News & Gossip

India's booming micro-drama sector faces a challenge. Many viewers hesitate to pay for subscriptions due to worries about automatic renewals. While trial offers are cheap, automatic payments can surprise users. Platforms are considering ads. Despite this, the market is expected to grow significantly in the coming decade.

JioStar moved the court under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act seeking interim relief in a dispute related to media and commercial rights for the Legends League Cricket Masters T20 tournament.

Netflix is expanding its presence in India by hiring up to 300 employees for its new Eyeline Studios in Hyderabad. This move signifies a significant investment in India's animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics sector. The government is also actively supporting this growth, aiming to create millions of skilled jobs by 2030.

Film producers are grappling with soaring costs for star entourages. These expenses now represent 10-12% of production budgets for big films, a major jump from previous years. Actors' demands for personal staff, coaches, and companions are increasing. This trend, exacerbated by changes in streaming platform funding, is straining film finances and impacting profitability.

Indian streaming platforms are moving away from a few trusted production houses. They are now seeking new creators to bring fresh stories to audiences. This shift aims to reflect India's diversity and boost growth. Platforms are using various methods to find and support emerging talent. This includes digital creators and new filmmakers.

The Competition Commission of India has closed a case against BookMyShow. Allegations of antitrust violations were dismissed. The regulator found BookMyShow holds a dominant position in online movie ticketing. However, it did not abuse this dominance according to competition law. The decision followed a complaint about exclusive agreements with cinemas. The Commission noted these agreements promote business stability and efficiency.

India live events: The report, titled Beyond Attention. Into Immersion, found that 78% of Indian consumers prefer spending on experiences over products, reflecting a broader shift toward participation-led consumption that is reshaping brand strategies.

Netflix has launched Eyeline Studios in Hyderabad, expanding its presence in India and investing in the country’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector. The 32,000 sq ft facility will support advanced visual effects, virtual production and next-generation production technologies as part of Eyeline’s global network, which already includes studios in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seoul and London.

Netflix has opened Eyeline Studios in Hyderabad, India. This marks a significant investment in the country's Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics sector. The studio will support advanced production technologies and global projects. This move highlights India's growing importance in international film production. It aims to foster local talent and integrate global standards.

Amazon MX Player is launching more than 150 new and returning shows for 2026. This move aims to grow its free streaming service in India. The upcoming slate features dramas, thrillers, and reality programs. Popular actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Nana Patekar will star in new series. Existing shows will also return with new seasons.

Tata Play Binge is now accessible on VIDAA Smart TVs in India. This integration allows users to stream content from over 30 OTT services directly on their smart TVs. Popular platforms like Prime Video, JioHotstar, and Apple TV+ are included. This move simplifies content access for viewers. Users can find the app on their TV's app store.

The specification will remain open for public comment until April 9, 2026, allowing the industry to provide feedback and support wider adoption. IAB is the global digital advertising technical standard-setting body.

TAM Sports has enhanced its cross-platform monitoring to include live streaming on CTV and mobile, alongside linear broadcasts. This expansion strengthens its sports sponsorship analytics by capturing brand presence across the evolving media landscape. The integrated framework now offers comprehensive insights for advertisers and rights holders to measure advertising occurrences and brand appearances across all platforms.

Women in Film India is offering a scholarship for two emerging Indian women producers. They will attend the impACT Lab at the Cannes Film Festival. This program provides mentorship and global industry exposure. The initiative aims to boost careers and connect impact-driven stories internationally. Applications are open nationwide until March 17, 2026.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge is creating significant buzz. Over 150,000 tickets are already booked for paid preview shows. The film releases on March 19, coinciding with festivals. It is directed by Aditya Dhar and stars Ranveer Singh. The sequel expands to Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam languages. Advance bookings show nationwide enthusiasm.

A new cross-media advertising measurement system from BARC and Nielsen aims to give brands a single view of campaign reach across TV and digital. Its success depends on major broadcasters and streaming platforms joining the initiative. Currently, only JioHotstar has adopted the framework. This system could help advertisers plan media mixes more accurately by showing platform value.

Sourav Ganguly, former Indian cricket captain, is set to host Bigg Boss Bangla, marking the reality show's return in Bengali language. The franchise's expansion into the region, unveiled at Eden Gardens, aims to resonate with Bengal's cultural ethos. This move signifies a significant step for the popular show into a promising market, promising lively conversations and celebrating individuality.

Bollywood is pinning hopes on Dhurandhar 2 to revive box office fortunes. Early demand suggests the film could break the sequel jinx. With a wide release and no major competition, Dhurandhar 2 is set for significant collections. The film's dubbed release in southern languages further boosts its potential. This release is expected to be a major box office event.

India jersey sales doubled this T20 World Cup season. Bars and clubs saw a 30% rise in bookings for live screenings of the final. Quick commerce and food delivery platforms experienced peak demand on Sunday. Brands like Adidas reported a 35% increase in jersey sales. The India vs England semi-final was the most streamed live cricket event globally.

Media buyers said the broadcaster was quoting a premium because advertising inventory for the final is limited, while viewership has risen sharply through the tournament.

In an order dated March 6, the ministry said it had observed that amid the ongoing Israel Iran conflict, certain news channels were displaying “unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content”, which could potentially create panic among the public, particularly among those with family or friends in the affected areas.

Cricket fandom is shifting to social media platforms. Fans now discuss and share content around matches on platforms like YouTube and Snapchat. This trend offers new avenues for brands as live cricket advertising costs rise. Digital platforms are capturing a significant portion of cricket consumption, moving beyond just live games.

Sony LIV has attracted significant sponsors for its upcoming Indian version of 'Wheel of Fortune'. Maruti Suzuki India is the co-presenting sponsor, joined by StockGro, Maaza, and Acko as partners. Hosted by Akshay Kumar, the show aims to be a major family entertainment property. This move signals growing advertiser confidence in streaming platforms for large-scale, celebrity-driven shows.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises has firmly established its reign in the realm of television fiction, clinching five of the top ten spots for fiction shows across a remarkable spectrum of six languages. This impressive achievement underscores Zee's commitment to compelling storytelling, with its content strategy striking a chord with audiences across the board.

In a groundbreaking alliance, Pocket FM teams up with OpenAI to revolutionise the content landscape. This partnership will enhance the creative toolkit for more than 300,000 creators, enabling them to craft mesmerizing stories for a global audience.

Cricket viewership in India for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has surpassed 500 million. This event marks the highest viewership for any T20 World Cup. Concurrent viewers on JioHotstar reached 60.5 million. The tournament's knockout stage begins now. New Zealand faces South Africa in the first semifinal. India plays England in the second semifinal.

Sony Pictures Networks India is embarking on a transformative journey by integrating all regional TV and content ventures into a cohesive unit. This initiative is designed to amplify success in linguistically targeted markets. With the green light from unsecured creditors, the merger of Bangla Entertainment and Culver Max is set to strengthen the company’s framework and enhance operational synergy.

India's pay direct-to-home sector continues to shrink. The subscriber base fell significantly. Internet protocol television is seeing increased activity. Private FM radio channels have decreased in number. Advertising revenue for these channels also dropped. Cable distribution operators remain registered. Satellite television channels are available for downlinking.

Jio Platforms is expanding globally. Dan Bailey has been appointed President to lead this new phase. He will spearhead international business initiatives from London. Bailey brings extensive experience in telecom deals. Jio aims to export its digital capabilities and network technology. This move signals Jio's ambition to become a global digital powerhouse.

American media giants are rethinking their India strategy. Recent years saw major players like Disney and Paramount adjust their stakes or exit operations. Lionsgate sold its streaming service. These moves reflect the challenges of India's competitive media landscape. Companies are now focusing more on content licensing rather than direct investment in local platforms.

LCVM represents the voice-layer evolution of that platform engineered not merely to translate language, but to preserve emotion, cadence, identity and regional nuance across multilingual communication.

Music is emerging as a valuable asset class with singers and composers launching their own labels to make more money in royalty payments.

Vineet Jain, managing director of The Times Group, received the 'Lifetime Contribution to Media' award from the All India Management Association. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan presented the honour in New Delhi. The award recognizes Jain's significant impact on the media industry.

Beamr Imaging has extended its partnership with leading streaming service JioHotstar, which relies on Beamr’s compression and optimization tools to manage its extensive video catalog. By using Beamr’s technology, JioHotstar significantly cuts storage and bandwidth expenses while still delivering premium video quality to millions of viewers.

JioStar has appointed Amit Malhotra as its new Head of International Business. Malhotra will be based in Singapore. His role involves shaping international market strategies and driving growth through launches and partnerships. He will focus on delivering value to consumers globally. Malhotra brings extensive experience from his previous leadership roles at Warner Media and The Walt Disney Company.

TV broadcasters are set to raise channel package prices by about 10 percent. This move aims to manage increasing content costs. Distribution platform operators are expected to resist these hikes. Viewers are moving to cheaper options like DD Free Dish and streaming services. This situation creates commercial tension between broadcasters and distributors.

New Delhi will host the DNPA Conclave 2026 on February 26. Policymakers, media leaders, and experts will gather. They will discuss news, governance, and digital innovation. Artificial intelligence is reshaping the news landscape. The conclave will explore AI's impact on content creation and distribution. It will also address revenue models and regulatory frameworks.

Indian TV companies face a sharp rise in signal theft. Smuggled set-top boxes are illegally beaming channels abroad, hitting revenues hard. Broadcasters are urging the government for stronger measures. They propose mandatory watermarking and stricter subscriber verification. These steps aim to curb losses and protect the DTH and Cable industry's future.

New Delhi authorities have taken decisive action against five OTT platforms. MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel, and Jugnu have been blocked. This move follows established procedures under the Information Technology Rules 2021. The government aims to uphold public decency and national interests. This action is in line with the Information Technology Act 2000.

WPP and Adobe are expanding their global partnership to integrate agentic AI capabilities, aiming to optimize media, drive growth, and scale creativity for global brands. This collaboration leverages Adobe's AI and WPP's expertise to create on-brand content and personalize experiences across channels, transforming marketing operations.

Dream Sports has named Arpith Kanade as the new Head of Studio for Dream Cricket. In this role, he will shape and execute Dream Cricket's vision to be the market leader and world's largest social cricket game.

A fresh controversy has erupted around the upcoming film 'The Kerala Story 2', with National Award-winning director Kamakhya Narayan Singh launching a sharp attack on actor Prakash Raj over his recent remarks about the movie on social media.

Streaming platforms are now buying satellite rights for films. This is a new trend for mid and small-budget movies. Digital rights are now more valuable than satellite rights. This shift is changing how movies are distributed. Streamers are also looking to build large content libraries for future monetization. This move helps them compete with traditional television.

Vineet Jain, MD of The Times Group, received the Lifetime Contribution to Media award from AIMA. The award recognizes his leadership in transforming the company into India's largest diversified multimedia enterprise, expanding into television, digital, radio, music, education, and sports. Jain's vision has built a media powerhouse across multiple platforms.

Music composer A.R. Rahman will credit the Junior Dagar Brothers for their contribution to the song 'Veera Raja Veera' from 'Ponniyin Selvan: II'. The Supreme Court recorded this submission. The credit acknowledges the Dagarwani tradition and the original 'Shiv Stuti' recording. This resolution follows a legal dispute. The modified credit will appear on platforms soon.

Mumbai Indians and BookMyShow Live's BrandLabs are launching The MIX, a two-day fan festival on March 21-22, 2026, at Jio World Garden, Mumbai. This event aims to redefine fan engagement by blending cricket, live music from international and Indian artists, immersive experiences, and exclusive merchandise, fostering a deeper connection with the #OneFamily universe.

Despite India's massive media industry, it hasn't achieved global content dominance due to capital constraints, Uday Shankar said. However, he believes AI offers a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" for India to become a content leader by reducing production costs, enhancing consumer interaction, and enabling dynamic commerce, urging the industry to embrace disruption.

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup: The India versus Pakistan T20 World Cup match achieved record digital reach and consumption. JioStar reported 163 million digital viewers, surpassing previous ICC events. TV ratings also saw a significant jump. This fixture continues to be a major draw for fans and a key revenue generator for broadcasters. The tournament is on track for record overall digital reach.

Several upcoming films have been postponed to avoid clashing with March 19 release of two major Bollywood productions, Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic. These highly anticipated movies, starring Ranveer Singh and Yash respectively, are expected to draw massive audiences, potentially impacting other releases.

India's market regulator Sebi has issued a show cause notice to Zee Entertainment Enterprises and its top executives. The notice alleges fund diversion and governance lapses. Zee Entertainment has denied all allegations. The company plans to file a response and take legal steps to protect shareholder interests.