Media/Entertainment-Industry-The Economic Times 
Homegrown talent, MCC footprint to make India a global content production hub
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 seek immediate restoration of BARC ratings
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 movies post success without Hindi market focus
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.
Bilibili, 'China's YouTube', draws Indian creators despite no India launch, as India-China ties thaw and YouTube monetisation set to tighten
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 bets on OneView to bring accountability to enterprise media spending
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 launches AI fiction-writing platform to help creators build long-form stories
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 TV debut draws eight sponsors for Sony’s family game show
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.
PKL media rights in flux as JioStar, teams seek to avert an ISL-style fallout
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 Income: India's creator economy needs to be more serious after new monetisation criteria
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.
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa returns September 19 with 360-degree stage and 100 musicians on Zee TV
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.
F1 TV shifts gears: FanCode takes the wheel as India’s Formula 1 fan base races ahead
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 Kannada actor Anant Nag to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award
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.
AI could disrupt traditional entertainment studio model as production costs fall
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 provide over Rs 11,000 crore against MIB licence-fee demands
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.