ITV

Tag: Pandemic

  • 62 % of urban internet users research for products online before purchase: GroupM & Amazon report

    Mumbai: Consumer behaviour and purchase patterns have undergone a drastic change over the last year. Around 62 per cent of urban internet users now prefer to research for products online, before making any purchase, according to the first-ever Search Advertising Playbook released by GroupM and Amazon Advertising India on Wednesday.

    The comprehensive report – ‘Decoding the shift in consumer behaviour to win on search’ details how an increasing number of consumers are leveraging online platforms for not only buying products but also for conducting holistic product research. Be it personal hygiene, skincare, electronics, wireless accessories, or large appliances, urban consumers are researching the product on at least two platforms before making a purchase decision.

    Online product research influences offline sales since 50 per cent of offline shopping across categories involves prior online product research, stated the report, which also found that at least 60 per cent of ads’ influenced purchase journeys are inspired by search ads.

    The playbook also showed that Amazon.in has emerged as a preferred platform for product research and 52 per cent of urban internet users who research online, visit amazon.in to research products before making an online or offline purchase. Total 89 per cent of consumers discover new products and brands on amazon.in.

    GroupM South Asia president – growth and transformation Tushar Vyas said. “The last year has seen a rapid shift in purchase decision making and channel preference for purchases with more consumers now researching and purchasing online. This trend is only accelerating with not only metro consumers but consumers from smaller cities and towns. Furthermore, the role of e-commerce platforms in the purchase funnel is undergoing a change with more consumers relying on them from a product research point of view.”

    The pandemic has led to an increased focus on health and wellness since personal protection (PPE kits, masks), home sanitizing products (disinfectants, floor cleaners), and health supplements (protein, vitamins) have seen quite an upsurge. This is followed by searches on WFH setups, laptops and fitness equipment, gaming accessories, smart TVs and home theaters, UV sterilizers, DIY toolkits, dishwashers, etc. 

    Amazon Advertising India director-ad sales Vijay Iyer said the playbook aims at helping brands understand the behavioral trends with respect to consumer demand and discusses recommended strategies to drive awareness and performance on amazon.in. “With the drastic increase in media consumption, online and e-commerce platforms have become the go-to destination for urban consumers to make a product and brand choice before making a purchase online or offline. The search environment provides brands the opportunity to reach ‘intent’ consumers and create awareness in the early phase of the purchase journey. Native search advertising formats aid in establishing a seamless connection with researching audiences,” he added.

    This playbook shares a holistic approach to marketers and on-platform advertising execution teams on how to plan, evaluate performance, and follow best practices from a search execution point of view, with the support of case studies, said the agency in a statement.

  • McDonald’s India – north and east offers special deals for vaccinated customers

    New Delhi: Fast-food chain McDonald’s announced on Tuesday that its restaurants in north and east India will offer special deals to its customers who are vaccinated.

    The announcement is part of its initiative- ‘We Care’ aimed at encouraging its customers to join the fight against COVID-19 and get themselves vaccinated. Customers can avail the limited time offer by uploading their vaccination certificate on McDonald’s mobile app under the ‘Got Vaccinated’ tab, along with basic details. Post this, they will receive a unique code via SMS that can be redeemed through Getmcdonalds.com. Customers can opt for contactless delivery or contactless take away/in-store, wherever allowed by the local authorities.

    Last month, McDonald’s started employee vaccination covering more than 5,000 employees in its corporate office and restaurants across 11 states in north and east India. “Vaccination is an important step in our country’s fight against the pandemic, one that requires all of us to work together and do our part, including encouraging others to get vaccinated. As a brand with a deep connection with people, we are glad to contribute towards the greater cause in our unique way for the people we serve,” said Connaught Plaza Restaurants’ chief operating officer, Rajeev Ranjan.

    Meanwhile, the fast-food chain is continuously making changes under its global Safety+ program. Hand sanitizers are available at all restaurants all the time for everyone to use. Front counters have been fitted with protective screens and contactless ordering, payment, and contactless delivery options are available for customers to minimize human contact. 

  • Redcliffe Life Diagnostics onboards Milind Soman as brand ambassador

    New Delhi: Redcliffe Life Diagnostics on Tuesday announced Milind Soman as its brand ambassador. The association aims at creating awareness among people regarding the importance of health check-ups for the timely diagnosis and treatment of ailments.

    A pioneer in gene-based testing in the country, Redcliffe Life Diagnostics has been pushing preventive healthcare and early diagnosis of diseases. “Having Milind onboard will help in reaching wider audiences to create awareness about public health in general,” it said on Tuesday.

    Redcliffe Life Diagnostics’ founder, Dheeraj Jain said, “We are delighted to have Milind Soman on board. He is a true ambassador and advocate of healthy living. He can be a great stimulus to encourage people to get routine health check-ups done regularly. Covid-19 has exponentially pushed health consciousness, but still, there is an aversion towards getting tested. People associate getting tested with being ill or sick, and this is the myth we want to break with Milind on board.”

    Milind Soman said he is looking forward to the collaboration. “Regular health check-ups can help in the early diagnosis of the disease. It is great to see how the medical industry is changing with organized and professional corporates like Redcliffe advocating profusely about preventive healthcare in India. Seeing their affordable yet advanced health packages from blood-based tests to fitness/wellness genetic testing, I am sure more people will be encouraged to be proactive towards health checkups,” he said.

  • Amazon Pay thanks unsung Covid heroes in new campaign

    New Delhi: Amazon Pay announced the launch of UmmeedKeChehre – a digital-led campaign to salute the unseen and unsung heroes of the ongoing pandemic who continue to work tirelessly to help and support others.

    The campaign unfolds with a digital film that captures the extraordinary efforts and commitment of individuals and groups, including the frontline staff, lab technicians and lesser-known heroes like drivers, watchmen and many more who are selflessly doing their best for the society and people.

    Speaking about the campaign, Amazon Pay India, CEO, Mahendra Nerurkar said, “UmmeedKeChehre, is our digital campaign to thank lakhs of Covid heroes for their commitment and aims to spread a strong message of positivity and hope during these tough times. It salutes the spirit of hope that is being exemplified by these ordinary folks through their extraordinary acts of serving and caring for people and communities.”

    As part of the campaign, people can pay gratitude towards Covid heroes by making donations through the partner NGOs’ Milap, Give India, Akshay Patra, Help Age, Humanity for Habitat, or also have an option to or share an Amazon Pay digital gift card as a gesture with their Covid-19 heroes. The campaign runs across multiple media channels to connect and encourage people to join the movement and share a ‘Thank you note’ for their Covid Hero on their own social media channels using #PayYourRespect.

    The company said it is also enabling procurement, airlifting, local transportation and seamless delivery of critical medical equipment to hospitals and communities where it’s needed the most. “We have scaled up relief efforts for our employees and their families too, including access to medical infrastructure and other supplies, quarantine facilities, financial support, and more. Further, we have committed to provide vaccination support for our employees, sellers, partners and their dependents; and our on-premises vaccination camps are functional for employees and associates across multiple cities,” said the company.

  • Paytm shrinks loss to Rs 1,704 cr in FY21

    New Delhi: Digital payments firm Paytm has reported narrowing of its loss for the second consecutive fiscal year. According to its annual report, the company has reduced its consolidated loss from Rs 2,943.32 crore loss in 2019-20 to Rs 1,704 crore for 2020-21.

    The total revenue of the company has decreased about 10 per cent to Rs 3,186 crore in 2020-21 compared to Rs 3,540.77 crore in the previous year. Expenses have come down 22 per cent to Rs 4,782.95 crore, largely because of the cut down on marketing and promotional expenses.

    According to the company spokesperson, despite a significant disruption in the business of the merchant partners due to the ongoing pandemic especially in the first half of the year, “the company has had a minimal impact on revenues, due to strong recovery in the second half of the year.”

    “As Covid-19 continues to spread across the globe and India, it has had an impact on all local and global economic activities. The company has considered the possible effects that may result from COVID-19, on the carrying amount of the receivables, investments, goodwill etc,” the report said.

  • Maharashtra unlock begins; TV, film shoots resume with limited working hours

    New Delhi: After nearly two months of lockdown, Maharashtra is all set to begin easing its strict rules in stages, starting Monday. The film and television industry will also resume shooting, but work in limited hours, as regular shooting will be permitted only after Mumbai gets a grip on the second wave of Covid-19, said chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday.

    As per the state government’s unlock plan, the film, TV shoots are allowed in Mumbai and Thane only for eight hours (till 5 pm) and that too, in a bio-bubble. According to producers, the timings aren’t feasible for the industry, as they require atleast 12 hours and requested the government for relaxation in shoot timings.

    “Permissions for regular film and TV shootings in Mumbai would be given if the city’s daily Covid-19 cases are brought under control,” Thackeray told the representatives of the film and TV industry during a virtual interaction on Sunday.

    One of the worst-affected states, Maharashtra has begun to show a slowdown in the number of new infections over the last week. On Sunday, the total number of daily infections came down to 12,557 which is the lowest in the last three months. The last time the state recorded Covid-19 cases less than 12,000 was on 9 March.

    “After the second wave of Covid-19, film and TV shootings were stopped in the state, but now the number of cases have started getting under control and the unlock process has also begun,” said Thackeray giving a glimmer of hope to the entertainment industry which has been struggling to get back on its feet for almost a year.

    The chief minister also sounded a note of caution and appealed to the industry to cooperate with the government in the unlock process and follow all the safety rules and take adequate precautions while shooting. ‘We should ensure that we do not get knocked down by the virus,’ he said.

    Ever since the restrictions were announced on 14 April, television producers and broadcasters in the state have been struggling to run daily shows and bring fresh content. The Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC) has also been beseeching the Shiv Sena-led government to allow shoots to continue under strict safety protocols.

    With no relief in the restrictions, producers shifted their production set up to other states to continue shooting for shows which are on air. Neighbouring Goa, Silvassa, and Daman became the hotspots for most of these TV shoots, along with Hyderabad, Surat, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

    Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), president B N Tiwari said the work will resume immediately in Mumbai and Thane, and producers who have been shooting outside the city will also return after wrapping up the schedule.

    Meanwhile, the IFTPC has also begun the process of vaccinating over 10,000 workers from the media and entertainment industry, starting 4 June.

    On Sunday, Maharashtra lost 233 lives to the deadly virus and crossed the grim milestone of as many as one lakh deaths due to Covid-19. The case fatality rate now stands at 1.72 per cent for the state, while it is 5.56 per cent in Mumbai.

    Terming the unlock decision as a ‘calculated risk’, the state CM urged people to take care of themselves. “Nothing is going to be eased immediately. Some criteria and levels have been fixed and the local administration will take decisions on whether to ease restrictions and further tighten them,” he said.

    According to the government, the overall process of easing the restrictions will extend across five phases based on the positivity rate and occupancy of beds with medical oxygen. Restaurants, shops selling non-essential items, and public places will reopen from Monday in Mumbai, but malls, theatres, and multiplexes will continue to remain shut. Private offices can function at 50 per cent capacity till 4 pm on working days. Local trains in Mumbai will carry only essential workers, while buses in the city will be allowed to ply full capacity.

    The virtual meeting on Sunday was attended by several prominent actors, anchors, and industry representatives including J D Majethia, Nitin Vaidya, Punit Goenka, Aadesh Bandekar, Prashant Damle, Bharat Jadhav, Subodh Bhave, Amol Kolhe, Amit Behl, Ajay Bhalvankar, Sangamon Shirke, Vijay Kenkre, Sharad Ponkshe, and Siddharth Roy Kapur.

  • PVR records Q4 net loss of Rs 289.12 cr amid Covid blues

    PVR records Q4 net loss of Rs 289.12 cr amid Covid blues

    New Delhi : Multiplex major PVR Ltd continues to bear the brunt of the ongoing pandemic, as it recorded a consolidated net loss of Rs 289.12 crore in the quarter ended on March 31.

    The company reported a net loss of Rs 74.49 crore in the same quarter of the last fiscal. Total income during the period under review was Rs 263.26 crore against Rs 661.78 crore in the corresponding quarter a year ago, it said in a regulatory filing, on Wednesday.

    According to PVR, the results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2021, are not comparable with results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2020, as the operations were impacted due to the lockdowns restrictions, staggered re-openings, limited content flow and low consumer confidence.

    FY 2020-21 was one of the toughest years for the multiplex industry and the company was able to successfully navigate the challenges on account of Covid-19 through a continuous focus on reducing fixed costs and keeping adequate liquidity on the balance sheet, said the multiplex major on Wednesday.

    While there were no major Bollywood or Hollywood movie releases in Q4 FY’21, the Southern film industry witnessed strong recovery. But, that too, was marred by the resurgence of the second wave in April, compelling the company to take necessary measures to manage its costs and preserve liquidity.

    However, PVR chairman-cum-managing director Ajay Bijli expressed confidence that the company will bounce back stronger than ever once things start to normalise after mass vaccination.

    As on date, none of its cinemas are operational due to lockdowns implemented by state governments, and even after cinemas are re-opened, its business will continue to be impacted, said PVR.

    “We may not be able to run our cinemas at normal capacity on account of social distancing measures that cinemas may be required to follow as well as health concerns that the patrons may have. On account of this, our revenue and cash flow generation may be impacted even when we fully resume operations,” the company said.

    The multiplex operator said it continues to incur committed cash outflows, including employee salary pay-outs, other overheads as well as payments. It has been able to achieve a reduction of 63 per cent in the fixed cost during the period of lockdown in FY21, which covered rent, personnel costs, electricity and water charges and other overheads.

  • CASE STUDY: How the ABP Majha & UNICEF tie-up aided Covid relief

    CASE STUDY: How the ABP Majha & UNICEF tie-up aided Covid relief

    Mumbai: The ten-day-long festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is usually one of the most awaited events in Maharashtra. But as the deadly wave of the Coronavirus outbreak swept through the country last year, the celebrations marking the birth of Lord Ganesha were also muted.

    To mark the occasion amid the pandemic restrictions in 2020, Marathi news channel ABP Majha, in collaboration with UNICEF launched a special donation drive initiative– ‘Be a Vighnaharta’ (Be a Remover of Obstacles).

    The initiative raised funds through a 16-day TV campaign to support the people affected by the pandemic. The funds raised were used to support vulnerable families, through UNICEF’s Jeevan Rath initiative in the state of Maharashtra. The initiative brought over 60 public and private NGOs together to help provide supplies of dry ration kits, conditional cash transfers, and livelihood protection to people who are unable to afford or access these supplies in sufficient quantities.

    Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated on 22 August last year. ABP Majha ran the campaign from 6 August 2020 to 21 August 2020. The news channel broadcasted 1,350+ minutes of content including stories of people affected by the pandemic, urging viewers to donate and help reach supplies to the affected families. After launching the heartfelt campaign and donation drive with UNICEF, ABP Majha kept the viewers engaged through special programming and a unique virtual engagement initiative – Bappa Maze Game. It committed to adding more zing to the festivities with its flagship property ‘Bappa Majha.’

    The channel broadcasted Live Artis and extensive coverage of Ganapati celebrations last year to keep up the festive pomp and revelry in the bleak scenario of the pandemic, along with telecasting Donation Drive snippets throughout the day. The channel partnered with famous pandals across Maharashtra, such as Siddhivinayak Temple & Dagdusheth Ganapati, to bring the essence of festivities to the viewers’ homes via their TV screens.

    Known for beaming exceptional content during the festive season, ABP Majha usually surpasses all channels in terms of viewership within the Marathi News genre. Last year was no different. The channel was armed with a comprehensive line-up of shows including Bappa Tumchya Ghari – A celebrity-engagement show, which brought alive the celebrations of Ganapati directly from the homes of various eminent personalities; Bappa Majha – a show which included a Ganapati News Bulletin and Ashtavinayak Yatra, covering the eight ancient holy temples of Ganesh with celebrities Sachin & Supriya; ABP Majha Pooja – an everyday show which aired the celebrations straight from ABP Majha’s office to forge a special bond with the viewers; and Majha Vighnaharta – an award show to felicitate ‘humans for humanity’, who have positively contributed towards the betterment of their communities.

    To further elevate the engagement quotient, ABP Majha hosted a Gharghuti Ganapati Contest, wherein the viewers were asked to send pictures of their Ganapati & Ganapati celebrations. Out of the submissions, 10 best entries were shown on-air and provided with a gift certificate.

    On the virtual engagement front, ABP Majha launched an innovative game called Bappa Maze, which is based on the idea that Lord Ganesha is our Vighnaharta and through the game, players can remove the obstacles that come in the way of Lord Ganesha by completing the maze. The game was hosted on the Bappa Majha Microsite. At various places in the game, users get a chance to gather ladoos and other items to win bonus points. To heighten the excitement, Weekly Top 10 Winners on the Leaderboard of the game were then declared on the Bappa Majha Show at 6:30 pm from 22nd August to 1st September 2020.

    On the special donation drive, ABP Network CEO Avinash Pandey said, “As a responsible network, we are taking up this initiative as a part of our continuous work in community upliftment. We are committed to making available immediate aid to children and families affected by the pandemic ahead of the biggest festival of India’s financial capital. Festivals are all about vibrancy and high spirits, and during this time, we want to uplift the lives & spirits of low-income groups whose earnings depend on Ganapati celebrations. We hope this effort will help them lead better lives.”

    On partnering with ABP Majha, UNICEF chief of Maharashtra office Rajeshwari Chandrasekar said “We are glad to associate with ABP Majha news channel for our initiative ‘Jeevan Rath’ in Maharashtra. The socio-economic cost of the pandemic on the lives of children and their families is extremely high. Through this campaign, we intend to provide relief to the most vulnerable, excluded, and displaced populations in the fight against Covid-19.”

    With these unique initiatives in partnership with UNICEF, ABP Majha succeeded in raising funds for the Covid-impacted via its special programming as part of its flagship property ‘Bappa Majha’ in 2020.

  • ITC records Q4 net profit of Rs 3,817 cr

    ITC records Q4 net profit of Rs 3,817 cr

    New Delhi: ITC Ltd on Tuesday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,816.84 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 2021.

    The cigarette-FMCG-to-hotel major had posted a net profit of Rs 3,926.46 crore during the January-March quarter of the previous fiscal, according to the regulatory filing. The revenue from operations rose to Rs 15,404.37 crore during the quarter under review. It was Rs 12,560.64 crore in the corresponding period of 2019-20.

    However, ITC said its results for this quarter are not comparable with the earlier period as it also includes the revenue of Sunrise Foods, which it had acquired on 27 July last year. “The financial results of the group and ‘FMCG Others’ of the quarter and the financial year ended on 31 March 2021 include those of Sunrise from 27 July 2020 and consequently are not comparable with previous periods,” it said in the filing.

    The total expenses of ITC stood at Rs 10,944.64 crore in Q4 FY 2020-21.

    The sale of cigarettes recorded significant improvement during the quarter under review, while the ITC hotel business was severely impacted by the pandemic. Revenue from its cigarette business rose nearly 14.2 per cent to ₹5,859 crore for March quarter, compared with ₹5,130 crore in the corresponding period. On the other hand, the revenue from the hotel business reported a 38 per cent year-on-year decline to ₹287.77 crore in Q4FY21. Revenue of the remaining FMCG business fell 1.5 per cent to Rs 3,694.8 crore.

    For the full fiscal year 2020-21, ITC’s net profit was at Rs 13,389.80 crore, with a net profit of Rs 15,584.56 crore in FY20. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 53,155.12 crore, compared to Rs 51,393.47 crore in 2019-20.

  • Dettol launches anthem to spread the message of hope

    Dettol launches anthem to spread the message of hope

    New Delhi: With India struggling to combat the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Dettol on Monday launched an anthem to spread the message of positivity and hope. The brand has attempted to reiterate the criticality of good habits like hand hygiene, wearing masks, maintaining social distance and vaccination to fight the pandemic.

    The anthem to infuse positivity has been performed entirely by children across the nation from the safety of their homes and executed with complete adherence to current safety protocols, said the company.

    Reckitt, South Asia- Health and Nutrition, regional marketing director, Dilen Gandhi said, “Dettol has been driving mass behavioral change and has played an important part in creating a healthier and more hygienic environment. Children have played a crucial role in helping us spread awareness on the importance of health and hygiene. Today, our children have been massively impacted and facing extreme duress due to the virus. This campaign is our way of saluting the future of our country and spreading the message through them of hope, positivity and protection.”

    Elaborating on the concept, McCann, executive director and India head of creative, Ashish Chakravarty said, “This anthem is a message of positivity and hope. And who better to bring such a message than those in whom the hopes of a better tomorrow lie; the children of the nation. We hope that this simple message finds a voice in every home of India.”  

    Dettol has been focused on addressing the rising need of health, hygiene and sanitation in India. With Dettol’s Banega Swasth India initiative, Dettol has impacted more than 20 million children across India.