AD Agencies
GroupM, Mindhsare and Gramener build data-driven visual solution for Times Now
MUMBAI: Mindshare and GroupM have partnered with Gramener, a leading data visualization company to create data-driven visual solutions for actionable insights across the marketing & communications ecosystem.
Data increasingly powers every element of the marketing mix –source of growth, consumer behavior, content creation, mix optimization and measurement. This partnership leverages GroupM & Mindshare’s strong customer reach and Gramener’s compelling visual analytics platform to create solutions that leverage dormant data assets and bring them alive through cutting edge visualization.
The first project undertaken after the partnership was for the leading English news channel Times Now on May 19 2016, when the State election results were announced. The team put together a unique, real time visualization of historic and current data that helped Times Now stand out strongly in the news clutter and gave viewers a compelling Visual Data Journalism experience.
Speaking about the data visualization products created especially for Times Now, the channel’s editor in chief Arnab Goswami said, “We were able to collate historic data dating back to the year of independence, and with the help of the Mindshare and Gramener team, we showed our viewers the latest trends and changing political scenario of the country, as the results of the latest State Elections were announced on May 19th 2016. Our reportage on the elections was holistic, and the data presentation helps the viewer understand our political environment better with the in depth analysis of our editorial team.The seamless workflow integration between the production teams of our news network and Gramener on a real time extremely fast paced election result day was a path breaker. I am absolutely delighted with this association.”
Mindshare South Asia CEO Prshanth Kumar said, “To truly deliver on our philosophy of Adaptive Marketing, it is critical that Data is brought alive and put to best effect. Our partnership with Gramener will help us deliver this consistently and in a compelling fashion. We will announce our first joint product very soon”
Gramener cofounder Naveen Gattu added,”We are excited by this partnership. It will help us untangle the data footprint and create powerful decision making tools for every marketing manager and executive.”
AD Agencies
Publicis Groupe to acquire 160over90 from WME Group
Deal aims to build data-led platform linking brands, fans and culture at scale
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has agreed to acquire 160over90 from WME Group, in a move that signals a major push into the fast-growing world of sports and culture-led marketing.
The deal, subject to regulatory approvals, will see Publicis combine its existing Publicis Sports capabilities with 160over90’s global footprint to create what it calls a unified, end-to-end platform connecting brands with audiences through sport, entertainment and culture.
Founded as a division of WME Group, 160over90 has built a reputation for delivering high-impact campaigns across some of the world’s biggest sporting moments, including the Super Bowl, Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. With over 670 employees across the US, UK, EMEA and Apac, the agency works with global brands to create experiences that resonate both on and off the field.
The acquisition reflects a broader shift in marketing, where sport has become a central pillar of premium media. With the global sports media market estimated at $150 billion and sponsorships crossing $90 billion, brands are increasingly looking for more integrated ways to engage audiences.
Publicis is betting that a data-led approach will be the differentiator. By integrating 160over90 with its own capabilities, including the Epsilon identity ecosystem and Influential network, the company aims to offer marketers a seamless way to plan, activate and measure campaigns across media, sponsorships, live events and creator partnerships.
Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun said, “After building our industry-leading position in identity resolution, commerce, and creators, our next big bet is sport. In the age of AI, it has become one of the most high-value channels for clients.”
He added that combining 160over90’s expertise with Publicis’ data and technology stack would help “connect brands to fans in ways that are both meaningful and measurable”.
Echoing the sentiment, Publicis Connected Media CEO Dave Penski said, “Sport has become the most powerful intersection of culture, commerce and community,” highlighting the growing need to treat sports marketing as a measurable channel rather than just brand-building.
As part of the deal, Publicis will also enter into a strategic partnership with WME Group, enabling closer collaboration on talent, content and brand partnerships. WME Group president Mark Shapiro said the tie-up would open up new opportunities for talent and brands to scale their ambitions globally.
Post acquisition, the combined Publicis Sports entity will report to Suzy Deering, while Robbie Henchman will remain with WME Group to oversee the ongoing partnership.
The move builds on Publicis’ recent investments in the space, including acquisitions of Adopt and Bespoke in 2025 and a partnership with Magic Johnson Enterprises, underscoring its intent to dominate the intersection of sport, culture and commerce.
As brands chase both attention and accountability, Publicis’ latest play suggests the future of sports marketing may be less about moments alone and more about measurable impact at scale.
