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Amazon Revamps Podcast Strategy to Blend Content with Commerce

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

Amazon has significantly overhauled its podcasting approach over the past six months, shifting its focus toward deeper monetization and creator-driven commerce, as reported by The New York Times. In August 2025, the company cut over 100 roles from its podcast division Wondery. While Amazon maintained that Wondery would continue to operate, the restructuring has dramatically altered its role. Traditional audio podcasts are now managed under Audible, while a newly formed unit, Creator Services, focuses on high-profile, on-camera talent. This division is collaborating with celebrities such as Dax Shepard, Keke Palmer, and Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce to build expansive, multimedia ecosystems around their content. A key example is the Kelce brothers’ podcast New Heights, which is being developed into a broader commercial platform. Amazon has introduced a dedicated “Kelce Clubhouse” section where fans can shop for merchandise, stream related content like the Kelce documentary, and purchase curated products tied to the show’s themes. According to Creator Services head Matt Sandler, the goal is to seamlessly merge storytelling with shopping experiences—embedding commerce directly into content. While many creators are exploring similar monetization strategies, the report notes that Amazon stands apart for its aggressive internal restructuring to achieve this vision. Source: Techcrunch  

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Pocket FM Promotes Lalit Gangwar to COO, Eyes Next Wave of Global Expansion

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), entrusting him with the responsibility of leading its global audio business operations. In his new position, Lalit will oversee end-to-end functions across international markets, including growth, monetisation, execution, and overall business performance. The leadership move comes at a crucial stage as the company strengthens its operational framework to enable scalable and sustainable global growth. A founding member of Pocket FM, Lalit Gangwar has been instrumental in shaping the company’s growth journey. He played a key role in building the early marketing and growth strategies in India, helping the platform surpass 150 million users within its first year and establishing a strong foothold in the category. He later spearheaded the company’s expansion into the United States, where he built the business from scratch—setting up teams, refining growth strategies, and driving large-scale adoption. Under his leadership, the US market emerged as a significant contributor, demonstrating Pocket FM’s ability to scale globally. As COO, Lalit will now focus on expanding global markets, enhancing operational efficiency, and strengthening the systems, talent, and processes needed for the company’s next growth phase. Commenting on the appointment, Rohan Nayak, Co-founder and CEO of Pocket FM, said that Lalit has been at the core of the company’s journey since inception. He highlighted Lalit’s ability to combine strong execution with long-term vision, making him well-suited to lead the company’s global audio business. Lalit Gangwar expressed enthusiasm about his new role, emphasizing Pocket FM’s mission to create impactful storytelling that transcends borders. He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling international markets, investing in AI-driven storytelling, and strengthening monetisation strategies. Over the past few years, Pocket FM has established itself as a major player in the audio storytelling space, driven by a growing global audience. The platform is actively investing in new formats, including AI-powered content, while building a robust creator ecosystem to support long-term growth. Source: VMPL

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Zee to Invest ₹116 Crore in PhantomFX to Scale Animation & VFX Capabilities

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. has approved an investment of up to ₹116 crore in Phantom Digital Effects Ltd. (PhantomFX) as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in the fast-growing Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector. The decision, cleared during a board meeting on April 17, 2026, involves funding through compulsorily convertible debentures (CCDs) via preferential allotment, to be executed in one or more tranches. The transaction remains subject to shareholder approval from PhantomFX, with internal clearances already underway. Through this investment, Zee aims to tap into PhantomFX’s global expertise, proprietary production workflows, and AI-integrated capabilities to enhance its content ecosystem. The partnership is expected to improve production efficiencies across animation and VFX-driven projects, enabling the creation of high-quality content across OTT originals, kids’ animation, gaming, interactive formats, and mythology and fantasy genres. CEO Punit Goenka described the move as a significant step toward scaling innovation and building immersive content intellectual properties with global appeal. He emphasized that PhantomFX’s strengths align with Zee’s vision of expanding across formats and geographies. Echoing this sentiment, Bejoy Arputharaj highlighted the long-term strategic value of the collaboration, noting that it will preserve PhantomFX’s operational independence while enhancing creative and technological capabilities through AI-powered workflows and global craftsmanship. Both companies also plan to co-develop original intellectual properties spanning OTT, gaming, and licensing segments. The collaboration is expected to unlock synergies in content creation and distribution, opening new growth avenues for both players. Shares of Zee Entertainment Enterprises closed at ₹81.04 on the NSE, gaining 1.05% at the end of the trading session. Source: CNBC

Zee to Invest ₹116 Crore in PhantomFX to Scale Animation & VFX Capabilities Read More »

HBO Max Enters India Through Strategic Partnership with JioHotstar

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

In a significant move for India’s streaming landscape, Warner Bros. Discovery has partnered with Reliance Industries-owned JioHotstar to introduce HBO Max content in the country. The service will be offered as an add-on for JioHotstar users, starting at just ₹49 per month, making it far more affordable than its U.S. counterpart. Subscribers will gain access to a wide library that includes HBO originals, Max Originals, content from Warner Bros. Pictures and Television, as well as DC Studios productions. However, the viewing experience will vary depending on the user’s base subscription, with lower-tier plans likely including advertisements. JioHotstar’s plans currently range from ₹79 per month for mobile users with ads to ₹299 per month for an ad-free premium experience. India’s streaming ecosystem continues to grow rapidly, fueled by inexpensive data and widespread smartphone usage. While platforms like YouTube dominate in scale, JioHotstar remains a major player with hundreds of millions of active users. Despite this growth, adoption in smaller towns is still limited, with many users preferring bundled offerings over standalone subscriptions. The new HBO Max hub is set to bring highly anticipated titles to Indian audiences, including upcoming seasons and series from popular franchises like Euphoria, House of the Dragon, and new projects from DC and the Harry Potter universe. Source: Techcrunch

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MIB Extends TRP Suspension for News Channels Amid Israel–Iran Conflict

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to continue withholding Television Rating Points (TRPs) for news channels for an additional four weeks or until further notice, as per ANI reports. The decision is intended to curb what the ministry termed “unwarranted sensationalism and speculative reporting” by certain news broadcasters during the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict. Officials noted that such coverage could trigger unnecessary panic among viewers, particularly those with family or acquaintances in the Gulf region. This directive is an extension of a previous order issued on March 6, when the ministry first flagged concerns over the nature of news reporting related to the West Asia tensions. Reiterating its authority, the ministry emphasized that rating agencies must adhere to government directives under Clause 24.2 of the 2014 Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India. By suspending TRP ratings, the government aims to ease competitive pressure among news channels and promote more responsible, balanced reporting during a sensitive international crisis. Source: Economic Times

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‘Dhurandhar 2’ Dominates Box Office: Crosses ₹1,000 Cr in India, ₹1,600 Cr Worldwide

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

Dhurandhar The Revenge, directed by Aditya Dhar, is rewriting box office history with a blockbuster run both in India and overseas. The film has surpassed ₹1,000 crore nett at the domestic box office by the end of its third weekend, while its global gross has soared past ₹1,600 crore. Backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the film continues to show strong momentum across markets, securing its place among the highest-grossing Indian films ever. The film opened with an impressive ₹690 crore in its first week, followed by ₹271 crore in the second. Its third weekend collections added another ₹80 crore, taking the total India nett to ₹1,041 crore and gross collections to ₹1,228 crore. Internationally, the film has contributed ₹394 crore, pushing the worldwide total to ₹1,622 crore. Beyond India, the film has achieved significant milestones. It has become the first Indian release to cross $25 million in North America and has also crossed €1 million in Germany—marking a strong expansion into key global markets. Industry records continue to fall, with the film registering the biggest opening for a Hindi film, the highest opening weekend globally, and the fastest climb across several revenue benchmarks. It has also emerged as the top-grossing Indian film in North America and surpassed the lifetime overseas earnings of its first installment within just 10 days. With sustained collections even into its third weekend, Dhurandhar 2 is showing no signs of slowing down, reinforcing its status as a global box office phenomenon. Source: Economic Times  

‘Dhurandhar 2’ Dominates Box Office: Crosses ₹1,000 Cr in India, ₹1,600 Cr Worldwide Read More »

MS Dhoni Backs AI Storytelling Platform Kuku, Becomes Face of Kuku TV

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

MS Dhoni has invested in AI-driven storytelling platform Kuku and will also take on the role of brand ambassador for its short-video app, Kuku TV, the company announced. Founded in 2018 by Lal Chand Bisu, Vinod Kumar Meena, and Vikas Goyal, the platform operates a diverse ecosystem of apps, including Kuku FM for audio content and Guru for learning-focused entertainment. The company has also ventured into theatrical productions. Collectively, its platforms have surpassed 350 million installs and feature a content library of over 20,000 titles in multiple languages. Dhoni highlighted the platform’s wide reach and unique content approach as key reasons behind his investment. He noted that Kuku’s ability to deliver multilingual, multi-format content at scale sets it apart, and expressed confidence in its ambition to build a globally relevant AI-powered storytelling ecosystem rooted in India. Kuku TV, which focuses on short-format episodic content, has scaled rapidly, crossing 180 million downloads. The platform hosts a wide variety of genres, with several titles garnering over 100 million views. The company is now expanding into AI-led content formats, including mythology, science fiction, and superhero narratives. Backed by investors such as Fundamentum, Krafton, Vertex Ventures, Granite Asia, and International Finance Corporation, Kuku has seen strong financial growth. Its parent entity reported revenue of ₹258.4 crore in FY25, more than doubling from ₹104.1 crore in the previous year, according to Tracxn. However, the company has not disclosed the size of Dhoni’s investment. Source: Financial Express  

MS Dhoni Backs AI Storytelling Platform Kuku, Becomes Face of Kuku TV Read More »

India’s Media & Entertainment Industry Set to Hit ₹3.3 Lakh Crore by 2028

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

FICCI and Ernst & Young have projected strong growth for India’s media and entertainment (M&E) sector, estimating it will reach ₹3.3 lakh crore by 2028, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. According to their latest report, the industry recorded a 9% year-on-year growth in 2025, reaching a total market size of ₹2.78 lakh crore. Digital media emerged as the dominant segment, surpassing the ₹1 lakh crore milestone. A major contributor to this surge was digital advertising, which grew 26% to ₹94,700 crore. The broader advertising ecosystem also witnessed robust expansion, growing 13.5% to ₹1.5 lakh crore, accounting for 0.41% of India’s GDP. Meanwhile, the live events segment experienced remarkable momentum, registering a 44% jump in 2025. This growth was driven by increased spending on concerts, weddings, government programs, and religious gatherings. Subscription-based digital content saw significant traction, with revenues rising 60% to ₹16,300 crore. The country recorded 21.6 crore paid video subscriptions across 14.3 crore households, largely fueled by premium sports and movie content moving behind paywalls. Music streaming platforms also saw improved monetization, with paid subscriptions increasing 37% to 1.44 crore users, supported by strategic efforts to shift users toward paid services. Despite global headwinds, the print segment in India remained steady, with advertising revenues inching up by 2%, particularly in premium editions targeting affluent readers in both metro and non-metro regions. However, the video gaming segment faced a downturn, declining 17% following the implementation of restrictions on real-money gaming introduced in August 2025. Source: PTI

India’s Media & Entertainment Industry Set to Hit ₹3.3 Lakh Crore by 2028 Read More »

‘One Battle After Another’ Dominates 98th Academy Awards, Wins Best Picture

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

The 98th edition of the Academy Awards concluded at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrating the finest achievements in global cinema over the past year. The ceremony was hosted once again by comedian and television personality Conan O’Brien and featured a star-studded lineup of presenters including Priyanka Chopra, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Anne Hathaway and Javier Bardem. Security arrangements were reportedly intensified due to heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The night’s top honour—Best Picture—went to One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The film entered the awards with 13 nominations and ultimately secured six wins. Its director, Paul Thomas Anderson, also took home the Best Director award. In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his role in Sinners, while Jessie Buckley received Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet. Several other films also secured major wins across technical categories. Sinners claimed awards for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score, while One Battle After Another earned the Best Editing trophy. Best Sound went to F1, Best Production Design to Frankenstein, and Best Visual Effects to Avatar: Fire and Ash. The Best Original Song award was presented to “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters. In the documentary segment, Mr Nobody Against Putin won Best Documentary Feature, while All The Empty Rooms received the award for Best Documentary Short Film. The Best International Feature Film award was won by Sentimental Value from Norway, marking the first time a Norwegian film has secured the honour. The ceremony also included a tribute segment remembering legendary film personalities who passed away during the past year, including Robert Redford, Diane Keaton and Rob Reiner. Overall, the evening was marked by standout victories for Sinners, One Battle After Another, and Frankenstein, making the 98th Oscars a memorable celebration of cinematic excellence, performances, and tributes to the industry’s icons. Source: newsonair

‘One Battle After Another’ Dominates 98th Academy Awards, Wins Best Picture Read More »

Govt Directs BARC to Pause News Channel TRP Ratings for Four Weeks

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has instructed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to temporarily halt the publication of Television Rating Points (TRPs) for news channels for the next four weeks, or until further notice. In an order issued on March 6, the ministry stated that the move comes amid concerns over the coverage of the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict. It noted that certain news channels have been airing speculative and highly sensational content, which could potentially create unnecessary panic among viewers, especially those with family or friends in the affected regions. The ministry referred to Clause 24.2 of the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India, issued in 2014, which requires rating agencies to comply with directions issued by the government from time to time. Following this directive, BARC has been asked to suspend the public release of weekly TRP ratings for news television channels during the specified period in the interest of public welfare and responsible broadcasting. Source: Economic Times

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