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Tag: Coronavirus

  • Instashield rolls out its first ad campaign on OTT and digital platforms

    Instashield rolls out its first ad campaign on OTT and digital platforms

    Mumbai: Consumer durables technology company Instashield India has rolled out its first ad film on IPL Hotstar, social media platforms, and YouTube. The ad campaign features the benefits of using the company’s plug-n-device ‘Instashield’ which claims to protect oneself from all sorts of viruses, including the coronavirus.

    The ad film showcases a family of five members, where a male member is seen advocating the benefits of using the Instashield product. He also tries to compare the difference between an air purifier and a virus slayer. Reacting to the statement by female members ‘phir to ye bahut mehenga hoga and safe to hai,’ the man tries to convince them that Instashield is the best product to keep the family safe and is available at a reasonable price. 

    Commenting on the launch of Instashield’s first ad film, Instashield’s promoter and director Hitesh M Patel said, “Instashield is a medical device technology, which is a perfect fit to combat the on-going virus challenges. It is a plug-n-play device, which is the need of the hour, and to market, such a product is of utmost importance for us to ensure the lives of people around us are healthy and safe.”

    Instashield CEO CS Jadhav shared that the company intends to go really aggressive on promoting this product and going forward, on print and electronic media, digital marketing, influencer engagement and PR as well. It is currently available on e-commerce platforms and the company’s D2C website.

    “All our future marketing initiatives will see great and prudent spends as we plan to be present in all geographies across the country,” Jadhav said, adding, “In the ongoing pandemic, the product is the need of the hour and we aim to place ourselves at homes, schools, hotels, hospitals, airports, restaurants and every enclosed place so that each one of us is safe.”

    “The ad is created to demonstrate the need to keep your family safe and prevent each other from the ongoing pandemic,” said brand advocate Ankit Khera on ideating and creating the ad film. “The product is simple to use at any place. The tagline of Instashield #TaakiZindagiChaltiJaye ensures people to have a safe and healthy life without any health issues pertaining to the viruses.”

  • The 2022 Grammy Awards postponed amid Omicron surge

    The 2022 Grammy Awards postponed amid Omicron surge

    Mumbai: The 2022 Grammy Awards have been postponed indefinitely, weeks before the planned Los Angeles ceremony over what organisers called “too many risks” from the Omicron variant.

    The Recording Academy on Wednesday said it made the decision to postpone the ceremony “after careful consideration and analysis with city and state officials, health and safety experts, the artist community and our many partners. Given the uncertainty surrounding the omicron variant, holding the show on January 31 simply contains too many risks.”

    The attempt at a back-to-normal show had been scheduled for 31 January at the newly renamed Crypto.com Arena with a live audience and performances, but no new date is on the books.

    Jon Batiste is the leading nominee for this year’s honours, grabbing 11 nods in a variety of genres including R&B, jazz, American roots music, classical and music video. Justin Bieber, Doja Cat and H.E.R. are tied for the second-most nominations with eight apiece.

    The Grammys move could be the beginning of another round of award-show rescheduling after another winter coronavirus surge, with the Screen Actors Guild Awards planned for February and the Academy Awards for March. The announcement was made around the same time the Sundance Film Festival cancelled its in-person programming set to begin on 20 January and shifted to an online format.

    Last year, like most major awards shows in early 2021, the Grammys were postponed due to coronavirus concerns. The show was moved from late January to mid-March and held with a spare audience made up of mostly nominees and their guests in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center, next door to its usual home, the arena then known as Staples Center.

    It was a big night for Beyonce and Taylor Swift, but the live performances that set the Grammys apart from other awards shows were set separately with no significant crowds, many of them pre-taped.

    “We look forward to celebrating Music’s Biggest Night on a future date, which will be announced soon,” the academy statement said.

    With two professional basketball teams and a hockey team occupying the arena, finding that date could be complicated. The Recording Academy made no mention of a possible venue change in its statement.

  • Domestic travel picks pace amid vaccine roll-out, easing of rules shows survey

    Domestic travel picks pace amid vaccine roll-out, easing of rules shows survey

    MUMBAI: More than a year into the pandemic, restrictions on movement continue across various countries. However, the global appetite for travel remains intact, with an inclination towards domestic travel (51 per cent) exceeding international (18 per cent). A significant fact is that the resumption of travel will start closer to home.

    According to YouGov’s ‘International Travel & Tourism Report 2021: The road back to normality‘ , post-pandemic international travel will begin with familiar destinations, while business travel recovery may take longer. It also showed that 77 per cent of global consumers plan to travel in the next 12 months with 57 per cent planning over two trips. Majority of the travel demand will be led by millennials and Gen X, according to the survey.

    The survey conducted in 25 global markets including India among 1.8 lakh respondents found that there is a gradual fall in the number of people concerned over health risks across the globe since January 2021, in line with the approvals of vaccines and their widespread rollout.

    As the pandemic begins to subside globally and extensive vaccinations buoy up spirits in most parts of the world, what does the road back to normality look like for the travel & tourism sector? Encouragingly for travel companies, the intent to travel domestically for leisure rose sharply at the start of 2021. The recovery of international travel depends on softening of restrictions, found the study which shows that international travel intent in 2020 remained low due to strict restrictions. But as more herd immunity is reached in various parts of the world, it’s reasonable to expect declining health concerns, even if they don’t disappear completely.

    With the European Union all set to roll out its ‘Green Pass’ or Digital Covid certificate to facilitate free movement during these challenging times, there’s a glimmer of hope for the travel industry in 2021. And now with news coming in that European countries, including Switzerland and Germany, are ready to extend the pass to Indians vaccinated by Covishield, there is some respite in store for those pent-up wanderlust emotions lying suppressed for over a year now.

    The road back to normality for the travel industry, however, is going to be a bumpy one. Only one in five consumers globally plan to travel internationally in the next 12 months. The report analyses consumer travel preferences and identifies the emerging opportunities that will prove most lucrative for industry players. As travel attitudes and restrictions shift rapidly, so do travelers’ interests in particular destinations.

    The changes we see in travelers’ consideration of different destinations appear linked to both the seasonal relevancy of the destination, as well as the restrictions that are currently in place to travel to or from the locale.

    Health risks remain the biggest barrier to travel (48 per cent) for global survey respondents, followed by safety (37 per cent) and travel restrictions (35 per cent)- Although, the proportion of those concerned about health risks from travelling has gradually decreased since January, when it stood at 56 per cent, in line with the rollout of the vaccine.

    A clear appetite for travel globally is indicated with more than 77 per cent of the respondents planning trips during the next 12 months and with more than half of this group planning two or more journeys (57 per cent).

    Millennials and Gen X have the confidence and the means

    The youngest generation, Gen Z, has been the hardest hit economically. While they have less concern over health risks, a lack of disposable income is holding them back in terms of their ability to travel freely, the study shows. The oldest generation is on the other side of the coin – with savings due to having spent less in the last year, but more concerns around travel safety. Somewhere in the middle is the audience travel companies are looking for. Millennials and Gen X on average have the combination of confidence to travel, lack of immediate health risks, and the finances to fund trips in the coming months and years.

    The survey indicates that around a third of people globally feel restrictions are preventing them from traveling. Travel restrictions and risks of quarantine have proven to be a more constant dampener than concerns about the virus. Uncertainty over local and national lockdowns as well as international travel will continue to put downward pressure on a fragile recovery.

  • TV advertising shows resilience during second Covid wave, says new report

    Mumbai: Several states have begun the unlock process, as the second wave of Covid-19 begins to ebb out after its catastrophic impact across sectors. Television and film shoots have resumed under strict restrictions, allowing the media and entertainment industry to emerge out of the crisis.

    According to a recent report by Elara Capital, the second wave has submersed advertising spends softly versus 2020 levels. The first wave that hit last year defaced Q1FY21 ad revenues with decline of 61 per cent YoY(ex-IPL) for TV, 79 per cent for print, and 87 per cent for radio sectors, highlighted the report. The report has not factored the impact of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    “Nevertheless, we expect Q1FY22 tapering to diminish, versus FY20 base, at 25 per cent decline for TV, 45 per cent for print, and 35 per cent for radio. This is primarily because of the ongoing TV shoots led by a shift to alternate locations with minimal Covid impact on fresh content, state-level restrictions versus pan-India lock-down in 2020 and continued print-newspapers’ circulation and delivery, leaning on 2020 learnings,” said the report, adding that vaccination pace should trigger a sharp ebb in new cases, which could uncork a faster unlock versus 2020 levels.

    TV advertising to revive faster than print, radio

    According to the report, TV advertising will reach pre-pandemic levels by FY2022 faster compared to print and radio. It estimates TV/digital advertising will grow 18.6 per cent (ex-IPL)/25 per cent YoY in FY22 respectively as verticals such as FMCG, e-commerce, auto, and telecom enjoy a larger share in these mediums. TV also remains the preferred medium for brand-building and favoured choice for advertisers as it has the widest reach among mediums.

    While, it predicted tough times for print and radio which are likely to take a longer time, given higher exposure to local/SME advertising segments. Other verticals like cinema and out-of-home advertising (OOH) will also need more time to recuperate from the impact of the pandemic, it said.

    “The shoots were not stalled completely for TV and films as several producers had shifted to alternate locations. Moreover, verticals like FMCG and e-commerce have a good presence for TV ad spends. It’s also important to note that TV’s has the least reliance on local ad spends compared to other mediums,” said Elara Capital vice president and research analyst Karan Taurani. 

    Regional broadcasters and news genre to outshine others

    According to the Elara Capital report, regional broadcasters are expected to outperform others in FY2022 when the industry returns to normalcy. Sports and news are the two genres with continued demand for live consumption, which should support their growth in the linear medium.

    “Regional genres such as Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam offer a largely untapped opportunity in advertising growth, as their transition to the digital medium should take longer versus Hindi and English genres. TV Today Network (TVTN) and Zee Entertainment (ZEEL) are our top picks within the listed broadcaster space given their presence in key genres and market share gain visibility,” as per the report.

    According to the report, the average time a person spends on television has risen drastically post the coronavirus lockdown, and the trend is still continuing. Moreover, social distancing norms may continue as a precautionary measure even after the lockdown, which could further elevate the TV viewing time. 

  • MIB asks GECs to promote Covid helplines

    Mumbai: The union ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) asked general entertainment channels (GECs) to promote six central government Covid helpline numbers. The country is battling with its worst-ever health crisis, with over 2,500 people succumbing to the infection daily.

    “The private general entertainment (non-news) TV channels are advised to promote awareness of these six national level helpline numbers by way of a ticker or such (other) appropriate ways as they may consider, at periodical intervals,” the I&B ministry said in its recent advisory.

    It has asked channels to promote national helpline numbers that include the union ministry for health and family welfare (1075), women and child development ministry (1098), and the national institute of mental health and neuro-sciences for psychological support (08046110007).

    Apart from these three major helplines,it has also sought to promote other helpline numbers that include, the AYUSH COVID-19 counselling number (14443), the MyGovWhatsApp help desk (9013151515), and that of the union ministry of social justice and empowerment for senior citizens (14567).

    In its advisory, the I&B ministry noted that the second wave of the coronavirus in India was showing signs of slowing down, even as the number of fresh cases was still on the higher side. On Friday, the country recorded as many as 1,34,000 new cases. The advisory also lauded private channels for complementing government efforts to fight the Covid pandemic by creating awareness regarding the infection.

  • Producers Guild of India organizes mass vaccination campaign

    Producers Guild of India organizes mass vaccination campaign

    Mumbai: The Producers Guild of India (PGI), the association of Indian film, television, and digital content producers on Monday announced it will conduct a mass vaccination campaign to give coronavirus vaccines to guild members and associated production crews. 

    The Guild, in a press release, noted that members will be vaccinated across several days in a drive to commence on 1 June at Mehboob Studios, in suburban Bandra. The organizers said that mass vaccination is the single solution to curb the spread of the pandemic, and would also facilitate safer shooting, once production work resumes. 

    “An activity of such importance and magnitude cannot be carried out singlehandedly, and we are extremely grateful for the support we have received to make this possible. We are happy that we are able to provide this facility to our members, their employees, and the cast and crew of their (respective) productions as we work to get the industry back on its feet again in the weeks ahead,” said Producers Guild of India president Sidharth Roy Kapur. 

    Kapur also thanked production company Excel Entertainment for playing ”a pivotal role in securing the vaccine, as also Mehboob Productions, who very generously offered complimentary use of the spacious Mehboob Studios.”

    Due to the second wave of the Covid pandemic, the Maharashtra government has suspended all shooting activities, both indoor and outdoor. Currently, the shooting of a few films and television shows is being carried out outside the state. 

    Maharashtra, on Sunday, reported 18,600 fresh Covid cases, with the death toll due to Covid-related complications costing 402 human lives, pushing the total number of fatalities to 94,844. 

     

     

  • As infections surge, West Bengal and Odisha suspend TV & film shoots

    As infections surge, West Bengal and Odisha suspend TV & film shoots

    Mumbai: Struggling to combat the devastating surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, West Bengal and Odisha on Monday decided to suspend the shooting of all television shows and films with immediate effect.

    The decision to suspend shooting comes as a part of stricter lockdown measures imposed in these states to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. West Bengal on Sunday reported the highest single-day Covid-19 toll with 147 deaths that pushed up the fatality count to 13,284.

    The Odisha government, in its new circular, ordered the suspension of both indoor and outdoor shooting activities. Earlier, shooting was permitted in Odisha subject to permission from the local authorities. 

    Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India President Swarup Biswas told PTI that the shooting of 36 serials, three web series, and one film will be suspended until 31 May due to the new restriction imposed by the government. 

    However, Biswas requested the authorities to permit shooting in West Bengal and assured that all Covid safety procedures will be followed while filming. Thousands of people working in the industry will become unemployed due to the new order, he beseeched. “Our request will be to the chief minister Mamata Banerjee to see if something can be done so that hundreds of people involved in this profession are not rendered unemployed. It will be better if they can carry on their work following all COVID safety procedures,” said Biswas. 

    Biswas also added that all actors and technicians will soon undergo Covid tests so that they can keep the shooting area coronavirus-free zone. 

    TV and film shooting also remains suspended in Maharashtra, Kerala and Goa which are also reeling under the second wave of Covid-19. On Saturday, RK Selvamani, the president of the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) said that the shooting of films and serials in Tamil Nadu will be suspended until 31 May. FEFSI made this decision after 26 members of a TV serial crew tested positive for Covid infection. 

  • Covid aid: Zee Bangla Cinema says ‘we’re there for you’ with amraachhi.org

    Covid aid: Zee Bangla Cinema says ‘we’re there for you’ with amraachhi.org

    NEW DELHI: Zee Bangla Cinema, in association with its digital partner Mind and Matter, has launched a website named Amra Achhi (amraachhi.org) which means ‘We are there’ to provide all Covid-related help to people in West Bengal. 

    The website is a one-stop destination for all information related to Covid-19 care in the state. In a statement, the channel said the sole objective behind launching this site is to ensure people get all the helping hand and also encourage others to contribute to their fellow citizens in this difficult situation. 

    The uniqueness of this platform is that it will grow organically through a crowd-sourcing model. Through this initiative, the channel will enable people to volunteer for their locality and show their comradeship with one another.

    This initiative will also encourage people to become Covid heroes in their locality and assist families affected by the pandemic. It aims to extend the helping hand to the needy ones by supplying essential medicines, utilities, and rations. 

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd cluster head-east Samrat Ghosh urged people of West Bengal to visit the site and do their bit for those in need. 

    “This platform will bring all the people together who want to be there with you when you indeed need them. I would appeal to everyone in West Bengal to visit the site and come forward to become a Covid hero in their locality. We believe this small initiative along with help from our viewers can make a big difference in these challenging times,” said Ghosh. 

  • CINTAA urges producers to follow Covid SOPs, says lapse could impact the whole unit

    CINTAA urges producers to follow Covid SOPs, says lapse could impact the whole unit

    KERALA: The Cine and Television Actors’ Association (CINTAA) has urged producers to follow standard operating procedures (SOP) during the shooting and production stages to protect actors from Covid-19. The request from CINTAA comes at a time when several actors have tested positive for Covid, and some of them have even succumbed to the deadly virus. 

    In an open letter on Facebook, CINTAA has appealed to production houses and producers to follow all health and safety protocols and made it clear that even minor negligence could have a severe impact on the entire unit. 

    Actors succumbing to Covid-19

    Ever since the outbreak of the pandemic, several actors in the Indian entertainment industry have fallen victim to Covid. Some of the noted actors who lost their lives due to Covid-related complications include veteran Bollywood actress Shripradha, Marathi actor Abhilasha Patil, and veteran Punjabi actor Satish Kaul, who had featured in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat. 

    Apart from these artists who lost their lives after battling the fatal infection, several top Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar, Aamir Khan, and R Madhavan also tested Covid positive in recent weeks. 

    With Covid cases on the rise among the acting fraternity, CINTAA has aired its concerns over their safety, as they are at a higher risk of contracting the virus due to regular traveling. 

    SOPs to protect artists from Covid infection

    The association urged producers to formulate SOPs by keeping the transmissibility of the new Covid variant in mind, which might show negative in the first RT-PCR and would mean isolating the cast and crew before and after the shoot. 

    Citing the example of the IPL bio bubble failure, CINTA predicted that the secure bubble maintained in television shooting sets may be breached soon. 

    “It is wonderful that TV shoots are shooting in a bubble, with necessary precautions, but we are worried that a secure bio bubble of the IPL has been breached, it will not take long for this disaster to strike TV shoots. There is a traffic of actors travelling to and from shoots, using flights and airports and the danger of infection is tenfold,” said a CINTAA spokesperson in a recent press release. 

    Request for 30-day payment

    CINTAA has also requested film and TV showrunners to follow the 30-day mode of payment until the end of the pandemic. 

    “With medical costs sky-rocketing, it is only prudent that expenses are completely covered with no burden to our members,” added the spokesperson. 

    The association has also demanded an explanation from producers who have replaced actors who were unwilling to take part in shoots due to the second Covid wave. Seeking compensation from producers, CINTAA asked who will be responsible if an actor contracts the lethal disease.

    “We are appealing to all the stakeholders that we want to know on whom does the moral responsibility lie: If the actor contracts Covid who is going to take care of the entire hospital/medical expenses, the insurance, injury cover, death cover, etc. Is the broadcaster taking the onus, studio taking the onus, or the producer association or individual producer is taking the onus, that is what we wish to know,” it questioned, adding that actors are also no less than frontline workers.

  • PayTM pledges 100 oxygen concentrators, one oxygen plant for Covid relief

    PayTM pledges 100 oxygen concentrators, one oxygen plant for Covid relief

    KERALA: Indian e-wallet and fintech company PayTM has pledged to donate 100 concentrators and one oxygen plant for Covid relief efforts in Gujarat. The donations were made to the Corona Sewa Yagna initiative spearheaded by Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat. 

    PayTM has donated oxygen concentrators to combat the shortage in the supply of medical oxygen and stabilise the healthcare infrastructure. The oxygen concentrators will be sent to public hospitals, Covid-19 clinics, primary health centres, dedicated Covid-19 hospitals and health centres. 

    “We feel proud to extend our efforts to support Gujarat governor Shri Acharya Devvrat’s noble ‘Corona Sewa Yagna’ initiative. It’s crucial in the time of crisis to provide a pillar of support to our fellow citizens as pandemic waves hit the shores. We aim to converge our resources along with the state government’s initiatives to save as many lives of the people of Gujarat. These oxygen concentrators are our humble contribution to help overcome the oxygen shortage by the Gujarat citizens struggling with Covid-19,” said PayTM founder & CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

    Non-profit organisation Yuva Unstoppable is supporting this campaign under the mentorship of the governor of Gujarat. Other corporates like HDFC Bank, Finolex, JITO, and more have supported ‘Corona Sewa Yagna’ initiative. 

    PayTM’s helping hand to its employees

    While interacting with the Indiantelevision.com, Sharma talked about various initiatives PayTM has taken to assure the wellbeing of its employees. 

    “Unfortunately, we have lost eight members of our PayTM family due to the Covid pandemic. We, at PayTM, are trying our best to fulfil the needs of the employees at these pandemic times. We are providing jobs to the dependents of the deceased employees, and we are meeting their family expenses for one year. We have introduced work from home option to our employees. We have given health insurance to our employees, and have never compelled them to work if they face any Covid-related issues,” he added.