News & Gossip

he media and entertainment sector is likely to see an improvement in spending and growth momentum in the December quarter, supported by a late Diwali, a stronger content pipeline and improving monetisation across digital, subscription and sports segments, Nuvama Research said in its October 1 sector preview.

A new Tibetan historical drama, Four Rivers Six Ranges, is bringing renewed attention to Tibet’s resistance movement and the exile community’s efforts to preserve its history. The film, shot partly in Nepal’s Mustang region, follows fighters who aided the Dalai Lama’s 1959 escape and arrives as Tibet’s political future faces uncertainty over the Dalai Lama’s succession and evolving India-China ties.

Eventions IPO aims to strengthen financial stability, support working capital, and pay off debt. Funds from the IPO will also help invest in a subsidiary and address general corporate purposes. Eventions reported growth in total income and profit after tax over the past three years.

In a significant move, the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies has signed five MoUs with several organizations to strengthen industry partnerships. These agreements are tailored to encourage educational and technological improvements in creative sectors, specifically targeting skill enhancement and infrastructure in the audiovisual field. This initiative aspires to link budding talents with global career opportunities while fostering a thriving creative economy in India.

Industry executives are calling for TRAI to reassess the New Tariff Order's impact on media regulations. They emphasize the need for lighter, principles-based regulations in response to the shift towards digital platforms. The television industry has seen improved revenues, yet there is a noted migration of viewers to OTT services. Regulators are encouraged to provide flexibility for companies to innovate product offerings.

Speaking in a panel discussion at Ficci Frames, India's leading media and entertainment conclave, Zee Entertainment CEO Punit Goenka said the industry has transformed and is no longer simply about investing in and focusing on either television or digital.

JioStar launched a deep product integration with ChatGPT during the IPL that went beyond conventional search. Viewers could ask questions about players and matches in natural language while watching the game and receive contextual information without interrupting their viewing experience.

Entertainment company Eloelo Group has unveiled Dolphin AI, an agentic AI studio designed to handle video production from scripting and planning to generation and editing. The AI agent's main proposition is to maintain continuity across multiple shots. The platform was developed initially to address Eloelo’s own high-volume video production requirements and is now being offered to external users.

Prabhat emphasized the need for India's media and entertainment industry to create enduring economic value. He noted that overwhelming scale of content production is insufficient for sustainability and growth in creative enterprises. Greater investment in original intellectual property and improved protection against piracy were highlighted as essential.

JioStar is betting that India’s next phase of sports viewing will combine live matches with AI, commerce, regional languages and interactive features. With Indian-language viewing accounting for 90% of watch time and integrations such as Swiggy driving transactions, the broadcaster is looking beyond eyeballs to turn its growing sports audience into a broader digital commerce opportunity.

Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat sees a human comeback in an AI-heavy content world, predicting audiences will gravitate towards more authentic, less AI-driven storytelling. He also wants India to move from being a massive content consumer to a global creator of original IP, using its stories to power tourism and creative economy.

Uday Shankar, at FICCI FRAMES, discussed the media industry's responsibility in building Brand India. He highlighted the need for diverse storytelling in news, entertainment, and sports. Shankar emphasized that media shapes society's imagination and aspirations for a better future. He acknowledged the industry's changes with a younger generation bringing innovative ideas and solutions. Overall, he believes the media's role is critical in shaping India's narrative and identity.

Indian viewers are increasingly using various screens for content consumption as the industry adapts. Traditional pay-TV is facing competition from streaming services and connected television options. New app-based delivery for linear channels has been introduced by multiple traditional distributors. Linear television maintains its relevance, especially as a shared viewing medium for families. Live sports events like TATA IPL demonstrate the merging of traditional and digital viewing experiences.

JioStar CEO Kevin Vaz emphasized the urgent need for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to restore BARC audience ratings. This absence of credible audience data is creating uncertainty for broadcasters and advertisers during the festive season. Vaz noted that reliable audience measurement is crucial for brands to effectively plan campaigns. He also expressed the need for regulatory reforms to support the evolution of linear broadcasting.

Kevin Vaz emphasized the importance of restoring BARC audience ratings to ensure stability in the broadcasting sector. He noted the vital role of reliable measurement during the festive season for campaign planning. Vaz highlighted the growth of India's media and entertainment industry, particularly in the digital segment and live events. He pointed out emerging opportunities in content commerce and new formats like micro-dramas.

JetSynthesys has signed an MoU with Japan’s MIXI to explore collaboration across gaming, esports, digital entertainment, marketing and potential strategic investments in India. The partnership aims to combine JetSynthesys’ local market expertise with MIXI’s global gaming experience as India emerges as a key growth market for digital entertainment.

Sony Pictures Networks India is set to debut a new show called Raandhuni Na Kaanduni on October 3. The program combines comedy and cooking, showcasing Bengali culture and personalities in unique ways. Hosted by Ankush Hazra, it promises engaging interactions among familiar faces in a cooking environment. This format moves beyond traditional cooking competitions to highlight humor and relationships.

Charan said falling production costs and the use of artificial intelligence would lead to more stories being produced at greater speed. As the number of similar stories increases, he said, the algorithm will determine which ones get viewed.

India's Zee Entertainment has initiated contempt proceedings against JioStar for violations of a court injunction. The injunction prohibits JioStar from using Zee's copyrighted music and content in its programming. Despite the court order, Zee claims JioStar continued to exploit this content after the injunction was issued. JioStar previously argued that any violations were unintentional and residual. The conflict reflects the growing competition for content rights in India's media landscape.

JioStar has confirmed 15 sponsorships for the upcoming West Indies tour of India in 2026. The sponsors represent various categories including banking, wellness, and automotive. This series will consist of three ODIs and five T20Is starting in late September. The broadcaster aims to engage audiences through targeted advertising during the festive season. JioStar plans a six-month cricket calendar featuring multiple series with various touring teams.

India's video content investment is shifting towards online streaming as it accounts for 46% in 2025. Television's share declines to 42%, marking a significant change in the video industry. Local films are also seeing growth, with strong box office performances reported in India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Consolidation is taking place in the market, particularly in India and Korea, impacting production economics.

Print media in India has shown resilience amid global downturns with increased advertising revenue and volumes. As brands continue to invest in print, the festive season is expected to boost spending significantly. Data indicates that English dailies experienced a rise in advertising revenue from accredited agencies, marking a growing trend. This year's festive season is anticipated to drive higher advertising volumes in various sectors.

Bombay High Court maintained that a cinematographic film is not IT software under GST law regardless of its method of delivery. The court set aside a tax demand of over Rs 79.7 crore from Karan Johar's two production companies after stating that the transactions as licensing of IT software under Services Accounting Code (SAC) 998340, attracting 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) will launch it s Tamil general entertainment channel, Sony Vizha, on October 19 at 8pm. The launch would mark the company's entry into Tamil entertainment. The channel aims to celebrate Tamil Nadu's contemporary culture, tradition and aspirations by shocasing programs rooted in local identity. Sony Vizha will launch two flagship properties -- Celebrity MasterChef Tamil and Tamil Idol -- adapting international entertainment formats for Tamil viewers.

Brahma AI has successfully raised $150 million through preferred share issuance led by Multiples. This funding values the company at $2 billion post-money and aims to support product development and research initiatives. The company has been awarded a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for its innovative AI-based technology. It is also preparing to launch interactive digital human applications across various sectors.

India's television distribution industry is moving towards app-based delivery amid changing consumer preferences and connected TV growth. Several companies are launching linear TV streaming services through apps on connected devices, which could reduce costs. Linear pay TV is losing subscribers while free TV and connected TV are gaining significantly. This shift is seen as an opportunity to reach urban consumers and combine live television with streaming content.

Nielsen has upgraded its Streaming Content Ratings service to deliver viewership data every business day instead of weekly, cutting reporting delays by up to 80%. The company is also speeding up its weekly Streaming Top 10 reports as it works to bring streaming measurement closer to the reporting pace of traditional television.

AnyMind Group has launched AnyCreator Stream in India, a web-based platform enabling live-streaming creators to monitor audience performance, discover brand campaigns and manage earnings through one interface. Initially integrated with YouTube Live, the platform connects creators with brands through AnyMind’s AnyTag influencer marketing platform and supports measurable live-stream advertising campaigns.

Business creativity firm LTM has appointed Shekhar Kapur as Strategic Advisor. Kapur will guide LTM's BlueVerse Craft unit in AI-enabled creative development. He will explore new technology applications in storytelling and content production. This collaboration aims to expand human creativity and brand engagement with content. The move supports enterprises in the AI era's growing content demands.

ContentLens launched an AI platform to detect unauthorized celebrity identity misuse. This technology tracks faces and voices across social media platforms. The system alerts celebrity teams to potential violations and provides evidence. Actress Manisha Kandkur experienced its effectiveness against fraudulent advertisements.

The prolonged suspension of TV ratings has intensified pressure on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to restore audience measurement, with broadcasters seeking greater revenue visibility and advertiser confidence ahead of the festive season. BARC is working to meet the government’s TV rating guidelines, including expanding its panel to 80,000 and increasing independent representation on its board, while TAM India and Chrome DM have also applied to offer measurement services. Industry bodies have raised concerns over the financial viability of multiple rating agencies and potential discrepancies in viewership data.

India could emerge as a global content production hub by combining its growing AI capabilities, creative talent and expanding media global capability centres, industry experts said. The opportunity goes beyond traditional strengths such as VFX and outsourcing, with AI potentially enabling large-scale content production for global studios, streaming platforms and brands. Government initiatives including WAVES, WAVES Bazaar and Create in India Challenges are seeking to connect Indian creators with global markets, while investments in animation, VFX, gaming and comics are expanding the talent base beyond major cities.

JioStar has stepped up anti-piracy action in Odisha, with new FIRs in Bhadrak and Kandhamal against cable operators accused of retransmitting its TV channels without permission. The company says the cases form part of a wider crackdown on unauthorised cable networks and analogue transmission in the state.

Indian broadcasters have called for the immediate restoration of BARC television ratings, saying the prolonged suspension has affected advertiser confidence, revenue visibility and festive-season media planning.

Regional films now focus on home audiences, achieving success through strong content. These films are traveling across markets without Hindi dubbing, which is a significant shift. Streaming platforms have expanded audiences for regional cinema beyond their home territories. Culturally rooted stories are increasingly rewarded by audiences across all languages. This trend reflects a course correction in how regional films are conceived and distributed.

Small Indian creators have started posting on China's Bilibili, often called China's YouTube, using workarounds such as VPNs and changed location settings, even though the platform has not launched in India and the country is not among its listed international markets.

AdNexa.ai is combining media strategy, technology, execution and accountability through its OneView platform as it targets enterprise media spending and expands across Europe. The platform connects media insights with near real-time execution, integrating 15 platforms and running thousands of automated checks across social, search and programmatic media. The company says its automation has cut manual effort by about 90%, while its Advanced Audit helps brands identify inefficiencies and potential efficiency gains.

Pocket FM has launched Sherpa, an AI-powered fiction platform designed to help writers build and manage long-running stories across hundreds of episodes. The platform uses specialised AI agents and long-term narrative memory to maintain characters, relationships and storylines, as Pocket FM seeks to scale content production and help creators develop intellectual property across formats and markets.

Rohit Sharma’s entertainment debut,Family Full House with Rohit Sharma, has signed eight sponsors ahead of its premiere on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV. Skoda, PhonePe and Google Search AI Mode are among the top sponsors, as Sony looks to leverage Sharma’s popularity and the family-game format for brand integrations.

Pro Kabaddi League media rights talks involve JioStar seeking a fee reduction and franchises protecting the previous benchmark. Franchise owners are divided on open bidding, fearing a collapse like the Indian Super League. JioStar incurred losses and viewership has stagnated, prompting discussions for league growth. Discussions also include reducing franchise fees while increasing revenue share for teams.

YouTube’s new Partner Programme eligibility norms are set to reshape India’s creator economy, raising the bar for monetisation and rewarding serious creators. The shift could boost original and long-form content, deepen audience engagement, professionalise creator careers and push brands towards niche influencers. With non-YPP income already dominating creator earnings, brand deals could become increasingly crucial.

Zee TV will launch a new Sa Re Ga Ma Pa season on September 19. The show features a 360-degree stage and over one hundred musicians. This season celebrates India's diverse musical traditions and talent. Shreyas Talpade hosts while Shankar Mahadevan and others serve as gurus. The program aims to be a grand concert celebrating Indian music.

FanCode will become the sole platform for F1 TV Pro and F1 TV Premium subscriptions in India, giving Formula 1 fans access to live races, multi-camera streams, team radio, telemetry, documentaries and archive content. The move comes as Formula 1’s Indian fan base crosses nine crore. FanCode has broadcast F1 in India since 2024, with its agreement running through 2028.

Veteran actor Anant Nag has been honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He will receive this prestigious award at the National Film Awards ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the distinguished artist for his contributions. Nag has appeared in over 300 films across multiple Indian languages. His extensive career includes notable television work and state film awards.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising the landscape of entertainment production, offering creators remarkable cost savings. Smaller production companies can now bring projects to life while maintaining their intellectual property rights. With generative AI at the forefront, content creation in areas like audio and microdramas is already gaining momentum. This shift is predicted to ripple across film and high-quality scripted series, leading to significant growth in innovation and content output.

DTH operators have provisioned over eleven thousand crore rupees against disputed licence fee liabilities. This industry awaits a government decision on reducing the current eight percent licence fee. Operators face significant subscriber losses and declining revenues due to market shifts. They are now expanding into IPTV, broadband, and OTT aggregation services. The licence fee dispute remains sub judice before various legal tribunals and courts.

Google India and JioStar have partnered to bring Google Search’s AI Mode into popular Hindi TV shows Anupama and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. The campaign will use show characters and storylines to demonstrate how conversational AI can help with everyday tasks such as managing household budgets, career decisions and children’s education.

Mirzapur: The Movie has achieved over Rs 200 crore at the domestic box office. This film marks the first big-screen venture for the popular Mirzapur streaming series. It brings back the lawless world of Mirzapur with ongoing power struggles and rivalries. Several original cast members reprise their roles in this new cinematic chapter. The movie is presented by Amazon MGM Studios and Excel Entertainment.

Dish TV is launching new initiatives like VZY smart TV and ShopZop e-commerce to address subscription losses. The company's Watcho content platform shows early signs of traction and growth. Dish TV aims to recover and grow by integrating DTH and OTT services. This repositioning is a response to declining pay-DTH subscribers and rising OTT platforms. The company seeks to lead the industry's shift from set-top boxes to smart screens.