iWorld
Barjatya’s ‘Piyaa Albela’ on ZeeTV streaming live on dittoTV
MUMABI: ZeeTV, well known for its ever-popular line up of TV shows is all set to launch the much-awaited romantic drama, ‘Piyaa Albela’, which can also be watched live on dittoTV. The show, produced by Sooraj Barjatya under the banner of Rajshri Productions, will launch on 6 March at 8.30 pm.
‘Piyaa Albela’ brings to viewers a perfect mix of romance, drama and comedy, with a touch of spirituality added in. Piyaa Albela will further strengthen the wide bouquet of Live TV shows across the range of 90+ channels that dittoTV offers to its subscribers.
While Sooraj Barjatya is well known for working with the biggest stars in Bollywood and television, however, for this daily soap he chose to cast newcomers, Akshay Mhatre and Sheen Dass, as the main leads. Commenting on this, Sooraj explains, “The concept of a sage in meditation and a temptress attempting to break his penance is a very limited view of the Vishwamitra Menaka story. Very few people know of the love story that goes beyond the superficial layer of mere seduction. Our story is not mythological – it is set in contemporary times with real, relatable characters. It has elements, however, that can be compared to the classic. Our protagonist Pooja is approached by Naren’s parents – not to seduce their son but to ignite a spark for the real world within him. But how the two react to each other at the outset and then gradually come closer in the course of their interactions forms the crux of Piyaa Albela. We are pleased to have found the ideal Naren and Pooja in Akshay and Sheen, both making their fiction debuts as leads. Akshay’s eyes exude the brooding intensity required of Naren while Sheen has the verve, grace and positivity that Pooja needs to embody. The show is set in Dehradun and Rishikesh. We look forward to a great response.” The mysterious and suspense-filled storyline of Piyaa Albela is sure to resonate with the Indian youth, who form an important part of dittoTV’s subscriber base.
Commenting on the launch of this new show, Z5 Business head of digital Archana Anand says, “dittoTV enables its subscribers to stay updated with all the diverse and gripping content that ZeeTV has to offer. We are extremely excited to bring Sooraj Barjatya’s romantic drama, Piyaa Albela, to viewers on our platform, dittoTV which allows viewers to catch their favourite programs live and on-the-go on their smartphones and internet connected devices, offering them the convenience of watching their favourite shows when they do not have easy access to a television set. With viewers increasingly becoming more selective about what they watch, it is highly essential to introduce differentiated and innovative content, which resonates well with the audience.”
dittoTV subscribers can catch this new daily soap every day from Monday to Friday at 8.30 PM on their Android and iOS phones or any other internet connected device. The monthly subscription charge for the platform is INR 20 per month.
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
