Brands
Brands share excitement behind partnership with season 6 of ‘Game of Thrones’
MUMBAI: Game of Thrones season 6 has managed to lure viewers and attract advertisers alike with a roster of big brands associating with it. Star World Premiere HD has roped in e-commerce giant Amazon as presenting sponsors, Maruti Suzuki Baleno is a driven by sponsor and London Dairy and Ola Micro are powered by sponsors. Additionally other brands that have come on board are Housing.com, Matrix and Motorola as partners and Essilor, Yamaha, Himalaya and Sunny Lite as associate sponsors. Expedia, Skore and P&G OralCare are some other sponsors that the channel has roped in.
It is safe to say that the demographic tuning into the on-screen adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s spectacular creation may just be close to the total population on the planet! Inspiring new hordes of fans of the fantasy genre each year, Game of Thrones is now a household name right across the globe, attracting critics, literary geniuses, lovers of edge-of-the seat thrills and just like that the commoner who enjoys a truly well-made and well-narrated show.
Here is what brands have to say:
London Dairy head of marketing Shweta Shrivastava said, “Season 6 has been filled with potpourri of emotions and the series stays true to its intriguing twists and turns. Of course, Jon Snow was not going to wake up in the first episode as the teasers indicated, but the short sequence on Sansa, Theon and Brienne brought some sense of relief to a series where audience heartbreak has been the only constant. However, the true form of Melis and retrumped all else in terms of shock value. A character that shows absolutely no self-doubt throughout the series is finally showing fine cracks. What I await to see is what Bran brings to this convoluted series of events. We are proud to partner with Star World Premiere HD in helping get this much awaited series to India and look forward to unravel the series even as our consumers unravel the sheer indulgence of London Dairy ice creams this summer.”
Expedia marketing head Manmeet Ahluwalia voiced, “Once in a while a show comes along that transports you to another world and makes you believe in the magic of television again. Game of Thrones is one such show. It strikes the perfect balance between brooding medieval angst and wonderful fantasy story telling. It sticks loyal to the books and doesn’t “dumb things down” for a wider audience. My favorite character across all seasons is Arya Stark, Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen because of their strong personality. I loved the first season; it brilliantly established the universe of George R.R. Martin’s source material. The most memorable scene for me is when Jon Snow gifts Arya ‘Needle’- the sword with a teaching- ‘Stick them with a pointy end.’ I am eagerly waiting to see if Jon snow will be joining Daenerys Targaryen. Though, it’s quite predictable that Jon Snow will join the Khaleesi and prove the prophecy right.”
Skore Condoms marketing head Vishal Vyas added, “My favourite season on the show so far is Season 1 because the introduction of the all main characters was very interestingly done. Moreover, Ned Stark’s beheading was extremely unexpected and that invited a very different twist on the show. I am hooked to Season 6 since the story seems to now start unraveling and I would love to see Tyrion Lannister rule the seven kingdoms. He is also my favorite character on the show because he is funny and probably the smartest guy in the series.”
Procter & Gamble Oral Care assistant brand manager Abhijit Aswath shared, “I am an ardent Game of Thrones fan. I feel every season is packed with qualities that define great story telling – building some key characters, shifting the balance of power and rise and fall of power houses. Season 4 is probably my favorite season of the series since it is extremely action packed with 3 key characters – Jon Snow, Daenerys, Tyrion all pushed to the Wall; literally for Jon Snow and figuratively for Khaleesi & the little man, and how each of them use their best wits, skills and political acumen to come out strong. After Mahabharata, Game of Thrones probably is one such story which has all the complexity and drama you need in a grand tale -tussle of the truth/what’s right/wrong, magic and politics. After Season 5, the stage was set for the story to go to the next level and Season 6 lives up to this expectation so far. My fan theory is that next, Daenerys and the dragons will discover a land of wealth, wit and great science capable of defeating the Dead Men by giving them Moksha – a land called Industeros.”
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.
