MAM
Zee TV and Amagi shake hands for geo-targeted advertising
MUMBAI: Getting more money out of advertising-that is always what everyone wants and Amagi Media Labs gives channels and advertisers just what they have been wanting for long in the form of geo-advertising and it is slowly building up its portfolio of clients as well as creating a name for itself in the TV industry.
Recently, the Bengaluru-based innovative ad solution providing company, Nickelodeon and HUL got in bed together to geo target the MNC FMCG‘s brand. Now, going a step further, Amagi has stitched together a partnership with Zee TV to customise ads as per location, making it the first ever deal with a national GEC. A month ago, sister channels Zee News and Zee Business from ZMCL partnered with it to provide regional advertisers inventory according to location. Now, because of this deal, viewers of Zee TV from different locations will get to watch different TVCs based on the area they are located.
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It already boasts of having more than 15 channels to which it offers this service and with a mass caterer like Zee TV on board, Amagi‘s 200 million viewer base is set to shoot up. Now, regional advertisers will have a chance to promote their brands on a national level, albeit locally which will help increase reach. At the same time it’s a win-win for Zee TV as well, because brands catering to local audiences will pull in more viewers.
Commenting on the partnership, Zee TV chief sales officer Ashish Sehgal says, “By partnering with Amagi, we are once again making history. We are very happy to tie up with Amagi and make available a whole new set of targeting options for advertisers. Zee TV is also looking to increase its client base through geo targeting, which will help local clients target their specific markets on a large GEC and shift monies from print to Zee TV.”
Clearly, the aim is to get as many people on board and to make TV the prime medium to advertise. Amagi has been rated as the second fastest growing tech company in India by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Looks like it is racing to be the first in this league.
Amagi business head L S Krishnan says, “Our advertisers have always been on the lookout for targeted offering on a large GEC. We are excited to offer Zee TV- leader in GEC space, to our advertisers. With this tie-up, Amagi continues to deliver on its vision of transforming the TV advertising space.”
One by one, GECs are being pulled in. This, even though some broadcasters have been skeptical about how effective this type of geo-targeted advertising will be. It would also mean selling spots for lower prices. Will Zee TV be fine with it? Seems as much.
Amagi has been created with an investment of Rs 70 crore and its current yearly revenues of about Rs 50 crore rupees seems to be going up the ladder.
It already has a long list of broadcast partners such as TEN sports, Times Now, CNBC Awaaz, IBN7, CNN-IBN, UTV Movies, Maa TV, Zoom, Udaya TV as well as Tata Sky as its DTH partner. Its list of advertiser clients includes Chevrolet, Toyota, Fortuna, Skoda apart from local ones such as Kuberan Silks, YLG, Mysore tarpaulins etc. It’s time to wait and watch who else jumps on the bandwagon.
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.
