New Press & Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 comes into force

As per the new Act, all applications for registration of periodicals shall be made in online mode through the Press Sewa Portal only The government has notified the historic Press & Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act), 2023 and its Rules in its Gazette and consequently the Act has come into force from March 1, 2024. As per the new Act, all applications for registration of periodicals shall be made in online mode through the Press Sewa Portal only. Accordingly, publishers intending to bring out periodicals need to register their title before publishing it. As the registration process will be online and guided through the software, the chances for discrepancies in the application will be drastically reduced resulting in faster processing of applications. From now on, the registration of periodicals shall be governed by the provisions of the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act), 2023 and the Press and Registration of Periodicals Rules. As per the notification, the office of Press Registrar General of India – PRGI (erstwhile Registrar of Newspapers for India - RNI) shall be carrying out the purposes of the new Act. The Press Sewa Portal ensures paperless processing and offers services with e-sign facility, digital payment gateway, QR code-based digital certificates for instant download, online system for providing intimation by printing presses, percentage of probability for title availability, online access to registration data for all publishers, filing of annual statements, among others. It also intends to put in place a chatbot-based interactive grievance resolution mechanism. The Press Sewa portal is accompanied by a new website with all the related information and a user-friendly interface. Earlier, Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, had launched the Press Sewa Portal, the online portal of the Press Registrar General, for receiving various applications as mandated by the new Act. The steps involved in the registration of Periodicals through the new Press Sewa Portal are as follows: Signing up and profile creation by the owner of a periodical Simultaneous submission to Press Registrar General and the specified authority in the district Invitation to the publisher/s by the owner Signing up and online intimation by the printer (owner/keeper of printing press) Signing up and profile creation by the publisher Selecting/nominating the printer by the publisher Periodical registration application to be submitted by the publisher Correction window after submission of application Acknowledgement with a unique Application Reference Number Online Payment of registration fees through Bharatkosh Revision of registration details

Ogilvy wins creative mandate for Eveready India

Eveready has appointed Ogilvy India as their creative partner. The mandate will be handled by Ogilvy’s Mumbai and Kolkata offices. Anirban Banerjee, Senior Vice President & Business Unit Head - Battery & Flashlight, said: “The brand which started off describing a powerful battery with ‘Give me Red’, went on to define a generation. We are thrilled to partner with Ogilvy on Eveready’s transformation to re-energise the brand and increase its relevance among the new generation, across its batteries, flashlight and lighting businesses.” Piyush Pandey, Ogilvy’s Chairman Global Creative & Executive Chairman India, said: “Ogilvy is delighted to partner Eveready. A brand that touches all parts of India from urban to rural. We look forward to creating exciting work that builds both brand and business.” On the win, Sukesh Nayak, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy India said, “From growing up with these batteries firing up my imagination by bringing all my toys to life to being able to partner the team in charting the next journey of ‘Give me Red’ is truly humbling. My team and I are super excited about this win, and we can’t wait to partner and create work that captures the imagination of everyone.” Read more news about (ad news, latest advertising news India, internet advertising, ad agencies updates, media advertising India)

ABC Report

Broadcasters see red as TRAI probes availability of linear channels on OTT, telco apps

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued an order last month directing broadcasters to furnish information regarding streaming of live linear channels on their over the top (OTT) platforms as well as third party telco apps, failing which action will be initiated against them under provisions of the TRAI Act. The regulator issued letters to broadcasters on November 25 and asked them to furnish information by December 9. Broadcasters, including Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) and Sun TV Network, have challenged the TRAI's order before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Authority (TDSAT). In its letter to the broadcasters, the regulator had noted that the linear channels operated by them are available on their own apps like SonyLIV, and Sun NXT besides aggregator apps launched by telcos like Jio TV and Vodafone Play. This, the regulator contended, is in violation of Clause 5.6 of Policy Guidelines for Downlinking of Television Channels dated 5th December 2011. The regulator had also issued letters to broadcasters on 16th April 2021 seeking comments from them on the violation of Clause 5.6 of downlinking guidelines. The clause 5.6 states that "the applicant company shall provide satellite TV channel signal reception decoders only to MSOs/Cable operators registered under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 or to a DTH operator registered under the DTH guidelines issued by Government of India or to an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Service provider duly permitted under their existing telecom licence or authorized by Department of Telecom to provide such service”. In their response to the TRAI letter dated 30th April, the broadcasters contended that as broadcasters they have right under section 37 of Copyright Act 1957 known as Broadcast Reproduction Right (BRR) to make their channels available on their own streaming apps as well as third party aggregator apps. The broadcasters also argued that they are not licensees under TRAI Act, and thus they are not covered under the scope of TRAI Act or Interconnection Regulations or Clause 5.6 of Downlinking guidelines. The TRAI issued another letter to broadcasters to provide a detailed architecture indicating which media is being used to deliver linear content to their own as well as third party platforms. The broadcasters responded by saying that the OTT platforms are outside the scope of jurisdiction accorded to TRAI. They also questioned the context under which TRAI is seeking this information. In its order dated 25th November, the TRAI noted that the broadcasters have not provided the requisite information to examine whether there is violation of clause 5.6 of Downlinking guidelines. SPNI and Sun TV have sought a stay the operation of the order dated 25.11.2021 purportedly issued by the TRAI in exercise of Section 12 of the TRAI Act, 1997 during the pendency of the present appeal. They have also urged the TDSAT to restrain the TRAI from taking any coercive action till the disposal of the present appeal. The broadcasters have also sought an order quashing and setting aside of the order dated 25.11.2021 purportedly issued by the Respondent in exercise of Section 12 of the TRAI Act, 1997. The petition filed by Sony and Sun states that the Section 12 of TRAI Act reveals that the scope of the powers enshrined thereunder can be exercised only with respect to service providers as defined under Section 2(1)(j) and licensees as defined under Section 2(1)(e) of the Act. They also submitted that the actions taken by the TRAI for the purpose of licensing content on the OTT Platform and/or any third party OTT platforms are outside the purview of the Act and the Interconnection Regulations. Further, the OTT Platforms, which are also involved in the query sought by the TRAI, are not covered under the Act. "Furthermore, for the purposes of the activity that is under consideration, i.e., licensing/provision of signals/content of broadcasters to an OTT platform, the broadcaster also does not qualify as a service provider, as defined under the Act, on account of the scope of activity being beyond the activities that are regulated under the Act," the petition states. The broadcasters also noted that while initiating consultations in respect of OTT platforms by way of the 2018 Consultation Paper, the regulator had consciously limited the consultation to communication OTT platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, which they claim is acknowledgement that the OTT video services are beyond the jurisdiction of the Respondent under the Act. According to the petitioners, the TRAI order is in contravention of Article 19(1)(g), Article 14, and Article 300A of the Constitution of India.

Print sets sight on pre-Covid levels as ad growth transcends festive 2020

The first quarter of FY22 might have started on a slow note, delaying print's recovery due to the second Covid wave, but it didn't impact the revenues as severely as 2020 did. During the Q1 FY 22, several print companies reported growth in advertising and circulation revenue, which seems to be a positive indicator for the coming quarters. For instance, Jagran Prakashan Limited (JPL) advertisement revenues were at Rs 165.64 crores in Q1 FY22, up by 52.3% from Rs 108.78 crores in Q1 FY21. The company also witnessed an increase of 14% in circulation revenue. Similarly, DB Corp's advertising revenue stood at Rs. 171.3 crore as against Rs. 107.0 crore in Q1 FY 21, whereas circulation revenue stood at Rs. 110. 6 crores as against Rs. 92.8 crore. Starting with Onam, followed by Ganesh Chaturthi in Q2, and later followed by Durga Puja, Dussera and Diwali in Q3, the sector's festive period has begun on an auspicious note. According to Girish Agarwaal, Promoter Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group, the company has seen robust growth in August and September (till date), especially compared to 2019. Some of the categories that have seen good growth performances include Real Estate and Education (around 30%), Healthcare/Hospitals (around 25%), Consumer Electronics (approximately 38%) FMCG (about 25%) classified (around 40%) and Entertainment (around 30%). With these categories firing, the newspaper has witnessed local advertising growth in double-digit. Agarwaal added, "Notable states that have grown double-digit are our legacy markets of MP, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. These growths are particularly relevant because they are significant revenue contributors." Agarwaal also shared that the company's advertising pricing is back to pre-Covid levels. He added, "Since we have withdrawn special schemes and also driven by the fact that we have regained more than 90% of our circulation and our markets are showing strong consumption and response to advertising communication." While the categories like Real Estate, Auto, FMCG, E-commerce, Consumer Durable continue to spend on the sector, the sector is also witnessing types like Crypto Currency, OTT, GEC, Lifestyle, BFSI etc. looking at this festive season to shore up their business revenues. "There is a visible pent-up demand which has made the 2021 festive season witness an increase in consumer spending across categories like Real Estate, Auto, FMCG, E-Commerce, Consumer Durables, Clothing, etc," said Sivakumar Sundaram, Chairman Executive Committee, BCCL. He said, "Print advertisement has always been the barometer for the resurgence of the economy. Since July and now, the performance of print in the early stages of the festive season has given us a huge sense of optimism." Sundaram further added, "We are much ahead of 2020 festive and are benchmarking now with festive 2019 i.e. period before Covid. Once local Retail and F&B open up to normal levels, it will further boost the festive mood. I am confident that the Times Group would deliver on the marketing and brand objectives this festive to marketers." Meanwhile, in the Kerala Market, the newspaper companies already witnessed tremendous growth during Onam this year. M V Shreyams Kumar, Managing Director, Mathrubhumi Group, said that the festive season looks more promising than last year as the economy is back on the revival track. Vaccination drive reaching out to more numbers across India, decrease in corona cases, and easing lockdown restrictions are paving the way for the market scenario to ease out, which will help the upcoming festive season gain growth momentum. Kumar said, "For Kerala, our biggest festival Onam revenue sales have considerably fared better than last year. We experienced growth across our integrated platforms, including print, radio, television, and radio business." However, the pricing during the Onam festive season was the same for the company. "We did not make any changes in our pricing strategy." Echoing the similar thought, Varghese Chandy, VP-Marketing & Advertising Sales, Malayala Manorama, shared that Kerala witnessed high numbers during the festive period (Onam), while the rest of the states were in the recovery phase. " The festive period worked very well for us. The adex grew 30% during Onam over last year, whereas we have reached to 84% of 2019 level since that had a regular business during Onam." He also mentioned that the all the sector in Kerala has witnessed a robust growth during Onam this year. However, the opening up of markets, increase in vaccination drive, decrease in the number of cases, and more relaxation are some of the key factors driving the growth of the sector. This festive period will also witness the two mega sports properties well. "A lot of categories are common which use both Cricket and Print for advertising. Hence the budgets will get split, and Print growth might witness some speed breakers, " said, Navin Kathuria, Executive Vice President - Planning & Buying, OMD Mudramax. With other big festivals like Durga Puja and Diwali in the coming months, print advertising will grow. Sectors like Retail, Real Estate, Entertainment etc. have started advertising in large formats, and we see Jacket advertising becoming consistent after a long time since the Pandemic hit the country. According to Kathuria, starting with Onam and then followed by Ganesh Chaturthi, print has seen an increased inventory consumption – more on regional but even National dailies catering to Cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur has seen increased consumption of print." "As compared to last year, this year looks better for print, since previous year when the festive season arrived, the country was coming out of the peak of COVID's 1st wave (Aug-Sep'20) and print advertising though showing signs of recovery, and not all advertisers were returning to the medium. Although print advertising might not hit the 2019 levels in terms of inventory/revenues, it will be better than in 2020," said Kathuria. Speaking on the increase in pricing, Kathuria explained that the rates are bound to go up with an increase in inventory demand. "If the large-format advertising is to be taken an indicator of the medium bouncing back, one should also expect premium pricing for premium positions, different formats like Flaps, Jackets etc. Last year's festive period had arrived just after the peak of the 1st wave. The print medium was the most affected during the first wave. Even in the festive period, though demand was slightly increased, prices did not shoot up proportionately. This year Print rates will go up vis-à-vis last year."

Arvind Sharma to get AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award 2021

The Advertising Agencies Association of India today announced that AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021 will be conferred on advertising veteran Arvind Sharma. This is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for his/her outstanding contribution to the Advertising Industry. Arvind Sharma, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, has had a long and successful career in the Indian Advertising industry. As a young leader, he was tasked with making a local agency, Chaitra, transition into the Indian arm of Leo Burnett Worldwide. Over two eventful decades he created an organization that was both formidable and flexible. In doing this, he turned a safe and conservative agency into a creative power center. Soon, the agency’s work on Thums Up, Bajaj, Heinz, P&G and many others saw it taking on the big guns in creative pitches as well as award shows, becoming one of India’s early winners at Cannes. Arvind has also been responsible for several incredible talents that have blossomed under his watch. Making the announcement, Anupriya Acharya, President, AAAI, stated that “Mr Arvind Sharma has been a true pioneer. Apart from singlehandedly making Leo Burnett a top agency and a force to reckon with he has also groomed some of the finest talents in our industry. But more than that he has made a tremendous contribution to our industry across both the art and science of advertising. He is truly deserving of this honour.” Chairman of the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award Selection Committee Ashish Bhasin said, “Arvind is a deserving winner of this prestigious honour. Not only has he been a successful advertising professional, he has also contributed significantly to the industry in various capacities, including as President of AAAI and a key driver in launching Goafest. I am pleased to say that the entire committee was unanimous in conferring this award upon Arvind.” The AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual who has been a practitioner of advertising for twenty-five years and had been in the top management position; has been or continues to be an active participant in industry bodies and or made significant contributions in shaping the industry priorities which enabled the advertising industry to grow, prosper and become more professionalized; individual known for his integrity, ethical practice and leadership qualities; contributed to his Company/Companies growth by innovative thinking and taking them in newer directions; involved in projects of social consequence which is seen as a role model for the industry at large and had been an industry veteran. Some of the past winners of this award include Subhas Ghosal, Alyque Padamsee, Mike Khanna, R K Swamy, Piyush Pandey, Sam Balsara, Prem Mehta, Roda Mehta, Ram Sehgal, Madhukar Kamath and others. The full list is given in Annexure-I for reference. The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) is the national organisation of advertising agencies, formed in 1945, to promote their industry interests so that they continue to make an essential and ever-increasing contribution to the nation. The AAAI today is truly representative, with a very large number of small, medium and large-sized agencies as its members, who together account for almost 80% of the advertising business placed in the country.

Govt spent Rs 1698.98 crore on ads in print, electronic media in last 3 years: I&B Ministry

The central government has spent Rs 1698.98 crore on advertisements in print and electronic media in the last three years, Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Anurag Thakur has informed the Lok Sabha. "The amount committed for advertisements by the Government through print and electronic media during the period 2018-19 to 2020-21 is Rs. 1698.98 Crore," Thakur said while responding to a question in the lower house. He further stated that the primary objective of government advertising is to create awareness about its policies and schemes among the intended beneficiaries including the population living in far-flung and remote areas, through Print, Electronic & Outdoor Media. Bureau of Outreach and Communications (BOC) releases advertisements through various media vehicles on the basis of criteria laid down in the policy guidelines for release of advertisements and empanelment of concerned media which are also available on BOC’s website, he stated. The BOC undertakes awareness campaigns through different media vehicles, including print media, as per the requirements conveyed by the client Ministries/ Departments, the budget of campaigns as well as target audience. BOC has undertaken various strategies to rationalize advertisement expenditure including integrated campaign, theme-based campaign, increased emphasis on low-cost advertisements on digital platforms, using less print space with focused content and embedding information using QR Code, better positioning of campaigns for target beneficiaries, etc. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

How ASCI rebooted itself in 2021 to fit in a digital-first world

When BBH and Publicis Worldwide CEO Subhash Kamath took on the charge of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) as its chairperson in September 2020, questions about the self-regulatory body’s relevance were many -- especially in the wake of the establishment of Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) by the government. However, Kamath maintained that both parties can work together to better regulate the advertising industry in the country. He, along with his associates, embarked on an ASCI 2.0 mission, essentially to make the council more relevant and comprehensive for a digital world. And the year 2021 did see a slew of positive initiatives taken by ASCI to not just regulate but support the Indian advertising industry. Kamath tells Exchange4media, “When I took on the charge as ASCI chairperson in September 2020, we started working on ASCI 2.0 strategy, which aimed to make the council more than just a body to look at negative and misleading campaigns. Our idea has been to make ASCI a more engaging platform that can deliver some value to its partners and the advertising industry at large.” Here’s a look back at how ASCI stepped into a reformed version of itself, as Kamath mentions, to be more digital-savvy, sleek, smart, and a better partner for the industry. Focus Digital Kamath says that ASCI was always strong on traditional platforms but realised that it needs to be better equipped to deal with the digital world, which has been growing exponentially over the years. Therefore, in November 2020, ASCI introduced some guidelines for real-money online gaming in November 2020. Following that, the regulatory body announced draft influencer marketing guidelines in February 2021, inviting comments and suggestions from influencers, agencies, brands, and the general public as well. A comprehensive set of guidelines along with a website were launched in May 2021 and the regulations were made applicable from June 2021. As per ASCI, the regulations were welcomed positively by the industry and all A-list influencers were quick to follow the rules regarding marking the content as ads or sponsored posts across digital platforms. Also, people were quick to rectify any mistakes or make necessary changes in the posts when flagged by the regulator. Kamath notes that ASCI got around 400-500 complaints during the year. The regulator is also actively working on curating a set of advertising guidelines for crypto platforms to protect consumer interest. Building Thought Leadership “If you aim to curb the killing of elephants in an area, you just don’t try to stop the poachers but also educate the public against it,” Kamath quips explaining why ASCI put an increased focus on initiatives that could curate thought leadership within the advertising industry. Two key initiatives taken under this directive were the launch of ASCI’s ‘Gender Next’ report and the launch of ‘Advertising Advice’ services. In October 2021, ASCI with Futurebrands launched the ‘Gender Next’ report to highlight the progress in the portrayal of women in ads and also gaps between how ads portray women and how women see themselves or want to be seen. The report was created on the basis of a detailed analysis of 600 ads and broke down the findings on the basis of categories and most prominent stereotypes. Advertising Advice was launched with the aim to help brands check code violations right at the pre-production stage of campaigns before they end up spending huge amounts of money for an ad that might potentially be flouting the ASCI norms. Kamath shares, “While we always had this service to guide brands and agencies on scripts and formats of ads, people were not aware of it. That’s why we announced it this year as ‘Advertising Advice’, in September, to add value to the industry. We have had a positive reception since and have been consulted for 19-20 campaigns.” ASCI 2.0 In August this year, ASCI also unveiled a new brand identity to reflect the agenda of becoming more inclusive and future-facing. The regulatory body came up with a new logo, designed by Nihilent Ltd, depicting the idea of creativity with responsibility in a digital world, which is ever-evolving and dynamic. ASCI is also currently beta testing its new website, which is expected to launch in January 2021, with features that will make it easier for people to know about ASCI services and regulations, reach out with complaints, check the status of complaints, and get advice on campaigns. Kamath notes that going ahead, there is going to be a lot more activity on ASCI’s part, right from a heightened and improved digital presence to regulations around key emerging sectors like cryptocurrency and reports like ‘Gender Next’ around several other relevant topics like kids in advertising & industries that get most complaints like education, healthcare, and food & beverages. He also thanked his teams, partners, and extended board members for their support and guidance throughout the year and re-electing him as the chairperson for a second term as well, promising better actions and insights from the regulatory body in 2022 as well. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

IRS Key trends-REGIONAL LANGUAGES

TOP PUBLICATIONS -REGIONAL LANGUAGES (CONTD..) TELUGU IRS 2017 Eenadu 15848 Sakshi 9341 Andhra Jyothi 6354 Namasthe Telangana 3196 Vaartha 672 PUNJABI IRS 2017 Jag Bani 4149 Ajit 4013 Punjabi Tribune 793 Punjabi Jagran 628 SachKahoon 293 ORIYA IRS 2017 Sambad 6594 Samaja 5630 The Prameya 3695 Dharitri 3542 The Samaya 1097 TAMIL IRS 2017 Daily Thanthi 23149 Dinakaran 12083 Dinamalar 11659 Maalai Malar 3074 The Hindu 2890 URDU IRS 2017 Inquilab 778 RoznamaRashtriyaSahara 307 Akbar-e-Mashriq 284 The Munsif 228 Siasat 221

THE TOP 20 DAILIES : ALL LANGUAGES

LAST 1 MONTH READ (TOTAL READERSHIP) TR OF PUBLICATIONS(U+R) IRS 2017 DainikJagran 70377 Hindustan 52397 Amar Ujala 46094 Dainik Bhaskar 45105 Daily Thanthi 23149 Lokmat 18066 Rajasthan Patrika 16326 Malayala Manorama (Daily) 15999 Eenadu 15848 PrabhatKhabar 13492 The Times Of India 13047 Ananda Bazar Patrika 12763 Punjab Kesari 12232 Dinakaran 12083 Mathrubhumi 11848 Gujarat Samachar 11784 Dinamalar 11659 Daily Sakal 10498 Sandesh 10352 Patrika 9823

Sir Martin Sorrell steps down as WPP CEO

Sir Martin Sorrell has resigned from his post as CEO WPP with immediate effect. According to a statement from WPP, Chairman Roberto Quarta, has taken over as the executive chairman until the appointment of a new CEO. "As I look ahead, I see that the current disruption we are experiencing is simply putting too much unnecessary pressure on the business, our over 200,000 people and their 500,000 or so dependents, and the clients we serve in 112 countries. That is why I have decided that in your interest, in the interest of our clients, in the interest of all shareowners, both big and small, and in the interest of all our other stakeholders, it is best for me to step aside," he said in the statement. Sorrell also mentioned that a new generation of management, led by Mark Read and Andrew Sorrell WPP corporate development director and COO, Europe, have been appointed as joint chief operating officers of WPP.

ZEEL appoints Punit Misra as CEO domestic broadcast business

ZEEL appoints Punit Misra as CEO domestic broadcast business Prior to this, Misra was ED - sales and customer development for HUL. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has appointed Punit Misra as the chief executive officer (CEO) of domestic broadcast business. Misra will report to Punit Goenka, managing director (MD) and CEO, ZEEL. He will look after the entire domestic broadcast business, which includes all the entertainment channels. The appointment will be effective for October 1, 2016.Punit Misra Amit Goenka is the CEO, International Broadcast Business and is looking after the international business of ZEEL. Prior to this, Misra was executive director (ED) - sales and customer development for Hindustan Unilever (HUL). Misra joined HUL as a management trainee in 1996 and has worked in leadership roles across customer development, brand building, brand development and general management within HUL, as well as in the global customer development team of Unilever. His experience at HUL spans across categories like home care, personal care and foods through various roles in customer development and marketing. Prior to his appointment as ED - sales and customer development for HUL, Misra was vice-president in the global Unilever Customer Development team. In that capacity, he was the Unilever lead for route to market, traditional trade channels, and customer development IT innovation.

Ogilvy takes Gulabo and Paro on a ride in the new ad for Bajaj Platina ComforTec

Ogilvy takes Gulabo and Paro on a ride in the new ad for Bajaj Platina ComforTec The ad takes the communication in the entry-level commuter bikes segment from being a mileage story to a comfort story. Most bike ads hinge upon mileage supremacy and competitive pricing. But, the latest Bajaj Auto ad has a different story to tell. The two-wheeler manufacturer, in the ad campaign for its freshly launched two-wheeler Platina ComforTec in the entry level 100cc commuter bikes segment, promises riders 20 per cent less jerks as compared to other bikes in the 100cc segment. In short, a comfortable ride, despite the potholes and the bumps. Conceptualised by Ogilvy & Mather, the ad campaign 'Jhatka Mana Hai' tries to differentiate the Platina ComforTec from its competitors on the basis of superior riding comfort, while positioning the bike as 'the most comfortable one in the category'. And, it does so in a most endearing way, using dancing Tanjore Dolls, metaphorically, who bear the 'jhatkas' (shocks) on the bike ride. Bajaj's new campaign for Platina Comfortec 'Jhatka Mana Hai' In the TVC, the two Tanjore Dolls Gulabo and Paro are off on a bumpy ride. While Gulabo, perched on the Platina ComforTec, twirls gracefully, Paro, who is seated on some other bike, fails to survive the ordeal. The ad highlights the Platina ComforTec's promise of '20 per cent less jerks as compared to its competitors'. Bajaj's new campaign for Platina Comfortec 'Jhatka Mana Hai' Speaking about the campaign, Sukesh Kumar Nayak, executive creative director (ECD), Ogilvy & Mather, says, "We wanted to shift the focus of the communication from a mileage story to a comfort story. A compelling and memorable creative was therefore necessary to make the ad dramatic so that it registers in the minds of consumers." Bajaj's new campaign for Platina Comfortec 'Jhatka Mana Hai' Commenting on the challenges faced during the execution of the ad film, Nayak says, "This is a classic case of re-inventing a price sensitive category known for its functional benefits. Not talking about mileage in this category is a big shift." Bajaj's new campaign for Platina Comfortec 'Jhatka Mana Hai' The campaign targets people who travel long distances frequently, such as daily commuters, traders, and self-employed youth from small towns and rural India. The media plan has been designed in such a way that the television commercial communicates the product's benefits, the print ads amplify the message with more information on the features and availability, and on-ground activations help customers experience the comfort. Sumeet NarangSukesh Kumar Nayak According to Sumeet Narang, vice-president -- marketing, Bajaj Auto, Platina ComforTec addresses the need for comfort, which until now, has not been addressed, and which is a pain point for users. "Given the conditions of roads, particularly in rural areas, people have accepted discomfort as a part and parcel of riding a bike, and learned to live with it. Here, we saw a great opportunity for the brand," says Narang, adding, "While mileage is something a customer takes for granted while buying the Platina, it was now time to offer a second benefit, which no one is either offering or talking about." The demonstration of the bike will be held in more than 100 towns across the country. People will be urged to take the 'Comfort Challenge', wherein they will first ride their own bikes, and then ride the Platina ComforTec, with chest-mounted cameras, on specially designed tracks. This will capture the movement of the bikes and present the comfort proposition. Launched at a starting price of Rs 43,541, Bajaj Platina ComforTec competes with brands such as Hero Splendor Pro and HF Deluxe, Honda Dream Yuga, and TVS Sport. With a reworked suspension, seat, and foot pad, it claims to offer a smoother ride with 20 per cent less shocks and jerks as compared to other brands. Narang informs that in the 100cc segment, Bajaj Platina, with over 65 lakh customers, is currently the No.2 brand after Hero HF Deluxe. However, with Bajaj CT 100 also operating in the entry-level category, the two-wheeler giant is giving tough competition to Hero Motocorp in terms of volume, he claims. Smooth Ride Saji Abraham Saji Abraham, executive director at Lowe Lintas, finds the 'torture test' execution interesting. "It is also a clever strategy as it sidesteps the mileage debate while giving the consumer a fresh parameter to evaluate a bike," he says. Abraham, however, thinks that if the benefit is real, a more convincing demonstration could have been carried out. He makes his point with the example of the classic Union Carbide ad (1968) for an insulation material called 'Super Insulation' where a life was at stake. "That could have, perhaps, pushed the demonstration, which is still in the advertising space, into a far more believable territory," he remarks.

MOTORING WORLD AWARDS 2015

Motoring World magazine is proud to announce that the coolest automotive awards in town, the MOTORING WORLD AWARDS 2015 was a grand success. The gala Motoring World Awards were held on March 19, 2015 at the SKY, Hotel The Royal Plaza, an open air terrace on the 19th floor. The illustrious gathering consisted of eminent people from the industry, CII, SIAM and media agencies. Re-building on the annual affair, formerly known as the Business Standard Motoring Awards, the MOTORING WORLD AWARDS is not only the most awaited automotive awards in the country, but also holds the distinction of being the oldest. The MOTORING WORLD AWARDS 2015 honoured and rewarded the best products and concepts to emerge from the Automotive Industry in 2014 and shone a beacon at the path the industry should be taking for 2015 and beyond. With 15 categories that honoured the best in the field of cars, two-wheelers, motorsports and technologies/R&D and safety, the awards spanned the length and breadth of the industry, providing recognition to the diamonds of the Indian Automotive Industry. The jury had rigorously and meticulously sifted through each category and thoroughly analysed the pros and cons of each nominee before selecting a winner in that category. With a well-balanced team of four external jurors and three internal jurors, the 2015 Motoring World Awards ensured the awards were judged in a fair manner This year, 13 cars and 12 bikes vied for the coveted 2015 Motoring World Car of the Year and 2015 Motoring World Bike of the Year awards respectively. Maruti Suzuki Ciaz won the Car of the Year and Suzuki Gixxer won the Bike of the Year. Mr. Paresh Nath, Editor-in-Chief &Publisher, Delhi Press and Mr. Anant Nath, Director, Delhi Press jointly gave away these 2 prestigious awards. Mahindra Scorpio was awarded the SUV of the Year.The show was hosted by Rohin Nagrani, Senior Editor of Motoring World. The award function was peppered with a dash of great humour when the famous stand up artist Rajneesh Kapoor regaled the audience in 2 sessions. He had the audience in splits and created an informal setting in a decidedly corporate atmosphere. Rohin Nagrani , Senior Editor, Motoring World says. "The Motoring World Awards recognizes and rewards truly outstanding products and technologies in the previous year, those that have been brilliant in their own spheres." The awards function was ably supported and amplified by the following partners: SKY as the Associate Partner, NewsX as the TV Partner, Pioneer as the Outdoor Partner, Hotel The Royal Plaza as the Hospitality Partner, Red FM as the Radio Partner, Select CityWalk as the Lifestyle Partner andThe Comedy Store as the Comedy Partner. "Your location choice for the Motoring Awards was spot on. The 20th floor open sky terrace was so refreshingly different", tweeted Vivek Nayer, CMO Mahindra Anant Nath, Director of Delhi Press, added, "the re-institution of Motoring magazine awards was an important step towards ensuring that the magazine continues to play an important role in shaping the landscape of the automotive sector, by rewarding the best that the industry has to offer. I am extremely proud to share that the evaluation of this year's awards were done with the highest level of objectivity and integrity that any credible awards should follow". The category and the winners are as below: Car of the year - Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Bike of the year - Suzuki Gixxer SUV of the year - Mahindra Scorpio Premium SUV of the year - Porsche Macan Scooter of the year - Honda Activa 125 Premium bike of the year - Triumph Bonneville Premium car of the year - Mercedes-Benz S-Class Performance car of the year - Audi RS7 Performance bike of the year - Harley-Davidson Street 750 Import bike of the year - Kawasaki Z1000 Fun to drive car of the year - Audi A3 Fun to ride bike of the year - KTM RC390 Automotive pioneer of the year - MAGNETTI MARELLI FOR AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION Excellence in safety - VOLKSWAGEN INDIA FOR STANDARDISING AIRBAGS Excellence in motorsport - Mahindra Adventure for INRC This was the first edition of the Motoring World Awards after the magazine the Motoring World, formerly known as the Business Standard Motoring was acquired by Delhi Press in April 2013 from Business Standard. As a specialist motoring magazine, it has always catered to the auto enthusiast and brought an unadulterated view of the world of motoring. It is sharp, sassy, clean, wittier and edgier than ever before. Delhi Press was established in 1939 and today it publishes 36 magazines in 10 languages, including The Caravan, Woman's Era, Grihshobha, Champak, and Saras Salil. It is a full service publishing house with its own printing facilities and its own distribution and logistics company that reaches out to more than 3,000 magazine distributors and agents. For Further Information, please Contact: Shweta Roberts Email: shweta.roberts@delhipress.in Have something to share? Email your press releases at pressrelease@afaqs.com. Read instructions . Get more coverage! Upload images of press conferences, product launches or consumer activations.

Print industry still cautious about latest IRS numbers

The much awaited new Indian Readership Survey (IRS) data was released by the Media Research Users Council (MRUC) and Readership Studies Council of India (RSCI) in Mumbai on January 28, 2014. As is known, MRUC and RSCI had awarded the contract for IRS to the Nielsen Company in 2012, which embarked on a pilot study in March 2013, while the IRS field work commenced in May 2013. As per the latest IRS 2013 data, among the top 10 publications, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, The Times of India, Amar Ujala, Lokmat, Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi have seen decline in their Average Issue Readership (AIR). On the other hand, Hindustan, Daily Thanthi and Rajasthan Patrika have seen marginal rise in AIR. Related Stories New IRS 2013: Dainik Jagran tops dailies list DNA contests IRS numbers Discovery Channel's magazine hits newsstands in India New IRS 2013: Dainik Jagran tops dailies list Dainik Bhaskar elevates Raja Mitra & Dharmendra Atri to National Sales Head With the print players still analysing the data garnered, most are cautious about the numbers. Commenting on the latest IRS, Rahul Kansal, Executive President, Brand Function, BCCL said, “It is a bit early to comment on the results of the survey. It has been executed very professionally, but it is difficult to comment on the specific data because there is such little of it available at the moment.” When asked about how different the new IRS is from the previous one, Paritosh Joshi, Chairman, Technical Committee, MRUC replied, “The most important thing was getting the process right; the whole process had got progressively vitiated from all the expectations people had placed on the IRS, so we needed to tighten the technology and security systems right, we needed to build protections around the data. There have always been accusations against the IRS that the data is compromised, we had to conquer all the criticism. The real hard work for us was to clean up the process, which we have done.” Earlier, exchange4media spoke to a cross-section of print players to gauge their expectations from the new IRS and found that what they are primarily looking for are robust data, better sample size, geographic reporting and software development. Joshi said, “Controversy free IRS is the intention; all the stakeholders have played a part in making this happen, everybody should feel convinced that there is integrity around the study.” He added, “Study will keep gathering more momentum, people need to be patient, because of data fusion we will get more media rich data, better granularity, and many data points.” Sharing his thought about the latest IRS, Benoy Roychowdhury, Executive Director, HT Media said, “It is one of the largest surveys in the world and seems to have been done with all the care and attention possible.” He further said, “We have seen the early results, there have been some significant changes, but it will take us sometime to get a better understanding of what is happening. It is only the preliminary results that we have seen, and the top line and that too just for the western part of India. I think we will be in a position to comment once we have more details. But we believe that a lot of care and attention has gone in the survey and it has been executed to the level that we wanted.” The new survey has considered a sample size of 235,000, covering 32 states and Union Territories across 95 cities and 92 districts. It has also sampled the Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi zones. Nielsen appointed 700 people to conduct the survey in the first year and will add to the numbers as per demand.

SELECTED COMMONLY USED TEXT-BOOKS IN THE SOUTH ASIA REGION

III. Advertising and Public Relations 1.Adams, Charles, E.: Common Sense in Advertising. New York: Mc Graw Hill Book Co., 1965. The books lays down certain fundamental rules regarding advertising. It dispels the aura about advertising and emphasises a "common sense" approach. 2. Chunnawalla, S.A. & K.C. Sethia: Foundation of Advertising Theory and Practice. Bombay: Himalaya publishing House, 1985. The book discusses the art of advertising which is an economic force, a marketing tool and a social process. The topics covered are advertising principles, agency operation, media planning, advertising appeals, copy and effectiveners of advertising. The strength of the book lies in its use of Indian examples and cases to illustrate concepts and practices. 3. Jefkins, Frank: Advertising made simple. London: W.H. Allen, 1973. A basic book on the subject. The author, true to the title, has discussed the subject in a simple and step by step approach. 4. Kleppner, Otto & Others: Advertising Procedure. Englewood Cliff, NJ: Prentice - Hall, 1983. A book that is widely followed across the region. Although set in the US, the book which has run into several editions has dealt with the subject in a manner that students and teachers appreciate. Topics such as preparing advertising copy are the attractive features of this book. 5. Ogilivy, David: Confessions of An Advertising Man. New York, Althenium, 1963. Although many practitioners would have the academics believe that advertising isn't exactly what Ogilivy has to say, this book is widely followed. More so because the author provides examples that he has worked on. 6. Packard, Vance: The Hidden Persuaders. New York: Pocket Books Inc., 1958. Clearly a classic, this book is useful to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of advertising. The persuasive nature of advertising is clearly explained. 7. Rather: Advertising Management. Bombay: Himalaya Publishing House, 1984. The book covers all aspects of advertising from principles to practices to evaluation methods. Notable areas covered in the book are rural advertising, industrial advertising and public relations as they relate to the Indian situation. 7. Wright J.S & al.: Advertising. New York: Mc Graw Hill Co., 1973. This is a popular book which deals with the subject adequately. The context is the US. 50. Basu, Anil: Public Relations: Problems and Prospects. New Delhi: Space Age Publication, 1987. The book surveys the PR scene analytically and attempts to provide a base for a new phase in the growth of PR in India. Various aspects of PR have been illustrated with Indian examples. 8. Black, Sam: Practical Public Relations. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1983. A basic book in the subject in many institutions. The author provides a good insight into the fundamentals of the profession. 9. Chauhan, A.S.: Bublic Relations. New Delhi: Varma Bros, 1978. An introductory book that deals with the Indian situation. 10. Cutlip, Scott M. & Allen H. Center: Effective Public Relations. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall, 1982 Comparable to Sam Black's book mentioned earlier. In many institutions this is the only book that is followed. The PR discipline has been presented clearly with appropriate illustrations in the US situation. 11. Kaul, J.M.: Public Relations in India. Calcutta: Naya Prakash, 1988. The book deals with the principles of public relations and its practice in India. Public relations in private as well as public sectors has been discussed and many case studies have been presented. 12. Reddi, C.V.N.: How to be a good P.R.O. Hyderabad: Sharada Publications, 1976. A popular book which reveals the vast experience of the author in the Indian context. The book begins with an introduction to Mass Communication and deals with specific aspects of PR such as government information service and stages of PR.

Cable TV digitisation: TRAI releases tariff orders

To avoid the glitches faced in the first and second phases of the cable TV digitisation process, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has turned its attention towards tariff orders once again. The regulator has released draft tariff orders prescribing standard tariff packages for set top boxes (STBS), Digital Addressable Systems (DAS) and Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE) for DTH and cable TV services and has sought comments from the stakeholders for the same. The stakeholders can send their written comments by April 26, 2013. One of the prominent points of tariff regarding STBs is that every multi-system operator (MSO) shall compulsorily offer to its subscribers the standard tariff package for set top box specified in the schedule annexed to TRAI’s order. In addition, MSOs will be free to offer alternative tariff packages for set top boxes in accordance with the existing regulatory framework. Subscribers will have the freedom to choose from amongst the alternate tariff packages so offered as well as the standard tariff package specified by the authority. TRAI has also highlighted the significance of reporting requirement and said, “Every multi-system operator shall report to the authority tariff packages, including all terms and conditions, associated with the supply of set top boxes to the subscribers.” In order to view the interests, TRAI said, “Consumers can be largely protected through the provision for commercial interoperability of STBs. The commercial interoperability provides an exit option for a subscriber in case he/she wishes to change the operator for any reason.” Accordingly, in the relevant regulations/ tariff orders of TRAI, it has been mandated that the operators of DAS shall give an option to every subscriber to procure the STB either on outright purchase basis or hire purchase basis or rental basis, or in accordance with the scheme, if any, prescribed by the body. The standard tariff package has been worked out on the basis of the cost of the set top box at Rs 1,750 and life span of the box, which has been taken as five years. While the residual value has been taken as nil, rental per month based on the cost of the STB on equated monthly installment (EMI) basis is at 15 per cent per annum and 1.25 per cent per month for a period of 60 months. It may be recalled that TRAI is also managing the carriage fees between the broadcasters and the cable operators. Though Phase II of digitisation is over, broadcasters are concerned over the carriage fees as they still have to pay a huge chunk in order to available of the premium bands. At the last meeting held three months back, TRAI had suggested that broadcasters sign an agreement with the operators to share the offer of channel packages and carriage fees. The regulatory body suggested that carriage fees of Rs 3-Rs 5 be set per set top box per annum

PLEDGE to celebrate one more child turning 5 today

Did you enjoy the music in the film? The song was written especially by Sagar Kapoor and S. Balachandran for the film, and inspired by Gondappa’s son turning 5. PLEDGE to celebrate one more child turning 5 today. https://www.facebook.com/lifebuoy/app_108702102646738

IRS 2012 Q4: Seven of top ten publications lose readership

As per IRS data for Q4 2012, among the top 10 publications, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, The Times of India, Amar Ujala, Lokmat, Daily Thanthi and Mathrubhumi have seen decline in their Average Issue Readership (AIR). On the other hand, Hindustan, Malayala Manorama and Rajasthan Patrika have seen marginal rise in AIR. Dainik Jagran, still sitting at the number one position, has lost more than one lakh readers. In the previous quarter, IRS figure of Dainik Jagran was 16,474,000, which has decreased to 16,370,000. Dainik Bhaskar continues to be in the second spot, but it’s a wake-up call for the publication as it has lost more than 75,000 readers. In the previous quarter, the IRS figure of the publication was 14,491,000, which have come down to 14,416,000. Hindustan retains the number three spot. The daily has witnessed marginal readership growth of 4,000. In the previous quarter, IRS for Hindustan was 12,242,000, which has increased to 12,246,000. Malayala Manorama has grabbed the fourth position among all the publication; it is the only regional daily among the top five. It has added 8,000 readers this quarter. The AIR of Malayala Manorama was 9,752,000 in Q3, which has increased to 9,760,000 in Q4. At fifth position, Amar Ujala has lost more than one lakh reader, with an AIR of 8,536,000 in previous quarter and 8,434,000 in the current quarter. The Times of India is the only English publication in this list. The paper has lost 38,000 readers during the current quarter, taking its AIR from 7,653,000 in Q3 to 7,615,000 in Q4. Daily Thanthi has seen a decline in AIR to 7,334,000 in Q4 from 7,417,000 in the previous quarter. Lokmat has seen the third largest fall in AIR of 96,000 readers during the quarter, taking its AIR down to 7,319,000 in Q4. Rajasthan Patrika is the second Hindi daily which has seen growth in readership, notching an AIR of 6,837,000 in Q4, by adding 19,000 readers. However, it’s decline for Mathrubhumi once again, which has registered an AIR of 6,334,000, losing 81,000 readers during the quarter.

IRS 2012 Q4: It’s bad news for Lokmat, Dinakaran & Daily Thanthi

Saturday,Mar 30, 2013 The entire industry is chanting one slogan ‘Regional is the new national’ but when it comes to IRS results, the picture is different. Six of 10 regional dailies have witnesses decline in readership in IRS 2012 Q4. Also, the four that have seen increase, have only seen marginal growth. Malayala Manorama retains top position, seeing increase of 8,000 AIR in the current quarter. In Q3 AIR of Malayala Manorama was 9,752,000, whereas in Q4 it is 9,760,000. Daily Thanthi, though it managed to retain the second spot in Q4, lost a huge number of readers – 83,000. In the previous quarter, Daily Thanthi has readership of 7,417,000, which came down to 7,334,000 in IRS Q4. Lokmat witnessed the steepest fall – losing 96,000 readers, but still managed to retain third position. The Marathi daily had also lost 98,000 in the previous quarter. The AIR of Lokmat in previous quarter was 7,409,000, which decreased to 7,313,000 in Q4. Mathrubhumi also lost 81,000 readers; its AIR decreased from 6,415,000 in Q3 to 6,334,000 in Q4. On the other hand, it’s a growth story for Eenadu; it has managed to add 15,000 readers, taking its AIR to 5,972,000 in Q4 from 5,957,000 in Q3. Ananda Bazar Patrika has lost 38,000 readers in this quarter, taking its AIR of 5,788,000 in Q3 to 5,750,000 in Q4. In the seventh spot, Sakshi has added a good number of readers in the current quarter. In the last quarter, it had added 37,000 readers, whereas in this quarter it has added 36,000 readers, increasing AIR from 5,343,000 in Q3 to 5,379,000 in Q4. In eight place, Gujarat Samachar has seen decline of 39,000 readers. In the previous quarter, AIR of Gujarat Samachar was 5,153,000, which has declined to 5,114,000 in the current quarter. Though Dinakaran is in ninth position, it has seen decline of 96,000 readers in the current quarter. The AIR was 4,912,000 in Q3, whereas the current AIR is 4,816,000 In last place, Daily Sakal has seen maximum growth in readership, gaining readership of 66,000. Sakal AIR has increased to 4,469,000 in Q4 from 4,403,000 in Q4.