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  • Cinemas script a blockbuster September with wonders on and off screen

    Cinemas script a blockbuster September with wonders on and off screen

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, September! The festive week has given Indian cinemas their long-awaited full house feeling, with audiences flocking back for blockbusters across languages and genres. From Bollywood action to Malayalam family dramas, Tamil thrillers and Hollywood horrors, the country’s multiplexes have been buzzing with energy.

    At PVR Inox, the numbers tell a story of revival. Hindi action spectacle Bhaagi 4 opened with 45 per cent occupancy, Malayalam release Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra topped charts at 74 per cent, and Onam special Hridayapoorvaam struck a chord with families. Tamil entry Madharasi began strong with 45 per cent, while Hollywood’s The Conjuring: The Last Rites lured genre fans with 47 per cent occupancy.

    “With this mix of Bollywood blockbusters, regional successes and international titles, September is shaping up to be one of the most exciting months for cinema lovers,” said PVR Inox Ltd CEO for revenue & operations Gautam Dutta.

    Riding this momentum, the multiplex giant is rolling out its Weekend of Wonders, a six-film line-up that promises something for every taste.

    ●    Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, a poignant farewell to the Crawley family saga, set in the 1930s.

    ●    The Heer Express, a Punjabi drama of resilience, belonging and hope, as a young woman starts anew in the UK.

    ●    Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle, the anime blockbuster making its IMAX debut in India.

    ●    The Long Walk, Stephen King’s dystopian survival thriller directed by Francis Lawrence.

    ●    Ek Chatur Naar, a sharp comedy-thriller with Divya Khosla and Neil Nitin Mukesh, full of twists.

    ●    Mirai, a Telugu fantasy epic starring Teja Sajja as a “Super Yodha”, blending mythology with futuristic battles.

    With IMAX, 4DX, and Screenx formats across India, PVR Inox is betting big on immersive experiences to match the scale of storytelling.

    Six films, six worlds, and one cinematic carnival, September isn’t just about the festive season anymore, it’s about the big screen roaring back to life.

  • Dish TV switches on VZY Smart TVs to stream into the future of home viewing

    Dish TV switches on VZY Smart TVs to stream into the future of home viewing

    MUMBAI: Dish TV has flipped the channel on its future and this time, it’s not just about broadcasting. The country’s leading DTH provider, trusted in Indian homes for over 22 years, has launched VZY Smart TVs, marking its grand entry into the integrated Smart TV segment.

    Standing for Vibe, Zone & You, VZY is pitched not as “just another TV” but as a full-blown entertainment universe. It blends Dish TV’s legacy in live television with cutting-edge streaming, creating what the company calls an all-in-one screen where DTH meets OTT.

    “For over two decades, Dish TV has been a trusted name in millions of Indian homes, built on innovation and customer focus. With VZY, we are building an entertainment universe that converges live TV, OTT, smart features, and immersive design,” said Dish TV India CEO & executive director Manoj Dobhal.

    What’s inside the box? Plenty of tech wizardry. VZY Smart TVs will be available in sizes from 32” HD to 55” 4K UHD QLED, with premium features such as Dolby Vision, HDR10, up to 350 nits brightness, and a bezel-less design. For audio, all models feature Dolby Audio, with select premium models stepping up to Dolby Atmos.

    Running on Google TV 5 (Android 14), the TVs come loaded with streaming staples like Netflix, Prime Video, and Youtube. Add to that voice-enabled remotes, Chromecast, Airplay, and in select models, an inbuilt DTH set-top box, offering instant access to both live TV and streaming apps.

    “The modern Indian family is digital-first and experience-driven. VZY goes beyond being just a television to deliver an immersive, curated experience,” added Dish TV India chief revenue officer Sukhpreet Singh.

    For performance, the range supports up to 2GB RAM and 32GB storage, ensuring smooth navigation and app usage. To make the smart shift easier on the wallet, Dish TV is offering Rs 0 down payment and 0 per cent EMI financing options.

    The VZY Smart TV range will hit retail shelves nationwide and will also be available through online platforms, reaching metros as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.

    With this move, Dish TV isn’t just selling a new screen, it’s making a play to own the living room once again, this time with a smarter, sleeker, and more immersive avatar.

  • Savills appoints Emily Fell to lead Asia Pacific strategy in living sectors

    Savills appoints Emily Fell to lead Asia Pacific strategy in living sectors

    MUMBAI: Savills isn’t just raising the roof, it’s reshaping the very idea of home in Asia Pacific. The global property giant has appointed Emily Fell as senior director in its capital markets team, a move that signals its deepening bet on the fast-growing Living Sectors.

    Fell’s new mandate covers everything from multifamily housing and co-living to student digs, senior living, and even hotels sectors increasingly drawing the gaze of institutional investors hungry for stable returns. In fact, over 90 per cent of institutional investors in the 2025 ANREV Investment Intentions Survey flagged residential as their top pick in Asia Pacific.

    No stranger to the living game, Fell cut her teeth in UK student housing in 2011 before moving to Singapore in 2015. Since then, she’s helped close transactions worth 4 billion dollars across Australia, Japan, South Korea and beyond, including steering a landmark equity raise for an Australian co-living portfolio.

    Her appointment plugs the Asia Pacific team directly into Savills’ powerhouse Operational Capital Markets platform in Europe, which has shifted more than 25 billion dollars in living assets over the past 24 months. That cross-border pipeline is designed to help investors surf the rising wave of alternative real estate.

    “India, in particular, is at the cusp of a transformation,” said Savills India CEO Anurag Mathur pointing to the growing appetite for student housing, senior living and data centres. “Emily’s global experience will connect Indian opportunities with international capital and operating models.”

    For Fell, the attraction is clear: “On a risk-adjusted basis, these assets deliver the durable income streams institutions want. We’re seeing strong demand across Japan, Australia and South Korea, and I’m excited to connect clients with opportunities through Savills’ global platform.”

    With its latest hire, Savills is sending a signal: living assets aren’t just an alternative play anymore, they’re becoming the main stage.

  • Swift TV & Hoichoi Partner to Redefine Regional Streaming

    Swift TV & Hoichoi Partner to Redefine Regional Streaming

    Swift TV, India’s rapidly growing Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) platform, has partnered with Hoichoi, the leading destination for Bengali and Hindi entertainment, to deliver premium regional content absolutely free.

    With 800K+ downloads and 130+ live channels in 12+ languages, Swift TV offers an extensive catalog of movies, shows, and live entertainment. This collaboration brings Hoichoi’s acclaimed Bengali and Hindi originals, movies, and series directly to the Swift TV app, at no extra cost.

    A major highlight is the exclusive Hoichoi Live Channels—a first-of-its-kind innovation in FAST streaming. The Bengali Hoichoi Live Channel is available internationally (except India), while the Hindi channel is accessible worldwide, including India. This positions Swift TV as the go-to destination for regional entertainment across India, the US, and Canada.

    “We’re thrilled to bring Hoichoi’s exceptional content to our audiences,” said a Swift TV spokesperson. “Our bespoke Hoichoi Live Channels set new benchmarks for free, high-quality regional entertainment.”

    For Hoichoi, the partnership opens doors to the FAST ecosystem, expanding its reach beyond SVOD audiences while staying true to its mission of celebrating Bengali narratives.

    With top partners like Viacom18, Zee, Pitaara, Republic TV, and Bloomberg Originals, Swift TV continues to strengthen its premium content lineup.

    Download the Swift TV app today Swift Tv and enjoy Hoichoi’s world-class Bengali and Hindi entertainment—free, accessible, and tailored for every mood, in your language, on your terms. 
     

  • TRAI orders monthly, quarterly compliance reports from TV distributors

    TRAI orders monthly, quarterly compliance reports from TV distributors

    NEW DELHI: India’s broadcast regulator has ordered all distribution platform operators (DPOs) — including DTH, cable (MSOs), headend in the sky (Hits)  and IPTV players — to file performance monitoring reports every month and quarter, in a bid to sharpen oversight of the sector.

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), acting under section 12 of its 1997 Act, said the move was aimed at ensuring compliance, protecting consumer interests and fostering orderly growth of the TV distribution industry.

    Until now, only DTH firms were required to furnish quarterly reports, a rule dating back to 2008 and expanded in 2019 to cover MSOs and Hits)  operators. The new order updates formats to reflect changes in tariff, interconnection and quality-of-service rules.

    From now, operators must file monthly reports within ten days of month-end, and quarterly reports within 15 days of each quarter’s close. Smaller DPOs with fewer than 30,000 subscribers may skip the quarterly filing.
    The order marks another tightening of regulatory screws on a sector under pressure from both rising consumer expectations and surging competition from streaming platforms.

  • JioStar sparks ad revolution with Moment.AI that feels the right moment

    JioStar sparks ad revolution with Moment.AI that feels the right moment

    MUMBAI: When it comes to ads, timing really is everything and JioStar wants brands to nail the moment, not miss it. The company has unveiled Moment.AI, an advanced contextual advertising tool designed to catch viewers right when their emotions are at their peak.

    Built on the philosophy of own the feeling, own the moment, the tech marvel scans video content using artificial intelligence and machine learning to decode over 600 emotions and objects from smiles and celebrations to hugs and family scenes. Instead of clumsy interruptions, brands can now slip into stories exactly when the heartstrings are tugged or the laughter rolls.

    JioStar head of revenue for entertainment Mahesh Shetty called it a breakthrough: “Moment.AI integrates messaging at natural points of emotional impact, making campaigns more effective for brands and engaging for viewers.”

    The system is anchored on the R.A.C.E. framework reach, attention, connection, and effectiveness ensuring ads deliver more than just eyeballs. Early studies already show a 34 per cent uplift in advertising effectiveness compared to conventional placements.

    Moment.AI isn’t confined to one category. Whether it’s jewellery during a proposal, skincare in a mirror moment, or snacks at a family gathering, the platform is designed to work across sectors like handsets, gifting, food and beverages, home décor, fashion, and festivals making every placement feel native.

    Currently live across JioStar’s Entertainment network and gearing up to roll out on JioHotstar, the innovation is pitched as a new era for contextual advertising, blending technology with consumer insight.

    For brands, the message is simple: stop gate-crashing the moment start owning it.

  • LiveU makes a quantum leap with LU900Q for next-gen live transmissions

    LiveU makes a quantum leap with LU900Q for next-gen live transmissions

    MUMBAI: LiveU, the global leader in IP-video solutions, today unveiled the LU900Q – its next-generation field unit that delivers a quantum leap in live transmission and production performance. The LU900Q is the first unit to natively integrate LiveU IQ (LIQ™), powered by AI-driven decision-making, advanced eSIM technology and seamless dynamic connection switching – all within an advanced 5G architecture. The LU900Q transforms how broadcasters approach remote live news and sports productions by combining this breakthrough connectivity intelligence with unparalleled operational flexibility.

    A Quantum Leap in Performance

    The LU900Q is built from the ground up for the beyond-5G era. Combined with LIQ, it includes 5G next-generation modems with a MIMO antenna array, delivering dramatically enhanced speed, stability, and throughput.

    “Our goal is to give broadcasters and other storytellers the confidence to transmit from any location whether a packed stadium or remote mountainside,” said Samuel Wasserman, CEO and Co-founder, LiveU. “The LU900Q is a game changer, not just a new product, it’s a smart, multi-tool powerhouse designed to support diverse production needs, from fast-paced breaking news to complex live productions, all while delivering a new level of business agility. Customers can scale their storytelling with unmatched resiliency, quality, and efficiency – equipped with a robust yet affordable field unit and the flexibility to add extra features, including on demand.”

    The unit comes in an ergonomic backpack with a super long battery, with the potential to provide over seven hours of runtime for double endurance. It is also engineered for any climate with a rugged, shock-absorbing frame and advanced cooling, which means that the LU900Q is always good to go.

    Versatile Smart Multi-Tool for Streamlined Workflows

    With limitless production possibilities, the LU900Q acts as an intelligent multi-tool that breathes new life into existing production equipment. It seamlessly integrates with SDI, HDMI, and IP production gear – from ENG cameras and PTZ systems to drones and beyond. This protocol agnostic approach allows crews to pull any combination of gear in their workflow to suit the needs at hand.

    Another key development is the introduction of dual video return and dual intercom, bringing the benefits of the studio to reporters in the field. The unit also offers single or dual camera production workflows, transforming rigid broadcast setups into dynamic, adaptable production environments, and includes key new features, such as native analytics.

    For high-end productions, it delivers 10-bit HDR 4:2:2 encoding with up to 32 audio channels, providing the uncompromising performance with accurate geolocation required for main sports feeds, moveable sports and critical backup applications.

    For file-based workflows, the LU900Q accelerates faster file uploads directly to media asset management (MAM) systems, integrated with the LiveU Ingest automatic recording and story metadata logging solution. The unit also supports uploading full folders or full SD cards, as well as file by file.

    Business Agility Redefined

    The LU900Q introduces a new paradigm in broadcast and sports economics through software-defined capabilities that can be adapted to production needs in real time. All the advanced features the LU900Q brings to the table are easily activated via a dynamic software license that can be activated on-demand or as a subscription, making it the most modular mobile encoder out there. Customers can start with a basic hardware configuration and add software modules to match capabilities to requirements – delivering unprecedented cost-effectiveness and operational flexibility.

    This platform-like approach means broadcasters can ramp their storytelling capabilities up or down based on immediate needs, eliminating the traditional barriers between different production workflows and budget constraints.

    “We’re proud to unveil the latest evolution in our product portfolio – purpose-built to meet the fast-changing demands of modern live production. At LiveU, we introduce many hardware products, but this one is truly special,” said Gideon Gilboa, Chief Product Officer, LiveU. “It’s built on an entirely new technology stack that’s designed to be future-proof, allowing us to continue enhancing this device with many more software releases over the next five years. But it’s not just about future readiness – this device reflects the voices of the tens of thousands of users we have in the field. We’ve worked hard to incorporate the most requested and mission-critical features from our incredible customer base, which includes some of the largest and most advanced broadcasters in the world.”

    Be the first to see the LU900Q close up. Schedule a demo at the LiveU stand, Hall 7, Stand 7.C19: https://get.liveu.tv/ibc-2025/

     

  • Dish TV dives into smart TVs with VZY range

    Dish TV dives into smart TVs with VZY range

    NEW DELHI: Dish TV India has moved beyond broadcasting into the living room device market, unveiling its first integrated smart TV line, branded VZY. The launch marks a decisive pivot for the country’s largest DTH operator, which has been in Indian homes for more than 22 years.

    VZY—short for Vibe, Zone & You—is pitched not as just another television but as an “entertainment universe”. Select models come with a built-in Dish TV set-top box, fusing live TV with OTT streaming.

    “Entering the integrated Smart TV segment is a bold step into a future where content, technology, and convenience converge. This is more than a television. It is a universe where live TV, OTT, smart features and design converge,” said chief executive and executive director Manoj Dobhal. 

    Added chief revenue officer Sukhpreet Singh: “The modern Indian family is digital-first and experience-driven, seeking a screen that transforms everyday viewing into a curated, immersive experience—one that goes beyond being just a television. VZY delivers exactly that: a integrated entertainment universe that puts choice, convenience, and quality in the consumer’s hands.” 

    The VZY range spans 32-inch HD screens to 55-inch 4K UHD QLEDs, with Dolby Vision, HDR10 and up to 350 nits brightness. All sets run on Google TV 5 (Android 14), with built-in Chromecast, AirPlay, voice remotes and Dolby Audio, with premium models adding Dolby Atmos. Storage goes up to 32GB with 2GB RAM.

    Prices are pitched across segments with sweeteners such as Rs 0 down payment and 0 per cent EMI. 

    Distribution will cover metros as well as tier-2 and tier-3 markets, through both retail and online platforms.
    With VZY, Dish TV is betting on India’s hunger for convergence: a single screen that marries satellite reliability with the streaming age.

  • Goodera names Sumit Agarwal as chief financial officer to fuel global growth

    Goodera names Sumit Agarwal as chief financial officer to fuel global growth

    MUMBAI: Goodera has roped in Sumit Agarwal as its new chief financial officer, bolstering its leadership team as the employee volunteering platform prepares for its next phase of global expansion.

    A chartered accountant and all-India rank holder, Agarwal brings over two decades of experience across fintech, e-commerce, payments and technology. He most recently headed Tripmoney at Makemytrip–Goibibo, where he rolled out digital financial products. His earlier stints include cfo roles at Zovi.com and NGPAY (acquired by Flipkart), as well as leadership positions at Wipro technologies.

    At Goodera, he will oversee fundraising, investor relations, financial planning, M&A and strategic growth. “Goodera has built a global platform that powers volunteering while creating community impact. I am excited to shape its financial strategy for the next level of growth,” Agarwal noted.

     

  • Noise wins best of IFA as Indian wearables brand takes Berlin by storm

    Noise wins best of IFA as Indian wearables brand takes Berlin by storm

    MUMBAI: Noise, India’s leading connected lifestyle brand, has scored a global breakthrough at IFA Berlin 2025, one of the world’s largest consumer electronics showcases.

    The homegrown firm unveiled its latest line of smartwatches and wearables, designed to rival global leaders, and walked away with Techradar’s coveted “best of IFA” award, a recognition shared by few Indian brands on the international stage.

    “When a bootstrapped Indian company can stand shoulder to shoulder with global giants and be celebrated for innovation, it speaks volumes about the strength of Indian ingenuity,” said Noise, co-founder, Gaurav Khatri.

    Founded as a bootstrapped venture and now backed by Bose as its first strategic investor, Noise has built its reputation on design, innovation and affordability. Its R&D arm, Noise Labs, is credited with several industry-first patents, while the brand also pushes domestic manufacturing under ‘Make in India.’

    With leadership in India’s smartwatch market and now a global award under its belt, Noise is positioning itself not just as a national champion but as a serious contender in the global connected lifestyle ecosystem.