MAM
IRS Q3 2012: Malayalam magazine Vanitha continues to be most read magazine
MUMBAI: Malayalam fortnightly magazine Vanitha continues to be the most read magazine in the country despite fall in numbers, according to the latest Indian Readership Survey (IRS) for the third quarter of 2012 conducted by the MRUC.
Vanitha saw a decrease in its all India readership (AIR) to 2.271 million in the third quarter of 2012 from 2.353 million in the preceding quarter.
Hindi monthly Pratiyogita Darpan continues to be the second most read magazine with a readership of 1.894 million, down from 1.918 million in Q2.
Another Hindi monthly magazine Samanya Gyan Darshan was the third most read. Its readership actually increased to 1.733 million in the third quarter of 2012 from 1.644 million a quarter earlier.
The fourth most read was India Today, which saw an increase in readership to 1.526 million in the third quarter from 1.554 million a quarter earlier.
The pecking order of Hindi magazines remained unchanged with Patiyogita Darpan at the top followed by Samanya Darpan. Fortnightly publication Saras Salil was at number three, but saw a drop in AIR to 1.351 million in the third quarter from 1.548 million a quarter earlier. Seven out of the 10 Hindi magazines saw a drop in AIR for the third quarter of 2012.
Amongst the English magazines, India Today retained its top position though its readership decreased from 1.554 million in the second quarter to 1.526 million in the third quarter. Second spot holder General Knowledge Today too saw a drop in readership to 1.047 million in Q3 from 1.087 million a quarter earlier. Seven out of the 10 English magazines saw a drop in AIR for the third quarter of 2012.
In the Indian language magazines too Vanitha leads. Bengali weekly Karmakshetra takes the second spot with its readership increasing from 1.168 million in Q2 2012 to 1.183 million in Q3 2012. The readership of Malayala Manorama too rose from 1.113 million in Q2 2012 to 1.053 million. Occupying the fourth spot is Karmasangsthaan with .996 million readership in Q3 as compared to .964 million in Q2.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
