Noor Fathima Warsia

noorw@exchange4media.com @Noor Fathima Warsia

OMD, the media brand from the Omnicom Group, has completed a year in India, and its Managing Director, Jasmin Sohrabji, states that while the first year has been a good year, the birthday wish is to be present “across many more cities” by next year.

Noor Fathima Warsia Feb 8, 2008 6:38 AM

Close on the heels of winning IPL (Indian Premier League) and Deccan Chronicle accounts, Maxus has now added automaker Fiat India Automobiles to its kitty. In an advertising pitch which included both media and creative, Maxus and Bates David Enterprise joined hands to win it. The account size is estimated to be upwards of Rs 40 crore.

Noor Fathima Warsia Feb 5, 2008 6:47 AM

The NATPE Conference 2008 has not pulled the Indian television industry as other content markets such as MipCom does. However, this year the Indian participation was higher than the earlier years, and the executives are looking at the NATPE Conference take-offs seriously.

Noor Fathima Warsia Feb 4, 2008 7:34 AM

The last day of the NATPE Conference 2008 went back to new content strategies and the opportunity to involve the fan base in the digital world. Various broadcast executives were of the opinion that irrespective of the digital penetration, there are ways to leverage the medium for successful television.

Noor Fathima Warsia Feb 4, 2008 7:33 AM

The first week’s numbers for NDTV Imagine are here, and the channel has some good news. Media heads state that the numbers put NDTV Imagine closer to the tier one Hindi general entertainment channels, but the challenge is to retain these numbers, and grow. The channel has opened with 55 GRPs, and needless to say that ‘Ramayan’ is the best rated show, followed by ‘Say Shava Shava’.

Noor Fathima Warsia Feb 4, 2008 7:31 AM

The mixture of scripted and format shows decides whether the viewer has enough to stay on the primetime of any channel. The advent of ‘American Gladiators’ rekindled the conversation on how much format shows can deliver for a channel, and what should be done right in this alternative realm of programming.

Noor Fathima Warsia Feb 1, 2008 6:56 AM

Various sessions on the second day at the NATPE Conference 2008 looked closely at what is seen as the re-emergence of branded content and how the rules of the game change with more advertisers and channels looking at this option closely. The key thought was educating and not tricking the consumers, and talent that could understand advertising and content equally well.

Noor Fathima Warsia Feb 1, 2008 6:55 AM

The television content creators at NATPE 2008 had a word of advice from Renetta McCann, CEO, Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG). McCann spoke on SMG research that showed the need to focus on the emerging multi-cultural audience, the buying spends of whom are slated to reach $1.7 trillion by 2010. McCann stated that following the money was following the consumer, not the marketer.

Noor Fathima Warsia Feb 1, 2008 6:54 AM

The second day of NATPE Conference 2008 began on the need for the creative brains and brand custodians – agencies and television content creators – to collaborate more than what has been seen so far in the new age, when consumers are actively avoiding commercial messages. In the keynote address, Shelly Lazarus, Chairperson and CEO, O&M Worldwide, also spoke on the need for creative and channel planning to work together.

Noor Fathima Warsia Feb 1, 2008 6:53 AM

The digital discussion turned into debate on the first day of the NATPE Conference 2008. Many networks and digital heads still gave the thumbs up to digital, but admitted that there were no revenues in the medium just yet. Some media companies, however, categorically stated that “digital was not business for a TV show”.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 31, 2008 6:54 AM

The NATPE 2008 Conference saw many players look at international markets as a key area for growth. Needless to say, China and India were two names that kept coming up. However, most players looked at India closely, citing experiences of finding the Indian market “friendlier” for launching businesses.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 31, 2008 6:53 AM

The NATPE Conference 2008 began with a keynote address by Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal. Zucker spoke on NBCU’s focus on international markets such as India; the changing consumer and content demands and also on broader aspects of the US television industry, where he spoke on the need for a better regulatory environment.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 31, 2008 6:52 AM

Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), too, is in the list of the companies that has India high on the 2008 agenda. MGM officials informed that the company was all geared to enter India with a library English movie channel to begin with, and licensing deals. MGM is in the midst of finalising the business model for this venture.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 31, 2008 6:51 AM

The Nielsen Company and the Mobile Entertainment Forum have announced their future plans at the NATPE Mobile++ at Las Vegas. The Nielsen Company’s arm, Nielsen Mobile is rolling out its mobile data in 12 countries, and India would see this data by May 2008. The MEF has announced a code of best practice for Participation TV, and subsequently, this too would have learnings for India.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 30, 2008 7:08 AM

The NATPE announced the Top 12 companies that had made some ground breaking initiative in the mobile domain at the NATPE Mobile++. Some of the winners included InterSport, MediaFlo, Local Wireless, LoopMobile, Zannel, mPulse Media, Cellufun, GestureTek, and Comedy Central.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 30, 2008 7:07 AM

The NATPE Mobile++ that precedes the NATPE Conference 2008 reiterated the global digital revolution, and the fact that India is seeing its share of action. From expected new age applications and gadgets to monetisation of the new media and new trends to creation of communities, the event had a bit of everything.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 30, 2008 7:06 AM

The annual conference of the US-based National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) commences on January 28, 2008. The first day of the four-day conference is NATPE Mobile++, a day-long seminar that would provide a concise overview of opportunities in the mobile content marketplace.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 28, 2008 7:36 AM

Vir Sanghvi and INX News are sure to part ways soon. The INX News management and Vir Sanghvi aren’t offering any comments on this yet, but the “amicable resolving of issues in the spirit of goodwill” is about how smoothly Sanghvi and the Mukerjeas would break the relation.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 28, 2008 6:47 AM

Mediaedge:cia has aggressive plans for APAC, and India is high on its agenda. The global chiefs of the agency – Charles Courtier, Global CEO, and Alistair Aird, Global COO – were in the country for two days taking stock of the operations here.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 25, 2008 6:45 AM

Deccan Chronicle has signed on Maxus to handle its media duties. The account was not preceded by any pitch process. Executives familiar with the development informed that this was the first time that Deccan Chronicle had signed on a media agency. Though details about the account size were not available, it is expected to be upwards of Rs 20 crore.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 24, 2008 7:06 AM

The INX News story saw yet one more turn – this time for the better. The past week was buzzing with media reports and industry rumours – planted or otherwise – on whether Vir Sanghvi was on his way out. At the end of a peace meeting held in Delhi on January 22, 2008, the Mukerjeas and Sanghvi issued a statement that life goes on at INX News.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 23, 2008 7:11 AM

NDTV Imagine, the Hindi GEC from NDTV Imagine Ltd, went live at 7 pm on January 21, 2008, and the first day of programming reiterated the channel’s efforts to differentiate its content, utilise scheduling to make a mark, and try to narrate familiar stories from unexplored angles.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 22, 2008 6:52 AM

GroupM has won the media mandate for the Indian Premier League (IPL) following a multi-agency pitch. A formal decision on this is expected at a BCCI board meeting on January 24, 2008. Sources close to the development, nonetheless, informed that GroupM had pitched for the business as group. It is not yet clear which GroupM agency would handle the account.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 22, 2008 6:51 AM

Cartoon Network, the traditional leader of the Kids’ genre has had a tough time in 2007, as did sister channel Pogo and Walt Disney’s Disney Channel. Disney’s most recent acquisition, Hungama TV, however, has maintained its shares, and that is good news for the channel, making it a lead player in many weeks. There is good news for Nick, too, on the ratings front.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 21, 2008 7:09 AM

After a stint of three years, Sunil Lulla has put in his papers at Times Global Broadcasting Ltd. Lulla is currently serving his notice period. Industry sources informed that Lulla was on his way to head the recently-formed Alva-Turner joint venture as CEO.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 21, 2008 7:04 AM

Sandip Tarkas, former Head of Media at Reliance ADA Group, has decided on destination next. He has joined the Future Group as President, Costumer Strategy. This is a newly created group position that would oversee the functions of media, marketing and research for all the Future Group companies. Tarkas would be reporting to Kishore Biyani, CEO, Future Group.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 16, 2008 8:01 AM

Wizcraft, hitherto known for two decades of expertise in events, has now branched out into television content production and is also acquiring various formats and international properties to further sell to channels.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 15, 2008 6:33 AM

After a relatively quiet 2007, Mediaedge:cia has started 2008 with some aggressive plans. The agency is looking at bringing more specialist units under its fold and first of them this year is MEC Interactions, which will be headed by Biraja Swain. This is the second unit from the agency after MEC Activations, which was launched in 2007. Next on cards is MEC Access, a sports and entertainment division.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 14, 2008 6:30 AM

Highly placed sources have informed that the source of the problem at INX News is that the first channel from the entity, NewsX, has been “inordinately delayed”, and that this has led to fingers being pointed at INX News CEO Vir Sanghvi. However, when contacted, Sanghvi said that all’s well.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 14, 2008 6:29 AM

Music channel 9X M, though just a few months old, has been rising up on the ratings chart. 9X M officials are all set on the road ahead on counts like marketing, and have chalked out a differentiated sales strategy for the channel, which would see six advertisers co-owing the channel.

Noor Fathima Warsia Jan 11, 2008 6:47 AM