SEBI cracks down on unregistered finfluencers, but loopholes remain

Modenik Lifestyle ups ad spends by 25 percent; to double revenue growth in three years

Warner Bros. Discovery threatens legal action against NBA over media rights

Meta ordered to delete AI-generated photographs of public individuals

Esports industry divided over forming anti-poaching body

Representational image via Unsplash

Relief for advertisers as MIB restricts SDC for ads to food and health sectors only

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

Paris Olympics to garner 150 million viewership on Digital, 120 million on Linear TV

Publicis Groupe to acquire Influential for $500 million

Google has a new competitor - SearchGPT by OpenAI

News influencers to be called 'digital news broadcasters', proposes new draft of Broadcasting Bill

Piyush Pandey

SC directs MIB to file affidavit within three weeks with recommendations on SDC | Ampverse shuts 7Sea Esports

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Quick-commerce players' ad revenue stream grows; a key investment focus for advertisers

FSSAI cancels licences of 111 spice producers due to high levels of ethylene oxide found in samples

The CRED Point: Relying on advertising virality without product virality?

Time to 'Share The Spotlight': Storyboard18's one-of-a-kind initiative to bring together women sparking change

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

Shekhar Kapur known for films such as ''Mr India'', ''Bandit Queen'', and ''Elizabeth'', has been appointed festival director for the International Film Festival of India.

Kapur will lead the 55th and 56th editions of the Goa-based festival, which is conducted yearly, according to a statement from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

"With the approval of the Competent Authority, it has been decided to appoint Shri Shekhar Kapur as the Festival Director for the 55th and 56th editions of the International Film Festival of India, Goa," the notification stated.

Kapur, 78, is an iconic name in Indian cinema and one of the first directors to make a name for himself in Hollywood with his films "Elizabeth" and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."

He has directed films such as ''Masoom'', ''Mr India'', and ''Bandit Queen'' in India.

He most recently directed the British comedy ''What's Love Got to Do with It? Kapur was the chairperson of the International Competition Jury at the 54th IFFI.

He also chaired the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune from 2020 to 2023.

Shekhar Kapur appointed festival director for International Film Festival of India

Swiggy's quick commerce vertical, Swiggy Instamart has appointed Himavant Srikrishna Kurnala as Senior Vice President (SVP) and Head of Product. 

Before this Kurnala was Chief Product Officer for JioMart where he oversaw Product, Program, Design, Analytics, and Marketplace trust functions.

Kurnala has also worked with companies like Amazon and Microsoft in his more than 20-year-long career.

Separately, Mayank Rajvaidya has joined as the Vice President (VP) of Fruits & Vegetables at Swiggy Instamart. Rajvaidya previously led Amazon’s Consumables Private Brands in India, where he expanded Amazon Pantry to over 300 cities.

Additionally, Manu Sasidharan joined Swiggy Instamart as Associate Vice President (AVP) of the FMCG Category. He has over 12 years of experience, predominantly in the e-commerce sector. Previously with Flipkart and Clertrip, Sasidharan was responsible for business development, setting up businesses, PnL management, and customer demand management.

The online food delivery platform has also appointed Kumar Rahul as AVP of development for Lynk. Rahul previously worked at Google, Disney+Hotstar, and Flipkart.

Swiggy announces three appointments for Swiggy Instamart

Everstone Group on Wednesday appointed Sujoy Bose as Chief Executive Officer-Investment Management. According to the investment group, Bose will spearhead capital formation, deal sourcing, fund governance, and ESG and impact initiatives. Bose's responsibilities also include managing capital-raising efforts, strengthening relationships with Limited Partners (LPs), and enhancing the firm’s deal flow across various sectors. 

"I am delighted to join the Everstone Group, one of the few home-grown and resilient multi-asset class fund managers in Emerging Markets, at a moment when it is on the verge of a significant growth phase.  There are several aspects of Everstone’s investment approach that I find exciting, including, its focus on India".


"I look forward to contributing my global experience to make a meaningful impact and help take Everstone to the next level," Bose added.

Sameer Sain from Everstone Group said, "We are delighted to welcome Sujoy to the Everstone family. Sujoy brings a long and proven track record of leadership and success, both in India and globally".

Bose will play a role in shaping Everstone's strategic direction and investment decisions as part of the Investment Committees and Executive Committee, the investment group said.

Bose has three decades of experience in fund management, infrastructure investment, and strategic leadership. Before joining Everstone Group, he led India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) as Managing Director and CEO. Prior to NIIF, Sujoy Bose spent 23 years at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where he held pivotal roles such as Global Co-Head of Infrastructure and Natural Resources and Chief Investment Officer of IFC Asset Management.

Everstone Group appoints Sujay Bose as CEO-Investment Management

Bajaj Electricals Ltd today announced the resignation of its Managing Director and CEO, Anuj Poddar, who shall be moving on to pursue an external opportunity. The Board has accepted his resignation while recognising and acknowledging Poddar's contributions in formulating the transformation and growth journey of the Company over the past five and a half years. His last date with the company is 30th September, 2024.

Poddar led the organisation through a tumultuous phase and has been the architect of its overhaul and turnaround, the company said. He also brought in a consumer-first approach, while driving a long-term growth strategy, it said, adding that the company achieved several significant milestones, notably becoming net-debt-free in March’22 (a first for the company), relaunching its flagship brand ‘BAJAJ’, establishing the ‘House of Brands’ architecture, expanding the portfolio with a new, premium brand (Nex), signing a long-term licensing agreement for the ‘Morphy Richards’ brand, reorganising the Lighting Solutions business, launching a slew of products to premiumise
the portfolio, rolling out a new ERP system, and attracting strong talent to the organisation.

Before joining Bajaj Electricals, Poddar was a member of the Leadership Team at Viacom18 Media Private Limited and one of its key founding team members. During his over 13 years with the company he played an integral role in the growth of the company including its foray into mass entertainment with Colors, its expansion into international territories, the acquisition and launch of its motion pictures business as well as its foray into the regional language networks business. He also led strategy for MTV Networks Asia, based out of Singapore. 

Prior to Viacom 18 Media, Poddar spent nearly a decade with Arthur Andersen and KPMG and was involved in a range of consulting, mergers & acquisitions and assurance services to a range of clients across financial services, consumer, IT & ITES and other sectors.

Bajaj Electricals Limited is a Indian Consumer Appliances and Lighting Solutions company headquartered in Mumbai with a turnover of Rs 4,641 crores (FY 24-25). It is a part of the $100 bn multinational conglomerate Bajaj Group founded by Shri Jamnalal Bajaj. The Company was established in 1938. 

Bajaj Electricals MD and CEO Anuj Poddar resigns

Founder of the stationery brand Camlin, Subash Dandekar, died at 86. Dandekar was serving as the chairman emeritus of the Kokuyo Camlin. He was ill for the past few days and took his last breath at Hinduja Hospital.

According to PTI news agency, citing family sources, Dandekar was cremated in central Mumbai on Monday, and a condolence meeting will be held on Thursday.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid his tribute to Subhash Dandekar and said that the state has lost a "grandfather figure" who has brought fame to the industries in Maharashtra.

“Subhash Dandekar not only built the Camlin industry but added colour to the lives of thousands of youths by providing employment. He gave great priority to the preservation of values,” he said.

“While growing the industry, they preserved value and people. He always insisted that labour should get dignity,” Fadnavis added.

Dandekar received several awards for his contribution to art, entrepreneurship, and social awareness. He was the recipient of the Game Changers of Maharashtra award Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dandekar is survived by his son Ashish and daughter Anagha.

Camlin founder Subash Dandekar dies at 86

Consumer appliances and lighting solutions company, Bajaj Electricals Ltd has appointed Vishal Chadha as chief operating officer of its Consumer Products Division. Chadha will join the Bajaj Group company on August 1. 

Chadha brings with him 28 years of experience across organizations like Britannia, Nokia, Snapdeal and Kohler, with functional experience in sales, category management and marketing,

An IIM-Lucknow alumnus, Chadha has been in General Management roles since 2016, first at Snapdeal where he was the Chief Business Officer, followed by a brief stint at Reliance Brands before joining Kohler as Managing Director - India and South Asia where he ran the entire India business. He has experience across FMCG, consumer devices, and e-commerce.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/bajaj-consumer-care-appoints-sanath-r-pulikkal-as-cmo-34515.htm">Read more: Bajaj Consumer Care appoints Sanath R. Pulikkal as CMO</a>

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/bajaj-auto-along-with-nitin-gadkari-launch-worlds-first-cng-motorcycle-36351.htm">Read more: Bajaj Auto along with Nitin Gadkari launch world's first CNG motorcycle</a>

Bajaj Electricals appoints Vishal Chadha as COO - Consumer Products Division

Meta has rolled back some restrictions that it had applied to former US President Donald Trump's accounts on Instagram and Facebook. The social media juggernaut had indefinitely suspended Trump's accounts following his praise of people who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. In January 2023, Meta ended the suspension of Trump’s accounts with new guardrails to deter repeat offenses. 

Former President Trump, as the nominee of the Republican Party, will no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties, Meta said in an updated blog post on July 12, 2024. 

The big tech firm said, "Today we are making a change to the updated protocol we announced in January 2023. To ensure people can hear from political candidates on our platforms, we will review accounts subject to this protocol on a periodic basis to determine whether heightened suspension penalties for Community Standards violations remain appropriate. We will make this determination by weighing our responsibility, as outlined by the Oversight Board, to “allow political expression” against our responsibility “to avoid serious risks to other human rights.”

It added in the blog post, "With the party conventions taking place shortly, including the Republican convention next week, the candidates for President of the United States will soon be formally nominated. In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis. As a result, former President Trump, as the nominee of the Republican Party, will no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties. In reaching this conclusion, we also considered that these penalties were a response to extreme and extraordinary circumstances, and have not had to be deployed. All US Presidential candidates remain subject to the same Community Standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including those policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence." 

Meta rolls back restrictions applied on Donald Trump's Instagram and Facebook accounts

Billionaire Elon Musk has donated to a super political action committee working to elect Donald Trump to the White House, a Bloomberg report stated, claiming that the move is "a major gambit by the world’s richest person to make his imprint on the US political landscape." 

The report doesn't state the exact size of the contribution to the low-profile Super PAC called America PAC, except to say that it is sizeable. 

The Tesla boss and owner of X (formerly known as Twitter) has yet to publicly endorse a candidate in the 2024 US Presidential race. "...but his decision to open his pocketbook presents an opportunity for him to become a financial juggernaut for Republicans," the Bloomberg report stated.  

A political action committee (PAC) in the US is a tax-exempt 527 organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. 

Super PACs (independent expenditure only political committees) are committees that may receive unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor unions and other PACs for the purpose of financing independent expenditures and other independent political activity.

In May this year, Musk tweeted in support of Trump hours after he became the first US president to be convicted of a crime when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

“Indeed, great damage was done today to the public’s faith in the American legal system. If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter – motivated by politics, rather than justice – then anyone is at risk of a similar fate,” Musk posted on X. 

Billionaire Elon Musk opens his wallet for Donald Trump's campaign in US prez race

Nikon India is planning to leverage the festive season in the country to enhance its revenue growth. The camera and imaging equipment maker expects a revenue growth of 10-12 percent compared to last year. India’s festive season generates around 35 percent of revenue for Nikon India due to high demand. Despite the growth, Nikon India has no plans to set up manufacturing units in India and will continue importing cameras and imaging equipment.

Nikon India recently expanded its mirrorless camera range with the launch of the latest Z6III full-frame mirrorless camera in India. Currently, mirrorless lenses and mirrorless bodies constitute 80 percent of Nikon India’s product sales. Against the backdrop of this launch, Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India, spoke to Storyboard18 and said, “We as a brand are looking at almost 10-12 percent growth in terms of absolute value. In our country, mainly winter weddings are the biggest seasonal period which starts just after Diwali. There is also festive demand by August which starts onwards from Onam.”

Nikon India generates around 35 percent of its revenue during festive seasons. Kumar said, “We see a lot of demand during Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja as well. We see an upward tick during wildlife seasons and we are expecting that this coming wedding period will be really good."

Today multiple companies have set up manufacturing units in India while Nikon India continues to import camera and imaging equipment. When asked if Nikon India has any plans to set up manufacturing plants in India, Kumar said, “No, not at this stage. Currently, our absolute numbers or customer base is too small for this industry to set up a manufacturing unit."

He further said, “Looking at the demand in our country and our population I think this number is small. Yes, that offers a lot of opportunity but that I think we need to see. But currently we don't have any plans (to set up a manufacturing unit).”

According to a Mordor Intelligence report, the global digital camera market size is estimated at USD 5.39 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 6.83 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.85 percent during the forecast period (2024-2029). The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth due to the current photography trend in Asia-Pacific which fuels the desire for digital cameras. Photography has grown more user-friendly and economical, supporting the region's demand for digital cameras.

India ranks number 4 in terms of revenue contribution to Nikon Corporation. Talking about the market share, Sajjan Kumar said, “Currently we have a 30 percent market share in India and we are expecting a growth of 2 percent. Nikon India achieved Rs 973 crore revenue last year and this year we are looking to clock around Rs 1050 crore.”

Elaborating on the global revenue contribution, Kumar said, “Globally, only in the imaging segment of Nikon, India is number 4. Our contribution should be around 4-5 percent to the global revenue contribution to Nikon Corporation. The major countries which contribute to Nikon are the US, China, Germany, and India. At times we are very close to the numbers with Germany.”

Nikon India entered the healthcare segment which contributes around 5 percent of its revenue. Kumar said, “We are looking at almost 20 percent growth in the healthcare segment in this fiscal year and we have just entered this category a year and a half back. We are seeing the focus and spending from the government towards healthcare as a segment. The conducive environment and efforts by the government are offering us more opportunities as a brand as we operate in a niche segment of just the biological range of microscopes when it comes to healthcare in India, catering to research institutes, educational institutes, or even IVF labs. For our healthcare division, we are investing in teams to meet the consumer's requirements and expectations from us in sales and service.”

With a footprint of 1500 stores across retail, Large Format Retailers, and experience zones, Nikon India says that their intent is to make their products widely available. Kumar said, “Nowadays, when a customer is buying a camera or lenses, they are either a serious hobbyist or a professional. For offline, in our 140 Experience Zones, we offer varied services to our customers. We do 700 plus workshops across 250 plus cities.”

Our advertising and marketing strategies are a mix of online and offline. We have understood that now, a good mix of online and offline activities will help. We are not into outdoor or TV in a big way. He added.

Nikon India sticks to imports amid growth, aims to cross Rs 1000 crore revenue mark

HCLTech, global technology company, announced that Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCLTech has been conferred the "Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur" (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by France. The award recognises her contributions to the business world, constant endeavor to promote economic ties between France and India, as well as her unwavering commitment to social and environmental causes.


Instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipients. The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the Order of the Legion of Honour. 

The award was conferred on the HCLTech Chairperson by H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, on behalf of the President of the French Republic, during a special ceremony at the Residence of France in Delhi.


Malhotra said, “It is my privilege to receive this honor and it underscores the strategic relationship between India and France. HCLTech has a longstanding presence in France, which is a strategic market for us. We are committed to scaling our operations in the country and supporting the digital transformation of French businesses through our differentiated portfolio of services.”


Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, said: “I am delighted to confer the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur on Ms Roshni Nadar Malhotra whose exceptional leadership qualities have helped her carve her own niche in both the corporate and the philanthropic worlds. Under her forward-thinking mindset focused on emerging technologies as AI and cybersecurity, HCL has remained at the cutting-edge of the industry, and has been recognized as an active promoter of business relations between France and India. The French Republic acknowledges today not only Ms Nadar Malhotra’s professional achievements but also her impact on society and her commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/cxo-moves-exec-movements-across-intel-groupm-unilever-adobe-and-more-36402.htm">CXO Moves: Exec movements across Intel, GroupM, Unilever, Adobe and more</a>

HCLTech's chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra conferred with the 'Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur'

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.

OpenAI is testing a new search engine, SearchGPT, with real-time summarised information from the web with links to relevant sources. It uses generative artificial intelligence to produce results.

Touted as the direct competition to Google, the AI search engine is powered by the GPT-4 model family. It is currently in its prototype testing phase and is limited to 10,000 test users at launch.

In a blog, OpenAI said that while this prototype is temporary, it plans to integrate the best of these features directly into ChatGPT in the future. 

"Getting answers on the web can take a lot of effort, often requiring multiple attempts to get relevant results. We believe that by enhancing the conversational capabilities of our models with real-time information from the web, finding what you’re looking for can be faster and easier," it read.

"SearchGPT will quickly and directly respond to your questions with up-to-date information from the web while giving you clear links to relevant sources," it added.

OpenAI is working with third-party partners and using direct content feeds to build its search results. 

It is also launching a way for publishers to manage how they appear in SearchGPT, so publishers have more choices.

"We are committed to a thriving ecosystem of publishers and creators. We hope to help users discover publisher sites and experiences, while bringing more choice to search. For decades, search has been a foundational way for publishers and creators to reach users. Now, we’re using AI to enhance this experience by highlighting high-quality content in a conversational interface with multiple opportunities for users to engage," said OpenAI.

Robert Thomson, Chief Executive, News Corp, said, "For the heavens to be in equilibrium, the relationship between technology and content must be symbiotic and provenance must be protected.”

Soon after the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced 11-year media rights deals with the Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video which includes streaming and broadcast distribution starting with the 2025-26 season, it stirred up conflicts with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). 

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/amazon-prime-video-inks-11-year-global-media-deal-with-nba-37905.htm">Amazon Prime Video inks 11-year global media deal with NBA</a>

The league, apparently, has rejected WBD's bid to match Prime Video’s $1.8 billion per year offer. 

While announcing the deal, the NBA said that WBD's offer "did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video's offer."

“The digital opportunities with Amazon align perfectly with the global interest in the NBA. And Prime Video’s massive subscriber base will dramatically expand our ability to reach our fans in new and innovative ways,” added NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

Result of this, WBD reportedly is threatening to sue the league. It has to be noted if it loses the legal battle, it could damage WBD's reputation in any future media rights talks with other leagues.

WBD's TNT Sports now has released a statement on NBA media rights. According to it, WBD matched Amazon’s offer as is its right under an existing contract and do not believe the NBA can reject it.

TNT Sports is a division of WBD and is considered a global leader in the delivery of premium sports content.

It said, “We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond, and we will take appropriate action. We look forward, however, to another great season of the NBA on TNT and Max including our iconic Inside the NBA.”

According to the new draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill that the government shared with stakeholders, social media influencers, creators, or podcasters who upload content specific to the news genre and current affairs could be classified as 'Digital news broadcasters'.

As reported earlier, on July 9, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) added new provisions to the Bill. One of which said that the OTT and digital news broadcasters have been exempted from criminal penalties for failure to notify the government upon surpassing the statutory threshold. Additionally, the definition of OTT broadcasting service has also been revised, which now includes social media creators.

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/advertising-codes-for-linear-on-demand-broadcasters-to-vary-under-new-draft-broadcasting-services-bill-36998.htm">Advertising codes for linear, on-demand broadcasters to vary under new draft Broadcasting Services Bill</a>


The Bill was first released for public consultation in November 2023 and aims to unify all broadcaster regulations into a single law. However, broadcasters and streaming services have been raising various concerns in meetings with the Ministry.

The Ministry has also requested feedback and comments by July 31 on the latest version of the Bill. Concerns have also been raised around the purview of the music streaming services, and AI-generated content.

In its recent meeting with the streaming service providers and broadcasters on July 9, MIB discussed the Bill's purview concerning social media news content and other concerns raised by the stakeholders in the past.

The Ministry shared with the stakeholders that it has added a new provision that grants the central government power to direct any internet service provider or social media company to take appropriate action for implementation of the Bill. Additionally, the Ministry is reviewing the existing program and advertising codes, as there is a suggestion to have different program and advertising codes for both linear broadcasters and on-demand broadcasting.

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/mib-meets-stakeholders-on-regulating-ugc-on-social-media-under-broadcast-services-bill-36873.htm">MIB meets stakeholders on regulating UGC on social media under broadcast services bill</a>

The latest version is the second draft of the Bill is said to replace the Cable Television Networks Act, 1995.

The last meeting saw representations from broadcasters including Netflix and Hotstar, streaming platforms like Spotify, social media companies with the likes of Google and Meta, and industry associations including FICCI, NBA, and IAMAI.

"Don't miss out! You have only 5 minutes left to enroll at the current price. The course price will rise to Rs 50,000 after that, so act now!". 

Have you also come across such advertisements? Are you someone who acted promptly and purchased the course?

The internet is inundated with innumerable below-average courses on the stock market and investments that target gullible investors by charging exorbitant fees. 

Last month, the market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) cracked down on unregulated financial influencers who might be giving misleading investment advice. However, Sebi allowed people to educate others about investing, as long as they're not giving specific advice or promising guaranteed returns.

Storyboard18 checked the background of some of the finfluencers (someone who shares money management advice on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and others) who are not Sebi-registered but are selling "certified paid courses" on trading. Most of them have changed their intro to 'educationist', and 'digital creator ' and have disabled the comment section.


Pratyush Kumar, whose Instagram handle name is Stock Burner, has put a disclaimer in posts that read, "All information on this page is for educational purposes only. We are not Sebi registered. We only try to provide important information. We do not want to invest/trade based on our posts. You must consult your financial advisor. We will not be responsible for any of your profit/loss". Several other similar accounts have started adding disclaimers. 

Kavitha Menon, a Sebi-registered investment advisor, appreciated the market regulator's decision but said protecting the retail investors is a long way off.

Menon said,"They have only made one important change and left the other one open. Education is a subjective and open-ended term leaving to being manipulated at a whim. I have always maintained that any educator must be qualified by education and experience. We don't hire teachers in our schools without basic training and qualifications, so why allow anybody and everybody to run courses on investing".

Do online courses add value?

Storyboard18 spoke to some of the retail investors who purchased courses from financial influencers such as Akshat Srivastava (2.13 million YouTube followers), CA Rachana Phadke Ranade (4.97 YouTube followers), and Sharan Hedge (3.1 million YouTube followers). The responses were subjective- both critical and laudative. 

An individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, purchased a personal finance course by The 1% Club, co-founded by Sharan Hegde. The individual said, "I paid between Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 fee, and the course offered guest lectures of certified people. It was a good beginner course perhaps I had higher expectations".

Digital marketer Harshit Agarwal enrolled in one of the courses by YouTuber Akshat Shrivastava in June 2022. Agarwal said, "Before joining Akshat Shrivastava's course, I was randomly investing in stocks and mutual funds. I did not know how to build a portfolio. However, after I purchased Srivastava's course, I learned about investing in stocks that otherwise I would never have done on my own. I also learned about investing in different sectors, as well as, on international stocks such as Alphabet, Apple Inc, Meta, etc". Agarwal said he purchased the course for Rs 23,000 and had one year of access to it. He claimed that he booked 135% of profit in around 18 months by investing in Meta and 117% of profits in nine months by investing in HDFC MC.

Notably, Srivastava is not a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Last year, in a post on X, he mentioned that becoming an RIA was a "hyper complicated process and required massive compliances". 

Some of the individuals have taken the ed-tech platform routes to become financial coaches. A working professional showed Storyboard18 how to become a trainer on the American learning platform Udemy. Shockingly, the platform never checks the educational records of the educators.

An official from Udemy responded to Storyboard18's query on signing into the platform as a coach. Scott Rogers, Senior Vice President, Instructor & Content Strategy at Udemy said, "Although signing up is designed to be simple and accessible because we want to encourage knowledge sharing, only the most insightful and well-prepared content stands out".

In case of inappropriate content, Rogers added, "If an instructor violates any of Udemy’s policies, their account will receive strikes and immediate action will be taken. These actions can range from mild measures, such as warning emails, to severe consequences, such as blocking or removing their course or account".


Problem for regulated educators


Raghav Gupta, co-founder at The 1% Club told Storyboard18 that they onboard experts after doing a background check, like inspection of content, taking reviews of former students, and conducting multiple rounds of interviews. Gupta acknowledged the need to regulate the online courses on trading and investment. However, the issue arises when an uncertified individual creates a substandard course on investment and absolves himself of any responsibility in case of financial loss to his student, he added.

SEBI Registered Research Analyst Sumit Shrma said, "There should be some eligibility requirement for selecting a teacher to teach a particular subject. Online platforms should disclose the qualification of the educator and potential conflict of interest".

Nevertheless, Shrma added the rising interest in the stock market and the mass followership of influencers are likely to overshadow regulated entities. He said, "The market share of finfluencers selling courses will eventually increase and regulated courses will struggle to match numbers as they are bound by compliances".

However, Menon suggests, "SEBI in conjunction with National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) should offer a mandatory training program for anybody who wants to run a course on investing," the investment advisor added that "Institutions who are into training should only hire such qualified professionals".

Shrma added, "The best solution to prevent people from financial course-related traps is to restrict and regulate the advertising and marketing of such courses. The crackdown is required on social media and internet platforms where these sorts of courses are being provided".

(Note: We have updated the story by adding a quote from Scott Rogers, Senior Vice President, Instructor & Content Strategy at Udemy)

Amazon Prime Video and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have announced an 11-year media rights agreement set to commence with the 2025-26 NBA season. Prime Video will present exclusive global coverage of 66 regular-season NBA games, including an opening week doubleheader, a new Black Friday NBA game, and all games from the Knockout Rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup, including the in-season tournament’s Semifinals and Finals.

Prime Video also acquired rights to exclusive coverage of every game of the postseason SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, first and second-round playoff games, and Conference Finals in six of the 11 years of the deal. Prime Video will distribute its package of games in the U.S. and internationally, with an expanded package of games in select territories, including Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland. This expanded package includes a minimum of 20 additional primetime regular season games each year, a Conference Finals series each year, and the NBA Finals in six of the 11 years.

As part of the agreement, Prime Video Channels will also be the strategic partner and third-party global channels store destination for NBA League Pass, the NBA’s subscription service for streaming live and on-demand games, in the U.S. and internationally.

“The digital opportunities with Amazon align perfectly with the global interest in the NBA. And Prime Video’s massive subscriber base will dramatically expand our ability to reach our fans in new and innovative ways,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

“NBA and WNBA basketball will serve as yet another cornerstone of the robust sports business our Prime Video team has built in just the last six years,” said Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.  

“When combined with our original films and shows; partner streaming services; licensed content; and rent or buy titles – our sports offering is a major driver of Prime Video’s evolution into a genuine one-stop shop for everything our customers want in video,” he added.

Jay Marine, Global Head of Sports, Prime Video said, “Over the past few years, we have worked hard to bring the very best of sports to Prime Video and to continue to innovate on the viewing experience. We’re thrilled to now add the NBA to our growing sports lineup, including the NFL, UEFA Champions League, NASCAR, NHL, WNBA, NWSL, Wimbledon, and more."

Prime Video’s regular season NBA coverage will tip off at the start of the 2025-26 season with an opening week doubleheader, and will include Friday night games, select Saturday afternoon games, and Thursday night doubleheaders, which will begin in January 2026 after the conclusion of Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football schedule. Prime Video will present live NBA pregame, postgame and halftime shows as part of its coverage, with additional details around talent and production to be announced at a later date.  

It will also stream half of all NBA Summer League games, as well as a package of WNBA and NBA G League regular-season and postseason games.

The international live game package rights extend worldwide, with the exception of Greater China, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands, with rights in Canada beginning in the 2026-27 NBA season.

Amazon Prime Video inks 11-year global media deal with NBA

Having grown in double digits in FY24, Modenik Lifestyle is on the path to grow in the mid-teens this year and plans to double the growth in the next three to four years. This revenue growth will be driven by leveraging its two major brands— Enamor and Dixcy across various channels, expanding the geographic footprint, and capitalising on India's economic growth. 

Apart from brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce presence, interestingly, for Modenik Lifestyle, quick-commerce has become a significant channel for growth.

In an interesting conversation, Shekhar Tewari, CEO of Modenik Lifestyle, talks about how the company continues to target both metro-centric sophisticated audiences and buyers in the hinterlands.

Last month, Modenik Lifestyle- backed by Advent International, also announced the appointment of L.V. Vaidyanathan, former Chief Executive and Managing Director at P&G India, as its Executive Chairman effective July. 

Tewari highlights how the company is set for accelerated growth after Vaidyanathan’s appointment.

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/pgs-l-v-vaidyanathan-joins-modenik-as-executive-chairman-32847.htm">P&G's L.V. Vaidyanathan joins Modenik as executive chairman</a>

The innerwear maker’s portfolio includes five brands: Dixcy Scott Originals, Dixcy Scott Maximus, Josh by Dixcy Scott, Slimz and Enamor. In the country, it competes with Page Industries, the exclusive licensee of Jockey International Inc.

Edited excerpts:

How do you intend to grow in the current fiscal?

As a company, we grew double digits in FY24 and grew higher than the top quartile of the competition. By the end of this fiscal, we expect mid-teens growth for Dixcy and much higher growth for Enamor. The revenue ratio between Enamor and Dixcy is 30:70, respectively.

Overall, the company aims to double its revenue growth in the next three to four years. 

What gives the confidence?

The men's and women's wear markets in India are substantial, but precise figures are unavailable due to the lack of syndicated studies. The men's wear market is highly branded, with five or six major national brands earning revenues between Rs 1,000 and 4,000 crores, dominating the unbranded segment.

In contrast, the women's wear market is similar in size but predominantly unbranded. Few large national brands exist, yet the branded segment is growing faster due to rising brand awareness and financial independence among women. Our company holds a significant share in both markets, though specific figures are not available.

We aim to capitalise on the trend of women becoming more fashion-conscious and financially independent, driving growth in the branded women's wear market over the next 8-10 years. We are confident these strategies will achieve substantial growth in both men's and women's wear markets. 

Overall, Dixcy's established strong presence in smaller towns and Enamor's entry into largely unbranded markets position both brands well to capitalise on the growth opportunities in Bharat.

How receptive is Bharat to your brands?

Both Dixcy and Enamor are experiencing significant growth in Bharat, which includes smaller towns and rural areas in India. Dixcy, with sub-brands like Dixcy Slimz targeting various niches such as the economy women's segment, is already widely distributed in tier-two and three towns, maintaining a presence in tier-one cities as well. The growth in these smaller towns is driven by increasing media consumption through television, OTT platforms, and digital channels, which create demand even in areas without a physical presence. This demand is further supported by online orders from these regions.

Enamor, positioned as a mid-premium to premium brand in women's lingerie, has also seen notable growth in Bharat. Over the past five to six years, the increasing penetration of mobile and digital media in smaller towns has exposed consumers to similar media as in urban areas, leading to a surge in demand. Although high distribution costs pose a challenge to establishing a physical presence, the rise of online shopping allows Enamor to reach PIN codes without physical stores.

Additionally, the growth of e-commerce has significantly expanded market reach, allowing both brands to serve customers in areas where they lack physical stores. 

As P&G's L.V. Vaidyanathan joins Modenik, how is the company set for accelerated growth?

The company's long-term vision remains steadfast, emphasising continuity and stability. LV brings with him extensive experience from his 28-year tenure at P&G, renowned for his leadership in sales and business turnaround strategies. His addition promises significant value to our team, enhancing our capabilities and guiding us towards future success.

How have you strategised the growth plan for this year?

Our growth will be driven by strategically leveraging the brands across various channels, expanding the geographic footprint, and capitalising on India's economic growth. By focusing on these areas, we aim to achieve mid-teens growth and solidify our market position.

Our strategy includes tailoring communication to diverse markets and leveraging strengths to build a stronger presence. By focusing on areas where we already have a strong presence, we will use our learnings to expand into new regions and optimise our distribution networks.

Talking about communication, shed some light on your marketing strategy…

The advertising budget for this fiscal has gone up by around 25-30 percent over the last year. Our marketing strategy has evolved to prioritise consumer-centric approaches, adapting to shifts in consumer behavior and market dynamics.

Each brand's ad budget allocation reflects its target audience and market positioning. For Dixcy, we prioritise mass media, such as television and out-of-home advertising, to reach a broad audience. Despite the higher costs, digital advertising has grown with 20-25 percent of Dixcy's budget now allocated to digital media to enhance reach, especially in saturated markets like Uttar Pradesh.

For Enamor, a mid-premium to premium brand targeting a metro-centric and sophisticated audience, our focus is primarily on digital media. Almost all of Enamor's advertising is digital or out-of-home, with about 70-80 percent of the budget allocated to digital media. This approach leverages celebrity endorsements and targets high-traffic areas crucial for apparel and fashion brands.

What importance do marquee properties hold for your brands?

For Dixcy, marquee properties are crucial, targeting males aged 18 to 45 in SEC B and below segments, with a strong focus in Andhra Pradesh. We leverage blockbuster movies like 'Pushpa' for extensive visibility and engagement. Cricket, particularly through events like IPL and the T20 World Cup, also plays a significant role, supported by brand ambassadors Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mohammed Siraj. Meanwhile, Enamor enhances digital engagement and explores innovative digital properties.

How has the retail presence of the brands been growing? Heard quick-commerce has also become a significant channel?

Levi's innerwear sells through a strong presence on e-commerce, 350 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) and multi-brand outlets (MBOs).

Dixcy is already well-distributed in tier-two and tier-three towns, with a well-established presence in tier-one cities. Its growth will come from expanding across various geographies.

Enamor spans four main channels: department stores, EBOs, online platforms, and MBOs, including small mom-and-pop stores and we see significant opportunities across all these channels. There are more than 70 EBOs for Enamor, and we should cross 100 this year.

One of our most successful recent initiatives is leveraging quick commerce. Initially focused on groceries and FMCG products, quick commerce is now expanding into new categories, including lingerie. Our early results on quick commerce platforms have been phenomenal, and we anticipate substantial growth from this channel. With the convenience of shopping and return policies, online sales are expected to continue growing.

In terms of sales, please share the revenue breakup between the offline and online channels?

Dixcy predominantly operates as an omnichannel business, with approximately 98 percent of sales from multi-brand outlets (MBOs) and online platforms, excluding department stores and exclusive brand stores. In contrast, Enamor's e-commerce segment constitutes a substantial 25 percent to 30 percent of our total business and is rapidly growing compared to offline channels.

Our increased investments in online channels are pivotal, given their rapid evolution. We prioritise leveraging technology and data-driven insights to enhance supply chain efficiency, utilising AI and predictive modeling for optimised inventory management across the network of 300 warehouses and beyond.

Also, while we explore AI/ML applications, their integration into our operations is still in early stages.

Read more:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/positive-budgetary-measures-to-push-brands-increase-advertising-spends-by-least-15-percent-to-tap-rural-demand-in-h2-37732.htm#google_vignette"> Positive budgetary measures for rural to increase advertising spends by 15 percent in H2</a>

How optimistic are you of rural revival? 

The recent period has presented significant challenges, particularly in the post-COVID environment, impacting FMCG sectors which have endured several challenging quarters. However, recent data shows signs of a turnaround. Factors such as a favourable monsoon, supportive budgetary measures, and increased liquidity are starting to alleviate stress, particularly in essential categories like basic consumer goods. Consumer behaviour, as noted by Alan Greenspan, often mirrors broader economic conditions, including in categories like men's underwear. Despite pressures such as down-trading and reduced consumption, optimistic signals of recovery are emerging, bolstered by stable inflation and supportive economic policies. Over the next three to four months, we anticipate a gradual demand revival, particularly in rural areas, buoyed by these positive developments.

The Union government defended the formation of a fact-checking unit (FCU) before the Bombay High Court on July 24, arguing that the right to receive factually correct information and the right not to be misled were just as vital as the right to free speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a), as per reports.

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, the Editors Guild of India, and the Association of Indian Magazines have challenged the constitutionality of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023, which allow an FCU of the Union government to identify "fake, false, or misleading" online content "related to the business of the Central Government" and demand its removal, the report further stated.

Justice A.S. Chandurkar, the tie-breaker judge, is hearing arguments in the case after a Division Bench of the High Court issued a divided ruling on January 31, 2024.

Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta of the Union government stated that the FCU will protect people against incorrect information.

"This strategy is the least restrictive method for combating fake, incorrect, and misleading information. Private companies and individuals have fact-checking teams, and the government is equally justified in giving correct information to the public. In many cases, the government serves as both arbiter and beneficiary, such as in property disputes. However, in this case, I do not act as an adjudicator. "My (government's) role is simply to identify and highlight instances of falsehood or misinformation," he explained.

Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta of the Union government stated that the FCU will protect people against incorrect information.

The petitioners finished their argument.







Union govt defends formation of fact-checking unit before Bombay High Court

Rediffusion has announced the launch of Konjo, a specialist agency that will provide strategic thinking and brand support to new-age startups. The agency will be based in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi and will be overseen by Carol Goyal, Group Director. 

A full-time CEO for the agency has been identified and will join in October from his current assignment overseas.

Rediffusion in its 51 years of existence has been the birthplace of many famous brands like Maruti Suzuki, Airtel, Tata Sky, Colors TV, Lakme, Garden Varelli, Kaya Clinics, SBI Yono, Kingfisher Airlines and many more. Even brands like Pepsi, Canon, Casio, KFC and Revlon, were first launched in India by Rediffusion.

“Rediffusion was set up in 1973 by Diwan Arun Nanda, Ajit Balakrishnan and Mohd Khan as an Indian agency that would work with the growing tribe of local entrepreneurs and visionaries. That tradition has continued over the past five decades at the agency and we are proud to have been the birthplace of some of India’s most famous brands”, says Rediffusion Chairman, Dr. Sandeep Goyal. 

“Konjo will be a small but smart integrated communications agency that will work with startups in different stages of their brand journey,” he said.

Adds Carol Goyal, “Konjo was then the story of Dr. Goyal’s own entrepreneurial venture, Dentsu, which he launched, nurtured, and grew over nearly a decade. We are going to bring the same value systems, work culture, and strategic goodness to the clients of Konjo.”

Konjo will work on a remuneration system where it will participate in the equity value of its client brands. It will also examine possible investments in some of its client brands through direct equity.

“We have already signed up two clients and another two should sign up by next month when we will formally announce them”, concludes Carol Goyal.

Rediffusion launches specialist agency for start-ups - KONJO

Britain's Informa has reached a deal to buy Cannes Lions Festival owner Ascential for $1.6 billion, adding the flagship ad industry conference to its portfolio of events. Informa already has a number of its own experience-led, festival brands such as the Monaco Yacht Show, London Tech Week, and the Black Hat cyber security festival.

Informa said it would expand both events and accelerate growth, helped by its data platform and understanding of both the marketing and fintech sectors, according to a Reuters report.

It is said that Informa wants to extend money 20/20 into the Middle East and Africa, due to the region’s rapid growth and significant investment in financial technology, particularly around payments. This includes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where Informa has established a joint venture partnership Tahaluf. 

Stephen A. Carter, Chief Executive, Informa, said that both companies delivered double-digit growth in the first half of this year and were confident about their prospects. "Powerful brands serving specialist markets are doing extremely well. e're not buying this business for cost reduction, we're buying this business for growth," he said.

Ascential reportedly employs around 700 people. The company's CEO, Philip Thomas said, “Informa is a highly respected business, famed for its expertise in B2B events, strong, ethical culture and commitment to innovation. This offer will not only deliver substantial value for our shareholders but also, together with Informa’s international footprint and extensive capabilities in data and analytics, will unlock further growth opportunities for our brands and our people.”

Cannes Lion owner Ascential agrees to sell to Informa for $1.5 billion

An MOU has been signed between Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) and New Media Wing (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) to foster collaboration across language translation services.

Bhashini is government’s AI-powered language translation platform.

The collaboration would ensure translation into 12 languages and services would include text-to-text, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, audio localisation, live video/audio translation, and subtitling.

The New Media Wing's A.I.-driven communication hub will provide DIBD with datasets in text, audio, and video formats. The datasets will be utilised by DIBD to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and quality of its translation services. 

Additionally, DIBD will train AI models with these datasets to meet Ministry of I&B and Media Units' needs.

The collaboration also aims to develop advanced language translation and transliteration technologies, introducing innovative features and functionalities to existing systems. Further, both DIBD and NMW will establish rigorous quality assurance processes to identify and correct errors and inconsistencies throughout the translation process.

This strategic partnership is a step towards improving language translation services and ensuring high-quality communication in multiple languages across various media platforms.

Bhashini also translated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2024 speech into Hindi in real-time on June 23.


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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