iWorld
Lionsgate Q3 revenue hits $724.3m, net loss widens to $46.2m
Motion picture gains offset by TV slowdown and rising promotional spend
CALIFORNIA: Lionsgate reported quarterly revenue of more than $724 million, yet the Hollywood studio slipped to a net loss exceeding $46 million as rising marketing costs erased gains from an otherwise robust film slate.
Adjusted earnings missed analyst expectations, with the shortfall largely attributed to aggressive promotional spending behind theatrical releases. The motion picture division led growth, posting a 35 per cent jump in revenue to $421 million, but profitability was squeezed as costs climbed sharply.
Television production revenue fell 25 per cent to $303 million, which the company attributed to the timing of programme deliveries rather than weakening demand.
The standout performer remained Lionsgate’s content library. Revenue from its catalogue of more than 20,000 titles rose 10 per cent on a trailing 12-month basis to over $1 billion, marking a fifth consecutive quarter of record growth and reinforcing the library’s status as the company’s most reliable cash generator.
Beyond the numbers, Lionsgate sent a clearer signal to investors by confirming it will allow its shareholder rights plan, commonly known as a ‘poison pill,’ to expire in May. The move leaves the studio more exposed to takeover approaches at a time when consolidation pressures continue to build across the media industry.
While Lionsgate continues to back a pipeline of IP-driven films, the easing of takeover defences suggests management sees greater value in the company’s scale, production infrastructure and extensive library than in remaining independent.
iWorld
JioStar revenue hits Rs 9,784 crore as cricket fuels 22 per cent growth
A surge in digital viewership and sports dominance fuels a blockbuster quarter for the media giant
MUMBAI: JioStar is batting on a flat pitch. The media titan’s fourth-quarter results for the financial year 2026 reveal a business scaling new heights, propelled by an unprecedented appetite for premium sports and digital-first storytelling.
Gross revenue for the quarter soared by 22.15 per cent to Rs 9,784 crore, up from Rs 8,010 crore in the third quarter. Operationally, the momentum was equally strong; revenue from operations climbed 21 per cent to Rs 8,372 crore. These figures underscore the firm’s successful integration following the Reliance and Disney merger, creating a dominant force in the Indian market.
The annual performance has been nothing short of a spectacle. Full-year gross revenue reached a massive Rs 36,248 crore, while annual profit after tax hit Rs 3,210 crore. This rapid expansion reflects JioStar’s ability to capture and monetise the massive growth in India’s media consumption.
Cricket proved to be the ultimate growth engine. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and TATA IPL 2026 delivered “record-breaking viewership” across both television and digital screens. The World Cup final alone drew a global peak concurrency of 72.5 million on JioHotstar, cementing its status as the nation’s premier streaming destination. On television, JioStar maintained a commanding 34.2 per cent viewership share, reaching a staggering 810 million viewers nationwide.
The digital numbers were just as impressive. JioHotstar averaged 500 million monthly active users, driven by consistent subscriber growth and innovative AI-led content discovery tools. These advancements are ensuring that JioStar remains at the cutting edge of the global “Race for Attention.”
With a firm grip on the country’s most valuable sporting rights and a rapidly growing digital footprint, JioStar is perfectly positioned for the future. It has built the ultimate content powerhouse—one that is ready to dominate the Indian living room for years to come.
