MAM
Biases drive media, advertising solutions: Meenakshi Madhvani
| MUMBAI: “Biases drive client solutions in advertising today. The current breed of media planners and creative personnel prefer the television medium because they feel that it is more interesting and remunerative – irrespective of whether it is relevant or pertinent,” thus spake Meenakshi Madhvani, ex Carat Media Services CEO turned entrepreneur of India’s first-of-its-kind media audit outfit. |
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“I have always endeavoured to make my mark on the industry by associating myself with ventures that set a trend and spawn imitations. Carat Media Services was the first media independent agency in India and several large ad agencies followed suit. With Spatial Access Solutions, I shall be treading a new path,” says the bespectacled ad professional who has worked with several global as well as local firms; with top ad agencies as well as broadcasters. Talking about the relevance of the services that she plans to offer, Madhvani also states: “There is a ‘real’ need for media audit firms because clients are grappling with questions related to the efficacy of their agency’s media strategy; and whether they are getting the desired impact for their ad bucks. There is an opportunity that exists and I shall strive to convert this into a business proposition.”  Referring to the current media scenario, Madhvani says: “Complexity rules the roost. There is little transparency and clients are not sure whether the data sources and methodologies used by their agencies for developing strategies are adequate.” Elaborating on the transparency issue, Madhvani points out: “The market is currently polarised. The smaller media companies are not in a position to extract mega deals with media owners. The larger agencies are leveraging their humungous volumes to obtain discounts and rebates.” “Recently, it has been noticed that a lot of shadow boxing is going on in the industry. The bigger agencies don’t necessarily pass on the rebates to the clients. Moreover, they use these exclusive discount deals to undercut rivals during client pitches. At the end of the day, clients are not sure whether there is a discount over and above the discount that the agency has offered them!” says Madhvani, while rationalising the need for media audits. According to Madhvani, media independent agencies shouldn’t compromise on their fees. “Media agencies should adopt a straight-forward approach and communicate to their clients that they need to charge a realistic fee that would cover their expenses and other operational costs. Constant undercutting and working at unrealistic margins is detrimental to the ad/media business,” adds the “iron lady” as she blasts her fraternity. However, Madhvani adamantly points out that the media owners are equally responsible for the “unpleasant” situation.”Media owners too, are guilty of under selling their properties. One cannot blame them because there aren’t sure of the value that they deliver through their offerings. Moreover, the broadcasting fraternity hasn’t really invested in services that would adopt a scientific approach to arrive at this value. They are soft targets for the media agencies that push for ridiculous deals.” Elaborating on the services that she proposes to offer broadcasters, Madhvani adds: “There are several offshoots to the services that a media audit outfit can offer. For instance, we can even consider the point of view of the smaller broadcasters and offer them consultancy services and solutions. We can partner them and help assert themselves during the negotiations with media agencies.”
Spatial Access Solutions is also in talks with the two other media audit outfits in the Asia Pacific region — R3 of Singapore and the Australia-based Cha-rles Godbolt — to work out a pan-Asian collaboration pact. Also read: “It is sad that all the old and new channels look like clones” – Meenakshi Madhvani |
Madhvani will officially launch Spatial Access Solutions from 13 October but claims that she is in advanced stage of negotiations with leading advertisers as well as broadcasters for offering media audit services. The audit agency will offer strategic services to advertisers and broadcasters. The analytical services will include evaluation of both the creative and media-buying agencies servicing the advertiser; provide research-based solutions in respect of the various available media vehicles; also help broadcasters arrive at the “value” offered by their offerings to advertisers/ad agencies.
MAM
Schneider Electric launches One Unit Mission for Women’s Day
Green Yodha 2.0 urges every Indian household to save one unit of electricity daily.
MUMBAI: Schneider Electric just flipped the switch on savings because this Women’s Day the brightest idea isn’t a new bulb, it’s turning one unit off. Schneider Electric launched the second phase of its Green Yodha initiative, ‘One Unit Mission’, on International Women’s Day 2026, calling on every Indian household to save at least one unit of electricity daily. The campaign was flagged off in Delhi by chief minister Rekha Gupta, actor and sustainability advocate Bhumi Pednekar, and other dignitaries.
Rekha Gupta said, “Delhi’s journey towards clean, resilient growth begins with how efficiently we use the energy we already have. Green Yodha 2.0 reminds us that every citizen is a stakeholder in India’s energy future, and saving one unit of power today is an act of nation-building for tomorrow.”
Schneider Electric India zone president, MD & CEO Deepak Sharma added, “India is entering a decade of unprecedented growth, and that growth will require enormous amounts of energy. The real challenge is not just how much power we produce, but how intelligently we use it. If every Indian household saves just one unit of electricity a day, the impact would be equivalent to planting billions of trees or taking millions of cars off the road.”
Schneider Electric India, vice president of marketing Rajat Abbi noted, “Sustainability becomes real when it is simple and measurable. The One Unit Mission is about turning awareness into everyday action.”
In FY 2023–24, India’s energy-efficiency programmes (PAT, UJALA, S&L, SLNP, CAFÉ) collectively saved 53.6 million tonnes of oil equivalent, avoided 321 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, and reduced energy expenditure by Rs 2 lakh crore equivalent to nearly 6 per cent of national primary energy supply.
The initiative aligns with government efforts on efficient cooling, appliance standards and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s state-level SEEI FY 2024 framework, emphasising demand-side efficiency as a cost-effective complement to new generation capacity.
In a nation sprinting toward brighter, bigger tomorrows, Schneider isn’t selling more power, it’s quietly handing every household a daily superpower: the ability to save one unit and help light up a cleaner, more efficient future, one thoughtful switch at a time.
