Week at a glance:Arnab’s arrest; Q&A with Tarun Rai; High for TV ad volumes; MOBEXX 2020

I believe the worst is behind us – Why Tarun Rai is so bullish on the future?

Three words that best describe Tarun Rai, Chairman & Group CEO, Wunderman Thompson, South Asia, would be –  Positive. Driven. Motivator. In an exclusive conversation with Adgully, Tarun Rai’s optimism shines through as he speaks about how Wunderman Thompson has stayed resilient through the pandemic period and lockdowns, how the economy and the advertising industry can be resurgent, digital strategy at the heart of operations and the road ahead.

Also read:  Week at a glance: WPP, Spotify, Twitter Q3 results; Powerful Influencers of India

Outpouring of shock at the way Mumbai Police arrests Arnab Goswami

According to media reports, Goswami has been taken into custody in an abetment to suicide case against him in 2018. Anvay Naik, an interior designer and managing director of Concorde Designs, and his mother Kumud Naik, who was also in the Board of Directors of the company, died by suicide in Alibaug in May 2018. Anvay Naik purportedly left a suicide note in which he had named Goswami and two others for not clearing his dues amounting to Rs 5.40 crore for work done for Republic TV, and two other companies, which had led to a lot of financial constraints for him and his company.

Awaaz uthaiye – Not a time to stay silent anymore

“Awaaz uthaiye” – that is what Arnab Goswami kept repeating over and over again as the police van carrying him drove away. Those words continue to haunt me. I, as millions of Indians, got a rude jolt when Republic TV’s Editor-in-Chief was arrested from his residence yesterday morning in the most inhuman manner. Videos of his arrest kept playing across channels and on social media throughout the day, reminding me of the terrible and terrifying situation that he and his family faced.

BARC Week 43 sees highest ever Ad Volumes on TV since Week 16 of 2015

Week 43 (Saturday, 24th October 2020 to Friday, 30th October 2020) of BARC India data saw the highest ever Ad Volumes on television since Week 16 of 2015. Ad Volume of 38,705,978 million seconds recorded in Week 43 is the highest ever since Week 16 of 2015 on Television.

Are toxic content & TRP scam casting their shadow on advertisers’ media plans?

Adgully investigated whether toxic coverage of Sushant Singh Rajput death case, the trial by media of the people taken for questioning in this case, the entire drugs scam busted in Bollywood by the NCB and the subsequent TRP scam has significantly impacted the ad spends on news channels.

MOBEXX 2020 all geared for 4th edition

Coming amid a year hugely disrupted by the global COVID pandemic, MOBEXX 2020 seeks to be an even more important chapter in the country’s Mobile ecosystem as the issues to be taken up will have far-reaching implications. Leading industry experts and mobile evangelists will decipher and dissect the major trends seen over the last few months, as well as turn the spotlight on the long road ahead. They will also discuss the key learnings from the COVID period.

The road to revenue recovery for OOH has kickstarted: Industry experts

The festive season is fuelling demand and leading to recovery, though the road ahead is a long one. Home appliances and auto sales are picking up, which will be good news for the outdoor advertising sector as the auto industry is a major investor in OOH. A good monsoon is also leading to expectations of a strong revival in the rural markets, and as per industry reports, tractor sales have been robust. Sectors like auto, insurance, OTT, Digital brands, etc., are gradually returning to outdoor advertising.

How alco-bev brands are looking to uncork celebrations during this festive season

One memorable image stuck in my head from the lockdown period has been of the serpentine queues of people in front of liquor shops, with no social distancing, when they were allowed to be opened, albeit for a very limited period, amid the strict countrywide lockdown. Avid tipplers were seen walking away with crates and crates of their favourite poison. Even as liquor shops were shut, back/ side door sales were carried on.

How new age beauty brands are breaking through the gender divide

The gender divide couldn’t be any sharper when it comes to beauty brands. Some years back, when Shah Rukh Khan appeared in a Lux soap ad, it was heavily trolled. The beauty soap brand has traditionally been featuring only female actors in its ads over several decades. Boys/ men shown using ‘female’ beauty brands were ridiculed in ads featuring skincare products specifically for men.

Acer’s strategy to woo video content creators with ConceptD

Acer has introduced a technologically advanced product, ConceptD, from their stable, which is targeted towards graphic designers, engineers, developers, filmmakers, and artists who are often trapped within imposed limits by the lack of tools needed for breakthrough. In conversation with Adgully, Sooraj Balakrishnan, Head of Marketing, Acer, speaks about how ConceptD will benefit the growing community of social media influencers, video content creators, filmmakers, editors, and photographers.

4-5x surge seen in influencer marketing during the COVID-19 period, say experts

Even as well-established brands continued their marketing and advertising activities through various routes, news age brands, too, have been seeing great traction during this period. Mostly digital natives, new age brands have been involving social media influencers to create engagement and relevance during times of lockdown and social distancing.

Google’s share of global digital media revenues down to 6-year low: Strategy Analytics

According to the TV and Media Strategies report, Digital Media Global Competition Review Q2 2020, the major factor was the decline in travel and leisure advertising, in which Google is particularly strong, as a result of behavioral changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Facebook remained the world’s No. 2 player, with a 12.8% share in Q2, while Apple remained in third place, in spite of a decline in market share to 9.0%. Alibaba, the world’s fourth largest digital media company, was helped by a resurgent Chinese economy and saw its share rise to 8.4% in Q2.

IPL buzz volume on track to grow 2X from last year: Wavemaker MESH report

According to the IPL MESH 2020 report, IPL buzz volume is on track to grow 2X from last year. Compared to 37 million buzz volume in 2019, IPL 2020 season has already crossed 38 million buzz volume post the 40th match,with the tournament yet to enter the play-off stage. The report projects a growth of 60+ million in buzz volume.

PR measurement needs to shift from output driven to outcome driven: Valerie Pinto

In conversation with Adgully, Valerie Pinto, Chief Executive Officer, Weber Shandwick, speaks about the evolving world of Public Relations, the growing shift to digital, the right tools to provide insight into the success of a campaign and much more.

Raymond is looking at ViraSafe as a long term innovation: Shantiswarup Panda

ViraSafe has over 600+ range of suiting and shirting fabrics with prices starting from Rs 487 onwards. The ViraSafe range of fabrics is claimed to be 100% effective in fighting HSN1 (avian influenza), COV P8-P11 (SARS Corona Virus) and H1N1 (influenza virus). The anti-viral treatment and finish on textiles is claimed to significantly reduce the risk of transmission, contamination and curb the spread of these viruses.

The growing importance of geo-targeting in the new normal

The pandemic period saw a rapid transition to digital, with even traditional brands like MDH bringing on board singer-actor Diljit Dosanj as an influencer and ran a digital video campaign as part of their communication.

Zee Entertainment reports 18.8% decline in Q2 FY2021 revenues at Rs 17,227 mn

Advertising revenue for the quarter declined by 26 per cent, compared to 66 per cent decline in Q1. Rebound in demand was seen across most consumer segments bodes well for advertising revenues in H2.

BARC is the TRP agency, Hansa is a mere field-service provider: Hansa Group CEO

In a recent news conference, Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze of the Crime Branch, Mumbai Police, is reported to have said that, “According to general business ethics and guidelines issued by the ministry, Hansa Research or any of its associate company cannot engage in business with any TV channels even for the purpose of advertisement whose TRP is being monitored by BARC and Hansa group is directly associated with BARC for installing the Bar-o-meters. We are probing if Hansa Research, which is the complainant in the case, is the real beneficiary of this transaction and also accomplice.”

"Hollywood Movies continue to operate at 40% higher viewership vis-à-vis pre-lockdown"

In conversation with Adgully, Kartik Mahadev, Business Head, Premium Channels, ZEEL, shares some insights from the study, tapping into Hollywood’s universal appeal, releasing big-ticket Hollywood movies in dubbed languages and more.

Aegon Life is the pioneer of digital insurance in India: Harish Kurudi

The pandemic has changed people’s perspective towards the protection plans and it has made people realise the importance of getting protected against unforeseen circumstances. The demand for the protection plans has been a popular choice with the customers since the pandemic struck. Aegon Life understood the need for a comprehensive protection plan against COVID-19 and launched the industry’s first ‘Life insurance with COVID-19 Cover’.

#TwitterChat: Building brands’ arsenal on social media

Brands have adopted a knee-jerk reaction to recent events and ordered strict internal communication guidelines to avoid controversial matters involving politics, regressive depictions of women, or discrimination against any group. However, as brands expand their social media presence, they are beginning to understand the paradox that bold social activism communications are what are most effective in moving the needle for consumers and creating an affinity for the brand. They are increasingly adopting social media monitoring and listening tools to understand the gap between the ‘desired response’ and the ‘expected response’ and quickly pivot their communication.

Bombay High Court reprieve for India Today in BARC fine case

The Bombay High Court in its order has set aside an order passed by the BARC disciplinary council against India Today Group for ‘viewership malpractice’.

When 11 cricketers came together to promote BharatPe’s push for small shop owners

Art-E-Media, who is spearheading the ad campaign for BharatPe, recently created 4 TV commercials for India’s largest merchant payment network. The ad campaign communicates the message ‘Hum Hain Team BharatPe – Jo Desh Ke Har Dukandaar Ke Saath Hain Khade’.

Instagram partners with Kareena Kapoor Khan to support small businesses

Kareena Kapoor joined Instagram earlier this year and uses her account to show her personal moments with friends and family, as well as behind the scenes from her shoots. Nature and plants form the backdrop of many of her posts, and her love for gardening led her to discover myBageecha on Instagram.