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Tag: Pawan Bansal

  • Times OOH chief gets billboard industry throne

    Times OOH chief gets billboard industry throne

    MUMBAI:The billboards plastering India’s chaotic streets have found their new overlord. Narayanaswami Shekhar, chief executive of Times OOH, has been crowned chairman of the Indian Outdoor Advertising Association, handing the Times Group executive sway over an industry grappling with digital revolution and regulatory squeeze. Earlier the vice-chairman, he takes over from Jagran Engage COO Pawan Bansal.

    Shekhar’s ascent to the top of IOAA puts him at the helm of a lobby group that corrals more than 80 per cent of India’s leading outdoor media barons and boasts 220-plus members scattered from Mumbai’s traffic-choked arteries to Bangalore’s tech corridors. The association’s bread and butter involves fending off municipal crackdowns whilst championing the interests of companies that transform India’s urban jungle into a kaleidoscope of consumer messaging.

    The appointment comes as India’s outdoor advertising sector—worth billions of rupees—faces an existential reckoning. Digital screens are rapidly displacing static hoardings, whilst smartphone ubiquity threatens the traditional model of ambushing commuters with roadside pitches. Meanwhile, courts and municipal authorities have launched periodic crusades against “visual pollution,” threatening the very billboards that fund the industry.

    Shekhar’s new perch positions him as the industry’s chief evangelist at a pivotal moment. His Times OOH stable operates across India’s major cities, where the company’s digital displays compete for eyeballs against everything from Hindi film posters to political propaganda. The challenge now is ensuring outdoor advertising remains relevant in an increasingly screen-saturated landscape.

    For the Times group, Shekhar’s industry chairmanship represents a strategic coup. The media conglomerate can now influence regulations and standards that directly impact its outdoor advertising arm, whilst positioning itself as the sector’s thought leader.

    The association’s core mission—protecting and promoting outdoor advertising interests—takes on fresh urgency as Indian cities grapple with beautification drives that often view billboards as urban blight rather than legitimate business infrastructure.

  • IOAA, GroupM & JCDecaux to move the needle of sustainability in OOH

    IOAA, GroupM & JCDecaux to move the needle of sustainability in OOH

    MUMBAI: OOH is finally joining the sustainability bandwagon. GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, in collaboration with the Indian Outdoor Advertising Association (IOAA), has announced the formation of a dedicated task-force committee to advance sustainable practices within the out-of-home (OOH) advertising industry.

    The committee, comprising GroupM MD cinema, OOH and experiential marketing  Ajay Mehta, IOAA chairman Pawan Bansal and  JCDecaux Advertising India executive chairman Pramod Bhandula, is focused on guiding media owners in adopting sustainable practices. The committee’s ambitious target is to ensure that 50 per cent  of all advertising sites in India utilise recyclable materials by 2027.

    A three pronged thrust has been planned. First, in the area of digital OOH (DOOH) and power consumption, the second in the use use of fabric instead of flex materials and finally a recycling program for billboard waste. 

    To address the rise in power consumption from the transition to DOOH  advertising, the task force will prioritise the adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar power. The committee will develop a roadmap for transitioning OOH assets to renewable energy and enhancing cost efficiency through bulk procurement. 

    Additionally, the committee will explore alternative, sustainable materials such as fabric and polyethylene to replace traditional flex, aiming for options that are lightweight, weather-resistant, recyclable, and durable. Due diligence will be conducted to vet suppliers, and bulk deals will be negotiated to ensure a cost-neutral transition.

    A “Take Back Program” will also be introduced to recycle used billboard materials in partnership with non-profit organizations. This initiative aims to further minimize waste and encourage industry-wide accountability. The committee’s mission is to foster environmental responsibility among media owners and partners, ensuring the widespread adoption of sustainable practices. Insights from the World out of home organization (WOO) will also be leveraged to support global sustainability efforts within the OOH space.

    GroupM’s OOH Solutions team has already piloted sustainability initiatives with brands such as ICICI, Zepto, and Blinkit, using polyethylene fabric, showcasing actionable solutions that align with sustainable principles. 

    Mehta explained: “As leaders in the media industry, it is our responsibility to move the needle, inspire transformation, and ensure that sustainable practices become the norm rather than the exception. I truly believe that we should all do good while doing well, and this committee will strive to balance innovative advertising with environmental responsibility.”

    Bansal believes that “sustainability is the future of advertising and IOAA is committed to guiding media owners towards responsible, eco-friendly practices. This initiative will not only reshape the future of outdoor advertising but also set a benchmark for industries worldwide to follow in balancing growth with environmental stewardship.”

    According to  Bhandula, “sustainability is not just an option; it is a necessity for the future of our industry. At JCDecaux, we believe in driving positive change by embracing greener solutions that leave a lasting impact. This collaboration will propel the outdoor advertising sector towards a sustainable, innovative, and environmentally-conscious future.”

    (Picture courtesy: IOAA website)
     

  • IOAA joins the global initiative essays for peace to mark International Peace Day

    IOAA joins the global initiative essays for peace to mark International Peace Day

    Mumbai: The Indian Outdoor Advertising Association (IOAA) joined the global movement Essays for Peace in commemoration of UN International Peace Day. As a part of this initiative, a glowing candle symbolizing peace and unity was displayed on digital screens at midday across India for five minutes by digital out-of-home (OOH) partners, aligning with similar displays around the world. The image, free of words or logos, represented a universal call for hope and solidarity, resonating with the pressing need for peace in today’s world.

    In India, the initiative recorded widespread participation. A coalition of prominent OOH media companies, including Network Advertising, Wallop, Laqshya Media, Jagran Engage, AS Advertising, Roshan Space, Symbiosis, Alakh Advertising, Vyoma Technologies and Brands on Wheels, Pioneer Publicity united to bring the campaign to life.

    The combined network of the OOH media partners enabled the successful display of the candle in diverse locations, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hubli, Lucknow, Aligarh, Raipur, Noida, Secunderabad, and Goa. The seamless execution across such a wide geographical spread underscored the Indian OOH sector’s ability to mobilize quickly and effectively for initiatives of international significance.

    Globally, the action took place in several cities in New Zealand and concluded in Honolulu, Hawaii.

    IOAA’s involvement is part of its ongoing effort to align the Indian OOH industry with international standards through collaboration with the World Out of Home Organization (WOO), showcasing the sector’s capability to engage on the world stage.

    Indian Outdoor Advertising Association chairman & Jagran Engage (A Unit of Jagran Prakashan Ltd) chief operating officer Pawan Bansal said “IOAA is delighted to mark International Peace Day as part of the global initiative and movement, “Essays for Peace.” This initiative is not only relevant and essential in today’s world but also part of IOAA’s broader mission to integrate into the global World Out of Home community, aiming to elevate the Indian out-of-home industry to international standards.

    Going forward, we will witness several such events on the Indian Out of Home platform. One key initiative being spearheaded by IOAA is the plan to make OOH India an eco-friendly and sustainable industry, with the goal of achieving ad-net zero by 2030.”

    Looking ahead, the Indian Out of Home platform will host several events. A major initiative led by IOAA aims to make the OOH industry in India eco-friendly and sustainable, with a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.

     

  • Jagran Solutions executes launch of Life OK’s ‘Mahakumbh’ in Varanasi

    Jagran Solutions executes launch of Life OK’s ‘Mahakumbh’ in Varanasi

    MUMBAI: Jagran Solutions, India’s leading brand activation agency that provides marketing services & experiential marketing solutions launched Life Ok’s newest show ‘Mahakumbh’ in the holy city of Varanasi amid press & local people of the city.

     

    Having executed a large number of shows for leading entertainment channels, Jagran Solutions bagged this account on the merit of executing events of such stature numerous times.

     

    Serial Mahadev has been successfully running on Life OK for almost three years. For its replacement, the channel was looking for something related to “mythology” genre itself. That’s how ‘Mahakumbh’ came into existence. Keeping huge expectations out of the show that features Gautam Rode as Rudra, Life Ok wanted to launch the show in Varanasi as the city makes a perfect fit for launching such a show.

     

    Jagran Solutions took the onus of creating & executing the event & press conference at two different venues in the city. Press Conference was held at Hotel Clark while the event took place at the bank of holy Ganges. In the evening the entire star cast of the Mahakumbh visited the ‘Dashashwamedh Ghat’: main ghat in Varanasi on the banks of Ganges River. A ‘riverside set up’ structured with Mahakumbh branding on backdrop and panels complimented the look of the ghat which witnessed an hour long Ganga Puja and Ganga Aarti.

     

    Manoj Tiwari: one of the leading star of Bhojpuri films participated in singing some local folk songs at the stage. The entire star-cast of the show attended the ceremony from the stage. From Dashaswamedh the crew visited Raj Ghat to try some local food and addressed the local media. Attended by stars of television show, the event was covered by leading news channels like Aaj Tak, ABP News, India TV and Saharan News.

     

    Jagran Solutions COO Pawan Bansal said, “This is the second time we have launched a product at the ghats of Varanasi. A show like Mahakumbh is made to appeal to the core audience of tier 2 cities. The event witnessed holy performances via various artists including Actors & Crew members of the show. The highlight of the event was larger than life Ganga Arti which made the backdrop for launching Mahakumbh.”  The show teasers are already on air & company has received a very encouraging response from the launch.