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Tag: Mukund Acharya

  • Mukund Acharya joins SPNI as CTO to spearhead its digital shift across linear and OTT platforms

    Mukund Acharya joins SPNI as CTO to spearhead its digital shift across linear and OTT platforms

    MUMBAI: Mumbai’s media corridors just got a new power player. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has appointed Mukund Acharya as its chief technology officer (CTO), effective 19 June, 2025, in a move that signals the broadcaster’s intent to go full throttle on tech-first innovation across broadcast and digital platforms.

    Acharya, who led engineering at Disney+ Hotstar (now JioStar), is no stranger to high-stakes rollouts. From handling the ICC World Cups of 2023, 2024, and 2025 to overseeing the JioCinema-Hotstar integration, the man knows how to deliver under pressure, at scale. With 29 years under his belt at names like Yahoo and InMobi, Acharya brings a rare blend of depth, dexterity, and digital muscle.

    At SPNI, he will now oversee the Enterprise Technology Group (ETG), LIV Technology, and Broadcast Operations and Network Engineering (B.O.N.E.). His mandate? Lead SPNI’s transformation agenda, boost platform innovation, and align technology with evolving business goals—all while scaling both Sony LIV and the network’s broadcast empire.

    “Mukund’s proven leadership in technology-led transformation makes him an invaluable addition to our team”, said SPNI MD & CEO Gaurav Banerjee, lAs we expand our digital and broadcast capabilities, his role will be critical in aligning our technology roadmap with our vision for growth and innovation”.

    Acharya will report to Banerjee and work closely with the Sony LIV leadership as the platform gears up for its next evolution.

    SPNI’s appointment of Acharya comes as the media house doubles down on hybrid distribution, preparing itself for the next decade of entertainment where scale, speed, and seamlessness will define winners.

  • Disney+ Hotstar is the first in India to stream live sports in Dolby Vision

    Disney+ Hotstar is the first in India to stream live sports in Dolby Vision

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar becomes the first streaming platform to stream live sports in Dolby Vision in India and for cricket in the world. This ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, all India matches, Super 8s, semi-finals and finals will be streamed live in Dolby Vision on Disney+ Hotstar.

    Disney+ Hotstar’s premium-only subscribers can get the best seats in the house when they experience the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Dolby Vision. Cricket fans can experience every heart stopping, nail-biting moment of the game in the lifelike colors, sharp contrast, and rich details of Dolby Vision.

    Sharing the excitement about this milestone, Disney+ Hotstar head of engineering Mukund Acharya said, “India is a country that lives and breathes cricket; and it is our endeavour to consistently make their viewing experiences more immersive. We are delighted to introduce Dolby Vision for our Premium-only users to experience the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on their screens like never before. Our collaboration with Dolby marks a significant step for sports streaming in India; and sets a new precedence towards our efforts in offering the best in entertainment and technology.”

    Entertainment in Dolby Vision comes alive with sharper contrast and richer colors, revealing surprising new details. This advancement will be a unique selling proposition (USP) for Disney+ Hotstar’s Premium-only subscription, offering users an unmatched viewing experience that makes every moment of the game come alive.

    Dolby Laboratories senior director – commercial partnerships IMEA – Karan Grover expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying, “We are excited to collaborate with Disney+ Hotstar to bring Dolby Vision to live sport streaming for the first time in India. This ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Disney+ Hotstar subscribers can experience how the game comes alive in Dolby Vision, pulling you deeper into the action. This collaboration marks a significant achievement in delivering the future of cricket viewing to audiences.”

    Only select 4K-enabled smart TVs that support Dolby Vision will be able to stream these matches, ensuring that viewers with compatible technology get the best possible experience. Disney+ Hotstar continues to innovate and lead the way in providing exceptional entertainment experiences, and the introduction of Dolby Vision for live cricket streaming is a testament to this commitment.