iWorld
OTT platform runs commercials for liquor brand, report says
KOLKATA: Sparking a new controversy, the streaming service SonyLIV runs commercials for liquor brands between breaks. It appears the liquor brands which can’t use television or print, are utilising OTT platforms in the absence of advertising codes. The OTT platforms don’t have any advertising code yet for their original content.
According to a Mint report, the liquor brand Diageo India promoted its 180 ml pocket-size flasks called 'Hipsters' which launched last year for scotch whiskey brands Black Dog, Black & White, and Vat 69.
However, it displayed the ad with a disclaimer that it should not be shared with people below the legal drinking age. The brand has shown on-screen during the cricket tournament that young consumers are pouring whiskey from a flask to make a chilled drink on multiple occasions when the drink can be enjoyed.
"It is in accordance with the Diageo Marketing Code and Diageo Digital Guidelines, that guide for all communications that go out across any platform," a company spokesperson said as quoted by Mint.
Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) secretary-general Shweta Purandare said these matters are beyond the scope of ASCI. According to ASCI, such matters are best examined and dealt with by the concerned regulators.
iWorld
Pocketful appoints Prateek Singh as CEO to drive next growth phase
Ex-Bajaj Broking executive to scale digital investing platform in India
MUMBAI: Pocketful has appointed Prateek Singh as its chief executive officer, marking a key leadership move as the company looks to scale its presence in India’s fast-evolving investment market.
Backed by the three-decade legacy of Pace Group, Pocketful is positioning the appointment as a strategic step to accelerate growth and strengthen its foothold among retail investors.
Singh brings over 13 years of experience in building digital financial platforms, with expertise spanning customer acquisition, product development and business expansion. He joins from Bajaj Broking, where he served as chief growth officer and played a key role in enhancing the company’s digital capabilities and platform experience.
Commenting on the appointment, Pocketful co-founder Sarvam Goel said, “Prateek’s appointment represents an essential milestone for Pocketful as we expand our operations and strengthen our position in the Indian investment market.” He added that Singh’s experience aligns closely with the company’s vision of building a user-focused, technology-driven platform.
For his part, Singh said, “I am truly excited to join Pocketful at such a pivotal stage of its growth journey,” highlighting the rising retail participation and shift towards digital investing in India. He added that the focus will be on simplifying the investing experience and enabling more informed participation in capital markets.
Pocketful offers zero brokerage on equity delivery trades, along with no account opening charges and lifetime zero annual maintenance fees, positioning itself as an accessible platform for new-age investors. It also caters to active traders with advanced tools and features such as margin trading and its in-house intelligence layer, Pocketful GPT, designed to assist with trade ideas and portfolio analysis.
The company has recently expanded into mutual funds, signalling its ambition to evolve into a full-stack investment platform. With Singh at the helm, Pocketful is looking to ride the wave of India’s growing retail investor base and sharpen its competitive edge in the crowded brokerage space.
