iWorld
Prime Video goes K-razy: CJ ENM deal brings Korean hits to the global stage
MUMBAI: Prime Video is diving deep into the K-drama wave. At the Waves Summit in Mumbai on Saturday, the streamer announced a blockbuster global pact with South Korean entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM locking in multi-year worldwide rights (barring Korea and China) to some of Korea’s most popular and upcoming screen gems.
Set to kick off in late June with fantasy-romance series Head Over Heels, the partnership will see Prime Video release a slew of exclusives through 2025 and 2026 from Studio Dragon and CJ ENM Studios. Prime members can also binge a revamped line-up of beloved back-catalogue titles like Her Private Life, Another Miss Oh, and gritty fan-favourite Mouse.
All this will be served with subtitles in 28 languages and dubbing in 11—part of Prime Video’s bid to make Korean content irresistibly accessible to fans from São Paulo to Seoul.
“This strategic collaboration with CJ ENM reinforces Prime Video’s commitment to bringing the best of Korean entertainment to our customers worldwide,” said Prime Video head of International & VP Kelly Day. “Korean content continues to resonate deeply with global audiences. We’ve witnessed the borderless appeal of Korean storytelling with the phenomenal success of shows like Marry My Husband, No Gain, No Love which not just captured hearts across continents, but also found their place in the Top 10 most-watched non-English language International Originals from 2024, posting super strong viewership outside their country of origin. We are now thrilled to offer new and exclusive titles, alongside a catalogue of consumer favourites exclusively to Prime Video’s global consumer base, in a language of their preference.”
“At Prime Video, our ambition is to be the first-choice entertainment hub for consumers. From the best of global content, to popular stories from Asia, we want to be a destination where consumers can effortlessly discover their next favourite story. As Korean content continues to find massive audiences worldwide, we’re thrilled to bring these captivating narratives exclusively to our worldwide audiences,” said Prime Video vice president, APAC & Mena Gaurav Gandhi. “Our strategic collaboration with CJ ENM marks a new chapter in this journey, giving Prime members front-row access to some of the most compelling and innovative content from Korea.”
“We’re thrilled about this partnership with Prime Video, which allows us to bring our unique Korean stories to an even broader global audience,” said CJ ENM’s content business division executive vice president Jangho Seo. “Korean entertainment has been winning hearts around the world with its compelling narratives, relatable characters, and outstanding production quality. We’ve already seen tremendous success with titles like Marry My Husband and No Gain, No Love, which achieved remarkable viewership milestones on Prime Video and reaffirmed the universal appeal of our storytelling. Through Prime Video’s extensive global reach and strong commitment to multi-language subtitles and dubbing strategies, we are excited to make our upcoming titles even more accessible and enjoyable for audiences across cultures and languages. This collaboration not only strengthens CJ ENM’s global footprint but also reflects our shared vision with Prime Video to deliver captivating stories to fans worldwide. We look forward to building on this momentum and deepening our connection with viewers everywhere.”
The move cements Prime Video’s growing bet on Korean drama as a frontline act in its global expansion. For subscribers, it’s a K-lovers’ dream. For the industry, it’s another sign that Hallyu isn’t just here to stay—it’s scaling up.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
