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Tag: Walt Disney Company

  • As head of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility

    Disney Star appoints George Cherian to head comms & CSR

    By Our Staff

     

    George Cherian
    George Cherian

    Disney Star has announced the appointment of George Cherian as Head of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In this role, he will be responsible for overseeing all strategic communications and CSR efforts for the Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution (DMED) business in the country which includes television network, streaming platform and studios. George will report to K Madhavan, Country Manager and President, The Walt Disney Company and Star India and will join the India leadership team that drives Disney Star businesses in the country.

     

    Said Madhavan: “We are at an exciting juncture of our growth story and strongly believe that communication is one of the key drivers in establishing a brand’s stature. As the country’s leading media, entertainment and digital network, we have a strong and compelling story to tell. We are delighted to welcome George to the Disney Star team to help us communicate our vision, strategy and commitment to the Indian market, and to the various external stakeholders.”

     

    Added George: “The combination of an industry that is on the cusp of exponential growth and a brand that is trusted and respected by millions of people the world over, could not have made for a more convincing case for me to join Disney Star. I look forward to the opportunity of building the Disney Star brands in India and working with some of the most talented professionals in this industry.”

     

  • Called Serendipity Media Technology, it is an AI-powered content creation platform

    Tarun Katial & Keertan Adyanthaya launch new venture

    By Our Staff

     

    Tarun Katial
    Tarun Katial
    Keertan Adyanthaya
    Keertan Adyanthaya

    Tarun Katial, former CEO Zee5, and Keertan Adyanthaya, former Head of Content & Communication for The Walt Disney Company APAC in Hong Kong, have come together to launch Serendipity Media Technology, an Artificial Intelligence-powered platform that “empowers writers, producers and entertainment platforms with relevant and suitable content”.

     

    The platform, notes a communique, will initially be launched in India and then rapidly roll out to global markets like the USA and UK. “Serendipity Media Technology will play an instrumental role in the end-to-end story evaluation by providing writers with information and intelligence that helps them create content that finds a right fit with the broadcasters or platforms, enabling producers to filter content as per the relevancy and provides in depth understanding of audience psyche to the platforms.”

     

    Commenting on the launch, Katial said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of our new venture. Our goal is to provide writers with tools that ease the burden of content creation through a structured approach and AI assistance.”

     

    Added Adyanthaya: “We are excited about creating an all-inclusive platform that not only empowers and enables content creation, but understands audiences better. It will help us deliver sharply defined content with a higher success ratio for everyone in the value chain.”

     

  • New features have been added to the interactive Watch’N Play social feed that allows a virtual community of cricket lovers to share excitement and support while watching the matches on the platform

    Disney+ Hotstar VIP to innovate for IPL 2020

    By A Correspondent

     

    With social distancing and the fears of the pandemic intruding into the conduct of live sports and specifically the Dream11 IPL 2020 which starts next week, Disney+ Hotstar VIP has announced innovation to bring home an in-stadia experience. According to a communique, fans can join a virtual community that will allow them to enjoy the matches with their friends and fellow cricket lovers real-time, while sharing selfies and videos. The entire tournament will only be accessible to new and existing subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar VIP and Disney+ Hotstar Premium.

     

    Said Uday Shankar – President, The Walt Disney Company APAC and Chairman, Star and Disney India: “Over the past few years, IPL has become the most loved sporting tournament in the country. After several months of the lockdown, we believe that this tournament can be a catalyst in ushering in new optimism and smiles in India, with millions of fans cheering together from all parts of the country. Our use of technology in presenting this immersive experience will not only set a global benchmark but also redefine the way we watch and enjoy sports in the coming years”

     

     

  • Starting with the late Sushant Singh Rajput’s Dil Bechara, the OTT plaform will launch potential blockbusters Laxmmi Bomb, Bhuj, Sadak 2 and The Big Bull amongst others

    Disney+Hotstar to release films starring Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt & others

    By A Correspondent

     

    Starting July 24, Disney+Hotstar Multiplex will release a slew of potential blockbuster Hindi movies on its popular OTT platform. The films and the performers include: Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani in Laxmmi Bomb, Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha and Sanjay Dutt in Bhuj: The Pride of India, late Sushant Singh Rajput, Sanjana Sanghi and Saif Ali Khan in Dil Bechara, Sanjay Dutt, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur and Pooja Bhatt in Sadak 2, Abhishek Bachchan in The Big Bull, Vidyut Jammwal in Khuda Haafiz and Kunal Kemmu and Rasika Dugal in Lootcase amongst others.

     

    Existing subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar Premium and Disney+ Hotstar VIP can enjoy these blockbuster movies at no additional cost to their existing subscription. Non-subscribers can simply purchase an annual membership of Disney+ Hotstar VIP at Rs 399 to catch all these movies and other fare.

     

    The first movie of Disney+ Hotstar Multiplex will be Dil Bechara, starring Sushant Singh Rajput and to commemorate his contribution to Hindi cinema, this movie will be available to all subscribers and non-subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar.

     

    Said Uday Shankar – President, The Walt Disney Company APAC and Chairman, Star & Disney India:  “At Disney+ Hotstar, we firmly believe in pushing boundaries to achieve the unexpected. A few years ago, we took an audacious step of bringing sports closer to people by streaming it live on mobile devices – a move that forever changed the course of live sports in India. Today, as we launch Disney+ Hotstar Multiplex, we find ourselves yet again at the cusp of making a revolutionary change by bringing the biggest Bollywood movies directly to millions across the country. We are happy to partner with the best directors and most talented actors; and provide them with a platform to present their masterpieces.”

     

    Speaking about this initiative and its effect on the overall industry, he further added, “Theatres are a special experience. So, they will always exist and thrive. But the potential of the industry can’t be capped by the number of release windows and theatres available. Our initiative will dramatically increase the number of films that can be made, giving film-lovers more films to enjoy and the creative community more films to make. We firmly believe that this will generate a massive momentum for more and different kinds of films to be made in India. It’s a win-win for all.”

     

     

  • Anita Kotwani joins Carat India as CEO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Carat India, the flagship media agency from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), has roped in Anita Kotwani as its chief executive officer (CEO). 

     

    Kotwani was until recently at Mindshare India where she held the position of Senior Vice President, New Business and Client Lead, The Walt Disney Business. In a career spanning more than two decades, 16 of which have been with Mindshare, Kotwani has been instrumental in leading client relationships for brands such as the ABG, Kellogg, ICICI Group, Facebook, Byju and The Walt Disney Company amongst others, for the West zone. Additionally, she has also helped build diversified offerings across data, digital and content, driving exponential growth for Mindshare India over the last two years.

    Kartik Iyer
    Kartik Iyer

    She will report to Kartik Iyer, President Media Brands and Amplifi and will be responsible for the agency’s strategic progress and business growth, nationally. She will also focus on developing and leading significant tools and capabilities within Carat to help deliver enhanced integrated solutions to clients. Speaking on her appointment, Iyer said: “I am delighted to have Anita Kotwani join our team at Dentsu Aegis Network India. In her new role, Anita will help futureproof Carat India as the agency gets ready to take on the new opportunities that the changing market dynamics has to offer.” 

     

    Anand Bhadkamkar
    Anand Bhadkamkar

    Added Anand Bhadkamkar, CEO, DAN India: “Anita is an industry veteran. She is known for her dedication and diligence and has worked across multiple categories including consumer durables, financial services, FMCG and other MNC brands. I wish her all the luck as she charts fresh new path for Carat India, beginning now,” 

     

    Elaborating on her mandate, Kotwani said: “Carat was the world’s first media agency to form with the belief that media has the power to transform businesses and this holds true even in today’s times. It is indeed Redefining Media. With DAN’s unique operating model under its single P&L structure, one can draw on the capabilities of its sister companies – including that of its dedicated OOH, Digital, Performance, Marketing Effectiveness and Creative agencies, to access world class specialisms and create bespoke teams to meet client specific needs. There is scale, specialisation and integration at the core, and with my expertise in leading client relationships and growing diversified offerings, I am super excited to lead the Carat brand for India.”

  • To help them cope with the coronavirus situation

    Hotstar reaches out to migrant workers in Singapore

    By A Correspondent

     

    To offer South Asian migrant workers residing in Singapore moments of respite during this uncertain and difficult time, The Walt Disney Company is working with the Singapore government to bring the Hotstar streaming service to migrant workers during this period.

     

    The workers can live stream more than 85,000 hours of movies, cricket matches, Star India TV shows and live news on their mobile phones. Available in nine languages, the content offering includes more than 2000 movies and 900 TV shows. The service is currently available only on Android phones in Singapore, but will be available soon on iPhones as well. This initiative ends on 21 July 2020.

     

    Said Uday Shankar – President, The Walt Disney Company APAC and Chairman, Star & Disney India: “We are honoured to work with the government to bring Hotstar to migrant workers in Singapore. In these unprecedented challenging times, we humbly hope that by offering the workers content that speak their language and reach their hearts, we can help lift their spirits and bring some moments of comfort and inspiration.”

     

     

  • Given that VIVO IPL 2020 is scheduled to be held between March 23 and May 12, 2020 and Hotstar is a critical part of the live coverage gambit for Star India, one can expect the Disney+Hotstar launch to happen as part of the IPL 2020 blitz

    Disney+ to launch in India on March 29. Hotstar Premium to be renamed Disney+Hotstar

    By A Correspondent

    Disney+, the OTT service from the Walt Disney Company will launch in India on March 29, Bob Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bog Iger said on Tuesday in his quarterly earnings call.

    Disney, which owns, Star India, already owns and runs Hotstar in India, is likely to rechristen Hotstar VIP and premium service as Disney+Hotstar.

    Given that VIVO IPL 2020 is scheduled to be held between March 23 and May 12, 2020 and Hotstar is a critical part of the live coverage gambit for Star India, one can expect the Disney+Hotstar launch to happen as part of the IPL 2020 blitz.

    Hotstar’s VIP/Premium service which is the subscription based video on demand service from the platform, is likely to be rebranded and called Disney+Hotstar.

    Disney+ has reported 28.6 million subscribers as on Monday.

  • All existing employee benefits around maternity and paternity, IVF, surrogacy and adoption is applicable to the LGBT+ employees

    Star India extends health insurance cover to LGBT+ employees

    By A Correspondent

     

    Effective July 1, Star India has extended health insurance cover to the partners of LGBT+ employees. All existing employee benefits around maternity and paternity, IVF, surrogacy and adoption is applicable to the LGBT+ employees.

     

    Said Amita Maheshwari, Head of Human Resources, APAC, DTCI, The Walt Disney Company: “At Star, we believe that our people are happiest when they can bring their authentic self to work. Since our inception, diversity and inclusion have been our biggest strengths. It helps us build enduring characters, rich stories and imagine more possibilities… We respect each individual’s diverse perspectives to foster a truly inclusive culture.”

     

     

  • Sanjay Gupta will be Country Manager of India

    Disney announces APAC top deck

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    On April 1, Star India – part of 21st Century Fox and now the larger Walt Disney Company – employees received a mail from Uday Shankar, Chairman, Star and Disney India, and President, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific.

     

    It was much anticipated given an announcement earlier that the APAC leadership team would be unveiled. All of this was necessitated thanks to the late 2017 acquisition of the Rupert Murdoch family-owned 21st Century Fox by the Walt Disney Company.

     

    Said Shankar: “It is a momentous opportunity to be able to chart the course of The Walt Disney Company in Asia Pacific and Middle East. While our region is experiencing tremendous change, the common thread that binds it together is the exciting opportunity it presents to build on the great businesses that we have today and create transformational businesses of tomorrow. My endeavour is to build an organisation that enables us to take full advantage of this unique opportunity and capitalise on the potential of the great leadership talent that we have in the region.”

     

    Although Walt Disney is the leader in many parts of the world, competition is getting stiffer with OTT platforms aided by cheaper mobile data, the rules of the game are indeed changing.

     

    “We recognise the need for a sharp focus on building deeply local businesses,” Shankar continued. “To achieve this, we are making some changes to the current market structure. This will allow us to serve the strategic agenda in each market and enable our exceptional leaders to build even greater and more successful businesses. Above all, this will facilitate our transformation into a direct-to-consumer company that rests on deep local foundations.”

     

    So here is the leadership of the APAC team of The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI) segment:

     

    Business Leads and Country Managers:

    :: North Asia: Luke Kang will continue to lead the North Asia (Greater China, Japan and Korea) business including direct country management of Mainland China and Japan

    :: India: Sanjay Gupta will be Country Manager of India and will also have direct responsibility for the studio business in the country

    :: Star Regional Media Networks: K Madhavan will lead Star India’s regional language Media Networks

    :: Southeast Asia: Zubin Gandevia, after a long and distinguished career with Fox, has decided to leave the company but has agreed to remain for a period of time to help transition the leadership of media networks in Southeast Asia

    :: Emerging Markets & Content Sales: Amit Malhotra will lead Emerging Markets. He will also lead Content Sales for APAC (except North Asia), with a dual reporting to Janice Marinelli who heads DTCI’s Global Content Sales and Distribution

    :: Middle East: Chafic Najia will be Country Manager of Middle East Media cluster

    :: Australia/New Zealand (ANZ): Kylie Watson-Wheeler will continue to serve as Country Manager of Australian and New Zealand business with direct responsibility for Media Networks and Direct-to-Consumer

    :: Studios APAC: Kurt Rieder will lead the Studio business for APAC (except India). He will work closely with the regional business leaders to drive this business

     

    Functional Leads:

    :: Sanjay Jain will lead Finance

    :: Amita Maheshwari will lead Human Resources

    :: Anju Jain Kumar will be the Chief Regional Counsel for North Asia and ANZ

    :: Deepak Jacob will be the Chief Regional Counsel for India, South East Asia and Middle East

    :: Prateek Garg will manage my office as head of Corporate Development and will work closely with me and all business and functional heads

    :: Jessica Pouleur will lead Strategy and Business Development. She will also take interim responsibility of leading strategy for Southeast Asia

    :: Jannie Poon will head Corporate Communications

     

    Added Shankar: “Our true strength comes from the quality and diversity of our talent, which combines the best of both Disney and 21st Century Fox. I am privileged to lead a team of such exceptional leaders and congratulate all of them on getting this exciting opportunity to lead this great company to an even greater destiny.”

     

  • Shankar, who currently serves as President, 21st Century Fox, Asia, and Chairman and CEO of Star India, will become Chairman, Star and Disney India, and President, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific

    Uday Shankar to head Disney in India

    By A Correspondent

    Uday Shankar, who currently serves as President, 21st Century Fox, Asia, and Chairman and CEO of Star India, will become Chairman, Star and Disney India, and President, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific

    This is part of the integration planning for the pending acquisition of Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., the Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI) segment of The Walt Disney Company. The consolidated international business units will be helmed by three leaders including Shankar.

    Said Kevin Mayer, Chairman of The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment: “The planned restructuring of our business units outside of the U.S. will result in a stronger, more agile organization, one that is better able to pivot and capitalize on the many opportunities present in today’s fast-changing and increasingly complex global marketplace,” adding: “Once the acquisition is complete, all three regions will be led by exceptional, highly experienced executives who will combine the ‘best of the best’ talent from both organisations. This new structure and the outstanding leadership team we’ve put in place are clear demonstrations of our strong commitment to integrating operations and thoughtfully executing our strategic priorities around the globe.”

    DTCI’s international operating structure and executive management, effective upon the completion of the acquisition, will include three distinct regions:

    · EMEA– Rebecca Campbell, who currently serves as President, The Walt Disney Company EMEA, will maintain oversight of this region and adds oversight of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

    · Latin America – Diego Lerner, who currently serves as President, The Walt Disney Company Latin America, will maintain oversight of this region

    · Asia Pacific – Uday Shankar, who currently serves as President, 21st Century Fox, Asia, and Chairman and CEO of Star India, will become Chairman, Star and Disney India, and President, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific

    Additionally, Janice Marinelli will serve as President, Global Content Sales and Distribution. Responsible for DTCI’s integrated global content sales organization, she will lead and have oversight of the Company’s programming sales efforts for its combined portfolio of content, as well as the distribution of branded direct-to-consumer apps and services to broadcasters, digital services and other third-party distributors around the world.

    Campbell, Lerner, Marinelli and Shankar will report to Mayer.

    Reporting to Shankar as part of the Asia Pacific leadership team will be the following current DTCI executives:

    · Luke Kang, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Greater China, Japan and Korea

    · Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand

    · Chafic Najia, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Middle East

    In the coming weeks, DTCI plans to announce additional executives joining the three regional leadership teams as well as the global sales organization.

    Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox has received formal approval from shareholders of both companies, and Disney and 21st Century Fox have entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice that allows the acquisition to proceed, while requiring the sale of the Fox Sports Regional Networks. The transaction is subject to various international regulatory clearances, a number of which have been obtained, while others remain pending.

    Meanwhile, as has been known, Mahesh Samat has been appointed as EVP, Disney consumer products commerciali-sation for the Asia Pacific region. He will be responsible for the commercialisation of Disney franchises across merchandise, publishing and licensed games. He was earlier senior VP and MD at Walt Disney International, South Asia.