No condom ad can be prohibited if the communication is fit for family viewing: ASCI

One of the biggest criticisms of this move has been the stifling of creative liberty. There has also been an overwhelming reaction to this ban order with many equating it with moral policing

e4m by Ruhail Amin
Published: Dec 19, 2017 8:53 AM  | 3 min read

The recent ban on airing condom ads during TV primetime has once again raised the pitch about issues like creative freedom and moral policing. While some people have termed this move as regressive, others see it as something that upholds our cultural ethos. It must be mentioned that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry recently ordered almost 900 television channels to restrict the airing of condom commercials between 10pm to 6am and has warned of repercussions if the order is violated.

Speaking to exchange4media, Shweta Purandare, Secretary General, The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) said that this move was necessary because these ads were violating the code of self-regulation and were found objectionable by viewers on the basis of inappropriate content. “Condom as a product is permitted to be advertised but people had issues with the way communication was being done. It was not educational and some people had also raised objections regarding the content of the ads not being appropriate for children to view. ASCI does not decide what time the ads should be aired, it only looks at the content of the ads. We had recommended to the minister to take a policy decision that if a particular content is meant for adults to view and is not suitable for family viewing then such ads can be aired beyond 10 pm”, said Purandare.


According to Purandare, ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) recently received a number of complaints against the condom ads with explicit adult content being aired during family viewing hours forcing the body to take a stand against such ads. “We are actually happy that this move will allow a kind of flexibility to the advertisers and, at the same time, will take care of grievances that complainants had against some of the advertisements. Rather than toning down all condom ads, airing them only after 10 pm is a win-win stand for all stakeholders” said Purandare.

One of the biggest criticisms of this move has been the stifling of creative liberty. There has also been an overwhelming reaction to this ban order with many equating it with moral policing.

Underlining ASCI’s stand on primetime viewing of condom ads, Purandare stated that ASCI would allow such ads provided the communication was fit for family viewing. “If an ad is done appropriately for family viewing, I don’t think anybody will have any complaint to begin with. The issue is with the handful of ads. I won’t call it moral policing, it is about age-appropriate communication. It is not appropriate for children’s sensibilities. We do get complains against the sanitary napkins and personal hygiene products for women etc and such complaints are not withheld because the way the ads are being shown has nothing crass or inappropriate about it.”

Purandare also said that ASCI stood for “advertising with a conscience” approach and would like to open a dialogue with advertisers if need be to spell its stand on age appropriate advertising. “In deciding whether any particular ad is acceptable or not, the criteria that we use is based on whether that particular ad is likely to cause any grave or widespread offense. If few people are feeling upset, it really doesn’t matter. We will welcome any dialogue with the advertisers in case they wish to seek guidance from ASCI on this matter. We have assured that ads which are appropriate for family viewing will not be affected. No condom ad can be prohibited provided the communication is fit for family viewing” added Purandare.

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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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