Advertising

India's advertising industry may see marginal, digital-led growth in 2026

Muted 2025 trends, an RMG ban and slow traditional media growth point to low single-digit expansion in 2026, with digital advertising expected to remain the strongest and most resilient growth driver

Time for advertising pros to hug their jobs as AI lurks in the shadows

In the past few years, the "right-sizing" and "consolidation" at WPP has resulted in iconic advertising brand names like J Walter Thompson, Young & Rubicam , & Wunderman being consigned to the dustbin

FMCG cuts hit TV ads: India's broadcast advertising falls 10% in 2025

India's TV ad market saw a 10 per cent drop in 2025 as FMCG firms cut spending amid weak demand; broadcasters like Zee and Sony reported lower ad revenue but expect recovery ahead

AI ads: Blurring the line between information, recommendation and promotion

Google's decision to try out advertisements within its Gemini AI experience could change both revenue structures as well as how advertising is targeted, but it also raises several ethical questions

Salman Khan in trouble over misleading pan masala ads, court issues notice

The complaint, filed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajasthan High Court advocate Inder Mohan Singh Honey, seeks a ban on such advertisements

Piyush Pandey: The legendary genius for whom advertising was about magic

More than the mind, he believed an ad needed to touch the heart

The ad world's storyteller: Remembering Piyush Pandey and his timeless work

A Padma Shri awardee and the face of Ogilvy India for over four decades, Pandey was widely regarded as one of India's most influential advertising figures

Centre likely to ease advertising rules to help CAs, their firms to grow

The proposed amendment aims to enable the emergence of large domestic firms capable of competing with global players and capturing a share of the $240-bn international auditing and consultancy market

Cracks on the screen: Can TV fix its slide with ads and smarter metrics?

A growing ad market, an evolved advertiser, and a metric that works are what TV needs to pull itself out of its downward slide. That appears to be a tall order

Print, TV advertising volumes on PM Narendra Modi's 75th birthday

On television, government political and social ads conveying wishes accounted for nearly 28 hours of airtime across over 90 channels

Are your conversations safe? Here's why Instagram ads seem too spot-on

Many users report eerily specific ads appearing right after casual conversations, from concerts they wish to attend to products they never searched for online

Meta to launch ad-free Facebook and Instagram subscriptions in UK

The move will give users a choice between paying a monthly fee or continuing to use the services for free with targeted advertising, a model that has faced increasing scrutiny from European regulators

The Big Short: Micro-dramas grow into $8 bn global business led by China

Micro-dramas are now a $26 bn global business, with China leading at $9.4 bn. India's start-ups are entering the race but the market size remains undefined

Advertising rates for Asia Cup India-Pakistan match down by 15 to 20%

Industry executives say various factors, including sudden ban on the real money gaming (RMG) sector, which has been among the biggest advertisers in cricket, have led to the dip in advertising rates

'Advertisers can now target urban, rural audiences separately on YouTube'

Google will allow advertisers on YouTube in India to target rural and urban audiences separately for the first time, as Shorts viewership and creator ads drive ROI

Obituary: Diwan Arun Nanda, the last of India's advertising greats

Remembering Diwan Arun Nanda - Rediffusion founder, ad legend, and pioneer of India's creative and political advertising legacy

TV leads ad spends in 2025 as print bounces back, digital shrinks

Television remained the biggest gainer in the first half of 2025, with per-channel ad spends climbing 27 per cent compared to the same period in 2024

Real-money gaming ban could send ad sector into brief cold spell

Sports sponsorships may face hiccups

Higher input costs likely to hit near-term margins of United Spirits

United Spirits' revenue grew in the June quarter, driven by volume growth, but margins were hit by higher advertising and promotional costs. Brokerages see price correction as a potential opportunity.

Industry to follow ethical practices in advertising food products: Govt

The Centre on Wednesday asked industries to follow ethical practices in labelling and advertisements of food products to ensure public health and protect consumer interest. The concern was raised at a National Stakeholder Consultation on the subject, 'Comprehensive Analysis of Regulatory Framework on Food Labelling, Advertisement and Claims,' the Health Ministry said in a statement. The consultation was organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. At the event, MHFW Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava stressed the importance of ethical and truthful practices in labelling and advertising in the food sector. According to the statement, she said, "Things are changing rapidly today. We are now exposed to the entire world, which means we must adopt many positive changes and best practices, while also scrutinizing food products more closely." Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, asked the industr