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Zenith, McCann expect growth in ad spend next year
MUMBAI: Two ad agencies have predicted better tidings for global advertising next year. The growth in adspend will be fuelled by the August Olympic Games in Athens and by the US presidential elections. However the scene for Europe is not too rosy, say both Zenith and McCann.
Publicis’ Zenith Optimedia says 2004 global ad spending on major media would grow 4.7 per cent. Meanwhile, Universal McCann which is a part of New York-based Interpublic, expects growth in the region of 5.8 per cent.
The two above mentioned events are expected to result in some $ one billion in extra advertising, most of which will be translated onto television. Zenith said US ad spending would increase five per cent and spending in Asia would rise 5.1 per cent. European ad spend however, would recover more slowly, with a projected 3.7 per cent increase.
Meanwhile a report in USA Today said that barring a major terrorist attack a la 9/11, Madison Avenue should post its best performance since its record growth year of 2000. This is because of the growth in Internet advertising which is progressing at a rapid clip.
Universal McCann’s Robert Coen has predicted that US media spending will grow 6.9 per cent to more than $266 billion in 2004. The global media economy will grow 5.8 per cent to more than $498 billion. However, the media recovery will be uneven. While the broadcast network, Internet and newspaper sectors will grow 12, 10 and 7.5 per cent respectively, magazines and Yellow Pages will increase only five per cent and 3.5 per cent.
Zenith Optimedia CEO John Perries added that advertisers are loosening the purse strings after focusing on cost control over the past few years, Another report in the MediaGuardian stated that in the UK the boost given by the World Cup to television advertising has given the best indication of recovery so far.
While ad spend in the UK is expected to fall by 1.2 per cent over the year, demand for UK television advertising in the second quarter turned rose by five per cent following an 11 per cent decline a couple of years ago. Coming to this year, the ad spend is expected to fall by 1.4 per cent in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan. Germany is the worst hit with spending forecast expected to decline by 5.3 per cent this year.
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.
