MxMIndia

Tag: Vineet Jain

  • He is bossman Samir Jain's most trusted lieutenant in BCCL. That he would be appointed CEO-Publishing was a no-brainer, writes Pradyuman Maheshwari

    The Importance of being Sivakumar Sundaram

     

     

    By Pradyuman Maheshwari

     

    The photograph doing the rounds of brothers Samir and Vineet Jain signing on the dotted line on the terms of dividing the vast media empire had three gentlemen in the background. One of them was a silver-haired bespectacled gentlemen with his wrists bearing a near-new red holy thread who is, as they say, is Samir Jain’s blue-eyed boy.

     

    Sivakumar Sundaram at his morning run at Cannes. Photograph source: Facebook
    Sivakumar Sundaram at his morning run at Cannes. Photograph source: Facebook

    Boy, well, a 55-year-old one. Delhiwallah, from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. Non-MBA, but a Chartered and Cost Accountant, he joined Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd (BCCL) in 1990 as a Management Trainee – an Assistant Manager in the accounts department, to be precise. Spiritually inclined, he’s an early riser and loves the run. Even at Cannes in France, where is attending an international advertising festival, he was spotted in his running shoes. Proof: Check his Facebook page.

     

    His credo, as per a LinkedIn post: “There are no right or wrong decisions in life. Any decision taken in compliance to one’s own values is the right decision. Be reliable and invest in yourself because success is the by- product of the well-being of body, mind, and soul.”

     

    We’re referring to Sivakumar Sundaram, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer – Publishing. This is after being Chairman of the Executive Committee of Bennett Coleman & Company (BCCL) and a member of the BCCL Board as Executive Director. May appear to be comedown but CEO – Publishing is of course a key executive role, and he naturally becomes decidedly the most powerful professional in print and digital news in the country.

     

    As per his profile on LinkedIn (LI), Siva, as he is known in the fraternity, has worked across various corporate functions including finance, taxation, M&A, group strategy and innovation, response (BCCL’s sales department) and Brand Capital, the group’s ads-against-equity investment arm.

     

    Reads the LI note: “During this period, he  has been closely involved in the setting up of every new business of the group – from Times Internet to radio to TV and partnerships/joint ventures with international media houses,” and it continues: “In his immediate prior role, Siva was President – Revenue, responsible for leading response and Brand Capital, which generated nearly 85 percent of BCCL’s revenues. He was instrumental in setting up Brand Capital in 2005, a significant innovation in the global media industry, which now has assets under management of nearly US$ 2 billion and an ecosystem of 800-plus clients. The 1800-plus sales team of Response manages relationships with over 50,000 advertisers in India and abroad.”

     

    An article in a CA journal notes Sundaram last made his CV in 1994. No-brainer that. He had no reason to. He is Vice-Chairman Samir Jain’s eyes and ears in the organisation. And more.

     

    Sundaram runs marathons, not just a jog around Lodhi Garden or Shivaji Park. Which needs careful planning, long-term thinking and strong execution. And most importantly: Ironman-like endurance.

     

    Which Jain (VC, as he’s called) knows Siva has in plenty.

     

    Hence: the decision to appoint him as incharge of the publishing business was natural.

     

    Sivakumar Sundaram wearing dark glasses
    The Boss. Sivakumar Sundaram at Cannes. Photograph source: Facebook

    Sundaram though has quite a job ahead of him. At first a shrinking readership, and circulation numbers. The post-1990-born prefers tracking news via notifications, Instagram reels or at most Twitter. Newspaper these days are used more to line cupboard shelves or ripen papayas and mangoes.

     

    There is a fair amount of mediocrity that has set in and circulation numbers have fallen. The numbers for even Tier-2 cities like Pune where the edition was very strong have gone south. In Goa, the edition is a distant #3. Overall, while the advertising revenues are bright enough for company seniors to go to Cannes, the buzz that the paper once had has diminished.

     

    And if there’s anyone to blame for this, it’s the leadership at many levels.

     

    Sundaram knows that. Since he is a numbers person, he knows that they tell a story like a few other things can. He knows where there exists a wastage. And what needs to be propped up.

     

    Remember, an accounts job can also entail creative thinking.

     

    The road ahead could be like one of those potholed roads of Mumbai after that first major downpour.

     

    We spoke with at least a dozen former and current Times of India staffers to get a view on Sundaram’s ascent. And the tasks ahead of him. While most of them spoke with us off the record, there was only one person we spoke with who was willing to be quoted.

     

    Jaisurya Das
    Jaisurya Das

    Said Jaisurya Das (JD), a senior industry person, advisor and commentator (also a former MxMIndia columnist): “Sivakumar does have a tough mile to walk and I do hope he will as always start with a due diligence of the core departments. This may just be what will make the difference!”

     

    But we are being naughty. We’ve used a quote from JD to suit our story.

     

    This is what Das said before: “To be honest, I think this was long overdue and am truly happy to see these changes! The true ‘stars’ all figure in these movements and each one of them are the kind who can do immense justice to their new roles. For me, a clear indication of Samir Jain in the saddle.”

     

    And he continued: “As for Sivakumar as the CEO, it comes as no surprise since there really is no one better. He is an astute professional whose razor-sharp financial acumen, inclusive management style and unquestionable loyalty to purpose is well-established in the industry, be it BCCL or beyond. And yes, contrary to what anyone may assume, I do not curry favour. This is what it is and no one can refute it, no matter what they think.”

     

    Das knows BCCL like few others. As not only has he worked in key functions, his brothers Monu (MD Nalapat) and Chinnen have been BCCL veterans.

     

    As Sivakumar Sundaram returns to India from Southern France, he will certainly set things in motion. Some changes in the top deck have been effected. Some more are likely to happen. Some souls who have been under-performing or misbehaving will see the wrath of Siva’s Third Eye.

     

    Watch this space. The times, as they say, are surely a-changin’

     

  • Interesting times lie ahead as brothers Samir and Vineet Jain of Bennett Coleman have decided to split ways, writes Ranjona Banerji

    The Split & after

     

     

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiMany feel that the split between the Jain brothers of Bennett Coleman was a long time coming.

    The departure of Samir Jain from the operations of the media conglomerate led to a shift in priorities and a change in direction for the group. Younger brother Vineet Jain tried to bring the behemoth that is Bennett Coleman into the 21st century. Or his version of it anyway. Television became the priority and depending on how you look at it, the success or the horror of Times Now is the result. Vineet also foresaw the growth of the internet but Indiatimes could not capitalise on its early mover advantage.

    Are the two brothers the same or different?

    Both are passionately interested in money and growth. Bombastic statements about the group being about money and advertising, but journalism and the media. Then some of the worst methods of monetizing journalism and demeaning journalism to make money have emerged from the large brain of Samir Jain. From schemes like Medianet to “Private Treaties”, every other media house has professed outrage and then meekly followed suit in some manner or the other.

    Vineet Jain has the same money-making impulses, without the same oomph. And without the sort of swashbuckling arrogance of Samir Jain. Let’s be clear. Samir Jain is not a swashbuckling person. He is not a public person either, as his brother has wanted to be. But he is arrogant, self-aware and confident in his decisions. That is where he has been successful in setting the media world on fire.

    And his return to the media, after his self-imposed exile, is bound to have the effect of a new predator entering a quiet jungle. Or, Samir Jain exists on Planet Samir Jain far before Elon Musk decided to become the First Martian. The details of the division are public: print, online and real estate to Samir, while Vineet gets radio, TV, the entertainment wing and Rs 3500 crore from his elder brother.

    This division is intriguing, to say the least.

    Print is seen as old-fashioned and has-been by many, but it still has heft in India. The internet is the future as far as news and information are concerned, and Samir has gained that influence as well.

    Times Now is one of the worst Indian “news” channels. If anyone assumed that the exit of Arnab Goswami and his growing toxicity would improve Times Now, they could not have been more wrong or more naïve. Goswami was replaced by a MiniMe, without even his limited charisma and experience. Between Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar, Times Now has grown in stature to a top class vicious, Islamophobic propaganda machine.

    Is that what Vineet Jain stands for or does he not care about politics? It’s hard to know for sure. He is not a political animal in the traditional sense.

    Samir Jain on the other hand cares about power. He wants to have a hand in the future, he would like to be kingmaker, he will not respect journalists but he respects the power that journalism wields. He is unlikely to become someone else’s mouthpiece unless he sees a massive benefit. He is not easily frightened by government. Unlike many of our other media house owners.

    Both Jain brothers stir up a lot of angry feelings. But if you set those aside, we have interesting times ahead in the media. Tighten your seatbelts. There are gonna be changes!

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal.

  • RIP, Indu Jain. Conscience-keeper + Tribute by Sunil Lulla

    Picture courtesy Twitter. Copyright unknown

    Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited chairperson Indu Jain passed away late on Thursday evening after a Covid-related situation. She was 84. Ms Jain will be best remembered in the Indian media for her contribution to ensure that one of the largest and most successful media organisations in the country that she owned and spearheaded with her two sons – Samir and Vineet – also had a purpose. She is widely regarded as the conscience-keeper of the media empire, and helped mainstream spirituality and world peace into the newspapers her group ran. Our deepest condolences to the Sahu Jain family, specifically her sons, and the large number of people -—in the media and outside of it — whose lives she touched, and impacted.

    We invited Mr Sunil Lulla, CEO, BARC India, who has spent nearly a decade with BCCL and had a strong linkages with Ms Jain, to share a short tribute. 

     

    Spiritual Angel, Ms Indu Jain. A Tribute

     

    Sunil Lulla

    My life is privileged to be touched by the Spiritual Angel , whom we called Mataji and sometimes Chairperson – Ms Indu Jain. I was a latecomer to the Times group, where most have spent a few decades mastering the craft Times teaches so well.

     

    She was very enthusiastic in supporting the new/ to-be-started television network  with the rapid acquisition and build out of a generous studio space, in Mumbai.  Her passion has always been to  spread positivity messaging, be it in news or  via music to the youth. She understood the business compulsions and marketplace needs. In balance, she actively encouraged and facilitated by inviting her wise associates Sri Sri Ravishankar  and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev to spread their contemporary and positive message of well-being to millions of viewers.

     

    She bought balance to the space of heated debate and pulsating music in her own sagacious and peaceful way. When she learnt the architects had not followed the right protocol in the construction of the studio and office, she wisely suggested changes. As she stated, the right light, the right direction, sets the tone of success. I have always believed her action gave wings to the success of the Times Television Network.

     

    She will remain Mataji – forever. May her soul rest in peace.

    Sunil Lulla

    Chief Executive Officer

    BARC India

  • … but what about Times Now, a regular purveyor of both hate speech and fake news, asks Ranjona Banerji

    When Times of India boss Vineet Jain damns Facebook on hate speech & fake news…

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Vineet Jain, managing director of Bennett, Coleman and Company, set off an interesting discussion on Twitter the other day. Bennett, Coleman is the owner of The Times of India and Times Now amongst a large array of newspapers and television channels. India’s largest media conglomerate is how the company is often described. Jain is the MD and part of the family which owns the group.

    Jain tweeted this, about ongoing discussions about Facebook, and advertisers applying pressure on Mark Zuckerberg’s social media platform to eliminate hate speech and fake news: “Social media has become the cause of violence, hate & fake news. Govts globally have been lazy & have failed to control them. Advertisers r walking away from social media forcing them to review policies on violent content. Biz men are doing Govts job in making the world better.”

     

     

    Jain went on to post a link to a Times of India article on the issue, and also tweeted this: “Unilever #Honda #coke among many other corporates have stopped advertising on social media because of poor policies & insignificant moderation regarding hate speech.”

    O the irony, the irony. Jain’s “news” channel Times Now is a regular purveyor of both hate speech and fake news, and has substantially helped to destroy the reputation of the venerable Old Lady of Bori Bunder, The Times of India, the group’s flagship publication.

    I can hear the scoffing. Because much of the destruction of the credibility of the Indian media is thanks to TOI. You could start with the hegemony of Response over editorial, the appointment of “brand managers” to oversee the hegemony, the introduction of Medianet where the company itself sold editorial space to advertisers and so on.

    But for all its many faults, there were many things – and still are – that are right with the Times of India. I myself have benefitted from a management that did not interfere and indeed supported us when we reported on the 2002 Gujarat riots from Gujarat, as I have mentioned many times before. And this is despite huge pressure from the Response section to get us to stop taking on Narendra Modi’s culpability as chief minister of Gujarat. I quit TOI just as Medianet began, so perhaps I did not see the worst of it.

    However, what Times Now does is far worse than anything that any print publication within Vineet Jain’s empire can conjure up. A non-stop barrage of anti-Muslim debates, a distinct pro-Hindu slant to what passes for news and for discussions, rabid anchors in Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar, an absolute inability to question the Narendra Modi government at the Centre on anything, an endless blame game against the Opposition. It is essentially a propaganda channel for the Modi government, the BJP and the RSS.

    Here’s one small example of its behaviour. A recent poll run by the channel on how Modi had handled the ongoing China crisis had 60.2 per cent of the people saying it was handled badly and 39.8 per cent voting Modi handled it well. Times Now put up a pie chart where the 39.8 per cent was bigger than the 60.2 per cent. This ran until it was trolled on social media. I know there are many kind souls who will want to give them the benefit of the doubt but anyone who has followed the channel knows it was deliberate.

    Mr Jain might perhaps want to rephrase his observations about hate, violence and fake news being seen on social media alone. He might perhaps want to steel himself to watch his own toxic channel. The second tweet in his thread is particularly interesting because it comes to the conclusion, in the Facebook case, that it is business which does the government’s job by withholding advertising from FB and making it change its ways.

    Is this a message to Indian businesses to stop advertising with Times Now? I joke of course, but think about it. Perhaps a withholding of money is the only way that the company will consider getting Times Now to become a news channel rather than a purveyor of filth and fakery.

    It is unlikely that Jain wants government interference. The Newspapers Owners Association of India fight off any sort of government interference because it might interfere with their ownership patterns, not because they care about freedom of expression or a free press. The Association also fights against the Wage Board Commissions which work on fair-ish wages for badly paid newspaper employees.

    Or, is something strange brewing???

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She is also Consulting Editor, MxMIndia. Her views here are personal

     

     

  • Presenting Week 3, Day 4 of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. And do come back tomorrow for another spiritual question and a chatpata answer.

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das: In the service of which boss did your soul feel the bestest – the Jains, Subhash Chandra/ Punit Goenka, Girish Agarwal & now Arnab Goswami?

    Bhaskar Das

    We’ve got Dr Bhaskar Das to do what he’s super at: share his gyaan in his inimitable manner. Presenting The Wizard of Words with Das ka Dum. Week 3, Day 4.

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

     

    Q. You have worked with various media mavens in the last decade. Samir and Vineet Jain, Subhash Chandra and Punit Goenka, Girish Agarwal and now Arnab Goswami. Since you are a spiritual person, please tell us: In the service of which boss did your soul feel the bestest?

     

    A. Any soul is impervious to external triggers. Besides, there is no duality between two interacting souls. I saw them in me and I was in them. At a cognitive level, all the referred names in your question have enriched me and whatever I am today is due to the cumulative enlightenment they have ushered on me.

    I can imagine the answer won’t satiate your vibrant mind. I can assure you that real correctness is apolitical. My answers come from the core of my heart. They are socio-politico agnostic.

  • The minister emphasised the need to attract, retain and develop talent which frees good content from the trappings of revenue needs

    Time to put rules to ensure that no one player dominates the industry: MIB Smriti Irani

    By A Correspondent

     

    Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani said that time has come to put laws, ethics and rules into place which will help in balancing the media industry so that one dominant player cannot rule the roost. Inaugurating the 15th Asia Media Summit (AMS) 2018 in New Delhi on Friday, she said that India will have around 969 million internet users by 2021 and Indian media industry looks upon the digital world not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity. How do we attract, retain and develop talent which frees good content from the trappings of revenue needs and brings about a balance in media institutions, the minister asked.

     

    The 15th Asia Media Summit is being hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, jointly with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi and Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), from May 10 to 12, 2018 in New Delhi. The theme of this year’s Summit is ‘Telling Our Stories – Asia and More’, which would encourage regional and bilateral dialogue and cooperation to respond to challenges to the broadcasting sector in the region.

     

    Giving a perspective of the expanding Indian media industry, Irani said: “India is the fastest growing advertising market expected to touch 10.59 billion US Dollars by the end of 2018 and the mobile spend is estimated to grow to 1.55 billion US Dollars in the year 2018. We have a vibrant media industry which has a direct established impact of Rs 1.35 lakh crore and indirect and induced benefits of Rs 4.5 lakh crore, with close to 4 million people associated with it.”

     

    The minster expressed hope that the Asia Media Summit will throw up new ideas so that we can look at pathways to strengthen media institutions for a better mankind.

     

    Earlier, Vineet Jain, MD, Times of India group discussed regulatory reforms for a fair market place that benefits consumers. Talking about data protection, he said that data is being siphoned by global platforms today and we must proactively protect our national interest by ensuring that data stays within India and that it is protected.

     

    In his welcome address, Sitanshu Kar, DG, PIB talked of India’s strong traditions of storytelling in its 23 major languages and around 720 dialects. He said that due to emerging technologies, we are at the cusp of revolutionary shifts in the way we think and how we tell our stories.

     

    This is the first time that Asian Media Summit is being held in India.

     

     

  • Rather than fighting it out via ads and distribution, both Times Now & Republic TV would do well to concentrate on content

    Time for Vineet Jain & Arnab Goswami to smoke the peace pipe?

     

    By Pradyuman Maheshwari

    There are liars, damned liars and statisticians. And that couldn’t be truer when it comes to TV viewership claims.

    Data can be misrepresented and quoted by slicing and dicing to an unsuspecting public, marking a dwarf look tall. That’s exactly what’s happening in the English News Genre lately.

    There has been a desperate and losing attempt to claim leadership by a phoney claimant whose shrill pitch is pathetic attempt to pass off as relevant. Data is misquoted using irrelevant markets, periods and time bands to selectively project an illusion, much like a silhouette show uses light.

    The trick to read through this is to understand the real currency that matters. In the case of English News it’s the premium NCCS AB, 22+ Male Viewers in the 1 Million+ cities All India. The six Mega City data is also representative. TV channel viewership is compared by all day viewership. Specific time bands are used only when comparing shows and not channels.

    Another way to know, is if the source itself is of highest credibility and known to not resort to such manipulation – someone like Times Network.

    Anything else is simply an attempt to mislead and gain undue benefit.

    No marks for guessing who the ad is targeting. Republic TV, of course. And since the recently launched news channel is all about its founder, editor-in-chief and chief promoter Arnab Goswami, it’s hitting out at Goswami. The phoney claimant whose “shrill pitch” being “a pathetic attempt to pass off as relevant” is hence none other than Goswami, the former Times Now bossman.

    But one must say that the ad has happened after much ‘tu tu main main’ between the bosses of Times Now and Republic TV.

    Sources within the Times Network establishment as well as in the news broadcast industry say that  more than the war of the Times Network (the broadcast arm of the Times of India group), it’s a war of sorts between the group’s managing director Vineet Jain and Goswami.

    Prior to the launch of the Republic, Goswami has compared the battle for supremacy between the two channels like that of a David versus Goliath. There was a controversy around certain trademarks filed for and there was a very clear and loud offensive from both ends.

    At MxM, we have observed each and every move of both channels and both owners, and we can say that both have tried their best to outwit each other. Goswami and his crew have also not stopped short of taking potshots at the Times group, though they may not be be as vitriolic as the text of the advertisement.

    The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) which has the Times Network CEO in its top leadership also got into the act asking for measurement body BARC to not publish Republic TV data because it employed an incorrect trade practice or multiple LCNs. After Republic pledged to the Courts that is not resorting to dual LCNs to shore up its numbers, both channels got into the act of landing pages.

    Landing pages is until now not an illegal practice, but requires a spend of big monies to the distribution trade. According to unverified information that we have received, the collective spends from the two channels per annum would be in the region of Rs 20-30 crore. The bulk of the spends is from Times Now.

    What landing pages helps achieve for both channels is that the viewership numbers leapfrog, but that doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in time spent on the channel. In fact the average could go down as people view a certain channel only for a minute-odd and then switch to the channel of their choice.

    Industry seniors MxMIndia spoke with aver that the amount spent on pushing distribution in an inorganic manner is a waste. I would rather have the monies being spent on newsgathering and improving the quality of the content or even other outreach activities, said one trade captain.

    But the stakes are high for both channels. Republic TV, given the reputation that Goswami had built for himself at Times Now, needed to be on top of the charts to create an impact. And for Times Now, being part of India’s biggest news media company, it needed to show that it’s not dependant on any single individual to stay on as the leader.

    Sadly, the network doesn’t seem to have learnt from its mistake, and in the case of Mirror Now, it is only propping up the channels primetime anchor and editor-in-chief Faye D’Souza.

    Times Now has tried its damnedest to ensure that it doesn’t get affected, but even some insiders concede that the channel has taken a beating post the exit of Goswami. Also, the primetime alternatives that the channel has put up don’t really match up to Goswami.

    However, it is creditable that the channel has not lost out very much, and that has been done thanks to its extensive reach and also editorially, it has ensured that it keeps raising the bar, even though content-wise – and in the pro-Narendra Modi, pro-rightwing genre – Republic is clearly a better channel.

    Sadly, the channels with more neutral content – like India Today and CNN-News18 haven’t been able to measure up on the ratings roster. A more anti-Narendra Modi NDTV 24×7 which has been facing some heat given its financial past has also not been able to put up good numbers on the weekly BARC charts. In fact there was a time when the channel even exited from the Top 5 English news channels.

    According to audience measurement numbers that we have seen, there is a clear inorganic rise of both Times Now and Republic TV. That of the former is very evident given the average numbers it generated before the launch of Republic.

    Our view: For the larger good of the news business, it’s important that both Times Now and Republic TV and specifically Vineet Jain and Arnab Goswami smoke the peace pipe and stop wasting money on pushing distribution. And indulge in this ‘tu tu main main’.

    It’s vital that broadcast trade associations like the IBF and NBA make the two see reason and back off. Let the content do the talking, and not fight via advertising and inorganically generated viewership numbers.

  • Mukesh Ambani continues to be the richest. And Acharya Balkrishna, the brain behind the slew of products bearing the Patanjali brand name, is in the Top 50, at #48

    Samir/Vineet Jain family gallops ahead in Forbes Richest 100 list

    By A Correspondent

     

    It’s that time of the year when the Forbes India Rich List is released. The magazine volume, that’s scheduled to hit shopshelves today, has already revealed some numbers. That Mukesh Ambani continues to be the richest. And Acharya Balkrishna, the brain behind the slew of products bearing the Patanjali brand name, is in the Top 50, at #48.

     

    So how do our media biggies fare?

     

    We got some advance data from the magazine, and we learnt that there are just three whose primary source of wealth is in the media (or so we presume).

     

    They are Subhash Chandra (at #18), the Jain Family at #36 and Kalanithi Maran at #40. Interestingly, and as per our headline, the Jain Family – Samir and Vineet Jain’s family – has moved from #57 to #36.

     

    The others in the table below have investments in media but that’s not the primary source of wealth.

     

    2016 (in billion dollars) Rank 2016 2015 (in billion dollars) Rank 2015
    Mukesh Ambani

    22.7

    1

    18.9

    1
    Hinduja Bros

    15.2

    3

    14.8

    4
    Subhash Chandra

    5.6

    18

    4.8

    18
    Anil Ambani

    3.4

    32

    2.9

    29
    Jain Family

    3.2

    36

    1.85

    57
    Kalanithi Maran

    2.9

    40

    2.6

    32
    Rajan Raheja

    2.55

    45

    2.04

    46
    Anand Mahindra

    1.42

    90

    1.12

    99
    Sanjiv Goenka

    1.4

    91

    1.17

    97

     

     

  • A Soho Square TVC ushers the move to win over rural markets

    Himalaya spreads pimple-free message to hinterland

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading herbal and personal care firm Himalaya Drug Company has launch a TVC to further drive the consumption of its Rs 5 sachet packs within the low population markets.

     

    The TVC has been conceptualised by Soho Square and directed by Chinar Gupte. Through the TVC, Himalaya speaks to the young girls and urges them to face the world confidently and happily as they sport a healthier and pimple-free skin.

     

    Said Rajesh Krishnamurthy, Business Head – Consumer Products Division, The Himalaya Drug Company: “The face wash category in urban India is pegged at 1400 crore and growing at 15%, whereas the rural face wash market stands at 280 crores but growing at 31%. Growing twice as much as the urban market and with 5% penetration, rural market gives us an opportunity to make our leading brand Purifying Neem Face Wash now accessible to millions of new consumers in an innovative sachet pack. With this communication we expect to bring new users to the category and thereby benefit from pimple-free healthy skin.”

     

    Vineet Jain, General Marketing – Consumer Products Division, The Himalaya Drug Company added, “With our new sachet communication, we plan to increase category penetration by driving trials among non-users via providing an affordable price point of Rs 5 for 5 ml (approximately 3 washes). This will help increase user base of the face wash category and drive overall category growth.”

     

    “From a creative point of view, the film continues to leverage the consumer insight that young women hold themselves back when they suffer from a pimple problem,” said Ganga Ganapati VP & Head of Office, Soho Square.

     

  • BCCL will license 'Femina Flaunt' to Shoppers Stop, to design, develop, and retail the brand, exclusively across Shoppers Stop stores

    Femina flaunts partnership with Shoppers Stop

    By A Correspondent

     

    Pardon the forced use of the word flaunt. But the occasion demanded it. Shoppers Stop and Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (BCCL) announced a strategic partnership to extend Femina, one of BCCL’s flagship brands, into the consumer products space. As part of this unique ‘co-create and co-own’ partnership, BCCL will license ‘Femina Flaunt’ to Shoppers Stop, to design, develop, and retail the brand, exclusively across Shoppers Stop stores, in the core fashion categories – apparel, footwear, accessories and bags. Flaunt is the retail identity developed by BCCL for Femina.

     

    Vineet Jain

    Commenting on the partnership, Vineet Jain, Managing Director – BCCL, said, “This is in line with our brand extension strategy to partner with the best-in-class players to unlock immense hidden value in many of our marquee brands. As a group, we’ve always been ahead on the innovation curve, and this partnership is another such example.”

    Govind Shrikhande, Customer Care Associate & Managing Director, Shoppers Stop Ltd. added “In line with our brand philosophy of ‘Start Something New’, we have embarked on a new partnership with the BCCL group to launch ‘Femina Flaunt’ in our stores.  The premium positioning of this brand fits seamlessly into our diverse portfolio of premium brands. We are positive that ‘Femina Flaunt’ will be a huge success with our discerning customers.”

    The ‘Femina Flaunt’ range will be retailed exclusively through 300-400 sq feet of dedicated shop-in-shop space, within Shoppers Stop stores. The range will be launched in the Fall-Winter season this year, and will be available across 20 Shoppers Stop stores to begin with, and going upto 50 stores by year-3.

     

    ‘Femina Flaunt’ range is being developed for the premium space, targeting today’s urban, independent, progressive and discerning woman, who is 25-35 yrs old, working and residing in the top 25 cities.

     

  • Any characters in Thakraney's book resembling people in advertising and journalism, we asked someone in the know. "Yes," we were told. "Especially in the media. He has not even tried to conceal the resemblance too much."

    MediaAsides: Times mulls realty channel, Anil Thakraney’s crime novel characters resemble media folk…

    By Mediaahwallah

     

    And on a day when Pratap Bose has announced his new agency, we are back dearies.  With some goss, some asides and some gupshup.

     

    Times Network to launch real estate channel

    We aren’t sure whether this it’s going to be very high on the ratings roster, but our sources in Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, DN Road and Kamla Mills Compound tell us that it’s going to happen soon.

     

    The spreadsheets have been approved, the sanctions have been got and if all goes as per plan, Times Network will launch a full-fledged channel on the real estate sector.

    If our memory serves us right, in the mid-1990s, NEPC had come up with an exclusive real estate channel. It didn’t last too long.

    But in the case of Times of India group, the real estate sector depends a great deal on the print avatar, so this could well work.

    We will wait and watch.

     

    Lalit Modi takes on Vineet Jain

     

    Lalit Modi
    Vineet Jain

    If you don’t follow Lalit Modi on Twitter, do so now (the handle is @lalitkmodi).

    Obviously reacting to the aggressive coverage on him on Times Now, Modi is now taking the battle to the Times camp, and he has been taking on Bennet, Coleman (the Times of India and Times Now parent company) managing director Vineet Jain in his tweets.

    None of Modi’s attempts to embarrass Jain have been successful so far, as other than tweeting several times all of the weekend, there has been no dramatic claim or expose. Until the time of writing at least.

     

     

    Anil Thakraney’s crime novel has characters having close resemblances with media folk

    Anil Thakraney

    MxMIndia regulars and folks in the ad and media business are familiar with Anil Thakraney’s writings.  Thakraney’s first book – a crime thriller — is due to be released on July 22 and is titled ‘An Invitation to Death’. The story is about a serial killer and is set in contemporary India.  According to info available on Thakraney’s website (anilthakraney.com), the protagonist is Darius Irani, a hyper-intelligent young man who goes on a murderous spree, targeting young, beautiful, urban women, who fall prey to his easy charm, sense of humour and innate madness.

    Any characters in the book resembling people in advertising and journalism, we asked someone in the know. “Yes,” we were told. “Especially in the media.  He has not even tried to conceal the resemblance too much.”

    Aha! One book we are going to pre-book for sure. And since deliveries will happen a month from today, we’ve requested for the first chapter which is available for free.

     

    Can’t wait to play the guessing game!

     

  • Shoppers log out and step into local stores ahead of Diwali over the last weekend

    Despite e-frenzy, crowds throng malls, markets

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Malls and markets in and around Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata were teeming with shoppers scouring for Diwali gifts and grabbing the latest electronic items last weekend, bringing relief to traditional retailers facing an unprecedented heavy discounting onslaught from online retailers.

     

    Supermarkets and consumer durable companies said it is a much better Diwali shopping season — when traditionally the biggest chunk of their annual sales takes place — than last year, thanks to improved consumer sentiments, although some smaller retailers have been impacted by big online sales.

     

    “There is a good number of serious shoppers out there,” said William Bissell, managing director at Fabindia. The retail chain of ethnic garments and furnishings has seen a 31 per cent year-on-year jump in its sales so far this Diwali season.

     

    Vineet Jain, vice president for Big Bazaar in the Delhi region at Future Group, said, “Probably, Sunday is going to be the best single-day sale for us in NCR (national capital region).” Even electronics retailers reported sales jump despite huge discounting offered by e-commerce companies such as Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal, thanks to the decision of top brands such as Sony, Samsung and LG to control supply of their top models to online stores.

     

    “This weekend there has been huge rush in malls and parking spaces too are full after a long time, which is a good sign,” said Ajit Joshi, CEO and MD at Tata Group’s Infiniti Retail that owns Croma electronics retail chain.

     

    “Sales have been extremely good, especially for large appliances like frost-free refrigerators and entertainment products like televisions and home theatres,” he said. This festive season all top companies such as Apple, Sony, Samsung, LG and Lenovo have launched their flagship models, and mostly they were kept away from online stores.

     

    “Some consumers were waiting in the wings for good offers during the ecommerce discount period but since they failed to get their desired product, they are back in the malls,” a senior executive at a top electronics chain said on condition of anonymity. Consumer electronics firms have been banking heavily on this Diwali after poor performance last year when consumers shied away from making costly purchases due to the economic scenario and inflation, and marketers did not launch any big model then. Amar Babu, managing director at Lenovo India, said consumer sentiments have improved and the company expects a good season.

     

    “After last year’s Diwali, the market had become really tough but we are witnessing good demand since last 7-8 days,” he said. Sony India said demand for its flat-screen televisions have soared by 40-50 per cent over the period before Diwali last year, helped by a sudden pickup in the last one week.

     

    Sunil Nayyar, head of sales for Sony India, said the company targets 60-70 per cent sales growth this Diwali, led by heavy demand for flat-screen large televisions of 42-56 inches, which segment is expected to contribute 55 per cent of total sales. Garment retailers such as Pantaloons Fashion and Arvind Lifestyle Brands, too, said Diwali sales had a delayed start.

     

    Offline retailers feel it’s is no longer a month-long festive buying phenomenon as Diwali sales period has been shrinking each year. Less number of shopping days doesn’t necessarily mean lower sales.

     

    “While we saw delayed start to Diwali shopping this year, like-to-like sales growth has increased 10 per cent which we had aimed for,” said Shital Mehta, chief executive officer at Pantaloons Fashion. “The growth was much higher at over 30 per cent on Saturday, which indicates that the next few crucial days leading to Diwali will also be good.”

     

    In fact, while people rushed to the malls in the weekend, they have had a near-deserted look during weekdays. J Suresh, managing director at Arvind Lifestyle Brands, said, “This Diwali, there has been a contrast of sorts with low sales during weekdays and better than expected demand on weekends.” Meanwhile, some apparel and electronic retailers that had built up inventory for Diwali have been caught off-guard by the heavy discounting by e-commerce companies.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

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