MAM
Lightningcast introduces new version of live stream ad product
MUMBAI: American firm Lightningcast, which specialises in broadband video advertising insertion technology, has announced its next generation Live Stream Advertising Management System.
Lightningcast’s live stream ad management system seamlessly and dynamically inserts targetted, audited video ads into real-time broadband video content. Lightningcast has been inserting ads into live streams since 1999 and claims to be the established leader in in-stream broadband video advertising insertion technology for on-demand, live and downloaded content. Its customers
include AOL, Microsoft, ABC, MTV, Scripps Networks, A&E Networks and NPR.
Lightningcast developed its next generation live ad insertion technology to address the growing needs of Internet broadcasters now and in the future.
Lightningcast’s Live Stream Advertising Management System is a fully managed content and ad replacement solution for live video streams that leverages the best of television and the Internet, allowing for dynamic advertising, targeting, auditing, and interactivity. Key features include: support for synchronised web elements with the streamed ad; the ability to do server-side and client-side ad insertion so that ads may be targetted on a one-to-one basis; and an auditing method that provides continuous audience data throughout a live stream.
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.
