News & Gossip

The sponsorship reflects Perot Jain’s long-standing belief in cricket’s growth potential in the United States and its commitment to strengthening the sport’s ecosystem, from grassroots development to elite international competition.

Dish TV India faces a massive Rs. 7,203 crore licence fee demand from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, adding to ongoing legal battles. The company has also booked significant impairments on its investments, including those in new-age technologies and assets from Videocon d2h, impacting its net worth. Fines were also levied for SEBI norm non-compliance.

JetSynthesys, backed by Sachin Tendulkar, has acquired EverMerge from Big Fish Games for an undisclosed sum. The popular merge puzzle game has generated over $350 million in lifetime revenue. JetSynthesys plans to expand EverMerge globally, particularly in high-growth markets like India, leveraging its expertise in community building and data-driven user acquisition.

Debate on age restrictions for social media in India is growing, with a lawmaker proposing a bill to ban accounts for those under 16. This move aims to protect children from exploitation and ensure data privacy, potentially impacting major platforms like Meta and Snapchat in the vast Indian market. Several Indian states are also exploring similar measures.

Prime Video has added Goldmines Play to its Indian marketplace. This new subscription offers a vast collection of Hindi-dubbed South Indian blockbusters and popular Hindi films. Priced at Rs 39 per month, it targets family audiences. Goldmines Play aims to bring its proven content to a premium OTT platform. This partnership strengthens Prime Video's regional entertainment offerings for Indian viewers.

Older actors are now leading box office success. Films starring actors in their 50s and 60s are consistently earning over 100 crore. These stars connect with multiple generations. Audiences prefer acting skills and character depth. Producers are offering them suitable roles. This trend is boosting cinema collections.

Reliance Industries Ltd has acquired a majority stake in Sikhya Entertainment, signaling a key trend of mergers and acquisitions in the film studio business for 2026. This move by RIL, through its subsidiary, strengthens Jio Studios and deepens its media and entertainment footprint. The partnership aims to leverage Sikhya's acclaimed creative pipeline for future film and web series productions.

Netflix announces its 2026 content lineup for India, celebrating a decade in the country. The slate spans diverse genres and languages, featuring established and emerging talent. It includes war dramas, crime thrillers, romance, comedy, and unscripted shows. Major Hindi titles and South Indian productions are highlighted. This expansion aims to entertain and celebrate India through storytelling.

Noida Film City is set to host the world's largest integrated content creators' incubation and lab ecosystem, a significant development for India's creator economy. This initiative aims to nurture talent from institutional learning to career launch and global business development across various content formats. The ecosystem will unite diverse creators, fostering collaboration and enabling monetization on international platforms.

Stephan Bugaj, formerly chief creative officer at Genvid Entertainment, is best known for co-developing the Massively Interactive Live Event (MILE) format, which blends streaming, gaming and real-time audience participation.

Walt Disney reported a $28 million loss from its India joint venture with Reliance Industries in Q1 fiscal 2026, a slight improvement from the prior year. Despite a 5% revenue increase to $26 billion, total segment operating income declined 9% due to higher costs in entertainment and sports segments.

Reliance Industries Limited's media arm, Jio Studios, has acquired a 50.1% stake in Sikhya Entertainment Private Limited. This strategic move aims to bolster Jio Studios' position in the entertainment sector. Sikhya Entertainment is known for its award-winning storytelling and commitment to new talent.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises is cutting costs by reducing its workforce. The company has shed over 900 employees in recent years. This move comes as broadcasters face declining ad revenue and subscriber numbers. Zee aims for a better EBITDA margin by FY26. The company is also involved in an arbitration case with JioStar over a failed ICC TV rights deal.

Reliance Industries' subsidiary, RSBVL, has acquired a 50.1% stake in Sikhya Entertainment for ₹150 crore, bolstering Jio Studios' presence in the media and entertainment sector. This strategic partnership aims to combine Jio Studios' scale and distribution with Sikhya's award-winning storytelling to co-create films and series for global audiences.

A cricket match between India and Pakistan is a highly anticipated event, driving significant advertising revenue due to its large viewership. Brands often align their major advertising campaigns with the Cricket World Cup, specifically targeting the India-Pakistan game. JioStar aims to generate over Rs 2,000 crore in advertising revenue from the tournament across television and digital platforms. The absence of an India-Pakistan match could result in an estimated revenue loss of up to 20%. Subscription revenue is not expected to be affected, as these agreements are typically annual and involve fixed fees.

Mirchi has secured exclusive rights as the official private FM radio partner for live score updates of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The radio network will provide audio coverage and on-ground reporting from stadiums, bringing fans closer to the tournament's action and atmosphere.

English news channel Times Now celebrates 20 years of operations, marking the milestone with curated conversations featuring prominent figures from politics, sport, and entertainment. Launched in 2006 with a focus on accountability-driven journalism, the channel has become a household name, shaping India's modern history.

FanCode has secured exclusive broadcast rights for the 2025-26 Indian Super League season, partnering with KPS Studios for production. The acquisition signifies FanCode's commitment to digital-first experiences for mobile audiences, aiming to enhance fan engagement and expand the league's reach across India.

Union Budget 2026: India is launching a major initiative to embed animation, visual effects, gaming and comics training in schools and colleges. This move, proposed in Budget, aims to build a strong talent pipeline for the growing creator economy. The government is establishing content creator labs nationwide to boost skills and job creation.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises is strengthening its advertising business. Sandeep Mehrotra joins as Chief Operating Officer – Advertisement Revenue. He will integrate TV and digital platforms to drive growth. This move aims to build a future-ready revenue engine. Mehrotra brings extensive experience in media sales. Laxmi Shetty will continue to lead the advertising revenue vertical working with him.

The Union Budget has allocated Rs 4551.94 crore to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. A significant portion will support Prasar Bharati, India's public broadcaster. Funds are also earmarked for developing talent in animation, visual effects, and gaming. The community radio movement will receive support. This budget aims to boost media infrastructure and content creation across India.

AI is revolutionizing content discovery and engagement, making experiences faster, simpler, and more natural for users. It personalizes recommendations based on real-time behavior, lowers entry barriers for creators, and shifts focus to intelligent, interactive, and conversational media experiences. Success will be measured by meaningful interactions and sustainable creator careers.

Sony Entertainment Television is shifting its focus to international reality shows for weekday programming. This strategy aims to attract more male viewers and premium advertisers. The channel is leveraging global formats like Wheel of Fortune to fill a weekday gap.

JioStar, which has over 34% TV network share, had challenged the high court’s decision upholding the CCI’s order to probe allegations of abuse of dominant position by the broadcaster against Asianet Digital Network (ADN). The Kerala High Court bench comprised Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Syam Kumar VM.

Collective Artists Network welcomes Janahavi Rawal, Sanjana Jain, and Rahul Regulapati as new partners. This strategic move signals the company's focus on expansion and leadership development. Rawal will lead talent management, Jain will head marketing and creative services, and Regulapati will oversee technology and AI initiatives. These appointments are crucial for Collective's evolution into a comprehensive media and entertainment network.

Actor Suriya has joined forces with Exceed Group. This collaboration aims to grow Suriya's business ventures. Exceed World will guide strategy, brand building, and new projects. The partnership focuses on creating lasting value beyond endorsements. It will explore opportunities in entertainment, business, and social impact. This move signifies a strategic expansion for Suriya's entrepreneurial vision.

Marico is acquiring a majority stake in Zea Maize, the company behind the 4700BC snacking brand. The deal with PVR Inox is valued at up to ₹226.83 crore. 4700BC founder Chirag Gupta will continue to lead the business. This move expands Marico's presence in the premium snacking market. PVR Inox is monetizing a non-core asset through this transaction.

Several Hindi films are being banned from theatrical release in the UAE, a significant market for Bollywood box office revenue. Producers cite divisive geopolitical elements in these films as the reason for the bans, impacting potential earnings and the overall overseas performance of affected movies.

Hindi general entertainment channels are shifting towards reality programming to attract male viewers and advertisers, moving beyond traditional female-dominated daily soaps. This strategic change aims to capitalize on changing viewing habits and the growing popularity of non-fiction genres across platforms, offering better engagement and monetization opportunities.

Sunny Deol's 'Border 2' has made a strong debut at the box office. The film collected Rs 32.10 crore net on its opening day. This sequel to the 1997 hit saw massive footfalls in cinemas. The movie is set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war. It reportedly did not release in six Gulf nations due to its narrative.

India's television audience is projected to reach nearly 1 billion viewers by 2029, driven by rising incomes, literacy, and internet penetration. A new IIMA study indicates growth will be led by rural areas and lower-income states, with internet access complementing TV's expansion. The report highlights television's continued relevance and socio-economic impact.

Hindi films drew more audiences to cinemas in 2025. Ticket sales for Hindi movies increased, bucking a general decline in all film footfalls. This growth highlights the importance of content. Producers believe good films will continue to attract viewers to theaters. The industry sees a co-existence of theatrical and home entertainment experiences. Word-of-mouth remains a key driver for successful films.

Tata Play Binge is launching a new content category called Shots. This features short, vertical micro-dramas designed for mobile viewing. The move aims to attract viewers with evolving habits and address the ongoing decline in DTH subscribers. Shots offers content from multiple creators and partners at no extra cost. This initiative reflects a broader industry trend towards short-form, mobile-first content.

TV ad spending dropped in 2025. A ban on real money gaming and budget cuts by major sectors caused this decline. Many advertisers moved to digital platforms like CTV and OTT. Despite this, TV advertising remains relevant for broad reach. Food and beverages led ad volumes. Overall TV ad revenue is projected to fall before growing again.

After surviving gruelling physical challenges and intense pitch rounds, cloud automation platform Toystack AI emerged as the season winner. Tim Draper awarded the $1 million prize in a dramatic finale that also saw other finalists receive unexpected investment offers.

Esports is becoming a lucrative career in India. Top players earn up to Rs 1 crore annually. Many players see it as a viable profession. Opportunities are growing for coaches and managers too. The market is projected for significant growth. Regulatory changes are expected to boost investment and user base. This evolving field offers new professional avenues.

JioHotstar introduces Shop the Look, a new feature for instant shopping directly from your mobile. Viewers can now buy products seen on screen without leaving the app. This innovation, starting with fashion and NEWME on MTV Splitsvilla, aims to make shopping effortless. The platform plans to expand this feature to other categories, tapping into India's growing creator-commerce market.

The World Pickleball League announced Sony LIV as its official digital streaming partner for Season 2. All 120 matches will be available live and on demand. This partnership expands the league's digital reach for its upcoming season. Season 2 features more teams, matches, and international players. Celebrity owners are also part of the league.

AI audio firm ElevenLabs has appointed Karthik Rajaram as its India head. Rajaram will lead strategy and revenue growth. He brings extensive experience in scaling tech businesses. India is a key market for AI voice technology. ElevenLabs is investing in local teams and partnerships. The company aims to deploy AI voice solutions at scale across India's diverse sectors.

Google-owned Gemini has secured a three-year sponsorship deal with the Indian Premier League (IPL) worth an estimated Rs 270 crore. This significant partnership highlights the growing influence of artificial intelligence platforms in Indian cricket, following ChatGPT's sponsorship of the Women's Premier League.

Southern films across India are struggling at the box office, particularly as their share of Hindi film revenues sees a sharp decline. Analysts suggest that the root cause lies in a shortage of universal themes and repetitive storytelling. Relying solely on star power from various regions is no longer enough.

Silicon Valley startup FaiBLE Media Inc. has launched with a mission to decode the science of storytelling using AI. Co-founded by Sharad Devarajan and Dr. Mark Sagar, the company aims to develop new media experiences, including 'Quantum Stories' that offer non-linear narrative paths. FaiBLE seeks to identify scientific patterns behind emotional resonance in stories, inspired by scientific breakthroughs like AlphaFold.

JioHotstar will launch new monthly subscription plans on January 28, 2026. Prices will start at ₹79 for the Mobile tier. This offers more flexible payment options for viewers. New monthly, quarterly, and annual plans will be available for Mobile, Super, and Premium tiers. Hollywood content will be included in Super and Premium plans for new users.

ET NOW is set to broadcast a week-long special show, 'Davos Diaries,' nightly at 9 pm, featuring exclusive interviews with global leaders and offering daily insights into discussions shaping the economic agenda and their impact on India.

JioStar's net profit fell 33% quarter-on-quarter to ₹888 crore, despite a 12% rise in revenue to ₹6,896 crore, driven by growth in sports and entertainment. The company noted healthy subscription revenue across digital and TV, with digital entertainment hitting record highs. However, the TV advertising market remains challenging.

The company operates 28 linear television channels across Hindi, English, Marathi, and Bangla, spanning general entertainment, movies, kids and sports. While SPNI has a presence in select regional markets such as Marathi and Bangla, its scale in these markets remains limited, while South India remains a major vacuum in its portfolio.

The company has realigned its leadership team to support the transition from a linear-first model to an integrated linear and digital content strategy, with sharper ownership across content and a consolidated revenue structure.

Dhurandhar's massive success challenges the notion that Bollywood fails to reach its audience. By considering India's economic realities and limited screens, the true addressable market is revealed. This blockbuster achieved significant penetration within this smaller, yet dominant, segment, showcasing a sophisticated new Bollywood strategy where theatrical releases act as powerful marketing funnels for long-term ancillary profits.

Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment have inked a landmark global Pay-1 licensing deal, granting Netflix exclusive worldwide streaming rights to SPE's feature films after their theatrical and home entertainment runs. This multi-year agreement, rolling out globally by early 2029, will also include select library titles, expanding Netflix's offerings with popular franchises and upcoming anticipated films.

Big Tree Entertainment, operating BookMyShow, saw its net profit surge to '192 crore in FY25. This growth stems from a robust performance in its ticketing and live events segments. The company's total income also increased significantly. Live events, including music festivals and concerts, played a key role in this expansion. BookMyShow's online ticketing business remained its largest revenue source.