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Tag: Media Brands

  • Kumar Deb Sinha joins The StoryLab as country head

    Kumar Deb Sinha joins The StoryLab as country head

    MUMBAI: The StoryLab, the specialist content agency from Dentsu Aegis Network, has roped in Kumar Deb Sinha as the new country head for its India operations.

    Based out of Mumbai, Sinha will report to Kartik Iyer, president Media Brands and Amplifi – Dentsu Aegis Network India and the executive sponsor for TSL in India.

    Prior to this, Sinha was the national director for content at Wavemaker India, a GroupM Company.

    Armed with more than 15 years of content creation experience, Sinha chiefly specialises in the conceptualisation, designing and production of content across screens. He has produced more than 2000 hours of original content for television and digital including scripted and unscripted formats.

    Commenting on Sinha’s appointment, Iyer says, “We are very happy to have Kumar Deb Sinha on board. The StoryLab aims to be a significant player in the burgeoning content ecosystem of India with a clear positioning. And we are confident that Kumar, with his experience and expertise, will help us take this ambition forward.”

    Sinha mentions that currently there is a huge demand for premium content in India from all key stakeholders – audience, platform and advertiser. Video consumption on personal devices is growing exponentially changing audience preference towards premium entertainment with limited commercial messaging. Both traditional broadcasters as well as OTT players are investing in quality content to differentiate and satiate their audience need. “Advertisers are partnering with premium & successful content formats to connect with this ad-averse audience. Frankly there can be no better time to be a content creator in India for premium and differentiated content and The StoryLab is here to exploit that potential as an innovative investor, distributor and producer,” he adds.

    It is pertinent to note here that TSL expanded its footprint into India in 2015 with a slew of product offerings around content partnership, curation, original content and content investment. With operations in 16 countries, TSL works with publishers & platforms to innovate their supply chain of storytelling and with brands to help them invest in the most engaging and effective content solutions.

  • ASCI appoints Benoy Roychowdhury as new chairman

    ASCI appoints Benoy Roychowdhury as new chairman

    MUMBAI: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has appointed HT Media executive director Benoy Roychowdhury as its new chairman. As a member of the Board of Governors for four years, he has represented print media and provided active support to self-regulation.

     

    R.K. Swamy BBDO chairman and MD Srinivasan K. Swamy was elected as vice chairman and Media Brands CEO Shashidhar Sinha, was re-appointed the honorary treasurer.

     

    ASCI outgoing chairman Narendra Ambwani said, “It has been quite an eventful year for ASCI. We had set four key priorities for the year i.e. Collaboration with the regulators, easier consumer access to ASCI services, inculcate self-discipline among creators of advertising and be seen as fair adjudicator by all stakeholders. Not only were we able to deliver on all four priorities; but we also received recognition for all the good work ASCI has been doing. The Department of Consumer Affair (DCA) engaged ASCI as their “Executive Arm” to curb misleading advertisements and has entrusted ASCI to process complaints received on DCA’s portal “Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements (gama.gov.in).”

     

    Roychowdhury added, “There has been a remarkable transition in the last couple of years of how newer sectors like e-commerce and media such as digital advertising have changed the game. Over 90 per cent of consumers send in their complaints to ASCI online or via e: mail versus letters or phone calls. ASCI has also evolved to match the pace by significantly improving the efficiency and speed in ASCI’s consumer redressal process. These continuous efforts are now being backed by regulatory agencies such as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well as the DCA, and more and more Government organizations are approaching ASCI to seek help in adjudicating on various complaints related to advertisements. Responsibility for the success of self-regulation rests with every player – Advertisers should advertise with a conscience, media which carry the ads should be more responsible and regulators should back self-regulation by lending their support.”

     

    Speaking exclusively to Indiantelevision.com the new chairman said, “I would like to strengthen the four pillars that we stand tall on. Educate through our E-Learning initiative, enhance consumer interaction and our app will play a pivotal role in it. I am also looking at more collaborations.  We had great success as Ministry of Consumer Affairs recognised us last year and lastly we need to advertise our presence so that more people are aware about ASCI.”

     

    ASCI promotes self regulation philosophy and Roychowdhury thinks it’s healthy for the fraternity as the alternatives can be difficult. “The alternative to self regulation is government regulation which I think is not what the industry is looking towards. Responsible advertising is much better than courts and judicial processes,” he added. 

     

    Other members of the Board of Governors are CIABC vice president Abanti Sankanarayan, Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Healthcare managing director and chief executive Al Rajwani, Bennett Coleman and Co Ltd president Arunab Das Sharma, Pepsico India chairman & CEO D. Shivakumar, Eanadu director I Venkat, Agrotech Foods Ltd director Narendra Ambwani, Provacateur director Paritosh Joshi, Genesis Burson-Marsteller Asia Pacific & principal/founder, Burson-Marsteller vice chair Prema Sagar, Google India managing director Rajan Anandan, Hindustan Unilever executive director personal care Sameer Singh, S.P. Jain Institute management educationist SK Palekar, BBH Comms India managing partner Subhash Kamath and Grey Group chairman and managing director Sunil Lulla.