Author: Indrani Bose

‘Largest employer in the world is inefficiency’: CRED’s Kunal Shah at Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit

At Storyboard18's Global Pioneers Summit, Kunal Shah, Founder and CEO of CRED observed, "We’re moving from ChatGPT to generative images to AI agents—fast. The biggest disruption will be how humans adapt. High-commitment actions—like having kids—might decline. People may choose perpetual excitement over long-term responsibility."

At Storyboard18’s Global Pioneers Summit, Kunal Shah, Founder and CEO of CRED reflected, “Ironically, many experts are in denial of AI. But people like me, who never claimed to be experts, are embracing it.”

Colgate-Palmolive’s Prabha Narasimhan on prioritizing integrity in business

Prabha Narasimhan stated, "India is fascinating. You can’t average India—it’s like averaging the depth of a river. So we design for cohorts across the pyramid. At the bottom of the pyramid, we have ₹10 packs—affordable but still scientifically backed and in recyclable tubes. Sustainability is non-negotiable. At the top end, we offer products for gum care and whitening. The core principle—quality and sustainability—remains consistent."

At Storyboard18’s Global Pioneers Summit, Prabha Narasimhan, MD and CEO, Colgate-Palmolive (India) stated, “With media fragmentation, we can’t just broadcast anymore—we have to engage. That means turning what used to be a monologue into a dialogue.”

TV ad market down 6%, fewer ads, 12% brand drop cited: Report

BrandPulse report underscores the need for dynamic and engaging content that can quickly capture and hold audience attention.

YouTube’s reach in India has grown to 63% of TV’s reach in 2024 (it was 61% in 2023), driven by increased internet adoption in HSM states like Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and the Northeast where 95% of its users consume content in local languages.

Rs 9 billion cinema ad surge driven by PVR-INOX: FICCI-EY Report

Very low cost theaters (with a capital investment below INR4 million each) will also come into being across approximately 88 cities with populations between 100k and 500k, and in the next 300 to 500 even smaller towns with populations below 100k. These theaters, which will thrive on mass and spectacular films, will have lower ticket and food and beverage prices, and will help in growing footfalls from underserved markets.

Given the environment of caution in 2025, fewer films will be produced on account of rising production costs, less digital and broadcast pre-funding/ pre-sales of rights, and higher dependence on theatrical revenues, especially for certain categories of small or mid-budget films.

IT’s mixed bag: More women hired, fewer promoted, says report

Among all sectors, Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have made the most progress in improving gender diversity, with female workforce representation rising from 31.4% in 2020 to 38.3% in 2024.

In the IT Services sector, female workforce participation increased from 7.8% in 2020 to 21.2% in 2024, reflecting efforts to create more inclusive hiring practices. However, this increase has not translated into significant career progression, as women’s representation in mid-level roles grew from just 4.13% in 2020 to 8.93% in 2024.

Digital ad spend surges 17% to Rs 700 bn, e-commerce leads growth: FICCI-EY Report

As per the FICCI – EY report, digital media in India has overtaken television to become the largest segment within the M&E sector, contributing an unprecedented 32% to the overall revenues.(Representative Image: Alexander Shatov via Unsplash)

The online gaming segment could struggle unless illegal offshore platforms are not curbed, and Indian companies could look to build out business in foreign countries with a more conducive regulatory environment

Reddit’s urban surge: 37% visitor growth fuels political, news hub status

Reddit also gained notable traction in India, rising from 31.6 million in 2023 to 43.4 million in 2024, an indication of inreasing engagement with news, politics, and niche online communities. (Representative image by Brett Jordan via Unsplash)

Interestingly, Tumblr experienced a staggering resurgence, jumping from just 1.2 million to 15.7 million users, representing a massive 1161% year-on-year growth, according to a report by Comscore.

Delhi High Court addresses Dabur’s challenge to FSSAI’s juice label ban

Dabur noted it had begun label modifications under protest, citing significant market disruption from FSSAI’s notification, with trade partners temporarily halting procurement.

Dabur disputed FSSAI’s assertion that added water makes the claim misleading, arguing the water reconstitutes the juice to its natural state, not an added ingredient diluting quality. They draw parallels to reconstituted milk, where water is inherent but doesn’t alter its classification.

From popcorn to petitions: Are pre-movie ads turning viewers into involuntary revenue streams?

As per MIB Guidelines, exceeding 10 minutes of advertisements breaches the Ministry’s stipulated norms. (Image source: Moneycontrol)

If a consumer is not given clear information about how long ads will last, or if the delay significantly affects their experience, it can be argued that the multiplex has engaged in misleading conduct, which is actionable under consumer forums.