Category: Advertising

Marketing masterstrokes: How Pepsi’s ‘Nothing Official About It’ upended the 1996 Cricket World Cup

The campaign was a runaway success, cementing Pepsi’s status as a cultural force in India.

In 1996, after losing the official sponsorship of the Cricket World Cup to Coca-Cola, Pepsi launched the bold “Nothing Official About It” campaign, redefining ambush marketing. The ad’s irreverent messaging and strategic timing turned a setback into a cultural and commercial triumph.

YouTube revamps mid-roll ads to enhance viewer experience and boost creator revenue

The new plan allows users to watch most videos ad-free across various content categories like gaming, cooking, comedy, and education, but excludes music videos, Shorts, and background play.

YouTube believes that reducing interruptive ads will not only keep viewers engaged for longer but also increase the overall mid-roll revenue opportunity for creators.

Omnicom seeks CCI nod for acquisition of Interpublic Group

The merger, expected to close in the second half of 2025, is subject to regulatory approvals worldwide, including from the CCI, as well as shareholder votes from both companies.

Under the proposed transaction, Omnicom’s wholly owned subsidiary, EXT Subsidiary Inc. (Omnicom Merger Sub), will merge with IPG, resulting in IPG becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Omnicom

Actor Urvashi Rautela under scanner for promoting illegal gambling platforms

Earlier, Urvashi Rautela had received a backlash for promoting another illegal betting and gambling platform, Lotus365.

Earlier, Urvashi Rautela had received a backlash for promoting another illegal betting and gambling platform, Lotus365. Moreover, multiple celebrities including Rautela were under scanner of the government for promoting Mahadev Online Book, an illegal betting company.

Bitter truth behind food ads: Will stricter regulations finally hold brands accountable?

Dr. Arun Gupta, convenor, Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), also suggested that FSSAI replace ‘Health Ratings’ (Labelling packaged food products with a star rating based on their nutritional profile) with ‘Warnings’, which favoured consumer health as opposed to the former only benefiting the industry. (Image Source: Unsplash)

Health experts and regulators are calling out deceptive food advertising, from celebrity-endorsed snacks to misleading “healthy” labels. As the government forms a new committee, will this crackdown lead to change?

With ‘Anytime is Pepsi Time’ campaign, we’re defining refreshment for summer season: PepsiCo

In 1996, Pepsi’s provocative campaign, “Nothing Official About It,” took direct aim at Coca-Cola, the official sponsor of that year’s Cricket World Cup.

Once a battleground for fierce marketing rivalries, the soft drink industry saw Pepsi and Coca-Cola wage high-stakes Cola Wars, particularly through cricket. With new players like Reliance-owned Campa Cola entering the fray, the question remains – are the Cola Wars poised for a comeback?

Cola Ad Wars Are Back!: Pepsi fires first salvo. ‘Nothing official about it 2.0’?

The ad cleverly weaves a rhythmic, playful list of life’s best moments—first time, thirst time, play time, crunch time, winner time, we time, me time—all reminding us that there’s never a wrong time to pop open a chilled Pepsi.

Pepsi just turned every moment into a refreshing celebration! While Coca-Cola played the game with its halftime campaign, Pepsi India took a bold and cheeky ad route.

The Indie Ad Revolution: ‘Item numbers’ to ‘pretainers’, what’s happening with indie ad shops?

Clients, creativity, talent and compensation – independent ad firms’ founders unpack what makes indies tick in today’s hyper-fragmented ad landscape and what gives independent agencies an edge over the big networks?

Mumbai’s railway advertising boom: ₹219 crore earned in five years: EXCLUSIVE

Churchgate is the costliest station for advertisers, with table space priced at ₹40,000 per day, while LCD/LED display ads at stations cost ₹14,655. Rates are significantly lower at stations beyond Nandurbar.

According to the RTI response (a copy of which is with Storyboard18), the revenue from advertisement for WR grew from Rs 11.47 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 70.69 crore on 2023-24.