Google’s Kunal Guha on the goal of the Privacy Sandbox to offer a new approach to digital advertising

Google’s Privacy Sandbox initiative is responsible for building new technologies that keep user information private across the web and app ecosystems, whilst providing companies the tools they require to successfully operate in a free and open Internet. This also means that the mechanics of advertising on the Internet will go through a sea change. In conversation with BrandWagon Online, Kunal Guha, director, Privacy – Chrome and Android for Asia Pacific at Google, talks about building a better Internet for all as he leads the privacy partnerships for web and mobile apps across the region.

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Viacom18’s Gaurav Mashruwala on Vh1 Supersonic, brand partnerships and future ambitions

Music has always been popular in India, from Amir Khusrow to Tansen to Lata Mangeshkar to Kishore Kumar. With multiple genres of music including techno, house, trance, and psychedelic trance, among others have come forth, consumers have been spoilt for choices. While music is streamed on audio OTT platforms, music events are slowly picking up pace. “Vh1 was the first to do an all-only English music channel in India. We also felt that we should take this benefit in the form of an experience to consumers. That is when we started Supersonic,” Gaurav Mashruwala, business head, Viacom18 LIVE, told BrandWagon Online.

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Soundwaves to binary codes! Is analogue radio set to undergo a digital transformation?

Rapid digitalisation has changed the face of the media industry. Entertainment has witnessed a transformation in the way it was disseminated. While traditional mediums continue to exist, user preferences have begun to shift towards digital platforms. Smart TVs, OTT platforms, and audio-streaming platforms, among others, are a few examples of media channels which have not only emerged rather are now thriving. However, in the case of a few mediums such as traditional radio, the long road to survival is no longer a smooth ride. While most radio stations have a digital presence, HT Media-owned Fever FM is one such player which made a complete transition from analogue to digital.

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Stepping out of a long shadow

The Rs 6,500-crore branded atta market has been a graveyard for many brands. So why is Parle Products betting its shirt on this market? Why is it also rushing to grab a bite of the Rs 4,000-crore cereals category?

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Foxtale claims to be profitable in FY25; believes packaging to be the key differentiator

It has been raining brands in the Indian skincare industry. From home-grown brands to Korean, American, European – you name it and India has it all. One such brand is Foxtale, which initiated its operations with four stock-keeping units (SKUs) in January 2022 as it launched its direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform. “Skincare market in India is growing so there is a lot of scope in terms of growth in the number of users experimenting with diverse product portfolios. Earlier, consumers were limited to using face wash and moisturiser, but now they have a range of options? from serums to sunscreens, among other products. I think Indian consumers just want results from? products and if you can deliver that, you will be able to penetrate the market and that’s where we lead the market,” Romita Mazumdar, founder and CEO, Foxtale, told BrandWagon Online.

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Nazara ups its game on a rough pitch

Even as it charts a turnaround strategy, Nazara Technologies is looking to expand the gaming & e-sports production businesses overseas. Last week, its subsidiary Nodwin Gaming bought Ninja Global, an acquisition that will give the company a foothold particularly in the West Asian and Turkish markets.

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Golden opportunity

Is this just about revenge shopping? Can it be explained by the fact that home-grown luxury brands have successfully captured the imagination of the world? Or is it a fallout of global brands making a grab for Indians’ wallets?

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FMCG firms dial up ad spends

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies have spent 11-45% more on advertising and sales promotion (ASP) expenditure in the December quarter (Q3FY24) versus last year as commodity inflation moderates, giving players room to up their ad budgets.

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Users spend 1.5 hrs every day listening to audio series

Indian users, who are listening to audio series — or serialised audio fiction — for more than a year, spend 90 minutes a day on these platforms, said a report by Redseer. This indicates a high engagement rate of mature listeners of audio series on platforms such as Spotify, Pocket FM, or Kuku FM.

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Not involved in merger talks with Sony, clarifies Zee

Zee Entertainment on Tuesday clarified the firm was not involved in any negotiations with relation to the scrapped merger deal with Sony. On Tuesday, media reports had indicated that Zee and Sony had restarted conversations in a last-ditch effort to salvage the $10-billion merger, a month after the transaction was terminated by the Japanese major. Mails sent to Sony and Zee on the issue elicited no response till the time of going to press.

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