In the Media
The Cable Industry’s Survival Guide: Partho Dasgupta on Adapting to a Changing Media Landscape
Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of BARC India and now Managing Partner at Thoth Advisors, sheds light on the challenges faced by the traditional cable industry. As streaming platforms redefine entertainment, cable operators must evolve to remain relevant in this era of on-demand content. For decades, cable TV was the backbone of home entertainment in India. Families planned their schedules around TV shows, whether it was children watching cartoons or the nation collectively tuning in for “Ramayan”...
Partho Dasgupta Explores the Double-Edged Sword of AI in Media and the Influence of Tech Giants
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the media industry at an unprecedented pace, much like the revolutions brought about by the printing press and the internet. As AI evolves, it offers tools that enhance content creation, audience targeting, and analytics. However, these advancements are also posing significant challenges to traditional media organizations. Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of BARC India and current Managing Partner at Thoth Advisors, reflects on the impact of AI,...
AI’s Disruption of Media: Partho Dasgupta on Navigating Innovation and Tech Monopolies
The media industry is at a critical juncture, facing seismic disruptions driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Much like the printing press or the internet, AI is rewriting the rules of information creation and consumption, forcing traditional media outlets to evolve or risk becoming obsolete. Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of BARC India and now Managing Partner at Thoth Advisors, offers insights into how AI is reshaping India’s media landscape, compelling companies to rethink their models to...
Partho Dasgupta: The AI Disruption Reshaping India’s Media Landscape
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the media industry, driving changes as profound as the printing press and the internet once did. These earlier technological breakthroughs disrupted how information was shared, consumed, and monetized. Similarly, AI is now revolutionizing content creation, consumption, and distribution, forcing traditional media organizations to either adapt or face obsolescence. Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of BARC India and Managing Partner at Thoth Advisors, sheds...
Broadsheet Resurgence: Thriving on Advertising Market Gaps
"Print media in India may have faced challenges, but its resilience speaks volumes. It remains an indispensable cornerstone of information dissemination in our digital age” Since the advent of digital media, many predicted the demise of print, expecting it to be overshadowed by the immediacy and convenience of online news. The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to hasten this decline, disrupting distribution channels and causing a siggnificant drop in advertising revenue as businesses cut budgets....
BPM Reimagined: Partho Dasgupta Discusses the Evolution of Generative AI
In today’s fast-paced business landscape, the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) is reshaping various sectors, including India’s Business Process Management (BPM) industry, which accounts for nearly 40% of global sourcing spends. With its vast potential and ability to drive efficiency, innovation, and cost-effectiveness, AI and Gen AI are revolutionizing the way BPM businesses operate, offering unparalleled opportunities for growth and...
Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of BARC benefitted many companies through his illustrious career
A leader is only a leader when he influences people to work on goals which were not always worth pursuing for them before. It takes a lot of hard-work, determination and most importantly, experience to make it at the top of the ladder. Nobody can go through life without gaining experience. Your ability to succeed or fail in life is often determined by what you learn and During early days of his career, the expert led as the General Manager, Brand Operations, at a famous publication house – The...
Change in the strategy of OTT platforms
India has always been a challenge for businesses that are not indigenous. With one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India has become the ‘go-to’ place for businesses. However, capturing the Indian market takes more than just business acumen. To get into the Indian market a business has to get inside the minds of Indian customers. The diversity in India also means diverse choices and preferences. Many marketing strategies that have worked for other countries have failed miserably...
Sustainability in businesses is the only way forward
In today’s world, one thing that matters the most to individuals, start-ups, or conglomerates is IMPACT. What are they leaving behind or going along with? What are their values? How are they helping society? How is the environment affected by their business? These questions pop up in everyone’s mind on a daily basis. Many times we hear stories about oil spills, waste dumping, unethical practices of animal testing, etc., and then even as consumers of these types of brands we feel conscious and...
Cord-Cutting Revolution: Traditional Cable TV Shift
Most of us remember planning our day around our favorite show. Cable TV was our window to the world outside our immediate surroundings. Children with their cartoons, elders with their news, and the whole country with the Sunday morning episodes of Ramayan was nothing short of a cult! Cut to today, people streaming shows on demand, pausing the episodes in between to take their breaks and resuming when they want. The click of a button and the comfort of watching wherever and whenever is what...
Revolutionizing India’s Tech Landscape in Paving the Way to Net Zero Emissions by 2070 through Sustainable Gadgets
The mounting concerns over climate change have catalyzed a collective awakening, urging nations, corporations, and individuals to reevaluate their environmental impact. As the world grapples with the urgent need to curb carbon emissions, India is emerging as a key player in the global effort to achieve net-zero emissions. India's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality is echoing across all discussions; From the G20 Summit to the recent global leadership summit COP26, Prime Minister Narendra...
Harnessing the Potential of 5G in India’s Industry 4.0 Advancement
In the larger tapestry of technological progress, there emerge pivotal moments that serve as catalysts for profound transformation. We now stand at the cusp of one such milestone: the widespread adoption of 5G technology in India. The convergence of 5G and Industry 4.0 has the potential to revolutionize various sectors and drive economic growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his distinguished capacity, inaugurated this groundbreaking service last year at the India Mobile Congress,...
What is Data Protection Bill And Why It’s The Need Of The Hour
The Data Protection Bill stands as a commendable step towards safeguarding individual privacy and digital security. Today India is on every big nation’s radar especially in terms of investment and business interests. The technological revolution in India has made us an appealing option in the eyes of many nations. However, with such developments come challenges. In an era where digital interactions have become an integral part of our daily lives, the need to safeguard the data of millions of...
Innocence vs. Influence: Ethical Considerations in the Kidfluencer Era
The way a society treats its children is probably the best way to judge where it is heading. For every parent, their child is their world, they want to protect and shelter them from every harm in the world. But what happens when parents lose the ability to judge the threats that they are exposing their children to? When we watch videos of children singing, dancing or just being themselves on YouTube or reels it brings a smile to our faces and probably makes our day! But these videos sometimes...
Podcasts Changing the News Game: Goodbye Sensationalism?
Like all consumers, video viewers are continuously evolving in their media consumption habits. In recent times, there has been a noticeable shift in English-speaking audiences' preferences, as they move away from leading news anchors with millions of followers. The once-popular faces of news broadcasting have experienced a decline in viewership over time. In their place, a new wave of content creators is gaining traction, particularly in the realm of podcasts. Figures indicate that individuals...
The Rise of Finfluencers: Simplifying Finance with Responsibility
In recent years, a new wave of influencers has taken social media platforms by storm, attracting an ever-growing audience seeking financial advice and knowledge. Termed "finfluencers," these individuals have gained significant attention for their expertise in finance and their ability to connect with and influence their followers. Finfluencers are individuals who have established a strong presence on social media, primarily focusing on finance-related topics. Their backgrounds in finance,...
The Rise of 5G and its Impact on Streaming
Over the years, there has been a dramatic increase in video content consumption, and the advent of 5G technology is poised to accommodate this growing trend. However, the potential of 5G goes beyond simply meeting the demand for video streaming; it promises to revolutionize the entire streaming landscape. In the late 2000s, we witnessed the emergence of Web2.0, the first iPhone, the transition from analog to digital television, and the rise of 3G networks. These developments gave streaming...
Media Literacy In The Digital Era
Digital literacy must begin in classrooms – Partho Dasgupta Welcome to the dynamic and diverse landscape of India, where digital technologies are revolutionizing the way we live, learn, and connect. In this exciting digital era, being digitally literate isn't just an advantage; it's a necessity. As digital media grows, so does the threat of cybercrime and digital literacy is the only way to circumvent this threat. According to the Indian National Statistical Office, a digitally literate...
The Podcasting Revolution: India’s Growing Audio Content Landscape
In recent years, podcasting has gained immense popularity as a digital medium for storytelling, information sharing, and entertainment worldwide. However, while podcasting has experienced significant growth in many countries, including the United States and Europe, it has not reached its full potential in India. Despite having a vast audience and a thriving media industry, podcasting in India has faced several challenges that have hindered its growth. One of the primary obstacles is the...
How Artificial Intelligence Could Pose A Threat To India
India Needs To Be Proactive Regarding AI And Its Potential Threat. The artificial intelligence revolution today is taking over the world. The recent news of ‘Godfather of AI’ Jeoffrey Hinton leaving Google and claiming that the looming threat of AI is more urgent than climate change, has made everyone a bit uncomfortable and provided little solace. The launch of chat GPT, BARD and other tools can be said to be the turning point for the AI movement. Automation has become a new trend. Most...
Partho Dasgupta talks about controversies and problems being faced by Ed-Techs
The Ed-tech industry needs a regulatory framework to ensure ethical practices – Partho Dasgupta The Ed-Tech industry came as a savior for parents and students during Covid. This industry existed pre-covid as well but the push it got during Covid was phenomenal. Suddenly every school was jumping on the bandwagon to ensure that children are up to date with their syllabus. The increased internet penetration plus the lockdown catapulted the Ed-tech industry to new heights. Not only...
The Evolving Landscape of the Radio Industry in India
It is amazing to see the adaptability of the radio industry in India; I believe it is here to stay. We all remember our grandparents and even our parents listening to the radio when we were young. Before Tv became common in households Radio was the only source for information and entertainment. Even today most of us like listening to the radio on the drive as it surprises us with unexpected and sometimes forgotten songs. Today when the good old TV is battling between OTT and other services,...
Partho Dasgupta: The growing popularity of influencer marketing over traditional marketing methods
Influencer marketing has changed the advertisement/marketing industry for the better – Partho Dasgupta Social media has a significant impact on our daily lives and has completely changed how businesses advertise their goods and services. Today influencers are the new superstars and a new type of marketing strategy has emerged entirely based on social media. Influencer marketing, a type of advertising that makes use of social media influencers’ fame and power, has become a potent tool for...
UPI – Pay Now link shows the new age global approach of the Government
Partho Dasgupta talks about the popularity of UPI and how its link with Pay Now is going to change cross-border financial transactions. Payment methods in India have seen a newfound growth. Post Covid the growth trajectory of online payments has touched the skies. The ease of payment with just your mobile sitting in the comfort of your home while the rest of the world is standing in lines is what made UPI popular. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) created the real-time payment...
Partho Dasgupta Talks About Amazon’s Tie-Up With ONDC
Partho Dasgupta talks about ONDC and how it has the potential to be a savior for small businesses in this market dominated by e-commerce monopolies. Everything is online. If you have an internet connection, then most of the things that you require for your daily needs or functioning are within your reach instantly. As a consumer, you have unlimited options at your disposal and you can just fill your cart online and receive the products within a few hours or days! Even businesses now want...
What is the future of Netflix’s AD-supported plan?
Will Netflix’s AD-supported plan help it break the Indian market? Partho Dasgupta shares that it is a decision that should have been made a long time ago! Many brands had to change their strategy while entering the Indian market. Indian people’s choices, priorities, their values have to be kept in mind before any business enters this market. With the advent of OTT platforms, Indians recalibrated their choices and the younger generations started moving towards ‘unconventional’ OTT for better...
Partho Dasgupta talks about the growing popularity of social media influencers as a news source
Media houses Vs. Influencers who have more reach? Can influencers really compete with media houses? Partho Dasgupta sheds light. Gone are the days of crazy fandom for Bollywood celebs when posters of Rajnikant used to be doused with milk, or temples used to be made for Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan. The craze for Bollywood actors has seen a significant decline as social media has emerged. Why? Well, today influencers have become celebrities. They seem to have a lot more influence over...
Has BCCI overestimated its expectations? Will IPL now be playing both on grounds and the Board rooms??
BCCI, the governing body of cricket in India is almost like an empire that has been built on the collective fervor and obsession that Indians have for the sport.
The Future of the Streaming Market in India
The year 2020 will probably go down in history as the year that truly changed the media industry. With the pandemic spreading through countries, people and their world was confined to their homes. Work from home, school from home everything became the new normal. The Internet was the only thing that kept people sane as it was their only source of entertainment, work, and communication with their loved ones. Many businesses boomed while others drowned in this new world where people’s priorities...
Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of BARC, discusses Metaverse
Partho Dasgupta, the former CEO of BARC, discusses the metaverse’s impact on film and television.
Are we too gullible? Partho Dasgupta shares thoughts on how much we trust media
India is a land of contradictions, what's true at one place in time maybe not be true in another situation. We truly are a melting pot for different religions and cultures. In today’s world where everyone has their own opinion and puts out their thoughts on social media websites like Twitter, LinkedIn, Insta, what exactly truly represents our country? Do our citizens represent our country or do the elite class represent us? Or is it the politicians? 2022 is the age of data. We are drowned in...
Partho Dasgupta shares views on the policies of the government on fake news
With power comes responsibility. This famous quote is true for people, businesses, organizations, and will always be the core point in dealing with people. Social media or media in general holds power over common people as they are the ones dispensing crucial information and entertainment to people. We all know that people have been affected by media for the longest time. It is only logical to hold them accountable for the information they spread. India is a country of billions of people and...
Sensationalism is going to be the Bane of Indian News Media
Every news channel today is trying to get hold of people’s attention. The busy ticker on the bottom, the flashing “Breaking news” sign, and the blinking advertisement are all there to overstimulate the brain and catch our attention. Gone are the days of the old 9 PM stoic Doordarshan news that a family sat down to gain knowledge of their current affairs. Today is the age of ‘in-your-face journalism’, where the anchor shouts his opinions on you rendering you incapacitated to form your thoughts....
Is internet censorship required? The burning question that needs to be answered
The Internet is a universe on its own. With numerous channels, websites, video content, and audio content, you name it and the internet has it! However, it has become extremely difficult to filter through this never ending stream of information. What information is appropriate? For what age? What demographic etc. are the questions that everyone is asking today. According to a report ‘Internet in India’ by IAMAI, there are 692 million active internet users in India with almost equal usage in...
Tollywood’s takeover of Bollywood is indicative of the change in viewership choices of the audience
Tollywood, Sandalwood, Bhojwood, Pahariwood. no these are not the names of different types of woods, these are the different movie industries in Bollywood representing a region. Even if the name Bollywood is a moniker for the Indian film industry, it has always been used to represent Hindi cinema. The diversity of India can be truly seen through the Indian film industry. The industry has never been able to represent other languages or their art in a way that they deserve, however things have...
Change in the strategy of OTT platforms needed to succeed in India
India has always been a challenge for businesses that are not indigenous. With one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India has become the ‘go-to’ place for businesses. However, capturing the Indian market takes more than just business acumen. To get into the Indian market a business has to get inside the minds of Indian customers. The diversity in India also means diverse choices and preferences. Many marketing strategies that have worked for other countries have failed miserably...
Partho Dasgupta BARC ’s Ex CEO – “Fake News Is The New Pandemic”
Every time we are on the internet, we are bombarded with a wide array of news articles and information that have their own agenda. We share this information with just one click and somehow unknowingly become a part of the bigger narrative that some websites or groups are trying to weave. Welcome to the world of fake news! Where information is the weapon and we all are the targets. Today, when a large majority of the population has access to the internet, distilling the right information, has...
D2M may be the technology that we don’t require
The changes in technology in the past decade have taken a big leap. From turning the antenna at just the right angle on our roof to get a signal during the much awaited cricket match to talking about web 5.0 and decentralization, it just seems surreal. Internet as technology has made things so much easier and given people the independence to choose what they like. The television set was one of the things that used to bring the family together for a shared watching experience every day....
Partho Dasgupta talks about OOH advertising and its growth in India
As India reopened and we moved into ‘the new normal’ after lockdowns, out-of-home advertising gradually returned to pre-pandemic levels. Malls, movies, airports, and metro railways reclaimed their place in the marketer’s armoury as people moved out and about, to enjoy leisure activities such as entertainment, dining out, shopping, and travel. As a result, the outdoor advertising industry is finally on the mend. In the first four months of 2022, India’s OOH (out-of-home) segment made...
Partho Dasgupta – “Drones need to be effectively used, anti-drone tech is critical”
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently developed a counter-drone system for aerial security. Partho Dasgupta (in picture) praises the fact that India is finally moving on from its dependence on different countries and coming up with indigenous defense systems as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The future of this technology is limitless. — By arrangement With technology changing almost every day, it seems like anything and everything can be turned into a...
Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of BARC talks about Metaverse
The Metaverse is likely to be a digital twin of the real world, as it will consist of virtual depictions of various people, places, and things found in the physical world. The whole media and entertainment sector is ready to undergo a paradigm shift with the birth of the Metaverse. The gravity of it is starting to dawn on not just billion-dollar companies, as reflected in Facebook’s title change to Meta, but everyday people who can see that the future of mankind is becoming increasingly...
Partho Dasgupta BARC ’s former CEO elaborates the Success potential of EKAM
To solve the digital puzzle, BARC India 2017 launched its EKAM range of products. The brainchild of this idea was Partho Dasgupta BARC ’s former CEO.. He proposed EKAM with the vision of measuring content on digital platforms. The name EKAM was a strategised term (meaning one), representing the concept to build a platform for broadcasters and content creators to use for monetisation. Being an industry expert, Dasgupta was a visionary to know that in India, digital platforms will outrun...
Partho Dasgupta’s prodigious hard work paved the way for success of BARC
BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) India is a multi-stakeholder industry organisation founded by different players in the Indian television and advertising ecosystems with the purpose of designing, commissioning, supervising, and owning an accurate, reliable, and timely television audience measuring system for India. Partho Dasgupta, the former CEO of BARC talks at length about the hard work he did, the challenges he faced and overcame and everything that went behind setting up...
Partho Dasgupta shares opinion on self-regulation of OTT platforms
Over-the-top platforms, or OTTs, are audio and video hosting and streaming services that began as content hosting platforms but now, have expanded to include the production and distribution of short films, feature films, documentaries, and web series. In the last few years, these platforms have grown in popularity to the point that India now has over 17 million OTT platform users. The Indian government brought OTT services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others under the Ministry of...
Partho Dasgupta Explains The Changing Face Of News In The Internet Era
We live in the era of on-the-go entertainment and now people want on-the-go news as well. Starting from Radio telecasts and 9 o clock Doordarshan news to watching the news on our mobile phones, we have come a long way. Today people do not rush to switch on their Television to see what is happening in the world. They just take out their phones and Google. Today the news reaches people in real-time and details of each and every second are shared with the viewers. News and the ways to deliver it...
Partho Dasgupta Explains What 5G Has In Store For OTT Services
Notably, the amount of video content consumed has increased dramatically in recent years, and 5G is designed to accommodate this increasing trend. However, the future of streaming is about more than just meeting demand. The late 2000s witnessed the advent of Web2.0, the first iPhone, the transition from analogue to digital television, and the emergence of 3G. People could watch anything they wanted, whenever they wanted, and anywhere they wanted with the convergence of these occurrences that...
Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of BARC benefitted many companies through his illustrious career
A leader is only a leader when he influences people to work on goals which were not always worth pursuing for them before. It takes a lot of hard-work, determination and most importantly, experience to make it at the top of the ladder. As, at the top, the stakes are high and the demands are intense. Partho Dasgupta, the former CEO of BARC, and current Managing Partner at Thoth Advisors is example of an excellent leader. His constant vigilance and preparedness of work is the price he has paid...
Find the right path to lead an inspired team, Ex CEO of BARC Partho Dasgupta throws light
Change in the workplace tends to cause uncertainty, worry, and anxiety in both the personnel affected by the change and the executives who are implementing it. Consequently, this has an adverse effect on employee motivation and performance. Motivation is a challenge for almost every team leader since it is an inherent aspect of team building (changing oneself from the inside) rather than an extrinsic part (external rewards). “Unfortunately, some managers still rely on old-school approaches...