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Tag: MK Anand

  • Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand delivers welcome address at Times Now Summit 2024

    Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand delivers welcome address at Times Now Summit 2024

    Mumbai: Times Network managing director & CEO MK Anand articulated the theme of this year’s summit: “Unstoppable India.” Emphasizing the significance of the summit’s focus, Anand highlighted the lineup of distinguished speakers who would delve into various aspects of this theme.

    Anand underscored the role of the media in the context of India’s remarkable journey toward its full potential. He acknowledged the monumental task of ensuring that all segments of society are well-informed and engaged, free from bias or prejudice. Despite occasional challenges, Anand commended the Indian news media for its commendable reporting during historic and challenging periods.

    Reflecting on Times Network’s journey over the past two decades, He draw attention to the network’s commitment to delivering dependable news platforms. Amidst rapidly evolving technological, social, and business landscapes, Times Network has consistently strived to remain at the forefront of news media in India.

    However, he also addressed the challenges posed by the advent of social media, AI, and advanced graphics, which have revolutionised information consumption but also facilitated the spread of misinformation. He stressed the critical role of consumers in discerning between fact and fiction, urging them to choose their news sources wisely to uphold the integrity of journalism.

    As the summit unfolds against the backdrop of historic elections and the dawn of a new era for India, Anand envisioned it as an opportunity for collective introspection and progress.

  • ET NOW celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship at the 11th Season of Leaders of Tomorrow Awards

    ET NOW celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship at the 11th Season of Leaders of Tomorrow Awards

    Mumbai: ET NOW hosted the 11th Season of Leaders of Tomorrow Awards in New Delhi on Saturday, 13 January 2024. India’s largest entrepreneurship platform dedicated to empowering, enabling and celebrating the entrepreneurship spirit, Leaders of Tomorrow Awards in its latest edition themed, “Innovate to Elevate” emphasized the pivotal role of innovation in driving the success and progress of enterprises and the role it plays in driving India’s economic progress.

    Championing the success stories of India’s most innovative and resilient MSMEs and start-ups, Leaders of Tomorrow Awards recognized India’s most promising entrepreneurs and showcased upcoming and enterprising small businesses across 20 categories shortlisted through an exhaustive pan-India screening process and duly evaluated by an esteemed panel of jury (See Annexure for complete list of Winners and Jury Members). The selection process involved benchmarking across a range of quantitative and qualitative parameters such as Business Model, Innovation & Disruption, Clarity of Thought and Business Vision.

    Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles Piyush Goyal delivered the keynote address at the event on ‘Innovation as a Catalyst for Growth’ and felicitated the winners.

    Delivering the opening remarks, MK Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network CEO & MD MK Anand said, “For over a decade, Leaders of Tomorrow, India’s largest entrepreneurship platform has enabled and empowered the spirit of enterprise. Besides contributing to GDP and employment, SMEs, MSMEs and startups fortify the Industrial base through their pivotal role in economic cycles and supply chains. As we mark our latest edition, “Innovate to Elevate,” we proudly recognize 20 remarkable Entrepreneurs for their trailblazing products and ingenious strategies. These champions have not only shown resilience but an unwavering commitment to innovation. From pioneering revolutionary solutions to reshaping entire sectors, they are paving the way for sustainable economic growth on India’s path to being an Economic Superpower. We are thrilled to witness and cheer the rise of this new generation of entrepreneurs. I am confident that these Awards and our commitment to showcasing such entrepreneurial talent will continue to inspire countless individuals to script their own stories of entrepreneurial triumph.”

    Goyal said, “I congratulate ET Now for recognising and honouring India’s entrepreneurs and spirit of innovation. It is the only platform that recognises the unsung heroes, the leaders of tomorrow. There is great excitement about India globally. We are at the cusp of our nation’s history that will catapult India into a high growth economy. As we celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s birthday as National Youth Day, we must recall his call for action. He inspires every youth in the country. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s longest Atal Sea Link bridge, which will transform Mumbai’s future. It has come up in record time due to PM’s vision and drive, and a state government aligned with it.”

    Goyal highlighted India’s pivotal position poised for transformative growth, stating, ‘India stands at a crucial juncture, ready to catapult into a $35 trillion economy in the next 24 years, marking an era of unprecedented growth.’ Goyal proudly pointed out Atal Setu, highlighting the collaborative efforts between the Modi government and the Maharashtra government, forming a double-engine government, and fostering self-sufficiency through Gati Shakti. Emphasising India’s stature not just as a large economy but a trusted one, he commended the global interest in investing, citing a meeting with a US investment house planning to double their $13 billion investment.

    During a fireside chat, IDFC FIRST BANK MD & CEO V. Vaidyanathan shared insights on the Indian economy and the transformative impact of digital infrastructure for Leaders of Tomorrow.  Regarding India’s digital infrastructure, Mr. Vaidyanathan expressed optimism, stating, “The impact cannot be overstated. With digital connectivity, including Aadhaar and Bharat’s optic network, India has achieved a remarkable feat, formalising the economy, notably for MSMEs. Over 100 million merchants now deal digitally through QR codes, facilitating trade and enabling micro-businesses. The optimistic MSME outlook stems from collective efforts of the government, RBI, and banks, coupled with robust asset quality, digitisation, and ongoing infrastructure investments, empowering micro-entrepreneurs in India.”

    A melting pot of Enterprising Visionaries, Start-up Gurus, Business Icons, Domain Experts, Next-Gen Entrepreneurs and Disruptors, the event witnessed a distinguished line-up of speakers. Leaders in the entrepreneurial space like Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder-Info Edge(Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, 99acres.com & more), Prasiddhi Singh, Founder-Prasiddhi Forest Foundation, Nav Agarwal, Founder- One Step Greener and Advait Thakur, Founder – Apex Infosys engaged in an inspiring panel discussion igniting the spirit of entrepreneurship.

    The ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ Awardees are:

  • Times Now honors 11 exceptional Indians at the Amazing Indians Awards 2023

    Times Now honors 11 exceptional Indians at the Amazing Indians Awards 2023

    Mumbai: Times Now, India’s leading English news channel hosted the Amazing Indians Awards 2023 in New Delhi on 29 September. A premier national platform, Amazing Indians Awards 2023 recognized and honoured the unwavering spirit of 11 Amazing Indians who, through their courage, resolve, and selfless deeds, have profoundly influenced the lives of others.

    The Chief Guests for the event, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Smriti Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Development delivered the keynote addresses and felicitated the winners along with the Jury members. The grandeur ceremony also witnessed a special Jugalbandi performance by Smt. Anuradha Pal, India’s First Female Tabla Maestro and a captivating musical presentation by the exceptionally talented members of Shreerang Charitable Trust.

    Amazing Indian Awards 2023 winners felicitated across 11 categories included Dr. Jayakumar Karuppusamy (Agriculture), M. Vignesh alias Sai Vignesh (Animal Welfare), Mamoon Akhtar(Education), Amita Deshpande (Environment & Climate), Raj Kumar Bhatia (Food Management and Nutrition), Sukla Debnath (Girl Child and Women’s Rights Empowerment), Manjunath Ningappa Pujari (Healthcare, Medical & Clinical Assistance), Shruti Chaturvedi (Rural Development), Makarand Anaspure (Sanitation and Water), Nisha Malawat (Slum Care) and Yash Tarwadi (Tech For Good). The winners were shortlisted through an exhaustive pan-India screening process by an esteemed panel of jury comprising General M. M. Naravane, Prasoon Joshi, Ritesh Agarwal, Anand Kumar, Dr. S. Rangarajan and Sonam Wangchuk and duly evaluated by Ernst & Young (Process Partner).

    In a historic moment, Dr. Veeramuthuvel, Project Director of Chandrayan-3 at ISRO, and Dr. Nigar Shaji, Project Director of Aditya – L1 Mission at ISRO, were honored for their remarkable contributions to India’s space endeavors.

    Delivering the welcome address, Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand said, “As India’s most influential news leader, Times Now has played a pivotal role in driving change and action. Amazing Indians Awards is our initiative to highlight the extraordinary achievements of ordinary Indians who have made a positive impact on society. Over the years, the platform has featured the remarkable journeys of over 500 such individuals, each of whom has crafted a legacy through courage, determination, and an unwavering spirit. I am confident that the stories of these ‘Amazing Indians’ will inspire a new generation of changemakers, contributing to a better India.”

    Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution, lauded, Times Now for hosting the Amazing Indians awards. “This is a fantastic platform, and I was impressed by the quality of selection of the award nominees.  Humble beginnings getting recognized at the beginning is wonderful, and these small seeds will grow into big trees in the future. All the nominees will go back more changed and determined to do even better.”

    He went on to add, “The Amazing Indians is an important programme for the ambitions of India’s youth. Such Amazing Indians will power our journey and meet greater objectives of the nation and indeed the world.”

    Shri Goyal also took the opportunity to congratulate ISRO scientists Dr Veeramuthuvel and Dr Nigar Shaji for their role in India’s space endeavours. He led the audience in giving a standing ovation to the scientists.

    Congratulating the winners, Shri Goyal asserted that the government has been working hard for the public good. Whether it was bringing tap water to every home or enabling 4 crore families to benefit under PM Awas Yojana, the government has taken steps to ensure food security, especially during lockdowns. He said that 80 crore Indians got twice the allocation of grain and not a single starvation death was reported in any state. This is a huge achievement, he added.

    Delivering the keynote address, Chief Guest Smriti Irani expressed her delight at the inspiring stories of the Amazing Indians who were honoured at the event. She also congratulated Times Now for assembling a jury of immense talent and diversity. “I am proud and humbled to share this platform with these Amazing Indians. Each one of these illustrious persons who are being honoured here today represent to the whole world what New India represents for our future,” she stated.

    Speaking about ISRO and the Moon Landing, she said, “From the Dark Side of the Moon, a new light was shown to the world, showing what we are capable of.”

    She congratulated ISRO’s Women Scientists, especially “Nigar ji (Project Director, Aditya – L1 Mission, ISRO) who spoke emphatically that she is part of an organisation that does not have a glass ceiling, where capability demands and decides opportunity, and that is all what new India is about.” She ended by stating that.

    “This stage represents not only a civilizational empathy towards fellow living beings, but also represents grit, determination and grace.”

    The Times Now Amazing Indians Awards 2023 left an indelible mark, celebrating the unwavering spirit of those who have gone above and beyond to create a positive and lasting impact on society.

  • Times Now announces Amazing Indians Awards 2023

    Times Now announces Amazing Indians Awards 2023

    Mumbai: Times Now, India’s leading English news channel has announced Amazing Indians, a prestigious national platform that celebrates and honors the indomitable spirit of India’s common people who have performed uncommon deeds for the improvement of society.  The awards ceremony will be held on 29 September in New Delhi. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles & Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Minority Affairs will grace the event as chief guests and will deliver keynote addresses.

    Times Now Amazing Indians features inspiring stories of individuals who through their grit, determination and selfless acts of service have significantly impacted people’s lives. The premier national awards night will felicitate winners across 12 categories – Agriculture, Animal Welfare, Education, Environment & Climate, Food Management and Nutrition, Girl Child And Women’s Rights Empowerment, Healthcare, Medical & Clinical Assistance, Rural Development, Sanitation And Water, Slum Care, Shelter Management and Tech For Good. The awards night will also witness special felicitations for Dr. Veeramuthuvel, Project Director, Chandrayan- 3, ISRO and Dr. Nigar Shaji, project Director, Aditya – L1 Mission, ISRO for their outstanding contributions to India’s space endeavors.

    Adding to the grandeur of the ceremony, the event will feature a special Jugalbandi performance by Anuradha Pal, India’s first female Tabla Maestro, and a captivating musical presentation by the exceptionally talented members of Shreerang Charitable Trust.

    Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand said, “As India’s most influential news leader, Times Now has played a pivotal role in driving change and action. Amazing Indians Awards is our initiative to highlight the extraordinary achievements of ordinary Indians who have made a positive impact on society. Over the years, the platform has featured the remarkable journeys of over 500 such individuals, each of whom has crafted a legacy through courage, determination, and an unwavering spirit. I am confident that the stories of these ‘Amazing Indians’ will inspire a new generation of changemakers, contributing to a better India.”

    A panel of esteemed jury comprising General M. M. Naravane (PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (RETD), former chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army), Prasoon Joshi (chairman, McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific and CEO & CCO, McCann Worldgroup India), Ritesh Agarwal (founder and group CEO, OYO), Anand Kumar (founder, Super 30),  Dr. S. Rangarajan (former director ISRO, MCF, ISTRAC & Satcomm) and Sonam Wangchuk (social reformist, Ramon Magsaysay awardee) have shortlisted the winners through an exhaustive pan-India screening process duly evaluated by Ernst & Young (process partner).

  • The Summit brought together visionaries to shape the development agenda.

    The Summit brought together visionaries to shape the development agenda.

    Mumbai: Mirror Now, the channel that represents the voice and issues of every Indian citizen, hosted the Mirror Now Summit – Chhattisgarh today in Raipur. Themed ‘Path to Progress,’ the Mirror Now Summit brought together State leaders and visionaries to shape a holistic development agenda for the State. The Summit spotlighted critical sectors essential for Chhattisgarh’s progress and economic advancement.

    Chief guest and chief minister of Chattisgarh Shri Bhupesh Baghel, speaking about the initiatives taken by the State government for nurturing Chhattisgarh to progress,said that the State government has implemented a series of effective measures, including debt waivers, value addition to agricultural produce, and initiatives aimed at enhancing farm income. “These concerted efforts have yielded positive results, notably a significant reduction in the Naxal movement within the state. This accomplishment reflects the government’s commitment to addressing economic challenges in the region and fostering a more stable and secure environment for its residents,” he said.

    Talking about women reservation bill, Baghel emphasised that for the central government to demonstrate a genuine commitment to enacting the women reservation bill, it should ensure its implementation for the 2024 elections, including reservations for women in the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories.

    Baghel attacked the BJP government stating that the people in the country especially the women are facing the blunt of extreme price rise of basic commodities. “To divert their attention and capture votes, such allurements are being offered. The women reservation bill won’t be possible till 2029 elections as the 2021 census has still not been conducted,” he said.

    He stated that the congress party welcomes the bill on women’s reservation as it was the brainchild of the Rajiv Gandhi government.

    According to Baghel, the Congress party is never involved in caste-based politics and is demanding caste-based census to ensure benefit to the most deprived sections of the society.

    “The caste-based census is not just for Politics or for the votes; Reservation does not reach to many marginalised castes even now. Also, the benefits of the various government schemes are not able to reach to each and every section of the society. Unless and until the caste-based, economic status-based census is not done it is futile to come out with any welfare programme as it would not reach the more needy section of the society,” he said.

    On the topic of “One nation, one poll,” Baghel has expressed concerns that this proposal, while appearing to create a unified electoral process, may be primarily motivated by a political agenda to garner votes for the BJP government. It is crucial, he suggests, to ensure that such reforms are carried out with genuine intentions and in the best interest of the nation.

    The plan to boost employment through the Gothan and GodhanNyay scheme, as highlighted by Bhupesh Baghel, focuses on the development of cow shelters. “Out of the 10,200 Gothan schemes initiated, an impressive 6,500 of these cow shelters have achieved self-reliance. Under this scheme, the state government incentivized farmers by offering Rs 2 per kilogram of cow dung, which was subsequently converted into valuable vermi compost. The state government has already disbursed approximately Rs 265 crore to farmers and generated revenue of Rs 300 crore by selling the compost back to the same farmers,” he said.

    Delivering the keynote address, Times Network CEO & MD MK Anand said, “In Chhattisgarh, we are witnessing a model for the future—8% GSDP growth in FY23, outpacing the national average, yet securing India’s second-best fiscal health. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about a balanced portfolio in agriculture, manufacturing, and services, combined with transformative gains in public health and women empowerment. The Mirror Now Summit serves as a critical event in envisioning a Chhattisgarh that harmonizes double-digit growth, cultural ethos, and environmental stewardship. I’m confident that discussions and deliberations with the State leaders and visionaries will forge pragmatic solutions and a resolute action plan to propel the State’s progress.”

    The Mirror Now Summit in Chhattisgarh witnessed the participation of distinguished personalities including Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, Secretary, Agriculture Production Commissioner, who shed light on Chhattisgarh’s Sustainable Agriculture Revolution, Pradeep Sharma, Advisor to CM (Agriculture), shared insights into the state’s efforts in enhancing farming methods for economic growth, Nand Kumar Sai, Chairman, CSIDC, contributed to discussions on the state’s holistic progress, and Dr. Alok Shukla, Principal Secretary, Chhattisgarh, highlighted Chhattisgarh’s commitment to accessible, high-quality healthcare services, Atal Shrivastava, Chairman, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, emphasised on theState’s rich cultural and natural heritage.

  • Times Now Summit 2022 speaker line-up is out

    Times Now Summit 2022 speaker line-up is out

    Mumbai: Times Network has announced the latest edition of the Times Now Summit 2022, which will take place on 24 and 25 November in New Delhi.

    Times Now Summit is led by the theme “India: Vibrant Democracy. Global Bright Spot’ in order to accelerate the action plan for India’s progress.

    Addressing the nation’s strategic, geopolitical, and economic potential, the two-day summit will feature union ministers, chief ministers, opposition leaders, influencers, and global leaders driving dialogue on national priorities such as India’s trade strategy, economic growth, international relations, political landscape, military strategy, healthcare, infrastructure, and decarbonizing India’s energy & power sectors.

    The power-packed line-up of speakers at the summit includes minister of home affairs Amit Shah, minister of external affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, minister of textiles and commerce & industry Piyush Goyal, minister of information & broadcasting, youth affairs & sports minister Anurag Thakur, minister of petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri, minister of education, skill development & entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan, minister of railways and communications & electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister of women & child development Smriti Irani, minister of law & justice Kiren Rijiju, minister of environment & climate change Bhupender Yadav, Mos road transport and highways Gen V K Singh, Global Governance Forum chair & Trends World Bank former head Augusto Lopez Claros, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant,  PMEAC member Sanjeev Sanyal and NITI Aayog  CEO  Parameswaran Iyer, amongst others.

    Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand said, “Times Now Summit is emerging as India’s most impactful platform for driving pertinent national agenda points. Amidst global headwinds, India is fast becoming an influential force in the new world order. Leading with the theme, “India: Vibrant Democracy. Global Bright Spot,” Times Now Summit 2022 will engage with eminent leaders across the globe to discuss and deliberate a definitive action plan, advancing India’s position to drive global growth.”

    Times Now Summit 2022 is presented by Herbalife Nutrition, co-powered by GE, and driven by Maruti Suzuki. State partners are the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand; e-mobility partner is Olectra Greentech; door-to-door express partner is Om Logistics; and associate partners are Indian Oil Corp. and Life Insurance Corp. of India.

  • Times Network appoints Rohit Chadda as president and COO of its digital business

    Times Network appoints Rohit Chadda as president and COO of its digital business

    Mumbai: Times Network has announced the appointments of Rohit Chadda as president and COO-digital business and Vinay Sarawagi as senior vice president of digital content.

    Rohit Chadda will lead the network’s digital operations and oversee product strategy, audience development, and operations planning for the digital businesses in his new role. In addition, he will collaborate closely with the network’s leadership team to drive the company’s overall digital transformation efforts and scale the business.

    Rohit is an award-winning entrepreneur and a seasoned and versatile professional with nearly two decades of experience in e-commerce, technology, fintech, media & entertainment, and OTT.

    Vinay Sarawagi will spearhead the overall content segment of the network’s digital business across platforms, playing a critical role in leading an innovative content strategy for the network’s digital arm, Timesnownews.com, and further boosting the network’s digital assets.

    Vinay is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in traditional and digital media. Vinay was previously responsible for developing a broadcast brand’s brand and audience, business strategy, and operations.

    Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand said, “We have been making concerted efforts in building our digital prowess to cater to an expanding user base across platforms. I am pleased to welcome Rohit and Vinay to the team, who bring expertise in driving successful digital strategy across business development and content innovation. I am confident they will be valuable additions in supporting our ambitious growth plans and help us scale new heights.”

    Speaking on his appointment, Rohit Chadda said, “I’m delighted to join Times Network to helm their digital mandate. My efforts will be to create new opportunities, capitalise on emerging trends and strengthen the network’s digital assets to facilitate its transformation to a digital-first organisation.”

    Speaking on his appointment, Vinay Sarawagi said, “I’m excited to join India’s most influential news network. At Times Network, audiences are at the heart of everything, and the unmatched brand connection with the viewers will continue to differentiate the network brands from the noise. I look forward to taking on this new role and synchronising my efforts to ensure that our audiences across mediums, formats and languages are served with unputdownable content, all day, every day.”

  • Landing pages are bonafide methods of marketing: MK Anand

    Landing pages are bonafide methods of marketing: MK Anand

    Mumbai: The landing page is the first channel where the TV viewer lands when anyone turns on the set-top box, which has become a bone of contention in the news broadcast industry. On one side, there are its critics who have criticized its influence on news ratings that are a currency for negotiating with advertisers. On the other hand, there are its advocates who believe that it is merely a marketing tool.

    The latter view is held by Times Network managing director & CEO, MK Anand, who unflinchingly states that “Landing pages are bonafide methods of marketing.”

    Times Network has been instrumental in securing the order by Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) which recognised the landing page as a legitimate tool for promotion, allowing the broadcasting industry to continue using it.

    News broadcasters have argued that channels are paying ‘astronomical sums’ for placement on the landing page. The cost of placement on the landing page amounting to several crores cannot be matched by the revenue potential of the news genre that is heavily reliant on advertising.

    Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) has attempted to mitigate the impact of the landing page on TV viewership in the past. In September 2020, it introduced algorithms into its data validation method to mitigate the impact of landing pages on viewership data across all genres of channels.

    More specifically, after an extensive review by the Barc oversight committee, it improved or replaced its existing method based on symptomatic statistics with a method that directly uses inferential statistics.

    The viewership data for individual news channels have once again become available after a ‘ratings dark’ period of 18 months and with-it complaints about the accuracy of the ratings. Barc is unable to completely exclude landing page data from its viewership estimates.

    Can the news broadcast industry come to a resolution on the landing page issue? Industry leader MK Anand responds to questions by Indiantelevision.com.

    Do you agree with the view that landing pages are a marketing tool? If yes, should Barc include a disclaimer on news channel data that has been influenced by landing pages?

    Landing pages are bonafide methods of marketing. Every product you purchase has some element of promotion in it. Do we need disclaimers to know that the toothpaste we use has been promoted?

    Does the landing page significantly influence ratings even after Barc’s efforts to mitigate its impact? How much does it influence advertiser spending as they consider looking at 13 weeks’ data to plan budgets? Barc itself is looking at four-week rolling average data for all genres.

    Landing pages provide the viewer with a window to watch when he puts on the set-top box. It does not automatically convert to viewership unless the viewer has spent more than a minute on the channel. This means the content has to be compelling enough. Imagine you put your TV set on and a blank screen comes on and you have the remote in your hand. Would you keep watching the screen for one whole minute or more?

    News broadcasters claim that the landing page leads to un-competitiveness in the news genre as bigger marketing budgets and not content is influencing the ratings which are a representation of authentic TV viewership. Do you agree with this claim?

    That’s a spurious argument. As explained above, viewership is registered only if the viewer continues to stay on the channel. Also, there is nothing unauthentic or otherwise about promoted viewership. These are arguments put forth by players who are unwilling to or unable to spend and compete. This campaign against landing pages is just another form of protectionism.

    What can news channels do to resolve the landing page issue? Should the industry collectively bar itself from using landing pages?
    In a free market, competition takes care of such issues. Collective behaviour is akin to cartelisation.

    What can Barc do to resolve the landing page issue?
    Barc should continue to report what India watches on TV channels that employ bonafide and legal means of content development & distribution.

  • Goafest 2022: Times Network comes on board as presenting sponsor

    Goafest 2022: Times Network comes on board as presenting sponsor

    Mumbai: Times Network has come on board as presenting sponsor for the fifteenth edition of Goafest, announced the Goafest 2022 Organising Committee on Friday. The three-day industry event will be held between 5-7 May at Grand Hyatt, Goa.

    Goafest is a definitive annual festival that celebrates milestones in the Indian advertising, marketing, and media industry. The event is back on-ground for its latest edition, after a gap of two years. The grand festival will be helmed by Jaideep Gandhi as chairman of the Goafest 2022 Organising Committee, along with Rana Barua as chairman of the Awards Governing Council for the Abby Awards 2022.

    As per the earlier announcement, Goafest 2022 was scheduled to be held from 7-9 April. The orgainising committee is optimistic that the agencies and organisations will be more enthusiastic to participate in the festival as the number of Omicron cases has started receding.

    “We are truly excited that after a gap of a couple of years Goafest is coming back. And I’m sure it will be the biggest yet, considering the fact that most of us have been restrained by the pandemic all this while and are literally straining at the leash to be let out,” stated Times Network MD and CEO MK Anand. “I am particularly looking forward to the event as Times Network is once again returning as presenting sponsor of this most awaited advertising festival in South Asia.”

    “Times Network has been associated with almost every edition of Goafest from its inception, in some way or the other,” remarked Goafest 2022 organising committee chairman Jaideep Gandhi. “It is our pleasure to welcome back Times Network as presenting sponsor in the 15th year of the festival,” he added.  

    The event is jointly organised by two industry bodies – Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club (TAC).

    “It is wonderful to have Times Network as presenting sponsor yet again,” said AAAI vice president and GroupM Media South Asia CEO Prasanth Kumar. “Goafest is a platform where great work is reflected and thought leadership is demonstrated. Having such an opportunity to be inspired and learn is incredibly valuable to all of us. We look forward to having yet another wonderful Goafest.”

    According to the statement, the delegate registrations and Abby Award entries are now open and more details are available on www.goafest.com.

  • Times Now Navbharat to air docu-series ‘Kahani Navbharat Ki’

    Times Now Navbharat to air docu-series ‘Kahani Navbharat Ki’

    Mumbai: Times Now Navbharat has announced a documentary series “Kahani Navbharat Ki,” which chronicles the stories of India’s 75 years. The series will air from 30 January every Sunday at 8 p.m on Times Now Navbharat SD and HD channels.

    Directed by Aparna Sanyal, recipient of a National Film Award and hosted by Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey, the 10-part series captures Indian history and culture. The theme song is composed by Gaurav Chintamani and written by Dr. Sagar. The show is produced by Times Network’s content studio Times Chronicles, which creates fact-based originals and docu-series.

    “We are proud to present Kahani Navbharat Ki (KNK) on Times Now Navbharat. KNK is a deeply researched, fact-based series of untold stories that define the last 75 years of Independent India,” said Times Network MD and CEO MK Anand. “While a lot is discussed about our medieval and ancient history, there are scant resources when it comes to unbiased commentary on contemporary India and how it has developed over these eventful years since independence. As an emerging major country on the global stage in the 21st century, it is important that we as Indians understand our historic circumstances and appreciate who we really are and how we have become. I am confident that this docu-series will serve as a reference point to every Indian, especially the youth to understand the New India story in great depth.”

    The docu-series showcases historical records of events such as the beginning of India’s mobile revolution, culture of vaccination in India, issue of MSP, nationalisation and privatisation of banks, establishment of IITs amongst others.

    The series also features riveting first-hand accounts by India’s first voter – Shyam Saran Negi, Wing Commander Krishnamurthy, who witnessed the signing ceremony of the Surrender Document during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Ashok Mahadevan, the journalist who put out an obituary for democracy after the announcement of the emergency and Raman Roy, who started the BPO industry in India amongst others.

    “I am thrilled to be associated with Times Now Navbharat to host Kahani Navbharat Ki,” said show host Vikrant Massey. “My motivation as the host was to inspire, inform and intrigue the audiences about what’s gone into making India what it is today. I always wanted to be a part of project like this, and I am happy to have this opportunity to share our proud history and culture.”