iWorld
Diwali for poor: SonyLiv, UNICEF call for #FairStart
NEW DELHI: A #FairStart campaign which seeks to offer a better future to the underprivileged children through financial empowerment has been launched by the digital entertainment platform SonyLiv in collaboration with UNICEF for a short film on the subject.
The film invites viewers to make contributions towards the goal of equal opportunity in whichever way they can. The poignant film sheds light on how many grudge the circumstances until they see someone who is less fortunate yet more content with the smaller joys of life.
The video explores how street children revel in Diwali festivities and a small gift by an onlooker can enhance their joy manifold. It underlines the fact that the true spirit of Diwali lies not in extravagant spending, but in sharing the festive joy with others. The video ends with a heartfelt appeal to the viewers to donate to the #FairStart campaign and share their good fortune with those less privileged than them.
With #FairStart, UNICEF has joined hands with SonyLiv to address the persisting inequities that large groups of children in India face and is aimed at engaging public debate and ensuring every child can have a fair chance in life. SonyLiv’s Diwali video supports this noble initiative by fostering greater public involvement and raising awareness about issues affecting the survival, growth and development of children in India. The heart-warming video can be viewed on YouTube, as well as on SonyLiv’s web and mobile platforms.
Make India, Ek India Happywala.
Link: http://www.sonyliv.com/details/short%20film/5187347703001/
Donate here: http://bit.ly/FairStartLIV
SonyLiv EVP and head – digital business Uday Sodhi said, “Children are the future; they are the builders of tomorrow’s India, the cornerstones of a better nation. This year, we at SonyLiv are focussing on sharing the festive joy with those who need it the most – the children. Through our Diwali video, we aim to highlight how just a small donation can bring untold happiness and joy in the life of an underprivileged child. We would urge all viewers to contribute to this initiative and truly help in giving a #FairStart to children across the country. As a specialised content provider, SonyLiv has taken initiatives on special occasions in the past e.g. Independence Day, Diwali – last year, reaching out to the millennials by leaving behind a social message.”
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.
