MxMIndia

Tag: Bennett

  • I am not sure how legally tenable the complaint is, but in my limited view, it was unethical, writes Pradyuman Maheshwari

    Mediaah!: Is BCCL right in registering a copyright infringement complaint against Arnab Goswami?

    By Pradyuman Maheshwari

     

    Is Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL) right in registering a copyright infringement complaint against Arnab Goswami? Yes, it is. I am not sure how legally tenable the complaint is, but in my limited view, it was unethical. When the story was first aired on Republic TV on May 8, one couldn’t help sitting up and take notice. But then along with the various questions that Goswami raised in his ‘super exclusive’, there were some questions that I had.

     

    The Economic Times report (Page 3, May 17, Mumbai edition)

    See report in Economic Times on the complaint: link

    In fact, I tweeted about it (see link).

    The fact that it was only retweeted twice indicates that copyright and editorial ethics aren’t considered very critical and holy to many (or most?) in India. Copyright, it’s often joked, is the right to copy!

    But this isn’t about copyright. That’s something for Times Network owners to take up with the Courts.

    It’s an issue of ethics.

    The recordings of the conversation between Prema Sridevi, the reporter and Shashi Tharoor or Sunanda Pushkar’s Man Friday was done when the reporter reportedly worked with Times Now. Unless her terms expressly stated it, or she was just a freelancer with the channel, the recordings belong to work done when the reporter was an employee.I am not sure what is the legal view on it, but it’s not ethical.

    I am not even raising issues of why Goswami and Sridevi, now Editor-News at Repulic,  didn’t air the recording when they were in Times Now, but that’s not really my concern though it’s a question that must be answered.

    The Nation wants to know…

     

    **

     

    All eyes are now on the BARC India numbers that will be out tomorrow (Thursday, May 18). Given all the promotions and distribution via multiple frequencies, it’s quite likely that Republic will be #1, but the question is that it’s not a play over one week. Republic can’t be spending so much monies on distribution as it’s today, so the real story will emerge after a few weeks when it opts of taking multiple frequencies.

    To Goswami’s credit, his equity with viewers is huger than all the other anchors. The MxMIndia-MRSSINDIA poll earlier this week indicated that Rajdeep Sardesai is a close second and not a distant one in the trust factor, but it’s for India Today to use this to their advantage. Possibly promote Sardesai a little more.

    We’re going to see some interesting times over the next few weeks or months. And we aren’t complaining

     

    Pradyuman Maheshwari is Editor-in-Chief and founder, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own.

     

  • Nitin, in his career spanning close to two decades has worked in designing brand campaign, media planning, building statutory audit/ legal frameworks and strategic alliances

    Nitin Alawadhi appointed National Sales Head at LIVE Viacom 18

    By A Correspondent

     

    Viacom18 has announced the appointment of Nitin Alawadhi as the National Head, Sales, LIVE Viacom18. In his new role, Nitin will spearhead the business development team to drive revenues and build a strong clientele across India.

     

    Launched in 2013, LIVE Viacom18 creates large format event IPs such as Vh1 Supersonic, MTV Bollyland, Emerge, MTV Indies Extreme and MTV Indies SPIRO along with International award formats like MTV Video Music Awards India (VMAI), Kids Choice Awards, et al.

     

    Nitin joins LIVE Viacom18 from Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd. (BCCL) where he spearheaded the Integrated Brand Communications and Experiential marketing divisions. With dual management degrees in Marketing and International Trade Management from CMD and NMIMS, Nitin, in his career spanning close to two decades has worked in designing brand campaign, media planning, building statutory audit/ legal frameworks and strategic alliances.

     

    Speaking about Nitin’s appointment, Jaideep Singh, Sr. Vice President and Business Head- LIVE Viacom18, says, “Nitin’s experience in successfully driving revenues for the Integrated Brand Communications and Experiential marketing platform will add a great value to the LIVE division at Viacom18. The experience and caliber is apt to be leading a dynamic and ever aggressive brand like ours that is always in a transition for better compliance with market needs.”

     

  • Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd (The Times of India group) bagged three Golds, three Silvers and one Bronze metal at the Publisher Abby category of the Creative Awards

    BCCL scores maximum metals at Publisher Abby

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Publishers Abby category of the Creative Awards at Goafest 2015 may have got a lukewarm response from the print players  – some of who have in fact partnered Goafest in the form of sponsorship, but it’s a sound beginning nevertheless and in an industry where there aren’t too many awards for print publishers, this could well see growth in forthcoming years.

     

    There were 62 entries in all from across 10 publishers and 17 metals were awarded. There were four Golds, six Silvers and seven Bronze metals.

     

    Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd (The Times of India group) bagged three Golds, three Silvers and one Bronze. The Dainik Jagran group followed by one Gold, two Silvers and one Bronze. Lokmat bagged one Silver while HT Media and Chitralekha bagged two Bronze metals each. The Dainik Bhaskar group bagged one Bronze. Among the publisher brands, The Times of India scored the maximum.

     

     

  • Taproot was the creative agency for the film and the brief from BCCL to the agency was clear: "To continue to portray Mumbai Mirror as a fearless voice of the common citizen of Mumbai."

    Baddies turn scared in Taproot’s new film for Mumbai Mirror

    By A Correspondent

     

    After having made waves and won some critical acclaim (and many awards), Mumbai Mirror has unveiled an all-new television commercial. (Link: http://youtu.be/2iTWJiEeCuI)

     

    So what’s the insight behind this campaign, we asked Rahul Kansal, Executive President, Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited. “Criminals and corrupt people have got away with impunity in India for way too long,” he said, adding: “The average citizen is impatient to bring an end to this impunity. We decided to show these bad elements in  society being finally brought to book, thanks to the fearless exposes done by Mumbai Mirror.”

     

    Fundamentally, this film is actually saying the same thing as the first film, said Mr Kansal. “However, its totally inverted the prism through which the story is being told. The last time around, we showed it from the point of view of the citizen, who had been hurt by the system and was fighting back. Now we are showing it from the point of the ‘baddies’, who are running scared.”

     

    Taproot was the creative agency for the film and the brief from BCCL to the agency was clear: “To continue to portray Mumbai Mirror as a fearless voice of the common citizen of Mumbai.”

     

    Client: BCCL:  Rahul Kansal, Sandeep Singh Arora, Amiteshwar Kukreja, Pooja Bala and Sana Arora

    Agency: Taproot: Umesh Shrikhande, Santosh Padhi/Agnello Dias – Chief Creative Officers

    Production House: Ramesh Deo Production (RDP)

    Writer: Agnello Dias

    Director: Abhinay Deo

    Music: Ram Sampath

    Producer: Apurba Sengupta

    Cinematographer: Kartik Vijay

     

  • While it's confirmed that Sunil Lulla has decided to move on from BCCL, there is no confirm to the buzz in adland that he's joining Grey

    Sunil Lulla heading Grey-wards?

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sunil Lulla

    Is Sunil Lulla heading to WPP agency Grey? The buzz in adland says he is, though there are no official announcements as yet.

     

    Sunil Lulla, President – Corporate Development Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited, has decided to move on, a development he has confirmed. Mr Lulla has spent around nine years in at Times TV Television. Earlier this year, he moved to the Corporate Development role, when MK Anand took charge as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Times Television Network.

     

  • Bennett, Coleman and Co Ltd was among the four regional winners in the International News Media Association (INMA) Global Innovation Awards for 2014

    BCCL wins INMA Global Innovation Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Bennett, Coleman and Co Ltd was among the four regional winners in the International News Media Association (INMA) Global Innovation Awards announced in Dallas,USA. The competition rewards excellence in media company innovation programmes. A global winner will be announced on May 13 at the INMA World Congress in San Francisco.

     

    The other regional Global Innovation Awards recipients were Gannett, US; Fairfax Media, Australia and MittMedia, Sweden.

     

    The Best in South Asia accolade went to BCCL for its entry on “Transforming Print Media Sales Culture Through Technology.” The sales culture transformation programme looked at ending silo selling, more efficient pricing, driving agility and creating a climate of accountability, and data-driven selling. The programme included intense effort at changing the internal culture to one that encourages efficiency, agility, and accountability.

     

    From these four regional winners, a global award recipient will be unveiled at the closing dinner of the INMA World Congress May 13 in San Francisco. Regional winners’ innovation programmes will be presented at the World Congress and awards formally presented.

     

    The INMA Global Innovation Awards are designed to shine a spotlight on the fast-emerging structured innovation programmes of media companies seeking new foundations in transformational times.

     

    “With this new competition, INMA wants to reward the people, programmes, and processes behind the emerging innovation culture in the media industry – the foundations upon which novel ideas are being launched at a rapid rate,” said Earl J Wilkinson, executive director and CEO of INMA. “We want to reward media companies that are mastering the art of innovating routinely.”

     

  • After the successful start of the One India scheme for advertising, a special scheme is being planned for paid content of lifestyle parties and brands by some of the leading newspaper brands

    HT, TOI, others ink deal to start ‘One India Medianett’?

    By A Special Conespondent

     

    New Delhi, April 1, 2014: In a move that has been welcomed by several brands and party organisers, it is learnt from reliable sources that newspapers like Bennett, Coleman and Co Ltd and HT Media Ltd are getting together on a special project.

     

    It may be recalled that since 2005, the year when DNA was launched as were Mumbai Mirror and HT’s Mumbai edition, the two New Delhi-headquartered news media groups have got together on various projects. The HT’s print facility has been used by TOI. Then there’s a no poaching agreement between the two organisations so if an HT journalist had to join TOI, there would have to be interim employer in between. HT ads have appeared in TOI and vice versa. So while there is intense competition on the ad sales and editiorial front, there’s friendship too.

     

    Last week, HT Media and a few other top newspaper brands like Hindu and ABP got together to launch One India (not to be confused with the website company run by BG Mahesh and majority-owned by Rajesh Jain, now affiliated to the BJP). Many media planners, buyers thought it was a brilliant idea with pedigreed B-school graduates several thousand crores of adspend budgets appreciating the innovation of these media managers to create a pull for print.

     

    Buoyed by the success of this initiative, the high priests at a leading newspaper group had a whirlpool of an idea. Why not look at a combined deal for paid-for, promotional content.  Feelers were sent to competition, and after some reservations, a deal was struck so as to attract advertisers and individuals who appear on the party pages without paying. A formula has been hammered out, and the feature is likely to be announced soon.  This will be done at a tony nightspot in Mumbai and Delhi and will be held at no cost to the media organisations in question as the costs will be offset against free content space in the papers.

    For details, click here.

     

  • The second phase of the campaign was launched a few days back with a two-minute TVC, digital and print advertising and exhibitions which will draw people to understand the problem and donate

    Taproot launches second phase of TOI campaign on farmer suicides

    By A Correspondent

     

    Taproot India has released the second part of the farmer suicides campaign it has created for The Times of India.  The awareness campaign began in April last year with an exhibition, traffic to which was driven by a print and outdoor campaign. As part of that communication, 12 portraits of dead farmers were created using dry, burnt hay. These portraits were displayed and auctioned and the proceeds from each portrait were given to the families of the deceased.

     

    “The objective of this campaign is to raise awareness of this issue so that steps are taken to support the farmers. In addition the campaign will also attempt to provide an alternative source of income  to the farmers families that have been affected,” said Rahul Kansal, Executive Director, Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd, the publishers of The Times of India.

     

    Rahul Kansal

    Given the response to the initial phase, the second phase of the campaign was launched a few days back a two-minute TVC, which is also a part of a digital campaign that got implemented around the same time. Webchutney is the digital agency. Along with the television message, hoardings have been planned in different cities, starting with Mumbai. Followed by a print campaign and a second round of exhibition planned at Feb end in Nagpur, The whole agenda of the campaign is to have more and more people wake up to the issue and generate sufficient funds for the hugely affected farmer community, notes a communiqué.

     

    Santosh Padhi

    “One Indian farmer committing suicide every 30 minutes is indeed a shocking piece of news. Our attempt is to make people realise the seriousness of the issue and request people to donate or spread the message. The more we spread the message the higher our chances of saving a few lives,” said Santosh Padhi, Chief Creative Officer and Co-founder, Taproot India.

     

    All proceeds go towards helping the community learn alternative means of livelihood and to support the families of the bereaved. The initiative has been carried out with support from Samaj Sevak Charitable Trust, an NGO working for the same cause, thereby ensuring the funds reach those rightfully in need. The initiative has also gained support from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to ensure effective implementation of all its programmes.

     

    “India’s economic strength comes from the farmers and all that they produce. Close to 60 percent of people are still directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. For centuries, the entire nation has been heavily reliant on the farmers. So it’s only right that now when they are suffering, we try and do everything from donations to awareness programs to ease their pain and put an end to their sufferings,” said Vivek Khilare, Secretary and Divisional Head, Samaj Sevak Trust, Mumbai

     

  • According to source, the former Disney UTV MD-Media Networks will take charge of Times Television from Sunil Lulla who will move to a new role, possibly in the MD's office

    M K Anand to head Times Television, Sunil Lulla to head to BCCL in new role: Sources

    By A Correspondent

     

    M K Anand
    Sunil Lulla

    M K Anand, until last month Managing Director, Media Networks at Disney UTV is set to be joining Times Television as its head, according to our sources. Sunil Lulla, currently Managing Director and CEO, is reportedly moving into parent Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd (BCCL) in a new role, possibly as part of the Managing Director’s office.

     

    Although Mr Anand’s moveback to Times has been in the grapevine ever since he announced his departure from Disney UTV last month, neither of the movements have been confirmed by BCCL or Times Television. MxMIndia has learnt of these from reliable sources.

     

    The appointments are likely to be effective February 3, 2014. Mr Anand has worked with The Times of India group for 19 years, first with print for 14 years and later with the television business as VP for Zoom from 2004-09. He moved to lead UTV Software as CEO and see through the acquisition by Disney as well as the transition to Disney UTV.

     

  • There are many who think that the show was a success and will eventually lead to some change as evolutions don't happen overnight

    End of Season 1 of Satyamev Jayate: The good, the bad and the ugly truths of life

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    In the past 13 weeks, one show has done what no other show has been able to in a long time – get people face-to-face with the ugly truths of our society. Aamir Khan’s television debut, Satyamev Jayate, was the most-talked about show even months before it was aired. It was touted to revolutionize the Sunday morning slot on the Indian television.

     

    From the very first episode till its last episode on July 29, the show was able to create a lot of buzz. People shared their views on the social ills the show highlighted on social networking sites. The news channels and newspapers carried expert views and opinions on the show. It didn’t back down from highlighting the fact that a country of one billion lives like ostriches when it comes to taking action against such evils.

     

    However, inspite of all the hue and cry, one question still remains on everyone’s mind: was it really effective?

     

    MxMIndia spoke to industry experts, journalists and even activists after the show was aired on May 6 and almost all of them gave it thumbs up. Now that the show has ended, we got in touch with the same people to know their opinions…

     

    TRP: the only yardstick?

    Chandradeep Mitra

    For any channel and show, the TRPs it gets are the yardstick at which its popularity is measured on. Star India’s Satyamev Jayate which premiered across nine channels – Star Plus, Star Pravah, DD National, ETV, Star Utsav, Vijay, Star Jalsha, Star World & Asianet – got a rating of an average 4 TVR for the CS4+ in the Hindi speaking markets and an average of 4.9 TVR for the All 4+, according to the TAM viewership data. But, as the weeks rolled on, the ratings dipped.

     

    Many, however, feel that such shows cannot be measured by TRPs as they are much bigger than that. “For a show like this, ratings alone cannot be the yardstick. One must not forget that the it was a non-entertainment show and was aired on Sunday mornings.  For a slot and content like that, the show did very good,” said Chandradeep Mitra, managing partner, Anvention.

     

    Anil Sathiraju

    He added: “We must look at the social impact it created and I’m sure it will remain in people’s memories for a long time. Apart from the buzz created on social networking sites and getting eyeballs, I’m sure now companies will also increase their CSR activities as it highlighted the work done by a few.”

     

    Similarly, Anil Sathiraju, Head – south, Mudra Max Media, too feels that content and impact are more important than the ratings: “What the show has done to the morning slot is evident enough, that it made people sit up and take notice. And I’m sure now most channels, including Star, will want to revive the slot and come up with shows which will not make the slot redundant.”

     

    Sundeep Nagpal

    The show wasn’t developed and promoted for TRPs, said Sundeep Nagpal, founder director, Stratagem Media. “It was applicable for the masses and not many shows of such genre have been created. Hence, it would be wrong to judge it on the ratings…it’s much more than that. It bought out the issues which are prevalent but under the surface. For example how many of us in Mumbai knew about Khap panchayats? The show is a turning point in the Indian television history.”

     

    The much-hyped show even went on to charge an exorbitant amount for the 10-second advertisement slot which was sold at thrice the usual rates. “For an advertiser, the show was the best medium to reach its audiences. For the first time, a show was created, which in turn created two new stakes – timeslot and a new category of a show. So, many didn’t hesitate in paying that extra for the quality they were getting in return,” explained Llyod Mathias, director GreenBean Ventures and former CMO of Tata Teleservices and Motorola.

     

    Aamir Khan vs Content

    Anita Nayyar

    According to the media planner, Anita Nayyar, who is moving back to her former agency Havas from Bennett, Coleman & Company (BCCL) by August, initially the show got the hype only because it was anchored by the actor and the fact that the concept of the show was well hidden. However, for a show like Satyamev Jayate, it’s the content which plays a bigger role.

     

    “Satyamev Jayate is a socially relevant show and in the beginning, I think, it did mobilize people. However, in between it lost its public appeal. And I’m not surprised as such shows only appeal to a certain section of the society. Hence, it wasn’t even able to garner the TRPs it deserved,” said Ms Nayyar.

     

    She explained that though the show was anchored by a popular actor like Aamir Khan there was a gap between enlightenment and mobilization. “The show was supposed to mobilize people, but it was only able to highlight the evils which we all know exist. Nonetheless, it was a good show.”

     

    Voicing the same opinion, Sarla Bijapurkar, sociologist, believes that if one has to score Aamir Khan vis-a-vis the content of the show, Aamir would win. “Public memory is very short and everything will be lost if there is no follow-up. For instance, take the episode where diktats of Khap panchayats were highlighted. Has anything changed? No, we still have such bodies making people’s lives miserable. Sometimes, when one hears or reads about such instances, it makes you wonder if we, as a society, take two steps backward for every one step taken forward.”

     

    “For me, the show will only mean something if it is able to do a follow-up on the issues highlighted. Also, instead of raising a new issue every time, I think, they should have focused on fewer and discussed about different dimensions related to a particular issue. Maybe, then it would have been able to brought about a change,” said Ms Bijapurkar.

     

    Waiting for a change…

    Ranjona Banerji

    However, there are many who think that the show was a success and was able to do more than just generate public interest and will eventually lead to some change as evolutions don’t happen overnight.

     

    Ranjona Banerji, a senior journalist and contributing editor, MxMIndia, feels that the show did justice to the concept though there were a few dodges like the show being too emotional, sometimes. The first two episodes – female foeticide and child sexual abuse – were able to create a lot of public interest. “Apart from these two episodes, the episodes which moved me were the ones on disability and senior citizens. The show did the work of a journalist and was even able to answer a few questions. Hopefully, they’ll tweak the show a little bit and come up with a second season – better and stronger.”

     

  • Deepak Lamba's rise to President of Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited is phenomenal and inspirational to young media professionals

    The Rise and Rise of Deepak Lamba

    By A Correspondent

     

    When MxMIndia broke the story of Deepak Lamba joining Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited as President, the news spread like wildfire (see link http://www.mxmindia.com/2012/06/first-on-mxm-deepak-lamba-joins-bccl-as-president/). As it spread amongst media circles, it was decidedly the most read story on MxMIndia over the weekend.

     

    Mr Lamba is one of the youngest professionals in Indian media to occupy the position of President of a large Indian media conglomerate like The Times of India group.

     

    Until end-April, Mr Lamba was with Bloomberg UTV as business head. He made a sudden exit with no indicator of his next port of call. Except that it was to be with a leading media corporation with diverse interests.

     

    Although Mr Lamba was not available for comment and nor was it officially announced at BCCL until Friday evening, MxMIndia learns that did join the company on June 1. There is no word on his portfolio except that he is likely to be heading a few new ventures that the group proposes to enter. MxMIndia also learns that the proposed venture may not be in television, the business he has been working with at Bloomberg UTV and MTV, though there may be some linkages.

     

    Mr Lamba’s rise and rise has been phenomenal and is in fact inspirational to those without any godfathers in the business and/or no Ivy League education. A student of Pune’s premier St Bishop’s School later the Wadia College, he did his MBA from the Pune University thereafter. He was business head of Bloomberg UTV from January 2010 to April 2012 and prior to that was Director – Viacom Brand Solutions and worked with MTV India for five years.

     

  • Former Bloomberg UTV business head Deepak Lamba joins The Times of India group as President

    First on MxM! Deepak Lamba joins BCCL as President

    By A Correspondent

     

    Deepak Lamba who had moved on from Bloomberg UTV as business head in end-April has joined Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited as President.

     

    Although Mr Lamba was not available for comment and nor has it officially been announced at BCCL, MxMIndia learns that he has joined BCCL today. He is likely to be heading a few new ventures that the group proposes to enter.

     

    Mr Lamba was business head of Bloomberg UTV from January 2010 to April 2012 and prior to that was Director – Viacom Brand Solutions and worked with MTV India for five years.