MAM
97% Indians have increased their monthly spends on content: Dolby
New-Delhi: Today, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB), a leader in immersive entertainment experiences, released findings from a new global study illustrating a significant shift in consumer entertainment behaviour in India. The new homebound work and leisure economy has led to a sky-rocketing demand for new and quality content and for better devices. As per a new global consumer study by Wakefield Research conducted in four countries for Dolby, Indian consumers are now prioritizing and seeking better experiences possibly driven by long hours spent at home. Indian consumers are spending more on quality in order to better connect with content—and to connect with each other.
“Despite all of the challenges of this past year, this study has illustrated the power of entertainment in bringing us together with those that are most important to us,” Dolby Laboratories MD emerging markets Pankaj Kedia “We take great pride in creating more immersive experiences through our technologies and see the significant growth of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos as proof that consumers are seeking these experiences as well.”
Wakefield Research senior partner Nathan Richter said, “We are all confined and what better way to use this time than to bond with friends and family, both in-person and virtually. People love entertainment and there is an exponential rise in demand for quality content that can be enjoyed in the comfort of one’s home. People recognize that high quality sound and visual experiences have a huge impact and make viewing more exciting. More than that, it enhances the entertainment experience and helps people to better connect during these challenging times.”
The Wakefield study on ‘Quality Time is Quality Picture and Sound’ highlights shifting consumer patterns for content consumption. It throws light on their preferences and the willingness to invest in premium quality content and in devices andto be able to have an enhanced audio and visual experience that is helping increase family bonding time.
The India leg of the study conducted across six cities, including New-Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, was aimed at understanding the changing content consumption habits during the pandemic. The study cuts across generational breaks and includes the voice of Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers.
Here are some of the most interesting study findings:
· Contented by Content-COVID-19 has driven many Indians to use entertainment as a way of unwinding, including 66 per cent of Indian respondents saying they use it as an opportunity to relax and 60 per cent saying they find it as a good social experience of watching with others.
· Ripped from the Headlines-Current events can drive viewers to entertainment and even alter their choices. This includes 92 per cent respondents in India, who said the news impacts what they watch.
·Investing in the Experience-. The study shows that consumers are spending more on quality in order to better connect with content—and connect with each other.Compared to the start of the year-
• 97 per cent of Indian respondents have increased their monthly spends on content by 48 per cent on an average compared to the start of the year
• 88 per cent of Indians respondents have in the past six months already invested in upgrading their streaming services
• 96 per cent Indian respondents plan to upgradetheir entertainment equipment in the next 6 months
• Equipment upgrades include better mobile devices. In India, 61 per cent respondents plan to upgrade their mobile device to improve their viewing experience
· Worth It- Consumers connect with their content better with enhanced picture and sound quality. 94 per cent Indian respondents would pay more for a premium subscription to receive enhanced picture and sound quality
· Broadened Horizons- As consumers stayed at home with more time to watch, many consumers got into a genre of content they had not consumed before
• 95 per cent Indian respondents got into new types of content they didn’t watch before
• Those engaging with new types of content had a wide variety to pick from. In India, streaming live music events lead popular new content (50 per cent), followed by comedy (48 per cent), video game streaming (46 per cent) & DIY videos (45 per cent).
· Multiple ways to Watch- In India, 29 per cent say their smartphone is their primary entertainment device. This is followed by 22 per cent who say television and 20 per cent who say computer.
· Smaller Screens, Higher Quality- Consumers are particularly interested in enhanced picture and sound quality for watching movies and TV shows. In India, 49 per cent respondents rank movies as one of their top-two forms of entertainment that merit enhanced quality.
· Work Hard, Play Hard- With work now requiring video conferencing, many are “borrowing” that tech for personal purposes. In India, 92 per cent respondents are using work video applications for social purposes, including 80 per cent who do so often or all the time.
· First Time for Everything- In India, 65 per cent respondents of those who engaged in live-chat while watching streaming videos did so for the first time.
At Dolby, we are committed to bringing premium, immersive experiences to as many people as possible. Just in the last year, the adoption of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in the home has been widespread. There are hundredsof millions of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos enabled devices in market from the world’s leading devicemanufacturers.
As this study shows, the drive for better experiences doesn’t stop at devices. Content adoption is also growing rapidly, completing the ecosystem that we have been building through global partnerships with leading streaming services that continue to release their top shows and films in Dolby technology every month.
“Ultimately, we expect the desire for more human connection to continue in the future and immersive experiences can help fulfil this demand,” added Kedia. “Just as entertainment drives cultural conversation, that same conversation drives the connection across the globe, and we are seeing connections grow stronger every day through elevated entertainment experiences.”
MAM
Filmcity Media CFO Mohit Jain quits; CEO Kirti Vishnu Tiwari takes charge of finance
Board appoints Prabhat Modi as additional director and approves Rs 1.9 crore preferential share issue
MUMBAI: Filmcity Media has reshuffled its top deck. Chief financial officer Mohit Jain has stepped down, prompting the board to hand the finance reins to chief executive Kirti Vishnu Tiwari even as the company lines up fresh capital and new boardroom muscle.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE, Filmcity Media said Jain resigned from the roles of director and chief financial officer with effect from March 11, 2026, to pursue another career opportunity. He ceased to be a key managerial personnel of the company at the close of business on that date.
The board swiftly moved to plug the gap, appointing Kirti Vishnu Tiwari as chief financial officer from March 12, 2026. Tiwari, who already serves as executive director and chief executive, will now hold the combined role of executive director, CEO and CFO, taking charge of the company’s finance function while continuing to lead operations.
The leadership changes were approved by the board following recommendations from the nomination and remuneration committee, with the audit committee also backing Tiwari’s appointment as CFO to ensure governance oversight. Under the arrangement, Tiwari will continue as a key managerial personnel under Section 203 of the Companies Act, 2013.
Filmcity Media also expanded its board, appointing Prabhat Modi as additional director with effect from March 13, 2026, for a term of five years. The appointment, categorised as a non-executive non-independent directorship, will require shareholder approval at the next general meeting.
Modi brings capital market experience to the role. He holds a B.Sc in accounting and finance from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and a PGDM from the National Institute of Securities Market. His professional experience includes stints at SBI Mutual Fund, BSE India and Morningstar India, where he worked on market research, financial analysis and capital market operations.
Tiwari, meanwhile, brings experience spanning finance, marketing and hospitality. A graduate of Lucknow University, she has previously worked with Hotel Holiday Inn, Hotel Leela Kempenski and Hotel Sea Rock, along with roles at Pawan Hans Helicopter and CBRE South Asia.
Separately, the board also approved a preferential issue of equity shares to members of the promoter and promoter group as well as non-promoter investors. The proposed fundraising, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to raise up to Rs 1.9 crore.
The company said both appointees meet all regulatory requirements under SEBI regulations and the Companies Act and are not barred by any regulatory authority from holding their positions.
With a new board face, a CEO doubling as CFO and fresh capital on the table, Filmcity Media appears to be tightening its leadership and balance sheet in one swift move.
