Media/Entertainment-Industry-The Economic Times 
Investors will take final call on Zee leadership: Punit Goenka
Goenka, who is part of the promoter family that holds a 4% stake, is the longest-serving CEO of Zee. In 2019, Goenka was reappointed as the MD and CEO of the entertainment giant, beginning January 2020. The Securities and Exchange Board of India is investigating Goenka and his father, Subhash Chandra, for allegedly diverting the entertainment company's funds to promoter-owned firms.
PVR Inox has partnered with Devyani International to expand into the food and beverage sector. Devyani will hold a 51% stake, while PVR will have 49%. This joint venture aims to boost pre-ticketing F&B revenue through branded food courts adjacent to cinemas. In FY24, PVR Inox's F&B sales rose 21% to Rs 1958 crore. The company plans to open 5-6 food courts initially. PVR Inox is also shifting to a capital-light model, reducing capex and adding new screens through a franchise model.
NCLT sets the ball rolling on merger of Reliance's arm Viacom18 and Star India
The merger scheme has two stages: the transfer of Viacom18's TV and streaming assets to Digital18 and the demerger and vesting of these assets from Digital18 to Star India. As consideration for the scheme, Viacom18 will transfer streaming platform JioCinema to Digital18, which will pay the company a consideration of Rs 24,186 crore through an allotment of 24.18 billion fully paid-up shares of Rs 10 each.
Banita Sandhu joins 'Bridgerton Season 3' Netflix series as Miss Malhotra: Know full star cast and other details
Banita Sandhu joins 'Bridgerton Season 3' as Miss Malhotra. Her inclusion in the acclaimed series has sparked excitement among fans. Premiering today on Netflix, the season promises romance between Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton. Sandhu's Welsh-Indian background adds depth to her portrayal, marking a significant moment in her career, which began in community theater before her breakout role at age 11.
450 single screen cinema theatres in Telangana to shut down for two weeks
Telangana's single screen cinema theatre owners have stopped screenings due to low revenue, with no major films releasing until June 15. President Vijayender Reddy highlighted the financial challenges faced by theatre owners and the possibility of resuming screenings with upfront payments from producers.
Navrattan Group's Himansh Verma announces launch of new OTT platform
"We aspire to present something distinctive that deeply resonates with our viewers, merging the essence of Indian cinema with the global allure of blockbuster content," Navrattan Group's Himansh Verma said about the launch.
ZEE Entertainment gets rights to broadcast DP World ILT20 season 3
ZEE Entertainment has acquired exclusive broadcast and streaming rights for the third season of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20). The league will start on January 11, 2025, in the UAE. The tournament will feature 34 matches across three venues. The previous season saw 348 million unique viewers globally and over 221 million in India. ZEE aims to enhance viewer experience through innovative technology and marketing strategies.
Anime Kingdom: OTTs step up investments to draw youth
Anime content is taking centre stage on over-the-top (OTT) platforms in India as streamers look to ape the traditional TV model of offering diverse content slate that caters to different age groups and demographics, amid the summer vacation for schools and colleges.
PVR Inox inks pact with Devyani International for development and operation of food courts in India
Tata Play will now give Amazon Prime benefits & liberty to choose your own OTT bundles
Tata Play has partnered with Amazon Prime to provide Tata Play DTH and Tata Play Binge customers with various options to access Prime's content and perks, including same-day delivery. Tata Play CEO Harit Nagpal stated the goal is to enhance user convenience and introduce a new bundled apps category. The collaboration offers different subscription packs, starting from Rs 199 per month, with access to Prime Lite on Tata Play. Binge subscribers can choose from multiple popular apps at different price points. Customers can subscribe to six or all 33 OTT apps, including Prime Video. The partnership aims to offer comprehensive value, combining video, shipping, and shopping benefits.
Jio bundles 15 apps' premium services including Netflix basic subscription with broadband plan for Rs 888/month
Jio has bundled premium services of 15 apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Lite, Disney+ Hotstar, with its 30 mbps broadband plan for Rs 888 a month. This new postpaid plan offers exclusive access to over 15 leading OTT apps, including popular platforms like Netflix's basic plan, Amazon Prime, and JioCinema Premium.
Universal Music Group plans to expand India play
Apart from India, the music company sees China as another other important market. "There are two markets we talk about most often, and that would be China and India. But India is one of our key markets and one of our key vocal points for growth," the CEO said.
Star Sports records 51 crore IPL viewers in 51 matches as race to playoffs intensifies
Disney Star, the broadcaster of the Tata IPL, has achieved remarkable viewership milestones as the tournament nears its finals. Star Sports, which airs the tournament, has garnered 51 crore viewers in the first 51 matches, a 5% growth from the previous high of 2019. The broadcaster also saw an 18% growth in minutes of total watch time, with 35,600 crore minutes spent. The IPL continues to attract fans with high-scoring matches and intense games.
Amazon launches Fire TV Stick 4K in India
The Fire TV Stick 4K, powered by a 1.7 GHz quad-core processor, offers fast 4K content streaming, seamless navigation, and quick app launch. The device supports Wi-Fi 6-compatible routers and 5GHz and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi bands, enabling customers to stream content at different internet frequencies.
Aparna Purohit quits Prime Video as head of originals
Purohit had joined Prime Video in January 2016 as head of creative development. She was elevated to head of India Originals in April 2019. In November 2022, her role was expanded to include Southeast Asia, apart from India.