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Saugata Mukherjee exits SonyLIV after three-year run
Streaming veteran signs off after shaping originals at SonyLIV
MUMBAI: According to media reports, Saugata Mukherjee has moved on from his role as EVP and head of content at SonyLIV, drawing the curtain on a three-year stint at the streaming platform where he helped sharpen its originals slate and creative ambition.
Mukherjee, who took charge in September 2022, oversaw content strategy, commissioning and development at a time when India’s OTT space was locked in fierce competition. His brief was clear: build distinctive stories, back bold talent and keep SonyLIV in the conversation.
This was not his first innings with the platform. He previously served as svp and head of original content at SonyLIV between 2020 and 2021, steering premium commissions and working closely with film and television talent in Mumbai and beyond.
Between his two SonyLIV chapters, he had a short but notable stint as head of content, india for HBO Max at Warner Bros. Discovery, as the global streamer explored its India strategy.
Before that, he played a pivotal role at Disney+ Hotstar, then simply Hotstar, where as SVP and editor of hotstar specials he led the creative and development mandate for original digital content.
His journey through Indian media also includes senior leadership roles at Star TV Network, where he served as senior vice president and editor, content studio, and earlier as vice president, content, commissioning and incubating new shows for the network.
Earlier in publishing, he was publisher and editor in chief at Pan Macmillan, and managing editor and rights director at HarperCollins Publishers. He also held roles as senior consultant at niit ltd, acquisitions editor at Rupa Publications India pvt. ltd., and copy editor at HarperCollins Publishers.
From copy editor to content chief, Mukherjee’s career spans books, broadcast and streaming. His next chapter is yet to be announced.
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Netflix acquires Ben Affleck’s AI film-tech firm InterPositive
Streaming giant picks up production startup to streamline digital filmmaking
LOS ANGELES: Netflix has officially acquired InterPositive, an AI film-technology startup founded by actor and director Ben Affleck. The move marks a significant investment by the streaming service into assistive AI tools designed to support the technical side of movie production. While many AI companies focus on generating new images or scripts, InterPositive focuses on the logistical challenges of filmmaking. The firm’s technology is designed to handle technical tasks that often delay post-production, such as correcting lighting inconsistencies and ensuring visual continuity across different takes.
The acquisition is not about replacing human actors or writers. Instead, Netflix intends to use the technology as a digital assistant for directors. The software understands cinematic logic, meaning it can automatically adjust background elements or environmental effects to ensure a film looks polished and consistent without months of manual editing.
In a Netflix post on Thursday, Affleck emphasised that the project was born out of a desire to support the craft rather than automate it. “I knew I had a responsibility to my peers and our industry, to protect the power of human creativity and the people behind it. In creating InterPositive, I sought to do just that,” Affleck wrote. “From the invention of the moving image to the transition to digital, from motion capture to virtual production, technology has evolved alongside the artists who use it. Our shared commitment to continuing this legacy makes joining together a natural next step.”
Netflix chief product and technology officer Elizabeth Stone said, “Our approach to AI has always been focused on meaningfully serving the needs of the creative community. InterPositive’s technology is purpose-built for filmmakers and showrunners to naturally support their visions. We’re excited to welcome the team to Netflix and continue building a future where technology enhances storytelling, while people remain at the core.”
Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria added, “New tools should expand creative freedom, not constrain it. Ben and his team are part of a long tradition of artists leading innovation in storytelling. Their work gives filmmakers more choices, control, and protection for their vision.”
The deal coincides with a broader partnership between Netflix and Artists Equity, the production company led by Affleck and Matt Damon. Following the success of their recent projects on the platform, this acquisition cements Affleck’s role as both a creative and technical advisor to the streamer. Affleck noted that the partnership was a logical fit due to “Netflix’s decades of experience applying and scaling technology responsibly.” He will serve as a senioradvisor for the integration of the technology, ensuring the tools remain focused on helping filmmakers.
For the film industry, this acquisition signals a shift in strategy. Rather than just buying finished movies, Netflix is now owning the specialized technology used to build them. By bringing these tools in-house, the company aims to reduce the rising costs and lengthy timelines associated with high-budget original films while giving their productions a technical edge in speed and visual quality.
