Bigger brands are moving towards ethically & socially conscious marketing: D Shivakumar

The Chairman of ASCI believes the Consumer Protection Bill will see celebrities gravitate towards credible brands

e4m by Tasmayee Laha Roy
Published: Sep 18, 2019 8:17 AM  | 4 min read
DShivakumar

During the month of June 2019, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) investigated complaints against 334 advertisements, of which 106 were promptly withdrawn by the advertisers as soon as they received communication from ASCI. The independent Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of ASCI upheld complaints against 190 advertisements, out of the 228 they evaluated. Of these 190 advertisements, 112 belonged to the education sector, 40 to the healthcare, 10 to personal care, seven to the food & beverages sector, five to the media/broadcasting sector, five from consumer durables and 11 were from the ‘others’ category.

D Shivakumar, Chairman, ASCI, spoke to exchange4media about the latest trends and the state of the advertising space after the Consumer Protection Bill.

 Excerpts

The Consumer Protection Bill has been the biggest highlight in the ad space in the past few months. Are brands becoming conscious with their ad content? What is the kind of trend you have noticed?

I think there is no definitive answer to that. We have noticed that bigger brands are moving towards ethically and socially conscious marketing as most of the new-age consumers expect brands to walk the talk. Additionally, it is a powerful way for big businesses to shape their brand and connect with consumers on a deeper level. At the same time, prominent brands can go berserk with their claims, particularly in keenly contested categories that are close to commodity. Over the last few years, we have seen that the highest incidences of misleading advertisements are in healthcare products & services (magic remedies) and the education sector. 

 

Tell us about the highlights of FY 2018-19? What is the next big thing in the industry that is on the cards to make the aesthetics of the space better?

Indian advertising is possibly one of the best in the world in terms of creativity. People like Piyush Pandey and Prasoon Joshi have elevated Indian advertising. The media space has come alive with innovation led by stalwarts like CVL Srinivas, Shashi Sinha, Uday Shankar and NP Singh. The amount of media innovations one sees in India is staggering. The shift to digital is clear and omnipresent. Advertising is about ensuring that we do not offend sensibilities while being creative and heart-warming. India’s spend on advertising as a per capita measure is still low and we will come of age in a few years.

 

Celebrities will now be charged penalty for endorsing misleading ads. Do you think that will deter celebrities from taking up any and every offer that comes their way and be selective about what to endorse?

Celebrity endorsements contribute to a large portion of advertising spends, and we feel that advertisers will continue to use celebrities to promote their brands. India has more than 1,660 pieces of content with celebrities now, and the total TV advertising spend on celebrity-based brands is about Rs 6700 crore, which is 25 per cent of all advertising. The top 20 celebrities endorse 314 brands among them.

With the new Consumer Protection Bill passed, we should see that it cultivates a broader sense of responsibility among celebrities and make them more attentive to claims made, while signing brand endorsements. Celebrities may also become selective and gravitate towards brands that have more credibility and have a due diligence processes in place.

Are the consumers truly empowered after the Bill? What are the advantages they have now?

The purpose of the Bill itself is to safeguard the interest of consumers. If the consumer is exposed to honest communication, they will make more informed choices. The advertising fraternity will have to be more mindful of the communication they create. They cannot afford a mistake as the consequences will be severe. This Bill will act as a deterrent (against mislead) for a lot of manufacturers and service providers, especially in unorganised sectors, and for unregulated industries or unscrupulous elements.

Do you see the impact of the Consumer Protection Bill already? What is the compliance rate at the moment?

It is too early to comment on the impact of the Bill as the fine print of the policy is still being worked on. The industry compliance rate for decisions made by the independent Consumer Complaints Council on complaints is more than 90 per cent and for TV it is 100 per cent. These are very healthy numbers provided that ASCI’s self-regulatory mechanism is successful.

 

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

For more updates, be socially connected with us on
Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp

E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur

The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:15 PM  | 1 min read
Test

With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.

The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

For more updates, be socially connected with us on
Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp

Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out

The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:07 PM  | 1 min read
test

Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."

The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."

COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.

Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.

He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

For more updates, be socially connected with us on
Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp

Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 11:48 AM  | 1 min read
Test

e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.

According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.

As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.

A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.

Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

For more updates, be socially connected with us on
Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp

Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall

The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 10:54 AM  | 1 min read
test

Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.

“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.

“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."

"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

For more updates, be socially connected with us on
Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp

KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias

Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 24, 2023 3:35 PM  | 1 min read
khugfu

KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.

Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy

Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.

Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."

Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

For more updates, be socially connected with us on
Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp