Noorings: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Will 2011 be another Ball!?

Oh yes! Call me a diehard optimist, or the impact of a New Year memo from e4m Group’s top boss, but I am kicked about 2011 and all the fun it would be for media service brands, media industry and ‘digital’ with ongoing evolution of definition.

e4m by Noor Fathima Warsia
Published: Jan 3, 2011 3:02 PM  | 5 min read
Noorings: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Will 2011 be another Ball!?

I still remember when I was writing my first Noorings on January 3, 2010 (was a Sunday last year), and I had made an attempt to list all the areas that I was looking forward to in 2010. The year 2010 not only delivered on some of those expectations, but did more. And as we begin another New Year, I cannot help but compare what we were speaking of then and what we are speaking of now.

Before I get there, some of my colleagues expected me to give a roundup of the decade gone – borrowing verbatim from a Hindi GEC CEO, who will not like if I quoted him on this, ‘Decade is a very long period, and what is the point of looking back. Let’s talk about the future’ – couldn’t agree more.

Though I am still doing some bit of looking back. Where 2010 began with all of us talking on the high number of media pitches and procurement driving the business, 2010 saw an intense high-stake merry-go-round of businesses, on the media service side. The biggest names in media service industry were in violent fight of either defending, or going out of its way to secure a big business if they had lost a big client. I am obviously speaking of ITC Ltd, Coca-Cola, L’Oreal, Reliance Communications and Parle. And add to that, the little mysteries of the WPP way of living and the Colgate move. And Reckitt Benckiser still has all of us wondering what happens there!

Can we breathe a bit now --- would 2011 be simpler after all the madness in this sector of 2010? You wish! 2011 is crazy and becoming crazier on newer levels. The pitch action, even if it is not this high-stake, is not going to subside. It is going to ensure that media agency heads are still running in all directions to secure new businesses, meet targets and take advantage of the client mindset that this is all about the moolah. But more importantly, 2011 would be about changes in leaders of media service brands as well. Not because there is a need, but interestingly, our industry has thrived on making a change, sometimes just to challenge the status quo. And for a very long time, the media service brands leadership has stayed ‘stable’ – ‘stable’, my friends, is not a word our industry likes much... The ball on this was set rolling when Ravi Kiran decided to exit Starcom MediaVest Group, and even as I write this, journalists are calling dear Amith Prabhu (Corp Comm, ViVaki) every next second to know who the replacement is. Who ever it may eventually be, SMG’s 2011 is truly set for ‘New Beginning’, as is Ravi Kiran’s. And I do expect us rushing to the press with other such ‘breaking news’.

I remember writing last year about watching out what STAR India would do – well, STAR kept all the media running in 2010, as it worked out its miraculous journey right to the top again, and with no competition even close. Sony Entertainment and SAB turned to be the other two channels that lived a strong 2010 and are entering 2011 with a lot of promise. But I am amongst those who are keenly looking at what Colors and Zee TV would do. These are not players who are in it for a year or six months, and with Imagine investing in its programming – 2011 would another fiery year.

But the GRP game is only one aspect of the madness. The digital debate of television already kicked off in 2010, and will gather more steam in 2011. Digital households are touching almost the 30 million mark, and how much closer would 2011 take us to the 50 million milestone would be an interesting watch. I will admit I got that number in a conversation with Sameer Nair, CEO, Turner General Entertainment Network. Many network heads didn’t shy from saying that digital households – driven by DTH and some bit of digital cable - are not so exciting, since they comprise a significant population that is not the typical ‘English movie’, ‘specialised content’ or ‘premium’ audience. We will learn more on this as the year progresses but I am eager to see more on digital, and I will continue asking every agency and media head I know on whether digital side of traditional is digital or traditional. I have got the most interesting of answers for this question so far, and what keeps me engaged on this is that no two answers are the same – this is still an industry that doesn’t come with a preset conditioning.

On the creative side of the industry, while the big boys have been busy and will continue to be busier, it is the smaller, hotter shops that is in my ‘follow’ list of 2011 – BMB Madison, BBH and how it will live 2011 or even W+K.

And quoting Mainardo de Nardis, CEO, OMD Worldwide, “Digital will be the electricity that would be in everything, and soon we would stop discussing it as a separate entity” --- 2011 will take us to another shift in the digital landscape, and I am keen on saying how much did expert opinions come true on that front.

Thank you for all the valuable feedback in the last year. Here’s wishing all exchange4media.com readers/viewers a Happy 2011, where we have some surprises in store too. More on that, when “the time is right” ;-)
 

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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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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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