Why did Prasar Bharati decide to create a separate marketing division? A lot of people have misconceptions about the role and responsibilities of this division. Can you clarify the rationale?

Doordarshan (DD) has traditionally been into slot marketing and has also seen glorious days (in terms of popularity of programmes) due to the efforts of a select group of top producers.

But, somewhere down the line, we felt that DD was not getting its rightful share due to the slot marketing policy. The yield per 10-second spot hasn't increased since years despite inflation whereas that of the cable and satellite (C&S) channels has been increasing by leaps and bounds. Various factors such as aggressive media buying (by ad agencies) and distress selling (by marketers) contributed to this dip (or flat) in realisations.

Moreover, there was no single window control over the huge inventory. The fact remains that DD (and its affiliate channels) has the largest inventory amongst TV channels in India. Even amongst the regional Kendras there are some strong kendras with some great programming properties. The key was to ensure that we package all these strong entertainment brands and properties together; sell them through a single window so as to leverage our unique selling propositions. The emphasis was on getting the best deal and earning the maximum possible revenues that can be channelised in various DD projects.

Also, DD didn't have a face (as most of the marketing was done by a third party) that could regularly interact with advertising clients and ad agencies. The point is that we needed to build bridges in order to increase revenues.

These objectives compelled former CEO Rajiv Ratan Shah to conceptualise the formation of the Prasar Bharati Marketing Division in September 2000. The initiative was carried forward and strengthened by former Prasar Bharati CEO Anil Baijal, current CEO KS Sarma and DD director general Dr SY Quraishi.

Tell us about the initial days? What were the nature of the assignments taken up by Prasar Bharati Marketing Division?

A full fledged division was set up in Mumbai. Initially, we started off by marketing in-house programmes or properties that were available - news, re-run programmes such as Malgudi Days, Bharat Ek Khoj, Shrikant, amongst others.

My team didn't have any reference guides or existing benchmarks; we had to learn everything on the job and start from scratch. We had to learn the mechanics of packaging, negotiating and delivering value to advertisers.

One of the first successes that we had was the successful marketing of the Union Budget. We managed to get up to Rs 10 million for a property that had yielded us much less when third party marketing concessionaires were used.

Another opportunity came our way when the Channel Nine and DD-Metro deal fell through. Again, through innovative packaging, we managed to realise up to Rs 100 million for old popular programmes such as Buniyaad, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi and Udaan amongst others. These were small steps, but they gave us confidence. We realised that we were definitely moving in the right direction.

What are the key learnings from the experience of working with Mumbai DD Kendra?

The key lessons are 'concept selling' and maximising value by ensuring that programming and marketing are clubbed together; and the separate departments work hand in hand.

Our experience with Mumbai Doordarshan has shown us that the public broadcaster can reap rich dividends if this kind of a synergistic approach is adopted. After all, DD and AIR have some brilliant individuals - committed and dedicated professionals such as Mumbai DD station director Mukesh Sharma who has taken Sahyadri channel to pole position among all Marathi satellite channels.

Along with his team, Sharma came up with some innovative and brilliant programmes and ensured their marketability. Jointly, we tried out several experiments and came up with customised programmes that appealed to advertisers. DD Sahyadri is a tremendous success story and all credit should go to Sharma's untiring efforts. We took the channel from zero to the No 1 position.

In fact, all the DD Kendras must try and replicate DD Sahyadri's success in their respective centres.

Is your team geared up to accept the challenges?

I can proudly claim that my team is fully equipped to handle challenging assignments. I have 15 young and dynamic officers working with me; they share my enthusiasm, passion and vision to ensure that DD gets its rightful share from the market.

We function like any corporate set up. Most of these young boys and girls have been taken from the programming cadre of AIR and DD; but in a short span, they have adapted well to the job requirements and demands. Their knowledge of programming concepts helps them in their marketing efforts.

Earlier, packages were worked out mostly by the trial and error, but now packages are created scientifically to suit clients requirements and offer value for money.

We interact constantly with industry professionals; and this helps us fine tune our policies and align them with the industry needs. The best part is that we are transparent and clients are comfortable dealing with us.

We have focused on providing a one-stop shop for planning and client servicing on the DD and AIR network. We have built up core competencies in every step of the sales chain right from pitching to negotiating to closing deals to executing to realising the monies.

What are the additional opportunities that your division has looked at?

Our mandate is to go beyond the routine of airtime selling and developing new revenue streams such as marketing of events.

I must add that Mukesh Sharma's progressive outlook has helped us create quality in-house events in Mumbai which have now become brands in their own right. Take for instance - the Godrej Sahyadri Navratan Puraskar; the event earned us Rs 20 lakhs (Rs 2 million); if we had taken an outside agency, we would have earned hardly one third of this amount. Through this exercise, we managed to build the Sahyadri brand too. More importantly, the software remained with us.

Similarly, we have created other event properties such as DD Awards and New Year programmes. The earnings are in the region of Rs 80 lakhs (Rs 8 million) each for DD awards (held twice already) and New Year's Programmes (2003-4 will be the second time we shall market it).

Soon, we would be marketing newly acquired and quality programmes such as India's No 1 (produced by Siddharth Basu) and Ji Mantriji on DD1.

Are there some Kendras where you see a lot of potential?

DD's Mumbai Kendra is definitely a success story. I see a lot of potential in DD Kolkata and DD Trivandrum and we have already made substantial progress in these Kendras. There is renewed interest even in centres such as DD Ahmedabad.

Tell us about cricket marketing? You surprised many people with the revenues earned from the India-West Indies series in 2002.

When we decided to market the India-West Indies cricket series late last year, we didn't have any benchmark. As always, DD had called for bids with a benchmark for Rs 25 crores (Rs 250 million) but no acceptable bids were received. The 'corridor gossip' was that we would be lucky if we made Rs 15 crores (Rs 150 million).

My team and I took up the gauntlet and promised the top management that we can deliver revenues of Rs 35 crores (Rs 350 million). Of course, we went much beyond and earned Rs 52 crores (Rs 520 million). The point is that unless you take risks, you cannot expect better valuations. Despite the disruptions/truncations in three matches, we collected money for every airtime second sold. There were no disputes with any advertisers. It was a rewarding experience.

Tell us about the recent success story of the India-New Zealand- Australia series?

With this series, we created a record of sorts! The sale of ad inventory (for the triangular one day series between India-Australia-New Zealand - 10 matches during October - and two test matches between India and New Zealand) by Prasar Bharati Marketing Division amounted to Rs 906 million. DD managed to get Rs 880 million and AIR netted Rs 26 million. All in three days flat; that is from 4 July to 7 July 2003 (with a weekend in between).

In fact, this was the first time that we created a combined package whereby DD and AIR were marketed jointly. The scientifically devised package ensured that AIR bagged nearly five times what it got for the India-West Indies series last year.

Our effort signifies the great results that can be obtained by clubbing the two Prasar Bharati arms together and marketing them jointly. My division will work towards this goal in the near future.

This is also the first time that we devised a package where spot buyers had to invest on the entire package comprising of both Test matches and one day internationals, both on DD National as well as DD Sports. They could not pick and choose. The rate card was transparent and no negotiations were encouraged. Having said that, we feel that the rates offered were affordable and clients will get optimum mileage by spending Rs 30 million for 150 seconds FCT.

The packages had been devised through a broad based process based on probable spends of clients and inputs from the advertising industry. While choosing the sponsors, weightage was given to advertisers who continuously invested on Doordarshan Network and other regional channels.

We also considered the payment track record of the advertisers and their ad agencies, especially during the India-WI cricket series. The goal was to rope in clients who would help us realise monies without any hassles and as early as possible.

As far as the spot buys are concerned, we adopted a first come first serve basis - but the prospective spot buyers had to take the entire package as I mentioned earlier. We shall be working in close coordination with the DD programming team and production company Nimbus.

Sufficient care will be taken to ensure that viewers are able to enjoy a high quality cricket telecast. The entire effort will be closely monitored to ensure that there are no hiccups about the placement of ads during the live telecast.

We shall soon start a promotional campaign on all the affiliate DD channels. You must be aware that we have tied up with several publications for barter deals. We shall leverage such tie-ups and associations during this cricket series.

After having tasted this kind of success, would you turn your attention to underperforming channels - say for example DD Bharati?

As far as DD Bharati is concerned, I feel that there is a lot of potential. However, not much data is available on the reach and viewership profiles. It is a niche channel and there are advertisers that will support it. It has a very loyal viewership base.

Do you feel that ad agencies don't support DD as much as they should or could?

Earlier, DD didn't have a direct interface with the market and there is no point complaining about it. But now, we are in regular touch with the entire industry; in constant touch with the market for various in-house properties. The details of DD channels and their programmes are made readily available. Now, we have taken a few steps forward and the industry is backing us wholeheartedly.

I feel that we have made substantial progress within a short span of time. Ad agencies have also started supporting Doordarshan in a big way with their clients by projecting DD's reach, TRPs in various target groups. We have also been making presentations with viewership data and highlighting packages to ad agencies and direct clients.

The Prasar Bharati Marketing Division has been bolstered with branch offices in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. The team is working in close coordination with the station directors and major advertisers in all these four regions.

What is the general direction in which DD's marketing outfit is moving?

You must realise that 90 per cent of our revenues still come from private producers. Eventually, the key will be to lower the proportion of the third party contribution - that is only if they don't give us more value or the revenues are not in sync with market conditions. We expect all the third party outfits to support us in our intent to increase DD's share of revenues.

I admit that it is a challenging task to change the old order. Also, we are still in the process of making a framework for procuring new properties and owning them too. The top management is looking at the various issues and is in talks with the ministry authorities about the related policy issues.

However, the general direction is very clear and the aim is to ensure that DD gets its rightful share from the market.

What is your message/advice to media planners and buyers?

I would request media planners and buyers to unlearn the past and dispel the false notions, perceptions and myths that have been created about DD channels.

Most of these myths have been created by C&S channels who have benefited at the cost of DD. If media planners go by statistics, we have numbers on our side and eyeballs. The myth about DD homes not having propensity or the mindset to purchase goods and services is nothing but a figment of imagination.

I would urge the younger lot of media planners and buyers to study the ground realities. They must also learn to distance themselves from inherent biases - for instance most of the metropolitan bred media planners and buyers seem to think that all Indian youth think and act like them. But, the reality is different as India is a diverse country with several cultural, psychographic and demographic differences.

I must say that the younger generation born and bred in metros,including my children, have a different perception of the India they live in as compared to those who live in smaller towns and villages. But the point remains that consumerism is a constant factor across several markets - big or small - in India.

Tell us about your hobbies?

I read a lot. I love history. I am also a serious theatre and movie buff. I loved listening to radio so much that it had become an obsession. In fact, way back in the mid-60's my father, who is an engineer, used to joke that he would create a small radio for me so that I could take it with me to my examination hall.

I love to paint. As a mother and a homemaker, I love to cook. In fact, cooking is a passion. It's a stressbuster. Inspite of my busy schedule, I made it a point to always find time to teach my children. My children (one daughter and a son) still appreciate the time I have spent with them. I consider my family, specially my husband as my source of strength.

Travel has now become a compulsion. I still love London as the city is associated with some nostalgic and fond memories of my Commonwealth days.

I also manage to take time out and conduct internal training sessions on media, marketing and advertising.