in Asia, UEFA said:

    “The media rights sales process is successfully continuing in Asia, reflecting the growing interest for UEFA’s club football competitions in the region. UEFA is happy to announce these deals as they will enable football fans throughout the respective territories to enjoy increased levels of match choice and coverage of both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League”

    Meanwhile, Ten Sports has been signed as the national broadcast partner for the I-League 2011-2012 season by IMG Reliance.

    Known for its global coverage of football, cricket and motor sport, Ten Sports’ portfolio of channels includes Ten Sports, Ten Cricket, Ten Action+. For the 2011-2012 I-League season Ten Sports, will broadcast 75 league games live on Ten Action+.

    Speaking on the initiative a spokesperson from IMG Reliance, commented, “We are happy to confirm Ten Sports as the National Broadcaster for the 2011-12 season of I-League as part of our ongoing efforts to develop the following of the sport in India. We are committed to pursuing various initiatives as part of our strategic plan to enhance the level of competition as also harness the domestic football talent in the country. Ten Sports shares our vision for the sport in India and we are delighted to partner with them in bringing football into the homes of fans across the nation.”

    Mr Atul Pande, CEO, Ten Sports, said, “We are delighted to be associated with IMG Reliance, to telecast the I-League , India’s premier’s football tournament.”  He further added, “We are committed to bringing the   best sports action to our viewers, and this new agreement with the IMG Reliance reaffirms our commitment to grow the sports business and consolidate our position as the leading sports broadcaster. Zee and Ten have been supporters of Indian football for many years and we continue committed to our vision of enhancing and adding value to the sport “

    AIFF General Secretary Mr Kushal Das expressed great satisfaction to have Ten Action+ as  the national broadcast partner of the I-League for 2011-12. He added “Ten Action + is a niche football channel and I am sure the visibility and on air promotional activities of the channel will go a long way in enhancing the profile of the I-League . Our partners IMG RIL deserve all credit for forging this significant partnership.”

    The I-League kicks off on October 22, 2011 and runs until the end of April 2012. Fourteen teams participate in the League which comprises 182 matches across 26 rounds. Started in 2007, the I-League replaced the National Football League, which ran for 11 seasons. The winner of the I-League qualifies for the AFC Champions League qualifying round.

  • FirstRand Bank (FRB), South Africa has called for a creative, media and PR pitch. Industry sources close to the development have confirmed the news to MxM India.

    FirstRand Bank calls for creative, media and PR pitch

    By Shubhangi Mehta

    FirstRand Bank (FRB) has called for a creative, media and PR pitch. The overall account size is estimated to be around Rs 10 crore.

    FirstRand Bank India is a branch of FirstRand Banking Group South Africa. FirstRand Bank, a pre-eminent financial services group in Africa is the first bank from the African continent to be granted a full scale commercial banking license in India. FirstRand has commenced its banking operations in India since April 2009 and currently has one branch set up in Mumbai.

    With a history dating back to 1838, FirstRand is a fully integrated financial services group and one of the big four South African retail, commercial and investment banks. Through its ownerships of brands like First National Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Momentum and Wesbank, the group operates in almost every area of the financial services arena.

    The group has representation elsewhere in Africa, including Nigeria, as well as the United Kingdom, Dubai, Australia and China, and now more recently in India.As part of its international expansion strategy, FirstRand has identified India as a key market for future economic growth and set up its Representative Office in Mumbai, India in January 2008. A year later, it received its banking license, becoming the first South African bank to open a branch in India. FirstRand India currently has an office in Mumbai.

  • A quick observation of the combined readership of eight metros and the remaining states

    IRS 2011: Metro watch and State watch

    By Ritu Midha

    This article is an attempt at a quick observation of  combined readership of eight metros: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad.  The combined data indicates a fall in readership for three publications: Anand Bazar Patrika, Hindustan and Lokmat over Q2, 2010.  All other publications except Daily Thanthi show a single digit growth. Daiy Thanthi shows a sturdy growth of 10 percent.

    If we look at eight metros – The Times of India emerges as the market leader – however, if we look at each metro in isolation, The Times of India leads only in Greater Mumbai. Publications presence in all metros, and that too in the top five, helps it in maintaining leadership position.

    Ananda Bazar Patrika, the number two publication in 8 metros, interestingly, is present in top 10 dailies only in Kolkata – where it is top of the pack.

    Hindustan Times, the number three daily in eight metros leads in Delhi and is number five in Mumbai. It is not in top 10 in the other six metros.

    Navbharat Times, the number four daily is at number three in Delhi and Number nine in Mumbai – it is not there in the top ten in rest of the metros

    Gujarat Samachar is at number five in eight metros  – it is at number two in Ahmedabad and number four in Gujarat. It, too has no presence in top 10 list of any other metro.

    Daily Thanthi leads in Chennai, and is at number eight in Bangalore – and this brings it at number 6 position in eight metros.

    Lokmat at number 8 in Mumbai, is at number 2 in Pune, and occupies number 7 slot in top 10 dailies in eight metros

    Daily Sakal leads in Pune with a big margin, and by its virtue sits on number eight slot in eight metros

    Hindustan Number 4 paper in Delhi is at number 9 in eight metros

    DIvya Bhaskar, the market leader in Ahmedabad completes the top 10 list

     

    DNA, in the top 10 in Mumbai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad does not find a place in top 10 eight metros.

     

    Mumbai: In terms of percentage growth – Hindustan Times show the sturdiest growth – a 27.2 percent jump vis-a-vis same quarter previous year. Interestingly all the Marathi publications show a negative growth, while all the English dailies grow positively. However, when compared with previous quarter seven publications show a negative growth.  Top three publications in the city are from The Times of India stable.

     

    If we look at Mumbai vs Maharashtra – readership patterns are quite different – Punya Nagri, Pudhari and Daily Sakal – among the top 10 in Maharashtra are not there in Mumbai. In its place are DNA, Navakal and Navbharat Times. While in Mumbai, three of the top five dailies are English. One is Gujarati and the other Hindi, in Maharashtra the picture is very different with  The Times of India being the only English daily in top five – and the other four being Marathi publications.

     

     

    Delhi: The gap between the market leader Hindustan Times and the Challenger The Times of India narrows as Hindustan Times sees a marginal fall of 0.7 percent, while The Times of India grows by 1.3 percent from Quarter 2, 2010. Nai Duniya needs a special mention as it has grown by 117 percent, though on a small base. Navbharat Times has also shown a double digit growth – some of it, perhaps at the expense of Hindustan, which has gone down by 3 percent.

     

    Bangalore: The top five publications have shown a positive growth. On the percentage basis growth over quarter 2, 2010, by English Dailies The Times of India (33.9 percent), Deccan Herald (22.6 percent) and Bangalore Mirror (151.6 percent)is much higher than the language counterparts.

     

    Bangalore and Karnataka top 10 have seven common publications – and the top two remain the same. However, three publications in Bangalore (two of which are English dailies) : Daily Thanthi, Deccan Chrocle and DNA are missing in Karnataka, and in their place are Samyukta Karnatak,  Sanjavani and Tarun Bharat.

     

     

    Hyderabad: Hyderabad is the only metro, where all the top dailies have shown a negative growth over the same quarter previous year. Interestingly, on Q on Q basis Daily Munsif is the only daily showing a negative growth, all the other publications show positive growth there, though not enough to cover the shortfall witnessed earlier.

     

    Andhra Bhoomi and Andhra Prabha are the two publications in the top 10 list of Andhra Pradesh, which are missing in the top 10 of Hyderabad. In their place are The Munsif and The Economic Times

     

     

    Chennai :  Six dailies show negative growth, three positive while one remains unchanged. Daily Thanthi, the market leader shows a healthy growth of 8.5 percent and is ahead of number two Dinakaran with a big margin.

     

    Chennai and Tamilnadu share the top nine dailies – though not necessarily in the same order. There is a change on the tenth position where Malayala Manorama is present in Chennai, while for Tamil Nadu it is, Tamizh Murasu.

     

     

    Pune: In Pune market leader Daily Sakal is ahead of its closest competitor Lokmat by a margin of 40 percent – it shows a 10 percent growth vis-a-vis Q2 previous year.  Most noteworthy growth is recorded by Maharashtra Times at a whopping 638.5 percent.

     

    Pune and Maharshtra, meanwhile have seven publications in common. Three in Maharashtra which are missing in Pune are Deshonatti, Gujarat Samachar and Mumbai Mirror. In its place Pune has Prabhat ka Anand and Samna.

     

     

    Ahmedabad: In Ahmedabad, all the English Dailies except DNA show robust growth over Q2, 2010– The Times of India grows by 44.2 percent, Ahmedabad Mirror by 32.1 percent, The Economic Times by 50 percent, and The Indian Express by 66.7 percent. Market leader Divya Bhaskar grows by 6.5 percent and is ahead of Gujarat Samachar by close to 20 percent.

    In Ahmedabad and Gujarat, the top four publications remain same, with Divya Bhaskar and Gujarat Samachar interchanging top two slots.  However three English publications that find a place in Ahmedabad – DNA, The Economic Times and The Indian Express are missing in Gujarat. Only English publication in both Gujarat and Ahmedabad is The Times of India.

     

    Kolkata: Market leader Ananda Bazar Patrika shows negative growth of 3.8 percent over same quarter previous year. However, in spite of it, it continues to be ahead of Bartaman, the number two daily by more than 100 percent margin. Five Bengali dailies show a negative growth in this duration. Of the English dailies only The Times of India shows a negative growth – of 4.3 percent.

    Kolkata is highly representative of West Bengal as eight publications are same in the capital and the state. Interestingly, the top three are at the same rank. Only two changes are The Statesman and Prabhat Khabar in Kolkata which are replaced by Uttar Banga Sambad and Sambad in West Bengal

     

    State Watch: Dailies – IRS Q2, 2011

    Here is MXM’s quick observation of the remaining states:

    Rajasthan:  Dainik Bhaskar and Dainik Navjyoti show a healthy growth over Q2, 2010. In spite of 0.9 percent drop when compared quarter on quarter Rajasthan Patrika continues to be the leader, with Dainik Bhaskar close on its heels. Of English dailies Hindustan Times shows the largest percentage growth at 64.1 percent when compared with same quarter in 2010. Five publications show a negative growth over previous quarter. Q on Q, Daininik Navjyoti, Punjab Kesari and Hindustan Times show a healthy double digit growth.

     

    West Bengal: Moving eastwards, seven of the top ten publications show negative growth over the same quarter previous year. Of these seven Ganashakti is the only one which shows a positive growth over  the previous quarter.  In spite of a 7.3 percent drop in readership over the same quarter previous year, Ananda Bazar Patrika continues to be the leader with a huge margin. Of the English dailies, The Telegraph shows a 1.2 percent growth and continues to be number three in the overall ranking for the state.

    Assam: Only Assam Tribune of 10 leading publications show a positive growth, over the same quarter previous year.  Both the new publications Dainik Jugasankha and Ajir Asom– surveyed from IRS Q1, 2011 also show a negative growth Q on Q.  Asomiya Pratidin, in spite of showing negative growth in both quarters continues to be the market leader with more than three times the size of number two publication Asomiya Khabar.

    Orissa: Unlike other states in East and North East, four English publications find place in the top ten – however The Telegraph is the only English publication to show a positive growth over the same quarter previous year – though on a small reader base. Seven out of 10 leading publications show a negative growth both Q on Q, and over the  same quarter previous year – and fall in numbers is quite substantial in case of Orissa. Sambad, the leader, shows a drop of 6.4 percent as compared to Q2, 2010. Meanwhile, number two, Dhaitri has shown a 10.1 percent growth in the same duration – closing the gap with the number One publication.

    Andhra Pradesh: Moving down South, in Andhra Pradesh, eight out of 10 publications show a down turn over the same quarter previous year.  Sakshi and Andhra Bhoomi are the only two publications to show a positive growth. Market leader Eenadu shows a drop of 2.3 percent over the same quarter previous year. Sakshi, the number two clocks a growth of 9 percent in the same duration – reducing the gap with the market leader.

    Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu emerges as an interesting market from a media watcher’s perspective. While six publications show a negative growth over the same quarter previous year, when it comes to quarter on quarter numbers, The Hindu is the only publication to show a negative growth. Daily Thanthi, in spite of a drop of 2.3 percent over the same quarter previous year continues to lead the pack with a massive margin.

    Kerala: Biggest blow in Kerala comes for The Hindu, which shows a percentage drop of 67.8 percent, over the same quarter previous year. Malayala Manorama with a positive growth continues to be the market leader. Five publications show a negative growth over the same quarter previous year.

    Karnataka: Karntaka emerges as the market with most positive growth figures. Nine of the 10 dailies show a positive growth over the same quarter previous year. Only publication to show negative growth is Tarun Bharat with a 36.1 percent fall in readership in this time duration. However, when compared Q on Q, the number of publications with fall in readership goes up to five. Viay Karnataka with a growth of 5.2 percent over the Q2, 2010 continues to be the market leader – however number two daily Prajavani grows at a much faster pace of 31.3 percent and closes the gap with the market leader.