Time to get ‘Real’: Hindi GEC space – cluttered or room for more?

The Hindi general entertainment space is all set to get a new player in March this year – Real from Real Global Broadcasting. This would take the number of Hindi GECs in the country to 11 – too many, or room for more? There are also reports of Sun launching a Hindi GEC. On the other hand, there is the beleaguered 9X channel. exchange4media speaks with media players to find out more about the Hindi GEC market.

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Jan 22, 2009 7:20 AM  | 3 min read
Time to get ‘Real’: Hindi GEC space – cluttered or room for more?

The Hindi general entertainment space has always been in a state of flux, and now, with the announcement of a new channel – Real from the Alva brothers-Turner joint venture Real Global Broadcasting – the genre is set to see a fresh round of action.

With Real going live, the number of Hindi GECs in the country would go up to 11. Will this lead to too much clutter in the market or is there room for more players?

Colors’ success story is an encouragement for new players, on the other hand, there is also the beleaguered 9X channel, which has been hit by retrenchments and repeat programming.

The latest TAM numbers show that the top order of the Hindi GEC space is increasingly getting indistinct. A mere 8 GRPs separate Colors from genre leader Star Plus. While Star Plus has 271 GRPs, Colors has 263 GRPs. Zee TV has 195 GRPs, Sony 93, Star One 69, NDTV Imagine 65, SAB TV 52, Sahara One 47, 9X 37 and Zee Next at 2 GRPs.

As towhether there was too much clutter in the Hindi GEC space, exchange4media speaks with media players to get their views on this.

‘The time now is to consolidate with fewer players’

Mona Jain, Head, Strategic Investments, India Media Exchange, said, “If you really ask me, I don’t think there really is a need for another GEC at this point in time. Colors has two shows that are doing extremely well – ‘Balika Vadhu’ and ‘Uttaran’. If ‘Real’ comes out with great programmes and distribution on par with the rest, they have the potential to attract viewership, since viewers are not watching channels but programmes. Colors had spent a lot on their marketing and had great content, so ‘Real’ too will have to do similar kind of marketing. This is from a viewer’s point of view.”

“From a buyer’s point, I feel they have to have a critical bouquet of programmes, as this is the time when everyone is looking to get maximum returns for their buck. So, I think content has to be good across all bouquets, not just one or two programmes here or there that are good.”

Anita Nayar, CEO, MPG India, said, “I don’t think there really is a need for another GEC as the space is already too cluttered, it is only adding to the fragmentation. Though Colors in the recent past has performed very well and has changed the perception of GECs. Colors has done so well that it posses a threat to channels like Star and others who have been there for so long. The success of this all new GEC is dependent on what it offers its viewers and how it clicks with them.”

Commenting on the Real channel, Chirantan Chandran, Head, Mindshare Delhi, said, “We had thought that there would not be any new GEC coming in, especially at this point in time when polarisation is taking place. The time now is to consolidate with fewer players. I am not too sure how a new GEC will do at this time.”

According to CD Mitra, President, Mudra Max, “The GEC space is a little too overcrowded. Yet, if someone can come in with better, differentiated content and successful marketing and distribution and do a better job than the other existing ones, then the answer is yes. Colors is one such example, they came in last year and have been able to sustain themselves. I really do think there is space for only 3-5 standalone GECs for them to be successful and profitable ventures.”

Also read:

Mixed Media: Let’s get Real… do we need another GEC?

9X besieged by layoff woes

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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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