iWorld
Zee5’s active subscription doubled on back of investments in Punjabi content
Mumbai: Streaming platform Zee5 has witnessed an upswing in active subscription numbers witnessing two times growth, with the highest contribution from Punjab and neighbouring states like Haryana, Delhi NCR, and Uttar Pradesh.
According to the OTT platform, the surge is on the back of Punjabi releases like “Puaada,” “Jinne Jamme Saare Nikamme,” and “Qismat 2” starring Pollywood names Ammy Virk, Sonam Bajwa, Sargun Mehta, Binnu Dhillon, Gurnam Bhullar, and more.
The platform reported that the average watch time per viewer per month as on September is 186 minutes. Comedy and romance are the most preferred genres in the market, with the viewership split between 77 per cent male and 23 per cent female audiences. Ludhiana, Delhi and Chandigarh are top markets that are watching high-quality Punjabi content.
“Our foray in Punjabi-speaking markets was a crucial step in our larger objective of ‘entertainment inclusion’, especially for newer and underserved markets across India,” said Zee5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra. “We penetrated the greenfield market with a power-packed content slate of stories from the heartland that have worked well with the audience who were on the lookout for quality entertainment in their own language. We are thrilled to have received an overwhelming response of a 100+ per cent growth, and we will continue to deliver and curate the best of Punjabi titles ensuring an unhindered entertainment supply.”
Punjab stands as one of the key markets in northern India with high internet penetration and strong telecom infrastructure density. With limited content options in their local language, Zee5 addressed the unmet content demand of three core plus Punjabi native speakers in India by offering a robust library of Punjabi entertainment.
iWorld
OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk’s lawsuit ahead of trial
Company calls claims “baseless” and accuses Musk of trying to disrupt a rival.
MUMBAI: When the stakes are measured in billions and egos are involved, even Silicon Valley titans can turn a courtroom into a battlefield. OpenAI has issued a sharp public response to Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit, accusing the billionaire of filing the case to harass a competitor rather than address genuine concerns. In a strongly worded statement shared on its official X account, OpenAI described Musk’s allegations as “baseless” and suggested the lawsuit is an attempt to disrupt the company as the case heads toward trial later this month in Oakland, California.
The response comes after Musk’s legal team recently amended the complaint, proposing that any damages potentially exceeding $150 billion should go to OpenAI’s nonprofit entity rather than to Musk personally. OpenAI questioned the timing and motive behind this change, calling it a late-stage attempt to “pretend to change his tune” on the nonprofit structure.
The company further labelled the lawsuit a “harassment campaign”, arguing that Musk’s actions are driven by personal rivalry, ego, and a desire for greater control and financial upside.
At the heart of the dispute is Musk’s claim that OpenAI has abandoned its original nonprofit mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. A co-founder who left in 2018, Musk is seeking governance changes, including the removal of CEO Sam Altman from the nonprofit board, and the return of certain financial gains linked to Altman and President Greg Brockman.
OpenAI has firmly rejected these allegations, maintaining that its current hybrid structure, a public-benefit corporation overseen by a nonprofit parent remains true to its long-term goals. The company has also previously accused Musk of anti-competitive behaviour aimed at weakening its leadership.
As the case prepares for a jury trial, this public exchange highlights the deepening rift between two of the most influential figures in the AI revolution and raises broader questions about governance, mission, and power in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.
In the high-stakes game of AI, it seems the real drama isn’t just inside the models, it’s playing out in courtrooms too.
