MAM
Telecom ad spend continues to grow: Nielsen
MUMBAI: Though many industry sectors are spending cautiously in today‘s uncertain economic environment, telecom companies invested significantly more on advertising in the first half of 2012 than they did last year, according to Nielsen‘s Global AdView Pulse report.
With a 7.9 per cent increase in global ad spending, the telecom sector saw the largest increases in emerging markets, like Latin America (32.5 per cent) and the Middle East and Africa (28.3 per cent).
After more cautious spending during the first quarter, the automotive sector also boosted ad spending by 6.3 per cent during the first half of 2012, compared with the same period last year.
Even in the embattled region of Western Europe, advertising spending increased by 1.4 per cent when comparing the first halves of 2012 and 2011.
Entertainment‘s ad spend grew by 6.3 per cent. The media sector grew by 4.9 per cent. The financial sector‘s spend grew by 4.5 per cent. The durables segment saw a reduction in ad spend by 4.4 per cent. The healthcare sector along with Industry and Services also saw reductions in ad spend.
Brands
ZEEL transfers syndication business, invests Rs 505 crore in IP push
Restructuring, stake buy and FCCB moves signal sharper content strategy
MUMBAI: In the content economy, owning the story is half the battle monetising it is the real game, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is doubling down on both. The company has approved the transfer of its syndication and content licensing business to its wholly owned subsidiary ZI-IPR Enterprises, alongside an investment of Rs 505 crore aimed at strengthening its play in content intellectual property (IP) acquisition, management and monetisation. The move, effective April 1, 2026, will see the business transferred on a slump sale basis at book value, including all associated assets, liabilities and commercial rights effectively consolidating IP operations under a more focused structure.
At its core, the restructuring signals a strategic shift. As content consumption increasingly fragments across digital and global platforms, the value of IP lies not just in creation but in how efficiently it can be distributed, repackaged and monetised across markets. By housing its syndication engine within ZI-IPR Enterprises, ZEEL appears to be building a more agile and scalable ecosystem, one that can better extract value from its vast content library while adapting to evolving distribution models.
But the company’s ambitions are not limited to restructuring. ZEEL has also approved an investment of up to Rs 20.09 crore in Culture of Real Experiences (CORE), acquiring a 51 per cent stake in the entity. The move expands its footprint into the broader creative and experiential space, suggesting a push beyond traditional broadcasting into areas where content, culture and immersive experiences intersect.
At the same time, ZEEL has moved to tidy up its financials, approving the redemption of $23.9 million in outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and cancelling an unused $215.1 million commitment. The twin steps are expected to ease pressure on its treasury, freeing up capital and improving financial flexibility as the company invests more aggressively in its IP strategy.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a company in recalibration mode streamlining legacy structures, sharpening its focus on content ownership, and exploring new avenues for growth. In a market where the lines between television, streaming and experiential entertainment are increasingly blurred, ZEEL’s latest moves suggest it is not just creating content, but building a system to make that content travel further and pay better.
