MAM
India is 18-24 months away from an inflection point: Ashish Bhasin
MUMBAI: Today’s advertisers aren’t short of options to choose from through which they can get a message across. But the difficult task at hand is to identify the one that allows optimisation of reach and viewership.
The digital media itself slices into many types of patterns – branded viral videos, advertorials, branded chat rooms and much more. In 2017, the muttering about artificial intelligence, chatbots, virtual reality, internet of things and m-commerce grew more than ever. With the hangover of GST and demonetisation in recovery mode, brands are back at leveraging the power of digital.
According to a recent report by IPG Mediabrands’ agency Magna, advertising expenditure in India will grow at 12.1 per cent to reach Rs 68,334 crore by 2018. While television is expected to grow at the rate of 12.2 per cent to reach Rs 27,617, digital is projected to grow at 25.2 per cent and will reach Rs 12,808 crore from its existing Rs 10,277 crore.
Though his age may confound you, Dentsu Aegis Network chairman and CEO of South Asia Ashish Bhasin is vociferous about the digital medium. For over 30 years, he has seen the media transform from print to TV and now evolving into digital. Indiantelevision.com got talking to Bhasin where he spills the beans on television, digital advertising, plan for Dentsu and much more. Excerpts:
When will the digital advertising market in India gain critical mass?
In terms of the digital advertising market, countries such as South Korea and China are ahead of India. In these markets, where smartphone penetration is over 40 per cent, an inflection point comes in because ultimately, advertising is driven majorly by FMCG, automobiles, consumer durables and others who want to reach mass numbers.
Out of the Rs 55,000 crore advertising market, Rs 10,000-11,000 crore is driven by FMCG across all media, although most of their spends are on television. Traditionally, these advertisers spent 90 per cent of their budget on television but that will soon change as digital will gain more importance. India is 18-24 months away from an inflection point. Out of every 100 phones in India, only 24 are smartphones. But there are some things that can make this whole calculation go haywire and expedite this and that is the entry of Reliance Jio as it is offering smartphones almost free of cost. Once every individual in India owns a smartphone, video consumption will increase and you already have data available at cheap prices.
Facebook and Google account for 78 per cent of advertising on digital…
They do, but I believe a new player will emerge in that segment, three years from now, and that is going to be Amazon. The reason for that is you can advertise and complete the transaction on one platform.
Google’s model is very simple. Platforms like Google and Facebook have one of the largest consumer base. Their consumer base is growing at the rate of 30-40 per cent every year. It took big players like Google, Amazon and Hindustan Unilever years to become a multimillion dollar companies . It took Dabur maybe a 100 years to get to a $1 billion but it took Patanjali only a year and half. The Patanjali story makes for a great marketing case study. He (Baba Ramdev) has done everything opposite to what we have ever been taught. He has used himself as the brand ambassador for all his products and that has worked brilliantly for his brand.
Where do you see Dentsu Aegis Network 5 years down the line?
We are driving change in the digital transformation direction. We are investing heavily in data. Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired Merkle in the United States which has platforms like M1 that house and use PII data of hundreds of millions of people. In India, we have acquired Sokarti and SVG media. Between these two, we have PII data of around 120-130 million people. We are building our DMP (data management platform) and I want to have PII data of 200 million people very soon. Out of the 26 agencies in Dentsu umbrella, eight are digital agencies. In 2018, 45 per cent of our revenues will come from our digital business.
What about television?
In India, for the next five to seven years, all mediums will grow including television because the penetration is increasing. FreeDish will drive the penetration in smaller markets. By the next year, around 30 million television sets will be sold in India and all of them will have flat screens while CRT (cathode ray tube) TV will be phased out of India eventually. Today, the consumer is driving the change. Affordability is a big issue in smaller markets but the moment flat screen TV becomes affordable, every house will have it. India is a price-sensitive market. Everybody wants a smartphone but not everyone can afford it. The moment it becomes available at Rs 2000, no one will have a feature phone. Likewise for TVs.
Do you think outdoor will be impacted because of digital?
We have to stop seeing digital as a medium. Outdoor will be significantly impacted by digital but that doesn’t mean outdoor will go away. I see 100 per cent of our business being digitally impacted five years from now but that doesn’t mean there won’t be non-digital business. Every business around the world will be impacted by digital. But OOH as a medium will thrive and grow rapidly in India with so many airports, metros and infrastructure projects coming up.
What about non-traditional platforms used for business transactions?
WhatsApp is becoming bigger than Facebook. A huge amount of business happens on WhatsApp today in India. A few years from now, all social media platforms will become banks where you will be able to compete your transaction just like Paytm. This is the first year where the number of ATMs and banks has reduced in India. Why do people need to go to banks and ATM when they can transact online!
MAM
Worldwide Travel Insurance for Indian Travellers: How to Find a Plan Without Geographic Gaps in Your Protection
Travelling to more than one country can make insurance selection more complex, because a policy that looks broad at first may still leave certain destinations, transit points, or regions outside its scope. For Indian travellers, this can lead to gaps in cover during a medical emergency or travel disruption abroad.
Here’s a guide to understanding how worldwide coverage works, which plan types to review, and how to check for geographic exclusions before choosing a policy.
Why Geographic Coverage Matters in Travel Insurance
When travellers look for the best travel insurance, medical cover and premium often get early attention, but geographic scope matters just as much. A policy may appear broad while still limiting cover in certain countries, regions, or travel routes.
This can affect hospital access, emergency support, evacuation terms, and non-medical benefits. For Indian travellers visiting more than one destination, checking where the policy applies is an important way to avoid gaps in protection.
Types of Worldwide Travel Insurance Plans Available to Indians
Worldwide travel insurance may be available in different formats, and each one should be reviewed based on the route, trip pattern, and list of destinations.
Single-Trip Travel Insurance
This type of policy is generally chosen for one overseas journey with fixed departure and return dates. It may suit travellers visiting one country or more than one destination during the same trip. The policy still needs to be checked carefully to confirm whether every destination on the itinerary is covered during the full travel period.
Multi-Trip Annual Insurance
This type of plan may be suitable for travellers who visit different countries several times a year. It can be useful only when the policy’s covered regions match the countries included across those trips. Before choosing it, travellers should check trip duration limits, region-wise exclusions, and whether all intended destinations are covered under the annual plan.
Region-Specific Plans
Some policies are built for selected regions rather than for the whole world. These plans may be arranged by destination groups such as Asia, Europe, or broader international zones. They may be suitable in some cases, but they should be reviewed carefully if the journey includes stopovers, connecting countries, or travel beyond the listed region.
Comprehensive Worldwide Plans
These plans are usually reviewed by travellers who want broader international cover across multiple destinations. However, a plan described as worldwide may still have country-wise limits, separate terms for certain regions, or limits on healthcare access and emergency services. The wording should therefore be checked in detail before relying on the description alone.
Key Coverage Areas That Ensure Global Protection
A worldwide policy should be reviewed for the coverage points that matter when travel includes more than one country or a wider international route. These areas help show whether the plan is suitable for broader overseas travel and not limited to only a few listed destinations.
● Cover that applies to all countries listed in the itinerary, not only the main destination.
● Cover for transit stops and connecting countries that are part of the planned journey.
● Clear mention of excluded countries, restricted regions, or destinations not covered under the policy.
● Emergency medical and assistance support that remains available while travelling across different countries.
● Evacuation and repatriation terms that continue to apply during multi-country travel.
How to Check for Geographic Exclusions Before Buying
Geographic exclusions are often found in the detailed wording rather than in the headline promise of the plan. A careful review before purchase can help travellers understand whether the policy matches their travel route.
● Check the destination list in the policy schedule.
● Read whether excluded countries, sanctioned regions, or restricted zones are mentioned in the wording.
● Review whether transit stops and connecting destinations are mentioned as covered travel locations.
● Check if medical network access differs across countries even when the policy appears globally valid.
● Read whether adventure activities, cruises, or remote locations have separate geographic conditions.
● Review assistance and claim support terms to see if they apply equally across all covered destinations.
Conclusion
A travel insurance plan cannot be judged only by premium, destination label, or the word worldwide term alone. For Indian travellers, geographic scope needs close attention because exclusions and regional limits may affect how the policy works during the journey. A careful review of plan type, covered locations, medical support, and destination-specific terms may help reduce avoidable gaps.
