Cricketers’ performances raise questions about returns from brand endorsements
It comes as no surprise that there is introspection about cricketers as brand ambassadors. Experts say that advertisers have put in over a whopping Rs 400 crore on cricket this year. If celebrity cricketers work as a detriment to the brand they are endorsing, then it is cause for worry for advertisers.

Sourav Ganguly for Pepsi, Sachin Tendulkar for Airtel, Rahul Dravid for Hutch, Virendra Sehwag for Coke, Kaif for Frito Lay…the list goes on. Almost every top-rung Indian cricketer endorses some brand or the other. Such is the situation that perhaps are cricketers are known better for the products they endorse than their sterling performances on the field. So far so good, but what happens when the Indian cricket team, known for its unpredictability, puts in one dismal performance after the other?
Remember the time in the not too distant past, when Team India put up one of its dismal performances, the SMS doing the rounds was: “We make one promise as Indians today. Not to buy any product which has Indian cricketers as models. Please pass this on to at least five friends.”
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that increasingly brand managers are becoming wary of roping in cricketers. Experts say that advertisers have put in over a whopping Rs 400 crore on cricket this year. If celebrity cricketers work as a detriment to the brand they are endorsing, then it is cause for worry among advertisers.
Says Shubhagato Bhattacharjee, Senior Manager, Client Servicing, AC Nielsen, ORG-MARG, “Though a brand is much more than one player, a star association helps in brand awareness and brand recall. But in a country like India where cricket is religion, when cricketers do not play well, the consumers express their ire on the brand.”
The prevalent sentiment triggered by poor performances is that cricketers are concentrating less on the game and more on making money. Some are even of the view that cricketers should pay a penalty for non-performance. Publicly though, marketers not yet willing to admit that poor performances by cricketers are impacting their brands.
“No, the performance of the Indian cricket team in no way affects the brand equity of Samsung. Cricketers are a loved set of people. The entire country adores them. Ups and downs are a part of any game. As a brand that celebrates cricket as well as Indianness, we at Samsung have full faith in our cricketers and will continue to support them,’’ said Vivek Prakash, Vice-President, Marketing, Samsung India Electronics Limited.
Salil Kapoor, Head of Marketing, LG India, feels that “even if there is a negative impact, it is very shortlived.” He says, “The advertisements are a long-term plan and one or two bad games, winning or losing, has a very temporary effect.”
But figures tell a different story. Ad rates for the ICC Championship, which started at an average of Rs1-1.25 lakh per 10 seconds, had gone down to Rs 50,000 later in the tournament. After Team India’s loss in the Holland Cup, the Asia Cup, the Natwest Sseries and the ICC tournament, the ad rates had fallen by as much as 50 per cent. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which is said to be expecting an average of $60 million from telecast rights for the on going India-Australia Test series, should not get its hopes too high now.
The success quotient for any brand may sometimes depend on the success of the brand ambassador. If the brand ambassador, especially a cricketer, is not successful, then in the long run it affects the brand. Sulina Menon, CEO, Carat India, says that when a player consistently plays badly, then “there is a negative impact on the brand he is endorsing”.
Basabdutta Choudhuri, General Manager, Madison Delhi, agrees that with a celebrity, whether it is a cricketer or an actor, the risk element is always there. “The essential factor, however is, who the advertisers put their money on. If the cricketer has a bounce-back capacity, then the short-term fluctuation can be mediated,” she says.
For now, brands are standing by their ambassadors, but for how long?
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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
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.
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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out
The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'
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.
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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 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.
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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall
The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall
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."
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KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias
Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments
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."
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