MARKET: OTT - MOVERS & SHAKERS

OTT - MOVERS & SHAKERS As part of profiling some of the Movers & Shakers in the global media industry we have attempted to showcase some of the names and highlight their personalities and contributions to the media industry AMAZON PRIME years old, his mother remarried Mike market by opening an online - JEFF BEZOS Bezos, a Cuban immigrant. bookstore. American entrepreneur Jeff Bezos graduated summa cum Bezos opened Amazon.com, Bezos is the founder and chief laude from Princeton University in 1986 named after the meandering South executive officer of Amazon.com and with a degree in computer science and American river, on July 16, 1995, after owner of 'The Washington Post.' His electrical engineering. asking 300 friends to beta test his successful business ventures have Bezos showed an early interest site. In the months leading up to made him one of the richest people in in how things work, turning his launch, a few employees began the world. parents' garage into a laboratory and developing software with Bezos in his Entrepreneur and e-commerce rigging electrical contraptions around garage; they eventually expanded pioneer Jeff Bezos is the founder and his house as a child. operations into a two-bedroom house CEO of the e-commerce company He equipped with three Sun Amazon, owner of The Washington moved to Miami Microstations. Post and founder of the space with his family as a The initial success of the exploration company Blue Origin. teenager, where he company was meteoric. His successful business ventures developed a love With no press promotion, have made him one of the richest people for computers and Amazon.com sold books in the world. Born in 1964 in New graduated across the United States Mexico, Bezos had an early love of valedictorian of and in 45 foreign countries computers and studied within 30 days. In two computer science and months, sales reached electrical engineering at $20,000 a week, growing Princeton University. After faster than Bezos and his graduation, he worked on Wall startup team had Street, and in 1990 he became envisioned. the youngest senior vice Amazon.com went president at the investment public in 1997, leading firm D.E. Shaw. Four years later, Bezos his high school. It was during high many market analysts to question quit his lucrative job to open school that he started his first whether the company could hold its Amazon.com, an online bookstore that business, the Dream Institute, an own when traditional retailers launched became one of the Internet's biggest educational summer camp for fourth, their own e-commerce sites. Two years success stories. In 2013, Bezos fifth and sixth graders. later, the start-up not only kept up, but purchased The Washington Post, and After graduating from also outpaced competitors, becoming in 2017 Amazon acquired Whole Princeton, Bezos found work at several an e-commerce leader. Foods. In February 2021, Amazon firms on Wall Street, including Fitel, Bezos continued to diversify announced that Bezos will step down Bankers Trust and the investment firm Amazon’s offerings with the sale of as CEO in the third quarter of the year. D.E. Shaw. In 1990, Bezos became D.E. CDs and videos in 1998, and later Bezos was born on January 12, Shaw's youngest vice president. clothes, electronics, toys and more 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to While his career in finance was through major retail partnerships. a teenage mother, Jacklyn Gise extremely lucrative, Bezos chose to While many dot.coms of the Jorgensen, and his biological father, make a risky move into the nascent early '90s went bust, Amazon flourished Ted Jorgensen. world of e-commerce. He quit his job with yearly sales that jumped from The Jorgensens were married in 1994, moved to Seattle and targeted $510,000 in 1995 to over $17 billion in less than a year. When Bezos was 4 the untapped potential of the Internet 2011.

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As part of Bezos' 2018 annual following September, he shareholder letter, the media tycoon announced the new Kindle Fire said the company had surpassed 100 HD, the company's next- million paid subscribers for Amazon generation tablet designed to give Prime. By September 2018, Amazon Apple's iPad a run for its money. was valued at more than $1 trillion, the "We haven't built the best second company to ever hit that record tablet at a certain price. We have just a few weeks after Apple. built the best tablet at any price," At the end of 2018, Amazon Bezos said, according to ABC announced it was raising the minimum News. wage for its workers to $15 per hour. In early December 2013, The company has still been criticized Bezos made headlines when he for its working conditions and grueling revealed a new, experimental pace, with workers protesting during initiative by Amazon, called Prime Day in July 2019. "Amazon Prime Air," using drones In 2006, Amazon.com launched to provide delivery services to its video-on-demand service. Initially customers. He said these drones known as Amazon Unbox on TiVo, it would be able to carry items was eventually rebranded as Amazon weighing up to five pounds and Instant Video. be capable of traveling within a 10- Bezos premiered several mile distance of the company's American entrepreneur who was original programs with the launch distribution center. cofounder (1997) and CEO (1998– ) of of in 2013. The The first Prime Air delivery took , a media-streaming and video- company hit it big in 2014 with the place in Cambridge, England, on rental company. critically-acclaimed Transparent and December 7, 2016. Hastings studied mathematics Mozart in the Jungle. Bezos oversaw one of at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, The company produced and Amazon's few major missteps when the Maine, graduating with a bachelor’s released its first original feature company launched the Fire Phone in degree in 1983. After serving in the film, Spike Lee's Chi-Raq, In 2015. 2014. Criticized for being too gimmicky, U.S. Marine Corps, he spent two years In 2016, Bezos stepped in front it was discontinued the following year. with the Peace Corps, most of the time of the camera for a cameo appearance Bezos had been eyeing the teaching math in Swaziland (now playing an alien in Star Trek food delivery market, and in 2017 Eswatini). He returned to the United Beyond. A Star Trek fan since Amazon announced it had acquired childhood, Bezos is listed as a Starfleet the Whole Foods grocery chain Official in the movie credits on IMDb. for $13.7 billion in cash. In early 2018, The Seattle The company began offering Times reported that Amazon had in-store deals to Amazon Prime consolidated its consumer retail customers and grocery delivery in as operations in order to focus on growing little as two hours, depending on the areas including digital entertainment market. As a result, Walmart and and Alexa, Amazon's virtual assistant. Krogers also began offering meal Amazon released the Kindle, a delivery to its customers. States and went to Stanford University, handheld digital book reader that where he received (1988) a master’s allowed users to buy, download, read degree in computer science. and store their book selections, in NETFLIX Subsequently Hastings became a 2007. - REED HASTINGS software developer, and in 1991 he Bezos entered Amazon into the Reed Hastings, in full Wilmot founded Pure Software (later Pure Atria tablet marketplace with the unveiling Reed Hastings, Jr., (born October 8, Corporation), which he sold in 1997 for of the Kindle Fire in 2011. The 1960, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.), a substantial profit.

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In 1997 Hastings conceived the service. Its first such offering was the He joined Star as South Head idea of a subscription-based movie- episodic drama series House of Cards, in 2008 after Star acquired Asianet. rental service, after he incurred a large which debuted in 2013. Such content Madhavan is also Director of IBF and late fee when he failed to return a store- was hugely successful and became a the President of Kerala Television rented videocassette. DVDs were new major focus of the company. During Federation. to the market, but Hastings felt that this time Netflix also began producing Not many know how the man they would travel well through the mail. films. In 2020 it was announced that single-handedly transformed Asianet He and business partner Marc Ted Sarandos would serve as co-CEO from a regional entity to a global brand. Randolph (who left the company in with Hastings. In 1999, when he joined Asianet, the 2004) incorporated Netflix in California A noted philanthropist, regional brand from South was in 1997 and started mail-order DVD Hastings devoted part of his time to on the verge of closing down. He then operations in 1998. Hastings became educational issues, notably charter took over the responsibility to turn the the company’s CEO later that year. At schools. From 2000 to 2004 he was tide for the network. first customers were allowed to rent president of the California State Board Turning a struggling regional each DVD for a seven-day period, but of Education. channel into a media powerhouse, by December 1999 subscribers could Madhavan ensured that the Asianet pay a set monthly fee to rent an bouquet of channels became the DISNEY + HOTSTAR unlimited number of DVDs. Although undisputed market leader in Kerala. But they selected DVDs and controlled - K MADHAVAN he didn't stop there. The channel their accounts via the Netflix Web site, Star and Disney India has a new joined hands with Star India in 2008 DVDs (up to three at a time) were sent Country under and returned by mail. Once a DVD was Manager - K Madhavan’s returned, the next movie on the Madhavan. leadership customer’s account list was With the and the automatically mailed. media giant’s brand Hastings expanded Netflix outgoing became the through movie studio partnerships and Country most aggressive marketing campaigns, Manager successful emphasizing Netflix’s catalog of indie Sanjay Gupta non-Arabic films, documentaries, and other movies heading towards channel in the not easily available through other his exit, Star has Middle East services. In February 2007 Netflix a new leadership and the most shipped its billionth DVD. Meanwhile, for its TV prominent the company launched applications vertical. Malayalam that permitted customers to access All eyes channel in movies and TV shows through — Star’s Europe and streaming downloads. Hastings made employees and America. a rare misstep in 2011 when Netflix the entire media announced that it would increase fraternity — are Madhavan is rental prices and split the company in now looking at set to don a two, with the DVD service rebranded Madhavan to new hat and as Qwikster. He downplayed the begin his reign. this transition resulting loss of customers and Making a will be a huge plunging stock price, but the company transition from one from the existing role. backtracked and canceled the Qwikster banking and corporate finance, in 1999 Before being promoted as the spin-off plan. Madhavan joined Asianet Country Manager, Madhavan was Hastings subsequently Communications Ltd. as Director and Managing Director of South Business, oversaw Netflix’s foray into content took charge of the company as MD Star India, a position he assumed in produced specifically for its streaming and CEO in 2000. 2016. He was overseeing the business

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ventures of Star in the four southern organization. “He is a great guy and urban and rural areas, alike. Before states and a portfolio of regional good with people. Also, he has been a joining SPN in 1999, NP held several channels in Malayalam, , part of all important decisions since he leadership positions across Finance Tamil and Telugu. has been in the top management. He and Operations in leading In this new role, all functional knows the system well and even the organizations including Modi Xerox heads will now report to Madhavan work culture at Star which becomes a and Spice Telecom. Presently, besides who will be reporting to Uday Shankar, bit of a problem for some outsiders. being the MD and CEO of Sony President, The Walt Disney Company, An outsider would take time to settle Pictures Networks India, NP is Director Asia Pacific, & Chairman, Star and down, but for Madhavan the transition of Indian Broadcasting Foundation Disney India. to the big role will be swift,” another and a Director on the Board of Bangla Though Madhavan comes with of his colleagues from the company Entertainment Private Limited and over a decade of TV experience, his told exchange4media. Broadcast Audience Research Council immediate focus could be getting a While Madhavan takes off in (BARC), India. An alumnus of the Delhi hang of the GECs. Also, the the new role as a natural fit, whether School of Economics, where he industry is going through a he continues to have the Midas Touch completed his Master’s Program, NP consolidation phase and in such a as Star’s new Country manager is holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce scenario taking Star India to greater something only time will tell. from the University of Delhi. A rank heights is likely to be on his agenda. holder of The Institute of Cost High hopes ride on Madhavan Accountants of India, Singh was SONYLIV - N.P. SINGH as the industry vouches for the honoured with a Certificate of Merit sincerity of the man. Networks India (SPN) in 1999 by the Institute for his meritorious “Madhavan has been to CEO in 2014. He brings with him over performance. instrumental in transforming Asianet 39 years of varied experience in the as the undisputed leader in Malayalam corporate world and in his current by acquiring more than 50 per cent of role, NP is focused on building the market share. Under his trusted leadership equity of leadership, the channel has reached Networks India. During his long more than 100 countries. Madhavan innings at SPN, he has also served believes in the entrepreneurial culture. His vision has led us to set benchmarks in quality programming in the South, which is now being replicated throughout India,” said one of his former colleagues from the media fraternity. Industry leaders believe Madhavan was the natural successor. “He has been in the company for over a decade. He has been the investor himself in Asianet. Though Madhavan as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). NP is an earnest indophile with was appointed as MD of South Equipped with a deep understanding a special interest in Indian cuisine, Business in 2016, he has been with Star of the media and entertainment space, music and movies. India since 2008. He is a natural fit since NP is insightful about the role SPN Currently, the thing that sparks he comes with close to two decades of could play by bringing rich diversity the most joy for Singh is the success knowledge of TV business,” said in content to broaden the television of Scam 1992, SonyLiv’s tentpole show another senior level executive in Star and digital viewership base, globally. that has proved to be a gamechanger India. NP’s leadership has led SPN to for the streaming platform. Madhavan is known to enjoy a successfully tap into the broad On the back of Scam 1992, the good rapport with his colleagues in the spectrum of audience preferences, in platform has seen an uptick in the

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number of paid subscribers, said During the conversation, Singh tenure. His futuristic vision and sharp Singh. And because it was SPN’s own shed light on how the media and acumen in the new media domain, has production house Studio NXT which entertainment sector is coping with the led the company to a global stature produced the series, this success disruption caused by the pandemic. today. Punit is also responsible for tastes all the more sweeter to him. With the unlock phase the sector is expanding the company's international Singh highlighted that apart beginning to see early signs of presence across 171 countries, and its from working on premium originals, the economic revival. As far as the network reach to over 1 billion viewers. platform is working towards bringing is concerned, he stated that SPNI’s ad- Punit is listed amongst the top in live sports content. SonyLiv revenues have reverted to the pre- 100 CEOs of India, in a study currently streams the UEFA Covid2019 levels. published by Business Today in 2015. Champions League and UEFA Europa He has received MIPTV's prestigious League. Médaille d'Honneur Award, ZEE5 - PUNIT GOENKA Economic Times '40 Under Forty' Mr. Punit Goenka, a young and India's Hottest Business Leaders dynamic professional with a strong Award 2014, the 'Young CEO Award' entrepreneurial background, started by CEO India magazine in 2015 and the his career with , a vibrant prestigious IAA Leadership Award conglomerate with diversified business 2014 under the category of 'Media interests in media & entertainment, Person of the Year Award'. Punit has infrastructure, and other leading also been recognized as the sectors. Being the Managing Director 'Entrepreneur of the Year' during the & Chief Executive Officer of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, Punit has been extremely successful in enhancing the company's When asked about SonyLiv’s performance and in driving the revenue model, whether it will be a company towards its set subscription-based or hybrid model goals. (AVOD vs SVOD), Singh explained that the network’s primary focus is to deliver a subscription-driven platform that also offers AVOD content. Said he: “After the relaunch (in May 2020) we have introduced a premium plan of ` 999 for one year. It is completely SVOD and has all the content that we can offer to subscribers. We have also brought out two new annual subscription plans – Liv special and Liv special+ Under his leadership, ZEE has Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards which are priced at ` 199 and ` 399 achieved scores of milestones and 2014. For his immense contribution to respectively. The plan offers access prestigious awards, elevating the the media and entertainment industry, to all shows at the same time as TV, brand to a global cadre. Dun & Punit was felicitated as the 'IMPACT downloading of episodes, and live Bradstreet Corporate Award 2015, IMC Person of the Year' in 2014. Going sports preview up to 10 minutes. It is Fusion Award 2013 for Excellence in forward, Punit envisions ZEE to be completely AVOD. So, yes we are Media, Businessworld Infocom ICT ranked amongst the top global media sharply focusing on both SVOD and Award 2012 are some of the many such brands. AVOD models.” awards bagged by ZEEL during Punit's As the Managing Director and

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critical and box-office success through Mein Ek fame. Before , Ajit films like (2018), Toilet: Ek Andhare founded Colosceum Media Prem Katha (2017), Pvt Ltd along with Capital18, which (2013), Drishyam (2015), (2014), produced several franchise television Mary Kom (2014), properties such as MTV Roadies, MTV (2015), Manjhi: The Mountain Man Splitsvilla, Jai Shri Krishna for (2015), (2015), Viacom18, Wheel Smart Shrimati for Manto (2018), Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011), CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (2012), Gangs Of Ltd., Punit has been extremely Wasseypur (2012), Madras successful in enhancing the Cafe (2013) and company’s performance and in driving (2013). Andhare's vision for the company towards its set goals. His the brand marries futuristic vision and sharp acumen in profitability with engaging the new media domain, has led the original content for both company to a global stature today. Hindi movies and Punit is also responsible for expanding the company’s international presence International Marketing & across 173 countries, and its reach to Distribution in India. over 1.3 billion viewers. Under his aegis Viacom18 Punit was also listed amongst Motion Pictures has also the top 100 CEOs of India, in a study successfully ventured into published by Business Today. He was Unilever and the Master Chef India conferred the ‘Outstanding series for Star India. He has also Contribution to Media’ award at the worked with Unilever plc in India and Managing India Awards hosted by the Asia Pacific region for over 12 AIMA & bagged the prestigious IAA years across sales, general Leadership Award under the category management and marketing functions. of “Media Person of the Year Award”. Ajit Andhare is a Bachelor of Punit has also been awarded the regional films across languages like Technology (BTech) from the Regional esteemed Medaille d’Honneur Award Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi and from the Engineering College, Rourkela, in at MIPTV. South. Apart from accelerating Orissa and holds an MBA from the He plays an active role in footprints into the Hindi and regional Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. shaping the future of the M&E space, Andhare's current focus A voracious reader, he is rarely seen industry as the Chairman of BARC includes building Tipping Point as a without a book in hand. An intense film India. He also serves as a Board of brand for digital content production. is a close second when he has time Director for the Indian Broadcasting Tipping Point’s offering includes web- off! Foundation (IBF). series like ‘X Ray: Selected Satyajit Shorts’, a 12-part series presentation directed by National award-winning ALTBALAJI - AJIT ANDHARE filmmaker Srijit Mukherji; She, a crime - As chief operating officer of thriller created by Imtiaz Ali; Jamtara, a Ekta Kapoor is an Indian Viacom18 Studios, Ajit Andhare has story about a small district in television producer, film producer and established Viacom18 Motion Pictures Jharkhand, known to be India’s director who works in Hindi cinema and as an abode of differentiated and phishing capital, directed by soap opera. She is the joint managing meaningful cinema. His sharp Soumendra Padhi; and Best Days, a director and creative head of Balaji observation and meticulous planning psychological thriller by Abhishek Telefilms Limited, which was founded has garnered the studio phenomenal Sengupta of the web-series Lakhon in 1994. In 2001,

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was launched as a subsidiary company streamers, the prolific ALTBalaji Paanch, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu of Limited which is a thrived while lockdown kept people at Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kaahin film production and distribution . Kissii Roz, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, company. She launched ALT Balaji in Ekta Kapoor started her career Kahiin To Hoga, , Pavitra April 2017. at the age of 15, interning with ad and Rishta, Bade Acche Lagte Hain, Yeh Kapoor was honoured with the feature filmmaker Kailash Hai Mohabbatein, Jodha , Padma Shri in 2020 for her work in the Surendranath. After obtaining Naagin, , Kasam Tere field of arts. financing from her Pyaar Ki, and several With a father, she decided others that were credited with starting career stretching to become a a new wave on Indian television, back two producer. leading to her being known as the decades, Kapoor Kapoor has also "Czarina of television" and "the Queen transformed the of Indian Television". Indian TV She ventured landscape with into movie Balaji Telefilms. production in 2001 Now the largest beginning with Kyo TV content Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin producer in Bolta. South Asia, the and BSE Limited- are based on listed company supernatural themes, has been followed in 2003 and pumping out 2004. The 2005 Kyaa everything from Kool Hai Hum featured soap operas to reality shows to films, her brother . She then creating some 800 hours of TV and went on to co-produce Shootout at releasing three big-ticket movies in the Lokhandwala with Sanjay Gupta. This past year alone. Recently listed among was followed by Mission Istanbul and Fortune India’s 50 most powerful EMI – Liya Hai Toh Chukana Padhega women in business, Kapoor is making in collaboration with Sunil Shetty. her presence felt in the hugely Between 2010 and 2014, she competitive Indian OTT market, with produced many films, including Love her ALTBalaji platform taking on the Sex aur Dhokha, Once Upon a Time in likes of Disney’s Hotstar, Netflix and , and . Amazon Prime. Launched in 2017, it’s created and produced more than 130 In 2012, Ekta Kapoor started the among the leading native players in the Indian soap operas under her banner Institute of Creative Excellence, a Hindi SVOD space, behind a lineup of Balaji Telefilms Limited. Some of her media training school through her 62 original shows. And like many most popular and top shows are Hum production house Balaji Telefilms. 

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