MAM
Digitisation: Consensus eludes broadcasters and advertisers on suspension of ratings
MUMBAI: Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) on Monday could not arrive at a consensus on the issue of suspension of television ratings from the four metros after the compulsory shift to digitisation from 1 November.
The meeting between the three industry bodies and TAM Media Research dragged on for about four hours in the Zee office from the evening hours but no agreement could be thrashed out at the end as it involves commercial interests that tend to differ. The discussions centred around the pros and cons of suspension of TAM ratings that decide on advertising fortunes of television shows and channels.
An industry source told Indiantelevision.com that the meeting was inconclusive but a decision on the issue would certainly be announced on Tuesday.
Another source said the broadcasters are asking for eight weeks of non reporting of television viewership data by ratings agency TAM. Advertising bodies are not agreeable but both parties would on Tuesday come to a settlement on the period for non reporting of data. Another area of contention is whether TAM should monitor the data at all while non reporting the findings to the industry and media.
“It looks like the advertising bodies are agreeable to non reporting of data. It is the period that is still being debated. A joint announcement will be made tomorrow,” the source added.
The government has suggested to TAM to stop releasing television ratings from the four metros for a short period till the teething problems arising from the switchover to digital delivery of television channels from 1 November are resolved.
The broadcasters are in agreement with the government suggestion but the advertisers and the advertising agencies have expressed reservations.
MAM
Reed Hastings to exit Netflix board as company posts steady growth
Shares dip 8 per cent as cofounder exits; revenue up 16 per cent to $12.25 billion.
MUMBAI- When the man who taught the world to binge decides to log off, the credits don’t just roll, they reset the script. Reed Hastings is set to step away from Netflix, marking the end of a defining chapter for a company that reshaped global entertainment even as its latest numbers suggest a business finding firmer footing.
Hastings, who co-founded Netflix nearly three decades ago and transformed it from a DVD-by-mail service into a streaming powerhouse, will not stand for re-election at the company’s annual meeting in June. While the company offered little detail on his next move beyond philanthropy and personal pursuits, the symbolic weight of his departure was immediate. Shares fell around 8 per cent following the announcement, underlining how closely Hastings remains tied to investor confidence and the company’s long-term vision.
The exit comes at a moment of recalibration. Netflix has been working to stabilise growth after a period of strategic turbulence, including the loss of a high-profile $72 billion deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery to Paramount Skydance, a setback that raised fresh questions about its ambitions in large-scale content consolidation. Yet, if the deal slipped, the fundamentals appear to be holding.
For the first quarter, Netflix reported revenue growth of 16 per cent to $12.25 billion, slightly ahead of expectations, while earnings per share nearly doubled to $1.23 from 66 cents a year ago. The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook, projecting double-digit revenue growth, expanding margins and strong free cash flow signals aimed squarely at calming post-announcement jitters.
In its shareholder communication, Netflix struck a careful balance between legacy and continuity. Its mission, it reiterated, remains unchanged: to serve a global audience with diverse storytelling across languages and cultures. The message was clear—while a founder may exit, the playbook stays in motion.
At the same time, the company is quietly redrawing that playbook. Netflix is leaning into newer formats such as video podcasts and live programming, including events like the World Baseball Classic in Japan, reflecting a broader industry shift where streaming, television and live experiences increasingly overlap. Advertising, once an afterthought in its subscription-first model, is now moving centre stage, with the company projecting ad revenues of $3 billion in 2026 roughly double current levels.
Still, some questions linger in the wings. Chief among them is how Netflix plans to deploy the $2.8 billion termination fee from the collapsed Warner Bros deal. With competition for premium content intensifying, capital allocation decisions in the coming quarters could prove as consequential as the leadership transition itself.
For now, Netflix finds itself in a familiar paradox: a company built on disruption navigating continuity. Hastings may be stepping off the stage, but the show by design goes on.
