Movies
Film marketer sets up own production house
MUMBAI: Khyati Madaan, a film marketing professional with over a decade of experience at some of India’s most prestigious entertainment companies, has announced the official launch of her own production house, Not Out Entertainment on Linkedin.
The IIM and NIFT alumna brings industry pedigree to her new venture, having previously served as head of marketing at Maddock Films and held marketing positions at Red Chillies Entertainment, Kolkata Knight Riders and Disney.
At Red Chillies, Ms Madaan was part of the team behind innovative digital campaigns for Zero, starring Shah Rukh Khan. The film became the first Bollywood production to utilise Amazon’s Alexa, develop a Snapchat filter and create a WhatsApp sticker pack as part of its promotional strategy.
Before her tenure at major film houses, Madaan worked at Everymedia Technologies, where she rose to become vice president of marketing and director of analytics. During her time there, the company won awards for digital marketing campaigns, including recognition for the blockbuster Heropanti.
Madaan’s career path has been diverse, including earlier roles at Trent Ltd, JJ Valaya, and Landmark group in Dubai, where she worked as head of retail and as an assistant buyer respectively.
With Not Out Entertainment, Madaan aims to transition from marketing films to producing them. Her cricket-inspired company name suggests she believes there are many more innings to come in her professional journey—or as the famous Bollywood tagline goes, picture abhi baaki hai.
Hollywood
Paramount eyes $24bn Gulf support to fund Warner Bros Discovery merger: Reports
Sovereign funds line up funding as media giants chase streaming scale
NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance is in talks to secure nearly $24 billion in equity commitments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to support its planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a WSJ report.
The funding push comes as Paramount Skydance advances its proposed $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, which carries an equity valuation of $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At the heart of the financing plan are three major Gulf investors. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to contribute roughly $10 billion, while the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding are likely to make up the remainder.
Crucially, the proposed investments are structured as non-voting stakes. This means the Gulf backers would not have direct control in the combined entity, a move designed to ease regulatory concerns in the United States. Paramount executives reportedly do not expect the deal to trigger scrutiny from bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or the Federal Communications Commission.
If completed, the merger would bring together a formidable portfolio of entertainment and news assets, including CNN and CBS. The combined entity aims to better compete in a fast-evolving media landscape where streaming platforms are steadily pulling audiences away from traditional television.
The deal reflects a broader shift in global media, where scale is increasingly seen as essential to survive the streaming wars. By pooling content libraries, technology and distribution, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are betting on size and synergy to drive future growth.
The involvement of deep-pocketed Gulf investors also underscores the growing role of sovereign wealth in shaping global media consolidation, particularly at a time when high-value deals demand equally large financial backing.
With shareholder votes and regulatory milestones still ahead, the proposed tie-up remains one of the most closely watched media deals of the year. If it clears the final hurdles, it could redraw the competitive map of the global entertainment industry.
