Rushmeet Arora

The CCI has cleared the merger of Viacom18 and Disney Hotstar, creating India's largest media house. This completes the consolidation of TV channels under Jio as part of the classical diversification of Porter's model. My two questions to all on my network: 1. Will there be usurious monopoly pricing of advertising? Such pricing could make it impossible for smaller brands to get into network channels. This is especially in the context of sports properties around cricket being only with this conglomerate. What is your view? 2. Will this consolidation lead to reduction of divergence of news and views ? Do we run the danger of unidomensional views and news? Is this right for a democracy of 1.3 billion where we have a million views and news daily? What do you think ?

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With India's OTT landscape shifting towards content syndication, marketers and brands have a unique chance to expand reach and connect deeply with a varied audience. This strategic move not only broadens content distribution but also opens doors for creative advertising and brand integrations across multiple platforms. By leveraging syndicated content, brands can craft a unified and compelling message that resonates strongly with consumers, enhancing brand loyalty and creating a lasting impact in a competitive digital market. #OTT #Content #Marketing

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"Twitter Communications India, now part of X Corp (formerly Twitter), recorded a sharp drop in net profit and revenue in the last financial year, largely due to a collapse in ad revenues after the dismissal of the company's global ad sales team under the new management led by Elon Musk. As per the company's regulatory filings, net profit plunged 90% to Rs 3 crore from Rs 30 crore the previous year. Revenue also fell 90% to Rs 21 crore from Rs 208 crore. Advertising contributes bulk of Twitter's revenue in India where it has an estimated 25 million users. The company trimmed employee benefit expenses by 95% to Rs 6 crore from Rs 130 crore as it fired nearly the entire Indian workforce, which previously comprised over 200 employees. Subsequently, total expenses fell by 89% to Rs 19 crore from Rs 168 crore. Twitter India didn't respond to ET's queries. Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in October 2022, eventually rebranding it as X. Following the takeover, Musk implemented sweeping changes globally, including mass layoffs that heavily impacted the ad sales teams, especially in India. The dual blow of laying off the ad sales teams and global brands pulling back from the platform-due in part to disputes with Musk-fuelled a sharp decline in revenue. Sajal Gupta, a digital advertising expert, noted that without an active sales team to maintain relationships with advertisers and attract new business, Twitter's ad revenue in India nosedived, leading to steep declines in profitability and earnings. "This reflects the broader challenges X Corp has faced globally as it tries to implement new strategies under Musk's leadership while managing the fallout from internal restructuring," Gupta said. Under Musk, X has even filed lawsuits against global advertisers like Unilever and Mars for boycotting the platform. According to Kantar research, a net 26% of marketers reported plans to reduce ad spends on X in 2025, the biggest recorded pullback from any major global ad platform. Gupta explained that many global brands stopped advertising in India due to the ongoing tensions with Musk, and even within India, many brands are avoiding advertising on X due to the controversial nature of the platform and concerns over brand safety. "In terms of advertising on social media platforms, X is typically a last priority for advertisers, with YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram taking precedence," he said." https://lnkd.in/e6DT9UCv

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Zomato is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire Paytm's movie ticketing and events division for INR 1500 crores (approximately USD 200 million). The negotiations between Zomato and One97 Communications Limited, Paytm's parent company, are said to be in advanced stages. This strategic acquisition could diversify Zomato's offerings beyond food delivery, enhancing its presence in the entertainment sector. For Paytm, the sale would allow it to focus more on its core digital payments business, streamlining its operations. This move highlights a broader industry trend of tech companies expanding their service portfolios to capture a larger consumer market share.

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Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani and Reliance Jio Infocomm Chairman Akash Ambani have joined the board of Viacom18 ahead of its merger with the India business of global media giant Walt Disney, industry sources said.... Read More At:- https://lnkd.in/gqtJVWAt Viacom18 Media Private Limited #nitaambani #akashambani #indiabusiness #GlobalMedia #industry #reliancefoundation #news #NewsUpdate #newsfeed #dailynews #IBWNews

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India's OTT Market: Course Correction and Growth Dynamics The Indian OTT industry is undergoing a significant course correction. After an explosive 20% growth in the audience base from 2021 to 2022, growth slowed to 13.5% last year, as revealed by the Ormax OTT Audience Report 2023. This shift highlights the evolving landscape and challenges faced by OTT platforms in India. Key insights Market Consolidation The merger of Viacom18 and Star India, forming India's largest media network valued at $8.5 billion, marks a pivotal moment in the OTT space. With a reach of 160 million monthly unique visitors, this entity is set to dominate the market with diverse content and strong distribution channels. Consumer-Centric Offerings Jio Cinema's new affordable subscription plans, starting at Rs 29 per month, reflect a trend towards consumer-friendly pricing models. These low-cost options could increase churn rates among competitors and prevent international giants from raising their rates. SVOD vs. AVOD The debate between Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) and Advertising-based Video On Demand (AVOD) continues. While SVOD growth is challenged by India's price-sensitive market, AVOD is expected to increase its market share to 70% in the medium term, despite its low pricing. Bundled Services Aggregators like Tata Play’s Binge and Jio TV+ are gaining traction by offering multiple OTT services as affordable bundles. This model benefits both consumers and standalone OTT players by providing value and retaining customers. Shifting Consumer Behavior The growth drop in OTT can also be attributed to a resurgence in traditional television viewership and a renewed interest in going out for movies. These factors, along with varied pricing strategies, are influencing the overall dynamics of the OTT market. As the industry navigates this transition, balancing revenue generation with consumer satisfaction remains crucial. The future will see more innovation and adaptation as OTT platforms strive to meet the evolving demands of the Indian market. #OTT #Streaming #Media #India #DigitalTransformation #ConsumerTrends

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Gaana: A Cautionary Tale of Adapting to Market Dynamics in the Streaming Industry Gaana, once a pioneer in India's music streaming landscape, has recently been sold to Entertainment Network India Limited (ENIL), the parent company of Radio Mirchi, for just ₹25 lakh. This startling fall from grace holds valuable lessons for the streaming industry—and beyond. 🚀 The Rise of Global Giants: The entry of global players like Spotify and Apple Music dramatically reshaped the music streaming industry. With their focus on catering to Gen Z and Millennials, they introduced innovative features and personalized experiences that resonated with younger audiences. Gaana struggled to keep up with these shifting preferences, leading to a decline in popularity. 🤝 Missed Strategic Opportunities: A potential merger with Airtel Wynk could have provided Gaana with a much-needed strategic partner to navigate the increasingly competitive market. However, the deal fell through, leaving Gaana without the necessary support to weather the storm. 💸 Financial Strain: High operational costs and a heavy reliance on debt funding severely weakened Gaana’s financial health. Additionally, the introduction of a paid subscription model came too late, further compounding the company's challenges. 📉 Post-Acquisition Missteps: After ENIL's acquisition, the decision to double the paid subscription fee backfired, failing to attract or retain customers in a market where price sensitivity is crucial. Key Takeaway: In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, evolving and adapting to consumer needs is directly proportional to profitability. Companies that fail to innovate and meet changing market demands risk becoming irrelevant, no matter how dominant they once were. #StreamingIndustry #MusicStreaming #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation

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On a lighter note, they should also open a raincoats shop for other flyers. "Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport will soon have liquor shops catering to domestic travellers. The first liquor shop, said an official, will come up near the 'meet and greet' area of T3 and may be operational by the first week of July. The second store, however, may take a few more weeks to open. Currently, the arrival and departure areas of T3 have duty free shops where international travellers can purchase liquor. The domestic terminals of the airport had six premium liquor stores, operated by private players, when the now-rescinded Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 was in force. The shops, however, had to be shut down when the contentious excise policy was withdrawn in Sept 2022 following multiple investigations by the CBI and ED into alleged irregularities in its implementation. This is when Delhi govt decided to shift to the old excise regime and handover the retail business of liquor to four govt corporations. While Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation and Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation initially deliberated with the airport operator for space to open shops, the two stakeholders failed to reach a consensus on the rental amount. Though the upcoming shop at T3 arrival will be a small one with just about 750 square feet of area, sources said the customers would be able to enter the area and themselves pick the brand of their choice. Sources said only premium brands of liquor would be sold from the store. Welcoming the development, the industry players said with the air travel growing, Delhi needed to regain its share of domestic liquor shops. "The resumption of liquor shops at domestic terminals will be most welcomed by travellers into and from the city who earlier bought their choice of alcobev products on their way in or out of Delhi. This will also help the state regain some of the sales lost to NCR regions and further improve its excise collection," said Nita Kapoor, chief executive officer, International Spirits and Wines Association of India. Kapoor added that following the popularity of liquor shops at domestic terminals of Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Kerala, even mini-metros and tier-1 towns were planning to open alcobev shops to ensure sale takes place in their state by both business travellers and tourists. Vinod Giri, director general of Brewers Association of India, said liquor stores at Indira Gandhi International Airport were a great retailing point for premium alcohol. "But more importantly, they cued the modern, tolerant and progressive face of Delhi, as expected from the capital of a major country. This trend was later picked up by several airports across the country, thus helping alcohol with greater social acceptance," he added." https://lnkd.in/gJvPpGYg

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OTTplay HT becomes one of the first OTT players in India to join Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC) Network Link in the comments T Koshy Avinash Mudaliar #mediabrief #OTTplay #ONDC #digital #ott #media

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#RadioVersusMusicStreaming Last 40 days I did an experiment, I was always a radio person while driving, I switched to music streaming app(free) and here is what I have observed 1)    You are in control of your music :  That means apart from driving you have to be your own RJ in the Bangalore Traffic. 2)    Your play list has a typical your type of songs, and if you think you are in control to change the song, no you are wrong , you have to hear an ad first. 3)    Ads in the steaming apps are limited, yes I heard only ads by 4 brands for 40 days in which I have no intent to buy but forced to remember those ads. Now I know if some one says we know customers data we show them high intent ad, this is all BS. They have limited advertisers and to consume the inventory in limited number of days and hence they increase the frequency . 4)    The Human touch is missing: The RJ, the connect with the RJs and their jokes, their life story and the best bytes of local and global news delivered as a sandwiched between entertainment. In my opinion the Traditional Radio set-up wins while driving. But they have to work really hard to get #GenAlpha on their platform. Let me know your thought in comments section. #MusicIsLife #Radio

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The merger between Reliance and Disney's HotStar has sparked curiosity about the future of the platform. With RIL poised to take control, the fate of HotStar hangs in the balance - will it integrate with Jio Cinema or both emerge as a new brand altogether? Of particular concern is the potential monopoly on cricket rights in India, raising alarms among advertisers and agencies about possible spikes in ad rates. Both Reliance and Disney have made substantial investments in cricket rights, with commitments to keep ad rates reasonable. There are indications that both companies have made concessions, assuring not to unjustly increase advertising rates for streamed cricket matches. The timing of the regulatory approval, coinciding with Reliance's Annual General Meeting, adds an element of intrigue to the merger. Will consumers benefit from free IPL streaming on Jio Cinema, or will subscription rates remain regulated? With both companies wielding over $2 billion +++ in sports investments in India, the landscape of streaming and sports entertainment is set for a transformation. #Viacom18 #Reliance #Disney #Merger #HotStar #JioCinema #CricketRights #Streaming #Advertising #Monopoly #Investments #CCIApproval

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#Digital Marketplace Headsup B2B Has Raised INR 18.89 CR in Investments Led by Harendra Singh Family Office - on #IndianConvention Business Wire India Headsup B2B, a bootstrapped venture with over INR 100 crores in lifetime revenue, has raised this funding to fuel its growth. Raised funds will be deployed in team development with a focus on 100+ senior and mid level hirings across India, improving the tech-enabled full stack platform in B2B space which will cater from discovery to fulfillment and financing in the near future, exploring new vertical commerce avenues, and expanding cross-border business.   Headsup B2B is a multi-category platform with a focus on infrastructure and green energy. Commenting on the development, Founder Sumit Kumar said, “B2B space offers untapped potential […] - https://lnkd.in/gGpPDZzn 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 - https://lnkd.in/gqWAqhyR 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗾𝘃𝗶 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻 - https://lnkd.in/gX6Hv-iH +91 7275859841

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