Category: Broadcast

YOU Broadband, one of India’s leading high-speed internet providers, has unveiled its latest broadband plans, offering industry-best pricing and unmatched affordability. With the growing demand for seamless connectivity, YOU Broadband aims to make high-speed internet more accessible to Indian households. The newly launched broadband plans for Pune City start at just Rs799 for a blazing-fast 300 Mbps connection, making it one of the most competitively priced options available today. Additionally, users can now avail of 500 Mbps broadband plans at just Rs999, ensuring a superior internet experience at an unbeatable value.

Designed for seamless streaming, gaming, and work-from-home needs, these broadband plans offer 50% lower pricing compared to similar plans in the market. With the surge in digital consumption, YOU Broadband remains committed to delivering fast, reliable, and affordable internet solutions to customers across India. The latest plans also come with special offers on longer validity subscriptions, allowing users to enjoy uninterrupted connectivity at even more attractive rates.

Customers can conveniently apply for these high-speed broadband plans through the official YOU Broadband website or mobile app, ensuring a hassle-free subscription process. For entertainment lovers, YOU Broadband also offers exciting combo packages that include access to 27+ OTT apps, providing an all-in-one solution for high-speed internet and premium digital entertainment.

“With increasing digital consumption, users need a broadband connection that is not just fast but also economical. YOU Broadband is dedicated to providing the best broadband plans at unbeatable prices, ensuring seamless connectivity for our customers,” said Mr. Sameer Mahapatra, CEO, YOU Broadband.

As YOU Broadband continues to revolutionize the broadband industry, customers can expect such aggressive high-speed internet plans across various part of the country in the coming months, further strengthening India’s journey toward a digitally empowered future. ThePrint

The Bhutan Information, Communication, and Media Authority (BICMA) recently granted approval to Starlink Services Private Limited, a foreign direct investment (FDI) company, to provide satellite-based internet services in Bhutan, and the services are now available.

This development marks a significant shift in the country’s internet connectivity, particularly benefiting rural and remote areas, where traditional networks face challenges due to Bhutan’s mountainous terrain and infrastructure limitations.

Before licensing Starlink, BICMA officials evaluated key factors, including the company’s FDI registration, the appointment of local representatives for regulatory compliance, and commitments to service quality and data privacy. The license permits internet services through user terminals but does not include direct satellite-to-mobile cellular services.

Starlink Pricing Plans in Bhutan

• Residential Plan: Designed for household use, offering 25-110 Mbps download and 5-10 Mbps upload speeds with unlimited data for 4,200 BTN per month.
• Priority Plan: Suitable for high-demand users such as businesses and government entities, providing 50-220 Mbps download and 8-25 Mbps upload speeds. Data options range from 40 GB to 6 TB, with prices between 5,900 BTN and 106,000 BTN per month.
• Roam Plan: Offers mobility with 30-100 Mbps download and 5-25 Mbps upload speeds. Plans range from 50 GB to unlimited data, priced between 4,200 BTN and 37,000 BTN monthly.
• Mobile Priority Plan: Designed for mobile users with high data needs, offering 5-220 Mbps download and 10-30 Mbps upload speeds. Data caps start at 50 GB and go up to unlimited, with monthly costs from 21,000 BTN to 2,100,000 BTN.
• Residential Lite Plan: A budget-friendly alternative with speeds similar to the Residential Plan but at 3,000 BTN per month.

Starlink Equipment Costs in Bhutan

• Standard Starlink Kit: 33,000 BTN + shipping
• Flat High-Performance Starlink Kit: 231,000 BTN + shipping
• Mini Starlink Kit: 17,000 BTN + shipping

Billing begins upon service activation or 30 days after equipment shipment, with no early termination fees for cancellations.

It is expected that Starlink’s satellite-based connectivity will help bridge Bhutan’s digital divide by providing reliable internet access in remote and rural areas where traditional infrastructure remains a challenge. FoneArena

High-speed internet is becoming more accessible to rural communities in Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, and Modoc Counties, thanks to a $1 billion broadband expansion effort led by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). This initiative, which spans 47 counties statewide, aims to bridge the digital divide by funding the deployment of reliable, high-quality, and affordable broadband infrastructure in underserved areas.

The Federal Funding Account (FFA) and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program played a key role in securing resources for broadband expansion. As part of these efforts, 2 million Californians will benefit from new projects, ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to essential digital services.

For rural areas like Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, and Modoc, where broadband access has historically been limited, these grants represent a transformative opportunity. The funding will be used to build new internet infrastructure, improve connectivity speeds, and support public partnerships to bring high-speed internet to homes, schools, and businesses.

With broadband becoming increasingly essential for education, work, and emergency services, this investment marks a significant step forward in ensuring that rural Northern California is not left behind in the digital age. The CPUC is expected to oversee the implementation of these projects in 2024 and 2025, with a focus on reaching low-income and disadvantaged communities.

For residents eager to learn more about how this initiative will impact their area, local broadband providers and community organizations will be sharing updates as projects develop. SierraDailyNews

Russia’s leading telecommunications provider, Rostelecom, has confirmed that one of its underwater cables in the Baltic Sea has been damaged due to external impact.

“Rostelecom’s underwater cable was damaged in the Baltic Sea as a result of external influence,” the company said in a statement released for the media on Saturday. It added that services remain operational and that repairs are underway. Authorities have yet to determine the precise cause of the damage.

Earlier the same day, the Finnish Coast Guard said it was overseeing the repair operation in Finland’s exclusive economic zone, where a Russian vessel is conducting the work.

“The Gulf of Finland Coast Guard monitors compliance with the Economic Zone Act and the conditions for the use of the economic zone, where repair work on the damaged Russian cable is underway by a Russian vessel,” the agency wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Cable damage in the Baltic Sea has become more frequent, with Sweden, Norway, and Finland reporting similar incidents in recent months. Concerns have grown over the security of subsea energy and data infrastructure, though officials have not found definitive evidence of sabotage.

NATO recently expanded surveillance operations following suspected sabotage, with speculation circulating that Russia could have played a role in the incidents.

Earlier this month, Norwegian authorities cleared a Russian-crewed vessel after finding no evidence linking it to recent damage to an undersea fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden.

The Norwegian-owned vessel, which operates between St. Petersburg and Murmansk, was detained in January following a request from Latvian authorities.

The Kremlin has denied allegations of involvement in undersea cable damage, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissing the accusations as baseless. “It is quite absurd to continue to blame Russia for everything without any reason,” he said. Big News Network

Foxconn, and Apple’s biggest iPhone assembler, reported on Monday that its January revenue rose 3.16% on year.

Foxconn said it sees strong growth in the first quarter, compared with the year-ago period, adding that it has better visibility for the first quarter than it did a month ago. Reuters

Shares of Sun TV Network Ltd. declined as much as 7% in Monday’s trading session, weighed down by the company’s disappointing December quarter earnings, which saw margin pressure and a decline in advertising revenue.

Global brokerage firm CLSA has a ‘Hold’ rating on Sun TV and has slashed its price target to ₹670 per share, citing Q3 standalone revenue coming in below estimates, with the miss led by a decline in advertising revenue.

The brokerage said that the company’s subscription revenue saw a modest 2% year-on-year growth.

Sun TV’s margin was further dragged down by the launch of Sun Neo, its Hindi channel.

Additionally, the company secured the winning bid for one of the eight franchise teams in a cricket league in the UK.

Nuvama has also trimmed Sun TV’s FY26 and FY27 earnings per share estimates by 8.4% each, given the company’s weak Q3 performance, particularly in ad revenues.

According to Nuvama, Sun TV has a strong regional presence. However, while national players such as Zee have successfully entered the southern market, Sun TV’s expansion into the northern market needs to be more strategic. That said, with increased viewership, Nuvama expects the bandwidth to widen, while the advertisement revenue base remains robust.

The brokerage mentioned that Sun TV needs to ramp up its presence in the OTT segment. At present, it is recycling linear and movie content for OTT. The company must take a more aggressive approach in creating original content and acquiring movie rights for its OTT platform, in addition to marketing efforts, to capitalise on the fast-expanding digital media segment and strengthen its competitive position.

Nuvama has revised its price target for Sun TV to ₹955 from ₹1,040 earlier while maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating on the stock.

The South India-based broadcaster reported a 20% year-on-year decline in net profit, at ₹363 crore for the quarter. Revenue from operations also fell 10.4% to ₹827.6 crore.

Advertisement revenue declined to ₹332.17 crore, lower than the ₹355.43 crore recorded in Q3 FY24. The drop in ad revenue particularly impacted the broadcaster’s operational performance, with EBITDA margin sharply eroding to 53.7% in Q3 from 63.8% in the year-ago period.

Sun TV declared an interim dividend of ₹2.5 per share. This is in addition to a dividend of ₹5 per share declared at its board meeting in August 2024.

Sun TV shares are currently trading 3.89% lower at ₹607.10. The stock is down 12% so far in 2025. CNBC-TV18

Streaming services have become a crucial part of entertainment today. This is the reason why many broadband providers now bundle subscriptions to platforms like Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar with their plans.

Why not buy OTT subscriptions alone?
The answer to this is simple- the more the better. OTT subscriptions when bought alone are less cost-effective in comparison to the bundled ones. With the latter, you generally get access to multiple OTT subscriptions along with internet access, free router and installation. The Disney Hotstar subscription starts at Rs 299 per month while Netflix for TV starts at Rs 499. If you’re looking for the most budget-friendly broadband options that come with free Netflix and Hotstar OTT subscriptions, here are some of the best plans from Jio, Airtel, and ACT Fibernet.

JioFiber Rs 599 plan for Disney Hotstar
Jio offers a broadband plan at Rs 599 (plus GST), which provides high-speed internet at 30 Mbps with 1000 GB of data. Along with the data benefits, this plan offers a Disney+ Hotstar subscription, along with access to 10 other OTT platforms.

JioFiber Rs 888 plan for Netflix
For users looking for free access to Netflix along with Hotstar, Jio’s Rs 888 plan (plus GST) is a better option. It offer unlimited data at 30 Mbps and includes a Netflix subscription along with 12+ other OTT platforms.

ACT Fibernet Rs 665 plan for Disney Hotstar
ACT Fibernet’s Rs 665 per month plan offers an internet speed of 50 Mbps with 750 GB of data. The plan also includes a free router and a subscription to Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, and 400+ live TV channels.

ACT Basic Combo 2 Plan
This is another more comprehensive entertainment package that offers 50 Mbps speed and 1000 GB of data. It includes subscriptions to Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, YuppTV, and 400+ live TV channels, along with a free router.

Airtel Broadband Rs 599 plan for Disney Hotstar
Airtel’s Rs 599 plan provides up to 30 Mbps speed along with more than 350 HD TV channels. Users also get a free 3-month Disney+ Hotstar subscription and access to 20 plus OTT platforms. Additionally, Airtel provides a free router and installation for advance payment customers with the plan for first time buyers.

Airtel Broadband Rs 1599 plan for Netflix
Airtel’s Rs 1599 plan provides speeds of up to 300 Mbps, along with access to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar, and 20+ other OTT platforms. It also includes 350+ HD TV channels. Financial Express

Big changes are occurring over at Sony, with shuffling of leadership taking place for the first time since CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Jim Ryan, retired in 2023. Ryan had been CEO of SIE and in charge of the PlayStation division, leaving the role to be taken in joint by Hideaki Nishino and Herman Hulst in 2024. The two have been PlayStation Studio’s leadership since then, and now Sony is making big changes.

Hulst will remain in charge of Sony’s PlayStation division, while Nishino will take charge of Sony Interactive Entertainment as a whole, becoming both CEO and president of the company. This means that Hurst will now report to Nishino wit lated is up for speculation, but could be exactly what Sony needs.

Since June 2024, Sony Interactive Entertainment has had two CEO’s working together. Nishino, having already been an executive within the company, while Hulst came from Guerrilla Games as a managing director. Prior to the co-CEO appointment, Nishino was Sony’s CFO. Now, Nishino will be SIE’s sole CEO, with Hulst focusing solely on the PlayStation division.

According to a statement from SIE Communications yesterday, Hulst “will continue to lead the development, publishing, and business operations of SIE’s first party-content,” as well as be “responsible for developing games across many devices including PlayStation consoles and PCs and bringing video game IP to new mediums through PlayStation Productions.” Nishino is also quoted in the statement, promising to continue “IP expansion” and “deliver the best in technology innovation.”

Sony has recently been a major talking point as of late within the gaming industry, and not for anything good. Just this past month, Sony killed two in-development live-service games, following its Concord disaster in late 2024. Their focus on live service has been criticized, as it’s merely resulting in developer studios taking the hit for their own poor business decisions.

Hopefully, with a switch-up of leadership that allows more singular focus, things will start to change for the better. According to SIE, this is part of an evolution within the company designed to “maximize synergies across SIE.” Hopefully, it’ll work out how Sony hopes. CBR

JioStar’s Disney+ Hotstar, Colors Cineplex (SD & HD) and Colors Cineplex Superhits will provide the official coverage of the upcoming International Masters League (IML).

The fixtures will kick off at 7:30 PM IST and the competition will consist of six sides – Australia, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and the West Indies.

The first game of the tournament is scheduled for February 22, 2025, which will see the Sachin Tendulkar-led team go against Kumar Sangakkara’s Sri Lanka.

“The IML will be a celebration of cricket’s unique and enduring legacy. I can’t wait to step back onto the field with my contemporaries in a league that will be intense and competitive, with all the teams playing hard, but fair”, Sachin Tendulkar, the captain of the Indian team, said.

“The IML is a tribute to cricket’s timeless charm. It is a wonderful opportunity for former cricketers. It’s a platform where they can relive old rivalries and reconnect with fans. I am excited to participate in this historic league alongside so many illustrious names”, said Kumar Sangakkara, the captain of the Sri Lankan team.

“We are thrilled and honoured to partner with JioStar for the IML. We have no doubt that JioStar, with its experience and, expertise in sports broadcasting, will make the league a memorable experience for cricket fans across the globe”, Jahan Mehta, Director, FSPM, said.

“We are delighted to broadcast the inaugural season of the International Masters League on Disney+ Hotstar, along with our linear channels Colors Cineplex and Colors Cineplex Superhits. The IML is more than just a cricket tournament—it is a reunion of greatness. Fans can expect thrilling matches, expert commentary, exclusive behind-the-scenes access and a lot of nostalgia, in the weeks to come,” said Rohan Lavsi, Head – Hindi Movies Business, JioStar. SportsMintMedia

Warner Bros Discovery Inc, opens new tab has received non-binding offers for Polish broadcaster TVN from at least three bidders, sources familiar with the matter and one fund involved told Reuters on Wednesday.

MFE-MediaForEurope (MFEB.MI), opens new tab, the broadcaster controlled by Italy’s Berlusconi family, is among the bidders, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Polish businessman Michal Solowow has also made an offer to buy TVN according to his MS Galleon fund, as has media group WP Holding (WPPL.WA), opens new tab, a source familiar with the matter said.

MFE’s preliminary offer targets only TVN’s free-to-air business, the sources said, with one adding that it generates earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of about 500 million zlotys ($123.71 million).

MFE declined to comment.

Reuters reported in December that Warner Bros Discovery was working with advisers at JPMorgan on the sale of TVN Group. Two sources said in December that TVN Group, which includes 24-hour news channels TVN24 and TVN24BiS, could be valued at more than 1 billion euros ($1 billion) in a sale.

“At the invitation of JPMorgan and WBD, we submitted a non-binding offer, considering that this is the type of transaction to which we should respond positively,” said Maciej Gorzelinski, from the MS Galleon fund.

Solowow is Poland’s richest man according to Forbes, with business interests ranging from chemicals to energy and a fortune of around 27.25 billion zlotys.

WP Holding press officer Michal Siegieda said it did not comment on M&A-related topics.

Warner Bros Discovery Poland had no immediate comment.

TVN holds a 32% stake in Polish pay TV operator Canal+.

Strategic company
The Polish government said in December it had decided to add several media and telecommunication firms, including TVN, to its list of strategic companies. This means that a takeover of these companies will not be possible without the government’s consent, the prime minister said.

The move underlined the significance of TVN in Poland’s media landscape as authorities are on high alert for potential interference in presidential elections scheduled for May.

Poland’s Radio Zet reported that WP Holding had submitted its offer in consortium with another entity that could be associated with the chief executive of parcel locker firm InPost (INPST.AS), opens new tab, Rafal Brzoska.

Brzoska told Bloomberg in an interview published on Monday that he was not interested in buying TVN.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach Brzoska for comment on Wednesday.

U.S. media group Scripps Networks bought a stake in TVN Group in 2015 for $615.3 million, valuing the business at $1.8 billion at the time, and bought the rest of the business later that year.

The company was brought into the Warner Bros Discovery group after Warner Bros’ 2022 merger with the Discovery Channel, which owned Scripps.

In December, Warner Bros Discovery decided to separate its declining cable TV businesses, including CNN, from its streaming and studio operations. Under the new structure for Warner Bros Discovery, the cable TV business including TNT, Animal Planet and CNN will be housed in a unit called Global Linear Networks.

TVN Group revenues increased to 2.26 billion zlotys ($557.96 million) in 2023 from 2.14 billion zlotys a year earlier, due to higher advertising and subscriptions revenues, according to company filings in Poland. Net profit was 419.7 million zlotys, up from 331.8 million zlotys in 2022. Reuters