ITV

Tag: subscription growth

  • Sony Pictures Networks taps Hitesh Sood to spearhead B2B partnerships

    Sony Pictures Networks taps Hitesh Sood to spearhead B2B partnerships

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has made a strategic move by appointing Hitesh Sood as vice president & head of B2B subscription and partnerships (digital business). Effective February 2025, Sood has already rolled up his sleeves to drive global expansion for Sonyliv and forge partnerships that will redefine digital content distribution.

    With a resume that reads like a thriller, Sood brings two decades of experience spanning telecom, media, and digital services. He has honed his expertise across continents, cracking tough negotiations and spearheading revenue-driven partnerships. From launching industry-first telco content bundles to scaling up OTT distribution, his track record is as impressive as a blockbuster’s opening weekend.

    In his new role, Sood will focus on taking Sonyliv beyond borders—literally. He aims to propel its reach to global audiences while working with telcos, banks, and content aggregators to make digital entertainment more engaging. With streaming services in an all-out war for eyeballs, this move signals Sony’s intent to stay ahead of the game.

    Before joining Sony, Sood made his mark at Renna Mobile, Grameenphone, Vodafone Idea, and Globacom, where he led marketing, partnerships, and product strategies. He played a key role in expanding digital content services and optimising customer engagement strategies. At Grameenphone, for instance, he quadrupled monthly active users (MAUs) in just two years—no small feat in a competitive streaming market.

    Sony Pictures Networks is banking on Sood’s knack for innovation to boost its B2B partnerships and subscriptions. With digital entertainment evolving at breakneck speed, Sony’s latest hire suggests the company is gearing up for a bigger, bolder future in the streaming industry.

  • Zee5’s active subscription doubled on back of investments in Punjabi content

    Zee5’s active subscription doubled on back of investments in Punjabi content

    Mumbai: Streaming platform Zee5 has witnessed an upswing in active subscription numbers witnessing two times growth, with the highest contribution from Punjab and neighbouring states like Haryana, Delhi NCR, and Uttar Pradesh.

    According to the OTT platform, the surge is on the back of Punjabi releases like “Puaada,” “Jinne Jamme Saare Nikamme,” and “Qismat 2” starring Pollywood names Ammy Virk, Sonam Bajwa, Sargun Mehta, Binnu Dhillon, Gurnam Bhullar, and more.

    The platform reported that the average watch time per viewer per month as on September is 186 minutes. Comedy and romance are the most preferred genres in the market, with the viewership split between 77 per cent male and 23 per cent female audiences. Ludhiana, Delhi and Chandigarh are top markets that are watching high-quality Punjabi content.

    “Our foray in Punjabi-speaking markets was a crucial step in our larger objective of ‘entertainment inclusion’, especially for newer and underserved markets across India,” said Zee5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra. “We penetrated the greenfield market with a power-packed content slate of stories from the heartland that have worked well with the audience who were on the lookout for quality entertainment in their own language. We are thrilled to have received an overwhelming response of a 100+ per cent growth, and we will continue to deliver and curate the best of Punjabi titles ensuring an unhindered entertainment supply.”

    Punjab stands as one of the key markets in northern India with high internet penetration and strong telecom infrastructure density. With limited content options in their local language, Zee5 addressed the unmet content demand of three core plus Punjabi native speakers in India by offering a robust library of Punjabi entertainment.