Zee TV actors connect with fans in virtual celebration

KIT Global has unveiled its latest whitepaper, delving deep into the implications of a cookieless world, with a particular focus on India.

As businesses adapt to this paradigm shift, a comprehensive analysis of India's digital landscape unveils profound insights into the nation's journey towards digital maturity. Online tracking and digital advertising have become integral components of the online experience, shaping how content is delivered and consumed. However, concerns over privacy and data protection loom large in this landscape.

Global Usage of Cookies and Online Tracking Technologies:

In a world increasingly reliant on digital platforms, cookies, and other tracking technologies have become integral to understanding and engaging users. KIT Global's research reveals that, on average, a website deploys 17.9 cookies per page load, providing advertisers with a wealth of user data. However, amidst the convenience of personalized experiences, concerns over data misuse persist. Globally, 41% of respondents express apprehensions about the misuse of personal data by online platforms and advertisers. In India, this concern is even more pronounced, with 53% of respondents advocating for stronger privacy protection measures online.

Impact of Cookieless Initiatives on Digital Marketing Practices:

The impending shift towards a cookieless world poses significant challenges for digital marketers. With limitations on tracking and targeting users, advertisers face the daunting task of reimagining their strategies. Nevertheless, this transition also presents an opportunity for businesses to embrace more privacy-conscious approaches to digital marketing, fostering trust and loyalty among consumers.

Digital Landscape and Consumer Behavior in India:

India's digital landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by factors such as increasing internet penetration, smartphone adoption, and e-commerce growth. As of February 2024, India boasts 911.77 million internet users, with smartphone penetration reaching 83% of the population. The e-commerce market, valued at 99 billion USD in 2024, reflects a burgeoning consumer base with evolving preferences and habits.

Regulatory Frameworks and Challenges for Businesses Operating in India:

In response to growing concerns over data privacy, India is poised to introduce robust regulatory frameworks, including the proposed Data Protection Authority (DPA). However, businesses may encounter challenges in adapting to these changes, particularly in accessing third-party data and understanding alternative tracking methods.

Solutions for Businesses Operating in India Amidst the Shift to a Cookieless World:

In navigating the complexities of a cookieless world, businesses can leverage first-party data, embrace contextual advertising, and adopt localized marketing strategies. By prioritizing transparency and consumer trust, businesses can forge stronger connections with their audiences while respecting their privacy rights.

Rahul Khurana, Country Manager of KIT Global India: "Our research offers a panoramic view of India's digital transformation, empowering businesses to navigate the cookieless landscape with precision and foresight. By harnessing the power of data-driven insights, companies can chart a course towards sustainable growth in India's dynamic marketplace."

The Ad Club Bangalore has announced the launch of the Inspiration Room.

This series of thought leadership programs will offer a wide range of formats fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas.

“We are very excited to launch the Inspiration Room series,” said Laeeq Ali, Founder of Origami Creative and President of Ad Club Bangalore. “This initiative is conceived to be a series of high-quality masterclasses, talk shows, discussions and workshops, where creative professionals will get to hear from the experts and interact with the best.”

The first program in the Inspiration Room series was a round table discussion focusing on Generative AI, a rapidly evolving field with significant implications for the future of advertising and marketing. A panel of industry experts delved into the opportunities and challenges of Gen AI. Members of the panel were Ajay Joseph, Head of Sales & Channel Adobe, Varun Khiatani, Strategy, Lead, Talented and Azmina Poddar, Managing Director Accenture Song. The discussion was moderated by Ganga Ganapathi, VP International Marketing and agency practice Epsilon India.

The event, held in partnership with Adobe, brought together senior leaders from the advertising and marketing community for a thought-provoking discussion in Bangalore. Speakers of the evening who shared their interesting perspectives included Shridhar Gopalan, Technology Marketing Evangelist and Founder of Billaway, Nishad Ramachandran, Partner Spread Design & Innovation and Vignesh Kamath, Manipal Digital.

“The advertising world is going through a rapid change,” said Ali. “We felt that Generative AI would be an apt topic for the fraternity to discuss, especially considering the rise of tools like LLMs and Adobe Firefly. We look forward to bringing more relevant topics like these under the banner of Inspiration Room.”

"Udan Panam," the game show that has captivated Malayalam television audiences, is making a return with its highly anticipated fifth edition.

Broadcasting on Mazhavil Manorama every Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm, this latest installment promises to redefine excitement and engagement.

Stepping into the limelight alongside the seasoned host ATM is none other than the iconic actor Jayaram. Jayaram is set to introduce Venkatesh and Twinkle Sheetal, the newest faces of “Udan Panam,” the new competition formats, and the new game style in his typical charming manner.

Adding a twist to the mix is the ‘real time contest’ for viewers, powered by manoramaMAX’s revolutionary "OKONG". With OKONG, viewers can participate from the comfort of their homes, competing alongside contestants on-screen for a chance to win the same prize money. Viewers can simply download manoramaMAX, click on Udan Panam banner, log in, fill in the details, and participate along with the television contestant real time.

Through OKONG, audiences are granted the opportunity to participate against Jayaram, and television contestants real time in the fifth edition. “Udan Panam,” the game show has already distributed over 12 Crores as prize money throughout their history!

With a legacy spanning over 850 episodes across four editions, "Udan Panam" has continually pushed the boundaries of innovation, from outdoor to indoor and everything in between. Icons like Mathu, Kallu, Dane, and Meenakshi have left a remarkable mark on the hearts of viewers, paving the way for a new generation of stars to shine.

In an addition to the fifth edition, the "dishum-dishum" round promises accelerating excitement as ATM fires off five rapid-fire questions. With just ten seconds on the clock, contestants and OKONG participants must race against time to lock in their answers. Live audience too have special rewards awaiting them.

As anticipation builds, "Udan Panam" stands poised to deliver unparalleled entertainment on the background of stunning visuals, mesmerizing sets, and a fusion of dance and music. “Udan Panam” will be telecasted only on Mazhavil Manorama, every Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm.

Wootag, an interactive visual marketing platform, and Lemma, an omnichannel SSP for emerging formats, have joined forces to transform creative enhancement and media effectiveness for marketers. This collaboration offers brands a unique opportunity to leverage the growing audience engagement within DOOH & CTV media and elevate their visual interactive marketing campaigns.

“Through this partnership, marketers will now have seamless access to Wootag's interactive visual marketing capabilities within Lemma's robust media ecosystem. By integrating Wootag's technology, marketers can create captivating and immersive experiences that drive deeper audience engagement. This collaboration unlocks the potential for personalized and impactful campaigns at scale, combining Lemma's unprecedented reach and targeting capabilities with Wootag's interactive features,” stated a reelase.

Recognizing the increasing time audiences spend in CTV media and navigating through their day in an outdoor environment, brands understand the importance of tapping into intent viewing and other upper to lower-funnel metrics. Wootag and Lemma empower marketers to enhance the viewing experience by making it contextual and personalized, resulting in a remarkable 2-3X uplift in performance compared to standard videos across CTV & DOOH platforms.

Entailing this collaboration, Lemma clients and agency partners can effectively incorporate Wootag's interactive visual marketing capabilities as part of their media offerings. This bundled solution is available globally, providing agency partners with a convenient way to combine cutting-edge technology with media to drive campaign effectiveness at scale. By leveraging Wootag's interactive features within Lemma's omnichannel ecosystem, marketers can create highly engaging and personalized experiences for their audience across multiple channels.

At Wootag, we offer marketers a comprehensive solution that integrates interactive visual marketing with a powerful media ecosystem. Wth our partnership with Lemma, marketers can deliver highly interactive and contextualized experiences that captivate audiences and achieve exceptional results in their advertising efforts. We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Lemma and empower brands to fuel remarkable business growth." stated Raj Sunder, CEO & Founder of Wootag.

At Lemma, we are committed to staying at the forefront of innovation, ensuring that our brands remain ahead in the competitive landscape. Partnering with Wootag reflects our ongoing pursuit of excellence in serving our brands and clients by unleashing the power of interactive visual marketing and data-driven insights and sets a new standard in the digital advertising landscape.  " - Gulab Patil, Founder & CEO of Lemma

This strategic partnership also empowers marketers with valuable insights and analytics, enabling data-driven decision-making. Marketers can gain a deeper understanding of audience behavior, preferences, and engagement patterns, allowing them to refine their strategies and optimize performance in real time. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, marketers can make informed optimizations and drive better campaign results.

Infidigit hosted a CMO Meet in collaboration with Dun & Bradstreet.

The event convened senior marketing executives from various industries at a strategic gathering to discuss pressing issues and advancements within the marketing landscape.

The CMO Meet featured insightful presentations from industry experts like Mr. Alok Arya, Chief Marketing Officer, Equentis Wealth Advisory Services Pvt Ltd.; Mr. Shrishail Deshnur, Chief Marketing Officer, Indira IVF Group; Mr. Saugata Bagchi, Global Head – Digital, Experiential & Content Marketing, Tata Communications; Mr. Kunal Aman, Director, Marketing – India, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, SAS; Mr. Francis Rodrigues - SVP Ecommerce & Digital Marketing HDFC Life insurance; Ms. Manimala Hazarika, Fractional CMO, Growth Marketing Consultant; Mr. Vijay Murthy, CEO - Lead, Silver & Minor Metals IBU Chief Sales & Marketing Officer - Metals & Acid, Vendanta (Hindustan Zinc); Mr. Sudhanshu Tripathi - CMO Quick Heal; Mr. Vipul Oberoi, Director of Marketing, CSR & Learning Solutions, Dun & Bradstreet India; Mr. Kaushal Thakkar, Founder & Managing Director, Infidigit.

The CMO Meet provided a valuable platform for marketing leaders to share insights, network with peers, and learn about the latest marketing solutions. Infidigit and Dun & Bradstreet are committed to helping businesses achieve their marketing goals through innovative solutions and industry collaboration on data-driven marketing strategies, effective customer engagement tactics, robust marketing measurement techniques and Artificial Intelligence. These presentations fostered an environment for knowledge sharing and discussion amongst the attending marketing leaders.

Kunal Aman, Director, Marketing – India, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, SAS, said: “Personally, witnessing analytics being applied across diverse scenarios has been fascinating. From creating COVID dashboards for governments for prioritizing relief efforts to aiding banks & insurers in detecting sophisticated fraud, our analytics solutions have far-reaching impact. Particularly in marketing, Analytical & AI-fueled insights are uncovering nuanced consumption patterns and are reshaping content strategies. Our marketing strategy is driven by data insights, enabling us to effectively engage customers at every stage of their evolving journey."

Focusing on the digital era in today's world, Alok Arya, Chief Marketing Officer, Equentis Wealth, said, "Personalization is the cornerstone of effective marketing, fostering authentic connections and brand loyalty among today's diverse consumers. In the digital era, while we can measure every footprint, the essence of marketing remains rooted in the tangible touchpoints that evoke genuine emotions, reminding us of the irreplaceable value of human intelligence amidst the advancing tide of artificial intelligence."

Shrishail Deshnur, Chief Marketing Officer, Indira IVF Group, said, “Standalone offerings are out. Today, personalization is king. From healthcare to all industries, the focus is on crafting unique customer journeys. This goes beyond products, tailoring the entire experience to individual needs. Gathering relevant data through genuine engagement is key, not intrusive methods. We empower individuals through awareness and education, allowing them to actively seek information relevant to them. This proactive approach personalizes every interaction, guiding informed decisions for each unique customer."

Saugata Bagchi, Global Head, Digital, Experiential & Content Marketing, Tata Communications, said: "Embracing diverse experiences over two decades, from pharmaceuticals to global digital strategy, I've learned the power of dual perspectives: agency creativity meets corporate strategy, driving impactful decisions through meaningful coversations. And in the ever-evolving landscape of business, success lies not merely in adapting to change, but in embracing it with a relentless pursuit of innovation and a steadfast commitment to understanding and serving the needs of our customers."

Speaking on the venture growth, Kaushal Thakkar, Founder & Managing Director, Infidigit , said "From selling my first venture for a rupee to weathering corporate storms, every experience fueled my entrepreneurial spirit. Now, with Infidigit, we're empowering brands to get higher returns on their marketing investments with a dedicated Organic search team and a wealth of expertise. Coming to the realm of content creation, the synergy of AI and human expertise is indispensable. While AI enhances quality and style, it's the human touch that provides invaluable experience, expertise, and authority which generates Trustworthy content."

Vipul Oberoi, Director - Marketing, CSR & Learning Solutions at Dun & Bradstreet India, said, “In today's rapidly evolving landscape,the world demands strategic plans that are both visionary and adaptable. Leaders must anticipate and navigate constant disruptions, from social media to AI. By harnessing thought leadership, AI tools, and personalization strategies, organizations can make informed decisions and seize opportunities in this dynamic market. Collaborative efforts and insightful planning are key to navigating the complexities and achieving success."

Aaj Tak is set to venture beyond Conventional Coverage to Showcase True Democracy in Action with Anjana Om Kashyap on the special show ‘Rajtilak’.

“Departing from the confines of newsroom driven traditional coverage and the noisy matches on political punditry, Aaj Tak breaks free with the launch of ‘Rajtilak’. Aaj Tak’s firebrand anchor Anjana Om Kashyap embarks on a journey across 100 cities in India, reaching out to every nook and corner in a Helicopter,” the channel said in a release.

By venturing into the remotest parts of the country, the program seeks to underscore the significance of every vote and the power of grassroots democracy. Highlighting Democracy in Action; 'Rajtilak' Unveils the Diverse dreams and aspirations of the Indian Electorate, it said.

“This program marks a significant departure from the standard practice of relying solely on the analysis of psephologists and pre-collected data. Instead, Aaj Tak is committed to presenting the raw, unfiltered opinions and perspectives of citizens, ensuring that every voice is heard and every opinion counts. The show will start its high flying journey on 14th April 2024 from the state of Uttrakhand and visit Tehri, Rishikesh and Dehradun. In the first week of its journey, ‘Rajtilak’ will also cover Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Agra, Mathura, Jaipur, Ajmer, Sawai-Madhopur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Sabarkantha, Anand, Ahmedabad, Surat, Nashik, Palghar and Mumbai. The special show will telecast daily at 8pm on Aaj Tak,” the release stated.

Speaking on this occasion, Rahul Shaw (CEO - TV & Radio, TVTN) said, "Rajtilak' Prioritizes Raw, Unfiltered Opinions and Perspectives of Citizens. As the most trusted news brand of the country, the citizens expect no less from AajTak. AajTak’s Helicopter shot in the final match of Indian Politics revolutionize the coverage, guaranteeing unprecedented reach and engagement with democracy in LIVE action.”

Sandeep Seksaria (Managing Director, LTK Industries) also added, “LTK Group is proud & pleased to be associated with TV Today Network , India Today Group  for this unique initiative Aaj Tak ka Helicopter Shot- ‘Rajtilak’.The communication objective of our brand Macho Hint & the Aaj Tak initiative matches perfectly well to be at the centre of the nation’s socio-political conversation. The idea of reaching out to the people across the nation aerially and bring to them the pulse of the nation is quite remarkable and Macho Hint is thrilled to be an honoured partner in this initiative.”

Shashi Sinha, CEO of IPG Mediabrands India, stated, "We are delighted to partner with Macho Hint of LTK Industries and Aaj Tak in this unique and innovative program, Rajtilak Helicopter Shot."

Luminous Power Technologies has partnered with Republic Media Network and announced a strategic Election Studio Branding. This partnership marks a significant milestone as the country prepares for the General Election 2024.

Arnab Goswami, Founder and Chairman of Republic Media Network: "We are delighted to welcome Luminous as our power partner for Election headquarters studio branding. Republic Media Network has always strived to offer viewers insightful and impactful coverage, and this collaboration further enhances our commitment to delivering excellence. Together with Luminous, we aim to create an immersive experience for our audience, fostering dialogue and engagement around this crucial event. This strategic partnership is just the beginning of some spectacular innovations to be created across our platforms. "

Neelima Burra, Chief Strategy Transformation & Marketing Officer, Luminous Power Technologies said, “The partnership between Luminous and Republic for a Strategic Election headquarters studio branding will seamlessly integrate the brand and election news updates, creating the next big thing in brand-media collaborations.  With this first-ever Studio, we are excited to bring viewers a top-notch experience and redefine how the world sees brand partnerships. It is a unique integration of technology, brand, and media to bring uninterrupted election news this season, creating an immersive experience for the consumers. This partnership takes forward our like-minded ideologies of being end-to-end players and paves the way for an array of opportunities for both of us.”

Through this collaboration, Luminous will be prominently featured in Republic Media Network's Election Studio Branding, offering viewers an immersive experience that blends informative content with Luminous' commitment to reliability and empowerment. By aligning with Republic Media Network, Luminous seeks to amplify its message of fostering joy and security in every Indian home, resonating with the essence of the electoral process.

Furthermore, Luminous is excited to announce its strategic partnership with Republic Media Network for the Election's Headquarters Studio Branding across the network. This state-of-the-art studio will utilize cutting-edge technology to provide viewers with comprehensive coverage of the General Elections, enhancing the overall experience for millions of viewers.