MAM
Nielsen to launch Digital Ad Ratings in 7 markets across Asia & Latin America
MUMBAI: Nielsen will launch its flagship digital advertising measurement solution, Digital Ad Ratings, in seven markets across Asia and Latin America over the coming months, in a move that will advance digital advertising accountability in the regions.
The seven markets include Singapore, Japan and Indonesia, which are now commercially available, in addition to Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Mexico, bringing the total to 16 markets globally.
Currently available in twelve markets, Digital Ad Ratings provides the media industry with a highly accurate method of measuring online advertising audiences, delivering reach, frequency and gross rating point (GRP) metrics as well as demographics such as age and gender to determine the effectiveness of digital advertising campaigns. The solution uses a patented process combining Nielsen’s online data with aggregated, anonymous demographic information from third-party data providers.
“Nielsen Digital Ad Ratings is a true industry game-changer. Digital is fueling growth in brand advertising, and in markets where Digital Ad Ratings has already been rolled out, like the US and UK, it is transforming the advertising landscape by bringing standardisation and accountability, and helping advertisers and agencies gauge the return on their investment for every dollar they spend online,” said Nielsen EVP of global watch product leadership Megan Clarken.
Unilever North American media investments and partnerships director Jennifer Gardner added, “We look for the best marketing ROI – and the best tools to gauge that. Nielsen Digital Ad Ratings is an exciting resource that brings a more rigorous standard to our online campaigns and consistency in measurement strategy across our portfolio of brands.”
Digital Ad Ratings has been established as the industry-standard in digital advertising measurement. Currently, in markets where Digital Ad Ratings is not available, advertisers and agencies wanting to track the reach of their digital campaigns use metrics such as click-through rates, conversion rates and cost per video views, all of which lack the people metric. Powered by the world’s largest user database, Digital Ad Ratings enables publishers to more effectively convey their ability to deliver advertising messages to audiences, helping advertisers to ensure their brand messages reach the right people to maximise return on investment; and supports agencies in optimising campaigns in-flight to deliver optimal efficiency and effectiveness.
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
