Star India's video streaming service Disney+ Hotstar has crossed 26 million paid subscriber base as of December 2, 2020. The platform now comprises 30% of Disney+'s 86.8 million subscriber base.

This is a rapid jump from the 18.5 million paid subscriber base that Disney+ Hotstar had as of September. The platform has added roughly 7.5 million paid subscribers in two months. The strong subscriber acquisition is driven by the Indian Premier League (IPL) which was held from September 19–November 10, 2020.

 

Disney also plans to expand Disney+ Hotstar to more markets. The service is currently available in India and Indonesia.

The festive season for the news broadcasters was surprisingly bright. Buoyed by the pent-up demand, festive spends and promise of a vaccine, ad sales skyrocketed, giving broadcasters the much-needed relief on the balancesheet.

As per latest TAM AdEx data, between August and November this year, the news genre recorded the highest growth in advertising. The growth in the genre was 28%, followed by the movies at 24% compared to same period in 2019.  As much as 31% share of overall TV ad volumes came from news.

 

Even with a blackout period with no BARC ratings, the news genre pulled off a busy festive season. Clearly the lack of ratings did not create any major roadblocks for news broadcasters when it came to business, thanks to improving consumer sentiments and an overall news-heavy period. According to news broadcasters, the festive season saw better business than expected.

MUMBAI: New WarnerMedia France and Benelux, Germany-Austria-Switzerland country manager Iris Knobloch has restructured her leadership teams across EMEA.

Olivier Snanoudj, Eric Broet, Caroline Lang, Guillaume Coffin and Gregory Schuber will resume leadership positions for France and Benelux, with Willi Geike, Steffen Schier, Peter Schauerte, Sylvia Rothblum, Matthias Heinze and Tim van Dyk assuming leadership responsibilities for GAS.

Snanoudj and Schier will overlook theatrical distribution for the France and Benelux and GAS markets, respectively, while Lang will head TV distribution for France and French-speaking territories with Rothblum seeing the same responsibilities for GAS and Israel.

MUMBAI: The Covid2019 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the film and television industry, shutting down or delaying production of movies and programmes in many countries, with consequent negative ripples on revenues (through rights and advertising sales) and employment. But now, as countries across the globe gradually lift restrictions, filmmakers are heaving a sigh of relief.

Let’s take a look at how film and TV production is faring in key markets as the media and entertainment industry slowly comes back to life.

New York

New York City, one of the most densely populated states in the US, was one of the epicentres of the Covid2019 outbreak. As shoots restarted, New York state has implemented various regulations to ensure film and television productions could be conducted safely.

After a successful run for 6 years and 10 Seasons, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya on Zing came back with an all-new season 11, showcasing new age love. The show has been a favourite among Gen Z and they have always come back for more. The theme of the new season, currently on-air is about confusions in love. Love and confusion go hand in hand, especially for this young audience. Backed with a strong consumer insight that suggested that Gen Z are always in need to understand these confusions and looking for to navigate through these situations.

Zee TV is all set to unveil yet another heart-warming narrative with Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti.

Produced by Arvind Babbal Productions, the show depicts the innocent world of two young and adorable kids who team up and set off on a mission to rekindle the love between their parents and bring papa back to mamma in the hope of completing their ‘happy family’.

Slated to premiere on December 14, 2020, the show will air every Monday to Saturday at 10 PM.

Zee TV Business Head Aparna Bhosle said, “As a channel, we have always believed in telling stories that resonate with the core sensibilities of Indian audiences while offering them a fresh perspective towards life. Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti addresses the complexity of adult world issues interpreted innocently by two very endearing children. It is kids, after all, that serve as the glue sealing any cracks that build in their parents' relationship. And children, today, are exceptionally smart and perceptive when it comes to any trouble brewing in their family. Viewers will be amazed to see how it sometimes takes the over-simplified perspective of two innocent and optimistic children who look at the world through their uncomplicated lens to resolve issues that arise between their parents. Touching the right emotional chord and introducing viewers to a family they will end up loving, our next 10 PM show should find a strong connect with audiences across India." 

BBC Global News Sales Director for South Asia Vishal Bhatnagar who leads the advertising sales teams across three South Asia sales offices and is responsible for domestic and international advertising sales for BBC Global News’ digital and broadcast assets in South Asia including BBC.com and BBC World News shares his thoughts on the TRP scam’s impact on the news genre, BBC’s new initiative on brand safety and much more. 

Hungama Play, a video-on-demand platform owned by Hungama Digital Media, launched ‘Sanam Hotline’, a new Hungama Original in Marathi and Hindi. A comedy, the show revolves around three call centre executives who run an adult hotline and an unfortunate misadventure that gets them involved with an extortion racket turning their lives upside down. The cast of the show is headlined by actors from the Marathi entertainment industry, including Pushkar Jog, Sai Lokur, Uday Nene and Vinay Yedekar. Produced by CafeMarathi Studios, the show is directed by Akash Gursale and is now available to stream on Hungama Play and its partner networks.  

Mumbai: &flix, the destination of the biggest Hollywood hits presents a must-watch satire about the world of the super-rich with the Flix First Premiere of ‘Greed’ on Sunday, December 13, at 1PM and 9PM.

Directed by the BAFTA Award-winning filmmaker Michael Winterbottom, the film brings a stellar ensemble cast featuring the Academy Award-nominee Steve Coogan, Isla Fisher (Confessions Of A Shopaholic), David Mitchell, and Asa Butterfield (Hugo).The movie will also premiere on 13th December at 2 PM on Zee Café and 3PM and 11PM PM on &PrivéHD.

‘Greed’ tells the story of self-made British billionaire Sir Richard McCreadie (Steve Coogan), whose retail empire is in crisis. For 30 years he has ruled the world of retail fashion – bringing the high street to the catwalk and the catwalk to the high street.As fate would have it, after a damaging public inquiry, his image is tarnished. To save his reputation, he decides to bounce back with a highly publicized and extravagant party celebrating his 60th birthday on the Greek island of Mykonos. A satire on the grotesque inequality of wealth in the fashion industry, the film sees McCreadie’s rise and fall through the eyes of his biographer, Nick.

Chennai: Tamil General Entertainment Channel – Zee Tamil is set to launch a fresh and unique fiction show Thirumathi Hitler on 14th December. Thirumathi Hitler will be telecasted on weekdays from Monday-Friday between 6:30-7:00 PM on Zee Tamil and Zee Tamil HD.

Thirumathi Hitler, is a fun filled dramedy that revolves around the young, bubbly, and charming girl Hasini, played by the talented Keerthana Poduval whose motto in life is to take on challenges anytime someone defies her abilities. In contrast to her personality is the perfectionist AJ a.k.a Abhinav Janardhan who preaches high standards and forces his way-of-life on those around him. As the story evolves, their unique love entanglement turns into a comedy of errors as Hasini finds herself to be the mother-in-law to three daughter-in-law who are much older than her. The drama that ensues forms the crux of this rib-tickling show.