Tag: Dr Bhaskar Das

Given his worldview of things, we thought it would be good to ask him this question. Without any further ado, here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the January 3 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. Your predictions for Calendar Year 2023?

A. I am not a crystal grazing expert. So, predicting is not one of my strengths. Having said that, I must admit that some things won’t change:

a) Russian and Chinese efforts to alter the current global power balance would not vanish any time soon. It has its impact, directly or indirectly, on our lives in some form of other, as we are all connected, whether we like to believe or not,

b) there would be a difference trend/ movement towards ‘LEFT’  worldwide as the bottom of the pyramid are smarting under the growing gap between the super rich and poor and inequitable distribution of wealth,

c) state surveillance would increase,

d) GDPR kind of regulations for data and consumer privacy would grow to control the hegemony of the tech giants,

d) Trust deficit amongst consumers would deepen. So organisations have to earn it on a sustained basis,

e) Green consciousness would go beyond lip service,

f) there would be more work and less jobs,

g) moonlighting/ side hustle would not have pejorative connotations, but conditions would apply,

h) ChatGPT would gain wider acceptance (new challenges for freelancers),

i) more AI assistants could manage our life,

j) streaming/ OTT and Connected TV would further fragment the viewing habits of consumers,

k) periodic health scare would happen due to climatic and lifestyle habits,

l) sports in India would expand beyond cricket,

m) Life-long learning would not be a cliche anymore: surrender or perish

n) the new women workforce would break many stereotypes of male dominance in jobs and finally,

o) consumer activism would gain momentum and that would compel corporates to act more responsibly.

Disclaimer: these are an individual’s perceptions and can’t be taken as gospel truth

It’s not just a Friday question… it’s the last question of the calendar year. Without any further ado, here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the December 30 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. On this the second-last day of the year, with the threat of a recession and a possible pandemic looming large, your sentiments?

A. I have a mixed feeling- I want to say goodbye to 2022 with all its volatilities- adverse or otherwise- and welcome 2023 with lots of optimism. But in a dark corner of my mind, a cautious optimist warns me that the chaos isn’t going to be over. Too many issues of the past year would spill over to the new year too, as time doesn’t understand the difference between December 31 and January 1. Time only flows relentlessly and we as custodians of the times, albeit temporarily, get hide bound by the myopia of self-interest and the short-term. Unless with a magic wand the geopolitical tension would vanish from the world for recreation of a new balance of power, or the health scare would wither away, or climate change with its catastrophic impact would be a thing of the past, or recession would be replaced by prudent fiscal and economic policies to have a balanced global economy etc etc. There are other issues too like the increasing global divide of the super- rich and the poor, the rise of hyper-sensitive nationalism and state surveillance.

The above are all realities and I pray that as temporary occupants of the earth, we get authentic leadership to reverse all the dystopian thoughts that are coming to our minds evaporate and we move towards a more empathetic, compassionate and sustainable world for our promising future.

We thought we could provoke him into an answer on this one, but he’s actually philosophised on it, and set us thinking. Well, here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the December 29 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. As the year comes to an end, a question: when you watch a news channel on TV do you think the news is politically balanced? Or is imbalance the new normal?

A. Imbalance can also be a new balance. See, balance or imbalance is a state of mind, depending on which prism one observes a news item. It is difficult to define absolute neutrality or absolute balance as in the age of all-pervading social media, nano opinions also have followers. If you have doubts about it, check the current experiences of Elon Musk, a self-described free speech absolutist, is getting increasingly concerned by left-wing scolds. So, I feel free speech isn’t the problem. The problem is with listening. No one wants to listen to another perspective. It’s my way or highway. A basic tenet of democracy is hospitality to a multiplicity of perspectives and tolerance to an opposable mind (not opposing mind for sure). Hence, I feel form your perspective by evaluating facts from your perspective and maintain your balance. Don’t seek balance from outside sources. That’s a loss of your independence.

We thought we could provoke him into a naughty answer one last time this year, but then you can’t do that with our Wizard with Word. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the December 28 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. Clearly the merger of Sony & Zee nearly coming through is the standout event of 2022. But anything in the business of entertainment that was the highlight of the year for you?

A. The merger of Zee and Sony is itself a harbinger of changing times in terms of coopetition and collaboration. It’s a fact that the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) category has been facing some challenge (may read as churn) in viewership in major markets mainly due to the prolonged Covid-induced lockdown that had forced most people to remain indoors. It has changed the consumption habits due to lack of fresh content. But that’s history, hopefully. Now, the upward trend of consumption thorough Connected TV and OTT streaming (not to forget the revised NTO regime) could pose some fragmentation of viewing habits. I am sure that in terms of sheer numbers, in the Indian context, Linear TV would still win the day and for some time both would coexist. At the same time, the strategists of GEC channels have to remember the arrival of Gen Z and penetration of 5G along with increasing penetration of smartphones could pose a different consumption behaviour amongst the audience. Don’t forget, only paranoids survive.

When you ask a question like this, you are asking for a trouble. But our Wizard with Words was thankfully not too unkind to us. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the December 27 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. MxMIndia’s ‘Mediaperson of the Year 2022’ saw a no-show. As in, no one from the Indian advertising and media was found to be suitable for the title. You agree?

A. You could’ve been a tad lenient. In an age of ambient pessimism emanating from global and local forces, some sunny side up (however hyperbolic) news can uplift the spirits of the players of the game. You can always revisit your decision. See how The Economist has chosen Ukraine as the country of the year for its heroism against an aggressor. Come to think of it, the media industry has shown exceptional resilience in the face of a variety of challenges for the last two years. And the award can go to….  But I am not the Boss.

The question is self-explanatory, so let’s dive straight in to what Dr Bhaskar Das writes in the December 26 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. So the Roys have exited NDTV. We’ve asked you questions on NDTV in the past, but now that it’s a done deal, do you see the network scaling new highs? Or…?

A. I am not a futurologist. So can’t predict with authenticity about how consumers would respond to a genre, when they have plethora of choices.

Over the years, I have observed that news as a genre is an insignificant per cent of the overall viewership of TV audience, but they attract disproportionate attention due to their topicality. With more than 400 news channels (including regional languages), the whole genre appear to be heterogeneously homogeneous with different levels of stridency and polarisation on issues. The war of winning TRPs (though largely inconsequential for media planning and buying but useful for rate negotiation), have intensified the competitive spirit to outcompete other channels in terms of breaking stories. Hence one channel scaling new heights (I don’t know what it means because I am not a journalist) might be quite a challenge. But if the new management of NDTV can achieve that, it would be a great service to the genre and good for the news viewers.

It’s a Friday question, and, yes, we must confess, that we were a little disappointed that we’ve lost out on a holiday. But, heck, 2023 is full of Super Weekend possibilities, so there is, yes, some cheer ahead on that front. Here’s the December 23 edition of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. How do you react when when a holiday like Christmas falls on a Sunday? Given that it’s a loss of a holiday…

A. During my school days, I used to think like that. But it doesn’t matter as I find the occasion is important for celebration and not that, one gets it on a Sunday or not. The year-end festive spirits start from Christmas itself and they spill over till the end of the year. So a loss of a holiday is inconsequential.

I am conscious that the human dil maange more and the mind craves for one more day of mirth and merriment. But one can’t change day of the calendar or a festival day. So why bother?

The question is self-explanatory, and the answer is nice, detailed and pragmatic. As always. Here’s the December 22 edition of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. With a global recession a near-reality, what should Indian media organisations be doing?

A. Even if the winter of global recession is a hot topic of discussion ( and would be a reality too), I believe in de- averaging a general trend. This implies that countries, industry sectors and individual companies could buck the trend. What would work is focus, discipline of thought (read strategy), execution, corporate culture et al have to be attuned to the new reality.

A dose of paranoia would not be bad. Conserving resources and reduction of wastages would be an imperative. Chasing a mindless turnover would be a vanity, profit will be considered sanity but cash would be a reality.

I am a believer of the India growth story and in the synchronisation of economic and fiscal policy of the country. Hence, India would be able to withstand the global headwinds better. But India Inc needs to be ambidextrous about balancing both microscopic and telescopic approaches to strategy formulation, specially legacy companies who need to change with continuity and work closely with startups as a  complementary ecosystem for innovation, demand simulation and supply side economics. A tall ask, but why waste a possible drought?

We thought we could get our Wizard with Words a provocative reply, but no such luck. Without any further ado, the December 21 edition of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. It’s said that 80% of celeb endorsements featured movie stars. Does this say anything about the popularity of all other celebs?

A. The logic of endorsement (at least in India) is that celebs/ influencers are shortlisted on the basis of their popularity and followers. In India, film and cricket get maximum following and advertisers follow that. I don’t want to enter into any debate whether it’s right or wrong, but that’s the current dominant mindset. There are many exceptions where brands use the common man as protagonist for their brand communication. Yes, they are more exceptions than the rule. Nothing succeeds like success (the current approach must be working for brand custodians) and the marketers can’t probably distribute endorsements, socialistically, just for a cause.

We don’t quite know what Musk will do next, but it’s not going to be easy to replace Twitter. We asked Dr Bhaskar Das a question on Spell nevertheless. Here’s the December 20 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. Some former Twitter employees are planning a rival app called Spill. Worth embracing when launched or should one just wait and watch?

A. Competition is always good and I am not expecting the new player would spill the beans, but would create new and improved experience for the social media handle in sync with user expectations and experience.

It is one thing to say that Spill would be the platform that will cater to the “culture drivers” and also serve as a refuge for creators from Black Twitter, and it’s another thing to deliver it. I am sure other ex-Twitter employees would conceive of such platforms as there is a market for it though business model would always be an issue.

I feel you need not wait and watch. If the platform satisfies your need/ want, you can be an innovator or an early adopter, as per the diffusion curve theory.

If there was one reason why we wanted Argentina to win, it was Messi’s artistry. We asked Dr Bhaskar Das a question for his view on the final for December 19 edition of Das ka Dum, and here it is. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

Q. After so many questions around the FIFA World Cup, we couldn’t not have asked you this final one. On the Final. Deserving victory for Argentina?

A. The FIFA World Cup final this year was really like what an ideal final match ought to be. While both teams played well, someone has to win. Hence I feel Argentina was a deserving winner. France recovered exceptionally well after being down two goals. They recovered from that setback, and how!

But Messi was the difference. The way he galvanised his team to a common and unifying purpose. My guess is that they wanted to give the legend a fitting tribute. It can be something else also. But a shared PURPOSE can elevate any team’s commitment to an orbit-shifting performance. Don’t forget Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in the first match. Yesterday, Argentina‘a aggression from the beginning was noticeable. France became a different team in the second half and they recovered from their first half setback. They deserve kudos for that.

You may recall that my emotional prediction about Argentina being the world champion during the initial days of the FIFA , has come to be true. It was a fluke but I wanted it to happen for the craftsman and legend that Messi is.