MAM
Multi Screen Media firms up three sponsors for IPL 6.0
MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media (MSM) has already roped in three sponsors for the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It has been learnt that Vodafone and Pepsi have come on board as co-presenting sponsors, while Tata DoCoMo is going to be an associate sponsor.
While not talking about specific deals, MSM president revenue, licensing and telephony Rohit Gupta said that the broadcaster is looking at selling out its entire ad inventory for the IPL this year, unlike the previous edition where it held on to ad rates to let go a small portion of its commercial airtime. “We have rationalised our rates by 10 per cent. While last year we had sold out 85 per cent, this time we want to sell out everything. Our revenue will not be affected.”
MSM is looking at two co-presenting and seven to eight associate sponsors. “Sponsors will take up around 60 per cent of the ad inventory. For ‘Extraaa Innings‘ we will have seven sponsors,” Gupta added.
Vivaki Exchange CEO Mona Jain believes the IPL ratings have stabilised. “They are not zooming but neither are they falling dramatically. The rationalisation of rates makes the IPL more affordable. I don’t think that the recent poor performance of the national Indian team will have a negative effect on the IPL‘s viewership. The IPL is a different ballgame where you have city based loyalties,” she says.
In terms of companies likely to come on board, Jain points out to consumer electronics companies and telecom. Auto is also expected to come on board, though that sector has been facing a tough time. “They may come in at lower outlays, but I still expect them to participate. The economic slowdown could have an effect in terms of the outlays that different companies are willing to commit. It is, however, too early to talk about that possible impact,” she points out.
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
