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Fighter Teaser Unleashes Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone on a Daring Mission to Save India

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MEA

The much-anticipated teaser for the upcoming action film, “Fighter,” starring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor, has been unveiled, sending fans into a frenzy of excitement. The teaser introduces Hrithik Roshan as Patty, with Deepika Padukone elegantly piloting a fighter jet, setting the stage for a thrilling cinematic experience. Accompanied by the powerful caption, “To beat us? You must be joking,” the teaser hints at a fierce mission undertaken by the trio to defend India against formidable adversaries. The Fighter teaser has triggered an enthusiastic response from fans, who flooded the comment section expressing their anticipation. Comments such as “Deepika back to rule Bollywood” and wishes for the film’s success from Hrithik Roshan fans around the world highlight the immense excitement generated by the teaser. Even celebrities, including Rakesh Roshan, Manish Malhotra, Neha Dhupia, and Ayushmann Khurrana, have praised the high-octane action sequences and the star-studded cast. Accompanying the teaser release, new posters featuring Hrithik Roshan as Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania, Deepika Padukone as Squadron Leader Minal Rathore, and Anil Kapoor as Group Captain Rakesh Jai Singh have been unveiled. The characters’ call signs and designations further enhance the anticipation for this aerial action extravaganza. Directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Viacom 18 Studios and Marflix Pictures, “Fighter” is poised to be the first installment in an exciting aerial action franchise. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on January 25, 2024, promising audiences a visually stunning and adrenaline-pumping experience. As fans eagerly await the release, the Fighter team has successfully ignited the anticipation for this cinematic spectacle that aims to defend the honor of India in a truly spectacular fashion.

Fighter Teaser Unleashes Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone on a Daring Mission to Save India Read More »

Oscars 2024 Breaks Tradition: Ceremony to Take Center Stage One Hour Earlier in Primetime Shift

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The Oscars 2024 ceremony will begin one hour earlier than usual, which is a dramatic change in the program’s schedule. The move is a part of the organizers’ plan to continue hosting the prestigious awards show during primetime, when it can reach a larger audience. The telecast is set to broadcast live on March 10 from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (ET, US time). A 30-minute pre-show will take place ahead of the live ceremony to set the mood and create excitement for the main event. It promises to be an exciting prelude to the highly anticipated awards night. ABC has arranged for a new episode of Abbott Elementary, its Emmy-winning comedy series, to air after the big Oscars party. The well-chosen cast guarantees a smooth transition from the awards show to the cherished sitcom, improving the audience’s overall enjoyment. Notably, Quinta Brunson is the creator, producer, writer, and star of Abbott Elementary, a mockumentary series that has received a lot of praise and been nominated for eight Emmys. The choice to air the show right after the Oscars is an attempt to maximize the number of viewers and keep them interested throughout the whole evening. TV host Jimmy Kimmel will serve as the night’s host, bringing his wit and humor back to the Oscars stage. The production will be led by showrunner and executive producer Raj Kapoor, with executive producers Molly McNearney and Katy Mullan providing a smooth and unforgettable telecast. The renowned filmmaker Hamish Hamilton will direct the live event. The 96th Academy Awards will take place at the esteemed Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The glitter and drama will be broadcast live on ABC, reaching viewers in more than 200 countries across the globe. The earlier start time promises a new and exciting twist to the cinematic celebration as the Oscar countdown gets underway, laying the groundwork for an amazing evening in the entertainment and film industries.

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Hotstar Breaks Records with 59 Million Concurrent Viewers for World Cup Final, Surpassing Previous Milestone

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Disney’s Hotstar achieves a groundbreaking milestone with 59 million concurrent viewers during a highly anticipated World Cup final cricket match in India. This surpasses the previous record of 53 million viewers set just a week earlier. With no significant cricket events in the near future, Hotstar is poised to maintain this record for at least six months. The platform now holds a substantial lead in concurrent viewership over its competitor, JioCinema, which peaked at 32 million earlier this year. This achievement occurs against the backdrop of Disney facing challenges in the Indian market, including a decline in digital subscribers. Disney CEO Bob Iger expressed a commitment to the Indian market but acknowledged the need to evaluate options. Preliminary talks with potential partners, including Reliance and private equity firms, have taken place. However, the dynamics of Star India have evolved, with market conditions prompting a shift in focus to core businesses. Hotstar’s subscriber base has experienced a decline of more than 23 million in the past year, according to Disney. The platform faces competition, notably from Viacom18’s JioCinema, led by Mukesh Ambani, who has attracted top executives from Star India and invested $3 billion to stream the IPL cricket tournament for five years. Despite these challenges, Disney had high expectations for the ICC Cricket World Cup, projecting over 50 million concurrent viewers and aiming to reach 82% of India’s total annual video users during the 50-day series.

Hotstar Breaks Records with 59 Million Concurrent Viewers for World Cup Final, Surpassing Previous Milestone Read More »

Reliance JioCinema Secures Exclusive Deal with Pokemon for Extensive Children’s Content Offering in India

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Reliance JioCinema, the entertainment division of India’s Reliance, has entered into an agreement with The Pokemon Company to feature children’s shows and movies on its platform, sources familiar with the deal revealed. This move is part of Reliance’s strategy to enhance its content library in the face of increasing competition from streaming rivals like Walt Disney Co in the domestic market. The recently signed deal designates JioCinema’s streaming app as the “exclusive” India platform partner for over 1,000 episodes and approximately 20 movies from the popular Japanese anime series Pokemon. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. To broaden the appeal of the content, the shows and movies will be dubbed into three Indian languages. Pokemon, a global multimedia franchise with a substantial market presence in trading cards, games, TV shows, and movies, is partnering with Viacom18, the entertainment joint-venture of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani that operates JioCinema. Despite requests for comments, Viacom18 and The Pokemon Company, owned by Nintendo and its affiliates, did not respond. This collaboration is part of Ambani’s broader effort to expand Reliance’s presence in the Indian streaming market, which is projected to reach a value of $7 billion by 2027 according to research firm Media Partners Asia. While JioCinema competes with streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon, its recent focus has been on challenging Disney’s Hotstar app, particularly by offering free streaming of cricket matches. As part of this content expansion, JioCinema is set to introduce approximately 3,000 hours of children’s content, including productions from Entertainment One, Animaccord, Cartoon Network Studios, and DreamWorks. These additions will be facilitated through Viacom18’s existing content agreements or integration with its other streaming platform, Voot Kids, which has been discontinued. Notably, although some Pokemon content was previously available on Voot, the new partnership with JioCinema represents a more extensive collaboration. In May, JioCinema announced a multi-year partnership with NBCUniversal, which confirmed that “kids and family programming,” including content from DreamWorks, was part of the agreement. Entertainment One, Animaccord, and Cartoon Network Studios did not respond to requests for comments. Additionally, in April, Viacom18 secured a deal with Warner Bros Discovery Inc. to bring more Hollywood and international content, such as popular series “Succession” and “Game of Thrones,” to JioCinema.

Reliance JioCinema Secures Exclusive Deal with Pokemon for Extensive Children’s Content Offering in India Read More »

I&B Ministry Proposes Comprehensive Broadcasting Bill to Modernize Regulatory Framework

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The Information & Broadcasting Ministry is proposing a new Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill to regulate broadcasting services, including DTH, OTT, and digital news platforms. The draft Bill, released for public consultation, aims to replace the outdated Cable TV Networks (Regulations) Act 1995 and other governing policies. The proposed legislation includes content evaluation committees, a more participative Broadcast Advisory Council for self-regulation, differentiated codes for programs and advertisements, and statutory penalties. Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur described the draft as a “pivotal legislation” to modernize the regulatory framework for the dynamic world of broadcasting, adapting to emerging technologies. The bill introduces contemporary definitions and extends regulatory purview to cover OTT content and digital news. It mandates self-regulation through Content Evaluation Committees and proposes a Broadcast Advisory Council with independent experts. The draft allows differentiated codes for various services, requiring self-classification of content and access control for restricted content. Statutory penalties, including advisory, warning, censure, or monetary penalties, are proposed, with provisions for imprisonment and fines for serious offenses. The bill also suggests fairness by linking monetary penalties to the entity’s investment and turnover. It includes provisions for infrastructure sharing among broadcasting network operators and carriage of platform services. Overall, the proposed unified law is seen as a positive step for business ease and appropriate regulation.

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Disney+ Hotstar to Offer Free Streaming of Pro Kabaddi League on Mobiles

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Disney+ Hotstar, a prominent broadcasting platform, has unveiled plans to offer free streaming of the upcoming season of the Pro Kabaddi League to mobile users in India, beginning on December 2, 2023. This decision is driven by the sport’s popularity, ranking second only to cricket in India. Sajith Sivanandan, the Head of Disney+ Hotstar India, expressed the goal of making Kabaddi accessible to a broader Indian audience, fostering stronger fan engagement. This move follows the success of their free mobile streaming during events like the Asia Cup 2023 and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The Pro Kabaddi League’s tenth season will feature 12 competing teams in a 12-city caravan format, aiming to replicate the success of cricket tournaments that drew record viewership. Hotstar achieved a peak concurrency of 44 million viewers during the India-South Africa match, and expects similar success as the Pro Kabaddi League approaches its conclusion.

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Disney+ Hotstar Sets New Peak Concurrent Viewership Record During India vs. South Africa Cricket Match

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Digital concurrent viewership records were shattered during the India vs. South Africa cricket match when Virat Kohli achieved his 49th ODI century, tying with Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Disney+ Hotstar, the official streaming platform for the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, reached a peak of 44 million concurrent viewers during this game. The World Cup has consistently seen new peak concurrent viewership records, and Disney+ Hotstar is offering free mobile access to these matches, including the India vs. South Africa and India vs. New Zealand clashes, which drew 43 million and 44 million peak concurrent viewers, respectively. This is a significant shift, as Disney+ Hotstar had previously put cricket content behind a paywall for several years. The strategy to provide free access to cricket matches seems to be paying off for Disney+ Hotstar, as they continue to break their own records. Prior to the ICC Cricket World Cup, JioCinema set a record with 32 million viewers during the Indian Premier League final between the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans. Sajith Sivanandan, Head of Disney+ Hotstar India, expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of users and their passion for cricket streaming. The platform is excited to see where this support takes them as the tournament progresses. Media experts believe that the growing popularity of streaming for sports events is due to the convenience of watching matches on mobile devices. As smartphone usage increases, digital viewership for cricket is expected to rise further. Disney+ Hotstar is also encouraging viewers to purchase subscriptions to enjoy ad-free entertainment content, although even premium subscribers will see ads during live sports broadcasts. To enhance the viewing experience, Disney+ Hotstar has collaborated with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to introduce MaxView, allowing cricket enthusiasts to watch matches in a vertical mode (9×14 portrait view). According to BARC data for the All India 2+ audience, the India vs. New Zealand match had 80 million peak concurrent viewers on Disney Star channels and Doordarshan, surpassing the 75.5 million viewers for the India vs. Pakistan match. Disney Star claims that the total viewership for the live broadcast of the World Cup has exceeded 400 million viewers for the first 26 matches. The TV viewership specifically for Disney Star channels in the All India 2+ audience is reported at 310 million.

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Netflix’s Ad-Supported Plan Grows to 15 Million Users, Surpassing Expectations

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Netflix has reported a significant increase in the popularity of its ad-supported subscription tier, revealing that it now boasts 15 million monthly active users worldwide. This marks a threefold growth from the figures disclosed in May and demonstrates notable progress as Netflix approaches the one-year mark since introducing this more affordable option. In response to slowing subscriber growth, Netflix launched this ad-supported plan alongside efforts to curb password sharing, effectively aiming to boost its revenue. This strategy has yielded positive results, with Netflix surprising Wall Street by adding 8.8 million subscribers in its third-quarter report, and similar growth is anticipated for the fourth quarter. Netflix is further enhancing its ad tier by introducing new features for both advertisers and users. Advertisers can now select from 10-, 20-, and 60-second ad formats in addition to the existing 15- and 30-second options. This expanded choice provides advertisers worldwide with multiple formats to utilize. Ad tier members can also look forward to improvements such as higher 1080p streaming resolution and the ability to download movies and series to their devices, starting at the end of the week. Netflix plans to cater to binge watchers by offering an ad-free episode after viewers watch three consecutive episodes of a series, starting in the first quarter of 2024.

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Radio Mirchi and Radio Orange Compete to Acquire BIG FM Network in Insolvency Bid

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Two leading radio networks, Radio Mirchi and Radio Orange, are reportedly competing in a bid to acquire BIG FM Radio network, which is currently going through an insolvency process. The bids from Radio Mirchi and Radio Orange, as well as Haryana-based Sapphire FM, are both valued at Rs 251 crore. The lenders involved are expected to request upward revisions to the bids, and the lenders may potentially recover up to 60% of their total admitted claims, considering the cash reserves of BIG FM. BIG FM, owned by Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd, is India’s largest radio network, operating in numerous towns and villages. The insolvency proceedings began after BIG FM failed to repay a debt of Rs 175 crore, with total lender claims amounting to Rs 578 crore. Lenders include IndusInd Bank, HSBC Asset Management, Franklin Templeton MF, and Reliance Commercial Finance. The insolvency case is related to Reliance Broadcast Network’s failure to clear a financial debt of Rs 175 crore, stemming from NCDs issued in 2015 and 2016. IDBI Trustee Services represented L&T Investment Management Services in the case, with Reliance Capital serving as the guarantor for Reliance Broadcast Network. However, at the time of NCD redemption in 2020, the payment was not made, leading to the insolvency proceedings.

Radio Mirchi and Radio Orange Compete to Acquire BIG FM Network in Insolvency Bid Read More »

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Sets Unprecedented Viewership Records on Disney Star Network

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Disney Star has achieved record-breaking viewership for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, showcasing the widespread cricket fever. According to data from BARC shared by Disney Star, the first 18 matches of the tournament amassed a staggering 123.8 billion viewing minutes. This reflects a remarkable 43% increase compared to the previous edition held in England and Wales in 2019. Additionally, the current World Cup, which commenced on October 5, attracted 364.2 million viewers for these initial 18 matches. One of the standout moments was the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash on October 14, which saw 76 million concurrent TV viewers and 35 million simultaneous digital viewers. The tournament also witnessed a new digital concurrency record during the India vs. New Zealand match in Dharamsala on October 22, surpassing the previous record set during the India-Pakistan match, with 43 million viewers on Disney+ Hotstar. This epic clash marked the highest peak viewership in digital cricket history across all formats. Notably, attendance at the venues also surged, with over 542,000 fans present at matches during the first half of the tournament. This is a substantial increase of 190,000 more attendees compared to the equivalent stage in 2019, as reported by the broadcaster. Disney Star anticipates further momentum in the tournament, driven by the strong performance of the Indian team, the fluctuating fortunes of top teams, and a competitive points table, according to Sanjog Gupta, Head of Sports at Disney Star. The broadcaster remains committed to delivering exceptional coverage of the global event and aims to continue delighting sports fans around the world.

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