ENTERTAINMENT
Amazon’s share of advertiser wallet is accelerating, said Amazon MX Player's Karan Bedi
The demand for content on digital is limitless, advertisers have realized this and moved their spends to digital as streaming is more targetable, Bedi said.
SPORTS
Chess sponsorship market is at its peak in India, says former player Prachura
The fact that Google was the title sponsor when Gukesh won the world championship shows that chess has grown so much that the top companies of the world are putting money into it, Prachura said.
SPORTS
IPL unmatched in valuation, but Pro Kabaddi sparked India’s league boom: GMR Sports CEO
According to Satyam Trivedi, while IPL remains peerless in valuation, it was Kabaddi’s mass appeal and execution that inspired the country’s sports ecosystem to think beyond cricket.
TRENDS
Chalo (from) Dilli: Delhi-NCR sees higher ‘smog break’ as air quality worsens
Travel bookings are not only higher but also faster, with average lead time now under 3 days from a week earlier. Delhiites are trading masks for mountains as well as for coastal retreats.
ENTERTAINMENT
Breathe creators turn to new AI division for next blockbuster and double-digit revenue boost
AI needs to be something that delivers sustainable value and not flashes in the pan, said Vikram Malhotra, Founder & CEO of Abundantia Entertainment, the content company which has produced movies like Jalsa, Baby among others.
TRENDS
Micro-drama platforms chasing their Netflix moment through foray into reality shows
India’s micro-drama market is now at the same inflection point that China hit 5-6 years ago, and is set to grow to $1.1 billion in the next five years, according to a Bitkraft and Redseer report.
TRENDS
Harmanpreet, Smriti script their ‘1983 moment’, World Cup win to double star players’ brand value
The women’s World Cup victory has given India a new generation of heroes and brands their new stars with marketers calling the win a tipping point for an endorsement boom.
TECHNOLOGY
Once snubbed, now sponsored -- Mumbai’s AI Film Festival draws 100 Bollywood celebs and big brands
Bollywood is intrigued with what AI can do in filmmaking and many celebrities are attending the festival just to see how far artists have gone with this new technology in the field of entertainment.
TRENDS
From Travis Scott to Zakir Khan, live events hit a festive high; concerts, comedy drive demand
This year's festive season is gearing to be one of the most vibrant periods, said a BookMyShow official addign that during Dussehra and Diwali they saw healthy attendance for music, comedy and large-format shows.
BUSINESS
After Q2 turbulence, ixigo eyes smoother skies ahead as Diwali, New Year drive bookings
The company is spotting signs of recovery as Diwali and New Year travel plans fuel a surge in demand across categories from flights to buses.
TRENDS
This shaadi season GST cuts rewrite Indian wedding bill---cheaper venues, costlier sparkle
Government is expecting the festive and wedding season turnover to exceed Rs 7 lakh crore in 2025, marking one of India’s largest spending sprees in years on the back of recent cuts in the goods and services (GST) tax.
ENTERTAINMENT
PVR INOX on why India’s box office won’t feel the heat from US 100% film tariff
The footfalls in theatres are now getting closer to the levels that cinemas recorded in pre-covid period, said PVR INOX's chief financial officer.
ENTERTAINMENT
IPL hits a valuation slump — gaming ban curbs its winning streak, WPL hits a roadblock too
Despite headwinds, the fundamentals of both the leagues remain resilient.
ENTERTAINMENT
Kantara: Chapter 1 turns ancient Indian tales into box-office gold
Kantara: Chapter 1 has not only delivered commercial success but has also created a new cinematic category — one where mythology, faith, and folklore drive mass appeal and mainstream box office numbers.
BUSINESS
More Indians heading abroad for luxury and longer holidays, spending big billions since pandemic
Indians have spent $50 billion on overseas travel in the last 3 years accounting for 55% of total LRS remittances by Indians.
TRAVEL
Diwali rush sends airfares soaring as ticket for key routes touch Rs 40,000 on heavy demand
If you're planning to fly home this Diwali, be prepared to pay a premium, as airfare on popular routes have shot up and tickets during Diwali week are higher than the average festive period last year.
TRAVEL
From Nainital to Rudrapur, why MakeMyTrip is hiring more from tier 2, 3 towns
MakeMyTrip is taking its talent hunt beyond metros, hiring more from tier 2 and 3 markets such as Nainital and Rudrapur. The travel platform sees smaller towns as untapped talent hubs, helping it diversify workforce, while tapping India’s growing heartland potential
TRAVEL
Rush Hour: Bus travel in fast lane with high festive bookings; Diwali demand doubles
With limited train availability and rising airfares, more Indians are choosing premium bus options for their festive journeys, with bookings nearly double, compared to regular non-festive weeks.
ENTERTAINMENT
From folklore to frenzy: Kantara prequel storms Box Office, now comes Rishab Shetty’s big test
While the early numbers point towards another potential hit, the film’s long-term success will depend on whether it can maintain momentum beyond its opening surge.
TECHNOLOGY
Levelling up or locking down? Here is what draft online gaming rules mean for esports in India
The draft online gaming rules, released on October 2, bring recognition but also expects the industry to do some heavy lifting in the form of tighter regulation, internal checks and redressal mechanisms
TRENDS
Changing track: Meesho, ITC and others tune into music licensing to avoid IP pitfalls
More and more companies and influencers are buying music licences to avoid lawsuits, which is giving good business to music licensing platforms
TRENDS
Trending on Dalal Street: Chatterbox CEO says going public proves influencing is no side hustle
On October 3, Chatterbox Technologies becomes the first influencer marketing company to be listed in India. The stock listed at Rs 135 on the BSE, a premium of nearly 18 percent over the issue price
ENTERTAINMENT
Franchise fever builds, ticket cap lifted but can Kantara Chapter 1 match its prequel’s success?
The legend of Kantara is back and the buzz is strong but the new installment's big budget and lower than expected pre-sales revenue is posing the question whether Kantara Chapter 1 will echo the success of its first run.
TRENDS
Festive playlists power Amazon Music surge: Falguni fever, Bollywood's Bijuriya drive engagement
Amazon Music's Country head Rishabh Gupta noted that the sale on the ecommerce platform Amazon, like the Great Indian Festival, also drives engagement on the audio-streaming platform.
