Indiantelevision.com Team

(21 April 2007 6:00 am)

GOA: Goafest has kicked off with big pomp and show and amidst the throngs of people to have a good time and reap the benefits of their labour, the first day of Goafest culminated with the Media awards.

For the first time that a media award ceremony has been held here and although the awards do not allow for an 'Agency of the Year' award, Mindshare bagged the 'mostest' pocketing nine metals, with JWT following closely behind with five from among the 19 categories in media. Both the agencies even tied for a silver award in the mixed media category. Contract took third place with three wins.

Across this sector, Starcom Media Vest Group, Contract, Lodestar Universal, Rediffusiion DY&R, TME, Madison, Maxus, OMS and Initiative were all well represented at the awards bagging their share of metals. Madison chairman Sam Balsara who was the jury chairman for the media awards, recognized the rising stars in the media and honoured them with their wins.

The rest of the day saw two sessions address the global scope of the digital medium with Zenith Optimedia New York head of digital media Fredric Joseph and Microsoft Digital Advertsing Solutions director APAC Gregg Albright.

Although, it has been stated previously that 50 per cent of India does not have access to television and TV penetration is still a menace, these global experts suggest that the potential of the digital medium is vast in India as well. Joseph says 15 per cent of digital revenues come from APac alone. He also announced the launch of their Indian operations that took place yesterday in Delhi, Vineet Mathur is to head operations for Zed Digital.

Reiterating several points highlighted by Joseph, Albright suggested that the digital era will fuel the changing future of advertising. Speaking about the advantages the medium offers he spoke about the magnanimity of social networking websites, the virtual world of a second life (sometime Prasoon Joshi previously spoke about at the Ad Conclave), in game advertising and user generated content. He also believes that when considering relevance, engagement, ROI, the functional relationship between planning and creative will be integrated.

A detailed list of the winners the Goafest Media Awards are as follows:

Vertical – Silver: Lodestar Universal

Outdoor – 2 Golds: JWT, JWT

Newspaper – Silver: OMS

Magazines – 2 Silvers: JWT, JWT, Bronze – TME

Cinema – 2 Bronze: Starcom, Minshare

Internet – Gold: Mindshare, 2 Silver: Mindshare, Starcom

Ambient – Silver: Madison

Stunts – Gold: Rediffussion DY&Y, Silver: Contract, Bronze: Rediffussion DY&R

Events- 2 Silver Mindshare, Bronze – Madison

All adults – Gold: Contract,

Youth – Silver: TME

Young Adults – Gold: JWT, Bronze: Contract

Probono – Silve; Initiave, Bronze: Everest

Sponsorship – 2 Silvers: Mindshar, Madison

TV – Gold; Mindshare, 2 Silver: Mindshare, Lodestar Universal

Mixed media – Gold: Mindshare, Silver: Mindshare, JWT