ArdorComm Media Group

Contact Us
logo
Menu
logo
ArdorComm ArdorComm ArdorComm

Netflix

Vir Das becomes first Indian to host International Emmy Awards

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

Indian stand-up comedian and actor Vir Das has made history by being announced as the host for the 2024 International Emmy Awards, becoming the first Indian to take on this prestigious role. The announcement was made by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on September 11, 2024. The ceremony is set to take place on November 25 in New York City, where Das will showcase his unique humor and perspective to a global audience. Vir Das expressed his excitement on social media, stating, “Thanks to your support, an Indian Emmy Host! I can’t wait to host the @iemmys this year! Crazy. Thank you for having me. Tremendously honoured and excited!” His fans and fellow celebrities have congratulated him, including notable figures like Hrithik Roshan and Dia Mirza, who praised his achievement. Das is no stranger to the Emmy stage; he was nominated in 2021 for his special “Vir Das: For India” and won the International Emmy Award for Comedy in 2023 for his Netflix special “Landing.” His career spans various platforms, including television and film, where he has created and starred in series like “Whiskey Cavalier,” “Hasmukh,” and “Jestination Unknown.” Currently, he is on his international “Mind Fool” tour and has recently appeared in Prime Video’s “Call Me Bae. “Bruce L. Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy, stated, “We’re delighted to welcome back Vir Das to our stage and to add International Emmy Host to his impressive list of talents.” This historic hosting role highlights Das’s rising prominence in the global entertainment industry and his contributions to comedy and storytelling. Source: Hindustan Times

Vir Das becomes first Indian to host International Emmy Awards Read More »

Sony Confirms Termination of $10 Billion Merger Deal with Zee Entertainment, Legal Battle Looms

Leave a Comment / / Human Resource Community

Sony Corporation officially announced on Monday the termination of its proposed $10 billion mega-merger deal with Zee Entertainment, marking the collapse of the ambitious alliance that aimed to create India’s largest entertainment company. The agreement was intended to provide substantial financial prowess, positioning the unified entity to compete with global streaming giants like Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., as well as local conglomerates such as Reliance Industries Ltd, currently exploring potential partnerships with Disney. The termination notice served by Sony brings an abrupt end to the negotiations, which had been anticipated as Sony Group Corp signaled its hesitancy to extend the discussions beyond the originally agreed-upon deadline. The termination follows a report on January 21 by ET (Economic Times) indicating that Sony was unlikely to prolong the good faith negotiations with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL). Zee Entertainment, in response to Sony’s move, expressed its intention to take legal action against the Japanese conglomerate, setting the stage for a potential legal battle between the two entities. The fallout from the failed merger deal adds a layer of complexity to the media landscape, with Zee Entertainment now reassessing its strategic options. In a prior development, Zee had requested Sony to extend the merger deadline from December 21, 2023, citing the need for more time. The merger deal, initially inked on December 22, 2021, faced hurdles and uncertainties, ultimately leading to its termination. The termination of the Sony-Zee merger deal raises questions about the future trajectory of both companies in the highly competitive Indian entertainment market. Industry observers are closely watching the aftermath of this high-profile breakdown and its potential implications for the broader media and entertainment landscape in India.

Sony Confirms Termination of $10 Billion Merger Deal with Zee Entertainment, Legal Battle Looms 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 »

Netflix Inks Multi-Year Content Partnership with Yash Raj Films Amid Streaming Competition

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

Amidst the escalating competition in the streaming industry, Netflix has inked a multi-year creative partnership agreement with the renowned movie production company, Yash Raj Films (YRF). This collaboration will encompass the joint development of both movies and series. The maiden project emerging from this partnership is “The Railway Men,” a four-part thriller series starring R. Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyendu Sharma, and Babil Khan. Additionally, the second project in the works is a film titled “Maharaj,” as stated in an official announcement. Monika Shergill, the VP of Content at Netflix India, expressed their enthusiasm for catering to diverse audiences by delivering relatable and beloved series and films. Yash Raj Films, being eminent creators in Indian cinema, have left an indelible mark with iconic works like “Kabhi Kabhie” and “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” to more recent titles like “War” and “Pathaan.” Shergill emphasized the potential of this collaboration to captivate global audiences with top-notch content. This announcement coincides with reports suggesting that Netflix is contemplating a shift in its content strategy, leaning towards blockbuster films to allure new subscribers and retain its existing user base. Notably, Indian films such as “RRR” and “Gangubai Kathiawadi” have garnered significant attention on the platform, underscoring their popularity among viewers. Indian films also frequently secure spots on Netflix’s global top 10 weekly lists for non-English content. In the competitive Indian OTT market, where it contends with rivals like JioCinema, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+Hotstar, Netflix is striving to establish a prominent presence. Recently, Netflix formed a strategic partnership with Jio, bundling prepaid tariff plans with subscriptions to the US-based streaming service, marking a unique venture in India. Furthermore, Netflix has taken measures to curb password sharing in India as part of its efforts to boost revenue in the latter half of 2023. In a letter addressed to shareholders earlier this year, the company announced its intention to extend the password sharing ban to nearly all remaining countries. In a separate communication to Indian subscribers, Netflix clarified that a single account would be restricted to a single household.

Netflix Inks Multi-Year Content Partnership with Yash Raj Films Amid Streaming Competition Read More »

Netflix to stream Alia Bhatt-starrer ‘Darlings’ on 5th August

Leave a Comment / / Media Entertainment & Art Community

The debut production of actor Alia Bhatt, Darlings, in which she also stars, will launch on the American streaming service Netflix on August 5. Red Chillies Entertainment, a production company owned by Shah Rukh Khan, worked with the actors Shefali Shah, Vijay Varma, and Roshan Matthew to co-produce the movie. Eternal Sunshine Productions, Bhatt’s production company, was launched last year. While movie theatres in India may be fully booked, the box office chances for low- and medium-budget films are dwindling, forcing them to stream services. According to industry insiders, Darlings, Mohanlal’s 12th Man, and Kangana Ranaut’s Tiku Weds Shiru have chosen to release on digital platforms despite the fact that these movies, which star bankable actors, were intended for theatres. Anek, Jayeshbhai Jordaar, and Runway 34, among other recent films that failed to bring viewers to theatres, performed poorly, underscoring the fact that only big-budget entertainers are making the cash registers ring. When a movie like Gehraiyaan, directed by Karan Johar and starring Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Ananya Pandey, debuted on Amazon Prime Video a few months ago, trade experts say it was a sensible decision to not rely heavily on the theatre figures. Despite having bankable stars, the few medium-budget Hindi films, especially those lacking a lot of action or grandeur, that did brave a theatrical release have had disappointing returns in recent weeks. A few notable examples include Jersey by Shahid Kapoor (19.68 crore), Runway 34 by Ajay Devgn (32.96 crore), Heropanti 2 by Tiger Shroff (24.45 crore), Jayeshbhai Jordaar by Ranveer Singh (15.59 crore), and Anek by Ayushmann Khurrana (8 crore). Trade analysts claim that Kangana Ranaut’s Dhaakad’s poor box office performance, which saw it finish with less than Rs. 3 crore, is making post-theatrical OTT deals challenging because streaming players have shown no interest in the movie.

Netflix to stream Alia Bhatt-starrer ‘Darlings’ on 5th August Read More »

Netflix dismisses 300 more workers in its latest wave of layoffs

Leave a Comment / / Human Resource Community

In an effort to contain costs in the face of uneven membership growth, streaming behemoth Netflix Inc. terminated another 300 workers. Across the company, there will be job losses, with majority of the US-based employees being impacted. Compared to the cut the streaming giant made last month, this one is twice as big. The news was initially covered by Variety. In an email, a Netflix representative said, “While we continue to invest significantly in the business, we made these adjustments so that our costs are growing in line with our slower revenue growth,” We are doing everything we can to support them as they navigate this difficult transition and are incredibly grateful for everything they have done for Netflix. Following the disruption of its subscription-based business model caused by the loss of 200,000 customers in the first quarter of 2022, Netflix is restructuring its operations. The issues have depressed employee morale and battered the stock price of the company. Along with the layoffs in May, Netflix reduced its marketing expenses in April by firing several contract workers and editorial staff from its Tudum website. Concerns among Netflix subscribers were exacerbated by a price rise in January. It also faces increased competition from streaming services like Hulu, Walt Disney Co., and Amazon.com Inc., all of which recently reported increases in subscriber numbers.

Netflix dismisses 300 more workers in its latest wave of layoffs Read More »