Sameer Pitalwalla

Exposing the VMAS ASIA INDIA Scam: A Cautionary Tale for the Entertainment Industry In an alarming turn of events, a fraudulent operation masquerading as an OTT platform, VMAS ASIA INDIA, has been unmasked as a scam targeting dubbing vendors and production houses in India. What initially seemed like a promising venture in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, and Punjabi content turned out to be a scheme devised by a small group of individuals—just four to five people—whose primary goal was to defraud industry professionals. The Illusion of VMAS ASIA INDIA VMAS ASIA INDIA presented itself as an upcoming OTT platform, luring unsuspecting vendors with promises of partnership and financial gain. Their tactics were created an elaborate facade, replete with a professional website and fabricated testimonials, to convince potential partners of their legitimacy. However, the core of their operation was far from genuine. Their main motto was straightforward: extract money from dubbing vendors and production houses under the pretense of launching an OTT platform. They sought upfront payments, often through contracts that appeared professional but were essentially empty promises. Legal Intimidation Tactics To maintain their ruse and dissuade potential whistleblowers, the perpetrators employed legal intimidation tactics. They sent fake legal notices, supposedly from lawyers, threatening anyone who might consider taking action against them. This ploy was designed to instill fear and silence dissent, convincing victims that speaking out could lead to dire consequences. However, our team at Absolute Films refused to be intimidated. After discovering the true nature of VMAS, we took a stand. When we exposed their fraudulent activities on LinkedIn, they retaliated with a legal notice, attempting to scare us into silence. But our resolve only strengthened. We consulted our own legal team and responded to their threats with full confidence. The Truth Revealed To further investigate, we sent the legal notice to VMAS's alleged head office in Delhi via registered speed post. To our shock, we discovered that there was no such office in existence. This revelation was the final confirmation of our suspicions; VMAS ASIA INDIA was merely a facade with no legitimate business infrastructure. Taking a Stand At Absolute Films, We urge our colleagues to be cautious and to conduct thorough research before entering into any business agreements. Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is. Conclusion The VMAS ASIA INDIA scam serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in the entertainment industry. We must come together to expose and dismantle these fraudulent operations. By raising awareness and standing firm against intimidation tactics, we can protect not only ourselves but also our colleagues and the integrity of our industry. Let us work together to create a safer environment for all. #aabsolutefilms #vmasasiaindia Dubbing Company VMAS ASIA (INDIA)

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Today's newsletter covers one of my favorite streaming destinations in India - FanCode. A few takeaways (and lots more included in the newsletter) > Sachet pricing works in India every time - Fancode uses this strategy intelligently slicing and dicing pricing packages for India's value conscious subscribers. > Besides being a synergistic platform with Dream11, Fancode can also serve as the go to destination to showcase emerging talent across Indian sport, thus playing an important role to nurture the overall sports ecosystem. > Content, Commerce and Community is at the beating heart of Fancode's go to market and business strategy - everything the Indian sports fan needs on a single destination including live streaming, reviews, highlights & merchandise. > It will be interesting to gauge the viewership and sign ups for Formula 1, exclusively on Fancode in India. Yannick Colaco Sashank Kakani Prasana Krishnan

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In today's Streaming in India newsletter we cover Loco and the rise and rise of e-sports and gaming. Link to the newsletter in the first comment of this post! The Integral Role of Gaming and Esports in the OTT Landscape In today's rapidly evolving entertainment ecosystem, gaming and esports have emerged as crucial elements that OTT platforms can no longer afford to overlook. Here are some key takeaways from our analysis: > "Gaming and esports introduce a new dimension to the OTT model, catering to an audience that seeks engagement, interaction, and community." > "Unlike passive content consumption, gaming and esports offer an active and immersive experience, particularly appealing to younger demographics who are digital natives." > The integration of gaming and esports into the OTT world broadens the scope of entertainment, attracting a wider audience base and increasing user engagement and retention." > 📈 "The inclusion of gaming and esports presents new monetization opportunities, such as direct transactions, subscriptions, and exclusive content, supporting sustainable financial models." > 🔮 "Embracing gaming and esports is a strategic move that future-proofs the OTT industry, meeting current audience demands and preparing for the changing tides of content consumption." Incorporating gaming and esports into the OTT landscape is not just an option but a necessity. These forms of entertainment are key to engaging younger audiences, diversifying content offerings, and building robust, sustainable business models. As platforms like Loco continue to innovate and integrate these elements, they set the stage for a more interactive, engaging, and future-ready entertainment ecosystem. What are your thoughts on the future of OTT platforms and gaming? 🎮📺 #OTT #Streaming #Gaming #Esports #DigitalMarketing #EntertainmentIndustry #Innovation #FutureReady

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The Indian gaming industry is poised for exponential growth, projected to reach INR 66,000 crore by 2028, fueled by technological advancements. I recall the skepticism surrounding computer gaming in my youth. However, times have changed. Gaming is no longer just a pastime; it's a skill that can be developed and honed from a young age. The recent Esports panel discussion with Akshat Rathee, Co-founder & MD, NODWIN Gaming and Anurag Khurana, Founder & CEO, Newgen Gaming was enlightening. They emphasised the importance of fostering the right mindset among adults to support the next generation of professional gamers. It's time to shift our perspective on gaming. It's not just a hobby; it's a viable career path. By nurturing young talent and providing the necessary support, we can create a thriving esports ecosystem in India, culminating in a national gaming team. The #IndianGamingConvention #IGC hosted by the Internet and Mobile Association of India serves as a testament to the growing industry and the passionate individuals driving it forward. Let's continue to support and promote the growth of the Indian gaming industry, empowering the next generation of gamers and elevating the esports landscape to new heights. #ESports #Gaming

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This is the best gaming smartphone under Rs 25,000. It has to be. My experience with the Infinix India GT 20 Pro. (Weirdly I never got to play with the LED lights. Even once.) 🚀 MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate CPU, Mali G610 GPU The chipset is smooth and extremely capable. Can handle top gaming titles like it's child's play. Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, COD: Warzone, BGMI and even GTA San Andreas (thank you Netflix). 🚀 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED display The AMOLED display really makes a case for this phone. While gaming, users have an option to turn on HDR which further enhances the gameplay experience. 🚀 1300 nits peak brightness Brightness is not an issue with the GT 20 Pro. There is ample brightness for gamers and non-gamers alike. 🚀 194 grams weight Lightweight and easy to carry around. The phone has an all-plastic build with a glossy finish. 🚀 IP54 rated protection IP54 means it can take care of sweat, a few water splashes and even some light rain. Don't go swimming with it, though. Ever. 🚀 AnTuTu score: >890,000 🚀 Geekbench score: 3329 🚀 Android 14-based XOS14 UI The XOS 14 is clutter-free, I'd say that. This is a rarity for Infinix. UI is easy to use and navigate. Is it on par with the competition, though? Not yet. Not even close. It still lacks an overall good feel to it like One UI, OxygenOS and stock Android UIs do. 🚀 108MP primary camera (Samsung sensor), 4K 60 FPS video The camera is better than I expected, to be honest. The GT 20 Pro does not have the sharpest sensor under the hood but it does take some surprisingly good shots given that their is ample lighting. 🚀 32MP front camera, supports 2K video 🚀 UFS 3.1 storage 🚀 5,000mAh battery, supports 45W charging, battery by-pass charging The battery is yet another highlight of this monster gaming device. After playing Genshin Impact for more than 30 minutes at the highest graphics settings, not only did the phone not heat up as much as I thought it would, it also didn't lose as much charge as I thought it would. 🚀 Pricing: At Rs 23,950 (on e-commerce sites), this is the best gaming smartphone in this price range. Period. Numbers don't lie. There are flaws in this smartphone. Of course, there will be. However, the pros outweigh the cons. I did a full review of the Infinix GT 20 Pro for BW Businessworld. Read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/gfnt2D-R More tech reviews to come. Stay tuned. #tech #techreview #smartphone #gaming

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Why Bollywood is Trying (and Failing) to Break Into Mobile Games—and How to Fix It Bollywood, has long captivated Indian audiences with its epic storytelling and larger-than-life characters. It is trying to extend its film success into mobile gaming, aiming to tap into new revenue streams and keep fans engaged beyond the screen. Despite the obvious synergies, it has mostly failed to replicate the success of its films. Most Bollywood-themed games have struggled. Why Bollywood is Venturing Into Mobile Games 1. Money! Successful mobile games tied to blockbuster films can generate substantial income through in-app purchases, ads, and premium content. Baahubali: The Game, saw over 10 Mn downloads within its first year and generated good money from in-app purchases and ads. The game extended the film’s universe and kept fans engaged long after the movie had left theaters. 2. Fan love Where cinema attendance is declining and OTT platforms dominate. Games allow fans to experience their favorite films in new ways Why Bollywood Games Are Failing Bollywood’s mobile games have largely failed to capture the attention and engagement of gamers. 1. Rushed Low-Quality Development One of the biggest problems with Bollywood-themed mobile games is that they are often rushed to market to coincide with a film’s release. Poor graphics, buggy gameplay, and shallow mechanics are common Ra.One Genesis, a game released alongside SRK's Ra.One. Despite the film grossing ₹207 crs, the game flopped due to shallow gameplay. 2. Weak Game Design and Lack of Innovation Unlike the complex narratives of Bollywood films, mobile games often focus on basic mechanics like fighting or racing, with little story. This disconnect has prevented them from resonating with players. Sholay: The Game, based on one of India’s most iconic films, failed to live up to fan expectations. The game’s lackluster mechanics and poor narrative failed to capture the essence of the original film. 3. Ineffective Monetization Many Bollywood-themed games rely too heavily on ad revenue rather than adopting strategies like in-app purchases. In a market where 95% of gamers prefer free-to-play models, game developers need to be more creative with how they monetize. Bombarding players with ads drives them away. While Baahubali: The Game balanced in-app purchases with ads, games like Ra.One Genesis failed to provide compelling reasons for players to spend money. This led to limited revenue opportunities and a diminished gaming experience for players. How Bollywood Can Succeed - Change in thought 1. Games should be seen as long-term investments that extend a film’s universe, not just as marketing tools for the film’s release. 2. Tap into competitive Gaming - Use Youtubers as much as you can 3. Instead of relying solely on ad revenue, Bollywood games should offer meaningful in-game purchases, such as unlocking special levels, gaining access to exclusive content, or customizing characters based on film themes.

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Durga Puja in Kolkata is always a bit crazy. This year, GTPL KCBPL sponsored 40 pujas, and we printed over 2,500 VIP passes for our partners and friends. We thought we had it all under control... until we ran out of passes days before the festivities began! Panic set in. I needed 200 more passes, fast, especially for some important stakeholders we really wanted to accommodate. With the holidays in full swing, finding a printer was a challenge. Finally, I found someone, but there was a catch: the passes were printed as individual sheets, not booklets. I was staring at 6,000 loose pages that needed to be sorted and bound. Overwhelmed, I was about to give up when my incredible family stepped in. My aunt, always the empathetic one, saw my predicament and said, "We can solve this together." Soon, it was an all-hands-on-deck situation. My mom, sister, cousins, even my niece and nephew – everyone formed an assembly line, each taking on a specific task in the sorting and bundling process. What started as a crisis turned into a fun, chaotic family bonding experience. We laughed, we strategized, and we got the job done! This activity became a beautiful bonding exercise for the family, reminding me that sometimes working with family can be more than just work. This experience taught me a few valuable lessons: -The Power of Family: In a crisis, my family didn't hesitate to step up. They saw my problem as their own, and together, we turned a stressful situation into a memorable one. -Asking for Help: It's okay to lean on those around you. Sometimes, all it takes is reaching out, and you'll be surprised by the support you receive. I never expected this kind of help from my aunt, who may not have had the solution straight up but was there to help me find it. -Appreciating the Everyday: It's easy to take the efforts of others for granted. But in moments of crisis, we truly see the value of those who support us, day in and day out. This Durga Puja will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a reminder of the incredible strength and love that lies within my family, and a lesson in the importance of gratitude and collaboration. #DurgaPuja #Family #Teamwork #Gratitude #Kolkata #Support #Community

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The key takeaway for me in this article comes from the following quote by Monika Shergill, vice-president of content, Netflix India - "At the heart and centre of what we do is to back original stories and voices. They are a very important part of our brand and long-term success as a company". This is where the opportunity lies. One must focus on upgrading one's writing craft in terms of intricately structured plot narratives, high-concept marketable, stand-out stories, and layered characters that can sustain multiple seasons. While this craft is getting better each year, we still have a long way to go in terms of scalability. A lot of times, good story ideas are either not crafted well enough or not presented to showcase their full potential. It's clear that we need to challenge ourselves and strive for excellence in our craft, especially when it comes to collaborating within writing teams if we want to sustain the scaling up of good series as an industry and be relevant storytellers in the streaming world. For Mint by Lata Jha

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The One That We Had To Back. It is rare in venture to find a team so complete. As the former leadership team of NDTV, an iconic Indian media powerhouse - Suparna Singh Arijit Chatterjee and Kawaljit Singh Bedi have been battle-tested in ways that most of us can't even imagine. With over 3 decades of experience in digital media, broadcasting and media tech - the team has seeded ventures, scaled them, and navigated a publicly listed company from turnaround to profitability (stock price went up 27x and was voted Asia's Best Media Company under Suparna's leadership). Miraculously, they have the hunger and drive to do it all over again. As a VC, it is rare to come across complete teams at the seed stage with the perfect blend of business acumen, domain expertise and technical prowess.Those tend to get built over time. Compounded by unanimous positive feedback on leadership ability + startup drive and hustle - that's the rarest of the rare. We simply had to back them. Frammer AI is building on a thesis that we have long harboured. The world of media is changing so fast, eyeballs are moving digital and most importantly to social media. Formats are becoming shorter but yet brands, publishers, enterprises were using the same ol' means of content creation and targeting. Manual, tedious and imprecise. Frammer AI makes the entire process of short form video creation faster, cheaper and most importantly monetisable. And unlike other prosumer solutions - Frammer's AI is trained on some of the smartest and premium data sets available in the world - news content which is complex, dense, multi-faceted as opposed to low quality Youtube shorts. In a span of 8 months since launch, they are already integrated with several large global clients from the US, Europe, and MENA with leading domestic clients like India Today, ZEE, Acko and several others. Big Tech is already talking to them to collaborate on enterprise projects. Given the demand for the round globally, it's a privilege to be part of their journey. Lumikai Fund We can't wait for what lies ahead. Onwards and upwards! 🚀 🚀 🚀

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OTT Self Regulation is not Correct : Bring *OTT Regulation* and *OTT Censorship in india @ The issue is always how bad is bad...if you allow all this Profanity and Half to Almost Full Nudity, what will stop them from going from this to Horrible things...all in the Name of Creativity...Yes OTT has its Advantage, Huge Content Library which can be Accessed Anytime on a Device of Your choice. But OTT has taken off big time bcoz of Nudity and Profanities Allowed to run Sans any control

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Is a streaming giant in the making? 👀 There have been rumors of a potential merger between Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, two of India's leading streaming platforms. While no official announcement has been made, the combination of their vast content libraries and strong user bases could create a dominant force in the Indian streaming market. What do you think about this potential merger? Would it be a good thing for Indian viewers? Share your thoughts in the comments below! #DisneyPlusHotstar #JioCinema #Streaming #India #TechNews

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Here are the latest top stories for today: 📰 RIL, Viacom18 & Disney Merge to Create Rs 70,352 Cr JV: The media giants unite, forming a powerhouse with three CEOs: Kevin Vaz (entertainment), Kiran Mani (digital), and Sanjog Gupta (sports). Big moves ahead! #Reliance #Disney #MediaNews 💹 JPMorgan Sets Up in GIFT City: JPMorgan launches a unit in Gujarat's GIFT City to develop derivatives for clients across Asia-Pacific & Europe, expanding its financial reach in India. #Finance #JPMorgan #GIFTcity 💳 RBI Data: Deposit Growth Catches Up: In November, deposit growth equaled credit growth for the first time since March 2022, closing a gap that had grown as wide as 700 basis points. #RBI #Banking 📈 India’s Exports Surge by 17% in October: India's merchandise exports saw their fastest rise in 28 months! Trade deficit widens to $27B as imports also hit record levels. #IndiaTrade #Exports 🔥 Bluesky Gains Millions Fleeing X: Following election-related misinformation concerns, Bluesky attracts users moving away from Musk's X, marking a shift in social media dynamics. #Bluesky #Twitter #Misinformation 🚗 Uber India Introduces Female-Only Rides: Women Uber drivers in India can now opt to accept only female riders, a feature aimed at prioritizing safety. #UberIndia #WomenSafety 📊 China Tops India’s Import List; Exports Dip: From April to October, China remains India’s top import source, while exports to China fall by 9%. The US is the top export destination for India. #IndiaTrade #China #US 🚨 EU Fines Meta €800M Over Marketplace Practices: Meta faces a massive €800M fine for linking its Marketplace with Facebook, affecting competition in the ad market. #Meta #EU #Marketplace 🌈 Thailand’s Same-Sex Marriage Law Expected to Boost GDP by $2B: A new law, effective Jan 2024, is anticipated to bring $2B in "Rainbow Tourism" and 150,000 jobs to Thailand’s economy. #Thailand #LGBTQ+ #RainbowTourism 👗 India Set to Become a Global Fashion Hub by 2025: India’s luxury retail market is projected to grow 15-20% by 2025, making it a top destination for global fashion brands. #Fashion #LuxuryRetail #India This thread covers recent developments across business, finance, and social sectors, showcasing India’s growing influence on the global stage. https://lnkd.in/gax8zsY4

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₹22,400 Crore ($2.7 Billion) Lost to Piracy in India’s Entertainment Industry 1. Rising Piracy: A Growing Concern for Content Creators 51% of Indian consumers access content through pirated sources, posing a significant challenge to the entertainment industry’s revenue streams. 2. Streaming Dominates Piracy Landscape 63% of pirated content comes from streaming platforms, with mobile apps following closely behind as a major channel for illicit content distribution. 3. Massive GST Revenue Losses Up to INR 43 billion in GST revenues may have been lost due to piracy in India, underscoring the financial impact of unauthorised content consumption on the economy. 4. Post-Pandemic Surge in Subscription Revenue Subscription revenue has surged by 150% since the pandemic, signalling a strong rebound for OTT services, but piracy continues to hinder further growth. 5. Filmed Entertainment Industry Poised for Growth. India’s filmed entertainment sector is projected to reach INR 146 billion by 2026, signalling significant opportunity—but piracy remains a critical hurdle. 6. Pirates Don’t Want Paid Subscriptions 70% of pirated content consumers report no interest in purchasing OTT subscriptions, highlighting a major gap in monetisation strategies for streaming services. 7. Young Demographics Driving Piracy A significant 6% of pirated content users are aged between 19-34 years, suggesting that younger audiences are more likely to engage with unauthorized content. 8. Language Preferences in Pirated Content 40% of pirated content is consumed in Hindi, with 31% opting for English content, reflecting language preferences and potential areas for localisation. 9. Consumer Willingness to Switch to Legal Platforms 64% of pirated content users would prefer accessing content via authorized channels, even with ads, if offered for free—indicating potential for ad-supported business models. 10. Resistance to Paying for Movie Tickets A strong 84% of pirated content consumers report that they have no intention of purchasing movie tickets, pointing to the need for more affordable or flexible viewing options.

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Chroma based Virtual production at its best…

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“Anything that can go wrong will go wrong” - this is murphy’s law This day, last month - We successfully executed the #PlayGaxy Cup Galaxy Z Fold Edition for Samsung India (Cheil India) and the event was flawless even with the last minute additions. But while we were preparing for it, a lot of things went wrong - the shipment reached out to a different city - vendors backed off - equipments weren’t available elsewhere - people stopped responding and what not. We had to reach out for help from our fellow industry folks - few couldn’t - few did not want to - few explicitly wanted us to fail. But luckily our friends helped us and made this show possible. This comes with a very exciting lesson that when you’re at your budding stage, people will try to stop your growth, step on you or try anything and everything to see you fail, but we stood firm, motivated and unshaken. We, as Upthrust, would always be indebted of the help they provided in such an important project, our clients’ believe in us is even stronger now, and we as a team would continue to thrive for such entertainment shows. Also, the numbers were amazing: 48 India’s biggest gaming creators Samsung India YT: 273K Views Upthrust Esports YT: 402K Views We are going to come with more exciting IPs, gaming has huge potential, it just takes a visionary to get the best out of it, don’t miss out. #Esports #EsportsIndustry #BGMI

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Recently the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji reiterated the vision for India to emerge as a global leader in the gaming industry and shape the global gaming landscape. The latest issue of 'Game in Spotlight' explores how Indian culture and narratives are being weaved across the gaming industry. This edition highlights few of the studios which are making in India but for the world, across diverse genres. We will continue to spotlight more studios and games in the future! All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) | All India Game Developers' Forum

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Lucky Seven for RevSportz at the Paris Olympics The Paris Olympics are done, and it is time to go home. While the Indian campaign has been modest, team RevSportz has done its absolute best here at the Games. As a young organisation less than three years old, we had made an ambitious plan for Paris. To get a team of seven to the Olympics was considered crazy. How could we spend so much money? How would we generate so much revenue? Is this model of getting seven journalists to a Games sustainable? Honestly, as founder and editor-in-chief, I did not have answers to these questions. All I knew was that it was essential the Olympics were covered in the best way possible, and one or two people could never do justice to a spectacle like this. I had seen bigger crews like the NBC or the BBC cover the Games, and the learning was that we needed reporters at as many venues as possible, and also have someone intellectually strong enough to report on the cultural Olympiad and the society hosting the Games. That’s how the plan was made. Get more people out there with a knowledge of Olympic sport, and make sure that all Indian events are covered real time on ground. It was a clear case of disruption in sports media coverage, and not many believed in the plan. However, once in Paris, it worked like magic. On days when Indian action was on simultaneously, we were the only team that had people everywhere. The shooting events were held three hours away from Paris, and we had a dedicated team stationed in Chateauroux for all the action. It meant they weren’t exhausted with the commute, and could report in real time. Sharmistha Gooptu was dedicatedly bringing the culture stories to our viewers, and the overwhelming reaction to our coverage said it all. It was important we asked the hard questions. Be constructively critical when needed. The idea was always to be as objective as possible, and yet not compromise on asking the tough questions when needed. We questioned the incompetence of the support staff in the case of both Vinesh Phogat and Antim Panghal, and asked why our athletes lacked mental strength, as in the case of Lakshya Sen, and why the entire team wouldn’t take responsibility. We also queried why such things happen to India time and again after the Nishant Dev verdict in the boxing. We did videos real time, broke news, did exclusives and scaled new heights in coverage. It has given us the confidence to take things further going ahead, and we will apply our learnings in our Paralympics coverage two weeks from now. To everyone who watched with us, read our pieces, commented on our work and engaged with us, a very sincere thank you. It was wonderful doing the Olympics yet again and, as I said, setting a new benchmark for ourselves. We now turn to the Paralympics, with the promise that we will report with the same passion and commitment as we did for the Olympics. Expecting the same support from you all.

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