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Much like it has been with any other aspect of the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) 2008 R2 findings, the language wise leadership trends on the average issue readership (AIR) numbers, too, do not throw any surprises. Indian language publications that have reigned as the leaders in their respective segments continue to hold on to their numbers. A significant number of publications have dropped in AIR.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 7, 2008 6:01 AM
The full impact of the increased repeat programming bands on Hindi GECs is yet to reflect on channel ratings, however, week 44 has seen more than the normal airing of repeat programming on leading Hindi channels on various day parts. The data from TAM Media Research for the week 44 shows that Hindi GECs have managed to put out strong GRP numbers despite the present hiccups seen in programming.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 6, 2008 6:10 AM
Prior to the releasing the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) 2008 R2 data, Hansa Research officials had explained that the print medium has grown overall and the trend is driven by the increase in readership of dailies. The average issue readership (AIR) numbers of the IRS 2008 R2, however, has seen seven out of the top 10 dailies lose readership. For many in the industry, this further highlights the broad point that in the changing media scenario, total readership would find some relevance.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 6, 2008 6:08 AM
Saras Salil leads the top ten magazines chart in India, as per the IRS 2008 R2 data. The average issue readership (AIR) numbers show significant decline for all periodicals. The only player that seems to be holding on to its numbers is Hindi monthly Pratiyogita Darpan. MRUC officials divulge that the proposed new readership data for the magazine industry is not expected to be in place till 2010.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 6, 2008 6:04 AM
Most newspapers and magazines have taken more than the usual time to crunch data in IRS 2008 R2 when the data CDs reached media houses on November 5. The MRUC and Hansa Research have changed some of the crucial aspects of the data, and unlike in the previous rounds, where the fronting metric was average issue readership (AIR) numbers, in this round, total readership (TR) takes charge. The feedback from the print fraternity varied from sheer confusion to rage; some are still coming to terms with the changes. MRUC explained that this was done to bring "cross-media parity in measurement".
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 6, 2008 5:54 AM
The discussion on the readers-per-copy (RPC) subject comes up just about every time members of the newspapers and magazines industry question the recurrent decline in readership numbers, despite the increase in circulation. The Media Research Users Council (MRUC), in its address to the industry on November 4, attempted to explain some of the factors that lead to this decrease in readership.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 5, 2008 6:13 AM
MRUC has released the Indian Readership Survey 2008 R2 data today. The top-line findings for dailies show that The Times of India leads the English dailies with a total readership of 133.4 lakh, followed by Hindustan Times with a total readership of 63.5 lakh. Among Hindi dailies, Dainik Jagran and Dainik Bhaskar dominate.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 5, 2008 6:00 AM
MRUC has released the Indian Readership Survey 2008 R2 data today. The top-line findings for dailies show that The Times of India leads the English dailies with a total readership of 133.4 lakh, followed by Hindustan Times with a total readership of 63.5 lakh. Among Hindi dailies, Dainik Jagran and Dainik Bhaskar dominate.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 4, 2008 3:57 PM
Just about all kinds of stories have made rounds in the media circuits on the agencies partnering with Reliance Communication for its mobility and direct to home brands. Putting all speculations to rest, RComm officials have informed that they are closely following the ‘club agency’ concept with every business assigned a lead agency.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 4, 2008 5:20 AM
The broadcasters may be hopeful that the dispute between the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and the various production houses would resolve soon, but they are not taking any chances. In preparation for the worst case scenario that may lead them to air only repeat shows, officials from all Hindi GECs are meeting agencies and clients to request their continued support in ‘troubled times’.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 4, 2008 5:18 AM
The problem between the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and various production houses has pushed broadcasters to their limit. The repeat programming on primetime slots has led broadcasters to issue an ultimatum to both FWICE and producers that if the problem is not solved by November 9, 2008, they would stop the commissioning of fresh episodes completely. Advertisers, too, say that if broadcasters resorted to repeat programming, it would pose a concern to them.
Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 3, 2008 6:35 AM
The Essel Group has found another reason to question TAM Media Research. According to TAM data, Essel Sport’s Indian Cricket League (ICL) has had a very poor show of ratings in its second season. Essel has compared this to the ratings seen in aMap and has asked TAM to clarify on the reason behind the deviation from the so-called correlation between the two data numbers.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 31, 2008 7:54 AM
Mindshare has identified regional markets as the next avenue of growth for the agency. R Gowthaman, Leader, Mindshare, South Asia, informed that the agency was looking at areas like Pune, Ahmedabad, Bhubhaneshwar and Guwahati for expansion. This comes in the wake of the appointments that the agency has made in Chennai and Bangalore.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 30, 2008 7:49 AM
The one thing that Hindi general entertainment channels cannot become is a weekly battle. Competition and the high activity in the genre, however, have ensured that players pull out all stops to boost their numbers every week. The changes in the Star Plus scheduling has paid off for the channel and in week 42, it has widened the gap from Colors by 99 GRPs. In the last few weeks, this number had been fluctuating between 20 points and 40 points.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 23, 2008 8:05 AM
Star Plus has undertaken quite a few programming changes, including the decision to wrap up the long-running ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’; extend ‘Bidaai’ to an hour and launch two new shows to ensure that the channel keeps a significant gap with its competition.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 21, 2008 8:20 AM
Even as there are whispers in the corridors of ad agencies on cost cutting and hiring freezes, there were some panic waves amongst quite a few when an internal mail from Sir Martin Sorrell was quoted in a few international reports on WPP’s decision to freeze hiring in a few of its international markets. The WPP India officials, however, are not perturbed as yet. A few industry sources informed that at least in some of the WPP operating units, caution had already become a part of life.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 21, 2008 8:17 AM
Hindi music is one of those genres where the brand matters the most. It is not easy to replace the MTVs of the world in the minds of the youth audiences, which are the core TG for this genre. But ratings have their role, and the youngest player in the genre – 9X M – entered the category hitting leadership spot in three weeks, and has stayed there for a year now.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 20, 2008 8:40 AM
Times Global Broadcasting Company Ltd (TGBCL) has been busy building up the team for its forthcoming business news channel. Chintamani Rao, CEO, TGBCL informed that the core team of the channel was in place and that the channel was targeting the last quarter of FY09 to launch the channel that at present has many operating names ranging from ET TV to Money TV.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 13, 2008 8:11 AM
The recent restructuring at Mindshare India has seen the organisation make three senior level appointments as Partner, Client Leaders. Chanchal Chakrabarti takes over as Partner, Client Leader for Team PepsiCo. He would also be looking after the non-Unilever business in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Ajit Gurnani is Partner, Client Leader for Team Aditya Birla Group. Another recent appointment is of Ravi Rao as Partner, Client Leader for Team Unilever, South Asia.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 10, 2008 8:27 AM
The Hindi general entertainment genre has been witnessing a lot of action in 2008. However, despite the entry of at least four new channels in the space, the overall genre has not shown corresponding growth. Fragmentation has increased, and so has the cost of production. Media observers see this as a concern in context to the overall pricing of the channels in this genre and say that at this rate, Hindi GECs would become cost ineffective.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 10, 2008 8:26 AM
Colors’ dream run continues. Where the channel has already surged ahead of Zee TV in the last week by a significant margin, in the youth TG of SEC ABC 15-34, it is ahead of genre leader Star Plus as well. The week 40 numbers from TAM Media Research show Star Plus to be at 278 GRPs, Colors at 250 GRPs and Zee TV at 220 GRPs. Star and Zee have both lost on numbers last week, while Colors has gained.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 9, 2008 8:15 AM
The Nielsen Company has released its survey Nielsen AgencyTrack 2008 that ranks advertising agencies in India on the basis of a perception study done across advertising buyers covering key decision making levels and different industries. Ogilvy India is the top-rated agency as per this survey, followed by JWT India and McCann Erickson.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 6, 2008 8:25 AM
Latest TAM Media Research data show that both Colors and Zee TV have scored 236 GRPs. In comparison, Star Plus is at 298 GRPs. It is an unusual stage for the Hindi GEC genre, where three players occupy the top two slots. While some say that Colors is the next significant milestone for the genre after KBC, others are still waiting to see whether the channel can sustain the dream run that it has had so far.
Noor Fathima Warsia Oct 3, 2008 8:42 AM
Aegis Media recently concluded its first ever management meeting in India. The Aegis Media APAC board, headed by Patrick Stahle, CEO, Aegis Media APAC, was in Mumbai for this meeting, held on September 23-24. With Posterscope and Isobar also active in India, Stahle said that Ashish Bhasin, CEO, Aegis Media India, had ensured a good start to his stint here.
Noor Fathima Warsia Sep 26, 2008 8:39 AM
If one thought 198 GRPs in eight weeks was a bit too much, the ninth week’s numbers of Colors have more surprises in store. TAM Media Research shows that in week 38, Colors has garnered 217 GRPs. The distance from Zee TV has increased marginally by just one point from the previous week, since Zee TV itself has grown to 238 GRPs from 212 GRPs. Now both channels have narrowed the gap with Star Plus, which continues to be the leader with 287 GRPs.
Noor Fathima Warsia Sep 25, 2008 9:25 AM
Putting all speculations to rest, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) has finally announced the team that would be leading the agency in India. The BBH Mumbai office would commence operations from November 17, 2008, with Managing Partners Priti Nair, Subhash Kamath and Partha Sinha at the helm. Simon Sherwood, CEO, BBH Group, said, “This feels like putting down the final piece of the jigsaw.” The Mumbai operation marks the first time that BBH has got an all-local management team to launch an office.
Noor Fathima Warsia Sep 24, 2008 8:43 AM
Magazine publishers, like most other media owners, are moving towards an age of convergence, at least in the mature markets. BBC Worldwide’s Peter Phippen addressed the audience at the fourth Indian Magazine Congress (IMC) 2008 on the role that magazines play in a multimedia environment. The two-day Congress is being held in Mumbai on September 22-23.
Noor Fathima Warsia Sep 23, 2008 8:47 AM
TBWA\India’s gain could be RK Swamy BBDO’s loss. In a recent global development, TBWA Worldwide has bagged the Visa Inc. account in the wake of a thorough review of Visa’s incumbent agencies. Even as the implications of this move are still unravelling, it is expected that even the India market would see the impact of this decision. Visa, which is one of the key advertisers in India, is expected to move to TBWA\India soon. The change would be effective from January 1, 2009.
Noor Fathima Warsia Sep 19, 2008 8:23 AM
TME has added three more accounts to its client roster in September. The agency has signed up the Indian Overseas Bank account in Mumbai, and FTK Technologies, manufacturers of virtual key boards, and Sleepwell mattress in Delhi. The overall account size of the businesses is not known. The wins were not preceded by any pitch process.
Noor Fathima Warsia Sep 19, 2008 8:19 AM
Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) is learnt to have decided to launch the MediaVest brand in India. The two brands – Starcom Worldwide and MediaVest Worldwide – co-exist in many other international markets. Sources point out that SMG is eyeing the first quarter of 2009 to launch the brand in India.
Noor Fathima Warsia Sep 18, 2008 8:16 AM
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