"We already allocate 16 mins to ads, so coping with 12 mins will be easy"
Post DAS, viewers seek quality content; if you provide that, you don't have to worry about the rest, says Rahul Johri, Sr VP & GM - South Asia, Discovery Networks

In a freewheeling conversation with exchange4media, Rahul Johri, Senior Vice President and GM – South Asia, Discovery Networks talks about how digitisation has levelled the playing field. He also shares his view on carriage fee and the 10+2 ad cap, along with the TAM imbroglio.
Johri also shares how the network is gearing up for future challenges. He is also Head of Revenue, Pan-Regional Ad Sales and South East Asia.
Excerpts:
Post digitisation and all the recent turbulences in the broadcast industry per se, where does a niche network such as yours, which caters to special interest of audiences, stand?
We are firstly not a niche network, neither in terms of content nor in terms of viewership. Had the content been niche, people would have not related to it ever. You might call TLC niche. Digitisation does away with the bandwidth constraints of analogue and all our channels get traction. The moment digitisation happened, we saw viewership of Discovery Science go up, along with that of TLC and Animal Planet. This was possible because more and more people are getting access to this content.
We as a company have been tracking digitisation for five years. With the launch of the first DTH platform in India, we sensed India is getting digital and we now need to prepare to expand our portfolios. There was no point of expanding one’s portfolio then because channels wouldn’t have received distribution. We operate in 203 countries and territories around the world and we have experienced that as markets turn global, our channels start finding traction. Hence, we prepared in time and that is why as the country is turning digital, we have multiple languages. Today all our channels are on every DTH platforms, on the basic platform of every digital cable. According to me, there is no turbulence in the market. Every market goes through a churn or change. What we have to ensure is that it is moving in the right direction.
What do you have to say about carriage fees?
It is always a big issue, but we never paid for carriage. There is a difference. We are not an entertainment channel. We are different. If I started paying carriage for a channel, audience will be losing here, because there will never be a business case for a specialised channel. That is the beauty of pay TV or cable – a viewer will be able to get content that he wants.
How will you gear up for the 10+2 ad cap scenario?
We already operate in that environment. Most of our shows are global and hence are made for standard cut. It is not that at the cost of content, we show more ads. We already have discipline of certain limit over advertisements. All our shows are made to a 44-minute cut and the balance 16 minutes are for ads. We can easily cope with 12 minutes. As viewers have access to more content post DAS, the value which they would seek is quality content. As long as you are providing that kind of content, you don’t have to worry about the rest. India has predominantly been a free-to-air market. Discovery operates on a pay environment and that is why we invest so much in our content. We produce the content. If you are in a free-to-air environment, you are chasing eyeballs at any cost, which results in sensationalism. Changes now will make the content more responsible. Whoever is offering better content will win.
Are you confident that subscription will be the key driver of your revenues now?
Yes. Ad revenue will come to the network which focusses on quality and hence, there will be a surge in inventory cost as well. Post DAS, ratings would cater to better content and not to the channel that pays a higher carriage fee.
Since content will be the driver now, will we see a change in the content strategy of the network?
Our channels work in a pay TV environment all across the world. We are creating content for that environment already. All our channels went paid in the year 1998. If you look at our strategies, we never chase ratings. We would never do anything that is off brand. And that is why when you switch to our channels, you know what to expect. As clutter increases, one needs to stick to brand identity. Some channels are experiencing pay revenue for the first time, which is a good thing as their content strategies will become more mature. We don’t produce speculative content. We will stick to our core and will do what we do best.
What is your stand on TAM ratings?
It’s a good thing that has happened. We have always reporting TVR in thousands and that is the benchmark we have been working on globally. So it’s a good thing that what we do internally and what has now become external is the same.
What do you think of the TAM universe and what hopes do you have from BARC?
No research is complete, it is indicative. We have a lot of hopes from BARC. As far as I know, we are on a solid path.
You switched from weekly ratings to monthly ratings and then again to weekly. Why the shift?
Individual companies take individual decisions. Fact of the matter is that we believe TVR in thousands is the right call and right way forward. We are happy that through discussions that is what has been achieved.
Citing your global experience, where do you rate the Indian market?
No market is easy. TV in itself is a robust market. Some markets are ahead of India, some might reach there. We can use the experience of India in the weaker markets. India is a key priority in the Discovery International world. We won’t let any opportunity go by.
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e4m-Samsung Ads CTV roundtable to be held in Gurugram today
At the exclusive roundtable, experts will share insights on the theme ‘How to Leverage the Power of Screen’
By e4m Staff | Sep 27, 2023 7:52 AM | 2 min read
The exchange4media Group is excited to host the exclusive e4m-Samsung Ads CTV Roundtable in Gurugram today, September 27. In today's competitive marketplace, it is important for advertisers and marketers to understand how to maximize TV budgets and prepare for a larger addressable CTV universe. Marketers now have to consider how incremental reach can help capture viewers across OTT and CTV campaigns and level up their game to stand out from the rest.
At the roundtable, industry heads, digital marketing experts and top leaders from the advertising and marketing world will come together to share insights on the theme ‘How to Leverage the Power of Screen’. The experts will explore the evolving TV landscape, discuss the rise of ad-supported services, and explore how brands are leaning into the power of the screen to create deeper engagement with audiences.
The seasoned professionals will discuss the challenges that agencies and media owners are facing in their business, industry, and market at large. The roundtable will also include discussions on several key topics like what advertisers and marketers expect from CTV in the coming years, how to leverage the power of the screen to curate and tailor their strategies to resonate with the changing trends, measuring business impact in CTV, the challenges in investing more in CTV and more.
Our speakers include Anupam Tripathi, Media Head, Lenskart; Anusha Srinivasan, Digital Media Activations Manager, Reckitt Health, Reckitt India; Archana Aggarwal, VP – Media, Airtel; Bhawna Sikka, Category Head; Oral Health Care, Haleon; Kunal Dhrangadharia, Global Brand Lead, Royal Enfield; Monika Mishra, Director – Marketing, Mobikwik; Sahil Rawal, Vice President - Brand Product Platforms Marketing, Max Life Insurance; Samir Sethi, VP and Head of Brand Marketing, Policybazaar.com; Siya Wadhawan, Senior Brand Manager, boAt Lifestyle and Syed Sibtain Imam, Media Head, Honasa Consumer Ltd (Mamaearth). The discussion will be moderated by Prabhvir Sahmey, Senior Director, Samsung Ads while Abbhishek Chadha, Executive Vice President, North & East, Interactive Avenues will be the co-moderator.
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NDTV gets permission from MIB to launch 3 HD channels
The three high definition channels that received the nod are NDTV 24x7 HD, NDTV India HD and NDTV Profit HD
By e4m Staff | Sep 27, 2023 7:40 AM | 1 min read
New Delhi Television Ltd. (NDTV) has been granted permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to launch three high-definition (HD) channels.
According to the company's disclosure under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, it said, "This is to inform you that in reference to the application filed by the Company before the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), the Company has received a letter dated September 25, 2023 from MIB conveying its intention to grant permission to the Company to uplink and downlink three (3) news and current affairs channels in High Definition namely ‘NDTV 24x7 HD’, ‘NDTV India HD’ and ‘NDTV Profit HD.'
NDTV added that it will inform the stock exchanges of the launch of the said HD channels.
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ICC World Cup 2023: Disney Star onboards IndusInd & Emirates as sponsors on TV
According to sources, around 50-60 advertisers have signed up for the upcoming cricket tournament on TV
By Sonam Saini | Sep 26, 2023 1:22 PM | 1 min read
Disney Star, the official broadcaster of ICC Cricket World Cup for both TV and digital, has bagged two more sponsorships from IndusInd and Emirates for television.
Highly placed sources have confirmed the news to e4m. According to the sources, over 50 advertisers have signed up for the upcoming marquee tournament and the broadcaster is still in talks with other advertisers.
PhonePe, Mahindra Auto, Coke, MasterCard and Hindustan Unilever are the other big brands that have come on board as sponsors for the tournament.
As earlier reported by exchange4media, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 118-120 crore for co-presenting sponsorships and Rs 80-90 crore for the associate sponsorship. For co-presenting opportunities on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster has set a price tag of Rs 150 crore. Brands eager to get high visibility as "Powered by" sponsors will need to invest Rs 75 crore, while those opting for associate sponsorship will have to allocate Rs 40 crore.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup kicks off on October 5 with a repeat of the 2019 final as England faces New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Across 10 world-class venues, 48 matches will be played in 46 days culminating in the Men’s Cricket World Cup Final on November 19.
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Zee Media to re-register for BARC data
In September 2022, the news broadcaster pulled out of the TV audience measurement system, citing landing page issues
By e4m Staff | Sep 26, 2023 8:39 AM | 1 min read
News broadcaster Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) has decided to register back for BARC data, starting in the week of October 12, according to sources.
Emphasizing the significance of this collaboration, Abhay Ojha, CEO of Zee Media Corporation Limited, said, "We, at ZMCL, have always valued the integrity and transparency of data. Our decision to rejoin forces with BARC reflects our firm belief in BARC's commitment towards robust data mechanisms and our anticipation of a productive partnership ahead. We remain committed to delivering trustworthy news and content to our viewers and advertisers."
e4m has reached out for an official confirmation but BARC CEO Nakul Chopra wasn’t available to comment on the development at the time of filing this story.
Earlier in September 2022, the news broadcaster pulled out of the TV audience measurement system, citing the landing page issue as a reason for taking such a drastic step.
ZMCL had then said that it had been consistently requesting BARC India to take corrective measures with regard to the landing page issue. The news broadcaster had said that the landing page data should not be included in the final viewership and the duration for counting viewership be increased to 2 minutes.
ZMCL was the second TV news network after NDTV to pull out channels from BARC.
The media company owns and operates 14 TV news channels apart from 5 digital channels and 17 digital brands.
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Star Plus onboards 14 advertisers for Star Parivaar Awards 2023
Brands such as Dabur, ITC, Emami, Apple, Amazon, Berger Paints and Xiaomi have aligned themselves with the upcoming event
By e4m Staff | Sep 25, 2023 5:12 PM | 1 min read
Star Parivaar Awards 2023 has onboarded advertisers like Dabur, ITC, Emami, Apple, Amazon, Berger Paints and Xiaomi.
The awards have attracted 14 advertisers spanning a wide array of categories, including FMCG, Banking, E-commerce, Technology, Mobile Handsets, Insurance, Paints, and Pharma.
“This presents an unparalleled opportunity for brands to connect with their target audience on linear TV and beyond. The event offers a diverse range of in-content integration opportunities, emphasizing its massive associative value," said an industry observer.
The award show is set to be telecast on 1st October, starting 7 PM, on Star Plus and Disney+ Hotstar.
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MIB makes registration mandatory for MSOs to provide own programming service
Applicants have been advised to refer to guidelines issued by MIB on November 30, 2022
By e4m Staff | Sep 25, 2023 2:53 PM | 1 min read
Applicants have been advised to refer to guidelines for platform services offered by Multi System Operators issued by MIB on November 30, 2022. They are required to apply for registration of their PS channel(s)
Following documents are required to be uploaded at the time of submission of online application:
a. Certificate of Channel Carrying Capacity (Statewise) (Sell'-Certification).
b. Details of PS Channels operated at State Level
c. Details of PS Channels operated at District Level.
d. Filled in MHA Security Clearance Pro-forma.
e. Challan copy of payment made on Bharat Kosh Portal for registration of PS Channels.
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BCCI media rights: Viacom18 gets dynamic injunction from Delhi HC
Viacom18 Media had approached the court seeking ad-interim dynamic injunction to protect its media rights against rogue and pirate websites as well as John Does
By e4m Staff | Sep 23, 2023 4:50 PM | 2 min read
Viacom18 has secured a broad dynamic injunction from the Delhi High Court for the Indian cricket team’s bilateral matches.
Recently, Viacom18 bagged the BCCI linear and digital rights. As a result, for the next five years i.e., from September 2023 till March 2028, all bilateral games involving the Indian cricket team that will be played in India along with domestic cricket, shall now be broadcasted/streamed by Viacom18 on its television and OTT properties.
Viacom18 Media Private Limited had approached the Delhi High Court seeking an ad-interim dynamic injunction to protect its Media Rights in relation to the BCCI Events against various rogue and pirate websites as well as John Does/Ashok Kumars/Unknown Defendants.
The court while expressing its concerns regarding the unending menace of piracy noted that the courts have become inundated with suits pertaining to such issues and suggested the importance of a robust anti-piracy policy to curb the issues. The court observed that a prima facie case for interim injunction was made out and further held that the grant of an injunction would be necessary to avoid irreparable loss/injury from being caused to Viacom18.
The court further ordered that Viacom18 shall not be bound to initiate any fresh proceedings in relation to any new alphanumeric/redirect/mirror websites that are expected to mushroom during the course of the BCCI events. Access to such websites shall be blocked by the Internet Service Providers (IPSs) upon being informed about the same by Viacom18 on an affidavit. This, dynamic injunction provides Viacom18 to swiftly act against pirates and rogue websites infringing and making available the BCCI matches without due permissions.
Anil Lale (General Counsel, Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd.) said: “We at Viacom18 are proud to be the exclusive digital and television broadcaster for Indian cricket. Viacom18 has always been at the forefront in the fight against piracy. I am sure this is a welcome step for all the cricket fans as also for bona fide broadcasters like us who spend huge sums to get these rights. While we are proud to say that we have won several battles against these pirate websites, we understand that the war against piracy is a continuing one and we are committed towards winning it.”
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