iWorld
Prime Video releases first look of new Amazon Original Series, The Family Man, shot on OnePlus
MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video today released the first look of its much-awaited Amazon Original Series The Family Man, in the form of a character poster shot on a OnePlus smartphone. Marking a first of its kind reveal, this association is an extension of the long-standing partnership between OnePlus and Amazon.
The first official character poster features Srikant Tiwari – the lead protagonist, played by Padma Shri Awardee and National Award winner Manoj Bajpayee, shot exclusively on a OnePlus smartphone. Created by the dynamic duo of Krishna D.K. and Raj Nidimoru, Amazon Original Series The Family Man is set to release this September, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video across 200 countries and territories. The trailer for the show releases September 5.
In addition to the first look poster, OnePlus will also be setting up interactive billboards across India that audiences can engage with using the camera on their smartphones to access exclusive virtual content about the show.
“India is a mobile first country and a large number of our customers love to watch Amazon Prime Video on their smartphones. We constantly look to engage and delight this fast-growing customer base with our compelling content and innovative marketing initiatives. We are excited about this unique collaboration with OnePlus for our latest Amazon Original The Family Man, which includes the first reveal of the character poster, that was shot exclusively on a OnePlus phone. We look forward to delighting our ardent mobile-first customers with this sneak peek into the compelling and gritty world of The Family Man,” Amazon Prime Video India director and country GM Gaurav Gandhi said.
“With our smartphones, we are constantly thinking of different ways in which we can engage our community in new ways. Our association with Amazon Prime Video is a result of the synergy between both brands and our common philosophy and it seemed like a very natural fit to unveil the new Amazon Original Series, The Family Man character poster through an image shot on a OnePlus device,” OnePlus India generale manager Vikas Agarwal said.
iWorld
Snapchat parent Snap cuts 16 per cent of workforce in AI-driven restructuring
The Snapchat parent is axing around 1,000 jobs and closing 300 open roles to save $500m, as artificial intelligence makes smaller teams the new normal
CALIFORNIA: Snap is snapping. The Snapchat parent has confirmed plans to cut around 1,000 employees, roughly 16 per cent of its full-time workforce, as it bets that artificial intelligence can do what headcount once required. Shares jumped more than 10 per cent in premarket trading on the news, a brisk vote of confidence from a market that has watched the stock shed about 31 per cent this year.
The restructuring, which also closes more than 300 open roles, follows pressure from activist investor Irenic Capital Management, which holds an economic interest of about 2.5 per cent in the company and has been loudly pushing Snap to tighten its portfolio and lift performance. The firm got what it asked for, and then some.
Chief executive Evan Spiegel told employees the cuts would reduce annualised expenses by more than $500m by the second half of the year. The company expects to incur charges of between $95m and $130m related to the layoffs, mostly severance, with the bulk landing in the second quarter. Staff in Snap’s North America team were asked to work from home on the day of the announcement.
The financial backdrop is not without bright spots. Snap expects first-quarter revenue to rise around 12 per cent to approximately $1.53 billion, broadly in line with analyst estimates. Adjusted core profit for the January to March quarter is forecast at about $233m, comfortably ahead of Wall Street’s expectation of $186.8m.
The harder question surrounds Specs, Snap’s augmented reality smart glasses subsidiary, which Irenic has urged the company to spin off or shut down entirely. The unit has absorbed more than $3.5 billion in investment and burns through approximately $500m in cash annually. Snap is pressing ahead regardless, with a consumer product expected later this year, even as Meta leads the market in the segment.
Spiegel is betting that leaner teams, smarter machines and a consumer AR play can restore Snap’s credibility with investors who have run out of patience. The redundancy notices have gone out. The harder restructuring, the one that requires a hit product rather than a headcount reduction, is still very much pending.
