ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • Publicis drags CCI to court over access to files in ad cartel probe

    Publicis drags CCI to court over access to files in ad cartel probe

    MUMBAI: Reuters has reported that  Publicis has hauled India’s antitrust regulator to the Delhi high court, accusing it of stonewalling requests for access to case files in a high-stakes price-fixing investigation that has rattled the country’s $30bn media and entertainment sector.

    The Competition Commission of India (CCI) stunned the industry in March with dawn raids on WPP’s GroupM, Dentsu, Publicis, Omnicom and others, probing suspected collusion on publicity rates and discounts. Sources told Reuters the CCI’s early findings suggest the firms coordinated via a WhatsApp group, struck secret deals, and teamed up with broadcasters to freeze out agencies that refused to play along.

    Triggered by Dentsu’s whistle-blowing under the CCI’s leniency scheme in February 2024, the probe could see penalties of up to three times profit or 10 per cent of global turnover for each year of wrongdoing. Publicis, which operates through TLG India, says it cannot prepare a defence without access to the records, and wants the CCI to pause its investigation until the files are handed over.

    The watchdog has yet to comment. The court is expected to hear the case next week.

  • Times change again as Varun Kohli exits, Gopakumar takes interim charge

    Times change again as Varun Kohli exits, Gopakumar takes interim charge

    MUMBAI: Another shuffle at Times Network has set the industry buzzing. Varun Kohli, who joined as chief operating officer barely a year ago, has suddenly stepped down from the role. In the interim, Rohit Gopakumar, currently CEO of entertainment and digital business at The Times Group, has been handed charge of the broadcast business.

    The development comes against the backdrop of CEO M.K. Anand’s exit in July 2024, when he quit after more than a decade at Bennett, Coleman & Co. (BCCL). Kohli was brought in just a month earlier, in June 2024, to oversee the network’s revenue function across its television broadcast business.

    Kohli, a seasoned media professional, moved to Times Network from Bharat Express, where he spent a year and a half as director and CEO. Before that, he briefly helmed Sporty Media Solutionz as CEO and held senior stints at ITV Network (group CEO), Network18, HT Media, and Amar Ujala Prakashan.

    Meanwhile, Gopakumar isn’t new to the media house. He joined the group in August 2023 as CEO of Worldwide Media and was later elevated to lead entertainment and digital. His expanded remit now includes steering Times Network’s broadcast operations during a tricky phase for the industry.

    With two top exits in just over a year, Times Network finds itself once again at a leadership crossroads and all eyes will now be on how Gopakumar steadies the ship.

  • Davaindia rolls out pan-India ‘#CareForAll’ shelters and emergency

    Davaindia rolls out pan-India ‘#CareForAll’ shelters and emergency

    MUMBAI: Zota Healthcare has a retail business called Davaindia, which has been running its #CareForAllcampaign – a community-based shelter and medical response to help with humane care for stray animals throughout the country. As part of this campaign, Davaindia has been systematically establishing outdoor low-cost, weather-proof enclosures that double as feeding stations outside its COCO stores, providing safe areas for community dogs while ensuring they are fed, cared for, and protected from weather extremities. The #CareForAll campaign also partners and works closely with veterinary practitioners, and NGOs focused on animal-welfare to provide humane uptake, vaccination, sterilisation, and sheltering for animals needing long-term shelter. Building on this well-established network and consistent and successful model, #CareForAll is currently embarking on significant scaling in light of the recent order of the Supreme Court of India that ordered no stray dogs remain in Delhi-NCR within eight weeks, with a planned humane approach to adaptation and shelter guarantee.

    Experts and civic authorities caution that acting in large numbers without proper planning can result in public health and welfare issues  from outbreaks of disease to what ecologists refer to as the “vacuum effect,” whereby territorial, vaccinated dogs will be removed and unvaccinated, potentially more aggressive animals will enter the cleared space. Davaindia states that its programme provides a sheltering model with immediate action, mass vaccinations, and sterilisation in specific areas so communities will be safer humanely.

    Talking on behalf of DavaIndia, Healthcare group CEO  Dr.Sujit Paul stated that “Neutering and spaying of dogs is the only sustainable method of mitigating litter at the source — and that, if undertaken in a systemic manner, the communities will be stabilised in a decade, with spay/neuter averages of aprox ₹1000–₹2000 per animal being small costs relative to the human and animal suffering we are preventing. India lacks shelter infrastructure to humanely house millions of stray animals, which is why DavaIndia is trying to address the issue with a community shelter operation at company stores and mass vaccination campaigns. We must also avoid the vacuum effect — i.e. removing territorial attendant to unvaccinated dogs to occupy their territory creating exposure to zoonotic outbreaks of leptospirosis, mange, parvovirus, etc. During visits to South Africa (content that supports community based sheltering in pet food stores) and Georgia (rural community program) I observed radio/RFID tagging and also willing to pilot microchipping and RFID linkage with municipal records whenever possible (to improve accountability and follow up care)”.

     

  • Mankind Pharma launches video campaign featuring Amitabh Bachchan

    Mankind Pharma launches video campaign featuring Amitabh Bachchan

    MUMBAI: Mankind Pharma launched a powerful video campaign featuring legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan to raise awareness about organ donation on World Organ Donation Day. The campaign themed “Live Beyond Your Life” aims to address India’s critically low organ donation rates and encourage more citizens to register as organ donors.

    The sobering reality in India is that for every 10 lakh Indians, less than 1 per cent pledge to donate their organs to those in need. This significant gap between demand and supply has resulted in thousands of patients waiting for life-saving organ transplants, including kidneys, liver, eyes, and hearts.

    Mankind Pharma vice-chairman and managing director, Rajeev Juneja shared, “At Mankind Pharma, we believe that collective action has the power to transform healthcare outcomes. Our organ donation awareness campaign reflects our steadfast commitment to tackling one of India’s most pressing health challenges. Registering as an organ donor is a simple step, yet it holds the power to change and even save multiple lives. By this initiative, we aim to engage with our wider community and honour the compassionate individuals who choose to give the ultimate gift of life. We call upon every Indian to take this pledge and be part of a legacy that continues long after our time.”

    On this initiative by Mankind, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) deputy director, Dr Kanika Rastogi commented, “India’s low organ donation rate has left thousands of patients waiting for a second chance at life. This campaign by Mankind Pharma is an important step in addressing this shortage. By creating awareness and simplifying the process of registration, we can inspire more people to pledge. Just one donor has the power to save up to eight lives, a gift of hope that truly extends beyond our own.”

    Medical experts – Dr. A.K. Bhalla (Sir Ganga Ram Hospital) and Dr. Neelam Mohan (Medanta) – addressed the humanitarian importance of organ donation, dispelled myths and highlighted the vast demand-supply gap in organ availability. They lauded Mankind Pharma’s campaign and reiterated that such social awareness initiatives are vital to spreading the message on the need to donate organs.

    The video campaign featuring Amitabh Bachchan serves as a clarion call to the nation, urging Indians to make an invaluable promise that can save the lives of many. By leveraging the megastar’s influential voice and Mankind Pharma’s commitment to healthcare advancement, the initiative seeks to create a lasting impact on public consciousness about the importance of organ donation.

    This World Organ Donation Day, Mankind Pharma calls upon every Indian to consider the profound impact they can have on society by taking the simple yet meaningful step of registering as an organ donor. The campaign reinforces that the legacy of giving extends far beyond one’s lifetime, creating ripples of hope and healing for generations to come.

  • MediBuddy inspires nation to move with #FitIndiaFestival

    MediBuddy inspires nation to move with #FitIndiaFestival

    MUMBAI: MediBuddy announced the launch of its new campaign, “Let the Movement Begin”, under the #FitIndiaFestival initiative. The campaign is designed to inspire every citizen to embrace daily movement, the campaign celebrates motion not just as a fitness goal, but as an expression of personal freedom, strength, and national pride.

    Inspired by India’s own journey of resilience and progress, the campaign urges citizens to view movement as a commitment to their own health and a contribution to the nation’s strength. Much like India’s fight for freedom was driven by collective action and perseverance, #FitIndiaFestival aims to spark a national movement toward better health. In a time when physical inactivity is quietly affecting well-being, the campaign encourages people to take small, yet powerful steps—whether it’s stretching at your desk, walking with family, or simply standing up after hours of sitting. Every step counts towards a healthier self and a stronger India.

    MediBuddy head of branding, Manu Sankar Das said, “Our nation’s story is one of movement—of people rising, striving, and refusing to give up. This Independence Day, we want to remind every Indian that looking after your health is not just a personal choice; it’s part of the responsibility we share as citizens. Movement keeps us strong, focused, and ready to contribute to the nation’s progress. With #FitIndiaFestival, we want to inspire everyone to take that first step towards better health. The journey to better health is made up of small, consistent actions—and the most important one is the first step.”

    Conceptualised and produced by MediBuddy’s in-house creative team, the campaign film runs 1 minute 4 seconds and is being amplified across digital channels and social media platforms.

  • K Raheja Corp unveils ‘Desh Ki Dhun’

    K Raheja Corp unveils ‘Desh Ki Dhun’

    MUMBAI: Building on the melodies of the past two Independence Days – Pragati Ki Dhun, a tribute to India’s progress, and Azaadi Ki Dhun, a salute to the nation’s freedom, K Raheja Corp now unveils its third edition titled: Desh Ki Dhun, a two-minute crowd-sourced musical celebrating the spirit of everyday India. The musical brings together spontaneous and fun responses from people who interact with the Group’s business verticals – employees and officegoers at Mindspace Business Parks, residents of K Raheja Corp Homes, guests at Chalet Hotels, shoppers at Inorbit Malls and Shoppers Stop, and the labourers on site. Captured in moments of work, leisure, travel, and shopping, these unfiltered voices blend into an uplifting harmony, offering a vibrant tribute to the nation, this Independence Day.

    The film opens with a simple question: “Aapko kya karne se aati hai Azaadi Wali Feeling?” Responses were captured exactly as they were shared – light-hearted banter over chai at the office café, the calm of a home balcony at sunrise, the delight of a complimentary buffet breakfast, the rush of a flash sale. Each unfiltered phrase became a lyric; each natural cadence transformed into a beat. No professional vocalists, just India speaking in its very own authentic voice. The idea is conceptualised by the K Raheja Corp’s Corporate Communications Team, music is composed by the gifted music director Sanket Sane, with visuals directed by Alok Sutar.  

    K Raheja corp head – corporate communications, Cheryl D’souza-Waldiya said “With Desh Ki Dhun, we’ve transformed the everyday voices of India into an ode to Independence Day. By placing real people at the heart of the song, we celebrate the fact that our spaces – from offices to homes, hotels to malls and retail stores, are far more than structures. They are vibrant stages where India’s spirit comes alive each day. Every handshake, every smile, every shared moment adds a note to this anthem of progress, and together, we’re composing a future that is bold, united, and unstoppable.”

    Desh Ki Dhun premieres today on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook handles of K Raheja Corp. Viewers are invited to share their own #AzaadiWaliFeeling moments with #DeshKiDhun.

  • UPL honours India’s unsung heroes this Independence Day with a special film ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’

    UPL honours India’s unsung heroes this Independence Day with a special film ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’

    MUMBAI: This Independence Day, UPL spotlights two of the nation’s strongest pillars –the farmer and the soldier – with the launch of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, an evocative short film released in eight languages.

    The film draws a compelling parallel between two unsung heroes – one guarding our borders, the other safeguarding our food supply. It underscores their shared commitment to nation-building and the equal respect they deserve.

    ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ forms a powerful chapter in UPL’s year-long storytelling initiative, ‘Atoot Vishwas Ki Kahaniya’ – a monthly video series that celebrates the unwavering trust and deep-rooted relationships within India’s farming communities. Hosted on the dedicated YouTube channel Mitti Ke Rishtey – A UPL Initiative, the series brings to life authentic and heartfelt stories of farmers who embody resilience, community spirit, and an enduring bond with SAAF, one of India’s most trusted fungicides. Through these narratives, UPL pays tribute to the everyday heroes who nurture farmlands and safeguard livelihoods, reinforcing the values that keep our nation growing strong.

    Atoot Vishwas Ki Kahaniya

    Commenting on the initiative, UPL SAS CEO Ashish Dobhal said, “At UPL, farmers are at the core of our mission. They are not just stakeholders – they are our partners in progress. This Independence Day, through ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,’ we extend our gratitude to another pillar of our nation – the soldier. Both protect India in their own profound ways, and this film is our tribute to their shared spirit of service and sacrifice.”

    Since its launch, SAAF has been more than just a crop protection solution – it has been a symbol of trust in the fields. By helping farmers combat fungal diseases in crops and safeguard their harvests, SAAF® has played a vital role in securing rural livelihoods. ‘Atoot Vishwas Ki Kahaniya’ captures these connections, spotlighting not only farmers but also retail partners who have helped make SAAF a household name across India’s heartland.

    The campaign, which began in April 2025 and runs through March 2026, will feature 12 short films in total. Five films have already been released, each capturing real-life farmer experiences and exploring powerful themes of trust, family bonds, and journeys of success. With ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ now live, six more films will follow – continuing UPL’s celebration of India’s agricultural spirit and reaffirming its commitment to empowering farming communities. 

  • Fyno Appoints Ali Lightwalla as vice president – sales & partnerships

    Fyno Appoints Ali Lightwalla as vice president – sales & partnerships

    MUMBAI: Fyno announced the appointment of Ali Lightwalla as its Vice President.  In this new role, Ali will lead Fyno’s go-to-market strategy, expand its presence across the BFSI sector, and build long-term strategic alliances.

    Ali brings with him over 22 years of robust experience in sales leadership, strategic partnerships, and business development across the financial services and enterprise technology space. His extensive experience across emerging technologies and global enterprises gives him deep insights into the changing needs of large organizations, especially in the BFSI sector. With his partnership-driven mindset and strategic foresight, Ali is poised to significantly contribute to Fyno’s next phase of growth.

    Prior to joining Fyno, he was associated with Gupshup, where he played a key role in boosting customer engagement and driving platform adoption. Previously, as AGM – Digital Sales at IDEMIA, Ali spearheaded multiple successful digital transformation initiatives. His tenure at Broadcom as Account Director – BFSI further strengthened his expertise in enterprise technology sales. Ali drove impactful sales strategies for the banking sector as Area Director – Banking Sales (West & North India) at Oracle Financial Services Software. At Ernst & Young’s subsidiary C Centric, he enhanced CRM strategy and client engagement, reinforcing his customer-first approach.

    Fyno co-founder & CEO Aniketh Jain said, “Ali’s wealth of experience in enterprise technology and the BFSI sector makes him a valuable addition to our leadership team. His proven ability to drive strategic partnerships, deliver impactful go-to-market strategies, and foster customer success aligns perfectly with our vision of enabling enterprises to take complete control of their customer communication. I’m confident that Ali’s leadership will play a pivotal role in accelerating Fyno’s growth trajectory and expanding our market footprint.”

    Commenting on his appointment, Lightwalla said, “I’m excited to join Fyno at such a transformative stage in its journey. The company’s innovative approach to help regulated enterprises take control of their customer communication while staying fully compliant, combined with its strong focus on delivering value to enterprises, presents tremendous opportunities for growth. I look forward to working closely with the team to strengthen our BFSI presence, build lasting partnerships, and help customers unlock the full potential of their communication strategies.”

  • Digital media veteran climbs WPP ladder in Indonesia’s booming ad market

    Digital media veteran climbs WPP ladder in Indonesia’s booming ad market

    JAKARTA: WPP Media has promoted Mohit Sharma to president of client solutions, elevating a digital media specialist who has spent nearly three years navigating Indonesia’s rapidly evolving advertising landscape.

    Sharma’s ascent reflects the growing strategic importance of southeast Asia’s largest economy for global advertising conglomerates. Indonesia’s digital advertising market has exploded in recent years, driven by rising smartphone penetration and the dominance of platforms like TikTok and Instagram among the country’s 270m inhabitants.

    Since joining WPP Media in October 2022, Sharma has led the Beauty Tech Labs unit, overseeing a 120-person team delivering integrated media solutions spanning traditional planning, performance marketing, e-commerce and influencer communications. His primary client has been L’Oréal, the French cosmetics giant that has made Indonesia a key battleground in its Asian expansion strategy.

    The appointment caps a career trajectory that mirrors Indonesia’s digital transformation. Sharma spent nearly eight years at MEC (now part of GroupM) in India before moving to Essence and then MediaCom, where he served as partner and head of digital and e-commerce for the Indonesian operation.

    His promotion comes as western advertising agencies grapple with shifting client demands and the rise of local competitors across southeast Asia. Traditional agencies have struggled to adapt to the region’s unique social commerce ecosystems, where platforms like Shopee and TikTok Shop blur the lines between entertainment, social networking and retail.

    Sharma’s expertise in e-commerce integration may prove crucial as brands increasingly demand seamless pathways from awareness to purchase. Indonesia’s social commerce market is projected to reach $43 billion by 2025, according to consulting firm Bain & Company, making it a critical testing ground for advertising strategies.

    The move also signals WPP’s confidence in its Indonesian operations at a time when many multinational corporations are reassessing their Southeast Asian strategies amid economic uncertainties and regulatory changes. Indonesia’s advertising market, worth approximately $4.2 billion annually, remains one of the region’s most attractive despite periodic challenges from currency volatility and political shifts.

    For Sharma, the promotion represents validation of a bet on Indonesia’s long-term growth potential. His focus on data-driven strategies and digital-first approaches has aligned with local market dynamics, where mobile-first consumers have largely bypassed traditional desktop experiences.

    Whether his success can be replicated across WPP’s broader southeast Asian operations remains to be seen. The region’s fragmented markets, diverse regulatory environments and varying levels of digital maturity present ongoing challenges for global agencies seeking scalable solutions.

    Yet Indonesia’s importance to WPP’s Asian growth strategy seems assured. With the country’s advertising market expected to grow by 8-10 per cent annually over the next three years, elevating local expertise makes strategic sense—even if it means promoting from within rather than importing talent from established markets.

  • Safed Detergent launches new campaign this Independence Day

    Safed Detergent launches new campaign this Independence Day

    MUMBAI: Safed Detergent from Shantinath Detergents Private Ltd marks this Independence Day with a heartwarming campaign film released on 12 Aug’25 that revives the forgotten purity of Safed. In a middle-class home, a kid asks what to wear for his school’s fancy dress competition. While his parents suggest modern heroes, his grandfather steps in with a simple white chadar and a reminder of what Safed once stood for.

    He recalls how Safed bowed an empire, won us freedom, became a symbol of peace, and showed the path of truth. But somewhere along the way, we forgot the safed in our hearts.

    Safed becomes more than fabric; it’s an emblem of unity, truth, and courage. “With this campaign, we wanted to remind people that the true spirit of freedom lives in keeping our hearts as pure as the Safed we wear,” said Shantinath Detergents Pvt Ltd director Ritum Jain. “Just as Safed keeps clothes spotless, we must keep our nation’s conscience unstained.” And hence we say “· Jab Dil Mein Ho Safed, To Saare Jahan Se Achha Desh.”