BBC News Upfront

Businesses across the globe did not expect disruption of this scale and most brands had no plan to tackle such a shock (pandemic situation). While media platforms and publishers have been the go-to platforms during the pandemic there were some platforms that resorted to questionable and unethical practices for immediate gains. Audience reaction towards such practices have been quick and punitive not only with such media platforms but also with brands that associate with such platforms and are seen compromising on their committed values. The collateral damage to brands is sharp and at times irreparable and global in nature.

Advertising & brand associations are choices brands make every day and is important than ever before to make this choice wisely every single time. Brand perception & spill overs are fast and therefore to build shock proof and resilient brands that audience trust and can rely upon it is not only enough to communicate the right thing but also important to communicate from the right environment. Healthy brand association is a key element in this build up and brand associations that match with core values of the brand is no longer a ‘good to have’ but a ‘must-have’ mandate for every single media investment in today’s era.

Agenda

2:45p - 3:00p	Registration
3:00p - 3:05p	Rahul Sood, MD - India / South Asia, BBC Global News
3:05p - 3:25p	Welcome Address: The Vital Role of News Media in Brand Building Alistair McEwan, SVP, Commercial Development, APAC, BBC Global News in conversation with Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO Media & OOH, Madison Media
3:30p - 3:50p	FIRESIDE CHAT: Green Growth - The Best Way forward for Economic Recovery in post pandemic era (Government Perspective) Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India in conversation with Devina Gupta, Senior Journalist and Presenter, BBC News
3:55p - 4:05p	BBC's stand on Sustainability Audience insights on sustainability and BBC’s commitment – Vishal Bhatnagar - Sales Director-South Asia - BBC Global News
4:10p - 4:30p	FIRESIDE CHAT: Green Growth - The Best Way forward for Economic Recovery in post pandemic era (Private Sector Perspective) RC Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki in conversation with Devina Gupta, Senior Journalist and Presenter, BBC News
4:30p - 4:50p	PANEL DISCUSSION: Decoding Brand Building with content in this VUCA World Mansi Tripathy, VP Commercial Lubricants, Shell APAC & Middle East Tarun Chugh, MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Moderator: Devina Gupta, Senior Journalist and Presenter, BBC News
4:55p - 5:05p	The Future of Brand Building with content by Apoorva Dutt, Content Strategist, APAC, BBC StoryWorks, BBC Global News Ankita Bakshi, Creative Solutions Production Executive, BBC StoryWorks, BBC Global News
5:10p - 5:30p	PANEL DISCUSSION: The Advent of Marketing in a Cookie-Less World Hitu Chawla, CMO, Microsoft India Nandini Dias, CEO Lodestar UM Moderator: Alistair McEwan, SVP, Commercial Development, APAC, BBC Global News
5:30p - 5:35p	Summary & Vote of Thanks Rahul Sood, MD - India / South Asia, BBC Global News