MAM
Samsung, Channel [V] in Asian marketing tie-up
NEW DELHI: Yepp, it’s on: a tieup between a south Korean electronics major and a young music channel. Samsung Electronics and Channel [V] have announced an integrated marketing collaboration to promote Samsung’s yepp T8 multimedia player to young audiences in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand.
This is the first regional collaboration between the two parties and underscores Samsung’s commitment to lead Asia’s multimedia player market on the heels of its success with other consumer products, according to an official statement put out by Star Group.
Leveraging on Channel [V]’s popularity among music-savvy youth throughout Asia, the integrated marketing campaign will kick-start in August with a series of on-ground music events to be held in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Bangkok.
These live shows will culminate in a large-scale concert in Shanghai on August 27, with attendance expected to be over 20,000.
In addition, the campaign will market the yepp T8 through a full range of platforms, including on-air with product-integrated programming and commercials, on-line with newly developed micro sites, in print on [V] magazine and on the radio.
The statement, quoting Jang Jae Hyun, GM of Samsung Electronics China Digital Audio Business, said, “Being the trend-setting music channel in Asia, Channel [V] provides the perfect platform for Samsung to market the yepp T8 – a cool, cutting-edge and easy-to-use multimedia player.”
Hyun expressed confidence that the marketing campaign will boost the popularity of the yepp T8 and make it one of the “must-have gadgets for consumers in Asia.”
According to Star Group’s EVP ad sales, distribution and marketing Bruce A. Oltchick, “We’re excited to develop this integrated marketing campaign with Samsung. This multi-platform, cross-regional campaign serves as a testament to our commitment in delivering strategic solutions for our clients, and helping to meet their marketing objectives.”
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.
