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Tag: covid-19

  • ITC Savlon launches its advanced Savlon Hexa hand Sanitiser for quick action

    ITC Savlon launches its advanced Savlon Hexa hand Sanitiser for quick action

    The increasing spread of COVID-19 has made hand hygiene more critical than ever. The demand for hand sanitizers and handwashes has increased exponentially amongst consumers and health care professionals. ITC’s credo has been ‘Nation First’ and in line with this credo, ITC Savlon has taken multiple steps including repurposing a state-of-art perfume plant to ramp up sanitizer production. One key step has been to accelerate innovations that can offer significant anti-viral and anti-bacterial protection.

    ITC Savlon announces the launch of Savlon  Hexa Hand Sanitizing liquid. This formulation offers both quick and persistent Action. Savlon Hexa helps protect against many enveloped and non-enveloped viruses in addition to 99.99 per cent bacteria and fungi. It will help consumers and frontline medical professionals alike.

    ITC Limited personal care products business division chief executive Sameer Satpathy said, “The importance of hand hygiene in this unprecedented outbreak can by no means be over-emphasized. We take pride in introducing Savlon Hexa – a product that ensures effective hand sanitization through quick and persistent action. Our advanced hand sanitizer is one of our quickest launches, brought to fruition in record time. Savlon Hexa has been designed to address the critical and urgent need for trustworthy, effective preventive hygiene needs of the nation during these challenging times of COVID-19.”

    Savlon Hexa Hand Sanitiser liquid is available in a 500 ml pump pack priced at Rs 250 as well as a 500ml Refill Pack priced at Rs 240. It is in the process of being launched across the country.

  • itel innovates special social outreach campaign to digitally reach consumers

    itel innovates special social outreach campaign to digitally reach consumers

    MUMBAI:  itel mobile, the smartphone brand from Transsion India, chose to take the route of engaging meaningfully with its customers, employees and channel partners so that they are able to cope with the stress and anxiety of lockdown easily. With information consumption becoming huge through various media channels on the pandemic, itel took into its own digital social platforms innovatively to connect, spread positive awareness and launch many engaging initiatives to reach out to its stakeholders – employees, customers, and partners.

    With its innovative consumer outreach campaign, itel took upon the task of spreading positive messaging and developed engaging content through multiple short videos, information snippets, contests, fitness, and wellness challenges. As a brand for the masses, itel created strong awareness for its customers and fans through its social handles around different aspects of preventions like social distancing, not believing in fake news, doing responsible communication, sharing tips on handling senior citizens, respecting lockdown period, etc. 

    Under its consumer outreach campaign, itel also launched #TogetherWeHelp campaign, a unique CSR initiative from 6 April 2020. The campaign focuses on engaging the audience through interesting games, challenges, interactive activities while they are at home during the lockdown period. For each correct entry on its contest posts from consumers on its social page, itel will donate a certain amount for helping feed the needy. The company has announced a tie-up with GiveIndia, India’s largest and most trusted giving platform to support the financially challenged community across the country by providing them with daily food essentials in a structured manner.

    itel business unit head of marketing Goldee Patnaik said, “Amidst lockdown, India is glued to social channels as that is the only avenue for them to express and consume information. Being a mass brand, we decided on leveraging our social handles to connect with our fans in a way that made their stay at home during lockdown a journey to remember and not a stressful daily routine through the planning of various engagement activities. We have been creating innovative content based on novel communication approaches, which is not only limited to our target audience but also touching base with different age groups through relevant positive information dissemination. We are running various employee engagement campaigns focused on fitness and wellbeing, sharing effective tips on working smartly from home, encouraging direct connect programmes by taking stock of employee & family health, calling up channel partners regularly to ensure they are safe and doing well during this lockdown situation. 

    "As a responsible corporate outfit, we have launched a unique CSR programme which empowers customers and our fans to engage with us and earn points which would further be used towards contributing for the food of the financially challenged section of the society. We want to instil brand trust amongst our discerning customers and fans who have reposed their faith in us. It's an extension to the fact that itel has democratized technology for masses and is a trustworthy brand in good and bad times. We aim to drive engagement and want to spread the bigger message of care and positivity, which can go beyond the pandemic time as well, said Goldee”

    title, for its customers, recently announced the extension of the warranty period by two months for all its models. The extension will be applicable for the models whose warranty expires between 20 March to 31 May. The warranty extension would be automatically applicable and the users can check the status by logging on the CarlCare Mobile application. itel took this step as a gesture of good faith and to ensure their customers get extended warranty period without paying any additional charge. The initiative will relieve itel users to worry around their warranty which can’t be availed due to the unfortunate scenario of lockdown.

    Commenting on the CSR association, GiveIndia CEO Atul Satija  said, “The daily wage earners have been hit very hard by the measures taken to stop the spread of Coronavirus, particularly the lockdown. We are thankful to itel for joining in our mission through their unique CSR programme. itel’s contribution will certainly boost our initiative to help the daily wage earners survive the crisis, till the time the virus abates.”

  • BCCI mulls closed-stadium IPL 2020 in July

    BCCI mulls closed-stadium IPL 2020 in July

    MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating a slew of options to ensure that IPL 2020 is not cancelled. One of the options is to have July as an alternate window.

    According to a CNBC-TV18 report, a BCCI official, on the condition of anonymity, has said that the board is looking to host IPL matches possibly in July or latest during winter this year. The option to play closed-stadium tournament will be the last resort to make IPL 2020 happen, says the official.

    Amid the COVID-19 lockdown, IPL has been suspended till 15 April, which was scheduled to begin from 29 March. This is the first time in its 11-year-long history that the domestic marquee event was cancelled due to the unprecedented havoc created by the pandemic.

    The BCCI is not in favour of cancelling the domestic tournament this year as there are billions of dollars at stake. Estimates are that close to $1.5 billion is riding behind the IPL in terms of advertising, sponsorships and ticket sales.  

    The Indian government is also looking at extending the lockdown. The official also mentioned, “It will be difficult to have a full-fledged tournament under the current window till the beginning of June, if the lockdown is extended.”

    Global advisors Duff & Phelps estimated a huge loss of at least Rs 1000 crore if IPL gets cancelled due to the pandemic.

    The change in the schedule of the IPL may impact the cricket calendar of the year as important cricketing events that are slated for the year are Asia Cup 2020 and International Cricket Council T20 World Cup in August and October, respectively.

  • ‘Ramayan’, movies drive out pay Hindi GECs, news from across genres list

    ‘Ramayan’, movies drive out pay Hindi GECs, news from across genres list

    BENGALURU: Weeks 12 of 2020 (Saturday, 21 March 2020 to Friday 27 March 2020) and 13 of 2020 (Saturday, 28 March 2020 to Friday, 3 April 2020) witnessed big changes in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly lists of Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms. Week 12, the first week of the All India 21-day lockdown due to the dreaded covidvirus-19 had seen the entry of a Hindi News channel, the free to air (FTA) AajTak from the India Today group at rank 7. Only three GEC channels, two of which were FTA –Dangal (at rank 1), Big Magic (at rank 8) and Pay channel Sony Sab (at rank 3), were present in BARCs’ across genres on all platforms list in week 12 of 2020. Three Movies channels were also present in the list in week 12 along with two Telugu and one channel each of Tamil and Hindi News genres. Combined viewership of the Top 10 channels across genres in week 12 of 2020 was 8 percent higher than the combined viewership in week 11. From the Network’s perspective there were two channels each from Sony Pictures Network India (SPN), Star India and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) and one channel each from Enterr10 Television, Sun TV, TV Today group and Viacom18. 

    Week 13 of 2020 saw combined viewership of Top 10 channels across genres on all Platform climb even further- week 13 of 2020 saw week on week combined weekly impressions grow 18.3 percent as compared to the previous week. Eight of the channels in the weekly list for week 13 were the same as in week 12, but with higher ratings and a shuffling of ranks. Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa and AajTak exited the list in week 13 to make way for DD National (at rank 1) and Viacom18’s Kids channel Nick (at rank 9). BARC attributes DD National’s growth of viewership to re-runs of programmes such as Ramayan, Shaktiman and Buniyaad amongst others.

    Four Hindi GECs, three channels from the Hindi Movies genre and one channel each from the Kids, Tamil and Telugu genres made up BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms. Please refer to the figure below:

    Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres

    BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in week 12 of 2020 had seen the exit of five big GECs’, four of which were Hindi GEC’s and one was a Kannada GEC. All the channels were flagship channels. The Hindi GECs’ were Viacom18’s Colors, SPN’s Sony Entertainment Television, Star India’s Star Plus and Zeel’s Zee TV and the Kannada GEC was Zeel’s Zee Kannada. Three of the channels that replaced these GECs’ were Hindi Movies channels and two were Telugu GEC channels. BARC revealed during a teleconference that many GECs’ have included classic soaps& dramas and movies as big part of their programming, more so in South India. Four Telugu channels, three Hindi Movies channels and one channel each from the Hindi GEC, Kids and Tamil genres made up BARC weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across genres in week 12 of 2020. There were two channels each from SPN, Star India, Sun Tv Network, Viacom18 and Zeel. 

    Week 13 of 2020 saw two channels exit BARCs’ weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres-the Sun Tv Network’s Telugu GEC Gemini and Zeel’s Zee Telugu. The new entrants were pubcasterDoordarshan’s (DD) flagship channel DD National and the Sun Tv Network’s Tamil Movies channel KTV. Hence there were three channels from the Hindi Movies genre, two channels each from Hindi GECs’, Tamil and Telugu and one channel from the Kids genre. From the network’s perspective, there were two channels each from SPN, Star India, Sun Tv Nework, Viacom18 and one channel each from DD and Zeel.

    Please refer to figure below.

    Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres

    BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 12 of 2020 saw the exit of one Hindi Movies channel -ABZY Movies, to be replaced by Hindi News channel AajTak. The other nine channels in week 12 were same as in the previous week, with some shuffling in ranks.  There were three channels each from the Bhojpuri and Hindi Movies genres, two channels from the Hindi GEC genre and one channel each from the Hindi News and Youth genres. There were four channels from Zeel, three channels from Enterr10 Television, two channels from B4U Network and one channel from the India Today group.

    Nine of the channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 13 of 2020 were the same as in week 12. The channel that exited the list was Zeel’s Bhojpuri channel Big Ganga, which was replaced by DD’s DD National. The nine channels from the previous week had some reshuffling of ranks. There were three channels each from the Hindi GEC and Hindi Movies genres, two channels from the Bhojpuri genre and one channel each from the Hindi News and the Youth genres. There were three channels each from Enterr10 Television and Zeel, two channels from B4U and one channel each from DD and the India Today group.

    Please refer to the figure below:

  • The Vodafone pug is back – telling everyone: Our network is at home with you

    The Vodafone pug is back – telling everyone: Our network is at home with you

    MUMBAI: In these trying times of social distancing and stay-at-home lockdowns, telecom networks are our only window to the outside world. They are like Oxygen as these telecom networks help families and friends stay in touch with one another as human beings around the globe and to stay connected to anything at all….

    So while VIL has been doing its very best to keep the nation connected, we thought it’s time to bring back our best-loved icon to reinforce the importance of staying at home and staying connected with Vodafone through these difficult circumstances, albeit in its endearing way.

    The Vodafone pug is back – telling everyone:

    Our network is at home with you. Stay home, stay safe. Stay connected with Vodafone.

    #StayHomeStaySafe

  • Star Bharat reimagines channel identity to underline the need for social distancing

    Star Bharat reimagines channel identity to underline the need for social distancing

    MUMBAI: In this much-needed phase of social distancing and self-quarantining at home, Star Bharat sends a strong message of keeping a healthy distance.

    The channel, through its latest campaign, promotes and motivates people to follow social distancing uniquely by changing their channel identity. The original identity had an inspiring story of a boy fearlessly marching forward, mobilizing the crowd to join the movement of overcoming fear and moving ahead towards hope and progress. Capturing the collective energy of people in a rousing anthem by the celebrated AR Rahman, it formed the channel logo with all its beautiful shades.

    The new version uniquely played in reverse promotes the message of social distancing. The initiative aims to calm the anxiety in this critical phase and sends out a message asking people to stay home in these trying times.

    To encourage this effort, with hope and joy, Star Bharat has a special line-up of content reaching out to individuals and families all over the country with its latest campaign 'Bhula dein darr, Khush rahein Ghar Par.' 

    In order to bring laughter to the viewers, Star Bharat has introduced a new comic band by bringing two of the most iconic comedy shows ever seen on Indian television, Khichdi and Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai, produced by Hats Off Production along with the best chapters of its key mythological shows RadhaKrishn and Jag Janani Maa Vaishno Devi.

    Commenting on the Campaign, Star Bharat Channel Spokesperson said: “Currently the pandemic outbreak has led to millions staying home and glued to their television screens and phones for entertainment. And in such times of anxiety and distress in the country, the channel introduces joy in the life of its viewers with a daily dose of entertainment & learning through engaging content on Star Bharat. We aim to provide audiences with positive content which makes this quarantine period less stressful and creates an optimistic environment showcasing comedy and mythological shows.”

    Comedy shows Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai and Khichdi have both received immense amount of love from the audiences and it promises to be a treat for them this time around as well. 

  • Sony Corp takes equity stake in Chinese online platform Bilibili

    Sony Corp takes equity stake in Chinese online platform Bilibili

    MUMBAI: Sony Corp America (SCA) will pay Chinese online entertainment platform Bilibili $400 million in an all-cash transaction. On completion of the deal, the two companies will work together to tap the Chinese market, especially in sectors such as mobile games and anime.

    Once the deal is closed, SCA will own around 4.98 per cent of Bilibili's total issued shares.

    Bilibili, which started as an animation website targeted at and popular among younger audiences, now seeks to diversify into other areas like music videos, documentaries, and e-sports, attracting more than 130 million users per month. Its offerings include videos, live broadcasting and mobile games. Bilibili has primarily been known for its user-generated, short-form content. Of late, it has ventured into professional content-making, extending its bouquet of offerings to documentaries and long-form films. Its recent partnership includes the one with Discovery and China Intercontinental Communication Center to make “COVID-19: Battling the Devil,” about China’s battle against the virus.

    “The strategic investment and business cooperation (by Sony) further align our goals to bring best-in-class content offerings and services to our users, as we increase our (Chinese) domestic stronghold in animation and mobile games,” said Bilibili CEO and chairman Rui Chen.

  • No top programme, advertiser and brand data for week 13: BARC India

    No top programme, advertiser and brand data for week 13: BARC India

    MUMBAI: Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) will not be able to make available data on top programmes, top advertisers and top brands for week 13. The ratings agency has informed that due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, partners’ operations are disrupted and so it can’t make information available for the week starting 28 March up to 3 April.

    On its website, BARC India says, “BARC India is committed to weekly data release and will be releasing viewership data as scheduled on Thursday, 9 April 2020 at 1 pm. However, partners' operations have got disrupted and data for top programs, top advertisers and top brands are unavailable and hence will not be released for week 13.”

    It further adds, “We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and thank you for your support and wish you safety, good health and peace of mind.”

    Other viewership data has been made available.

  • Social ads dominate TV during COVID-19: BARC-Nielsen report

    Social ads dominate TV during COVID-19: BARC-Nielsen report

    NEW DELHI: Overall advertising FCT grew by nine per cent in the week starting 28 March over the pre-COVID time period between 11 and 31 January, as per the third edition of BARC India & Nielsen Media Explain “The Crisis Consumption – Impact Of COVID -19 On TV And Smartphone Behaviour Across India” findings, 

    Sports registered the highest jump of 86 per cent, followed by business news at 44 per cent. Music, kids, lifestyle, youth, and infotainment witnessed slight dips in ad FCTs. 

    The top categories contributing to the FCTs were toiletries, growing by 190 times, followed by social and cultural associations (+66 times), and ice cream/frozen dessert (+11 times). 

    Other top performers included social advertisements by NGOs, which clocked a 628 per cent increase, followed by similar advertisements by the government (+244 per cent). Other top categories include cellular phone services (+166 per cent), corporate videos (+155 per cent), and paints (+101 per cent). 

    Some of the top brands in week 13 are Dettol and Lifebuoy Toilet soaps, Harpic, Lizol, Hotstar VIP, etc. 

     

    Another trend highlighted by the report is the brands’ inclination towards creative COVID-focused advertising on various platforms. Print and television dominate the choice of media for most brands. 

     

    Top categories contributing to these COVID-based ads are financial services, retail, telecommunications, and food.

     

     

  • DD National viewership soars due to classics’ re-run

    DD National viewership soars due to classics’ re-run

    MUMBAI: DD National has become the most-watched channel in week three of lockdown. The third edition of BARC-Nielsen report on TV+ smartphone consumption during the crisis shows that Ramayan on DD National at 9 am and 9 pm garnered 545.8 million weekly impressions in week 13. Mahabharat, which airs on DD Bharati at 12 noon and 7 pm, garnered 145.8 million impressions. The return of the classics made DD National the most-watched channel across India

    The re-telecast of the show Ramayan garnered the highest-ever rating for a Hindi GEC show since 2015. The show was highest rated in the urban market and megacities. According to BARC India data, the first four episodes of Ramayan garnered an average of 28.7 million impressions.

    "After the news of Ramayan made headlines and social media trends were dominated by it, we have had a flood of rights holders themselves approaching us with iconic content that aired in the past on DD," Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati told Indiantelevision.com.

    Vempati informs that there has always been a demand from audiences to bring back the iconic serials of DD's golden era. So, DD started to re-telecast old shows like Shaktiman, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Shriman Shrimati, etc.

    In 1987, Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan was aired for the first time on DD National which gathered many people in front of the television. But this time to entertain people at home and ensure the successful implementation of social distancing during COVID-19, the public broadcaster brought back the show on its Hindi GEC platforms DD National and DD Bharati.  

    Vempati says, “This demand was the reason why even before this crisis started, Prasar Bharati Board approved the new content acquisition policy last year. The current crisis however made a radical difference to these content acquisition efforts. There was a tumult of requests on social media. The prime minister in his speech to the nation spoke of a metaphorical Lakshman Rekha when he called upon the citizens to stay at home and to keep social distance for an effective lockdown. I am thankful to the I&B minister Prakash Javadekar for his advice and guidance in accelerating our efforts to engage with the rights holders to bring back the iconic serials to DD so that the public broadcaster was able to play its role in the government's efforts to ensure a successful lockdown.”

    Apart from DD National and DD Bharati, Doordarshan’s regional channels are also bringing back old shows. Recently, DD Sahyadri started airing a special programme Aarohi from the 1980’s.

    According to BARC data, the viewership on Doordashan channels rose by 16 per cent in 2019 over 2018. Last year also Prasar Bharati added 11 regional channels on DD Free Dish to expand its reach. Fifty per cent of its viewership comes from Hindi channels and the rest is garnered by its regional channels. “News and live coverage have been Doordarshan's USP. 2019 was an important year from a news and live standpoint with the general elections and several major public events all of which cumulatively contributed to the growth of DD's viewership,” says Vempati.

    With regards to advertising and revenue growth on the back of these old shows, Vempati says, “It is too early to discuss revenues. Our priority right now is to ensure the audience are engaged and the lockdown is effective.”