Advertisement wars are not new. They have been in existence since the time human beings started competing in markets.
One of the most memorable brand wars is probably the one between Pepsi and Coca Cola, popularly known as the ‘Cola Wars’.
The two brands continue to fight aggressively over every single mass communication platform trying to outdo each other creatively. This recent one is a classic example.
On the left is Pepsi’s ad showing Coca Cola as Dracula. The tagline reads: “Wish you a Scary Halloween”. On the right is Coca Cola’s response. The tagline reads: “Everybody wants to be a hero”.
But while product wars may be considered normal, how will one describe the war between news channels?
These two hoardings at Noida’s Film City area is an example of brand wars between media houses.
To the left of the ‘ring’ is Arnab Goswami’s Republic; to the right is Anjana Om Kashyap, who is foraying into English news domain with India Today leaving behind her role as a powerful Hindi news anchor at Aaj Tak.
According to The News Minute, India Today Group’s chief marketing officer Vivek Malhotra said, “News doesn’t wait for anyone. Someone had to set the record straight. And we did.”
He was hinting at the tagline of Kashyap’s show on India Today which reads “Arrived and Waiting”. Clearly, it is a response to the tagline used by Republic, “With You Soon”.
But Twitterati is finding India Today’s tagline off the mark.
Viewers are waiting for Arnab.
vs
Anjana is waiting for viewers. pic.twitter.com/B1taIMJzxl— Megh Roddur (@amarmeybela) May 1, 2017
Anjana trying to question someone and trying to become Arnab. Well, she’ll fall flat. Watch fun.
— Sniper (@avarakai) May 2, 2017
@thenewsminute honestly.. the banners placed on the roads seem like anjana has reached and waiting for arnab who is going to there soon.
— shilpi tewari (@shilpitewari) May 1, 2017
Dear Anjana you are not the only one waiting, literally everyone is waiting for Arnab pic.twitter.com/eDQHZhHYIU
— TheFrustratedIndian (@FrustIndian) May 1, 2017
@GabbbarSingh Pic 1 Arnab republic
vs
Pic 2 Anjana india today..@coolfunnytshirt pic.twitter.com/phE3OD3ola— Just say it (@JustSayIt2016) May 1, 2017
Sounds more like Anjana is waiting for Arnab’s Baraat to arrive. #ArnabWedsAnjana pic.twitter.com/EkvReBmiD0
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) May 1, 2017
@ShootinThoughts @_Namrataa @IndiaToday Where Anjana is, Arnab has already been there and left. No point waiting!!
— Vinnu Shanbhag (@mankuli) May 1, 2017
@hvgoenka Sorry sir! But no comparison of Arnab with Anjana. Arnab is far far better than Anjana.
— 9:41 A.A.I (@DaVinciFi) April 30, 2017
The brand war is interesting but one might wonder whether brand of the media house is more important than good journalism.
