iWorld
Streaming war intensifies, as Amazon eyes MGM studios
KOLKATA: US tech giant Amazon is in talks to acquire the “Bond studio” MGM to bolster its ambition in the streaming media, according to reports. The mega-deal is being orchestrated by Amazon Studios and Prime Video senior vice president Mike Hopkins, along with MGM board chairman Kevin Ulrich.
Founded in 1924 MGM’s wide Hollywood library includes names like Bond, Hobbit, Rocky, and Pink Panther franchises as well as movies like The Silence of the Lambs, The Magnificent Seven, Four Weddings, and A Funeral along with a streaming service Epix.
Although media is not a big part of e-commerce giant Amazon’s portfolio, it has gradually increased focus on the segment. Prime Video’s viewer base has surpassed 175 million, the company revealed recently. According to reports, MGM has been looking for prospective buyers. While the company wants to value itself at $9 billion, others are valuing it at $5 billion.
At the end of 2020, there were already reports that MGM had tapped Morgan Stanley and LionTree to explore a sale. Even Apple and Comcast also reportedly spoke to the studio but they could not reach an agreement.
The reports came close on the heels of Discovery-AT&T’s media assets merger deal to build a new streaming giant. In the last few years, the global media and entertainment industry has witnessed a number of consolidations as the streaming competition rises.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
