Prabha Narasimhan took over as MD of Colgate-Palmolive India in 2022 after many years at HUL. On the sideline of Goafest 2023, Storyboard18’s editor Delshad Irani caught up with Narasimhan, where she opened up about Colgate’s recent campaigns, using data and insights to keep the brand fresh, marketers chasing virality and the new bottom-line for businesses.

Watch here. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pIHNYBmhCHU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Colgate's Prabha Narasimhan on chasing virality and the new bottom-line for businesses

Prabha Narasimhan talks about the brands recent campaigns, using data and insights and marketers chasing virality.

Dilpreeta Vasudeva joins Ziki and Sirrus.AI as founding CMO

Doordarshan News revamps its logo

Goafest 2024 and ABBY Awards to take place from 29th to 31st May, 2024 in Mumbai

Nestle baby foods controversy: Consumer protection authority asks FSSAI to investigate allegations against Nestle

WhatsApp launches QR ticketing system for DTC buses in Delhi NCR

India aims to replicate 5G success with 6G : Telecom Secretary Dr Neeraj Mittal

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

Businesses are looking at agencies to bring fresh thinking and shorten their innovation cycles, says Shouvik Roy of Media.Monks India

Online gaming market ripe for innovation, fueled by youth and mobile gaming, says Siddharth Patel of CVC Capital Partners

FMCG and Pan Masala are the top spenders in IPL and election ads: Zenith's Priyanka Kapur

Who is OpenAI's first India hire - Pragya Misra?

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

GOZOOP HAWK, and online reputation management and customer support agency under the GOZOOP Group, has bagged the listening and digital response management duties for Amazon miniTV, a leading free entertainment service in India.


As part of the mandate, GOZOOP HAWK’s key responsibilities will include handling digital customer support, monitoring online brand chatter, amplifying positive stories, measuring sentiments, providing timely resolutions and deriving actionable business insights for the brand by understanding and tracking valuable web conversations to delight customers. 


Amazon miniTV offers a large library of popular web series, movies, reality shows, dubbed international content, in multiple genres like comedy, romance, slice of life, thriller and more.


Commenting on the partnership Aruna Daryanani, director and business head, Amazon miniTV said, “ORM is an important component of brand building and reputation management. With the right strategy, ideation and creative thinking we can further strengthen our brand presence. We are excited to partner with GOZOOP HAWK and look forward to their expertise to continue to raise the bar on customer experience.”


Commenting on the win, Premkumar Iyer, president, GOZOOP HAWK said, “HAWK has always demonstrated capability of delivering some of the most unconventional listening and online customer support solutions. This habit to push boundaries coupled with Amazon miniTV's disruptive approach towards the dynamic OTT space makes the relationship click. We have already done some stellar work e.g. during Amazon miniTV’s recent launch of dubbed K-dramas, we turned the whole response management strategy to Korean language generating shift in outreach. We look forward to doing more such unconventional work for them in times to come.”


GOZOOP HAWK bags listening and digital customer support mandate for Amazon miniTV

The marketing team within media giant Cox Media Group (CMG) claims it has the capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers through embedded microphones in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices to gather data and use it to target ads, according to a review of CMG marketing materials by 404 Media and details from a pitch given to an outside marketing professional. Called “Active Listening,” CMG claims the capability can identify potential customers “based on casual conversations in real time.”

The news signals that what a huge swath of the public has believed for years—that smartphones are listening to people in order to deliver ads—may finally be a reality in certain situations. Until now, there was no evidence that such a capability actually existed, but its myth permeated due to how sophisticated other ad tracking methods have become.

It is not immediately clear if the capability CMG is advertising and claims works is being used on devices in the market today, but the company notes it is “a marketing technique fit for the future. Available today.” 404 Media also found a representative of the company on LinkedIn explicitly asking interested parties to contact them about the product. One marketing professional pitched by CMG on the tech said a CMG representative explained the prices of the service to them.

“What would it mean for your business if you could target potential clients who are actively discussing their need for your services in their day-to-day conversations? No, it's not a Black Mirror episode—it's Voice Data, and CMG has the capabilities to use it to your business advantage,” CMG’s website reads.

The part of CMG advertising the capability is CMG Local Solutions. CMG itself is owned by Apollo Global Management and Cox Enterprises, which includes the ISP Cox Communications. CMG operates a wide array of local news television and radio stations.

With Active Listening, CMG claims to be able to “target your advertising to the EXACT people you are looking for.” The goal is to target potential clients or customers based on what they say in “their day to day conversations,” the website adds. Specifically, those could include:

Clients can “claim” a territory where they want to use CMG’s services, which are available in a 10 or 20 mile radius, the website says. After setup, “Active Listening begins and is analyzed via AI to detect pertinent conversations via smartphones, smart tvs and other devices,” the website adds. CMG also claims it installs a tracking pixel on its client’s website to monitor the return on investment (ROI).

With an audience created, CMG then delivers adverts to these people through streaming TV, streaming audio, display ads, YouTube, and Google and Bing search, the website says.

“The result? Unprecedented understanding of consumer behavior, so we can deliver personalized ads that make your target audience think: wow, they must be a mind reader,” another section of CMG’s website reads.

Claims about this capability raises obvious and immediate legal concerns; intercepting communications without proper consent can violate wiretapping laws. CMG’s website addresses this with a section that starts “We know what you are thinking…”

“Is this legal? YES- it is totally legal for phones and devices to listen to you. That's because consumers usually give consent when accepting terms and conditions of software updates or app downloads,” the website says.

Beyond CMG’s website, very little information is available about the capability, including how exactly the data is gathered, be that via a software development kit (SDK) bundled into apps, or via collection at another point. For its part, Apple does alert iPhone users when an app is accessing the device’s microphone with a small icon in the UI.

The marketing professional pitched by CMG told 404 Media that after a call with the company, they disabled microphone access on much of their own technology: “I immediately removed all my Amazon Echo devices and locked down microphone permissions on things like my phone as receiving confirmation they are doing things like this have confirmed my worst fears and I, for one, will not take part in it,” they said.

CMG says “the ROI is already impressive” and is actively soliciting potential customers, though. On LinkedIn, Chris Marxmiller, a senior sales consultant at CMG, invites people in his bio to “Ask me about our NEW product - ACTIVE LISTENING.” Marxmiller did not respond to a request for comment which asked for more information on the Active Listening product.

CMG lists a number of other companies as its partners and publishers. These include Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Microsoft declined to comment. Google told 404 Media in a statement that “For years, Android has prevented apps from collecting audio  when they're not being actively used, and whenever an app activates a device’s microphone, there is a prominent icon displayed in the status bar.” Google did not answer 404 Media’s question in its statement.

Amazon said in a statement that “the advertising product being described would not be possible with Echo devices. We do not share voice recordings with third parties.”

CMG said in a statement that “CMG Local Solutions markets a wide range of advertising tools. Like other advertising companies, some of those tools include third-party vendor products powered by data sets sourced from users by various social media and other applications then packaged and resold to data servicers. Advertising data based on voice and other data is collected by these platforms and devices under the terms and conditions provided by those apps and accepted by their users, and can then be sold to third-party companies and converted into anonymized information for advertisers. This anonymized data then is resold by numerous advertising companies.”

“CMG businesses do not listen to any conversations or have access to anything beyond a third-party aggregated, anonymized and fully encrypted data set that can be used for ad placement. We regret any confusion and we are committed to ensuring our marketing is clear and transparent,” the statement added.

Cox Media Group claims to have capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers for targeted ads

On June 1, 1945, Fritz Sennheiser, a German inventor and entrepreneur, founded the audio equipment manufacturing company that bears his name and went on to become a global brand. Today, Sennheiser has three business units: Pro Audio, Business Communication and Neumann.Berlin. 


In a conversation with Storyboard18, Andreas Sennheiser, the company’s chief executive officer, said, “The first thing is you have to hit a ‘need’. To not get complacent and to not be happy with what we've achieved, we have to keep listening to the customer and at the same time have a creative dissatisfaction with the status quo. So, the achievements of the past should always be seen as just the new standard. From there, we can iterate again.”


Edited excerpts:


<strong>Tell us more about Sennheiser’s India story.</strong>


We started bringing good audio to India in 2007. At the time, it was really hard to understand where the general public was with audio consumption. We found out that listening to music via headphones wasn’t a known principle. 


So, over the last 16 years, I think we've done quite well in developing the taste of enjoying music on the consumer side. For two years, we focused on the pro business only, along with business communication, and then our Neumann products also.


Particularly, in the last one-and-a-half years after the pandemic, we've seen very strong growth. On the live part, everyone wants to enjoy music, festivals, weddings and all kinds of corporate events. But on the business communication side, government, corporate and also higher education facilities are gearing up significantly for hybrid meetings, for remote lectures and also for a digital government.


<strong>Where do you see India in Sennheiser's growth map?</strong>


In the last two years, India has had one of the highest growth levels, with more than 50 percent annual growth.


As far as the general business globally is concerned, we could supply all our customers with products even during the pandemic. So, we were never really out of products.


<strong>From a product lens, what’s the focus?</strong> 


We have several focuses. There’s a general common focus that more and more of the technology that we’re using—it is highly advanced—is hidden behind very simple user interfaces. 


So, we want to make it as simple as possible, come up with seamless integration, plug and play with our installed business like ceiling microphones… This is so that an integrator, a consultant or the end user really doesn’t need to deal a lot with technology but actually can focus on the experience.



<strong>Many global CEOs are surprised by the way Indian consumers have evolved over the last few years. From a price-conscious market, we now are a value-conscious market. So, what are your observations and what is unique about Indian consumers?</strong>


Well, you just gave the right keywords. 


It has evolved from a price sensitive market of buying at the lowest possible level to now buying the highest possible value. So, with that, we are in an excellent position because we love competition. We love the direct comparison of our products with competitive products because usually this is when we win.


That's why value-based buying decisions are very much in our favour, because we provide superior audio quality. 


<strong>Globally, what are the trends in the audio space and do you see the adoption of those trends in India anytime soon?</strong> 


One of the big trends is that high–quality audio is being more and more appreciated. This is particularly when it comes to immersive audio and spatial audio. In the studios, we have more and more Atmos installations with our Neumann speakers. Also, on the playback side, we see a lot of venues now having full arrays of speakers for an immersive experience.


So, the whole appreciation for good audio has significantly increased over the last few years. At the same time, there’s also a strong trend of simplification of workflows. So, we try to focus on making the lives of our end users as simple as possible, particularly because there's also cost pressure on production, music production, news gathering etc. We want to give them the gear that they can operate with the least possible amount of people. 


<strong>What is the brand perception of Sennheiser?</strong> 


Sennheiser has a brand reputation of being extremely reliable, creating remarkable audio experience and being a highly innovative brand. 


The topmost factor is always reliability. In a meeting room, you don’t want to spend 20 minutes getting the system to work. An artist in front of 50,000 people, the only thing he or she can hold is a microphone, and that should not fail.


<strong>In terms of marketing, what are the big plans for India and what are the investments like?</strong> 

Our main investment is in people and education. So, it's people on our end and education on the customer side.

We see that the more there are highly talented technicians, audio engineers and people who know the difference between an okay system and a great system.

During the pandemic, we produced 200 tutorial videos: how to use our microphones, how to set up gear in general, and how to build a studio. A lot of things to just help the audio community do a better job.


<strong>In India, startups have been weaving a very different story in the last few years. As a family-owned company and one of the oldest startups in the audio space, do tell us what it takes to make a successful business and your advice for startups here. </strong>

The first thing is you have to hit a ‘need’. This is not only true in a startup, but also when a company like ours gets older. Now, we’re closer to the 80th year of our existence. To not get complacent and to not be happy with what we've achieved, we have to keep listening to the customer and at the same time have a creative dissatisfaction with the status quo.

So, the achievements of the past should always be seen as just the new standard. From there, we can iterate again. 

<strong>There are a bunch of profitable startups in the audio space here in India. What impresses you about them and are there any lessons that you can pick from them? </strong>

When startups have a platform economy in mind and then scale that up, they can very quickly cover a very broad demand, be it with fintech platforms or be it any other integration.


That is an approach that I find highly attractive because it's not product and gear oriented, but really platform oriented. And this is also a strategy that we're adopting more and more. We are not just selling gear to our customers, but we actually provide the control platform with it to make it as easy as possible. 


That has been a strategy for a couple of years—to have a lot of allies in the industry in order to allow a seamless integration for the end user. So, the platform is really the main focus. And, what we're selling in terms of gear is just an endpoint to the whole platform.

<strong>Has the target audience of Sennheiser evolved over time?</strong> 

Yes and no. Our target audience grows with us.

While there was an entry target audience a decade back that has now matured in age and in income, they are now being lifted to the next level.

I had a chance to meet with music composer duo Salim-Sulaiman. We had a chat about technology particularly, and they stressed upon how they started with simple gear and then moved to higher-grade gear.

Andreas Sennheiser: We have to keep listening to the customer and have a creative dissatisfaction with the status quo

Gen Z consumers are 50 percent more likely to take their friends' recommendation over an influencer or a celebrity when making a purchase decision, revealed a study from Yuvaa – the Indian Gen Z-driven youth media, impact, and research organization.

An Economic Times report states that the findings are based on a report titled 'Not All Gen Z'. The findings are based on responses from over 900 Gen Z participants, spanning over 20 cities across tier I, II, and III cities and towns of the country. Gen Z represents people born between 1997 and 2012 who show distinctive behavior in their lifestyle and shopping habits. At over two billion, Gen Z forms roughly 25 percent of the global population. It makes up for over 35 percent of India's population, according to Yuvaa.

Their estimated spending power is in excess of €235 billion, according to BCG. 

<strong>Influencers provide brand visibility</strong>

Karthik Srinivasan, a communications strategy consultant, believes that we trust the references and recommendations of the people we trust the most within our family or friends circle. However, influencers have a different role to play.

"They have come to usurp the role of mainstream media and advertising to a large extent and have become predictable sources of visibility more than influence. In other words, influencers (along with mainstream media and advertising) are sources of introducing products or services, use-cases, and giving them visibility, but they may not necessarily persuade people to make the purchase. That's where friends and family (known peers, colleagues too) would come into play," he explains.

Srinivasan tells Storyboard18 that influencers are merely shilling a product for a fee and have long stopped pretending to be actual users of a product to offer use-based/experience-based content/information.

"Even if they claim to offer personal experience-based recommendations, if viewers/followers see the disclaimer about paid content, they'd automatically discount that factor and take that recommendation with a pinch of salt," he adds.

Yuvaa's report findings also highlight a few key aspects of a Gen Z consumer who is not only willing to support brands that support social causes but also cares about sustainability. Around 63 percent of Gen Z shoppers surveyed said they prefer brands that support social causes. 

71 percent of Gen Z prioritize brands that are environment-friendly, and 77 percent consider price when buying something, even if it's not sustainable. Gen Zs are split equally between feminist and non-feminist brands, but 60 percent of women prefer them.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/amazon-vs-myntra-who-will-win-over-more-gen-z-shoppers-in-india-8247.htm">Read more: Amazon vs Myntra: Who will win over more Gen Z shoppers in India?</a>

<strong>E-com platforms chasing Gen Z</strong>

These trends are being closely followed and implemented in product and marketing strategies by e-commerce platforms in India. Storyboard18 reported that there has been intense competition between online retailers to woo the next generation of shoppers, with e-commerce platforms Amazon and Myntra actively investing in the Gen Z cohort.

Flipkart-backed fashion portal Myntra, for instance, announced the launch of FWD, an in-platform experience offering additional brands and styles curated for Gen-Z shoppers.

The move comes days after rival Amazon Fashion introduced the ‘Next Gen Store,’ catering to the unique needs of Gen Z shoppers, who seek to experiment with fashion and have varying preferences in terms of styles, sizes, brands, and fitting.

While Nykaa Fashion has not yet launched a dedicated platform for Gen Z shoppers, it has been onboarding brands that target this cohort. Recently, it added MIXT, which offers streetwear-inspired modern apparel options such as bodysuits, corsets, jumpsuits, jackets, cardigans, and footwear. It brought in Cider, a US-based label, expanding its global offerings to Indian consumers.

Gen Z segment has a distinct aesthetic that impacts their brand choices, which have been driving fashion trends – crop tops, ribbed dresses, chunky sneakers, and baggy jeans.

Unlike previous generations, which were heavily influenced by Bollywood and sports celebrities, Gen Z shoppers are more picky about who they follow. Social media influencers have emerged as a significant force in shaping their purchase decisions.

However, there is a catch. This group only follows influencers or celebrities who ‘walk the talk’ and are more trustworthy.

<strong>Value for sustainability, inclusivity</strong>

Bindiya Bhatt, senior director of category management at Myntra told Storyboard18 that for Gen Z, inclusivity, authenticity, and unconventionalism take centre stage as well.

"By embracing these values and catering to their specific needs, businesses can create more meaningful and impactful experiences that resonate with this important and influential demographic," she said.

Technopak Advisors' Ankur Bisen had a deeper insight, saying Gen Z shoppers are community-driven and seek better products rather than stay loyal to brands.

"...they are definitely seeking better products than brands and they are also looking at the consumption of fashion through communities. For example, there are communities towards gaming, nature, and even limited edition products. The spin-off from this trend could be the 'sneaker culture' in India and the craze to buy limited edition sneakers that are being sold online. These are some micro trends that one needs to notice," he said.

Influencers’ influence waning? GenZ listen to friends over social media influencers

Why PepsiCo India’s Lay's launched gourmet chips

Storyboard18 x Momo Media: Let's Talk - Masculinity in Advertising

“We will have another incremental billion dollars in the next three years for the home-grown billion dollar brand Thums Ups,” says Arnab Roy, vice president and head of marketing, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia to Storyboard18’s Shibani Gharat. He also talks about the brand’s new advertising campaign #HarHaathToofan.

<iframe title="Coca Cola's Arnab Roy On Thums Up New Campaign 'Har Haath Toofan' | Storyboard 18 | CNBC-TV18" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fXe4to9HL4Q" width="853" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Coca-Cola's Arnab Roy on Thums Up’s new ad campaign #HarHaathToofan

GE's Linda Boff on what it takes to reinvent a 130-yr old brand

Chat with IPG's Arun Kumar and Plum's Shankar Prasad and actor Ananya Pandey

Over the past few months, Metaverse has received a lot of attention. Some brands are viewing marketing in the metaverse as an opportunity to reach a larger audience in an engaging manner. Increasingly, automakers are getting onto the metaverse bandwagon to enhance their customer experience.

Mindshare India recently conceptualised and enabled the first ever electric vehicle (EV) launch in the metaverse for Volvo Cars in a space called Volvoverse. This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration across WPP agencies.

Watch to find out how and why they did it. 

<div data-youtube="true" data-youtube-id="KSSNbLIbIHs" data-youtube-title="In Conversation With Amin Lakhani & Amit Jain On Marketing In Metaverse | Storyboard 18" class="youTubeVideoPlayer" data-youtube-category="News & Politics"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KSSNbLIbIHs" width="100%" height="360"></iframe></div>

Meeting Amin Lakhani and Amit Jain in Volvoverse 

DD News, Prasar Bharati’s national news channel has revamped its logo. 

The new saffron logo replace the familiar red logo with the addition of the word ‘news’ in Hindi. 


The broadcaster shared on X, “While our values remain the same, we are now available in a new avatar. Get ready for a news journey like never before. Experience the all new DD News.” 

“We have the courage to put: Accuracy over speed, Facts over claims, Truth over sensationalism, because if it is on DD News, it is the truth!,” it added. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">While our values remain the same, we are now available in a new avatar. Get ready for a news journey like never before.. Experience the all-new DD News!<br><br>We have the courage to put:<br><br>Accuracy over speed<br>Facts over claims<br>Truth over sensationalism<br><br>Because if it is on DD News, it… <a href="https://t.co/YH230pGBKs">pic.twitter.com/YH230pGBKs</a></p>&mdash; DD News (@DDNewslive) <a href="https://twitter.com/DDNewslive/status/1780078000710553700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Agilitas Sports has acquired the brand License for Italian sports brand Lotto from owner WHP Global. Through this long-term license, Agilitas has the exclusive rights to design, manufacture, promote, and distribute the Lotto brand in India, Australia, and soon in South Africa.  

Abhishek Ganguly, Co-founder & CEO of Agilitas Sports commented “We are excited to launch our first consumer brand license, Lotto. Through this 40-year license agreement, we will build and implement state-of-the-art manufacturing, cutting-edge technology, and design innovation for Lotto for its product development, in addition to marketing and retailing of the brand. Agilitas will invest in a dedicated management team to grow the Lotto brand through product creation, design innovation, supply chain, branding,  marketing, and channels of distribution. Our Design & Development team in Bangalore brings together a wealth of experience in established global brands, enabling us to create relevant products that resonate with Indian consumers. We aim to build an agile product creation cycle and supply chain that is vertically integrated from manufacturing to retail. This would enable us to react quickly to consumer insights and the latest trends in an agile and nimble manner. As Agilitas Sports pursues profitable and sustainable growth, this collaboration is poised to  make a significant impact on our business and the consumer markets under the license.” 

Agilitas, recently acquired Mochiko, a footwear manufacturer, that has scaled up its production and manufacturing solutions. Through this partnership, Agilitas aims to penetrate the markets and grow the Lotto brand exponentially. The company is making large investments in manufacturing, designing, R&D, supply chain, marketing, and distribution in the near future.  

Stanley Silverstein, Chief Commercial Officer at WHP Global said, "We are delighted to embark on this journey with Agilitas Sports. We are impressed by the expertise of the company's founders in the sportswear and athleisure market, along with the comprehensive business model they have crafted at Agilitas. Their dedicated focus on the sportswear industry, and a profound belief in India's promising  future as well as other markets like Australia and South Africa, is in line with our core mission of growing the  Lotto brand globally.” 

With an aim to launch by early 2025, Agilitas plans a multi-category offering in footwear, apparel, accessories,  and sports equipment. Mochiko's establishment of a dedicated factory in Noida to manufacture Lotto validates Agilitas Sports' commitment to manufacturing in India. The company plans to over-index and focus on delivering a very high-value proposition with regard to cost to the consumer.  

Agilitas will distribute Lotto products through D2C online channels, Brand EBOs, Shop in Shops with Retail partners, and Online marketplaces from its first year of launch. Additionally, the objective is to bolster Lotto's presence through consumer engagement, marketing, and partnerships with athletes and clubs. Simultaneously,  Agilitas will also nurture grassroots talent and foster collaborations with designers, artists, and musicians, aiming to build lasting brand affinity among aspirational consumers. 

Margaret Kivett, SVP of WHP Global’s Athletic Vertical added, "Partnering with Agilitas Sports marks an exciting chapter for Lotto. We are thrilled to collaborate with their dynamic team to amplify Lotto's presence in pivotal global markets, particularly in soccer and racket sports hotspots like India and Australia. Together,  we're poised to elevate the brand's reach and impact, bringing the spirit of Lotto to even more enthusiasts  worldwide.”


Agilitas Sports acquires brand license of Lotto for India and other markets

As per India Cares Foundation’s latest report, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have completed the restoration work of two major lakes in Bengaluru upscaling the water holding capacity of these lakes and adding civic amenities in a third lake, while improving the biodiversity around these water bodies as part of RCB Go Green Initiative.

RCB launched the Lake Improvement Works Project as part of their ESG commitment in October 2023 with a focus on desilting and developing the Ittgalpura Lake and Sadenahalli Lake. These lakes were selected for being highly water-stressed areas, with borewell depths ranging from 1000 to 1500 feet. The areas also lack access to Kaveri River water and are totally dependent on groundwater and surface water.

According to the report, Over 1.20 lakh tons of silt and sand have been removed at the Ittgalpura Lake and Sadenahalli Lake which has been used to create bunds and pathways across the lakes and 52 farmers have taken the soil to use as topsoil for their fields as well.

A total of nine acres of lake land have been recovered, resulting in the creation of stabilization ponds and wetlands. These features will benefit the birds and animals inhabiting the lakes. The water holding capacity of the lakes has also increased for upto 17 acres. 

The lakes will not only facilitate groundwater recharge but also serve as vital sources of drinking water and support agricultural activities in the surrounding area. It will provide additional livelihood opportunities for the fishermen and farmers of the two lakes, who can now harvest three times as much as before. Currently reliant on borewells for agriculture, farmers can now utilize these rejuvenated lakes for farming and other purposes, thereby enhancing productivity and sustainability.

Meanwhile, at Kannur Lake, the objective has been to improve community ownership through the creation of civic amenities as lake assets. Ethno-Medicinal Plants Parks, Bamboo Parks, and Butterfly Parks are also being created at all three lakes as the initiative aims to improve and sustain the biodiversity of the lakes while also serving as educational hubs for children to understand the ecosystem.

It must be noted that the National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India 2022 report by the Central Groundwater Board of India estimates that over 12% of groundwater blocks in India have been over-exploited, 12% in the semi-critical stage and 3% are in critical stage. 

"Fans are at the heart of everything we do at RCB. Their unwavering support has propelled us to become one of the world's first carbon-neutral franchises. Our fans have been actively engaged in our green initiatives since 2013, playing a pivotal role in spreading awareness about sustainability within our community. Building on this momentum, we naturally expanded our focus to support our local community by spearheading the restoration of key lakes in Bengaluru. These lakes not only serve as critical groundwater sources for neighbouring villages but also form the backbone of local livelihoods. Through collaborative efforts with both local authorities and communities, we have manged to take a small step in the bigger purpose of restoring the old pride of Bengaluru, the lake city," said Rajesh Menon, VP and Head of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Such initiatives would be key to raising awareness about the ground-level water situation in and around Bengaluru. The process of lake rejuvenation adheres strictly to established procedures and standards drawn from civil engineering, environmental engineering, and related fields under the guidance of “Friends of Lakes”. These standards, meticulously outlined in textbooks, serve as guiding principles throughout the rejuvenation process. The successful revitalization of these lakes stands as a testament to the effectiveness of engineering and environmental standards, showcasing a proven approach to lake restoration.

The Green Game was conceived in 2011 and since then through multiple initiatives, RCB is now the world’s first carbon-neutral cricket team and the foremost cricket franchise in the world rallying behind a people’s movement for a greener planet.


Royal Challengers Bengaluru restores three lakes as part of Go Green Initiative

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. has embarked on a mission to deepen its roots in rural India. Recognizing the diverse needs of consumers across every corner of the country, Hyundai Motor India has introduced "Grameen Mahotsav" - an initiative celebrating the essence of rural India.  With rural sales account for over 19 percent of its total sales.

Under Grameen Mahotsav, Hyundai is orchestrating an array of engaging activities, including product displays, interactive demonstrations and customer experiences like nukkad natak, live music, folk dance and regional talent shows. The 2 day Grameen Mahotsav carnival will be hosted at 16 locations across India, exhibiting a market place featuring artisanal crafts, carnival rides, gaming zones and food stalls. 

Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, said, “Our sustained efforts towards bolstering rural connect are bearing great fruits and Hyundai Motor India has witnessed a remarkable growth in rural markets in financial year 2023-2024. 

We sold 1.15 lakh vehicles in rural India last year, a growth of 11% over 2022-23. We are confident that with good monsoon, increasing income levels and improved infrastructure, the contribution from rural markets will further increase. The growth will be fueled by our belief in the potential of upcountry markets and the dedication to cater to evolving aspirations of Indian consumers across all geographies.”


He further added, “At Hyundai Motor India, we firmly believe that for the nation to prosper, both Bharat and India must progress in tandem. With initiatives like Grameen Mahotsav, we hope to nurture our customers in every part of the country and also understand the market trends to fulfill their expectations. As we continue to innovate and engage with rural consumers, we are confident in our ability to contribute to the inclusive development of the country.” 

The inaugural Grameen Mahotsav event was held in Mahemdavad, Gujarat in April 2024. 

<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/advertising/npci-unveils-rupays-link-it-forget-it-campaign-at-ipl-29478.htm">NPCI unveils RuPay's 'Link it, Forget it’ campaign at IPL</a> 


Hyundai launches new initiative to increase rural reach in India

Havas Play, the specialised sports, entertainment, and content division of Havas Media Network India, has tapped into the world’s largest T20 cricket extravaganza, the Indian Premier League 2024 by facilitating a strategic tie-up between IPL team Lucknow Super Giants and Valvoline as its Official Lubricant Partner. This association will further strengthen the brand perception of the lubricant behemoth, for which Havas Media India has been managing the integrated duties since 2022.

 
Through this collaboration lies, Valvoline's branding on the helmets and caps worn by players of the Lucknow Super Giants team will be visible during match days and training sessions, stated the company. 


As part of the brand activation strategy, a Valvoline kiosk is set up inside the stadium concourse where spectators are kept engaged through various activities such as face painting, merchandise displays, and the distribution of product leaflets and brochures. 


Ipshita Chowdhury, chief marketing officer, Valvoline Cummins said, “Evidently, cricket holds a significant place in Indian culture, with millions of passionate fans across the country. The IPL, with its colossal viewership and widespread popularity, serves as a prime platform for Valvoline to amplify its brand identity. Partnering with a property as popular as the IPL enables Valvoline to extend its reach to various segments of its target audience, including dealers, mechanics, and other key stakeholders within the automotive industry. The collaboration emphasizes Valvoline’s commitment to quality, performance, and innovation in automotive lubricants. This partnership not only enhances brand visibility but also fosters deeper engagement and loyalty among consumers, solidifying Valvoline's position as a trusted and influential player in the market.”

 
Col. Vinod Bisht, CEO, Lucknow Super Giants said, “We are thrilled to join forces with a distinguished brand like Valvoline, a true leader in the lubricant market. Valvoline's unwavering commitment to excellence mirrors our own relentless pursuit as a team. The shared synergies between Valvoline and the Lucknow Super Giants are unmistakable – as we are driven by a common goal of achieving recognition as performance-driven and passionate champions. This partnership, orchestrated by Havas Play, exemplifies the essence of brand relatability and a value-driven proposition.”

 
Talking about the collaboration, R. Venkatasubramanian, president – investments, Havas Media India and MD, Havas Play said, “Leveraging Havas Play's expertise in experiential marketing and content creation will serve to amplify the reach and impact of this collaboration. By harnessing its proficiency in crafting immersive brand experiences, we will create compelling narratives around the partnership, resonating with fans both on and off the field. Through innovative storytelling and captivating content, Valvoline will cultivate deeper connections with the audience, ensuring that the brand experience extends beyond traditional advertising avenues.”


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/havas-india-launches-incubation-programme-empowhers-22712.htm">Havas India launches incubation programme - EmpowHers</a> 

 

Havas Play inks strategic partnership for Valvoline and Lucknow Super Giants at IPL 2024

Network18’s TV news business has recorded a massive jump of 28% in its revenue in the fourth quarter of FY24.


The largest TV news network in India registered a revenue of Rs 461 crore in Q4FY24, as compared to Rs 360 crore for the same quarter in FY23.


The revenue for the full fiscal stood at Rs 1556 crore, as compared to Rs 1252 crore in FY23. 


The TV news business delivered a strong performance, demonstrating its readiness to leverage strong operating position in the election season. The network has been able to increase its ad rates steadily on the back of solid performance in terms of viewership. 


It continues to be the highest reach TV news network in the country, reaching 175 million people around the country every week.


With leadership positions across key markets, the network delivered industry-leading growth in display advertising. Monetisation of IPs and events also witnessed a strong revenue traction.


The network maintained leadership positions in key markets with CNBC TV18 being the number one business channel garnering 64.3% viewership share, News18 India has been the number one Hindi news channel in evening primetime with viewership share of 14.0%, and CNN-News18 continues to be the number one English news channel for more than 2 years with over 33.3 percent viewership share. 


The news network has had leadership in 4 regional markets of UP/Uttarakhand, Bihar/Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Jammu/Kashmir/Ladakh/Himachal. Its channels in West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Punjab/Haryana have also been strong number two players. Along with News18 Bangla which has seen a significant improvement in ranking during the year, News18 Lokmat has firmly established itself as a strong number three player.


<strong>TV18 News Business</strong> 


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/04/Dug.png" alt="" width="3760" height="432" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29490" />


<strong>Operating EBIDTA for TV News Business</strong>


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/04/D.png" alt="" width="3760" height="432" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29491" /> 


<strong>Digital news business sees 40 percent growth</strong>


The digital news business of Network18 also recorded strong growth. In Q4, it posted a total revenue of Rs 131 crore, 40% up as compared to Rs 94 crore for the same quarter in FY23. 


For the full financial year also, the digital news business saw a solid upside with revenues touching Rs 425 crore, as compared in Rs 356 crore in FY23. 


The digital news portfolio continued to be a strong number 2 digital news publisher in the country with 180 million plus unique visitors every month. 


Moneycontrol continued to be the number one player in terms of both reach and engagement metrics. Moneycontrol Pro crossed 7.5 lakh paid subscribers, making it the top subscription-based news platform in India and amongst the top 20 globally as per FIPP's Digital Subscription Report.


News18.com continued to expand its editorial coverage and analysis of events across the world along with adding new features for enhanced user experience. It was one of the highest reach news networks on WhatsApp Channels.


Firstpost launched a revamped website to enable video-first experience for the users with dedicated digital destination for its key shows. Firstpost’s YouTube channel saw a 70% QoQ growth in average monthly video views. 


<strong>Digital News Business</strong>


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/04/Di.png" alt="" width="3760" height="432" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29494" />


Network18’s TV news business posts 28% revenue growth in Q4FY24, full year revenue up by 24%

Bangur Cement unveiled a new multimedia campaign 'Vote Solid, Desh Solid', which highlights the importance of each individual's vote in making the nation more solid. The campaign is a sequel to the previous brand launch campaign featuring Bollywood actor Sunny Deol.


The key message of the campaign is ‘Vote Solid, Desh Solid.’


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2qG_FbWf5rw?si=yFPvJ62ahdn23ENM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Further, the brand encourages citizens to take a pledge to vote, through its “Vote ka Vachan” button on it’s website votekavachan.bangurcement.com. Bangur Cement has pledged to donate 1 KG of cement for every pledge to vote which would be used for social welfare purposes. Bangur Cement is tying up with NGOs and Self Help Groups to help fulfil this pledge, added the company.


Speaking about the campaign, Neeraj Akhoury, managing director, Shree Cement, said, "Bangur Cement’s ‘Vote Solid Desh Solid’ campaign and the ‘Vote Ka Vachan’ pledge are a continued reflection of our commitment for building a progressive nation with inclusive growth through our brands, products and network.”


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/advertising/npci-unveils-rupays-link-it-forget-it-campaign-at-ipl-29478.htm">NPCI unveils RuPay's 'Link it, Forget it’ campaign at IPL</a> 

Bangur Cement highlights the importance of individual vote in 'Vote Solid, Desh Solid' campaign

The parent company of online news aggregator Dailyhunt and short-video platform Josh, VerSe Innovation, has acquired New York based digital magazine store, Magzter, a cross-platform global digital newsstand with a library of over 8,500 premium magazines and newspapers.


The deal is a cash and stock transaction and it marks VerSe's entry into premium content. "This acquisition is part of the company's efforts to diversify Dailyhunt's revenue streams from a pure advertising-driven model to include digital subscriptions. It is the first global acquisition for the firm, although the deal size was not disclosed," Moneycontrol reported. Through this acquisition, users will have access to publications available on Magzter such as Forbes, Time, The Economist, Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, Reader’s Digest, Cosmopolitan, New Yorker and Bazaar.


Dailyhunt also launched a subscription-based offering Dailyhunt Premium that would offer users access to content from international publishers in over 60 languages from Magzter. Subscribers will also get access to an ad-free experience across the Dailyhunt application.


Dailyhunt was founded by former managing director of Facebook India Umang Bedi and Virendra Gupta. The deal will be closed on April 30 and Bedi added that Magzter’s 75 employees will be fully integrated with VerSe Innovation’s 1,200 workforce.


Through this acquisition, Dailyhunt also aims to attract users from India's elite and aspirational upper-middle-class demographic to its application, as part of the company's increasing focus on monetisable users, Moneycontrol reported. Dailyhunt currently has over 350 million monthly active users (MAUs), of which 250 million are on the Dailyhunt app and the remaining 100 million on its website. People who use the app on a daily basis spend about 30 minutes each day, the company said.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/dailyhunt-in-talks-to-acquire-homegrown-app-koo-24705.htm">DailyHunt in talks to acquire homegrown app Koo</a> 

Dailyhunt-parent VerSe aquires NY-based Magzter to enter into premium content and subscriptions

Amazon Pay's latest campaign titled <em>'Pay Karne Ka Smarter Way'</em>, demonstrates a shift towards a smarter approach to everyday transactions. It showcases the speed, convenience and reliability of Amazon Pay, emphasizing new features such as auto flash for scanning any QR even in low light, sending money to any UPI ID on any app, fast payments, Quick Refunds when using Amazon Pay Balance and 24/7 customer support for all customers. 


Bolstered by the presence of Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, the campaign aims to highlight Amazon Pay as the preferred choice for seamless day-to-day transactions, stated the company. The TVCs captures everyday payment challenges encountered by customers, which is resolved through Amazon Pay's Scan & Pay feature. 


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D6ST1yXPAq8?si=OswQX6_9UBR2EADo" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 
Speaking about the campaign, Anuradha Aggarwal, director, user growth and chief marketing officer, Amazon Pay India said, “Our <em>‘Pay Karne Ka Smarter Way'</em> campaign underscores Amazon Pay's commitment to simplify the digital payment experience, making it the faster, safer and hence smarter way to pay anyone, anywhere. With Amazon Pay UPI, customers can scan any QR, send money to any UPi ID on any App and receive money seamlessly. Just like Pay with Alexa in our last campaign, we have new smart features like ‘Auto-flash’ for low light scans to make payments more convenient. We also want to reassure customers with our unique 24/7 customer service.  Ayushmann Khurrana's versatile yet relatable persona and widespread appeal make him a natural fit for our campaign.

 
Speaking about the association, Khurrana said, “I'm delighted to partner with Amazon Pay for their ‘Pay Karne ka Smarter Way’ campaign. As someone who’s always on the go, I love finding smarter ways to do things, and Amazon Pay is definitely changing the game when it comes to payments. Through this ongoing collaboration, I have enjoyed showcasing Amazon Pay’s versatility in everyday situations – whether it’s the ability to function in low-light environments, or the ease of quick scan and pay or its robust refund policies enabled by Amazon Pay Balance. From streamlining everyday transactions to ensuring unmatched peace of mind, Amazon Pay transcends the conventional notion of a digital platform.”


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j-4Iwu8XsIA?si=pskdLXug94Ng9biN" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>


 
<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/advertising/savsol-lubricants-announces-actor-sidharth-malhotra-as-brand-ambassador-29296.htm">Savsol Lubricants announces actor Sidharth Malhotra as brand ambassador</a> 

Amazon Pay's new campaign 'Pay Karne Ka Smarter Way' highlights convenience featuring Ayushmann Khurrana

The Health Factory announced its latest collaboration with actor Uorfi Javed. 


Through this partnership, The Health Factory aims to captivate Gen Z and a broader audience through a social media reel. 


Javed said, "As an actor, I hold deep commitment to staying healthy.  I consciously opt for clean eating, prefer gluten free products as it is the way to go for a healthier gut, while propogating healthier lifestyle choices. The Health Factory's initiative is inspiring millennials and Gen Zs to reimagine their bread choices. It's been an absolute joy being a part of this campaign."


The message encapsulated in the slogan is <em>#Bread Badlo Aadat Nahi (Change the Bread, Not the Habit)</em>, and the aim through this collaboration is to disseminate this message to a wider audience across various digital platforms, highlighted the company. 


The reel showcases the brand's range of breads and with Javed leading the reel, The Health Factory harnesses the power of social media to spearhead a movement towards informed choices in daily consumption, stated the company.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/the-health-factorys-new-campaign-stars-kunal-vijaykar-redefines-perception-of-healthy-eating-24000.htm">The Health Factory rolls out a new campaign starring food connoisseur Kunal Vijaykar</a>

Colgate's Prabha Narasimhan on chasing virality and the new bottom-line for businesses

Prabha Narasimhan talks about the brands recent campaigns, using data and insights and marketers chasing virality.

More from Storyboard18

Watch Listen

Inflation has impacted entry-level segment: Tata Motors' Shailesh Chandra

Watch Listen

IKEA plans for multi-format stores in India: IKEA India CEO Susanne Pulverer

Watch Listen

Media Dialogues with Storyboard18: AI and digital accelerating Tata Motors CV brand and business

Watch Listen

Pernod Ricard's Kartik Mohindra on crowning India as a premier global whisky maestro

Watch Listen

Media Dialogues with Storyboard18: Maintaining continuity In change, Maruti-Suzuki & Mindshare drive ahead

Watch Listen

PC market demand has come back to normal: Acer's Jason Chen

Watch Listen

Media Dialogues with Storyboard18: Duroflex's growth journey

Watch Listen

Skechers India is growing and willing to invest in India: David Weinberg

Watch Listen

Converting gourmet grocery to luxury grocery: Nature’s Basket unveils experiential concept store

Watch Listen

Indian advertising industry’s go-to man Shashi Sinha revisits his four-decade long career