MAM
TV ad spends to grow to over Rs 15,500 crore in 2015: Pitch Madison report
MUMBAI: 2015 seems to be an exciting year for television spends. According to the Pitch Madison report, in 2015 television spends are projected to grow to over Rs 15,500 crore, up from Rs 14,158 crore in 2015, showing a growth of 9.5 per cent.
The report further states that for last year, television grew by 14 per cent on par with its projected growth rate of 15 per cent and maintained its contribution to the total advertising pie at 38 per cent. TV advertising, which grew by approximately Rs 1,700 crore, saw two giants – the elections and the e-commerce segment spending in excess of Rs 1,050 crore.
This year’s biggest sports extravaganza, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2015 is expected to bring in revenue of Rs 1,000 crore of which Rs 500 crore is likely to be additional revenue. The balance will be part of organic growth across segments like BFSI, telecom, consumer durables, automobiles and others.
With regards to new channel launches, the report states, “The Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) space saw three launches – Zindagi, Sony Pal and Epic and the re-positioning of Big Magic as a national channel last year. 2015 is expected to see the trend to continue with many more new channel launches from existing networks. This increased inventory supply will in turn lead to a hike in advertising revenue.”
With the government extending the deadline for phase III of digitization, the increased penetration of digitization will also see increased spending not only on SD and HD channels but also on niche channels. The report also mentions that the facility of geo targeting ads on TV (as seen recently with Star picking up the initiative for the World Cup) will pull in more premium, local and retail advertisers. E-commerce along with marketers of mobile social apps are expected to continue their intensive push through higher advertising spends.
The report also mentions that while Hindi GECs contributed nearly 27 per cent of their overall TV revenue and continue being the leaders, a change in the order saw Tamil Cable and Satellite (TN CS) garnering the second largest chunk of ad revenues, as it grew from 7.2 per cent to 8.5 per cent in 2014, thereby overtaking Hindi news channels.
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.
