iWorld
GroupM report forecasts global online media time spent to overtake TV in 2018
MUMBAI: For the first time ever, time spent on online media will overtake linear TV globally in 2018, according to GroupM’s State of Digital report. The report, which researched consumer media consumption and advertising investment trends worldwide, tabulated consumers’ time spent with each media format along with average time spent with media overall.
GroupM predicts consumers will spend an average of 9.73 hours with media in 2018, up from 9.68 hours in 2017. Online media will have a 38 per cent share of the total engagement; TV will have a share of 37 per cent.
The increased inclination for online media will support growth of e-commerce, too. GroupM predicts 15 per cent growth to $2.442 trillion in 2018 from cumulative transactions worth $2.105 trillion in 2017.
In a scenario wherein the digital revolution is gaining more momentum, Google and Facebook continue to be the key growth drivers. While Google search is critical to clients, YouTube is increasingly important for scaled, ‘premium’ video. Facebook’s success is partly due to the delivery of younger audiences via Instagram.
While examining programmatic (automated) ad investment trends, the report found 44 per cent of online display investment was transacted programmatically in 2017 versus 31 per cent in 2016. This is expected to rise to 47 per cent in 2018. Programmatic is smaller for online advertisement trends. From 22 per cent in 2017, it is predicted to rise to 24 per cent this year.
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eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
