MxMIndia

Tag: M K Anand.

  • Goafest will be held on May 5-7, 2022

    Times Network back as Presenting Sponsor of Goafest 2022

    By Our Staff

     

    The Goafest Organising Committee has announced that Times Network has come on board as Presenting Sponsor of Goafest 2022. Goafest will be held on May 5-7, 2022.

     

    Speaking about partnering with Goafest 2022, M K Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network said “We are truly excited that after a gap of a couple of years Goafest is coming back. And I’m sure it will be the biggest yet, considering the fact that most of us have been restrained by the pandemic all this while and are literally straining at the leash to be let out. I am particularly looking forward to the event as Times Network is once again returning as presenting sponsor of this most awaited advertising festival in South Asia.”

     

    Added Prasanth Kumar, Vice President, AAAI and CEO South Asia, Group M Media Pvt Ltd: “It is wonderful to have Times Network as presenting sponsor yet again. Goafest is a platform where great work is reflected and thought leadership is demonstrated. Having such an opportunity to be inspired and learn is incredibly valuable to all of us. We look forward to having yet another wonderful Goafest.”

     

    Said Jaideep Gandhi, Chairman, Goafest 2022 Organising Committee: “Times Network has been associated with almost every edition of Goafest from its inception, in some way or the other. It is our pleasure to welcome back Times Network as presenting sponsor in the 15th Year of the festival.”

     

     

  • In her new role, Kumar will lead the editorial mandate of the channel

    Navika Kumar named editor-in-chief of Times Now Navbharat

    By Our Staff

     

    Times Network anchor and editor Navika Kumar has been named Editor-in-Chief of its soon-to-be-launched Hindi news channel, Times Now Navbharat. In her new role, Kumar will lead the editorial mandate of the channel besides continuing in her role as Group Editor, Times Network and hosting ‘The Newshour’ @ 9 pm and the interview show ‘Frankly Speaking’ on Times Now. She will also closely work with the business and leadership teams of the network to drive the channel’s growth strategy and work towards building Times Now Navbharat to become the leader in the Hindi News category.

     

    Commenting on the development, M K Anand, MD & CEO Times Network said: “Navika has been one of our key assets since the inception of Times Now in 2005. In fact, the largest number of critical news breaks and stories that eventually went into taking Times Now to the top in the English category in spite of our then late entry into that segment has been her work. In the last four years, she has morphed into a compelling and high impact primetime presence and made her mark in that highly competitive space becoming one of the most recognised faces on Indian news primetime. Her impact led journalism helps Times Now to live up to its promise of Action Begins Here. We are thrilled at the new launch and look forward to serving Hindi audiences with our unique Action orientated journalism and believe Navika Kumar is the best suited to lead Times Now Navbharat to eventual category domination.”

     

    Navika Kumar
    Navika Kumar

    Commenting on her new role, Kumar added: “I am really excited to take on this new mantle, which marks the Network’s debut in Indian language. I look forward to working with our robust team of ace journalists, technicians and crew, to build and nurture a distinctive brand of Hindi news. With a powerful and impactful narrative, I am confident that Times Now Navbhart will bring the much-needed paradigm shift in the Hindi news category and will set the course for superior news coverage.”

     

  • The Board also elected Anuradha Prasad Shukla, Chairperson-cum-Managing Director – News24 as Vice President and M K Anand, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer – Times Network as Honorary Treasurer of the NBA for the year 2020-2021

    Rajat Sharma re-elected NBA President

    By A Correspondent

     

    Rajat Sharma

    News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has re-elected Rajat Sharma as its President. At the NBA board meeting held on Thursday, members unanimously asked Rajat Sharma, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, India TV to continue as President.  The Board also elected Anuradha Prasad Shukla, Chairperson-cum-Managing Director – News24 as Vice President and M K Anand, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer – Times Network as Honorary Treasurer of the NBA for the year 2020-2021.

     

    The other members on the NBA Board are: –

    M.V. Shreyams Kumar, Managing Director – Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd.

     

    Rahul Joshi, Managing Director – TV18 Broadcast Ltd.

     

    Avinash Pandey, Chief Executive Officer – ABP Network Pvt. Ltd.

     

    Venkat, Director – Eenadu Television Pvt. Ltd.

     

    Kalli Purie Bhandal, Vice-Chairperson & Managing Director – TV Today Network Ltd.

     

    Sonia Singh, Editorial Director, NDTV – New Delhi Television Ltd.

     

    Sudhir Chaudhary, Chief Executive Officer – Cluster 1 – Zee Media Corporation Ltd.

     

     

  • The Times Network MD & CEO speaks on how despite much scepticism about the channel, it’s been a huge success

    M K Anand on a year of Mirror Now

     

    It’s been a little over a year since Times Network rechristened Magic Bricks Now as an all-new non-political issues-based news channel called Mirror Now. MxMIndia caught up with M K Anand, the Times Network MD &CEO, who spoke of how despite much scepticism about the channel, it’s been a huge success

     

    It’s been a little over a year since Mirror Now launched. Have you achieved what you had set out to?            

    We are quite on the target. On the ball in terms of what we decided to achieve and in certain areas I think we have done little better what we had intended. I think it’s all on the dot… whatever we wanted to achieve — in terms of reach, performance or in terms of availability and the P/L itself, the positioning, the imagery. Absolutely on the dot.

     

    If you had to give it a score on 10 in terms of what you had to set out to achieve in the first year, what would it be?

    I think it would be 10/10. I normally wouldn’t give myself a 10 on 10. I would give a 7 or 8 but it was a very eventful year on the category. English news was dormant for a long time. With us losing our lead anchor and then a very, very aggressive assault on the Times Now leadership was a major event for us and the industry. English news has not really seen so much of action in the times I have seen. In the middle of that, Mirror Now got launched as a completely independent activity.

     

    Right.

    And because of the super success of the Times Now format over the last 7,8,10 years everybody had slowly started doing the same format. The same colours, tone and aggression and the debate format in the evening. If you put all the four channels that I am talking about –  Times Now, CNN, India Today, NDTV news to some extent.

     

    You didn’t mention Republic.

    I am talking about the discussion much before its launch when Mirror Now was conceptualised in my head. If one looked at all the channels then, you wouldn’t be able to identify them. You would be watching the same news. The same tone. And the same viewpoint on the news. That is the time I said when everybody is carrying, say, news on Jayalalithaathen in a country of 1.3 billion there will surely be some other news of the day. So if there was a bridge fall somewhere or a major accident or a jewelry heist, the fact that the sixth channel is carrying that makes me want to see that. My point was only that. My first assumption was if I give something else on the screen. Now I can’t do that something else saying that my channel position is that you look at all the channel and decide to do something. That cannot be and I need to react. I will give a story to it. Not to the consumer but to the creators themselves.

     

    Are you saying that you never intended Mirror Now to be a flanking channel?

    No, no. It was never a flanking channel. It just coincidentally happened to be launch at the time it did. The channel was being discussed when the earlier editorial head was there who had a point of view on it. And that was that the expenditure will be too much. Why do it?  My point was that Times Now is capable of doing more but a single feed is too narrow.  Because at the time when I am showing you this. I cannot show you that. That was the whole idea. At a certain level, my idea was can I have five Times Nows. Like there are four Star Sports. Can I have Times Now 1,2,3,4,5? I finally came out with a different branding and I agree with the branding. Honestly I would love to have 1,2,3,4,5. One could be doing defence-based news. Another foreign policy news.  And one more business, city and crime. At the current tech level, this is too expensive. But it originally came with that as a thought.

     

    Hmmm.

    So I would say for me, we’ve achieved a 10/10 because I am thoroughly thrilled at the idea that it will be something that put Indians first where Times Now was putting India first

     

    How are you doing in terms of revenues?

    I’m happy to note we are absolutely on the dot. So whatever we have asked for investments we have been able to contain ourselves in that.

     

    There is a sentiment that Mirror Now as a channel is attempting to compete with the #3, 4 and 5. But the objective of any channel should be to be the No 1. Is that at all there?

    You are right. I mean. Let us put this way. At a network level, it’s my ambition that in the English space that if you were to take all the English channels including the business category. I would love it if I have 60%. That’s a big number. Obviously I have no illusions for Times Now from 33% it is not going to grow back now to 40%, it’s a very, very complicated [marketplace]. If anything, it can sort of degenerate by 1 or 2% to settle at 30%. But I genuinely believe that Mirror Now has got to where it hasWe have not put any inorganic growth stimulants to this. It’s a very base marketing where we are around here.

     

    You have not spent too much on marketing it, but for the ads in Times and ET and some outdoor.

    That’s what I am saying. I think that delta remains. The other thing because we started with 21 people in the team. An average English news team anywhere across the country will be about 200-250…

     

    Editorial?

    Yes, we started off with a small team of 21. Right now, I think we are in the range of 70 and they are delivering what is required of them. I have just about approved an expansion…

     

    While Times Now grew to what it did over the years, you suffered much because of your main anchor quitting in late 2016. With Mirror Now too, while Faye D’Souza has grown in stature and is very good and popular, until recently she was the only ‘face’ on the channel. Pardon my saying so, but aren’t you creating another larger than life anchor who, if she decides to quit suddenly, could land you in trouble?

    Yes, people are assets at first and become liabilities if they quit. That is why you know we are in such a difficult category. English broadcasting is a lot more difficult than average broadcasting. Soam I looking at them as liabilities that we created?Yes, at the front anchor level and brand level association beyond a point, I will not disagree that a certain safeguard that we could have taken earlier on. Which we didn’t take in the case of the first one. But are we creating that deliberately? No we are not? Did we create that first part deliberately? I don’t think so. Were we able to sort of take the first step and walk as if nothing has happened. Yes I think we have. Has Times Now suffered as a brand? No. The team has not withered. All the senior people are all here. Did our reach go down? Did our marketshare go down. No. Yes, it did go from 43 to 33% but that is expected when there is a big marketing activity – an aggressive marketing activity that is happening. But, yes, certain safeguards could have been taken.

     

    To get back to my question: in terms of Faye, have you created, if I am may say, another monster? Or another Arnab?

    No.

     

    But what she quits tomorrow?While I do not have data for the few days that she wasn’t on air recently, but is that a fear that exists?

    Not at all a fear. In reality, where internal tracks as the anchors go. The top anchor inside this building is Tanvi [Shukla]. Higher than all the other anchors including Faye and from a viewership point of view and appeal point of view. I think the greatest learning that all of us have had… I would not say learning, discovery that we had that if your brand is true to what it starts then that’s the reason why I don’t have to do marketing. Even Times Now, if you see. Yes, there was ground war. But marketing wise have we gone overboard? No. I have basically harped on one single that’s at a media level your media, my media. I believe that a media brand with a tagline and staying true to the tag line is the best. It mitigates all such issues. So action begins here is the mantra that you are supposed to deliver.

     

    You did have the ads in Times….

    That is more of somebody claiming that you know by dicing and cutting data by saying No. 1, we have to sort of use the media.

     

    So going ahead, what do we see?

    What I want to say is I don’t believe in using noisy, media-based marketing to build a brand. I believe in arriving in the right position. An honest-to-god position which the creative team, the production team, the creative team accepts and imbibes. For example, Rise with India. ET Now. Ever since we have done it, if you meet Sandeep he started dressing like you. He would otherwise dress in ties, shirts, suits sometimes. He’s changed because Rise with India has become a passion with that. That we will do things to ensure that theIndia grows story is. We pull out all the stops in that. If I am able to come up with ideally a three-word [descriptor]. That’s the target to myself. A three-word description with India in it. So Times Now internal description is India first. India top front. India First. Other things. India will not. There are a certain bunch of followers who say that other things are fine, let’s not talk opposite of India. Same thing with Faye, Indians First. They define the ‘you first’ under the brand. Indians First. So she knows what to say what not to say. She knows what story to take. What not to take. There is no fight between the editors. Similarly with ‘Rise with India’. So what I am saying is that brand definition mitigates the fear of the lead actor going. I think we are running a movie like Spiderman or James Bond. We are very happy that Daniel Craig is fantastic but he gets shot, falls off a cliff and dies. James Bond is not going to go. But the values that James Bond espouses is intact in a process which we obviously we know that it will take time for the new one to get tickled in the same manner. So for six months or one year.

     

    What next for Mirror Now?

    I think the target between Faye and me and the marketing team is to organically build it to a place where it is No 2. That’s why I said about people coming in. We launched it with a lot of I would say it scepticism in the system. I launched it practically with just support from upstairs. One or two people only. Otherwise most of the people said don’t do it and given another channel launching. I said let us do it. So now we have sort of found it is larger than what it is.

     

    When do you hope to be No2. In the next one year?

    I would say it is part of our plan. Honestly it’s not part of our business plan. But that is the next thing. I think if you talk to Faye she will say yes. I don’t want to say that and put pressure.

     

    You said No. 2 in terms of channel viewership. In terms of revenue how do you think it will do.

    Revenue follows leadership with a lag, if I could say at least few quarters. If you become No. 2 in revenue directly like for instance NDTV is no.4 or 5 for a long time. But in a lot of markets they are No 2 in revenue. In a lot of categories. So that way viewership and revenue don’t really go hand in hand so I can’t say that because we have created this, this is going to be doubled up our business. It is going to be almost equal types. No such thing. It is a difficult category. English news is not you know like English newspapers which is like a 2 billion category which is at a billion dollars I think. I wish it was that way but it’s going to be I would say if it gets to half the size of Times Now with its financial you know, footprint.

     

     

  • The English news channel commits itself to "help Indians align with the nation's growth wave and make the most of opportunities"

    ET Now to move beyond business in the nightlies

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Network has announced that its business news channel ET Now will now go beyond regular stockmarket and business news in the nightlies.

     

    Commenting on the occasion, M K Anand, MD & CEO, TIMES NETWORK said, “ET Now has consistently led the business news category and is a frontrunner amongst English news channels. I think we are perfectly poised to evolve from just competitive leadership to purpose-driven leadership. As a channel and brand, I believe we can do much more than what we have been doing so far. It is now our aim to become the driver and catalyst for India’s growth and in making sure that Indians benefit from  that growth.”

     

    Commenting on the occasion, Sandeep Gurumurthi, Managing Editor, ET NOW said, “For ET NOW, this movement is historic. As media entities, besides generating value for our stakeholders, our responsibility is to inform, engage, educate and inspire our viewers. Today every Indian has a strong belief in India’s promising future, more than their own and India’s growth story is not a single story but strongly shaped and influenced by economics, politics, governance and technology et al. We want to empower our viewers with this all-round knowledge which will enable them to see the opportunities around and help them hitch their success to India’s.”

     

    MxMIndia wasn’t present at the roundtable held to announce the new initiative. So we leaned on an Economic Times report for some additional info. And this is what it noted: “A brand-new flagship show, India Development Debate (IDD) at 9 pm on week days, will laud progress and question anyone and anything that denies Indians the chance to Rise With India.“

     

    Now given the aggressive and most often adversarial role that flagship Times Now adopts, the fact that the proposed 9pm show will “question anyone and anything that denies Indians the chance to Rise With India” could well mean more debates and noise every night.

     

  • In his previous assignment, Charles was leading the digital business at NDTV Convergence as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

    Times Network appoints Shouneel Charles as Senior VP – Digital

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Network has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Shouneel Charles as its Senior Vice President – Digital. Based out of Mumbai, he will report to CEO and MD M K Anand.

     

    Said Anand: “I am pleased to welcome Shouneel to Times Network. We look forward to scaling heights and claiming our rightful position as a strong digital media company with this induction and other senior level interventions that we plan. Given his experience in digital media, marketing and advertising, we are confident that we will be able to better engage with the new media market.’’

  • In his previous assignment, Charles was leading the digital business at NDTV Convergence as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

    Times Network appoints Shouneel Charles as Senior VP – Digital

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Network has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Shouneel Charles as its Senior Vice President – Digital. Based out of Mumbai, he will report to CEO and MD M K Anand.

     

    Said Anand: “I am pleased to welcome Shouneel to Times Network. We look forward to scaling heights and claiming our rightful position as a strong digital media company with this induction and other senior level interventions that we plan. Given his experience in digital media, marketing and advertising, we are confident that we will be able to better engage with the new media market.’’

  • Acharya Balkrishna of Patanjali was the star speaker of Day 1 which also saw the presenting of the Media and Publisher Abby

    Day 1 @ Goafest: It’s celebration time

    L to R: Ashish Bhasin, Nakul Chopra, Ramesh Narayan and Raj Nayak

     

    It’s Goafest and while the knowledge sessions, masterclasses and awards, are on offer, it’s the networking and meeting old friends and making new that people look forward to. And in the spirit of things, the inauguration happened with champagne.

     

    The four heads of the organising committee – Ashish Bhasin, Ramesh Narayan, Raj Nayak and Nakul Chopra – appeared delighted that the event took off sans any hitches. Day 1 of the festival saw the Industry conclave with Archarya Balkrishna of Patanjali Ayurved being the star attraction. Other speakers included UpasanaTaku of Mobikwik and Hemant Malik of ITC Limited. The Media and Publisher Abbys were presented in the evening.

     

    Speaking about the event, Nakul Chopra, President –  Advertising Agencies Association of India said, “Twelve years ago, Goafest began as an event for people from the world of advertising to get together to network and celebrate quality work. Today, it gives me immense pleasure to see how this festival has grown into becoming one of the foremost events in the creative calendar. It’s extremely encouraging for us to see so many young people participating in the event with such enthusiasm – and not just attending the Abbys but also showing immense amount of interest in the varied seminars that we have lined up this year. The quality of work that has been felicitated today just goes to show how India has today become a tour de force when it comes to creative thinking. If the scene on day one is anything to go by, I’m pretty sure the next two days are going to be just as exciting with some exemplary speakers taking the stage and some must attend seminars taking place.”

     

    Added Raj Nayak – President, The Advertising Club: “Goafest is the world’s largest industry event in the advertising industry – organized by two industry bodies coming together. In the true sense, it is an event by Indians, for Indians and completely made in India. This year, we had over 300 jurors from across the country coming together to judge the entries for which awards will be presented over these three days of the event…with almost 112 of them judging tonight’s Media and Publishing Abbys. Goafest, when it started was only a creative awards ceremony. However, today, in its twelfth edition, it has become a festival of knowledge, wisdom, entertainment, fun and a great networking opportunity.”

     

    Elaborating upon the event, Ashish Bhasin, Chairman, Goafest 2017 said: “With changing times, Goafest has also evolved. For the first time Goafest is going green in part by getting the delegates visiting the event to conserve water and taking other baby steps to our bit for the environment. This year we have heavily subsidized entry to let more and more young people to attend the event. It is extremely exciting for us to see so many young people participating in the event and appreciating the changes we have brought in. Curious young minds are keen to attend seminars and talks by interesting speakers this year. Day 1 has been such a huge success. We can only see this getting better and better over the next two days.”

     

    Said Ramesh Narayan, Chairman of the Awards Governing Council of Goafest 2017: “The atmosphere at Goafest is always filled with excitement, camaraderie and a whole lot of fun. And this year is no different. It is absolutely heartening to see members of the advertising and marketing fraternity sending in some wonderful entries this year which have kept the jury on their toes. Judging any award is a difficult process and more so when you’re pitting one excellent entry against another. All I can say is, all the winners tonight are truly deserving of the honours that have been bestowed upon them. Judging by the level of excitement today, I’m sure that the next two days are going to be absolutely spectacular.”

     

    Karan Bajaj kicked off the Discovery Channel presents Industry Conclave on the topic ‘Role of brands in changing India’. “The brands that we experience in this room have a deeper impact on our lives than we realise. I’m happy to be in a roomful of people who are impacting people and lives,” he said. The UpasanaTaku, Co-Founder MobiKwik, came on stage to talk about demonetisation, the growth of digital payments and powering 55 million users and 1.4 million retailers in India. “Brands have played a role in transforming India. Consumer choice drives brands, and brands have the power to transform an entire country. 86% of India’s spending is cash. It’s a massive amount of money that moves in an unaccounted manner. I truly believe it’s the era of mobile wallets, and won’t deny that demonetization has sped up the journey,” she said.There was much anticipation for the session by Hemant Malik, Divisional Chairman of ITC’s Food Business, who also spoke about e-commerce and digitisation, while acknowledging the evolution of Goafest. “We are the only carbon positive company in the world.”

     

    But the session that everyone waited for was by Acharya Balkrishna, CEO and MD, Patanjali.  “If you learn to applaud yourself sometimes, the world will learn to applaud you,” he said. “The nation is ours, the children are ours, the life is ours. We must take care of it ourselves. Always remember, for the world India is just a market place; for us it’s our home,” he said.

     

    Earlier, the ceremonial lamp was lit by M K Anand, MD & CEO Times Network, Piyush Sharma, CEO New initiatives India Zee Entertainment India, Karan Bajaj, Senior Vice President & General Manager, South Asia, Discovery Networks, Asia Pacific, and Nagesh Alai other than Nayak, Chopra, Bhasin and Narayan.

     

    Click here for slideshow

     

    Media – Abby 2017 | Publishers – Abby 2017

     

  • The confirmation of the resignation leaves more questions than answers

    It’s final. We won’t see Arnab on Times Now wef next month

    The Amul topical ad released last week on Arnab Goswami going off Times Now

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    For almost a week, Times Network, the television broadcast arm of Bennett Coleman & Company Limited (better known as The Times of India group) chose to stay mum on the resignation of its editor-in-chief and president-news Arnab Goswami. Given that he’s larger than life, and decidedly the most influential face on news television – across languages, India indeed wanted to know about what was up at the Times Now HQ.

     

    But that’s a question only Goswami is allowed to ask. No one –  never ever – can ask this of the channel that puts people in the dock and if they choose not to accept the invite to be on the nightly inquisition, an empty chair is put on camera. Get humiliated if you are on air, and face the same barrage of insults even if you choose to stay away.

     

    All that was fine when Arnab Goswami when the channel grew into its own in early 2008. He had started asking the tough questions then, and the November 26 terror siege ensured that he never looked back. He marshaled his team from the newsroom, and did it so very well. News was not just about reportage, he proved. It was also about studio discussions and debates. Make a spectacle of the 9pm news, if you want to fight the viewership pull of general entertainment channels.

     

    While Times Now is where Goswami concentrated his energies, he has also been incharge of ET Now and Magicbricks Now. According to a communiqué, he will stay on with Times Network till the latter half of this month (Nov 2016) and will continue anchoring the flagship show Newshour till then.

     

    The parting appears to be amicable.

     

    Sample this: M K Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network: “Times Network cherishes the decade long association it had with Arnab. We are sure he will do well in his next endeavor and our good wishes are with him.”

     

    Arnab Goswami: “It’s been an exciting ride at Times Network. We have changed the way news is done and I have worked with fantastic professionals in this journey. To these professionals, I dedicate the success of the last decade as I look forward now to the future”

     

    But not everyone is sure. Senior journalist and MxMIndia columnist Ranjona Banerji writes on MxMIndia today: There is bombastic power on camera and there is velvet-glove-iron-fist power off camera.

     

    Could there have been differences between Goswami and Vineet Jain, Managing Director of BCCL that led to the star editor’s exit? Even if he wasn’t asked to go, did the climate get as difficult to breathe in as Delhi is today?

     

    We won’t know the real reason in a hurry. But, the question that’s now being asked by many is: Where will Arnab go? Who are his mystery backers? Will he (and his new home base) be able to gain the same ratings as Times Now?

     

    And then: will Times Now be able to retain supremacy sans Arnab Goswami? Will it pull in a Rajdeep Sardesai or Barkha Dutt to take charge of its primetime or will it, like CNN-IBN has done with some success, put up lesser knowns on air and grow them. After all, Arnab Goswami wasn’t among the Top 3 English general news anchors until a decade back. That slot was occupied by Rajdeep, Barkha and Prannoy Roy. Arnab belonged to the next line with Vikram Chandra and Sonia Singh Verma.

     

    What will also be important to see is whether Times Now continues with the same brand of news presentation. Ask the tough questions, take sides and almost always damn all those who don’t agree with its views.

     

    Arnab Goswami will be off air from some time in the latter half of this month. Time will tell what happens next. For now, he will continue to be on Times Now.

     

    Clearly, the confirmation of the resignation, has left us with more questions than answers.

     

  • Here's what a cross-section of industry persons said on the Union Budget from the M&E standpoint

    What they say about Budget 2016-17

     

    Here’s what a cross-section of industrypersons said on the Union Budget from the M&E standpoint

     

    Rakesh Jariwala, Partner & Head – M&E Tax Advisory – India, EY (Ernst & Young)

    “As part of the budget proposals, India has levied an equalisation levy – what is known as ‘google tax’ globally. The tax @ 6% of the consideration will apply on services relating to online advertisement, provisions on online ad space or other facility or services for the purpose of online advertisement, when such services are provided by a non-resident to either an Indian resident or a non-resident having a permanent establishment in India. The payer for these services are required to deduct 6% prior to making the payment. This is the first time that online services are being taxed in India.”

     

    Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18, and Chairman, National Media and Entertainment Committee, CII:

    “Kudos to the government for presenting a disciplined and inclusive budget. The emphasis on rural development and commitment to the fiscal deficit target augur well for the economy in the long-run. The proposal for a more conducive excise duty regime for STBs and other ‘entertainment-access devices’ is welcome. While many of us from the industry were anticipating more sector-specific announcements, I’m sure that this budget will benefit the larger economy and therefore, by extension, have a positive impact on our industry as well.”

     

    Ashish Bhasin’s (Chairman & CEO South Asia – Dentsu Aegis Network and Chairman Posterscope & MKTG – Asia Pacific):

    “Overall there are some positives and some negatives in the Budget. On the positive side, not increasing the service tax is a positive, particularly for the advertising and media sector. General expectation was that Service Tax may go up in anticipation of higher GST rates. Controlling the fiscal deficit and several steps to invigorate the rural economy and rural consumption are positive signals. A rural consumption revival will help the economy and the advertising and media sector tremendously. On the negative side, there was an expectation, based on what the Finance Minister said in the past, that corporate tax rates would come down. That is not to be so for most large companies. Introducing double taxation on dividends  is also a negative.  In balance this seems to me to be a mixed bag budget with a positive bias. If it is able to spur overall economic growth, we could see good times ahead for the advertising and media sector.”

     

    M K Anand, MD & CEO Times Network

    “Digitisation, in my opinion is the most important factor for the Broadcast sector currently, we are very happy about the excise duty changes proposed for Set Top boxes which will help in the last mile infrastructure of DAS 3 and 4. Overall a stable and positive fiscal situation is good for the economy and that will support our Ad Sales growth projections. All in all Budget 2016 looks good for the Broadcast sector.

     

    Vivek Gambhir, Managing Director, GCPL:

    “Overall, this is a responsible “Rural First” Budget that attempts to revive demand, while continuing on the path of fiscal consolidation. For the FMCG sector, initiatives to support the revival of rural and urban consumption should help bring growth back on track. Focused efforts on alleviating rural distress and uplifting the agrarian economy, will help put more money in the hands of farmers. Statutory backing of the Aadhar scheme will ensure more targeted delivery of benefits to those who need it. The need of the hour is job creation and focusing on skilling and education to make people more employable. The implementation of transformative reforms, like the GST, at the earliest, are however imperative to fast track economic growth and boost consumer confidence. Given the Government’s intent to stick to its path of fiscal consolidation, we look forward to an interest rate cut or more liquidity in the system to drive private capital investment. Going forward, given the plethora of schemes that have been announced, it will be important to deliver on the promises made through effective on-the-ground execution.

     

    Sanjay Sethi, CEO, Shopclues.com

    “Finance Minister Mr Arun Jaitley has certainly made several important announcements for start-ups in his Union Budget speech. We are pleased that a sizeable sum has been allocated for ventures founded by women entrepreneurs and members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. This is a great step towards empowerment and inclusive growth for those communities that have hitherto found less representation in business. The fact that start-ups will get 100% tax exemption for three years  out of 5 years  and long terms capital gain for unlisted companies has been reduced from 3 years to 2 years will also be a great boost to the economy and will aid in creation of jobs. However, we do believe that overall a lot more impetus could have been given to the start-up ecosystem through this budget.”

     

    Sanjeev Gupta, MD, Global Advertisers:.

    “We are glad that there is no increase in taxes. Since the government is said to be pro-development and has allotted significant money for the rural infrastructure, railways and road development, we think it’s a positive sign for our future. We are also seeing great potential in expanding our reach to small cities now. The finance minister has also hinted at amending motor vehicles act for better transportation facility in the country. This may give us the opportunity to position our ads more effectively while on the move. We feel that in this critical economic condition, the budget has been so far satisfactory for the advertising industry.

     

  • Urban Development minister M Venkaiah Naidu launches real estate and property business news channel – Magicbricks Now

    Times property channel ‘Magicbricks Now’ to launch on Nov 1

    By A Correspondent

     

    The real estate business is said to on a low. Don’t get fooled by those big ads in the papers. Apartments aren’t selling as well as they should. But that hasn’t deterred Times Network to launch what is being billed as an “unbiased, trustworthy and authoritative perspective on the property business and will help its viewers ‘Be Un-Confused’ about the sector.

     

    This is tough to believe given that the Times group has pioneered offerings like Medianet which deals with editorial space in certain sections of the group’s publications being sold like advertising. Even discerning and values-driven business groups have embraced the cash-for-content innovation. In the light of this, it will be interesting to say how much the new channel will ward off the pulls and pressures of advertisers, and still offer unbiased and trustworthy content.

     

    While Minister Venkaiah Naidu said good things about the Times group and on the need for a property channel, here’s what others from the network said.

     

    Note: MxMIndia wasn’t present for the event held in Delhi, though we were invited to it. The invitation had the name of Editor-in-Chief and President – News Arnab Goswami, but the communiqué we received doesn’t bear his quote.

     

    M K Anand

    This is part of the quote from M K Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network:, “Magicbricks Now has been launched to guide the consumer through the complex and seemingly intimidating world of real-estate transactions.  While real estate is of paramount importance in the life of every Indian, equally, the space is full of complexities, jargon and confusion.  Magicbricks Now will provide unbiased, trustworthy and the most authoritative perspectives on the property business to help the consumer ‘Be un-confused’.”

     

    Faye D’Souza Editor, Magicbricks Now, said: “Magicbricks Now is here with a singular focus – on the end-consumer. Magicbricks Now will offer a rich array of programs that range from News bulletins to property hotlines, debates, leadership insights and more.”

     

    Sudhir Pai, CEO, Magicbricks.com added: “Magicbricks is delighted to be a part of this initiative with the Times Network. Our endeavour has always been to make our brand ubiquitous across media so as to provide consumers with rich and in-depth information when it comes to matters of property. With this association we leverage the visual appeal of television to communicate our rich data and analytics in an easy-to-consume manner for the consumer. With this launch, we strengthen the offering and make ourselves available at every touch point to consumers.”

     

    It may be remembered that Magicbricks.com is the popular online property transaction portal set up by the Times group.

     

    Meanwhile, the channel has has partnered has got on board Lotus Greens Developers Private Ltd and Mantri Developers Pvt.Ltd, as key sponsors from Day One.

     

  • The new channel will be a unique destination for content and information on the property market

    Times Network launches 24-hr real estate channel ‘Property Now’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Network, the broadcast arm of India’s largest media house Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. announced the launch of India’s first 24X7 realty and property news channel, ‘Property Now’. The announcement was made by M K Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network at the inaugural session of FICCI’s The Big 5 Construct India 2015 held in Mumbai recently.

     

    Announcing the launch of Property Now, M. K. Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network said, “The Real Estate & Construction industry is a key contributor to the Indian economy today. Poised for an unprecedented growth boosted by the Government’s Smart city and housing-for-all projects, the sector commands investments from over 60 per cent of Indian Household Savings. We felt the industry needs a cohesive and powerful platform, where all the stakeholders can exchange their views, communicate with each other, influence the policymakers for the up gradation of the sector and better the life of the common man. Hence, we are delighted to announce the launch of Times Network’s 24-hours dedicated Real Estate and Property channel – Property Now. The channel will aim to address all needs related to real estate, property and infrastructure.”

     

    The new channel will be a unique destination for content and information on the property market, offering viewers unbiased information that makes the home-buying process simpler and more efficient. The channel will be a combination of news, debates, advice and analysis on real estate and allied aspects focusing not only on the buying decision but also on interiors and home improvement. The channel’s mandate is to provide relevant content and accurate information on the real estate market, home loans, the tax and legal aspects of buying a home and as well as advice on home décor in all price brackets.

     

    Faye D’Souza, Editor, Real Estate and Personal Finance, ET Now, while discussing the programming of Property Now, shared, “The channel will have news bulletins that will share the industry and pricing trends and put into perspective any development happening on the day. It will have debates wherein we will get guests who are accountable to the customers to come and talk about what’s happening in this segment. There will be a show wherein viewers can call and address their queries related to properties, and panellists will be demystifying those queries. Besides, there will be features on various subjects like how to decorate your house, how to make it safe for a child etc. The channel will have a broad spectrum of content related to legality of buying properties, financing related to properties, and so on.”

     

    Distributed pan-India, the channel is targeted towards 1mn+ markets initially. In phases, it will reach the target markets currently being served by ET Now. Property Now is expected to grow further because the subject is of interest to a larger set of audience as it will cater to investors, property buyers, builders and infrastructure industry et al.

     

    The channel will be helmed by Faye D’Souza who is also the Editor – Personal Finance & Real Estate, ET NOW and comes with a wealth of experience in the sector. President-News Times Network, Arnab Goswami will guide the new channel and lead the editorial team.