NDTV scales down operations of MetroNation Delhi

These are not happy times for the media industry. Pay cuts, job freezes, and closures are becoming the norm in the industry faced with the economic slowdown. The latest buzz is that of NDTV deciding to scale down the operations of its NCR-centric English news channel MetroNation Delhi.

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Mar 26, 2009 8:04 AM  | 3 min read
NDTV scales down operations of MetroNation Delhi

These are not happy times for the media industry. Pay cuts, job freezes, and closures are becoming the norm in the industry faced with the economic slowdown. Last week saw some media majors taking steps to counter the slowdown effects. They included Daily News and Analysis (DNA) letting go of some of its editorial staff in Mumbai; Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd, publishers of The Times of India and Economic Times, effecting pay cuts and more layoffs; NewsX, a company now promoted by Nai Duniya-owner Vinay Chajjlani and former Businessworld Editor Jehangir Pocha, also had to bear the brunt and cut salaries. The latest buzz is that of NDTV deciding to scale down the operations of its NCR-centric English news channel MetroNation Delhi.

When contacted, an official spokesperson from NDTV, clarified, “We are not shutting down MetroNation Delhi, but scaling it down. The TRPs of MetroNation have been excellent and it is the most watched English news channel in the NCR region, ahead of other national English channels. Plans to launch MetroNation Chennai are also on track.”

The MetroNation side of the NDTV business is currently operational only in Delhi. There are plans to launch a Chennai channel, for which a joint venture with The Hindu was formed, as well as a channel in Mumbai.

It may be recalled that in January 2009 rumours were afloat about BCCL taking a 26 percent stake in NDTV MetroNation. On being questioned on the matter at that time, BCCL’s Ravi Dhariwal had said that the speculation was “baseless and untrue”.

exchange4media had done a report in January 2009 that talked about NDTV tightening its belt, freezing recruitments and slashing salaries by up to 20 percent for the top management.

exchange4media had also come to know of discussions and talks internally at the NDTV office about necessary steps taken to prepare for the economic downturn.

It may be recalled that an internal email sent by Dr Prannoy Roy, Chairman and Director NDTV, and Radhika Roy, had stated: “The time for complacency is over. Each one of us needs to increase our productivity, our efficiency, our desire to learn and improve. This is the time to streamline our operations, excise any flab that the system may have gained in the boom times and return to being a lean, tough, strong, efficient and compassionate organisation.”

The email went on to say, “There will be no hiring of any new employees. There will be a headcount freeze until further notice. Our salary costs are already far too high – higher than our counterparts in the industry. There is, you will agree, substantial flab, too, at NDTV (some people work very hard, while others seem to be floating along). No more ‘floaters’ should be accepted – it’s unfair on those who work. Travel and telephone bills are also a very large part of NDTV’s expenditure. Please try and economise as much on these as possible and keep the expenditure as low as is feasible without dropping quality standards. Think before you travel or make a phone call. We are undergoing an environmental audit, too, which will ensure cost savings and make our organisation environmentally friendly.”

As a first step, many in NDTV’s senior management volunteered to take a salary cut of 20 percent for the year 2009 as well as ensuring other expenditures were curtailed too.

NDTV MetroNation had celebrated its first anniversary on September 26, 2008, and was upbeat after experiencing a 27 per cent growth in market share over the last one year. However, things have changed drastically for the channel in this short while.

Also read:

No investments in NDTV MetroNation, asserts BCCL

NDTV MetroNation turns one; channels in Chennai, other metros in the pipeline

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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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