Internet Boom: Web ads going up then Tv ads

Britons are changing their media habits as more women and people over 65 go online and as more consumers opt for a single provider for their Internet, entertainment and phone services, an industry report says.

Among the changing trends in 2006, children are cutting back from using computer games to spend time on mobile phones and the Internet, British media regulator Ofcom said in its annual report.

As technologies, platforms and devices have come together due to increased broadband penetration, more people are making phone calls over the Internet, listening to radio via television and watching TV over mobile phones.

In response, advertisers diverted more money to the Internet and away from traditional sources, Ofcom said.

"Our communications sector continues to develop at a fast pace, with consumers of all ages using a range of devices to find the services they want," said Peter Phillips, Ofcom partner of strategy and market developments.

Average daily Internet use was 36 minutes in 2006, up 158 per cent on 2002, while time spent on the mobile phone also increased, up 58 per cent at almost 4 minutes per day.

On the down side, time spent watching TV fell 4 per cent during that period, although it still dominated with average daily viewing at 3 hours and 36 minutes.

Listening to radio was down 2 per cent at 2 hours and 50 minutes, and time spent on a fixed-line phone was down 8 per cent at 7 minutes.

WEB ADS UP, TV ADS DOWN

As a result, TV advertising spend fell 4.7 per cent in 2006 from 2005, coinciding with the spread of video content available online and the growth of digital video recorders, which can skip adverts.

Radio advertising spend fell 7.8 per cent in the same period, while Internet advertising spend rose 47 per cent.

In other changes, more people over the age of 65 used the Internet, spending an average of 42 hours online every month, more than any other age category, while one quarter of all British Internet users are over the age of 50.

The Web also attracted more women, with those aged 25 to 34 spending more time on the Internet than men of that age.

Some 20 per cent of respondents to a survey said they made phone calls over the Internet offered by so-called VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) providers, while headline Internet speeds increased. By April 2007, 53 per cent of households had a broadband connection.

The growth of broadband penetration has been driven in part by groups such as satellite operator BSkyB and Virgin Media, which offer broadband as part of their packages.

The number of consumers taking services in bundles rose to 40 per cent of the population by April 2007, up by a third over the 12 months.

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John gives gyaan on making it big in the ad world

John Abraham's acting career is making a mark but the actor returned to his first profession for a social cause.


John got on stage to promote an advertising contest for social awareness called the Concerned Communicator award. A former ad man himself, here's what John thinks is the sure shot way to the award.


“I think humour. If you can get the ad across through humor I think that's the one. People love laughing all the time. It has to be effective and the message has to come across and make you think,” says John.


Other celebrities like Anupam Kher and Shabana Azmi are also promoting the contest along with John.


And if you are wondering why John left advertising for acting, then here’s the explanation. “Media planning was all about backstage job. The heroes used to be the creative people and the media planner used to work from 9 am to 4 in the morning, that’s all we used to do," he said.


That’s John for you, spoken like a true actor, who prefers to shine in front of the camera than behind it.


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ESPN STAR ties up with 8 sponsors for ODIs

Riding on India’s series victory against England in the test matches, ESPN STAR Cricket is betting on a strong viewership for the upcoming one-day internationals (ODIs). The broadcaster is understood to have tied up eight sponsors — Maruti, Coca-Cola, Havell’s, Motorola, Airtel, Visa, Cadbury and Thomas Cook.

When contacted, ESPN refused to comment on the value of the deals or the status of the inventory. However, sources say the Indian team’s good performance could have a ‘positive influence’ on the rate of advertising spots. In other words, the current rate of Rs 1.6 lakh per 10 second spot could go up.

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John Abraham gets off Yamaha

My brother didn’t lend me his bike. That was when I decided that I should have a bike of my own. It should reflect me, the power and the sport. That was when I decided it should be a Yamaha.

This was John Abraham in his very first TV ad for Yamaha, a brand that he endorsed for the past few years. Not any longer. John Abraham and Yamaha have recently parted ways, though its remains unclear who dumped whom.

“John has told Yamaha that he wouldn’t renew the contract for the brand promotion as the company doesn’t have the right product to match the actor’s macho personality,” according to a source close to Mr Abraham.

Yamaha Motor India, which is set to roll out two of its global hot sellers-the 1,000 cc YZF-R1 and 1,670 cc MT-01-later this year also confirmed that the contract with Abraham has come to an end and that the company is not going to renew it. “For the time being we are not renewing the contract with John Abraham,” said a company official.

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‘Vulgar’ innerwear ads incur Goverment wrath

Even before the controversial Broadcast Content Code has been finalized and come into play, two advertisements which have been on air for more than three months - ‘Lux Cozy Underwear’ and ‘Amul Macho Underwear’ - have been banned.

The reason: They have been deemed by government mandarins to be indecent, vulgar and suggestive.


The information and broadcasting ministry said all channels have also been directed to be more careful in future in selection of content of advertisements and to strictly adhere to the Advertisement Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rules framed thereunder in avert further action.


The advertisements of ‘Lux Cozy Underwear’ and ‘Amul Macho Underwear’ have been considered indecent, vulgar and suggestive and thus violative of Rule 7 (8) of the Advertising Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed thereunder.


The ministry vide its advisory on 27 April, 2007, in respect of indecent advertisement of Gen-X undergarments had directed all the channels to be more careful in future in selection of content of advertisements and strictly adhere to the Advertising Code.


Earlier this year, the Government had banned channels FTV and AXN for showing "vulgar" programmes, but later withdrew the ban even before the expiry of the penal period.