MAM
NDTV lawsuit may trigger Govt action on BARC
NEW DELHI: The petition filed by NDTV against TAM in New York may force the Government to speed up BARC‘s progress on revamping the television audience measurement system, particulary since the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has failed to do so.
In fact, the Government had expressed its concern to IBF officials over a month earlier about the delay in moving the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) forward so that the first audience survey report could come by July next year.
In a meeting held at the initiative of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry a few weeks earlier, Additional Secretary Rajiv Takru had told IBF that the government may step in to ensure that the timeline is met.
The IBF had taken cognizance of the Committee headed by former Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Amit Mitra on TRP ratings.
The Committee had said though self-regulation is the best way forward for the broadcasting industry, it expressed “the fear that in case significant progress is not made within defined timelines, the Government may be left with no option but to step in, primarily because of the nature of public concerns that have been raised and debated across many platforms”.
The IBF, the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) and Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) had late last year set up BARC, a nationwide audience research joint body. Its primary aim: not to exclude or work outside TAM but to model itself like BARB (Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board) in the UK; it would not conduct audience measurement directly but commission it.
Late last week, NDTV filed the lawsuit in New York seeking injunction against publication of television ratings by TAM Media Research. NDTV also sought $810 million as compensation for the loss in revenues it suffered over the years and $580 million in penalty for negligence by Nielsen and Kantar officials.
Also read:
NDTV sues TAM, Nielsen for manipulation of data
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
