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Hotstar Premium reveals new content line up for November
Another month, another great list of shows and movies to watch! From critically acclaimed shows to cult classics, catch some of the best and latest content at the tip of your fingers – Whenever. Wherever
What’s new this month on Hotstar Premium
His Dark Materials (5th November)
Adapting Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy of the same name, which is considered a modern masterpiece of imaginative fiction, His Dark Materials follows Lyra (Dafne Keen), a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world. Her search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and becomes a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust.
Cast: Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, James McAvoy, Clarke Peters, Anne-Marie Duff, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Very Ralph (13th November)
Very Ralph, the first documentary portrait of fashion icon Ralph Lauren, reveals the man behind the icon and the creation of one of the most successful brands in fashion history. Offering unprecedented access to his life and work, Ralph Lauren speaks candidly in extensive interviews about his childhood, his five-decade-long marriage, the early days of his company, his response to criticism, his inventive multi-page ad campaigns and his pioneering vision which includes a remarkable series of firsts.
The Kid who would be King (16thNovember)
Old-school magic meets the modern day in this epic adventure! Alex is just a bullied kid until he discovers Excalibur, the legendary Sword in the Stone. Now, his friends (and his enemies) must become knights, and join the wizard Merlin (Patrick Stewart) to fight the wicked Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson). With the future at stake, Alex must show courage he never dreamed he had!
Cast: Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Denise Gough, Dean Chaumoo
Hotstar Premium has a large selection of latest American shows, blockbuster Hollywood movies and award-winning content from International studios
iWorld
Universal Music to sell half its Spotify stake, expand buyback plan
Ackman pressure mounts as label posts €2.9bn revenue and strong subscription growth
HILVERSUM: Universal Music Group has unveiled plans to sell half of its stake in Spotify and double its share buyback programme to €1 billion, signalling a sharper capital strategy as investor scrutiny intensifies.
The company said it will launch an additional €500 million buyback after completing the €500 million programme announced in March, taking the total authorisation to €1 billion. Proceeds from the Spotify stake sale will help fund the buyback and will also be shared with artists, in line with long-standing commitments.
The move comes amid pressure from billionaire investor Bill Ackman, whose firm Pershing Square Capital Management holds over 4.5 per cent of UMG. Ackman recently made an unsolicited offer valuing the company at around $64 billion to $65 billion and has argued that the label’s shares are undervalued.
As part of his proposal, Ackman suggested selling the entire Spotify stake to raise €1.5 billion after taxes and artist payouts, while also pushing for a US listing and changes to the company’s financial reporting structure. UMG’s board has instead opted to move independently, approving a partial stake sale on its own terms.
The decision also aligns with what is informally known as the “Taylor Swift clause”, a commitment made when Taylor Swift re-signed with the label in 2018, ensuring that any proceeds from Spotify stake sales are shared with artists on a non-recoupable basis.
With investor pressure building and strategic levers now in motion, UMG appears to be striking a careful balance between rewarding shareholders and reinforcing its long-term growth play in the streaming era.
