MAM
POKKT announces the launch of a first-of-its kind technology revolutionizing ad-viewing for brands and consumers
Mumbai: POKKT, Asia’s leading rewarded video ad network co-founded by Rohit Sharma, Manish Tewari and Vaibhav Odhekar, is creating and setting industry benchmarks again with the launch of their cutting edge technology that promises to transform the functioning of the ad-tech industry. With this in-house technology, a first of its kind in the region, brands will be able to pay only for viewable impressions through tracking sensors in real time that will observe if the user is watching the video or not, thereby negating misleading or fraud traffic numbers.
Launched in 2012, POKKT enables over 500 global and local game publishers and developers to monetize their apps through branded video ads by integrating their Software Development Kits (SDKs) and has a reach of over 100 million unique users in the region.
While ensuring 100% viewership of all in-app mobile video ad campaigns, POKKT’s new technology also aligns to the Media Rating Council’s* guidelines for measurement of in-app viewable impressions. It applies to all in-app video ads bought directly or via private programmatic deals.
This technology aims to do away with the current ad-tech and mobile video advertising industry challenges related to ad blocking and fraud traffic. Ensuring 100% viewership is an important Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for POKKT to re-innovate mobile advertising by providing top notch ads and measurements that advertisers can understand.
Speaking about their latest innovation, Manish Tewari, CTO & Co-Founder, POKKT said, “The ad tech and mobile industry had been facing a major roadblock in measuring effectiveness of their campaigns and its exact reach. To resolve this for all of our clients, we have developed this technology wherein the advertisers and we can measure whether the target is actually watching the video through tracking sensors which provides us with data such as if there is a change in the angle at which the video is being watched etc. If the sensors indicate that the person is not watching the video, we pause the ad, thereby reducing fraud traffic numbers.”
POKKT’s new proprietary technology will give all campaigns and advertisers the most comprehensive viewership offering possible. Advertisers will only have to pay on viewable impressions that are calculated on a CPM-basis (Cost per thousand impressions) verified by an independent third party ad rating tools like Nielsen, Moat, Comscore.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
