MAM
JWT, Starcom bag creative & media duties for Hungama
MUMBAI: UTV has finalised JWT as the creative agency and Starcom as the AOR for its kiddies channel Hungama TV which is set to launch in August this year. Industry estimates say that the mid-size account could be anywhere in the range of Rs 80 – 100 million.
“We decided on JWT for their strategic approach and creative inputs. The agency displayed exemplary understanding of the brief. And Starcom won us over with their out of the box approach and innovative media selection given that the media vehicles themselves are limited for a broadcast product,” says Hungama TV vice president content and communications Shalini Rawla.
“It was a very focused brief and a clearly differentiated product. As we discovered, most of us are still kids at heart and we had a terrific time working on the pitch. I believe some of our passion came through in our presentation. We look forward to lots of excitement on this account,” said JWT general manager and senior VP Tarun Rai.
“This was one pitch where the agency and the client minds matched one hundred percent. Many of our recommendations were also based on our proprietary framework Passion Group Marketing. We believe this year will be to Kids’ channels what last year was to News. Hungama TV has all the right ingredients and the roadmap to emerge as the leader in this segment. Naturally, we are happy to be part of the action,” Starcom MD West and South Ravi Kiran.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com about what gave them an edge over Mediacom who was also involved in the pitch, Kiran said, “We gathered child related insights from eight to ten markets around the world and found out how children consume and look at media. And our presentation was based on that. I think that’s what gave us the advantage.”
MAM
Ad:tech honours 2026: Full list of winners announced
Expanded awards spotlight winners across 22 categories as industry doubles down on intelligent automation
NEW DELHI: Marketing’s tech elite took the spotlight as the ad:tech honours 2026 returned with a sharper focus on AI, data and immersive media, signalling how deeply technology now underpins brand strategy. Held at Yashobhoomi on March 17, the second edition drew industry leaders to celebrate innovation that is reshaping engagement and performance.
Presented with the International Advertising Association India chapter and new partner Huella, the awards expanded from 8 to 22 categories, tracking the rapid convergence of creativity, automation and analytics.
The winners’ list reads like a snapshot of marketing’s future. In affiliate and partner marketing, Lyxel & Flamingo – Boat and Paytm Ads – Giva took silver. Mobavenue Media Private Limited struck gold in AI-driven dynamic creative optimisation, alongside a silver for Laqshya Media Limited.
Creative AI collaboration saw Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited win gold, with Saltinc Consulting Private Limited securing silver. Laqshya Media Limited continued its strong run, taking gold in AI conversation agents and adding multiple wins across categories, including silver in GenAI-led creative and both gold and silver in interactive DOOH campaigns for Tanishq and Tata Coffee.
Predictive AI honours went to Strong Metrics and Tyroo, both silver, while Orient Bell Limited picked up silver in immersive retail tech. In GenAI-led creative, Laqshya Media Limited, Salt – Kotak and Sumimoto each secured silver, reflecting the crowded race in generative creativity.
Publicis bagged silver in influencer management and gold in performance marketing, where it shared the stage with Arm Worldwide and The Trade Desk, both silver. Glad U Came Private Limited stood out with gold in influencer measurement and analytics.
Marketing automation saw CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. and Globale Media win silver, while ADMOTT Private Limited claimed silver in OTT innovation.
Programmatic media categories highlighted the shift to advanced targeting and connected screens. Mobavenue Media Private Limited clinched gold in connected TV advertising, with Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd – Asus and Lyxel and Flamingo taking silver. Cheggout Services Private Limited won silver in retail media advertising, while Paytm Ads – Versuni secured gold.
On social platforms, Vayner Media India took gold in community and UGC engagement, with Under 25 – Oppo winning silver. Segumento rounded off the list with silver in the innovation category.
Jaswant Singh, country managing director at ad:tech India, underscored the momentum, saying generative AI and data-driven decision-making are now central to marketing impact. Neena Dasgupta, IAA mancom member and chief executive and founder at The Salt Inc Consulting, added that the awards celebrate not just technology, but “the people, the creativity, and the relentless effort behind it.”
Backed by Comexposium Group, ad:tech New Delhi has long tracked digital disruption. Now, with the honours, it is rewarding those who are not just adapting to change but engineering it.
In an industry racing towards automation, the message from 2026 is unmistakable. The future of marketing will be written not just in ideas, but in algorithms.
