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Tag: World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit

  • Dream Sports and Microsoft team up to play hard in India’s gaming market

    Dream Sports and Microsoft team up to play hard in India’s gaming market

    MUMBAI: Dream Sports is putting on its game face with Microsoft. At the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (Waves) 2025 in Mumbai, the sports tech powerhouse inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the American software giant in a bid to supercharge India’s booming gaming industry.

    The tie-up will explore local publishing opportunities for Microsoft’s global gaming portfolio, while co-developing AI-fuelled innovations tailored to Indian tastes. The goal: build cutting-edge online experiences for the country’s 600 million-strong gamer base.

    Dream Sports co-founder & chief executive Harsh Jain said, “We are eager to build innovative & future ready experiences by leveraging Microsoft’s deep technical & AI expertise along with our base of 250 million Indian users. We look forward to working together to redefine the future of online gaming in India.”

    Microsoft India  and south Asia president Puneet Chandok echoed the enthusiasm: “We are excited to explore a collaboration with Dream Sports, leveraging their vast ecosystem of 250 million users. Together, Microsoft and Dream Sports aim to elevate the Indian gaming landscape by tailoring it to local needs and delivering transformative AI-driven experiences”

    The partnership lands as India’s gaming market hits a high score—$3.8 billion in FY24, with mobile users leading the charge. More than 66 per cent of gamers now hail from non-metro cities, and 44 per cent are women, according to the Leveling Up: State of India Interactive report.

    With cheap data, smartphone ubiquity, and growing backing from investors and policymakers alike, India is no longer just a player—it’s becoming the arena.

    Game on.

  • Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlights growth of creator economy

    Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlights growth of creator economy

    MUMBAI: Union minister of information & broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the media landscape is undergoing a significant shift due to the exponential growth of the creator economy. Speaking to representatives from approximately 20 national and regional media outlets on Saturday, he emphasised the fundamental changes occurring in content creation and its associated economy.

    “The world of creators and their economy is going through a fundamental change. With the advent of technology, the old model is giving way to the new model, creating opportunities as well as challenges,” said Vaishnaw.

    He highlighted how technology has enabled broader participation in content creation, noting, “Gone are the days when a large studio was necessary for producing content. Today, a creator from a remote village in Jharkhand or Kerala can produce high-quality content and garner millions of views.”

    Vaishnaw mentioned the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (Waves), scheduled to take place in Mumbai from 1-4 May, which has already received over 100,000 registrations. He explained that Waves aims to establish itself as a global platform for media and entertainment, similar to the role of Davos for economic policies. The summit will also recognize top innovators with awards for their contributions to the evolving global media and entertainment sector.

    Leaders from various media organisations expressed their appreciation for the government’s initiative in conceptualizing Waves as a platform to connect policymakers, creators, industry leaders, technology companies, and start-ups.

    Information and broadcasting secretary Sanjay Jaju welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of collaborative dialogue in shaping the future of the media landscape. He underscored the ministry’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders across different platforms and acknowledged the active participation of media organizations in the lead-up to Waves 2025.

    Vaishnaw reiterated that the creator economy is experiencing rapid growth and that prime minister Narendra Modi has acknowledged the contributions of creators to the economy and in promoting India’s soft power globally. He stated that Waves is intended to become a global connector for creators, buyers, and markets, facilitating scalable creative solutions.

    Secretary Sanjay Jaju emphasized the significance of collective discussion in determining the future direction of the media industry and the ministry’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders.

  • Indian govt presents Waves 2025 to 100 ambassadors and high commissioners

    Indian govt presents Waves 2025 to 100 ambassadors and high commissioners

    MUMBAI: In a glitzy push to make India the hotbed of global media action, the government rolled out the red carpet for its ambitious World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (Waves) 2025  today at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi in the presence of 100 ambassadors and high commissioners. MIB officials made a  hard sales pitch  to prod them and make them realise that the Indian government is extremely serious about Waves 2025 and they in turn should carry this message back to their national governments and ensure robust participation from their respective countries. 

    Waves 2025—set to make a splash in Mumbai from 1 to 4  May 2025—promises to be a star-studded affair that will see the worlds of tech, media and entertainment collide in spectacular fashion.

    Union minister for external affairs S. Jaishankar didn’t mince words about the summit’s significance: “Economic and political rebalancing is moving towards cultural balancing. We are not truly global if we are not truly local. Waves 2025 captures the spirit of this endeavour.”  

    He urged the ambassadors and high commissioners to familiarise their governments regarding the opportunities of global collaborations courtesy the Waves 2025 initiative.

    Meanwhile, information & broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw turned up the heat, declaring that “the intersection of creativity, media and technology is transforming the media landscape of the world and reaching a new level of convergence.” He teased that “some of the biggest names” in the industry would be gracing the Mumbai bash.

    Not to be outdone, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis jumped into the fray, drumming up Mumbai’s credentials as the “financial and entertainment capital of India” that serves as the “perfect backdrop” for the summit.

    “Waves 2025 is a movement,” Fadnavis proclaimed, while welcoming the establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology which the government has committed to set up in Mumbai with Rs 391 crore being allocated for it. He expressed hope that “media will continue to be a force for good,” in a world where technology and creativity are increasingly getting into bed together.

    Minister of state for information & broadcasting, L. Murugan effusively stepped up to say that Waves  2025 will open  the door  “to joint ventures, co-productions, and business expansion, enabling global media companies to engage with India’s creative sector.  We remain steadfast in creating a conducive environment for the M&E industry, supporting ease of doing business, content localisation, and infrastructure development.”

    Information & broadcasting secretary Sanjay Jaju revealed that the four-day extravaganza will feature multiple tracks designed to make waves across the industry:
    * A global media dialogue featuring ministers and policymakers
    * Thought leaders Track with knowledge-sharing sessions
    * Waves exhibition showcasing storytelling innovations
    * Bharat pavilion highlighting India’s media heritage
    * Waves  Bazaar to facilitate business networking
    * WaveXcelerator to back media startups with mentorship and moolah
    * Waves Culturals featuring performances that blend Indian and international talent

    Also present was  Maharashtra government chief secretary Sujata Sauni who exchanged a memorandum of understanding relating to Waves 2025 with Jaju. 

    The organisers are also playing up Waves 2025’s integration with the orange economy, positioning the summit as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation through creative industries.

    With Mumbai ready to throw open its doors to thought leaders grappling with issues from AI to streaming revolutions, intellectual property rights, misinformation, and media sustainability, Waves 2025 is gearing up to be the first summit of its kind to tackle these hot-button issues by promoting cultural diversity, innovation, and equitable access to media platforms.

    As the countdown begins, all eyes are now on whether this media matrimony can truly deliver on its lofty promise of becoming “the biggest unifying factor between country to country, people to people and culture to culture in the digital age.”

  • DD partners with Dilli Gharana Prodns for new classical music talent show

    DD partners with Dilli Gharana Prodns for new classical music talent show

    MUMBAI: In a bid to promote India’s rich musical traditions, Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan’s  Dilli Gharana Productions has partnered with Doordarshan to launch Wah Ustad, a classical and semi-classical music talent hunt reality show.  

    The initiative is part of the Create in India Challenge under the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (Waves) 2025, organised by the ministry of information and broadcasting.

    The show aims to provide a global platform for young, classically trained vocalists aged 18 and above, with basic training in Hindustani, Carnatic, or Sufi music. Participants will be selected through a multi-phase process, including online registrations via the Dilli Durbar portal, video-based shortlisting, regional auditions, and a grand national finale at the Waves 2025 event in Mumbai.

    With 26 episodes to be aired on Doordarshan, Wah Ustad will feature innovative rounds such as fusion performances and self-compositions, focusing on themes like Sufi, devotional, and semi-classical music. Dilli Gharana Productions has Mohd Imran Khan and Vusat Iqbal Khan listed as the co-founders. A panel of renowned musicians and cultural icons, including members of Dilli Gharana, will judge the competition.

    The winner will receive a cash prize, while other finalists will gain mentorship opportunities, recording contracts, and recognition from dignitaries. By blending traditional expertise with modern technology, Wah Ustad seeks to inspire the next generation of musicians and preserve India’s musical legacy for years to come.