iWorld
Netflix and chill but pay more now
MUMBAI: Netflix has made Black Friday a dark day for its subscribers. The content company has increased prices for its standard and premium subscription packages. On 24 November, in an email sent to its subscribers, Netflix communicated that the increase in the membership cost will bring about an addition in content.
The company’s email read: “The cost of your membership will increase to $10.99/$13.99. So we can add more of what you like to watch. Awesome entertainment built around you is what we’re all about. We have enhanced our features so you can download your favourites and watch without wifi, too.”
The standard package, which allows subscribers to watch on two screens at once, will be bumped up from $9.99 to $10.99 per month. The premium package, which lets users watch 4K video on four different devices, will go up from $11.99 to $13.99. The basic $7.99 per month plan will remain the same for US subscribers.
For the UK, the price for the standard plan is going up from £7.49 to £7.99 per month. Moreover, the price of the most premium plan is going up from £8.99 per month to £9.99. The price of the cheapest plan, however, will remain the same at £5.99 per month.
According to Netflix director communication Thomas Cherian, the price hike is not applicable for Indian subscribers because the market is nascent and it wants to build its presence. So, Indians can relax and ‘Netflix and chill’ at the same rates.
But, Twitter was inundated with tweets by various subscribers outside India, taking to the platform to make their displeasure vocal. Announcing the price hike with an email notification has been considered a bold move by a few of the Twitterati and smart because it gets a place to hide amongst other emails.
Twitter links:
https://twitter.com/bangordad/status/934058041460346881
https://twitter.com/mxjrdn/status/934064057463734278
iWorld
Govt pushes live events sector to Rs 196 billion by 2028
LEDC roadmap targets 15–20 million jobs and global hub status by 2030
MUMBAI: India’s live events story is getting louder and this time, it’s policy turning up the volume. The fourth meeting of the Live Events Development Cell (LEDC), chaired by Chanchal Kumar, was held on 30 April 2026 at Vigyan Bhavan, bringing together representatives from nine Central Ministries, six States and 12 industry stakeholders to chart the sector’s next phase of growth. The numbers already tell a compelling story. India’s organised live events industry was valued at Rs 145 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at 10 per cent to Rs 196 billion by 2028 making it one of the fastest-expanding segments within the media and entertainment ecosystem.
Set up in July 2025 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the LEDC is tasked with turning that momentum into a structured growth engine. Its long-term ambition is ambitious, position India as a global live events hub by 2030 while generating an additional 15–20 million jobs.
At the meeting, officials emphasised the sector’s multiplier effect spanning tourism, employment and allied industries while underlining the need for coordinated execution. A key update was the rollout of a single-window clearance system for live event permissions via the India Cine Hub portal, aimed at simplifying approvals and improving transparency.
States have been urged to adopt the system, alongside implementing the “Model Executive Order for Streamlining Licensing and Permissions for Live Events in India, 2026” by 31 May 2026. The framework seeks to standardise what has long been a fragmented and time-consuming regulatory process.
Beyond permissions, the discussion also turned to infrastructure and talent. A draft concept for greenfield venue development was tabled, alongside plans to build a skilled workforce. The Indian Institute of Mass Communication, in collaboration with industry bodies MESC and EEMA, is set to introduce certificate courses tailored to the live events sector.
Chanchal Kumar stressed that alignment across stakeholders is already in place, with the next challenge being execution at scale. The government, he noted, remains committed to creating a facilitative and transparent ecosystem for organisers.
For an industry once seen as fragmented and event-driven, the message is clear, India’s live events business is no longer just about the show, it’s about building an entire stage for growth.
