GroupM has launched the South Cinema Audience Behaviour Report that sheds light on the movie-going habits of the South cinema audience and provides insights to advertisers and marketers.

According to the report, ‘watching a movie at a theatre’ has the highest monthly average frequency of all outdoor leisure activities among South cinema audience - with an average of 1.8 visits per month, translating to 22 visits annually. The report also reveals that 8 out of 10 South Cinema audience visit a theatre at least once a month, which is twice the national average.

Commenting on the report, Ajay Mehta, MD - Cinema and OOH, GroupM India said, "Our report is a game-changing tool for marketers and advertisers looking to engage with South Cinema audience. By shedding light on the unique preferences and behaviours of this audience, we can now tailor our campaigns to resonate with them on a deeper level. A noteworthy example is the exceptional success of 'Jailer,' starring Rajinikanth, which has become the top-grossing Tamil film in India. Impressively, 'Jailer' ranks as the second-fastest Tamil film to amass an astonishing ₹550 crore worldwide at the box office. The fact that a heavy cross-section of South Cinema audience is watching 32 movies in a year highlights the immense potential of this market. With the South Cinema Audience Behaviour Report, we are equipped with the insights needed to tap into this potential and drive real business results."

The report further highlights that 'heavy' South moviegoers visit the cinema on an average of 32 times annually, which is 20 visits more than the national average. Further, the heavy cross-section of South Cinema audience from Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and, Kerala watches 36 movies in a year.

The report also throws a light on language preferences among the South Cinema audience.
In Karnataka, Telugu is the second most preferred language among those preferring Kannada, while in Kerala, Tamil is the second most preferred language for those preferring Malayalam. The report also suggests that horror/thriller is the top genre for visiting a cinema in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and, Kerala.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana cine-goers prefer to watch a movie on the first day with a preference of 66% for any show on the first day. Apparently, all South cinema audience consider nearby theatres.

The South Cinema Audience Behaviour Report provides marketers and advertisers with valuable insights into the preferences and behaviours of Southern states regular cine-goers. The data and insights from this report will enable advertisers to create more effective marketing campaigns and better connect with the South Indian audience.

Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammed Khan will be the Chief Guest at the 2nd edition of e4m English Journalism 40 Under 40, to be held in New Delhi.

exchange4media’s English Journalism 40 under 40 recognizes professionals in the domain, be it print, television, or digital. The list will include editors, reporters, anchors, journalists, marketing & digital media professionals, videographers, news producers and video editors.

The list will be out after a highly rigorous jury process at the end of which 40 individuals will be chosen for their outstanding and trendsetting work in their respective spheres.

Manoj Mathur, Editor, Digital, at Zee Media Regional is no more.

Zee Media has expressed deep grief over the demise of Manoj Mathur and paid tribute to him.

Mathur was associated with 'Zee Media' for a long time as Editor of 'Zee' (Rajasthan). Later the management handed him the responsibility of Editor,Digital, at Zee Media  Regional.

Mathur had over two decades of experience in media. Prior to Zee Media, he was  associated with 'India News' for about a year and 'ETV' for over eight years.

The Walt Disney Company reportedly held talks with the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries (RIL) among other potential buyers about its India streaming and television business. Reports say that the US-based entertainment conglomerate has been considering deals ranging from total sale of Disney Star business to partial  transactions of assets such as sports rights and streaming service Disney+ Hotstar.

Disney has been mulling options, including a complete sale to even considering a joint venture after its Indian streaming service lost its rights to the IPL tournament to Viacom18 Media.

Disney reportedly approached Reliance about buying a stake in the business. The talks have not culminated in any deal and Disney could hold on to the assets for longer, said reports.

The 11 Chief Ministers who are part of the I.N.D.I.A alliance are considering to stop advertising on some TV channels that they believe are pro-BJP.

As per a social media fan page dedicated to TMC MP Mahua Moitra, "The plan is to hit these propaganda channels financially."

The fan page says: "Let these channels run BJP’s agenda by inviting BJP’s spokesperson & also run their channel from the money earned from advertisements given by BJP ruled state."

This comes after the I.N.D.I.A. Media Committee decided not to send their representatives to shows and events hosted by certain journalists/anchors.

The News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) has expressed anguish and concern at the decision.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has extended the last date for receiving written comments on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper on  'Regulatory Mechanism for Over The Top (OTT) Communication Services, and Selective Banning of OTT Services to September 29, 2023. 

TRAI said that keeping in view the request of an industry association for the extension of time for submission of counter comments, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of counter comments. 

On the request of stakeholders for an extension of time for submission of comments, the last date for submission of written comments and counter comments was initially extended up to August 18, then to September 1 and thereafter till September 15.

Srinivasan K. Swamy, Executive Chairman of R K Swamy Hansa Group has
been unanimously elected as the Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC)
for the year 2023-2024.

Swamy currently serves as Chairman of Asian Federation of Advertising
Associations, he was earlier President / Chairman of International Advertising
Association (IAA), IAA India Chapter, Confederation of Asian Advertising Agency
Associations, Advertising Agencies Association of India, Advertising Standards
Council of India, All India Management Association, Madras Chamber of Commerce
& Industry and Madras Management Association.

Swamy was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Advertising
Agencies Association of India (AAAI).


Riyad Mathew, Chief Associate Editor & Director of Malayala Manorama
representing Publisher Members on the Council was unanimously elected as the
Deputy Chairman of the Bureau for the year 2023-2024.


Mohit Jain, Executive Director of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. representing
Publisher Members on the Council was unanimously elected as the Hon. Secretary
of the Bureau for the year 2023-2024.


Vikram Sakhuja, Partner & Group CEO Media & OOH of Madison
Communications Pvt. Ltd. representing Advertising Agencies Members on the
Council was unanimously re-elected as the Hon. Treasurer of the Bureau for the
year 2023-2024.


Members on the Bureau’s Council of Management for the year 2023-2024 are as
under:

Advertising Agencies Representatives
1. Srinivasan K Swamy, R K Swamy Ltd. – Chairman
2. Vikram Sakhuja, Madison Communications Pvt. Ltd. – Hon. Treasurer
3. Prasanth Kumar, Group M Media India Private Limited
4. Vaishali Verma, Initiative Media (India) Pvt. Ltd
Publishers Representatives
1. Riyad Mathew - Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd.. – Dy. Chairman
2. Pratap G. Pawar – Sakal Papers Pvt. Ltd.
3. Shailesh Gupta - Jagran Prakashan Ltd
4. Praveen Someshwar – HT Media Ltd.
5. Mohit Jain – Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. - Hon. Secretary
6. Dhruba Mukherjee – ABP Pvt. Ltd.
7. Karan. Darda - Lokmat Media Pvt. Ltd
8. Girish Agarwal – DB Corp Limited
Advertiser Representatives
1. Karunesh Bajaj, ITC Ltd.
2. Aniruddha Haldar, TVS Motor Company Ltd.
3. Shashank Srivastava, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.
Secretariat
Hormuzd Masani – Secretary General