Hollywood
BookMyShow sells over 3.5 million tickets for Avengers: Infinity War; contributes close to 45% to its opening weekend collection in India
MUMBAI: Avengers: Infinity War set new records on BookMyShow as it became the first Hollywood film to sell an unprecedented 12 tickets a second when the bookings were at its peak on the weekend. BookMyShow has so far sold over 3.5 million tickets for this mega blockbuster and has contributed close to 45% to the film’s opening weekend collection in India.
The advance sales of the film were driven majorly by its English version given the high decibel buzz surrounding it. However, once the film released on April 27, 2018, BookMyShow witnessed a huge spike in the tickets sales for regional language versions of the film. 74% sales for its Hindi version happened post the release of the film indicating the massive role played by strong word of mouth.
BookMyShow, VP- Marketing and Business Intelligence, Marzdi Kalianiwala said, “BookMyShow has received an overwhelming response for Avengers: Infinity War and combining forces with Disney India went a long way in achieving such phenomenal results. The film, with its strong fan following and powerful content and storytelling has created new records on BookMyShow. By contributing close to 45% to the film’s opening weekend Net collections, we are thrilled to have been the default movie ticketing platform for millions of Avengers fans across the country.”
“The performance of the movie is a testament to the strength of the Marvel brand in India. Epic storytelling combined with our localization efforts has resulted in Marvel movies rewriting the box office records year-on-year. We always strive to work with the best-in class partners like BookMyShow whose efforts have enabled us to extend the experience to cinema-goers across the country,” said Bikram Duggal – Head, Studio Entertainment, Disney India.
Avengers: Infinity War also earlier created the record for highest ever advance sales on BookMyShow among Hollywood films. It sold over 1 million tickets even before the film’s release. BookMyShow also joined forces with Disney India to combine their digital efforts for this film and together developed a deeper understanding of consumer buying behaviour and purchase patterns.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
