iWorld
Idea is to get one star in the next three years from ‘The Dharavi Project’: Devraj Sanyal
MUMBAI: Universal Music Group and multi channel network Qyuki recently launched the ‘Dharavi Project’ as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). With the initiative, the music group will fund the expansion of the project that was helmed by Qyuki.
Speaking to Indiatelevision.com about the school, Universal Music Group India and South Asia managing director Devraj Sanyal says that the idea is to get at least one star out in the next three years who is able to cross international markets. “All the money that comes out of it will go back to the artiste while the administration fees will go back to the project. We will not retain a single rupee,” says Sanyal.
He further added that the company, which has a strong global footprint on CSR, was very clear from day one to have a single initiative that would be large, impactful and actually effect change.
The school currently is a 25 feet by 25 feet room but plans are afoot to upgrade it over the next 30 days. It will have 5-D cameras, Apple Mac machines, a recording facility and engineers to help the students set up and record. “It will be like a mini Berkley. We have spent close to two per cent of our net revenue on the project,” Sanyal informs.
As of now, 35 to 40 children will avail facilities at the school and the target is to reach out to more than 300 children. On an average, some of these kids would earn a paltry sum of Rs 4000 a month by undertaking ‘Slumdog’ tours. Queried as to how the project will move ahead, Sanyal says, “This would not have been possible without two things – a deep intent and real money. When these two came together, the Dharavi Project was born.”
As part of its tie up with Qyuki, content which is created by Universal in the South Asia region, will be available on the network. Outlining some trends in the music industry in India, Sanyal concludes by saying, “Digital clearly is the future. Bollywood continues to be a very strong player. Independent, regional and international music is also growing from current share because the population share is increasing.”
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
