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☆ The best and most daring looks celebrities wore to the 2024 NAACP Image Awards
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The NAACP Image Awards, which honors the accomplishments of Black creatives, was held on Saturday. Winners, including Usher and "Queen Charlotte" star India Amarteifio, wore eye-catching looks. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe NAACP Image Awards' weeklong celebration came ended on Saturday with a live awards show hosted by Queen Latifah, who returned to emcee the ceremony after taking on the role for the first time last year.

Persons: Black creatives, Usher, Charlotte, India Amarteifio, —, Queen Latifah Organizations: Service Locations: India, Los Angeles

☆ Disney's $8.5 billion Reliance merger is a streaming wars win in sports-obsessed India
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Disney announced Wednesday that the companies will be merging their respective Star India and Viacom18 units into a newly created Star India joint venture, valued at roughly $8.5 billion on a post-money basis, excluding synergies. The merger is expected to have more than 750 million viewers in the rapidly growing Indian market. Cricket feverDisney acquired Indian streaming service Hotstar and Star TV channels in 2019 and had exclusive streaming rights to cricket's lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), which it had turned into a paid service by 2020. Disney lost 4.6 million customers for its streaming service, Disney+ Hotstar, in India during the first three months of last year. "I think I said six months ago that they're [Disney] going to see profitability in streaming by the end of 2024.

Persons: Pavlo Gonchar, Walt Disney, Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, Ambani, Jamie Lumley, Lumley, Jason Ware, CNBC's Organizations: Disney, Getty, Walt, Reliance, Star India, Cricket, Star, Indian Premier League, IPL, Indian Premier League cricket, CNBC, Albion Financial Locations: India

☆ Here are Thursday's biggest analyst calls: Tesla, Apple, Microsoft, Delta, Disney, Snowflake, Okta, Salesforce & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Goldman Sachs reiterates Salesforce as buy Goldman said it's standing by its buy rating following the company's robust earnings report on Wednesday. "Multiple high-profile catalysts should double revs by FY28 & support an Outperform rating with a $54 PT." "We initiate coverage of Gates Industrial (GTES) with a Buy rating and $21 price target. The more aggressive stance follows a near week long sell-off in COLD shares following 4Q results and initial 2024 guidance." Goldman Sachs reiterates Microsoft as buy Goldman said it's standing by its buy rating after a meeting with Microsoft investor relations.

Persons: Jefferies, Roth, Roth MKM, Morgan Stanley downgrades Snowflake, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Salesforce, Goldman, it's, TD Cowen downgrades Macy's, Telsey, TD Cowen, Wells, Needham, " Jefferies, Tesla, Coupang, Baird, Cantor Fitzgerald, Cantor, Gates, Piper Sandler, Piper, Raymond James, William Blair, Gordon Haskett downgrades, Haskett, Frank Slootman's Organizations: Jefferies, Barrick Gold, NEM, UBS, Apple, Mar, Bitdeer Technologies, BTC, Citi, United Airlines, Delta, Delta Air Lines Inc, DAL, Deere & Company, American Airlines Citi, Catalyst Watch, Reliance, Star India, JV, UBS downgrades Republic Services, Downside, RBC, Xenia Hotels, Resorts, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche, Products, Gates, NTR, LXU, UW, Bank of America, underperform Bank of America, Realty Trust, Fidelity, Korn, Microsoft, Macquarie Locations: U.S, China, American's, DIS's, Xenia, Federal, Korea

☆ Disney, Ambani’s Reliance create new India media giant with 750 million viewers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Diksha Madhok | Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New Delhi/London CNN —Disney is joining forces with Asia’s richest man to create a new media giant in India that says it will reach a domestic audience of more than 750 million people. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries and Disney have combined their digital streaming platforms and 100 TV channels in the country in a joint venture worth about $8.5 billion, the companies said in a statement Wednesday. Disney (DIS) made a major push into the country in 2019, when it acquired most of 21st Century Fox, including its vast Star India network. “India is the world’s most populous market, and we are excited for the opportunities that this joint venture will provide to create long-term value for the company,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger. Disney salvaging its Indian dreamDisney has faced multiple challenges in India, which boasts a vibrant media and entertainment sector.

Persons: Mukesh, ”, Mukesh Ambani, Nita M, Ambani, Viacom18, Bob Iger, Mouse, Weeks, JioCinema, Iger, “, Mihir Shah Organizations: London CNN, Disney, Reliance Industries, Century Fox, Star, Reliance, Indian Premier League, Warner Bros ., HBO, CNN, Media Partners Locations: New Delhi, London, India, Star India, Viacom18

☆ Disney and Reliance to merge media businesses in India in $8.5 billion joint venture
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Entertainment titan Walt Disney and Indian conglomerate Reliance will merge their Indian businesses, the U.S. entertainment giant announced Wednesday. The companies will be combining their respective Star India and Viacom18 units into the newly-created Star India joint venture, valued at roughly $ 8.5 billion on a post-money basis, excluding synergies. Following the completion of the transaction, Reliance, led by Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, will control the JV and inject $1.4 billion into its growth strategy. The ownership structure will comprise of a 16.38% interest for Reliance, 46.82% for Ambani's Viacom18 and 36.84% for Disney. Ambani's wife, Nita Ambani will chair the joint venture, while Viacom18 board member Uday Shankar will serve as vice chairperson.

Persons: Walt Disney, Mukesh Ambani, Ambani's, Nita Ambani, Uday Shankar Organizations: Reliance, Star India, Asia's, JV, Disney Locations: U.S

☆ What’s next for Zee shares? Here’s what Wall Street analysts are saying after Sony merger was called off
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Shares of the Indian media house fell 34% on Tuesday, while investors shrugged off the impact on the $124 billion Japanese media and technology giant Sony. ZEEL-IN 1Y mountain What are analysts saying about Zee shares, moving forward? Citi sharply slashed its price target on Zee's stock from 340 Indian rupees to 180 Indian rupees. Zee has not stated whether it will pursue the merger while the litigation with Sony could hinder improvements in operations or explore a merger with other players," the analysts added. Similarly, Elara analysts added, "Possibility of any other strategic/financial partner buying majority stake in Zee could provide respite to valuation multiples."

Persons: Motilal Oswal, Zee, Motilal, Aliasgar Shakir, Karan Taurani, Pulkit Chawla, Emkay, Zee's, Punit Goenka, Chawla Organizations: Zee Entertainment, Sony, Zee, Citi, Wall, Reliance, Disney Star India, Motilal Oswal, Star, Disney, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Reliance Industries, Media, Elara, RIL, Zee Management, Quintillion Business Media, Bloomberg News, NDTV Locations: India, Zee

☆ Disney nears deal to sell $10-bln valued India business to Reliance -Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

However, Disney may now sell a controlling stake in the business to Reliance, the Mukesh Ambani-controlled conglomerate whose streaming platform's success has weighed on the U.S. company's Indian business, Bloomberg reported. Reliance, whose broadcast venture Viacom18 runs JioCinema, values Disney's India assets, which comprises the Disney+ Hotstar streaming service and Star India, at between $7 billion and $8 billion, the report said. The enterprise value of the India business, Disney's biggest last year globally by users, was seen at around $15 billion to 16 billion when Disney took over Fox's business. The deal could be announced as early as next month, although no final decision has been made and Disney could still decide to hold onto the assets, Bloomberg reported. JioCinema has put increased pressure on Disney India and other streaming platforms, with Ambani marketing the platform by offering free access to the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, digital rights of which were earlier with Disney.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Gautam Adani, Kalanithi Maran, Mukesh Ambani, JioCinema, Ambani, OTT, Karan Taurani, Taurani, Varun Vyas, Rama Venkat, Savio D'Souza Organizations: Disney, REUTERS, Rights, Reliance Industries, Bloomberg, Reuters, Sun TV Network, Blackstone, Reliance, Star India, Disney's, Disney India, Indian Premier League cricket, Elara Securities, Thomson Locations: India, Bengaluru

☆ Disney gives investors a look at ESPN financials, including recent revenue declines
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The reorganization of Disney 's business is giving investors a glimpse at ESPN's financials for the first time. The company is now broken down into three divisions, one of which is an ESPN segment that includes the TV network and ESPN+ streaming service. A part of the fight was Disney's future prospects for ESPN on streaming. Disney plans to make the ESPN channel a direct-to-consumer option outside of the bundle for customers in the future. However, last week, Trian upped its stake in Disney and now a second proxy battle is brewing, CNBC reported.

Persons: financials, Read, Nelson Peltz, Trian Organizations: Disney, ESPN, Star India, Netflix, Charter Communications, Trian, Management, CNBC Locations: Parks

Over the years, Murdoch's family has also risen into the spotlight — accompanied by stories of vindictive business tactics and inter-family rivalries. WHO IS LACHLAN MURDOCH? Lachlan has been CEO for Fox Corp. since 2019, following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Lachlan rose to executive ranks of the family business, then known collectively as News Corp, in the 1990s and early 2000s. James Murdoch is Lachlan's younger brother, also among the children from their father's second marriage.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan, Murdoch, Australia —, James, Elisabeth, Prudence, ” Murdoch, LACHLAN MURDOCH, Lachlan Murdoch, Anna, —, Fox's, Roger Ailes, JAMES MURDOCH, James Murdoch, James —, ” James, Murdochs, ELISABETH MURDOCH, Elisabeth Murdoch, Murdoch's, PRUDENCE MURDOCH MACLEOD, Prudence Murdoch MacLeod, Patricia, Prudence didn’t, CHLOE MURDOCH, Grace, Chloe Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch’s, Wendi Deng, Chloe, Kathryn Murdoch Organizations: — Media, Monday, Fox News, News Corp, HBO, Fox Corp, Fox, Century Fox, Fox Television, New York, CNN, Illyria Pty, WHO, News . Corp, Street Journal, Harvard University, Rawkus Records, Star India, Sky, British Sky Broadcasting, Sky Networks, Shine, Endemol, Times Newspapers, News UK, Yale University, Stanford University, AP Locations: Adelaide, Australia, U.S

☆ Fairy-tale ending will elude Disney in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MUMBAI, Aug 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - India has lost its magic for Walt Disney (DIS.N). Even if boss Bob Iger can find a buyer or joint venture partner, a fairy-tale ending will elude the Magic Kingdom. The combination of changing viewing preferences and Disney’s own conservatism in streaming puts Disney India in a weak spot. The average monthly revenue per subscriber held steady at 59 cents, compared to $7.31 per subscriber in its domestic Disney+ business. Disney is exploring strategic options for its Star India business, including a joint venture or a sale, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 11, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

Persons: Walt Disney, pare, Bob Iger, Iger, Mukesh, Ambani, JioCinema, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, Fox, Kingdom, Netflix, Indian Premier League, HBO, Disney, Disney India, Walt Disney, Star India, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, India, U.S, Mumbai, United States, Canada

NEW DELHI, July 27 (Reuters) - Walt Disney's (DIS.N) India streaming service plans to start enforcing a policy of allowing its premium users to login from only four devices, an effort aimed at limiting password sharing in a key market, two sources with direct knowledge said. In India, a premium account of Disney+ Hotstar streaming service still allows logins on as many as 10 devices, even though its website currently says "number of devices that can be logged in" is four. Industry data says Hotstar is market leader in terms of users with approximately 50 million. The new planned restriction will also apply to its cheaper plan which will limit usage across two devices, the second source added. Disney's Hotstar topped India's streaming market between January 2022 and March 2023 with a 38% share of viewership, while rivals Netflix and Prime Video held 5% each, data from research firm Media Partners Asia showed.

Persons: Walt Disney's, Disney's, Disney, Mukesh Ambani's JioCinema, Hotstar, Walt Disney, Aditya Kalra, Munsif Vengattil, Jane Merriman Organizations: Netflix, Disney, Media Partners, Media Partners Asia, Thomson Locations: DELHI, DIS.N, India

☆ Disney explores strategic options for India business - WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 11 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) is exploring strategic options for its Star India business, including a joint venture or a sale, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company has talked to at least one bank about ways to help the India business grow, while sharing some of the costs, according to the report. The talks are in the early stages and it is unclear which options, if any, Disney might pursue, WSJ said. Disney's India business comprises Disney+ Hotstar streaming service and Star India, which it took over when it acquired the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox in 2019. Star India, which was rebranded as Disney Star last year, encompasses dozens of TV channels and a stake in a movie production company.

Persons: Walt Disney, Hotstar, Yuvraj Malik, Shounak Dasgupta, Shailesh Organizations: Star India, Wall Street, Disney, Century Fox, Disney Star, Thomson Locations: India, Bengaluru

☆ Apple CEO Tim Cook to meet with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi following Mumbai store opening
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Seema Mody | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches slew of infrastructure projects from MMRDA Grounds, at Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (East) on Jan. 19, 2023 in Mumbai, India. After opening a flagship store in Mumbai, CEO Tim Cook will travel to New Delhi to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Apple's growth in India is widely seen as a success story by Modi and Indian officials. Flipkart and Amazon are dueling for the top spot in India's e-commerce market, and both face competition from newcomer Meesho. — CNBC's Steve Kovach contributed to this reportWATCH: Tim Cook visits India to open first Apple retail store

☆ James Murdoch's Bodhi Tree slashes planned investment in Reliance JV Viacom18
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, April 14 (Reuters) - Bodhi Tree, a joint venture between James Murdoch and a former Star India executive, has reduced its planned investment in Reliance's (RELI.NS) broadcast venture Viacom18 by 70% and will now pump in 43.06 billion rupees ($527.84 million), Viacom18 said late on Thursday. Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries had said in April last year that Qatar Investment Authority-backed Bodhi Tree would spend 135 billion rupees out of a planned 151.45 billion rupees investment in the media behemoth that is also backed by Paramount Global (PARA.O). Reliance is now leading the investment with a 108.39 billion rupees infusion. A source familiar with the matter said the investment amount was reduced due to a broader funding squeeze amid a slowdown in dealmaking. Reliance, which is expanding in every sector from retail to ecommerce, made its big splash in the Indian streaming space last year, with its acquisition of digital streaming rights for the Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament from 2023 to 2027.

☆ India tribunal puts Zee insolvency on hold after warning of Sony merger delay
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Arpan Chaturvedi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - An Indian tribunal on Friday put on hold insolvency proceedings against Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE.NS), a major relief for the Indian media company that warned the legal battle could delay its merger with a local unit of Japan's Sony (6758.T). The tribunal has put on hold the insolvency proceedings for the time being, saying the matter required detailed deliberations and will be next heard on March 29. During the hearing, Zee counsel Mukul Rohatgi warned its merger with Sony is "going to get stuck" if the insolvency proceedings continue. It competes with Disney's (DIS.N) Star India and Reliance Industries (RELI.NS) Viacom18, and its planned merger with Sony's India unit will create a $10 billion behemoth. Zee on Friday disputed its liability in the tribunal saying, according to them the liability did not meet the threshold for initiating insolvency proceedings.

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