The Times of India is increasing its print advertising rates by between 8-10%, the company said in a press note, citing investments in "machines" and "content, copies, distribution networks, technology etc." The group publishes The Times of India, The Economic Times, Navbharat Times, Maharashtra Times, Ei Samay and Vijay Karnataka, and claims "a circulation reaching almost 8 million households every morning". What we found interesting in the press note, however, was how it is pitching its print businesses versus digital and TV. Here's a quick break-down of the messaging in that note, and I think we should revisit this positioning, just for fun, a few years from now: 1. Print is a morning habit, digital is for the rest of the day: "The day begins with print and therefore what better way for brands to launch a new product or promotion, make a splash about a new variant or packaging, create interest in their brand proposition through high impact and then leaving the rest of the day for the consumer to do his/her own discovery on and off the internet." Our take: Frankly, this is unlikely to be true. Even for those who read both print and digital, it's likely that their day typically begins with digital - you reach for your phone when your eyes open - and you then go and get that newspaper. Many of us don't even subscribe to newspapers. Also read: Advertising in India in 2017, in 18 Charts 2. Ad blocking and cord-cutting gives print…
