ArdorComm Media Group

Contact Us
Saturday, January 31, 2026 4:58 PM
logo
Menu
logo

Media Entertainment & Art Community

ZEE Entertainment Shares Rebound After Initial Plunge on Director’s Exit Ahead of AGM

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEE) witnessed a brief setback as its shares tumbled by 9% during Thursday’s trading session following the unexpected exit of non-executive non-independent director Adesh Kumar Gupta from the board. However, the stock demonstrated resilience, recovering most of its losses as the session progressed. Gupta, who served as a crucial member of the audit committee and chairman of the risk management and stakeholders relationship committees, cited personal reasons and commitments for his departure ahead of the upcoming annual general meeting (AGM). The initial market reaction led to a decline of 8.79%, with the stock hitting a low of Rs 284.10 on the BSE. In his resignation letter, Gupta expressed regret for being unable to continue as a director due to personal reasons and commitments. He withdrew his re-appointment at the AGM but extended his best wishes for the company’s success, particularly emphasizing the completion of the pending merger with Sony. ZEE Entertainment responded by confirming Gupta’s exit from key committees after the AGM. The company’s 41st AGM is scheduled for Saturday, December 16, at 4:00 pm (IST). ZEE has announced that the AGM will be conducted through video conferencing and other audio-visual means, adhering to circulars issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Investors, initially concerned about the sudden exit, regained confidence as the trading session progressed, reflecting the market’s anticipation of a smooth AGM and positive outcomes for the pending merger with Sony.

ZEE Entertainment Shares Rebound After Initial Plunge on Director’s Exit Ahead of AGM Read More »

Veteran Indian Actor Junior Mehmood Succumbs to Cancer at 67, Leaving Behind a Rich Cinematic Legacy

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

Renowned Indian actor Junior Mehmood, born Naeem Sayyed, has passed away at the age of 67 after battling cancer. The veteran actor breathed his last in Mumbai last night. His health had deteriorated rapidly as he faced the challenges of stage 4 cancer. Junior Mehmood, known by his stage name, leaves behind a legacy in the Indian film industry, having appeared in more than 250 films over a career that spanned five decades. His notable contributions include roles in iconic films such as Kati Patang, Mera Naam Joker, Parvarish, and Do Aur Do Paanch. He initially entered the film industry as a child actor in Naunihal, sharing the screen with acclaimed actors like Sanjeev Kumar, Balraj Sahni, and Indrani Mukherjee. Apart from his on-screen presence, Junior Mehmood also ventured into film production, contributing to the Marathi film industry with several productions. In his final days, Junior Mehmood had the opportunity to connect with fellow artists. Comedian and actor Johnny Lever paid a visit, after which Junior Mehmood expressed a wish to meet actors Jeetendra and Sachin Pilgaonkar. Both Jeetendra and Sachin Pilgaonkar promptly fulfilled his desire by visiting him. The trio had previously collaborated on various film projects, and their reunion marked a poignant moment in the veteran actor’s final days. Junior Mehmood’s demise is mourned not only by the film fraternity but also by fans who appreciated his versatile performances throughout his illustrious career. His contributions to the world of Indian cinema will be remembered fondly.

Veteran Indian Actor Junior Mehmood Succumbs to Cancer at 67, Leaving Behind a Rich Cinematic Legacy Read More »

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

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community
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

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

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.

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

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

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

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

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

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

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

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.

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

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

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

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.

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

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

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community
News on MEA

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.

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

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

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

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.

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