Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni was quite upbeat about the Indian media industry at her special address to the distinguished gathering at the fifth Indian Magazine Congress, being held in Delhi on November 5-6, 2009. She went as far as to state that the growth of the Indian media and entertainment industry had surpassed that of the Indian economy’s growth.

Shanta Saikia Nov 6, 2009 10:47 AM

While there has been a lot of focus on English media and the effects of the downturn, not enough attention has been to language publications. The session on ‘Language publishing – How it withstood the slowdown’ at the Indian Magazine Congress 2009 sought to highlight pertinent issues such as survival of regional magazines, importance of relevant content, strategies, etc. The session was moderated by Delhi Press’ Anant Nath, while the panellists included Amit Tiwari of Philips India, Chitralekha’s Mitrajit Bhattacharya, and Pritti Kumar of G2 Magazine.

Nitin Pandey Nov 6, 2009 10:16 AM

The concluding session of Day one of the Indian Magazine Congress 2009 saw a lively discussion on ‘Licensing magazine brands in a new world order’ among magazine brand custodians both from the licensee and licensor sides. WWM’s Tarun Rai moderated the session while the panelists included Sandra Gotelli of Arnoldo Mondadori, BBC’s James Hewes; Mike Greehan of Cueball, and Xavior Collaco of Media Transasia.

Onkar Pandey Nov 6, 2009 9:16 AM

The session on ‘Digital Strategies for Magazines’ at the Indian Magazine Congress (IMC) 2009 discussed threadbare the future of magazines in a digital era, with a clear consensus emerging in the panel that an offline and online can co-exist and magazines can efficiently exploit digital to their advantage.

Onkar Pandey Nov 6, 2009 9:03 AM

‘Content is King and will always remain the king,’ asserted the panelists in one voice at the session on ‘Is content the king even in troubled times?’ at the Indian Magazine Congress (IMC) 2009. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta moderated the session, while the panelists included Ajit Balakrishnan, Tarun Tejpal and Vinod Mehta. <br> <a href=http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/news/fullstory.asp?section_id=5&news_id=36375&tag=32388&pict=4 target= _blank><b>IMC 2009: Licensing magazine brands in a new world order</b></a> <br> <a href=http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/news/fullstory.asp?section_id=5&news_id=36377&tag=32392&pict=4 target= _blank><b>IMC 2009: Paving the road ahead for language publications</b></a> <br> <a href=http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/news/fullstory.asp?section_id=5&news_id=36374&tag=32385&pict=5 target= _blank><b>IMC 2009: Leveraging the digital media</b></a>

Rishi Vora Nov 6, 2009 9:02 AM

Delivering the keynote address at the Indian Magazine Congress (IMC) 2009 on November 5, an upbeat Aroon Purie of India Today Group said that the future was great for magazines, more so India, where the macro environment for magazines looked good. While sharing his ‘magic mantras’ for the magazine industry, Purie also exhorted the industry to talk up the journalistic talent in the country. <br> <a href=http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/news/fullstory.asp?section_id=5&news_id=36370&tag=32379&pict=3 target= _blank><b>IMC 2009: stop talking about economic cycles, it is just a cycle: Chris Llewellyn</b></a> <br> <a href=http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/news/fullstory.asp?section_id=5&news_id=36371&tag=32380&pict=4 target= _blank><b>IMC 2009: Look for new sectors that could take the industry further: Nishant Singhal</b></a>

Nitin Pandey Nov 6, 2009 8:00 AM

Day one of the Indian Magazine Congress (IMC) 2009, being held in Delhi on November 5-6, commenced with a welcome address by Outlook Group’s Maheshwer Peri. His address was followed by a thought-provoking presentation by Nishant Singhal of PricewaterhouseCoopers, who deliberated on the growth aspects of the Indian magazine landscape.

Rishi Vora Nov 6, 2009 7:41 AM

Recession or no-recession, magazines in India will continue to increase in numbers despite many experts having spelled doomsday for print as a medium in the past. This was the point that Chris Llewellyn, President and CEO, FIPP stressed on in his special address at the fifth edition of the Indian Magazine Congress (IMC).

Rishi Vora Nov 6, 2009 7:40 AM

The CASBAA Convention 2009 completed the deliberations and discussions part of the conference on November 5. The day was dedicated to the condition of Pay TV in China and to sports as a property in India, and the impact that it has had on Pay TV. The closing keynote speaker of the day was IPL’s Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi, who took the audience through the IPL experience. <br> <a href= http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/news/fullstory.asp?section_id=6&news_id=36368&tag=32377&pict=0 target= _blank><b>CASBAA Convention 09: Sports TV - In the driver’s seat</b> </a>

Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 6, 2009 7:32 AM

The other session that focussed on sports in India saw leading broadcasters from across the region like Ian Carroll, Russell Wolff, Jacques Raynaud, Ma Gouli, Arun Poddar, Lars Heidenreich, and Olivier Laouchez, discussing the various aspects that have worked for the domain in markets such as India.

Noor Fathima Warsia Nov 6, 2009 7:26 AM

Roshan Tamang, VP - News, Sports and Entertainment, has reportedly put in his papers at Web18 and is likely to join the Times Group. Tamang had joined Web18 in July 2005 and is currently serving his notice period. This week is said to be his last working week at Web 18. Prior to joining Web18, he was with Times Internet Ltd as News Editor.

Robin Thomas Nov 6, 2009 7:25 AM

Day two of the World Brand Congress 2009, held in Mumbai on November 5, saw brand leaders in the television domain share their mantras for success in an interesting session. Insightful presentations were made by HBO’s Shruti Bajpai, Rameet Arora of Viacom18, Nikhil Madhok of NDTV Imagine, and Future Generali India’s Abraham Mathew Alapatt.

exchange4media Mumbai Bureau Nov 6, 2009 7:24 AM

Three Indian agencies have made it to the winners’ list at the London International Awards 2009. Among the winners from India are Ogilvy India, DDB Mudra and Leo Burnett India. In all, 10 awards and two finalists were awarded to Indian agencies. The winners were announced at the 24th annual London International Awards.

exchange4media Mumbai Bureau Nov 6, 2009 7:23 AM

It is learnt from sources within the industry that TVS Tyres is on the lookout for a media agency. The pitch is in its final phase and a decision is expected in two weeks’ time. Industry sources have pegged the business in the vicinity of Rs 5-7 crore.

Tuhina Anand Nov 6, 2009 7:22 AM

It is impossible to give a figure like we will grow by 15 per cent, or we will win seven awards at Cannes next year from India. But we have very high expectations that in the next year or two. Creatively, India would be in the top five because we now have a very good team there. The agency has been gaining critical mass that we did not have before, and many other roadblocks are out of the way. Even as TBWA\Worldwide, we are focussing and supporting the offices in India in a much stronger way and it is needed. Today, clients want good teams in India and we cannot let anyone down. So, you can rest assured that you would seeing and hearing a lot from India in the days to come.

exchange4media Staff Nov 6, 2009 12:00 AM