iWorld
Amazon Prime Video unveils trailer of its latest unscripted original series One Mic Stand
MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video today unveiled the trailer of its latest unscripted Amazon Original Series One Mic Stand. Created and hosted by ace comedian Sapan Verma in collaboration with Only Much Louder (OML), One Mic Stand is a unique concept, where renowned faces from varied walks of life try their hand at Stand-Up Comedy for the very first time. The five-episode Amazon Original Series showcases celebrities such as Youtube Creator Bhuvan Bam, singer & music composer Vishal Dadlani, leading actors Richa Chadda and Taapsee Pannu, and politician Dr. Shashi Tharoor push boundaries and offer a humorous take on a variety of topics, while being mentored by top comedians to perform in front of a live audience.
One Mic Stand has these celebrities stepping out of their usual roles and challenging the status-quo as they get coached by some of India’s wittiest comedians, including the likes of Rohan Joshi, Ashish Shakya, Zakir Khan, Angad Singh Ranyal and Kunal Kamra, in the craft of Stand-Up comedy. The choice of celebrity and comedian pairing is also uniquely special as they have been paired together keeping ideologies and personal backgrounds in mind, which in itself adds additional flavor to the show. Starting 15 November, Prime members across 200 countries and territories can stream all five episodes in a binge format, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
“We continue to receive an overwhelming response to Amazon Prime Video’s comedy offering and this appreciation drives us further to bring to our customers newer formats in this genre. One Mic Stand is a unique, fresh concept and we are happy to collaborate with Only Much Louder (OML) to present yet another disruptive take on stand-up comedy. Our customers have an exciting opportunity to see some of their favourite celebrities in a never-seen-before avatar and we are certain that audiences will love this new dimension of Stand-Up comedy,” Amazon Prime Video India content director and head Vijay Subramaniam said.
“We are excited to continue our association with Amazon Prime Video with One Mic Stand, an innovative new comedy show created and hosted by Sapan Verma. The Amazon Original Series shows the intricacies involved in the art of stand-up comedy and challenges people famous in other art forms to try it in front of a live audience. We are hopeful that audiences will both enjoy the show and see a new side of their favorite comedians and celebrities,” Only Much Louder managing partner Dhruv Sheth said.
"The concept of One Mic Stand came to me many years ago and I'm glad that Amazon Prime Video were so supportive in making it happen. I think the idea of seeing your favorite people in a new vulnerable position is always endearing. Basically, I've got famous celebrities so that the show gets the views and top comedians to ensure the show is funny, so that I can just sit back and not do much," comedian and showrunner Sapan Verma commented.
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.
