| From the desk
of Strategic Resources For any query, discussion or feedback, please contact Pavan Chandra, Head of Strategic Resources at pchandra@zenithoptimediaindia.com, +91-124-4195100. Office Address: 10th Floor, Vatika Tower, Block-B, Sector 54 Gurgaon -122002, Haryana, India. |
| Volume: VI |  |
September, 2007 |
In these hyper charged times where news comes in as fast as it becomes
outdated, we need a source that can keep track of what matters to us. At
ZenithOptimedia we have created Wavelength to apprise all of us of the happenings
in three areas i.e. 1. Trends in Digital, Retail, OOH, BRIC, Consumers and
the International Advertising 2. Media & Advertising Research 3. Environment
Also included here are innovations and news that ZenithOptimedia is making
across its network globally, under three sections 1. ZO Zone 2. Fast Forward
3. Touchpoints.
Simply click on any of the sections on our snazzy control panel and you
will have the latest updates at your fingertips. Wavelength will reach you
in the first week of every month so that you have information that leads
to insights.
Drop in a mail at pchandra@zenithoptimediaindia.com with your suggestions
and comments.
Environment Watch: Regulation
36. Surrogate Liquor Ads Under Lens – Aug 23
Action against surrogate advertising
Between April and June 2007, three liquor ads that were termed as 'surrogate' by the consumer complaints council (CCC) of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), were withdrawn. According to ASCI, United Breweries' Kingfisher Premium ad ‘the night rocks’ visual and the corresponding headline did not bear any relevance to the product advertised – packaged drinking water. In the absence of specific information, ASCI felt the advertisement appeared to be a surrogate advertisement for a liquor brand. Complaints against Seagram India's Royal Stag ‘Make it large’ and Chivas Regal’s ‘Ice fishing in Alaska’ ads have been upheld by ASCI and these ads have subsequently been withdrawn.
Source:
Times of India
37. Centre Plans To Regulate Fizzy-Drink Ads – Aug 17
Health ministry and I&B ministry to regulate carbonated drinks ads
To ensure that carbonated drink ads do not convey the wrong message to consumers, particularly children, the Union health ministry, in consensus with the I&B ministry, plans to regulate such ads. According to RK Srivastava, director general, Health Services, “We are trying to find ways to regulate advertisements which advocate unhealthy trends. We wanted to know the provisions under which these advertisements are shown”.
Source:
Economic Times
38. Government Forms Panel To Formulate Policy On IPTV – Aug 04
Government to formulate policy on IPTV
In an attempt to formulate a policy and a regulatory framework on Internet protocol TV (IPTV), the government has formed an inter-ministerial group (IMG) comprising telecom, IT and I&B secretaries. In India, IPTV is at a nascent stage and is expected to grow alongside DTH and CAS.
Source:
Exchange4media
39. News Broadcasters Association Constituted; G Krishnan Named President – Jul 31
News Broadcasters Association formed
News broadcasters in India have formed the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), which is headquartered in New Delhi and has been registered as a Section 25 company under the Companies Act. According to a press statement, the NBA’s vision is to create an environment that would enable broadcasters to best serve audiences and engage with policy makers on behalf of its members. The NBA will facilitate news broadcasters in responding to the rapid socio-economic changes in the country and taking advantage of the opportunities arising from economic growth and technology advancements.
Source:
Exchange4media
40. Sleep Less To Watch Uncensored Basic Instinct – Jul 28
Adult content to be aired from 11.30 pm to 4 am
According to the I&B ministry’s proposed Content Code for broadcasters, the adult content can be aired on television between 11.30 pm to 4 am. This is in line with the concept of a ‘watershed’ – a practice followed worldwide for specifying a time at night after which adult content can be shown. The proposed code also takes a tough line on advertisers. Advertisers must be able to support and defend any claim they make about the product with necessary evidence. Besides, broadcasters must ask for such evidence before they broadcast an ad as they would be equally responsible for airing misleading advertisements, the code adds.
Source:
Economics Times
41. I&B Bans Two Underwear Commercials – Jul 27
I&B bans vulgar and indecent ads
The I&B ministry has banned the transmission or re-transmission of the Lux Cozy and Amul Macho underwear advertisements, finding them indecent, vulgar and suggestive, and violating Rule 7 (8) of the Advertising Code prescribed under the Cable Television Act.
Source:
Business Standard
42. I&B Min Fresh Consultation On Broadcast Bill– Jul 28
I&B ministry to reconsider some clauses in the Broadcast Bill
With the industry raising several objections to issues in the draft of the Broadcast Bill, including restrictions on cross-media holding and mandatory sharing of sports signals (with no advertisements) with Prasar Bharati, the I&B ministry plans to initiate a consultation process to change some clauses in the Broadcast Bill. Cable and DTH operators are also opposing a clause in the Bill that limits the number of subscribers in a city to which operators can provide services.
Source:
Economic Times
Environment Watch: Advertising & Media
New Media
43. New Integrated Media Platform For Overseas Indians – Aug 23
Launch of a new media platform for overseas Indians
A new media platform, www.pioTV.com, launched on August 23, 2007, by Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, enables persons of Indian origin (PIOs) to stay connected with India. The new website is designed to supply a diverse range of India-related content besides acting as an interactive platform for its users. According to PIO TV Chairman and Chief Executive Munish Gupta, “The purpose is to provide connectivity by providing content in many forms and ensure the platform is readily available to browse, watch and connect on any device, anywhere and anytime”.
Source:
Webinida123.com
44. Is Behavioural Advertising Of Online Ads The Way Forward? – Aug 01
Online advertisers utilise behavioural targeting
Online advertisers are increasingly adopting behavioural targeting to make their campaigns more effective. This involves observing a user’s online behaviour anonymously and serving the most relevant advertisement based on the observations made. In India, Komli is one such ad network that follows this system. However, factors such as the massive popularity of cyber cafés, and the lack of major advertisers and paying customers might deter the growth of behavioural targeting in India.
Source:
Exchange4media
Television
45. CAS To Be Delayed In Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata – Aug 13
CAS delayed in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata
The extension of the Conditional Access System (CAS) in the three metros – Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, has been delayed by at least six to eight weeks. According to sources, CAS will not come into effect in the three metros before the first week of April 2008. Currently, CAS is operational in South Delhi, South Mumbai and South Kolkata since 1 January 2007.
Source:
Agencyfaqs
46. Cable TV Distributors To Cash In On Channel – Aug 10
High carriage fee for channels
India's cable television distribution industry, comprising multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators, is set to generate over Rs 1,000 crore annually as carriage fee from the channels slated for launch in the coming months. It is expected that the carriage fee will involve new channels shelling out close to Rs 15 crore per channel each year. This carriage fee is presumed to be high for channels eyeing the prime colour band.
Source: Business
Standard
47. Broadcasters Come Together To Form Association – Jul 30
Broadcasters come together to form ‘News Broadcasters Association’
TV Today Network, NDTV Ltd Group, Times Global Broadcasting Company, ZEE News, and other leading broadcasters of India have formed the News Broadcasters Association to promote broadcasters’ role in the country's economic, social and cultural development. The association would also engage with policy makers to promote the entertainment and media industry on the principles of democracy and freedom of expression.
Source: The Press Trust
of India
48. Dish TV All Set To Wheel Out DTH Services In Cars, Trains – Jul 30
Direct to Home (DTH) service now in cars
Dish TV, Zee group’s DTH arm, is in the final stages of implementing its DTH services in cars. Aimed at consumers travelling in chauffeur-driven cars, the DTH service will work with the help of a special auto-tracking antenna that will be mounted on the roof of the car and will provide over 125 satellite channels.
Source:
Agencyfaqs
Radio
49. Tuning Into Money – Aug 13
FM players expanding advertising share
During the last three years, the radio industry in India has been earning significant revenues (Rs 320 crore out of the total ad spend of Rs 18,000 crore) and with all market players focused on increasing their advertising shares, it is expected that the radio industry will acquire a 5.1% share in the advertising pie by 2010. Product endorsing shows work well because they increase brand recall manifold by relating the brand’s bottom line to a common thread, for example, Red FM’s ‘Hutch Dil Ka Connection’ show simultaneously refers to phone services as well as the bond that exists between people. Red 93.5 FM’s Kolkata station head Jimmy Tangree has tried to acquire new clients and build on existing ones by offering them innovation and on-air customisation, whereas 98.3 FM Radio Mirchi builds revenues through strong brand focus.
Source:
India
Radio Bulletin
50. FM Stations Request Demerger Permission From Government – Jul 23
FM companies seek permission for demerger
A group of FM companies (including Adlabs, Century Communications and Pudhary Publications), along with the Association of Radio Operators in India (AROI), have requested the government to remove the 20% foreign direct investment (FDI) cap on private radio operators. They seek the demerger of their radio businesses into separate subsidiary companies for improved operational measures. The permission letter to the government also includes the revenue-sharing regulation, which states that radio operators have to share 4% of their revenue with the government.
Source: India Radio
bulletin
Others
51. Google Launches Multiple Local Language Search In India – Aug 18
Google introduces local language search in India
Google Inc. aims to expand its reach by tapping further into the advertising business in India. To achieve this, it has introduced local language search in India, which allows users to search for information online in local languages such as Hindi and Tamil. The local language search industry in India is dominated by two players – Raftaar.com, a Hindi search engine owned by Delhi-based Indicus NetLabs Pvt. Ltd, and guruji.com, an India-specific search engine that allows users to search in five languages, including Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam, besides English. Both the companies claim they do not perceive Google’s entry as a threat.
Source:
Livemint.com
52. Indian Media And Entertainment Market Fastest Growing In World; But CEOs Lacking To Head This Growth – Aug 17
Media and entertainment industry lacks appropriate CEOs to head growth
According to industry observers, in the next five years, India will emerge as the world’s fastest-growing entertainment and media market with annual revenues doubling from the current level to more than Rs 1,00,000 crore. On the other hand, the report also states that players in the industry, particularly in the television and radio segments, are struggling to find CEOs who are adequately equipped to lead this expected boom. Over a dozen ventures – including those from well-established brands such as Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, Walt Disney, Viacom, and Richard Branson’s Virgin Radio – are looking for appropriate business heads.
Source:
Press Trust of India
53. Media Experts See Lead Channels Losing As Gen Next Of Hindi GEC Arrives – Aug 13
New entrants intensify competition among Hindi GECs
With the advent of several Hindi GECs, the competition in this category is rising. Problems arising as a result of this advent include fund sourcing for investments in this domain, availability of skilled talent and, more importantly, how to attract viewers. These issues become more pressing with constraints such an advertising revenue-driven television industry, and the digital addressability systems, which are yet to make their mark in the industry.
Source:
Exchange4media
54. MSN, WorldSpace Join Hands To Launch Internet Radio – Aug 10
MSN India & WorldSpace Satellite Radio launch Internet radio
WorldSpace Satellite Radio and MSN India have launched Internet radio services in the country. These firms have targetted NRIs with a subscription rate of $9.9/month. Five stations, Farishta (Hindi film classics), Sparsha (Kannada), Spandana (Telugu), Gandharv (Hindustani classical) and Shruti (Carnatic music) are already available online, while more stations are slated for launch. Jaspreet Bindra, India Country Manager, Online Service Group, Microsoft, said that MSN may consider advertising options on the portal if the volumes increase over time.
Source:
Exchange4media
55. The long ad of the law – Aug 08
Brands look to constables for advertising
Several brands have adopted a unique route to catch customers’ attention – they are focusing on the local constabulary. Kaushik Ghosh, national marketing head, Radio Mirchi, says, “We have always tried to blend our image with police messages on check posts, signages, police stations, electronic message indicators, etc., where the primary message is theirs and the secondary ours.” He further adds that Radio Mirchi has also sponsored raincoats for policemen. Airtel recently supplied 30 branded seating kiosks for the bomb squad at key railway stations in Mumbai. According to Manu Talwar, CEO, Bharti Airtel, the key benefit offered to brands through this strategy is high visibility, as consumers are continuously exposed to ads while on the move. This helps to increase recall at a relatively low cost for the brands.
Source:
Economic
Times
56. Trade Portal For Ad Industry – Aug 02
Yahoo! India launches trade portal
Yahoo! India has launched a trade portal – advertising.yahoo.co.in. The portal, designed to benefit the advertising, marketing and trade community, offers editorial content that includes Webcasts and Podcasts from advertising gurus, guest articles, and aggregate news feeds from popular portals such as exchange4media and agencyfaqs. Campaign statistics, analysis and information on Yahoo! India as well as the advertising industry news are also included.
Source: The Hindu Business Line
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