Guest Column: Woman at the core: Sangeetha Aiyer

Sangeetha Aiyer, Vice President and Head Marketing, A+E Networks|TV18 takes stock of changing trends in society with woman at forefront

e4m by Sangeetha Aiyer
Published: Dec 28, 2015 8:57 AM  | 4 min read
Guest Column: Woman at the core: Sangeetha Aiyer

Sangeetha Aiyer, Vice President and Head Marketing, A+E Networks|TV18 writes about how politics, advertising agencies and movies are placing women on the forefront:

Being an independent woman in a nation that is at the cusp of change, one of the biggest changes I’ve noticed both as a woman and a professional is the changing trends in society with the woman at the core.

Saudi Arabia has allowed women to vote for the first time. Closer home, the women’s vote swung the fiercely contested Bihar elections. I was amazed to hear vox pops by women from a backward state where patriarchy is embedded in the mindset, clearly voicing their opinions. Anyone who has followed elections in India knows these are clear tipping points in our public discourse. What is even more interesting to note is that in the last few elections, development has been the key issue when women have yielded the power to sway elections with their unprecedented turnout.

Another place where change is clearly evident besides the ballot box is the marketplace. The Indian market place has always been something that would make Darwin proud: if organisations and brands don’t evolve, they will perish. Examples are abundant in media on women’s changing roles in society. I was particularly struck when I saw an ad for Lloyd washing machine where a wife gets back at her husband for saying the decision to buy the machine was her department. The ad made ‘patriachy’ - the underlining thread of our society - look ‘uncool’ and that’s what struck me. Advertising is brutal. It involves months of planning and investment and if the ROI doesn’t show, heads would roll. Which is why advertising is always on the fault lines of change - the messaging has to be new, relevant and must hit the bulls-eye. I cannot imagine a client or a creative director giving such an idea a green signal a decade back.

Another media platform at the cusp of radical change is cinema. And here too, the ROI is instant. A look at the movies which did well without star power this year holds a mirror to women’s changing role in society. Tanu Weds Manu was one of the biggest hits in the first quarter. Like Kangana Ranaut’s earlier role in Queen, the success of the movie can easily be attributed to the female lead. The content itself portrays the woman of today – ready to claim the world and complete on her own. Even a cursory glance at new movie posters indicates this wave of change. The movie poster of Pyar ka Punchnama 2 showed girls holding a leash around their boyfriends’ necks. While I agree that the film actually doesn’t show women in the best light, can anyone imagine such a poster in the 70s or 80s? Even in the ultra competitive small screen market, I was amazed when a relative recounted that a popular daily soap saw its lead protagonist – a woman IPS officer – rescue India from a nuclear holocaust.

Consumerism is also placing women at the centre of their marketing campaigns. E-commerce and online fashion portals predominantly talk to women as a direct consequence of women with more purchasing power embracing technology. Moreover, fashion, makeovers and grooming are a very big segment of YouTube consumption; increased exposure to technology and media have instilled a sense of self-confidence and better decision making.

I remember growing up in an India where the woman’s vote never really mattered so politicians never cared to address them. Movies across the spectrum in the 80s seemed either too regressive or fight regressive behaviour in society, where the woman was portrayed as a destitute in a compromising situation.

This thread of feminism in a more meaningful, inclusive and empowering way has encapsulated all aspects of our lives, so much that we have now grown accustomed to it. The guard of honour for the President of the United States was a woman. Hell, the Indian airforce announced recently that it would allow women to be fighter pilots. What next? A woman in aviators playing Tom Cruise’s role in a film like Top Gun? Wouldn’t that be fun?

There will always be exceptions. In a country of over a billion people there will be crimes and acts that shame us. We have many miles to go before we become a society deserved of Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “Where the head is held high…” but real change is happening all around us if we care to see.

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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

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

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:07 PM  | 1 min read
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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 by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 11:48 AM  | 1 min read
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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

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 10:54 AM  | 1 min read
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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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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:39 PM  | 1 min read

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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:38 PM  | 1 min read

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
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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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