The answers are out: Jindal is not just staying but he continues to reign over Zee TV. The CEO designate will report to him. As far as the eight executive presidents go, the company says it is investing for the future with digital pay television, the Internet, satellite telephony being areas that the Zee Network and its affiliate companies can foray into. Zee TV sources say since they are new and emerging areas, the network is looking for young executives with a drive to achieve and succeed. Hence the benchmark of highsalaries of Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Meanwhile, the group is gearing up to soft launch its Zee Premiere magazine in the UK and the US over the next 10 days. The UK launch is planned first for November 26 with the US following on December 4. Zee Premiere's cover price for these markets hasn't yet been decided. Two thousand copies of Premiere are being given away to journos and people that count in the UK while 500 are to be handed out in New York later. However, it's not the debut Kaajol issue which will be handed out as the UK one. The second issue has Shahrukh Khan on the cover and that is the one which the non-resident Indians will lay their hands on.

EC raps BJP for model code violation

Cheers to the Election Commission for giving a solid rap on the knuckles recently to the Bharatiya Janata Party for an advertisement that violated the model code of conduct.

Released November 22, the BJP advertisement took potshots at the Indian National Congress by linking its rival tonefarious Indian and foreign individuals either implicated or indicted for crimes, terrorism and frauds committed in India. The advertisement's release coincided with the November 25 mid-term elections in the four states, where the BJP is likely to lose control, according to opinion polls.

One only wishes that there were such a body to monitor all advertising by consumer good companies. The Advertising Standards Council of India (Asci) is for all purposes a dinosaur which is all but extinct. It has to rejuvenated or a new pro-active body created. These days all norms are being thrown to the wind and promises about products being made which cannot be kept. And because the consumer doesn't know better he continues to be sold on the promises.

Detergent companies promise you whiter clothes. How many of us have really managed to get the doodh ki safedhi in our clothes after using a particular detergent? No company is exempt: be it a Lever or a Colgate or a Nirma or a P&G or even a Henkel. Toothpaste companiespromise you better breath and prevention of tooth decay. And how many of us have actually arrested a cavity after using a particular brand of toothpaste? Liquor and cigarette companies are not supposed to use celebrities for endorsements. Yet this practice continues blatantly.

Bollywood and cricket stars promote liquor and cigarettes with a smile on their face and a fat paycheck in their pocket. Is there anyone to rap these violators on their knuckles? No! Ad agencies are too busy making big bucks from their clients. Marketers are busy with strategies and developing new products. As long as nobody is raising a ruckus about their marketing communications and the sales are coming in, what me worry is their attitude.

It's about time that changes. The government has in the past threatened to censor advertising. And it has not lived up to it. That may not be the case for too long.

Turner Broadcasting seeks new PR agency

Turner Broadcasting is looking around for a new public relations agency. Lastweek, the firm which runs CNN and TNT & Cartoon Network called for presentations from a handful of PR firms in both Delhi and Mumbai. The senior communications in charge of Asia flew down from Hong Kong to listen to the spiel from several spin doctors. TNT & Cartoon Network is slated to get encrypted soon and the management will need as much communications and PR as they can get to get truant Indian cable operators to pay for the service.