iWorld
Jagran New Media continues to grow; crosses 100 mn users mark
Mumbai: Jagran New Media (JNM), a digital arm of Jagran Prakashan said that it has surpassed 100 million users in the news/information category. According to the report ‘Comscore MMX Multi-Platform: June’22,’ as JNM reported, the company registered a growth of 19 per cent in total unique visitors to 100.60 million. With 384 million total views and 485 million minutes time spent, JNM said that it has witnessed an annual growth of four per cent in total unique visitors and consolidated its position as one of India’s top ten news and information publishers, which augurs well for monetisation.
Jagran New Media provides real-time content across genres, with news and politics being the primary drivers. Education, lifestyle, health, auto, and technology are also significant contributors to this growth, it said.
Jagran New Media CEO Bharat Gupta said, “Content, technology, and policy are the new building blocks for any new-age media company. Our mission is to produce factual and credible content that enables and empowers the new India through knowledge, information, and POV towards better health, better education, and better growth, leading to an inclusive and progressive society. We have made significant investments in content + technology to provide an engaging and secure experience at the product end, while also protecting the digital expansion of Cookie Fadeout through the use of the DMP.”
“News/information category witnessed a drop in FY 2021-22. The algorithm change aimed at making the news ecosystem more expert-driven, authoritative, and trust-based, as well as the post-UP election traffic, were the two big reasons for this drop. Eight out of the top 10 news and information companies witnessed a sharp annual decline. Thanks to our audience-first strategy, wherein we have different products for different audience segments, which helped Jagran New Media witness growth. In all, we are gearing up for the next billion users by way of a scalable and sustainable business model,” he further explained.
Jagran New Media chief revenue officer Gaurav Arora said, “We are all set for the festive season and are hopeful of an action-packed season this year. Our primary goal at Jagran is to reach out to our advertisers with innovative solutions across genres. The segmented approach has previously yielded results, and we are currently aiming high in the auto, tech, lifestyle, FMCG, and gaming categories as part of our overall revenue plan. We are introducing new products and IP’s to enable brand solutions that are out of the ordinary.”
Jagran New Media has an array of offerings under the media and publishing category. Within the Hindi news and information category, the company’s flagship brand, Jagran.com, further consolidated its position with constant growth in terms of users, page views, and time spent. It clocked a reach of 44.61 million unique visitors, 166 million total views, and 229 million total minutes of reach.
In the education category, JagranJosh.com said that it has 43.79 million total unique visitors, 124 million total views, and 140 million minutes of spent time and registered a growth of 98 per cent in total unique visitors, 86 per cent in total views, and 87 per cent in total minutes. JagranJosh.com also registered an annual growth of 138 per cent in total unique visitors, 167 per cent in total views, and 171 per cent in total minutes.
In the health segment, Onlymyhealth.com maintained its leadership position in the Indian health-information category with 7.09 million total unique visitors, 11 million total views, and 13 million total minutes time spent, registering a monthly growth of 30 per cent in total unique visitors, 41 per cent in total views, and 30 per cent in total minutes, and an annual growth of 91 per cent in total unique visitors, 23 per cent in total views, and a 28 per cent increase in total minutes.
In the women’s and lifestyle category, HerZindagi.com maintained 18.22 million total unique visitors, 28 million total views, and 31 million total minutes. JNM consolidated its video presence by clocking 67.18 million video views and witnessed a growth of 120 per cent during the month of June’22 (Source: YT analytics).
iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
