ITV

Category: Marketing

  • Google in mood to buy more online display ad firms

    Google in mood to buy more online display ad firms

    MUMBAI: Google is planning to buy more companies to accelerate its presence in the sprawling online display ad sector.

    Speaking to a group of reporters at Cannes International festival of creativity, executive chairman Eric Schmidt said the giant would continue gobbling companies that specialised in managing display ads such as video and banners.

    The move will be a challenge for Facebook and comes even as European regulators examine Google‘s dominant web search position.

    Recently, Google announced its plans to buy AdMeld in a bid to capture a larger pie in the area of graphical display ads.

    We started off with mainly text ads, and now the display business has arrived, which can become a $10-20 billion business, Schmidt added.

    Google made approximately $29 billion in 2010 through its small ads that appear alongside the search results.

    But analysts feel that Google can be better-off, if it diversifies its business with products such as social networking. This can prevent advertisers moving over to social network sites such as Facebook.

    In 2011, Facebook will take over Yahoo to take the top position in online display, according to a report released earlier this week by research firm eMarketer.Consequently, Google is in a buying mood.

  • Cannes 2011: India wins 2nd Gold

    MUMBAI: India’s gold winning continued at the Cannes Lions Festival. The second gold came in the design category with Delhi-based Out of the Box winning it for the work it did for the Mother‘s Pride brand.


    India took its metal tally to 19, collecting eight awards on Wednesday. The collections included two silver and two bronze in the Press category, and one gold, two silver and one bronze in design.


     
    Ogilvy India earned a silver for Perfetti‘s Mentos Sour Marbels
    (Guillotine) campaign while McCann Worldgroup won a silver for Onida’s i21 Mobile.


     
    Grey took home a bronze for its campaign for P&G‘s Downy while Mudra Communications picked a bronze for Union Bank of India (Home Loans). The design category had 1774 entries.


     
    India scored a blank in the Cyber Lions category. The Press Lions category saw an increase in entries of 12 per cent over last year, with 5,415 entries from 74 categories.


    China won its first Grand Prix in the Press category as 99 metals were announced. JWT Shanghai walked away with the top honour for its Heaven and Hell campaign done for Samsonite in China.

  • Mixed debut for Hrithik’s Just Dance

    Mixed debut for Hrithik’s Just Dance

    MUMBAI: Hrithik Roshan shines on Indian television but not as much as the other Bollywood stars have done. And while his debut performance on flagship Hindi general entertainment channel Star Plus has been commendable, audiences on Star One and Marathi regional GEC Star Pravah have just not hooked on to the dance reality show.

    Just Dance‘s debut episode on Star Plus earned a TVR of 3.7 while the Hrithik-powered show clocked 0.5 TVR each on Star One and Star Pravah (simulcast).

    Collectively, the show has mopped up a TVR of 4.7, according to TAM data for Hindi speaking markets (C&S, 4+).

    The debut episodes of other reality shows, with popular actors as hosts or judges, have rated higher on the Hindi GECs. Amitabh Bachchan’s return as anchor of game show KBC 4 on Sony Entertainment Television clocked a 6.2 TVR on debut, while Abhishek Bachcan’s entry on Bingo National Nights (Colors) got a TVR of 5.1. Khataron Ke Khiladi 4 with Akshay Kumar got 3 TVR (ratings was much higher in the earlier editions with Kumar as host), while the third season with Priyanka Chopra got a 5.5 TVR on the opening day.

    “Hrithik has opened weaker on TV but this may not be a fair comparison. In the other reality shows, the Bollywood stars were right at the centre as hosts. Hrithik is part of the jury in this show. Besides, this is a weekend show. When Khataron Ke Khiladi 4 moved to the weekends with Kumar, the ratings were lower,” said a media analyst.

    Star India COO Sanjay Gupta believes the strategy of simulcasting the show on three network channels has worked well. “Just Dance has demonstrated its combined impact in the 4.7 TVR that it has collected. It is the highest show opening for any non-fiction property in 2011. For instance, on Star Pravah the slot rating doubled versus the normal average, demonstrating the power of the content to transcend language and geography,” he said.

    Several media observers, however, feel that Just Dance has to do much more on Star One and Star Pravah to make it a network success show. “Star One, for instance, has gone up by a single GRP to end the week at 38 GRPs. There has to be a stronger pull for the show on Star One and Star Pravah to term it as a success,” a media analyst said.

    As for Star Plus, the show added 20 GRPs (gross rating points) to the channel’s kitty. For the week ended 18 June, Star Plus took its total GRPs to 284, up from 247 GRPs in the trailing week.

    “We created high sampling of the show with a record 25.9 million viewers in the opening episode supported by a high decibel marketing campaign across multiple touch points and an augmented reality experience event. As the show progresses, we are sure it will attract a lot more interest and involvement, thereby making it the ultimate dance reality show on Indian television,” Gupta said.

    The show on Star Plus has attracted 21.6 million viewers. The remaining 4.3 million viewers have come on Star One and Star Pravah.

    “The show was aired just once in the week ended 18 June. We will have to give it more time to see where it settles,” said a media observer.

    A peep into the other GECs: Zee TV, ranked No. 3, added 20 GRPs to its last week’s tally and came threateningly closer to Colors. Zee TV closed the week with 228 GRPs while Colors lost 9 GRPS to end with 230 GRPs.

    For Zee TV, Pavitra Rishta did the trick once again. It stayed as the top-rated show with 6.2 TVR, according to TAM data.

    Sony Entertainment Television remained stable with 161 GRPs (last week 163) while Sab reported 138 GRPs, a loss of 10 GRPs from the previous week. Imagine TV remained at No.6 with 89 GRPs (from 90 GRPs).

    Sahara One fell by four points to end the week with 28 GRPs.

  • Sab awards media duties to MediaVest Worldwide

    Sab awards media duties to MediaVest Worldwide

    MUMBAI: Sab, the Hindi general entertainment channel from the Multi Screen Media (MSM) stable, has awarded its media duties to MediaVest Worldwide after a multi-agency pitch.

    Confirming the news to indiantelevision.com, Sab EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor said, “Yes, we have awarded our media planning and buying duties to MediaVest Worldwide.”

    As per industry sources, the size of the account is close to Rs 200 million. OMD was the incumbent agency.

    Earlier, in March, Sab had given its creative duties to Saints & Warriors.

  • Cannes 2011: Cyber jinx continues

    MUMBAI: The Cyber jinx has followed Indian agencies into the new decade.



    Barring the first year, when Lions were given out for online advertising and promotions, Indian agencies have been making it to the shortlists. However, in 2010 and again this year, none has made it to the list.



    Moreover, having won just once in the category (in 2008 Leo Burnett bagged bronze for Luxor Writing Instruments), the winning rate also hasn’t been very exciting.



    Complete exclusion for two back-to-back years, perhaps, demonstrates advertising fraternity’s eagerness to concentrate more on traditional mediums, and using online only as a secondary medium.

  • Cannes 2011: Lodestar UM wins first Gold for India

    MUMBAI: Lodestar UM wins the first Gold metal for India at Cannes Lions 2011.


    The agency turned triumphant for its campaign ‘The world’s first newspaper on 100% recycled newsprint’ done for Garnier.


     
    In the Media Lions category, besides Lodestar UM, Maxus India won a Silver Lion for Tata Sky in the same category.


    In the Outdoor Lions category, Taproot picked Silver and the Bronze Lions were bagged by Sorento Healthcare and BBDO India.


    Taproot India bagged the Silver Lion for its entries ‘Dalai Lama’, ‘Nelson Mandela’ and ‘Hitler’ for Audio Book India. BBDO India brought home the Bronze Lion for their entries ‘Nuclear’ and ‘Sea level’ entered for White Collar Hippies.


     
    Sorento Healthcare Communications’,‘Osama’/’Bush’, ‘Batman’/’Joker’ for Wockhardt, also managed to strike a chord with the jury and was awarded a Bronze Lion.


     
    McCann Worldgroup, which was the only Indian agency to be nominated in the Radio category, won a Bronze. The agency won a Bronze for their entries ‘Terminator’ and ‘A few good men’ for Mirc Electronics’Onida DVD Players.


    Hence, Indian agencies concluded the fourth day at Cannes with a total of 11 metals, including one precious, Gold.


    The winners in the Press, Design and Cyber Lions categories will be announced tomorrow.


    One expects a better performance then as the winners of Press and Design Lions categories will be announced. Indian creativity has received a total of 19 shortlists in the Press and 11 in Design Lions.


    Also, the performance is expected to be better than the recession-hit 2010, when the total stood at 17, with three Gold, seven Silver and seven Bronze.


    In 2009 and 2008, India had decent standings with 25 and 23 metals respectively.

  • SMG appoints Raghav Subramanian as national director – insights & research

    SMG appoints Raghav Subramanian as national director – insights & research

    MUMBAI:Starcom MediaVest Group has appointed Raghav Subramanian as the national director – insights and research.

    Subramanian takes charge on 1 July and will be based in New Delhi. He will report to Starcom MediaVest Group CEO Mallikarjunadas CR.

    Along with the branch heads of Starcom Worldwide and MediaVest Worldwide as well as the heads for digital and business impact functions, Subramanian will be part of the national leadership team at Starcom MediaVest Group India.

    Subramanian moves in from ZenithOptimedia where he was chief strategy officer.

    Prior to that Subramanian spent nearly a decade with GroupM and its business science division ATG (Advance Techniques Group) in New York. He began his career at Ogilvy in the early 90s and has nearly two decades of experience.

    Says Mallikarjunadas CR, “Raghav comes to us with a wide variety of experience managing analytic projects including econometric modeling. He has seen the media business evolve, over the last decade in one of the most advanced markets. He brings a great amount of passion and knowledge which will help our existing and potential clients benefit from his expertise.”

  • ICL will wait for more disclosures from Modi before acting

    ICL will wait for more disclosures from Modi before acting

    MUMBAI: Lalit Modi’s tweets have brought life into the Indian Cricket League (ICL), the original but defunct T20 format league floated by Subhash Chandra.

    Post Modi’s revelations on how the BCCI pressurised to kill the ICL, the Essel Group has said that it will wait for further disclosures from the former IPL commissioner on how they tried to sabotage the ICL, before announcing their next move.

    “Essel Sports, promoter of ICL, has received lot of queries on the recent disclosures made by a former member of the BCCI, openly admitting to having initiated various actions against the ICL operations,” Essel Group head, group finance and strategy Himanshu Mody said in a statement.

    “These revelations justify our position that the Twenty20 format was conceptualised and formulated for the betterment of Indian and World cricket by ICL and the Essel Group,” Mody added.

    “We await the entire details to be made public as stated by the former BCCI official and will determine the next steps accordingly,” he further added.

    Meanwhile, Lalit Modi, who was also part of the BCCI at that time, wrote on his microblogging site that when he was at BCCI, the mandate given then was to scuttle ICL.

    “BCCI arm twisted every cricket board and ICC to change there constitution. The constitution of every board was changed and ICC made ICL redundant by its act – by making it unauthorised cricket. Worldwide anti competition laws were studied and finally though against most Laws – the ICC changed there constitution to protect its members,” Modi said.

    He clarified his stance, saying that when you work for an organisation – and it gives you a mandate to do something then – its one‘s job to do that to the best of his ability.

    “Yes I was part of the BCCI when we scuttled ICL. That was the mandate of the organisation. It was not my personal agenda. I have no personal issues with ICL. I am of the personal opinion that more competition in the game is good for the game and its players. I have always done what‘s required by any organization I have worked with. Well I guess I do my job well. That‘s why I give results,” Modi wrote.

    He added that BCCI was afraid of Subhash Chandra‘s clout in media and ability to take over the world of cricket. “Internally we knew he would do a better job,” Modi added.

    On the steps BCCI had taken, Modi wrote: “All correspondence related to scuttling ICL and any unauthorised league – will be made available on my website www.lalitmodi.com soon.”

    Finally, he added that it was a “mistake to have systematically used everything in BCCI‘s arsenal to finish ICL”.

    “Yes, we as BCCI called all and sundry to oppose ICL. Cricket associations were told not to give there grounds or fear loosing matches. Players were told do not play for ICL or we will black list you. This then BCCI had to implement through change of constitution. BCCI even terminated Zee Sports contract unfairly as they had launched ICL and BCCI wanted window for IPL., Which I am told is in court now. The final straw was to offer ICL players an amnesty scheme so that they would desert ICL and join IPL. Commentators were called and told do not associate with ICL or BCCI will ensure we will not take you. Umpires were told the same. It was systematically done.

    BCCI than called every member of ICC to ensure that they all help in changing the ICC Constitution to outlaw ICL. ICC set up a three member committee with me, Giles Clarke president ECB and Norman Arendse president CSA to draft the new constitution. We drafted the same and then BCCI ensured it was approved and implemented with lightening speed. Result – Demise of ICL. BCCI even went to the extent of black listing suppliers like TV Production Cos, event managers who worked with ICL. ICC used Bird and Bird a UK based law firm to ensure regulations to stop ICL was made consistent globally. The three member team worked with them,” Modi explained.

    However, BCCI chief Shashank Manohar refused to react on Modi’s allegations. “I don‘t want to react at all to Mr Modi. Modi seems to fascinate the media. He does not fascinate me,” Manohar said.

  • ASCI to take deodorant ads issue on 28 June

    MUMBAI: Advertising industry watchdog, Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), has said that it will discuss the issue ‘‘obscene‘‘ and ‘‘indecent‘‘ deodorant ads at its meeting to be held next week, following directives from Information and Broadcasting Ministry to take action.


    In the recent times, ASCI has received numerous complaints against deodorant companies. Also, I&B Ministry had last month asked the body to take immediate action.


     
    “We had received a letter from the (I&B) Ministry to look into the matter and take suitable actions. The ASCI had already written letters to the companies, which are airing such indecent and obscene ads,” ASCI general secretary Allan Collaco told PTI.


    Collaco added that the issue will be looked into at a meeting of ASCI‘‘s Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) to be held on 28 June.


     
    A few companies have already replied to ASCI‘‘s notices, Collaco informed.


    Advertisements by brands including Wild Stone, Addiction Deo, Set Wet Zatak, Denver Deo and Axe are being questioned.

  • Infosys, Tata top brands in India ahead of Google

    MUMBAI: IT giant Infosys is the lead brand in India while salt-to-software conglomerate Tata occupies the second spot, according to a survey.


    In fact, seven out of the top ten brands in India are native firms. Though global conglomerate Google is ranked third, Maruti-Suzuki and Larsen & Toubro walk away with the fourth and fifth positions, ahead of Nokia. State Bank of India is ahead of Facebook, which ranks eighth.


    The surprise is that global giants such as Microsoft, Apple and GE fail to make it to the list of top 20 brands in India.


     
    The research that was conducted by research consultancy firm GlobeScan for TLG‘s Index of Thought Leaders 2011 says, “India has greater conviction about the leadership credentials of indigenous companies than in the UK; over half of the companies are privately owned or listed in India.”


    The research also underlines that the value of joint ventures (JV) to foreign entrants hoping to crack emerging markets, such as India, is very apparent. Of the foreign firms in the top 20, half of those can be viewed as JVs, such as Maruti-Suzuki (4), Hindustan-Unilever (9), and Hyundai Motor India (20).


     
    Moreover, the study claimed that ‘Thought Leaders‘ in India are not confined, or defined, by sectors; the Index covers everything from ICT to ‘heavy‘ industry to pharmaceuticals, to financial services.


    The respondents to the survey were asked to identify corporate brands with the power to change the attitudes and behaviour of consumers, employees or politicians — defined as “Thought Leaders”.


    GlobeScan Inc Top 20 List for Indian Market:


    1.
    Infosys Technologies
    2.
    Tata Group
    3.
    Google India
    4.
    Maruti-Suzuki
    5.
    Larsen & Toubro
    6.
    Nokia
    7.
    State Bank of India
    8.
    Facebook
    9.
    Hindustan-Unilever
    10.
    Mahindra
    11.
    Hero-Honda Motors
    12.
    LIC of India
    13.
    Bharti Airtel
    14.
    ONGC
    15.
    Aditya-Birla Group
    16.
    The Oberoi Group
    17.
    HDFC Bank
    18.
    Dr. Reddy‘s Laboratories
    19.
    Ranbaxy Laboratories
    20.
    Hyundai Motor India