Mumbai: CNBC-TV 18 organised a spectacular event called "CNBC-TV 18 Marquee Nights" on 21 November 2022, at Masala Bay and Taj Lands End in Mumbai.
The event featured Vivendi chairman and Havas Group chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré in an exclusive conversation with CNBC-TV18’s Anuradha SenGupta.
The discussion revolved around Vivendi and Havas Groups’ spectrum of strongholds in cinema, television, publishing, gaming, advertising, and even metaverse.
Commenting on the importance of India as one of the fastest-growing Asian economies, Bolloré said, "Growth opportunities in India are immense, which is why the country is a top priority for Vivendi. China has slowed down its growth strategy now, which is good for India in terms of talent and manufacturers. As of now, we have a 1200-person workforce in India and hope to reach the 1500 mark before spring."
Harping on the collaborative spirit of the Havas village group that commenced eight years ago, Bolloré instilled inter-team collaboration and cultural specificity at the forefront, helping the brand expand its focus on content, data, the brand’s future, teamwork, and recommendations to prospective employees.
He also discussed the prospects of Vivendi’s premium video content distribution platform, Dailymotion, in a price-sensitive market such as India. "We became premium five years ago because of a flurry of user-generated content that created an unsafe environment. Now, the environment is safe. We have a strong presence in India. There is going to be a new version of Dailymotion to be launched in March 2023. It will be about freedom of speech, but in a safe and positive environment."
When asked about the shifting strategies of Gameloft as a mobile game pioneer, the CEO remarked that the high-quality mobile games by the brand have been giving a strong impetus to the steady year-on-year growth of Gameloft for the last 15 years. Bolloré added that with behemoths such as Netflix and other OTT platforms showing interest in video games, Gameloft has a bright future in the mobile gaming vertical.
On that note, he added that Vivendi’s OTT streaming service, Canal, has gone overseas, with 70 per cent of its subscribers hailing from outside France. "High-quality entertainment is the foundation of Canal Group. People are willing to pay for high-quality content because 83 per cent of the respondents to our research reveal that global entertainment is a vital need. It shapes culture. So, we need to strike a balance between subscription and advertising to maintain local, cultural specificity, and become a future game-changer in entertainment."
The CNBC-TV18 Marquee Nights event saw in attendance over 100 top Indian and global CMOs and CEOs from across sectors, including technology, consumer products, media & entertainment, banking, and e-commerce, amongst others.
The stellar event was organised in partnership with remarkable brands: Vivendi, Havas Group, and IFCCI (the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
Network18 CEO of business news Smriti Mehra said, "CNBC-TV18 Marquee Nights offers glimpses of the previously unseen side of the top entrepreneurs, global icons, policymakers, business promoters, and trendsetters across various sectors, where we see them engage in candid conversations. The event with Yannick Bolloré, who brought in thought-provoking insights about the future of media and entertainment, won immense appreciation from the audience in attendance. Bolloré’s keen interest in the Indian entertainment diaspora has signalled the immense growth opportunities the country has as a rising economic superpower. We endeavour to bring in more such insightful discussions on CNBC-TV18 Marquee Nights."
The event will be telecasted on 30 November and 2 December at 10 p.m. on CNBC-TV18.
