iWorld
HBO Max and HBO end 2021 with ~73.8 million subscribers globally
Mumbai: HBO Max and HBO have ended 2021 with ~73.8 million subscribers across the globe, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar announced on Wednesday ahead of the company’s fourth quarter earnings call.
It has added 4.4 million subscribers in the fourth quarter beating its July 2021 forecast to end the year with 70-73 million subscribers. In October 2019, at an investor day event, the company was projected to reach 75-90 million subscribers by the end of 2025. However, it achieved that goal almost four years early, noted Kilar.
“To say that this is a remarkable result would be an understatement,” said Kilar. “This performance is beyond what had been our best laid plans at the start of 2021.”
After the service launched in the US in 2020, it was launched in 45 more countries in 2021. HBO Max is expected to arrive in India in 2022. HBO Max is distributed as an app across devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, Google Chromecast, Roku and a host of smart TVs. WarnerMedia has also launched an ad-supported version of HBO Max which offers the service to consumers at a lower price.
At the beginning of 2021, the company had taken the controversial decision to release its slate of films under Warner Bros. Pictures simultaneously in theatres and HBO Max ignoring the theatrical window completely. This meant that the movie studio’s 18 films were available on the streaming service at the same time as their theatrical release. “We took a thoughtful risk (and some understandable heat), and it has worked,” remarked Kilar.
Impressive content launches by the company include ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’, ‘Mare of Easttown’, ‘Friends Reunion’, ‘The White Lotus’, ‘The Suicide Squad’, ‘Dune’, ‘Succession’, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ and ‘Return of Hogwarts’.
The service also launched its live sports offering by picking up the rights to UEFA Champions League in Brazil and Mexico.
e-commerce
ITC Sunfeast, Zepto host mango-themed experiential ‘Paglu Party’
Event blends Alphonso desserts, DIY sessions and interactive formats
MUMBAI: When mango season peaks, some savour it others go full ‘paglu’. ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations, in collaboration with Zepto, turned summer indulgence into an immersive brand experience with its ‘Mango Paglu Party’, a high-energy, mango-themed event designed to blur the line between dessert and discovery. Built around the brand’s ‘Mad Over Mangoes’ universe, the space leaned into a sensory overload bright, playful and unapologetically mango-drenched. From curated installations to social-first corners, every element was designed to be as shareable as it was experiential.
At the centre of the celebration was the fruit itself, elevated into a menu crafted using fresh, carbide-free Alphonso mangoes sourced by Zepto. The spread ranged from a flaky Mango Pista Kouign Aman to Mango Coconut Serradura Pudding and a Mango Mascarpone Cake, balancing indulgence with seasonal freshness.
But this was not a passive tasting affair. Guests were drawn into the experience through interactive formats, including a DIY dessert session led by the brand’s chef, where attendees created classics like Mango Tres Leches. Zepto chief business officer Chandan Mehndiratta also joined the session, adding a touch of brand personality to the proceedings.
A quirky highlight came in the form of the ‘Aam Paglu Prescription’, a playful, doctor-themed concept that positioned mango indulgence as the only “treatment” worth taking, turning a simple insight into a memorable activation.
The event built up to a theatrical finale, with the crowning of the ‘Aam Paglu of the Day’ followed by the cutting of an oversized mango-shaped Mango Mascarpone Cake, closing the experience on a high note.
More than just a seasonal showcase, the Mango Paglu Party reflects a broader shift in brand storytelling, where products are no longer just consumed, but experienced. For ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations and Zepto, mango season was not just about flavour, it was about creating a moment that audiences could step into, engage with and, quite literally, devour.
