TRENDS
Cash Before Cricket: Monetising frenzy, the spirit of the game be damned
Income shouldn’t be the parameter a good game of cricket is premised on. The sport should, ideally, symbolise the principle of striving, and promote values such as fairness and grace among all its stakeholders, the audience included.
TRENDS
Anil Kapoor & Jhakaas: Is artists' work an end in itself or is it a means to an end?
For actors, their persona and personality traits are the core assets upon which their livelihood depends. The legal acknowledgement of their right to defend it from misuse or use for commercial gains without their consent is a step in the right direction
POLITICS
Africa in G20: A recognition of the continent’s importance in the global economy
The African Union’s inclusion in G20 is a welcome development as it provides Africa a platform to seek equitable and respectful treatment from the world powers
BUSINESS
A slow death for linear TV as audience & advertisers embrace the digital medium
Indian broadcasters never made a sincere effort to engage with their audience. They started out by catering to the lowest denominator, and more than two decades later, the script continues to be the same. If the future seems blurred today, it’s because they didn’t read the writing that had been on the screen
BUSINESS
Startups-IAMAI row: Regulations necessary to promote competition and give consumers choice
IAMAI’s argument that restriction in a proposed competition law will disincentivise innovation and hurt consumers is dubious and in bad spirit
TRENDS
Bournvita Controversy: Brands need to be like honest and responsible citizens
The Bournvita incident is also a reminder that we need regulation to protect whistle-blowers from corporate bullying and harassment
BUSINESS
Fortune is at the middle of the pyramid in an evolving Indian market
The promise of a large middle class that drew brands from across the world to India after liberalisation is finally reaching fruition. What was a small market in 2006 has now become large enough to sustain the ambitions of the largest of global marketers
BUSINESS
Surf Excel: Lalitaji has finally delivered the goods
It isn’t only the consumer at the top of the consumption pyramid who buys Surf; those in the middle, too, are using it to wash their dirty linen. And this is what makes the $1 billion sales milestone in Surf’s journey a landmark in the consumption story of an average Indian consumer
BUSINESS
Why the error by Bard has Google’s investors worried
The Bard episode once again shines the light on the fact that investors’ fundamental concern continues to be profit and its potential. Ethics, environment, governance, and social goals make for happy reading in annual reports, but they are happier to look the other way if these weigh the bottomline down
BUSINESS
Stealth marketing – What social media influencers do
Ideally, the marketing industry should have voluntarily drawn up a list of dos and don’ts for using social influencers to peddle their wares and not waited for the government to crack the whip
