MAM
GEC battle: Sony, Colors, Zee heat up competition for 2nd spot
MUMBAI: There is no business like Hindi GEC (general entertainment channel) business. Just when media pundits were expecting some stability in the Hindi GEC order, the battle has started brewing, again. But this time for the second spot.
While Star Plus continues to lead the genre, albeit losing a few GRPs (gross rating points) per week, the race for the second spot is up for grabs.
The last seven months has seen Sony Entertainment Television (Set) and Colors locked in a see-saw battle, with Zee TV watching on the sidelines. But for the week ended 25 February, Zee TV toppled Colors to regain the No. 3 spot.
Now though Colors is back to No. 3, the difference between Set, Colors and Zee is that of one and five GRPS respectively, as per TAM data for the week ended 3 March (C&S, 4+, HSM).
Set closed the week with 212 GRPs, after losing 15 GRPs from the previous week. Colors, after adding 11 GRPs, ended the week with 211 GRPs.
Zee TV, though, is back in the race, even if it has slipped to No. 4 again by losing 16 GRPs. It closed the week with 206 GRPs.
Star Plus remained on top with 259 GRPs, shedding 20 GRPs. In the prior week before that, it had lost 19 GRPs.
Sab, meanwhile, remained at No. 5 with 131 GRPS in its kitty (last week 134).
Life OK added 6 GRPs to end the week with 87 GRPs (last week 81).
Imagine TV closed with 65 GRPs (last week 63), while Sahara One lost 8 GRPs to end the week with 45 GRPs (last week 53), according to TAM data.
MAM
Ad:tech honours 2026: Full list of winners announced
Expanded awards spotlight winners across 22 categories as industry doubles down on intelligent automation
NEW DELHI: Marketing’s tech elite took the spotlight as the ad:tech honours 2026 returned with a sharper focus on AI, data and immersive media, signalling how deeply technology now underpins brand strategy. Held at Yashobhoomi on March 17, the second edition drew industry leaders to celebrate innovation that is reshaping engagement and performance.
Presented with the International Advertising Association India chapter and new partner Huella, the awards expanded from 8 to 22 categories, tracking the rapid convergence of creativity, automation and analytics.
The winners’ list reads like a snapshot of marketing’s future. In affiliate and partner marketing, Lyxel & Flamingo – Boat and Paytm Ads – Giva took silver. Mobavenue Media Private Limited struck gold in AI-driven dynamic creative optimisation, alongside a silver for Laqshya Media Limited.
Creative AI collaboration saw Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited win gold, with Saltinc Consulting Private Limited securing silver. Laqshya Media Limited continued its strong run, taking gold in AI conversation agents and adding multiple wins across categories, including silver in GenAI-led creative and both gold and silver in interactive DOOH campaigns for Tanishq and Tata Coffee.
Predictive AI honours went to Strong Metrics and Tyroo, both silver, while Orient Bell Limited picked up silver in immersive retail tech. In GenAI-led creative, Laqshya Media Limited, Salt – Kotak and Sumimoto each secured silver, reflecting the crowded race in generative creativity.
Publicis bagged silver in influencer management and gold in performance marketing, where it shared the stage with Arm Worldwide and The Trade Desk, both silver. Glad U Came Private Limited stood out with gold in influencer measurement and analytics.
Marketing automation saw CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. and Globale Media win silver, while ADMOTT Private Limited claimed silver in OTT innovation.
Programmatic media categories highlighted the shift to advanced targeting and connected screens. Mobavenue Media Private Limited clinched gold in connected TV advertising, with Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd – Asus and Lyxel and Flamingo taking silver. Cheggout Services Private Limited won silver in retail media advertising, while Paytm Ads – Versuni secured gold.
On social platforms, Vayner Media India took gold in community and UGC engagement, with Under 25 – Oppo winning silver. Segumento rounded off the list with silver in the innovation category.
Jaswant Singh, country managing director at ad:tech India, underscored the momentum, saying generative AI and data-driven decision-making are now central to marketing impact. Neena Dasgupta, IAA mancom member and chief executive and founder at The Salt Inc Consulting, added that the awards celebrate not just technology, but “the people, the creativity, and the relentless effort behind it.”
Backed by Comexposium Group, ad:tech New Delhi has long tracked digital disruption. Now, with the honours, it is rewarding those who are not just adapting to change but engineering it.
In an industry racing towards automation, the message from 2026 is unmistakable. The future of marketing will be written not just in ideas, but in algorithms.
