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Dear Reader,
Welcome to the January-February 2026 issue of Television Asia Plus!
The new year is in full swing and that means new trends, new shows, and new technology await for us for the rest of the year. It seems like vertical dramas or microdramas are here to stay as it is certainly the biggest trend from last year that is picking up stream with all the big players itching to get their piece of the cake. What other trends and things can we look forward to this 2026? Let’s take a deep dive and see!
For this issue’s cover story, we have a look at all things Prime Video. From scripted to non-scripeted content, we have a preview of their biggest content for 2026.
Out first feature story, we have a piece about how Winsing Animation’s foray into the world of in-flight entertainment via Emirates.
And our final feature story is about all about the TV trends that are here to stay for 2026, and spoiler alert, streaming is going strong.
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The Thai Media Fund has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with True CJ Creations Co., Ltd. to jointly promote professional development, ethical standards, and media innovation. The aim is to foster a safe and creative media ecosystem and support the use of innovation in the production of quality media that keeps pace with global changes in the modern media landscape. The signing ceremony took place at the office of the Thai Media Fund.
The MOU was signed by DHANAKORN SRISOOKSAI, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Media Fund with MR. MICHEAL JUNG and MS. ARI ARIJITSATIEN, CEO (CO) of True CJ Creations. Also present as a witness was Dr. CHAMNAN NGAMMANEEUDOM, Deputy CEO of Thai Media Fund.
This partnership aims to comprehensively promote and develop the capabilities of professionals in the media industry. The objective is to upgrade the professional
skills of domestic media producers and entrepreneurs so they can create highquality, diverse, and socially beneficial content, with potential for sustainable international expansion.
Additionally, the collaboration emphasizes instilling ethical values, social responsibility, and awareness of intellectual property rights. It also includes the development of content and scriptwriting based on O’PEN – CJ ENM’s Creator Discovery and Development
program. This will include all stages of production such as design, planning, production, marketing, and distribution, with the goal of bringing safe and creative content to both domestic and international markets.
This MOU marks a significant step forward in the development of Thailand’s media industry, advancing it on a global scale and meeting the diverse needs of society in every dimension.
TBS Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & Chief Executive Officer: Ryujiro Abe) has announced a strategic alliance with Viet Nam Television (VTV), Viet nam’s national broadcaster. The alliance was formally announced on late last year at a ceremony in Hanoi commemorating the 55th anniversary of the First Television Broadcast of Viet Nam Television.
This alliance will further develop the cooperative relationship between the two companies, starting with the revival of “Không GioiHan – Sasuke Viet Nam” the Vietnamese adaptation of TBS’s renowned show “SASUKE,” coming back for the first time in 7 years and the support of the distribution of Vietnam Todayʼs content on platforms in Japan. Moving forward, the two companies plan to deepen their collaboration in a wide range of
areas, including the broadcasting and distribution of each other’s content in both countries, remaking TBS dramas, and co-developing new content.
Additionally, to foster talent exchange within the content industry, they also
seek to launch joint initiatives through seminars and workshops. Through this alliance, TBS and VTV will further energize cultural and entertainment exchange between Japan and Viet Nam, while pioneering new content for the Asian region and the global market.
International distributor Eccho Rights, will bring brand new Turkish Drama series TERRA ROSSA to MIPCOM this October, as part of the company’s line up of hit scripted titles. TERRA ROSSA (original title: Bereketli Topraklar) is produced by Sürec Film, and will premiere on Türkiye’s Show TV.
Leading the cast is Engin Akyürek, one of the most recognisable faces in Turkish television, known from series such as Fatmagül and Black Money Love, for which he won an International Emmy nomination in the Best Actor category. Akyürek stars opposite Gülsim Ali, whose credits include An Anatolian Tale and the international sensation Resurrection: Ertugrul. Other stars include Bilal Yiğit Koçak (For My Family), İlayda Akdoğan (Wild Heart) and Sarp Akkaya (The
Oath). Handan Özkubat, Director of Turkish Drama at Eccho Rights, commented, “With a cast led by the incomparable Engin Akyürek and Gülsim Ali, TERRA ROSSA blends the best of Turkish drama: passionate storytelling, unforgettable characters and world-class performances ready to capture hearts across the globe.”
In Adana, the feud between the Bereketoğulları and Karahanlıs families reignites.
As Ömer Bereketoğul (Engin Akyürek) struggles to protect his family and land, newly appointed prosecutor Nevin (Gülsim Ali) arrives, seeking justice for her fiancé’s death.
Their collision sparks a dangerous bond, where duty and desire clash and love becomes the most unpredictable weapon of all.
Keshet International (KI) has announced that it will launch presales for Secret Royal Homes, Yeti TV’s access-all-areas guide to stately homes with royal secrets to be hosted and narrated by Hugh Bonneville.
Secret Royal Homes was originally pitched to KI by the Welsh production company as part of the global content producer and distributor’s Greenlight: Factual and Formats commissioning initiative. Yeti TV’s 3×60’docuseries is one of four factual titles KI will be pre-selling to clients at MIPCOM – all identified via that initiative – alongside Caledonia TV’s Hitler’s Favourite Royals (3×60’) (co-development deal announced on 3 Sept), Hello Mary’s Subterranean Secrets (10×60’), and Earthbound (3×60’) from Ritual Arts and Amazing Owl, which will be narrated by Orlando Bloom
Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville will host and narrate Secret Royal Homes, an exclusive three-part docuseries
granting viewers privileged access to little-known homes, all brimming with unreported royal stories. None are the royal palaces the public already know inside out. Some are impressive mansions that have been homes to historic royals, others are secluded hideaways where royals could flee from prying eyes, a few hosted little-known lavish royal visits and parties – and many have never been featured in a TV
docuseries before. In themed episodes featuring multiple properties, these untold or hidden stories will be brought to life, with full access granted by the owners or custodians who take viewers on an exclusive tour behind the scenes. We’ll uncover all their royal stories –from eye-wateringly lavish royal visits, through to scandals, friendships, love affairs, and events that changed the course of history.
The scripted division of Harry King Television announces it is developing a new animated television series as part of its upcoming True Sherlock franchise, based on Nicholas Sercombe’s original book series The Unexpurgated Adventures of Sherlock Holmes but distinctly different from the live action format.
Leading the creative team with Sercombe is David Lipman, the renowned producer behind the first two instalments of the Shrek franchise. He is also known for his extended animated credits on The Ren and Stimpy Show, The Tale of Despereaux, as well as live action features Serenity and The Professor.
Joining Sercombe and Lipman are Michael Ryan (Planet 51, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank) and Tim John (A Street Cat Named Bob), who bring their
extensive experience in both animated and live action family entertainment to the series. Animated Sherlock (working title) takes Sercombe’s behind-thescenes premise one step further by crafting the tone for an adult audience. Each season explores a main plot of whodunnit mystery, and the episodes relate to an original Sherlock Holmes story in Arthur Conan Doyle’s universe.
As in True Sherlock the series will delve into the origins of Holmes, Watson, Mrs Hudson and Moriarty but with a bold new twist on each character designed to resonate with contemporary adult audiences worldwide.
The series continues Harry King Television’s growing scripted slate, following the launch of its unscripted division earlier this year with new format Curiosity.
Chinese kids and family entertainment and licensing powerhouse Unicorn Entertainment has partnered with China Bridge Content on Centauri 5 (52×11”), a new animated space comedy for kids 6-11, the two companies announced in a joint statement Unicorn Entertainment has partnered with China Bridge Content on Centauri 5 (52×11”), a new animated space comedy for kids 6-11.
Centauri 5 is a collaboration between China Bridge Content Founder Josh Selig and Unicorn’s Founder Walter Hu. Selig was the US-based Executive Producer for Super Wings on Seasons 1 & 2 where he oversaw all pre-production at his former studio, Little Airplane Productions. Walter Hu
was one of the leading forces behind the early growth of the Alpha Group which was one of the three companies behind Super Wings alongside Little Airplane and Korea’s FunnyFlux. Selig has once again partnered with Beth Richman, Ed.M. who created the original Educational Curriculum for Super Wings Unicorn Entertainment and China Bridge Content will be giving global buyers a preview of this exciting new series during MIP Jr. and MIPCOM.
Centauri 5 follows the adventures of Titan, a Samoyed laboratory dog who was sent on a mission into deep space. When his mission was complete, Titan refused to return to Earth and, instead, he launched Centauri 5, a group of heroic former lab-animals committed to helping other vulnerable creatures
throughout the universe. Centauri 5 will be Executive Produced by Nancy Zha, the General Manager of Unicorn Entertainment who also hails from the Alpha Group where she worked closely with Walter Hu on content and media operation.
WBITVP (Warner Bros. International Television Production) has confirmed that it has secured international distribution rights to the hit TF1 French format The Final Circle.
Created by Satisfaction, part of France’s Satisfaction Group, The Final Circle is the primetime quiz show that puts contestants under pressure to prove not just what they know, but the full power of their brain. Fifty contestants step into a 360-degree arena and face challenges that test every part of the mind – from logic and memory to language and visual skills. Round by round, players are eliminated, the questions grow harder, and the circle tightens. In the end, only one contestant will reach The Final Circle and face the high-stakes showdown where
strategy, speed, and brainpower decide if they secure the grand prize.
The game show format debuted on TF1 in June 2025 as Le Dernier Cercle, taking over a 30% share in the commercial demographic. It has already been commissioned for a second season in France to air later this year, with other international commissions already in discussion. Satisfaction is one of France’s leading independent production companies, having created original formats for a range of domestic broadcasters, including
Following its breakout success on screen, the global quiz sensation The Floor is making its way into the living room. Fans in the Netherlands – and soon across Europe – can experience the thrill of the show at home with the official The Floor board game.
Developed by Talpa Studios and produced by renowned board game maker Identity Games, the game invites players to step into the strategy and suspense of the quiz format that has taken the world by storm.
Just like in the series, players of the board game challenge each other to conquer and defend as many squares as possible. Each square represents its own knowledge category.
The rules are simple: conquer the board before your opponents do. But with the clock ticking, only the smartest and fastest will survive. It is
The Tourists, Anything Goes, The Villa of Broken Hearts, Stars Under Hypnosis, 1 to 10 and Intuition, as well as notably producing the French versions of The Floor, Let’s Make a Deal, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Dragon’s Den and co-producing Battleship.
The deal was brokered by Ilan Astrug, VP Creative Format Acquisition at WBITVP, who leads the relationship with Satisfaction and oversees third-party format acquisitions for the group.
the ultimate test of knowledge and nerves, brought to life in an exciting home game. “This board game is much more than a brand extension,” says Sebastian van Barneveld, Director Global Distribution at Talpa Studios
“From its bold visual identity to its unique gameplay, The Floor is a format that invites interaction. Bringing it to the table adds a new dimension to the experience, and this is just
the beginning.” In the Netherlands, the game will be available through major Dutch retailers, including bol. com, Intertoys, Bruna, ToyChamp, Dreamland and specialty game stores. Identity Games, already known for successfully adapting TV formats into board games, brings its expertise to this project, ensuring a high-quality product for fans of all ages. The board game will also launch in France, Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Poland, with more countries to follow.
International distributor, Bomanbridge Media, has secured a multi-year partnership with Doclights, one of Germany’s leading producers of natural history films, to take over their acclaimed wildlife catalogue alongside new and upcoming productions, the Company announced. The agreement, cash valued at over USD $1 million, will see Bomanbridge take over the distribution
of DocLights’ premium wildlife and factual content which totals close to 200 hours. The partnership will also see the companies collaborating on a widerange of shared strategic digital goals and future productions. Launching at last year’s MIPCOM, Bomanbridge unveiled a selection from the 40 new blue-chip titles coming down the line for release across 2025/26, in addition to a
dynamic slate spanning slow TV, digitalfirst content, hosted wildlife series and cinematic primetime documentaries.
Doclights boasts a long list of reputable clients under which they have boldly driven the factual genre, including ARTE, NDR, National Geographic, BBC, Off the Fence and ZDF. This deal significantly expands Bomanbridge’s content library, now exceeding 5,700 hours across factual, lifestyle, kids and drama.
Jörn Röver, CEO of DocLights added, “I have worked with Carl for over 20 years and I am delighted to entrust our natural history library to Carl, Sonia and the team at Bomanbridge – a distributor we know shares our passion for these stories. Their determination, unique global reach, and stellar reputation give us confidence that our programming will find new audiences and continue to inspire wonder around the world. We see this as the beginning of a strong and collaborative partnership.”
Award-winning London and LA-based independent studio The Ink Factory (The Night Manager, The Pigeon Tunnel) is partnering with Korean production company VO Media –founded by veteran producers Park Bo-kyeong and Kim Shin-ho – to develop a new series adaptation of John le Carré’s acclaimed espionage thriller novel A Most Wanted Man.
The screenplay for the new Koreaset adaptation will be penned by Kim Yun-shin, with the project being led by Producer Kim Shin-ho for VO Media. Additionally, VO Media’s Park Bo-kyeong will oversee development with The Ink Factory’s Executive Producer for Korea, Junyoung Jang. The executive producing team also includes Tessa Inkelaar, Simon Cornwell, Stephen Cornwell and Michele Wolkoff for The Ink Factory,
alongside Joe Tsai and Arthur Wang from 127 Wall Productions.
First published in 2008, A Most Wanted
Man follows an illegal Muslim immigrant who arrives in Hamburg from Russia with a traumatic past and the key to a fortune held in a private bank. He says his name is Issa. To the idealistic young human rights lawyer Annabel, determined to save him from deportation, he is a worthy cause. To the intelligence services of Britain, Germany and America, however, he is a potential jihadist –and a pawn between them as they seek to make a kill in the war on terror. The novel is a gripping and disquieting story of paranoia, disillusionment and betrayal in the moral no-man’s land of the post-9/11 world which the New York Times called his “strongest, most powerful novel” on its release, and the Guardian hailed as “a humane novel which takes on the world’s latest binarism and exposes troubling shades of grey”.
Stan and ITV Studios have announced the cold case crime series, Stan Original The Killings: Parrish Station, produced by HELIUM Pictures and with the support of Screen Australia and Screen NSW, starring Mia Wasikowska (Stan Original FING!, Alice in Wonderland). The series is currently in production in NSW. A cosmic mystery intertwines with horror as a gruesome massacre at a remote research station plunges a detective into an inexplicable, decades-long mystery.
It’s 1987, and Detective Georgia Cooke (Wasikowska) is called in to investigate the massacre of four scientists who have been brutally murdered in inexplicable ways, with a lone survivor the obvious suspect. But as Georgia digs deeper, unravelling a complex case
entangled in mania, ritual, and the occult, her obsessive quest for the truth spirals into a nightmare that will put her family, career, and sanity on the line.
37 years later, a chilling new spree of murders will pull Georgia (Heather Mitchell)back into this nightmare as she confronts the terrifying possibility that the horrors at Parrish Station were never fully buried.
The Killings: Parrish Station is a HELIUM Pictures production for Stan. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Stan. Financed with support from Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund.
Financed in association with, and distributed internationally, by ITV Studios. Post, digital, and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Developed
with the assistance of Screenwest and Screen NSW.
The Stan Original The Killings: Parrish Station is currently in production in NSW and will premiere on Stan this 2026.
Sphere Abacus (SA) has sold Stan Original drama series Scrublands: Silver, an Easy Tiger production in association with Third Act Stories, to a raft of international broadcasters.
Sales have been brokered with the BBC (UK), RTE (Ireland), Sky Free (New Zealand), COSMOTE TV (Greece), ROCK Networks (Hong Kong and Taiwan), AMC Networks (Spain and Portugal), Pickbox (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia), Media4Fun (Poland), Proximus (Belgium) and (previously announced) Sundance Now (USA and Canada).
Based on the best-selling novel ‘Silver’ by Chris Hammer, Scrublands: Silver (4 x 1 hour) picks up a year after the life changing events of prequal Scrublands. Award-winning
investigative journalist Martin Scarsden (Luke Arnold – Black Sails) has returned to his coastal hometown, Port Silver, WA, to set up a new life with partner Mandy Bond (Bella Heathcote – Pieces of Her) but shockingly finds his childhood friend Jasper brutally murdered and Mandy the prime suspect.
Struggling with doubts about Mandy and about his own ability to recognise the truth, he pushes forward to absolve Mandy and find the real murderer. But in doing so, Martin must confront secrets about Port Silver and his long-buried past.
Jonathan Ford, Managing Director, SA comments, “The first series of Scrublands, produced by the award winning creatives at Easy Tiger, has captivated audiences in all parts of the world. We are delighted that his second
season, filmed in stunning locations in Western Australia, continues to have wide international appeal.”
China Bridge Content and Perfect World Animation set to hit the right notes with pre-school animated music-based spin-off series The C-Pops!
China Bridge Content, the New Yorkbased content and consulting firm founded by 12-time Emmy Awardwinning creator Josh Selig (The Wonder Pets, 3rd & Bird, Small Potatoes), has
announced its latest project, musicbased animated series The C-Pops! The project is a partnership with China’s leading animation studio, Perfect World Animation.
A spin-off of the number-one rated Chinese mega-hit show Rainbow Crew, The C-Pops! features the musical adventures of an adorable four-part pop group. Made up of super-cute band members Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, The C-Pops! sing their way through a series of adventures as they travel around in their Song Pods and try to overcome everyday problems with the help of a C-Pop song that they write and perform.
Each episode is centred around a new C-Pop song written by a popular China-Pop artist with lyrics containing the solution to the problem the band
are facing – whether it’s persuading a monkey to eat less junk food or trying to stop a giant Robo Cat from scaring people!
Grounded in a strong educational curriculum, The C-Pops! is designed to nurture children’s music appreciation while enhancing their creative problem-solving skills and fostering teamwork. The curriculum was written by early childhood expert Dr. Christine Ricci, whose credits include animated international pre-school hits Dora the Explorer, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Go, Diego, Go!
The C-Pops! will be produced in partnership with Perfect World Animation, the creative arm of iHuman Inc., a leading US-listed provider of tech-powered, intellectual development products in China.
Nippon TV, Japan’s leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse, has announced that the Greek adaptation of its acclaimed drama series Mother will premiere in Greece on Alpha TV and stream on Alpha TV’s HbbTV.
Celebrated for its gripping narrative and emotional depth, the series has already captivated audiences across multiple international markets, now recording 11 international remakes altogether. The announcement was made by Sally Yamamoto, Scripted Format Sales & Licensing at Nippon TV, and Christos Kompos, Program Director of Alpha TV.
The Greek adaptation, Na me les mama (Call me mom), produced by Greece’s Filmiki and marking the first time Nippon TV’s script has been adapted in Greece, brings the
compelling story to a new audience while maintaining the essence that made Mother a worldwide sensation.
“Mother is a story that has transcended cultures, and we are excited to see it resonate with viewers in Greece,” said Yamamoto. “Greece has a rich tradition of successfully adapting hit
international series, from reality and competition formats to scripted dramas, and we are delighted that Mother is joining this legacy of high-quality adaptations. This premiere marks another milestone in our mission to share high-quality Japanese scripted content with global audiences.”
In addition to Alpha TV, Mother has been licensed to CJ E&M (South Korea), MF Yapim (Turkey), STB TV (Ukraine), Juvenile (Thailand), Radiant Pictures (China), Incognita (France), Atresmedia (Spain), Medyapim for MBC (Saudi Arabia), Green Show Productions (Mongolia), and ABS-CBN (Philippines).
Mother continues to be the record holder of the most globally adapted Asian scripted format with these eleven adaptations.
Blue Ant Media Corporation, a global streamer, production studio, and rights-management business, has announced that it has acquired MagellanTV LLC, a digital streaming company that delivers premium factual content to consumers across the globe, for $12 million USD.
The transaction expands Blue Ant Media’s Global Channels and Streaming business, enhances monetization opportunities, and strengthens its position as a leading provider of premium factual content worldwide.
Founded in 2018 by Greg Diefenbach and Thomas Lucas, veterans
of National Geographic, PBS and Discovery, MagellanTV operates a streaming video-on-demand (SVOD) service and a growing portfolio of advertising video-on-demand (AVOD) and free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels across key genres including history, nature, science, space, and true crime. With distribution partnerships spanning Roku, Amazon, Apple, Samsung, LG, Comcast, Vizio, Pluto TV, and Google, MagellanTV reaches audiences in 13 countries across more than 20 platforms.
“This acquisition of MagellanTV increases Blue Ant’s scale and adds audiences and distribution capabilities that are highly complementary to our business,” said Michael MacMillan, CEO, Blue Ant . “MagellanTV’s business model is primed for optimization within our global infrastructure, and we’re thrilled to welcome the talented
team to Blue Ant.” MagellanTV co-founder Greg Diefenbach will join Blue Ant as Executive Vice President, Streaming, overseeing the company’s direct-to-consumer and subscription video businesses.
He will report to Carlyn Staudt, President, Global Channels and Streaming. Co-founder Thomas Lucas will remain involved for several months to support the transition and ensure continuity for partners and audiences. “Joining Blue Ant creates new opportunities to scale MagellanTV’s platform, while contributing to Blue Ant’s expansion as a leading factual content provider,” said Greg Diefenbach and Thomas Lucas, co-founders of MagellanTV. “We look forward to working closely with the Blue Ant team to expand our offerings, unlock synergies, and connect with audiences around the globe.”
sooka, Malaysia’s leading streaming service and the country’s fastestgrowing OTT platform, has announced a series of strategic collaborations with key industry partners—including Maxis, Etiqa, U Mobile, Grab, MAE by Maybank2u, Sports Direct, Zus Coffee, and VIU—to offer greater value, wider accessibility, and more touchpoints for its users. Currently ranked as the #1 sports app and among the top
five highest-grossing apps on the Google Play Store in Malaysia, sooka continues to evolve, strengthening its position as a household name in entertainment for all Malaysians. Chu Young Lee, Director, sooka , said, “At sooka, our mission has always been to make LIVE sports, Asian and local entertainment more accessible for all. These new collaborations with local market leaders are a natural
extension of that vision. By partnering with brands that share our customerfirst mindset, we’re unlocking greater value, reaching new audiences and building stronger touchpoints across the user journey. With the ongoing Premier League season, it’s a timely opportunity for more Malaysians to experience 4K UHD LIVE sports on sooka via Android TVs, the sooka app, and the sooka TV stick.”
CBC has announced the expansion of its free ad-supported streaming portfolio with the launch of a new Schitt’s Creek channel, featuring all six seasons of the multiple Emmy Award-winning CBC original comedy series plus one-hour finale special Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt’s Creek Farewell. The new channel is available now on CBC
Gem, and will launch on LG Channels and The Roku Channel in Canada this fall. The channel joins CBC Comedy and dedicated Heartland and Murdoch Mysteries channels as part of CBC’s entertainment FAST lineup. “Audiences continue to turn to FAST channels for their daily entertainment and we are always looking to meet them where they are
and connect them with their favourite shows,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports, CBC. “The introduction of a new Schitt’s Creek channel makes the iconic series even more accessible to new viewers as well as longstanding fans, allowing them to enjoy nonstop streaming – and laughs – whenever they want.”
The first Canadian series to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy, Schitt’s Creek is a globally beloved CBC original series starring Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Levy, Annie Murphy, Chris Elliott, Emily Hampshire and Jennifer Robertson. The series follows a wealthy family who suddenly find themselves broke and forced to live in Schitt’s Creek, a small town they once bought as a joke. Produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc., the series was created by Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy.
Prime Video has announced NBA League Pass, the NBA’s subscription service for streaming live and ondemand games, as an add-on subscription, offering basketball fans the most comprehensive way to follow and enjoy the NBA. This marks the first time NBA League Pass is being made available in India as an add-on subscription on Prime Video.
NBA League Pass gives subscribers access to 1,000+ games each season, including every regular season game, NBA All-Star, NBA Playoffs, NBA Conference Finals, NBA Finals, replays, highlights, and NBA TV at no additional cost. Subscribers can stream games live or on-demand, with plans offering flexibility to customers.
NBA League Pass on Prime Video offers three subscription options tailored to different viewing preferences.
In addition to this, Prime Members will also have access to select marquee games in the NBA’s 2025–26 regular season made available as part of Prime Membership on the SVOD service in India for the inaugural season of NBA on Prime.
Prime Video Sports also unveiled the new NBA on Prime Studio with an exclusive preview at Amazon MGM Studios in Culver City, CA. Attendees
included Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios executives, NBA on Prime on-air talent including basketball legends Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Udonis Haslem, John Wall, Rudy Gay, Candace Parker, Dwyane Wade, Swin Cash and Brent Barry along with host Taylor Rooks, announcer Ian Eagle, sideline reporters Cassidy Hubbarth and Allie Clifton, analyst Stan Van Gundy and more.
Leading entertainment company
CJ ENM has revealed that its global K-POP content platform “Mnet Plus” has attracted more than 40 million app users up to date and a peak of over 20 million monthly active users (MAU), with both milestones reached within just three years of its launch.
Mnet Plus is a mobile-based global K-POP content platform that combines exclusive K-POP programming with distinctive fan participation in content. It enables global K-POP fans to watch original variety shows, stream Mnet’s broadcasts and live events, join live voting and in-app missions, collect digital goods, all within one app.
“Mnet Plus is more than a streaming service. It’s a place where global fans have the initiative to shape their own K-POP content experience,” said Kim Jiwon, Senior Vice President of Mnet Plus at CJ ENM. “Our goal is to build an integrated ‘Fanteractive (Fan + Interactive)’ platform that connects content, fandom, and business, redefining how global audiences absorb K-POP.”
Mnet Plus connects CJ ENM’s vast content library with dynamic fan engagement features. The platform offers exclusive K-POP content, including original variety shows SUMBAKKOKJIL and The City of Spy: NCT 127, featuring K-pop bands such as TOMORROW X TOGETHER, NCT 127, and
ZEROBASEONE, along with streaming and on-demand services for Mnet’s programming, live events, KCON, and MAMA AWARDS. The platform will also introduce an ad-supported free viewing model to make it more accessible to users worldwide, while expanding viewing options to include premium content.
Swastik Stories, the creative house behind some of India’s most loved epics, today announced the launch of India’s First Cultural Storytelling & Entertainment FAST (Free AdSupported Streaming TV) Channel — a destination where India’s history, values and imagination come alive for the modern world
With a combined reach of over 50 million users, Swastik Stories will offer round-the-clock, free access across JioTV, LG, Xiaomi TV, and RunnTV, and other leading digital and Connected TV platforms. For over 18 years, Swastik has redefined larger-than-life storytelling — from Mahabharat and RadhaKrishn to Porus and Shrimad Ramayan. Building on this legacy, Swastik Stories marks the next chapter: a multi-platform movement designed to bring India’s cultural wisdom to every home and every screen.
Available across mobile, digital and Connected TV, Swastik Stories is on track to reach 90% of Connected-TV households by March 2026 through its FAST distribution. Premiering Hamara Vinayak , the first digital Swastik Stories original, will release new episodes every Friday on the official Swastik Stories YouTube channel, with same-day streaming on the FAST channel across JioTV, LG, Xiaomi
and RunnTV — reaching viewers from smart TVs to smartphones. Presented by 1Finance, and created for today’s digital generation, Hamara Vinayak embraces a short-format narrative — 10–12-minute cinematic stories made for people who want meaning in minutes. The launch marks Swastik’s debut in the digital-first entertainment space, extending its legacy of powerful storytelling to audiences worldwide.
James Dolan, a YouTube and social video specialist who has held senior positions at ITV Studios and Little Dot, has announced the launch of his new venture, Beam Digital.
Beam Digital has two main areas of activity: advising organisations, rights
owners and content creators on their own digital strategies and working with selected IP and brands to build out their digital worlds, with a particular focus on YouTube.
Beam works with partners on anything from creating a clear digital strategy and setting up and managing YouTube channels to mining libraries or repackaging content and implementing activities that find and build communities. Significantly, while digital opportunities are growing exponentially and the industry is struggling to find skilled talent to capitalise on them, Beam Digital also offers practical training sessions and workshops that enable organisations such as production companies to seamlessly migrate team members to new digital workstreams. This will help companies
maintain full control of their IP and will ensure they can readily spot and maximise opportunities – becoming ‘future-fit’ and keeping core revenues in-house.
Beam Digital’s approach to business is built on more than a decade of Dolan’s experience as a YouTube/social videofirst executive, half of it as Digital Channels Director in the commercial arm of ITV Studios.
Here he led the digital content team, overseeing the distribution and monetisation of a 90,000-hour catalogue and managing a portfolio of 140+ digital and social channels, from single-IP brands such as Come Dine With Me, This Morning and Hell’s Kitchen, to genre and thematic channels such as Our World, Our Stories and True Lives.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited’s new initiatives arm Zee Sports and SJ Uplift Kabaddi’s Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) today announce a three-year strategic broadcast partnership across TV and Digital. A first-of-itskind partnership for a state-level sports league, the development reinforces the UPKL’s position as a platform that is focused on nurturing and developing grassroots talent, preparing them for the global stage.
As a part of this partnership, Zee Sports will serve as the exclusive broadcast and digital partner for UPKL, airing the next three seasons along with a live stream on Zee5, reaching millions of viewers across India.
With the addition of 4 new franchises this season, UPKL now features 12 teams representing key cities
across Uttar Pradesh. The partnership is a pivotal milestone in the league’s evolution as one of India’s most structured regional sporting properties.
Speaking on the association, Bavesh Janavlekar, Business Head- Zee Sports, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, said, “At Zee Sports, we believe in championing India’s own sporting heritage. Our focus is on building
sustainable and scalable regional as well as national IPs that inspire fandom and drive long-term value.. This partnership is a powerful step forward, and together, we’re ready to take Kabaddi to greater heights.”
Sambav Jain, Founder, Director, SJ Uplift Kabaddi, further added, “The partnership with ZEE Sports reflects the evolution of UPKL from a promising regional initiative to a scalable sporting enterprise with national ambition. Season 1 validated our model with strong fan engagement and franchise participation.. This collaboration not only amplifies the visibility of our athletes and teams but also strengthens our mission of creating a professional, sustainable, and inclusive Kabaddi ecosystem.”
The three-year deal spans the upcoming season of UPKL and further extends to Season 3 and Season 4.
The Asia Pacific ’ s media industry is evolving at a rapid pace and Television Asia Plus is here to provide full coverage and an unbiased look at everything that is happening in the region
Television Asia Plus embraces Asia Pacific ’ s vibrant broadcast, production, and distribution of content across Free TV, Pay-TV, OTT, short video, livestream and new media platforms We take a look at the trends, the current market, and the freshest news and information on what’s happening in the industry today
Our digital platforms comprising tva onscreenasia com an @TVAsiaPlus on FB, Twitter and LinkedIn cover the latest industry news and movements Meanwhile our print version is available as bonus distribution at all major trade events including HK Filmart, APOS, Mipcom Cannes and ATF
In the market for over two decades, Television Asia Plus has been proven to be a reliable and reputable television content journal We reach 15,000 senior content professionals across Asia Pacifi c through our web, social media, e-newsletters and print products
Bundesliga fans in Indonesia can keep up to date with the fortunes of Kevin Diks – the first Indonesian player to feature in Germany’s top-flight – after Indonesia’s largest media company MNC extended its partnership with Bundesliga International in a deal which includes showing all Borussia Mönchengladbach games free-to-air this season.
Diks, 28, was born in the Netherlands and qualifies to play for Indonesia through his mother. The centre-back has joined Mönchengladbach from Danish side FC Copenhagen and made his Bundesliga debut a week last Sunday, keeping a clean sheet in Gladbach’s season opener against HSV.
Football fans in Indonesia can watch all of Mönchengladbach’s league matches at no cost after Bundesliga International signed an extension with broadcast giants MNC, who will screen all Gladbach games on their Free-To-Air channels RCTI and iNews. MNC is Indonesia’s biggest media conglomerate, reaching millions of homes throughout Indonesia each week. As part of the renewed agreement, Bundesliga International will continue to leverage MNC’s
network of channels to broadcast the German top-flight exclusively across subscription, Free-To-Air (FTA) and Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms.
All nine Bundesliga matches will be available each matchday on MNC Media. Furthermore, up to four Free-To-Air matches will be broadcast, including on RCTI, consistently ranked as the mostwatched TV channel in Indonesia.
There is more good news for Indonesian Bundesliga fans as Telkomsel are also renewing their broadcast deal with Bundesliga International to show every game next season in Germany’s topflight. The matches will be available on IndiHome TV, via its AllPlay Sports Channel 700.
Broadcast Solutions, one of Europe’s largest media system integration groups, has acquired Dutch camera support specialist Egripment BV, and its rental subsidiary Egripment Deutschland GmbH.
Both will retain their well-established names and market identities while expanding the portfolio available from Broadcast Solutions.
For almost 50 years, Egripment has been a leading developer and manufacturer of high-end camera support systems, including cranes, dollies, remote heads, and any other tailormade solutions for television, film, and live events. Known for quality, innovation, and flexibility, the company combines in-house design and manufacturing capabilities to deliver tailor-made solutions for any production need, if it doesn’t exist, Egripment can build it.
This will continue under the ownership of Broadcast Solutions, with Philippe Tresfon staying as managing director of Egripment and guiding future progress.
With this acquisition, Broadcast Solutions strengthens its position as a global provider of complete production solutions. Egripment will now be represented through Broadcast Solutions’ offices worldwide, enabling customers across Europe and the Middle East to benefit from direct access to Egripment’s products, services, and support. Egripment HQ and Egripment Deutschland, based near Amsterdam and Cologne, operates an international rental division that services major events worldwide. Its extensive inventory includes cranes, stabilised remote heads, and specialist grip equipment for the most demanding productions.
As part of this acquisition, Egripment Deutschland will manage Birds Camera Solutions, a Broadcast Solutions company specialising in advanced camera systems, creating a comprehensive, full-service rental portfolio under the Egripment brand. The Egripment brand will be led by Philippe Tresfon (CEO) and the subsidiary in Germany by Philip von Senden (COO) and Martin Dreesbach (CTO). In addition to his role as CTO of Egripment Deutschland, Martin Dreesbach will also continue his responsibilities as Senior R&D Product Manager within the Egripment | Broadcast Solutions Group.
Hoppr announces the launch of AI-powered server-side ad insertion (SSAI) mid-roll across live channels on StarHub, making premium TV advertising easier to access than ever. The partnership gives brands and agencies access to dynamically optimised ad pods, so every break is filled with the most relevant ads. The result is greater campaign efficiency, better use of inventory, and measurable results with guaranteed reach and frequency.
Hoppr combines the storytelling power of TV with the precision of digital. Brands now have real time control: setting the budget, choosing how often their ads play and deciding which audiences to reach. With Darwin, Hoppr’s AIpowered audience intelligence platform, every impression is tracked, targeted and measurable. This removes the guesswork from TV buying and gives advertisers confidence that their spend is delivering. Darwin also provides live feedback while campaigns
are running, allowing advertisers and agencies to refine targeting midflight, optimise frequency and confirm exactly which audiences have been reached. This closes the gap between digital and TV, giving marketers the transparency and accountability they expect from online platforms, but now with the scale and impact of television. Behind the scenes, Hoppr integrates seamlessly with StarHub’s Broadpeak SSAI infrastructure. Broadpeak delivers the scale and reliability needed to insert ads smoothly into
live TV. Darwin adds the intelligence that transforms this delivery into precision advertising. It enriches ad requests with audience data, guides placement, and validates every impression in real time. Together, they provide advertisers with both reliable execution and accountable, data-driven targeting.
Together, they make TV advertising both scalable and precise, giving brands the reach of television with the control of digital.
ABP Live, the digital flagship of ABP Network, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest and most trusted automobile manufacturer. This strategic alliance marks the beginning of a new era where credible journalism and premium infotainment are seamlessly integrated into the driving experience of millions of Indians. With
this initiative, ABP Live becomes the first Indian digital news publisher to be natively integrated into Maruti Suzuki’s in-car infotainment ecosystem , streaming live news in Hindi, Bengali, and Marathi, and more. This milestone underscores ABP Live’s commitment to pioneering innovation in digital news and storytelling.
Seamless Integration through Maruti Connect The partnership will see ABP Live content natively embedded into Maruti Suzuki’s Maruti Connect operating system , starting later this year or early next year. All upcoming Maruti vehicles equipped with this technology will offer drivers direct access to: 24×7 live streaming of ABP News (Hindi), ABP Majha (Marathi), and ABP Ananda (Bengali), Curated
podcasts spanning news, culture, lifestyle, and more, & Multilingual and localised programming designed for diverse audiences across India.
With more than 25 million Maruti Suzuki vehicles already on Indian roads, this collaboration offers unparalleled reach, ensuring that urban commuters, highway travellers, and rural drivers can stay informed and entertained on the move.
This partnership is set to redefine how Indians consume news and infotainment, underscoring the commitment of both ABP Live and Maruti Suzuki to driving innovation and enriching everyday journeys. Don’t just catch up. Stay ahead of the curve, stay informed with ABP Live.
In a strategic move in the highly competitive Swiss market, Digitec Galaxus AG, the largest online retailer in Switzerland, is entering the entertainment market with its customized TV solution provided by Zattoo
The offering will be available on Apple iOS and tvOS, Android TV and Android mobile, and in web browsers, catering to high-quality in-home as well as onthe-go entertainment experience.
Building on Zattoo’s customizable and reliable platform, Digitec Galaxus will create a TV brand on a scalable infrastructure. This enables the company group to seamlessly serve B2B customers with tailored wholesale products and support disruptive growth in the Swiss TV market.
With more than 30 TV platform customers and several million monthly active users, Zattoo continues to shape the future of TV and streaming for operators and internet service providers in 12 countries across Europe. Based on nearly two decades of TV and streaming experience, Zattoo offers a fully managed solution that meets the demands of regional champions and service innovators that put a superior TV and streaming customer experience at the center of their business models.
This partnership with Digitec Galaxus highlights the strength of Zattoo’s endto-end TV and video services,” said Roger Elsener, CEO of Zatto, “Throughout our collaboration, we’ve seen Digitec Galaxus’s dedication to end-user convenience and an absolutely excellent experience—fine-tuning the TV offering for customers is clearly their highest priority. Together we are setting new standards in flexible and sustainable TV and video offerings.”
Andreas Kundert, Head of Galaxus Mobile, Internet and TV at Digitec Galaxus, stated, “We are happy to have found a strong partner in Zattoo for the expansion of our range of services. Zattoo delivered a flexible and sustainable TV-as-a-service platform, which we are able to scale for further services and expansions.”
PlayBox Neo, in partnership with CIS Group, a leading provider of media and broadcast technology solutions, has successfully deployed PlayBox Neo’s Dual Channel-in-a-Box turnkey playout solution for CazéTV Produções Ltda. This investment enhances operational efficiency and automation for LiveMode, the media and marketing company behind CazéTV. Taking this system “on-air” represents a significant advancement in streamlining CazéTV’s playout operations and optimising their content delivery workflows.
The PlayBox Neo solutions were installed by CIS Group in Rio de Janeiro, with the official “go-live” date on 19 March 2025. The PlayBox Neo Dual Channel-in-a-Box bundle serves as the master playout solution, offering a wide range of functions including clean switching between video sources, automated playlist management, graphics integration, and SCTE trigger capabilities for dynamic ad insertion on YouTube. The entire deployment includes the following PlayBox Neo
systems – AirBox Neo for seamless playlist playback, live feed integration, and SCTE trigger control. In addition, TitleBox Neo for real-time, multi-layered graphics and branding, and Ingest for multi-channel SDI ingest and video acquisition. Also included is ListBox Neo for efficient playlist preparation and traffic log integration, and SafeBox Neo for automated clip and playlist transfer and file management with MXF Op1a XDCAM-HD format support, along with Multi Playout Manager for remote channel control and playlist creation from a web browser.
With PlayBox Neo’s advanced
automation, graphics integration, and SCTE-based ad insertion, CazéTV now has a scalable and efficient playout infrastructure tailored to modern digital broadcasting needs. As the project evolves to meet the growing needs of CazéTV, CIS Group and PlayBox Neo remain dedicated to delivering innovative and efficient workflows tailored to their requirements. By leveraging their expertise and adaptable solutions, both companies will ensure that CazéTV benefits from a seamless, scalable system that supports long-term growth and operational success.
Bomanbridge Media has finalised the acquisition of UK-based independent media group, West One International, the Company announced.
The agreement will see West One folded into the Bomanbridge group and rebranded as Bomanbridge West. Carl Hall, founder and MD of West One, has been appointed Chief Creative Officer and will head up the European operation out of the newly registered UK office, reporting directly to Bomanbridge founder and CEO, Sonia Fleck.
The European office will spearhead the expansion of the catalogue with a strong emphasis on development and production as well as acquisitions and synergistic collaborations, with a particular focus on factual. The deal will see the Bomanbridge library swell to over 5,500 hours of content across
multiple genres including factual, lifestyle, kids and drama.
Commenting on the agreement, Bomanbridge CEO, Sonia Fleck, said , “It gives me great pleasure to announce the acquisition of West One International, which brings with it, Carl’s extensive media industry expertise and skill set. Carl’s experience in the industry both as a producer and a distributor, is already playing a pivotal role in driving our next phase of growth. We are excited to be planting our flag in London as we continue to support and collaborate with amazing talent from around the world.”
Carl Hall, Chief Creative Officer, Bomanbridge West added, “I have had the pleasure of working with Sonia for nearly 20 years with Bomanbridge acting as Asian agent for my former businesses Parthenon and Sky Vision, as well as West One. Sonia has singlehandedly built a significant business in Asia and has capitalised
on the opportunities in the region by collaborating between East and West. As a result, we are wellpositioned to expand the business internationally.
I look forward to working with Sonia and her team as we maximise opportunities for Bomanbridge around the world.”
Nippon Television Network (Nippon TV), Japan’s leading broadcaster, has named PubMatic, an independent technology company delivering digital advertising’s supply chain of the future, as a Premier Partner for Sugree, its programmatic TV advertising platform. Nippon TV reaches more than 100 million monthly active users (MAU) each month through a wide range of popular entertainment, news, sports, and drama programming. By aligning its broadcast inventory with PubMatic’s global programmatic expertise,
Nippon TV is making premium Japanese TV content accessible to advertisers around the world in real time, with advanced audience targeting, reporting, and optimization capabilities. The collaboration underscores a major shift in how broadcast television can be planned and bought. Through the partnership with Sugree, PubMatic’s advertiser partners will gain programmatic access to Nippon TV’s inventory, enabling campaigns that combine the scale and brand safety of linear TV with the efficiency and flexibility of digital media.
The new offering has already been welcomed by agencies. Angus Maclaine, CEO of Fundamental Group,
an award-winning agency serving financial institutions and education providers worldwide, commented , “Delivering personalized, high-impact campaigns requires advanced automation and optimization. PubMatic’s partnership with Nippon TV enables advertisers to harness data-driven delivery and campaign optimization at scale, bringing new opportunities to linear TV.”
Japan is one of the world’s largest and most influential advertising markets. This partnership opens new opportunities for global advertisers to reach Japanese audiences at scale, while underscoring the growing role of programmatic in redefining television advertising worldwide.
Global film and TV studio FIFTH SEASON has appointed David Wilcox as SVP Sales EMEA, as its latest senior leadership hire within its Television Distribution division
Effective immediately, Wilcox will lead the company’s television distribution strategy across the EMEA region and will report into FIFTH SEASON’s EVP of Television Distribution, Jennifer Ebell. Additionally, the remits for current FIFTH SEASON executives Alistair Jennings and Travis Webb have been expanded.
In his new role, Wilcox will be responsible for driving EMEA sales across FIFTH SEASON’s premium content slate, leading the regional sales team and identifying new commercial opportunities across linear, digital and co-productions. This announcement follows former Number 9 Films and Paramount executive Kate Laffey joining FIFTH SEASON’s International Television Distribution team as SVP Acquisitions in June this year.
Wilcox joins FIFTH SEASON from ITV Studios, where he spent seven years as SVP EMEA, leading the content sales team and pre-sale and co-production strategies. Prior to this, he was VP Nordics & Benelux for four years at NBCUniversal’s Television Distribution division where he negotiated major volume deal partnerships. Wilcox began his career at ITV Studios, spending nine years in its sales division across multiple territories.
Jennifer Ebell, EVP of Television Distribution at FIFTH SEASON, said, “David joins FIFTH SEASON at a pivotal moment in our growth story, as we scale our global reach and build on our track record of success. His deep experience and strong relationships across EMEA make him the perfect choice to drive our ambitions in these key markets. Alongside Travis and Alistair, who are expanding their own remits into new areas, David strengthens an exceptional leadership team dedicated
to cementing FIFTH SEASON’s position as a global leader in premium content.” David Wilcox added, “I’m delighted to join FIFTH SEASON at this exciting stage of accelerated growth. The ambitious team has a creative approach to distribution and a reputation for delivering best in class content, and I look forward to driving new opportunities with EMEA partners to amplify the success of the premium slate.”
Autentic is further strengthening the strategic development of its digital activities. With immediate effect, Julian Althaus will take over responsibility for the Channel Division as Director Channels & Digital Sales.
currently operates seven FAST channels, including Terra Mater WILD and Autentic History, as well as several YouTube channels such as Autentic Documentary.
Julian Althaus has been part of the Autentic Distribution sales team for over ten years and has played a key role in building and expanding the company’s digital business. In his new role, he will oversee the management and growth of the company’s channel activities and digital distribution. Additionally, he will continue to be responsible for global digital sales at Autentic Distribution.
In addition, Autentic is strengthening its team with the appointment of Thomas Handl as the new YouTube Manager. Starting in October, he will be responsible for managing Autentic’s YouTube channels. Thomas Handl previously managed YouTube operations at Studio 100 and Toon2Tango, a Leonine company, and gained experience as a content creator.
Patrick Hörl, Managing Director of Autentic, “Autentic is consistently expanding its presence in the international FAST and streaming market. Under Julian’s leadership, our channel team is perfectly positioned to seize new opportunities in the
digital business. And Thomas’s support will strengthen our efforts to connect even more closely with our viewers, especially on YouTube.” EMEA partners to amplify the success of the premium slate.”
Localization studio Dubhub has appointed Niclas Ekstedt as Chief of Operations at its Stockholm office. Niclas previously served as Director of Business Development for Northern and Western Europe at the world’s largest localization company, Iyuno.
“Niclas will bring a wealth of experience to our fast-growing company, bridging the world of traditional localization with new solutions powered by the latest technology. The key to success is a deep understanding of the industry’s current state while also daring to disrupt established business models. In this transformation, Dubhub intends to take the lead,” says Fredrik af Malmborg, Co-founder and CEO of Dubhub.
Over the past 12 years, Niclas has played a major role in the consolidation of the localization industry. His first role in the industry was as Country Manager for Dubberman, which was integrated into BTI Studios and later into Iyuno. During this time, Niclas managed the Swedish dubbing and subtitling organisation as well numerous major accounts across the Nordic and European media industry, consistently driving client growth and operational efficiency.
“Our industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation, and I am very much looking forward to driving this development together with the Dubhub teams in Stockholm, Istanbul, and Amsterdam. The combination of cutting-edge technology and skilled production teams – at significantly lower costs –has the potential to reshape the industry. I am very impressed by Dubhub’s achievements to date and its forward-looking business plan,” says Niclas Ekstedt.
Niclas will assume his new role at Dubhub next week at the Stockholm office, working alongside Irina Divnovgortseva, recently promoted Vice President of Sales and Acquisition,
based in Amsterdam. Dubhub is a localization studio with offices in Stockholm, Istanbul, and Amsterdam. Its mission is to deliver localization using advanced technology combined with direct-toconsumer management at scale. By merging AI with highly skilled professionals, Dubhub provides audio dubbing and YouTube management at unmatched cost efficiency, enabling producers to expand their audiences and grow revenues.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has appointed Gaurav Laghate as its new Head of PR and Corporate Communications.
In this role, he will lead the Company’s communications strategy, with a focus on enhancing SPNI’s corporate reputation and stakeholder engagement across businesses. He will report directly to Gaurav Banerjee, MD & CEO, SPNI.
With over 17-years of experience in journalism, Gaurav has a proven track record of shaping high-impact narratives and will bring a wealth of industry insight and strategic direction to SPNI. Prior to his appointment, he was Senior Editor and Head of the Consumer Bureau at Mint, where he extensively covered the media and entertainment sector spanning linear and OTT platforms along with covering regulatory affairs and the advertising sector. With his deep understanding of the industry, Gaurav is well positioned to shape the narrative for the Company in a fast-evolving media landscape.
During his journalism career, Gaurav built a strong network across the media ecosystem and earned respect for his analytical accuracy and storytelling. His appointment reinforces SPNI’s commitment in driving authentic storytelling and stakeholder trust as the Company enters its next phase of growth in the industry.
Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director & CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India comments, “Gaurav’s deep domain knowledge and strategic perspective make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. His transition from a journalist to a communications leader will bring a unique perspective on how we shape our narrative and engage with multiple stakeholders. We are excited to have him onboard as we aim to strengthen our position as a leading content powerhouse.”
Prime Video offered an early look at select titles from Japan, Korea, and India at Prime Video Presents International Originals, the service’s first global showcase for international content.
Presented by Gaurav Gandhi, Vice President, APAC & ANZ, Prime Video, the preview highlighted a sampling of the compelling Asian content coming to the service in 2026, with the full slate to be announced in the coming months. The showcase reinforces Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios’ commitment to delivering premium Asian storytelling to audiences across the world. The inaugural Prime Video Presents: International Originals showcase took place in London, an event presenting a selection of Prime Video’s biggest International Originals movies and series expected to resonate with a global audience in 2026. Introduced by VP of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios International, Kelly Day, and hosted by Nicole Clemens, VP of International Originals and teams across the world, the showcase featured guest appearances from actors Stanley Tucci, Nicole Wallace, Park Min-young & Wi Hajun, actors and filmmakers Dolores Fonzi, Alia Bhatt, and author Mercedes Ron.
Stories from Japan, Korea, and India are becoming truly global, ranking among Prime Video’s most watched, outside the English content slate. These storiesrooted in local cultures yet resonating universally, reflect the growing appetite for authentic narratives that transcend geographic boundaries. The titles previewed from the wider slate at the event build on this momentum, combining globally celebrated franchises, fresh new voices, and long-term partnerships with leading creators and studios across the region.
As Anime experiences strong global growth, Prime Video reinforced its ambition to become the destination for high-quality anime content with a carefully curated slate serving both longtime fans and new audiences. Prime Video highlighted three marquee titles from its expansive 2026 Anime slate, starting with exclusive worldwide rights for the definitive reboot of FIST OF THE NORTH STAR: HOKUTO NO KEN.
Produced by TMS Entertainment, the reboot reimagines the globally famous manga series as an animated experience combining cutting-edge computergenerated imagery (CG) with hand-drawn animation, celebrating its 40th anniversary. The preview also included THE GHOST IN THE SHELL, the influential cyberpunk series exploring the intersection of humanity and technology in a hyper-connected 2029 metropolis which will be streamed on Prime Video exclusively worldwide (except Russia and China; in Japan Prime Video has an early exclusive window), and From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Season 2, following Season 1’s success ranking among Prime Video’s Top 10 titles in over 45 countries. These three titles offer just a taste of the full 2026 Anime lineup to be announced in the coming months.
Korean content continues driving global engagement on Prime Video, with hits like Marry My Husband and No Gain No Love both reaching the platform’s global Top 10 based on out of country viewership. Prime Video is deepening this commitment with major additions to its Korean library, bringing culturally rooted Korean storytelling to audiences worldwide The Korean titles previewed at the event showcase romance-led storytelling complemented by genre-blending narratives and large-scale productions, in collaboration with leading Korean studios including CJ ENM, SLL, Coupang Play, and others. Highlights include Absolute Value of Romance, a meta romantic comedy starring Kim Hyang Gi and global K-pop idols; Human x Gumiho (working title), a supernatural romance led by Jun Ji Hyun (a.k.a Gianna Jun) and Ji Chang Wook; and Siren’s Kiss, a psychological thriller starring Park Min-young and Wi Hajun. See You at Work Tomorrow! explores workplace romances, while Love in Disguise, starring Yim Siwan, caters to growing demand for genre-crossing storytelling. For audiences seeking epic scale, The Sacred Jewel (working title) delivers historical drama set against the Mongol invasions of Goryeo.
Prime Video Presents International Originals also featured a special preview of Don’t Be Shy, an upcoming Indian Original movie - a young-adult, female-forward coming-of-age drama written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji and produced by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt under Eternal Sunshine Productions. The preview included a conversation between Alia Bhatt and Nikhil Madhok, Head of Originals, Prime Video India, exploring filmmaking for young audiences and the importance of female-forward storytelling. Prime Video’s comprehensive Indian content slate - featuring a much broader slate will be unveiled in March at Prime Video Presents India.
“We are delighted to offer this early preview of compelling titles from our Anime, Korean, and Indian slate at the inaugural Prime Video Presents International Originals,” said Gaurav Gandhi, Vice President, APAC & ANZ, Prime Video. “This is just a taste of what’s in store for our customers in 2026 - we have so much more coming.
Content from Japan, Korea, and India is emerging as a powerful cultural force in global entertainment, driven by emotionally authentic stories that resonate far beyond their home markets. Building on strong viewer momentum and deep partnerships with creators across these regions, our 2026 lineup underscores our long-term commitment to championing Asian storytelling on the global stage. Stay tuned for many more announcements throughout the year.”
Non-English language movies and series are engaging global audiences more than ever on Prime Video. Introduced by Vice President of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios International, Kelly Day, and hosted by Nicole Clemens, Vice President of International Originals, Amazon MGM Studios, and teams across the world, the showcase featured guest appearances from actors Stanley Tucci, Nicole Wallace, Park Minyoung and Wi Hajun, actors and filmmakers Dolores Fonzi and Alia Bhatt, and author Mercedes Ron.
At the event, Kelly Day revealed that the Spanishlanguage movies in the Culpables franchise (Culpa Mia, Culpa Tuya, Culpa Nuestra) have been watched by over 100 million viewers worldwide. The three films based on Mercedes Ron’s New York Times bestselling book trilogy were number one in more than 170 countries at launch, with over 90% of viewers coming from outside Spain.
During the showcase introduction, Kelly Day, Vice President of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios International, commented: “Prime Video is where international storytelling is thriving. What we’re seeing now is that audiences all over the world are finding content from lots of other countries that they really enjoy watching. This is happening more frequently, and Prime Video is where that’s happening. Demonstrating Prime Video’s commitment to investing in book IP and
franchises, Nicole Clemens revealed Amazon MGM Studios is developing the latest book in Ron’s work titled 30 sunsets para enamorarte (from the Bali series), marking the first U.S. adaptation of the best-selling Spanish’s author’s work. The development deal is part of Prime Video’s collaboration dubbed the ‘House of Ron’, which includes 10 book-to-screen adaptations. Alongside the news, Clemens also released the Top 10 most-watched non-English language International Originals from the last year that saw record-breaking viewership worldwide. Five different countries feature in the Top 10 charts of International Originals, reflecting the diverse viewing habits and increased viewership of international programming with audiences globally.
Originals), Tara Erer (Head of Northern Europe Originals), Javiera Balmaceda (Head of Latin America, Canada & Australia Originals), as well as VP of Prime Video APAC, Gaurav Gandhi and Nikhil Madhok (Head of India Originals). Anchored by Film & TV critic, Rhianna Dhillon, the event explored themes such as building global franchises, appealing to younger audiences, stories centring women, the popularity of Korean, anime and Indian Originals, and the opportunity around international IP and non-English language content, for a global audience.
During the presentation, Nicole Clemens, Vice President of International Originals, Amazon MGM Studios, added: “There is so much opportunity to bring local stories, characters, and outstanding talent to global audiences, and we’re all already seeing huge success for both Prime Video, and the amazing talent.”
The showcase previewed a selection of International Originals launching in 2026 and expected to breakout with customers globally, alongside conversations with the creative talent, including Chile’s The House of the Spirits, starring Nicole Wallace and Dolores Fonzi; India’s Don’t Be Shy produced by Alia Bhatt under Eternal Sunshine Productions; French-Italian Masterplan starring Stanley Tucci; Korea’s Siren’s Kiss starring Park Min-Young and Wi Hajun; UK’s Your Fault: London and Spain’s adapted from Mercedes Ron’s best-selling books.
Other previews included, Italy’s Love Me, Love Me based on the most successful Italian language book published on Wattpad; Japan’s FIST OF THE NORTH STAR: HOKUTO NO KEN, which reimagines the globally famous manga series as an animated experience; Colombia’s Betty La Fea: The Story Continues, Season 3, following “Betty’s” iconic comeback from the original franchise; France’s Toi + Moi – Seuls contre tous adapted from bestselling French trilogy; Spain’s Perfect Liars based on the most read book on Wattpad with 140 million reads and Apocalypse Z: Part II, the sequel to the successful post-apocalyptic story.
All movies and series will be available in over 30 languages, with up to 36 subtitle and 22 dubbed language options, across 240 countries and territories
worldwide in 2026. Prime Video also features personalized recommendations based on viewers’ country and language preferences.
The event underscored Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios’ commitment to international stories that resonate globally, a growing slate of worldwide hits, and continued investment in the talent and creators bringing locally grounded narratives to life.
Winsing Animation’s feature film, Into the Mortal World, has officially launched on Emirates’ global in-flight entertainment system, reaching audiences across all routes and aircraft. This debut marks a significant milestone in the film’s international distribution journey and was facilitated by Skyline, the long-established inflight entertainment distributor, which helped introduce and position the title to Emirates as part of its curated world cinema offering.
Richard Barsby, Managing Director at Skyline, shared that Into the Mortal World stood out upon screening. “We regularly select and offer world cinema for Emirates, and Into the Mortal World came across as really well made,” Barsby explained. “The quality of the animation, the attention to detail, and the strength of the storytelling made it compelling, while the traditional folklore elements provided cultural depth that resonates with a broad audience.”
Echo Gu, Vice President of Winsing Animation, expressed her enthusiasm, “We are thrilled to see Into the Mortal World reach a global audience through Emirates. We believe this in-flight launch represents an important step in expanding our international presence and connecting with audiences in new approaches. It is also a key milestone in building long-term awareness and recognition for this IP and brand globally.”
Produced over five years by Winsing Animation, the film was first released theatrically in China in July 2024 and has continued to build momentum through international exposure, including its official selection for the Feature Competition at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it received strong audience reactions across multiple public screenings. According to Skyline, this combination of commercial performance, festival recognition, and its family-friendly appeal made Into the Mortal World stand out in the line-up.
“When showcasing titles to airlines, performance indicators matter,” Barsby noted. “Airlines are always keen to have the latest, most popular, and wellregarded films in their line-up. Highlighting Into the Mortal World’s box office results, its family-friendly nature, positive IMDb reception, and Annecy selection helped position it as a strong and credible choice.”
At the heart of its appeal is the film’s narrative and aesthetic richness. Exploring universal themes of family bonds, courage, and self-discovery, Into the Mortal World is brought to life with carefully crafted character designs, a unique and vibrant visual style, and culturally rich cinematic sequences rooted in traditional Chinese folklore. Skyline identified these qualities as central to the film’s suitability for Emirates’ diverse passenger base, ensuring that the story resonates with audiences
of all ages and backgrounds. The Emirates launch is a key part of Winsing’s broader international strategy. Following its in-flight debut, Into the Mortal World is set for additional releases in Vietnam this December, as well as in Mongolia, Malaysia, and Latin America in early 2026, creating a coordinated rollout that maximizes the film’s global reach and visibility.
With its Emirates debut, Into the Mortal World showcases the power of compelling storytelling, exceptional production, and strategic distribution. Winsing looks forward to continuing its international objective, bringing engaging, culturally rich, and visually stunning content to audiences worldwide on all platforms and channels.
The television of 2026 doesn’t just sit in your living room, it listens, adapts, connects, and immerses. The familiar rectangle on the wall has evolved into something far more dynamic: a cinema screen, a gaming hub, a live event arena, a social platform, and even a design centerpiece. As technology matures and audiences fragment across devices, television is no longer defined by channels or schedules. It’s defined by experience.
Here are the trends shaping the small screen’s biggest transformation yet.
Brighter, Bolder, Bigger: The New Era of Display Technolog
Walk into any electronics showroom this year and you’ll notice it immediately: screens are brighter, colors are deeper, and sizes are more ambitious than ever. In 2026, RGB Mini-LED and next-generation OLED panels are pushing picture quality to unprecedented heights. By separating red, green, and blue backlighting, these displays achieve stunning color precision and brightness levels that rival professional cinema screens. Large-format TVs (85 inches and beyond) are becoming mainstream rather than aspirational. For many households, upgrading the television now means recreating the movie-theater experience at home, complete with razor-sharp 4K and 8K clarity and near-perfect contrast. The days of juggling multiple streaming sticks and cables are fading. In 2026, the smart TV itself is the control center. Built-in operating systems now integrate streaming apps, gaming services, live channels, and even smart-home controls seamlessly. Voice assistants are more responsive. AI recommendation engines are more predictive. Your TV doesn’t just suggest what to watch, it anticipates what you’ll enjoy based on mood, time of day, and previous habits.
As more households rely on their television as the primary gateway to streaming, manufacturers are investing heavily in software ecosystems. The battle isn’t just about screen resolution anymore, it’s about platform dominance.
While living room screens are getting larger, another shift is happening in the palm of our hands. Mobilefirst content is reshaping how television is produced and consumed.
Short-form microdramas designed for vertical viewing are booming, especially among Gen Z audiences. Episodes lasting two to five minutes fit perfectly into commutes, coffee breaks, and late-night scrolling sessions. Meanwhile, video podcasts or “vodcasts” are blurring the line between traditional television and social media entertainment. This doesn’t signal the end of long-form storytelling. Instead, it represents diversification. Television in 2026 isn’t tied to a single screen or format it travels with the viewer.
After years dominated by on-demand viewing, live programming is regaining its edge. Streaming platforms are experimenting with interactive formats that allow audiences to vote in real time, influence outcomes, or participate directly through companion apps.
Sports remain a critical driver. Major events are becoming hybrid experiences streamed in ultra-high definition with immersive surround sound, integrated stats, and social media tie-ins. Watching live no longer means simply observing; it means engaging. The communal aspect of television once centered around prime-time broadcasts is being reinvented for a digital audience. The streaming gold rush has matured. Instead of chasing endless subscriber growth, platforms are refining their business models. Hybrid tiers combining subscription plans with optional advertising are becoming the norm.
Audiences are more selective. Rather than stacking multiple services year-round, viewers rotate subscriptions based on content releases. This fluid loyalty means platforms must continuously deliver standout programming to retain attention. Streaming now commands nearly half of total viewing time in many markets, a milestone that signals television’s transformation is complete.
Television in 2026 is defined by choice and immersion. Screens are bigger, images are brighter, and soundscapes are richer. Content is shorter when it needs to be, interactive when it can be, and cinematic when it matters most. Most importantly, television is no longer confined to a single experience. It adapts to the viewer whether on a 100-inch display or a six-inch smartphone screen. The future of TV isn’t just about what we watch. It’s about how seamlessly it fits into our lives. And in 2026, it fits better than ever.
