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Tag: Asia-Pacific

  • BBC retains title as #1 choice for Asia Pacific’s premium audience

    BBC retains title as #1 choice for Asia Pacific’s premium audience

    MUMBAI: The BBC’s international news offering has cemented its leadership position amongst Asia Pacific’s high income earners. The Ipsos Affluent Survey Asia Pacific for Q3 and Q4 2013 reveals that the BBC’s cross-platform news brand, which includes 24 hour global news channel BBC World News, and bbc.com, which offers up-to-the minute international news and in-depth analysis, is the top choice for premium audiences for the fourth year running.  The survey shows that the BBC has extended its lead over its competitors in the past 12 months.  It also reveals that BBC World News is most effective for reaching the top tier of earners as it has more viewers from this much-coveted demographic than any other news channel.

     

    The new research also shows that the BBC has reinforced its reputation as the most trustworthy and insightful news brand in Asia, and that it is recognised for offering the highest quality journalism of any news channel or print title.

     

    Jim Egan, CEO of BBC Global News Ltd, says, “In the past 18 months we have implemented an ambitious strategy to bring our international news operations together into an integrated offer for global audiences. These latest results show that our strategy is yielding rewards and that our target audience has welcomed the increased investment across TV, online and mobile, together with our ongoing commitment to providing the most comprehensive news and current affairs content for the Asia Pacific market.”

     

    He added, “In terms of overall reach we’ve made great gains within our competitive set but, even more importantly, these figures show that we are way ahead in terms of the coveted premium audience.  As the leader in global breaking news, with bureaux across the region, we welcome the confirmation that the BBC remains the brand of choice for discerning audiences looking for a trusted and truly global perspective on the world’s most important stories.”

     

    The popularity of BBC World News is further reflected in the finding that, for the first time, it is the most popular channel for frequent business travellers watching from their hotel rooms.

     

    The survey also reveals that mobile has played an important role in the recent results.  It shows that the BBC was the number one news brand across apps and mobile for premium audiences.  These IASAP findings support a recent BBC World News and bbc.com global mobile study into the usage of mobile devices by affluent consumers which emphasises the growing trend for news consumption on mobile platforms.

     

    The IASAP study surveys pan-regional and local media consumption and product consumption among affluent adults and business professionals in main cities in the Asia Pacific region. The latest survey covers Q3-Q4 2013.

     

    Source: Ipsos Affluent Survey Asia Pacific, Q3-Q4 2013, Q1-Q4 2012, Q1-Q4 2011, Q1-Q4 2010. Based on monthly reach % to one-decimal point unless otherwise specified. Cross-platform news brand/total brand reach: TV/website/mobile reach.  Premium audience/high income earners: personal monthly income US $10K+ (N=405; projected universe of 232,600).  Frequent business travellers: taken international business trips 3+/6+ last year (N=941/339; projected universe of 618,312/183,679). 

  • Tanishq on Interbrand’s Best Retail Brands APAC list

    Tanishq on Interbrand’s Best Retail Brands APAC list

    MUMBAI: The jewellery brand from the house of Tata’s, Tanishq, is the only Indian brand to make it to the list of top 30 Best Retail Brands in Asia Pacific.

     

    The jewellery brand stands at number 13 with a brand value of $670 million.

     

    On being the first Indian brand ever to make to the list, Titan Industries Jewelery CEO CK Venkataraman said, “It is a proud and humbling moment for us to make it to the Interbrand APAC list of Retails Brands 2014. We would like to dedicate this achievement to the passionate and tireless efforts of the large Tanishq team across the country and our wonderful customers who have helped us achieve all that we have.”

     

    Asia’s consumer markets remain highly fragmented, both as a whole and within individual markets. Genuine liberalisation is patchy as best, with traditional and local retailing dominating in many markets. At one extreme, there are highly concentrate markets such as Singapore, where FairPrice commands over 50 per cent market share in the grocery category; at the other, markets such as India, where modern retail brands remain dwarfed by traditional local retailers.

     

    Commenting on India’s performance, Interbrand India managing director Ashish Mishra said, “It is indeed heartening to see an Indian brand figure in the Best Retail Brands league table. The retail space in India is experiencing simultaneous transformational influences both from the supply and demand sides. Political swings, newer business models, supply chain efficiencies, online innovations, and at the root of it all – complex new customer journeys. The resulting flux is both exciting as well as challenging. We need to adapt but without losing our core cultural resources. Tanishq has in some ways done that.”

     

    Key findings across geographies point to major retailers looking beyond their core business models in pursuit of gaining a competitive advantage, online innovation bridging the divide between in-store and online shopping, and a strategic understanding and leveraging of sales data in meeting customer needs and desires better and faster than ever before.

     

    The global Best Retail Brands report ranks the top 50 North American and European retail brands by brand value, as well as the top 30 retail brands from across Latin America and the Asia-Pacific. The report is produced in collaboration with Interbrand Design Forum, the retail experience group within Interbrand, the world’s leading brand consultancy.

     

    Interbrand Design Forum MD Dirk Defenbaugh said, “The world’s best retail brands understand the complex and challenging relationships between analog and digital and have been quick to address changing shopper behaviors. By integrating the physical and virtual, making purchasing easier, enhancing service, and using storytelling, these leading brands are re-imagining their offers, and creating unique experiences for consumers that convert browsers into buyers.”

     

    Click here for Best Retail Brands – Asia Pacific 2014 Report

  • Guinness World Records announces ‘Got Talent’ as ‘The world’s most successful reality TV format’

    Guinness World Records announces ‘Got Talent’ as ‘The world’s most successful reality TV format’

    MUMBAI: Got Talentis through to the record books having been commissioned in an impressive 58 territories worldwide. The entertainment show now holds the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Most Successful Reality TV Format worldwide. Continuing to create a globalbuzz,Got Talent, co-owned by FremantleMedia and Syco Entertainment, has continued to outperform itself by nowmaking history.

    An international ratings phenomenon, Got Talent is leaps and bounds ahead of other reality titles having been adapted in the highest number of territories worldwide. Captivating audiences around the world, the show hasversions across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle-East, Africa and the Americas. Most recently,the format has launched in Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan 1), Brazil (Rede Record), Moldova (Channel Prime TV) and Iceland (Channel 2). In total, 59 versionsof Got Talentare broadcast in 58 countries (with two versions in Belgium*).

    Simon Cowell said, “I am very proud that Got Talent is a home grown British show. We owe its success to a group of very talented producers all over the world who have made this happen. And of course amazing talent.”

    Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia said: “We are immensely proud of the ever successfulGot Talent and are delighted to add aprestigious GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS titleto its list of achievements. Got Talenthas becomea global phenomenonthat has transcended cultures and excited audiences from all corners of the globe. We look forward to working withSycoEntertainment in continuing to make this brand an absolute triumph.”
    Alistair Richards, President of Guinness World Records, said, “We are delighted to confirm that Got Talent has broken the previous world record and is now the official Guinness World Record holder for the Most successful reality television format, a landmark moment in television record breaking history, congratulations!”

    Got Talenthas seen a spectacular array of talent from the across the world, the range of acts includeSusan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent,who has gone on to sell over 20 million records worldwide; singer Jackie Evancho from America’s Got Talent;nine-year-old singer Amira Willighagen forHolland’s Got Talent, who’s winning performance of Puccini’s ‘NessunDorma’ and received more than 50% of the television viewers’ votes; SIMA, a Syrian dancing troupe for Arabs Got Talent;circus artist,Simon HeulleforGot Talent France;TetianaGalitsyna, an artist who used painting with sand to tell a story for Poland’s Got Talent; the dazzling dancers, Carolina and Felipe Llanos Almonacid for Got Talent Chile; and joint winners Alexander Magali an acrobatic sword swallower and Nikita Izmailov, a contact juggler, crystal ball dancer and illusionistfor Russia’s Got Talent.Britain’s Got Talent’s first winner, singing sensation Paul Potts, initial audition has had over 121 million views on YouTube and his story was made into a major motion picture, One Chance, by Syco Entertainment and The Weinstein Company, starring James Corden as Potts.  

    Britain’s Got Talent, the UK’s number one entertainment show of the last decade, has notched up eight hit seasons, while America’s Got Talent, the longest running local version of the format,is in its ninth season, with the last series attracting peak audiences of more than 11 million viewers, the series has maintained the position of the #1 summer reality show in the US for eight years.

    Please find images of Got Talent winners from around the world in the below link:https://fmebrandmanagement.box.com/s/3na0x80maqwjvyk594q7

    Please visit the global Got Talent YouTube channel – http://www.youtube.com/user/gottalentglobal

     

  • Deadline extended for Apollo awards

    Deadline extended for Apollo awards

    NEW DELHI: The last date for receiving entries for the Apollo Awards for films, television, television commercials and music has been extended to11 April due to the overwhelming requests.
     

    The Apollo Awards is an initiative by Contineo Media, which will be held in Singapore on18 June.  The Awards aims at honouring the best in production and post-production across Asia Pacific, with a strong focus on the creative and technical mastery behind the scenes.

     

    Those in the media and entertainment business that comprises films, TV programmes, TV promotional spots, opening sequences, TVCs or music videos, within the qualifying period are eligible for submission.

    The entries will be judged by a jury that combines extensive academic knowledge and industry expertise with many years of experience in the fields of technical and creative.

     

    Headed by Ian Bailie, art director and production designer (Reign of Fire, Pride & Prejudice and Atonement), the jury consists of animation stalwart Suresh Eriyat from India. Other members include: Dayne Cowan, renowned director of film VFX (Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Batman Begins, Stranger Than Fiction); Simon Dobbin, production designer/ art director (Contagion, Uninhabited, Preacher’s Kid, Management, Hotel de Love, Kingdom Come, Jason’s Lyric and Bring it on); Emilio Batungbacal, colourist; Kerry Farrell, Senior editor; Rennie Gomes, managing director and sound specialist; Simon Rosenthal, executive producer (Ted, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Pacific, Australia, Charlotte’s Web); Derek Wong, senior director, production and David Wood, visual effects and finishing artist / solutions engineer, among others.

     

    There are seventeen categories for the awards:

     

    1.      Directing – Long form

    2.      Directing – short form

    3.      Cinematography – Short form

    4.      Cinematography – long (factual/drama)

    5.      Art Direction

    6.      Music Composition – Short Length versions

    7.      Music composition – full length versions

    8.      Sound Design – short form

    9.      Sound Design – long form

    10.  Editing – long form (factual/drama)

    11.  Editing – Long form (entertainment/reality)

    12.  Editing – short form

    13.  Motion Graphics (2D/3D/Claymation, etc. – short form)

    14.  2D Animation

    15.  3D Animation

    16.  Visual Effects/CGI – Long Form

    17.  Visual Effects/CGI – Short Form

    18.  Colour Grading

  • CNN sees integration of services as way to maintain position as global news leader

    CNN sees integration of services as way to maintain position as global news leader

    Three weeks into his new role at the helm of CNN’s operations in the south Asian region, Ian Macintosh, senior vice-president, CNN International, was at pains to point out how far down the road the organisation had come in its attempts to become a television news service with truly global perspective.

     

    To maintain its position as the world’s preeminent news breaking channel, CNN is integrating its traditional news gathering activities with cutting edge interactive technologies on all platforms in the Asia Pacific, Macintosh said.

     

    The regional newsgathering and production centre in Hong Kong provides network programming and on-line production for CNN’s 34 television, radio and new media services worldwide, Macintosh said.

     

    Macintosh stressed that being multi-skilled is central to the digital age. And CNN is using that strategy to position itself strongly in the market.

     

    Macintosh is in India to get an overview of the channel from various quarters. He dwelt at length with media persons at an informal interaction in Mumbai today on the effort at CNN to become truly global in its perspective.

     

    He admitted that his organisation still had a way to go to get rid of the perception that it saw the world through American eyes. “It’s not just a quantitative shift in that CNN International has 50 non-Americans in key positions, but a qualitative one which is reflected in how we cover events,” Macintosh said.

     

    As a case in point, he mentioned some of the reports on Afghanistan that the CNN team had carried out which went much beyond the coverage of the Taliban and its excesses.

     

    Talking specifically on the South Asia channel which was launched last year, Macintosh said the aim was to develop it into one sensitive to the needs of the subcontinent. To achieve that goal, one must understand the market in the region, and his visit was an effort in that direction, he added.

     

    On the question of penetration of the channel in India, Anshuman Misra, who oversees the distribution and marketing of CNN International, said after the channel was encrypted it reached five and a half million homes, mainly in urban centres. Mumbai was where CNN has its highest viewership, Mishra said.

  • Endemol inks deal with Turner International for New Mr.Bean animated series

    Endemol inks deal with Turner International for New Mr.Bean animated series

    MUMBAI: Endemol, the world’s largest independent production and distribution company, today announced that Turner Broadcasting System International has acquired the all-new second series of MR BEAN ANIMATED SERIES for their services throughout Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and several European markets including the United Kingdom, Turkey, Spain and Italy.

     

    This deal comes off the back of the announcement that the series has been pre-sold to CITV in the UK and Super RTL in Germany.

     

    Mark Eyers, Chief Content Officer, Kids Networks, Turner International Asia Pacific, said: “This extraordinary universal comedy truly delivers on a premium and compelling content experience for both our audiences and affiliates. We’re proud to welcome Mr Bean into the Turner fold and to partner with Endemol, Tiger Aspect and the exceptionally talented Rowan Atkinson. This unique non-dialogue brand of funny, will delight viewers around the world.”

     

    Cathy Payne, CEO of Endemol Worldwide Distribution commented: “We are excited that Turner has come on board to join our other partners CITV and Super RTL Germany. To have such support at this early stage is incredible and proves the popularity of the wonderful Mr Bean”.

     

    Cecilia Persson, Turner’s Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-productions for EMEA and International, added: “It’s great to announce this deal across our international business. Our kids channels provide the best in animated comedy entertainment for young audiences and Mr Bean is truly an iconic comedy character which kids across the globe will love! Mr Bean has performed excellently across our EMEA region where our second flagship channel Boomerang brings contemporary iterations of timeless and classic properties to a family audience.”

     

    The 52 x 11 minute series follows on the success of the first series which has been licensed in over 70 territories and continues to be a ratings winner for a host of international broadcasters.

     

     

     

    Mr Bean will be produced in house by Tiger Aspect Productions using Celaction2D. Production commenced in October 2013 and delivery is scheduled for 2014/2015.

     

    Rowan Atkinson is across all aspects of the creative and will continue to voice the series which has a huge global audience.

  • Discovery Kids brings amusing and wise tales of ‘Akbar & Birbal’

    Discovery Kids brings amusing and wise tales of ‘Akbar & Birbal’

    NEW DELHI: The delightful stories of Akbar and Birbal will be aired in an animated series on Discovery Kids from next week.

     

    The tales of famous Emperor Akbar and his trusted adviser Birbal have been passed on from generation to generation, enthralling young and old listeners alike.

     

    The series will take its viewers to the era of Mughals where they will witness amusing exchanges between Akbar and Birbal. Discovery Kids will offer children an experience to cherish for a lifetime.

     

    AKBAR & BIRBAL will start on 10 March and will air everyday at 2.00 pm only on Discovery Kids.

     

    Senior VP and General Manager – South Asia and Head of Revenue, Pan-Regional Ad Sales and Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, Rahul Johri, said, “Discovery Kids would continue to bring engaging content that inspires children to believe in traditional wisdom and also inculcate moral values in them. Expanding our bouquet of indigenous titles, AKBAR & BIRBAL will entertain the viewers with its clever wit and exciting storytelling.”

     

    Birbal, who was a minister in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar, was considered to be one of the best loved figures in the folklore of India. He will be seen outsmarting everyone even the Emperor sometimes by his exceptional wisdom, presence of mind and his excellent problem solving skills.

     

    Birbal’s real name was Mahesh Das. It is believed that he belonged to a poor Brahmin family of Tikawanpur on the bank of the River Yamuna but it was only by virtue of his sharp intellect that he rose to be a minister at the court of Akbar.

     

    Entertainingly narrated in three languages — English, Hindi and Tamil, the series encourages smooth language development in children and also makes the experience of listening to stories more enjoyable by offering popular stories in a familiar language.

     

    AKBAR & BIRBAL series consists of beautifully animated and captivatingly narrated stories which bring to life traditional wisdom.

  • AsiaPac leads global ad growth: Nielsen

    AsiaPac leads global ad growth: Nielsen

    MUMBAI: Global advertising expenditures were up 3.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2013 for year-over-year period, driven largely by Asia Pacific’s expanding powerhouse ad market, as well as a bottoming out of Europe’s contracting ad market.

     

    According to Nielsen’s latest Global AdView Pulse report, Asia Pacific ad revenues surged seven per cent in the first nine months of 2013. China was up 16.7 per cent, Indonesia 22.1 per cent and Malaysia 15.7 per cent. The gains offset declines in Australia and South Korea.

     

    Television continues to be the favourite medium through which advertisers attempt to reach their consumers, commanding a 57.6 per cent share of all spending and growing 4.3 per cent. Display Internet, though representing a smaller share of spends at 4.5 per cent grew significantly by 32.4 per cent.

     

    Macro sectors contributing to the growth include FMCG, which saw a 5.9 per cent increase in ad spending for the year-to-date, and Industry & Services, which grew 11.3 per cent.

     

    The period also saw a slight improvement in Europe, with the market down just 0.4 per cent in Q3. Nielsen notes that the region’s ad market appears to be bottoming out. Indeed, Italy and Spain, among the hardest hit, may have the worst behind them, the report notes, and Greece saw its ad revenues gain 10.3 per cent.

     

    In the US the market was up 1.7 per cent by the end of September, even though it fell 1.3 per cent in the third quarter itself. And in Latin America, the year-on-year change was 13 per cent.

  • Cohn & Wolfe welcomes Doug Buemi as Asia Pacific, Regional Director

    Cohn & Wolfe welcomes Doug Buemi as Asia Pacific, Regional Director

    MUMBAI: Cohn & Wolfe, a leading global communications agency, today announced the appointment of Doug Buemi as Vice Chairman, Regional Director, Asia Pacific.  Buemi is a Cohn & Wolfe alumnus who established the agency’s presence in China in 2006 with the opening of its Shanghai office.  He also held several other leadership positions at Cohn & Wolfe including Vice Chairman, Los Angeles market leader and Western Region CEO.

     

    In this newly created global leadership position, Buemi will have management oversight of the Asia-Pacific region, working closely with regional market leaders to help grow the agency’s business, build capabilities and develop talent.  Doug will also advise on global strategy and partner with Donna Imperato, Cohn & Wolfe CEO, to expand the agency’s presence in the region.

     

    Buemi joins Cohn & Wolfe from Ogilvy Public Relations, where he was Regional Executive Advisor, Asia Pacific.  At Ogilvy he continued his long-time leadership role in Ford’s Asia Pacific region and provided counsel and training for a range of top companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen-Cilag, Tesco Lotus and DuPont.  His responsibilities also included new business development and worldwide employee training, coaching and mentoring initiatives.  Buemi served as interim Chairman for the agency’s India and Thailand offices, and handled special initiatives in Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar.  Prior to Ogilvy, Buemi worked at Burson Marsteller, where he was executive vice president, a member of the worldwide board and Western Region Operations Manager.  He also owned and operated his own marketing communications firm for many years.

     

    “I couldn’t be happier to welcome Doug back.  He is a proven leader who understands the Cohn & Wolfe culture, and who brings deep brand marketing expertise and decades of experience counseling clients on complex business challenges,” said Imperato.  “Doug also recognizes what it takes to be successful in the Asia Pacific region, having established numerous winning ventures there for Cohn & Wolfe and other companies.”

     

    “It’s really great to be back helping Cohn & Wolfe continue its remarkable growth in Asia Pacific and expand its offerings elsewhere,” said Buemi.  “I’m delighted to be working with Donna, the Cohn & Wolfe account teams and clients to capture even more success in the world’s fastest growing markets.”

  • Digital Media India to discuss issues relating to challenges of digital technology to print media

    Digital Media India to discuss issues relating to challenges of digital technology to print media

    NEW DELHI: Mediapersons from various parts of the world are converging on Chennai to attend the Digital Media India 2014 Conference next month.

     

    The meet is being held on 5 and 6 February and has been organised by WAN-IFRA in Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and India. 

     

    It will address various issues relating to the growth of the internet ad, its impact on newspaper publishers, leveraging content and technology sharing experiences, social and mobile, digital revenues, models and metrics, content monetisation, audience engagement, and opportunities and threats: copyright issues, owning the data, digital brand protection.

     

    The advent of internet has paved the way for newspaper publishers to develop into news publishers. The seismic shift brought in by the digital technology presented new opportunities.

     

    Internet subscribers in India are expected to surpass 380 million by 2017. Though this is still a long-way to go to reach all 1.27 billion people but it is clear that the Indian Internet market is growing at a pace of 22 per cent year on year in unique visitor terms and is now at 80 million unique visitors as of the end of September 2013 (ComScore Media Metrix).

     

    The total number of active wireless subscribers in India grew 5 per cent over the last year to reach 731.4 million in July 2013, while broadband subscription grew 4 per cent in the last one year to reach 15.24 million at the end of July 2013 (according to a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India report). Around 79 million mobile subscribers have access to the Internet on their mobile phone (as reported by IMRB I-Cube 2012 report).

     

    If predictions are true that more digital advertising will be purchased through automated exchanges at a lower price point, then higher traffic volumes are required to maintain or increase online revenues. To increase traffic on websites, more content is required but with limited newsroom staff, who has to maintain the daily print rhythm too. 

     

    Indian language dailies are in the forefront to deliver a ‘digital-first strategy’ for building a digital business in the long term. Limited reach of the Internet, incompatibility with regional languages and fewer audiences that kept vernacular Indian dailies from making the most out of digital are now becoming a thing of the past. 

    Innovative use of technology, diversity and more pictorial in content, more tabloid in look and feel, breaking news, pushing up trending stories, add-on applications such as classifieds real estate, online shopping, travel etc., have given a greater emphasis of digital content. With page views in crores and unique visits in millions for the news sites of Indian language dailies, the success story has been marked. 

    ‘Journalism in the age of digital surveillance’ is one of the discussions lined up for 5 February, and speakers will include Anant Goenka, head of New Media in the Indian Express Group; Hindustan Times Executive Rajesh Mahapatra, Adobe India Creative Consultant Rajesh Patil; America’s OPUBCO Communication Group (The Oklahoman) CIO and VP Audience Development Dan Barth, Norway’s Verdens Gang (VG) Chief of Staff Oyvind Naess, Israel’s RBG Media CEO Grig Davidovitz, and America’s Knight Foundation Journalism and Media Innovation Programme VP Michael Maness among others.

     

    Naess will also present a case study on how they made use of the opportunities that came up in the digital revolution to their advantage and the challenges they are going to face in the future. Apart from the dramatic changes in readership, VG also sees the possibilities for non-linear TV and has made up plans to double the staff, video inventory, acquisition of programs, series and shows, to give a bigger push to live-TV. To get a closer focus on this development, they have established VG TV as a subsidiary company, effective from 1 January 2014. 

     

    Davidovitz will also address a workshop on content monetization strategies in a pre-meet on 4 February.

     

    Mathrubhumi Deputy Editor N P Rajendran will present a case study on how Mathrubhumi ventured into online space and created a niche for itself. Rajendran is a journalist for the past 32 years and heads the online desk of Mathrubhumi since 2005. 

     

    Speakers from two other successful vernacular dailies from the North and East of India, Dainik Jagran and Anandabazar Patrika will share the stage with Rajendran thus providing a comprehensive picture on this topic. 

    There will be sessions on content monetization in a digital era; innovative uses of social media; creating blog communities; the use by Indian Express – which has received the Digital Media Award – of social media in news dissemination; Revenue models and tablet metrics; and whether advertising works best online, in print, or mobile or a combination.

     

    Other participants will also include Times of India Group CIO Sachin Gupta, Jagran Prakashan MMI Online CEO Sukriti Gupta, India Today Digital CEO Salil Kumar, and ABP India IT and Technology Practice – Digital Head Amitabha Sinha.