iWorld
Jagjit Singh Kohli returns with connected TV app Free TV
MUMBAI: Indian cable TV pioneer Jagjit Singh Kohli is back. This time he is doing the tango with the world of streaming and connected TV apps. The entrepreneur has used the celebration of Guru Nanak’s birthday on 15 November to announce the launch of Tango Plus Services and its “transformative Free TV app for the connected TV universe.”
The new app, currently available through select ISP partners, will be made available on Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Samsung Tizen, and LG Web OS within the next few weeks.
The free TV app is set to revolutionise the way consumers access and interact with television content, offering a seamless, subscription-free, and diverse entertainment experience for millions globally, says a release from the company. The app will be made available on mobile app stores by end November.
Tango TV’s Free TV, the press release states, has a thousand plus free-to-air live channels, replicating the traditional cable/DTH interface but with added convenience and flexibility. From news to sports, lifestyle to infotainment, users can access a wide array of live TV content with an intuitive channel guide and easy navigation. It offers 20,000 plus free movies in multiple languages, Free TV, says it will cater to every movie buffs’ taste.
Users can pause, rewind, or fast-forward content, ensuring they enjoy the best in entertainment at their own pace. All movies will be made available in 4K resolution, offering a cinematic experience without the premium cost. It will offer a global range of specially curated series and music, offering diverse genres and stories from international creators. To top that, Tango TV has integrated educational resources that are both fun and informative. Students from nursery to Class XII can access study materials, learning videos, tutorials, and more—bridging the gap between entertainment and education.
Says Tango TV managing director JS Kohli: “We are incredibly excited to introduce Tango TV to the global market. Our mission has always been to deliver innovative, accessible, and high-quality digital solutions, and with the launch of Tango TV, we are setting a new benchmark in the entertainment industry. This app is a game-changer, offering consumers a free, seamless, and enriching viewing experience that aligns perfectly with today’s digital-first lifestyle. We believe Tango TV will not only revolutionise how users access content, but also create new opportunities for businesses to engage with their audiences in meaningful ways. As we continue to innovate and expand, we look forward to shaping the future of entertainment alongside our partners and users.”
Kohli adds that for businesses and partners, Free TV offers built in free access to premium entertainment which can be seamlessly integrated and delivered to customers at no extra cost. A unique revenue-sharing model has been built in to the service.
“By offering premium content or exclusive features, businesses can tap into new income streams without sacrificing the core value of free entertainment. The revenue-sharing model is designed to benefit partners, giving them the opportunity to monetise Tango TV’s access to a vast content library while keeping the service free for users. This opens up opportunities for brands, telecom providers, smart TV manufacturers, ISPs, cable operators, and other stakeholders to tap into a new, scalable revenue source,” he reveals.
He is also quite gung-ho about the premium Tango TV Plus app which he says will offer exclusive ad-free content in terms of TV shows, movies and series, not accessible on the free version, along with additional features such as personalised recommendations, cloud storage, and more.
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.
