Guest Column: It's corporate markets that pull print growth down: Sanjeev Kotnala
Sanjeev Kotnala, Head catalyst, INTRADIA, talks about the relevance of print media, which is losing out in terms of growth rates

Print is by far the second largest media in India. It is also the least understood medium by agencies and clients. And no one seems to be interested in changing the situation. The gap between projections and realities seems to grow wider with time.
People are happy making macro-directional statements that lead nowhere. I am not sure whom to blame for it. Is it the report writers or the media pundits who fail to understand why the medium is still alive? Is it the print sales team which keeps delivering on tough targets or the print owners who bring new ideas every time there is a slow down? Or is it the country where literacy is still rising and markets have only recently started understanding what ambitions and dreams are?
The growth of print is slowing down is a polite macro statement. Some reports peg the growth rate coming down from 10 to 5 per cent, while contribution in advertising pie increasing from 34 to 41 per cent. This growth is macro and the lower figure is really the impact of corporate markets. Advertising is generated from major metro markets.
In print, budgets are getting re-rationalised and scrutinised against need and ROI. The days of largest player getting disproportionate share of revenue are over. The limited print-invested parties are trying new combinations. Here being the biggest or thickest may become a liability with lower involvement and lesser chance of ad to be seen. The print budget is shrinking.
Print’s increased dependence on ABC figures is a poor tool in the hand of sales. Its utility is not understood and with its figures there have always been an undercurrent of suspicion.
Print has stayed away from collaborative or direct research. None of the leaders have contributed towards refinement of the science of print planning that could have enhanced engagement levels. May be this suits them. Maybe they know some secret that the rest of the industry does not even want to guess.
No one really knows the science behind those special positions and rates. Why and what should one pay for front page, back page, supplement, inside page, right page, top of the page or any other position or innovation. Then, print industry has been working on traditional unsubstantiated logics that are over there use-by date.
Regional print claims to know its markets but the local nuances; days and dates affecting a particular category are best kept secrets. It has lost a big chance of playing the role of an advisor to client and media agencies when it comes to these markets.
There is a definite shift in print media wanting to directly engage with clients. Maybe it is too late now. People at the client’s end who can take the call are no longer interested in print media.
It is tough to find a print planner (if something like that exist) but there are many print buyers. This says a lot. Print attention does not mirror agency focus, dependence, association and involvement with the other large media.
Print has remained geocentric and regional in its approach. That is understandable. For businesses centred in these markets print is still a perception, relationship and power equation led buying. And that is something print has always been good to play with. Even there, print shies away from educating agencies and clients on scientific media buying.
Corporate markets contribute between 30 and 45 per cent of the regional newspaper revenues. Here market, brand and medium in the regional markets are mysteries no one wants to solve. This is a slow slide that can gain high momentum.
With no further interest and excitement shown by the corporate markets, print is definitely losing out in terms of growth rates. The power of print remains relevant and further enhanced in the regional markets. This is reflected in the fact that regional print brands are growing at a rate higher than metro brands, but their revenues are getting alarmingly skewed towards revenue from local businesses.
The author, Sanjeev Kotnala is Head catalyst, INTRADIA.
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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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