India's pay-TV industry revenue is projected to shrink by 1-3 per cent in FY2026 due to subscribers moving to OTT platforms and DD Free Dish services. Despite this, higher ARPU from bundled or premium offerings may offset declines. Urban areas see more shift to digital streaming, while rural areas opt for free dish services.
Radisson Hotel Group aims to make India its top hospitality market globally, with plans to have 240 hotels by 2025 and an ambition for 500 hotels by 2030. Federico J. Gonzalez highlights India's economic growth, dynamism, and government efforts as key drivers. The group focuses on tier-two and three markets and aims for luxury to midscale accommodations.
Apple grew in a declining smartphone market in January 2025, becoming the fourth largest in India by volume with 1.3 million units shipped. Slow consumer demand and high average selling prices impacted overall shipments. Apple’s growth was driven by the iPhone 16 series and financing schemes. Samsung faced challenges due to credit issues and competition from China-based vendors.
India experienced a significant slowdown in new store openings in 2024, with only an average of three new stores added daily compared to ten in 2023. Top retailers faced tepid demand in discretionary categories, leading to cost cuts and slow expansions, but they are now gearing up for the next phase of growth.
Indians lead globally in temporarily abstaining from alcohol, with 71 per cent pausing consumption. This moderation, driven by health awareness and intermittent fasting trends, especially among younger drinkers, is notable but does not impact overall market growth. Despite temporary pauses, the Indian alcohol market remains robust, with cultural practices and new legal drinkers maintaining demand.
Hero MotoCorp has been overtaken by TVS Motor Co in the Indian two-wheeler market for the first time, falling to third place. TVS sold 403,976 units in February 2025, including a 26 per cent rise in exports and a 34 per cent increase in e-scooter sales. Hero MotoCorp's sales dropped 17.2 per cent year-on-year to 388,068 units.
CereOne Media has partnered with Yahoo DSP to boost programmatic advertising for Indian brands, offering advanced audience insights and omnichannel reach. This collaboration aims to optimize campaign performance and efficiency, leveraging AI-driven insights and Yahoo's premium inventory. The partnership intends to bring addressable TV advertising to the forefront, enhancing targeting precision and campaign effectiveness.
Tips Music and Sony Music Publishing have expanded their global partnership to include YouTube for international publishing of Tips Music’s catalogue, excluding India. This renewal aims to boost the global reach of Indian music, particularly Bollywood soundtracks, with plans to release 12-15 Bollywood and regional film albums annually along with independent music under Tips Originals.
The Trump administration's higher tariffs on Chinese imports may drive Samsung to shift production from China, potentially increasing orders from India. By outsourcing manufacturing to Indian facilities, global brands aim to mitigate tariff impacts while maintaining quality. As India enhances its share in smartphone production, the US-China trade war significantly influences manufacturing strategies.
Adani Wilmar Ltd is set to acquire GD Foods Manufacturing, known for its Tops brand of sauces and condiments, in a deal valued at Rs 603 crore. The acquisition, to be executed in tranches, aligns with Adani Wilmar's strategy to expand into value-added food products. The company plans to fund the all-cash deal through internal accruals or IPO proceeds.
Two-wheeler financiers have reduced loan-to-value ratios and cut loan tenures to address rising loan defaults, impacting sales in the already struggling industry. With delinquencies increasing, especially in entry-level motorcycles, credit tightening measures have become more pronounced for non-banking financial companies and captive finance arms of two-wheeler manufacturers. Credit tightening is more pronounced in the entry-level motorcycle market comprising 100cc-110cc engine models. Therefore, those with higher exposure to the segment, Hero MotoCorp, for instance, are more affected.
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