Union Budget 2019 evokes mixed reaction from ad industry heads

Industry experts say the ease of business proposed in the Budget has been encouraging but there is a need for substantial reform measures

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Jul 8, 2019 8:57 AM  | 3 min read
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the first Union Budget for Modi Government 2.0 laid down the blueprint to turn the Indian economy into a $5 trillion economy in the next five years. There were also some major announcements for the media and entertainment sector. 

We asked advertising industry experts about their views on the Union Budget announcement and how the industry would benefit from the same. 

Edited excerpts below: 

Ashish Bhasin, CEO, Greater South, Dentsu Aegis Network and Chairman & CEO India
The government’s decision to examine the opening up of foreign direct investment (FDI) in media, is beneficial for the sector. However, some of the actions of the government do seem contradictory and a letdown. The expectations from a government coming with such a majority was that they would undertake substantial reforms, stimulate growth and cut tax rates. However, they have missed the opportunity to do so and have acted contradictorily by implementing surcharge on HNI individuals. Despite everything, I expect the next 10 years to be very bright for India.

Raghu Bhat, Founder & Copywriter, Scarecrow M&C Saatchi
More private investments and product launches will help the ad industry. Also, the consumer has to see income growth and feel bullish about the future. Struggling sectors like the four-wheeler and aviation industry need to be revived. If the above things happen, the ad industry will benefit. I see this budget as step 1 of the revival. Financial services is an important category for us and we are happy to see steps taken to improve liquidity.

Ashish Patkar, Founder and CEO, Monk Media Network
The advent of mobile phones has ensured that more and more people are accessing content - both entertaining and informational. The need of the hour is to ensure the content supply matches the consumption demand. The FDI limit increase will allow companies to robustly invest in content creation which will take us towards a content-rich economy. 

Sameer Makani, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Makani Creatives
The policy changes and developments announced in the Union Budget will definitely bolster innovation and growth. The advertising and digital industry needs an additional skilled workforce. The proposal to train 10 million personnel in industry for relevant skills like AI, IoT and Big Data is a welcome move. This investment will result in creating jobs and also boost long-term growth for the digital industry. Also, the overall economic development and ease of business proposed will encourage Indian and international companies to invest more in allied functions like advertising and promotions. This will have a positive impact on our sector and is likely to generate more growth and business.

Hareesh Tibrewala, Joint CEO, Mirum India
In the budget, the government has proposed an increase in FDI in the media industry and in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) sector. India is an attractive and emerging market from a media and media services perspective. We also have a robust talent pool in animation, gaming, and visual graphics. Also media consumption in India is increasing. Thus, an increase in FDI should see more global players enter the Indian market. This augurs well for this sector. Overall, the budget does not have any big or bold headlines. One sees a sense of caution. The government has stayed away from any big populist measures. There are minor reliefs in the form of a decrease in corporate tax for companies with a turnover between Rs 250 crore to Rs 400 crore and increase in tax exemption on interest paid towards housing loan. And minor increases in the form of super-rich tax and cess on petrol and diesel. One senses that the government’s key priority right now is to fix the financial services sector and strengthen the basic economic framework. 

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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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