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Samsung introduces India to a TV with over ₹1 crore price tag

Kolkata, The 2024 <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections are on track to break past records and become the most expensive electoral event in the world, according to a poll expert. The estimated expenditure is expected to reach a staggering Rs 1.35 lakh crore, more than double the Rs 60,000 crore spent in 2019, claimed N Bhaskara Rao, who chairs the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), a not-for-profit organisation, and has been tracking election spending for 35 years. Rao stated that this comprehensive expenditure encompasses all spending, direct or indirect, related to polls, including that by political parties and organisations, candidates, the government, and the Election Commission. With the BJP vying for a third consecutive term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, industry observers have noted the party's dominant presence in campaigns, irrespective of the mediums used for publicity. In an interview with PTI, Rao said he revised the initial expenditure estimate from Rs 1.2 lakh crore to Rs 1.35 lakh crore, factoring in electoral bond disclosures and accounting for all election-related expenses. "Initially, we estimated the expenditure at Rs 1.2 lakh crore. However, post the electoral bond stake disclosures, we've revised the figure to Rs 1.35 lakh crore," he said, adding that this estimate covered spending that took place 3-4 months before voting dates were announced. Rao emphasised that money flowed into the process through various means beyond electoral bonds. Recent observations by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) revealed a "significant lack of transparency" in <keyword id="20596430" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-funding" source="keywords">political funding</keyword> in India. From 2004-05 to 2022-23, approximately 60 per cent of contributions to the nation's six major political parties, totalling Rs 19,083 crore, came from undisclosed sources, including funds from electoral bonds, it claimed. The ADR has, however, refrained from providing any cumulative expenditure projections for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. "Pre-election activities are integral to <keyword id="21426857" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="campaign-spending" source="keywords">campaign spending</keyword> by parties and candidates, covering political rallies, transportation, hiring of workers including field and influencers and even the controversial horse-trading of political leaders," Rao said. The Election Commission's budget to manage the polls is expected to be 10-15 per cent of the total expenditure projection, he added. With a voter base of 96.6 crore, per-voter spending is estimated at around Rs 1,400. This surpasses the expenditure of the 2020 US elections, which stood at USD 14.4 billion or Rs 1.2 lakh crore, according to OpenSecrets.org, a nonprofit organisation based in Washington, DC, that tracks and publishes data on campaign finance and lobbying. Media campaigns across various platforms are predicted to account for 30 per cent of the total election spend, Rao said. "While visible spending is concentrated in the 45-day direct campaign period, the actual expenditure far exceeds this amount," he added. Parties and candidates often find ways to circumvent spending restrictions imposed by the Model Code of Conduct. In 2019, the CMS reported that the BJP accounted for 45 per cent of the total spending of Rs 60,000 crore, a share that Rao believes will increase in the 2024 elections. In his latest book, 'Next Big Game Changer of Elections', Rao highlighted the growing reliance on 'money power' over ideology in Indian politics. He lamented the transformation of election campaigns from ideology-driven movements to "jingoistic apparatuses" that leverage demographics to create divisive tactics and polarisation. Rao identified six key trends in the ongoing general election -- prolonged pre-poll activities, affluent candidates dominating the fray, the 'Mandi' phenomenon of political crossovers, manipulation through various channels, lack of fair play, and the power dynamics favouring incumbents. As digital campaigning gains prominence, political parties are engaging professional agencies for higher brand recall. Amit Wadhwa, CEO of leading advertising agency Dentsu Creative, said that there has been a significant surge in digital campaigning this year. He said political parties were behaving like corporate brands and were engaging professional agencies for higher brand recall. "With the inclusion of both direct and indirect digital campaigns, this medium's footprint is poised to become the mainstay, potentially outshining all others in this election. Television, digital platforms, and outdoor advertising are ahead, relegating print to fourth place," he projected, based on his observations. A top ad agency official said voters unaffiliated with any political ideology, referred to as 'fence-sitters,' are the primary targets of the intense visual campaigns launched by parties across various media. Social media giants like Meta and Google play significant roles in political campaigns, he said. Advertisement professional Jadavendra Sen categorised advertisements into three types - Above the Line (ATL) activities, which include outdoor, television, and print; Below the Line (BTL) activities, encompassing wall writings and posters; and Through the Line (TTL) activities, which involve third-party like influencers and digital platforms. Sen highlighted that during the initial voting phase in North Bengal, there was a notable demand for flex advertising. He anticipated that the intensity of visual campaigning would escalate with every passing election phase. In response to the spending budget this year, agencies associated with leading national parties like BJP and Congress did not offer any comments but acknowledged the increase had been significant. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jiocinema-introduces-new-ad-free-premium-plans-starting-at-29/articleshow/109581033.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jiocinema-introduces-new-ad-free-premium-plans-starting-at-29/articleshow/109581033.cms" target="_blank">An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-narzo-70-narzo-70x-5g-smartphones-launched-in-india-starting-at-11999/articleshow/109557895.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-narzo-70-narzo-70x-5g-smartphones-launched-in-india-starting-at-11999/articleshow/109557895.cms" target="_blank">Realme Narzo 70, Narzo 70X 5G smartphones launched in India starting at ₹11,999</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apple-let-loose-event-scheduled-for-may-7-ipads-expected-to-be-launched/articleshow/109553148.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apple-let-loose-event-scheduled-for-may-7-ipads-expected-to-be-launched/articleshow/109553148.cms" target="_blank">Apple Let Loose event scheduled for May 7 – New iPad models expected to be launched</a>

2024 LS polls pegged as costliest ever, expenditure may touch ₹1.35 lakh crore: Expert

There is backpacker’s travel, there is budget travel, there is business class travel, and then there is this. Tucked neatly away from our eyes is a travel segment meant specifically for the super-rich. Here, no bidding is off limits and no desire too silly. This is where the CEOs hang out and top Wall Street brokers gossip. It is the place where business deals are finalized over the costliest Champagne money can buy, and these people spend more moolah on a week long vacation than most of us can ever dream to earn in our lifetimes. 
 
Business Insider India offers a sneak peek into the travel choices of the mega-rich and the hotel rooms they splurge on when on that vacation: 
 
1. The Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland ($68,000) 
 
Image credit: Nomorefunny 
The most expensive hotel in the world has played host to Bill Gates and Michael Douglas. It offers unparalleled privacy with its private elevator, gym, and pool table. It also offers a a panoramic view of Lake Geneva, a Steinway Grand Piano and maximum security to ensure your family is safe. 
 
2. The Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons in New York ($50,000++) 
 
Image credit: Fastlifeluxury 
The Ty Warner Suite at the Four Seasons offers a 360 view of the iconic city. This one took 7 years and $50 million to build. It boasts of its own art collection and library. 
 
3. The Shahi Mahal Suite at the Raj Palace Hotel in Jaipur, India ($45,000) 
 
Image credit: Luxatic 
The only Indian entrant in the list stands tall at the second rank with a hefty price tag of $45k per night. It boasts of 6 bedrooms, a library, a private theater and a private kitchen staff to take care of all your culinary wishes. 
 
4. The Sky Villa at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas ($40,000) 
 
Image credit: Interesting-hotel 
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but burns a hole in your pocket if they’re not deep enough. The Sky Villa offers amazing views of the Las Vegas strip and has a private glass elevator, a glass spa jutting out over the balcony, 24-hour butler service and a dry sauna. 
 
5. The Hilltop Estate Owner’s Accommodation at the Laucala Island Resort in Fiji ($40,000) 
 
Image credit: Joetheexplorer 
This island has 25 villas, but this is undoubtedly the best. It boasts of panoramic views of the island, horse rides, free massages. You would also have a private nanny, a chauffeur and a private Chef. 
 
6. The Penthouse Suite at the Grand Hyatt Cannes Hôtel ($37,500) 
 
The two bedroom Penthouse Suite offers breathtaking views of the Bay of Cannes. This one markets itself with amenities like “windows that open”, “a bathrobe” and “wireless internet”. However, it’s the fourth most expensive hotel room in the world. 
 
7. The Royal Villa at the Grand Resort Lagonissi in Athens ($35,000) 
 
Image credit: Triumphant10 
This one boasts of playing host to the likes of Mel Gibson and Leonardo DiCaprio. It features two master bedrooms, each with marble bathrooms with their own steam baths, and separate quarters for your butler. You also have a private deck, a heated pool and a private massage area. 
 
8. The Royal Suite at St. Regis Saadiyat Island, in the United Arab Emirates ($35,000) 
 
Image credit: Arabiannetwork 
The Royal Suite at St. Regis is the largest in the UAE. The master bedroom covers most of the suite and overlooks the ocean. 
 
9. The St. Regis Villa at St. Regis Mauritius ($30,000) 
 
Image credit: Matadornetwork 
The St. Regis Villa on Mauritius is the largest villa on the island. For that kind of price you get a private chef, a lounge, a bar, a Jacuzzi and so on. There is also a mention of “discreetly addressing guests’ needs.” *ahem ahem*. 
 
10. The Royal Suite at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris ($27,000) 
 
Image credit: Dorchestercollection 
This one is the largest hotel room in Paris, and also one of the costliest. The suite comes fitted with televisions concealed behind mirrors and the embroidery is done with gold thread. 
 
Image credit: luxuryaccommodationsblog 
P.S: The figures provided are widely available industry estimates.

Top 10 costliest hotels around the world

<ul><li><keyword id="10884239" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="vivo-ipl-2021">VIVO IPL 2021</keyword> is just three days away and our country has surpassed 1 lakh mark in daily COVID-19 cases.</li><li>With high interest from advertisers this year and consumers back at home in Maharashtra, will <keyword id="7866747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl-2021">IPL 2021</keyword> beat its previous records? We speak to digital, media and brand experts to find out.</li></ul>At the time of writing this report, the number of positive cases in India have crossed 1,25,89,067, and the death toll stands at 165K+. And the number is growing with each passing day. At the same time, nearly 80 million doses have been given so far and the vaccination drive has been steadily expanding in our country. So, there’s a mixed feeling of terror and hope in the air and consumers are trying to make sense of this new normal. When brands started buying ad spots on IPL and bidding on the sponsorship deals, the COVID cases in India were going down and the economy was improving. However, it seems like we are back to square one. So, with IPL around the corner, which has seen a lot of interest from the brandverse this year, will consumers reciprocate? “On the back of a year-long hiatus for sporting events, and the continued challenges associated with Covid, this year will naturally suffer its consequences. Low or no spectator events and a lower advertiser interest will also have a lower revenue for IPL. TV which gives the maximum for such sporting events will continue to have high interest among avid fans of the game and format, but the casual watcher will probably opt-out,” said N. Chandramouli, CEO, TRA Research. Last year, IPL broke its viewership record in the opening week itself, as revealed by BARC and Nielsen. Dream11 IPL’s viewing minutes had increased by 15% than 2019, that is 60.6 billion viewing minutes across 7 matches and 25 channels in 2020. The opening match with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super King garnered an average of 52 million impressions, which is 29% more than 2019 and 158 million viewers watched the match. And now that we have moved into a semi-lockdown mode with entertainment outside the home taking a backseat, Rupak Ved, Chief Operating Officer, Logicserve Digital thinks that brands will shift their monies to digital mediums. Consumers will rely on television and OTTs for their entertainment dose and IPL will benefit. Ved said, “To a large extent, consumers and brands have got used to living life along with the threat of covid. Both have gone through different phases of ‘Shock-Adapt-Growth.’ And cricket is more than a sport in our country. With that, the biggest cricketing event - IPL, is a sentiment, it is an expression. It connects friends, family and the country! We looked forward to IPL even when there was entertainment outside the premise of the 4 walls of our residence! This year it will be even more special. IPL definitely improves sentiment in the country, we saw it just 6 months back and I feel that history might repeat itself here. Also, with vaccination catching pace, it will definitely add to the positive sentiment. Brands will surely subscribe to this. They have realised that digital is the only way to now reach a consumer who would be found more virtually than physically. The monies of physical advertising - OOH, cinema, BTL etc would be ploughed back to digital. To keep the consumer sentiment positive I feel IPL will be a great prescription.” Ahmed Aftab Naqvi, CEO and Co-Founder, Gozoop believes that this year will bring in extraordinary success for the broadcaster and Disney+ Hotstar by breaking previous records. He said, “The past 12 months have been painful and stressful for many in different ways and IPL provides that window of entertainment that acts like a pain relief spray — temporary yet effective. So not just repeat last year's success, I say it will exceed it. IPL drives 1.2X better results as per studies. This has been proven year on year. Also, it has proved to deliver an 8-9% uplift in the awareness &amp; consideration metrics across all categories.” Adding how IPL will also improve consumer sentiment, Naqvi said, "The sentiment around COVID at the moment is that of acceptance. Last year, it was fear and uncertainty as it was completely alien. Businesses are better equipped to make sense of their marketing spends. IPL would be something that people would, in fact, look forward to in case they are stuck at home and categories like mobile gaming, ed tech will see a big rise. Digital businesses will have an upper hand as well over everyone else." Considering that the current situation of the country seems to mirror that of 2020, Mitchelle Jansen, AVP Operations (West), WATConsult is confident that the same consumer trend will be similar to last year. She said, "The cliche that holds true for India is that "Cricket is a religion here" and when you're forced to stay in and your life is full of restrictions and limitations, you're sure to turn to cricket for comfort and some sense of normalcy. That's exactly what happened in 2020 which led to some amazing viewership numbers for Star India. Given the current scenario, history might just repeat itself, but only time will tell. Let's grab our popcorn and watch the game unfold." Looking at the advertiser interest for IPL 2021, Priti Murthy, CEO, OMD India is confident that this year will beat IPL 2020’s viewership and ad revenue records. “The rate at which TV ad inventory is being sold, it looks like IPL 2021 is slated to be a bigger success than last year. The opening markets, an economy in bounce-back mode, and the general sporting excitement that started picking up with the India-England series – these are some aspects that show promise for this season of IPL. Speaking strictly numbers, according to reports, the projected ad revenue for 2021 is set to be around Rs 400 Cr higher than 2020. That is quite a positive indicator,” said Murthy. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Advertiser interest" text="Advertiser interest">Advertiser interest</cmsannotation> Star Sports has already roped in 18 sponsors and over 100 advertisers across multiple brand categories and according to Anil Jayaraj, Executive Vice President, Star Sports, the interest among advertisers has only grown with each passing year. Disney+ Hotstar, on the other hand, has onboarded 10 sponsors so far for VIVO IPL 2021. As per media reports, Star charged around Rs 8 to 10 lakh for a 10 seconder last year. Star has previously charged brands Rs 25 lakh for 10-second slots during the India vs Pakistan ICC World Cup match and between Rs 16 to 18 lakh for other World Cup matches. In comparison, the IPL ad charges are still reasonable but the rates are among the costliest for a programme in the country. With summer brands increasing their ad budgets, experts are hoping that consumer sentiment will improve once IPL begins and sales will follow. It is also supposed to bring the advertising industry back on track. Telling us what kind of interest the clients have shown this year, Murthy said, “With respect to our clients specifically, they have looked at IPL in terms of two classifications - IPL on TV and IPL on Disney+ Hotstar, and based on these budgets and KPIs, brands have selected what’s most meaningful to them and what makes most sense for them specifically. Certain brands have chosen to stay out too, preferring to explore other cricket opportunities that will come post IPL. As a big-ticket property, and boosted by high viewership both via broadcast and streaming, with the added factor that summer brands are on the bandwagon now, this April’s IPL will definitely help boost adex, and as the total inventory gets sold, the numbers will become clearer.” The categories of advertisers this year include Edtech, Fantasy Sports, Beverages, Pay Wallets, Home Décor, Auto, Telecom, Consumer Durables, FMCG, Financial Services amongst others. According to media reports, 80% of inventory has already been sold. Star usually keeps some inventory for later, but this year, they plan to sell the entire thing in the beginning only. A digital media expert said the reason behind this is high demand as brands are using every opportunity they can to connect with consumers and bounce back. The spokesperson said, “A lot of brands have witnessed massive growth in revenues after taking up sponsorships with IPL last year when the entire market had slowed down. It’s only natural to learn from that and take action proactively this year. Also, the difference between IPL in 2020 &amp; 2021 was just a matter of 4 months, and hence this kind of demand and all spots filling in early.” At the same time, Duff &amp; Phelps’ report suggests that the IPL ecosystem value has decreased by 3.6% in constant currency terms to INR 45,800 crore from INR 47,500 crore last year. Chandramouli said that IPL 2021 will not be able to beat 2019. He said, “It is unlikely that either viewership or ad volume records will be broken this year. While the advertising budgets of brands are beginning to get better, they are nowhere close to what they used to be in mid-2019. Even IPL is likely to see smaller and newer advertisers with a few of the bigger brands that will remain a part of IPL due to FOMO.”

As India faces a second wave of COVID-19 infections, will VIVO IPL 2021 repeat last season's success?

India is home to Asia’s second richest billionaire, the world’s costliest home and a bunch of millionaires. It is also home to some of the most well paid executives. 
 <keyword id="6355515" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Business">Business</keyword> Insider compiles a list of the highest paid <keyword id="6407546" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="CEOs">CEOs</keyword> across India. 
 
Kalanithi Maran 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 59.89 Crores 
 
It’s obvious that the most profitable television network in Asia would fill the pockets of its bosses. While the group’s TV channels and news publications are concentrated in South India, its FM channels and DTH services and enjoyed pan India. 
 
Kavery Kalanithi 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 59.89 Crores 
 
The wife of Kalanidhi Maran and Executive Director of Sun TV Network is the second highest paid executive. According to Fortune she is also the highest paid woman executive in India. 
 
Image credit: The Mint 
 
Naveen Jindal 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 54.98 Crores 
 
The Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd claims the third spot with an annual salary of around Rs. 55 Crores. Mr. Jindal is also well known for his efforts that led to the revision of the Flag Code of India which allows every Indian citizen the right to fly the National Flag 365 days a year. 
 
Kumar Mangalam Birla 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 49.62 Crores 
 
The current Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group is next in line. Kumar Mangalam Birla took over in 1995 at the tender age of 28 years after his father’s death. He then led the company to around 26 acquisitions in 17 yrs - the highest by an Indian company. 
 
Pawan Munjal 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 32.80 Crores 
 
The MD and CEO of Hero Moto Corp is the fifth member on the list. Pawan Munjal is the man behind the growth and success of the group. He is also a board member of the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. 
 
Brijmohan Lall Munjal 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 32.73 Crores 
 
The founder and Chairman of the Hero Group can also claim to be the president of Confederation of Indian Industries, the Society of Automobile Manufacturers in the past, and a member of RBI board. 
 The founder of the $32 billion <keyword id="6356323" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Enterprise">enterprise</keyword> has been awarded with the Padma Bhushan. 
 
Sunil Kant Munjal 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 31.51 Crores 
 
Sunil Kant Munjal was appointed Joint Managing Director of Hero MotoCorp on Aug 17, 2011 for a period of 5 years. He was appointed on the board of directors in 2006 as a non-executive director. 
 
P R Ramasubrahmaneya Rajha 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 30.96 Crores 
 
While the name maybe Ramco Cement, the company has its hands into cement, mortar and wind power generation, all thanks to the Chairman and MD P R Ramasubrahmaneya Rajha who leads the company. Rajha has been associated with the group since its foundation in 1938. 
 
Image credit: Thynkfeed 
 
Shinzo Nakanishi 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 30.90 Crores 
 
Shinzo Nakanishi has been leading India’s largest auto manufacturer Maruti Suzuki since 2007. He was made the Director by Suzuki in 1999. 
 
 
Murali K Divi 
 
Annual Salary: Rs 26.46 crore 
 
Chairman and Managing Director of Divi's Laboratories Dr. Murali K Divi has 30 years+ of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He is a member of several important medical associations like the American Pharmaceutical Association, American Cosmetic Society, American Chemical Society and American Institute of Chemical Engineers. 
 
Image credit: Forbes 
 
(Image credit: Indiatimes)

Top 10 highest paid CEOs of India

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan made his debut in television fiction with <keyword id="2284873" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yudh">Yudh</keyword>, the first episode of which was telecast last night. 
 
The show is produced by Endemol and Saraswati productions, and stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sarika, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Kay Kay Menon. 
 
But this is not what we, at Business Insider India, are thinking about. The piece of news for us is that each episode of Yudh costs an estimated Rs 3 crore, which is costlier than any other show ever made on Indian television. 
 
Now, what make this show cost so much are, of course, the star cast, and the impressive marketing that this show is undertaking. 
 
The costliest show on Indian television till now was 24, starring and produced by Anil Kapoor. The show cost Rs 2 crore per episode and ran for two and a half months. 
 
According to reports, Yudh will have 20 episodes. 
 
How the makers are going to cover the cost? Well, another standard that this show has set is that of ad rates. While a 10-second ad spot normally comes for Rs 3 lakh for hit shows with good viewership, the ad slots in between the episodes of Yudh will be paid for almost double of this amount. 
 
Let’s see if this show turns out to be a path breaker in terms of quality content and TRPs too.

Each Episode Of Yudh Is Costlier Than You Can Imagine

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"Citadel," Amazon Studios' ambitious spy series, is on track to be one of the costliest series ever made.</li><li>Amazon hopes the show, premiering April 28, will set it apart from Netflix and other streamers.</li></ul>"Citadel" is an example of the kind of programming Amazon hopes will set it apart — tentpole entertainment that can attract a global audience. Since the project was announced in 2018, it has become <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/russo-bros-amazon-series-citadel-1235210256/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of the most expensive TV series ever made.</a>Pitched as "Mission Impossible"-meets-"This Is Us," "Citadel" is an ambitious spy drama that attempts to replicate the universe-storytelling pioneered by Marvel, with local language spinoffs being produced in places like India and Italy. It's set to premiere April 28 exclusively on Prime Video.There's no shortage of talent attached to the project — it involved star directors Joe and Anthony Russo of "Avengers" fame as producers, along with writers Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, known for "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." "Game of Thrones" actor Richard Madden and India-born actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas would star.Amazon Studios early on was known for prestige shows like "Transparent" and "Maisel" as well as action hits like "Jack Ryan." Like the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-lord-rings-power-billion-dollar-prequel-streaming-hollywood-2022-8">$1 billion "Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power"</a> before it, "Citadel" is widely seen as a show that will be a defining moment for Amazon Studios as well as for its head, Jennifer Salke. But "Citadel" has been plagued by cost overruns, partly due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, and creative clashes that led to the firing of Appelbaum and exit of others, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/russo-bros-amazon-series-citadel-1235210256/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to a report in the Hollywood Reporter</a>.Costs ballooned from an estimated $165 million for 10 30-minute episodes to $300 million for six, a person with knowledge of the production told Insider, though a source familiar with company thinking said the total was under $200 million. Amazon also spent big on "Rings of Power" and said it found 100 million viewers. But that series was based on beloved IP, which laid a foundation for its success (while also bringing criticism from J.R.R. Tolkien purists and others).Some insiders wonder if the "Citadel" risk will pay off."'Citadel' never should've been made when it was made — it's a $300 million spy show based on zero IP when the tail that's wagging every dog in Hollywood right now is IP," a second source with knowledge of the production said. Amazon Studios' Head of Global Television, Vernon Sanders, told Insider that "Citadel" is new territory for the company. He added that Amazon Studios' biggest swings have generally been the titles that bring the most people to the service, so it wouldn't back away from ambitious projects."We've made big series before, but what we haven't done is create a universe that spans multiple series and multiple countries with different creators," he said. "It is ambitious on another scale. We are so grateful to everyone that has contributed to the vision that has grown and evolved over time, and yes, we needed to course-correct a bit, but that's to be expected for something this significant." Anthony Russo echoed this comment in a February interview with <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/02/awards-insider-citadel-first-look" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vanity Fair</a>. "We're dealing with a very big show," he said. "Moving it and morphing it and changing it and evolving it can be difficult because there's so many people involved. It was a massive amount of time because of the scale of it and the complexity of it."The challenges of "Citadel" speak to how Amazon is trying to forge an entertainment brand that stands out from Netflix, Disney+, and others — an effort that's been fraught with challenges as all players now face increasing competition and obstacles in making streaming as profitable as the legacy television business it has largely supplanted.Inside and outside of Amazon Studios, there are concerns about a lack of clear creative direction as well as the division's future role in the larger Amazon ecosystem.Insider spoke to 21 current and recently departed Amazon Studios executives, Hollywood agents, and other industry insiders about the opportunities and challenges.<h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-studios-expansion-challenges-jennifer-salke-citadel-lord-rings-2023-2?r=amazonstudios-teaser">Read more about how Amazon Studios is making big swings and facing big challenges as the streaming wars heat up.</a></h2>This article was originally published on February 16 and has been updated.

New spy series 'Citadel' is Amazon Studios' most ambitious &mdash; and riskiest &mdash; bet ever

A professor was murdered after a Facebook post branded him a traitor. Was Facebook complicit in his death?

<ul><li>After seeing a few lean months and IPL around the corner, experts are hoping to see their businesses bounce back to normalcy and get on-track to their revenue goals.</li><li>However, due to the restriction on production and limited budgets, the storytelling will not be the same this year. </li><li>So we speak to a few <keyword id="1015861" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="advertising-agencies">advertising agencies</keyword> to figure out how they are gearing up for IPL’s season 13 this time and how brands should win consumer’s trust this time after a long-dry-spell.</li></ul>A stadium full of people, the audience cheering for the team or its captain and the theme song goes off in the background -- a standard format that was followed for <keyword id="6354831" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</keyword> ads since its inception. Over the years, we have also seen some ads that were shot remotely, to capture how IPL unites families. All these ads have tried to capture the consumer frenzy around IPL. In fact, its campaign in 2011 called ‘Bharat Bandh’ represented how the entire country shuts down just to watch the tournament. IPL has been a treat for the eyes, not just for the sport, but for the array of wonderful ads that it brings with it too. However, this year is not the same as the past 12 seasons of IPL and the storytelling will have to be tailored according to the current situation. Advertising agencies will have to shoot the ads with minimum crew or come up with creative solutions to make an IPL-benchmark ad remotely within a limited budget that entertains people as it always has. Consumers are now looking for an escape more than ever before, something that breaks the monotony of their routine. However, the campaigns will also have to be sensitive because the lockdown might be lifted, but the pandemic is not over yet. What is otherwise celebrated as a gala with a stadium full of spectators, this time, will be viewed mostly on digital platforms. At the same time, after seeing a few lean months, experts are also hoping to see their businesses bounce back to normalcy and get on-track to their revenue goals after IPL. So, there is a lot of hope resting on IPL from all sides -- brands, agency networks and consumers. We spoke to experts to see how they are going to navigate these challenges in the new normal and maintain the level of creativity of the old-normal. Production challenges <keyword id="4176392" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL-ads">IPL ads</keyword> are known for their creativity and large-scale production. With limited budget and production scope, how different will this year be? Tarun Rai, Chairman and Group CEO, Wunderman Thompson, South Asia said that creativity always finds its way. Rai said, “Production is back and we have found ways of ensuring that we deliver the same quality as before the crisis. I do not, therefore, believe that there will be any compromise in the quality of the advertising. We are a creative industry and have found creative ways to execute even large-scale productions. They may have been supervised remotely but we ensured that quality didn't suffer.” During the lockdown, agencies turned to their employees or family to shoot footage for their advertisements. We are past that stage now. However, Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group said that budget restrictions affected industry’s output, not just the production limitations. He explained, “We seemed to have moved ahead from the phone camera films, as film production has started to find its feet again. But it comes with rules, regulations and anxieties that we will need to learn to work with, and not just for IPL. As for quality, we may not be at our best as an industry, this time around. And not all of it would have to do with the shooting and production limitations. Clients would be mindful of how much they spend and budgets will have a bigger say in who you work with or how elaborate your executions will be. Also, there wasn’t much prep time for this IPL. So all of this may start to show in the work.” Referring to Nike’s latest ad, Nisha Singhania- Director &amp; Co-Founder, Infectious Advertising, on the other hand, believes that ‘nothing can stop’ the industry from doing what they do best. Creativity will remain unaffected. She said, “Advertising is getting back on its feet and shoots are happening as we speak. So no reason for any compromises whatsoever, in fact, if anything one has learnt during the lockdown is that more the restrictions, more people think out of the box and innovate. Case in point the Nike ‘You Can’t Stop Us’ ad which was an editing marvel. While the quantity may go down, as brands may want to optimise, no reason for the quality to reduce.” Mitesh Kothari, Co-Founder, White Rivers Media says a few ads were shot even before COVID-19’s sword started dangling on our heads. Kothari said, “A lot of ads were shot pre-covid period and were ready. In fact, I believe it will be a welcome change, where people have been used to seeing a lot of low production ads off lately, and with IPL being rescheduled, some precovid, big budget ads would be on, on tv and digital. Also, with a lot of things on an 'unlock' mode, the production budgets are returning to mid size and quality ain’t being compromised.” While some on the other hand, are turning to animation or UGC content. “Since the pandemic, we have seen ads being shot on mobile phones and even remotely via zoom. While advertisers are looking at newer and more creative storytelling devices, there has not been a big dent in quality. However, the experience is likely to be different from what we have been used to in the past as more and more brands will lean towards animation or sourced footage either via stock or user generated content backed by stronger scripts and compelling voice overs,” said Premkumar Iyer, Vice President, National Operations, Gozoop. IPL holds the burden of shifting the first-half of the year on its head Experts are hoping that consumer sentiment will improve once IPL begins and sales will follow. It is also supposed to bring the advertising industry back on track and end the dry spell. “We’ve been starved of sport and are still starving for cricket. So I expect this IPL to be gathering some serious eyeballs. And that’s reason enough for a lot of advertisers to be there,” said Mathew. Telling us why IPL is the most important event for brands this time, Gozoop’s Iyer said, “As per a report, Star will be charging Rs 8 to 10 lakh for a 10-second ad in the upcoming IPL season, It also has to be noted that Star has previously charged brands Rs 25 lakh for 10-second slots during the India vs Pakistan ICC World Cup match and between Rs 16 to 18 lakh for other World Cup matches. In comparison, the IPL ad charges are still reasonable although the rates are among the costliest for a programme in the country. This is where the opportunity lies. For brands, the IPL is a massive event and has real potential to improve the market situation, add to it the fact that it is just before festive season means that brands are likely to take the plunge to make one last and final sales push in order to end the year on a better note.” Due to reasonable rates and desire to latch onto the first opportunity to reach consumers on a large scale, experts are hoping to see the numbers of ads also going up this time. “We might see more ads during the IPL this year. There have been few opportunities for brands to talk to their consumers for the past few months and IPL is such a huge property. Advertisers realise that they need to capture all the pent-up consumer demand and with the IPL scheduled just before the start of the festive season in India the timing is even more opportune,” said Rai. IPL is also coinciding with festive season, two big mood changers, which will bring in more money and ads from brands. “Because of certain price benefits there shall be a flurry of ads. Also, the fact that IPL is coinciding with festive, brands have all the more reasons to spend. IPL is indeed going to be a big mood-lifter and hopefully shall generate a lot of consumer sentiment upshift,” said Kothari. Guidelines to follow for ads to win consumer’s trust All experts we spoke to said that IPL will shift the consumer sentiment in brands’ favour but the macro factors haven’t changed at all. They have worsened. So, creators will have to try extra hard to win consumer’s trust and not turn a blind eye towards the status quo. Telling us what the advertisers should keep in mind while working on IPL campaigns, Kothari said, “While the fundamentals of marketing remain, one has to understand the fundamentals of marketing layered with covid effects. Brands cannot cease to be empathetic. Since IPL is the first big event lined up for Indian consumers after a silence of 6 months, brands must try every single effort to upshift the mood. The fact that a lot of consumer segments and categories of brands had gone in slumber, a lot more are going to come back with IPL. Hence, brands must take into account the festive &amp; IPL clutter in their creative campaigns and media plans.” Mathew highlighted how brands might want to talk about how the whole world is behaving in the same manner now and breaking the clutter will be a task this time. He explained, “Creativity feeds off experiences. And because people have different experiences and influences, you tend to see varied and unique expressions of creativity. But this time around a lot of us have gone through the same experiences; we’ve felt the same and behaved the same way. So it will be very tempting for brands to play off that and end in the sea of sameness. That’s going to be the biggest challenge for brands this year – to find something that’s insightful and not merely a truism from the times we live in. And, of course, be entertaining as far as possible. We could all do with as many reasons to smile.” Singhania, on the other hand, said that IPL should continue to be the mood-shifter that it is and offer a much-needed break to consumers. “IPL ads have always been extremely entertaining, and that needs to continue. Even more so in times like this, since people are bored and looking for an escape. While in many categories, people need to be sensitive about the current context, I don’t think that is needed for the IPL. The campaigns have always been light-hearted, and any change in that tonality might just dilute the fun quotient,” said Singhania.

Experts expect to see more advertisements around IPL this year than ever before

Ever since Bigg Boss, the biggest reality show in India, began its eighth season, it has been struggling to find a good position on the TRP chart. Reports suggest that Aamir Khan’s seasonal show, Satyamev Jayate 3, got better TRPs than Bigg Boss season 8. In fact, the eighth season’s ratings are the lowest compared to all past seasons of this show.
 

	These reports and rankings surely have been bothering the producers, who are trying hard to spice things up.
 

	For instance when the theme of aeroplane didn’t go down well with the audience, the producers shifted the contestants to a lavish house just one week after the premiere and toned down the aeroplane settings.
 

	Even after this, the audience didn’t appreciate the show and the producers had to call some wild card entries in the house to put things on the right track. These wild cards included Ali Quli Mirza, Dimpy Mahajan, Renee Dhyani and Nigaar Z Khan.
 <keyword id="1985489" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bigg-Boss-8">Bigg Boss 8</keyword> is now gearing up for the biggest and probably the costliest change; its makers have now decided to bring in the American reality TV star <keyword id="6357837" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kim-Kardashian">Kim Kardashian</keyword> into the house. 

	Kardashian, who is known to flaunt her personal life in the hit show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, will be entering the house for a short while. 
 

	As we all know, Kardashian recently ‘broke the internet’ as she bared it all for a photoshoot for an international magazine. The fire of that picture has not even fizzled down and she is all set to enter the controversial reality show.
 

	Kim is reportedly charging a whooping amount of Rs 70 lakh per episode. However, when we dug deeper into her Twitter feed, we came across this tweet where she mentioned that she would be touring three countries in one week:
 

	
 

	As she plans to spend one week in three countries, India being one of them, we don’t think that she would be spending more than two nights in the Bigg Boss house. Rest, we will have to wait for her entry in the house to see how things get juiced up, and if producers would decide to carry on with her role.
 

	In the past, we had several other foreign guests in the show. The list includes actors Jade Goody and Pamela Anderson, cricketer Andrew Symonds, and Sumo wrestler Yamamotoyama. 
	 
	Image courtesy: <a href="http://media.indiatimes.in/media/content/2011/Nov/kim_1322032585_640x640.jpg">IndiaTimes</a>

After Breaking The Internet, Now Kim Kardashian Will Bring Down The Bigg Boss House

If the last weekend, you enjoyed watching the sports we all have grown up playing, you must know that <keyword id="2190307" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pro-Kabaddi-League">Pro Kabaddi League</keyword> has begun. 
 
There are a total of eight franchises and the teams have players not only from India, but also from other parts of the world, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Iran, Japan, the UK, Indonesia, South Korea, Oman, Taiwan, Kenya and Turkmenistan. 
 
The teams: 
 
Bengal Warriors, Kolkata 
This team is owned by Future Group, and is coached by Raj Narain Sharma. 
 
Bengaluru Bulls, Bengaluru 
This team is owned by Kosmik Global Media, and is coached by Randhir Singh. 
 
Dabang Delhi, Delhi 
This team is owned by Do It Sports Management, and is coached by Arjun Singh. 
 
Jaipur Pink Panthers, Jaipur 
This team is owned by Abhishek Bachchan, and is coached by Kasinathan Bhaskaran. 
 
Patna Pirates, Patna 
This team is owned by Rajesh Singh, and is coached by RS Khokhar. 
 
Puneri Paltan, Pune 
This team is owned by Insurekot Sports, and is coached by Ramphal Kaushik. 
 
Telugu Titans, Vizag 
This team is owned by Veera Sports, and is coached by J Udayakumar. 
 
U Mumba, Mumbai 
This team is owned by Unilazer Sports, and is coached by Ravi Shetty. 
 
The costliest player at the auction was Rakesh Kumar, gold medallist from the 2007 World Cup. Patna Pirates bought him for Rs 12,80,000. 
 
The winning team would be awarded the prize money of Rs 50 lakh, with Rs 25 lakh for the runner-up team and Rs 12.5 lakh for both the semi-finalists. 
 
Other than this, the best raider, defender, the best catcher will be given Rs 10,000 each in every match. 
 
Talking of big bucks, the organiser, Mashal Sports, will keep 80% of the revenue coming from all the eight franchises. World Sport Group, which is the marketing partner, will receive 10% of it and the remaining 10% will be put across for the league. 
 
One interesting trivia of this league is that every team has at least one player who is more than six feet in height. In total, there are 16 players who are taller than six feet. 
 
The schedule of the upcoming matches can be found <a href="http://prokabaddi.com/schedule/">here</a>. There will be a total of 60 matches at eight venues, out of which the semis would be held at Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru on August 29th. 
 
Image courtesy: <a href="http://www.indiantelevision.com/">Indian Television</a>

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