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Byron Allen Moves to Sell Broadcast TV Station Portfolio Amid Strategic Shift

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Media mogul Byron Allen is taking steps to divest his expansive portfolio of broadcast television stations, signaling a major strategic shift for his company, Allen Media Group. The company announced on Monday that it has enlisted the investment firm Moelis & Co. to manage the potential sale of its 28 broadcast stations. These stations, affiliated with major networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, operate in 21 markets across the United States. Allen Media Group has invested more than $1 billion over the past six years to acquire these stations. According to a statement from Allen, the decision to consider a sale follows “numerous inquiries and written offers” from prospective buyers interested in acquiring much of the portfolio. If finalized, the sale would place Allen Media Group among several media owners currently reevaluating their station holdings. Sinclair Broadcast Group and Apollo Global Management, which owns Cox Media Group, have reportedly explored similar moves, indicating a broader trend of consolidation and divestiture in the broadcast space. Allen Media Group said the potential sale would help ease its financial burdens by significantly cutting down its debt. Earlier this year, the company restructured a $100 million credit facility, although S&P Global Ratings maintained a “junk” rating on the company due to ongoing liquidity and debt concerns. Reports have also surfaced regarding late payments from Allen Media Group to major networks—sometimes delayed by up to 90 days and amounting to tens of millions of dollars. The company has not publicly addressed these allegations. Additionally, there have been reports of workforce reductions at some of the stations. Byron Allen, who started his media journey as a comedian before founding Entertainment Studios in the early 1990s, has aggressively expanded his media footprint over the past decade. In 2019, he established Allen Media Group Broadcasting and has since pursued a number of high-profile acquisitions. His name has surfaced in connection with multi-billion-dollar bids for Paramount Global, Disney’s broadcast assets including ABC, and BET Media Group. Now, as he weighs the future of his broadcast holdings, industry observers will be watching closely to see what comes next for one of media’s most ambitious entrepreneurs. Source: CNBC Photo Credit: Patrick T. Fallon / Afp / Getty Images

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The New York Times Signs AI Content Licensing Deal with Amazon

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In a notable move marking its first generative AI licensing agreement, The New York Times has partnered with Amazon to allow the use of its editorial content in training the tech giant’s artificial intelligence systems. Announced nearly two years after The Times filed a high-profile copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, the deal reflects a shift toward monetizing content through structured agreements with major AI players. While financial details were not disclosed, the collaboration is expected to enhance a range of Amazon services, including its smart assistant Alexa. According to a statement from The Times, the agreement covers a wide variety of content, including its main news articles, recipe-driven content from NYT Cooking, and coverage from The Athletic, its sports media platform. This content will be integrated across different Amazon customer touchpoints. “When it fits the user experience on Amazon platforms, they will provide direct links back to our products, giving users access to the full New York Times experience,” said spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha in a statement to TechCrunch. The deal marks Amazon’s first official partnership of this kind, while other AI companies like OpenAI have already struck similar agreements with media organizations such as The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Guardian, News Corp, and Axel Springer. This move is particularly significant considering The Times’ previous accusations against OpenAI and Microsoft for allegedly using its articles to train AI systems without authorization or compensation. Both companies have denied any misconduct. Reiterating its position, The Times said it remains committed to protecting the value of its journalism, whether through legal action or through commercial agreements. Source: Techcrunch

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JioHotstar Dominates March 2025 Mobile OTT Viewership Charts: Nielsen Report

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JioHotstar—the unified streaming platform born from the merger of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema—has emerged as the top performer in mobile OTT viewership for March 2025, as per Nielsen’s latest Mobile Audience Measurement report. In the movie category, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, a high-octane pan-India action film streaming on JioHotstar, claimed the top spot among mobile viewers in India. It was trailed by Dragon, a Tamil comedy-drama available on Netflix. The report, based on user engagement across six leading platforms—Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, MX Player, Netflix, Sony LIV, and Zee5—provides an overview of mobile OTT consumption trends for the month. JioHotstar dominated the film section, with six titles making it to the top 10. These included Disney’s animated feature Mufasa: The Lion King and three Malayalam hits: Premalu, Ponman, and Aavesham. Also on the list was the Hindi romantic comedy Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, starring Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan. The platform also led the original series rankings, securing six out of the top 10 spots. MX Player’s Aashram and JioHotstar’s Thukra Ke Mera Pyaar topped the chart, underlining strong audience engagement with homegrown stories. In the non-original content category—comprising syndicated and catch-up TV content—JioHotstar continued its strong run. It placed among the top three platforms, with long-running Hindi TV dramas like Anupamaa and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, along with reality series MTV Roadies, driving viewership. Eight of the top 10 titles in this category were hosted on JioHotstar. The report also noted a surge in interest for international content, especially Korean dramas. Titles like When Life Gives You Tangerines on Netflix are gaining traction among Indian viewers, pointing to the growing demand for K-content. Western shows like Game of Thrones and Stranger Things also maintained their popularity, reaffirming India’s appetite for global entertainment. Overall, the March 2025 data highlights JioHotstar’s growing dominance in India’s mobile OTT landscape, with a strong foothold across films, original series, and non-original content categories. Source: Business Standard

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Intelsat Secures Indian Government Approval to Launch Direct Satellite Broadcast Services

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In a significant development for India’s media and space sectors, U.S.-based satellite communications giant Intelsat has received the green light from the Indian government to deliver direct satellite broadcasting services across the country. This approval positions Intelsat as one of the first foreign satellite operators authorized to provide such coverage within India. The authorization was granted by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), enabling Intelsat to utilize four of its geostationary satellites — IS-17, IS-20, IS-36, and IS-39 — to deliver robust C-band satellite coverage across Indian territory. These satellites will support content distribution for both domestic and international audiences. As a result of this approval, Intelsat has already secured new contracts with three of India’s leading media houses, marking a major milestone in its regional expansion strategy. “This is a landmark moment for Intelsat’s presence in India’s space economy,” said Gaurav Kharod, Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific at Intelsat. “With a strong satellite footprint over the region, we are now equipped to provide Indian broadcasters with dependable, high-quality connectivity that aligns with the fast-changing demands of the media industry.” Kharod emphasized that the company’s entry into the Indian broadcasting landscape reinforces its commitment to supporting the nation’s rapidly evolving digital and media infrastructure. Source: PTI Photo Credit: Intelsat

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Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Nears ₹50 Crore Mark in India, Outshines Recent Indian Releases

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Tom Cruise’s latest action-packed outing, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, continues its impressive run at the Indian box office, outpacing several recent Indian films like Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh (Hindi), Retro (Tamil), and Hit: The Third Case (Telugu). The eighth and concluding chapter of the iconic Mission: Impossible franchise is poised to cross the ₹50 crore milestone within its first week. The film earned ₹5.5 crore on Tuesday, experiencing a slight dip from Monday’s ₹5.75 crore. During the opening weekend, the film brought in a combined ₹33.5 crore—₹16.5 crore on Saturday and ₹17 crore on Sunday—forming the bulk of its current ₹44.75 crore domestic total, according to Sacnilk. English-language screenings continue to lead collections, with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu contributing to the remainder. The film has seen its highest occupancy during night shows, with 28.30%, while evening and afternoon shows followed at 19.56% and 16.27% respectively. Morning screenings saw a lighter turnout at 7.64%. City-wise, Chennai topped the charts with a strong 40.25% occupancy rate, followed by Kochi (26.50%), Ahmedabad (21.75%), Pune (18.50%), and Mumbai (18%). Despite its dominance so far, The Final Reckoning is set to face fresh competition at the box office this Friday with three new releases: Karan Sharma’s romantic comedy Bhool Chuk Maaf, Prince Dhiman’s period action film Kesari Veer, and Disney’s sci-fi comedy Lilo & Stitch, directed by Dean Fleischer Camp. Among these, Bhool Chuk Maaf appears to be the most formidable challenger, especially considering producer Dinesh Vijan and lead actor Rajkummar Rao’s past success with the horror-comedy Stree 2, which raked in ₹627.50 crore domestically. Opening in Indian theatres on May 17, a full six days ahead of its U.S. release, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning marks the final chapter of Tom Cruise’s long-running franchise. Cruise reprises his iconic role as Ethan Hunt one last time, closing the curtain on a saga that began with the 1996 original. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the film is backed by Paramount Pictures and Skydance and features a stellar ensemble including Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Pom Klementieff, Angela Bassett, and Hannah Waddingham. A review from SCREEN described the film as “an ode to that Cruise,” praising its emotional callbacks and high-stakes action, underscoring the sacrifices Hunt made over the years and the people he fought for—and lost—along the way. Source: Indian Express Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Nears ₹50 Crore Mark in India, Outshines Recent Indian Releases Read More »

Bharat Pavilion Opens at 78th Cannes Film Festival, Spotlighting India’s Cinematic Brilliance

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India marked a powerful presence at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival with the inauguration of the Bharat Pavilion on Thursday. This milestone reaffirms India’s expanding influence in the global film industry. The inauguration ceremony witnessed the participation of notable figures such as celebrated filmmaker and IFFI Festival Director Shekhar Kapur, veteran actor Anupam Kher, and Anne-Louise Mesadieu, a Paris Region elected representative and diplomat. Their attendance underscored the growing cultural synergy between India and the international film community. Anne-Louise Mesadieu, during her welcome speech, commended India’s rich storytelling traditions and underlined the role of cinema in building global connections. She further assured that the French government is committed to facilitating Indo-French film co-productions, paving the way for deeper collaboration. Shekhar Kapur, in his keynote address, highlighted cinema’s transformative nature and emphasized India’s emergence as a hub of creative innovation and storytelling. The event also saw the unveiling of the poster and trailer for the upcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025. Gautam Bhanot, General Manager at NFDC India, elaborated on the vision behind the IFFI 2025 poster, describing it as a fusion of creativity and advanced technology, symbolizing India’s readiness to lead in global content creation. Another major feature of the ceremony was the launch of the India Film Guide, a detailed handbook spotlighting India’s film-making potential, co-production incentives, and scenic shooting locales. The guide’s release symbolizes India’s commitment to engaging with international collaborators and opening doors to global cinema partnerships. Anupam Kher shared a heartfelt message in his address, reflecting on India’s cinematic evolution and his own journey. “I’m eight years younger than my country. We’ve grown together and achieved so much. This is my first visit to Cannes, and I’m thrilled to be at this Mahakumbh of cinema,” he said. Adding a melodious layer to the event, popular Indian singer Astha Gill captivated the audience with a rendition of Saare Jahaan Se Achha, bringing a patriotic and emotional touch to the evening. Dignitaries including Shri Rupjyoti Brahma Karjee, Consul General of India in Marseille; Sreerag Mukundan, OSD (Films), Ministry of I&B; and Ravi Kottarakara, President of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, were also present. Their contributions continue to strengthen India’s cultural and cinematic diplomacy. The Bharat Pavilion, an initiative by NFDC and FICCI under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, remains a dynamic hub at Cannes. It plays a crucial role in promoting Indian cinema internationally, creating opportunities for filmmakers, producers, and audiences to connect across borders. Source: ANI  

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Fox Unveils ‘Fox One’ Streaming Service, Set to Launch Before NFL Season

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Fox Corporation has officially announced the launch of its direct-to-consumer streaming platform, Fox One, which is expected to go live ahead of this year’s National Football League season. The announcement came from CEO Lachlan Murdoch during the company’s quarterly earnings call on Monday. While the company has not yet disclosed an exact price point, Murdoch indicated that Fox One will adopt a wholesale pricing model—mirroring what pay-TV providers currently pay for Fox channels. Importantly, existing cable TV subscribers will receive access to the service at no extra cost. Murdoch emphasized that Fox One is not intended to undercut the traditional cable ecosystem. “It would be a failure if we attracted more connected subscribers at the expense of our cable base,” he said, underlining Fox’s commitment to retaining its linear TV audience while expanding into digital. Fox also plans to pursue strategic collaborations with distributors and third-party platforms to broaden access to Fox One. The media giant, known for Fox News and an expansive sports lineup, has until now lagged behind competitors in the direct-to-consumer space. Although it currently operates niche services like the Fox Nation subscription app and the free, ad-supported platform Tubi, Fox One marks its first attempt to unify all its content under one streaming banner. This move follows Fox’s recent decision to exit the proposed joint sports streaming venture, Venu, which was being developed alongside Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney. Unlike its partners—both of which already offer sports via streaming platforms like Max and ESPN+—Fox had yet to launch a comprehensive subscription-based streamer.   Meanwhile, ESPN is gearing up to introduce a new flagship app, which will mirror its cable channel’s offerings and is expected to be officially named ESPN, according to recent reports.   Source: CNBC Image credit: Getty Images 

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Pakistan Super League Match Cancelled Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions; Foreign Players Seek Exit

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In a dramatic turn of events, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been rocked by geopolitical tensions, leading to the cancellation of the highly anticipated match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings, scheduled for Thursday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The cancellation comes in the wake of precision airstrikes carried out by Indian Armed Forces, targeting key terror camps and air defence installations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which had initially declared that PSL would continue unaffected, is now in crisis mode. Foreign players, reportedly “in deep shock,” are seeking urgent exits from the country, citing escalating security concerns. According to sources quoted by IANS, “Many players are keen to leave immediately. The PCB will consult the government before taking the next steps.” In response to India’s airstrikes, Pakistan attempted retaliatory attacks on multiple military sites across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7–8, using drones and missiles. However, Indian authorities confirmed on Thursday morning that one of Pakistan’s key air defence radars in Lahore was successfully neutralised. In light of these developments, PCB officials are reportedly considering shifting the remaining PSL matches to alternative venues, including Karachi, Doha, and Dubai. An emergency meeting with all PSL franchises is set to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday to discuss the future course of action. As the PCB also weighs the fate of the upcoming T20I home series against Bangladesh, the sudden disruption casts a shadow over Pakistan’s cricketing calendar and underscores the vulnerability of sports amid rising geopolitical hostilities. Source: NDTV

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Palestine Named Most Dangerous Place for Journalists in RSF’s 2025 Report

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Palestine has emerged as the most dangerous place in the world for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which released its 2025 World Press Freedom Index on Friday. Amid Israel’s war on Gaza, the media watchdog reported that nearly 200 journalists were killed in the first 18 months of the conflict, with at least 42 killed while actively reporting. “Trapped in the enclave, journalists in Gaza have no shelter and lack everything, including food and water,” RSF said. The situation in the West Bank is equally alarming, where both Israeli forces and settlers routinely harass journalists. A wave of arrests following October 7 marked a sharp escalation in repression, RSF noted. The report also highlighted the pressures faced by journalists from Palestinian authorities. Those suspected of collaboration with Israel face threats from groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, while the Palestinian Authority’s cybercrime law further restricts press freedom. Palestine dropped to 163rd in the global press freedom rankings—six places lower than in 2024. Overall, press freedom declined in 112 out of 180 countries and territories, with the global average score reaching a new low of 55. The United States dropped to 57th place, with RSF accusing President Donald Trump—now serving a second term—of “overseeing a troubling deterioration in press freedom.” The report cites his politicisation of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a ban on The Associated Press from the White House, and efforts to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media as key concerns. Israel dropped 11 spots to 112th, with RSF citing increasing state pressure on media independence. Only pro-government media outlets are granted access to Prime Minister Netanyahu, while dissenting voices like Haaretz face boycotts. Eritrea ranked last, with Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands topping the list. Source: Al Jazeera

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After Pahalgam Attack, Pakistan Cricketer Says ‘Not Interested’ in Playing in India; ODI World Cup Venue in Question

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Following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, tensions between India and Pakistan have once again spilled into the world of cricket. Pakistan women’s cricket opener Gull Feroza has openly stated that her team is “not interested” in playing matches in India during the upcoming ODI World Cup. Speaking to PakPassion, Feroza hinted that Pakistan hopes the tournament will be staged in neutral venues like Sri Lanka or Dubai, citing their preference for familiar Asian conditions. “We are not playing in India. This is clear,” she emphasized. The BCCI remains the official host for the Women’s ODI World Cup, scheduled for September-October. However, with the ICC already permitting hybrid models for India-Pakistan matches in recent tournaments, a neutral venue could be used once again for clashes involving the two nations. The situation has intensified after the deadly Pahalgam attack, which left 26 civilians dead. Cricketing ties between India and Pakistan remain limited to ICC and ACC tournaments, as bilateral series have been suspended for years. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also suggested ending all cricketing relations with Pakistan, although no final decision has been taken by the BCCI yet. Source: Mint

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