Vodafone's elderly couple Vs Airtel's kids: Telecom operators put the cute appeal to test
The two telecom giants return to the combat zone with their new 360-degree campaigns as they compete for brand recall, consumers

It’s the battle between David and Goliath again as Airtel and Vodafone compete in the ad space for the Indian Premiere League (IPL) Season 10. The telecom operators are known for their aggressive marketing and are back with their new 360 degree campaigns to lure customers. Even though both the telecom giants are talking about their respective networks, they have adopted a fresh tone and an innovative approach to their communication.
Vodafone talks about the brand’s strong 4G network by depicting the story of an elderly couple enjoying their second honeymoon. Airtel, on the other hand, show kids in their narrative to reinforce the brand’s leadership as the best smartphone network.
Ogilvy India has conceptualised the ads for Vodafone. Each ad highlights the reach of their data network through the eyes of an old couple. For Airtel, Taproot Dentsuhas positioned children to represent boundless imagination in their communication and to show that as a brand, they take inspiration from it to build a future-ready network.
Agnello Dias, Chairman and Co-Founder, Taproot Dentsu said, “Airtel always comes across as a future-ready mobile network as it constantly innovates and pushes the envelope. We thought there was a strong parallel in what a mobile network like Airtel can help smartphone users achieve and the innocent imagination of a child's expectations from the world of tomorrow. Thus, Airtel and kids was an apt fit.”
Vodafone:
Airtel:
Brand strategy
Commenting on the brand strategy, Siddharth Banerjee- Executive Vice President, Marketing, Vodafone India said, “Our research and consumer insights indicate that mobile internet is increasingly being used by customers across age groups for multiple applications like live streaming, maps, movie download, group video calls, etc. Vodafone continues to invest in building Vodafone SuperNet™ 4G – The Data Strong Network™ to provide a fast and consistent mobile internet experience for our customers. Our latest campaign captures moments from the life of an old couple who are young at heart and out on a trip to make the most of now with the Data Strong Network.”
Sharing the strategy behind Airtel’s new communication, Rajiv Mathrani, Chief Brand Officer, Bharti Airtel said, “A digital lifestyle enabled by smartphones is fast becoming the new normal and customers always wish to do more with their devices. At Airtel, we have invested in world-class technology to build a future-ready smartphone network that allows customers to do exactly that. What better way to showcase the endless possibilities of a smartphone on the Airtel network than through the limitless imagination of kids?”
Marketing mediums
Other than the TVC, Vodafone is creating awareness about their Vodafone Super Net (4G) through OOH, digital and on-ground activations. Airtel is also promoting their 360 degree campaign on all national TV channels, with a strong presence in digital and retail networks.
Experts decode which communication works better
Commenting on who would win the race between the two , Naresh Gupta, CSO, Managing Partner, Bang in the Middle said, “Telecom industry has finally put the ultimate cute appeal to test. Loveable kids fighting for attention against really sweet old couple, I have never had to make this choice. Of the two, I will tilt to the Vodafone commercial just a little bit, than the Airtel TVC.”
The reason he likes it more is because he feels that it has a stronger story andhe sees a lot of it happening around him.On the other hand, he also agrees that the Airtel ad does a better job of selling the network for smartphone but where it loses out is the on use of kids.
“The casting of the Vodafone ad lifts the commercial’s appeal. Just the casting alone is enough to create memorability. It’s a nice way for Vodafone to move from network to data strong network. This is the part that I believe is a long haul and people may not notice the new appeal. On the other hand, the cute appeal of kids somehow does not work, may be there have been too many ads with kids these days,” he explained.
However, Jagdeep Kapoor, Chairman & Managing Director, Samsika Marketing Consults believes that both the communication of Vodafone and Airtel addresses different segments and are effective in their own way. “While the Vodafone ad brings joy and fun to the elderly and show them enjoying like kids, the Airtel ‘children’ ad showcases kids behaving maturely. Both these communications are talking to different segments, but bringing out messages about smartness, versatility and being able to do everything with everyone everywhere.”
Who will have a higher brand recall?
Kapoor feels that both the ads are doing a good job in terms of brand recall. “Kids will recall the Vodafone grandparent’s ad, while the elderly will recall the Airtel children’s ad. Also, the young adults, teenagers and the middle-aged section of the audience will recall both the ads,” he added.
Gupta from Bang in the Middle, shared, “Overall, I think both ads will be remembered, less for the proposition and more for the cute appeal that they have created. Despite my liking for the Vodafone TVC, I feel the memorability for Airtel may be higher.”
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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
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'
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 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
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
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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