MxMIndia

Tag: Times Network

  • 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

     

  • 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?

     

  • Nikhil comes with over 17 years of experience in Media with Revenue & Business Specialization and he last held the position of Vice President and Head of Revenue Media Networks, Disney India

    Nikhil Gandhi joins Times Network as President – Revenue as Ashit Kukian exit

    By A Correspondent

     

    Nikhil Gandhi

    Times Network has announced the appointment of Nikhil Gandhi as President – Revenue. He will report to MD and CEO MK Anand. His key responsibility willbe growth of profitable monetisation of the entire bouquet of channels in the network. He replaces Ashit Kukian, who has left the organisation.

     

    Commenting on his appointment, Anand said:“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Nikhil into the Times Network family as President – Revenue. His strong  leadership skills, people management abilities and operational expertise along with his extensive background in the M&E space will definitely add value to the network.”

     

    He further added that, “Ashit Kukian has decided to move on and pursue other opportunities and we would like to wish him all the best for his future endeavour.”

     

    Commenting on his new role, Gandhi, who has worked with Anand at Disney/UTV, said:“Leading the revenue vertical of a network that is growing and leading the Media and Entertainment space is exciting. My efforts will be to propel Times Network to greater heights and achieve the business objectives.”

     

  • 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.

     

  • 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.”

     

  • Movies Now 2 is the new English movie channel launched by Times Network

    With an eye on youth, Times Network unveils Movies Now 2

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Network has announced the launch of an all-new English movie channel, Movies Now 2. The new channel will offer young movie a range of edgy and fast paced content in SD and HD. This is the fourth English movie channel from the network

     

    It will have a library that includes some high profile titles across genres selected to appeal to the youth.

     

    Said Vivek Srivastava, Senior Vice President & Head, English Entertainment Cluster, Times Network, “We are excited and pleased to launch Movies Now 2. There was a niche that was available to us for MoviesNow 2 and capitalising on the same, we created a platform that caters to ‘Cinema of Tomorrow’. The channel has been honed and shaped for the free-spirited, opinionated, rebellious and engaged youth looking for adventure, edgy and new-age stylised cinema,” during the launch.

     

    So, what made them launch another English movie channel when we already have an array of channels in the category? “Times Network is known for having a deep understanding of its audiences requirements and creating offerings that ensures a delightful viewer experience through each brand under its network umbrella. Consumer needs have been changing over the years and in the past five years the needs have undergone a change in massive ways. India is on a high aspirational curve, and TV audiences across markets are familiar with the best of international world-class entertainment. We believe that consumer segmentation and brand differentiation will lead the way in the years to come as we expect this segment to only swell and get more dominant. The success of MN+ and Romedy Now are great testimonials of ever evolving consumer needs and Movies Now 2 will be an exciting addition to the bouquet,” said Srivastava

     

    The channel aims not only showcase good  titles, but they have  package them in interesting on-air properties like ‘Moviegasm’, ‘Swag Nights’, ‘BAE Love’, ‘2wisted’, ‘Thug Life’ among others showcasing a variety of young age Hollywood movies.

     

  • The agency will be mandated to handle the airtime as well as sponsorship sales for the channel in the UK

    Times Now signs up Sky Media for ad sales in the UK

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Now was recently launched in the UK market and is now strengthening its ad sales in the market. The channel has received good initial response to its programming and is positive about its rapid growth.

     

    In a partnership of sorts for two big media players, Times Now has brought on board Sky Media to handle their ad sales duties in the UK. Sky Media, the largest media sales agency in the UK, will be Times Now’s exclusive ad sales partner for all mainstream sales in the region. The agency will be mandated to handle the airtime as well as sponsorship sales for the channel in the UK.

     

    Times Now has also recently taken on board Tarun Sawhney as the country sales manager based in London to manage all the channel sales and marketing in UK and for all Times Network’s channels in India for clients in the region.

     

    With the intent to grow its mainstream sales, Times Now tested on Barb in February and has become barb rated since April.

     

    Naveen Chandra, Head International Business, Times Network said, “Times Now has had consistent ratings leadership in India and in other markets due to its product differentiation with high quality, hard-hitting journalism for the last ten years. We are happy to introduce this strong News product to the South Asian TV audiences in the UK, and build it with smart local marketing initiatives. In Sky Media sales, we believe we have the perfect sales partner for leveraging our product strengths.”

     

    Richard Hawking, Operations Director of Sky Media said, “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to add Times Now to our extensive portfolio of South Asian targeted channels; it adds another dimension to our offering for advertisers with great news content for a continually growing and important audience.”

     

  • The network wants to urge viewers to improve their Hollywood movie viewing experience by subscribing to HD channels

    Times Network launches campaign to promote HD

    By Anuka Roy

     

    Times Network announced the launch of a 360-degree ad campaign for its English Entertainment Cluster (EEC), which includes Movies Now HD, Romedy Now and MN+. The network wants to urge viewers to improve their Hollywood movie viewing experience by subscribing to HD channels.

     

    As part of this, an av campaign featuring Purab Kohli takes a dig at Hollywood movie viewing in India. The film follows how Kohli’s character is prepared to watch his favourite Hollywood movie on television, everything seems to be perfect around him, from a huge LED TV, a swanky sound proof living room to a beautiful companion. But once he switches on the TV set his dreams are broken as he is not subscribed to the HD channel where the movie is playing. The tagline of the campaign is: “It’s time to raise your standard to High Definition.”

     

    Vivek Srivastava

    So, what was the idea behind this campaign? “Most brand studies that we did showed that people had HD sets but were not subscribed to HD channels. It was not because they did not want to spend extra money; it is because you did not feel the need to view the content in HD,” said Vivek Srivastava, SVP and Business Head- Times Network EEC, adding: “There were people who said they were already watching the content in HD because from the analogue world when they had those small dots in the screens, the picture quality is much clearer now. And, then there were a set of people who said that once we started watching content in HD we can never go back to Standard Definition (SD). The key was how do you grow this base. India has about 115 million television homes right now, but only 6 million subscribe to HD and about 15% subscribe to HD content. That’s like a small amount. It is not the question of affordability as everyone is buying it. So, the key insight in this case was if you could persuade people to experience or talk to them about a better and higher experience you would possibly get them on board, that is what the campaign is all about.”

     

    This campaign is targeted towards anyone who has an SD product and is watching Hollywood content. Srivastava gave the example of Jungle Book breaking records of Bollywood movies, proving the rise in consumption of Hollywood movies but the platform to view it is limited and that is exactly what they want to educate people with this campaign.

     

    But with people moving  from television sets to digital platforms, how does the network intend to attract viewers? “SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) sites and platforms are on a rise. They are here to stay. If you compare that to a matured market like US, the total amount of television viewing which has gone down last year is about 1%. Therefore, they have really not taken viewership away from television. That does not mean there is no market for them, there is a significant market for that segment. So, these SVODs will compliment the television viewership and add on the entertainment hours that we are spending. I don’t see it as a threat and if anything it will add to the popularity”

     

    The campaign will be launched today (May 2) across various platforms.

     

  • This opens a good opportunity for entrepreneurs and small advertisers to see their brand on a National TV like a Times Now

    Times Network partners with Amagi for geo-targeted advtg

    By A Correspondent

     

    Amagi has announced that Times Network will use Amagi’s services to enable geo-targeted advertising on five of its channels – Times Now, ET Now, Romedy Now, Zoom, and Magic Bricks Now.

     

    Times Network delivers differentiated content across news and entertainment channels, to over 100 million viewers in the country. Amagi’s technology will enable the broadcaster to split ad inventory and provide regional ad spots to different brands. Times Network’s partnership with Amagi means that advertisers will also have the flexibility to buy regional ad spots on its channels at optimised costs. While this enables bigger advertisers to optimise their media spends, the smaller and regional advertisers can also advertise on national TV and target only markets of their choice and pay only for that. This opens a very good opportunity for entrepreneurs and small advertisers to see their brand on a National TV like a Times Now.

     

    Expressing his confidence in the partnership’s ability to deliver benefits for national and local advertisers, MK Anand, MD and CEO, Times Network, said, ‘’Our Network specialises in delivering decision makers at the top end of the Indian population. Our audiences are comparable with English Newspapers. With the ability to provide geo-targeted reach, we will now be able to offer city specific solutions complimentary to English Newspaper campaigns at very efficient costs. This will be a major innovation for media users.”

     

    “The partnership with Times Network is an evidence of the industry’s belief in Amagi’s core value proposition. Our endeavour is to help industry players recognize innovative and efficient technology-driven ad solutions. A unique patented technological platform has helped us emerge as a reliable choice for TV broadcasters to enable geo-targeted advertising. This marks another landmark step in Amagi’s growth and we are bullish about delivering exceptional results.’’ added Baskar Subramanian, Co-founder of Amagi.

     

  • 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.

     

  • The Autocar Show will air on ET NOW on Fridays starting December 11, 2015 at 10:30 pm with repeats on Saturday (11:30 am and 3:30 pm) and Sunday (10:00 am and 2:00 pm)

    Autocar joins hands with Times Network for new auto show

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Network has tied up with Autocar India to offer viewers car reviews by the most authentic and highly insightful car experts on two news channels in India, ET NOW and Times NOW.

     

    Autocar India is widely quoted by the media across the globe for its detailed views. In addition to providing car reviews in the most insightful manner, the magazine gives its readers unmatched access to the automobile industry news. With the likes of Hormazd Sorabjee, Editor – Autocar India, who has three decades of experience, and Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first F1 racer set to grace the television screens, viewers can be assured of the most engrossing and informative ride of their lives with every episode of Autocar India.

     

    Arnab Goswami

    Speaking on the partnership, Arnab Goswami, President – News and Editor in Chief, TIMES NOW and ET NOW, said, “We are delighted to have tied up with India’s most respected experts in the automobile circuit to launch The Autocar Show. I am sure that Hormazd and his team will make the show a one-stop destination that caters to the needs of everyone interested in the magical and enticing world of automobiles. The Autocar Show, which will air on ET NOW and Times NOW, will add to the world class quality, variety and relevance of our programming bouquet.”

     

    Hormazd Sorabjee, Editor – Autocar India said. “We are thrilled to have tied up with Times Network which will give a huge boost to the popularity of The Autocar Show. It’s not just the fact that both ET Now and Times Now are undisputed leaders in their genres but the high energy and passion of the Times Network that motivates us to go that extra mile to deliver cutting edge content.”

     

    The Autocar Show is bound to keep viewers hooked with the variety of its content. The show will review the latest Skoda Superb before any other Indian media! It will look to heighten the enthusiasm through feature activities that have never been carried out before such as driving the Lamborghini Hurracan to Khardung la Pass, the highest motorable road in the world! In addition to such feats, the show will keep viewers informed through its segment that will shed light on the automobile market scenario.

     

    The Autocar Show will air on ET NOW on Fridays starting December 11, 2015 at 10:30 pm with repeats on Saturday (11:30 am and 3:30 pm) and Sunday (10:00 am and 2:00 pm).

     

  • 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.