Tag: Kantar

IBF is not ending TAM subscription: Punit Goenka

MUMBAI: The sword has been hanging on Television Audience Measurement’s (TAM) head for a long time now. From NDTV Group’s $1.3 billion lawsuit (though dismissed by courts) to Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC) likely to start releasing television ratings data by April, as reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, things haven’t been hunky-dory for the measurement body for a while now.

However, not only did the agency fight tooth and nail the allegations of poor quality TAM research data, it also complied with the guidelines set by Information and Broadcasting Ministry for a TV ratings agency in order to exist. For instance, TAM continues to increase the size of the panel to fulfill the minimum peoplemeter sample size of 20,000 homes guideline, set by the I&B Ministry.

With a few months left for BARC to begin rolling out its data, there have been various speculations making rounds in the industry. “There is the cost issue. Why would one pay for both TAM and BARC subscription? Also, since both the measurement bodies have a different way of functioning, one needs to take a break before adopting the new one,” says an industry source on the reason for the ratings blackout, if indeed it ever happens.

So much so, a few media reports have gone on record to say that the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) is planning to end its subscription with TAM leading to a period sans ratings. This in turn has created panic in the industry, as it awaits two major events namely the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and the eighth edition of the Indian Premiere League (IPL). As per sources, ad rates for WC are touted to be around Rs 4 lakh for 10 seconds and ad rates for IPL have seen an increase of around 10-15 per cent generating huge ad revenue for broadcasters.

When questioned on the reports doing the rounds and how it would impact the industry in case the IBF decides to end its subscription from TAM, Kantar CEO Eric Salama laughs saying, “I don’t know about the intentions.”

What’s more, an industry source close to the development clarifies that so far the ratings agency had not heard from the IBF or anyone from the industry on the matter.

To get further confirmation on the matter, Indiantelevision.com contacted IBF board member and BARC chairman Punit Goenka and he denied the report as well. “There is no such decision taken by the IBF,” he asserted.

February 4, 2015
Kantar Media to acquire audio watermarking unit of Civolution

MUMBAI: In a significant move, Kantar Media, a 50 per cent owner of TAM, has agreed to acquire the audio watermarking unit of Civolution, the technology, which Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) is going to use for its proposed audience measurement system.

The acquisition will strengthen the firm’s audience measurement technologies and opening up new and exciting opportunities around second screen activation. The acquisition, expected to be completed by the end of 2014, will build on Kantar Media’s significant global presence and activities in digital audience measurement across all media in 60+ countries.

“We have long admired the expertise and skills of Jean-Michel and his team,” commented Kantar Media Audiences global CEO Richard Asquith and added, “In joining Kantar Media they will strengthen our suite of technology to measure audiences for content across all devices in all formats. Broadcasters, agencies and advertisers can track viewing to their content across TV, tablet and mobile screens, and benefit from our ability to deliver accurate audience measurement as the media ecosystem continues to evolve.”

The watermarking unit, led by Jean-Michel Masson, is recognised as a world leader in audio watermarking technology deployed in hundreds of broadcast channels across the world. Kantar Media already uses watermarking technology in a number of its TV, radio and internet audience measurement services. In addition to this, Kantar Media’s ability to link second screens to TV content will also be strengthened through SyncNow, already widely used by many of the leading broadcasters.

Further, Masson commented, “We are excited at the prospect of becoming part of Kantar Media. We already enjoy a successful history of co-operation with the business and look forward to working with broadcasters, agencies, industry bodies and the wider market across Kantar Media’s measurement footprint.”

The team will continue to be based in Rennes, France.

October 16, 2014
TAM woos subscribers with mobile app

MUMBAI: Even as it awaits the verdict of the Delhi High Court on the case filed by its parent body Kantar Market Research, media ratings agency TAM has taken a bold move to cement itself in the industry. A new mobile app has been created to facilitate easy data access by subscribers.

The app, called ‘TAM India’, will provide weekly top line TAM data to subscribers through App Story (iPhone), Google Play (Android) and Blackberry World (Blackberry). It will be updated every Thursday, immediately after the regular release of TAM data to the industry. Subscribers will instantly be intimated about the update.

Commenting on the launch of the app, TAM Media Research CEO LV Krishnan said, “Our focus, as always, has been to enrich our customers with actionable insights through credible data. With this first ever unique initiative of launching ‘TAM India’ mobile app, we have fortified our service commitment to the industry with that of anytime anywhere access to data and quicker decision making process for clients. I am especially excited about the different ways in which this mobile app will be of value to the senior management across advertiser, media agency and TV broadcast organisations.”

On a weekly basis, the app will provide insights of different TV channel genres, markets, programmes and new promotables. At any given point in time, it will have data not just for the latest week, but also for the preceding four weeks.

The following is the kind of data that will be available on the app

· Channel Genre: Overall genre wise viewership data and five weeks trends for select genres

· Markets: Market wise viewership data and five weeks trends for select markets

· New Programme Launches: List of new programmes launched during the latest week on respective channels

· New Promotables: List of new programme promotions on respective channels during the latest week

The app will also provide a feature to bookmark a favourite market or genre which will be shown as a first screen from the next update. The app is available for download on the TAM website www.tamindia.com.

July 22, 2014
Kantar acquires majority stake in Guardian Digital Agency

MUMBAI: Holding companies seem to be speeding up the process of adding specialised digital agencies in their kitty.

WPP, the British holding company has announced that Kantar, its wholly-owned data investment management arm, has acquired the Guardian Digital Agency (GDA), a specialised data visualisation, site design and interactive development agency, previously part of Guardian News and Media Group. The company, which employs 13 professionals, will be rebranded under the name Graphic. Many of Kantar’s 12 companies have already worked with GDA to increase the impact and interactivity of their work.

The investment is part of WPP’s strategy of developing its integrated services in fast-growing and important markets and sectors and strengthening its capabilities in digital media.

WPP’s digital revenues (including associates) were well over US$6 billion in 2013, representing almost 35 per cent of the Group’s total revenues of US$17.3 billion. WPP expects 40-45 per cent of its revenue to be derived from digital in the next five years.

Kantar is the data investment management division of WPP and one of the world’s largest insight, information and consultancy groups. By connecting the diverse talents of its 12 specialist companies, the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and inspirational insights for the global business community.

In the UK, WPP companies (including associates) collectively generate revenues of nearly US$3billion and employ over 15,000 professionals. Worldwide, WPP’s data investment management companies (including associates) collectively generate revenues of about US$5 billion and employ over 34,000 professionals.

July 3, 2014
Mindshare sets up GEMS, promotes Deepika Nikhilender as CEO

MUMBAI: Mindshare has launched a new full service media unit in Singapore called Growth and Emerging Market Solutions or GEMS, with Deepika Nikhilender as its CEO.

GEMS will serve the needs of a number of companies who use Singapore and other Asian cities as their central marketing hubs for managing their emerging and developing growth markets across Asia, Middle East, Africa and others. GEMS will provide marketers who have responsibility for these regions with a broad spectrum of services including emerging class consumer activation, mobile marketing, category communications planning, ROMI, digital analytics, consulting, content development and management of quick data for insights. As specific sub-regional needs from clients grow, Mindshare will look to support the GEMS Singapore hub with talent based in China, India, Middle East, Africa and other developing markets.

GEMS provides a simplified single-window access to clients looking for specialist planning skills and implementation partners in all the areas of marketing communications described above. It will house a team of client leaders along with specialists in these service areas who will help develop solutions for clients. GEMS is designed to be an open-source partner to its clients. It will bring in bespoke planning platforms and a real-time campaign data-tracking centre, which will facilitate open-source collaboration with various marketing communications partners to develop integrated marketing solutions. These partner companies will focus on word-of-mouth, activation, insights, data analytics and technology, and digital media – like Kantar, Geometry Global, Advocacy, VML and several others. In addition, GEMS will harness global partnerships with digital and mobile companies that Mindshare already has in place.

Deepika Nikhilender previously led Mindshare Business Planning across Asia Pacific where she led and developed Mindshare’s offering in analytics, insights, strategy and data and technology solutions. She brings extensive experience on multiple product categories across Asia. In 2010 she was chosen Regional Client Leader for Mindshare APAC as recognition of her contribution to clients. In this role, Deepika will report to R Gowthman, recently appointed COO for Mindshare APAC. Deepika has been with Mindshare for 15 years.

Deepika said, “At Mindshare, we have always kept our clients’ business at the centre of all that we do. Their expectations from Mindshare have also changed significantly in response to the changing marketing and media opportunities. We continue to evolve ourselves to stay ahead of market, while ensuring we stay relevant and competitive. Thanks to our clients who keep pushing us to raise the bar, inspiring us to open up new streams and encouraging us in all our new initiatives.”

Ashutosh Srivastava, Chairman & CEO for APAC & Growth Markets at Mindshare, said “GEMS is part of an exciting new approach, using technology to create centres of excellence at a few hubs, look at data centrally and share precious talent across more markets when developing solutions. Hopefully this model will enable clients to use all their partners more collaboratively – to create more impactful solutions and drive growth, in markets where lack of experienced talent is currently a huge handicap. We are going to run GEMS like a start up – data and tech driven, fast and flexible, provocative and founded on collaboration, with ability to dial up and down for clients without tying up massive resource for clients.”

Mindshare Asia Pacific’s GEMS unit and Deepika’s role are effective immediately.

March 18, 2014
Hearing on Kantar petition adjourned till 11 July

MUMBAI: The Delhi High Court today adjourned hearing on a petition by Kantar Market Research Services challenging the government’s cross-shareholding norm for television rating agencies till 11 July.

The court had earlier stayed operation of the cross-shareholding norm till the case is disposed of. And in accordance with the court’s directive, TAM Media Research, which is jointly owned by Kantar and Nielsen, last month applied to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for its registration as a television ratings service.

The cross-shareholding norm, which came into effect from 15 February, debars shareholders owning more than 10 per cent of a television rating agency from having stakes in broadcasters and advertising agencies.

TAM has also been allowed to continue publishing its television ratings till the court decides on the Kantar petition.

Kantar had today sought adjournment of the case to April but the court decided to have the next hearing only in July.

The election commission on Wednesday announced the dates for the 9-phase polling for Lok Sabha elections and the results would be announced on May 16.

With the announcement of the election schedule, the election code of conduct came into effect which bars governments from taking any policy decisions.

March 6, 2014
TAM applies for registration with MIB

MUMBAI: When Kantar Market Research Services, a shareholder of India’s only operational ratings agency TAM Media Research, decided to go to court against the government’s cross-shareholding norms for television ratings agencies, there was a big question mark on the future of TAM.

But as Kantar on 11 February succeeded in obtaining a stay on the cross-shareholding norms from the Delhi High Court till a judgement is delivered on its petition, it had some hope that TAM could continue to operate as a television ratings service provider.

The court granted TAM two weeks after the guidelines take effect on 15 February to apply for registration with the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB). It had time till the end of next week to apply, but it submitted its registration application much earlier, on Friday.

Kantar CEO Eric Salama confirmed to indiantelevision.com that TAM has submitted its application for being registered as a television ratings service provider.

However, there is no clarity on the period within which the ministry will take a decision on TAM’s application for registration.

There are various scenarios that can play out in the coming weeks for TAM. Further hearing on the Kantar petition will happen on 6 March.

The first but highly unlikely scenario is the ministry acting on TAM’s application and before 6 March accepts the company as eligible to be granted a registration certificate. The next step will be the company, its board of directors, MD, CEO and CFO going through a security clearance.

The second scenario is that the ministry rejects TAM’s application before 6 March, which also seems highly unlikely, or that the application is rejected after the hearing on 6 March. This could lead to Kantar filing an appeal against the government’s rejection of its application either in the High Court or in the Supreme Court and praying for allowing continuity in their business in the country. While granting the stay on cross-shareholding norm, the court had also allowed TAM to continue to publish their television ratings.

The third scenario could be the government asking TAM to submit more documents. In such a case, Kantar could approach the Delhi High Court for more time to submit the documents sought by the government.

The fourth and more probable scenario is that the ministry may not act on TAM’s application till the Delhi High Court verdict on cross-shareholding is delivered. If the ministry finally rejects TAM’s application, Kantar may go in appeal against it.

Finally, in the event of the Delhi High Court upholding the cross-shareholding norm, Kantar could either go in appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court or may decide to restructure shareholding of TAM to comply with the government’s shareholding regulations.

The government’s norm requires that shareholders of a television ratings agency should not hold more than a 10 per cent stake in broadcasters, advertising agencies or other television ratings agencies.

In all, it seems like TAM has got some time to continue publishing its television viewership ratings in the country.

February 22, 2014
Kantar says TAM to apply for registration within time given by Delhi HC

MUMBAI: We had last reported that Kantar Market Research Services, one of the shareholders of India’s only TV ratings agency TAM, got a stay from the Delhi High Court on the provision regarding cross-holding of shareholders in the regulations for television ratings agencies.

The court had asked Kantar to ensure TAM complies with the rest of the provisions in the regulations and granted it time to apply with the ministry of information and broadcasting for registration as a television ratings agency.

TAM was allowed to apply for registration in two weeks from the date (15 February, 2014) the regulations came into effect.

Kantar is confident that there will be no delays from TAM’s side in submitting its registration application to the MIB.

Speaking on behalf of TAM, Kantar CEO Eric Salama says, “We are seeking to comply with all the terms of the regulation, cross ownership aside, in the specified period. We will be applying to the Ministry and will not be asking for any further extension.”

The court has also allowed TAM to continue publishing its television ratings till it decides on Kantar’s petition. The court will further hear the case on 6 March. And Salama hopes wiser counsel will prevail on the issue of cross-holdings in TAM. Says he: “As long as the system is transparent so that the same data is released at the same time to all users and there is suitable governance, the shareholding structure makes no difference to the outcome and shouldn’t be an issue.”

If the court finally rules against Kantar and TAM has to stop churning out its ratings, advertisers will be without any viewership data till the industry-backed Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) gets its act together. BARC recently announced that it will present a blueprint of how its viewership ratings monitoring system will work by end-March 2014. It hopes to roll out data to clients by 1 October 2014.

Asked what if the HC rules against Kantar’s appeal and it has to restructure TAM’s shareholding to comply with the regulation, an optimistic Salama says, “I obviously hope that the court will rule against the cross-ownership clause and enable us to progress without a blackout period.”

For those who came in late, the government’s regulations require television ratings agencies to comply with the following clauses:

1.1 The applicant seeking registration for providing television rating services shall be a company registered in India under the Companies Act, 1956.

1.2 The company shall make full disclosure, at the time of application, of Shareholders Agreements, Loan Agreements and such other Agreements that are finalized or are proposed to be entered into. Any subsequent change in these, having a bearing on the foregoing Agreements, would be disclosed to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, within 15 days.

1.3 The company shall have, in its Memorandum of Association (MoA), specified rating services or market research, as one of its main objectives.

1.4 The company’s MoA shall not include any activity like consultancy or any such advisory role, which would lead to a potential conflict of interest with its main objective of rating.

1.5 Any member of the Board of Directors of the television ratings company shall not be in the business of broadcasting/ advertising/advertising agency.

1.6 The Company shall have a minimum net worth of Rs 20 crores. The net worth shall be calculated as per the prescribed proforma and shall be certified by the Statutory Auditor of the company.

1.7 The company shall comply with the following cross holdings requirements.

(a) No single company/legal entity, either directly or through its associates or inter-connected undertakings, shall have substantial equity holding in more than one ratings agency operating in the same area.

(b) The cross-holdings restriction will also be applicable in respect of individual promoters besides being applicable to legal entities.

February 20, 2014
Kantar gets stay on cross-shareholding norms; TAM can continue publishing viewership ratings

NEW DELHI: While declining to stay Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India, the Delhi High Court today directed that the sections relating to cross-holding will not come into force till the conclusion of the petition by Kantar Market Research Services, a shareholder of TAM Media Research, the only television viewership rating agency in India.

Fixing the next date of hearing for 6 March, Justice Manmohan also stayed sections 16.1 and 16.2 of the Guidelines, thus giving freedom to TAM to continue offering its ratings to its clients.

Taking note of the undertaking by Mr Mukul Rohatgi, senior counsel for Kantar, the Court said TAM would get another two weeks to get registered as required by the Policy Guidelines.

The Court also took note of the undertaking by Rohatgi that the full list of companies that are associated with TAM and their clients will be placed on the website within two weeks.

The sections relating to cross-holding which state that the same company cannot hold shares in both TRP companies and the media are 1.7a and 1.7d.

The earlier deadline for TAM Media Research to get registered under the Policy Guidelines was 15 February.

When Rohatgi insisted on a stay of the policy guidelines till conclusion of this case, Justice Manmohan and Additional Solicitor General Rajeev Mehra said senior counsel Harish Salve who had argued on behalf of Kantar yesterday had made it clear that he was only fighting the issue of cross-shareholding. In fact, Justice Manmohan said Salve repeated this point at least five times.

Rohatgi had sought to reiterate the point made by Salve that the policy guidelines had been issued through an executive action without any statutory authority of law.

While Rohatgi filed an affidavit today listing companies that have a holding in Kantar, he assured the Judge that the list of clients would also be place shortly on the website and filed in the court.

In his order, the Judge took note of the fact that both Salve and Rohatgi have argued that the guidelines are without the sanction of any statutory body.

Kantar had argued yesterday that any action relating to fundamental rights had to be done through an act of Parliament and not by an executive order.

Salve had said any attempt to regulate television rating agencies was tantamount to interfering with the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a).

The provisions of Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India that have been stayed are:

1.7 The company shall comply with the following cross holdings requirements.

(a) No single company/ legal entity, either directly or through its associates or inter-connected undertakings, shall have substantial equity holding in rating agencies and broadcasters/advertisers/ advertising agencies.

(d) A promoter company/member of the board of directors of the rating agency cannot have stakes in any broadcaster/ advertiser/advertising agency either directly or through its associates or inter-connected undertakings.

16. PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO EXISTING RATING AGENCIES

16.1 These guidelines shall also be applicable to the existing rating agencies.

16.2 No rating agency shall generate and publish ratings till such time that they comply with the provisions of these guidelines.

February 12, 2014
Kantar gets stay on cross-shareholding norms; TAM allowed to publish ratings

NEW DELHI: Kantar Market Research Services has managed to get the relief it wanted from the Delhi High Court on the cross-shareholding norms for television rating agencies.

On a petition by Kantar challenging the government’s cross-shareholding norms for TV ratings agencies, the HC has stayed the operation of four sections — 1.7a, 1.7d, 16.1 and 16.2 — that relate to cross-shareholdings and to publishing of TV viewership ratings in the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India.

Kantar had filed the petition as the new policy would have resulted in TAM Media Research, a company it has jointly promoted with Nielsen India, having to shut operations.

The court has given TAM two weeks to register itself under all the other provisions of the policy that was recently approved by the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs and comes into effect from 15 February.

In addition, the court has also stayed the operation of a clause that prevents existing TV rating agencies from publishing viewership ratings till they company with the provisions of the policy. TAM is the only company in India providing TV viewership ratings.

The Delhi High Court will hear further arguments in the case on 6 March.

Meanwhile, TAM has been ordered to place on its website the list of its shareholders and also the list of its clients.

The provisions of Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India that have been stayed are:

1.7 The company shall comply with the following cross holdings requirements.

(a) No single company/ legal entity, either directly or through its associates or inter-connected undertakings, shall have substantial equity holding in rating agencies and broadcasters/advertisers/ advertising agencies.

(d) A promoter company/member of the board of directors of the rating agency cannot have stakes in any broadcaster/ advertiser/advertising agency either directly or through its associates or inter-connected undertakings.

16. PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO EXISTING RATING AGENCIES

16.1 These guidelines shall also be applicable to the existing rating agencies.

16.2 No rating agency shall generate and publish ratings till such time that they comply with the provisions of these guidelines.

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February 12, 2014