MxMIndia

Tag: MK Anand

  • Meanwhile, Times Now scraps Magicbricks Now, unveils Mirror Now

    NewsWar2017 Round#1: ‘David’ Arnab Goswami takes on ‘Goliath’ Times Now, Newshour-ishtyle!

     

    By A Correspondent

    It was mixed set of emotions for the folks at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Ballroom 1 and 2 at the venue of the 18th edition of FICCI-Frames was packed to the aisles. There was some place to stand, but just about. As almost everyone gravitated towards this hall, the other venues weren’t as packed at sessions being held simultaneously or immediately after this one.

    Around four months after having exited primetime news on television in the country, ArnabGoswami is still a star. And as much of a crowdpuller as a Bollywood or sports biggie.

    And on Wednesday noon, Goswami thundered. Like he’s known for. Theatrics that the nation loves him for. Except this time around, he appeared to have a lot more people rooting for him. For, Goswami has turned entrepreneur.

    In a country which loves to champion the underdog, see a chaiwallah turn into Prime Minister, a modest investor outpace some of the biggest, the media and entertainment fraternity in attendance were happy to see Goswami evangelising his craft.

    Interestingly, it was also the day, when Goswami’s former employer, fired its first salvo in its #AttackArnab offensive. The hashtagging is our doing, in Newshour-ishtyle. So Magicbricks Now which seemed to be going nowhere in revenues and ratings, has been dumped and rechristened Metro Now. For a while, the real estate channel has been been airing metro-centric news, and talking heads-led nightly debates.

    So let’s get back to what Goswami said, around a month before unveiling his all-new news channel-led platform: Republic. By hiring former armyman Major Gaurav Arya, he has clearly indicated that he will continue his ‘My heart bleeds for India’ offensive every evening.

    Speaking at the FICCI-Frames 2017, Arnab thundered: “Those who will understand the hidden script – because I don’t mince my words- will understand what I am saying today: This is a David Vs Goliath fight,” he said. And then paused and smiled at the audience before continuing.

    “And I stand here before you proudly to say Goliath has tried to crush me and already failed. Because you can’t crush a thought. David thought on his feet, Goliath did not. David had the speed and David out-thought Goliath. I want to tell Goliath today: Come, out-think me, if you can,” he added.

    “I have with me a bunch of Davids. Davids have emerged on their own. And they want to shackle the Davids. Because a bunch of Davids free is a threat to the Goliath. Our bunch of Davids will make old monopolies fall once again, as they have in the past,” he declared.

    “Republic will ensure that new ones will come and these new ones – these new guys will be the ones that show the world from right here in India that Content is King, not Money. Money will fail and people will watch the screens that they believe in and not the screens that sell to them,” he pledged and promised that “putting the focus back on each one of you is my only determination.”

    And then he asked: “Which side would you be on? With David or with Goliath?”

    It may be argued that the editor-anchor-and-now-entrepreneur could well be talking about Goliaths like the AroonPuriemanaged-owned India Today and MukeshAmbani/Reliance Industry-run CNN-IBN, but it’s evident that his angst is against Times Network. The Times of India group-owned television network is of course known to be fierce in the battlefield especially when it thinks a newbie could be an aggressor. It did that when the Ambanis launched a business paper to take on The Economic Times in 1990. In 2005, when Hindustan Times and DNA were getting set to enter its bastion Mumbai, it launched Mumbai Mirror and got very aggressive in its offers to advertisers. And now as stiff competition comes in from the man who built it, Times Network under the leadership of an old Times group warhorse MK Anand, has unveiled a manifold offensive.

    First, ensure that the attrition is under check. Some elevations have happened. Some more have been motivated to stay back.

    Second, get the content plan in order. Anand is reportedly active on the editorial front too, and is marked on key newsroom decisions and stories, a move that upset some

    Third, launching a ‘flanking product’. Hence Mirror Now

    Fourth, Times Now to also go into HD (which is to be announced soon)

    And fifth: fight Republic on the street… Revenues, Ratings, Regulators, MIB, ASCI… wherever necessary.

    When Goswami popped the ‘David v/s Goliath’ question, there was applause. Taaliyaan! He also took on the Delhi-centric channels saying that the national media is “content in Lutyens Delhi that you stop fighting for the people of the country”.

    Citing the example of the Kansas City killing of 32-year-old Srinivas Kuchibotla, he said: “The satiated Lutyens media was content in labelling it as quote unquote ‘hate crime’. And I ask you today: isn’t there a dent needed in the Indian media to shake it up…to fight for families like that of Kuchibotla. How can you be so satiated in Lutyens Delhi?”

    After taking on his seniors (and the mighty) in the capital, he moved on to talks about his style of journalism. “The focus is on India and the focus is on English but English done the Indian way. When I started off as a journalist…they said i should take pauses at the right places…..I won’t speak in the polished way..I will speak English the Indian way…I want to speak in the language that the 25-year-old in the Indian newsroom relates to”, he said. Regular watchers of his shows recall how he would often break into an ‘Arre Baba’ while speaking to guests. Defending his brand of journalism, which is in every possible way is being pursued by the existing dispensation at Times Now, he said: “..They’ll tell you facts are sacred and opinion is free. I say facts are available and opinion is sacred. Opinion in the media is especially sacred because it is a differentiator between a journalism that is confrontational and a journalism that is happy to be docile and subdued. Opinion in the media is especially sacred because it is a differentiator between a journalism that choses to takes the right side of the truth and one that prefers to be falsely neutral in order to perpetuate the status-quo… opinionated media that has the potential to be activist. It is opinionated media that has the potential to be a change agent to being merely a supplier of information. I refuse to be simply a supplier of information,” Arnab said, throwing the gauntlet again down- this time at the old traditional definition of journalism.

    We haven’t heard the last from Arnab Goswami’s Republic and Times Network’s MK Anand. Both are known to fight hard, and both are known to be happy losers. But who is?

     

  • The 'Creating Distinctive Value' award honoured Times Network International Business for their outstanding performance in the industry

    Times Network awarded Porter Prize for outstanding contribution to business

    By A Correspondent

     

    The International Business arm of Times Network was recently awarded the Porter Prize 2016, which aims to recognise strategic acumen of corporates in India. The Porter Prize Award in ‘Creating Distinctive Value’ category was received by Times Network MD & CEO, M K Anand and Head of International Business, Naveen Chandra in the presence of Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha at an event held in Delhi. The ‘Creating Distinctive Value’ award honoured Times Network International Business for iots outstanding performance in the industry, ability to offer solutions to customers, effectively creating new market spaces, segments and providing solutions that redefine the market.

     

    Porter Prize is organized in honour of the renowned philosopher, thinker, Harvard faculty member and Father of the modern strategic field, Michael E Porter. The central idea of the Porter Prize is to propel companies to compete on the basis of value creation, innovation and strategy and has a robust three-stage process of making an application, strategy audit and jury evaluation.

     

    Commenting on the occasion, MK Anand, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Times Network said, “This is a proud moment for us all at Times Network. Winning the Porter Prize in ‘Creating Distinctive Value’ is a testament to our central credo – Now or Nothing. With over 100 million English viewers, Times Network is the most powerful media platform to influence opinion makers in and about India. We realise that beyond nurturing a profitable business we are also in a unique position to speak to our audiences and effect positive change in the Social and Economic spheres through our powerful channels. Towards this end, we are happy that we have been able to put together highly impactful platforms in India and across the globe along with like minded partners and start making a difference.”

     

  • The Ad Sales and Branded Content teams of the Times Network will directly report to him and he will report to MK Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network

    Times Network appoints Ashit Kukian as President – Revenue

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ashit Kukian

    Strengthening its senior management leadership, Times Network announced the appointment of Ashit Kukian as President – Revenue. This is his second stint with the network after a hiatus of 10 years. In his new role, he will interact closely with the Content, Distribution, Marketing and other enabling functions to ensure that business objectives are met. The Ad Sales and Branded Content teams of the Times Network will directly report to him and he will report to MK Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network.

     

    M K Anand

    MK Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network said, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Ashit back into the Times Network fold as President – Revenue. His guidance, industry insights and operational expertise will help us achieve our aggressive growth targets and meet the business objectives through traditional and non – traditional revenue streams as we move into the future. I am sure his extensive background in media management and experience over two decades in the print, television & radio industry will add great value to the growth of Times Network.”

     

    Commenting on his new role at Times Network, Ashit said, “I am extremely excited to take on the new role with Times Network. As an individual helming the revenue vertical of a network that is growing by leaps and bounds, I will try my level best in giving my inputs, industry insights and operational expertise in the best possible manner. Using my experience garnered across print, television and radio I am sure I can lead the team in adding value to the growth of the network channels and businesses.”

     

    Ashit has had a 13 year stint with BCCL in the past where he managed several important roles. He was a key figure of the team that launched zoom Television in 2004. He went on to serve Radio City 91.1 FM as President & Chief Operating Officer for 10 years. Ashit has done his Bachelor of Science from Mumbai University and is passionate about reading and travelling.

     

  • The second leg of the workshops will happen in Bangalore on 18th of September and Delhi in the beginning of the next week

    Times Network creates opportunity for SMEs

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Network kick-started Ascend Now 2015 in Mumbai. The week long workshops over three markets – Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi are being held to educate, create awareness, and provide cost-effective advertising opportunities on national television for SMEs and start-ups.

     

    In India, today, there is a huge amount of potential hidden in the SME (Small & Medium enterprises) sector which needs to be brought forth. The country is a home to over 5 crore SME units. Having said that, when it comes to communicating their respective brands, these SMEs and start-ups don’t know how to go about it. They don’t get expert advice that their bigger counterparts receive from brand consultants and media agencies. As a result, they fail to optimise their brand communication and get that critical benefit. The research has shown that the biggest perception bearers amongst the SME and start-ups are of the opinion that the national television is expensive and beyond their reach.

     

    Having identified this need gap, Times Network has created an opportunity through Ascend Now 2015, whereby the SMEs and the star-ups can avail expert advices on brand communications and can broadcast their brand through the television channels of Times Network. Through this framework, the SMEs and the start-ups can do their brand promotions on India’s largest television platform in a cost-effective manner.

     

    As the workshops end on September 23, Times Network is expecting to reach out to over 1000 SMEs and start-ups which are prospective advertisers. The trend shows that the conversion of the prospects to the real advertisers will be about 150 companies. This initiative will possibly give a 10 per cent increase in the number of advertisers on Times Network, annually.

     

    M K Anand

    MK Anand, CEO and MD, Times Network said, “I’m extremely thrilled with the kind of response we have received from the SMEs in the first two days of seminars in Mumbai. It is this success that gives us confidence about doing well even in Delhi and Bangalore in the next few days.”

     

    The packages that were offered were specially created for SMEs ranging from Rs 22 lakhs to Rs 66 lakhs. The offers are valid for a 12-month period and are only available on the day of the seminar.

     

    In the inaugural two-day workshop in Mumbai, the senior executives who participated were from companies that have presence in – Construction, Education, Food and Agro Products, Jewellery Manufacturing, Internet start-ups and Beauty and Lifestyle.

     

    The second leg of the workshops will happen in Bangalore on 18th of September and Delhi in the beginning of the next week.

     

  • New alignment within the group's sales force aimed at meeting higher growth targets with an aggressive approach of Now or Nothing

    Times Network announces slew of appointments

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Network has announced strategic restructuring reflecting a new stronger growth-oriented operating model. The initiative aims at providing significant growth opportunities and greater responsibilities to the existing leadership in the advertising and sales team which will also inculcate the Network’s new brand philosophy of Now or Nothing.

     

    Given the new drive of being aggressive and restructuring, Hemant Arora who was Head Branded content has been elevated as the Sales Head for Times Now & ET Now. Hemant has more than 17 years of experience in media sales, including print, internet and television. He started his career at the Times of India in 1997.

     

    Some of the other structural changes which have been announced are:

    Hersh Bhandari has been given the charge as National Head of Ad Sales for Times Now. Also, Shilpa Shetty has been appointed as National Head of Ad Sales for ET Now. Since joining the channel, she has been instrumental in increasing the revenue of the channel by a phenomenal ratio. Shilpa is a tough taskmaster and is also the first woman to rise to the position of Head of Sales from within Times Network.

     

    To add to the team, Gaurav Dhawan Will take over as Cluster Head for English Entertainment Channels. His 17 years of extensive experience in managing advertising revenue driven business across Television, Print and Web leveraging strong client relationships, gives him an advantage in meeting his challenging new assignment, where he is pitted against TV’s major domo Star’s English Entertainment business. Also, Jogajyoti Pati will take over as National Head of Ad Sales India 2 for Times Network while Rohit Tugnait will take over as the National Head of Ad Sales & Brand Solutions for zoOm.

     

    MK Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network said, “This refinement in our working model is designed to keep up with the momentum we had been sailing on through whole of the last year. While 2015 was one of hygiene improvements, 2016 will be a watershed year during which we will make an all-out effort to correct our price:value equation and build our revenue base.”

     

  • New brand philosophy of Now or Nothing creates urgency in approach

    For Times Network, it will be ‘Now or Nothing’

    By A Correspondent

     

    TIMES TELEVISION NETWORK has been rebranded as TIMES NETWORK with its positioning statement of – Now or Nothing. The new, improved brand logo and rebranding will facilitate higher resonance for the channels vis-a-vis competition.

     

    M K Anand

    MK Anand, CEO & Managing Director, Times Network said, “This is not an India of passive optimists. At the forefront, at the leading edge generation of youth, at the top of corporations and organisations, India is screaming – ‘Now or Nothing’. This is something that is also being articulated in the content and the value we deliver through our channels. The content has to be rooted in the NOW. The change in name from Times Television Network to Times Network shows a paradigm shift to reflect the reality that Video is no longer just Television.”

     

    The new logo is contemporary and shows the liberalisation of the brand by stepping out of the box to be open to change. The fonts used are bolder. At the top is a pyramid mnemonic, whose tip signifies the specific Indians who are wanting and making change. These are the audiences the network and its channels are targeting. The brand belief is that the driver of change is at the top, and the philosophy of the top permeates down to all segments.

     

    As part of the change at Times Network, the expression of channels in terms of content and even positioning is undergoing a revamp. The expectation is that there will be 1-2 channels launched every year, and the content could also become regional. The action-oriented credo of the organisation will position the network as fast, agile and alert.

     

    About Times Network:

    Times Network is part of India’s largest media conglomerate, The Times Group.  It houses upscale brands including ET NOW – India’s No. 1 Stocks and Business News channel; MOVIES NOW – India’s leading English Movies channel; ROMEDY NOW – a unique destination for Love and Laughter; TIMES NOW – India’s No. 1 English News channel; and zoOm – India’s No. 1 Bollywood channel. The network delivers segmented and differentiated content under one umbrella. It informs, entertains and engages over 100 million urban affluent viewers in India and is available in over 76 countries across the globe.

     

    For further queries, please contact:

    Jimit Shah / Yasna Mistree

    LinOpinion – GH

    Mobile: 9833228876 / 8652252098

    E-mail: jimit.shah@linopiniongh.com / yasna.mistree@linopiniongh.com

     

  • The channel has launched a series of hard-hitting, issue-based films to reiterate its repositioning

    Times Now unveils campaign focusing on new positioning

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Now has always believed in taking a tough stand against issues that affects the nation. Raising the voice for ‘Positive Provocation’ and asking ‘The Right Questions’ that lead to action has always been the core of the channel’s philosophy. With the conviction to shape a better tomorrow, the channel further strengthened its core philosophy of through a sharp-focused positioning – Action Begins Here. The channel has launched a series of hard-hitting, issue-based films to reiterate its repositioning.

     

    M K Anand

    MK Anand, CEO & Managing Director, Times Television Network said, “’Action Begins Here’ truly articulates what Times Now stands for, it explains what we are really doing. As india’s leading News brand, we are well aware of the power our voice has in society. And we constructively use that power to give voice to issues that affect our nation and raise the right questions that lead to Action. Action that leads to concrete solutions, to change for a better India. The re-positioning will be reflected in the overall brand communication coupledwith intense & engaging content.”

     

    Arnab Goswami

    Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-chief, Times Now said, “Times Now has been the popular choice for more than 7 years as the number 1 channel. We have changed news delivery from deadpan to passionate; from uninvolved to journalism that steps forward to fight for the citizen. Action Begins Here is a campaign that reflects this new age journalism, and showcases our fundamental strength of direct reporting to viewers across the globe.”

     

    The channel has launched a 360 degree marketing plan that includes extensive Print, OOH, Cinema, Digital and Cross-Channel Promotions. The creatives are extremely insightful and thought provoking.

     

  • India's first and most comprehensive Information Communication Technology (ICT) forum

    Times Television Network to host ‘Digital India Summit 2015’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Television Network will be hosting the ‘Digital India Summit 2015‘ on the 3rd & 4th February 2015, in New Delhi. The summit based on the theme:  Digital India: Bits & Bytes of a Billion Dreams, will be inaugurated by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Communication who will also deliver the keynote address. The two-day summit will bring together the most important stakeholders of the digital revolution from across industry, government, academia and civil society.

     

    Digital India Summit 2015 is envisioned to realize the dream of Digital India – a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, offering world class services at the click of a mouse. Digital technology can play a vital role in transforming the fortunes of 1.2 billion Indians. Everything from economic productivity to social services–including education and healthcare—to governance at central, state and municipal levels can be improved through deployment of robust information technology.

     

    MK Anand, MD & CEO, Times Television Network said, “Digital India Summit 2015 will provide a public platform to hold discussions that will prepare India to face technological challenges and devise solutions that will aim to contribute towards realizing the implementation objectives of Digital India. The entire campaign will be substantive as the suggestions, ideas, insights, research and conclusions of the discussions will all be curated by our research team along with a leading global consulting firm to produce an action plan ‘white paper’.”

     

    The forum will invite transformative ideas from all significant stakeholders that aim to realize IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow). Conceived with the aim of lasting a full 5 year term, the summit promises to bring to the forum the best ideas every year and follow up on its progress the next year.

     

    The initiative is being supported by leading organizations like MAIT (Manufacturers Association for Information Technology), EY (Ernst & Young) and the Nasscom Foundation.

     

  • The biggest thought leadership platform will see the confluence of India's Brightest Minds~

    ET Now to host 2nd India Economic Conclave in New Delhi

    By A Correspondent

     

    In the backdrop of India’s new-found confidence, ET NOW is back with the second edition of India Economic Conclave aptly themed – ‘India: The Giant Awakens.’ The event will be held on December 06 at the Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi from 11 am onwards.The Conclave will bring together captains of Indian industry, policy makers, institutional investors and civil society leaders. The deliberations will pave the way for a constructive dialogue on how the Government and Industry can seize India’s unique moment in history.

     

    Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will inaugurate the event and deliver the keynote address.Key ministers including Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Industry Minister NirmalaSitharaman and Power Minister Piyush Goyal will be addressing the day-long conclave.​

     

    MK Anand, Managing Director and CEO, Times Television Network said,“The domestic and global sentiment over India’s economy has undergone a sea change, which gives us confidence for new beginnings. As a catalyst of positive change, ET NOW feels that this is the opportune time to bring together various stake holders to deliberate and agree on ways so that the potential of the nation can be realized.”

    R.Sridharan, Managing Editor, ET NOW said, “Buoyed by​ the success of the first edition of India Economic Conclave, we are delighted to bring it back bigger and with a far more optimistic outlook.

     

    ​The conclave theme aptly captures the prevailing mood in the economy and we believe this unique thought leadership platform will provide breakthrough ideas and solutions for both the Govt and Industry.”

     

  • In his new role, Mr Lulla will be working closely with Vineet Jain, Managing Director, BCCL Group and Satyan Gajwani, Chief Executive Officer, Times Internet Ltd overseeing a number of group initiatives in the areas of sports, music, international events and more

    It’s official. Sunil Lulla is now Prez-Corp Devpt, as MK Anand to join as MD & CEO, Times TV

    Sunil Lulla
    M K Anand

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

    By A Correspondent

    Bennett, Coleman and Co. Ltd. (BCCL) issued an announcement on Friday confirming the news that MxMIndia had carried over a week before. Sunil Lulla, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Times Television Network, is to be appointed as President – Corporate Development, BCCL Group. Mr Lulla has spent over eight years in various leadership roles at Times TV Television. In his new strategic role at BCCL, he will be working closely with Vineet Jain, Managing Director, BCCL Group and Satyan Gajwani, Chief Executive Officer, Times Internet Ltd. overseeing a number of group initiatives in the areas of Sports, Music, International Events and more.

    Meanwhile, M K Anand, an old BCCL hand, will return to the group after his stint of heading the broadcasting ventures of the Disney UTV group. Mr Anand will be taking over as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Times Television Network. He has previously worked with The Times of India group for 19 years, first with the print business for 14 years and later with the television business at zoOm from 2004 to 2009.

  • New aggregation and distribution company will have a combined bouquet of 35 channels owned by both partners

    IndiaCast, Disney UTV agree to form JV

    By A Correspondent

     

    In what could impact the marketplace in a digitized distribution scenario, Indiacast, the jv between TV18 and Viacom18 which happened in June last year, and UGBL, a Disney UTV group company, have announced a strategic joint venture for the aggregation and wholesale distribution of their respective TV channels.

     

    Anuj Gandhi

    The 74 (IndiaCast) : 26 (Disney UTV) joint venture will become operational after necessary regulatory approvals and will provide 35 channels from the TV18, Viacom18,  Disney UTV & A+E Networks | TV18 to Cable, DTH and HITS platforms in India. IndiaCast CEO Anuj Gandhi will be the Chief Executive Officer of the yet unnamed entity.

     

    Talking about the joint venture, Mr Gandhi said, “This partnership will build a strong distribution company that will offer a broader and more diversified range to platforms giving us a foothold across genres – including in general entertainment, general and business news, movies, youth and kids genres. We have had a great first year for IndiaCast and this JV will give our domestic distribution business scale and wider reach.”

     

    “There are some clear and unique synergies in this partnership. The new bouquet is a more comprehensive offering from the viewer’s perspective that gives the combined entity an edge in the marketplace”, said MK Anand, Managing Director – Media Networks, Disney UTV.

     

    IndiaCast will move its domestic distribution business into this new venture, while continuing to manage its other content monetization businesses which include the international distribution, adsales and content sales business as well as the new media distribution for TV 18, Viacom 18, A+E Networks | TV18 and Eenadu channels. Disney UTV will also move its domestic distribution activities for its bouquet of all nine channels to the new entity.