MxMIndia

Category: NEWS

  • The panel includes Siddharth Vardarajan, Hartosh Singh Bal, Kumar Ketkar, Indrajit Gupta and Uday Shankar. The event is on today (Feb 6) at the Club premises starting 6.45pm

    Press Club Mumbai discussion on ‘what ails journalism today’

    By a Correspondent

     

    The Press Club Mumbai has convened a panel discussion to discuss and understand what ails journalism today, and what perhaps is the way forward. The theme of the discussion which will be held at the Club premises today (Feb 6) at 6.45pm is: ‘The Elephant in the Room: The Crisis in Journalism Today’.

     

    The panel includes Siddharth Vardarajan, former editor of The Hindu, Hartosh Singh Bal, former political editor of ‘Open’ magazine, Kumar Ketkar, editor of Divya Bhaskar, Indrajit Gupta, founder and former editor of Forbes India, and Uday Shankar, CEO of Star India. The session will be coordinated by Gurbir Singh, President of the Press Club.

     

    The discussion will be webcast live at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg2QhyGqq6dOjWknK94ZSaw.

     

  • In a restructing of the top deck, Nachiket Pantvaidya will be head of SET. Sneha Rajani moves as Dy Prez, Motion Pictures, Anooj Kapoor to also head new initiative

    MSM restructures. Pantvaidya is head of SET. Sneha Rajani moves as Dy Prez, Motion Pictures, Anooj Kapoor to also head new initiative

    By A Correspondent

    Multi-Screen Media Private Limited (MSM), has announced Sneha Rajani, will assume the position of Deputy. President and Head, MSM Motion Pictures. Meanwhile, Nachiket Pantvaidya, who recently joined the network, takes over as Senior Executive Vice President & Business Head, Sony Entertainment Television (SET). Anooj Kapoor, will assume additional responsibilities as Sr. EVP and Business Head, SAB TV, and also a new initiative in the Hindi entertainment space.

  • Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, India & South Asia, McCann Worldgroup, has been appointed Jury President of the Titanium & Integrated Lions category at the 2014 edition of the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival

    Prasoon Joshi is jury prez at Cannes Lions

    By A Correspondent

     

    Prasoon Joshi

    Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, India & South Asia, McCann Worldgroup, has been appointed Jury President of the Titanium & Integrated Lions category at the 2014 edition of the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival to be held in Cannes, France from June 15 to 21. “Titanium brings the world’s most respected and eclectic set of people to the jury, and there is immense learning. The bar is raised and new benchmarks set for the world in advertising and communications. It will be an honour to work with the jury,” Joshi, who also is an awardwinning film lyricist and scriptwriter, said.

     

    Meanwhile at the Clio Awards which is scheduled to be held in October 1, 2014, Taproot India founder and Chief Creative Officer Agnello Dias and Malvika Mehra, National Creative Director, Grey India have been invited to the jury. Said Mehra, who will be on the jury of the ‘Content & Contact, Integrated Campaign & Innovative Media’ category, is looking forward to being on the jury. “It’s a great honour and a responsibility as one has a big part of play in setting a benchmark.” Dias will be on the Film jury.

     

  • The INS execom is reportedly piqued about a senior advertising honcho’s assertion that those opposing the new IRS should be banned

    IRS update: INS to decide future course today * Many papers withdraw * Legal action mulled to stop ongoing field research

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Indian Newspaper Society, the apex body of newspaper publishers in the country, had a specially convened meeting of its Executive Committee yesterday (Feb 5). According to sources, some members were incensed with the tough stand that the Media Research Users Council (MRUC) had adopted in its Governing Council meeting the previous day. “They can’t armtwist us. We are compelled to harden our stand, ” an INS member told MxMIndia.

     

    While discussing next steps, including legal action against the IRS, a smaller group is likely to meet in New Delhi today. The INS execom is reportedly piqued about a senior advertising honcho’s assertion that those opposing the new IRS should be banned.

     

    Meanwhile, many leading newspapers have written to the MRUC, RSCI and Nielsen, asking for their mastheads to not be included in the survey.

     

    On the legal recourse, according to one school of thought, since the IRS study is ongoing, the field work is on even as the controversy is raging. “The only way to stop the RSCI and Nielsen is by getting a stay,” an INS member told this correspondent.

     

    As reported earlier, adding to MRUC’s woes is the Association of Indian Magazines communiqué asking for the IRS to be withdrawn. “The current round of IRS has many glaring glitches when it comes to magazine readership,” AIM general secretary R Rajmohan wrote in a letter, adding: “We urge MRUC to immediately withdraw IRS 2013, as such faulty reporting of readership numbers can have extremely damaging impact on business, apart from misleading media planners and advertisers. ”

     

  • With a headline as long as this, do you need a summary 🙂

    Rejig @ MSM. Frmr Star Plus head Pantvaidya to steer SET. Sneha Rajani to watch on movies, Anooj ‘Sab’ Kapoor to also head new venture

    By A Correspondent

     

    It’s been in the work as per the grapevine. Multi-Screen Media Private Limited (MSM) has announced that Sneha Rajani, will assume the position of Deputy President and Head, MSM Motion Pictures. Nachiket Pantvaidya, who has recently joined the network, takes over as Senior. Executive VP & Business Head, Sony Entertainment Television (SET). Anooj Kapoor, will assume additional responsibilities as Senior Executive VP and Business Head, SAB, and also a new initiative in the Hindi entertainment space.

     

    NP Singh

    Said N P Singh, CEO, MSM on the announcement, “I am certain that Sneha, Nachiket and Anooj will revitalize and provide fresh perspective to their respective areas of responsibility. Each brings unique strengths to grow the business and we wish them the best in their new roles. I am confident that 2014 will be a year of innovation and growth for MSM.”

     

    Ms Rajani, who has been Business Head, Sony Entertainment Television, will have end-to-end responsibility for MSM Motion Pictures and will chart the success and future of that business as a key force in movie production. She has been associated with MSM for over 15 years and has previously been Business Head, Max, which she launched and led for 10 years before assuming responsibility of the flagship GEC.

     

    Mr Pantvaidya who was the Business Head of Star Plus and also held several roles in the Star India network, including being the Head of Star Pravah and MD of FOX Television Studios will now head SET. An IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, Nachiket has had stints with BBC and Disney in the past. He has also held several positions in MSM from 1996 to 2004.

     

    Meanwhile, Mr Kapoor will With the success of SAB, Anooj has demonstrated capability for building differentiated audiences for the network. Anooj has been with MSM since 2007. Prior to joining MSM, Anooj worked with Colgate Palmolive as product manager, Lowe Lintas as Creative Director and also ran his own production advertising company. He has a Masters in English Literature and a MBA from SP Jain Institute of Management Studies.

     

  • Week 5 viewership for Sony Entertainment Television is 298 million. Elsewhere, Zee swaps spots with Colors at #2

    Week 5 sets the challenge for new Sony biz head

    By A Correspondent

     

    Newly appointed business head Nachiket Pant Vaidya will need to use all the tricks he learnt at IIM-Ahmedabad. Sony Entertainment Television is still at #6 amongst Hindi GECs and struggled to cross the 300 milion mark even with the Filmfare Awards on air.

     

    Meanwhile, Zee got to #2, Colors at #3, Star Plus strong at 627 and Life OK numbers ensuring Sab is a distant #5.

     

  • Introducing a new weekend series with Colors CEO Raj Nayak doing the unthinkable. Click on to see for yourself

    #beyondbiz: It’s ‘mind over matter’ for Raj Nayak as he devours ‘khatras’ in real life

    By Sandeep Puraname

     

    At the unveiling of the new season of ‘Khatron ke Khiladi’ last Friday (Jan 31), Colors CEO Raj Nayak took the assembled media and the show’s participants by surprise when he lit a cotton ball and ate it up. His colleagues and friends of course know that he’s a pro at it, but he laughs it off as just a way of conquering fear with “mind over matter”. Do check the video, but remember, do not try this without trained supervision or Raj Nayak around. A quick Q&A with the ‘khatron ka khiladi’ in the first of our new weekend series: #beyondbiz

     

    It’s alright to do it as part of an HR programme, but isn’t there a fear of the trick not working and burning the insides of your mouth?

    Really? Ha ha What I did was child’s play. It’s just mind over matter. Life is about taking risks. It is about having fun . It’s about conquering fear. As the saying goes “If you are not living on the edge , you are occupying too much space”.

     

    So tell us, what are the other ‘khatarnak’ acts that you can do?

     As a child I used to play the game ‘dare’ I love challenges, it all about doing things that allows you to conquer your fear. When you conquer your fear you feel liberated.

     

    You are also a certified trainer on walking on glass or burning coal, right?

    Yes that’s right, I did it as a hobby from the Sundoor School of Transpersonal Education, California. And I have practised my skills with the entire staff of Colors. I have taken their Agni Pariksha, they have all walked on fire, walked on glass, bent iron rods with their neck, broken pencils with their finger, eaten fire etc etc.. with 99% success.

     

    Would you do a show like ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’?

     Would love to do it.. Someday when I move out of corporate life perhaps, if I am still upto it. Ha ha, On a serious note, heading a GEC channel is no less challenging..

     

    What’s easier to handle: ‘khatras’ like these or those in real life?

    Both are difficult to handle. It’s all about having the conviction and the courage. It is about mind over matter. It is about going with your gut and taking the risk and believing in yourself that you can do it. It’s the power of positive thinking.

     

  • Chennai-based Fourth Dimension handles the airtime sales of the Puthiya Thalaimurai news channel, Puthu Yugam GEC, Chennai Live radio station and the Puthiya Thalaimurai and Puthiya Thalaimurai Kalvi magazines on an exclusive basis.

    Fourth Dimension celebrates 3rd anniv

    By A Correspondent

     

    Nal Valthukkal! Or hearty congratulations to Chennai-based Fourth Dimension Media Solution on its third anniversary. The media outsourcing company that’s part of the SRM group is celebrating its 3rd anniversary today (Feb 7).

     

    In this short time span the company has achieved a turnover of 50Crs and aims to double its current turnover in the current financial year,  said CEO Shankar B and COO Bharath Viswanathan while thanking all stakeholders in broadcast, radio and print businesses.

     

    Said Mr Shankar: “Change is the only constant in the fast space media landscape and I feel committed to offer optimum media solutions to all our existing and potential customers.” Added Mr Viswanathan: “Our biggest achievement was to make the whole ‘outsourcing’ model a workable one and we have achieved success in doing so. As an organization we have been growing at a very healthy growth rate and our endeavour for 2014 -2015 would be to show exponential growth and healthy profitability in area where we are present.”

     

    The firm currently handles the airtime sales of the Puthiya Thalaimurai news channel, Puthu Yugam GEC, Chennai Live radio station and the Puthiya Thalaimurai and Puthiya Thalaimurai Kalvi magazines on an exclusive basis.

     

  • The eighth edition of the Indian Magazine Congress will be held on February 24 and 25 in New Delhi

    Indian Magazine Congress on Feb 24-25 in Delhi

    By A Correspondent

     

    Even as the magazine trade is reeling under the impact of the new Indian Readership Survey (IRS) findings, publishers from across the business are getting set for the eighth edition of the Indian Magazine Congress on February 24 and 25 in New Delhi. ‘Winning through Innovation’ is the theme of the two-day conference to be held at the India Habitat Centre.

     

    Apart from representatives of leading publishers, media agencies and advertisers, there is a cross-section of international business and editorial professionals likely to attend. These being: Amy Mangino, International Licensing Manager, Bonnier; Fiona McIntosh, Editor, Grazia; Girish Ramdas, CEO and Co-Founder, Magzter; Mike Greehan, Partner and COO, Cue Ball Media; Mike Lovell, International Director, Licensing, Meredith (tentative); Patric Fuller, Group Publishing Director, Haymarket and Peter Masson, Partner, Bucknull & Masson. Chris Llewellyn, President and CEO, FIPP (the global association of magazine publishers) will also be present. I&B minister Manish Tewari has been invited to be the chief guest of the conference.

     

  • Billed as a first-in-India channel concept, NDTV Prime will be launched on March 17.2014

    NDTV Profit to convert to NDTV Prime post trading and on weekends

    By A Correspondent

     

    For a few months now, news and lifestyle television network NDTV has attempted to shore up the fortunes of its business news channel, NDTV Profit.

     

    Having been unsuccessful with attempts to sell the channel, operations were rationalized and non-stocktrading hours were converted to content reruns and special programming.

     

    Now the channel is official converting to a hybrid format with the business channel staying on during market hours, but with an all-new channel called NDTV Prime coming on in the evenings and on weekends. This was announced along with the earnings release on Friday where NDTV announced standalone positive EBITDA of Rs 9.5 crore in Q3 as opposed to an EBITDA loss of Rs 5.8 crore in the previous quarter.

     

    NDTV Prime, billed as a first-in-India channel concept, will be launched on March 17.2014.

     

  • The co-founder of Kyoorius and the co-creator of Kyoorius Designyatra will be responsible for design and technology-led initiatives at Creativeland. He will continue his association with Kyoorius

    Creativeland Asia hires Kay Khoo as Chief Innovations Officer

    By A Correspondent

     

    Kay Khoo

    Creativeland Asia has appointed Kay Khoo as Chief Innovations Officer. Mr Khoo comes in as a part of the senior management team and his role within the organization will encompass leading design- and technology-based initiatives, a communiqué noted.

     

    Said Sajan RaJ Kurup, Founder and Creative Chairman, Creativeland Asia, “I was looking for someone who is not jaded by traditional advertising. In Kay, I found this person who is as passionate as me about the ability of design and technology to influence the future of brands.”

     

    On the appointment, Kay Khoo, Chief Innovation Officer, Creativeland Asia says, “I’m excited by the prospects of being able to influence change. Since inception, Creativeland has been nurturing a brilliant creative culture and is an exciting place to be at, where the young creative culture is all ready to create meaningful changes to brand conversations of the future. I see the opportunity to strengthen this further through design and innovations within the culture.”

     

    Sajan Raj Kurup

    Prior to joining Creativeland, Mr Khoo was co-founder of Kyoorius, where he was responsible for numerous projects that were launched, including one of the world’s top annual design conferences, Kyoorius Designyatra, the Kyoorius Awards and the widely circulated design industry magazine – Kyoorius Magazine. Kay has also been part of Addikt (Amsterdam) Mumbai office, and Figtree Design (Malaysia).

     

    Acknowledging the role that Kay Khoo played in various Kyoorius initiatives, Rajesh Kejriwal, CEO and founder of Kyoorius, told MxMIndia that Mr Khoo will continue to be associated with Kyoorius. “Kay is family, and he will always be part of Kyoorius Designyatra, the awards etc,” Mr Kejriwal said.

     

  • The Global Network of Neglected Tropical Diseases has chosen the actor as brand ambassador of its campaign

    Abhishek Bachchan to promote campaign on tropical diseases

    By Divya Rajagopal

     

    The Global Network of Neglected Tropical Diseases has chosen actor Abhishek Bachchan as brand ambassador of its campaign ‘END7’, which aims to eliminate seven tropical diseases by 2020.

     

    Global Network, with the backing of Gates Foundation, is an initiative of US-based Sabin Vaccine Institute. Its campaign ‘END7’, started in 2012, aims to eliminate tropical diseases ancylostomiasis (caused by hookworms), ascariasis (roundworms), trichuriasis (whipworm), schistosomiasis (snail fever), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness) and trachoma. “India alone contributes close to 35% of the global disease burden of these diseases,” said Neeraj Mistry, MD of Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

     

    Abhishek’s appointment makes him the third in a family of actors to endorse health-related initiatives. Amitabh Bachchan is the goodwill ambassador of UNICEF’s polio eradication campaign while Abhishek’s wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, is the goodwill ambassador for UNAIDS. “I want to ensure that no child has to suffer needlessly. As a parent, I am deeply moved by the devastating toll of NTDs on children,” Abhishek said.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

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