MAM
NDTV firm on legal pursuit against TAM
MUMBAI: The New York Supreme Court (NYSC) is expected to give out its verdict on whether the complaint filed by Indian broadcaster NDTV against TAM‘s owning companies – Nielsen, Kantar and WPP – holds jurisdiction in America by mid January.
A source informed indiantelevision.com that NDTV plans to keep on with its efforts against the TV ratings agency TAM and its holding companies irrespective of the judgement. “If the New York Supreme Courts rules that the case has jurisdiction in America, they will continue with it there. If the Court says India is the right country for this litigation, the broadcaster will pursue the case in India anew,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
The parties currently involved are filing their amended complaints and/or motions to dismiss NDTV‘s lawsuit according to the deadlines given by the NYSC in September this year.
In a recent interview with liveMint, WPP CEO Martin Sorrell commented: “NDTV doesn’t have just their restaurant lawyers involved, they have others as well now. They have upgraded. There is no development. Not to my knowledge, no. NDTV seems to have gone quiet on it.”
The source said that “there is no point in making noise over nothing till the issue of jurisdiction is settled.”
On the matter of lawyers, the industry insider explained that there is always a team of lawyers involved in such cases. While a certain set of lawyers worked on the preliminary complaints, when it is time for discussion and arguing in front of the judge another set of lawyers are called in. In essence it is as simple as saying, “Different roles to different lawyers.”
NDTV has expanded its legal team on the case by getting on board law firm Pepper Hamilton which has handled legal matters for the Indian news broadcaster in the past as well.
In October, NDTV informed the NYSC that it has dropped action without prejudice against Cavendish Square Holding B.V., J. Walter Thompson, IMRB International, a division of Hindustan Thompson Associates Private Limited, and Kantar Market Research Services Pvt. Ltd. which were named in the original document.
Earlier this week, Prasar Bharti had approached the Competition Commission of India against India‘s lone TV ratings agency TAM insinuating anti-competitive practices. The pubcaster had filed the complaint against TAM on 16 November alleging that the ratings agency has been using its dominant position in audience measurement by excluding markets where Doordarshan channels have strong presence. The complaint was filed under section 4 of the Competition Act 2002, which pertains to abuse of dominant position by a market player.
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.
