Latest news with #SquidGame3
Arab News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Maestro Pizza and Netflix partner for ‘Squid Game 3' menu
Maestro Pizza, a leading quick-service restaurant chain, has announced a partnership with Netflix to launch a limited-edition menu inspired by the highly anticipated series 'Squid Game 3.' This unique culinary experience is now available across Maestro Pizza locations in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. The collaboration introduces Pizza 456, a bold new offering that draws inspiration from the main character and iconic symbols of the global hit series. Complementing this, Maestro Pizza is also serving OX Chicken Bites, featuring crispy chicken paired with distinctive green 'O' and red 'X' sauces, a playful homage to the show's memorable visuals. To amplify this partnership, Maestro Pizza has rolled out a comprehensive promotional campaign, which includes: Fans will also discover various thematic elements from the show, such as 'Player 456' and 'Red Light, Green Light,' integrated throughout the marketing campaign, designed to enhance the overall immersive experience. Moreover, customers can avail a special promotion: buy one pizza online and get one free using the code 'Pizzas' at Established in 2013, Maestro Pizza has rapidly grown to over 200 locations, solidifying its position as one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the Kingdom.
India.com
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
India's most-watched OTT show: No big star, no hype, yet beats Aashram, Panchayat, Squid Game with 27.7M views
Amid big-ticket releases and franchise returns, a familiar name walked past the noise, and it's not Aashram, not Panchayat, not even the global monster Squid Game 3. It is Criminal Justice: A Family Matter on JioHotstar — featuring none other than Pankaj Tripathi as the quietly sharp Madhav Mishra. Ormax Media's Top 50 Streaming Originals list (H1 2025) placed this legal drama at the very top with 27.7 million unique viewers, making it the most-watched original OTT show across platforms. It's not Panchayat or Aashram! That's right. Jitendra Kumar's Panchayat Season 4, which had the Internet buzzing before its release, clocked 23.8 million viewers. Bobby Deol's Ek Badnaam Aashram Season 3 Part 2 did better, raking in 27.1 million. But both were still edged out by Tripathi's layered courtroom return. Criminal Justice is the only one in the top 3 with just one marquee face. No big ensemble. No viral gimmicks. Just tight storytelling, a known lawyer, and weekly episodes that kept pulling viewers back. What was new this season? Season 4 saw the return of lawyer Madhav Mishra, played by Pankaj Tripathi, as he took on another complex case involving family dynamics and layered truths. The season also starred Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Surveen Chawla, Khushboo Atre, and Asha Negi. The first three episodes dropped on May 29, 2025, and the rest followed weekly. How were the rankings calculated? Ormax's rankings were based on actual individual viewers, not account logins or views. For shows, at least one full episode needed to be watched. For films, a minimum of 30 minutes. And repeat viewing? Doesn't count. One viewer, one count. That makes these numbers more human than just 'stream counts.' What about the rest of the Top 10? Here's how the race shaped up: Criminal Justice S4 – 27.7 million Ek Badnaam Aashram S3 Part 2 – 27.1 million Panchayat S4 – 23.8 million Paatal Lok (Amazon Prime Video) – 16.8 million Squid Game S3 (Netflix) – 16.5 million The Legend of Hanuman S6 – 16.2 million The Royals – 15.5 million The Secret of the Shieldars – 14.5 million Chidiya Udd – 13.7 million Jewel Thief – 13.1 million Why did Criminal Justice click? Season 4 avoided the usual traps — no unnecessary twists, no dragged-out drama. Just Madhav Mishra doing what he does best — defending the flawed, exposing the hidden, and still managing to smile through chaos.
Business Insider
24-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Advertising Pivot Renews Upside Hopes for Netflix Stock (NFLX)
Netflix (NFLX) has executed one of the boldest pivots in recent corporate memory, shifting from a subscription-only model to becoming a major force in advertising. Last week, the company stunned Wall Street by raising its revenue guidance by $1 billion to a range of $44.8–$45.2 billion while boasting 302 million global subscribers—that's almost half of Europe's entire population. NFLX's performance has fueled a stock climb, especially since April, leaving the S&P 500 (SPY) in the rear-view mirror. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. But here's the twist flying under the radar: Netflix now trades at a sky-high 52.8x forward earnings, nearly quadruple the average of its sector peers—a valuation that assumes near-perfect execution. For now, I'm maintaining a Hold rating. Netflix's operational performance is undeniably impressive, but at these elevated valuation levels, even small missteps could lead to sharp corrections. Netflix's Internet Breaking Password Crackdown Investors and streamers alike will remember when Netflix declared war on password sharing. As it turns out, that controversial crusade became financial alchemy. Management didn't just convert apparent freeloaders into paying customers; it orchestrated one of the most successful customer acquisition campaigns in streaming history while barely breaking a sweat, as shown by TipRanks data. The next masterstroke was Netflix's strategic rollout of its ad-supported tier—a move that essentially said, 'Can't afford the premium plan? No problem, we'll serve you ads instead.' This wasn't a desperate attempt to boost revenue; with a solid balance sheet behind it, the shift was a deliberate expansion into a previously untapped audience segment. Yet beneath this move potentially lurks a troubling reality: Netflix's share of U.S. streaming time has flatlined, while viewing hours inched up a measly 1%. Netflix subscriptions are competing with Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV+, and multiple other apps for your attention span in a challenging economy. Netflix may be winning plenty of battles, but the war for viewership has become a brutal, expensive stalemate, as Q3 EPS suggests. The content lineup reinforces the same message. With Squid Game 3, Wednesday, and the final chapter of Stranger Things on the horizon, Netflix is leaning heavily into its established blockbusters rather than chasing unproven concepts. When streaming giants start playing it safe, it's usually a sign that the era of effortless growth is coming to an end. AI-Powered Efficiency Meets Old-School Hollywood Drama That said, Netflix's real secret weapon isn't just its content—it's the data-driven innovation powering everything behind the scenes. The company has rolled out AI tools that have accelerated visual effects production by a factor of 10 for shows like El Eternaut, shrinking timelines that once took months down to just weeks. Netflix's algorithmic prowess goes far beyond just trimming costs. Its recommendation engine has become so advanced, it often feels like it knows your tastes better than you do—surfacing shows you didn't even realize you wanted to watch. This creates stickiness that transcends basic subscription logic; when the platform feels that personalized, canceling becomes a much harder decision. Still, even cutting-edge tech has its limits in today's hyper-competitive landscape. Disney (DIS) commands a multigenerational content library, Apple (AAPL) has the financial firepower to reshape industry dynamics, Amazon practically gives Prime Video away through ecosystem bundling, and legacy media giants appear to have finally shaken off their digital inertia. Netflix's geographic expansion strategy is also evolving. Instead of spending heavily to enter new markets directly, the company is partnering with local players, such as CANAL+, to tap into under-monetized regions across Africa and Latin America. It's a more efficient approach, but whether these markets can move the needle on earnings remains the billion-dollar question—especially given the relatively low revenue per user compared to U.S. subscribers. Netflix's Precarious Valuation At 52.8x forward earnings, Netflix stock is priced as if the company will flawlessly execute on all fronts—content creation, advertising, global expansion, and intense competition—all at once. For context, Disney trades at 25x, while traditional media peers average around 15–20x. In essence, Netflix carries the valuation of a high-growth startup but faces the operational demands of a global media conglomerate. A conservative DCF analysis using a 2.5% terminal growth rate and an 8.2% cost of capital estimates Netflix's fair value at around $1,040 per share. With the stock currently trading at $1,233, that implies roughly 20% overvaluation—even factoring in potential advertising upside that may never fully materialize. Valuation concerns deepen when examining revenue multiples: Netflix trades at a 12.5x forward revenue multiple, significantly above the sector median of around 2x, effectively pricing in years of flawless execution in an increasingly unforgiving environment. The advertising pivot is arguably Netflix's most high-stakes gamble yet. Turning a vast subscriber base into meaningful ad revenue is a delicate balancing act—too many ads risk alienating users, while too few won't generate sufficient financial returns. So far, early signs are promising, but the real challenge will emerge as ad loads increase and subscriber tolerance is put to the test. No one really knows where the breaking point lies—largely because Netflix has never pushed its audience this hard before. Market Saturation Meets Expansion Reality Netflix faces a brutal mathematical truth: developed markets are essentially tapped out. North America and Europe have reached natural penetration ceilings, forcing an increased reliance on emerging markets, which have anemic revenue per user and inflated acquisition costs. The password enforcement windfall represents a one-time harvest, meaning future growth must emerge from genuine market expansion or competitive victories, both of which are significantly harder than converting existing viewers. This fundamentally pivots Netflix from subscriber growth champion to operational leverage specialist. The company must now excel at advertising sales, inventory management, audience segmentation, and monetization optimization, entirely different competencies than those that built the original empire. Macroeconomic turbulence could paradoxically benefit Netflix if consumers migrate to ad-supported tiers, accelerating diversification strategy. However, looming tariffs, economic volatility, and regulatory changes add risk that could disrupt even the most masterfully crafted plans. Netflix's global footprint, advantageous for content amortization, also creates exposure to geopolitical tensions and currency fluctuations that domestic competitors avoid entirely. What is the 12-Month Forecast for NFLX Stock? Wall Street maintains a Moderate Buy consensus based on 26 Buy ratings, 11 Hold, and one Sell rating over the past three months. Netflix's average stock price target of $1,391.88 implies ~17% upside over the next twelve months. For a stock trading at nosebleed valuations, these tepid expectations feel vulnerable. Recent earnings revisions trend bullish with 17 upward EPS adjustments, but target dispersion ranging from $950 to $1,500 reveals genuine uncertainty. Netflix at a Crossroads: Brilliant Execution Meets Valuation Gravity Netflix is undeniably evolving in ways that unlock real value. Its push into advertising, operational efficiencies, and strategic global expansion has created meaningful competitive advantages that, under the right conditions, justify a premium valuation. The management team has earned considerable respect, and Netflix's technological edge remains a defensive moat that few rivals can match. That said, I believe the current share price already reflects these strengths—leaving little margin for error. The company's next chapter will reveal whether its operational excellence can continue to defy valuation gravity, or if even the most impressive execution eventually meets the limits of financial reality.
Pink Villa
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Head Over Heels star Choo Young Woo beats Squid Game's Lee Jung Jae, Lee Byung Hun to lead July 2025 Actor rankings: Top 30
On July 23, the Korean Business Research Institute unveiled the latest actor brand reputation rankings. It's based on data collected over the past month. The rankings cover the period from June 22 to July 22, 2025. They reflect a comprehensive analysis of media coverage, public engagement, communication, and community interaction for actors featured in dramas, films, and OTT releases. Choo Young Woo has emerged as the most buzzworthy actor this month. Young Woo is currently receiving widespread attention for his role in the trending drama Head Over Heels. He achieved a brand reputation index of 7,694,868. His sharp performance and rising popularity have propelled him to the top, beating out several industry heavyweights. Actors from the popular Squid Game Season 3 made a powerful showing in the top rankings. Lee Jung Jae, the series' original lead, secured second place with a score of 7,050,788. Meanwhile, veteran actor Lee Byung Hun followed closely behind at third with a brand reputation index of 6,578,206. Securing the fourth spot, Park Bo Gum earned a brand reputation score of 4,663,633. The actor recently wrapped up his role in GOOD BOY. It's a drama that resonated well with viewers and helped maintain his strong presence in the public eye. Newcomer Jo Yuri, also part of the Squid Game 3 cast, landed in fifth place with 4,322,075. Top 30 actors for July 2025 Following the top five, the rankings included a balanced mix of established actors and rising stars. Park Bo Young, Cho Yi Hyun, Lee Jong Suk, Im Siwan and Park Gyu Young made it into the top 10. Take a look at this month's top 30 actors below: Choo Young Woo Lee Jung Jae Lee Byung Hun Park Bo Gum Jo Yuri Park Bo Young Cho Yi Hyun Lee Jong Suk Im Siwan Park Gyu Young Go Yoon Jung Kim So Hyun Park Ju Hyun Seol In Ah Kang Ha Neul Lee Jun Hyuk Gong Yoo Ryu Kyung Soo GOT7's Jinyoung Namkoong Min Son Suk Ku Shim Eun Kyung Park Sung Hoon Go Min Si So Ji Sub Jeon Yeo Been Cha Kang Yoon Won Mi Kyung Lee Sun Bin Jung Hae In
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Head Over Heels star shocks brand rankings, blocks Squid Game 3 leads Lee Byung Hun, Lee Jung Jae from top spot
In a stunning twist that has caught the industry by surprise, a rookie actor has surged to the top of the July actor brand reputation rankings, outshining seasoned titans Lee Byung Hun and Lee Jung Jae - both cornerstones of the recently concluded Squid Game series. Released by the Korean Business Research Institute, this month's rankings were calculated using media coverage, participation, interaction, and community metrics for 100 actors featured in dramas, films, or OTT projects between June 22 and July 22. Choo Young Woo Currently captivating audiences in the smash-hit drama Head Over Heels, Choo Young Woo has stormed to the top with a staggering brand reputation index of 7,694,868. Still early in his career, he's proving to be a force of nature - fresh, fierce, and impossible to ignore. The throne is his, and the industry is watching. Lee Jung Jae Despite global superstardom and high anticipation for his return in Squid Game 3, Lee Jung Jae had to settle for second place. With a score of 7,050,788, he remains a towering figure - but this time, the crown slipped just out of reach. Lee Byung Hun Third place went to veteran powerhouse Lee Byung Hun, who not only stars in Squid Game 3 but also voices the chilling Demon King Gwi-ma in KPop Demon Hunters. With a brand index of 6,578,206, he reminds everyone that legends don't fall - they simply bide their time. Park Bo Gum Hot off the success of Good Boy, Park Bo Gum surged into fourth place with a brand index of 4,663,633. Charismatic and versatile, he's proving once again that he's here to dominate, one genre at a time. Jo Yuri Closing out the top five is rising star Jo Yuri, who made waves through her role in Squid Game 3. With a brand reputation index of 4,322,075, she's a rising storm in an industry that can no longer overlook her power. Check out the actors to made it to the Top 30 for July 6. Park Bo Young 7. Cho Yi Hyun 8. Lee Jong Suk 9. Yim Si Wan 10. Park Gyu Young 11. Go Youn Jung 12. Kim So Hyun 13. Park Ju Hyun 14. Seol In Ah 15. Kang Ha Neul 16. Lee Jun Hyuk 17. Gong Yoo 18. Ryu Kyung Soo 19. GOT7's Jinyoung 20. Namkoong Min 21. Son Suk Ku 22. Shim Eun Kyung 23. Park Sung Hoon 24. Go Min Si 25. So Ji Sub 26. Jeon Yeo Been 27. Cha Kang Yoon 28. Won Mi Kyung 29. Lee Sun Bin 30. Jung Hae In For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
