Brands
It’s all FMCG brands among top 10 TV advertisers in week one of 2017
BENGALURU: Hindustan Lever Limited (Lever) brands led the FMCG brands with a massive 96,682 television advertisement insertions (36.03 percent of the total insertions by top 10 advertisers). The total number of television ad insertions by the top10 brands in week 1 of 2017 (Saturday, 31 December 2016 to Friday 6 January 2017) was 268,323 as Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data for top 10 advertisers Across Genre: All India (U+R): 4+ Individuals. All the companies among the top 10 television advertisers were FMCG players. The total number of insertions by the top 10 advertisers in week 1 was 3.22 percent more than the 259,961 insertions in week 52 of 2016. Lever’s ad insertions in week 1 increased 11.36 percent from 86,819 in the previous week.
Besides Lever being mentioned in the list of top 10 advertisers in terms of insertions, BARC has also mentioned some of its subsidiary/brands separately in the lists, including Brooke Bond Lipton India Ltd, Ponds India. Similarly, Godrej companies Godrej Consumer Products Ltd andGodrej Sara Lee Ltd find places at eighth and tenth spots with 11,792 (4.39 percent of total) and 11,471 (4.25 percent) insertions respectively.
At second place and trailing far behind was Reckitt Benckiser (India) Ltd with 29,538 (11.01 percent) of insertions. PatanjaliAyurved Limited (Payanjali), which had stood at number 2 for the last four weeks of 2016, was placed third in week 1 of 2017 with 29,538 (10.82 percent) insertions, 13.05 percent lower than the 33,381 insertions in week 52 of 2016.
Please refer to Fig A for BARC data on top 10 advertisers in terms of insertions Across Genre: All India (U+R): 4+ Individualsfor week 1 of 2017 below:
As mentioned above, in weeks 49 to 52 of 2016, Lever led the pack followed by Patanjali. Among mobile services, Bharti Airtel Ltd was also present in all the last four weeks of 2016. Please refer to Fig B below for Fig B – BARC: Top 10 Advertisers Across Genre: All India (U+R) : 4+ Individuals – weeks 49-52 of 2016:
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
