Radio AdEx data drops as OpenAI deepens ChatGPT ad push
TAM's radio numbers and a clutch of new brand-ambassador and campaign signings dominate a quiet mid-September news cycle, while OpenAI's ad expansion keeps AI-driven adtech on the trade's radar.
Media buying and data
- Radio ad volumes grow 1.2% in Jan-Jul 2026, Maruti Suzuki tops advertisers: TAM AdEx (2026-09-16) — Real estate led categories with a 17% share and 20% growth, while Maruti Suzuki retained the top advertiser spot, a signal worth watching ahead of the festive quarter. exchange4media
Campaigns and brand ambassadors
- Dollar BigBoss signs Mahesh Babu for southern markets (2026-09-16) — The innerwear brand's regional star signing shows how national FMCG players are still leaning on top Telugu talent to crack the south rather than relying on pan-India faces. afaqs!
Brand strategy and platforms
- DP World plots a shift from logistics utility to consumer brand (2026-09-16) — A B2B port-and-logistics giant courting consumer recognition signals how infrastructure players see brand equity as their next competitive lever. afaqs!
- Kalki Koechlin curates Max Fashion's Sanganer block-print festive collection (2026-09-17) — A mass fashion retailer going deep on regional craft and a curator-led format rather than global trend-chasing is a bet that heritage storytelling still sells at scale. afaqs!
Adtech and digital
- OpenAI adds sponsored agents and shopping tools to ChatGPT Ads (2026-09-16) — Conversational, clickable ad units built into ChatGPT push AI chat further into performance marketing territory that Indian advertisers will soon be pitched on. afaqs!
Worth watching
Track whether InMobi's IPO paperwork progresses, whether Max Fashion's Project New format expands beyond its debut drop, and whether festive-season OOH and radio spends convert into a stronger Q3 for media owners.
