News Headline
DoubleClick, Nielsen//NetRatings’ online advertising report
MUMBAI: DoubleClick, which provides marketing tools for advertisers, direct marketers and web publishers, and Nielsen//NetRatings have released an inaugural joint Year in Online Advertising Report for 2003.
For the report, DoubleClick had augmented its own ad serving data with data from Nielsen Monitor-Plus (measuring offline media spending) and Nielsen//NetRatings AdRelevance (measuring online spending) in order to gain a complete picture of the relative growth of ad spending both in aggregate and by key industry segments.
DoubleClick’s senior VP, GM online advertising was quoted in an official release saying, “All indicators support that 2003 was the year online advertising rebounded. The online medium outpaced certain categories of traditional media in terms of spending growth; volume is up across categories and Fortune 500 companies renewed their commitment to interactive marketing with steady investment. In terms of driving the space forward, search and rich media are the strongest contenders, and the industry is following those performance metrics closely and with great optimism.”
Nielsen//NetRatings VP client analysis Charles Buchwalter added, “Last year marked the first time that large traditional advertisers began to spend more online. While the online medium is still relatively young, the growth of broadband paints a promising picture for online ads, as advertisers recognize that people are spending more time online and consuming more online media.”
Nielsen//NetRatings AdRelevance reported that online advertising (not including search) rose to highest levels of the year with 280 billion impressions in Q4. DoubleClick data, which represents the top publishers, marketers and advertising agencies that use third party ad serving, showed high levels of growth: from Q1 to Q4, DoubleClick volume was up 49 per cent. Finally, the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) reported that ad spending grew by 20 per cent year-over-year to $7.2 billion.
According to Nielsen Monitor Plus data and IAB numbers for Q1 2003 vs. Q1 2002, online spending growth (+11.3 per cent) outpaced spot TV (+three per cent) and outdoor (+5.2 per cent), as well as network TV which declined by 12.1 per cent. Growth slowed for online by Q3 03 to +5.9 per cent over Q3 02, but still outpaced TV growth (+3.5 per cent).
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
