Tag: Dr Bhaskar Das

We don’t know why we asked this question, because the last thing one can ask for from our Wizard with Words is to offer a naughty response on a subject like this. But since we asked, here’s the answer. So here’s Dr Bhaskar Das with his response in the September 23 edition of Das ka Dum. Here goes…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. If you had the opportunity to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday last week, what would you say to him (other than Happy Birthday of course)?

A. The first wish for our PM is that you are not getting older. You are getting better. So, I wish you make India better, stronger and inclusive, as you have been trying to do.

Did you know that the Royal Challengers were comprehensively defeated in Match #2 of IPL 2021-Part 2. Ditto a day earlier when CSK beat MI. So we asked Dr Bhaskar Das for his views for the September 20 edition of Das ka Dum. Here goes…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. Not much excitement about IPL 2021 Part 2.  What’s your view? Too early to say anything?

A. It’s too early to announce (since the first match took place on August 19) that there is not much excitement. India’s love for cricket, especially the short format, is well-known. It might appear to you that since the matches are taking place in Dubai, the local buzz is missing and hence the interest is less.  Please don’t forget that there was a hiatus between the first part of IPL 2021 and the second one. In spite of that, I am confident as the matches progress, interest levels would go up.

We couldn’t have not asked this question. So let’s get the views of Dr Bhaskar Das in the September 20 edition of Das ka Dum.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. The new Cadbury Dairy Milk cricket ad has been much discussed over the weekend? Would you say we should just treat this as another ad or a reflection of a new order in Indian society

A. First, I loved the rebooting of the 1990’s iconic advertisement but in a different and in an inclusive and current context of women’s performance in many sports categories including cricket. Secondly, it’s too much to consider one advertisement as the harbinger of a new order in Indian society. The intention is certainly in the right direction but is has be a credo for all who are not only in Marcom industry but at every level of society. The benefits of adopting this approach of cheering and empowering women could improve societal productivity significantly.

We couldn’t not ask this question. So we asked Dr Bhaskar Das for his views for the September 16 edition of Das ka Dum. Here’s what he says.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. It’s nearly a year since BARC stopped releasing detailed data for news channels. As someone who has always valued the importance of audience measurement, do you think it’s time news returns on BARC’s weekly roster?

A. Any macro environment volatility is normal and temporary (spiritually) like any other happenings. So, one shouldn’t attribute any motive to it. In the age of data-driven business/marketing decision-making , thanks to quantum computing and AI/ML-led predictive analytics and programmatic media buying, audience measurements (news or others) are bound to resume. I am an incorrigible optimist. After all it’s good for all concerned players.

When the response is as long as the question, you know how clear our Wizard with Words is about an issue. So let’s read what Dr Bhaskar Das says on the subject in the September 15 edition of Das ka Dum. Coincidentally it’s  International Day of Democracy today.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. Is it right for employers to have rules impacting the freedom of speech of their staff? Like one can’t retweet a post or story by a competing channel or platform?

A. The issue isn’t about freedom of speech only. It’s about simultaneous ownership of responsibility for all comments. If one’s individual comments affect the larger organisational interest, a modicum of circumspection seems legit.

We asked the question not as a tease, but on a serious note. For, in a world where English magazine media has been steadily going down under, the acquisition of MW was indeed a surprise. Here’s what Dr Bhaskar Das feels on the issue in the September 14 edition of Das ka Dum.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. What’s your view on Sajan Raj Kurup buying the MW, publishers of Man’s World and Rolling Stone India, two very niche magazines?

A. The strategic intent of an organisation is often not visible to an outsider as one gets trapped into a myopia of core competence. I am sure Mr Kurup has his growth strategy in mind. And it’s quite possible that he has not just acquired two titles for an entry into media space. Rather I feel he has acquired two significant market access points in text, audio, video and experiential routes (in a format-neutral way). Both the access points have significant monetisation prospect. And for a creative boutique powerhouse like Mr Kurup’s, I feel it would also embellish his core business and enhance the overall  competence of the organisation.

We start the week with a development of the previous week. So we asked Dr Bhaskar Das what he felt on the issue for the September 13 edition of Das ka Dum.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. What’s your view on Viacom18’s big bang entry into sports with FIFA 2022. Sports broadcasting is such a rights-oriented game…

A. it makes enormous business sense. Viacom 18 has started building a robust sports portfolio specially with the rights of FIFA World Cup 2022 and other media rights of Serie A, La Liga ATP masters, Abu Dhabi T10 cricket etc. Sports can have huge audience stickiness in a country of huge young population. Enlargement of footprint in sports would also cross-pollinate other categories of entertainment channels of the group. So net-net: purrrfect decision.

We couldn’t not have asked our Wizard with Words this question. Let’s hear it from Dr Bhaskar Das in the September 9 edition of Das ka Dum.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. MxMIndia completes 10 years today, September 9. As the seniormost member of the MxM family of writers, any tips for us for the next 10?

A. Take fresh guard as it happens in cricket. Please don’t rest on your laurels. Plan for a future backwards strategic evaluation. Answer questions like how would your operating environment look like in 2031? What skills and capabilities would be relevant to run your business? At this stage, you might have to jettison many present practices, unlearn antiquated processes and acquire new capabilities in sync with the unfolding realities of future. As they say, the best way to predict future is to create it. So, dream with open eyes and construct staircase to reach your manzil.

It’s a soft question as we get set for the Ganapati festival. So let’s hear it from Dr Bhaskar Das in the September 8 edition of Das ka Dum.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. Soon ‘Sukhkarta Dukhharta’ will be chanted across the country given the Ganesha festival. According to you, for the A&M profession (and professional), what is that can bring in ‘sukh’ and drive away all ‘dukh’?

A. The answer to your question is subsumed in the term ‘Sukhkarta Dukhharta’. Ganesha would support humesha all enterprises which are enterprising. He removes all obstacles to success. Faith is everything. Even if failure happens, it would be temporary so long as we have unflinching faith in god. Nothing makes M&E industry happy other than planning and executing great creative solutions to any business and generate enough revenue for business viability, without ignoring responsibility to the society which provides sustenance to the business.

We believe that industry associations in the A&M&E space need to have a good presence of younger, under-40s. But that doesn’t happen, even though everyone appreciates the need for young blood. So we asked Dr Bhaskar Das the question for the September 7 edition of Das ka Dum.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. Just out of curiosity: What can one do to attract younger, newer faces to assume the leadership of industry associations?

A. Are you referring to younger audience or young audience? Younger is a relative term depending on with whom you are comparing. The latter refers to Gen Z or Generation Alpha (post-2000 born).

I shall respond in the context of the latter. First, one has to view the world from the prism of this generation (an outside-in perspective through social listening). But every industry association has defined expectations to deliver. So how does one balance the urgent and the emergent? How does an association execute transformation with continuity? One solution could be to create a shadow cabinet (as in the UK) which works in tandem with the homosapiens of the industry. Where wisdom of experience and youth join hands in ushering in an insurgent mind in an incumbent body. It needs an inclusive mind and readiness to transform.

This is an aside he made in a Facebook post over the weekend. So we asked the question. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the September 6 edition of Das ka Dum.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. We noticed you using the term ‘revenge socialisation’ in a social media post recently. Is it for real… given that people haven’t been able to socialise for months, and now want to meet up, as if there’s no tomorrow?

A. Yes, I meant it as I came out for an industry marquee event after more than 18 months. But it was responsible socialisation and not an irresponsible act. It was followed by all the members of the community.

I can’t help some indicative gyaan on the subject: The term ‘socialisation’ refers to a general process, but it generally takes place in a specific context. Socialisation is  also culturally specific. People in different cultures are socialised heterogeneously.  Sociologists have always been trying  to understand socialisation, but they do not get judgmental on different approaches  of socialisation as good or bad. They study practices of socialisation to determine why people behave the way that they do. In this case also, I used the term without any judgment and reconfirmed responsible socialisation by the marcom industry. Please don’t see any deeper strategic agenda.

A serious question on a Friday. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the September 3 edition of Das ka Dum.

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. If a media company wants to invest in radio to complete its presence in all media, what would you advise? Of course, it’s a hot domain to be in? Or, if you have extra money, why don’t you give it to me?

A. In the unfolded media and entertainment space, any uni-format-led investment decision is fraught with risk. The media business needs to be based on how a particular media consumed by its users in a format-neutral way. Hence it needs to encompass text, audio, video and experiential spaces. While the dominant pattern of calibration needs to be horizontal, the execution can be vertical. Any format skewed decision can stymie monetisation prospect for business sustainability.