AD Agencies
Carat bags media account for ZEE5
MUMBAI: ZEE5, Zee Entertainment’s new digital entertainment platform, has appointed Carat, part of Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), as its media agency for India. Carat bagged the media duties following a multi-agency pitch. Carat will handle media planning and buying for ZEE5 in India excluding digital. Headed by senior business director Suman Pal, the account will be managed by the agency’s Mumbai office.
ZEE5 India digital head Archana Anand says, “We are delighted to have Carat on board as our media partner. We were keen to collaborate with an agency that understands our business and has the expertise to help us drive huge efficiencies into our media planning and buying, and Carat had excellent credentials on this front.”
Carat Media India CEO Rajni Menon adds, “ZEE5 has been in the news for some time and we are extremely excited about bagging the account. The platform offers viewers an extremely innovative viewing experience and we will adopt an equally innovative and consistent approach to ensure that their digital platform gains a strong foothold among their audiences. With the DAN group’s integrated approach and capabilities of delivering end-to-end solutions, we are confident of establishing a strong connect with the digital consumers of India.”
Launching soon with content across multiple languages, ZEE5 will be the digital destination for Zee Entertainment and will offer a mix of both on-demand content, including originals, movies and much more, as well as live TV.
AD Agencies
Publicis posts €4.19bn Q1 revenue, 6.4 per cent growth; backs FY outlook
Ad giant signals Q2 acceleration as AI and new deals power momentum
PARIS: Publicis Groupe continues to outperform the industry, delivering a strong start to 2026 under Chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun. Despite a volatile global macro environment, the company has now outpaced the industry for nearly 20 consecutive quarters.
For Q1 2026, total revenue reached €4,191 million, up from €4,161 million last year, with organic growth of 6.4 per cent. Net revenue, which excludes pass-through costs, stood at €3,460 million, reflecting organic growth of 4.5 per cent.
Exchange rates had a negative impact of €268 million, mainly due to a weaker US dollar and pound sterling. Acquisitions, including Adge.AI and 160over90, contributed an additional €46 million.
Performance across regions was largely positive, with some variation:
- North America, accounting for 59 per cent of net revenue, grew 4.7 per cent
- Europe recorded growth of 3.9 per cent, led by the UK at 6.2 per cent, while France grew 1.6 per cent
- Asia Pacific posted 5.9 per cent growth, driven by China at 11.7 per cent
- Latin America grew 13.3 per cent
- Middle East and Africa declined 5.1 per cent due to geopolitical challenges
AI-powered marketing services, which now make up 86 per cent of the business, grew 5.6 per cent. However, the technology segment, representing 14 per cent of revenue, declined slightly as clients reduced spending on large-scale transformation projects.
Sharing his outlook, Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun said, “Publicis had a very strong start to the year, outperforming the industry for almost 20 quarters in a row despite the volatile macro environment. Organic revenue growth reached 6.4%, leading to 4.5% in net and further increasing the gap with our peers.” He added that the company remains confident of delivering industry-leading performance. “We are confirming our industry-leading organic growth guidance of 4 to 5%, with the 4% rock solid, and a sequential organic growth acceleration in Q2 despite a higher comparable.”
Publicis continued its expansion with the acquisition of Adge.AI in March, followed by 160over90 in April to strengthen its sports and culture marketing capabilities.
Net financial debt stood at €1,156 million at the end of March, reflecting a seasonal shift from the net cash position at the end of 2025. Average net debt over the past twelve months was €1,035 million.
The company has reaffirmed its full-year guidance, expecting net revenue organic growth of 4 to 5 per cent in 2026. It also anticipates an operating margin slightly above 18.2 per cent and free cash flow of approximately €2.1 billion.
With expectations of stronger performance in the second quarter, Publicis remains well positioned to sustain its growth momentum.
