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Category: Press Release

  • Wavemaker launches South entertainment outpost for brands

    Wavemaker launches South entertainment outpost for brands

    Mumbai: Wavemaker India has unveiled a specialised unit in collaboration with One Mercuri which will focus on helping brands leverage the entertainment and content businesses in South India. The unit will open up a whole new world of collaborations and opportunities for brands and creators.

    The unit will be based out of Wavemaker’s Bangalore office and led by Anilkumar Sathiraju under the leadership of Karthik Nagarajan.

    This is an effort to help corporatise the business of South entertainment, by way of providing brands structured access to entertainment content from the south, right at the conception stage. It will deliver on creating original content IPs, enabling better brand associations in films and OTT content (audio & video), bringing in an era of measurement and collaborations with writer rooms, among other things. The partnership will be a catalyst in developing the symbiotic relationship between brands and the South entertainment industry – one that has under-delivered so far.  

    “We have always focussed on paving newer ways to provide innovative solutions to our clients and partners. Creativity, content and collaboration are the three pillars of this newly launched specialised unit,” said Wavemaker South Asia CEO Ajay Gupte. “We see huge potential in content, partnerships, digital content and content creators / influencers in the next few years. With this unit, our aim is to create a new wave in the entertainment and business space.”

    Southern entertainment industry releases more than 900 films in a year. While Bollywood witnessed a tepid response to the reopening of cinema halls, for example, the Southern films and entertainment industry has led the way. The same is also true in terms of original content creation during the pandemic.

    “The South entertainment industry has always held a great promise for national brands but it is also true that historically this promise has never been realised,” said Wavemaker India chief content officer Karthik Nagarajan. “There are probably two key reasons for this –  the cultural understanding of the South is scarce among national brands and – the entertainment industry here is also more independent in nature compared to Bollywood, which makes tie-ups a bit more challenging. This outpost is an attempt to overcome both these challenges and make brands a significant stakeholder in both South films and streaming content.”

    “In One Mercuri, we not only have a trusted partner to the entertainment industry but also one with a strong understanding of brands,” he further said.

    This first of its kind specialised unit will help create original content IPs on audio and video OTT channels, bring some of the legends in the industry into the digital content-verse and also bring in brand investments into film and streaming content. Wavemaker with its proven track record in content marketing will leverage its expertise in IP creation, audience understanding, measurement and culture scoping for the partnership.

    “A resurgence of quality content from the region which is home to the four thriving film industries besides a large entertainment-hungry viewership, a larger than life fan following base seen nowhere in the world and the content coming out from this region fast attracting global interests and gaining prominence on pan India scale,” commented One Mercuri MD and group CEO Sriram Bakthisaran. 

    “With our already significant presence in the south market having serviced some of the biggest production houses and the celebrities in the past, we feel we are better placed to expand our offerings than before as we jointly venture out to feed all stakeholders including the consumer, the production houses as well as the brands. As Wavemaker has all the experience and know-how with their global exposure, I am very confident that this collaboration will only elevate the industry and set standards for several to follow and benefit,” Bakthisaran added

  • Do Smart TVs Have Security Risks?

    Do Smart TVs Have Security Risks?

    The craze for Smart TVs at homes is through the roof. With the given benefits of watching different shows to browsing Internet on TV, smart TVs are probably on people’s appliances list to buy in the coming years.  

    However, the advent of technology has a dark side apart from user-friendliness and ease of access. With the number of smart gadgets, you have at home, the risks keep multiplying likewise. Similarly, smart TVs also pose major security risks that are sometimes unaware of for the users. 

    Let’s focus on such security risks in this guide and look at ways to overcome them. Read on for more!

    Security Risks Involved With Smart TVs

    Traditional TV sets might sound a big inconvenience to many right now. However, smart TVs come with the concept of “many eyes watching you”. You are no longer under the blanket of privacy or security when it comes to smart TV usage. 

    Let’s have a quick look at ways in which smart TVs pose security risks:

    1. Hacking

    Hacking is now a style statement in the digital era. Any smart device is within reach of hackers and smart TVs are no exception. If your TV has a webcam or microphone, you are no longer having private conversations. Also, hackers mainly target your settings in the application installed on your TV. 

    If your TV is connected to other smart gadgets at home like home security systems, all of these applications are at risk. All the online account information for apps is readily available to hackers. 

    Hackers need a small opening only. Later, the whole system appears compromised. 

    2. Data For Sale

    The threats of your data up for sale from smartphones are present in your smart TVs too. 

    As per the information on security risks, organizations like Vizio were found selling data on what their customers watched frequently to various advertisers. This way, you start getting anonymous phone calls regarding “special offers” that might surprise you. 

    Whatever you thought was unimportant might be worth millions to the right advertisers! 

    3. Malware

    Reports are rife that smart TVs are susceptible to malware or virus attacks. The sole intention of hackers is to gather information about your credit card details that you had used to pay for apps on your TV. Also, another possibility is to freeze your accounts and demand a ransom to free up the usage of your TV. 

    Most of the TVs do not support the use of anti-virus software. However, you see all these attacks happening in the devices regardless of the use of such software. 

    All these sound bizarre, but you can find many instances all over the internet of people becoming victims in this smart TV world. 

    4. Substandard Configuration

    Most of the TV manufacturers forget the security configuration updates in the race against their competitors. Moreover, consumers also play a huge role in having poor configuration/settings in their home smart TVs. 

    Cyberattacks are around the corner when the manufacturer changes the operating system to save a few bucks on their production cost. 

    Also, the users might care less about these points when it comes to settings:

    ● Utilizing insecure protocols
    ● Weak passwords
    ● Trying debugging mechanisms
    ● Enable unused/not needed services
    ● Not checking the authenticity while using some apps
    ● Ports remain open

    Passwords play a crucial role in keeping your smart TV secure. Sometimes, people stick with the default or easy-to-crack passwords for long without thinking about the risks. 

     5. Outdated Software

    The digital world is bringing updates regularly. If the manufacturers do not attempt to update their software and firmware in line with the world’s challenges, your smart TV is more susceptible to attacks. 

    Your new TV suddenly looks outdated within two years. Sometimes, smart TVs are manufactured with no options to have regular updates in software that might give more protection against data stealing and hackers. 

    6. Physical Attacks

    Smart TVs may have ports through which external programs can run on your TV. Usually, strangers can gain access to your data or run a malicious program through devices that resemble a USB stick. 

    Smart gadgets are prone to accept such attacks without any level of security when external devices are plugged in. 
    How To Prevent Security Risks On Smart TVs?

    All these problems may sound alarming to smart TV customers. However, with simple tips and tricks, you can strengthen the security system on your TV to a great extent. 

    Let’s look at ways to prevent or safeguard your smart TVs from security problems:

    Improvise Your Password Hub

    Your smart TV has access to many streaming platform accounts. Also, each of them has a password to enter into your personal account. Try to vary your password between these platforms. Else, hackers wouldn’t find it difficult to hack all your accounts with a similar password. 

    Moreover, use unique and complex passwords. It is easy to store these passwords with a digital locker that you are comfortable with. 

    Regularly Update Your Software and OS

    It is best to visit your settings page once every month to understand if there is an OS update available. Go for it immediately since it might have many bug fixes and enhanced security features in place. 

    Go For Low-Tech

    A built-in webcam or microphone may sound a sweet deal while going for smart TVs. However, the higher the tech, the higher the security risks. Hence, try going for TVs with no built-in snooping extras. 

    Restrict Internet Connectivity

    Many may not accept this option as the TV’s main purpose of being smart is taken away. However, lesser exposure to the internet saves your TV from any cybercrime attacks from hackers. 

    Get To Know Your TV’s Settings

    Most of the consumers are not aware of the security your TV can provide. Hence, go through the entire settings section to strengthen your smart TV’s ability against security risks.

    Use A Secure Router

    The Internet connectivity comes from a router. Thus, you can make your TV secure by opting for all safety measures needed when setting up one. Go for strong passwords and encryption. Also, apply other measures that your router can offer in terms of security. 

    Final Thoughts

    Smart TVs have made the entertainment watching in our homes more active. Although, the whole experience comes with a load of security risks that threaten the existence of our daily life. Hence, with simple measures, we can stay clear of these cyber-attacks. 

    Strengthen your TV’s settings, restrict internet usage and go for low-tech TVs to have a better hand at managing the risks involved. 

  • Aaj Tak returns with latest edition of ‘Agenda Aaj Tak’

    Aaj Tak returns with latest edition of ‘Agenda Aaj Tak’

    Mumbai: Hindi news channel Aaj Tak returns with ‘Agenda Aaj Tak,’ the biggest thought platform for debates and discussions in the Hindi language. The theme of the event is ‘Naye Daur Mein Likhenge Nayi Kahani’ (new stories written for a new age), capturing how a resurgent nation, emerging victorious from the turmoil of the 2020 pandemic is set to write a new chapter of change for itself in various ways.

    The event is set to be held at New Delhi’s Le Meridien Hotel on 3 and 4 December and will bring together India’s most recognisable and celebrated names across the realms of politics, entertainment, business and social welfare to ponder on the big questions that lie in store for Indians as they usher the new year.

    The event will unite marquee leaders to decide the nation’s ‘agenda’ – across its most important spheres.  Bharatiya Janata Party chairman JP Nadda will deliver a keynote on the party’s vision and mission for the upcoming elections while finance minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman will offer insights on India’s financial outlook. 

    The event will also witness the presence of eminent union cabinet ministers like Nitin Gadkari, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kiren Rijiju and Mansukh Mandaviya. This will also be the first time when union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar will be seen addressing a public gathering, post the three controversial farm bills got repealed.

    The event will also be graced by prominent chief ministers like Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Bhupesh Baghel, Arvind Kejriwal, and Charanjit Singh Channi, who will talk about the issues that are relevant to their respective states.

    Leaders like Salman Khurshid, Asaduddin Owaisi, Manish Tewari, Randeep Surjewala across all political spectrum will also mark their attendance in the two-day event. Bollywood celebrities like Aayushmann Khurrana, Kiara Advani, Sara Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon, Sonu Sood, Kartik Aryan, Aanand L Rai, and Ayush Sharma will talk about their individual journeys. Other celebrities like Raveena Tandon, Ashutosh Rana, and Shweta Tripathi who are known to voice out their opinion strong and loud, will be seen participating in an open dialogue.

    Agenda Aaj Tak 2021 will pose and attempt to engage with the biggest questions of the day in empowering, innovative ways- in the nation’s language, to reach and inspire the nation’s most important voices. 

    Viewers can catch all the engaging discussions on Aaj Tak and Aaj Tak HD channels or online – for a live broadcast on www.aajtak.in.

  • Republic Media Network concludes first ‘India Economic Summit’

    Republic Media Network concludes first ‘India Economic Summit’

    Mumbai: Republic Media Network concluded the first edition of ‘India Economic Summit 2021’ on 26 November.

    The event put a spotlight on contemporary economic issues and was attended by union ministers, policymakers, corporate honchos, economists and business leaders at the Taj Palace in New Delhi. The summit was hosted by veteran news anchor Rini Simon Khanna.

    In his address at the summit, Republic Media Network’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami stated that India must not be the marketplace of the world. “We must be the hub of production, the hub of digitisation, the hub of technology, the hub of risk-takers, and the hub of innovation,” he said.

    Union minister of road transport and highway Nitin Gadkari, union minister of commerce and industry, consumer affairs, food and public distribution and textiles Piyush Goyal, union minister of petroleum and natural gas and housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, union minister of women and child development Smriti Irani and union minister of state for entrepreneurship, skill development, electronics and technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar addressed the summit. Leading business personalities like Marico’s Harsh Mariwala, Bharat Biotech’s Dr Krishna M Ella shared their views on the Indian economy.

    One of the highlights of the event was the session on ‘India’s Role in the Global Economy’ presented virtually by reputed global economist and New York University’s Stern School of Business Dr Nouriel Roubini.

    “The massive success and gripping ideation sessions at The India Economic Summit 2021 prove beyond doubt that India’s economy is all geared up for greatness,” said Republic Media Network editor-in-chief, Arnab Goswami. “The first edition of the Summit has infused audiences across the world with confidence that India is a superpower in the making. And it gives me great joy that amidst it all, Republic is poised to lead and expand into new horizons with a massive digital operation.”

    The ‘India Economic Summit 2021’ took place on the back of India rebounding from the pandemic with stellar projections. As the RBI as well as the IMF, estimate the Indian GDP to grow 9.5 per cent making it the fastest-growing economy in the world, the summit was a platform to ideate on the trajectory ahead.

  • News18 India wins ‘Most Admired Brand of the Year’ at ACEF Asian Leaders Awards

    News18 India wins ‘Most Admired Brand of the Year’ at ACEF Asian Leaders Awards

    Mumbai: News18 India, one of the leading national Hindi news channels from News18 Network, has been winning major accolades for its content, formats, and campaigns over the years. Adding another feather to its hat, the channel has recently added one more prestigious award to its growing tally with top honors at the recently concluded ACEF Asian Leaders Awards.

    News18 India has been recognised as the ‘Most Admired Brand of the Year’ in ‘News Sector’ at the ACEF Awards 2021. Apart from this, News18 HSM network also bagged bronze in ‘Most Admired Not For Profit Marketing Campaign’ category for its Corona Control Room.

    During the pandemic, Corona Control Room gave access to a helpline to offer viewers reliable information from renowned healthcare experts. During the campaign, the viewers could call on the 24×7 helpline and register their queries on coronavirus, which were later answered by medical professionals on the channel.

    The ACEF programme is organised by a team of professionals from India, Sri Lanka and UAE and is guided by the advisory members from branding, marketing and creative agencies based in India, the US, Australia, Singapore, UAE, and Sri Lanka.

  • ManoramaOnline unveils its Christmas 2021 campaign

    ManoramaOnline unveils its Christmas 2021 campaign

    Mumbai: Since 2018, Kerala has been violently tossed around by a spate of disasters, from cyclones and floods to the pandemic. But each time, Kerala has bounced back with renewed vigour. Festive seasons like Onam, Christmas, or Vishu have not been celebrated offline as they used to be, thanks to the pandemic restrictions. But these celebrations, without losing a drop of their verve, have migrated to digital/social platforms.

    Possibly why marketers across the country eagerly look at Kerala as a harbinger of the next opportunity. So in Kerala, as the Covid-19 wave shows signs of receding, the people have been storing up their hopes for the upcoming season.

    If the marketing campaigns in Kerala since the lockdown had one common intent it was to communicate the optimism of the Malayali. The way we faced challenges, the way we stayed positive, the way we held on to hope and remained spirited. Together, they painted a sparkling arc of positivity.

    This Christmas season is a part of the positivity. Not the whole news itself.

    Malls, theatres, restaurants, and schools have reopened, optimism is now becoming real. In reality, after 2020 April we have never felt this new.
    And we feel this is a unique opportunity to say just that. Christmas undoubtedly will add more lights and joy to the festival of renewal that has already begun.

    The conceptualisation, strategy, and execution of this campaign are credited to The Local Network.

  • News18 Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh launches ‘Park Ki Peeda’ campaign

    News18 Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh launches ‘Park Ki Peeda’ campaign

    Mumbai: Public parks are a key element in any urban landscape today and with changing lifestyles and increasing construction the importance of public parks has increased manifold. These are areas that create a sense of community besides being the green lungs for the local area.
    Given the importance of these green spaces, News18 Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh has launched a special campaign called ‘Park Ki Peeda’ to put the spotlight on the upkeep of public parks in the two states.

    Often times it is seen that these spaces are not adequately cared for and look visibly unkempt with garbage lying around apart from being frequented by nefarious elements, strays etc. The objective behind the campaign is to highlight the importance of public parks and partner with the concerned authorities to ensure proper upkeep and care of the same.

    The campaign has multiple elements to highlight key aspects of the issue – stories and packages with comments of people about why they feel these parks are important. Special shows and discussions with local authorities, as well as top leaders, are being done to encourage requisite action.

    News18 Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh has been at the forefront of raising and addressing issues that directly concern the people of the two states – this campaign is another step in this direction.

  • Zee 24 Taas to host ‘Udaan – Dare to Dream’

    Zee 24 Taas to host ‘Udaan – Dare to Dream’

    Mumbai: Zee 24 Taas is set to host ‘Udaan – Dare to Dream’ event that aims to shine a light on emerging businesses that are achieving excellence through innovation. The event will celebrate and acknowledge the inspiring stories of achievers, champions, and entrepreneurs who have exemplified leadership, innovation, and perseverance by disruption.

    In the last one and a half years, the pandemic has completely shaken the whole world, but some people gathered the strength in those bleak times and kept pushing to attain perfection in their respective fields. The event will host a panel of industrialists and entrepreneurs who will speak about the complications faced during covid and after covid, and how they have kept up their businesses and helped the employees in that difficult phase.

    The event will be attended by the member of Rajya Sabha Sharad Pawar; union minister of micro, small and medium enterprises Narayan Rane; union minister of State for finance Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, and PWD minister Ashok Chavan among others.

    “Zee Hindustan launched the Udaan – Dare to Dream series earlier this year from the Nation’s Capital City – Delhi. We Come to Mumbai in the next leg of this series where Zee 24 Taas shall be proud to celebrate the people who gave wings to the economy and have inspired everyone with their fighting spirit in such difficult times,” stated Zee Media Corp Ltd CRO Manoj Jagyasi. “By hosting the Udaan – Dare to Dream event we salute and thank them for their wonderful contribution. We shall continue to honour Individuals and Businesses in our line-up of Udaan – Dare to Dream events in Udaipur on 28 November and in Ahmedabad on 30 November.”

  • iTV Network launches NewsX Kannada news portal

    iTV Network launches NewsX Kannada news portal

    Mumbai: One of India’s largest news networks iTV Network on Thursday launched newskannada.com in Bengaluru in the presence of Karnataka chief minister Shri Basavaraj Bommai.

    After clicking open the web portal, the CM wished all the ITV subscribers and stated, “It is heartwarming to see one of the most reliable media houses in the country starting a news portal in Kannada. I am sure NewsX Kannada will give its readers a wide variety of news across different genres. These days people see and hear news more on mobile phones. The future is digital and NewsX has already embarked on this journey. I wish NewsX and its subscribers all the best.”

    The web portal will cater to Kannada news readers across the world with the latest updates and breaking news across segments like politics, crime, cities, cinema, sports, lifestyle, health, national and international news.

    Speaking on the momentous occasion of launching the website, iTV Network founder Kartikeya Sharma said, “The idea of starting a Kannada news portal stems from the fact that there is a dearth of reliable news portals. The fact that we have one of the largest news networks with reporters in the nook and cranny of the country prompted us to explore diversified platforms to cater to the news. While we have been established as one of the leading TV news outlets, the Kannada news portal is our latest venture on the digital platform. It’s just the beginning of a series of such initiatives we have planned across South India to cater to news markets in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala.”

  • Free Dish grows by 11 per cent across rural, urban households: Chrome DM

    Free Dish grows by 11 per cent across rural, urban households: Chrome DM

    Mumbai: Chrome Data Analytics & Media has announced the results for its bi-annual subscriber establishment survey (SES) and released a November report based on a Pan India ground survey conducted between April to June, 2021.

    The periodic study was conducted by Chrome DM to understand the changing landscape of the TV universe, and represents 209.3 million TV households in the country across a sample taking one out of every 175 households. The results capped off a substantial jump in Cable and Satellite (C&S) homes by 7.3 per cent, where the subscriber base has seen a jump from 167.9 to 180.1 million households.

    As per the SES November 2021 report, there has been a sizable growth in Free- Dish by a giant margin of 11.1 per cent where it maintains a northward climb in both rural and urban India. Pay DTH also saw a prominent jump by reaching a net total growth of 8.5 per cent while the same results also showed a progressive rise in digital cable by 4.1 per cent.

    The survey also illustrates the downward decline of the almost extinct analog cable by a remarkable margin of 80.9 per cent. While over 27,755 households retained the analog subscriptions back in December 2020, the number has dropped to just over 5306 households in the month of June 2021.

    Chrome DM founder and CEO Pankaj Krishna said, “OTT is here and TV continues to rule with over 200 million plus base in India.  I am glad to see an upswing in the overall cable & satellite subscriber numbers which have grown from ~167 million in December 2020 to ~180 million now.”

    SES is mainly used by broadcasters to optimise distribution revenues by way of identifying cable network footprints, outline promotions and generate media hype, audit threshold subscription numbers based on Operator’s CAS report and minimise Carriage fee spends – Chrome Distribution Investments Index.

    Chrome SES November 2021 report also offers data and analytics that provide ranging insights which go beyond the broadcast industry. These audits can be used to understand the forthcoming market trends while allowing various media planners and associated advertisers to gather deep insights into the changing fluctuations, viewer distribution and the ever-evolving mood of the subscribers.