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Disney+ Hotstar’s Indian entertainment content is underappreciated: Disney CFO
Mumbai: The Walt Disney Company SVP and CFO Christine McCarthy said that Disney+ Hotstar owes a large part of its success to live cricket, but the Indian streaming giant’s entertainment content is underappreciated. The Disney executive was addressing the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference 2022 on Tuesday.
“India is a big market. There’s a lot of focus on the IPL. Disney+ Hotstar users enjoy the current IPL sports program on the platform. But they also enjoy a lot of other sports programming, whether it’s other cricket rights, other international sports. Something that’s very underappreciated is the amount of general entertainment and the quality of that entertainment and viewership in the Indian market,” McCarthy told Morgan Stanley analyst Ben Swinburne.
She further added, “In 2021, of the 15 top viewed series on direct-to-consumer, nine of those came from Disney+ Hotstar. So, there’s content that people are going to view just like here in the United States, a lot of people view sports, sports is something that’s a very popular type of content to consume, but they also consume other types of content. And, so, when you think about the number of hours and the quality of the content that is being produced in the Disney+ Hotstar originals, that’s something we’re very proud of. And we think that that will continue to make that business one that consumers will engage in.”
When asked if Disney+ would be able to achieve its 2024 guidance, McCarthy stated, “I know some people were skeptical on our last earnings call when we said that we could still make our guidance and this actually related to something in India regarding the IPL. But we feel good about where we are with that 230 million to 260 million Disney+ subscribers by 2024.”
The Disney executive also said that the company is not only looking at subscriber growth but also profitability. “And we like those two because we think it injects the right kind of tension for really managing the business. We’re driving towards that, and we feel really good because of the content that we have; the brands we have, the intellectual property we have to work with. And once again, we’re learning more.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
