GECs
Finecast to host India’s First Addressable TV Summit
Mumbai: On 7 December 2022, GroupM’s addressable TV company Finecast will host India’s first addressable TV summit, “Addressable TV and Beyond,” in Mumbai.
The event will highlight how the TV industry is undergoing a transformation, with India on track to become the third largest TV market in the next three years. It will aid distributors, advertisers, and broadcasters in comprehending the evolving media landscape.
At the summit, GroupM’s Finecast, in collaboration with Kantar, will also unveil the report “The Changing Landscape of Indian Television,” which will highlight the rapidly changing media consumption habits that will make it more difficult for broadcasters and brands to accurately predict the future of TV viewing in India.
The report will highlight TV viewing trends and provide insight into how Indian consumers engage with and consume TV content.
GroupM South Asia CEO Prasanth Kumar said, “Changing landscape possibilities have opened new possibilities for TV advertisers. Brands need futuristic spaces to reach their target audience as TV consumption patterns continue to evolve. Our report with Kantar is designed to be a guide that will help in exploring what current and new capabilities exist for TV advertisers.”
GroupM India president of data, performance & digital products Atique Kazi said, “Television advertising in India continues to grow both on linear and even faster on connected TVs. At our inaugural event, “Addressable TV & Beyond,” we are enriching conversations on what holds in the future of TV advertising, the use of data, and technology with the TV ecosystem to make TV advertising more welcomed for brands and viewers.”
The day-long event will feature multiple sessions that will discuss the changing landscape of television in India and showcase some ground-breaking research to take leaps forward in measurement to what’s next in the Finecast roadmap: Leading the charge in addressable TV.
The sessions will look at the current and new capabilities available to TV advertisers in India, as well as how a prominent advertiser uses media to drive measurable business growth.
GECs
Sebi sends show-cause notice to Zee over fund diversion, company responds
Regulator questions 2018 letter of comfort and governance lapses; company vows robust legal response
MUMBAI: India’s markets watchdog has reignited its long-running scrutiny of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issuing a sweeping show-cause notice that drags the broadcaster and 84 others into a widening governance storm.
The notice, dated February 12, has been served by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to Zee, chairman emeritus Subhash Chandra and managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, among others. At its heart: allegations that company funds were indirectly routed to settle liabilities of entities linked to the Essel Group.
The regulator’s probe traces its roots to November 2019, when two independent directors resigned from Zee’s board, flagging concerns over the alleged appropriation of fixed deposits by Yes Bank. The deposits were reportedly adjusted against loans extended to Essel Group entities, triggering questions about related-party dealings and board oversight.
A key flashpoint is a letter of comfort dated September 4, 2018, issued by Subhash Chandra in his dual capacity as chairman of Zee and the Essel Group. The document, linked to credit facilities availed by certain group companies from Yes Bank, was allegedly known only to select members of management and not disclosed to the full board—an omission SEBI believes raises red flags over transparency and governance controls.
Zee has pushed back hard. In a statement, the company said it “strongly refutes” the allegations against it and its board members and will file a detailed response. It expressed confidence that SEBI would conduct a fair review and signalled readiness to pursue all legal remedies to protect shareholder interests.
The notice marks the latest twist in a saga that has shadowed the broadcaster since 2019. What began as boardroom unease has morphed into a full-blown regulatory confrontation. The final reckoning now rests with SEBI—but the reputational stakes for Zee, and the message for India Inc on governance discipline, could scarcely be higher.
