MAM
Television looks ‘Outdoors’
There’s no escaping now, everywhere you go it follows, across buses, trains, kiosks and more. Striving to use every possible object within its reach to grab eyeballs. Such is the impact of outdoor advertising!
It is estimated that currently, the outdoor space availability in metros is ‘zero.’ With festivity around the corner, television channels are beefing up their programming and the most opportunistic way to utilize advertising appears to be via this medium.
The outdoor business is estimated to be growing at 20 per cent and the size of the organized industry alone has been pegged at Rs 11 – 12 billion by industry experts. These figures are proof that advertisers’ dependence on outdoor has significantly increased.
The biggest players this year among television channels are the ususal suspects Sony, Star and Zee. The average spends among these channels is estimated to be close to Rs 700 – 800 million annually on outdoor advertising. 30 per cent of these spends are dedicated to the festive rush spanning September – December, says Star Sight CEO Sanjay Shah.
Bright director Yogesh Lakhani opines that spends usually go up by 15 – 20 per cent during the festive period. Jhalak Dikhla Ja got the ball rolling for Sony but now Kaajal and Extraaa Innings from the same stable are straddling Mumbai city. It is believed that more than 50 per cent of Sony’s spends in launching properties is dedicated to out of home.
Star has followed suit with its three big launches Antariksh and yet to be launched Paraya Dhan and Sathi Re. Naach Baliye was also given this life-size value during its launch period.
 In pictures: Different mediums used in Outdoor |
Zee went all the way with Betiyann and is planning to use outdoor to build the buzz for the Sa Re Ga Ma finale on 28 October, as well as the newly launched youth block Klub. Zee alone is estimated to spend about 15 to 20 million on each property.
In addition to these big players, other contenders currently in the outdoor space include Disney Channel with its latest local offering Vicky Aur Vetaal and Tata Sky’s DTH platform battling it out with Dish TV. Primesite head GM West Aneil Deepak remarks that channels usually adopt a dual strategy, whereby 30 – 40 per cent of their spends go to permanent sites on an annualized basis, however in promoting certain properties they will increase their spends depending upon its significance.
Outdoor is consistently used by channels as it not only acts as a reminder medium but it also gets people to sample a new show. Ogilvy Activation country head – Landscapes and Signscapes Nabendu Bhattacharyya opines, “Outdoor builds quick awareness and is the most cost efficient option. It is beneficial because it can be city specific and have a customized plan by which campaigns can run from 7 days to months.”
Though the outdoor industry falls short of a common currency measure, individual specialists with the likes of Star, Sony Entertainment, Zee TV, Times Now and Sahara that use outdoor all the year round, have their own proprietary tools to derive accountability from the medium.
Besides TV, the biggest spender this year are from the Telecom sector says Aaren Initiative president Vivek Lakhwara. Reliance and Airtel have a pan Indian presence, adds Shah. “Normal medium vacancy level of 20 per cent during the year becomes zero during September to December as brands like telecom, finance, press, automobiles, radio are also fighting to grab the available spots,” says Bhattacharyya.
Going beyond billboards and bus shelters out of home as a category is fast expanding into areas like retail and entertainment. With emerging technology like LED screens, interactive facia at malls, backlit air blimps and large building wraps, Bhattacharyya forsees, “Airport advertising will take on a much greater significance with clients. Technology driven platforms like bluecasting will see the emergence of different options available to advertisers which will add to the array of the outdoor armament.”
The future is bright! On a rather optimistic note, Bhattacharyya predicts that this year will prove to be a watershed year for the outdoor advertising industry. “The area of consolidation both from a buyer and the concessionaire’s perspective, is around the corner. It has happened the world over and India will prove to be no different. The outdoor specialists will control about 75 to 80 per cent of the entire outdoor market in India in two years time and consolidation amongst them will also happen very quickly. Alliances and mergers will take place, media groups will broaden their services, bandwidth will be built in order to deliver efficiencies and scale, and the big buyers will only get bigger.”
He also sees foreign investors and large media groups waiting for an opportunity to lunge into the Indian market. He says, “The big daddies like Viacom, Clear Channel and Decaux know it’s a profitable business to get into. They are just hoping and crossing their fingers that tighter legislation and better regularities come into play, for them to invest long term in India.”
Of course, one such biggie has already made a quiet landing on Indian shores. News Outdoor India (NOI), the local arm of News Corp’s OOH subsidiary News Outdoor Group (NOG) and headed by a former senior executive of Star India Sumantra ‘Sumo’ Dutta, has been operating in the country for the last six months.
MAM
Aditya Birla Group squeezes Joe & The Juice into Indian market
Strategic tie-up with Joe & The Juice brings Danish cool and healthy brews to India.
MUMBAI: India’s hospitality scene is about to get a healthy shot of adrenaline, and for once, the “daily grind” sounds like a very good thing. Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality (ABNAH) has officially shaken hands with the Danish cult-favourite Joe & The Juice, marking the conglomerate’s first serious foray into the scalable, fast-casual food sector. It’s a move that suggests the Group is thirsty for more than just industrial dominance; they’re eyeing the premium lifestyle cup, and it’s looking decidedly green.
Founded in Copenhagen in 2002, Joe & The Juice has spent two decades fermenting a global empire, boasting over 480 locations spanning Europe, the US, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Known for its high-octane atmosphere and health-conscious menu, the brand is as much about the “vibe” as it is about the vitamins.
The first Indian flagship store is slated to pop its cork in the second half of 2026.
ABNAH isn’t exactly a newcomer to the table. This partnership adds a fresh layer to a portfolio that already features heavy hitters like:
- International Stars: Yauatcha, Hakkasan, and Nara Thai.
- Home-grown Hits: Cincin, Ode, Waarsa, and Supa San.
ABNAH founder Aryaman Vikram Birla noted that India is currently at a “consumption inflection point.” With rising discretionary spending and a growing appetite for “premiumisation,” the Group is betting big that Joe & The Juice’s mix of health and convenience will hit the sweet spot for aspiring Indian consumers.
For Joe & The Juice, this isn’t just another pin on the map. Joe & The Juice CEO Thomas Noroxe described the move as their “first true strategic entry in Asia,” citing India’s rapidly evolving preference for wellness-focused offerings. With Ambit Capital advising the deal, the partnership aims to leverage the Aditya Birla Group’s massive operational muscle to scale the brand across the country.
While the Group continues to expand into everything from jewellery to paints, this latest venture proves that when it comes to the business of taste, they’re ready to serve up something refreshing.
