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Coca Cola India, that had initiated a review of its media duties last month, has decided on its media AoR. In the wake of a multi-agency pitch, the business has been awarded to Lodestar UM. The development breaks the 11-year old relation that Coca Cola had with Madison Media. Industry sources peg the business upwards of Rs 200 crore. Coca Cola officials have confirmed the development to exchange4media.
Noor Fathima Warsia Aug 6, 2010 6:02 PM
The pitching bug hasn’t spared Reliance Communications as well. Following a rather silent shopping process, the telecom major has appointed MEC and OMD as its media partners. OMD has been given the wireless data and DTH part of the business, while MEC has been given the entire wireless mandate, which includes voice, 3G and other offerings. The business moves from Mudra Max. Industry sources peg the combined ad spends to be in excess of Rs 400 crore.
Noor Fathima Warsia Aug 4, 2010 8:48 AM
In the wake of a multi-agency pitch, Reliance Communications has moved its media mandate to OMD and MEC. The wireless data and DTH part of the business has been awarded to OMD, while the wireless part, which includes voice and 3G, has been assigned to MEC. The incumbent on the business is Mudra Max. The total business is pegged at upwards of Rs 400 crore. Sanjay Behl, CEO, Reliance Big TV and Group Head - Brand & Marketing, Reliance Communications, has confirmed the development to exchange4media.
Noor Fathima Warsia Aug 3, 2010 7:23 PM
I did begin writing it as ‘KBC4’, but I recollected a recent conversation with Ajit Thakur, Business Head, Sony Entertainment Television, who had corrected me and said, ‘it is the new KBC’. So, new KBC it is. Sony is very excited with the property at hand, any channel would be. But the first million dollar question is will Big B repeat his magic of KBC with the new KBC? Difficult to say, given a few recent instances…
Noor Fathima Warsia Aug 2, 2010 8:34 AM
The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) completed its annual general meeting on July 30, 2010, and with it, the hotly contested AAAI President’s elections. For the AAAI, the election process itself was full of action, punctuated with heated discussions. But those who thought that all ended with the election, think again. Sandeep Goyal is not giving up yet. Goyal has been advised legal action against AAAI for “rigging of the elections”.
Noor Fathima Warsia Aug 2, 2010 8:32 AM
The much-hyped Advertising Agencies Association of India’s (AAAI) Presidential Elections 2010 is over, and the AAAI has elected Nagesh Alai, Executive Director, Interface Communication, as its new President and Lynn de Souza, Lintas Media Group, Chairman and CEO is elected Vice President. Alai won by a margin of two votes. As is known, the other contestant for the President’s chair was Sandeep Goyal, Chairman, Dentsu India.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 31, 2010 8:57 AM
The much-hyped Advertising Agencies Association of India’s (AAAI) Presidential Elections 2010 is over, and the AAAI has elected Nagesh Alai, Executive Director, Interface Communication, as its new President and Lynn de Souza, Lintas Media Group, Chairman and CEO is elected Vice President. The AAAI just wrapped up its annual general meeting in Mumbai, where the election process took place. It is understood that Alai has won by two votes. As is known, the other contestant for the President’s chair was Sandeep Goyal, Chairman, Dentsu India.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 30, 2010 6:54 PM
OMD India is ending a good week. Earlier this week, the agency had bagged the media business of Venus Water Heaters. And now, textile company Sangam India has appointed OMD India as it media AoR for its new textile brands. The combined account size of the two businesses is in the vicinity of Rs 18 crore.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 30, 2010 8:46 AM
The much spoken and written about Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) President elections would take place at the Association’s annual general meeting on July 30, 2010. Interface Communication’s Nagesh Alai and Dentsu India’s Sandeep Goyal, the two contenders for the post, speak to exchange4media on their final thoughts before the D-Day.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 30, 2010 8:44 AM
Not so long ago, most broadcasting companies got into the second general entertainment channel race. STAR India perhaps had the best start to it with STAR One, but as time progressed, STAR One faced many challenges and in the course lost many eyeballs. It would not be wrong to say that Multi Screen Media has beaten the competition in the second GEC game. In the recent past, Sony and SAB have claimed the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively, in the GRP charts.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 28, 2010 8:39 AM
Perhaps one of the biggest developments in the Indian print industry, and a progressive one at that, was announced in August 2009, when the MRUC and NRSC had finally agreed to pool in resources and create the single strongest print measurement system in India. However, nearly a year has passed since, and there has been no word from either camp on what has held back the progress of the initiative.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 26, 2010 8:15 AM
Making a change after five years, L’Oreal India has decided to hand over the print, television and radio mediums to Maxus. Lodestar UM would continue with digital. Neither of the agencies will handle the OOH medium for the client. The development was confirmed by Vismay Sharma, Director, Consumer Products Division, L’Oreal India Ltd. Industry sources have pegged the business in the vicinity of Rs 130-150 crore.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 20, 2010 9:01 AM
Making a change after five years, L’Oreal India has decided to hand over the print, television and radio mediums to Maxus. Lodestar UM would continue with digital. Neither of the agencies will handle the OOH medium for the client. The development was confirmed by Vismay Sharma, Director, Consumer Products Division, L’Oreal India Ltd. Industry sources have pegged the business in the vicinity of Rs 130-150 crore.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 19, 2010 10:14 AM
Just when I say that I am not going to write on another pitch, or the sanctity of the process in its present seen form, there is something that happens that gets me going again! This time it was two things - the Coca Cola media pitch and a conversation with a very senior industry official on the learning process that pitches are.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 19, 2010 8:13 AM
It should be sooner than later now when Reckitt Benckiser would take a call on which agency will finally handle its media business. Not that there are any comments still forthcoming, but it is understood that the fight is between ZenithOptimedia and the incumbent MPG. Sources said, "These were the only two agencies that were actively involved in this pitch."
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 19, 2010 8:11 AM
Yet another heavyweight spender has put its media business up for grabs. As part of a “global process that looks at opportunities to optimise its marketing capabilities”, Coca Cola India is reviewing its media duties. The incumbent on the business since 1999 - Madison Media - is also part of the pitch, along with at least three other agencies. The account size is pegged in the vicinity of Rs 200 crore.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 19, 2010 8:10 AM
The year has been dotted with high-profile media pitches and reviews, and it appears that Sony India has been busy with one too. The electronics major has just completed a review process of its media agency of record, and has retained the incumbent Lintas Media Group. The other agencies in the fray were Mindshare India and Madison Media. The size of the business is upwards of Rs 100 crore.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 17, 2010 8:46 AM
The ITC media pitch is progressing full speed. It is understood that the first round of presentations is now complete, and there were four agencies in addition to the incumbent Lintas Media Group in the fray for the business. The agencies are Mediaedge:cia, Starcom Worldwide, Madison Media and Mudra Max.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 13, 2010 8:34 AM
With all the heat around the AAAI President’s Chair, this was perhaps not the best of times to delve in this. But the more I dug out names that have occupied the AAAI President Chair, the more I was disappointed to see no women making it to that top honour since 1985. When I had first started in this career, I had heard Lynn de Souza say, <i>it is not about you being a woman, but your capability that should decide your inclusion, or not, in any conversation. </i>I firmly believe in that. And perhaps that is why I am this disappointed to not see many, who have been inspiration to people like me, making it to the AAAI President’s list.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 12, 2010 8:51 AM
It is that time of the year again, when the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) presents the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Association has nominated Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman & Creative Director, Ogilvy India and South Asia, for this Award. It is understood that Pandey has to still accept the Award.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 12, 2010 8:50 AM
JWT India has not taken the National Creative Director route yet, but the agency has made a significant appointment to its creative team in Adrian Miller. Miller has worked with Saatchi & Saatchi Malaysia, and last year was given the additional responsibility of the agency’s Singapore office. Miller quit Saatchi in March, and destination next for him is India. Miller joins JWT India on August 15 and would be based in Delhi.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 12, 2010 8:50 AM
It is rare that a conversation on television in India comes up and ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ is not mentioned. And the game changer at the time was Sameer Nair – now CEO of Turner General Entertainment India. As ‘KBC’ gears to return on television for a fourth season, and Nair gets busy with ‘Big Money’ and then ‘Meethi Churi No. 1’, he speaks to exchange4media exclusively on ‘KBC’, ‘Big Money’ and the flavour of the month - game shows. Excerpts:
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 9, 2010 8:44 AM
The members of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) have been busier than usual for the last two days. After the nominations closed on July 7, 2010, July 8 was about finalising the contestants’ names for the Executive Committee. And in the meanwhile, much action is transpiring on the nominations for the AAAI President.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 9, 2010 8:43 AM
The AAAI has not had a President election for the longest time, and now the Association is gearing to choose between two candidates – Sandeep Goyal, Dentsu India’s Chairman, who decided to “break conventions” and stand for elections this year, and the current AAAI Vice President, Nagesh Alai, Executive Director, Interface Communication, who has to fight the poll game to become the President. In exclusive conversations with exchange4media, Goyal speaks on the rationale behind his decision and Alai explains the AAAI logic behind electing a President.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 7, 2010 8:49 AM
In a rare development at the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), Colvyn Harris (CEO, JWT India), who is currently the Association’s President, has decided to not continue with the second year of his term. Conventionally, DraftFCB’s Nagesh Alai, who is currently the Vice President, would have taken over as President. However, the AAAI is in an unusual situation, since Dentsu India’s Chairman Sandeep Goyal has stated that he would stand for the AAAI President election this term. After many years, the AAAI would witness a President election.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 6, 2010 9:10 AM
It is confusing for me too – why should a client that chooses to stay back with the incumbent be a problem for many agencies, except for the obvious bit? But there is an interesting industry conversation emerging on clients that call high-end pitches, take several weeks to take a decision, and then announce ‘we retain the incumbent’. Now, did you not know the strength of the incumbent before engaging everyone else’s time and money, ask the other agencies...
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 5, 2010 8:48 AM
And now, it is ITC Ltd’s turn to review its media partner. Even as official comments were not forthcoming at the time of filing the report, it is understood that corporate major ITC is in the process of a media review, wherein the client has invited other agencies to participate. As is known, ITC is one of the largest advertisers with ad spends upwards of Rs 150 crore.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 5, 2010 8:44 AM
As the Reckitt Benckiser media pitch is progressing, the number of participating agencies is decreasing. Sources informed that Allied Media expressed its disagreement with one of the pitch clauses and had not had a final word of in or out with Reckitt since. Prachar withdrew closer to the pitch – reason cited was an unviable commercial term. The fight is said to be now between ZenithOptimedia and Lintas Media Group, but exchange4media could not independently confirm on the participation of the latter at the time of filing the report.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jul 2, 2010 9:00 AM
Cannes Lions is making a statement on where the festival is headed. Festival Chairman Terry Savage pointed out an announcement from the Festival, calling the 2011 festival - Cannes Lions 58th Festival of Creativity. This is not just a change in name but a reflection of the changes in the festival that has included domains beyond advertising - PR, Media, Design, to name a few. Savage also informed that the Festival would be including Effectiveness Awards, for now called Cannes Effectiveness Awards.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jun 28, 2010 8:44 AM
With zero shortlists in Titanium & Integrated and Film Craft Lions, India’s last fighting category was Film Lions, and Ogilvy & Mather India has won a Silver Lion Campaign for Breakthrough. With this, the final metal tally for India is 17 Lions. Last year, Indian agencies had won a total of 25 Lions.
Noor Fathima Warsia Jun 28, 2010 8:43 AM
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