Brands
Bigg Boss in Southern India boosts brand metrics, reveals new research
Mumbai: Bigg Boss, is a cultural phenomenon in India and even more so in the Southern states. A recent study by Unomer Technologies has reinforced the reality of “All ad impressions aren’t equal” with the extraordinary jump witnessed in brand outcomes with exposure on Bigg Boss Tamil and Malayalam. The research examined brands across 19 different categories associated with the show, revealing a disproportionate elevation in top-of-mind awareness (57 per cent), consideration (26 per cent), and purchase intent (33 per cent) among core viewers compared to light viewers and non-viewers. The show continues to be a game-changer for brands, significantly enhancing brand disposition across sectors such as auto, BFSI, consumer durables, real estate, telecom, local retail, and the three major FMCG segments of food, home care, and personal care
Bigg Boss in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam remains an exclusive marquee content that delivers an immersive and attentive ad experience to a vast and diverse audience. The show attracted over 50 sponsors and 200+ advertisers, and garnered an impressive 150 billion minutes of consumption, reaching a total audience of 170 million.
Unomer Technologies CEO Vinay Bapna weighed in on the research insights “Brands must seek ways to remain relevant to consumers, hence the choice of content they align with is crucial. The Tamil and Malayalam editions of Bigg Boss foster a deep emotional connection and empathy with the audience in their markets, which is maintained over time, offering brands a unique opportunity. Our data reveals significant improvements not only in brand awareness but also in down-the-funnel metrics like consideration and purchase intent among viewers, compared to those who didn’t watch the show.”
1.2 per cent lift in purchase intent towards brands among Bigg Boss viewer vs non-viewer.
The new season of Bigg Boss Telugu and Tamil commences from September 2024 on Star Maa and Star Vijay respectively. Disney Star head, entertainment ad sales & strategy Dev Shenoy stated, “Bigg Boss in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam has demonstrated itself to be an exceptional content association for advertisers. Apart from large national brands, it is exciting to see regional brands experiencing remarkable growth in metrics across the funnel. We look forward to collaborating with brands across the spectrum for the upcoming season.”
Brands associated with Bigg Boss have echoed the show’s positive impact on their business. While commenting on the multi-year collaboration with Bigg Boss, Haier Appliances India president NS Satish said “Bigg Boss continues to be the most popular and captivating entertainment among Telugu and Tamil-speaking audiences. Its ability to attract millions of homes to watch together and a loyal fan base has great synergy with our target audience. For any brand looking to make a significant impact in AP & Telangana and Tamil Nadu, Bigg Boss is not just an advertising opportunity—it’s a catalyst for growth. We’ve found that leveraging Bigg Boss as a launch platform accelerates market penetration and consumer acceptance in multiple ways.”
Jos Alukkas MD John Alukka shared his experience, “We’re thrilled with our association on Telugu TV’s biggest reality show, which has significantly boosted our brand’s presence and reputation. The increased footfall in our stores underscores the show’s wide popularity among our audience, contributing to our sales growth and brand recognition.”
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
