Latest news with #RocketBoys
Mint
29-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Why Sony handing over India-England cricket digital rights to JioStar is a win-win deal
In a move that would've raised eyebrows not so long ago, media rivals Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) and JioStar have teamed up to share the broadcast rights to India's cricket tours in England in 2025 and 2026. While Sony retains the television rights, JioHotstar will exclusively stream all matches online, starting with the five-Test series from June 20. The deal reflects the stand of both companies today and where the business of cricket broadcasting is headed. SPNI secured the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) rights in 2023 for eight years during a phase when broadcasters were aggressively locking in international boards. DisneyStar had picked up the TV rights to the Indian Premier League, the International Cricket Council (ICC) rights and Cricket Australia, while Viacom18 signed on Cricket South Africa and the digital rights of the IPL. The bidding war came just before OTT monetisation challenges, rising rights fees, uncertain ad yields and market realities caught up with the broadcasters, forcing a rethink. Since then, Sony's digital focus has leaned toward strengthening SonyLiv's reputation as a home for premium original content. It hasn't chased live sports as aggressively as its rivals. Also Read | How IPL's soaring valuation fuels Indian cricket board's growing revenue SonyLiv's success with shows such as Scam 1992, Maharani and Rocket Boys has helped build a distinctive identity, but cricket streaming requires a different scale of technology, bandwidth, and investment. In that context, subletting the digital rights of the India-England series to JioStar makes business sense. JioStar is better placed to monetise the property in today's fragmented media environment. The platform has built a massive reach through IPL by combining Disney+ Hotstar's paid subscriber base with JioCinema, and has already established user habits around cricket streaming. For Sony, the deal helps de-risk a potentially overvalued property. While the financial terms haven't been disclosed, industry insiders said the ECB rights were picked up at a premium. By retaining TV and offloading digital, Sony safeguards its distribution revenue via cable and DTH and avoids pouring resources into digital marketing or tech for a one-off series. Post-IPL gap There's also a timing factor. The India-England Test series arrives right after IPL, without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Test squad, and advertisers are already showing signs of fatigue in the current market. Driving advertising sales around the tour would've been a tall order. JioStar, with its recent IPL momentum, is better positioned to carry that forward. From JioStar's perspective, the move fills the post-IPL gap. There's no India cricket on its calendar otherwise and the England tour offers continuity for viewers and advertisers alike. It also helps retain subscribers acquired during the IPL window. Also Read | India's sports economy inches closer to $2 billion as endorsements, emerging sports fuel growth This isn't the first time broadcasters have split TV and digital rights. Disney Star and ZEE had earlier tried a similar arrangement for ICC events. ZEE was to take TV while Disney retained digital. That deal fell through when the Sony-ZEE merger collapsed and ZEE couldn't make the payments. But the principle of playing to one's strengths is increasingly relevant in the sports rights business. The question now is whether this marks a broader strategic shift for Sony. Is this a one-off move to monetise a tricky asset or a signal that the network is retreating from digital sports altogether? Digital home For now, it appears tactical. But as streaming becomes central to how cricket is consumed, the gap between SonyLiv's entertainment positioning and the demands of live sports will only widen, unless the company makes a decisive move. Meanwhile, JioStar continues to entrench itself as the digital home for Indian cricket. Whether through direct rights or smart partnerships, it is building a platform where the fan journey doesn't pause between tournaments. Also Read | Gen Z wants more than just cricket from sports entertainment, looks for authentic athlete engagement At its core, this is a deal born out of business logic, not emotion. The viewer doesn't care who owns the rights, they care about access. The platform wants monetisation. The rights holder wants to avoid losses. And if that means former rivals shaking hands, so be it. In a rights market defined increasingly by scale, cost discipline, and collaboration, Sony and JioStar may have just shown everyone what grown-up cricket broadcasting looks like.
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Jim Sarbh says grandfather faced losses in business, father didn't make money till ‘very late in life': ‘We lived in a flat given by the Parsi Panchayat'
Jim Sarbh, who has often played rich guy roles in most of his projects including Made in Heaven and Rocket Boys, recently shared his childhood when his grandfather owned an art gallery that didn't do well. The actor also shared that his father started to make money very late in his life before which they lived in a flat given to them by Parsi Panchayat. 'My dad was not in a high economic bracket at all', said the actor. In a recent conversation with Mashable India, Jim Sarbh recalled the times when he lived in this beautiful building in Malabar Hill, but clarified that they were not in a financial condition to afford it. 'A couple years I lived in a building in South Bombay, Malabar Hill.' Explaining how he could afford to live in the most affluent residential areas in Mumbai, Jim shared, 'My dad made money mid-way through his life. He left (Parsi flat) very young because he wanted to make a name for himself. He wanted to make some money. He wanted that kind of success. He left to join the merchant navy. He started his journey as a cadet on ship and eventually became the captain of the ship. He made money very late in his life. Even when we lived in this building (in Malabar Hill), we lived in this building not because we could afford a flat but because it was a company flat.' ALSO READ | 'Jhootha aadmi': Anurag Kashyap claps back at Vivek Agnihotri for saying his alcoholism disrupted Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal shoot Jim recalled his grandfather owning an art gallery, but shared it didn't earn them enough money. 'He did have an art gallery. But modern Indian art didn't make money until recently.' After losses, the family turned the art gallery into an auction house. 'It used to be Pundole Art Gallery, now it is Pundole's Auction House. My uncle runs it. And today, it very successful.' Late in his life, Jim Sarbh's dad bought this beautiful Spanish Villa in Maharashtra's Dahanu from their family friend. The villa features wide arches, open spaces and courtyard surrounded by a large garden. A grand staircase leads to an outdoor swimming pool on the first floor with fantastic views of the sea. The house, now owned by Jim, is decorated with cabinets and ornaments that are full of character. The actor, who made his Bollywood debut with the 2016 film Neerja, appeared in several plays including The Show, The Breakup, Tennis in Nablus, and Ice Glen before that.
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Regina Cassandra wants to play more North Indian characters: ‘Not knowing the language is an excuse, Bollywood has bigger issues to deal with'
Regina Cassandra has been working in the Tamil film industry for 20 years. She's also appeared in Telugu films, but made her Hindi film debut only five years ago in Shelly Chopra Dhar's Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019). Since then, she's made a mark with shows like Rocket Boys, Shoorveer, Farzi, and Jaanbaaz Hindustan Ke, and more recently this year, with films like Jaat and Kesari 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, where she played the wife of Akshay Kumar. In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, Regina talks about making inroads into Bollywood, whether she's equipped to do North Indian characters, and starting her Bollywood journey with a queer character. This year, we've seen you play the villain in Vidaamuyarchi and Jaat. Would you say you're in your evil era? (Laughs) I don't think I'm in my evil era. I've always been about balancing, and Kesari 2 would also prove that. Back in 2022, when I was doing Rocket Boys, I also did an item song ('Saana Kastham' in Telugu film Acharya). I've always wanted to be a versatile actor. Proving yourself in this industry is not very easy, unless you get the opportunity to. And I've only been blessed enough to get the opportunity to play different roles. To my luck, the industry is constantly changing in favour of women doing different kinds of roles. Balancing is great, but how do you make limited screentime roles like the ones in Kesari 2 or Farzi your own? At the end of the day, you're expected to do the job you're assigned to the fullest. The audience has also become really smart and sensitive. Thanks to social media, Instagram, Twitter or Reddit, people have become very aware of what's going on, whether it's how much a film has made to where an actor is from. Sometimes, people within the industry don't know a South actor or from any other language. But the audience does! At the end of the day, you make films for the audience. I think it's a compliment when the audience or the reviewers say they wanted to see more of me. That's a big win. It's something I'll take home happily. And that's been a unanimous case with my films where my role is smaller than other actors. It's not even a moment of pride for me. I just feel blessed that people are so accepting of my work. When they talk about my screen presence, I feel like I'm on the right path. In Kesari 2, we see you as the partner of a complex man. In the scene when Akshay Kumar's character says, 'Let's go home,' you don't oppose it, but just quietly support his decision. How did you crack that chemistry with him? I've played pretty strong yet subdued parts in the past. She was a support system at the end of the day. There's a lot of power in silence, and in silently supporting the people you love. It's sometimes the only way you can be there. You can't change anything or make the person feel a different way. From Rocket Boys to Kesari 2, you've often been cast as a South Indian character. Do you think the Hindi film industry will ever cast South Indian actors like you as North Indian characters? Will they, I don't know. Should they, yes. Because Bollywood is pretty unpredictable. In fact, I'd love for them to cast me as a Punjabi. The South has always been welcoming of North Indians, especially female actors. In Bollywood, technicians have been from the South. But that's more to do with skill. Do you think language becomes a hurdle? I feel that's just an excuse. It's something we can work on. We've got bigger issues to deal with. You're telling me dubbing for an actor or getting them to go through classes isn't possible? It's not about the lack of an actor wanting to put in the effort. I know I can look like a North Indian as well. It's not that I'm not trying. I've auditioned for North Indian characters. I've also asked directors to henceforth not change my characters to South Indian, especially if they've written them as North Indian characters. You did play a North Indian character, Kuhu, in your debut Hindi film, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. Right? Yes, in fact, those are the kind of directors I really admire because she wanted to work with me just because of my work. She didn't think how I'd figure out the accent. And I dubbed for myself! I'm a big ally of the LGBTQ+ community. I'd do anything to shout out my support. So that film really spoke to me. Now, we see Mammootty play a queer character in Kaathal: The Core (2023). But do you think there were any queer parts in South Indian films five years ago? Although Hindi cinema is considered huge and rational, South Indian films touch a chord because the audience is very accepting here. There's not just the run-of-the-mill stuff. We love our commercial films, and have enough of them here, but we have a great balance too. The South has done it way before. In fact, there was a film of mine in the South in which I played a lesbian, much before I did Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. It was directed by Venkat Prabhu, but it didn't happen. Also Read — Regina Cassandra calls Bollywood 'unforgiving': 'I'm not the kind of a person who could sell myself for work' Your next Hindi film is Section 108 alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui. How was that experience like? I hope it sees light of the day. We've worked really hard to put it out. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is an actor all of us unanimously look up to. Having him in a film makes you instantly intrigued about what it's about. Again, I'm very blessed to be a part of such cinema. You're also a part of Mookuthi Amman 2 with Nayanthara. Are you looking forward to that? Yes, we're starting in June. We've just one day's shoot of look tests and promotional stills. The whole canvas is very appealing. It's a Sundar C film, he's all about fantasy. My role in it is pretty crazy! It's something I've never done before at all. I love that 20 years into my career, I can say it's something I've not done before.
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Why Hrithik Roshan's Loving Reaction To Girlfriend Saba Azad's Latest Picture Is All Heart
New Delhi: Hrithik Roshan and Saba Azad's relationship reveal was one of the most unexpected revelations ever. It started with the two being clicked out and about in the city, and eventually, they made it Instagram official in October 2022, when Hrithik shared a picture on his Instagram with Saba. Earlier today, Saba shared a series of pictures on social media featuring a gorgeous sun-kissed selfie. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saba Azad (@sabazad) She captioned it, "Good morrow early risers... I'm fairly new to your world but I like it so very much." Hrithik Roshan being the perfect green flag, instantly reacted to the picture with a red heart emoji. Previously too, Hrithik has commented on several posts of Saba, expressing his love and admiration for all that she is. While the two mostly keep their relationship lowkey, they do not shy away from a little online PDA now and then. The two have also shared several pictures on their official social media accounts, from holidays and family celebrations. For the unversed, Saba Azad is a multi-talented artist, actress, theatre director, and musician, and clearly has many talents to be credited for. She's also part of the electro-funk duo Madboy/Mink and her latest releases include Rocket Boys, Ladies Room, and Who's Your Gynac.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
West Virginia authors who had their books turned into movies
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — Despite its size, West Virginia has its fair share of bestselling authors, but only a small handful of them have been lucky enough to see their books adapted to the big screen. That being said, there might be more than you think: at least eight movies have been released that were adapted from books written by a West Virginia author, along with one Netflix television series. Homer Hickam, who is from Coalwood, West Virginia in McDowell County, said on his website that the original story about his dream to become a rocket scientist started out as an article in Air & Space Magazine in 1994, but was later expanded upon into a full-length book. Easily the most well-known movie on this list, 'October Sky' is an adaptation of Hickam's novel 'Rocket Boys,' published in 1998, with the movie premiering only five months later in February of 1999, with Jake Gyllenhaal playing the role of Homer Hickam. In 2021, 12 News was able to speak with Hickam during a visit to a Mountaineer Middle School, who said the state prepared him for life in many ways, and the obstacles he overcame living in West Virginia were a vital part of that preparation. 'My message is that it's great to be a West Virginian. You've got advantages that you don't even know about. You had to overcome obstacles your whole life and that's going to help you out throughout life,' Hickam said during the interview. 'I just want young people to be proud of who they are and recognize what a great state that they're from, and you're gonna go out there in the world full of common sense and knowing you can overcome obstacles.' You can watch 12 News' 2021 interview with Hickam below. Coincidentally, there is also an Indian television series also called 'Rocket Boys,' but the story is unrelated to Hickam's book and covers the events that led to India becoming a nuclear power. Going from the most famous adaptation to the most recent, Edward Ashton's book 'Mickey 7' was recently adapted as 'Mickey 17' and hit theaters on March 7, 2025, three years after the book was first published in February 2022. Ashton, who grew up in Fairmont, said in a recent interview with 12 News that he was 'really glad to be able to call [himself] a West Virginian,' and was heavily influenced by two of his English teachers at Fairmont Senior High School. The movie itself stars multiple copies of Robert Pattinson, who is perhaps best known for his roles in Twilight, Harry Potter and The Batman. The film was directed by South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, whose previous movies include Parasite and Snowpiercer (2013). The first book written by a West Virginia author to be adapted into a movie was written by Davis Grubb, a Moundsville native. 'The Night of the Hunter,' was published in 1953 and adapted into a movie just two years later. The book follows the actions of Henry Powell, who is based on the real West Virginia serial killer, Harry Powers. Powers, also known as the 'Lonely Hearts Killer' or 'West Virginia Bluebeard,' would assume false identities and form relationships with widows before inevitably killing them after they had withdrawn money from their own bank accounts. Powers killed at least five women this way. West Virginia's serial killers and how they were caught 'The Night of the Hunter' was also adapted into a made-for-TV movie in 1991, with Grubb credited as one of the writers on the production and Richard Chamberlain cast in the role of Harry Powers. Grubb's 1969 book 'Fools' Parade' was also adapted into a movie. Starring Jimmy Stewart and featuring Kurt Russell, George Kennedy and Anne Baxter, 'Fools' Parade' follows a crew of recently released inmates who are attempting to cash in on their prison savings while simultaneously being pursued for the money by a corrupt prison guard. Starring William Dafoe, Danny Glover, Brad Johnson and Rosanna Arquette, 'Flight of the Intruder' by Stephen Coonts tells the story of American naval pilot Jake Grafton during the Vietnam War. According to his website, Coonts was born in Buckhannon in 1946 and attended West Virginia University before joining the U.S. Navy. 'Flight of the Intruder' was his first novel and was published by the Naval Institute Press in 1986, getting adapted to the big screen five years later. Carlene Thompson was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and although she has lived in many states during her life, she has returned to live in Point Pleasant on more than one occasion. 'Noir Comme Le Souvenir' is a French film adaptation of her first book 'Black For Remembrance' a mystery and suspense novel. According to Thompson's biography page on her website, Thompson's favorite kinds of stories to write are 'book-length psychological mysteries with a bit of romance,' and has written 19 books between 1991 and 2022. Thompson's 1995 book 'The Way You Look Tonight' was adapted to film in 2014 by a French filmmaker named Jean-Pierre Mocky, the same person who adapted her first book 'Black For Remembrance' almost 20 years earlier. Mocky has his own website dedicated to his extensive work in the French film industry that even has some on-set photos and recordings from the production of 'Tu Es Si Joli Ce Soir.' Perhaps the most poignant movie on this list is the documentary adaptation of John Temple's 'American Pain,' a book that deeply explores the causes and effects of the opioid crisis that continues to impact the lives of thousands of West Virginians and many more people nationwide. Although not currently living in West Virginia, Temple lived in Morgantown for many years and worked as a professor at West Virginia University when 'American Pain' was published in 2015. Although not technically a movie, Craig Johnson's long-running 'Longmire' book series has been adapted to television for a total of six seasons and can currently be watched on Paramount+. Although he currently lives in Wyoming, Johnson is originally from Huntington and continues to write books in his 'Longmire Mystery' series, which currently has more than 20 books in total. His latest entry 'Return to Sender,' is expected to release on May 27, 2025. If you know of any books written by West Virginia authors that have been adapted to the screen and don't see them on this list, you can email the author of this article at sgorski2@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
