Category: Television

  • Jellyfish Pictures issues statement on suspension of operations

    Jellyfish Pictures issues statement on suspension of operations

    MUMBAI: Yesterday our sister publication AnimationXpress broke the news that Jellyfish Pictures was ceasing operations. At that time, there was no real confirmation coming from the the studio which has been struggling to stay afloat. Today, however, the company issued a statement giving its reasons for pulling the plug temporarily on itself – at least until it succeeds in finding a white knight or investor.

    Here goes the Jellyfish Pictures statement: 

    “Like so many other companies operating across the VFX, animation and wider creative industries, we’ve been battling hard in the face of strong headwinds over the past twelve months. The long-tail impact of Covid, coupled with rising costs and the fall-out from the writer and actor strikes, have had a profound effect on our business.

    “Over recent months, we’ve been working closely with our key stakeholders to find a path forward, including exploring all options for sale and investment, with the aim of putting in place a strong financial platform upon which we can build. While we continue to engage in these discussions and explore our options, we have today taken legal steps to protect the position of the business while we strive to find a way forward.”

    “We have so much to be proud of. We’ve worked on fantastic, ground-breaking projects with brilliant partners. And we want to thank our amazingly talented award-winning teams who day in, day out, strive to push creative boundaries with their innovative thinking and skill.”
    Jellyfish Pictures spokesperson

     

  • Sony Yay! serves up a sweet treat of toons and festive delights

    Sony Yay! serves up a sweet treat of toons and festive delights

    MUMBAI: Holi isn’t just about gulal and gujiyas, it’s about laughter, fun, and, of course, your favourite toons! Sony Yay! is bringing the ultimate festive mash-up, pairing its most iconic characters with classic Holi sweets for a celebration that’s as colourful as it is delicious.

    Shinchan – Gujiya

    Sweet, stuffed, and always full of surprises, gujiya is the perfect match for Shinchan’s cheeky antics! Just like you never know what’s inside this Holi treat until you take a bite, you never know what Shinchan is up to next. Watch out, leave a plate of gujiyas unattended, and Shinchan might just swipe a few when you’re not looking!

    Oggy and the Cockroaches – Thandai

    Oggy loves peace and quiet, but with the cockroaches stirring up trouble, life is always full of unexpected twists just like thandai! Cool and refreshing yet spiced with a hint of madness, this drink is the perfect Holi pick for Oggy’s never-ending chaos.

    Naruto Shippuden – Jalebi

    Energetic, unstoppable, and always ready for action, Naruto is the jalebi of the toon world! This crispy, swirly, sugar-loaded delight may seem simple, but its twists and turns are as unpredictable as Naruto’s ninja moves. Whether you’re chasing dreams or the last jalebi at the Holi party, channel your inner ninja and grab every sweet moment!

    So, which mithai matches your Holi vibe? Whether you’re a playful gujiya, a fiery jalebi, or a cool thandai, Sony Yay! is serving up the ultimate festive fun. Tune in, join the Holi masti, and celebrate with Shinchan, Naruto Shippuden, and Oggy & The Cockroaches. Happy Holi! 
     

  • Red Lorry rolls out with September 5 as opening film at festival

    Red Lorry rolls out with September 5 as opening film at festival

    MUMBAI: The Red Lorry Film Festival is shifting into high gear, opening with the critically acclaimed September 5, a tense, true-to-life thriller directed by Tim Fehlbaum. Hosted by Bookmyshow, India’s premier international film festival will set the stage with this Academy Award-nominated film that dives into one of modern media’s most tension-filled moments, the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis.

    Blurring the lines between history and cinema, September 5 reconstructs the gripping real-time coverage by Abc Tv, transporting audiences straight into the nerve-wracking newsroom that found itself reporting on an unfolding tragedy. Featuring a stellar cast including John Magaro, Leonie Benesch, Peter Sarsgaard, Ben Chaplin, and Benjamin Walker, the film seamlessly integrates archival footage, bringing an unparalleled level of authenticity to the screen.

    September 5 is a testament to human resilience and the power of storytelling. Opening the Red Lorry Film Festival with such a film reflects our vision of curating globally significant narratives that inspire and challenge audiences,” said Bookmyshow COO for cinemas Ashish Saksena.

    Beyond September 5, the festival’s stellar lineup promises a cinematic feast with contemporary award-winning films like Anora and The Last Showgirl, timeless classics like Pretty Woman, Karz, and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and premieres fresh from the Berlin Film Festival. With over 120 films spanning languages, genres, and cultures, this year’s festival expands its footprint with Red Lorry: Take 2 in Mumbai and the all-new Parallel Verse in Hyderabad.

    Running from  21 to 23 March 2025, the festival invites cinephiles to book their tickets exclusively on Bookmyshow, starting at Rs 750. With a promise of unforgettable storytelling, the Red Lorry Film Festival, powered by Bookachange, continues its mission of empowering emerging artists and celebrating the transformative power of cinema.

  • JioStar lines up impressive 20-brand sponsor squad for Tata IPL 2025

    JioStar lines up impressive 20-brand sponsor squad for Tata IPL 2025

    MUMBAI: JioStar has bowled over advertisers ahead of this year’s Tata IPL, announcing a robust sponsorship lineup of 20 brands ready to bat for consumer attention during cricket’s most-watched tournament.

    The impressive roster includes heavyweight brands spanning diverse categories—from food and beverages (Campa Energy, Campa, Thums Up, Amul) and fantasy sports platforms (Dream11, My11Circle, PokerBaazi, ) to financial services (SBI, PhonePe, Mutual Funds Sahi Hai, Zupee, Gpay,) and consumer goods (Joy Cosmetics, Asian Paints, Birla Opus, Jaquar Bath + Light, Allen Solly) to  digital  (Google search)  and bikes (TVS), 

    “IPL is more than just a sporting event—it’s a cultural juggernaut,” said at JioStar chief business officer for sports revenue Ishan Chatterjee. “We’re delivering scale, impact, and deep consumer engagement through cutting-edge ad innovations and seamless synergy between TV and digital platforms.”

    The broadcasting giant is pulling out all technological stops to help sponsors hit advertising sixes, offering AI-powered audience segmentation, interactive ad formats, and multilingual broadcasts. Television advertisers can capitalise on unique solutions including ‘Brand Spotlight’ exclusive placements during the crucial first five overs and CGI-led live interventions that promise to catch viewers’ eyes between boundaries.

    Running from 22 March to 25 May, the tournament will be broadcast exclusively across JioStar’s sports network and streamed on JioHotstar, giving brands unprecedented access to cricket-mad audiences across both traditional and digital viewing platforms.

    Industry analysts note this year’s sponsorship line-up reflects advertiser confidence in cricket’s premier tournament, with one marketing expert remarking: “Despite economic headwinds, brands know IPL delivers an unbeatable googly of engagement that sends ROI metrics cartwheeling.”

    As the cricketing extravaganza approaches, both fans and advertisers are padding up for what promises to be another season of spectacular sporting drama and equally impressive brand visibility plays on the commercial front.

  • India’s top MSMEs & startups shine at ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow Awards

    India’s top MSMEs & startups shine at ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow Awards

    MUMBAI: Great ideas deserve great recognition, and ET NOW made sure of that. The IDFC First bank presents ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow Awards Season 12 took centre stage in New Delhi, celebrating India’s most promising MSMEs and startups. With the theme ‘Powering Entrepreneurs for the Global Stage,’ the event highlighted the visionaries scaling their businesses within India while making waves in the international market.

    Former union minister & chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on coal, mines & steel Anurag Singh Thakur stated, “Over the past decade, India has risen from the ‘Fragile Five’ to one of the world’s top five economies, and in the next three years, we are set to become the third-largest economy globally. The government has actively supported MSMEs through financial reforms, ease of doing business initiatives, and credit access programs like Mudra Loans and Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme. Today, India is home to over 1.6 lakh start-ups and 117 unicorns, proving that our youth are building enterprises that compete on the global stage. Our vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 is powered by MSMEs that are integrating into global supply chains, focusing on quality and innovation.”

    NSE MD & CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan stated, “India’s thriving capital market is an anomaly, as traditionally, only wealthy nations develop strong investment ecosystems. However, with 11 crore registered investors and 21 crore accounts, India is now uniquely positioned to fund entrepreneurial dreams. MSMEs must leverage capital markets to boost credibility, secure funding, and scale their businesses.”

    His speech didn’t shy away from geopolitical shifts shaping India’s future, adding, “The world is moving from a unipolar system (dominated by the U.S.) to a multipolar system, where India is emerging as a key player alongside major economies. The decline of global regulatory frameworks, such as the WTO (World Trade Organization), suggests that large economies are now prioritizing bilateral agreements over multilateral trade rules.”

    The awards night honoured outstanding enterprises across 14 categories, including 3 IDFC First Bank Rising Star Awards and 4 Editorial Awards. Winners were meticulously selected through a rigorous pan-India screening and expert jury evaluation, ensuring only the best took home the accolades.

    Beyond the awards, the event saw engaging panel discussions featuring industry heavyweights who shared their expertise and foresight on the future of entrepreneurship. Speakers included Chinmay Dhoble (IDFC FIRST Bank), Akis Evangelidis (Nothing), Aman Gupta (boAt Lifestyle), Dr. A Velumani (Thyrocare), Anand Mane (Joul), Bert Mueller (California Burrito), Spencer Schneier (Commenda), Radha Kirthivasan (BSE), Vivek Gambhir (Lightspeed India), Padmaja Ruparel (IAN Group), and Anisha Singh (She Capital).

    With India’s MSMEs and startups gaining unprecedented momentum, the ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow Awards proved that the future of business isn’t just bright—it’s unstoppable.

     

  • Another one bites the VFX dust: Jellyfish Pictures ceases operations

    Another one bites the VFX dust: Jellyfish Pictures ceases operations

    MUMBAI: In a shocking turn of events, UK-based VFX and animation powerhouse, Jellyfish Pictures, has suspended its global operations temporarily. This news comes close on the heels of the recent downfall of Technicolor group, casting uncertainty on the future of the AVGC sector at large.

    Speaking exclusively to Animation Xpress, a senior source from Jellyfish Pictures India confirmed that the company has been grappling with investor-related issues in the UK. As a result, the management has decided to halt operations temporarily rather than risk leaving employees in the dark about the company’s uncertain future. The studio has assured staff that salaries for March will be paid, with the workforce being notified promptly about the situation.   Click here to read the full news item on ours sister publication AnimationXpress.com

  • Samsung’s ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ docu unveils India’s next innovators

    Samsung’s ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ docu unveils India’s next innovators

    MUMBAI: If innovation had a red carpet, Samsung India just rolled it out for the country’s brightest young problem-solvers. The tech giant has unveiled its much-anticipated documentary Solve for Tomorrow, capturing the riveting journeys of young innovators as they transform ambitious ideas into tangible solutions for real-world challenges. Streaming exclusively on JioHotstar, the documentary launches in honour of India’s National Science Day.

    Forget corporate jargon and dull Powerpoint slides—this 40-minute documentary is all about raw ambition, sleepless nights, and groundbreaking science. It follows two standout teams—Eco Tech Innovator and Metal—who went head-to-head with one of India’s most pressing problems: arsenic contamination in water. Armed with creativity, sheer determination, and a mission to make an impact, these young minds didn’t just dream up solutions; they built them.

    For the young innovators featured in Solve for Tomorrow, making a difference was never about grand theories—it was about getting their hands dirty and solving problems that hit close to home.

    Take Sayed Safrahan Ullah Khabir from Team Eco Tech Innovator, for instance. The Assam-based high schooler decided he had seen enough of his state’s decades-long arsenic contamination nightmare and took matters into his own hands. “There are always two ways of looking at life and problems: one is to simply sit and complain about it, and the other is to think and visualize a solution that can change lives for good,” he said. His team’s innovation? A non-electric, low-cost filter that not only removes arsenic from water but turns it into a usable byproduct.

    On the other hand, Team Metal, comprising young innovators from Udupi, Karnataka, and Patna, Bihar, developed a three-stage filtration system that efficiently removes arsenic from groundwater. Their approach proves that cutting-edge solutions don’t always need high-tech gadgets—sometimes, the simplest methods create the biggest impact. “Innovation is a unique idea that can be a solution for a real-world problem of a community and for the country. It is not always about sophisticated technology — sometimes, the biggest challenges need simple yet effective solutions,” said Team Metal’s Arpit Kumar.

    Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow isn’t just a competition; it’s a national movement. Since its launch in India in 2022, the initiative has brought together over 6,000 participants, proving that innovation isn’t limited to big cities or elite institutions. With Samsung and IIT Delhi’s FITT offering mentorship, funding, and incubation support, these young problem-solvers have had the chance to refine their ideas, test prototypes, and take their innovations closer to reality.

    This year’s winners—Eco Tech Innovator and Metal—walked away with Rs 25 lakh and RS 50 lakh respectively, earmarked for product development, prototype enhancement, and further incubation at IIT Delhi. Their stories serve as a rallying cry for the next generation of change-makers, proving that with the right mentorship and support, ideas can—and do—change the world.

    With Solve for Tomorrow now active in 63 countries and having engaged over 2.3 million young innovators globally, Samsung’s commitment to fostering innovation is crystal clear. The initiative aligns with the company’s global CSR vision—“Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People”—encouraging young minds to look beyond textbooks and turn their ideas into real-world solutions.

  • Fancode fuels India’s F1 obsession with Hindi commentary & expert shows

    Fancode fuels India’s F1 obsession with Hindi commentary & expert shows

    MUMBAI: If you thought Formula 1 was already thrilling, Fancode just stepped on the gas. The official broadcaster of F1 in India is shifting gears to bring a turbocharged experience for motorsport fans across the country. For the first time, all Formula 1 races will roar into Indian households in Hindi and select regional languages, ensuring no fan is left in the pit lane.

    In an industry-first move, Fancode is offering The F1 Show, Ted’s Notebook, Ted’s Qualifying Notebook, and The Chequered Flag from Sky Sports’ coveted content roster, bringing fans top-tier pre- and post-race analysis. And if that wasn’t enough, the entire Formula 1 season can now be streamed for just Rs 899, with a race weekend pass available for casual viewers who just want to dip their toes in the high-speed action.

    Subscribers will get access to an adrenaline-packed lineup, including F2, F3, F1 Academy, MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, the D Superbike Racing Championship, UIM E1 World Championship, and DTM. Want it all? The Motorsports Pass—priced at Rs 999—lets fans unlock every roaring engine and every chequered flag across multiple championships.

    Fancode co-founder Yannick Colaco is revved up about the expansion. “This year, Fancode is set to become the ultimate destination in India for followers of motorsports. We’ve listened to the fans and enhanced our product to deliver a world-class viewing experience at an affordable price.”

    Motorsports in India isn’t just a niche anymore. Over the past five years, the audience has surged by nearly 30 per cent, and Formula 1 alone has a staggering 60 million followers in the country. With viewership on the rise, Fancode is ensuring that accessibility isn’t a roadblock—because nothing ruins a high-speed chase like a buffering screen or a language barrier.

    Fans can watch all the high-octane drama on the Fancode mobile app (Android, iOS), TV app (Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Jio STB, Samsung TV, OTT Play, Amazon Prime Video channels, Airtel XStream), and on the web at www.Fancode.com.

    With more languages, more analysis, and more content, Fancode is redefining how India experiences it. 

  • Vikas Purohit named CEO new business ventures at The Times of India

    Vikas Purohit named CEO new business ventures at The Times of India

    MUMBAI: The Times of India (BCCL) has appointed Vikas Purohit as CEO new business ventures, entrusting him with spearheading new growth initiatives. In this role, he will identify high-potential business opportunities, craft strategic plans, and lead execution to build scalable, profitable ventures.

    Purohit brings a wealth of experience, having previously led Meta India’s small business group, supporting over 10 million enterprises. He has also served as CEO of Tata CLiq Fashion and held key management positions at Amazon Fashion, Reliance Brands, and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail.

    An alumnus of IIT BHU with a PGDBM from IIM Bangalore, Purohit’s expertise in digital commerce and retail makes him a formidable force in business innovation.

  • ICC-Unilever sponsorship deal:  a sign that women’s cricket has arrived

    ICC-Unilever sponsorship deal: a sign that women’s cricket has arrived

    MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has broken new ground by unbundling its sponsorship rights, securing Unilever as the first dedicated partner for women’s competitions, ICC chief commercial officer Anurag Dahiya told SportsPro. 

    In a deal announced on International Women’s Day, the consumer goods giant said it would promote its Rexona and Dove brands across all ICC women’s events over the next two years. The partnership covers the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, Women’s T20 World Cup, U19 Women’s T20 World Cups and the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027.

    Dahiya told SportsPro the move reflects the “standalone commercial value” of women’s cricket, with Unilever “jumping at” the opportunity to sponsor these tournaments.

    “Women’s cricket is no longer an add-on or a freebie attached to men’s cricket,” Dahiya said. “It’s a distinct product, has its own unique cultural resonance, commercial potential, and has its own ability to stand on its own.”

    Unilever’s existing involvement in women’s sport – including partnerships with WSL clubs Chelsea and Manchester City, plus sponsorship of this year’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup – “absolutely facilitated” discussions with the ICC.

    Beyond tournament branding, the partnership extends to digital initiatives, fan experiences and the ICC’s flag bearers programme. Unilever will also support Criiio festivals, grassroots events introducing women and girls worldwide to cricket.

    Dahiya confirmed that while the deal specifically covers women’s cricket, revenue won’t be ring fenced exclusively for the women’s game but added to central funding.

    “If you restricted women’s cricket to only revenue they were making, that would be a gross injustice,” he explained. “The commercial size of men’s sport outweighs women’s sport by factors of probably like 100.”

    The ICC has committed to maintaining equal standards across men’s and women’s competitions, including event presentation, facilities and prize money.

    “We’ve taken a very conscious decision that we’re not going to deliver to the competing teams and our fans any less than what we would for men,” Dahiya added. “Many times more will go into women’s cricket than just that money.”