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  • TAM data Top 10 programmes on HGEC – Wk 1 ’12

    Source: TAM Peoplemeter System
    TG: CS 4+ yrs
    Market: Hindi Speaking Market
    Period: Wk 1 (Jan 1 to Jan 7) 2012

     

     

    About TAM Media Research

     

    TAM is a joint venture between Nielsen Company & Kantar Media Research. Besides measuring TV Viewership, TAM also monitors Advertising Expenditure of Television, Print & Radio through its division AdEx India. Since 2004, it extended its presence in the PR Measurement & Analysis space for Corporate/Marketing Clients by setting up a separate division Eikona PR Measurement.

     

    In 2007, the joint venture introduced RAM (Radio Audio Measurement) service to track Radio Listenership for the Indian Radio Broadcast Industry. In year 2009, TAM launched a division, called TAM Sports that specializes in monitoring Sports Sponsorship ROI.

     

    TAM Media Research’s objective is to fuel media insights that will drive the growth of the Indian Media Industry.

  • N Ram, editor-in-chief at the Hindu group of publications has relinquished office. His last day at work: January 19.

    N Ram to call it a day at Hindu

    By a Correspondent

     

    It is learnt from sources close to the development that N Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, Business Line, Frontline and Sportstar has informed via a letter (a copy of which is with MxMIndia) to the Board of Directors, Kasturi & Sons Ltd his decision to step down. His last day at work would be January 19, 2012. He has spent eight years in his role as Editor-in-Chief. However, he will continue as full time director at Kasturi & Sons Ltd.

     

    He has also suggested that the Board may pass the necessary resolutions declaring, with effect from January 19, 2012, Mr Siddharth Varadarajan, who is the Editor of The Hindu to take responsibility as the Editor of The Hindu (inclusive of the annual publications, The Hindu Survey Of Indian Industry; The Hindu Survey Of Indian Agriculture; and The Hindu Survey Of the Environment). He will be responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act. Mr D Sampathkumar, the Editor of Business Line, Mr R Vijayasankar, Editor of Frontline and Mr Nirmal Shekar, the Editor of Sportstar have been named as the respective editors of their newspapers and magazines and will be also responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act.

     

    The letter also states that since Mr Ram will also cease to being the publisher of the above mentioned titles, the board may pass resolution to name Mr K Balaji, the MD at KSL as the publisher and printer. This will be an interim role until the group gets a CEO who will take over these roles as applicable.

     

  • Inext had an expansive campaign, with radio, digital and print initiatives, to promote their newly launched site

    Inext, the youth-centric newspaper launches its website

    By Akash Raha

     

    Inext, the youth-centric newspaper launched its website on January 3, and is currently running the campaign ‘Iktara’. MxM got in touch with Alok Sanwal, COO and Project Head, Inext to know more.

     

    Speaking about the response of the advertisers towards the newly launched site, Mr Sanwal said: “In less than seven days of the launch of inextlive.com, we have received tremendous response from the business fraternity. We are receiving a lot of offers for grabbing a space on this youth hangout portal. We are, however, looking for advertisers that espouse youth-centric sentiments and resonate with Inext’s business philosophy.”

     

    To complement the launch of the online campaign, ‘Iktara’, which gives a platform to local folk singers to perform and make it big, was launched recently. According to Inext, the campaign has done very well in the first week. The audience has responded positively and the site has received many recorded CDs and DVDs, the best of which will be showcased on the site.

     

    Inext is now trying to focus on the resurgence of folk tradition inIndiaand capitalize on it in order to build a successful consumer connect in the four states it is present in - Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal,Biharand Jharkhand.

     

    Inext had an expansive campaign, with radio, digital and print initiatives, to promote their newly launched site. While Radio Mantra has been giving them radio coverage, Mudra Max and Vermillion have handled their digital and print initiatives respectively.

     

    Inext, the compact daily, primarily focuses on youth and is published by Jagaran Prakashan Ltd. Currently, it is available in 12 cities across four states. The paper and its newly launched website targets youths in mini metros in the age group of 13-25.

     

  • A source close to the development confirmed that the annual media spends for the year would be around Rs35 crore

    Law & Kenneth bags eBay’s creative pitch

    By Shubhangi Mehta

     

    Law & Kenneth has bagged the eBay India business. The online shopping and auctions portal had called for a pitch a few weeks back and several agencies participated in the process. Mr Anil Nair, CEO and managing partner, Law & Kenneth while acknowledging the news to MxM said: “We at Law & Kenneth are super excited to have been chosen to work with eBay, which is a pioneer in the global e-com market.” A source close to the development indicated that the annual media spends for the year would be around Rs35 crore.

     

    In the past, Wieden + Kennedy had handled the creative mandate for this account. The agency had won the business in September 2009. Though the company has utilised the traditional media route to expand its market in the past, it has taken to online marketing from 2010.

     

    It remains to be seen how Law & Kenneth will take eBay’s communication forward in 2012 across traditional and new media platforms.

     

  • Starcom Mediavest president – global operations is upbeat about his new A team in India

    Focus on making SMG India a human experience company : John Sheehy

    By Johnson Napier

     

    For the Starcom MediaVest Group in India, 2011 was a particularly testing year. Apart from the top-level exodus that the network witnessed, it was also faced with the grim task of getting its three-pillared strategy, around Insights & Analytics, Digital and Content, deliver on its targets. But the mayhem didn’t happen. With the coming in of plenty of new and experienced talent, the agency was able to fire with renewed energy, with the result that it swept a record 18 wins, the best by the agency since its inception.

     

    Showering praises, John Sheehy, President, Global Operations, Starcom MediaVest Group says that this superb growth wouldn’t have been possible without the zeal and efforts of CVL Srinivas and his team. In conversation with MxM India, Mr Sheehy talks about the growth story in India so far, on the scope of emerging markets and how digital would continue to be the core focus area for the agency in 2012. Excerpts:

     

    Q: It was claimed that SMG’s growth story in India for 2011 was way ahead of what the industry average stood at. Does that give you a sense of accomplishment or do you feel that the growth story could have been even more stellar?

    With a revenue growth that was nearly twice the industry growth rate, 2011 was a very strong year for us in India. In fact, the strongest in three years. With 18 new business wins, this team has achieved great momentum in a relatively short amount of time working together.

     

    Yet, in many ways, 2011 was a building year for SMG India, with a new management team and a fair amount of restructuring. Importantly, the team has managed to attract some of the best talent in the industry and has established a strong foundation. We are focused on human understanding and creating experiences that go well beyond a smart media strategy, and as we’ve seen throughout 2011, it’s something clients are responding to.

     

    Q: The three-pillar strategy adopted by SMG was one of the talking points, both within the agency and outside amongst industry players. How would you rate the performance of each of these verticals in 2011 — Insights & Analytics, Digital and Content?

    Our three-pillar strategy, focusing on Insights & Analytics, Digital and Content, was key to helping us reach our goals of creating a differentiated media product, attracting quality talent and growing our business at a pace faster than the market average. On each vertical front, we will continue to push Digital forward aggressively. For example, 10 percent of our revenue comes from digital which is a strong performance for this market and I fully expect that percentage to double within the next two years.

     

    In addition, we are in the process of setting up a Centre of Excellence in Analytics in India. The Global team is working closely with the Indian management and we hope to leverage our existing knowledge and observations through this center.

     

    Q: As part of the restructuring exercise that the network engaged in last year, what stood out was your emphasis on attracting experienced talent from within the industry. How would you rate the performance of the new inductees, including the chief?

    Our new chairman, CVL Srinivas, is a world-class operator, who is very strategic and very focused. He’s a talent magnet, and he has been able to attract world-class talent, including CEO Mallikarjunadas C.R.; National Digital Director Arnab Mitra and Insights & Research Director Amrit Kaur. They set an agenda that aimed to create a differentiated product, attract quality talent and grow the business at a faster rate than the market average, and achieved these aims on all counts in the year.

     

    Q: SMG winning almost two dozen clients in an otherwise dull year may be an achievement that must have surprised many. How would you quantify the many (client) wins bagged by the network?

    We won 18 businesses in 2011, many of them coming in the second half. We will realise the full impact of these wins in 2012. What was heartening to note was that the wins came from across our four offices and from both our agency brands, Starcom and MediaVest.

     

    Q: While winning clients is one way of acknowledging success of being a good network, do you feel winning awards, too, should be another benchmark for rating the network?

    It can be a part of the measure to rate a network, and we celebrate our accolades (including “Network of the Year” at the Festival of Media and the Most Awarded Network at Cannes) as ONE. Our focus globally is one of creating meaningful experiences that connect our clients and consumers through a “future-proofed” practice of content, digital communications and consumer understanding. This drives all that we do and unites us to be the best, awards and accolades are a byproduct of a world-class product.

     

    Q: How would you rate SMG India’s performance compared to the siblings across APAC, and around the world?

    We had high expectations from our team in India and they have delivered. We have had our best performance in the past three years in this market. Overall, SMG continues to do well across the globe.

     

    Q: While you’d continue to channelize resources around emerging markets, are there any new markets that you plan to explore/pursue in 2012?

    From a geographic standpoint we have a leading global footprint, consistent with the changing global consumer, our focus is expanding core capability in key growth areas, which are Analytics, Insights, Digital and Content.

     

    Q: Given the volatile economic scenario, what were the impediments that SMG had to deal with from a global standpoint?

    Many clients are still in a “watch-and-wait” mode when it comes to 2012. I can say that early predictions of 15 percent industry growth have been significantly scaled back and are in the 8-10 percent range. Regardless, based on our 2011 performance, our large client profile, diverse revenue streams and the changes we’ve made to position us for growth in 2012 and beyond, we expect our agency’s growth to surpass the industry average. While TV is still our largest area, we do hope to double the percentage of revenue coming from digital media in the next 1-2 years. Right now, I’d say we have a “measured optimistic” outlook when it comes to 2012, but the first two quarters will be very telling.

     

    Q: What according to you were the key media trends of 2011 that may redefine the way we do business in the future?

    Consumer expectations drive and define our focus, going forward. To this point we will focus on creating meaningful human experiences by leveraging our core capabilities like Insights, Data, Analytics, Content and Digital.

     

    Q: What is the vision that you have chalked out for the network in 2012?

    Moving into 2012, we will continue to build on the three-pillared strategy as we move SMG India beyond mere “media agency” offerings to becoming a Human Experience Company, which grows client business by transforming behaviour through uplifting and meaningful human experiences. In doing so, we’ll become more than an agency that simply releases advertising across a variety of channels, but as a storehouse of research and insights that can help integrate communications plans across media and non-media channels. While others in the marketplace are still working in the commodified world of planning and buying, we feel we’ve carved out a unique place to operate that’s focused on where the industry is headed, not where it’s been.

     

    John Sheehy image courtesy: Starcom MediaVest Group

     

  • Reliance Broadcast Network and CBS Studios International complement JV portfolio with dedicated international Punjabi channel

    BIG CBS goes balle-balle with Spark Punjabi

    By A Correspondent

     

    The BIG CBS, a Reliance Broadcast Network and CBS Studios International complement JV, on Tuesday announced the launch of its fourth channel, Spark Punjabi, marking its foray in regional television.

     

    The BIG CBS has already launched three channels – BIG CBS Prime, BIG CBS Love and BIG CBS Spark. The JV is the number one English entertainment network in the country.

     

    Spark Punjabi, a category creator, is positioned as the first international Punjabi channel. It will be launched on January 14. Targeting the 15+ audience, the channel will feature the best of CBS content, dubbed in Punjabi, giving local audiences immediate access to world class entertainment.

     

    The channel will be available across Punjab, Haryana,Chandigarhand Himachal Pradesh (PHCHP) region. The channel will be distributed on digital and analog platforms, with an extensive reach of over 6mn+ C&S households in the region.

     

    Spark Punjabi will air the latest seasons of international shows such as jerry Springer, Hawaii Five-O,America’s Next Top Model, Masked Warriors – an international wrestling format, amongst others, dubbed in Punjabi. The channel will also feature a judicious mix of Punjabi music, international dubbed movies and local programming in Punjabi.

     

    The PHCHP is one of the richest regions and boasts of a strong base of affluent consumers. With 78 per cent TV penetration and 88 per cent C&S penetration, coupled with limited local language entertainment options, the market offers a good business opportunity. The Rs1,200 crore advertising pie also creates an exciting opportunity for this platform.

     

    With Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd’s (RBNL) existing leading radio brand 92.7 BIG FM, reaching 22 cities in the region and its OOH arm, BIG Street’s 3000+ ambient media options across the markets, Spark Punjabi will offer marketers an integrated media opportunity like none other in the region.

     

    The channel will be supported by an integrated marketing plan leveraging multi-media. Added to this will be the media muscle of the entire Reliance Group.

     

    Tarun Katial, CEO, Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. said: “India’s booming regional television industry with limited regional entertainment options is an opportunity that we are leveraging. With our robust radio network in place, Spark Punjabi will allow a more integrated offering to marketers, while presenting audiences with the best television entertainment.”

     

    Armando Nuñez, President, CBS Studios International said: “The move into the regional market perfectly complements our existing bouquet of channels in India, utilizing existing programming resources customized to the Punjabi market and backed by Reliance’s great media assets in the region.”

     

  • It's not about coming first in class. It's about being the best and the most loved in the batch.

    The Anchor: 6 things an agency must keep in mind when pitching for a brand

    By Mahesh Chauhan

     

    #1 Individual(s): You do not pitch for a business! You pitch to win over an individual or a group of individuals. How much we know about them is as important as how much we know about their business.

     

    #2 Pitch presentation: Nothing, not even #1 will help you if you do not understand and deliver well on the brief. Read the briefing doc till every word is understood. And every delivery point covered.

     

    #3 Time-planning: Drawing up a daily plan leading up to the pitch presentation. It has to be exhaustive, inclusive and clearly assign responsibilities. Also adhered to religiously. Remember how during exams, we used to do ‘dil kada kijiye aur panna palatiye’. So if you are not ready to meet a deadline, so be it. Don’t kill the deadline!

     

    #4 The presentation: No democracy. Only as many people as required. Let the best presenter present. Let the best dancer select his best act and his accomplices. Devotees might kill me but Bob Dylan’s lyrics were the music to our ears, not his singing.

     

    #5 Till the fat lady sings: Most of us think the process gets over once the PPT is done. Well, it only gets started then. If you haven’t done well, seek ways to redress. If you have done well, kill it! As we all know, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, commentary and Shastri excluded!

     

    #6 Most importantly, it is not about coming first in class. It’s about being the best and the most loved in the batch!

     

    Mahesh Chauhan is co-founder of Salt Brand Solutions.

     

     

  • Within two days of launch, the new HFZ videos garnered over 1.5 lakh views and tremendous positive word-of-mouth on social networks.

    Airtel’s HFZ online campaign enters next phase

    By A Correspondent

     

    The youthful rendition of Airtel’s ‘Har Friend Zaroori Hai, Yaar'(HFZ) campaign and its accompanying foot-tapping friendship anthem resonated well with people of all age groups and backgrounds.

     

    On January 4, the company further extended this brand idea with the launch of its new online viral campaign on www.youtube.com/airtel and released seven entertaining videos depicting “friend types”: ‘Status Update Friend, Activist Friend and Filmi Friend and others, sourced from the online audience through an initiative on Facebook.

     

    Within two days of launch, these new HFZ videos garnered over 1.5 lakh views and tremendous positive word-of-mouth on social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

     

    As part of the next phase of this campaign, Airtel, on Tuesday, released the next leg of these in videos – which viewers will be able to access, unlock (using the concept of ‘Gamification’) and share with others on social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Upon doing so, viewers will be able to gain points on the leaderboard and stand a chance to win exciting prizes daily as well as the grand prize of a trip to Ibiza.

     

    Airtel will periodically release a total of 20 videos on the web through the month of January.

     

  • The plane is branded entirely with the Nokia Lumia colours, and also features the names of Nokia employees responsible for the marketing initiative.

    Jet Airways unveils innovative airplane wrap for Nokia Lumia

    By A Correspondent

     

    Jet Airways and Nokia unveiled their ‘The Amazing Everyday’ campaign for Nokia Lumia on January 10. The Jet Airways Boeing 737-800 will carry the Nokia Lumia brand name on the aircraft. The jet will be branded entirely with the Nokia Lumia colours. The aircraft will also features the names of Nokia employees responsible for this marketing initiative.

     

    The campaign will continue till January 31, 2012. At present, the branding has been done only on one Jet Airways aeroplane. But plans are on to have this innovative wrap on other planes too as more and more brands may want to be advertised on airplanes.

     

    It is hoped that the ad will grab more eyeballs for Jet Airways as well as Nokia Lumia. This marketing initiative is also likely to open up new revenue streams for the airline.

     

    Besides the airplane wrap, Nokia has also announced a consumer competition, ‘Spot the Lumia’ where lucky winners will get an opportunity to make it to the ‘Sky Party’ on the aircraft on January 20.

     

    In a prepared statement Manish Dureja, Vice President, Marketing, Jet Airways said, “The aircraft wrap is a virtual advertising billboard that allows you to take your brand to the skies quite literally. We are certain that Nokia will reach out to its target customers through this unique branding opportunity. We are confident that this unique media vehicle will leverage the power of innovative brand communication to a focused group of prospects and will deliver value for money to brand managers acrossIndiathat opt to take their brands to the skies in the months ahead.”

     

    Prashanth Mani, General Manager, Nokia West India said, “We have created some amazing moments for our consumers since the launch of the Nokia Lumia range through the Lumia Taxi, flashmobs, flash cricket and luxury helicopter. Now the Lumia aircraft will take the ‘amazing quotient’ of this campaign a little higher.”

     

  • The report has captured the gender and the age profiling of the remote in-charge for different one-hour slots, from 7pm to 11pm, on both weekdays and weekends.

    Who controls the remote? Ormax Media study released

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ormax Media has released a report on understanding the remote control dynamics in single TV households inIndiacalled ‘And The Remote Goes To…’

     

    This large scale syndicated study was conducted across 7 cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Indore, Lucknow, Jalandhar and Hyderabad – and with 5,547 regular prime time television viewers as respondents.

     

    The study aimed to answer the question that has obsessed the television industry: “Who controls the remote at different times?” The report has captured the gender and the age profiling of the remote in-charge for different one-hour slots, from 7pm to 11pm, on both weekdays and weekends. It has also captured the differences in the profile of the remote in-charge by markets, SEC and family size.

     

    Speaking about the study, Shailesh Kapoor, CEO, Ormax Media said: “One of the limitations of television ratings is that they don’t tell us who the decision maker is. Marketing is about talking to decision makers and influencers, not the actual consumers. In television, this reality is even more pertinent, given the nature of TV viewing inIndia– single TV households where the entire family watches TV together. In such a scenario, whom should you be talking to? A man or a woman or

    both? The youth, the newly married, the middle-aged, or all of them? What is the best time and day to attract each of these segments? This study has answered several such relevant but under-rated questions.”

     

    The report is available to broadcasters, media agencies and advertisers for a one-time subscription cost of Rs40,000. Mr Kapoor said: “This study was done to share useful data across the industry. Hence, we have priced it in a way that the entire television and media fraternity, including the smaller channels and advertisers, can use it for better understanding of their audiences.”

     

    Ormax Media isIndia’s first and only research and consulting firm specializing in the media & entertainment industry. It is also the owner of 19 proprietary research products that are being used widely across the media industry. Setup in 2008 by Vispy Doctor and Shailesh Kapoor, the company partners with 81 leading media brands, including Star India, Viacom 18, Multi Screen Media, Zee Network, Viacom 18, Times Television, Disney, Yash Raj Films, Group M, Radio City, Eros and many others.

     

  • The gala evening in Ranchi had approximately 40,000 passionate music lovers, besides 4,000 army officials, experience a thrilling performance.

    Asha Bhosle, Babul Supriyo enthral at Prabhat Khabar event

    By A Correspondent

     

    Jharkhand’s number one Hindi daily Prabhat Khabar organized musical evening “Sur Sandhya” on January 8, featuring queen of melody and versatile singer Asha Bhosle along with acclaimed playback singer Babul Supriyo.

     

    The gala evening, which was organized at Birsa Munda Football Stadium, Morabadi Ranchi, had approximately 40,000 passionate music lovers, besides 4,000 army officials experience a thrilling performance during the open-air programme.

     

    The dignitaries attending the event included the deputy chief minister, chief justice, senior army officers, ministers and IAS officials.

     

    The golden-voiced singer sang many of her best scores which left audiences and dignitaries spellbound. As the dusk fell, the audience were completely wrapped in the singer’s sensational tunes. Bhosle was ably accompanied by an all-charged up Babul Supriyo, known for his unique voice, who entertained with his famous scores.

     

  • Does my watching television as leisure activity signal my lack of intelligence or did the telly reach out and extinguish my intelligence?

    Gouri Dange: TV, that exhausting hyper child

    By Gouri Dange

     

    Someone once said: the best intelligence test is what we do with our leisure. Oh well. I watched television recently for long hours, and now I am in a dilemma. Chicken and egg kind of dilemma. Does my watching television as leisure activity signal my lack of intelligence or did the telly reach out and extinguish my intelligence, whatever little there was of it?

     

    Because now I’m walking around in a daze of altered reality. For instance, I can’t watch a bird on a tree any more and relax into the moment because, fresh from my TV-watching stint, I’m expecting it to look up and chirp and trill: “Back after this leeetle break” or “Kahin pe mat jaiyega, milte hain break ke baad!” And if earlier I could identify this bird, now I dully wonder if it’s a Crested Shahrukh, or Huffing Arnav or a Rambling Rajdeep or a Ballistic Barkha or some such. I’m also looking at the bottom of my window, searching for those meaningless headlines, or daft messages from viewers (prime example: “All da politishens shud b deported b4 this country can b clean”) crawling right-to-left while the main frame has the bird doing its thing.

     

    This is because watching television has forced me to function in the jargon, the time-slots, the sound-bites and the visual constructs of TV-land. The overwhelming features of TV seem to be advertisements repeated till you are seriously sick, promos of other programmes, and a hundred other interruptions to the programme that you want to watch. I have whined piteously about this before, but I have to say it again. Somewhere along the way TV has taken away your dignified right not to be shouted at, not to be interrupted, and not to be told-sold the same thing again and again, all in the span of half an hour. I mean, even the heart-in-the-right place ads asking youngsters to vote… even those are repeated so heavily that instead of taking their advice and voting, those youngsters that these ads are meant for are likely to run out for a drink.

     

    Only on TV. No other medium is that presumptuous. Imagine a newspaper trying to chop up a report or a feature with a print ad popping up in the reader’s eyes at every other paragraph – would you not immediately throw such a publication away, stop subscribing to it, or keep it only to wrap dirty things in? If newspapers can have ads bunched in the Classifieds or specific pages, where those interested can go and browse, while the rest of us can avoid having things sold to us, then why not TV? Guys, bunch your ads at the beginning or end of the program so there is a chance that people will go look at them.

     

    Interestingly, after 26/11 (which marked a high point in hysterical reporting), news channels, especially the English ones, have cultivated a more sober, quieter tone. Less like children having a blue fit and more like adults having a conversation. All much more sophisticated and ‘responsible’ sounding than the pre and during 26/11 manic hysteria that they were all free to luxuriate in. Something has happened. While these channels and their star yellers did at that time behave as if anyone criticizing them for the way they covered the attacks and aftermath was committing high treason, they seem to have realized that they need to come down off their high and sober up. How this was change effected overnight is an interesting speculation. Lobotomy? Daily dose of tranquilizers? Homeopathic meds in the water supply? Or perhaps a crash course in voice correction and modulation to look and sound less like avenging ghouls and more like humans. But this chatty thing too is all part of the act of ‘acting out’ the news. My grandfather, when TV first came to India, was appalled to see newsreaders smiling at the end of the newscast. He thought it was terribly forward and insolent of them to smile at viewers. Deliver us the news and disappear, was how he and people of his generation liked it. What would he make of all the banter and bonhomie act of the newsgivers today, I wonder.