MAM
Print ad space grows 21 per cent in 2025 over 2021, TAM AdEx reveals
Auto sector leads with 16 per cent share, sales promotions reach 33 per cent amid festive surges in print medium.
MUMBAI: Don’t write off print just yet, it’s inking a remarkable resurgence, splashing a 21 per cent surge in ad space per publication in 2025 compared to 2021, with a cheeky 2 peer cent nudge over 2024, as per TAM AdEx’s fresh insights into the paper chase. In a world gone digital, print proved its staying power, clocking steady consolidation after earlier leaps, think 19 per cent up in 2024 from 2021 levels. Quarterly vibes? Q3 and Q4 stole the show, dishing out 13 per cent more ad space per publication than a sluggish Q1, perhaps thanks to those cosy winter reads or blockbuster events.
Sectors-wise, the auto crowd revved to the front with a commanding 16 per cent slice of total ad space, tailed by services at 15 per cent and education at 14 per cent. Banking/finance/investment grabbed 11 per cent, retail 8 per cent, personal accessories 7 per cent, food & beverages 4 per cent, durables 3 per cent, personal healthcare 3 per cent, and corporate/brand image 2 per cent, with the ragtag “others” mopping up 15 per cent. The top 10 sectors hogged a whopping 85 per cent of the ink, and notably, the first eight including personal accessories and durables held their spots steady from 2024.
Zooming into categories (over 665 in play), cars zoomed ahead with 9 per cent share, properties/real estates at 6 per cent, two wheelers matching that 6 per cent, multiple courses 5 per cent, retail outlets-jewellers 5 per cent, hospital/clinics 4 per cent, retail outlets-electronics/durables 3 per cent, coaching/competitive exam centres 3 per cent, schools 2 per cent, and retail outlets-clothing/textiles/fashion 2 per cent. The rest? A sprawling 55 per cent. Education claimed three spots, auto and services two each, retail two, all adding up to 45 per cent for the top 10.
Advertisers (219K plus strong) saw Maruti Suzuki India cruising at pole position, followed by Hero Motocorp, Reliance Retail, Tata Motors, TVS Motor Company, Samsung India Electronics, LIC of India, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Titan Company, and Bajaj Auto, the latter leaping from 29th in 2024 to 10th. Together, they splashed 13 per cent of ad space.
Brands? Over 179K jostled, but Maruti Car Range led the pack, with Smart Bazaar, Allen Career Inst, Bajaj Pulsar Range, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Hyundai Car Range, Vishal Mega Mart, Veena World Travels, Honda Activa Range, and Maruti Suzuki Victoris trailing. The top 10 claimed 5 per cent, five from auto, and five fresh faces shaking up from 2024.
Growth stories sparkled, Over 320 categories bloomed positively, cars accelerating 26 per cent, branded jewellery glittering 60 per cent, multiple courses 11 per cent, retail outlets-jewellers 9 per cent, properties/real estates 7 per cent, mutual funds 52 per cent, retail outlets-departmental stores 25 per cent, FMCG products range exploding 3.1 times, schools 13 per cent, and ecom-online shopping 42 per cent, a mix of steady climbs and explosive jumps over 2024.
Exclusives added flair, 72K plus advertisers and 95K plus brands went print-only in 2025 vs 2024, topped by West Bengal Industrial Devp Corp and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra respectively, with gems like Oravel Stays, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and Mahindra Electric Car joining the solo act.
Innovations kept it fresh: Masthead integration led at 0.2 per cent share, augmented reality 0.1 per cent, figured outline 0.1 per cent, French window 0.1 per cent, print format inv 0.1 per cent, top five nabbing 0.6 per cent, plus 36 more quirks at 0.32 per cent. Teasers, bookmarks, seamless jackets, and figure outlines exemplified the creative twists grabbing eyeballs.
Ad positions? Jacket-full page ruled with 32 per cent, full page (np) 29 per cent, half page-horizontal (np) 21 per cent, solus 9 per cent, half page-vertical (np) 2 per cent, over 8800 brands favouring jackets, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra topping that list.
Promotions punched hard, Sales promo ads snagged 33 per cent of space, multiple promotions dominating 51 per cent, discount 38 per cent, add-on 4 per cent, contest 2 per cent, volume 2 per cent, others 3 per cent, top two gobbling 88 per cent.
Festive fever? Deepavali dazzled with 41 per cent, Navratri/Durga Puja 17 per cent, Christmas/New Year 10 per cent, Independence Day 9 per cent, Republic Day 6 per cent holidays proving print’s party trick.
All stats exclude house ads, measured in Col*Cms, a snapshot that shows print’s not fading, it’s just turning the page with clever flair.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
