iWorld
Disney+ Hotstar to roll out in Indonesia on 5 September
KOLKATA: In the pursuit of conquering new-age entertainment, The Walt Disney Company has kept a sharp eye on the APAC market and is rolling out Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia on 5 September.
In the last quarter, the media giant launched Disney+ in India via Disney+ Hotstar service. While at the end of the quarter, Disney+ had a paid subscriber base of 57.5 million, Disney+ Hotstar comprised about 15 per cent of it. However, Disney+ has now grown to 60.5 million as of 3 August. Disney+'s overall ARPU this quarter was $4.62 but excluding Disney+ Hotstar it was $5.31.
Disney+ Hotstar is not going to limit itself to sports and classic Disney+ library in India. While last year Hotstar went into original content, after rebranding, Disney+ Hotstar is chasing a larger audience with direct-to-digital premiers of Bollywood movies. The streaming service, which crossed eight million subscribers within one week of its launch, is currently looking at hundreds of millions of subscribers.
“At Star, higher results reflect lower programming costs, partially offset by lower advertising revenue. Both of these drivers reflect the absence of cricket in the third quarter including a shift in rights costs for the Indian Premier League which we expect to be recognised in future quarters and the absence of costs for the quadrennial ICC World Cup which aired in the prior-year quarter,” The Walt Disney Company senior executive vice president and CFO Christine McCarthy said.
iWorld
Paramount revamps app with short videos to boost mobile viewer engagement
Streaming giant borrows from TikTok playbook to drive daily usage on phones
LOS ANGELES: Paramount Skydance is giving its streaming strategy a mobile-first twist, rolling out a redesigned version of its Paramount+ app that leans heavily on short-form video to capture viewer attention, according to a Reuters report.
The updated app, currently available to iPhone users via Apple, features scrollable clips such as sports highlights, news snippets, UFC moments and trailers. The idea is simple but effective: get users to open the app multiple times a day, much like they do with TikTok or Instagram.
By encouraging repeat visits, Paramount is betting it can deepen engagement and unlock new features such as real-time statistics during live events and interactive viewing elements. The approach reflects a broader industry shift, where streaming platforms are borrowing cues from social media to stay relevant in an increasingly crowded market.
The stakes are high. In the first quarter of 2026, Paramount accounted for just 2 percent of global app-based streaming, trailing rivals such as Netflix, HBO Max and Peacock, according to data cited by Reuters. Even a potential combination with Warner Bros Discovery would only place it fourth in the streaming rankings.
Meanwhile, YouTube, owned by Google, continues to dominate the mobile video space, boasting user numbers far ahead of Paramount+. This gap has pushed traditional studios to rethink how audiences discover and consume content.
Industry insiders suggest Paramount could go further by experimenting with micro dramas or tapping digital creators to draw in younger viewers. Rivals are already moving in that direction. Netflix is investing in video podcasts featuring names like Pete Davidson, Michael Irvin and Brian Williams, while Amazon has teamed up with Jimmy Donaldson for a reality series.
There are also hints of potential collaboration with TikTok, given shared links to Larry Ellison of Oracle, though both companies have said no formal agreement exists.
The revamp is part of a wider overhaul of Paramount’s streaming operations, including both Paramount+ and Pluto TV, as the company looks to sharpen its competitive edge.
In a market where attention spans are shrinking, Paramount’s latest move signals a clear pivot. If viewers will not come to long-form content, the strategy suggests, then perhaps the content must first meet them in short bursts.
