ITV

Tag: Arvind Kejriwal

  • News channels gear for Delhi election judgment day

    News channels gear for Delhi election judgment day

    MUMBAI: Over 67 per cent of Delhi’s voting population reached polling booths to register their opinion and celebrate the festival of democracy. Many exit polls unanimously predicted Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) victory over Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress. But all speculations and predictions will be over on 10 February, 2015 when the results are declared.

     

    Will it be ‘Abki baar Bedi sarkar’ or ‘Paach saal Kejriwal’ or will Ajay Makan surprise everyone? Will it be a hung assembly or has Delhi voted for a stable government? The entire country will find answers to all the questions via the Indian media and its exclusive coverage.   

     

    Commenting on the judgment day offerings, NDTV 24×7 managing editor Manika Raikwar Ahirwal said, “Prannoy Roy, Dorab Sopariwala and Shekhar Gupta will bring the Delhi Assembly election results to viewers, with live coverage from 7:30 am onwards on NDTV 24×7’s And The Winner Is. Minute by minute updates, easy to read graphics and experts will be on air till the final results are known. Senior anchors Barkha Dutt, Vikram Chandra, Sreenivasan Jain, Nidhi Razdan and Vishnu Som along with NDTV’s wide range of experienced reporters will bring every aspect of this election to the audience. We will also have a special show from 8 – 10 pm discussing the impact and fallout of the results.”

     

    As for Times Now, the channel has named its special coverage Result Day live. A total of 50 reporters will be deployed on the field to cover judgment day developments. The panel will have Arati Radhika Jerath, Ajoy Kumar Ghosh, Sankarshan Thakur, Siddharth Varadarajan, Neerja Chowdhury, Sunil Alagh, Hartosh Singh Bal, Saba Naqvi and R Rajagopalan. Times Now editor in chief Arnab Goswami told indiantelevision.com, “Every election the viewership soars for Times Now. We are the number one choice. All year. And of course on Election Day.”

     

    IBN18 Network CEO Avinash Kaul said, “It is a huge event and we will have exclusive non-stop coverage. We will have a panel of dignitaries and we will discuss every development.”

     

    Network18’s coverage will commence at 6 am on 10 February. CNN-IBN’s special programme is called Mission Delhi: Counting Day Coverage, whereas the IBN7 show is called Dilli Mein Iss Baar Bedi Sarkar?

     

    An ABP spokesperson asserted, “Sophisticated graphics will be created to analyse the trends and results. We have deployed a reporter in each constituency; reporters will also be there in various party offices to track developments.” 

         

    BAG Network chairperson and MD Anuradha Prasad said, “The telecast will start at 7 am and we will have panel discussions throughout the day. We will have 26 reporters scattered in various parts of Delhi, who will update us with all the on-field developments.” 

     

    Besides the technocracy, elections play a vital role in generating revenue. News channels bring in the best of graphic designers and animators to make their show look as exquisite as possible.

     

    When enquired about the commercial interest, Madison COO Kartik Lakshminarayan said, “Election in India is a huge event and news channels cover it with esteemed sophistication. Better presentation attracts bigger brands.”

     

    Helios Media managing director Divya Radhakrishnan opined, “Election is the biggest marketed event of news channels. Delhi assembly election is always rated over other assembly elections and the highly poised contest between AAP and BJP has made it more interesting.”

     

    Platinum Media CEO Basabdutta Chowdhury added, “The ad rates in news channel sees maximum hike on counting day. The build up to the election consists of numerous pre-polls and opinion polls and many brands ties up for that.”

     

    Sources in media buying fraternity revealed that the news channels could see a 200 to 300 per cent hike in ad rates during election coverage depending on their creative offerings. “The hike is maximum on counting day as the entire country tunes in to news channels to get updated,” concluded media experts.

  • Media gives AAP an upper hand as Delhi goes to poll

    Media gives AAP an upper hand as Delhi goes to poll

    MUMBAI: With 12 million voters, 70 seats and four major national parties contesting elections, New Delhi has become the focal point for all the news channels for the next four days. The entire news fraternity is covering the election with esteem supervision, with not even a single incident staying unreported. Interviews, analysis, opinion polls, poll of polls, panel discussions and debates are the daily offerings.

     

    Narrating the political significance of Delhi, NDTV co-founder Prannoy Roy during his show ‘Battleground Delhi’ where he was joined by Shekhar Gupta and Dorab Soopariwala said, “Delhi election is a big big election and the whole question is will there be a continuation of the impact of Modi juggernaut or the Modi juggernaut will hit the pot holes and take a setback.”

     

     The growth of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the downfall of Indian National Congress (INC) have made life difficult for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). No clear picture is evolving from the battle ground and that makes pollsters’ job extremely difficult. Soliciting tweet came from veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, “Suprabhatam! Feel sorry for pollsters. get it wrong, will be accused of being bazaaru if they get it right, will be called tukka!” is what he tweeted.

     

     When asked about the relevance of opinion polls and exit polls BAG Network chairperson and MD Anuradha Prasad told Indiantelevision.com, “Election is a festival of democracy and the surveys are a part of it. The opinion polls do leave a small impact on voters mind.” On the credibility quotient Prasad added, “We have our own team of surveyors consisting of 70 to 80 specialists who are working hard day and night to get the most relevant figures.”

     

    ABP News managing editor Milind Khandelkar added, “We don’t do any on field survey; Ac Nielsen conducts the survey for us which we telecast on all of our channels. We have a distinguished panel consisting of different expertise, and we analyse the numbers to come to a relevant conclusion.”

     

    With elections, comes opinion polls and this time, like every other time, news channels have given out their verdict much before the counting day. As per the ABP + Nielsen opinion polls, Delhi could see a hung assembly with AAP closest to victory with 35 seats followed by BJP with 29 and Congress with 6 seats.

     

    NDTV on its analysis predicts an absolute majority for AAP with 37 seats, followed by BJP with 29 and Congress with 4.

     

    India Today analysis also gives an upper hand to AAP. The venture predicted 38 – 46 seats for AAP, 19 – 25 seats for BJP and 3 – 7 seats for Congress.

     

    The IMRB survey has got a different data. Its data indicated absolute majority for BJP with 36 seats followed by AAP with 29 and Congress with 4.

     

    The ET/ TNS survey gives Kiran Bedi lead BJP an upper hand with 36 – 40 seats. AAP is predicted to get 28 – 32 while Congress was restricted to mere 3 by the surveyors.

     

    Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Sources- BJP workers have given up in many places, similar to how cong workers gave up in last elections. They are completely demoralized.”

     

    Prime Minister Modi urged the youth to cast their votes by tweeting, “As Delhi votes today, urging voters to go out & vote in large numbers. I particularly call upon my young friends to vote in record numbers.”

     

    At the time of filing the report, 64 per cent voters had successfully registered their opinion.

  • Satyamev Jayate’s impact on digital

    Satyamev Jayate’s impact on digital

    MUMBAI: Amidst sporting resurgence, budding talent and encouraging medal hauls, India’s talk show `Satyamev Jayate’ (SMJ) returned for a third season on Star Plus, highlighting the need for holistic improvement in India’s sporting field – a call that won backing from none other than the Sports Minister.

     

    In an unprecedented show of support to SMJ, Minister of youth affairs and sports Sarbananda Sonowal live-tweeted three times during the screening of episode one of season 3, calling for more suggestions to improve the culture of sports in India. “I promise not to leave any stone unturned to make sports a way of life,” the minister had tweeted. 

     

    Sonowal’s tweets were among the more than 200 million impressions created in a single day on 5 October in an overwhelming show of positive sentiments to SMJ. More than 2 million people responded through missed calls to support the show’s initiative.

     

     Star, as part of the `Mumkin Hai’ (change is possible) initiative, separately organised a live dial-in with SMJ’s host Aamir Khan in Chandigarh on the d-day that saw Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar dial-in to share about his initiative called ‘sports4all’ and how sports should be reinforced at the grassroot level.

     

    “Aamir’s @satyamevjayate episode was a déj? vu for me, sports4all will change country’s future #MumkinHai,” Tendulkar said via Twitter afterwards.

     

    Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev also joined the live show and expressing his views, he said, “It is extremely encouraging to see how people in our country today are taking much interest in sports and paying attention to it in so many ways – whether it is in the form of discussions or even making blockbuster movies!”

     

     Sonowal and Tendulkar were joined by the likes of politician Naveen Jindal, former top cop Kiran Bedi, former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in praising the show.

     

    “Felt very good watching prog of @aamir_khan on #MumkinHai on sports! He has spread out for sports what @PMOIndia did for #SwachhBharat,” tweeted Bedi.

     

    “Are authorities at sports federations responsible for the deteriorating conditions of sports in India?”Arvind Kejriwal retweeted Satyamev Jayate’s tweet.

     

    “Satyamev Jayate has done what it does best – initiate a debate and inspire people to aspire for the better,” said Star India co-creator and CEO Uday Shankar. “The overwhelming response shows the thirst for change and that change is possible.”

     

    Over the last three seasons, SMJ’s journey has been remarkable. Unlike shows that fade with time, SMJ has grown to become a positive change agent that continues to grip people from across the length and breadth of the country with issues that concern each and every Indian in the daily life. This can be validated by the immense viewer engagement that the show has received in the past and continues to, even in its third season.

     

    Cricketer Yuvraj Singh was part of the live dial-in held in Chandigarh. He wrote afterwards on Twitter: “Just finished a show with @aamir_khan 4 @satyamevjayate wth kapil Dev. Gr8 topic, Sports builds character n creates a healthy mind n body.”

     

    The show trended for 24 hours in India at No. 1, 2 and 3, and also trended worldwide at No. 1 on Twitter, demonstrating the mass support for the show’s message on sports. SMJ also received huge support from top celebrities on social media including from eminent personalities such as Harsha Bhogle and Virat Kohli.

     

     “Wonderful, moving episode of #satyamevjayate. Never know where champions are coming from, just need to empower more people,” wrote Bhogle on Twitter.

     

    Inspired by the show, Kohli tweeted, “Saw @satyamevjayate yesterday. Hope every school now starts to focus more on sport. Well said @aamir_khansport is education!”

  • Give a missed call and join HUL’s fight against corruption

    Give a missed call and join HUL’s fight against corruption

    MUMBAI: In 2011, when Anna Hazare led the anti-corruption movement along with the likes of Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, the country fed up of the ailment joined in the momentum as well.

     

    People, especially youngsters, wanting a better India, didn’t hesitate to step out of their comfort zone and take the matter in their hands.

     

    Be it a metro or a small village, corruption can be seen everywhere. This anti-social element is not only killing India’s value system, ethical codes and moral chains but also the economy. To counter it, many including brands are doing their bit to change the system.

     

    Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL) Cannes Lions winner, Kan Khajura Tesan, has undertaken an initiative that will take the fight against corruption to every Indian’s doorstep. Since the issue strikes a chord with every Indian, the anticipated response might go on to create a world record.

     

    This independence day week, Kan Khajura Tesan aims to set a world record by getting as many missed calls as possible in 120 hours from the people of India on its toll free number 1800-30-000-123. To pledge against corruption, the audience has to give a missed call on the number from their mobile phones. In return, Kan Khajura Tesan will donate Re 1 for every 100 missed calls received between 13 August and 17 August to the National Anti Corruption Investigation Bureau. Once the consumer gives a missed call to Kan Khajura Tesan, in a few seconds the consumer will receive a call back from the channel to confirm their participation in the endeavour to set a world record along with 20 minutes of free entertainment.

     

    Hindustan Unilever vice president Priya Nair said, “Kan Khajura Tesan is one of India’s biggest, free and on-demand radio channels with over 1.4 crore subscribers and more than 25 crore minutes of radio engagement. With this initiative, we want to use this powerful platform to drive a social change. The initiative of pledging against corruption has never been attempted at this level anywhere in the world yet, and with the support of Indians we want to create a record of which every Indian can be proud.”

     

    Kan Khajura Tesan, the country’s first free and on-demand entertainment mobile radio channel owned by HUL was launched in October 2013 in Bihar and Jharkhand and the service was expanded in August 2014 across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

  • ET NOW decodes the most awaited #Budget2014

    ET NOW decodes the most awaited #Budget2014

    MUMBAI: As the Modi government gears up to present its first union budget, India’s number one business news channel ET Now is set to launch a power packed line up of shows. ET Now will be kicking off its special two-week long comprehensive programming from 30 June, 7:30 pm. Over 10 special shows will be aired in the run up to the big budget that will cover not just key sectoral expectations but also the economic imperatives of this make-or-break exercise. Given the significance of this budget, ET Now has aptly used the tagline ‘The Big Reset’ for its entire budget programming.

     

    Times Television Network managing director and CEO MK Anand said, “This is the new government’s maiden budget and ET Now will bring together leading experts across different fields in India, think-tanks, global investors and the country’s best editorial minds to decipher and analyse the union budget 2014. Through our shows, we aim to reach out to every Indian from industrialists to the common man by providing a detailed coverage on the run up to the budget and the budget day.”

     

    ET Now managing editor R Sridharan said, “We have the most powerful line up of seasoned experts in the business. ET Now will also have the most viewer-friendly screen and the fastest flashes. Our programming line-up caters every key stakeholder in the economy ranging from the CEO to the retail investor.  The viewers’ overwhelming response to our budget 2013 programming is a vindication of the tremendous value that our content delivers.”

     

    Times Now, ET Now and zoom CMO Jatin Bhatt said, “With all eyes on the much-anticipated budget from the Modi government, ET Now has put together an extensive programming line-up that will give audiences a holistic view on the Indian economy and the impact it will have after the union budget 2014 is announced.  For a channel like ours, union budget is an opportunity to present the most engaging and eclectic content that builds credibility among our existing viewers and helps generating new audiences.

     

    ET Now’s budget programming will be led by India’s most respected economist- Swaminathan Aiyar, who is also the channel’s consulting editor. Apart from Swaminathan Aiyar, other prominent economists like Bibek Debroy and Mythili Bhusnurmath will be commenting exclusively on ET NOW.

     

    The key shows are as follows:

    Budget 2014: The Politics of Budget

    Budget 2014 will be the budget presented by the new government in power. ET Now’s policy editor Supriya Shrinate to quiz the biggest political commentators on the politics that will be at play for budget 2014

    Date:  30 June, 7:30 pm

     

    Budget 2014: Cracking the Tax Code

    Panel discussion will focus on the key taxation issues in the run up to budget 2014. Some of the biggest tax experts and lawyers will be analysing the likely tax reforms and their impact on corporate India and the taxpayer.

    Date: 1 July, 7:30 pm

     

    Budget 2014: The Global View

    The show to decode the game changing reforms that could change market sentiment and attract foreign money, the expectations of the investors. Catch top global fund managers and market experts share their budget expectations exclusively on ET Now.

    Date: 2 July, 7:30 pm

     

    Budget 2014: The Market Makers Budget Special

    Stocks editor Nikunj Dalmia to interview big market voices on market expectations from budget and stocks and sectors to watch out for.

    Date: 3 July, 7:30 pm

     

    Budget 2014: Macroscope

    A discussion programme anchored by Mythili Bhusnurmath that gives a view of the macroeconomic imperatives faced by the government, and how the budget is likely to address them.

    Date: 4 July, 7:30 pm

     

    Budget 2014: What Markets Want

    Nikunj Dalmia to interview (three person panel) with three of the biggest market voices analysing the market expectations from budget 2014

    Date: 7 July, 7:30 pm

     

    Budget 2014: Rail Budget

    The Narendra Modi-led NDA government will announce its maiden railway budget in Parliament. Just as the general budget, the rail budget is also keenly watched by experts and the country as a whole. Watch the extensive coverage of the budget only on ET Now with eminent experts from various fields

    Date: 8 July, 11:00 am

     

    Budget 2014: Budget & India Inc

    A panel discussion anchored by ET Now’s national editor Sandeep Gurumurthi. It will bring together the top names from corporate India to talk about how the budget can spur growth, and give an impetus to the reform process. India Inc’s biggest CEOs will share their wish list.

    Time: 7:30 pm

     

    Budget 2014: Eco Survey 2014

    A detailed coverage of annual document of the ministry of finance. In the economic survey programming ET Now will speak to experts about the developments in the Indian economy over the previous 12 months and will also analyse the reforms roadmap of the govt.

    Date: 9 July; 11:00 am

     

    Budget 2014: An Agenda for the FM

    The biggest macro-minds and economists come together to present an agenda for the FM. Catch ET Now’s budget think tank:  Swaminathan Aiyar, Bibek Debroy and  Punita Kumar Sinha present an agenda for the FM. This show will be anchored by ET Now’s policy editor Supriya Shrinate.

    Time: 6:30 pm

     

    Budget Day programming

    The budget day will have budget special programming all through the day with ET Now’s best line of experts comprising CEO’s, economists, market experts and foreign investors.

    Stay tuned to ET Now all this budget season for the most credible and accurate analysis of budget 2014.

  • Media fraternity upbeat about AAP’s way ahead!

    Media fraternity upbeat about AAP’s way ahead!

    MUMBAI: What was once touted as a game changer for Indian politics has fallen flat on its face. So, is an obituary in order for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)?

     

    The fledgling party founded by activist Arvind Kejriwal shook the nation when in its maiden election last year, it emerged the second largest party, winning 28 of the 70 seats in the Delhi assembly

     

    Indians from all walks of life hailed the party. Marketing gurus encouraged brands to learn a lesson or two from it. AAP’s USP was that it gave the common man hope that there would be a better tomorrow, which would be created by, of and for the common man.

     

    AAP caught the country’s imagination to the extent that everyone wanted to be a part of the party and what it stood for. The media fraternity was so taken up that not only did it cover the party’s every move, several journalists left cushy jobs to support the cause.

     

    Former journalists Shazia Ilmi and Manish Sisodia became founding members of AAP which also attracted the likes of K V Sridhar (Pops), Sameer Nair, Meera Sanyal, Manisha Lath Gupta and Ashutosh to its fold.

     

    However, all was lost when Kejriwal quit as chief minister of Delhi and jumped into the battle for the 16th Lok Sabha. Neither the Congress nor AAP could make a dent in the popularity of BJP which went on to win with an overwhelming majority.

     

    Soon after, prominent members of AAP quit the party to the nation it looked like rats leaving a sinking ship but the reasons cited were around differences around leadership and instability.

     

    It can be noted that on 5 June, Maharashtra leaders of the party Anjali Damania and Preeti Menon who resigned from the party, hours later took a u-turn after they were assured of effective communication within the party.

     

    The question then that raises eyebrows is AAP uncertain about its away ahead?

     

    “People joined the party because they wanted to see change. However, with a clear mandate to one party, they are now scattering,” says Scarecrow Communications co-founder Manish Bhat, whose agency even organized an award function named Aam Aadmi Party where it honoured behind the scenes people from the advertising industry on the occasion of its fourth anniversary.

     

    Nonetheless, many from the media continue to support AAP and feel that the hurried decisions of a few members should not impact the real motive for which the party was created.

     

    “The party was started for a noble cause – clean politics – and it still stands for it. There might be a little shake up but that is alright. It will give a chance to the party to rediscover itself and come back with a bang,” says Pops, who continues to support the party. “Right now, India doesn’t have a strong opposition and hence, it is very important for AAP to become one. They are the change agents and need to keep that conscience/hunger alive in the common man’s heart.”

     

    Like Pops, former Axis Bank CMO Manisha Lath Gupta, who quit her job for the party, believes that flux is needed for a party to grow stronger and rediscover itself. “One must not forget that AAP is still the only entity which will and can raise voice against all the ills gripping our society,” she says. “People might say that the party is crumbling, but it is not. After the national executive meeting, I am sure that we will remerge like a phoenix.”

     

    “It’s a standard revolution procedure,” says former media executive Sameer Nair who had joined the party to support and contribute to its communication strategy. He adds, “Even large companies go through similar situation when there is any change (win or a loss).”

     

    As much as there are members who left AAP after the Lok Sabha debacle, there are others who refuse to let go of the ideology of the party they supported so passionately.

  • Launch of ‘Modi Tsu’namo’ mobile game by Milestone Interactive Group

    Launch of ‘Modi Tsu’namo’ mobile game by Milestone Interactive Group

    MUMBAI: With BJP’s recent win and Narendra Modi all geared up to take charge of India, Milestone Interactive Group, India’s leading game publishing, marketing, retail and distribution organization has launched the Modi Tsu’namo’ mobile game. The game is available on the Google Play Store and celebrates the spirit of elections in a fun and casual manner whereby the player has to match at least three or more faces of popular Indian election candidates including Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and Mamta Banerjee in a single swipe of each leader in any continuous motion combination and earn points. Combinations containing Modi will fetch more points than those containing any other leader. Play the game and celebrate this win for Modi and for India and lead the change by sharing it on Facebook.

    Commenting on the launch of the game, Mr Jayont R. Sharma, Chairman & CEO, Milestone Interactive Group said, “The win for BJP and Narendra Modi in the recent Loksabha elections, has encouraged us to launch theModi Tsu’namo’ mobile game. The game is part of our celebration of this momentous occasion. We are certain that with all the support Shri Narendra Modi has garnered, the players will have a good time playing this mobile game.”

    The game is available on: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.milestone.moditsunamo

  • Elections 2014: News channels ‘Modi’fy

    Elections 2014: News channels ‘Modi’fy

    NEW DELHI: Even as television channels are trying to be one up on the other in the coverage of the counting process and the general election results, most channels reflected a common perception:that the results were individual-based and not party-based.

    In fact, most channels had the faces of Narendra Modi when showing the results of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), that of Rahul Gandhi when showing the fate of the Indian National Congress (INC), of Arvind Kejriwal when reflecting how the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was doing, and so on. The party symbols of these parties were curiously missing from the studio reportage, even as these appeared during the live coverages from all over the country.

    Doordarshan News expectedly was the most sober in its coverage even as it was a little behind the other channels in showing the trends or results, but surprisingly even Times Now appeared to move a bit slowly with the trends and results even as it succeeded in getting a large number of panelists and politicians on board throughout the day.

    Even Lok Sabha TV (LSTV) and Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) joined the fray for the first time to show the results. However, while LSTV confined itself to showing figures taken from Doordarshan accompanied by a live panel discussion, RSTV had live coverages from different parts of the country in collaboration with DD.   

     

    Clearly, NDTV 24×7 and ABP News captured a large number of eyeballs with their graphic presentations. NDTV 24×7 showed graphic presentation of the Lok Sabha, with a majority of seats occupied with yellow-coloured figures representing the BJP, and the numbers changed as the trends and results emerged.

    Aaj Tak had moving caricatures of Modi, Gandhi and Kejriwal reflecting the fate of their respective party, with Modi dancing with joy, Gandhi brow in frustration, and Kejriwal looking crestfallen in place of the party symbols.

    Interestingly the poll figures remained on screen even during the commercial breaks, reflecting the interest of the viewer.     

    As expected the presentations on the main news channels were led by their heads including Prannoy Roy of NDTV, Arnab Goswami of Times Now, and Rajdeep Sardesai of CNN-IBN.

    One common repeat throughout the day on all channels were the shots of Modi meeting and taking the blessings of his aged mother after his Vadodara victory and the run of the party for which he is the Prime Ministerial candidate.

     

    While Times Now appeared very cluttered with too many figures running simultaneously along with several visuals at the same time, channels like Zee News, ABP News, NDTV 24X7, P7, India News, CNN-IBN and NewsX caught the eye with their graphics and presentation.

     

    The interest in the Indian elections overseas was reflected by BBC Global News, as it went live several times during the day and had a live translation of all press meets being addressed in Hindi. CNN in comparison showed little interest as it only mentioned the results or trends from time to time.

    Clearly, all the channels were out to outdo each other as far as presentation was concerned vis-a-vis live graphics and coverage, and some like Times Now, ABP News, CNN-IBN and NDTV 24X7 catching the eye with their sets, with ABP News and NDTV 24X7 being most innovative.

    But it was clear that all the channels probably spent much more than the budgets initially earmarked by them for today. An earlier report had said that the channels had put aside Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore for the day, but one reporter of a channel told indiantelevision.com that the amount would go higher.

     

    Certain common points of discussion emerged throughout the day: was it the victory of Modi, the BJP workers or the RSS (an issue raised by both LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj during the day); will Rahul resign, accepting responsibility; did the allies matter since the BJP had emerged strongly on its own; was this high vote for BJP a rejection of many that it was a communal party; whether BJP leader Giriraj Singh who had made some very damaging statements should be removed from the party; why Sonia and Rahul Gandhi did not take questions and just made statements (Rahul was ready to face question, but left on Sonia’s gesture); and why were Dr Manmohan Singh and Arjun Kejriwal conspicuously missing. Advani and Sushma Swaraj’s attribution of the victory to BJP workers and the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh; and the virtually plastic smile on the face of Rahul also made for a lot of talk on TV channels and social media.

    But apart from the TV channels and even All India Radio including FM Gold which went live from 8:30 am in the morning, the social media was as active. While live coverage by way of latest figures appeared on sites like yahoo.in, Twitter was very active and was quoted throughout the day by TV channels whenever any personality including Modi and LK Advani sent tweets.

     

    Several interesting cartoons came on the internet, particularly Facebook, from individuals. One had a cartoon of Rahul Gandhi’s smiling face with the use of a BJP slogan: ‘Acchey din aaney waley hain, hum naani ke ghar jaane waaley hain’ (Good days are coming, we will go to our grandmother’s house) while another had a poster of ‘Dabbang 3’ with the photo of Modi. Some wanted to know if the victory of the film personalities was that of the individuals or the party they represented.    

    Even as the results started coming in the afternoon, the focus shifted entirely to the major personalities in the fray. And it will be interesting to note the conjectures of the channels about possible portfolios, particularly since most TV channels had got the exit polls right by predicting the victory of BJP.

  • 7 things that could blow your mind on 16 May

    7 things that could blow your mind on 16 May

    MUMBAI: Come Friday, every news channel has promised hours of the latest and extensive election result updates by their anchors and arm chair experts. Almost all channels in their excitement to grab eyeballs will begin their coverage from 6 am as the world waits with baited breath to know the mandate of the nation.

     

    As almost everyone is glued to their sets and expecting a common possibility to pour out, we from the team of indiantelevision.com bring you seven such wacky yet possible outcomes that could be contrary to what is expected in the biggest election of all times.

     

    What if…

     

    •Rahul Gandhi loses Amethi and Kejriwal wins Varanasi

    This will be a fortune teller’s delight and an astrologer’s worst nightmare come true. Narendra Modi won’t have much to worry as he still has another safe seat- Vadodra in Gujarat.  Mr Muffler winning from Varanasi in his enthusiasm could well be seen then, taking a dip in the holy Ganga- not advisable for a man with cold eh?

     

    •There is a power cut for hours

    Families sitting in front of a TV set. Popcorn and cola being passed around and midway through the coverage as anchors are about to tell you which party is seen gaining the maximum seats… click goes the electricity. One may recall, in June 2012, 20 of India’s 28 states were left without power when a grid had collapsed. So, the situation is a possibility. But on an election result day, people will have much more to complain other than just the sweltering heat.

     

    •Exit poll prediction goes wrong

    A repeat of 2009, when exit polls had signaled the green light for the NDA cannot be rubbished.  This could also be the death kneel for research agencies already under a cloud for rigging opinion polls. Congress’s spokespersons will be the ones having the last laugh as anchors try to put on some saving grace.

     

    •Markets crash…

    When exit poll results were shown recently, the markets reacted very strongly to a pro-Modi sentiment. But what if in the overzealous quest of share market, investors and holders, the sensex crashes. Again a possibility that cannot be ruled out.

     

    •Jashodaben escorting Modi on his victory rally!

    A perfect ending to a troubled marriage as seen in Bollywood movies, Jashodaben escorting her star husband could silence many of his critics. It would also bring tears to many Indian voters except Rahul baba who now would face pressure of finding a bride as if the electoral drubbing wasn’t enough. Rahul Ka Swayamwar -maybe?

     

    •NDA unable to get 272

    What if the NDA is unable to get to the magic figure? Yes it could reach out to form alliances with regional players. What could make this situation scarier is regional players offering their support on the condition that Modi is not the PM. Rajnath Singh could then be tipped to be the PM, in this Game of Thrones.

     

    •EC declares 16 May as ‘Dry day’

    Celebrations will be cut short if this comes true! All that one would be left to celebrate with are the kilos of ladoos that the BJP has ordered for. With no booze to celebrate, India would be instantly wrapped by the “Gujarat model” and be a dry country. Amul milk and cookies may be?

     

    •All celebrities winning the elections, Rakhi Sawant too!

    With many celebrities trying their luck at the ballot, they winning the same would add the much need glamour to our non-glitzy parliament. Whether they provide deep insight or pure entertainment is one’s wild guess. And, Rakhi Sawant in parliament? Oh jeejus!

  • Election Campaigns: How they boosted OOH sector

    Election Campaigns: How they boosted OOH sector

    Since the 2014 elections is being touted to be one of the toughest elections of all time, parties are more than willing to dig deep into their pockets and spend on advertising…especially outdoor since their vote bank lies within the masses on the street of not just the metros but also the tier II, III, IV markets. Therefore, outdoor has become massively important for them. It’s much more rigorous this time.

     

    Election season has given a boost to outdoor advertising industry by more than 30 per cent. Understand, unlike television and print which also exude national presence, the power of outdoor lies in its local behaviour. It helps put up a larger than life picture wherein literacy is not a heavy requirement. You can easily look at the picture and understand the message. As a result outdoor has become a very significant medium for the parties to reach out to the masses who stay in the hinterlands of this country. They are their vote banks, most of whom who may not even have a television at home to watch an ad or are not literate enough to read the paper. It’s outdoor that helps the candidates and parties to reach out to such regions. Now talk of metros like Mumbai, where time is limited and people do not have the leisure to watch TV and read papers, since people are constantly on the run and outdoor helps capture their attention in a very big way. Outdoor inventories  such as hoardings, transit medium, street furniture, mobile vans, railway media all can be placed at strategic locations and just cannot go unnoticed by the target viewer. In a city like Mumbai where consumers are constantly travelling, hoardings play an exponential role in capturing their attention.

     

    The government has estimated a 4.9 per cent rise in economic growth this financial year, against a decade-low of 4.5 per cent last year. Parties have majorly used larger than life hoardings without much innovation in a bid to keep their campaign language simple and direct. National political parties such as Congress, BJP, NCP and the latest entrant in the political game Aam Admai Party (AAP) have also rolled out an outdoor campaign to woo voters pan India. Outdoor has come up as an effective mass communication tool for targeting people on the go as soon as they step out from their home.  This has given rise to the demand of outdoor inventories on big scale especially large size hoardings. Taking the professional approach, these parties have engaged highly lit, strategically located, clutter free hoardings along with bus media.

     

    Interestingly, political parties have also raised ad spend on OOH medium to cater to large number of diverse voters. Focused on innovation, diverse range of outdoor inventory and tactical media planning have brought national political parties closer to outdoor medium.

     

    Digital Marketing and OOH: Combination used?

     

    These political campaigns came up with single objective to influence the decision of voters. Therefore, the demand of quality outdoor products coupled with highest reach gained popularity amongst parties.

     

    Parties used combination of digital and outdoor campaigns for various political promotional events such as rallies, public appearance of prime ministerial and Lok Sabha seat candidate in every constituency, awareness campaign of party’s agenda and promises to the voters and many more.

     

     This year we have noticed many new trends such as advertising via mobile vans, LED, huge display screen at traffic junctions, public announcements, heavy advertising on railway and bus stations etc. A lot of BTL activities are also planned around the city like Narendra Modi T-shirts, Arvind Kejriwal’s Cap and Rahul Gandhi’s Mask to list a few.

     

     What after election?

     

    The elections this year is expected to boost the ad revenues across sectors in double digits. And this boost will help sustain even the OOH industry for the rest of the year. It is only an addition to the already existing and growing business of OOH as a whole. So, we do not think that there should be any coping issues. There will be business as usual. Elections are a once in a five year phenomenon. We do not depend on elections alone, therefore…right?! The elections will get over in a few days. And April-May are the best advertising months. Its summers…and holiday season for schools too. So, a lot of advertising happens across the summer FMCG brands, tourism and education too.

     

    (These are purely personal views of Global Advertisers MD Sanjeev Gupta and indiantelevision.com does not subscribe to these views)