Week at a glance: JioHotstar’s plans; Cricket ad spends; Brand safety; BBDO positioning

JioHotstar will do a Jio in the OTT landscape, creating a monopoly, say experts

The JioHotstar merger is set to significantly reshape the Indian OTT landscape, as the combined entity brings together two of the most dominant players in the market – JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. With JioCinema already securing IPL’s digital rights and Star retaining TV rights, this merger positions JioHotstar as a formidable competitor to Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Champions Trophy Vs IPL: Will back-to-back cricket see cannibalisation in ad spends?

With the ICC Champions Trophy gaining momentum, advertisers are stepping up to the crease, ready to play their biggest innings yet. However, with the tournament scheduled right before the IPL, marketers now face a tricky pitch.

Market for OOH ad spends expected to reach $524.80 mn in India in 2025: Experts

As India moves toward a more digital future, the Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising industry is undergoing a major transformation. With significant events and rapid urbanization on the horizon, OOH is poised for a remarkable growth spurt in 2025.

Brand Safety Nightmare: When Clicks Fund the Unspeakable – Part 1

With programmatic advertising becoming increasingly automated, brands face growing ethical and reputational risks when they cannot fully control where their ads appear. In the high-speed superhighway of digital ad buying, dollars often land in the wrong places, sometimes funding platforms that no responsible advertiser would ever willingly support.

Bridging the Brand Safety Gap: A Call for Collaboration and Regulation – Part 2

With regulatory bodies intensifying scrutiny on digital platforms, industry experts stress the need for stronger ad verification measures. Aligning with global best practices—through transparency mandates, AI-driven fraud detection, and stricter enforcement—can help build a safer, more accountable advertising ecosystem.

Indepth: How tech-savvy, value-driven consumers are shaping beauty business in 2025

In 2025, the beauty and wellness industry is experiencing a transformation that blends cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and consumer consciousness like never before. The days of beauty being confined to makeup and wellness to gym memberships are behind us.

Publicis Groupe acquires BR Media Group

Publicis Groupe has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire BR Media Group, Latin America’s leading influencer marketing and content company, with a network of over 500,000 creators including 80% of the region’s leading influencers.

BBDO ready to ‘Do Big Things’, rolls out new global positioning

BBDO is entering a new era – one fueled by ambition, creativity, and an unshakable belief that big is not about size, but about mindset. It’s about solving big problems, delivering big results, and partnering with brands that have the boldest ambitions.

Snap’s Srivatsan Jayashankar on how India’s AR ecosystem is shaping global trends

In an exclusive conversation with Adgully, Srivatsan Jayashankar, Head of AR Partnerships, India, Snap Inc., delves into the latest advancements in Snap AR, the rise of generative AI in content creation, the future of AR wearables, and how India’s vibrant AR ecosystem is shaping global trends.

Both mainstream streaming giants & digital content platforms can thrive: Vishwanath Shetty

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Vishwanath Shetty, Senior Vice President – D2C Head, Pocket Aces, discusses striking a balance between youth engagement and brand objectives, maintaining storytelling integrity in branded content, the strategy behind web shows like Bada Sheher Choti Family (Maruti WagonR) and Agra Affair (Pilgrim), and more.

Punit Goenka on Zee Entertainment’s Growth, Leadership, and Future Prospects

Punit Goenka, CEO of Zee Entertainment, addressed key aspects of the company’s performance, leadership changes, and the much-discussed merger with Sony, which did not materialize.

Offbeat: Why SoCheers’ Mehul Gupta wants to have Hitler as a dinner guest

In this edition, we catch up with Mehul Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO, SoCheers, who shares his thoughts on life beyond work, the boldest idea he ever pursued, his dream dinner guests, and the one skill he wishes he could master. From launching his own social networking site in college to unwinding with his family, Gupta offers a glimpse into his world – unfiltered and offbeat.

MIB cracks down on obscene content, directs OTT platforms to stick to Code of Ethics

Amid the raging controversy over Ranveer Allahbadia’s comments in the YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued an advisory to social media channels and OTT platforms to adhere to Indian Laws and the Code of Ethics prescribed under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Adfactors PR expands Capital Market Group with senior hires

Adfactors PR has bolstered its Capital Market Communications Group (CMCG) by appointing five top-notch industry professionals. The CMCG is a market-leading practice that delivers a range of specialist services to India Inc.

Other Headlines:

With focus on obscene content, use of AI, Parliamentary panel meets OTT players

JioHotstar, Nielsen partner for advanced ad measurement ahead of IPL 2025

Bajaj Consumer Care to acquire Vishal Personal Care in two tranches

Reliance Consumer Products acquires shampoo brand Velvette

Mukesh Ghuraiya decodes Modi Naturals’ ‘experiment, learn, adapt’ marketing approach

Also Read: Week at a glance: CMOs’ Charcha; Allahbadia backlash; V-Day marketing; Musk's OpenAI bid