iWorld
Netflix ropes in BBC Studios’ Jackie Lee-Joe as CMO
MUMBAI: Amid intense competition in the streaming market worldwide, the streaming giant has made another important move by appointing Jackie Lee-Joe as chief marketing officer. Lee-Joe who has been CMO of BBC Studios since 2015 will take up the new role in September.
“Jackie is a truly original thinker with a wealth of global experience — making her the perfect fit as our next chief marketing officer. I’m excited to work with her in promoting our brand and original programming in new and creative ways to our members all around the world,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said.
Lee-Joe replaces Netflix’s CMO of seven years Kelly Bennett who left the company in March. Earlier this year, Spencer Neumann was appointed as chief financial officer in the organisation.
“Netflix is a much loved and respected brand, entertaining audiences everywhere with it’s rich and thought provoking original programming. I’m thrilled to be joining one of the world’s most creative, dynamic and fearlessly innovative companies,” Lee-Joe commented.
Gaming
Sony raises PS5 prices for second time in under a year
US disc edition jumps $100 to $649.99 as memory costs surge.
MUMBAI: Sony just hit the pause button on affordable gaming because when memory prices skyrocket, even the Playstation has to pay the premium. Sony has announced its second price increase for the Playstation 5 range in less than a year, citing pressures in the global economic landscape and a sharp rise in memory component costs driven by AI demand.
In the US, the PS5 disc edition will rise from $549.99 to $649.99, a $100 hike while the digital edition increases to $599.99. The more powerful PS5 Pro will jump $150 to $899.99. The Playstation Portal remote player will also rise by $50 to $249.99. The new prices take effect on 2 April 2026.
Similar increases have been applied in the UK (£90 per model), Europe and Japan. Sony last raised PS5 prices in the US in August 2025.
“We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide,” Sony said in a blog post.
The hikes come amid an unprecedented surge in memory prices, as manufacturers prioritise supply for AI data centres. Analysts say Sony had likely secured price protections for components that have now expired, forcing the company to protect its hardware margins.
Ampere Analysis research director of games Piers Harding-Rolls told CNBC that further increases from Microsoft and Nintendo would not be surprising, though Nintendo may hesitate to raise the price of its recently launched Switch 2 while establishing the new platform.
The increases arrive eight months before the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, which is expected to drive strong console sales. However, early reactions online have been a mix of disappointment and resignation, with growing concern that premium gaming is increasingly becoming a hobby for higher-income players.
In a sector already grappling with tariffs, inflation and component shortages, Sony’s move underscores a tough reality: even the most popular consoles are not immune to the rising cost of keeping up with the latest technology.
