iWorld
Content India 2026 lines up top execs for Mumbai summit
Three-day event from 16–18 March at Taj Lands End gathers JioStar, Warner Bros Discovery, Zee, Prime Video leaders and more.
MUMBAI: India’s content boom just booked its biggest boardroom because when the industry’s heavy hitters converge, the next blockbuster deal might be only a coffee break away. Content India 2026, organised by Dish TV in partnership with C 21 Media, has unveiled a heavyweight speaker lineup for its expanded three-day edition running 16–18 March at Taj Lands End, Mumbai. Billed as a high-stakes business forum rather than a standard conference, the event aims to spark real deals, co-productions, commissioning talks, and strategic alliances across film, TV, OTT, animation, and digital platforms.
Confirmed and invited speakers include Kevin Vaz (CEO – Entertainment, JioStar), Arjun Nohwar (MD – India & South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery), Mukund Galgali (deputy CEO and CFO, Zee Entertainment), Ashish Sehgal (CEO, Times Network), Shilangi Mukherji (director & head of SVOD business, Prime Video), Nitin Burman (chief revenue officer, Balaji Telefilms), Deepak Dhar (founder & Group CEO, Banijay Asia), Aradhana Bhola (managing director – India, Fremantle), Deepak Segal (chief creative officer, Applause Entertainment), Fiona Campbell (interim director of unscripted TV, BBC Content), Frank Spotnitz (CEO & founder, Big Light Productions), Steve Matthews (head of scripted creative, Banijay Entertainment), and Kalpana Malviya (founder, Rarefied Studios). More names and full programme details are expected soon.
The summit arrives as India’s media and entertainment sector surges globally fueled by exploding OTT viewership, thriving regional storytelling, cross-border tie-ups, and rising investment. With the country shifting from major content consumer to key exporter, Content India positions itself as the go-to platform for unlocking domestic and international growth opportunities.
Dish TV India, CEO & executive director Manoj Dobhal said, “Content India was conceived to address a fundamental industry need, a space where decision-makers can come together with purpose and clarity. As we return in 2026 with an expanded three-day format, the focus is firmly on enabling meaningful conversations, strategic collaborations, and long-term partnerships.”
Curated networking sessions, market-focused panels, keynotes, and private meetings will drive transaction-led outcomes amid a fast-evolving landscape of new business models, financing structures, and tech innovations. For an industry where stories cross borders faster than ever, this Mumbai gathering could be where the next wave of global hits gets green-lit over breakfast.
iWorld
T20 World Cup ’26: India–England semi-final sets global streaming record of 619 million views on JioHotstar
India–England semi-final records 65.2 million peak streams
MUMBAI: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set a new milestone in global sports streaming, as the India–England semi-final drew record digital audiences on JioHotstar.
The match on 5 March registered 65.2 million peak concurrent viewers, the highest ever recorded for a live event on any streaming platform worldwide. The semi-final also generated 619 million views, making it the most streamed T20 international match in history.
The landmark audience numbers were driven largely by viewers in India, setting a record achieved within a single market, rather than through aggregated viewership across multiple countries.
The high-scoring encounter between India national cricket team and England cricket team produced 499 runs across both innings, fuelling widespread fan engagement across platforms.
According to the International Cricket Council, the digital record surpassed the previous global benchmark of 65 million concurrent viewers, set in November 2024 by another international streaming platform.
Across television and digital platforms combined, the semi-final reached more than 320 million viewers, while total watch time exceeded 23 billion minutes, making it the most watched T20 international match ever.
“This World Cup demonstrates the immense passion of cricket fans and the progress made in bringing the game closer to audiences worldwide,” said ICC chairman Jay Shah.
“This moment reflects the scale of cricket fandom in India and the technological capability required to serve hundreds of millions of viewers simultaneously.”
JioStar vice-chairman Uday Shankar, said the audience surge underscored the future of large-scale digital entertainment.
“One in every three Indians tuned in to watch the second semi-final. Delivering such an experience at scale requires the very best of technology,” he said.
The 619 million views during the match also eclipsed the 533 million views recorded during the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
With the final yet to be played, the 2026 tournament has already set multiple benchmarks in audience reach and digital engagement.
India will face the New Zealand national cricket team in the final on 8 March at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.
