News & Gossip

Lionsgate Play is shifting its India strategy to prioritize theatrical distribution, planning to release 10-12 premium Hollywood films annually starting September 2026 before their exclusive streaming debut. This theatrical-first approach aims to enhance visibility and audience engagement, offering a seamless journey from cinemas to its streaming platform.

Jio Studios and Collective Artists Network have revealed the teaser for their new film Krishna. This movie uses an AI-native filmmaking process. The technology, called Galleri5, integrates artificial intelligence throughout production. This aims to improve efficiency and lower costs. It also makes advanced tools more accessible.

Films designed to provoke polarizing social media debates are proving to be an effective post-release marketing strategy. By tapping into uncomfortable social truths, these movies sustain audience attention and drive incremental footfalls through online arguments. This phenomenon is particularly evident in urban centers where social media significantly influences public consciousness and viewing habits.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises is investing up to Rs 116 crore in Phantom Digital Effects Ltd. to expand into the AVGC segment. This strategic move aims to enhance Zee's content creation capabilities across platforms and genres by leveraging PhantomFX's global expertise and AI-integrated production.

Women in Film India has selected four talented women filmmakers for prestigious scholarships to the Cannes Film Festival. Archana Borhade and Molshri Singh will attend the Producers Network, supported by Jio Studios. Suruchi Sharma and Jasmin A. Singh are chosen for the impACT Lab.

Dish TV India shareholders overwhelmingly approved the appointment of three independent directors, signaling strong confidence in the company's strategic direction. This move reinforces the DTH operator's focus on strengthening core operations and pursuing sustainable growth across its DTH business and newer ventures like connected TV and OTT.

JioHotstar introduces Conversational Voice Discovery, a new feature using ChatGPT to help users find content. Users can describe their mood or desired genre, and the platform suggests relevant shows and movies. This aims to reduce scrolling and indecision. While multilingual support is a plus, the feature has limitations in handling specific queries and broader knowledge gaps.

Walmart-owned Flipkart is set to enter India's burgeoning movie and concert ticket market, aiming for a May launch. This move into the fast-growing entertainment sector will see Flipkart compete with established players like BookMyShow and Zomato's District. The company is also piloting food delivery, signaling expansion into competitive, low-margin businesses.

Streaming powerhouses are choosing to partner with Indian digital platforms, looking to delve into the rapidly expanding OTT market without significant risk. Leaders like BBC, Disney+, and Warner Bros Discovery are leveraging local expertise to tap into a massive user base.

Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has assured cinema owners that the company will maintain a minimum release slate of 30 films a year if regulators approve its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery.

Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings has announced he will step down from the streaming company he co-founded 29 years ago, at a time when the firm is facing slowing growth, rising competition and investor pressure after a failed merger attempt with Warner Bros Discovery.

Media and entertainment deals will remain strong in 2026. Transactions will focus on content, gaming, sports, and AI companies with intellectual property. Most deals will be mid-sized. The sector saw significant activity in 2025, with deal volumes rising. Value creation will be driven by content, IP, and platform consolidation. Digital advertising will also see more mergers and acquisitions.

HBO Max is now available in India exclusively on JioHotstar. This partnership brings popular shows like Euphoria and The Last of Us to Indian viewers. Upcoming releases include new seasons of House of the Dragon and the Harry Potter series. Subscribers can also access classic series and Warner Bros. films.

VR Global Media has launched a $250 million capital programme to build a global entertainment platform, with an initial $120 million fundraise already underway. The investment will be used across film production, distribution, sports franchises and media-tech ventures, aiming to create an integrated and institutionally funded creative ecosystem.

Birla Studios and Vodafone Idea are launching 'Reel Se Real Star'. This mobile-first platform will discover acting talent nationwide. Aspiring actors can audition using their smartphones. The initiative removes traditional barriers to entry. Shortlisted participants will receive mentorship. Winners may get roles in feature films. This partnership aims to democratize talent discovery across India.

India's music streaming sector is seeing strong growth. Paid subscribers have increased significantly and are expected to rise further. Affordable plans, telecom bundles, and better payment systems are boosting numbers. Streamers are also focusing on regional content and superior audio quality. Live events are seen as a future differentiator.

India's broadcast sector is set for a major regulatory overhaul. TRAI is planning a broad review of pricing, distribution, and platform rules. This comes after the New Tariff Order faced criticism for not ensuring affordability and transparency. The move aims to address structural concerns and adapt to changing consumer habits and competition from streaming services.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues its impressive box office run, becoming the first Hindi film to surpass ₹1,000 crore net in India and reaching ₹1,680 crore worldwide gross. The Aditya Dhar directorial is now chasing the lifetime collection of Pushpa 2: The Rule, needing approximately ₹187 crore more to claim the top spot.

Small-budget southern films are outperforming big-star movies. These productions, made for under ₹10 crore, are delivering impressive returns, often five to ten times their investment. Script and content now drive audiences, especially the youth and families. This trend signifies a major shift in the southern film industry towards efficient, content-focused storytelling.

Hathway Cable and Datacom has a new chief executive officer. Gurjeev Singh Kapoor will take over from Tavinderjit Singh Panesar. Kapoor brings extensive experience from the media and entertainment sector. Panesar is retiring after a long tenure with the company. This leadership change occurs as the cable industry faces digital competition.

India's streaming market is booming. Mobile data and smartphones are driving growth. YouTube leads with the most users. JioHotstar follows closely. Netflix is now ahead of Amazon Prime Video. ZEE5 focuses on subscriptions and local content. This strategy is boosting revenue and profitability for ZEE5.

PVR INOX brings the global K-pop wave to Indian theatres with exclusive live screenings of BTS’s ‘Arirang’ world tour. Fans can experience performances from Goyang and Tokyo on the big screen. These cinematic events will be held across over 20 cities nationwide. This initiative caters to the growing demand from the BTS ARMY in India.

FIFA is struggling to sell media rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups in India. The governing body has significantly reduced its asking price. This situation arises from a slowdown in the sports broadcasting market and fewer potential buyers. JioStar, the current rights holder, is seen as the main contender.

Dish TV receives a significant relief as JC Flowers Asset Reconstruction withdraws its petition. The petition was filed before the National Company Law Tribunal seeking an extraordinary general meeting. This move comes after a prolonged tussle over board reconstitution. Dish TV shareholders had previously rejected several company proposals. The withdrawal marks a crucial development for the direct-to-home service provider.

Omnicom Global Solutions India aims to boost its workforce to 8,000 employees this year. The company is integrating operations following a major merger. India is becoming a central hub for AI-driven marketing initiatives. The focus is on creating a unified marketing delivery engine and enhancing martech capabilities for global clients.

Firozabad cyber crime police have apprehended three individuals from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan. They were running an illegal IPTV network. This network illegally streamed premium television and OTT content. This included ongoing IPL matches. The operation is part of a larger crackdown on piracy. Authorities seized electronic devices and froze ₹20 lakh.

ShemarooMe has significantly boosted its Gujarati content by acquiring OHO Gujarati's entire library, featuring over 30 original web series and 450 actors. This move aims to enhance accessibility for regional stories, with the popular series 'Vitthal Teedi' starring Pratik Gandhi set to premiere soon. The acquisition solidifies ShemarooMe's position in the Gujarati OTT market.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has instructed BARC to halt reporting TRPs for news channels for four weeks. This measure aims to curb sensationalism and speculative content amid the West Asia conflict. The directive seeks to promote responsible broadcasting practices.

FanCode will broadcast three major golf championships in India. These include the Masters, PGA Championship, and U.S. Open. This marks the second year FanCode is the 'home of golf'. Fans can watch live and on demand. A bundled annual pass is available. This strengthens FanCode's position for global sports content.

YRF Entertainment has announced the appointment of Saugata Mukherjee as its new Head of Content, signaling a bold new chapter for the company. Mukherjee, known for his dynamic content strategy developed during his tenure at SonyLIV and HBO Max, will spearhead the creative direction of YRF's film and series projects. Yogendra Mogre will maintain his role as Executive Producer.

Dhurandhar The Revenge has crossed ₹1,000 crore nett in India and ₹1,600 crore worldwide by its third weekend, according to the makers. The Aditya Dhar directorial showed sustained demand, collecting ₹1,041 crore nett in India and ₹1,622 crore globally, including ₹394 crore overseas.

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has set new overseas records, becoming the first Indian film to cross $25 million in North America and €1 million in Germany, where it is now the highest-grossing Indian release.

Dhurandhar The Revenge is captivating audiences with its thrilling run, inching closer to the monumental ₹1,000 crore mark in India. Globally, it has amassed an impressive ₹1,501 crore. From the get-go, the film shattered opening records and has continued to thrive in its second weekend.

Film financing in India continues to remain structurally challenging, with film financiers entering projects at the earliest and riskiest stages while returns are realised much later and with significant uncertainty. Industry observers note that film financing looks more attractive on paper than in practice and in recent times the underlying risk-reward imbalance for financiers has only intensified.

Indian cinema is embracing 8k scanning and restoration. This move preserves classic films from decay and unlocks new revenue streams. Directors like Mani Ratnam and actors like Rajinikanth are leading this trend. 8k scanning ensures films remain relevant for future high-resolution viewing and enhances their value for licensing deals with streaming platforms. This strategic decision is future-proofing Indian cinematic heritage.

The market, currently estimated at $300 million, is projected to exceed $3 billion by 2030. Unlike traditional long-form shows, these are vertical, episodic stories lasting one to two minutes, designed for mobile-first audiences. The format has seen explosive global growth, particularly in China, and is now gaining traction in India as viewing habits fragment across the day.

Television Rating Points for news channels are now on hold for four weeks. The government took this step citing sensational and speculative reporting during crisis times. This decision aims to curb content driven by viewership competition during sensitive periods. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated this move is a precautionary measure. Stakeholders have reportedly accepted the directive without objections.

Pratilipi has launched Double Tap Films, India's first data-backed microdrama studio. This new venture will create short, vertical videos using insights from Pratilipi's vast story ecosystem. The studio leverages user-validated intellectual property from its author network. Double Tap Films aims to identify engaging narratives for mobile-first consumption. Its debut slate features titles across multiple Indian languages.

PVR INOX Marriott model strategy: PVR INOX is shifting to a Franchise Owned, Company Operated model. This strategy seeks to expand its multiplex presence in smaller Indian cities. Investors will fund the properties, while PVR INOX manages operations and the cinematic experience. This move mirrors global hotel chains' expansion tactics. The company is piloting this in Gwalior and Agra.

The ministry took 12 actions in 2024 and 2025 combined for violations of the Programme Code and Advertising Code, including four in 2024 and eight in 2025. This is significantly lower than 52 actions in 2022 and 37 in 2023.

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

Zee Entertainment has cancelled over $215 million in unutilised foreign currency bonds. The company will also redeem $23.9 million in outstanding bonds. Zee is restructuring its content business, transferring a division to a subsidiary. It will invest in this subsidiary and also acquire a stake in a new creative entertainment entity.

JioStar has launched the IPL 2026 season with its most significant opening weekend ever. The tournament saw record viewership and engagement on both television and digital platforms. Over 515 million viewers tuned in, with watch-time increasing by 26%. Connected TV experienced substantial growth. Differentiated viewing experiences, including expert analysis, are enhancing fan immersion.

German media giant Burda Media has sold its Southeast Asia operations, BurdaLuxury, to Singapore's Jaipur Capital. This move allows Burda Media to focus on European markets. Jaipur Capital aims to expand its premium media presence across travel, luxury, and aviation in Southeast Asia. The acquisition includes all BurdaLuxury employees and operations in key Asian markets.

Kannada production house Paramvah Studios must pay Rs 25 lakh to MRT Music for unauthorized song use in 'Bachelor Party'. The Delhi High Court found them liable for copyright infringement and disobeying an earlier order. Despite arguments of minimal use, the court ruled the songs were crucial to the narrative, leading to a contempt charge and a hefty penalty.

Music labels are shifting from full album releases to staggered, singles-led drops for film soundtracks to sustain audience interest and maximise revenue from individual tracks. Each song is now treated as a standalone asset, with pre-release tracks building buzz and post-release songs maintaining momentum.

In a strategic overhaul, the EPIC Company has merged its television, digital, and content services into a single, robust brand: EPIC. This initiative streamlines operations while enhancing the scalability of its diverse content ecosystem. Now, all channels, digital platforms, and content properties come together under one cohesive identity.

Dish TV has petitioned the Kerala High Court, demanding that DD Free Dish, Prasar Bharati's free DTH service, be brought under the same encryption and regulatory rules as private operators. The company argues DD Free Dish's current unencrypted model unfairly disadvantages paid platforms, impacting subscriber numbers and violating fair competition principles.

Iconic cricket star MS Dhoni is making waves off the field by investing in Kuku, a dynamic platform redefining storytelling for mobile users. As the face of Kuku TV, a fresh microdrama app, Dhoni is fully committed to expanding Kuku's innovative reach.

IPL 2026: JioStar, Mukesh Ambani's entertainment venture, has terminated its IPL and Women's Premier League broadcast deals in Bangladesh due to its local partner's payment defaults. This move means no local broadcaster will air the IPL season, even if Bangladesh lifts its earlier ban. The termination follows a period of strained India-Bangladesh relations.