News Broadcasting
Leo Burnett pledges itself to brand belief
Global recession and changing brand management techniques have contributed to the setting up of a Brand Belief System by Leo Burnett India. The new concept is intended to get more consumers by converting them into brand loyalists by winning their belief in the product.
The agency is investing Rs 20 million over the next six months to implement the system in the country, says MD Arvind Sharma. In addition to training and sensitising of the agency staff to the new system, the investment will cover a minority strategic stake in a new consumer research agency. The agency – Monitoring & Research Systems (MaRS) has been promoted by Raghu Roy, former president of ORG-Marg.
While the concept of Brand Belief has been developed by Leo Burnett over the last three and a half years, MaRS has been working with the Burnett Chicago team to validate their new research tool, Brand Stock, for the Indian market. According to Roy, Brand Stock measures a completely new set of parameters, so far in the domain of ‘soft-issues’ and could revolutionise the way clients and agencies manage brands. MaRS, says Roy, will be different from traditional consumer research agencies in that it will keep up with changing research requirements of clients and will have a large number of monitoring systems built into it as well.
The Brand Belief System envisages putting the consumer at the center of a campaign, rather than treating him as the end target of an ad, says Sharma. “The only way brands can get consumers to stay tuned in to brands’ commercial messages is by making a believer out of them”, says national director, brand planning, Rajeev Sharma. Quoting global studies, Asia Pacific Regional Planning director John Woodward says a five per cent increase in consumer retention can result in a 25 per cent increase in profits and often even a 100 per cent growth rate.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 launches weekend show Health Matters to decode health trends
New show aims to cut through viral wellness fads with expert-backed advice
MUMBAI: In an age where viral reels often double up as lifestyle advice, CNN-News18 is launching a weekend show aimed at separating health facts from fashionable myths.
Titled News18 Health Matters, the half-hour programme will premiere on 14 March 2026 and position itself as a reliable guide through the maze of wellness trends, internet remedies and quick-fix health advice that increasingly shape everyday decisions.
India is in the midst of a major health transition. Lifestyle diseases are striking earlier, stress and sleep deprivation have become routine, and health choices are often influenced by trending content rather than medical evidence. The new show leans into this reality with a simple premise: trending does not always mean true.
Anchored by Hem Kaur Saroya and Himani Chandna, the programme will air every Saturday at 8:30 am and 5:30 pm and on Sundays at 10:30 am. Episodes will also be available on the channel’s YouTube platform.
Each instalment will tackle everyday health concerns that are increasingly entering mainstream conversations. Topics range from the rise of heart attacks among people under 40 and the growing reliance on protein supplements, to the rush toward weight-loss drugs and the widespread overuse of painkillers. The show will also examine issues such as screen addiction, chronic sleep loss, stress-related disorders and the rising prevalence of thyroid conditions, diabetes and hypertension.
Speaking about the launch, Rahul Shivshankar said the show aims to bring clarity to a space crowded with misinformation.
“With Health Matters, CNN-News18 aims to cut through the noise and empower viewers with clear, expert-led conversations grounded in science and medical evidence. At a time when viral trends increasingly influence lifestyle choices, it is important to distinguish between what is trending and what is truly beneficial for long-term health,” he said.
Echoing the sentiment, Smriti Mehra said the programme reflects the channel’s commitment to responsible and relevant programming.
“With growing public interest in wellness and preventive health, Health Matters strengthens CNN-News18’s focus on issues that affect everyday life. In an increasingly crowded information space, credible and verified health conversations have never been more important,” she said.
With Health Matters, CNN-News18 is betting that viewers want more than bite-sized advice and viral fixes. The show promises something rarer in the age of algorithm-driven wellness tips: calm, credible conversations that help people make better health choices.
