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
Lego brings Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Vinicius together
Campaign clocks 314 million views ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 buzz.
MUMBAI: Four legends, one frame and not a single tackle in sight. Lego has pulled off a crossover few thought possible, uniting Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior in a single campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 only this time, they’re building dreams brick by brick.
Titled “Everyone wants a piece”, the campaign features the quartet assembling a Lego version of the World Cup trophy, before placing miniature versions of themselves atop it, a playful nod to football’s ultimate prize. Shared widely across social media, the ad carries a pointed disclaimer: it is not AI-generated, a subtle but telling signal in an era where even reality is often questioned.
The numbers tell their own story. The campaign has already crossed 314 million views on Instagram across the players’ accounts, with fans hailing it as a rare, almost nostalgic moment particularly for the reunion of Messi and Ronaldo, whose last shared campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup became one of the platform’s most-liked posts.
Beyond the film, Lego is extending the play with exclusive, player-themed sets tied to each of the four stars, part of a broader football-led programme designed to ride the global momentum building towards 2026. The idea, as echoed by the players themselves, leans into the parallels between football and play experimentation, creativity, failure, and triumph.
Messi described the sets as a way to bring on-pitch moments into an imaginative, hands-on world, while Ronaldo called the transformation into a Lego figure a rare honour, blending sport with storytelling. Vinícius, meanwhile, struck a more personal note, recalling childhood moments of building with Lego and framing creativity as a universal language that transcends borders.
The timing is no accident. With the 2026 World Cup set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and featuring an expanded 48-team format, global anticipation is already building. Argentina, led by Messi, will enter as defending champions, adding another layer of intrigue.
For Lego, the campaign does more than celebrate football, it taps into its mythology. Because when icons become figurines and rivalries turn into play, the beautiful game finds a new kind of pitch. one built, quite literally, by hand.
