MAM
Hindustan Lever, Patanjali had largest TV ad insertions
BENGALURU: Over the last four weeks of calendar year 2016, Hindustan Lever Limited (Lever) and Patanjali have been the top advertisers in terms of number of television ad insertions according to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data for weeks 49 (Saturday 3 December 2016) until week 52 (Friday 30 December 2016). The data covers Top 10 Advertiser’s Across Genre: All India (U+R) : 4+ Individuals.
Lever with 64,264 (36.19 percent), 62,655 (31.95 percent), 66,922 (29.44 percent) and 86,817 (33.40 percent) adinsertions in weeks 49, 50, 51 and 52 respectively of 2016 held numerouno position as top television advertiser in terms of ad insertions. Patanjali with 18,539 (10.44 percent), 23,430 (11.95 percent), 33,064 (14.55 percent), and 33,381 (12.84 percent)television ad insertions in weeks 49, 50, 51 and 52 respectively of 2016 stood second.
Bharti Airtel Limited, Ponds India and Brooke Bond Lipton India Limited were the other brands that were present across all the 4 weeks among the top 10 television advertisers in terms of ad insertions.Smithkline Beecham was amongst the top 10 advertisers in terms of television ad insertions for weeks 50, 51 and 52. Please refer to Figure A below for list of Top 10 Advertisers across genre: All India (Urban + Rural): 4+ individuals.
As is obvious from the charts above, the total number of insertions has increased steadily from week 49 from 177,582 to 259,961 (by 82,379 insertions 46.39 percent increase) in week 52. The increase in total number of ad insertions by the top 10 advertisers between weeks 49 and 50 was 18,533 (10.44 percent); between weeks 50 and 51 was 31,169 (15.89 percent); between weeks 51 and 52 was 32,677 (14.38 percent).
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.
