Rusk Media Ropes in Jalaj Kukreja as General Manager – Brand Partnerships, IP Integrations
Jalaj Kukreja has been appointed General Manager of Brand Partnerships and IP Integrations at Rusk Media, bolstering the firm’s push toward advertiser‑led storytelling. He arrives from Mygate, where he expanded digital ad revenue through agency alliances such as GroupM, Dentsu, Publicis, Havas and IPG. Earlier, at Bennett Coleman’s Times Group, he oversaw integrated campaigns for Apple, Samsung and others, managing a media spend exceeding Rs 90 crore (≈$11 million). His hire signals Rusk’s intent to weave branded content seamlessly into creator‑driven formats.
The Pitch Perfect Formula: Creators Reveal What Makes Projects Sell
At the Content Hub x VFX & More Summit 2026, industry leaders argued that packaging a story—right talent, market positioning and a clear hook—has become as critical as the script itself. While audience tastes shift seasonally, compelling storytelling remains the core driver of success. Producers...
BARC Redraws TV Ratings Playbook as Landing Pages Lose Power
India’s Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has issued a new operational framework that removes landing‑page viewership from official TV ratings. The rule treats the first channel shown by a set‑top‑box as passive exposure and excludes it, while any subsequent voluntary...
Bombay HC Pulls up Berger Paints Ad over ‘Fraud’ Swipe at Asian Paints
The Bombay High Court issued an interim order on May 8 restraining Berger Paints India from circulating a 102‑second promotional video that compared its BERGER EASY CLEAN product with Asian Paints’ APCOLITE SHYNE ALL PROTEK. The ad featured a meme flashing...
Gas-O-Fast Ropes in Rakesh Bedi for New Ad Campaign
Mankind Pharma has tapped veteran comic actor Rakesh Bedi to front a new Gas‑O‑Fast ad campaign that celebrates India’s love of indulgent food rather than preaching restraint. The film leans on Bedi’s meme‑driven resurgence to position the Ayurvedic antacid as...
RunnTV Launches Rewind Feature for FAST Streaming Channels
RunnTV, a fast‑growing Indian FAST (Free Ad‑Supported Streaming Television) platform, has launched a Time‑Shift feature that lets viewers rewind live linear channels, mimicking a DVR experience. The capability is already active on select channels and is built on the company’s...
Calcutta HC Restricts Vodafone Idea on Caller Tunes
The Calcutta High Court ruled on May 8 that Vodafone Idea cannot rely solely on sound‑recording agreements to offer caller tunes. The court mandated separate licences from the Indian Performing Right Society for the underlying musical and literary works. It ordered...
ITC Right Shift Urges Families to Look Beyond “Main Theek Hoon”
ITC’s Right Shift brand launched a Mother’s Day video campaign urging Indian mothers to move beyond the customary “main theek hoon” reassurance and address hidden nutritional gaps. Featuring actress Tisca Chopra and child actor Darsheel Safary, the film highlights simple dietary swaps—such...
Maruti Suzuki Extends WPP Media’s Rs 1,200 Crore Media Mandate
Maruti Suzuki India has extended its partnership with WPP Media for another year, retaining a media mandate valued at roughly ₹1,200 crore (about $145 million). The automaker’s FY2025 advertising spend climbed to ₹1,127.5 crore ($136 million) as it leaned on marketing to counter slowing...
Umesh Bansal Quits Zee Studios to Take Charge as Managing Director and CEO at B4U/IVY
Senior media executive Umesh Bansal has resigned from Zee Studios to become Managing Director and CEO of B4U/IVY. He will remain with Zee Entertainment Enterprises until May 31 2026 before assuming his new role. At Zee Studios, Bansal shaped the film strategy...
Dreamsetgo Campaign Turns Sports FOMO Into Comedy Gold
Dreamsetgo’s new campaign pairs comedian Tanmay Bhatt with cricket legend Sourav Ganguly and actor Ayush Mehra to dramatise premium sports‑travel experiences ranging from Formula 1 paddocks to Wimbledon courts. The film leans on banter and creator‑led storytelling rather than hard‑sell messaging,...
Miraggio Turns Grocery-Core Trend Into Fashion with Summer Afternoon
Miraggio, a digital‑first accessories brand, has launched its Summer Afternoon collection, tapping into the emerging “grocery‑core” aesthetic. The line features bags named after pantry staples—Oat, Cocoa, Coffee, and more—styled in warm neutrals, woven textures, and relaxed silhouettes. A sensory‑rich influencer...
JioHotstar, Swiggy Turn Live Cricket Into an In-App Food Court
JioHotstar and Swiggy have rolled out an in‑app food‑ordering feature that lets cricket fans order meals without leaving the live stream, already used by more than 37 million users across 690 cities. The mobile‑only experience lets viewers browse restaurants, unlock match‑triggered offers,...
Rohit Sharma Makes His Entertainment Debut on Sony Platforms
World Cup‑winning captain Rohit Sharma is stepping onto Sony Pictures Networks India’s entertainment stage, debuting in a teaser that will run on Sony Entertainment Television and the streaming service Sony LIV. The teaser, released on May 8, showcases Sharma in a non‑cricket...
India Proposes Licensing Fee for AI Companies that Train on Copyrighted Content
India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has drafted a working paper proposing a mandatory licensing regime that would let AI developers train models on copyrighted material in exchange for a fee paid to a government‑designated collective body....
Shailesh Soni Named VP and Head Technology Partnerships at SPNI
Shailesh Soni has been promoted to vice‑president and head of technology partnerships and planning at Sony Pictures Networks India. He previously served as associate vice‑president for SonyLiv Technology, where he led a full‑scale platform overhaul that lifted user engagement during...
NCLT Refers Eros–Aanand L Rai Dispute to Arbitration
The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has sent the dispute between filmmaker Aanand L Rai and Eros International Media to arbitration, rejecting Eros' claims of oppression and mismanagement. The tribunal ruled that the issues are fundamentally contractual...
Asian Kabaddi League Appoints Vikram Chandan to Drive Revenue and Media
Asian Kabaddi League has named Vikram Vijay Chandan as President for Revenue Growth and Media, signaling a push to commercialize women’s kabaddi. The league’s “She Rises” initiative will feature eight state‑based teams, creating a talent pipeline from grassroots to international exposure....
IndiGo’s Head of Global Sales Vinay Malhotra Resigns
IndiGo’s head of global sales, Vinay Malhotra, announced his resignation effective July 3, 2026, following the earlier departure of CEO Pieter Elbers. During his four‑year tenure, Malhotra helped steer the airline’s commercial strategy, but his exit comes as the carrier posted a 77.5% year‑on‑year...
Rajeev Khandelwal Shares Early Acting Struggles on Tum Ho Naa
Rajeev Khandelwal opened up on Sony's "Tum Ho Naa – Ghar Ki Superstar" about his early acting days, explaining how he learned by closely observing peers and mimicking their styles in private. He said the imitation exercise helped him gauge...
Estée Lauder to Shed 10,000 Jobs as New Boss Bets on Digital Shift
Estée Lauder announced a second wave of layoffs, adding up to 3,000 jobs and bringing total cuts to about 10,000 positions. The moves aim to save $200 million annually and fund a digital‑first strategy that shifts sales from U.S. department stores...
Amazon Prime Day Is Coming to India in July for Its Tenth Edition
Amazon announced its tenth Prime Day in India, set for July 2026 and grouped with markets such as Australia, Brazil and Japan. The shopping event will showcase steep discounts on electronics, fashion, groceries and new product launches, while Prime members...
Talking Heads: TV9’s Chief Takes the Host’s Chair with Style — but Could Do with a Laugh
Barun Das, the chief executive of TV9 Network, has taken on the role of host for the interview series "Duologue," now in its fourth season on JioHotstar. The 45‑minute, cue‑card‑free conversations feature high‑profile guests such as Aamir Khan, Sourav Ganguly, Bianca Balti and...
Uber Launches Hotel Bookings Feature in Partnership with Expedia
Uber announced a partnership with Expedia Group that embeds hotel bookings directly into the Uber app for U.S. users, initially offering access to more than 700,000 properties. Uber One members receive a 10% credit on bookings and at least 20%...
CNN-News18 to Air Live Counting Day Coverage for Five State Election Results on May 4
CNN-News18 will air a dedicated live‑counting broadcast on May 4, covering election results from West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The program, titled “Battle for the States: The Verdict,” starts at 7 a.m. and streams across linear TV, connected TV and...
Sony PAL to Air Sankat Mochan Hanuman From May 4 at 9 PM
Sony PAL will revive the mythological drama *Sankat Mochan Hanuman* on May 4 at 9 PM, featuring Nirbhay Wadhwa as Hanuman and a cast that includes Gagan Malik as Lord Ram. The series taps into India’s appetite for devotional storytelling, blending high‑production visuals...
Wellbeing Nutrition Teams up with Dhurandhar Cast for Protein Push
Wellbeing Nutrition has teamed with Dhurandhar actors Gaurav Gera and Mustafa Ahmed to launch mango and Swiss chocolate whey protein blends, positioning flavor as a driver of daily protein consumption in India. The campaign reflects a broader shift toward tasty,...
GUEST COLUMN: Why Film Libraries & IPs Are the New Engines of Growth
The Indian media landscape is moving from a box‑office‑centric model to a lifecycle‑driven approach where film libraries and intellectual properties (IPs) generate long‑term revenue. Legacy titles are being repackaged for YouTube, OTT services, FAST channels and international syndication, extending their...
India Post & DTDC Sign MoU to Boost Logistics Reach Across India
India Post and DTDC Express signed a memorandum of understanding that will let the courier tap more than 164,000 post offices, dramatically extending its e‑commerce delivery footprint into remote and underserved areas. The deal also adds cash‑on‑delivery options, strengthening India...
VAM Summit & The Content Hub to Host VFX Breakdown of ‘Border 2’
VAM Summit and The Content Hub will host a making‑of session on the VFX of the war film ‘Border 2’, led by Labyrinth Studios co‑founder Siddhartha Jayakar. The two‑day event takes place May 14‑15, 2026 at Nesco in Mumbai and culminates with the...
Charles Leclerc Joins L’Oréal Paris as Global Face for Men Expert Range
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has been named the global ambassador for L’Oréal Paris Men Expert, joining former teammate Carlos Sainz in the brand’s male grooming push. L’Oréal aims to capture the hard‑to‑reach male market by leveraging Leclerc’s high‑performance image. Meanwhile, Domino’s reported a...
X Launches XChat Messaging App on iOS with Calls and Encryption
Elon Musk’s X has released XChat, a standalone iOS messaging app featuring end‑to‑end encryption, PIN access, disappearing messages and audio/video calls, marking a shift away from the earlier “everything app” ambition. The launch also migrates X’s Communities feature, previously retired...
Distributor Control Shaping Pricing and Access in TV Sector Study
The Esya Centre’s survey of 2,037 Indian households shows Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) now act as gatekeepers, controlling channel carriage, pricing and interface design. A regulator‑mandated Network Capacity Fee of ₹130 (≈ $1.6) for a base channel set has become a...
Bundling Preferred by 96 Percent, Rules May Hurt Niche Channels
A study by the Esya Centre found that 96 percent of Indian TV viewers prefer bundled channel packs when prices stay constant, citing value, convenience and easier discovery. The report argues bundles act as a financial cushion, allowing popular channels to...
Abhay Duggal Joins JioStar as Director of Hindi GEC Ad Sales
Abhay Duggal has joined JioStar as director of Hindi GEC ad sales, bringing 17 years of revenue‑building experience. He previously led north‑region sales at Dangal TV, where he generated more than half of the channel’s total revenue, and spent six...
Lululemon Picks Former Nike Executive to Be Its Next Chief
Lululemon announced that former Nike executive Heidi O’Neill will become its chief executive on September 8, 2026, ending a months‑long interim leadership period. O’Neill, who helped scale Nike from $9 billion to $45 billion, brings three decades of apparel and brand expertise and will...
Birla Opus Paints Launches ‘Main Bhi’ Campaign with Vicky Kaushal
Birla Opus Paints, a Grasim Industries brand, unveiled the ‘Main Bhi…’ campaign starring Vicky Kaushal, highlighting a 16‑year exterior‑paint warranty and 10 % extra enamel coverage. The ads, set in an airport and a cricket stadium, use humor and peer endorsement to...
Trent Posts Rs 19,701 Crore FY26 Revenue, Profit Rises to Rs 1,968 Crore
Trent Limited, the Tata Group’s retail arm, posted FY26 revenue of ₹19,701 crore (≈ $2.4 billion) and net profit of ₹1,968 crore (≈ $237 million), marking an 18% and 24% rise respectively over FY25. Operating margin improved to 11.9% and the balance sheet strengthened with a...
Instagram Edits Marks One Year with 130 Plus New Features
Instagram Edits celebrates its first anniversary, having rolled out more than 130 features that transform it from a basic video‑editing app into a comprehensive creator companion. New tools include an in‑app teleprompter, an Ideas hub for content planning, and personalized...
MIB Reiterates IPTV Self Declaration Rules, Warns Against Agents
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has re‑issued an advisory reminding IPTV service providers that self‑certified declarations must be filed directly with MIB, the Department of Telecommunications and TRAI, with no fee and no third‑party assistance. The reminder reinforces...
PNB Partners Kiwi to Launch Credit-Enabled UPI for Users
Punjab National Bank (PNB) has teamed up with fintech Kiwi to roll out a credit‑enabled UPI solution for its 180 million customers, anchored by the new PNB Kiwi RuPay credit card. The card delivers 0.5‑1.5% cashback on online purchases and supports fully...
Doctor’s Choice Launches Protein Muesli, Signs Arshdeep Singh
Doctor’s Choice has entered the fast‑growing functional‑food market with a new Protein Muesli that delivers 25 g of protein per 100 g and has signed Indian cricketer Arshdeep Singh as its exclusive brand ambassador. The launch is aimed at Gen Z and fitness‑focused...
IPL 2026 Ad Race Sees Digital-First Categories Dominate CTV
The IPL 2026 advertising landscape shows a stark split between Connected TV (CTV) and Linear TV. Digital‑first categories such as e‑commerce media, entertainment and social platforms captured 35% of CTV ad volume, while traditional mouth fresheners led Linear TV with...
Sun Pharma’s ‘Heart Ke Liye 8’ Campaign Crosses 24.1 Million Views
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries’ "Heart ke Liye 8 – Making India Heart Strong" campaign has amassed 24.1 million views since its February launch, leveraging YouTube, Meta, connected TV and health‑tech platforms to promote eight daily habits for cardiovascular wellness. The initiative dovetails...
Tata Play Binge Adds Pocket Films to Micro Drama Platform Shots
Tata Play Binge has bolstered its micro‑drama hub Shots by adding Pocket Films, expanding the catalog to over 210 titles and 220 hours of short‑format content in Hindi and regional languages. The ad‑supported library is part of a broader aggregation...
Spotify Spotlights Premium with AI DJ and Lossless Audio Push
Spotify has launched a five‑week, multi‑channel campaign in India to promote its Premium tier, spotlighting two new features: an AI‑driven DJ that curates music in real time and lossless‑quality audio for richer sound. The ads emphasize personalization and high‑fidelity listening,...
Lessons From Global Media Markets on Building Enduring Content Franchises
Global media success now hinges on building IP ecosystems rather than single‑hit shows. Rose Audio Visuals emphasizes franchise potential, citing examples like Stranger Things, Money Heist, Squid Game, and creator‑driven brands such as MrBeast. The article argues that authentic regional...
Dish TV Launches ‘Kuch Chhota Sa’ Campaign for TV Flexibilit
Dish TV rolled out a "Kuch chhota sa" campaign promoting its new "Always‑On" service, offering over 190 channels and a flexible Freedom Pack priced at Rs 99 (≈$1.20) to address recharge friction. The campaign uses slice‑of‑life storytelling across TV, digital and...
Uber Spotlights Rs 25 Bike Rides with Music Led IPL Campaign
Uber is launching a stripped‑down IPL advertising campaign that spotlights its Uber Bike service priced at Rs 25 (about $0.30) for trips up to 3 km. The 15‑second music‑driven spots feature local hip‑hop stars Divine in Mumbai and Roll Rida in the...
Snapchat Parent Snap Cuts 16 per Cent of Workforce in AI-Driven Restructuring
Snap Inc., the parent of Snapchat, announced a 16% workforce reduction, cutting roughly 1,000 jobs and closing 300 open positions to achieve $500 million in annualized cost savings. The move follows pressure from activist investor Irenic Capital, which holds about 2.5%...