MAdtech Point: The business of identities

For the first time, holding companies are now taking a clear position to differentiate their product. For a good long time, all media plans or channel plans looked the same, predominantly controlled by the data sets of the walled gardens, writes Gowthaman Ragothaman.

The business of identities will fall into a typical 2 x 2 matrix with the players of ad tech ecosystem on one axis and the approaches to managing identities on the other axis, writes Gowthaman Ragothaman.

Beyond the sixes: What’s driving the IPL 2025 ad spend frenzy?

IPL remains an indispensable property for advertisers and will kick off in two days (on March 22), at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The IPL remains a crucial advertising avenue for various industries. Auto, FMCG, BFSI, and infrastructure are the categories likely to see the highest surge in ad spends as the tournament progresses, experts say.

YouTube crosses 125 million paid subscribers, expands ‘Premium Lite’ tier

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.

The Google-owned video-sharing giant continues its rapid paid subscriber growth, adding 25 million users in just over a year.

Creativeland Asia takes WinZO to court, cries foul over misuse of creative idea

Creativeland Advertising claimed that in February 2025, WinZO Games unexpectedly terminated discussions, opting to work with a different creative team and offering Rs. 10 lakhs as compensation for the tagline.

The order copy stated that before a formal agreement could be entered into, WinZO (Respondent) has made an application for registration of the tagline “Jeeto Har Dinzo” in its name as a trademark.

Bharti Airtel urges TRAI to regulate WhatsApp, other OTT platforms to tackle spam

Airtel’s vice-chairman and managing director, Gopal Vittal, proposed extending the digital consent acquisition (DCA) framework to OTT platforms, enforcing Know Your Customer (KYC) verification for users, and integrating these services into a centralised spam blacklist system.

Telecom giant calls for stricter oversight on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram to curb fraud and unsolicited communication.

Perplexity CEO announces Rs 1 crore contest for Champions Trophy 2025 final

Despite being "highly under monetized," the company has managed to grow at an extraordinary rate, recording a 6.3x year-over-year revenue increase.

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas announces a grand prize as India secures a thrilling semi-final victory against Australia in ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola: Will the 2025 cola war spark enough buzz?

Despite the 'war frenzy', some believe brands like Coke and Pepsi may not capture the public imagination as dominantly as they once did, mainly because the category itself is not as dominant as it once was. (Image source: CNBC)

While fans and consumers are eager for a classic rivalry to unfold, experts predict Pepsi’s latest salvo to remain at the tease stage and lighthearted, with Coca-Cola unlikely to take the bait for a full-blown competition.

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.