Tag: ABP Network

  • 15 creative agencies bag top honour across 19 categories

    15 creative agencies bag top honour across 19 categories

    Mumbai: The India Chapter of International Advertising Association (IAA) presented the eighth edition of its prestigious IndAA Awards on 1 September at a ceremony hosted at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai.

    ABP Network and Sony Pictures Network were the co-partner while Network18 and Jio Cinema were the associate partners for the event.

    The awards to honour real advertising that creatively cut through to the market before it could impress the all-client jury saw work by 15 creative agencies take the top honours across 18 product and service categories and one special category.

    The awards saw 102 campaigns being shortlisted of which, by design, only one in each category was awarded. In case of close contests the jury awarded joint winners after much deliberation.  

    Among creative agencies, Leo Burnett, MullenLowe Lintas Group and Ogilvy won three IndIAA Awards each, representing the very best work in that category. BBDO, DDB Mudra and TBWA won two awards each.

    Other creative agencies and creators to win an IndIAA Award were Grey Group, Kehat Kabira Pictures, McCann Worldgroup, Publicis Worldwide, Rediffusion, SG Media, Talented, The Script Room, The Womb and Tilt Brand Solutions.

    Two HUL brands were among winners, in the Food & Beverage and Personal Care categories. HDFC Life won in Insurance while HDFC Mutual Fund won in Banking & Finance.

    Jury chairman and Nestle India chairman & MD Suresh Narayanan said “In my fifth year as the jury chair, I feel intimately acquainted with this room and honoured to be among some of the greatest creative minds in the country- – advertising gurus, communication experts, and marketing wizards.

    Narayana presented a short poem titled ‘Jury Chair ka Sambodhan,’ “a reflection of his five years in this esteemed role.” He then went on to recite a few lines of the same in Hindi which received a hearty applause from the audience.

    IAA president Avinash Pandey sheds light on how the IndIAA Awards exemplify creative excellence and have set the gold standard for creative awards in India. He stated, “It’s been an intriguing year for arguably the most active industry association of its kind. We’ve demonstrated that our industry can be a catalyst for change, particularly in breaking gender bias. We celebrate the winners reflecting the growing synergy between associations and showcasing the remarkable impact of the communication industry. The positive feedback from young leaders has been heartening, and our industry’s enthusiasm for AdAsia remains strong. We’re organising a delegation led by Sam Balsara for AdAsia 23 in Seoul, the largest event of its kind in Asia.”

    IAA IndIAA Awards chairman, Abhishek Karnani said, “IAA Awards are unique because you can’t “enter” them.” A group of seasoned journalists shortlisted 102 campaigns across 19 categories from over a thousand ads. This accomplishes two important goals- first, it ensures that only genuine work is presented to the jury, keeping scam ads at bay, second, it truly democratises the creative process by not charging an entry fee, making fundraising for this grand event a challenging task.”

    He further said, what sets the IAA awards apart is that they are judged by senior marketers who own and invest in the brands. We showcase the transformative power of communication for our beloved country and society, embodying IAA’s unwavering belief in the ability of communication to drive change.

    IAA honoured Ayushmann Khurrana as the “Most Disruptive Brand in Entertainment Industry”. On questioning his criteria while choosing a Brand, he replied, “I believe before taking on a brand it resonates with the credibility of my films. Credibility is everything. I think only going with commercials will be very myopic. My father once told me, ‘Goddess Saraswati comes before Goddess Lakshmi. I always go like that. If you earn respect, nothing like that.”

    Speaking about being an outsider in Bollywood, he said that the first choice had to be truly different and clatter-breaking. “I’ll never get a second chance being an outsider. So it’s all about the choices you make eventually. Everybody is hard-working and talented. It’s the kind of opportunities you get and firmly success is nothing but when preparation meets opportunity,” he avers.

    The Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) felicitated the all-India winners of its maiden Changemakers For Good Awards at the IndIAA Awards 2023. These meaningful awards are to salute those individuals and companies in the communication space who have used their talent to make the world a better place.

    The winners for the four categories were:

    ●   Advertising (for transformational messages) – Lowe Lintas for their International Women’s Day 2022 entry.

    ●   Government (for transformational messaging by a Government arm). –RK Swamy Associated for State Bank of India.

    ●   Industry Leader (someone who led societal change in the last few years).- CVL Srinivas, Country Head, WPP Group.

    ●   Innovation (where technology or approach made the difference) – Lowe Lintas for International Women’s Day 2022.

    IndIAA Winners 2023

  • India Today Group ranks No.1 across CTV: Comscore report

    India Today Group ranks No.1 across CTV: Comscore report

    Mumbai: In the recent Comscore rankings across all CTV environments in the general news and news/information category for the month of August’22, India Today Group claimed the top spot by a huge margin.

    The CTV total video figure for the media conglomerate stood at 45.1 million video streams. The fact that the group’s leadership score trails TV9 Network, Zee Digital, ABP Network, & Network 18 and demonstrates that India Today is the nation’s most followed news broadcaster even when it comes to connected devices, as per the Comscore VMX Device Level CTV report.

    Comscore Video Metrix is a multi-platform rating institution that provides video audience measurement across digital content and advertisements, revealing audience size, reach, engagement, and demographic composition.

  • Comscore: India Today Group leads in digital video general news publisher with highest reach

    Comscore: India Today Group leads in digital video general news publisher with highest reach

    MUMBAI : Comscore’s Video Metrix data for August 2022 has reported the list of highest reach amongst general news publishers. India Today Group tops the list with 106 million viewers, followed by Zee Digital (98 million), ABP Network (80 million) and Network 18 (78 million).

    India Today Group’s consistency in covering and broadcasting matters of national and global importance in a rigorous manner backed by a battery of stellar journalists and ground-reporters has earned it its place of pride in the national digital video publishing space.

    According to Comscore, India Today Group has the highest reach amongst the list of streaming video providers in the news and information category, with 106 million viewers, leaving behind Times Internet (82 million), Network 18 (78 million), ABP News @Youtube (76 million) and TV9 Network (71 million).

    The numbers released by Comscore leave behind competitor offerings by a huge margin in the video reach race and once more place the group at the top spot.

  • India at 75: Brands pay an ode to the nation

    India at 75: Brands pay an ode to the nation

    Mumbai: As the country gears up to celebrate its 76th Independence Day, marking 75 years of the country’s independence from British rule, brands go all out, wearing their patriotic hearts on their logo-emblazoned sleeves in a bid to connect with their consumers. From campaigns that celebrate our nation’s diversity, to videos that convey heart-warming narratives and an awareness of financial independence, to shedding light on social issues, this year’s Independence Day communications are filled with messages of hope and empathy, along with pride.

    Here are a bunch of campaigns and initiatives that stood out to us:

    JSW Paints added colour to India’s Independence Day celebrations with a film that drives home the brand’s promise – “Thoughtful is Beautiful.” Conceptualised by TBWAIndia, the film captures India’s struggle and India’s originality in the same breath. Taking on a challenge that most Indian neighbourhoods face – a problem that no amount of fines, warnings, or well-intended public advisory has been able to solve. Until JSW Paints decided to change the canvas of solutions and presented a bright new answer in blazing tricolour.

    Ahead of the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, Godrej Group released #SoundsOfMakingIndia, the sequel to its Independence Day campaign from 2019, that captured all the industrial sounds that signify progress in the manufacturing ecosystem. The film narrates the story of the Godrej Group’s journey of being an integral part of our nation’s progress while integrating the different businesses of the national brand.

    HDFC Mutual Fund has extended its #BarniSeAzadi campaign (first launched in 2021) to promote financial independence for women. Through this campaign, the company urges women to free their money from traditional savings methods and invest in mutual funds (MFs), so as to give their hard-earned money a chance to grow. The campaign is based on the insight that Indians have always saved money in traditional instruments like “Barnis”, pickle jars, lockers, FDs, etc.

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    Furthermore, HDFC Mutual Fund is organising a unique outdoor activity wherein a gigantic barni will be installed near Mumbai’s Carter Road from 13 to 15 August, where the company will take a pledge from women to not put their money in barnis anymore and use the suitable instrument to grow their money.

    Robin Hood Army (RHA), a zero-funds volunteer organisation that works towards getting surplus food from restaurants and communities to the plates of those less fortunate, has teamed up with media conglomerate ABP Network for Mission75 on India’s 76th Independence Day, where they are serving 75 lakh meals across India. To start conversations about the initiative and the sad reality millions of Indians face, the NGO has partnered with a creative agency, The Minimalist.

    Based on the topic that never goes out of trend, weight loss, The Minimalist conceptualised a clever, provocative film-#KhaaliThaali. The film utilises ‘Khaali Thaali’, a simple tool to depict the brutal reality of many Indians, and delivers a hard-hitting message.

    The static posts were disguised to look like ads for people who have experienced transformative weight loss, only to reveal the grim reality of how they did not have a choice in the matter.

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    LAFZ is a culturally conscious, Halal certified brand headquartered in Singapore and a part of global FMCG conglomerate Believe PTE. To mark the occasion, the brand has released a video that’s a tribute to India’s 76th Independence. The idea was inspired by a famous Islamic saying, “Hubbul Watan Minal Iman,” which means “Loving one’s own homeland is a part of faith.” The video was conceptualised internally by the team. The film reaffirms that love for one’s homeland is unconditional and unbiased, irrespective of religion, colour, caste, and societal status.

    Watch the video here –

    Looking back to the unprecedented time when covid-19 outbreak brought the world to a standstill, and our  defence and police forces stayed on duty, regardless of the deadly pandemic, Hamdard Laboratories launched a national campaign ‘SEHAT HAI TOH WATAN HAI’, paying homage to their valiance. As the eight-month-long campaign launched on 26 January approaches its culmination on India’s 76th Independence, Hamdard celebrated the health of India with multiple activities across its wellness centres from 10 – 14 August 2022. The brand has conducted 75 health camps and touched more than 15,000 lives of brave heroes.

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    Watching patriotic movies and catching the parade on TV never gets old on Independence Day, but why not try out something new this time—like OTT listening? On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Pocket FM brings to you a special audiobook collection to celebrate 75 years of independence and feel your pride and honour for the nation.

    Here’s a list of the top five audiobooks to share with your kin on the occasion: Amar Krantiweer Chandra Shekhar Azad – get to know the courageous tale of the freedom fighter during the Indian Independence movement, My Experiments With Truth-In this audiobook, Mahatma Gandhi has given reminiscences of his childhood, relations with his wife and parents, experiences at school, his study tour to London, his journey to South Africa, experiences of colour prejudice, and his quest for dharma, Jhansi Ki Rani- The audiobook speaks about how the Queen had to repeatedly face gruelling challenges but still drew strength from her adversity. Annihilation of Caste – Listen to this audiobook to hear B.R Ambedkar’s searing takedown of the caste system, Why Am I An Atheist –  an essay written by Indian revolutionary Bhagat Singh in 1930 in Lahore Central Jail. Tune into this book and understand why the freedom fighter was an atheist.

    Finally, is it ever a celebration without having an equivalent one in the metaverse? As we are all set to commemorate India’s 76th Independence Day, digital solutions provider Kiya.ai will be celebrating the occasion in the metaverse. In what the brand claims to be a ‘first-of-its-kind’ initiative, Kiya.ai will celebrate Azadi Kaa Amrit Mahotsav with Har Ghar Tiranga on Bharatmeta, a dedicated zone of Kiyaverse, “India’s first metaverse” on www.bharatmeta.in.

    A virtual experience in Bharatmeta allows visitors to observe the Tricolour hoisted on a virtual monument and explore the zone while listening to patriotic songs.

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  • ABP Network appoints Sameer Rao as CEO of ABP Creations

    ABP Network appoints Sameer Rao as CEO of ABP Creations

    Mumbai: ABP Network has appointed Sameer Rao as chief executive officer (CEO) of its content production arm ABP Creations. He will be operating from ABP Network’s Mumbai office.

    Rao is a seasoned media and entertainment professional, with wide-ranging experience of two decades across television, film, and digital platforms.

    Sameer is a well-regarded senior Indian media and entertainment industry professional with strong expertise in conceptualization, development, and execution of original content. He has formerly worked at YouTube, STAR India, Discovery Communications, Vinod Chopra Films, and UTV Motion Pictures in managerial and leadership roles. Moreover, Sameer holds a PGDBM from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad.

    In the recent past, ABP Studios has shown tremendous potential with its co-produced and critically acclaimed Marathi feature film, “Karkhanisanchi Waari” (Ashes on a Road Trip) which has been streaming exclusively on SonyLiv. The film was nominated into eight categories for the prestigious Marathi Filmfare Awards of which it won three Filmfare Awards including awards for ‘Best Picture’, ‘Best Director’, and ‘Best Supporting Actor Female’. It also had eight nominations for the Maharashtra Times Sanman Awards (MATA) and three wins. “Karkhanisanchi” was selected for the Cannes content market as well, as one of the films that the government used to showcase as an exemplary work in the Marathi cinema.

    “Say Yes to the Dress”, another ABP Studios production, streaming on Discovery Plus, has also been a hit among the audience. The series is an Indian adaptation of the American reality TV series by the same name that gives the audience an exceptional chance to experience the glitz and glamour of it all, as celebrated stylists try to get the brides say ‘yes’ to the elusive dress, whilst making it an intimate, poignant, and memorable experience for the audiences. ABP Studios was hand-picked by Discovery International to produce this runaway hit format for the Indian subcontinent.

    Within a year ABP Studios has bagged an impressive line-up of clients which includes Facebook, Google, Universal, SonyLiv, Hoichoi, Star Pravah, Discovery Plus and National Geographic. In 2022, ABP Studios is excited about developing and presenting content from its recent acquisitions in adventure, horror, and crime drama genres.

    ABP Network CEO Avinash Pandey said “We are pleased to welcome Sameer Rao to the ABP Network family. We are certain that with his expertise and accomplishments, he will take ABP Creations. to greater heights. In this dynamic period of digital growth, his vision will perfectly align with our goals for ABP Creations. I believe that over time, his knowledge, and ingenuity will further contribute to the organization’s success.”

  • NT Summit ’22: How the ever-changing TV news industry is opening up new avenues for marketeers

    NT Summit ’22: How the ever-changing TV news industry is opening up new avenues for marketeers

    Mumbai: As technology advances and consumer habits change due to the pandemic, television newsrooms navigate a new world. The pattern of consuming news content is also evolving with the rise of digital news platforms. The ever-changing landscape of news has witnessed tremendous growth & transformation over the last few years with various channels being launched in multiple languages on a steady basis.

    During a panel discussion on ‘news on television: a marketers delight’ at the recently concluded NT Summit hosted by Indiantelevision.com, the industry insiders explored the challenges and opportunities in the news television segment presented by the new normal. The event, co-sponsored by Dalet, was held recently in New Delhi.

    The panel saw industry stalwarts voice out their opinions & insights on the changes the space is undergoing and on the new avenues it opens up for marketers. Experts deliberated on the impact of news ratings and viewership data on advertising, and how marketers can leverage it.

    The participants on the panel were News18 (HC) vice president and head – marketing and product Aditya Tandon; Zee Media marketing head Anindya Khare; ABP Network chief revenue officer Mona Jain; Just Dial chief marketing officer Prasun Kumar; Policybazaar Insurance Brokers VP & head of brand marketing Samir Sethi; and Maruti Suzuki India senior executive director marketing & sales Shashank Srivastava. The session was moderated by Dentsu Creative India chief executive officer Amit Wadhwa.

    Ratings are key to take media planning decisions

    Talking about the impact that audience measurement ratings such as Barc data has on marketers and brands’ advertising, Amit Wadhwa raised the point of whether the ratings help brands in their media planning decisions. Maruti’s Shashank Srivastava acknowledged that ratings help vastly when it comes to investing in the right news channels for a particular brand/segment, while adding that there has to be a stronger basis for the data measurements. He added that apart from relying on the ratings, the brand has its own checks in place.

    Not being a part of the ratings is not a solution, Srivastava said while noting that there are channels who have gone that route. “That’s a confrontational approach, which is not going to help advertisers or even the platform or broadcasters. We need to find a solution on this by arriving at a consensus for the industry,” he added.

    For this, the measurement parameters have to be defined and it should be done in a way that’s proper, essential, he opined, adding, “We are not going to invest a single rupee without having a strong basis for the investment.”

    Most panelists agreed that ratings are important from a marketer’s perspective, as it bestows a clear picture about where to put in money and in which direction the marketing strategies and planning are moving. However, because of all the controversies around the ratings that one keeps hearing about, even with some channels opting out of it, and so on, it tends to plant seeds of doubt whether the ratings can be solely depend upon by a marketeer, Just Dial’s Prasun Kumar said. So as a marketeer, one does need to apply one’s own thinking and findings on top of the ratings, as Maruti is doing, by having their own checks and strategies in place, he affirmed.

    Having said that without audience measurement and numbers it’s not possible to decide on a solid television plan for a marketeer, said Kumar, adding that he does not know of any other way of doing that.

    Reaching out to the right audience

    Introducing some analytics into the conversation, Policybazaar’s Samir Sethi said that for a lot of digital brands one of the intentions of advertising is to generate immediate call to action from consumers. “What we do apart from looking at ratings when we make decisions on media planning or buying, is to also see the propensity of the eyeball to generate action.”

    “We would basically try and measure if there was a visit generated on our website, post-airing of the ad spot,” continued Sethi. These methodologies help not only in identifying what genres or channels to pick, but also in trying to understand what hours people tend to react more on advertising or on which days of week are better, etc., he added.

    Most of the brand spokespersons on the panel agreed that while the ratings helped them make media decisions, they were definitely not the sole decision-making criteria.

    ABP Network’s Mona Jain pointed out that when the brands are spending so much money on investing in news channels, while also “reaching out to a significant audience that’s an opinion maker”, then it becomes important to deep dive and find which is the slot & which is the prime time that works on which particular channel.

    “Because you’ll find that the dominant part of the TRPs comes from particular time slots,” explained Jain. “So, I would really like marketeers to spend some time analysing and understanding the data better.” There are many who use news genre as a commodity buying, not really looking at it from the point of engaging with the serious consumer that news genre draws, she rued, adding that it’s important too.

    The panel deliberated about the importance of news channels in a media buying spectrum, what they can do differently for better outcomes and on picking the suitable platform for building their brand.

    From the marketeer perspective, what news channels can do differently, Wadhwa asked the panel.

    “We always talk about TV vs digital, as if these are two platforms which are running up against each other,” said Zee Media’s marketing head Anindya Khare.

    “What I feel is that TV news channels need to be more inclusive and convergent, rather than being divergent. Wherein we can be more complementary to each other. If you are in a position to take leverage of the digital medium, for instance, for a particular target group (TG), digital medium may be more relevant and you might be getting a high return on investment (RoI) using digital. I think there is an immense opportunity for both the platforms to exist and grow further, provided there is an intelligence to how to use it in convergence,” added Khare.

    Content is the king in advertising

    From a marketeer perspective, on how to make the news genre work better, News18’s Aditya Tandon emphasised that it’s really about content. “I think technology, digital and all is fine, but for me at heart, it’s really about content. As an advertiser, if we can invest in and create great content, and work with marketers in doing that then I think that’ll never go out of fashion- it’s a win-win for everybody. And that’s an ongoing process that’s never going to end,” he added.

    Speaking from a holistic perspective, Kumar also pointed out that news channels may want to look at “how to arrest the transient audiences that’s moving out of this platform, and create a programming format for stickiness on the platform.” That will also help brands repose faith in a channel,” he added.

    The panelists stated that the whole striking of balance between digital and linear is tough, from a marketer’s viewpoint as it’s a constantly evolving state of affairs. The participants looked forward to the day, the news channels reached some sort of a consensus on a valid audience and viewership data measurement that can be accepted unanimously across the board as a common platform for ratings. They also noted that both from a consumer’s as well as from a marketer’s point of view, perhaps it may be time to move beyond the prime-time news format of debates.

  • ABP Sanjha launches in US on Dish & Sling platforms

    ABP Sanjha launches in US on Dish & Sling platforms

    Mumbai: 24-hour Punjabi news channel ABP Sanjha has launched on American television provider Dish and American streaming service Sling in US.

    Until now, only ABP News was available on several US-based platforms, barring Dish and Sling. ABP Network has partnered with leading South Asian content provider and distributor in North America FYI Media Group for its launch on Dish & Sling platforms in the US.

    With this launch, ABP Sanjha is all set to keep its Punjabi international viewers apprised about every development taking place in Punjab and at large India.

    “The launch will be a monumental booster for the Punjabi communities living in the US to obtain nuanced reports about the current events of Punjab and India in their regional language. ABP Network is fully committed to helping the Indian communities stay connected to their roots by providing detailed information on relevant stories of their hometown making them accessible in the areas where they live,” said a spokesperson from ABP Network.

    Based on estimates, Dish has approximately 13 million subscribers while Sling Television is estimated to have about two million subscribers in the US.

  • ABP Network & IIM Indore enter into MoU to combat fake news

    ABP Network & IIM Indore enter into MoU to combat fake news

    Mumbai: ABP Network has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore to focus on analysing and recommending policy-level interventions combating fake news ecosystems.

    The agreement aims for both parties to collectively investigate the social-psychological underpinnings of fake news and design preventative mechanisms to address this issue.

    Both parties will work towards the development of an informed and open society through a mutual academic-practice collaboration framework.

    ABP Network and IIM Indore will cooperate and collaborate to carry out joint research for developing tools & processes needed for creating an informed society & open society. They will further develop awareness models on digital literacy for the citizens of India. There will also be a provision for short-term training/research opportunities for personnel of ABP Network and IIM Indore. Further, both the parties will also hold joint seminars of mutual interest.

    “With this collaboration, we look forward to a constructive professional relationship with IIM Indore in the years to come,” said ABP Network CEO Avinash Pandey. “ABP Network has always stayed true to its commitment to increasing the scope of an informed and open society. By entering into this agreement, we aim to develop preventive strategies to address the challenges of fake news, its genesis & impact, and develop awareness modules for the general public. We are confident that this partnership will play a pivotal role in the research and development of the dynamic media space and will allow an exchange of a plethora of ideas and strategies.”

    “We are delighted that IIM Indore and ABP Network are signing a MOU. Social consciousness is at the fore in the mission statement of IIM Indore,” said IIM Indore director professor Himanshu Rai. “Through this agreement, we can lay the foundation for building a conscious nation by combining the ground reach of the ABP Network and the intellectual excellence of IIM Indore. This will be done primarily by trying to solve the problem of fake news. According to us, the effect of fake news is not only on individual sensitivity but can also affect social unity and national security. Our journey starts here.”

  • ABP Group completes 100 years in Indian media, launches campaign

    ABP Group completes 100 years in Indian media, launches campaign

    Mumbai: The ABP Group has launched a campaign celebrating its 100-year journey in the Indian media space on Thursday. The network unveiled its centenary logo designed by renowned creative director and writer Agnello Dias and as well as a film. “Both the logo and the film are a reiteration of the foundational ideas of ABP, its core beliefs that have stood the test of time for a century now,” said the statement.

    “ABP Group’s centenary logo represented by the question mark emanates from the fact that curiosity makes everything in life interesting,” said ABP network pvt ltd’s ceo Dhruba Mukherjee.

    “While many forces illuminate ABP’s influence, an unflinching sense of curiosity permeates all the rest. As a result, more than being the sixth sense, this is probably the first for us – an inquisitive gene that drives the primal human need to know more. We believe this iconic logo will best represent our brand identity across media, across different decades, and geographies. With that trust, we chose our centenary year for this excellent occasion to express and capture it once and for all,” he added.

    ABP Network’s ceo Avinash Pandey said, “100 years of curiosity is what built the ABP Group and through the course of that century we have always aspired to help shape thinking through insightful and credible content.”

    “Since inception the name ABP has stood for content that is relevant and unbiased. As we step into the 2nd century of our existence, we look forward to keeping our legacy alive and are committed to work tirelessly to strengthen an informed and open society. Through the Centennial Celebration Campaign, the ABP Group intends to resonate these core objectives with our readers, viewers, stakeholders, and every Indian of today and tomorrow,” he added.

    Agnello Dias said, “Visualizing the journey of the brand ABP Group, we made a film that is a cinematic parable told through the eyes of a little one whose drive sets off the search for a certain geographical destination.”

    “We intended for it to have that surreal yet uncooked emotion that is both innocent and ethereal. The whole campaign around the brand logo captures the most succinct depiction of what the brand stands for as the human face of all questions,” Dias added.

  • Rajat Sharma elected as president of NBDA

    Rajat Sharma elected as president of NBDA

    Mumbai: The News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) has elected Rajat Sharma as president at a meeting held on Monday. The board also elected ABP Network chief executive officer Avinash Pandey as vice president and Times Network managing director and chief executive officer MK Anand as honorary treasurer for the year 2021-22.

    The other members on the NBDA board include News24 Broadcast India chairperson-cum-managing director Anuradha Prasad Shukla; Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing managing director MV Shreyams Kumar; TV18 broadcast managing director Rahul Joshi; Eenadu Television director I Venkat; TV Today Network vice-chairperson and managing director Kalli Purie; New Delhi Television editorial director Sonia Singh, and Zee Media chief executive officer – cluster 1 Sudhir Chaudhary.

    Formerly known as the News Broadcasters Association, the industry body had renamed itself after it decided to bring digital media news broadcasters within the membership of the association. The members at the EGM unanimously passed the modification in the name of the association and amendments to the memorandum and articles of association.

    “I am glad to inform the members that the ministry of corporate affairs, government of India have approved the new name and the amendments to the memorandum and articles of association,” said Rajat Sharma in a statement.

    The ministry of electronics and information technology notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT rules), thereby bringing digital media, including OTT platforms, digital news broadcasters, and news aggregators, for the first time, within the ambit of government supervision.

    The IT rules which have been framed to regulate digital media, not only lay down a code of ethics to be complied by digital news broadcasters but also establishes a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism to ensure observance of the same.

    Similarly, the ministry of information and broadcasting also notified the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021(Cable Amendment Rules) to establish a three-tier complaint redressal structure to ensure observance of the Programme Code and Advertisement Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.

    “NBDA has challenged the constitutionality of both the IT rules and cable amendment rules in the Kerala high court on various grounds including on the grounds that the rules give the government authorities excessive powers to unreasonably and impermissibly restrict the freedom of speech and expression of the media under Article 19 (1)(a) of the Constitution. Interim orders were granted in favour of NBDA in both matters,” observed Sharma. 

    Despite several months having passed, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) ratings have not been restored as yet. “The NBDA board and Barc have had several rounds of discussions to ensure that reliable, credible, tamper-free data is made available to the news broadcasters,” said Sharma.