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Tag: Ashish Bhasin

  • AAAI & TAC to award ‘Best Clients’: Goafest 2017

    AAAI & TAC to award ‘Best Clients’: Goafest 2017

    MUMBAI: Conceived and curated by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club, the awards will recognise and honor Six Champions of Excellence at the Goafest 2017.

    “It is for the first time ever that the industry has an award dedicated to acknowledge and salute visionary advertisers who have taken the leap of faith and invested resources, ensuring that “Great ideas transform into Great advertising.”

    Speaking about instituting the new awards, The Advertising Club president Raj Nayak said, “We believe that this initiative will plug a very important white space in the process of celebrating excellence in advertising. The advertiser’s product or service is the raison d’etre for advertising and their role in inspiring good advertising is imperative and must be celebrated.”

    AAAI Nakul president Chopra added that “these awards celebrate clients who motivate and encourage their agencies to push the creative envelope and create winning campaigns. They also acknowledge clients who invest in meaningful relationships with their agencies.”

    “The presentation of this award at GoaFest makes our festival more complete and comprehensive. Now we have all the people playing an instrumental role in bringing alive the magic we call advertising, assembled and recognized in one place,” said Goafest chairman Ashish Bhasin.

    Nominations for the awards are invited from Agencies for Champions of Excellence, and will be judged by senior members of the Awards Governing Council of the Abby awards. The entry should mention the name of a senior member of the advertiser team who could be considered for this high honor. It should include a note of not more than 500 words explaining why the individual was deserving of this award. The entry should be signed by the NCD or CEO of the Agency and sent to the AAAI (Please mention email id) before 31 January 2017.

    Multiple entries are permitted. There is no entry fee.

  • Dentsu Aegis buys leading UI/UX design agency Fractal

    Dentsu Aegis buys leading UI/UX design agency Fractal

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network has announced the acquisition of Fractal Ink Design Studio Pvt Ltd, a leading experiential design studio in India, which will join the network’s award-winning digital agency – Isobar, and be rebranded as “Fractal Ink Design Studio – Linked By Isobar”.

    The acquisition will add significant scale to the agency’s expertise in mobility and user experience, the most in-demand disciplines in the market. In addition, it will bring together a team of 1,000 digital experts, one of the largest in India, including the combined Isobar team and the existing network digital brands iProspect, WATConsult and Dentsu Webchutney.

    Established in 2010, Fractal specialises in user experience and user interface design (UI/UX) and digital design strategy services for major clients including Aditya Birla Group, Raymond, Idea group, MetLife, Times Network and Axis Bank. It is amongst the top three largest design studios in India, boasting 65 digital experts operating from Mumbai and Bangalore.

    Recently, Fractal was awarded the title of “India’s Best UI/UX Design Studio” by POOL, one of India’s leading design magazines. Its innovative design work has also been recognised by CII Awards, having won various awards in 2014 and 2015 including the Interaction Design – Consumer, Home and Personal in the Internet of Things category.

    Fractal CEO, co-founder and creative director Tanay Kumar will join the Dentsu Aegis leadership team in India and will report to Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia chairman and CEO Ashish Bhasin. Co-founders Geeta Suthar, Hemant Suthar and Priyanka Agrawal will continue in their roles as part of the management team.

    Bhasin said, “Fractal has an ideal combination of technology and creative services. Given the impending explosion of Internet of Things, wearables and mobile, this unique skill set will add to the group’s status of being digitally ahead in India.

    “Today, Dentsu Aegis Network’s digital share in India is three times that of the market average and this will bring us closer to our mission of being the second largest agency group in India by end 2017, overturning – for the first time – the existing ranking which has historically been in place for over 80 years in India,” Bhasin added.

    Isobar global CEO Jean Lin said, “To deliver immersive Brand Commerce experiences that close the gap between brand inspiration and transaction, we need passionate talent with strong in-market design capabilities. Fractal further strengthens our local mobile and experience design capability.”

    Kumar said, “We have come a long way in the last six years in establishing ourselves as leaders in the digital design and strategy space. Dentsu Aegis Network’s shared vision towards the digital and connected world will allow us to tap into latest industry best practices and tools as well as scale our operations geographically.”

  • Dentsu Aegis buys leading UI/UX design agency Fractal

    Dentsu Aegis buys leading UI/UX design agency Fractal

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network has announced the acquisition of Fractal Ink Design Studio Pvt Ltd, a leading experiential design studio in India, which will join the network’s award-winning digital agency – Isobar, and be rebranded as “Fractal Ink Design Studio – Linked By Isobar”.

    The acquisition will add significant scale to the agency’s expertise in mobility and user experience, the most in-demand disciplines in the market. In addition, it will bring together a team of 1,000 digital experts, one of the largest in India, including the combined Isobar team and the existing network digital brands iProspect, WATConsult and Dentsu Webchutney.

    Established in 2010, Fractal specialises in user experience and user interface design (UI/UX) and digital design strategy services for major clients including Aditya Birla Group, Raymond, Idea group, MetLife, Times Network and Axis Bank. It is amongst the top three largest design studios in India, boasting 65 digital experts operating from Mumbai and Bangalore.

    Recently, Fractal was awarded the title of “India’s Best UI/UX Design Studio” by POOL, one of India’s leading design magazines. Its innovative design work has also been recognised by CII Awards, having won various awards in 2014 and 2015 including the Interaction Design – Consumer, Home and Personal in the Internet of Things category.

    Fractal CEO, co-founder and creative director Tanay Kumar will join the Dentsu Aegis leadership team in India and will report to Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia chairman and CEO Ashish Bhasin. Co-founders Geeta Suthar, Hemant Suthar and Priyanka Agrawal will continue in their roles as part of the management team.

    Bhasin said, “Fractal has an ideal combination of technology and creative services. Given the impending explosion of Internet of Things, wearables and mobile, this unique skill set will add to the group’s status of being digitally ahead in India.

    “Today, Dentsu Aegis Network’s digital share in India is three times that of the market average and this will bring us closer to our mission of being the second largest agency group in India by end 2017, overturning – for the first time – the existing ranking which has historically been in place for over 80 years in India,” Bhasin added.

    Isobar global CEO Jean Lin said, “To deliver immersive Brand Commerce experiences that close the gap between brand inspiration and transaction, we need passionate talent with strong in-market design capabilities. Fractal further strengthens our local mobile and experience design capability.”

    Kumar said, “We have come a long way in the last six years in establishing ourselves as leaders in the digital design and strategy space. Dentsu Aegis Network’s shared vision towards the digital and connected world will allow us to tap into latest industry best practices and tools as well as scale our operations geographically.”

  • V6 challenges suspension; BARC to place facts before court

    V6 challenges suspension; BARC to place facts before court

    MUMBAI: V6 News, from the stable of the Telugu channel popular across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, also wants to challenge Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC India) after the latter suspended its ratings review for some weeks along with other two channels on 24 November, 2016.

    BARC India, the only television audience measurement body in India, had temporarily suspended the review of viewership of three news channels. BARC communicated to all the broadcasters that ratings for India News, TV9 Telugu and V6 News were suspended owing to suspected mala fide practices.

    Media buying and planning (advertising) agencies and brands had reacted strongly or cautiously when it came to commenting on famous yet delinquent channels. Dentsu Aegis chairman Ashish Bhasin had lauded the BARC decision: “It is a bold step taken by BARC to name and shame the mischievous entities.” It sends out a warning message to the channels to behave, and will act as a deterrent for other possible mischief-mongers that could spoil the purity of the currency for a Rs 20000 crore annual TV advertising business in India, Bhasin said.

    However, the Bombay High Court on 6 December stayed the suspension of ratings review of India News even as BARC hinted at continuing its crusade. Describing the suspension of India News ratings as ‘arbitrary and illegal’, the court stated that the suspension and subsequent communication to all the subscribers has prima-facie been seen as a reputation-maligning action, a press release from India News stated. India News CEO Varun Kohli said, “India News is a credible news channel in the broadcasting business in the country and has grown consistently in the last four years both in the times of BARC ratings and TAM ratings, the predecessor of BARC.”

    Reacting to the judgement, BARC India CEO Partho Dasgupta said: “We will continue to act as per our board and government guidelines, with the objective of providing the Indian broadcast industry with an accurate, robust and reliable television audience measurement system.”

    Players in the news eco-system meantime saw an overall decline in the ratings, according to BARC week 48. Since the court stay, observers have been wondering whether other two erring and suspended yet holier-than-thou channels would also knock at the doors of the courts of law seeking redressal.

    “We have filed a suit against the suspension of V6 review by BARC India,” V6 CEO Ravi Ankam communicated to Indiantelevision.com through the chief technical officer Kishore Kumar late yesterday evening. However, Ankam did not reveal the details, saying the “matter was sub-judice.”

    When contacted for its comment on V6 News decision, BARC India was prompt in its curt reply. “We will place the facts in (the) court. At this stage, as the matters are sub-judice, it would not be appropriate for us to say anything more. We are confident of what we are doing,” the ratings body CEO said.

    TV9 Telugu shied from reacting or commenting on BARC India action or the court stay. TV9 head of marketing Clifford Pereira passed on the responsibility of speaking to the media to the chief financial officer KVN Murthy. When Indiantelevision.com contacted CFO Murthy, he sought time as he was driving out of town for a private meeting, and then chose not to respond to calls or text messages.

    Also Read

    HC stays India News ratings suspension; BARC hints at continuing crusade

    ‘Name and shame delinquent channels’

  • V6 challenges suspension; BARC to place facts before court

    V6 challenges suspension; BARC to place facts before court

    MUMBAI: V6 News, from the stable of the Telugu channel popular across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, also wants to challenge Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC India) after the latter suspended its ratings review for some weeks along with other two channels on 24 November, 2016.

    BARC India, the only television audience measurement body in India, had temporarily suspended the review of viewership of three news channels. BARC communicated to all the broadcasters that ratings for India News, TV9 Telugu and V6 News were suspended owing to suspected mala fide practices.

    Media buying and planning (advertising) agencies and brands had reacted strongly or cautiously when it came to commenting on famous yet delinquent channels. Dentsu Aegis chairman Ashish Bhasin had lauded the BARC decision: “It is a bold step taken by BARC to name and shame the mischievous entities.” It sends out a warning message to the channels to behave, and will act as a deterrent for other possible mischief-mongers that could spoil the purity of the currency for a Rs 20000 crore annual TV advertising business in India, Bhasin said.

    However, the Bombay High Court on 6 December stayed the suspension of ratings review of India News even as BARC hinted at continuing its crusade. Describing the suspension of India News ratings as ‘arbitrary and illegal’, the court stated that the suspension and subsequent communication to all the subscribers has prima-facie been seen as a reputation-maligning action, a press release from India News stated. India News CEO Varun Kohli said, “India News is a credible news channel in the broadcasting business in the country and has grown consistently in the last four years both in the times of BARC ratings and TAM ratings, the predecessor of BARC.”

    Reacting to the judgement, BARC India CEO Partho Dasgupta said: “We will continue to act as per our board and government guidelines, with the objective of providing the Indian broadcast industry with an accurate, robust and reliable television audience measurement system.”

    Players in the news eco-system meantime saw an overall decline in the ratings, according to BARC week 48. Since the court stay, observers have been wondering whether other two erring and suspended yet holier-than-thou channels would also knock at the doors of the courts of law seeking redressal.

    “We have filed a suit against the suspension of V6 review by BARC India,” V6 CEO Ravi Ankam communicated to Indiantelevision.com through the chief technical officer Kishore Kumar late yesterday evening. However, Ankam did not reveal the details, saying the “matter was sub-judice.”

    When contacted for its comment on V6 News decision, BARC India was prompt in its curt reply. “We will place the facts in (the) court. At this stage, as the matters are sub-judice, it would not be appropriate for us to say anything more. We are confident of what we are doing,” the ratings body CEO said.

    TV9 Telugu shied from reacting or commenting on BARC India action or the court stay. TV9 head of marketing Clifford Pereira passed on the responsibility of speaking to the media to the chief financial officer KVN Murthy. When Indiantelevision.com contacted CFO Murthy, he sought time as he was driving out of town for a private meeting, and then chose not to respond to calls or text messages.

    Also Read

    HC stays India News ratings suspension; BARC hints at continuing crusade

    ‘Name and shame delinquent channels’

  • ‘Name and shame delinquent channels’

    ‘Name and shame delinquent channels’

    MUMBAI: Media buying and planning (advertising) agencies and brands reacted strongly or cautiously when it came to commenting on famous yet delinquent television channels suspected of wrongdoing by India’s only TV ratings points (TRP)  body. Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the only television audience measurement body in India, temporarily suspended the review of viewership of three news channels. BARC had communicated to all the broadcasters that ratings for India News, TV9 Telegu and V6 News were suspended for four weeks owing to suspected mala fide practices.

    This decision may have had a bearing on advertising on the channels in question. Some industry experts were direct and forthcoming in their reactions, others were cautious, while some chose not to comment on the issue.

    Requesting anonymity, a senior media planner told Indiantelevision.com that the decision could have a mixed impact on the advertising revenue of the channels. There would be companies who believe in a particular channel since a long time. They may not get swayed by this temporary phenomenon. Companies who might want to launch a national campaign may take a channel’s current ratings into account before making their decision. Then, there are regional advertisers who want to see the effect of advertising on the ground — they may not take the BARC review into account at all. There would be some advertisers who would want to wait and watch for a while — 2-3 weeks before taking any decision.

    Dentsu Aegis chairman Ashish Bhasin lauded the BARC decision not to review certain errant channels for a period of time. “It is a bold step taken by BARC to name and shame the mischievous entities.” It sends out a warning message to the channels to behave, and will act as a deterrent for other possible mischief-mongers that could spoil the purity of the currency for a Rs 20000 crore annual TV advertising business in India, Bhasin said.

    About the impact on advertising, Bhasin said that the reputation of the errant channels would be affected owing to the suspension of review. “Although I am unaware of which channels were involved in what kind of wrongdoing, the channels would be disadvantaged due to the BARC action. In the medium to long term, the action would prove to be detrimental to the channels vis-a-vis advertising because the client decides to put his money on the basis of clear feedback and seeks value for every pie invested,” Bhasin added.

    Some experts were rather vocal about change in their approach. “I will certainly not recommend these channels for my clients,” an Initiative Media (formerly Lintas Media) business director told Indiantelevision.com.

    The business director said she would rather advise other substitute (surrogate) channels so that her clients do not suffer. She agreed that the BARC India decision may not directly impact regional and local brands, but, she said, media planners who would draw up annual national strategies for their respective clients would certainly keep the BARC India’s suspension decision in mind.

    However, some  client-companies were rather cautious. HDFC Life senior executive vice-president, marketing, analytics, digital & e-commerce Sanjay Tripathy said: “The channels concerned are denying any wrong-doing at this point. However, if the channels are found guilty of any wrongdoing as suggested in media reports, it is only fair then that they face the consequences. Prima facie, we believe before taking such a stance, due process would have been followed by the authorities by BARC (India) and should wait to this matter to be clarified before taking any hasty decisions.”  

    For the sake of an independent and unbiased article, IPG Mediabrands CEO Shashi Sinha chose not to comment since he chaired the technical committee of BARC India.

    “Advertisers who do not utilise the services of media buying agencies may continue to advertise on the errant channels,” said Madison World chairman Sam Balsara. “But, advertisers who take the help of agencies that use scientific methods of calculating GRPs (gross rating point) would over a period of time keep away from such channels,” he added. To a question whether advertisers would mind the temporary suspension, Sam said, “They would and they should.”

    Also Read :

    BARC India suspends three errant channels’ review

     

  • ‘Name and shame delinquent channels’

    ‘Name and shame delinquent channels’

    MUMBAI: Media buying and planning (advertising) agencies and brands reacted strongly or cautiously when it came to commenting on famous yet delinquent television channels suspected of wrongdoing by India’s only TV ratings points (TRP)  body. Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the only television audience measurement body in India, temporarily suspended the review of viewership of three news channels. BARC had communicated to all the broadcasters that ratings for India News, TV9 Telegu and V6 News were suspended for four weeks owing to suspected mala fide practices.

    This decision may have had a bearing on advertising on the channels in question. Some industry experts were direct and forthcoming in their reactions, others were cautious, while some chose not to comment on the issue.

    Requesting anonymity, a senior media planner told Indiantelevision.com that the decision could have a mixed impact on the advertising revenue of the channels. There would be companies who believe in a particular channel since a long time. They may not get swayed by this temporary phenomenon. Companies who might want to launch a national campaign may take a channel’s current ratings into account before making their decision. Then, there are regional advertisers who want to see the effect of advertising on the ground — they may not take the BARC review into account at all. There would be some advertisers who would want to wait and watch for a while — 2-3 weeks before taking any decision.

    Dentsu Aegis chairman Ashish Bhasin lauded the BARC decision not to review certain errant channels for a period of time. “It is a bold step taken by BARC to name and shame the mischievous entities.” It sends out a warning message to the channels to behave, and will act as a deterrent for other possible mischief-mongers that could spoil the purity of the currency for a Rs 20000 crore annual TV advertising business in India, Bhasin said.

    About the impact on advertising, Bhasin said that the reputation of the errant channels would be affected owing to the suspension of review. “Although I am unaware of which channels were involved in what kind of wrongdoing, the channels would be disadvantaged due to the BARC action. In the medium to long term, the action would prove to be detrimental to the channels vis-a-vis advertising because the client decides to put his money on the basis of clear feedback and seeks value for every pie invested,” Bhasin added.

    Some experts were rather vocal about change in their approach. “I will certainly not recommend these channels for my clients,” an Initiative Media (formerly Lintas Media) business director told Indiantelevision.com.

    The business director said she would rather advise other substitute (surrogate) channels so that her clients do not suffer. She agreed that the BARC India decision may not directly impact regional and local brands, but, she said, media planners who would draw up annual national strategies for their respective clients would certainly keep the BARC India’s suspension decision in mind.

    However, some  client-companies were rather cautious. HDFC Life senior executive vice-president, marketing, analytics, digital & e-commerce Sanjay Tripathy said: “The channels concerned are denying any wrong-doing at this point. However, if the channels are found guilty of any wrongdoing as suggested in media reports, it is only fair then that they face the consequences. Prima facie, we believe before taking such a stance, due process would have been followed by the authorities by BARC (India) and should wait to this matter to be clarified before taking any hasty decisions.”  

    For the sake of an independent and unbiased article, IPG Mediabrands CEO Shashi Sinha chose not to comment since he chaired the technical committee of BARC India.

    “Advertisers who do not utilise the services of media buying agencies may continue to advertise on the errant channels,” said Madison World chairman Sam Balsara. “But, advertisers who take the help of agencies that use scientific methods of calculating GRPs (gross rating point) would over a period of time keep away from such channels,” he added. To a question whether advertisers would mind the temporary suspension, Sam said, “They would and they should.”

    Also Read :

    BARC India suspends three errant channels’ review

     

  • Expert-speak on advertising in times of mobile-first consumers

    Expert-speak on advertising in times of mobile-first consumers

    MUMBAI: With Indian government’s demonetisation of high-value currency notes in its second fortnight, there couldn’t have been a better time to discuss how mobile is moving businesses and whether the reality of a cashless economy is still a far-fetched theory.

    In an effort to cash in on the latest buzz words — ‘financial inclusion, ‘digital business’, ‘internet penetration’, ‘digital advertising’, etc. — Facebook recently hosted Mobile Moves Business, an industry event in Mumbai that was designed to bring together businesses, industry experts and marketers to help engage with today’s mobile-first consumers in India.

    Making a bold and future-facing statement, Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia Chairman Ashish Bhasin made it clear that the foundations of present day media planning, which depends primarily on frequencies of views, will be shaken as the lines between mediums start to blur.

    “We make a plan based on an assumption of an X number of times it (a campaign) is viewed on television, but we need to start considering that the same communication may be seen in an another format on an another platform several more number of times,” pointed out Bhasin, adding most market studies predicting digital ad ex to reach 40 per cent of the total pie will be proven wrong. “Digital will command 80 to 100 per cent of the total pie, I feel. Of course, the way we classify digital advertising will also change…TV, radio and even print will all become digital,” he said.

    Along with him on the panel discussing matters digital were Facebook India MD Umang Bedi, Vodafone India marketing SVP Sidharth Banerjee and Snapdeal marketing VP Kanika Kalra.

    Banerjee, who seconded Bhasin’s statement, was of the opinion that India, just like China, will soon reach an inflexion point in smart-phone penetration when that number reached one-third of the total phones in the market.

    “I can see that happening in the next 18 months or so. Getting the communication in mobile right will be the main issue then. What advertisers keep getting wrong is treating mobile (devices) like a separate medium to advertise on,” he said.

    Pointing out that advertisers shouldn’t forget the many India’s within India, Banerjee said, “While we ready ourselves for the digital and cashless India armed with smart-phones, we mustn’t forget about a part of India where features phones will still play an important role and marketers shouldn’t exclude them from their plans.”

    But smart tech and devices also bring along newer problems and challenges. Ad blocking, for example. The high rate of ad blocking in India was also addressed by the panel.

    “As the digital advertising market becomes more mature, the issue of privacy will only become more acute. I believe the way ahead is opt-ins. Let’s face it, users don’t pay for advertisements, so ads will always remain (like) an intrusion, “Bhasin highlighted a valid point, adding, “Going forward, consumers will have a choice to allow certain advertisers to communicate with them. So we marketers need to collectively respect the consumer’s choice. Sooner or later we will have laws concerning it and it is better to prepare for it with best practices in place.”

    Clarifying FB’s position on ad blocking, Bedi said that FB respected its users’ privacy and ensures only relevant sponsored ads reach users. “It isn’t bad but actually good for business as brands can seek out only those consumers who are interested in their communications, leading to higher fulfilment of purchase cycle instead of spraying and praying,” Bedi replied, when asked if the social media giant loses businesses due to ad blocking.