iWorld
Online video boom starting to affect TV viewing: BBC Study
MUMBAI: People are starting to watch less TV as the online video boom grows, suggests a BBC News survey.
Around 43 per cent of UK people who watch video from the internet or on a mobile device at least once a week said that they watched less normal TV as a result.
Online and mobile viewing is rising – three quarters of users said they now watched more than they did a year ago. The BBC News Website is running a series of special features looking at the future of TV.
The website’s survey also suggests that online video viewers are still in the minority – just nine per cent said that they did so regularly.
Another 13 per cent said they watched occasionally, while a further 10 per cent said they expected to start in the coming year.
But two-thirds of the population said they did not watch online and could not envisage starting in the next 12 months.
In the survey, one in five people who watched online or mobile video at least once a week said they watched a lot less TV as a result.
Another 23 per cent said that they watched a bit less, while just over half said their TV viewing was unchanged. Three per cent said that online video inspired them to watch more TV.
Online and mobile video is far more popular among the young, with 28 per cent of those aged 16 to 24 saying they watched more than once each week.
An average of 10 per cent aged 25 to 44 were net video regulars, with that figure falling to just 4% of over-45s.
Earlier this year, media regulator Ofcom said that the number of 16 to 24-year-olds watching TV in an average day had dropped 2.9% between 2003 and 2005.
Comedian Ricky Gervais, whose audio and video podcasts have become hits on the web, said amateur video would never replace TV – but broadcasters would harness the power of the internet.
“You can’t knock up an episode of The Sopranos or 24 on a little handheld digital camera,” he told the BBC News website.
“I don’t think you’ll ever be able to sidestep TV or DVD. But TV companies will embrace it.”
The choice offered by new platforms was “exciting”, he said, and any future developments depended on how many people started using the technology.
“I’m sure when the BBC first launched, they were going: ‘Ah, not many people have got tellies. Who’s watching this?’ So it’s good to get your act together. And then people catch up with the know-how and the means to watch it.”
iWorld
Warner Chappell Music launches India ops, Jay Mehta to lead unit
WMG shifts to direct model, unifying publishing and recorded music
MUMBAI: Warner Chappell Music has officially launched direct operations in India, marking a strategic shift by parent Warner Music Group to deepen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets.
The move replaces the company’s earlier sub-publishing model with a full-fledged, on-ground operation, aimed at giving Indian songwriters stronger access to global networks, rights management tools, and creative infrastructure.
To lead the push, Jay Mehta has been handed an expanded mandate. Already serving as managing director of Warner Music India, Mehta will now oversee both recorded music and publishing across India and neighbouring South Asian markets, effectively bringing the two sides of the business under one roof.
The unified structure is designed to streamline how artists and songwriters work with the company, offering a more integrated ecosystem that spans compositions, recordings, and global distribution.
Warner Music Group managing director, recorded music and publishing, India and SAARC Jay Mehta said, “India’s songwriters are world-class, constantly redefining genres and pushing creative boundaries. By establishing a direct footprint for Warner Chappell, we’re bridging the gap between local brilliance and global opportunity.”
The timing is no coincidence. According to CISAC, creator collections in India jumped 42 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7 billion in 2024, while IFPI ranks India as the 15th largest recorded music market globally. At the same time, the industry is undergoing a structural shift, with independent and non-film music gaining ground over traditional Bollywood soundtracks.
Warner’s bet is that a direct presence will help it capture this changing dynamic. The company is also offering India-based creators access to its proprietary tools, including AI-powered royalty matching systems and real-time analytics platforms, aimed at improving transparency and earnings visibility.
Warner Chappell Music co-chair and CEO Guy Moot said the move is about shaping a publishing ecosystem that “works for creators and ensures their music is heard, protected, and rewarded everywhere.”
Meanwhile, Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl underlined India’s importance to the company’s global strategy, noting that the new structure creates a “unified powerhouse” for both creators and audiences.
With local studios, global reach, and tighter integration across its business lines, Warner is clearly doubling down on India. And as streaming habits evolve and independent music rises, the company is positioning itself to be not just a participant, but a key architect of the country’s next music chapter.
