MAM
Public ‘maange more’ of Pepsi ads at World Cup: Cross-Tab survey
NEW DELHI: The Pepsi brand/ad has emerged as the most
likable brand with 30 per cent respondents of a survey rooting for it during the India-Zimbabwe cricket match on 19 February, while Ravi Shastri, Tony Greig and Sanjay Manjrekar (in that order) were found to be the top three commentators with the
maximum number of respondents watching the do or die
cricket match on MAX (69 per cent).
Interestingly, amongst the cricket-related programmes on various channels ESPN-Star’s after-match analysis Follow Through was the second most-watched programme (21 per cent), after MAX’s Extraaa Innings (44.2 per cent). Similar shows on DD and also ESPN-Star’s pre-match show Taking Guard had low viewership of below 10 per cent and 13.4 per cent, respectively,
according to an online research on World Cup advertising carried out by the Bangalore-based Cross-Tab.
Cross-Tab, which carried out the survey for the India-Zimbabwe match amongst 551 respondents spread over eight cities, claims the rationale behind the survey was to gauge things like recall value of an ad, how they fare vis-?-vis competition, the likeability
factor of an ad or a brand and the reasons for it and whether the brand advertised get associated with the event, that is cricket.
“To give advertisers/media planners some effective tool by which they’ll know the effectiveness of advertising on the World Cup,” is how Cross-Tab explains the reason for carrying out the survey. The partner portals for the survey included criclive.com,
cricnext.com, and megamaal.com.
But if MAX is thinking it has been able to woo women who are housewives as viewers, they have something to think about. A gender break-up of the viewer profile for the said survey showed that only 12 per cent constituted housewives, while the majority (39 per cent) of viewership was made up of students.
While 19.9 per cent of people fell under the executive (middle level) category, 11.4 per cent would be categorised as executive (junior level). More importantly, 90 per cent of the viewership, as per the survey, constituted males.
The Mandiras, Mariahs and the Sandhyas, holding forth on ways to do surfing, cricket culinary and reporting on the sight and sounds of Africa, seem to have brought in male viewers by the hordes, apart from the hard core cricket enthusiast.
Is that why a fairly large percentage of people polled switched to ESPN to watch the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle and Navjot Singh Sidhu analyse the match, bored with Charu Sharma’s (placed at No. 13 in the Top Commentators List) repetitive `your thought on the issue’ line and inadequacy to analyse the finer points of cricket?
Maximum viewership also came for the India-Zimbabwe match between 6-9 pm where an hourly breakup shows that eyeballs ranged between 84 and 96 per cent.
Pepsi leads the way for likeablity of an ad/brand (30 per cent), followed by the likes of Coke’s Chota Coke ad (21.1 per cent), reliance India Mobile (9.4 per cent), Pepsi Blue (5.4 per cent) and Bajaj Pulsar (4.9 per cent).
Official sponsors’ ads like that of Hero Honda and LG do not fare well on the likeability barometer. Hero Honda Ambition ad clocked just 0.4 per cent, while LG’s CDMA mobile phone campaign also had the backing of just 0.4 per cent respondents.
When you plan to buy medical insurance for your family, the first question is often about savings. You may assume that buying online automatically means paying less, but that is only part of the picture. The real issue is not just whether the premium looks lower, but whether the policy gives you suitable family health insurance without adding avoidable costs later.
Buying online can sometimes appear more budget-friendly because you can compare plans, review features, and complete the process without depending entirely on offline assistance.
Still, a lower visible price does not always mean better value. To understand whether you can truly save more, you need to look at the full buying experience and the policy terms together.
Why Online Purchase Can Look More Economical
When you explore family health insurance online, you usually get access to plan details in a more direct and organised way. This can make the buying journey feel simpler and more transparent.
A few reasons online purchases may seem cost-effective include:
● Easier comparison of policy features
● Direct access to premium details
● The ability to review inclusions and exclusions at your own pace
● Fewer chances of making a rushed decision
● More control over the plan selection process
This does not mean every online option is automatically cheaper. It simply means the online route may help you assess choices more carefully, and that itself can influence how much value you get from the policy you choose.
Saving Money is Not Only About a Lower Premium
A lower premium often catches your attention first, but that should not be the only measure of savings. If you buy medical insurance based only on what looks affordable at the start, you may overlook conditions that matter later.
A family health insurance policy should be judged on overall value, including:
● The scope of cover
● Waiting period terms
● Exclusions
● Room eligibility conditions
● Sub-limits, if any
● Claim-related terms
● Renewal conditions
If the premium is lower but the policy has stricter internal conditions, the apparent saving may not feel meaningful when you actually need hospitalisation support.
So, the better question is not only whether online purchase costs less, but whether it helps you select a plan that remains financially sensible over time.
Comparing Plans Online Can Prevent Overspending
One clear advantage of the online route is that it allows you to compare different options without pressure. This can help you avoid paying for features you may not need or missing features that matter for your family.
Before you buy medical insurance online, look closely at:
● Who can be covered under the plan
● How the sum insured works for the family
● Whether day care procedures are included
● How pre-existing illness rules are explained
● Whether add-ons are optional or built in
● How clearly the policy wording is presented
This level of comparison can support better decision-making. In many cases, savings come not only from the premium itself but from choosing a policy with fewer surprises.
Online Discounts Should be Viewed Carefully
Online discounts can make a plan look attractive, but they should always be read alongside the policy details. A discount may reduce the upfront cost, yet the true worth of the policy depends on what it covers and how it responds during a claim.
When reviewing discounted online plans, check whether the policy has:
● Treatment-specific limits
● Room rent restrictions
● Co-payment clauses
● Disease-wise waiting periods
● Claim deductions linked to the hospital category
● Limited cover for selected benefits
These points are important because a policy that looks cheaper at purchase may involve more out-of-pocket spending later. That is why discount-led buying should be replaced with detail-led buying.
Final Thoughts
Yes, buying online can sometimes help you save more when choosing family health insurance, but only if you look beyond the headline price. The online route may give you better visibility, easier comparison, and more time to review the policy terms.
That can support smarter choices and may reduce the chances of paying for a plan that does not suit your family well.
If you want to buy medical insurance online, treat savings as more than a discount. The real advantage lies in choosing family health insurance that balances affordability, clarity, and meaningful coverage for your household.
