MxMIndia

Category: NEWS

  • The Delhi High Court hearing has been adjourned to July 11, 2014

    Respite for Kantar (and TAM) as Delhi High Court hearing adjourned till July 11

    By A Correspondent

     

    It’s an election gift from the government to the section of the broadcasting and media fraternity which didn’t want a ratings black-out.

     

    So after all the back-and-forth to the Courts, the much awaited verdict that we were awaiting today didn’t happen, because, yes, you heard it right, the government’s counsel wasn’t available for hearing.

     

    Now, the ball will be in the new government’s court as the hearing has been adjourned to July 11, 2014.This part of the news (and not the interpretation before) was confirmed to MxMIndia by Kantar Media’s advocate, Diya Kapur on the phone from New Delhi.

     

    This is of course some respite for all parties. For channels – especially those banking big on reality shows because there will be ratings around, for newer channels because they can prove to the world what they are worth, for special events like the IPL because they will need the support on viewership.

     

    For TAM of course because they’ve got a fresh lease of life and for BARC too, as in the absence of ratings dark period, they can do their work at their normal pace.

     

    The Delhi High Court has adjourned the hearing in the Kantar case till 11 July as the government’s counsel is not available for hearing. Kantar counsel Diya Kapur and News Broadcasters Association (NBA) counsel Anup Bhambhani confirmed the news to TelevisionPost.com. The adjournment means that the stay on the clauses related to cross-media holding in the Television Rating Agency Guidelines will continue till final orders. The HC bench comprising Justice Manmohan had on 12 February stayed four clauses in the ‘Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India’ pertaining to cross-media ownership thereby preventing a rating blackout. Additionally, the bench had given more time to Kantar to comply with the remaining provisions of the guidelines. It asked Kantar to register itself within two weeks under the new policy guidelines. The bench also directed Kantar to upload a list of affiliated advertising companies on its website along with the list of its major clients.

     

  • With the phenomenal growth that mobile has seen in recent times, marketers have begun to adopt it as a one of the primary tools used to generate brand visibility and awareness

    Internet accessed most on mobile, says IAMAI report

    By a correspondent

     

    A report released by the Internet and Mobile Association of India has revealed that about 95 per cent of the mobile Internet users are using the internet to communicate online.

     

    With the phenomenal growth that mobile has seen in recent times, marketers have begun to adopt it as a one of the primary tools used to generate brand visibility and awareness. Leading marketers at the Internet and Mobile Association of India’s second Email Marketing Summit 2014 were of the view that mobile will be the key driver in coming times.

     

    Speaking at the Summit, Kalpit Jain, Chief Operating officer – netCORE Solutions, said, “India is expected to have 185 million mobile users by June 2014, and 35 per cent subscribers view their mails on mobile, which provides a huge opportunity to market your products.”

     

    Stressing on the importance of email marketing, Vivek Gaur, Chief Executive Officer- Yepme said, “With over 290 billion emails sent everyday you need to keep evolving your email marketing strategies accordingly. You have to understand what a consumer wants. People have reservations in getting promotional emails. Communication which goes to the consumer should be relevant.”

     

    Speaking on relevance of data in email marketing, Naveen Kukreja, CMO & Director- Non Insurance business- PolicyBazaar.com, said, “‘Data has become the buzzword for email marketers. Every brand is sitting on big data for marketing. The need of hour is to make maximum use of that data. Lesser the content and relevant the communication the better it is for marketers.”

     

  • RAPP's mandate will cover the full service spectrum with the mainline as well as digital aspects of the campaign

    Simplymarry.com engages RAPP

    By a correspondent

     

    Multichannel agency RAPP of DDB Mudra Group has been roped in to handle Simplymarry.com. RAPP India will be responsible for bringing the brands new proposition alive. RAPP’s mandate will cover the full service spectrum with the mainline as well as digital aspects of the campaign.

     

    Matrimonial portal SimplyMarry.com is promoted by The Times of India group and offers a superior matchmaking experience for prospective brides and grooms to meet and communicate with each other.

     

    On choosing RAPP, Sanjeev Kumar, Business Head, SimplyMarry.com said, “The online matrimony space in India is quite challenging with many established and new players. Over the years, we have realized that although the space has a lot of big players, the value differentiator in this category hasn’t been cracked just yet. We are re-launching into this competitive market with an offering unlike any the market has witnessed yet. We were looking for an agency that would help us amplify this difference. RAPP, with its unique strategic and media agnostic approach seemed like a perfect fit.”

     

    Venkat Mallik, President, RAPP India said, “The SimplyMarry team has a strategy that is designed to change the convention among Matrimonial sites. A number of new innovations are planned that will change the rules of the game. To be able to disrupt the convention is a challenge that has always got us going. And we hope to do that with SimplyMarry.com.”

     

  • The Olive Crowns are Asia's first and only awards that salute excellence in communicating sustainability

    Big B goes green, to present IAA’s Olive Crown Awards

    By a correspondent

     

    The fourth edition of the IAA Olive Crown Awards from the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) will be presented at a glittering function on 14th March 2014 at the Palladium Hotel, Parel, Mumbai.

     

    The Olive Crowns are Asia’s first and only awards that salute excellence in communicating sustainability. Endorsed by the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) these awards for “green” advertising have been warmly embraced by the industry and have grown in stature and size over the last four years.

     

    The awards are run like a cause without no fees for creative entries and a non-ticketed, entry-by-invitation-only awards ceremony.

     

    This year the IAA introduced a new special award for the Corporate Social Crusader of the year. This award saluted a corporate for an outstanding CSR initiative.

     

    Srinivasan Swamy

    “The response to this award from top corporates is very heart-warming,” said Srinivasan K Swamy, President India Chapter IAA. “The awards ceremony promises to be as meaningful as it will be entertaining” he added.

     

    Pradeep Guha said “The association of 9XM as presenting sponsor with the Olive Crown awards is in its third year now. We believe that industry associations should work for the general good and are therefore happy supporting such initiatives. I am personally happy with the way these awards have grown and the elite attendance at the awards function only endorses this.”

     

    The Green Partners for the Olive Crown awards are Hungama.Com and the Patrika Group. The Banking Partners are Yes Bank Ltd.

     

  • The survey highlights shopping, relationships, wellness and parenting as the four categories that women discuss on social media and how most of them find happiness discussing these

    ThoughtBuzz study depicts what women love the most

    By a correspondent

     

    ThoughtBuzz, the social media analytics arm of TOTHENEW, recently conducted a survey that provides insights into aspirations that women look up to and what they love to do. The survey highlights shopping, relationships, wellness and parenting as the four categories that women discuss on social media and how most of them find happiness discussing these.

     

    The prominent trend spotted is that about 48 per cent of women love shopping with most of them discussing updates, experience, love, hatred etc. Further, 54 per cent of women love talking about apparels with about 56 per cent of them talking highly of the brands that they prefer to shop with.

     

    The report also notes that 61 per cent women prefer online shopping than traditional over the counter shopping. Further about 21 per cent women associate shopping with Sale and Discounts while 43 per cent Women’s key sentiment was “Happy” about shopping rest was either neutral or negative.

     

    The report further goes on to add that about 33 per cent women talk about relationships or marriage where a majority of them talk about dating while others discuss about expectations from boyfriends or partners. Further, the study notes that 56 per cent women want trust and honesty from their partners, 11 per cent want romance while 11 per cent want just friendship.

     

    What is also noteworthy is that just 14 per cent women talk about health & fitness with a majority of them discussing tips and facts while others talk about gym and exercise options.

     

  • The radio station has lined up an interesting line-up of highly engaging entertainment around the biggest cricket extravaganza

    92.7 Big FM chosen official radio partner for ICC World Twenty20

    By a correspondent

     

    92.7 BIG FM has been signed as the official FM radio partner in India for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 cricket tournament. The association marks the beginning of a series of exclusive offerings that kickstarted with the unveiling of the trophy in Bangalore and next in Mumbai.

     

    Last week, the FM network unveiled the prestigious trophy through an exclusive display at its studio in Bangalore. The trophy was unveiled at the hands of actress Ragini Dwivedi and cricket commentator Chandramouli Kanavi. In Mumbai, the network will conduct a special pre-tournament contest across 45 stations to select five lucky winners who will get an opportunity to travel to Mumbai and be part of the unveiling here.

     

    The radio station has lined up an interesting line-up of highly engaging entertainment around the biggest cricket extravaganza. Special coverage and expert opinion during the course of the tournament will include a match review and preview segment exclusively for the listeners of the station. Through the 22 days of the game, the radio station will invite a celebrity from the film fraternity who will be the ‘Match ka Star’, who will be seen talking about the day’s match and love for the sport. In addition, the radio station will also present exclusive, regular and detailed updates on team composition, key players, match trivia and score updates

     

    The network will also conduct a MEGA competition centered on the India-Pakistan match. Listeners will be able to participate in the contest on morning shows where RJs will test a participant’s knowledge on the matches between the two teams. Lucky winners stand to win an opportunity to watch the India-Pakistan match live in Bangladesh. Along with promotions on-air and on the digital medium, 92.7 BIG FM will also conduct special gully cricket tournaments across the country.

     

  • A shortlist of 191 campaigns across 19 categories has been selected, recognizing the very best in media thinking from around the world

    9 Indian entries shortlisted for FOM Awards

    By a correspondent

     

    After much deliberation, the 70 strong judging panel, led by Sameer Singh, VP, head of global media of GSK have cast their votes for the much anticipated Festival of Media Awards.

     

    A shortlist of 191 campaigns across 19 categories has been selected, recognizing the very best in media thinking from around the world including countries such as Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, UAE, UK, US and many more

     

    The entries from India that have managed to make it to the shortlists include Hindustan Unilever (HUL)’s Kissanpur 2.0 “Where What You Grow Is What You Eat” campaign in the Best Communication Strategy while Madison Media Infinity’s ‘How Radio triggered 1.6 years of engagement around an unspeakable problem’ campaign for Mediker Anti-Lice Treatment Naturals was shortlisted in the Best Engagement Strategy category.

     

    In the category of Best Event / Experiential, Mindshare found three of its campaigns vying for the top prize including ‘106,000 Found’ for Closeup Toothpaste; Sunlight – It’s Raining Roses for Sunlight Detergent Powder and Surf EW-Worshipping the Lord with 10 Hands for Surf Excel.

     

    Mediacom’s Soldier for Women for Gillette India was nominated in the Best Use of Content category, while PHD had two of its entries ‘Mobile Entertainment Box’ for Kaan Khajura Teshan and ‘Good Life Club’ for Brooke Bond that were nominated in the Best Use of Mobile category.

     

    In the Effectiveness Award, Madison Media Infinity’s ‘Convincing consumers to become our sales force’ for its client Parachute Advansed Ayurvedic Hair Oil was the final shortlist that was nominated from India.

     

  • …but he will continue to do Independence Rock even as he joins the Capricorn Group which is essentially into real estate and hotels

    Farhad Wadia exits media, joins real estate

    By A Correspondent

     

    The man who introduced Independence Rock in the country, much much ahead of the likes of Sunburn, NH7 etc is disillusioned with the live acts business. “There’s no money in it… the newer players have messed up the business model with very low margins,” rues Farhad Wadia who quit Network 18 last month to join the Capricorn Group as Senior VP, Marketing and Sales.

     

    It’s crossing over to another industry altogether, Mr Wadia admits, but added that companies in the business of live events need to relook at their P/Ls. “Only Sunburn is making money and that too after going through losses for the first two-three years,” he explains. According to Mr Wadia, while keeping sponsors happy is fine, live act companies are selling the sponsorships very cheap making the business unviable.

     

    Mr Wadia joined the Network 18/TV 18 group in 2007 after a two-year stint with Hindustan Times. He has also worked with Channel 4 Networks in the UAE, his own company Power Productions and the now defunct Radio Star India.

     

    What Farhad Wadia is best known for though is Independence Rock, a 28-year-old live music acts property, that didn’t happen last year due to sponsorship issues but will definitely take place this year, the showman promises.

     

    Meanwhile, at Capricorn, which has a lot of real estate and runs some hotels (like in Pune, the Courtyard Marriott and Regency on Dhole Patil Road),  he hopes to use his sales and marketing expertise in selling dream, er, properties.

     

  • Flipkart hits $1 billion in sales, a year ahead of schedule

    Billion dollar baby Flipkart crosses miletone faster than Amazon

    By Radhika P Nair

     

    Indian ecommerce flag bearer Flipkart has hit $1 billion in sales. This is a coming of age for Indian ecommerce as the market leader hits the target a year ahead of schedule. Global ecommerce giant Amazon reached the same target seven years after its launch. Flipkart, launched in October 2007, has achieved this milestone a few months faster.

     

    “We are really proud and excited to announce that we have hit a run rate of $1 billion GMV (gross merchandise value) one year before our target,” said co-founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, in a joint message. “In March 2011 we announced that by 2015 we wanted to hit $1bn in GMV. At that point in time our run rate was $10 million.”

     

    Flipkart, which started out as an online retailer of books, has raised over $550 million in risk capital funding. The company, which is backed by South African internet major Naspers and investments funds like Dragoneer Investment Group, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Tiger Global and Accel Partners, was valued at $1.6 billion when they raised $360 million last year.

     

    The company, which started out as an inventory retailer, pivoted to an online marketplace in 2012. The company, which ships out over 1 lakh orders a day on an average, now has about 1,000 merchants on its platform.

     

    The Bengaluru-based firm, which has over 10,000 employees, has also grown beyond ecommerce. It spun out its payment solution PayZippy into a separate entity last year. This service is used by other internet companies like MakeMyTrip, Zansaar and Yepme. The company is also opening up its logistics arm, eKart, which supplies to 150 cities, to other online retailers.

     

    The company is also increasingly focusing on mobile commerce, as over 20% of its sales already comes from handheld devices. Sachin Bansal, in an earlier conversation, had said that in the near future Flipkart.com would be a m-commerce based marketplace.”

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2014, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

    Licensed to republish

     

  • Week 9 of 2014 saw Zee TV jumping back to the second slot amongst the Hindi GECs on the back of an excellent showing by the evergreen Dance India Dance Li’l Masters

    Week #9: Zee makes big leap to #2, Life OK back at #4

    By Our Research Associate

     

    Week 9 of 2014 saw Zee TV jumping back to the second slot amongst the Hindi GECs on the back of an excellent showing by the evergreen Dance India Dance Li’l Masters.

     

    Star Plus was at 637, Zee at 548 and Colors at 465. Life OK was back at No 4 with 341, Sony at 306 and Sab at 303. The number indicates viewership in million.

     

    The info that we have published is courtesy a friendly subscriber, but since the source is not TAM, the folks who (still) do the measurement, we would urge advertisers to not base their advertising investments based on this report alone. Call TAM, subscribe to the measurement numbers…

     

  • The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has just unveiled the outdoor ad campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, will launch 10-15 TV commercials in the coming weeks

    BJP ads to go on air soon, with Prasoon Joshi songs

    By Pritha Mitra Dasgupta

     

    The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has just unveiled the outdoor ad campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, will launch 10-15 TV commercials in the coming weeks. The films, which will explore several themes including anti-corruption and women’s safety, are at the script-level and awaiting Narendra Modi’s approval, a person aware of the party’s campaign plans said.

     

    A source in the BJP ad campaign team said that Sushil Goswami, national creative director of Graphisads, a small Delhi-based agency that handles BJP’s state-level ad campaigns, is also working with Soho Square on the television, radio and outdoor campaigns. When contacted, Samrat Bedi, head of office, Soho Square, refused to comment on the party’s plans stating, “We do not disclose any client’s strategy and plans.”

     

    The other agency in the running, McCann’s subsidiary TAG, presented three songs written by McCann executive chairman and lyricist Prasoon Joshi as part of its pitch, the person informed. “Prasoon has written a rousing song for Narendra Modi – Saugandh is mitti ki mein desh jhukne nahi doonga, Mein desh mitne nahi doonga.”

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2014, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

    Licensed to republish

     

  • The new homepage attempts to power one's daily habits offering the most accessed features upfront

    Yahoo launches new homepage in India

    By A Correspondent

     

    Yahoo India has unveiled a brand new homepage delivering what it says is a “beautiful, modern, intuitive and personal experience”, available across smartphones, tablets and PCs. The new Yahoo Homepage, launched in 6 countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and India, makes it easier users to discover all the content they care about – right here on one page from any device of their choice, as per a communiqué.

     

    The navigation has been made simpler with an option of browsing top stories, checking mail, keeping tabs on stocks, checking one’s photos and the weather… all on the homepage.