India's Ad Monetization Revolution: Digital, AI, Retail Media Reshape 2025

• India's 2025 ad monetization model fundamentally shifted to digital, retail media, and Connected TV (CTV), driven by data, commerce links, and AI.
• Advertisers now demand measurable business outcomes, moving beyond impressions, with AI integrating into every layer from creative to predictive bidding.
• Connected TV (CTV) became a mainstream media channel, boasting 129 million viewers and significant growth from rural India, offering appealing and relevant ad experiences.
• Retail media emerged as a central force in the customer journey, influencing discovery and purchase, with quick commerce enabling immediate sales impact and projected to reach ₹30,000 crore by 2026.
• Gaming (over 160 million gamers) and live community spaces transformed into serious monetization platforms, offering integrated, contextual advertising and commerce opportunities for brands.

Why It Matters: India's 2025 ad model transformed, prioritizing digital, AI, and measurable business outcomes over traditional exposure.