News & Gossip

French content producer Banijay has increased its stake in key Indian subsidiaries, including Endemol India, as part of a consolidation strategy in a rapidly growing market. The company also boosted its shareholding in the joint venture Seventaurus Entertainment Studio, signaling a move towards greater control over its Indian operations.

Warner Music India has partnered with Ultra Music for exclusive worldwide distribution of its extensive catalogue, including over 14,000 tracks spanning Bollywood, regional, folk, and devotional music. This strategic deal aims to expand Ultra Music's global reach and strengthen its presence on digital platforms, while also bolstering Warner Music India's engagement with Indian repertoire.

India's streaming universe is evolving like never before. As Connected TV usage surges, we may witness a welcome variety in storytelling. While male-lead narratives currently reign supreme, the trend of watching together on CTVs suggests an impending change. With platforms keenly analyzing viewer habits, we can expect an enriching assortment of programming that caters to a broader audience spectrum.

India's media and entertainment sector, valued at $30 billion, is poised to significantly boost the nation's soft power, according to Anand Mahindra. He emphasized that global influence now hinges on storytelling prowess, citing Hollywood's impact. While India shows promise, it must create globally appealing narratives beyond its diaspora to secure a prominent global position.

Established Indian brands are making a strong comeback in cricket sponsorships. This shift follows the withdrawal of fantasy gaming and tech companies. Brands like Asian Paints and Apollo Tyres are signing significant deals. This trend indicates a market correction and a return to stability. Cricket remains a powerful platform for reaching a wide audience.

The Women's Premier League is set for a significant commercial boost. New partner agreements for the 2026 and 2027 seasons are valued at Rs 48 crore. ChatGPT and Kingfisher join as Premier Partners. CEAT renews its association, and Bisleri comes on board as Beverage Partner. These developments highlight the league's growing commercial strength and global appeal.

Socialite Orry appeared before Mumbai Police on Wednesday. He is recording his statement in a major drug seizure case. His name surfaced during the interrogation of a key accused. This accused allegedly organised parties for celebrities. The case involves a large seizure of mephedrone. Orry had sought more time to appear earlier.

India's streaming economy has shifted south, with southern states now driving growth and creative bets. Once Bollywood-centric, platforms are investing heavily in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada content, attracting millions of viewers and reshaping the national entertainment landscape.

Mid-budget Hindi films like Saiyaara, Mahavatar Narsimha, and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat are achieving significant box office success, defying the trend of big-budget failures. These films are resonating with Generation Z and audiences in smaller cities by tapping into themes similar to South Korean content and classic Bollywood, bolstered by strong musical scores and narratives that spark audience debate.

Zee Entertainment has expanded into children’s programming with the launch of KidZ on Zee5. The service offers over 140 titles in multiple languages, including franchises like Boonie Bears, Vir and Inspector Chingum, with new content added every Friday. Zee is also working on original kids’ shows set to debut from December 2025.

Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 proved a major hit in Kerala. The show saw a substantial rise in viewership on JioHotstar and Asianet. Digital engagement surged, with video views and watch time increasing significantly. Connected TV viewing also grew.

IFFI 2025: The full-length documentary, produced by Manjoy Lourembam, Dr. Radhesyam Oinam, and Viswamithra Universals, delves into the untold history of the fierce Battle of Imphal—one of the decisive turning points of the Second World War—fought between Japanese forces and the Allied troops in Manipur.

TV broadcasters are preparing legal responses to Trai’s show cause notices over non-compliance with the 12-minute-per-hour ad cap. Industry bodies IBDF and NBDA are assessing options, calling the notices premature as the issue is before courts.

OTT platforms are raising concerns about new government accessibility guidelines for streaming. They find the rules impractical and costly. Platforms argue the guidelines do not fit digital content production and delivery. They propose a more flexible approach to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities without harming India's digital market.

In its latest study, titled Venn It Happens: SVOD & Theatrical audience intersection, media and entertainment research firm Ormax Media said the audience base watching content only on streaming platforms and who do not visit theatres is at 81 million. In comparison, those watching films solely in theatres and not having any access to a streaming platform service is 76 million, indicating limited impact of the increasing consumption of content on streaming platforms on theatre footfalls.

Amazon MX Player launches 'Bharat Ke Super Founders,' an entrepreneurial reality series featuring Suniel Shetty. The show offers a Rs100 crore investment pool from eminent tycoons and Recur Club, aiming to fund promising Indian startups. It emphasizes authenticity with verified pitches and real business fundamentals, democratizing opportunities for founders nationwide.

The Pitampura cinema is the second property developed under the company’s asset-light model, wherein investment is shared between the mall developer and PVR Inox. The format allows faster expansion while limiting capital expenditure on the cinema operator’s books. In parallel, the company has also been ramping up presence through the FOCO (franchise-operated, company-operated) model, having opened 16 screens across four cinemas this year where developers take on full capex and PVR Inox manages operations for a fee.

Tushar Shah is leaving Sony Pictures Networks India. He served as Chief Marketing Officer and Business Head for key channels. Shah will depart on March 31, 2026, after a 16-year career with the network. He spent over 19 years at SPNI in total. Shah's contributions were significant to brand and business milestones. The company will announce his successor later.

IMAX anticipates a high-growth phase in India over the next two to three years, driven by a larger slate and expanded national footprint. The company has seen a significant increase in its footprint and a 78% year-to-date box office growth in local currency, highlighting strong audience appetite for premium moviegoing experiences.

Nielsen is unlikely to re-enter India’s TV audience measurement space even as the government moves to liberalise rating rules and open the field beyond BARC. Officials said the company has no plans to participate as an independent measurement body, though it will continue operating TAM Media Research through its joint venture with Kantar.

Parks in Japan, Singapore and Abu Dhabi also license global IP ranging from anime to Hollywood blockbusters, using established characters to build immersive environments and justify high capex. These models rely on long running franchises that sustain audience engagement over decades, something Indian studios have yet to scale. Wonderla’s approach is shaped by this context, but experts say Indian film properties often fade too quickly to support large format, long gestation attractions.

With more than 30 million downloads and strong penetration across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, STAN is deepening how gaming communities interact and monetise. The company plans to use the fresh capital to expand AI-led personalisation, build creator monetisation tools, strengthen publisher integrations, and accelerate its entry into other mobile-first markets.

Together, IICT and YouTube will design programmes to help students, professionals, and creators gain hands-on experience with new digital tools and emerging technologies shaping the creative economy.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to private television channels, urging them to refrain from telecasting content that could aid or promote unlawful activities. This directive follows broadcasts featuring information on making explosives and justifying violence in the wake of the Red Fort blast.

Multiplexes are seeing a shift. Mid-budget films are now drawing crowds, with many becoming sleeper hits. Ajay Bijli of PVR Inox notes that content is king, not just big stars. Films are crossing the ₹100-crore mark, showing a strong appetite for good stories. This trend indicates a new era for cinema.

The government has announced a significant 26 percent increase in print media advertisement rates. This move aims to benefit both the government and the media sector. Rates for black and white advertisements per square centimeter for dailies with one lakh copies have been revised. The government has also accepted recommendations for premium rates for color advertisements and preferred ad placements.

Publicis Groupe India has launched Spark Foundry India. This new agency will use AI and data to build brands and drive performance. Niti Kumar leads Spark Foundry India. Ravi Bhaya is now Chief Growth Officer for Publicis Media India. Zenith and Starcom will also see expanded roles. These leaders report to Lalatendu Das.

Sony Pictures has acquired rights to the popular Chinese doll brand Labubu. A film is reportedly in development. The deal was just signed. Labubu gained global fame after K-pop star Lisa of Blackpink was seen with a keychain. This sparked a viral trend. Pop Mart, the seller of Labubu, saw profits soar.

Disney channels are back on YouTube TV after a two-week blackout. This deal restores ABC, ESPN, and other popular networks. The dispute ended Friday, allowing fans to watch college football and other sports. Both companies had accused each other of unfair practices during negotiations. This marks another carriage dispute in the streaming world.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises achieved a significant milestone in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2025. The company secured a score of 51 out of 100, placing it among the top 5 percent globally in its industry. This recognition highlights Zee's enhanced efforts in governance, supply chain, climate, and human capital management.

Walt Disney has reported significant non-cash write-downs totaling approximately $2 billion for its India portfolio across fiscal years 2024 and 2025. These charges are linked to the restructuring of its India businesses, including impairments on Star India (now JioStar India) and its investment in Tata Play.

BARC measures television viewership through an audio watermark that embeds a unique, inaudible code into broadcast feeds. Peoplemeters installed in some households detect these codes to record which channels are being watched and for how long.

WinZO and Balaji Telefilms are launching India's first transmedia universe, merging stories and games across formats. This collaboration aims to create cinema-grade microdramas for a global audience, leveraging WinZO's extensive user base and Balaji's storytelling expertise to tap into the rapidly growing short-form entertainment market.

Linkin Park will perform in Bengaluru on January 23, 2026. This follows their headline act at Lollapalooza India in Mumbai. The band added the Bengaluru show due to overwhelming fan response. They will play songs from their new album From Zero and classic hits.

India is becoming the top choice for global media companies establishing capability centres. These centres are crucial for production, post-production, and analytics. Driven by a vast talent pool and technological advancements, India offers significant cost savings. Major companies are investing heavily, creating high-value jobs and positioning India as a global innovation hub for entertainment.

Bollywood is witnessing a rise in films inspired by Indian mythology and history. Several epic and historical movies are set for release, reflecting a renewed interest in cultural narratives. Audiences are embracing stories that blend contemporary themes with ancient tales. This trend highlights a growing desire to connect with cultural roots and celebrate cinematic grandeur.

Basilic Fly Studio Limited saw significant financial gains in the second quarter of FY26. Revenue surged, boosting profits and margins. The company also improved its working capital management, moving from debt to a cash surplus. These positive results were driven by new clients and overseas acquisitions. Investments in AI and technology upgrades are also underway.

Prime Video has announced a significant increase in its ad-supported viewership, now reaching over 315 million average monthly viewers globally. This growth, spanning 16 countries, highlights the platform's expanding reach and appeal to advertisers seeking scaled engagement with premium content and live sports.

With recent film releases providing more misses than hits, the industry has turned to restoring old classics in 4K. Rajesh N Naidu writes about what this trend portends for our movie-going experience.

Popular Indian entertainment franchises are now entering the mobile gaming world. Shows like Bigg Boss and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, along with animated characters like Chhota Bheem, are being adapted into games. This move aims to keep audiences engaged and create new revenue streams. Experts see this as a significant shift in how content is monetized and experienced.

JioHotstar has surpassed 1 billion Google Play downloads, solidifying its status as India's largest streaming service with 300 million paid subscribers and over 500 million monthly active users. The platform attributes its success to local content, user experience, and market integration, recently unveiling AI-powered innovations like RIYA, Voice Print, and JioLenZ to enhance viewer engagement and personalization.

Dish TV has joined forces with Amazon Prime, extending Prime Lite benefits across its DTH, streaming app, smart TVs, and ISP network. This collaboration grants subscribers access to Prime Video's extensive content library and shopping perks like free same-day and next-day delivery. The move signifies Dish TV's evolution into a comprehensive entertainment provider.

Samay Raina electrified a Delhi stadium with his 'Still Alive & Unfiltered' show, marking a triumphant return after a hiatus. He announced the comeback of his viral hit, 'India's Got Latent,' promising to bring back the raw, unfiltered content that fans adore, despite past controversies and legal troubles. This declaration signifies a powerful reclamation of his journey and art.

Netflix has strengthened its lead among Gen Z viewers in India, expanding beyond metro audiences, according to the ET Snapchat Gen Z Index. The Kantar-powered study shows Prime Video making mild gains while JioHotstar loses recall among men, though it still spikes during live-sports seasons such as the IPL.

A senior sports business executive familiar with league finances said the cumulative losses are significant. “In the past 15 years, FSDL, the clubs and the broader ecosystem have invested heavily and still lost over Rs 5,000 crore,” the person said. According to another official, the tender terms allowed the AIFF to retain complete control without assuming any financial risk. “The AIFF wanted guaranteed income without taking any responsibility. No serious investor would accept that,” the person said.

Women's cricket reached a historic peak. The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 final viewership equaled the men's T20 World Cup final. This event drew 185 million viewers on JioHotstar. The tournament's overall reach was 446 million. This signifies a major cultural shift in how women's sports are viewed and celebrated in India.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is launching its first Global Media and Entertainment Investor Meet at the 12th BIG Picture Summit in Mumbai on December 1-2, 2025. This initiative, in partnership with WAVES Bazaar, aims to boost investment and growth in India's M&E sector by connecting global investors with Indian ventures.

New rules are coming for TV rating agencies. They must now measure viewership on connected TVs. Ratings will exclude special marketing pages. This aims for a fairer system. Advertisers want this change. Cable operators might lose money. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is seeking feedback. This could reshape India's TV advertising market.

Nazara Technologies has launched 'Bigg Boss: The Game,' a mobile title mirroring the popular reality show, developed by its UK studio Fusebox Games. This strategic move leverages a strong entertainment IP, offering players an immersive experience with regular updates aligned to TV storylines.

In the initial three quarters of 2025, Indian television advertisement expenditure experienced a notable 10% decline, largely attributed to major FMCG firms pulling back on budgets amid waning consumer demand. Nonetheless, FMCG and household goods continued to hold sway over TV advertising space.