iWorld
Stage is set for ‘OTT Advertising and Connected TV Summit’
New Delhi: The streaming platforms have taken the world by storm, opening up vast avenues for advertisers and brands to connect with viewers through digital means. The business is now no longer limited to traditional media channels but has expanded to the vast universe of OTT platforms.
However, this evolution has come with its own challenges. Unlike the age-old relationship that advertisers share with traditional media, OTTs face the challenge of forging new publisher-agency-brand partnerships. So, what is the scope of OTT advertising? How is it growing? What strategies need to be adopted so that a greater share of the pie can move towards OTT?
All these questions will take centre stage at the ‘OTT Advertising and Connected TV Summit 2021’ being organised by Indiantelevision.com on 7 & 8 October, 2.30 pm onwards. The two-day event is co-powered by Mediasmart, an Affle company, and summit partner – The Q, and will witness stakeholders from across the industry engaging in insightful discussions on the dynamics of OTT and CTV advertising.
The event will explore concerns around data privacy, and the metrics that advertisers can use to select the OTT platforms. It will also look at the reach of connected TV in India and how fast it is growing. The panelists will also deliberate upon the advertisers’ perception of the medium. There will be presentations from advertisers and agencies as well on how successfully they used OTT and CTV solutions effectively.
One of the biggest virtual events of digital publishers, it will be attended by representatives from Patanjali Ayurved, The Q, Mediasmart, Airtel, Samsung Ads, Pyxis One, The Q, UPSTOX, NXTDigital, ALTBalaji, MX Player, Omnicom Media Group, Madison, Affle, Adobe, Ernst and Young, Essence, Social Beat, Kurate Digital Consulting, Shemaroo Entertainment and many more noted persons from the industry.
For more information: https://indiantelevision.com/events/oact-summit-2021/
To watch LIVE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHHZMAXmHG0hkUgjzof0qzQ
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
