Denemek ALTIN - Özgür

CCI Misreads How Ad Pricing Works

Financial Express Hyderabad

August 26, 2025

In March, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) raided leading advertising agencies — GroupM, Dentsu, Publicis, and IPG — along with industry bodies such as the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) and the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) over allegations of cartelisation and price collusion.

Since then, the $16-billion advertising industry has been under heightened regulatory scrutiny. In a conversation with Manu Kaushik, Srinivasan K Swamy, the newly elected president of AAAI, speaks about the CCI probe, challenges in audience measurement, and the road ahead for the industry. Excerpts:

What's your take on the ongoing CCI probe?

CCI received a complaint from one of our members and initiated an investigation. Their preliminary view is that some agencies colluded on pricing. I find this conclusion narrow and simplistic. Advertisers do not choose agencies on price alone — strategy, team strength, and creativity are far more decisive. Price variations between agencies are marginal and cannot materially influence advertiser decisions.

What about the charges of cartelisation and price undercutting?

Bu hikaye Financial Express Hyderabad dergisinin August 26, 2025 baskısından alınmıştır.

Binlerce özenle seçilmiş premium hikayeye ve 9.000'den fazla dergi ve gazeteye erişmek için Magzter GOLD'a abone olun.

Zaten abone misiniz? Oturum aç

Financial Express Hyderabad'den DAHA FAZLA HİKAYE

Tümünü Görüntüle

Financial Express Hyderabad

'Uncertainty is the new normal'

India’s goldilocks situation can be sustained, with GDP growth expected to touch 7% in FY27, says Sonal Varma, managing director and chiefeconomist for India and Asia ex-Japan at Nomura.

2 mins

January 12, 2026

Financial Express Hyderabad

Focus on education, skilling, employment

DIGITAL LEARNING, INDUSTRY-ALIGNED SKILLING

1 mins

January 12, 2026

Financial Express Hyderabad

From excitement to economics

Tata Consultancy Services reporting $1.5 billion in annual AI revenues demonstrates that AI is moving from pure hype to a revenue- generating reality for the IT services sector. It provides investors with clear visibility into a high-growth segment. Over the coming quarters, other IT firms will be compelled to quantify AI-led impact — not just in terms of revenue, but through tangible gains for clients. Experts discuss the shift in the IT industry.

1 min

January 12, 2026

Financial Express Hyderabad

Now, review test reports on ChatGPT

OPENAI IS INTRODUCING a new feature in ChatGPT that will allow users to analyse medical test results, prepare for doctors appointments and seek guidance on diets and workout routines—marking the company’s biggest push yet into the health care sector.

1 min

January 12, 2026

Financial Express Hyderabad

How the Neue Klasse brings joy to driving

LAST WEEK at the CES 2026, BMW didn’t just unveil a car, it showcased a digital companion.

1 min

January 12, 2026

Financial Express Hyderabad

RBI advocates disclosure of NPA; banks approach CIC

FOUR MAJOR BANKS — Bank of Baroda, RBL Bank, Yes Bank and State Bank of India — have approached the CIC objecting to the disclosure of information such as the list of defaulters and NPA, penalties and inspection reports, even as the RBI termed the records “liable to be disclosed” under the RTI Act.

1 min

January 12, 2026

Financial Express Hyderabad

Global VC funds expand India teams

Japan, West Asia investors ramp up local teams

2 mins

January 12, 2026

Financial Express Hyderabad

'NPS will evolve as umbrella scheme for old-age needs'

With relaxed exit rules, flexible investments and a push to attract private, gig and selfemployed workers, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) now aim to align retirement savings with life needs-pensions, portability and potentially healthcarecreating a more inclusive, marketdriven social security system, its chairman Sivasubramanian Ramann tells Prasanta Sahu.

2 mins

January 12, 2026

Financial Express Hyderabad

IndiGo woos rival pilots with bonus up to ₹50 lakhs, Esops

CARRIER RACES AGAINST TIME TO HIRE STAFF AS PER DGCA NORMS

1 mins

January 12, 2026

Financial Express Hyderabad

Modi-Merz meet today; key agreements on agenda

INDIA AND GERMANY are set to sign a series of agreements on semiconductors, critical minerals, skill development, and a defence and security roadmap during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on Monday.

1 mins

January 12, 2026