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  • Govt sharpens TRP policy: advisory roles out, conflict of interest curbed

    Govt sharpens TRP policy: advisory roles out, conflict of interest curbed

    NEW DELHI: In a move set to shake up the television ratings ecosystem, the ministry of information & broadcasting has proposed amendments to its decade-old policy on television rating agencies in India and opened the floor for public comments.

    The fresh draft tweaks the 2014 guidelines with sharper guardrails. Among the headline changes: rating agencies must now be Indian-registered companies under the Companies Act, 2013, and are barred from offering consultancy or advisory services that could lead to a conflict of interest with their core job—ratings.

    In a bid to declutter the framework, the ministry has deleted clauses 1.5 and 1.7, along with the proviso tagged to clause 1 post explanation.

    (Clause 1.5 basically states that “any member of the board of directors of the television rating company shall not be in the business of broadcasting/ advertising/advertising agency.)

    (Clause 1.7 states that the company shall comply with the following cross holdings requirements, namely.
    (a) No single company/ legal entity, either directly or through its associates or inter-connected undertakings, shall have substantial equity holding in rating agencies and broadcasters/advertisers/ advertising agencies.
    (b) No single company/legal entity, either directly or through its associates or inter-connected undertakings, shall have substantial equity holding in more than one rating agency operating in the same area.
    (c) The cross-holdings restriction will also be applicable in respect of individual promoters besides being applicable to legal entities.
    (d) A promoter company/member of the board of directors of the rating agency cannot have stakes in any broadcaster/ advertiser/advertising agency either directly or through its associates or inter-connected undertakings.
    Explanation: For the purpose of para 1.7, substantial equity shall mean equity of 10% or more of paid-up equity. Having a substantial equity holding in companies shall constitute a cross-holding. Provided that the eligibility conditions stipulated at 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 will not be applicable in the self-regulation model where the industry-led body, such as, Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) itself provides the rating.)

    The new norms will apply not just to future applicants but also to existing players in the market.

    Stakeholders and the general public have 30 days to respond to the draft, preferably via email to the ministry. The consultation marks a significant step towards transparency and credibility in India’s ratings architecture—a space often marred by controversy and trust deficits.

    The complete amendment order and policy guidelines are available on the I&B ministry’s website.

  • Parag Milk Foods elevates Nitin Kanodia to lead the brand’s growth sprint

    Parag Milk Foods elevates Nitin Kanodia to lead the brand’s growth sprint

    MUMBAI: Parag Milk Foods has flexed some serious in-house muscle by elevating Nitin Kanodia as business head of Avvatar, its homegrown sports and active nutrition brand. The move signals the dairy major’s commitment to backing internal talent as it doubles down on India’s protein boom.

    A chartered accountant by training, Kanodia switched lanes from finance to marketing with impressive flair. Over the past few years, he has played a pivotal role in transforming Avvatar from a niche product into a heavyweight challenger to global protein brands, without compromising on desi pride or performance.

    Reflecting on his appointment, Kanodia shared, “It has been an incredible journey — from decoding balance sheets to decoding the minds of modern consumers. Avvatar is not just a product; it’s a mission to bridge India’s protein gap with clean, effective, and trusted nutrition. I look forward to scaling this brand, strengthening consumer trust, and innovating across product formats.”

    Parag Milk Foods executive director Akshali Shah added, “At Parag, we believe individual growth drives organisational success. Our culture values performance, empowers potential, and encourages cross-functional evolution. Nitin’s progression from finance to marketing to leading Avvatar exemplifies this. We remain committed to balancing external talent with nurturing internal leaders, building a future-ready organization driven by entrepreneurship, agility, and accountability.”

    With a rising appetite for clean-label, high-protein products, Avvatar is well-placed to ride the next wave of India’s wellness movement. Under Kanodia, expect the brand to go full throttle and muscling into more shelves, gyms, and breakfast routines nationwide.
     

  • Sabse Pehle Life Insurance campaign gets real about protection-first planning

    Sabse Pehle Life Insurance campaign gets real about protection-first planning

    MUMBAI: In a country racing to become a $5 trillion economy, India is still trailing badly when it comes to protecting its people. The life insurance protection gap has widened to a worrying 87 per cent, with those aged 18–35 facing an even starker shortfall of over 90 per cent, according to a 2023 study by the National Insurance Academy.

    Ringing the alarm bells, the Insurance Awareness Committee—representing all life insurers in India—has launched the next chapter of its pan-India campaign Sabse Pehle Life Insurance. The year-long initiative urges Indians to put protection before profit, making life insurance the foundation of every financial plan, not an afterthought.

    Insurance Awareness Committee (IAC-Life) member said, “Sabse Pehle Life Insurance is not just a slogan—it’s a clarion call to rethink how we approach financial planning. We often treat protection as an afterthought in the endeavour to build wealth. This campaign aims to change that mindset. It is about putting protection first, about securing dreams before chasing them. Just as every structure needs a strong foundation, we should place every financial plan on the bedrock of life insurance. Our goal is to turn awareness into action, ensuring that no Indian family remains financially exposed.”

    At the heart of the campaign is a series of emotionally grounded films and digital content that show how life insurance can be the safety net that keeps families afloat and dreams alive when life takes an unexpected turn.

    The initiative spans television, digital, print, and outdoor media, while a revamped online knowledge hub—sabsepehlelifeinsurance.com—helps people understand coverage needs and make smarter choices.

    The campaign aligns with the IRDAI’s 2024 mandate requiring insurers to reach at least 10 per cent of lives across 25,000 Gram Panchayats. It also comes as the industry boasts a claim settlement ratio of 96.82 per cent within 30 days for FY 2023-24, according to IRDAI’s latest handbook.

    With the sector growing at 9.5 per cent CAGR and projected to accelerate to 10.5 per cent over the next decade, insurers are betting big on shifting public perception—from “maybe later” to “must now.”

    Because in the fine print of every financial dream lies a simple truth: it’s all moot if it’s not protected.

    Child Plan 

    Retirement Plan 

    Term Plan 

     

  • Warner Bros. Discovery saddles up for Tour de France with a high-tech

    Warner Bros. Discovery saddles up for Tour de France with a high-tech

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is shifting gears for this year’s Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, promising wall-to-wall coverage powered by tech, talent and turbo-charged storytelling.

    Starting 5 July, the world’s most iconic cycling race will stream live across every stage on WBD’s streaming services – Max, HBO Max and discovery+ – alongside traditional coverage on Eurosport and TNT Sports. That’s 3,320 km of pedal-powered drama, served in 20 languages across Europe and Asia, with exclusive rights in 44 territories.

    And the peloton doesn’t stop there. The women’s race – the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift — gears up with nine stages and 1,165 km of action, beginning 26 July. It marks the longest race yet on the UCI Women’s World Tour.

    Joining the broadcast caravan is recently retired French cycling legend Romain Bardet. Swapping saddle for mic, Bardet will ride alongside the action as WBD’s newest motorbike reporter for stages 11 to 15. “I’m throwing myself into the unknown,” he said, “but I’ve got the experience and team to bring new insight to fans.”

    He’s part of an all-star commentary squad, including Tour de France veterans Jens Voigt, Adam Blythe, Alberto Contador, and studio anchors Orla Chennaoui, Robbie McEwen, and Ashleigh Wilmot, among others.

    For cycling purists and super fans, WBD is rolling out a game-changer: a new quad screen feature. It lets viewers track breakaways, the peloton and the grupetto simultaneously using real-time footage from motorbikes, drones, and helicopters. It’s tactical, immersive, and perfect for armchair analysts.

    Also back in action is WBD’s award-winning Curve studio with its arsenal of mixed reality tools — think virtual wind tunnels, inclinometers for brutal climbs, and even a digital team bus to unpack race strategies in forensic detail.

    And just in case fans need more than live races, there’s Cycling Africa – The Rise of African Pro Cycling debuting 20 July. The original film features stars like Chris Froome, Biniam Girmay and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio ahead of the historic 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda.

    Ad dollars are racing too, with record commercial investments from brands including Zwift, Whoop, Škoda, Lidl and Velux. Expect bespoke campaigns and in-broadcast storytelling to match the race’s pace.

    With the men’s field headlined by Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel, and the women’s peloton packed with firepower from Kasia Niewiadoma to Demi Vollering, this year’s Tour is shaping up to be an all-out sprint for cycling supremacy.

    In the saddle or on screen, WBD is making sure fans don’t miss a turn of the wheel.

  • Kamali roars onto screens as 3,000 kids chant Shivstuti in record-setting launch

    Kamali roars onto screens as 3,000 kids chant Shivstuti in record-setting launch

    MUMBAI: Zee Marathi pulled off a launch fit for a legend with its new show Kamali, rallying over 3,000 schoolchildren in Thane for a mass chanting of the sacred Shivstuti, a tribute to Maharashtra’s iconic warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The thunderous homage, led by the show’s protagonist Kamali (played by Vijaya Babar), wasn’t just devotional; it was historical. The event has earned a proud place in the World Records Book of India.

    Held on 28 June at the Saraswati Mandir Trust Ground, the high-decibel spectacle began at 10:30 AM and turned into a moving celebration of Marathi pride and cultural legacy. Kamali’s lead cast – Vijaya Babar, Ketaki Kulkarni (Anika), and Nikhil Damle (Rishi) — joined the children in chanting, bringing added star power to a moment steeped in emotion and grandeur.

    The energy was electric. As chants soared and saffron flags fluttered, Zee Marathi received a formal certificate and medal for the record-breaking feat — a public relations dream and a symbolic launchpad for a show steeped in valor, tradition, and female strength.

    With Kamali, Zee Marathi is clearly not here to tiptoe. It’s charging in, script in one hand and sword in the other.

  • Trump’s ‘Victory’ scent muscles into celebrity perfume mania

    Trump’s ‘Victory’ scent muscles into celebrity perfume mania

    MUMBAI: Celebrity perfumes are big business. And now, Donald Trump wants a whiff of victory too. As the current US president and a real estate mogul, he has just added cologne to his ever-growing merchandise empire. His latest launch, ‘Victory 45–47’, is a perfume duo pitched as an olfactory power play, bottled with the promise of “Winning, Strength, and Success.” The perfumes are packaged in stylish boxes — black with gold for men and red with gold for women. The bottles are shaped like miniature statues of Trump.

    Smells like confidence? Certainly. Subtle? Not in the slightest. But that’s the point.

    Trump’s entry into the celebrity fragrance fray marks a bold twist in a trend that’s already one of the most lucrative crossovers in pop culture. Perfume, once the province of Paris and prestige perfumers, is now the ultimate flex for the famous bottled personality, a scent-led story, a sensory souvenir of stardom.

    Celebrity scents are no longer novelty side-hustles; they’re billion-dollar businesses. And for stars with rabid fan bases, launching a perfume line offers more than just revenue as it offers a way to linger long after the applause fades.

    Before Trump spritzed “success,” there was Taylor Swift’s Wonderstruck, Paris Hilton’s Heiress, Jennifer Lopez’s Glow, and Britney Spears’ Fantasy series — sugary, sparkling olfactory time machines for a generation that grew up with them. The Kardashian sisters transformed their brand of reality-glam into perfume bottles shaped like crystals. Each scent sold a persona, a feeling, a filter.

    In India, Shah Rukh Khan dipped into the fragrance scene with an offering as suave as his on-screen presence, while Amitabh Bachchan’s foray echoed his gravitas and enduring appeal. For fans, these perfumes weren’t just products — they were accessible. Affordable. Aspirational. And wearable.

    The process isn’t as simple as lending a name and collecting royalties. Crafting a celebrity fragrance involves late-night mood boards, deep dives into personal stories, and the careful balancing of notes that reflect personality without alienating mass-market palates.

    Top perfumers often sit with celebrities to understand their vision — or at least their vibe. What results is a cocktail of emotion and olfactory chemistry: floral highs, musky lows, and a middle note of “this smells like me.” The packaging? Almost as crucial as the juice. It’s storytelling in glass — and shelf appeal is everything.

    Celebrity scents today are more than aromatic accessories. They’re extensions of personal style, markers of mood, and declarations of fan loyalty. Wearing a celebrity fragrance is not just about smelling good — it’s about aligning with a lifestyle, be it Swift’s soft girl elegance or Trump’s chest-thumping alpha masculinity.

    As social media and AI reshape how fragrances are marketed, the future of celeb scents is set to get even more personalised — think interactive campaigns, name-dropped reels, and algorithm-powered fragrance matches. Fans won’t just buy the perfume; they’ll star in its story.

    Trump’s Victory 45–47 might raise eyebrows, but it also raises an important point: in a world of fleeting fame, fragrance lingers. For celebrities, perfume offers permanence — a way to stay relevant, even when the spotlight dims.

    So whether you reach for Paris Hilton’s sparkle, Swift’s sweetness, or Trump’s testosterone, remember: behind every bottle is a brand, a story, and a scent of ambition.
     

  • Maharashtra’s leaders and changemakers come together for growth agenda

    Maharashtra’s leaders and changemakers come together for growth agenda

    MUMBAI: From politics to pop culture, policy to pop-up enterprises Maharashtra’s growth story got a turbocharged rewrite at News18 Lokmat’s Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 conclave. In a state that rarely slows down, News18 Lokmat’s Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 brought the brakes to the rhetoric and the spotlight to substance. Held in Mumbai, the high-octane conclave brought together an eclectic mix of ministers, entrepreneurs, artists, and policy wonks to discuss what it’ll take to future-proof the state’s prosperity.

    The day kicked off with a sharp, youth-forward panel on the “Future of Maharashtra”, where young leaders like Meghana Bordikar, Varun Sardesai, Rohini Khadse, Shaina NC, and Sangram Kote Patil discussed sustainability, policy innovation, and the missing script of youth engagement. The verdict? Maharashtra’s tomorrow needs fresh ideas, and fresher faces at the helm.

    Aaditya Thackeray turned the political lens inward in a session on the so-called “Maharashtra Pattern of Politics”. Equal parts legacy and local aspiration, his take blended ideology with youth participation underscoring transparency and environmental consciousness as essentials, not options.

    Politics got punchier in a high-decibel discussion featuring Jitendra Awhad, Girish Mahajan, Uday Samant, Imtiyaz Jaleel, Sandeep Deshpande, and Anil Parab. Even as they sparred across party lines, there was one common goal: Maharashtra’s progress must trump political posturing.

    In the economic ring, industry bigwigs like Hemant Rathi, Girish Chitale, Lalit Gandhi, and economist Ajit Ranade headlined “Udhyemi Maharashtra”, championing entrepreneurship and industrial investment as the state’s twin growth engines. The message was clear start-ups and scale-ups are Maharashtra’s real capital.

    Culture took a graceful turn in “Kalapatadi Maharashtra”, with cinema and theatre stalwarts Mahesh Manjrekar, Kedar Shinde, Om Raut, and Bharat Jadhav waxing lyrical about the soft power of storytelling and the soul of Marathi identity.

    Deputy CM Eknath Shinde outlined priorities across infrastructure, rural outreach, and welfare, while chief minister Devendra Fadnavis wrapped up the conclave with a blueprint for a globally competitive and resilient Maharashtra, fuelled by economic reforms and mega infrastructure plans.

    Powered by MIT Design Technology – Pune and Reliance Industries Ltd, with support from MIDC, Sandip University, Rotomag Solar Pump, Pimpri Chinchwad University, LIC Housing Finance Ltd, and Mahagenco, the conclave was anything but a talking shop.

    With meaningful dialogue, sharp provocations, and a collective vision, Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 wasn’t just another networking event, it was a real-time draft of the state’s next growth chapter. Or as one panellist quipped, “Less gyan, more game plan.”
     

  • CloudTV flips the switch on connected TV ads

    CloudTV flips the switch on connected TV ads

    MUMBAI: CloudTV has kicked off its entry into the adtech game with the launch of a new Connected TV (CTV) advertising platform — and it’s not going solo. The company has partnered with Magnite, the world’s largest independent sell-side ad platform, to unlock access to its 12 million+ screen footprint across India.

    With OTT consumption booming and linear TV losing steam, CloudTV’s move is perfectly timed. The platform promises brands direct access to high-value, lean-in audiences via a suite of features powered by Magnite’s SpringServe — from Programmatic Guaranteed (PG) deals to Private Marketplaces (PMPs) and dynamic Real-Time Bidding (RTB).

    The new ad platform also comes with a sleek microsite for media buyers, offering a front-row seat to inventory, insights, and integration opportunities. It’s a pitch for advertisers chasing the holy grail of reach, relevance, and ROI in a fragmenting screen economy.

    CloudTV’s play is clear: get advertisers thinking beyond traditional TV buys and lean into the power of smart screens — one programmatic ping at a time.

  • Trademark wicket falls as Dhoni clears “Captain Cool” legal hurdle

    Trademark wicket falls as Dhoni clears “Captain Cool” legal hurdle

    MUMBAI: From cool finishes to cool trademarks MS Dhoni just scored another off-field win. The former India skipper’s bid to own the phrase “Captain Cool” for entertainment and sports services has crossed a major legal milestone, with the Indian Trade Marks Registry greenlighting his application for publication.

    Filed under Class 41 for services spanning education, entertainment, cultural activities and sports training, the application originally submitted in June 2023 faced initial resistance from the Registry. The hurdle? A prior registration for Captain Cool under the same class by Prabha Skill Sports (OPC) Private Limited, which prompted a formal objection under Section 11(1) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999.

    But Dhoni’s legal team wasn’t bowled over. At a hearing conducted under Rule 115 of the Trade Marks Rules, Advocate Mansi Aggarwal of Vidhi Samhita Advocates argued that “Captain Cool” is inseparably tied to Dhoni’s identity virtually synonymous with his calm, composed demeanour on and off the cricket field.

    The Registry agreed. It held that the term, in Dhoni’s case, was unlikely to cause public confusion given its entrenched association with the cricketer. With that, the objection was waived and the mark was accepted for advertisement under Section 20(1) of the Act.

    The application was officially published in the Trade Marks Journal on June 16, 2025, setting off a four-month statutory opposition window. Any third party that believes Dhoni’s registration infringes their rights or could mislead the public has until mid-October to raise a formal objection.

    If no opposition is filed during this period, Dhoni will secure exclusive rights to use “Captain Cool” for services including sports coaching, entertainment shows, cultural events, and more, a fitting legal badge for a man who made calm look effortless under pressure.

    Whether it’s chasing trophies or trademarks, MS Dhoni continues to play the long game and win.

  • St. Jude India’s gut-punch campaign puts childhood cancer’s cruel urban reality in focus

    St. Jude India’s gut-punch campaign puts childhood cancer’s cruel urban reality in focus

    Mumbai: It’s not just chemotherapy that India’s poorest children with cancer are fighting—it’s the city itself. With “Renu Vs The City”, St. Jude India ChildCare Centres, in partnership with Ogilvy Mumbai, has dropped a hard-hitting campaign that yanks the curtain back on an invisible crisis: families forced to live on footpaths while their kids undergo life-saving treatment.

    At the heart of the campaign is Renu Kadam, a young girl living on the pavement outside a Mumbai cancer hospital. The film follows her harrowing daily routine—dodging traffic, trekking miles for basic needs, and trying to stay hopeful amid the chaos. Her story isn’t fiction; it’s a chilling mirror to the thousands of real families who come to cities seeking free treatment, only to find no roof and no respite.

    St. Jude India ChildCare Centres CEO Anil Nair said, “While cancer treatment has become more accessible and affordable thanks to government schemes, many families still face the challenge of travelling long distances and finding a safe, hygienic place to stay in cities. This film, crafted by the committed teams at Ogilvy India and Hungry Films, sheds light on the struggles of the lesser privileged during treatment.”

    Ogilvy Mumbai executive creative directors, Fritz Gonsalves and Jayesh Raut added, “Working on a brand like St. Jude India ChildCare Centres is truly a privilege. The work that this organisation does is genuinely inspiring. Our sole aim is to raise awareness about the work they do and encourage donations so that the thousands of children who travel to big cities for free cancer treatment are not forced to live on the streets while undergoing treatment.”

    St. Jude’s mission is simple yet urgent: offer a safe, hygienic ‘home away from home’ to kids undergoing cancer treatment. With 45 centres across 11 cities, they provide what hospitals can’t—shelter, dignity, and peace of mind. But the need far outweighs capacity. Each year, 32,000 children require such support, and thousands still fall through the cracks.

    “Renu Vs The City” is not just a tearjerker—it’s a call to action. The film urges viewers to donate, advocate, and amplify. Because no child should have to choose between cancer treatment and a place to sleep.