Author: Priyanka Deshpande

CNBC-Awaaz dominates Hindi business news segment with over 50% market share

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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CNBC-Awaaz has claimed the top spot as the leading Hindi business news channel, outperforming its main rival, Zee Business by a considerable margin, according to the latest data released by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).

CNBC-Awaaz secured the highest market share at 52.4%, surpassing Zee Business, which held the second spot with 47.6%.

Anuj Singhal, CNBC-Awaaz’s managing editor, highlighted the channel’s strategy for achieving the top position in Hindi business news. “CNBC-Awaaz has a simple mantra to be the number one Hindi business channel: Viewer first. We take viewer feedback very seriously and our motto is to make sure our viewers make money,” he said.

Singhal noted a shift in audience preferences from mere trading tips to a desire for both learning and earning. For last 2-3 years, Hindi business channels were surviving just on 30-40 trading tips on a daily basis. However, at CNBC-Awaaz we have realised that the new Bharat and the new audience wants to learn and earn. Hence our programming has a healthy mix of trading ideas and educational content,” he said.

“For example, we spend bulk of our pre-market time detailing the market setup and stocks setup and the trading ideas are taken only in a 10-minute window. Everyone in our panels is SEBI registered and the calls are reviewed periodically and the ones with better strike rates are preferred,” he added.

As a versatile brand spanning across TV and Digital platforms, CNBC-Awaaz constantly evolves to keep pace with the ever-changing business landscape. Its dedication to furnishing viewers with essential news, analysis, and insights to navigate the intricacies of the contemporary global economy remains steadfast.

As a versatile brand spanning across television and digital platforms, CNBC-Awaaz continues to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the business world. Its dedication to provide viewers with news, thorough analysis, and valuable insights for navigating the intricacies of the contemporary global economy remains unwavering.

Singhal also highlighted the significant advantage of CNBC-Awaaz being part of a vast network. “The channel can rely on the large reach of network for research and big corporate and political interviews, which is crucial especially during elections. We also believe in making our shows interactive and hence we do daily caller shows and I personally do a YouTube live daily for 30 minutes,” he said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

How to invest in commercial real estate without actually buying it?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Ever looked at a high-end business park, a plush hotel, or everyone’s favorite shopping malls and wished you could afford to own a part of it or add it to your investment portfolio? That wish can now be a reality and with minimum capital thanks to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

In India, having historically seen the homes we grew up in appreciate in value, we deeply understand the merit in owning real estate. We’ve seen rents outpace inflation, and barring a few hiccups, our own experience tells us that real estate is a solid, reliable, relatively safe investment in the long term.

However, for most of us, investing in real estate means buying residential real estate because it is easier to acquire: the ticket price is generally lower, the loans are less expensive, and now, with the advent of RERA, even buying properties that are under-construction isn’t the risk it once used to be.

Commercial real estate, on the other hand, while holding undeniable value, has often remained outside the reach of India’s common man. And the opportunity is huge. India’s Commercial Real Estate sector has played a pivotal role in the country’s growth story. It has led to significant development in office infrastructure, IT and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) hubs, and knowledge parks. This boom has provided employment opportunities and created investment avenues for many.

While that is too large an opportunity for India’s retail investors to pass up on, there were not many easy avenues for the average investor to reap the benefits.

Until now.

Introducing: Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are an asset class that bridges the divide by bringing the opportunity to invest in high-end commercial real estate to retail investors. Simply put, in India, REITs are companies that own, operate, or finance income-generating real estate properties. As an investor, you get to invest in these trusts, and in so doing, into the commercial real estate holdings (workspaces, malls, and more) these trusts own. REITs allow individuals to invest in real estate without the challenges of traditional real estate investments, offering better liquidity and the opportunity to earn rental income through dividends.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved REIT regulations in August 2014. Investing in REITs simplifies commercial real estate property ownership – there are no mountains of paperwork to handle, loans to apply for and permissions to seek. It also frees you from maintenance and upkeep as these properties are professionally managed. Most importantly, however, REITs create liquidity by being publicly tradable on stock exchanges.

The Benefits of Investing in REITS

REITs allow you to sidestep several barriers to entry and participate in the commercial real estate market without the complexities of direct ownership. When you invest in a REIT, you essentially own a share of its portfolio – all of the properties it owns today and will continue to acquire tomorrow. You aren’t investing in a particular office building or mall, but a wide selection of them.

This creates several advantages for the retail investor:

• Low Entry Point: Unlike the massive capital required for direct commercial real estate investment, REITs allow you to participate with a much smaller investment, often starting as low as ₹100 per unit.
• Liquidity: REITs are traded on the stock exchange, offering you the flexibility to buy and sell units easily. This allows you to adjust your investment holdings based on your financial needs.
• Steady Income Stream: REITs are required by law to invest 80% of the portfolio in income producing assets and distribute 90% of their income to investors in the form of dividends, at least every 6 months. This translates to a regular income stream that can complement your other investments and contribute to your financial goals.
• Invest in High-Quality Assets: REITs provide access to a diversified portfolio of premium commercial properties that would be otherwise inaccessible to individual investors due to the high cost. Imagine owning a share of a building that houses leading multinational companies from across the globe!
• Professional Management: Your investment is handled by experienced professionals who manage the entire portfolio, including property selection, tenant management, and maintenance.
• Diversification of Your Portfolio: REITs offer a valuable tool to diversify your investment portfolio beyond traditional assets like stocks and bonds. This diversification can potentially reduce overall portfolio risk and enhance its resilience to market fluctuations.
• Transparency and Security: REITs are SEBI-regulated investment vehicles, ensuring transparency and adherence to strict financial guidelines.
• Growth Potential: As an investor, you’re invested in the REITs real estate holdings today, and the ones they acquire/develop tomorrow. This means that you benefit from the growth that comes from appreciation on existing holdings, as well as new acquisitions. The same also applies to your earnings too.

How to Invest in REITs

Investing in REITs is identical to buying any other publicly traded asset. Any investor, be it domestic or foreign, retail or institutional, has access to REITs through their demat account. Once you purchase it via your demat account, it will begin paying you your distributions in your account every quarter, till such time you choose to sell it. Selling a REIT is just as easy as buying it – login to your demat account, and sell it just like you would any other asset.

Moreover, as mentioned earlier, REITs have a really low entry point – you can buy one for as low as ₹100 per unit. There is no minimum trading lot size!

REITS: A Global Model, Tailored for India

While REITs have existed for decades globally, the REIT market in India is still in its nascent stages. The Indian REITs Association (IRA), formed under the guidance of SEBI and the Ministry of Finance, is dedicated to advancing the growth and development of the Indian REIT sector. Comprised of prominent founding members like Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, Embassy Office Parks REIT, Mindspace Business Parks REIT, and Nexus Select Trust, the IRA boasts a collective expertise that will be instrumental in shaping India’s REIT market.

Since the listing of the first REIT in 2019, the Indian REIT market has witnessed tremendous growth with the total Assets Under Management (AUM) at a staggering ₹1,30,000 crore. This phenomenal growth is further underscored by the vast portfolio of these REITs, encompassing over 115 million square feet of Grade A office and retail spaces across the nation.

This is only the beginning, thanks to robust investor appetite for this asset class. In just five years, REITs have distributed more than ₹15,500 crore, and have raised over ₹25,500 crore of equity capital through primary issuances, including initial listings and follow-on offerings. Notably, the number of unitholders has crossed the 200,000 mark which points to growing enthusiasm among retail investors.

By incorporating REITs into your investment strategy, you gain exposure to a high-quality asset class, benefit from professional management, and enjoy a potentially steady stream of income, in addition to capital appreciation pegged to multiple growth levers a REIT offers.

It’s time to leverage the power and potential of the best of India’s commercial real estate to fuel your portfolio’s growth.

Note: This is a partnered post.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

GenAI revolution in banking: How financial leaders are gaining the edge

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

AI is ubiquitous in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. AI-powered tools and applications have become a cornerstone across various industries, especially within BFSI. AI in these sectors goes beyond automation and efficiency–it is revolutionising customer experiences, enhancing decision-making processes, and paving the way for innovative financial products and services.

According to a report by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), a staggering 78.8% of banks have integrated AI chatbots into their customer service operations. Moreover, the Economist revealed that 77% of bankers believe that leveraging AI is the key to gaining a competitive edge in the industry.

Amidst this backdrop of AI-driven transformation, CNBC-TV18, in association with IBM, introduces “The AI Dialogues,” a series poised to delve into the heart of how AI and Generative AI is reshaping business landscapes across the board through in-depth conversations with the industry’s finest minds.

In this first round of conversations, AI Dialogues brings CNBC-TV18’s Latha Venkatesh together with Mahesh Ramamoorthy, CIO, Yes Bank; Ramesh Lakshminarayanan, CIO, HDFC Bank; VV Balaji, CTO, ICICI Bank and Rishi Aurora, Managing Partner, IBM Consulting India & South Asia to uncover insights and strategies that harness the power of cutting-edge GenAI for a resilient and forward-looking financial landscape.

AI vs Generative AI, or AI Plus Generative AI?

Ramesh Lakshminarayanan set the stage by explaining the difference between ‘classical AI’ and Generative AI in layman’s terms. “The easiest analogy is to think of the left brain as a classical AI and the right brain as Generative AI.

The left is analytically driven – you can predict, calculate, do probabilities, structures, and things which are more analytical in nature. On the right, you can create: you can write, you can narrate, you can converse.”

He also listed the various use cases in use in Banking already: fraud monitoring, risk management, and credit monitoring. VV Balaji also pointed out that banks have been using classical AI in non-core functions like application processing, voice to text, and even in bringing greater efficiencies to time-intensive processes like KYC checking.

According to VV Balaji, the advent of Generative AI doesn’t sound the death knell for classical AI tools. Rather, it is the next step in its evolution allowing AI tools that combine classical AI and generative AI capabilities to serve an expanded set of use cases. Mahesh Ramamoorthy built on Balaji’s argument,

“In old chatbots, you needed to keep adding queries and responses. With Generative AI you can upload all your documents, and let it read through and make much more intelligent conversations. So classical AI plus Generative AI creates intelligence, and that intelligence is what creates enhanced customer experiences.”

The Adoption Gap

Rishi Aurora quoted from one of the IBM Institute for Business Value studies. “86% of execs believe that they are already in a stage of putting AI or Gen AI into production, but if I drill down only 8% of organisations are taking a structured approach to adoption.”

He drew attention to the challenges that lie in scaling these technologies from proof of concept, with AI governance being one of the key areas of focus: how data is controlled and owned, and who owns the Intellectual property (IP) created.

Ramesh chimed in with a key hesitation around chatbot adoption: their tendency to hallucinate, which often stems from data biases and the large, public datasets these public AIs are trained on.

“One key factor driving adoption is the need to create an infrastructure that can support importing an AI model, tuning it, creating validations, bias corrections and feature engineering. Another is that we need to create explainability: why did it give this particular answer and output? The third is the availability of skilled people who can do this.”

“We believe that there is a blueprint which is now emerging for successful scaling of AI.” Mentions Rishi. He then enumerated the key pillars that IBM employs to bring about this new era: Success in scaling generative AI initiatives relies on upholding ethical AI governance, establishing robust data infrastructure, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and maintaining the agility to adapt to evolving regulations.

The AI Alliance, founded with IBM & 57 other global companies, is an international community of leading technology developers, researchers, and adopters collaborating together to advance open, safe and responsible AI.

An Ocean of Data, An Ocean of Possibilities

Challenges aside, GenAI in banking opens up truly exciting possibilities. Banks are awash in data, and leveraging it opens up incredible possibilities. Ramesh talked about creating a ‘talking bank statement’ that lets users query their statements as needed.

Mahesh is excited about Digital Banking Units (DBUs) that will help create greater access for the unbanked, in ways that don’t do away with human contact, while also driving efficiencies.

Balaji is looking forward to the increased data transparency that AI can help bring, in addition to its ability to help customer service staff reduce misinformation by enabling new hires to hit the ground running.

Rishi also addressed the concerns about the impact of AI on jobs by pointing out that this is just another cycle where a shift in technology brings about a shift in skills that are in demand and out of demand. Just like the Excel sheet didn’t make anyone redundant, while also enabling increasingly complex calculations, new AI tools and applications are expected to only eliminate the grunt work and move people higher up the value chain.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre completes one year of celebrating the best of India and the world

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), inaugurated on March 31, 2023, has marked a remarkable first year. The first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary art and culture destination over the year has seen over a million visitors, staged over 700 shows across five world-class venues, highlighted the work of over 670 exceptional artists, and presented four notable visual art exhibitions.

Speaking on the occasion, Founder & Chairperson Nita Ambani said, “It is with a deep sense of pride, joy, and gratitude that we celebrate the first anniversary of our Cultural Centre. In the past year at NMACC, over a million audiences have witnessed blockbuster Indian theatricals, breathtaking global performances, stunning artworks, and traditional handicrafts from all over India. We are grateful for the love and support of our audience, and the trust and enthusiasm of our artists. It’s been an extraordinary year of firsts, showcasing the best of India and the world. And our journey has only just begun!”

The Cultural Centre’s grand opening in 2023, under the guidance of Nita Ambani showcased the best of India and the world. Spanning over three days, art and culture enthusiasts gathered for the first glimpse of the Cultural Centre’s India-inspired presentations, with India’s largest ever theatrical production, ‘The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation’; ‘India in Fashion’, a one-of-a-kind costume art exhibit; and ‘Sangam/Confluence’, a unique visual art show that inaugurated the Art House.

Subsequently, the Cultural Centre has thrilled audiences with a plethora of renowned international performances and exhibitions, including the much-anticipated debuts of Broadway and West End in the country. Upholding Nita Ambani’s commitment to safeguarding and advancing India’s cultural heritage for forthcoming generations, ‘SWADESH by Reliance Foundation’, the Centre’s distinctive exposition of art and craft, has showcased nearly 30 varied art forms from all corners of India.

A year and many milestones later, The Grand Theatre – the Cultural Centre’s 2000-seater performing arts marvel – has brought together the finest Indian talent for an array of exclusive anniversary programming. The celebrations kick started on March 30 with Amit Trivedi followed by ace vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty, who played a tribute to the legendary divas of Indian Classical music on March 31st. Meanwhile musical icons Ajay-Atul will perform their beloved hits on April 6th, and singer Aditya Gadhvi of ‘Khalasi’ fame, will showcase the best of Gujarati folk music on April 7th.

The Studio Theatre and The Cube too, have a host of intimate experiences lined up, with a captivating mix of shows across eclectic genres such as Classical, Sufi, and Indie music, contemporary dance, and theatre. Not limiting the celebratory atmosphere to ticketed events, live music acts and performances are expected to take over every corner of the Centre.

To commemorate its anniversary, The Art House has unveiled ‘Liminal Gaps’ (March 31st – June 9th), a captivating exhibition featuring immersive and interactive installations by prominent contemporary Indian artists. Among them are Ayesha Singh, Raqs Media Collective, Asim Waqif, and Afrah Shaqif, showcasing some of their most ambitious projects to date. Curated by Mafalda Millies Kahane and Roya Sachs, with executive production by Elizabeth Edelman Sachs of TRIADIC, this marks the Centre’s inaugural exhibition dedicated solely to the talents of Indian artists.

Looking beyond its anniversary festivities, NMACC will kick off the summer season with the highly anticipated debut of The Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘Matilda the Musical’ at The Grand Theatre, premiering in India on May 16th. Additionally, renowned Bharatanatyam exponent Padma Shri Shobana and her ensemble will grace Mumbai with their mesmerizing performance, ‘Celebrating the Supreme by Shobana and Ensemble’, blending traditional and contemporary elements to offer audiences an unforgettable fusion of the art form.

With a rich repository of firsts to draw from, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre is set to continue its incredible journey – changing how people engage with art and culture.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow