iWorld
Netflix adds 10.1 mn subscribers in Q2; warns of slow Q3 growth
KOLKATA: It’s not a surprise that Netflix has added 10.1 million paid subscribers in the second quarter of 2020. With the massive shelter-at-home mandate brought in by the Covid2019 pandemic leading to another phase of digital acceleration, the streaming services have emerged as beneficiaries. Although it has beaten the expectations for this quarter, the third quarter subscriber addition guidance is low as the world is gradually adjusting to the pandemic effect and may not jump onto new subscriptions to fight social distancing.
It forecasts 2.5 million paid net adds for the third quarter compared to 6.8 million in the prior-year quarter. “As we indicated in our Q1’20 letter, we’re expecting paid net adds will be down year over year in the second half as our strong first-half performance likely pulled forward some demand from the second half of the year,” Netflix said in a statement.
Netflix has added 26 million paid memberships in the first half of 2020 while it achieved 28 million in the year 2019. However, it has mentioned that the growth is slowing as consumers get through the initial shock of Covid2019 and social restrictions.
The streaming giant has reported $6.15 billion revenue, 25 per cent growth year over year, while quarterly operating income exceeded $1 billion. Average streaming paid memberships in Q2 rose 25 per cent year over year while streaming ARPU increased 0.4 per cent year over year. Netflix has given a third-quarter estimation of $6.33 billion.
“Since our content production lead time is long, our 2020 plans for launching original shows and films continue to be largely intact. For 2021, based on our current plan, we expect the paused productions will lead to a more second-half weighted content slate in terms of our big titles, although we anticipate the total number of originals for the full year will still be higher than 2020,” it said on the pandemic impact on the content slate.
It also spoke of competitors like WarnerMedia, Disney along with mentioning that Apple, Amazon have been growing their investment in premium content while also regarding TikTok as a competitor given its 'astounding' growth. However, it mentioned that Netflix continues to improve content and service at a faster pace compared to others.
iWorld
Hari Om OTT premieres Bhagwan Jhulelal Sai series
First devotional show on Jhulelal Sai streams in Sindhi and Hindi.
MUMBAI: Hari Om OTT just turned the tide for devotional dramas because when Jhulelal Sai steps onto the small screen, even the waves start streaming in two languages. Hari Om OTT, India’s leading devotional streaming platform launched in June 2024, has premiered Bhagwan Jhulelal Sai, a milestone series that marks the first-ever show dedicated to the revered deity of the Sindhi community. The show, starring Manish Raisinghani as Jhulelal Sai / Varun Dev and Parag Tyagi as Mirkh Shah, launched on Jhulelal Jayanti and is available in both Sindhi and Hindi.
The series chronicles the life, journey and teachings of Bhagwan Jhulelal Sai, blending mythology with historical elements to deliver an authentic and inspiring narrative for global audiences.
Manish Raisinghani said, “Portraying Jhulelal Sai and Varun Dev was not just a role, it was a spiritual journey and a moment of immense pride for my family and community. This one holds a special place in my heart, especially since the show is coming in our very own Sindhi language as well.”
Parag Tyagi added, “Jhulelal Sai is the first-ever show that beautifully blends mythology with history. Hari Om has achieved something truly special by bringing the stories of our gods and goddesses to audiences in their authentic language.”
Hari Om OTT CEO Avinash Dugar said, “With Bhagwan Jhulelal Sai, we’re excited to share this inspiring story with the Sindhi community and beyond. We will continue to showcase the stories of Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma to the world, presented in their own language.”
The premiere builds on Hari Om OTT’s track record of acclaimed devotional titles including Mata Lakshmi, Jai Jagannath, Shri Tirupati Balaji, Mata Saraswati and Chandra Dev, all focused on celebrating India’s cultural and spiritual legacy through high-quality storytelling.
In a streaming landscape crowded with fiction, Hari Om OTT is quietly proving that the most powerful stories aren’t made up, they’re the ones that have already inspired generations, now delivered straight to your screen in the language of devotion. Bhagwan Jhulelal Sai is now streaming on Hari Om OTT.
