iWorld
Hooq announces release of first Hollywood original series
MUMBAI: Hooq is marking its presence as one of the homes of Hollywood original series. The platform announced its first foray into Hollywood originals with Crackle’s The Oath. The series is debuting with all 10 episodes on 8 March 2018 in the US, and it will be fully available on Hooq after 24 hours, from 9 March 2018.
Hooq chief content officer Jennifer Batty said, “This marks a truly significant milestone for HOOQ Originals. While we continue to blaze a trail for homegrown Asian content and talent, we are now proud to strengthen our offering and bring in the best original content that Hollywood has to offer. With established producers of gritty visual stories like Joe Halpin and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson on the team and not to mention hard hitters like Ryan Kwanten and Sean Bean, we’re confident that we’ve got a winner here. I can’t wait for you all to see it.”
Set in Los Angeles, this hard-hitting crime drama dives deep into a world of gangs made up of those sworn to protect and defend. The Oath chooses to tread where most cop dramas don’t, shedding light on corruption and “police gang” culture by examining secret societies that are nearly impossible to join. Only a select few make the cut but, once inside, members will do what they must to protect each other from enemies not only on the outside but also from within.
Hooq CEO Peter Bithos said, “We have always dedicated ourselves to bringing our subscribers the best that Asia and Hollywood have to offer. With The Oath now joining our family of Originals, we’re proud to continue bringing the kind of stories that our customers love and continue to expect from us. This is the first of many to come.”
Created by Joe Halpin (Hawaii Five-O, Secrets and Lies), the characters and relationships in the series are informed by his first-hand experience working as a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy in South Central for 18 years, 12 of which was as an undercover officer.
The Oath stars Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Cory Hardrict (American Sniper, Gran Torino), Katrina Law (Training Day), Arlen Escarpeta (The Magicians), JJ Soria (Animal Kingdom, The Fosters) andGame Of Thrones alum Sean Bean.
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.
