iWorld
Paramount and Netflix storm November’s streaming wars
NEW YORK: Paramount and Netflix have delivered knockout performances in November’s streaming battle, each posting double-digit growth that has reshuffled the media distributor rankings and left rivals scrambling.
Paramount charged up 14 per cent to claim 8.9 per cent of total television viewing, its largest share since April, according to Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge released today. The entertainment giant jumped to third place overall, powered equally by its broadcast and streaming arms. CBS affiliates and Paramount+ each surged more than 18 per cent, adding 0.5 and 0.2 share points respectively—making Paramount’s 0.7-point gain the largest among all distributors.
Netflix wasn’t far behind, notching a 10 per cent increase to capture 8.3 per cent of TV viewing. The streaming titan’s success rested on the return of Stranger Things, which alone racked up nearly 12 billion viewing minutes. New entries The Beast in Me and Guillermo del Toro’s reimagined Frankenstein added nearly 7 billion more minutes between them, proving Netflix’s content depth remains its secret weapon.
The month’s real overachiever was Hallmark, which posted a 28 per cent viewing bump—the highest percentage increase across all distributors. The network’s signature holiday film slate and original series Mistletoe Murders delivered an additional 0.2 share points for a total 1.2 per cent of TV time.
Despite the shake-up below them, YouTube and Disney held the top two spots with 12.9 per cent and 10.5 per cent respectively. YouTube’s share remained flat, whilst Disney dropped 0.9 share points, bruised by ABC and ESPN declines stemming from a carriage dispute with YouTube TV.
NBCUniversal climbed 7 per cent to 8.8 per cent of viewing, its strongest showing since October 2024. Peacock led the charge with a 22 per cent streaming surge, fuelled by NFL Sunday Night Football, Thanksgiving Day programming and new drama All Her Fault. The streamer hit a non-Olympic record of 1.9 per cent share.
Fox navigated choppier waters, with broadcast affiliates jumping 22 per cent on Thanksgiving NFL coverage and World Series games, whilst Fox News Channel slipped 9 per cent and FS1 suffered from the absence of MLB playoffs. Overall, Fox gained 2.4 per cent but lost 0.3 share points to finish with 8.1 per cent of TV.
The numbers, spanning five weeks from October 27th through November 30th, paint a picture of an industry where content is king, sports remain currency, and the fight for eyeballs grows fiercer by the month. In streaming’s gladiatorial arena, November belonged to those who came armed with the sharpest content and the smartest timing.
iWorld
Sony LIV acquires worldwide digital rights for Marathi romance Toh Ti Ani Fuji
Film shot in Japan and India to stream exclusively on the platform from 10 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Love knows no language, but this Marathi romance is about to speak to audiences far beyond its roots and it’s doing so with a scenic detour through Japan. Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired the worldwide digital rights for the Marathi-language romance feature Toh Ti Ani Fuji (also known as Main, Woh Aur Fuji), with an exclusive direct-to-digital release on Sony Liv scheduled for 10 April 2026. Sony Pictures Networks India will retain exclusive worldwide theatrical and linear rights.
Filmed extensively in Japan and India, the film marks an unprecedented Marathi-language romance set on an international canvas. It explores how relationships evolve under the pressures of distance, time, and shifting emotional realities, using Japan not merely as a backdrop but as an emotional landscape that mirrors the characters’ inner journeys.
Written by Irawati Karnik and directed by Mohit Takalkar, the story follows a deeply passionate relationship that gradually turns toxic due to contrasting personalities, shifting priorities, and unfair emotional expectations. Seven years after their separation, the former couple unexpectedly reunite in Japan, reopening old wounds and unspoken desires while questioning whether love altered by time can ever find its way back.
Producer Shiladitya Bora said the partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India reflects the growing belief that “regional is the new mainstream.” He added that the film’s multi-language digital release on Sony LIV will help it connect with newer audiences across India and the world.
Director Mohit Takalkar described the film as an exploration of how love changes in today’s urban world, shaped by ambition, geography, and the pressure to evolve. “It began as a very personal exploration of relationships, and to see it reaching a wider audience feels deeply satisfying,” he noted.
Actors Lalit Prabhakar and Mrinmayee Godbole highlighted the film’s intimate yet universal take on love, separation, and rediscovery. Godbole particularly praised how filming in Japan added a global dimension while keeping the story deeply personal.
From a toxic romance that travels from India to Japan and back, Toh Ti Ani Fuji promises an emotionally layered story that feels both specific and universal. For Sony LIV viewers, this first-of-its-kind Marathi film offers a chance to experience love, loss, and second chances with a refreshing international flavour.
The film streams exclusively on Sony LIV from 10 April 2026.
