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Tag: Sunil Lulla

  • Despite lower income, releases in Q1-2014 help Eros post higher PAT for Q2-2014

    Despite lower income, releases in Q1-2014 help Eros post higher PAT for Q2-2014

    BENGALURU:  Eros International Media Limited (Eros) posted 12.8 per cent lower revenue for Q2-2014 at Rs 201.47 crore as compared to the Rs 231.05 crore for Q2-2013 and 3.7 per cent higher than the Rs 194.2 crore for Q1-2014. However, Eros’s PAT (after minority) for Q2-2014 at Rs 36.9 crore (PAT margin 18.4 per cent) was 41.8 per cent higher than the PAT of Rs 26.08 crore (PAT margin 11.4 per cent) in Q2-2013 and 26.2 per cent more than the Rs 29.3 crores (PAT margin 15.1 per cent) in Q1-2014.

     

    Eros Managing Director Sunil Lulla said, “Eros has given strong financial and operational performance in the first half of the fiscal, especially, given that we have had no high budget releases in the first half of FY 2014 compared to two high budget releases in the first half of FY 2013. The company’s performance was underpinned by the all-round success of movies like Grand Masti, Raanjhaana, Go Goa Gone and our overseas release of Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani all of which have been monetised over multiple distribution channels.”

     

    The company says that its performance during HY1-14 was also backed by other overseas releases like Furkey, Lootera, Shootout at Wadala, Ek thi Dhayan, Phata Poster Nikla Hero and within the country through regional films such as Rangeelay (Punjabi) and Tamil films. Also, television revenues for Q2-2014 were mainly underpinned by a combination of catalogue monetisation as well as delivering new films under the previously announced licensing agreement with Viacom 18.

     

    Let us look at the other HY1-2014 and Q1-2014 figures posted by Eros:

     

    Overall for HY1-2014, PAT at Rs 66.31 crore was 15.3 per cent higher than the Rs 57.49 crore Eros had reported for Q2-2013, despite releasing only 26 films (11 Hindi and 15 Tamil) in HY1-2014. In Q1-2014, Eros had 12 releases, in Q2-2014, IT HAD 14. In HY1-2013, Eros had had 42 releases.

     

    Total Expense for Q2-2014 at Rs 103.8 crore was 42.2 per cent lower than the Rs 179.51 crore for Q2-2013 and 4.2 per cent lower than the Rs 108.31 crore in Q1-2014. Direct cost for Q2-2014 at Rs 139.36 crore was 17.8 per cent lower than the Rs 169.07 crore for Q2-2013, but 6.1 per cent higher than the Rs 131.38 crore for Q1-2014.

     

    Interest cost for Q2-2014 at Rs 6.2 crore was more than double (2.26 times) the Rs 2.74 crore for Q2-2013 and 34.5 per cent more than the Rs 4.61 crore in Q1-2014. Other expense for Q2-2014 at Rs 11.8 crore was 42.8 per cent lower than the Rs 20.63 crore for Q2-2013 and 23.6 per cent lower than the Rs 15.45 crore for Q1-2014.

     

    EBIT for Q2-2014 at Rs 50.31 crore was 16.4 per cent higher than the Rs 42.35 crore for Q2-2013 and 9.1 per cent more than the Rs 46.1 crores for Q1-2014.

     

    Said Lulla, “We remain excited about our collaboration with HBO Asia and the opportunity it presents among the premium television market within India. We are also looking forward to the high profile releases in the remainder of the fiscal year  such as Ram Leela, Kochadaiyaan, Happy Ending, and a number of smaller budget high concept movies that are slated to be released in the fiscal under review.”

     

    Eros says that its collaboration with HBO Asia continues to receive an encouraging response after the launch of its two new advertisement free channels in February 2013 – HBO Defined and HBO Hits that are not only available on Dish and Airtel DTH platforms, but also on digital cable platforms such as Hathway and GTPL.

     

    Further during Q2-2014, the company’s online entertainment portal Eros Now added a host of Bollywood titles acquired from UTV and Viacom to its movie subscription service.

  • Eros International acquires worldwide distribution rights of Grand Masti

    Eros International acquires worldwide distribution rights of Grand Masti

    Eros International, a leading global company in the Indian film entertainment industry, has acquired the worldwide distribution rights of the highly anticipated comedy Grand Masti. The film releases on 13 September.

     

    The film is a sequel to the 2004 smash hit Masti and features Vivek Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani and Riteish Deshmukh reprising their roles from the original and is directed by Indra Kumar.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Eros International MD Sunil Lulla said, “We are happy to continue our long association with Ashok Thakeria and Indra Kumar. Grand Masti is one of the most eagerly awaited sequels this year and with the huge success Masti enjoyed, we are confident its sequel too will be a winner at the box office. The film promises double the dose of laughter and masti as is evident from the promos and we are anticipating a very encouraging response to the film.”

     

    Producer Ashok Thakeria added, “Grand Masti is a sequel to India’s first adult comedy, carrying forward the tone set in the first part. We are positive the film will deliver what it promises and are very happy to have Eros releasing the film worldwide. Our relationship with Eros goes back a long way with them distributing all our films overseas – from Raja to Masti. This is the first time they are releasing our film worldwide and we couldn’t have asked for a better platform for its showcasing.”

     

    Grand Masti is the story of three married guys Vivek Oberoi as Meet, Aftab Shivdasani as Prem and Riteish Deshmukh as Amar go out on fun experience in their college reunion, finally to be trapped in danger. The film also features Bruna Abdalah, Karishma Tanna,Sonalee Kulkarni, Kainaat Arora, Maryam Zakaria and Manjari Fadnis in key roles.

  • Despite lower revenues, Eros International delivers blockbuster results for Q1-2014

    Despite lower revenues, Eros International delivers blockbuster results for Q1-2014

    BENGALURU: Last year (FY-2013), the company entered the Rs 1000 crore club with revenue of Rs 1067.75 crore. In Q1-2014, three movies – Raanjhaana, Go Goa Gone (GGG) and Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani (YJHD) raked in the moolah at the box office for Eros International Media Limited (Eros).

     

    The company says that theatrical revenues during Q1-2014 have showcased the success of global releases of Raanjhaana, GGG and YJHD (Overseas). Raanjhaana achieved an impressive box office collection of Rs 100 crore worldwide; YJHD had an overseas collection of more than Rs 60 crore, while GGG had a worldwide collection of Rs 43 crore.

     

    Eros announced consolidated income for Q1-2014 at Rs 194.2 crore, 25.1 per cent lower than the Rs 259.3 crore during the corresponding period in 2013 (Q1-2013) and 9.2 per cent lower than the Rs 213.9 crore for Q4-2013 (q-o-q).

     

    During Q1-2014, Eros released 12 films – (seven Hindi and five Tamil and other regional languages), almost half of the 23 films – (five Hindi and 18 Tamil and other regional films) in Q1-2013 and almost a third less than the 17 films – (four Hindi and 13 Tamil and other regional films) in Q4-2013.

     

    Eros managing director Sunil Lulla said, “Eros has delivered an encouraging Q1-2014 result in context of the film mix that it released in the Q1-2013. Raanjhaana, YJHD and GGG all delivered at the box office and were subsequently monetised through other revenue streams as well. Relative to their budget, the mix of films performed extremely well and demonstrates our ability to scale and change our mix to take advantage of market trends.

     

    Let us look at some of Eros’ other figures for Q1-2014

     

    Expense for Q1-2014 at Rs 148.03 crore was 28.5 per cent lower than the Rs 207 crore for Q1-2013 and 14 per cent lower than the Rs 172.21 crore for Q4-2013.

    Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for Q1-2014 at Rs 46.1 crore was 11.9 per cent lower than the Rs 52.3 crore for Q1-2013 and 10.4 per cent more than the Rs 41.75 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    PAT (after minority) for Q4-2014 at Rs 29.3 crore was 6.7 per cent lower than the Rs 31.4 crore in Q1-2013 and 7.9 per cent lower than the Rs 31.8 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    Lulla said, “We are really excited about our collaboration with HBO and believe that the two premium channels will gain momentum with subscribers as we launch on further DTH and digital cable platform. The industry trends are testimony that premium content will be an important factor to drive demand and we are proud to be forerunners in that space.”

     

    “We continue to expand our film content through our diversified approach of acquiring a healthy mix of movies. Our current future slate remains well-funded and we have several high profile movies lined up like Kochadiyan, Ram Leela, Rambo Rajkumar, Happy Ending and a number of high concept movies that are slated to be released in FY-2014. Our business has a natural Q3 skew due to film releases around the festival season and this year is no different and we remain positive on the outlook for FY-2014,” added Lulla.

     

    Click here for EROS – Financial Report

     

    Click here for EROS – EROS – Earnings Release

  • Broadcasters delighted; want I&B minister to push through ad cap delay

    Broadcasters delighted; want I&B minister to push through ad cap delay

    MUMBAI: With just a little more than two months left for the 12 minute per clock hour advertising cap to be implemented, the broadcast industry is applauding Minister of Information & Broadcasting Manish Tewari’s recommendation. The minister has reportedly stated that the ad cap deadline should be moved ahead to December 2014 from 1 October 2013 as suggested by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

     

    Times Television Network MD and CEO Sunil Lulla feels that the recommendation is in sync with reality. “From a news broadcasters’ point of view, we have put forward similar thoughts many a times with concerned bodies. Considering the difference between cost of production and the revenue generated, it would be better if news broadcasters’ were allowed to self regulate. We hope that the request is heard,” he anticipates.

     

    Similarly, a senior official from the News Broadcasting Association (NBA) agrees and adds, “Look at the cost for each broadcaster;  if he has to increase eight minutes of content per hour that is close to three hours of more content a day. Where will a broadcaster get so much money from when his ad revenue is going down? Even producers are going to demand more money as to produce a minute of content takes up a good one hour. There are 10,000 things that need to be done depending on the final decision…”

     

    The NBA official further elaborates, “As broadcasters we don’t know what to do. Everyone is saying different things, so who do we believe? What if a channel actually starts implementing changes and then they extend the date, it’ll be in a mess.”

     

     “We are happy that he’s understood our problem which is a genuine one and we hope that he will be able to convince TRAI. And we need take a decision soon,” say both the broadcasters.

     

    But what about other channels/genres? “One shoe for all is what I believe rather than two which might create confusion,” Lulla clarifies.

     

    To put forward advertisers’ viewpoint on the issue, Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) president Arvind Sharma elucidates, “AAAI has always supported the thought implementing the ad cap after we know what is the full impact of digitisation is known.”

     

    However, when we contacted a senior official from TRAI, he told us that they too haven’t received any official “recommendation” from the ministry about postponing the deadline, but have only read about it in new reports.

     

    In May 2013, TRAI had mandated that general entertainment TV channels (GECs) and news channels should reduce their advertising air time per hour from16 minutes and 20 minutes respectively to 12 minutes by 1 October 2013. The reason given by the authority was that the advertising clutter was resulting in a poor viewing experience for TV watchers.

     

    Industry is hoping the minister follows up his suggestion with a formal appeal to the TRAI. “The bullet has left the gun…,” says an official from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation who was caught in surprise by the minister’s statement that TRAI should posptone the ad cap until cable TV digitsation is completed in September 2014.

     

    “We haven’t received any communication from the ministry regarding this. And if we go by the communication we have received in the past few days, there seems to be a conflict,” he says sounding puzzled.

     

    In the past too, there have been many ups and downs in the broadcasting industry. The whole ratings tamasha which went on for a fortnight was resolved when the three stakeholders – Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) – finally came up with a solution of providing the television viewership in thousands (TVT) to media and public.

     

    We at Indiantelevision.com can only hope that the recommendation doesn’t boil down to another controversy, but has a happy ending. However, one does wonder why the statement was made. Do up-coming elections have anything to do with it? Let’s just wait and watch…

  • Eros International and A R Rahman’s YM Movies to produce a Hindi film

    Eros International and A R Rahman’s YM Movies to produce a Hindi film

    MUMBAI: Eros International, a leading global company in the Indian film entertainment industry has announced its plans to produce a Hindi feature film with Oscar winner A R Rahman’s YM Movies. With this venture, the multi-talented Indian composer, singer-songwriter and music producer dons the hat of a film producer too. For the first time, AR Rahman has conceived the movie and written the basic story with help of international and local talent. It’s a young sensual movie based on love, art and self-discovery.

    Speaking on the announcement, A R Rahman said, “It’s a 16 year relationship with Eros and this time it’s extending the role a bit more. It’s about exploring the other side of a creative partnership. YM Movies is born out of sheer aspiration to create movies which could bring a lot of joy, fulfilling the artistic and cinematic demands.”

    Eros International Media MD Sunil Lulla added, “The film is an extension of the creative genius of A R Rahman and it’s with great pleasure that we announce this very special venture with him. With this film, we wish to present music and cinema at its best and entertain fans and audiences with an unforgettable experience.”

  • Blockbusters fail to drive up Eros Q3 net

    Blockbusters fail to drive up Eros Q3 net

    MUMBAI: Eros International Media‘s (Eros) net profit for the fiscal third quarter has declined 6 per cent to Rs 652 million from Rs 690.9 million in the same quarter last fiscal.

    The company‘s total income for the quarter reduced 10 per cent to Rs 3.7 billion from Rs 4.11 billion in the corresponding quarter.
    Direct cost for the quarter declined to Rs 2.59 billion from Rs 2.93 billion in the previous fiscal. Other expenses grew 36 per cent to Rs 188.7 from Rs 139 million.

    The third quarter was powered by successful releases such as English Vinglish, Maatraan, Son of Sardaar, Thuppaki, Khiladi 786, and Dabangg 2 (overseas).

    Son of Sardar received favourable reviews from audiences and reported a net box office collection of Rs 1.08 billion worldwide. Khiladi 786 also scored well at the box office reporting a net collection of Rs 770 million worldwide.

    English Vinglish, a women-hero family entertainer, received unanimous thumbs up from critics as well as audiences. This film reported an impressive net box office collection of Rs 675 million worldwide.

    Thuppaki raked in a net box office collection of Rs 1.8 billion in the domestic market and has become the fourth film to join the Rs 1 billion club in Tamil films. ‘Maatraan‘, another high profile release, was also well received and reported a net book office collection of Rs 900 million at domestic box office.

    During the quarter under review, the company said it had entered into a number of satellite television licensing deals which resulted into valuable contribution to its revenues.

    Eros International Media MD Sunil Lulla said, “Firstly it gives me great pleasure to declare an interim dividend at 15 per cent and thank all our shareholders who put their faith in us. Our slate was a well architected combination of modest budget high concept films as well as high profile big star cast films in Hindi and Tamil, which performed very well at the box office resulting in corresponding strong revenues through other channels of distribution like television and digital.

    Eros, which partnered HBO to launch HBO Hits and HBO Defined, said that carriage deals for the two premium Hollywood and Bollywood movie channels are being worked out. The carriage deals and specific details of the launch will be announced separately in due course, it said.

    “We are extremely excited about our collaboration with HBO who are leaders in premium television arena globally. The collaboration will allow us to unlock the value of our library and new film slate even more and foray into the growing premium television market in India where television viewers will be offered advertising free compelling Bollywood and Hollywood content,” Lulla added.

  • Table No 21: An interesting film to watch

    Table No 21: An interesting film to watch

    MUMBAI: Table No 21 is one of those films which counter lack of stars and huge budget with a novel theme. The film has just three main characters and a single location, Fiji, offering the island‘s scenic beauty as an antidote to the rather heavy goings-on.

    Producers: Vicky Rajani, Sunil Lulla.

    Director: Aditya Datt.

    Cast: Paresh Rawal, Rajev Khandelwal, Tena Desae.

    A much-in-love couple, Rajeev Khandelwal and Tena Desae, are delighted to get an all-expense-paid trip to Fiji on their fifth wedding anniversary. It is a dream offer and soon as they land, they are treated to best of everything: food, wine and a villa of their own. This is not all. There are crores to be made by the couple. But, there has to be a catch. Nobody gifts such holidays and unimaginable sums of money for nothing. Barely has the couple soaked up the sun and sea of Fiji, than they are invited for a dinner by their host, Paresh Rawal.

    Khandelwal and Desae are needed to play a game which is aired live on net with millions of viewers logged in. The couple will be asked eight questions each worth Rs one crore. The final question of the game will be a rapid fire round of seven questions worth Rs 14 crore. There is also a task assigned to one of the two after each answer. The proposal looks too tempting to refuse with a Rs 21 crore payoff for the couple. The only condition is if you lie you die. No wrong answers permitted.

    Things look simple enough as the question answer session begins. But as the session progresses, the questions get more personal and tasks unexpected; like one task is for Khandelwal to go out on the main street parking lot and shatter a particular car. In another one, he is asked to shear Desae‘s mop of thick hair–tonsure her! Attempts by the couple to get out of the game prove futile. They are trapped and you feel empathy for them while branding Rawal as a sadistic maniac.

    By the eighth round of rapid fire questions, there is one question about the couple‘s loyalty to each other and this question shatters their romance, affection, dreams and life. A wrong answer is given and the punishment will be death. One of the two has to die. If one has been waiting to watch where all this was leading to and what was Rawal‘s purpose in choosing this couple, it is time for a flashback into their college life. And you realise why some questions were asked. They realise the past has caught up with them. Following this flashback, the viewers‘ opinions change as does their sympathy for the characters involved. And there is a message to be delivered.

    The film has similar theme as a 2011 film Chitkabrey in which more than one couple was facing the same kind of situation.

    The casting is good as Khandelwal and Desae make a handsome couple while Rawal is, always in control, holding the narrative together despite its grim moments. His last scene is in total contrast to what he does through the rest of the film, showing his versatility. The direction is good. With just three songs in the film, Mann mera… is the pick of the lot. The film has an effective background score, much needed for this kind of film. Dialogues, mostly hogged by Rawal, are in keeping with the character.

    Table No 21 is a decent enough film and its limited budget should see it through if it gets good patronage over the weekend. You may not call it an entertainer but it is an interesting watch.
     

    Rajdhani Express: Headed for derailment

    Producers: Manoj Kejriwal, Ritika Kohli, Rajesh K Patel.

    Director: Ashok Kohli.

    Cast: Leander Paes, Jimmy Shergill, Gulshan Grover, Siyali Bhagat.

    MUMBAI: Rajdhani Express looks like an outcome of what somebody somewhere thought had a bright idea! Bring together a variety of odd characters on a train journey and these total strangers decide to play the game of telling each other all about their personal lives!

    Leander Paes, the star attraction and a part of the bright idea, a domestic servant at a gangster‘s house, has boarded the Delhi Mumbai Rajdhani Express on a stolen ticket and guns as his baggage. Others travelling in the same cubicle with him are a fashion designer, Sudhanshu Pandey, actress Puja Bose, film writer Piyanshu Chatterjee with Gulshan Grover as the ticket checker. There are also assorted others like a politician, an old couple, a female cop and so on. If there are guns on board, there has to be a cop around too so we have Jimmy Shergill.

    The film has no story at all, just events, twists and turns that make no sense. Just about everything in the film is ill-conceived. The Rajdhani set as well as the music and dialogue is poor.

    As for Paes, a domestic help is the kind of character you cast him in? That is giving him a bad name besides defaming the premier train service of the country.

    This Rajdhani Express is not going anywhere.

  • Ad Club Bombay is now The Advertising Club

    MUMBAI: The Advertising Club Bombay has decided to rename itself as The Advertising Club. The decision to change the name was ratified at the club‘s annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday to provide it a national character.

    The club also announced the members of its management committee.

    Lodestar UM CEO Shashi Sinha will continue to be the president of the club, while Aditya Birla Group – Financial Services CMO Ajay Kakkar has been appointed as the vice president. Kakkar replaces Time TV Network MD & CEO Sunil Lulla.

    DDB Mudra Group COO Pratap Bose has been assigned the role of secretary whereas Sujoy Ghosh will take over as joint secretary.

    Ogilvy India‘s Madhukar Sabnavis is named as the treasurer of The Advertising Club.

    Commenting on why the club has undergone a name change, Sinha said, “We have changed the name with the intension of giving the ad club a national footprint.”

    Ajay Chandwani (Percept) and N Rajaram (Airtel) continue to be a part of the new management committee. The other members include Punitha Arumugam (Director – Agency Business at Google India), Sameer Sathpaty (Marico Consumer Products), Ajay Trigunayat (Times English GECs‘ CEO), Sanjeev Bharghava (JWT India) and Sajan Raj Kurup (Creativeland Asia).

  • Narayana Rao re-elected NBA president

    Narayana Rao re-elected NBA president

    NEW DELHI: K V L Narayana Rao has been re-elected president of the News Broadcasters Association for 2012-13.

    Rao is Executive Vice Chairperson of NDTV Group – New Delhi Television Ltd.

    Barun Das, CEO of Zee News, is the Vice-President. Ashok Venkataramani, who is ABP News CEO, is the honorary treasurer.

    The other members on the NBA Board are :
    1. Rajat Sharma, Chairman – Independent News Services Pvt. Ltd.
    2. Sunil Lulla, Managing Director & CEO – Times Global Broadcasting Company Ltd.
    3. Saikumar Balasubramanian – Group CEO (Network 18) – IBN 18 Broadcast Ltd.
    4. Anil Mehra, Director – TV Today Network Ltd.
    5. Anurradha Prasad, Chairperson-cum-Managing Director, News24 Broadcast India Ltd.

  • TAM proposals fail to enthuse broadcasters

    TAM proposals fail to enthuse broadcasters

    MUMBAI/New Delhi: Broadcasters have found nothing new in the six-point action plan proposed by TAM Media Research, saying there is no definite offer on plate except promises and fall far short of measures that are needed to address the ills plaguing the
     ‘monopoly‘ audience measurement system.

    Times Television Network MD & CEO Sunil Lulla has said the TAM action plan lacks “anything concrete”. “I am happy about the factthat TAM has at least admitted to failures in its ratings system,” he sarcastically pointed out.

    The CEO of another broadcaster, who did not want to be named, said the proposed action plan of TAM would not solve any of the problems as there is no provision to increase reach to the most parts of the country. “Why has TAM suddenly woken up to its deficiencies,” the broadcaster asked and felt the meeting TAM had with advertisers was clearly prompted by the audience research body to save itself.

    The six steps outlined by TAM include appointment of a security officer and a security agency, expansion in the number of peoplemeters in six top metros, an industry review of the research processes, independent audit of outlier homes, faster rotation of the peoplemeter homes and setting up of an internal audit team.

    Doordarshan Director General Tripurari Sharan said the TAM proposals are ridiculous as there is nothing mentioned about expanding the geographical coverage of the ratings measurement system. “It is astonishing that DD unquestionably had the largest reach in the country and yet did not figure in the TAM ratings.”

    The pubcaster has viewers in large numbers in small towns and villages, which are not covered by TAM ratings.

    Sharan said in his home state of Bihar, the cities and towns covered by TAM does not even touch double figures.

    Times Television‘s Lulla said, “There is nothing new that has been done and I don‘t know why there is so much euphoria about it. For broadcasters who have always been complaining about TAM‘s auditing, process and security, it‘s really disappointing.”

    A senior official with another broadcaster said the TAM proposals were a clear indication that TAM was concerned about the pressures building up against it from all sides after NDTV filed a lawsuit New York alleging that the subsidiary of Nielsen and Kantar were knowingly releasing fraudulent and misleading television viewership ratings. The government‘s threat of investigating TAM‘s functioning added to the pressure.

    Broadcasters said it was important for the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to work in tandem to ensure that the proposed Broadcasters Audience Research Council (BARC) commences its work.

    “The immediate step should be the quick and rapid roll out of BARC which would be an interfacing body between the industry and TAM,” Lulla remarked.

    AAAI & ISA come out with joint statement but some media agencies not excited

    The response from the advertising and media agencies has been mixed, with some of them pointing out that “there is nothing new in TAM‘s promised action plan”, while others have said that “there has been at least some forward movement by making TAM officially outline its immediate agenda.”

    Said Havas Media India & South Asia CEO Anita Nayyar, “These (TAM proposals) are not concrete steps and there is a lack of transparency. They seem to have merely outlined some action without specifying the details.”

    Nayyar feels that the announcement by AAAI and ISA is nothing but a ploy to pacify disgruntled broadcasters who are keen to pursue Barc, in which IBF, AAAI and ISA are stakeholders.

    “It could be seen as a ploy to pacify people who are complaining against TAM. These suggestions are nothing new and were submitted to TAM time and again in the past. Now they have just acknowledged and finally agreed to work on them,” Nayyar pointed out.

    AAAI president Arvind Sharma, who along with Indian Society of Advertisers Chairman Bharat Patel announced the action points in a
    statement after a meeting with TAM, was confident that the steps promised by TAM would be implemented.

    Sharma said the purpose of the meeting with TAM was to find ways and solutions to improve the reliability of data in the current design. The meeting restricted the discussions to the expansion of peoplemeters in the top six metros.

    “You see, the idea was to focus on how the current system can be improved. The sample size, coverage, representation and other issues will be addressed once BARC‘s new measurement system is in place,” he pointed out.

    He was also hopeful that BARC would be rolled out in the next few weeks, but did not give details. He said IBF, AAAI and ISA will soon set the dates for the next meeting to set in motion the process of setting up BARC.

    Zenith Optimedia CEO India Satyajit Sen has welcomed the move by TAM. He said, “I think it is the best and optimum step ahead that TAM has taken. It is at least saying that TAM is willing to take steps. I presume they intend to implement these things with immediate effect. I believe that the decision to expand the sample size in the top six metros has been taken to accommodate digitisation and that the expansion should take place by January 2013.”