MAM
Eyeblaster’s new version of rich media platform
NEW YORK: Eyeblaster, which claims to be the leader in rich media delivery and management, has announced the launch of Eyeblaster 5.3. This is the latest upgrade to its rich media platform.
Eyeblaster 5.3 includes enhancements that make it easier for online advertisers to create, manage, and track rich media campaigns directly, and produce more effective online campaigns. One such enhancement is the ability to serve larger file-sizes of up to one megabyte (1 MB).
An official release informs that AOL UK will use the new technology to launch a 1 MB rich-media ad for its AOL Music Sessions@AOL.
Sessions@AOL is the AOL-produced, exclusive in-studio performance and interview series that spotlights some of the biggest names in music, including Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, LeAnn Rimes. The ad, using Eyeblaster’s expandable banner ad format, will combine music video segments from various artists in a fast-moving Flash MX-based environment upon user interaction.
The 1 MB limit can be used for Flash files in all seven Eyeblaster ad formats, including floating ad, commercial break, interstitial window ad, and full-page overlay formats. AOL UK’s senior label relations manager Sarah Western commented, “It’s our goal to make AOL Music the premier music destination on the web, and Sessions@AOL is integral to that. Eyeblaster gives us the perfect vehicle to show how entertaining and engaging Sessions@AOL performances and interviews really are.”
Web publishers who have stayed away from ads with large file sizes in the past have often done so as a result of concerns about their affect on website usability, as well as poor experiences with older video streaming methods. Eyeblaster removes those concerns by combining best-of-breed solutions in one platform, which results in surprising creative power and a user-friendly viewing experience.
These solutions include the following:
* Data streaming is now combined with Eyeblaster’s polite download, so the rich media portion of the ad can download quickly without affecting the website user’s experience.
* Automatic and manual “buffering” controls for the streaming process have been added to maximize the user experience and the number of ad plays. The buffer, which is the amount of the ad that loads before the ad begins to play, can be adjusted in the new product version based on bandwidth, ad file size and agency and publisher preference.
* Closer integration with Flash MX allows all popular video formats to be imported into a Flash video and easy creative set up.
Eyeblaster CEO Gal Trifon said, “Technology that supports web content created for broadband users, including advertising, is vitally important now that broadband usage is substantial. With our latest platform enhancements, Eyeblaster has created the easiest system for creating and delivering bandwidth-targeted online ad content. The possibilities for richer, more visually creative ads have expanded dramatically.”
Brands
Nykaa eyes majority stake in Deepika Padukone’s 82°E brand
Deal could help scale premium label as Nykaa sharpens its beauty play
MUMBAI: Nykaa is in advanced discussions to acquire a majority stake in 82°E, the premium skincare label founded by Deepika Padukone, according to media reports.
The proposed deal signals Nykaa’s intent to deepen its House of Nykaa portfolio while giving 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the transaction goes through.
For Nykaa, the play is both strategic and timely. With a customer base of over 42 million, the company is betting on its strong distribution, logistics, and repeat purchase ecosystem to revive the brand’s momentum. The two sides already share a working relationship, with Padukone serving as Nykaa’s global brand ambassador since September 2025.
Launched in late 2022, 82°E entered the market with a premium positioning but has faced headwinds. The brand reported revenue of Rs 14.7 crore in FY25, down 30 per cent year on year, alongside losses of Rs 12.26 crore. Industry observers have pointed to steep pricing, a somewhat diffused brand identity, and intense competition from digital-first labels as key challenges.
The potential acquisition also reflects a broader shift in India’s beauty and lifestyle space, where celebrity-led brands are increasingly partnering with larger corporates to unlock scale. Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma, for instance, sold a majority stake to Reliance Retail, while Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has emerged as a standout success within Nykaa’s portfolio, clocking Rs 132.4 crore in FY25 revenue.
Nykaa itself has been on a strong growth trajectory. Its parent, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, reported a 156 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 68 crore in the December 2025 quarter, with revenue reaching Rs 2,873 crore.
Nykaa has been steadily building its portfolio through acquisitions such as Dot & Key, Earth Rhythm and Nudge Wellness, signalling a clear push to own and scale homegrown brands.
If the 82°E deal materialises, it could mark a fresh chapter for the label, blending celebrity appeal with corporate muscle. For Nykaa, it is another calculated step in staying ahead in an increasingly crowded beauty aisle.
