MxMIndia

Category: NEWS

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

    Dentsu buys 80% of Webchutney

    By A Correspondent

     

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

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

  • Select links of stories handpicked by MxMIndia editors

    Links of the day (24 May)

    POV: Is brand IPL in a spot?

    http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/37581_POV:-Is-brand-IPL-in-a-spot

    Afaq.com/Raushni Bhagia

    A look at whether the spot-fixing scandal will impact advertisers for the next edition of IPL

     

    Etienne Benet to take over as Nestle India managing director

    http://www.livemint.com/Companies/RoGIBnuHP7tnrmbu8kZciN/Etienne-Benet-to-take-over-as-Nestle-India-managing-director.html

    Livemint.com/PTI

    Mr Benet is currently the chief executive officer of Nestle Central and West Africa Region.

     

    Treat digital like a traditional marketing channel: Experts

    http://www.exchange4media.com/51114_treat-digital-like-a-traditional-marketing-channel-experts.html

    Exchange4media.com/Saloni Surti

    Marketers cannot afford to treat digital as a different medium, notes the report

     

  • The Maharashtra governor and I&B Minister will present the Press Club Mumbai's RedInk awards. Bachi Karkaria to emcee event and Arnab Goswami likely to moderate a panel discussion

    Governor K Sankaranarayanan, Manish Tewari at Press Club Mumbai awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan and Manish Tewari will be the prominent guests at The Press Club Mumbai’s RedInk Awards. Veteran journalist Bachi Karkaria is to emcee the evening and a highlight of the evening – other than the awards of course – is likely to be a panel discussion moderated by Times Now editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami.

     

    As reported earlier veteran journalists Kuldip Nayar and N.Ram are to be felicitated with the RedInk Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2013 and more than 20 other journalists will receive awards in various categories for excellence in journalism at the Awards event.

     

    The 2013 edition of the RedInk Awards received over 900 entries from journalists all across India. Winners have been chosen in nine competitive categories including Sports, Media & Entertainment, Health & Environment, Crime, Business, Politics, Television Story, Science & Innovation and Photojournalism. The media partners of the event are Star India, Podar Enterprise, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Eros International, Yes Bank, Magarpatta City, and Zee Entertainment.

     

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

    Press Club Mumbai’s RedInk Awards presented

    By A Correspondent

     

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

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

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

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

     

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

    Dual feed ace nets Neo 7 sponsors for French Open

    By A Correspondent

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

    Prasana Krishnan

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

     

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

    Former SC judge R V Raveendran appointed NBSA chair

    By A Correspondent

     

    R V Raveendran

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

     

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

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

     

    Photo courtesy: Supreme Court of India website

     

     

     

  • Select links of stories handpicked by MxMIndia editors

    Links of the day (27 May)

    TV and Bollywood – Made for each other

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

    Afaqs.com/Anindita Sarkar

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

     

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

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

    Livemint.com/Reuters

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

     

    Lokmat refreshes look with new format & presentation

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

    Exchange4media.com/Abid Hasan

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

     

  • It's important for the IBF and the English GECs in particular to ask the government to relook at some of the clauses that constitute the relevant laws

    1 Minute View: 10-day ban on Comedy Central is not funny

    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s decision to ban Comedy Central for 10 days would have come as a shocker. A shocker to not just the popular comedy channel, but also to the various English entertainment channels on air in India.

     

    While the ministry may have done no wrong as it’s simply following the rules laid out, we think there is need for a rethink for the government. The audiences who typically watch English GECs can also watch uncensored, unbleeped content via the internet. So, if the government is serious concerned by a billion-plus Indians not getting degraded, then it must do something about the internet too. Which it knows it can’t.

     

    We think it’s important for the IBF and the English GECs in particular to ask the government to relook at some of the clauses that constitute the relevant laws. For, if that doesn’t happen, then they may as well show sanitized stuff like Yes Minister. Or Charlie Chaplin movies.

     

    Many of the complaints received by the broadcasting self-regulator Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) are against the English GECs.

     

    The move is also an alert for all other channels which air content that’s risque, especially reality shows and movies that pass off the “objectionable” stuff in the garb of wholesome entertainment.

     

    For Comedy Central, the ten days will pass off in a breeze. But the real battle will be thereafter. How does it show contemporary funny stuff without upsetting the moral brigade and the government.

     

    We are sure it’ll find the answers. As also must all the others in the business. For in India, only the ‘clean’ can survive.

     

  • Given the clouds over the Indian Premier League, MxMIndia spoke to industry professionals to find out what brands can do in such a scenario

    Is negative publicity a positive for brands?

     

    By Meghna Sharma and Ananya Saha

     

    The Indian Premier League had more than its share of negative publicity this season. Did the brands associated with IPL get affected too? And is it possible for brands associated with an event to avoid negative publicity around the event? Or is any publicity good publicity? MxMIndia spoke to industry professionals to find out what brands can do in such a negative scenario.

     

    Harish Bijoor, Marketing & Brand strategy specialist and CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc

    Brands are like human beings; they are born, they live, they thrive and then they die. In this entire life-cycle, if a brand has a slur cast onto it, this slur lasts as long or as short as the memory of the brand-audience. A controversy is both good and bad for the brand. It is good as it keeps the brand in public mindsets longer, it is bad because it is a canker that affects the image of the brand at large.

     

    Brands that are active, dynamic, have large mind-shares and market shares alike, cannot really stay away from controversy. The silver lining is the fact that public memory is proverbially short. Very short. Irreverent brands love all kinds of publicity. Possibly IPL is on the cusp of being an irreverent brand. All controversy is good for such brands.

     

    Vandana Das, President, DDB Mudra Group, Delhi

    I do not think that any brand associated with IPL got affected with the recent controversies. Brands have their own long-standing equity. Controversy is the pivot, but not necessarily everything in the periphery will get affected. What is important to note is that controversies are short-lived and brands have a longer life than a controversy. While one can say that IPL is in trouble, one cannot say that the brands are in trouble. It is not that the brands knowingly get into controversy. Brands do not have the control or have influence over such controversies. The brands tend to tide over it. At that particular moment, controversies seem big but brands tide over it.

     

    But this in no way means that any publicity is good publicity. At the end of the day, even short-lived negative publicity can affect a brand. And if a brand is not strong enough, it can even dilute its equity. Just like people, brands also need to avoid any negative publicity around them.

     

    Sachin Kapur, Chief Marketing Officer, Groupon India

    I particularly do not think that brands associated with IPL will get affected by negative publicity, primarily because it is not in the brand’s or brand manager’s hands. Yes, there are brands riding on the popularity of the event, the association is more to do with individual team or player. The overall interest in the IPL might go down, and while brands might have associated with the event to gain from it, it is still a long shot to say that it might have affect on the brands.

     

    Today, with active social media, even one negative blog post or tweet spreads like wildfire. It will reach your customer.

     

    There are times when there are situations, negative situations, surround a brand. These are times that challenges or reactions from the brand do not go down well with the consumer or audience. But no brand, whether six-sigma complaint or not, can stay down for long. The strategy of every brand should be to focus on customer.

     

    Amitabh Khona, Communication Consultant

    Today, crisis management is very important. Everyone knows about the Cadbury and Coke controversies, but have people stopped eating or drinking them? No. It depends on how a brand strikes back. For instance, Cadbury changed its packaging after worms were found in one batch. Also, another factor is the short memory of people. We will talk about something for a few days or months, but forget about all of it later and move on with our lives. Same can be said about IPL, although the recent events are all over the news channels and newspapers, people haven’t stopped watching the matches.

     

    Also, today where there are too many brands, one can say that any publicity is good publicity. No one will go out of business because of negative publicity or controversies. Such things keep happening and will continue to happen, everywhere in the world.

     

  • Reliance Broadcast Network Limited has announced a 20-30 percent increase in the advertising rates on its FM network, 92.7 Big FM. The rates will apply across its stations in metropolitan areas and tier II markets across the country

    92.7 Big FM hikes ad rates by 20-30%

    By A Correspondent

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited has announced a 20-30 percent increase in the advertising rates on its FM network, 92.7 Big FM. The rates will apply across its stations in metropolitan areas and tier II markets across the country.

     

    92.7 Big FM’s decision to increase rates comes on the back of enhanced network performance and delivery, leading to higher market demand from advertisers, both retail and national, said the network.

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, 92.7 Big FM said, “92.7 Big FM stands amongst the leading radio networks of the country. Our product mix, ability to innovate, solutions approach and unparalleled reach, sees us catering to almost 1800 clients on a monthly basis. It is now time to consolidate, while ensuring the aural experience is of best quality. This price correction will ensure that the core product and promise remain relevant to the audiences while delivering optimum value to the advertisers.”

     

  • Spearheading the global marketing efforts of Apollo's key product brands, Mr Paracciani will be based out of London

    Marco Paracciani is CMO, Apollo Tyres

    By A Correspondent

     

    Marco Paracciani

    Marco Paracciani has been appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Apollo Tyres Ltd. Mr Paracciani will spearhead the global marketing efforts of Apollo’s key product brands, in terms of product strategy, marketing communication and product mix management. He will be assisted by a team of product managers responsible for individual brands across all geographies.

     

    Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “In a rapidly growing organization like ours, Marco will bring in the much-needed synergy across locations, and at the same time, add enormous value by building each of our product brands with their distinctive value proposition. Given his strong track record in new product development and market share growth across geographies, Marco would be a key asset for us going forward.”

     

    Mr Paracciani’s last assignment was with Electrolux, where he served as the Senior Vice President, Product and Brand Marketing, Asia Pacific, and Senior Vice President, Global Product Line. Prior to this, he had spent a significant part of his career with Colgate-Palmolive in Europe, US, Latin America and Thailand. Having worked with various organizations across a multitude of geographies and cultures, Marco brings a wealth of experience and a clear performance track record to Apollo Tyres which will prove valuable as the company continues on its growth trajectory.

     

    Mr Paracciani will be based out of London and report to Mr Kanwar. Mr Paracciani said, “I have seen Apollo Tyres taking giant strides in the past few years. With two overseas acquisitions in the past, the company now has a bouquet of product brands. We will look at creating a synergy between our different product brands where they need to co-exist, and at the same time, continue to be a market- and customer-driven company.”

     

  • Navratna Cool Talc has become the first Emami brand extension to join its Rs-100-cr brands club. Targeting a 25% volume growth Y-o-Yin FY 2013, it plans to roll out campaigns on 'Bina bijli ka Chota AC' connecting with power-cut afflicted consumers as a category expansion initiative from June onwards

    Navratna Cool Talc becomes Emami’s first Rs-100cr ‘hero’ sub-brand

    By A Correspondent

     

    Navratna Cool Talc, a brand extension from the house of Emami Ltd, has emerged as the first sub-brand to join its list of Rs 100 crore “hero” brands. Navratna Cool Talc which has created a separate “cool” sub-category in the talc segment recorded an 80 percent growth in FY 2012-13. The brand expects to hit a minimum of 25 percent Y-o-Y growth despite the talcum powder segment in India having hit a near saturation point. The success of Navratna Cool Talc further exemplifies Emami’s strategy on building a robust brand portfolio through brand extensions. Navratna Cool Talc currently enjoys a sizeable market share of 18 percent in the Rs 4,300-million-worth Cool talc and PHP sub-segments of talcum powder.

     

    As a part of its aggressive marketing strategy to achieve the targeted growth, Navratna Cool Talc is going to roll out a brand new TVC strategically positioning the brand as ‘Bina Bijili ka Sabse Chhota A C’. Cosmetic products and talcum powders generally play around the concept of beauty, fragrance and physical discomforts due to natural extremities. Navratna Cool Talc has made a category expansion initiative as a FMCG brand to build a campaign as a relief provider around the concept of extreme physical discomforts during painful long hours of power cuts faced by people in various parts of the country. Developed by Leo Burnett and produced by Conred, the film for the load-shedding campaign has been directed by Gajraj Rao of Code Red Films.

     

    The roll-out of the new campaign in early-June this year would be done through press ads, TVCs in all major Hindi GEC channels, radio spots and in-theatre commercials targeting the markets of UP, Bihar, MP, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.

     

    This brand communication will be coupled with the brand new ‘Thanda thanda Cool Cool’ TVC campaign featuring Bollywood Badshah Shahrukh Khan. As a leg-up to the expansion drive in the Southern market, Southern superstar Jr NTR has been recently roped in by the brand to feature in the same campaign. For the very first time, the brand is also going to use Jr NTR’s image on the product packs down south to provide more thrust to the region-specific communication.

     

    “Navratna Cool Talc has been growing at 40 percent year on year since 2006 although the growth of the talcum powder category as a whole has nosedived. Our strategy to focus on building robust umbrella brands with strong and consumer relevant sub-brands is giving us the envisaged results. The success of Navratna Cool Talc is testimony to this,” said N Krishna Mohan, CEO, Sales, Supply and Human Capital, Emami Ltd.