Aditya Kanthy is the CEO of the newly formed Omnicom Advertising Services group in India. Kanthy, the current CEO of DDB Mudra Group, will oversee the creative agency group. The respective creative agencies within the group – DDB, BBDO and TBWA – will maintain their current branding in the Indian market.

Omnicom Advertising Services will capitalize on the top talent housed within its leading networks and work in partnership with other Omnicom agencies, such as Omnicom Media Group, to further strengthen Omnicom’s comprehensive offering in India. Omnicom recently announced the creation of large global capability centers with four campuses out of Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Gurgaon. 

“This year India will become the most populous nation on the planet. It is an important growth engine for Omnicom. By centralizing the leadership of three creative powerhouses under Aditya, we will continue to build on our agencies’ strong foundations to deliver a wider breadth of capability and scale for our clients,” says John Wren, Chairman and CEO, Omnicom. “Aditya brings deep experience to the newly created Omnicom Advertising Services, and our India operations is primed to thrive under his leadership.”

Kanthy began his career in Mudra in 2003 as a strategic planner, taking on various responsibilities over the years.  

Speaking about this development, Kanthy said, “Omnicom is the most creative global network in the world. Our agencies represent the enduring power of creativity to build brands and businesses. I look forward to bringing the might of the Omnicom network to clients in India and continue to attract the best creative talent in one of the most exciting markets in the world.”


Aditya Kanthy to lead Omnicom Advertising Services in India

The respective creative agencies within the group – DDB, BBDO and TBWA – will maintain their current branding in the Indian market.

Sandeep Karwa is newly appointed leader for Flipkart Ads

Decentralising city management, funds and oversight - ways to deal with illegal ad hoardings

Three jailed for violating food safety standards in Patanjali Elaichi Soan Papdi case

Disney-Star Signs Deal with Bodhi Tree Multimedia for a New Show

Disney-Star signs deal with Bodhi Tree Multimedia for a new show

Byju's advisory board members Rajnish Kumar and Mohandas Pai to quit

Bombay High Court dismissed plea against Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan in surrogate advertising case

Representational image via Unsplash

Zee-Sony merger saga ends: Timeline of the failed merger

Why are Indian brands advertising in NYC's Times Square?

What Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick teaches us about leadership

Advertising is in the position where tobacco was: IPG's Arun Kumar 

Biz Moves: Interactive Avenues, Verve Media, Foxymoron and Grapes

There is an opportunity for building a better agency, not just a different one: Manja's Prajato Guha

Shareholders to decide on Zee CEO Punit Goenka’s reappointment

CII elects ITC's chairman and MD Sanjiv Puri as the president

Various civic bodies spur into action to ensure safety of ad hoardings

Meet the four HUL young leaders who joined the top table - the HUL management committee

Piyush Pandey

Adtech regulation a priority for Modi govt in third term: MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Credibility of news and platforms are as important as monetisation challenges: Anurag Thakur

HUL: Meet the leaders who have emerged from "The CEO Factory"

Punit Goenka addresses Zee employees; ensures no layoffs due to failed merger

Disney's strategic sale to Viacom18 set to boost market share to 40 percent

The Leader's Edge: Storyboard18 in conversation with leaders, decision makers and disruptors

Nobody’s Perfect Retro Porsche Ad

In Conversation With Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard

Shahid Kapoor And Varun Ganjoo Speaks On PokerBaazi's Campaign

In conversation with IHCL’s Puneet Chhatwal & GroupM’s Kate Scott-Dawkins

Why are brands including e-sports in their sports marketing itinerary?

Storyboard18 x The English Nut: How to pronounce these 10 brand names

Experts' Take On Reinvention Of Ad Campaigns Through Technology

Experts Speak On Key Emerging Trends In Cannes Lions Entries

Leaders of the future have to be outstanding human beings: Nestle MD

In conversation with VMLY&R’s Hari Ramanathan

Sandeep Karwa is the newly appointed leader for Flipkart Ads. As Vice President of Flipkart Ads, Kalra announced the launch of Flipkart IRIS, an insights platform for brands. 

Karwa said, "Flipkart IRIS represents a significant advancement in empowering brands to bolster their businesses and succeed on Flipkart. With Flipkart IRIS, we aim to provide brands with actionable insights about their business performance on Flipkart." 

He added, "By empowering brands to make strategic decisions backed by rich data, the platform is poised to  unlock unprecedented growth opportunities for brands on the platform. Retail media spends are only 15%–20% of digital AdEx in India, compared to 25%–30% in the US and 55%–60% in China. In the first quarter of 2024, digital AdEx in India increased to over 25–30%. Despite the rapid growth, the headroom to grow is tremendous." 

Retail media is the third big wave in digital after search and social across geographies. Advertising-led monetization is growing disproportionately in India. Brands use platforms like Flipkart to get discovered, to engage, and to retain their customers.

Karwa has spent over a decade at Flipkart and over the past 12 years he has been instrumental in shaping and scaling various business categories at Flipkart. 


Anuradha Razdan, executive diirector - HR, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) and CHRO, Unilever South Asia, had highlighted the one fundamental quality of Unileverites that distinguished them from the rest, and fueled their growth. She attributed it to the mindset of ‘leaders building leaders’, that bound them together, and helped HUL churn leader after leader. Shiva Krishnamurthy, Harman Dhillon, Arun Neelakantan and Vipul Mathur joined HUL's top table - the management committee, after a recent rejig of leadership. Take a look at who they are. 

<strong>Shiva Krishnamurthy</strong>

Shiva Krishnamurthy is the executive director of foods and refreshment at Hindustan Unilever Limited. Before this, he was the vice president of foods and Beverages for Unilever South Asia. Under Krishnamurthy’s tenure during the last 10 years, HUL became the market leader in Tea in India. HUL also won the prestigious Glass Grand Prix at Cannes for the Brooke Bond Red Label 6-Pack Band - India’s first transgender band. 

Several other brand campaigns under Krishnmurthy’s leadership have been recognised with prestigious industry awards in India. Shiva’s diverse expertise spans brand crafting, mix design, and end-to-end P&L leadership. His innovative approach has led to significant advancements in HUL’s core portfolio, including Lifebuoy and Lux. Notably, he spearheaded the innovation for the Radiant brand in the Home Care category for Southeast Asia, based in Singapore. Krishnamurthy is an alumnus of XLRI Jamshedpur. He joined HUL in 2000 after a brief stint with PepsiCo and worked as an area sales manager with HUL’s Customer Development team. A die-hard fan of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Krishnamurthy ran a Amitabh Bachchan fan club while pursuing his MBA. 

<strong>Harman Dhillon</strong>

Harman Dhillon is the executive director of Hindustan Unilever Limited's Beauty and Wellbeing division and the General Manager of Unilever's Beauty and Wellbeing division in South Asia.

Dhillon is a well-rounded Business leader and marketer with strengths in strategic thinking, consumer insights, brand crafting, P&L management, and leading diverse teams. She has a successful track record of launching and growing large brands in the beauty and personal care business with assignments of increasing responsibility covering South Asia, North America and Europe. 

Prior to this, as Skin Care Head, she led HUL’s premiumisation portfolio and demonstrated thought leadership for HUL in the FMCG beauty segment. She has also led the transformation of the Skin Care business, with a comprehensive revamp of brands such as Lakmé. 

Previously as VP Hair Care, Dhillon built deep expertise in the Hair Care segment; she launched Dove hair and TRESemmé in India and led iconic marketing campaigns such as Dove ‘Stop the Beauty Test’ and Clinic Plus ‘Meri Beti Strong.’ In 2015, she was responsible for the global TRESemmé business for two years as Global Brand Director based in London. 

She joined HUL in 2006 after a stint with Tata Administrative Services. About Dove's ‘Stop the Beauty Test’ campaign that was rolled out in 2022 on the occasion of International Daughters Day, Dhillon had told Storyboard18, “The Indian woman has gone through a complete metamorphosis in the recent time, especially when it comes to her portrayal in advertising and media. We’ve come a long way from women being conditioned to believing their self-worth is dictated by the perception of others, to now where they are seen taking charge and having a voice of their own.”

<strong>Arun Neelakantan</strong>

Arun Neelakantan was appointed as the chief digital officer at HUL, in January 2024. In his previous role, he has been responsible for HUL's digital transformation and growth agenda in South Asia. He has played a key role in anchoring the identification, tapping of growth opportunities, developing new digital capabilities, and driving HUL's digital agenda across the value chain. 

Under his leadership, HUL has accelerated its journey towards an intelligent enterprise by consolidating capabilities, unlocking cross-functional ecosystems, and enhancing the digital quotient of people. In parallel, he has also driven the growth agenda for HUL and Unilever, South Asia by identifying granular opportunities across business fundamentals, specifically in emerging channels and businesses, along with a holistic approach towards media, marketing, and commerce. 

Before this, he had various roles in Customer Development and Marketing across General Trade, Modern Trade, Customer Marketing and Brands. As Regional Manager for HUL’s South Branch, he led a series of initiatives to make Customer Development function Future Fit and led the region to sustainable, consistent, and market-beating growth. Arun is an alumnus of the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad and joined HUL in 2006.
 
On HUL’s digital transformation journey, Neelakantan had said, “HUL started on the digital transformation journey several years back. We first embarked on digital experimentation with Livewire, which addressed a fundamental problem of providing real-time, joined-up, granular data to enable better decision-making. Over the years, we consolidated the experiments under the ‘Re-imagine HUL’ umbrella and set up the ‘HUL Digital Council’ that has driven the transformation agenda across the business.” He further added, “Re-imagine HUL anchors on a connected ecosystem across consumers, customers and operations enabled by the data / technology / analytics at its core. It promotes the development of modular inter-connected capabilities that allow us to create a frictionless solution for superior experience while improving agility and responsiveness across the business.”

<strong>Vipul Mathur</strong>

On June 1, 2024, Vipul Mathur will join the HUL Management Committee as executive director, personal care. Vipul, currently Head of Growth and Transformation, joined HUL in 2003 as a management trainee after completing his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management - Calcutta. In a career spanning over two decades, he has worked in Customer Development and Marketing, across Home Care, Personal Care and Nutrition. Mathur’s stints in the Laundry business between 2012 – 2017 and subsequently in 2020-2021 were hugely successful. He led Mobile Marketing and Rural Marketing for Wheel and played a pivotal role in launching the Cannes-winning <em><strong>Kan Khajura Teshan (KKT)</strong></em>, India’s first mobile-based radio platform with branded content from 10 Unilever brands. 

As the Category Head, he spearheaded the portfolio transformation programme, scaled up the Liquids business and delivered competitive and profitable growth. As part of the Global Tea Leadership team between 2017-2020, Mathur worked with teams in Indonesia, UAE, UK&I and Australia, alongside South Asia, and was successful in landing new mixes in the category and delivered award winning communication campaigns on Brooke Bond. In his previous role, as Vice President for Modern Trade and eCommerce, he strengthened the company’s omnichannel strategy and drove portfolio transformation for HUL in high-growth emerging channels, by leading the relationships with customers and building internal cross-functional capabilities.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/hul-meet-the-leaders-who-have-emerged-from-the-ceo-factory-21397.htm">HUL: Meet the leaders who have emerged from "The CEO Factory" </a>


Raghunandan Kamath, founder of Naturals Ice Cream, who was fondly called ‘Ice Cream Man of India’, breathed his last on May 17 after battling a brief illness. He was in his 70s and is survived by his wife and sons.

As the news of his death surfaced, tributes began to pour in.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;The Ice Cream Man of India &quot; Mr. Raghunandan Srinivas Kamath, Son Of A Fruit Vendor from the Icecream Capital of India - Mangalore, who Built The Rs 400 Crore Company Naturals Ice Cream is no more. Om Shanti ?<br><br>What is your favourite Naturals Icecream flavour ? ?? <a href="https://t.co/lSwXMMgbhi">pic.twitter.com/lSwXMMgbhi</a></p>&mdash; Visit Udupi (@VisitUdupi) <a href="https://twitter.com/VisitUdupi/status/1791788003750506502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A phenomenal journey comes to an end??<br><br>Saddened to know of the demise of ‘Icecream Man’ Shri Raghunandan Kamath, the founder &amp; force behind Natural Icecreams. <br><br>From Mulki to Mumbai with just a dream to creating a brand that became a ‘natural’ choice for every icecream lover,… <a href="https://t.co/nPRw8CHZZj">pic.twitter.com/nPRw8CHZZj</a></p>&mdash; Captain Brijesh Chowta (Modi Ka Parivar) (@CaptBrijesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/CaptBrijesh/status/1791631812990517487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So sad to hear this. <a href="https://twitter.com/Naturalicecream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Naturalicecream</a> has been the go to brand for years, for many of us. Their tender coconut, sitaphal, chickoo flavors were to die for. A fantastic brand. Go gently Raghunandan ji. Om Shanti.<a href="https://twitter.com/PadmajaParulkar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PadmajaParulkar</a></p>&mdash; Srikant Kesnur (@srikantkesnur) <a href="https://twitter.com/srikantkesnur/status/1791713105862590569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Very very sorry to hear about Shri Raghunandan Kamath, the owner of <a href="https://twitter.com/Naturalicecream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Naturalicecream</a> attaining Haripada! <br><br>Raghunandan Kamath maam was not only an entrepreneur who built a successful icecream brand, he was a philanthropist who supported several community initiatives. <br><br>Born in a… <a href="https://t.co/b3wSe8SWIS">pic.twitter.com/b3wSe8SWIS</a></p>&mdash; Shefali Vaidya. ?? (@ShefVaidya) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShefVaidya/status/1791707470588752099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Born to a fruit vendor in a small village in Mangalore, Karnataka, Kamath assisted his father in his business, and that experience helped him sharpen his business acumen and knowledge about fruits. It was the foundation that would help solidify his position as an pioneering entrepreneur in the ice cream business.


As a child, Kamath struggled academically and eventually had to drop out. He moved to Mumbai at 14, and was employed at his brother’s South Indian restaurant.


February 14, 1984 marked the period when Kamath cemented the foundation of Naturals Ice Cream by opening an outlet in Juhu with just four workers. Today, the company has grown leaps and bounds. 


But the journey of expanding its footprint nationwide and building a legacy has not been easy. When Kamath first started out, ice cream was sold as a side dish to Pav Bhaji, as a means to attract customers. His insight was simple: After a hot meal, people liked to end their dinner on a sweet note. The first flavour to be offered was of sitaphal and an average of 60 litres of milk per day was used. That yielded results.

And, the Juhu outlet for that year recorded Rs 5,00,000 in revenue. Ingredients such as fruits (regionally sourced), milk and sugar were primarily used.

As the ice cream business grew, Raghunandan's sole attention shifted to solidifying the business in the ice cream industry.

In 1991, Kamath’s son Siddhant said that tender coconut as a flavour was introduced, which was a result of experimentations from his grandmother’s kitchen. Today, the company boasts of 125 flavours.

In 2017, Naturals Ice cream underwent a rebranding effort and its tagline was changed to ‘Taste The Original’.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Naturals partnered with Rebel Foods to sell through cloud kitchens on Swiggy and Zomato.

Naturals launched mini packs and had rolled out ‘Tough Tub’ campaign, which assured the customers of their products being completely tamper-proof. In 2022, the mini packs contributed 8-10 percent of their sales.

Today, Naturals Ice Cream is present in 35 cities with more than 140 stores and distributed through 70 cloud kitchens. The brand is present in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Kerala, Delhi NCR, Goa and Rajasthan. As per a KPMG survey, Naturals Ice Cream was voted in the list of top 10 companies in terms of customer experience. 


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/wipro-appoints-sanjeev-jain-as-chief-operating-officer-31966.htm">Wipro appoints Sanjeev Jain as chief operating officer</a>




Legacy of Naturals Ice Cream founder Raghunandan Kamath aka ‘Ice Cream Man of India’

Leading consumer health and hygiene company, Reckitt has appointed Kanika Kalra as the Regional Marketing Director, Health & Nutrition at Reckitt - South Asia. In this role, Kalra will lead marketing strategies for Reckitt’s portfolio of health and nutrition brands across India and other South Asian markets.

Kalra brings with her over 20 years of experience in driving consumer, consumer technology and marketing practices ranging from a myriad of sectors, including personal care, beauty, food and beverage, fashion, and E-Commerce among others.

Before joining Reckitt India, Kalra was associated with McKinsey & Company as Partner and worked extensively across the firm’s Consumer, Consumer Technology and Marketing practices. She was also the Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Mumbai office from 2020-2023 where she spearheaded the building of the firm’s new Mumbai office. Kalra led the diversity and inclusion initiatives for McKinsey India.

Gaurav Jain, Executive Vice President, Reckitt – South Asia, said, “At Reckitt, we are consistently working towards building a healthier world and we look forward to working with Kanika in her new role to help take this vision forward. As the Indian consumer is ever evolving, Kanika’s proven ability and expertise will further help us lead our strategic marketing in a direction that meaningfully connects and resonates with our consumer base across markets.”

Kalra added "Reckitt’s impressive growth as a leading health, hygiene and nutrition company is inspiring. I am excited about working with our portfolio of iconic brands and creating new experiences that address the deepest needs of our consumers, at a time when we are all resetting the way we think about our health and that of our family and community.”

Prior to McKinsey, Kalra has worked with Snapdeal, Unilever in Personal Care, and Pepsico as well as GSK Consumer. She holds a bachelor’s degree of Arts in Mathematics from Lady Shri Ram College of Commerce, New Delhi, and a PGDM in Marketing from Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow.



Reckitt appoints Kanika Kalra as Regional Marketing Director – Health & Nutrition

Anita Goyal, wife of Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, passed away on May 16, 2024, due to cancer. Anita Goyal was the executive vice president of Jet Airways and in 2015 she took up the role of a non-executive vice president. Naresh Goyal was granted bail earlier in May by the Bombay High Court for two months on humanitarian grounds after he filed an application citing his wife’s ill-health.

A single bench of Justice NJ Jamadar granted him interim bail upon payment of a surety of Rs 1 lakh and under the condition that he will stay within the jurisdiction of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court of Mumbai. "The applicant (Goyal) shall be released on interim bail for a period of two months. He shall abide by all conditions imposed," the bench said.

The erstwhile promoter of Jet Airways has been facing trial in an alleged Rs 538 crore money laundering case involving a loan fraud complaint by PSU lender Canara Bank, after being arrested by Enforcement Directorate in September 2023. His wife too was arrested two months later after the ED submitted its chargesheet in the case.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/spicejets-turbulent-aviation-journey-explained-24596.htm">SpiceJet's turbulent aviation journey: Explained</a> 




Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal's wife Anita Goyal dies

Google chief Sundar Pichai shared his first-ever post on LinkedIn, a platform owned by Microsoft. Pichai shared, "For my first-ever LinkedIn post, I thought I’d share a sneak peek of the Shoreline Amphitheatre stage, as we put some finishing touches on our keynote for Google I/O tomorrow. Can’t wait to see those seats filled with developers from around the world who are building the next generation of AI experiences." 

He added, "Excited to join Demis Hassabis Elizabeth Reid Sissie H. James Manyika and others on stage. We'll share how our Gemini models are bringing breakthrough AI capabilities to people through our products, as well as innovation across safety, research, infrastructure…we’re going to talk about it all. Tune in if you can — 10 a.m. PT tomorrow!" 

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LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals, has more than 1 billion members and has offices around the globe. 

Earlier this month, Microsoft Corp. and LinkedIn released the 2024 Work Trend Index, a joint report on the state of AI at work titled, “AI at work is here. Now comes the hard part.” The research — based on a survey of 31,000 people across 31 countries, labor and hiring trends on LinkedIn, trillions of Microsoft 365 productivity signals, and research with Fortune 500 customers — shows how, just one year in, AI is influencing the way people work, lead and hire around the world. 

Microsoft also announced new capabilities in Copilot for Microsoft 365, and LinkedIn made free more than 50 learning courses for LinkedIn Premium subscribers designed to empower professionals at all levels to advance their AI aptitude.

“AI is democratizing expertise across the workforce,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “Our latest research highlights the opportunity for every organization to apply this technology to drive better decision-making, collaboration — and ultimately business outcomes.”

Sundar Pichai's first-ever LinkedIn post: What did the Google boss say?

Firstpost has issued an alert about fraudulent ads involving the misuse of the name and image of its Managing Editor, Palki Sharma by cyber criminals. Individuals have been deceived through false ads on social media, particularly Facebook and Instagram, claiming to offer stock market courses by Palki Sharma.

Bringing attention to the false ads, Palki Sharma posted on X and alerted the users. In her post, she said, “This is a scam. A lot of you have shared these posts with me in the last few days. (Thanks for flagging!) My photos are being misused and such fraudulent ads are being circulated on Facebook. Despite complaints, @Meta has not taken action.”

Palki Sharma does not provide any investment advice or stock market course through WhatsApp or any other social media platform. She is not associated with any group offering stock recommendations or financial advice, and people are urged to exercise caution and report any suspicious activities immediately.

To avoid falling victim to such fraud, it is recommended to ignore advice from unknown sources, verify information from official sources, and maintain secure practices for personal and financial transactions. It is important not to trust any information shared through unofficial channels and sources. In case of any suspicious activity, Firstpost advises people to report it to the appropriate authorities immediately.

For further information and to report fraudulent activities, please visit <a href="https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/">www.cybercrime.gov.in</a> or contact the helpline number – 1930 or the cyber cell of the local police department.

<strong>Link to the post on X:</strong> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is a scam. A lot of you have shared these posts with me in the last few days. (Thanks for flagging!)<br>My photos are being misused and such fraudulent ads are being circulated on Facebook. Despite complaints, <a href="https://twitter.com/Meta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Meta</a> has not taken action. <a href="https://t.co/B5zkQkDwGH">pic.twitter.com/B5zkQkDwGH</a></p>&mdash; Palki Sharma (@palkisu) <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu/status/1787546496956596362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Scam alert! Fake ads impersonating Palki Sharma of Firstpost

Games24x7 announced the elevation of Tridib Mukherjee to the position of Chief Data Science & AI Officer. In his new role, Tridib will continue to drive Games24x7's data-centric approach, leveraging his extensive expertise in data science and artificial intelligence to drive innovation and enhance user experiences.

Having served as the Vice President of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Games24x7 for over six years, Tridib played a pivotal role in implementing cutting-edge algorithms and AI-driven solutions that propelled Games24x7 to the forefront of the online gaming industry. Tridib will continue to spearhead data science & AI teams and enable product teams to create personalized and engaging experiences for players.

Commenting on the announcement, Bhavin Pandya, Co-CEO and Co-founder, Games24x7 said, “Our scientific approach to running business really goes all the way back to our inception and has been the primary force behind our success. We are delighted to announce Tridib's promotion to Chief Data Science & AI Officer. With his expertise and the exceptional talent of our AI and data science team, which has grown significantly over the past five years, we've continuously raised the bar when it comes to offering personalised gameplay experiences including responsible gaming.  We are confident that the organization will continue this tradition of innovation under his leadership, and we wish him the very best as he spearheads our data-driven journey to new heights.”

Tridib Mukherjee, now the Chief Data Science & AI Officer, Games24x7 said, “At Games24x7, we have always worked for the players and our operating ethos of 'Science of Gaming' has been the guiding principle behind every decision we make. Over the past six years, I've had the privilege of working alongside an incredibly talented team dedicated to advancing the frontiers of gaming through the lens of data science. And I look forward to many more years of collaboration and innovation as we continue our mission of leveraging technology to create even more engaging and enjoyable gaming experiences for our users.”

With over two decades of experience and a distinguished academic background, including a PhD in Computer Science & Engineering from Arizona State University, Tridib Mukherjee is uniquely positioned to lead Games24x7's data science initiatives to new heights. His prolific record as an author of over 70 research papers and multiple patents in AI and data sciences reflects his deep expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and more. The talented team at Games24x7, along with Tridib's leadership and award-winning contributions, positions the organization to shape the future direction of the industry and deliver unparalleled gaming experiences to its users.

Games24x7 elevates Tridib Mukherjee as Chief Data Science & AI Officer

Unilever's Chief People and Transformation Officer, Nitin Paranjpe, took to LinkedIn to share a story about defying self-doubt and finding unexpected joys in embracing a personal challenge, even if the results are... well, let's just say entertaining.


“I am musically challenged. I struggle with rhythm; I don’t have any natural talent. Around twenty years ago, I decided to test this. I wanted to see, if you are challenged in a particular field, what can you do with effort and discipline,” he said in his post.


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Almost 20 years ago Paranjpe found someone to teach him the keyboard. “If you want to know the outcome of that study, I still play badly. That’s  how I challenged I am,” he said.


But then it was still a win for him because he always thought he wouldn't be able to string together a tune even if he was given the notes. Paranjpe goes on about his tryst with music. 


He didn’t find a lot of success in his learning story but definitely found joy. “Anyone who listens to me today could well say-My god! After so many years you still suck,” he said.


And to that he’d say, “Yeah, and that's okay. You have no idea where I was compared to where I am now.”  Paranjpe ended the note with a profound thought. He said, “What started off purely as a challenge has turned out to be a lot of fun.”


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/hul-appoints-vipul-mathur-as-executive-director-personal-care-takes-over-from-madhusudhan-rao-30619.htm">HUL appoints Vipul Mathur as Executive Director, Personal Care</a> 



Unilever’s Nitin Paranjpe shares an endearing story about his lack of musical talent

The marketing industry plays a dynamic role in influencing consumer behaviour and fostering economic growth. After the grand success of the first two editions of Storyboard18 Visionaries, held in Gurugram and Bengaluru, the program is now gearing up to be in the city of marketing and creative excellence, Mumbai. 


The third edition of Visionaries to be held on Friday, April 26th will witness some of the biggest names in brand marketing come together to celebrate the brilliance of marketing mavens.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/sustainability-at-heart-and-purpose-defines-the-path-diageos-hina-nagarajan-24779.htm">Sustainability at heart and purpose defines the path: Diageo India's Hina Nagarajan</a> 


Storyboard18 Visionaries celebrates luminaries from the world of brands and marketing who have disrupted and revolutionised the way we approach media and advertising. The Visionaries is a one of its kind platform that presents opportunities for the sharpest minds in the business to convene, celebrate excellence and exchange ideas that power growth. It is a night of gala celebration shaping the future of marketing in India.


The city chapters of Visionaries aim to bring together meaningful conversations, spotlighting path-breaking achievements and future gazing strategies.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/storyboard18-visionaries-britannias-varun-berry-shares-leadership-lessons-24840.htm">Storyboard18 Visionaries: Britannia's Varun Berry shares leadership lessons</a> 


The Mumbai event promises to be an evening to remember, with the coming together of iconic leaders and new-age marketers. The event will feature a keynote address by Bharat Puri, CEO, Pidilite Industries and a special address by Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India Pvt Ltd. The evening will spotlight leading marketers from a wide-range of brands including HDFC Bank, P&G, Mercedes, Hindustan Unilever, Visa, L'Oreal, Mondelez, Spotify, UltraTech and Mahindra Group, among others. It will also feature engaging conversations with Nishant Kalra, Country Vice President, Salesforce, and MVS Murthy, CMO, Federal Bank, among others. The Visionaries programme for CXOs and executives brings a ringside view into ways of shaping consumer behaviour.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/storyboard18-visionaries-bengaluru-chapter-blockbuster-celebration-of-marketing-brilliance-24771.htm">Storyboard18 Visionaries - Bengaluru chapter: Blockbuster celebration of marketing brilliance</a> 


The Visionaries programme for CXOs and executives provides unparalleled insights of how the best and brightest function in complex times. So, meet us at the point where cutting-edge ideas and visionary leaders who are changing our approach to media, marketing and advertising, converge to power transformation.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/the-visionaries">The Visionaries</a> 


Storyboard18 Visionaries Mumbai Edition is here!: Join the celebration of marketing mavens

One of the most important antitrust cases in history is being considered in a federal court in the US. The Department of Justice has alleged that Google is a monopoly that abuses its power over the internet by striking anticompetitive deals for prime placement of its search engine, while Google contends its dominant market share is the result of a superior product.

It’s the biggest tech antitrust trial ever and comes as its multiplicative impact could go far beyond Google. The fate of Google’s search business is now in the hands of Judge Amit Mehta, as closing arguments concluded in the landmark trial. It will also lead to a direct impact on the app economy.

Google has grown continuously in the past 25 years from its founding. In terms of revenue, valuation and most importantly, active engagement with consumers, it has come to define big.

Google’s problems are bigger than just the antitrust case in discovering its next era as a corporate leader. Googlers have always prided themselves on solving the toughest problems in computer science. The money was more a consequence than the target.

<strong>Dominating the internet</strong>

The Google brand is its most precious asset. Its many businesses all feed back to the brand. Its culture is deeply identified with the brand.

Therefore, if the big idea would be for Google to become a data fiduciary like a bank is with our money, no amount of encryption will help if the brand is rendered weaker. It has the clout to aspire thus.

Daily, billions of people around the world query on Google Search, email with Gmail or use Google Maps to get to their destination.

The tech giant dominates the internet economy. It has consistently spent more than almost any other group or company on lobbying. Its business expansion has been fuelled also by buying hundreds of firms.

In 2023, it generated $307 billion in revenue, larger than the GDP of Finland, Qatar, and Peru. Its revenue taken as equivalent to GDP would place it on rank 45 in the list of nations.

A ruling against it would limit Google’s search empire. The modus operandi of paying billions to secure prime placement for its search bar on Apple’s iPhones or other web browsers would become a thing of the past.

Potentially, it would be forced to sell off the Chrome browser and open up competition to other search engines.

The fundamental question is whether Google stifled competition and hence harmed consumer interest by becoming the default search engine through deals with phone makers and internet browsers.

The Justice Department case has a reputational impact that Google did not keep its monopoly via great innovation and search, but through dealmaking that effectively made it difficult for any competition search engine to thrive.

Two extenuating circumstances may come to Google’s aid – one that the definition of search itself is broad: it happens on Amazon, Spotify, and TikTok. Secondly, it claims that the literal contracts with Apple, Firefox or Samsung are not actually exclusive, but still render it as a default.

If the ruling is that Google isn’t a monopoly, it will demolish the arguments of the state and many others who say Big Tech has grown too powerful. That will apply in mutant versions to all including Amazon and Apple.

In any case, there is likely to be some injunctive relief in case the ruling restricts itself to the nature of the contracts, and that, going forward, such contracts cannot be entered into.

However, when the state went after Microsoft in an anti-trust investigation, it had tried to break it up. So, potentially the government could ask Google to stop certain practices, direct it to divest businesses, or order its break up into separate entities. Google competitors have accused it of branding its power to suppress competition links to travel, maps, and reviews, among others.

Let’s understand the Google world.

<strong>Google has nine products with more than a billion users each.</strong>

1. Google search — 4.9 billion users

Google is the world’s most important search engine, and it truly dominates the space, controlling 92 percent of the market, which equates to 4.9 billion people (data from StatCounter and the International Telecommunications Union).

This is the business at the core of the government’s allegations.

Microsoft’s Bing comes in second with a paltry 3 percent. Google is the world’s No. 1 site, with more than 86 billion visits a month, according to internet data provider Similarweb.

Now Google has begun putting AI-generated answer summaries, which are trained on content scraped from the web, at the top of search results for more of its users. That could squeeze publishers who rely on traffic from Google for their survival.

2. Chrome — With 3.4 billion users

Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser. The vast majority of desktop computers and a huge portion of mobile phones have Chrome as the default browser. This is how Google gets the ability to keep its search engine front and centre, but also allows it to track people all over the internet, giving it incredible amounts of granular data on online behaviour, especially when it comes to advertising and e-commerce.

This edged out Microsoft Explorer or Mozilla’s Firefox. Microsoft’s new browser, Edge, is built off a version of Chrome.

3. Android 

More than 3 billion people use smartphones running Google’s Android operating system, the company said in 2021. That is around 70 percent of all the smartphones in the world.

Apple’s iOS is a distant second at 28.5 percent. Android has become the default operating system for most of the world’s phones, hence Google can put its other services, including Search, Maps, YouTube and its app store, in front of billions of people.

4. Google Play Store

Around 2.5 billion people use Google’s version of the app store every month, making it much bigger than Apple’s app store. The Play Store lets Google charge a commission on every app sold as well as get a cut of transactions made through those apps.

Android phones, unlike iPhones, don’t require apps to be downloaded through the official app store, and in China, numerous other app stores exist. Elsewhere, using an Android phone means going through Google to get your apps.

5. YouTube

Google’s online video service is a behemoth in its own right, with 2 billion users, according to the company. YouTube says 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. It’s an entertainment site, quasi social media platform and video archive rolled into one.

If you added the run time of all 454 feature films released in the US in 2022, at an average of two hours per film, you’d get about 900 hours of content. That is less than everything uploaded to YouTube in two minutes.

6. Google Workspace — 3 billion users

Google’s archenemy is Microsoft, and the company has for years worked to compete with Microsoft’s core products — its productivity suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Though Google still hasn’t dethroned those products, its own tools have grown rapidly over the years, benefiting from being bundled into other Google services such as Gmail.

At the end of 2022, Google said its Workspace apps, which include Docs, Sheets and Google Drive, had more than 3 billion users.

7. Gmail

Google was late to the email arena, where Yahoo, Hotmail and others had exhausted themselves fighting. It offered larger amounts of free storage than its competitors, it quickly began winning over customers with features and ubiquity.

Now, Gmail is the undisputed king of the email world, with 1.8 billion users. Google now makes people pay for storage leading to a huge source of revenue for the company.

Google also makes money from Gmail by placing ads in it. It is in control of the rules that dictate which emails end up in users’ primary inboxes and which are sent to the spam folder.

8. Google Photos

Google’s photo-storage app grew to a billion users just four years after launching in 2015. It benefited from being wrapped into Google Drive and as a default photo-storage tool on Android phones. But the app is hugely popular with iPhone users, too, thanks to Google’s offer of large amounts of free storage.

Now, millions of people pay Google monthly just to preserve the photos they have stored in the tool, providing a significant extra boost to revenue. Google Photos is also a major proving ground for the company’s AI tools.

9. Google Maps

Google was also late to the map game, with rivals like MapQuest already running major businesses when it first came on the scene. But the company gradually took over the space, and now it’s the tool people predominantly use to navigate the real world.

Google crossed a billion monthly users in 2012, and the company’s user base in the space has only grown since then. Even on iPhones, where Apple has tried for years to get people to use its own default maps app, many people still download Google Maps and use it exclusively.

Maps soon turned into a huge reviews site, shaking the businesses of such companies as Yelp and Tripadvisor, and putting Google into competition with a whole different set of companies. Like most of Google’s businesses, Maps is also an advertising platform.

<strong>Big Tech’s grip</strong>

Google’s parent company Alphabet is an organisation in the middle of momentous change. It is at the centre of the socio-cultural debate on Big Tech. While lawmakers and trustbusters scrutinise abuses of its market dominance in online-search-and-advertising technology, the very same businesses are maturing and not fuelling endless growth. Monopoly or not, could its base effect in revenue and profitability become its bigger headache?

Google argues that the internet is a lot bigger than it is and that companies like Amazon, Netflix, TikTok and OpenAI are all competing with it for people’s time, attention and money.

We are seeing a real focus in Europe and the US in weakening the grip of Big Tech on the economy, especially with reference to the internet.

It’s a very important judgement in the history of brands and businesses.

Watch this space.

<strong>Shubhranshu Singh is VP and CMO, Tata Motors CVBU. He writes Simply Speaking, a special column on Storyboard18. Views expressed are personal.</strong>

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/excel-that-is-the-powerpoint-of-it-read-shubhranshu-singhs-take-on-how-excel-forever-changed-business-and-marketing-31399.htm">Read more: Excel - That is the powerpoint of it: Read Shubhranshu Singh's take on how Excel forever changed business and marketing</a>


Go Google or Google Gone? Fate of search business in judge’s hands: Shubhranshu Singh's 'Simply Speaking'

Bodhi Tree Multimedia Ltd. (BTML), a content production company in India has entered into an agreement with Disney-Star for a new show to be streamed on the Disney-Hotstar platform. The show, currently under production, is an adaptation of the popular Turkish series, Ezel. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Disney-Star on this new show, which promises to be a thrilling and engaging adaptation of a beloved international format,” said Mautik Tolia , Founder Director & CEO of Bodhi Tree Multimedia. “This deal is a testament to our team’s ability to create high-quality content that resonates with audiences across platforms..”

Founded in 2013, BTML specializes in content production for television, films, and digital platforms. The company has produced over 35 shows in multiple languages across various genres, garnering significant viewership and critical acclaim. BTML is committed to creating engaging and innovative content that reflects the diversity of India's cultural landscape.

The European Union suspended the broadcasting activities of four more media outlets (Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta) in the EU or directed at the EU, in view of their role supporting and justifying Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. 

Russia has engaged in continuous and concerted propaganda as well as information manipulation actions targeted at civil society in the EU and neighbouring countries, gravely distorting and manipulating facts, the EU commission said in a statement. It added, these propaganda actions have been channelled through a number of media outlets under the permanent direct or indirect control of the leadership of the Russian Federation. Such actions constitute a significant and direct threat to the Union's public order and security. Adding that the risk to our democratic societies – and the integrity of the upcoming European as well as national elections – has intensified. 

The latest measures are "a forceful response to that."  

The sanctions do not target freedom of opinion. They include specific safeguards for freedom of expression and journalistic activities. The measures do not prevent the sanctioned outlets and their staff from carrying out other activities in the Union other than broadcasting, such as research and interviews. 

The commission's statement said the measures should be maintained until the aggression against Ukraine is put to an end, and until the Russian Federation and its associated outlets cease to conduct disinformation and information manipulation actions against the EU and its Member States.  

EU's new sanctions against disinformation; bans 4 more Russian media outlets from broadcasting in the bloc

On May 17, MRF ended its partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC). MRF was a partner of the ICC for eight years and ended it just two weeks prior to the T20 World Cup. 



MRF’s move comes as other premium sponsors of the ICC too are contemplating their association, according to a report on CricketNext. Reports also suggest that sponsors are unhappy with the current management of international cricket and are currently reevaluating their partnerships with the ICC. MRF has officially withdrawn.



Excluding DP World and Aramco who are yet to express concerns regarding the ongoing partnership with the ICC, most of the other sponsors are figuring out their returns on the investment or working on an exit strategy.



Partners evaluating their stance is understandable given that the T20 World Cup is being played in a time zone that is not suitable for their interests, with the earliest match starting at 8pm IST. Additionally, the ICC’s very dull build-up hasn’t helped either, reported CricketNext. 



There has been no formal announcement of a new global sponsor from the ICC. A decision is likely to be made on the same at the end of the T20 World Cup. 



MRF ends partnership with ICC ahead of T20 World Cup; Other premium partners reconsider sponsorship

The Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition that asked for the registration of criminal cases against Indian celebrities Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay kumar and Sunil Gavaskar for advertising tobacco and gutka products. 

The petitioner had approached the court without doing proper research and the petition itself was improperly filed, said a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif S Doctor. 

The court warned the petitioner Yash Foundation, an NGO and asked them to be careful in filing such a petition in the future, else be prepared to face consequences. 

When asked by the court about the action taken by the petitioner for filing an FIR on surrogate advertising of tobacco products, the NGO responded that one advocate written to the state’s police and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to take necessary action. 

"When we peruse the averments made in the PIL petition, what we find is that not even a single act amounting to offences as narrated in the letter is mentioned to have been committed by the private respondents. By impleading certain celebrities in different walks of life in the society, the petitioner appears to be seeking publicity instead of taking the issue with expected seriousness," said the court. 

In its plea, the NGO said that it was the misfortune of the nation that such superstars whom the society idealises, are promoting such advertisements and allegedly jeopardising the health and wellbeing of people, especially the youth and children who view these celebrities in high regard.  


YouTube CEO Neal Mohan highlighted how viewers are watching YouTube on the big screen, how YouTube using AI to expand creativity and more. He said at Brandcast, "I’ve never been more excited to see what comes next at YouTube!" Mohan discussed the growing influence and reach of creators and how they are driving growth in YouTube viewing on connected TV. It was creator-heavy pitch to advertisers with key announcements. Check them here. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/youtube-to-use-google-ai-to-place-non-skippable-ads-into-ctvs-31694.htm">Read more: YouTube to use Google AI to place non-skippable ads into CTVs</a>

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/youtube-offers-a-new-creator-takeover-ad-format-31691.htm">Read more: YouTube offers a new creator takeover ad format</a>

Mohan said, “Creators are drawing audiences on the big screen because they’re the new Hollywood. They have business strategies, writers’ rooms, and production teams. They’re reimagining classic TV genres, from morning shows to sports commentary. And they’re inventing entirely new ones.”

Creators are redefining what we think of as ‘TV’, Mohan added, and "they deserve the same acclaim as other creative professionals. I believe it’s time a creator won an Emmy.”

[caption id="attachment_32041" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/05/Untitled-design-2024-05-20T103832.767-2024-05-903279704f55b3e47bab5ff7538a7d36.jpg" alt="Neal Mohan's key takeaways from YouTube Brandcast" width="1280" height="720" class="size-full wp-image-32041" /> Neal Mohan's key takeaways from YouTube Brandcast[/caption]


[caption id="attachment_32042" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/05/Untitled-design-2024-05-20T104040.111-2024-05-e6da2d04f64e565d888b1c4c07a09f4d.jpg" alt="Neal Mohan's key takeaways from YouTube Brandcast" width="1280" height="720" class="size-full wp-image-32042" /> Neal Mohan's key takeaways from YouTube Brandcast[/caption]


[caption id="attachment_32043" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/05/Untitled-design-2024-05-20T104202.805-2024-05-a367df17fa19ab08602cc81b9f7e35c5.jpg" alt="Neal Mohan's key takeaways from YouTube Brandcast" width="1280" height="720" class="size-full wp-image-32043" /> Neal Mohan's key takeaways from YouTube Brandcast[/caption]


[caption id="attachment_32044" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/05/Untitled-design-2024-05-20T104347.133-2024-05-ca6e72ab5d2f4554ab0d7e5a2d89fd53.jpg" alt="Neal Mohan&#039;s key takeaways from YouTube Brandcast" width="1280" height="720" class="size-full wp-image-32044" /> Neal Mohan's key takeaways from YouTube Brandcast[/caption]

Neal Mohan, YouTube CEO: Creators are the new Hollywood

Zee Entertainment’s MD and CEO Punit Goenka is nearing the end of his term in December 2024. With over 15 years at the helm, he’s the company’s longest serving CEO. However there hasn’t been any discussion with shareholders about his reappointment. At the FY 2024 Q4 earnings call on Friday May 17 Goenka said the decision on whether he continues in this role will ultimately be theirs. 

Under his leadership, Zee has navigated various industry challenges and opportunities. Goenka and his father Subhash Chandra who is also the chairman emeritus of the chairman are currently under investigation by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) on allegations of financial misconduct.

On August 14 2023, shortly after the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) approved the $10 billion  Zee-Sony merger, SEBI issued an order barring Zee promoters Punit Goenka and Subhash Chandra from taking on significant management positions within Zee companies or the newly merged entity with Sony. However, on October 30, the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) overturned SEBI's decision to prohibit Goenka from holding any managerial positions in listed companies for a year.

Even after SEBI’s order and other ongoing legal proceedings Zee promoters continued to express confidence in the merger deal that ultimately collapsed in January 2024. 

Ever since, the company has been through a tough time seeing restructuring, layoffs and strengthening of strategic focus.

<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/zee-charts-new-course-after-sony-merger-collapse-restructuring-cost-cuts-and-strategic-focus-28552.htm">ZEE's restructuring, layoffs, strategic focus; Punit Goenka charts a new course after Sony-merger collapse</a> 

While the financials for the December quarter of FY24 were being announced, Goenka mentioned chalking out a firm and structured plan to bring back margins. According to his plan the company’s forward looking plan would be centred around three key aspects of frugality, optimisation and sharp focus on quality content.

Cut to months later, at the earning call of the FY 24 Q4 results, Goenka again emphasised on frugality. According to him, the need of the hour is to pivot to business to achieve a balanced cost structure in order to achieve sustained long term growth.

<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/television/zees-punit-goenka-we-have-to-be-frugal-make-sure-of-buying-right-content-at-the-right-price-31942.htm">ZEE's Punit Goenka: We have to be frugal, make sure of buying right content at the right price </a>

"With that backdrop we are looking at every element of the business with the lens of improving the overall performance. As a result we expect some short term aberration in digital business financial performance."

The next quarter, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) reported a net profit of Rs. 13.35 crore for the quarter that ended March 2024. During the same quarter last year, ZEEL reported a loss of Rs. 196 crore.The company disclosed a total income of Rs 2185.29 crore. This is an increase from Rs. 2126.35 crore that the company reported a year ago during the same period.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/zeel-reports-profit-of-rs-13-35-crore-in-q4fy24-31910.htm">ZEEL reports profit of Rs.13.35 crore in Q4FY24</a>


While the company’s board and shareholders face a crucial decision that could impact the direction of the company, stakeholders are keenly watching for any indications, strategic shifts  or continuity plans. 



Over-the-top (OTT) communication apps such as WhatsApp, X, Facebook, Instagram and Signal may come under a regulatory regime as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) mulls recommendations on whether they need to be regulated or not. In a recently passed telecom act, the government had kept these services out of the regulatory regime. 

In July 2023, TRAI released a consultation paper on the regulatory mechanism for OTT communication services and selective banning after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) asked the agency to reconsider its 2020 recommendations. Back then, the telecom regulator had proposed that OTT services need not be regulated. But it had said it would relook at the issue later.

Newly appointed Chairman, Anil Kumar Lahoti was speaking at a symposium on 'Strengthening Atmanirbhar: Securing domestic industry and technology', this week. He was quoted as saying the regulator will proceed with the process of holding open house discussions in around three months or so, according to a Times Of India report. "I know, we have an ongoing consultation on OTT communication. It is just that in last few months we are burning the midnight oil, clearing the number of references pending with us, and OTT communication is also in the line," he said. 

The report added that Lahoti dismissed the suggestion on whether the telecom act has rendered OTT communication consultation paper infructuous. Lahoti said, "No, it is not like that."

As per the TOI report, Lahoti said, “The OTT consultation was initiated after the recommendation of a parliamentary committee so this consultation will be completed, and we will give our recommendations… which act it becomes a part of and which ministry or which regulator deals with it, is a separate matter.”

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/ott-news/trai-to-conduct-open-house-on-recommendations-on-regulatory-mechanism-for-ott-apps-31923.htm">Read more: TRAI to conduct open house on recommendations on regulatory mechanism for OTT apps</a>


TRAI to mull views on regulations for apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Instagram

On May 17, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) reported a net profit of Rs. 13.35 crore of the quarter that ended March 2024. During the same quarter last year, ZEEL reported a loss of Rs. 196 crore. The company reported a profit of Rs. 58.5 crore in the third quarter of FY24.

The company disclosed a total income of Rs 2185.29 crore. This is an increase from Rs. 2126.35 crore that the company reported a year ago during the same period. In FY24, Zee's ad revenue was marginally down to Rs 4057.7 crore from Rs 4057.9 crore.

ZEEL’s advertising revenue was disclosed to be Rs. 1110.2 crore compared to Rs. 1005.8 crore in the fourth quarter of FY23.

“Domestic advertising revenue for the quarter grew by 10.6 percent YoY driven by the continued recovery in macro advertising environment and spending pickup by FMCG clients,” the company said in its statement.

In an earnings call, CEO and MD Punit Goenka emphasized "frugality" again after initiating a rationalization strategy in the aftermath of the Zee-Sony merger collapse. Goenka said that the need of the hour is to pivot to business to achieve balanced cost structure in order to achieve sustained long term growth: "With that backdrop we are looking at every element of the business with the lens of improving the overall performance. As a result we expect some short term aberration in digital business financial performance." 

Zee's content inventory, advances and deposits declined by Rs 540 crore in FY24 driven by optimised acquisition and movie releases. 

Goenka said that the company has been aggressive in buying movies and originals but "there are times in situation like today when we have to be frugal and make sure of buying right content at the right price. So, we are being very cautious in what we buy and at what price. We may slowdown buying a bit but eventually when profitably improves we will deploy capital back in ZEE5 content." 

The past few month have seen ZEE cutting down the total workforce with the aim of a 15 percent reduction. Goenka has been laser-focused on cutting down cost across verticals.

During the Q4 FY24 earnings call, Goenka said, "We believe that our (OTT) platform is built to compete in the market with the best form. There can be improvements but we didn't need this level of people. We are confident that the team that remains is capable of taking the growth plans forward." 

Goenka added that the last few months have been intense as they took several tough decisions "in the interest of the company": "We have streamlined a strong team across the business. In line with the lateral structure implemented by the company we have entrusted several of our talented team members with higher levels of responsibilities to encourage more cross functional collaboration, quick decision making and ideation." 

ZEE saw improving advertising environment in Q4 2024, it said, as domestic advertising revenue for the quarter grew by 10.6 percent YoY driven by the continued recovery in macro advertising environment and spending pickup by FMCG clients. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/zeel-reports-profit-of-rs-13-35-crore-in-q4fy24-31910.htm">Read more: ZEEL reports profit of Rs.13.35 crore in Q4FY24</a>


ZEE's Punit Goenka: We have to be frugal, make sure of buying right content at the right price

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has introduced Film Facilitation Office (FFO), an online portal facilitating effortless transactions for filmmakers. Offering a comprehensive 360-degree solution, FFO extends a seamless experience, from securing permits to accessing stunning locales, informed Secretary of Ministry of I&B, Shri Sanjay Jaju, at the Cannes Film Festival.


He further shared that under FFO’s incentive scheme, up to 4 million USD will be offered to foreign film producers. The scheme ensures a streamlined process and guarantees funding, providing a comprehensive package of incentives.


India hosted the first ever Bharat Parva, an evening to celebrate the rich culture, cuisine, and handicrafts of India along with Indian cinema at the French Riviera at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. Organised by NFDC in association with FICCI under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, the event was said to be filled with the celebration of film, culture, and artistic collaboration with India's soft power at display on the global stage.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/industry-leaders-meet-trai-chairman-to-address-concerns-on-broadcasting-and-cable-services-regulatory-framework-29706.htm">Industry leaders meet TRAI chairman to address concerns on broadcasting and cable services’ regulatory framework</a> 

Aditya Kanthy to lead Omnicom Advertising Services in India

The respective creative agencies within the group – DDB, BBDO and TBWA – will maintain their current branding in the Indian market.

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