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TAM S-Group to present white paper at Esomar conference
MUMBAI: A white paper on a system developed in India in partnership between two TAM’s divisions – Adex India and S-Group – to measure product placement effectiveness for television programmes, has received international recognition.
The TAM S-Group white paper has been selected for presentation at the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research – Esomar’s forthcoming Asia-Pacific conference in Shanghai, China, to be held on 28 March 2004.
The paper titled ‘Evaluating Soft Brand Advertising on TV including Product Placement & In-Program Brand Exposures’ looks at ground signages, billboards and product placements during sporting events and programs.
This system, which was developed after 13 months of work, was one which particularly excited Tim Fulton, director of Nielsen Media Research’s Global AIS (Advertising Information Services) Systems, when he came to India in early October as part of a tour of different markets across the globe. His tour was part of a mission to see how backend operations worldwide could be better streamlined.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com at the time, Fulton had praised the system the Indian team had developed that measured product placement effectiveness for television programmes (of all sorts – sports, game shows, soaps) and had said this was something that could be applied in other markets as well.
Adex India head Atul Phadnis had told indiantelevision.com then that the system allows for product placement monitoring. The monitoring data is merged with the viewing data (TRPs) and an effectiveness quotient is derived, Phadnis said.
Elaborating on the concept, Phadnis said the TV screen is broken down into various grids and depending on where on the grid the product falls as well as time of exposure, a effectiveness measure is derived.
Phadnis says the selection of the TAM S-Group paper by Esomar is significant because it is one of the most respected research associations in the world. “Their selection of the TAM S-Group paper assumes importance for the media research industry in India since it was competing with papers from countries like Australia, China, HK, Singapore, Phillipines, Taiwan and Indonesia,” he adds.
Now known as the World Association of Opinion and Marketing Research Professionals, Esomar was founded in Europe in 1948 and has over 4,000 members in 100 countries.
However, this is not the first time an Indian white paper has been selected for an Esomar conference. IIT, IIM alumnus and current head of Zenith Media Praveen Tripathi has presented papers at Esomar Media Research Conferences at Athens in 1995 and in Mexico City in 1998.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
