MAM

Nationwide lockdown a bold move but needs economic boosters

Published

6 years ago

March 26, 2020

NEW DELHI: The highly-contagious and lethal novel coronavirus, Covid-19, has got the whole world on its knees. With 435,382 global cases and 19,620 deaths (at the time of writing, the virus has forced governments across the globe to take some challenging decisions like locking down whole cities and countries. Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, on Sunday announced a complete lockdown across the country, which has got praises from industry experts.

According to Dentsu Aegis Network CEO APAC and chairman India Ashish Bhasin, the move, which has jolted several Indians into action, will definitely promote Modi’s image as a strong and decisive leader. He notes, “There were countries like the US that were in complete denial but all of a sudden, there were 50,000 cases, half of which were in New York, and there the life continued normally for a long time. But later, they were forced to go into a lockdown. It’s better that we do it now and flatten the curve. It actually saves lives.”

Publicis India MD and CCO Ajay Gahlaut, however, feels that the decision could have come a little earlier. “In hindsight, a little earlier would have been better. But I feel that he came at a very keen time and let people know that the virus is very serious as what is more important right now is the application of social isolation. Now it is to be seen how effectively will it be implemented.”

Brand-nomics managing director Viren Razdan says that there are some inadequacies that this bold move might be trying to cover right now, but will surface soon. “With the global chaos and confusion around the COVID-19, India’s move to lockdown would perhaps be seen as bold and decisive. But as we scratch the surface, one shudders to think the inadequacies this bold move is attempting to cover up. We have taken a huge economic gamble – if it saves us the health hit, that would be great but if we are left exposed despite this bold move, we would have very little to help us cover."

He adds, “Tough times require tough action. While PM Modi has asked of the country ‘a few weeks of your lives’, it's imperative to reciprocate with economic boosters which would travel down to all levels of our society. Repeatedly the government has been requesting enterprise to support their staff – but in the downturn we were already in, it's the enterprise that would need an arm around their shoulder with some solid actions."

Bhasin also feels that government will have to come ahead and help the marginalised section of the society to deal with the pandemic. “The impact on the economy will last much longer, with the production shut down. It is not like we will just switch the factories on and it gets normal the next day. A number of people in India are living at the marginal level and consumption has virtually stopped beyond essential items. It is not a good news for the economy. I am hopeful that this government will bring some stimulus, particularly to alleviate the suffering of the lowest strata of the society.”

Despite the economic consequences, businesses are following the lockdown as health comes first.

Shopclues CEO Sanjay Sethi says, “We fully support the prime minister’s decision to lockdown the nation for 21 days to avoid a surge in the spread of the novel corona virus pandemic. We are following all advisories issued by the government and are working closely with our teams to provide goods and services that our customers need at a time like this. We are able and ready to provide contactless daily essentials to the Indian public.”

He also welcomed the tax and other benefits introduced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman just ahead of Modi’s address. “In view of the current coronavirus pandemic, we welcome the steps taken by our finance minister to allay the rising concerns of the business community in India. Extending the March-April-May GST returns and composition returns deadlines till 30 June, postponing e-invoicing and new returns announced earlier, reduction in interest rates for delayed deposits of TDS — all these steps will enable companies to concentrate on restarting their business processes once the dust settles in the future.”

KidZania India marketing director Tarandeep Singh Sekhon said, “Difficult times call for difficult decisions. And, I completely stand by this lock down initiative. We need to act now for a better tomorrow. We should understand that it is for our better, and at the same time do not panic. Prevention is better than cure.”

New York Burrito Company founder Senil Shah adds, “On the business end, everything will be shut. So there will be a complete loss. Two major fixed costs are rentals and salary. On rentals, we are trying to reduce it. On the salary front, we are not firing any of our guys, as we believe to stand with them in this crucial time. But overall we are positive on the front that when the restaurant industry opens up there will be a spike in sales as so many people who are addicted to eating out are waiting to eat out.”

Teabox founder-CEO Kausshal Dugarr notes, “The current situation has affected us as it has many other businesses as well. We see this more as a supply disruption rather than it disrupting the demand side. However, our category is perennial and we do not see a huge dip in demand. Given the unpredictability and uncertainty that is laid before us, we are taking the necessary steps to reduce overheads and extend our working capital among other things. Embracing an optimistic attitude, we believe and we see ourselves coming out much stronger once the dust settles."

Ontological coach and author Geeta Ramakrishnan says, "This I assume must be a difficult decision for the prime minister and I am in total agreement. COVID -19 pandemic is not to be taken lightly. Especially we have examples of countries like China, Italy and the US to learn from. This 21-day lockdown will hopefully break the exponential growth chain and help our health care resources and system to be better prepared and manage the virus outbreak much better. Yes, it will not be easy and can cause a lot of inconvenience and an economic turmoil which I can’t even fathom. I pray that all my fellow citizens respect their safety and that of all Indians and think this is a small price to pay for the sake of the safety of all our lives."

Related Topics:Coronavirus covid-19 Nationwide lockdown

Up Next

Facebook ad biz weakening despite upsurge in users

Don't Miss

Zee TV brings Alt Balaji’s OTT premium content on TV

Click to comment

Brands

Netflix India names Rekha Rane director of films and series marketing

Streaming giant bets on a seasoned marketer who helped build Amazon and Netflix into household names

Published

2 days ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Netflix has put a proven brand builder at the helm of its films and series marketing in India, naming Rekha Rane as director in a move that signals sharper focus on audience growth and cultural cut-through in one of its most hotly contested markets.

Rane steps into the role after seven years at Netflix, where she has quietly shaped how the platform sells stories to India. Her latest promotion, effective February 2026, crowns a run that spans brand, slate and product marketing across originals, licensed content and new verticals such as games.

A strategic marketing and communications professional with roughly 15 years’ experience, Rane has spent much of her career building technology-led consumer businesses and new categories, notably e-commerce and subscription video on demand. She was part of the early push that introduced Amazon.in, Prime Video and Netflix to Indian homes, then helped turn them into everyday brands.

At Netflix, she most recently served as head of brand and slate marketing for India from March 2024 to February 2026, leading teams across media and marketing for global and local content portfolios. Before that, as manager for original films and series marketing, she led IP creation and go-to-market strategy for titles including Guns and Gulaabs, Kaala Paani, The Railway Men* and The Great Indian Kapil Show, spanning both binge and weekly-release formats.

Her earlier Netflix roles covered product discovery and promotion in India and integrated campaign strategy to drive conversations around the content slate, product awareness and brand-equity metrics.

Before Netflix, Rane logged more than three years at Amazon in brand marketing roles in Bengaluru. There she handled national and regional campaigns for Amazon.in, worked on customer assistance programmes in growth geographies and contributed to the go-to-market strategy for the launch of Prime Video India.

Her career began well away from streaming. At Reliance Brands in Mumbai, she worked on retail marketing for Diesel and Superdry. A stint at Leo Burnett saw her work on primary research for P&G Tide, mapping Indian shoppers’ paths to purchase. Earlier still, at Orange in the United Kingdom, she rose from sales assistant to store manager, running a team and owning monthly P&L for a retail outlet.

The arc is telling. As global streamers fight for attention in a crowded Indian market, executives who understand both mass retail behaviour and digital habit-building are prized. Rane’s career sits at that intersection.

For Netflix, the bet is simple: in a market spoilt for choice, sharp marketing can still tilt the screen. And with Rane now leading the charge, the streamer is signalling it wants not just viewers, but fandom.

Brands

Orient Beverages pops the fizz with steady Q3 gains and rising profits

Kolkata-based beverage maker reports stronger revenues and profits for December quarter.

Published

2 days ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: A fizzy quarter with a steady aftertaste that’s how Orient Beverages Limited, the company that manufactures and distributes packaged drinking water under the brand name Bisleri closed the December 2025 period, as the Kolkata-based drinks maker reported improved revenues and a healthy rise in profits, signalling operational stability in a competitive beverage market.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Orient Beverages posted standalone revenue from operations of Rs 39.98 crore, up from Rs 36.42 crore in the previous quarter and Rs 33.53 crore in the same quarter last year. Total income for the quarter stood at Rs 42.24 crore, reflecting consistent demand and stable pricing across its beverage portfolio.

Profit before tax for the quarter came in at Rs 3.47 crore, a sharp improvement from Rs 1.31 crore in the September quarter and Rs 0.39 crore a year ago. After accounting for tax expenses of Rs 0.79 crore, the company reported a net profit of Rs 2.68 crore, nearly three times the Rs 0.99 crore recorded in the preceding quarter.

On a nine-month basis, the momentum remained intact. Revenue from operations for the period ended December 31, 2025 rose to Rs 117.66 crore, compared with Rs 106.95 crore in the corresponding period last year. Net profit for the nine months climbed to Rs 5.51 crore, more than double the Rs 2.18 crore reported in the same period of the previous financial year.

The consolidated numbers told a similar story. For the December quarter, consolidated revenue from operations stood at Rs 45.06 crore, while profit after tax came in at Rs 2.06 crore. For the nine-month period, consolidated revenue touched Rs 133.57 crore, with net profit of Rs 4.49 crore, underscoring the group’s improving profitability trajectory.

Operating expenses remained largely controlled, with cost of materials, employee benefits and other expenses broadly aligned with revenue growth. The company continued to operate within a single reportable segment beverages simplifying its cost structure and reporting framework.

The unaudited financial results were reviewed by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting held on 7 February 2026. Statutory auditors carried out a limited review and reported no material misstatements in the results.

In a market where margins are often squeezed by input costs and competition, Orient Beverages’ latest numbers suggest the company has found a reliable rhythm not explosive, but steady enough to keep the fizz alive.

MAM

Washington Post CEO exits abruptly after newsroom cuts spark backlash

Leadership change follows layoffs, protests and a bruising battle over trust.

Published

2 days ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: When the presses are rolling but patience runs out, even the editor’s chair isn’t safe. The Washington Post announced on Saturday that its chief executive and publisher Will Lewis is stepping down with immediate effect, bringing a sudden end to a turbulent two-year tenure marked by financial strain, newsroom unrest and public backlash.

Lewis’s exit comes just days after the Bezos-owned newspaper announced sweeping job cuts that triggered protests outside its Washington headquarters and a wave of anger from readers and staff. While newspapers across the US are grappling with shrinking revenues and digital disruption, Lewis’s leadership had increasingly come under fire for how those pressures were handled.

The Post confirmed that Jeff D’Onofrio, a former Tumblr CEO who joined the organisation last year as chief financial officer, has taken over as CEO and publisher, effective immediately. In an email to staff, later shared by reporters on social media, Lewis said it was “the right time for me to step aside.”

The leadership change follows the announcement of large-scale redundancies earlier this week. While the Post did not officially confirm numbers, The New York Times reported that around 300 of the paper’s roughly 800 journalists were laid off. Entire teams were dismantled, including the Post’s Middle East bureau and its Kyiv-based correspondent covering the war in Ukraine.

Sports, graphics and local reporting were sharply reduced, and the paper’s daily podcast, Post Reports, was suspended. On Thursday, hundreds of journalists and supporters gathered outside the Post’s downtown office in protest, calling the cuts a blow to public-interest journalism.

Former executive editor Marty Baron described the moment as “among the darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organisations.”

Lewis defended his record in his farewell note, saying “difficult decisions” were taken to secure the paper’s long-term future and protect its ability to publish “high-quality nonpartisan news”. But his tenure coincided with growing scrutiny of editorial independence at the Post.

Owner Jeff Bezos faced criticism for reining in the paper’s traditionally liberal editorial page and blocking an endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 US election. The move was widely seen as breaking the long-standing firewall between ownership and editorial decision-making.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, around 250,000 digital subscribers cancelled their subscriptions after the paper declined to endorse Harris. The Post reportedly lost about $100 million in 2024 as advertising and subscription revenues slid.

While the wider newspaper industry continues to battle declining print advertising and the pull of social media, some national titles have stabilised. Rivals such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have managed to build sustainable digital businesses, a turnaround that has so far eluded the Post despite its billionaire backing.

As Jeff D’Onofrio steps into the role, the challenge is stark, restore confidence inside the newsroom, win back readers who walked away, and prove that one of America’s most storied newspapers can still find its footing in a brutally competitive media landscape.