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Cinema exhibition major PVR INOX plans to add around 200 new screens over the next two years, investing between Rs 350 and 400 crore in the expansion, Executive Director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli said in an interview with PTI on Wednesday.

The expansion strategy will primarily focus on South India, with significant growth also planned in smaller cities and towns.

“This financial year, 2025–26, we have about 100 screen openings planned, out of which we have opened about 20 already in the first quarter. We have another 82 to go. So basically, we are on track to open about 100 screens this year,” Bijli said.

Of these 100 new screens for FY26, around 40 will be in South India, in cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Hubli. The company is also expanding in major metros like Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram, and in tier-2 and tier-3 locations such as Siliguri, Jabalpur, Leh, and Gangtok.

“It is a bit of a mixed bag, but 40 per cent of this expansion still remains in South India, and about 20 per cent in smaller towns,” Bijli noted.

Looking further ahead to 2026–27, PVR INOX has visibility on 80 more screens planned so far, though Bijli said the number could stretch to about 100 screens depending on deals and timelines. Again, around 40 per cent of those screens are expected to be in South India.

On the investment required for this expansion, Bijli said the average cost of setting up a new screen is around Rs 3.5 crore.

“For this year, opening about 100 screens comes to about Rs 350 crore. If we assume that 50 per cent of that is coming from a combination of FOCO (franchise owned company operated) and asset-light models, then our direct contribution would be around Rs 175 to 200 crore,” he explained.

Across the planned 200 screens over two years, the company’s own investment will likely total Rs 350–400 crore.

After this expansion, PVR INOX expects its total screen count across India to approach 2,000.

As part of the push in South India, the company will open a four-screen multiplex this week in Hyderabad, which will take its total screen count in Telangana to 110. It has 26 new screens lined up for addition in the state in FY26.

“Telangana is a very significant market. It has always done very well for us because of the very strong content from Telangana. Telugu films are extremely loved and accepted. The propensity to watch movies there is very high,” Bijli said.

He also pointed out that Hyderabad, while a rapidly growing city, still has areas underserved by modern multiplexes.

“There are certain catchments which are unserviced,” he said to PTI. “We are excited about expanding into the city of Hyderabad, which is a growing city.”

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PVR INOX to add 200 screens in two years with Rs 400 crore investment: Sanjeev Kumar Bijli

India appears to have lifted the ban on some Pakistani YouTube channels and social media accounts of select artists. These platforms were among the many blocked earlier this year during the government’s intensified crackdown on cross-border digital influence and misinformation under Operation Sindoor.

According to government sources quoted in recent reports, the bans were never intended to be permanent. “Accounts cannot be permanently banned and are subject to regular reviews as part of the standard process,” an official source reportedly told media.

In May, in a sweeping move reflecting the rising diplomatic strain between India and Pakistan, several high-profile Pakistani celebrities' Instagram accounts were blocked in India. The action followed closely on the heels of a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives, including tourists and locals, sparking nationwide outrage.

The Indian government (on May 8) had issued a formal advisory to all OTT platforms and digital streaming services, instructing them to immediately remove any web series, films, music, podcasts, or other content that originates from Pakistan.

Among the restricted Instagram accounts were those of popular actors Hania Aamir and Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas and Sajal Aly.


Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/social-media/india-tightens-digital-borders-with-pakistan-after-pahalgam-attack-instagram-blocks-top-celebs-youtube-channels-banned-63962.htm">India tightens digital borders with Pakistan after Pahalgam attack; Instagram blocks top celebs, YouTube channels banned</a>


This clampdown on digital visibility was part of a larger effort by Indian authorities to curb what they allege is cross-border propaganda and misinformation. The Indian government banned over 50 Pakistani YouTube channels, including prominent media outlets like Dawn News, ARY News and Geo News, accusing them of spreading provocative and anti-India narratives, particularly in the wake of the terror incident.

Many of these channels were accused of disseminating narratives that targeted India's security forces. At the time, the bans were justified under Section 69A of the IT Act, which allows the government to block public access to information in the interest of national security and public order.

The Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities, such as Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, Ahad Raza Mir, and Danish Taimoor, are now accessible from India, as per social media users. However, the accounts of other Pakistani actors, such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir, continue to be inaccessible from India, according to netizens.

Pakistani news media outlets like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo too are available, in addition to the YouTube channels of former Pakistan cricketers Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, and Rashid Latif have also appear to be restored.

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has reportedly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising strong objections to the reappearance of social media accounts of Pakistani actors in India. 

“It is deeply concerning and absolutely unacceptable that social media accounts of Pakistani artists like Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, and several Pakistan-based channels are once again visible in India," the association said. 

The restoration has triggered a social media storm, with hashtags like #BanLiftedWhy, #JusticeForPahalgamVictims, and #NoAppeasementPolicy trending. Thousands of netizens have voiced their disappointment and have accused the government of being inconsistent in its approach to national security and public sentiment.

India partially lifts ban on Pakistani YouTube channels and artist accounts

TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, are preparing to lay off employees as the social media giant struggles to build a sustainable e-commerce business in the United States.

According to a report from Business Insider, TikTok has informed staff that it plans to announce “organizational and personnel changes,” with cuts expected to affect workers in TikTok Shop, the company’s e-commerce division. In a memo to employees, the company said the decision followed “careful analysis of how to create more efficient operating models for the team's long-term growth,” the report said.

The layoffs come as TikTok attempts to replicate its e-commerce success in Asia within the US market. Last month, Bloomberg reported that the company began replacing US-based staff with leaders from China, following its failure to hit a target of $17.5 billion in transaction volume for its American e-commerce business.

More than 100 employees at TikTok Shop in the United States have either been dismissed or have left the company in recent months, amid internal turmoil and confusion among managers that has made the workplace environment increasingly challenging, BI reported.

The shake-up arrives at a precarious moment for TikTok in the United States. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to ban the app over national security concerns, has for the third time this year delayed enforcement of a ban, signing an executive order that grants his administration an additional 90 days to negotiate a deal to bring TikTok under American ownership.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/big-tech-layoffs-microsoft-to-lay-off-9000-people-in-bid-to-rein-in-costs-amid-ai-push-72756.htm">Big Tech Layoffs: Microsoft to lay off 9,000 people in bid to rein in costs amid AI push</a>




Tech Layoffs: TikTok plans layoffs as US e-commerce efforts falter

Microsoft will cut about 9,000 jobs, its second major round of layoffs this year, as the technology giant moves to streamline operations and rein in costs while investing heavily in artificial intelligence. The reductions, which represent less than 4 percent of Microsoft’s global workforce, will affect employees across teams, regions and levels of seniority, according to reports. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/intel-layoffs-2025-chipmaker-to-shut-automotive-division-lay-off-most-employees-in-the-unit-72093.htm">Intel layoffs 2025: Chipmaker to shut automotive division, lay off most employees in the unit</a>

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Microsoft said the reductions would affect teams across its global operations, including its sales organization and Xbox gaming division.

“We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace,” the company said.

The layoffs, which follow the elimination of about 6,000 positions in May, come as Microsoft, like many of its peers, confronts the ballooning costs of competing in the AI arms race. The company has spent tens of billions of dollars on data centers and infrastructure to support its ambitions in artificial intelligence, even as it has pledged that it would remain disciplined on expenses.

As previously reported, the latest layoffs would target sales teams and divisions including Xbox. Microsoft had 228,000 employees at the end of June 2024, including 45,000 in sales and marketing roles. 

Amidst these layoffs, the company’s top sales executive, Judson Althoff, is set to begin a two-month sabbatical in July. Microsoft has said the leave was previously planned and that Althoff is expected to return in September.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/microsoft-to-lay-off-hundreds-in-xbox-division-amid-restructuring-push-71865.htm">Read more: Microsoft to lay off hundreds in Xbox division amid restructuring push</a>



Big Tech Layoffs: Microsoft to lay off 9,000 people in bid to rein in costs amid AI push

Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by US President Donald Trump over claims that CBS News, a Paramount subsidiary, deceptively edited a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate.

The settlement marks another instance of a major media company moving to resolve litigation with Trump, who has made combatting what he calls “fake news” central to his political identity. It also comes as Paramount is seeking regulatory approval for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, a deal requiring signoff from the Federal Communications Commission, which is chaired by Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, according to reports. 

Reports stated that Paramount said the funds would be directed, at Trump’s discretion, to either his future presidential library or to charitable causes, but would not be paid to him “directly or indirectly.” The company did not issue an apology or statement of regret as part of the settlement.

Trump originally filed the lawsuit in October, seeking $10 billion in damages. The suit claimed that CBS’s “60 Minutes” program aired edited footage that misrepresented Harris’s remarks on the Israel-Hamas war, tipping coverage in favor of the Democratic Party. The lawsuit was later amended to seek $20 billion in damages and to include allegations under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act.

CBS had called the lawsuit “completely without merit” and moved to dismiss the case. Filed in Amarillo, Texas, in a federal court overseen by a Trump-appointed judge, the case entered mediation in April.

As part of the settlement, “60 Minutes” will release transcripts of future interviews with presidential candidates after they air, with exceptions for national security or legal concerns.

Paramount’s agreement follows a string of similar settlements with Trump. In January, Meta Platforms agreed to pay $25 million to settle litigation related to its suspension of Trump’s accounts after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. ABC News also agreed to a reported $15 million settlement over comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos regarding Mr. Trump’s civil liability in a sexual assault case.

The resolution of the case has reportedly caused unease within the CBS Newsroom, raising questions about the precedent it sets for dealing with litigation tied to editorial decisions and political figures.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/donald-trump-says-he-has-a-buyer-for-tiktoks-us-operations-but-wont-reveal-name-for-two-weeks-72283.htm">Read more: Donald Trump says he has a buyer for TikTok’s US operations, but won’t reveal name for ‘two weeks’</a>


Paramount to pay $16 million to settle Donald Trump lawsuit over edited Kamala Harris interview

Speaking at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit 2025, Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Directorate General of Information & PR, Maharashtra, spotlighted the state’s leading role in tackling cybercrime and illegal online betting. As digital threats grow more complex and borderless, Singh underscored the urgent need for harmonized regulation, stronger infrastructure, and public-private collaboration to stay ahead in the fight against digital crime.

“First of all, I think as it has been discussed in the earlier sessions also, there needs to be one uniform policy across all states. Nagaland may come up with something, Haryana may come up with something, Maharashtra may come up with something. There has to be a harmonization,” he said.

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WATCH: Maharashtra's DGIPR Brijesh Singh on need of uniform policy across states

At the Digital Entertainment Summit 2025 hosted by Storyboard18, Dr. M.C. Sarangan, Member of the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA), emphasized the need to shift India’s online gaming narrative from regulation to responsibility. Stressing that the core issue lies not in gaming itself but in compulsive overuse, Sarangan called for a nationwide push toward public awareness, early intervention, and collaborative governance to foster a safer digital gaming ecosystem.

“The problem isn’t gaming. It’s excessive and compulsive gaming. We promote responsible gaming, and every action we take is based on research,” Sarangan said, outlining TNOGA’s core philosophy.

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WATCH: TNOGA's Dr. M.C. Sarangan on gaming addiction as a collective fight

YouTube is rolling out a new feature called Communities to deepen connections between creators and their fans. As per the company, the new feature will mark a significant shift in how audiences interact on the platform. More than just likes, comments and views, Communities is designed to become a dedicated conversational hub, allowing creators and fans to engage in real-time, subscriber-led discussions that transcend traditional video content.

Until now, engagement on YouTube has largely centered around a creator’s latest video or a post in the Community tab. But YouTube’s new direction aims to change that by offering a standalone space linked to a creator’s channel, where conversations continue beyond the content cycle.

“Creators pour their hearts into their videos, and communities rally around them. But those interactions often fizzle after the video ends. With Communities, we’re giving fans a space to engage, even when creators aren’t actively posting,” said YouTube in an official release. 

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/youtube-tests-new-ai-features-to-enhance-search-and-discovery-72295.htm">YouTube tests new AI features to enhance search and discovery</a>

Built on direct feedback from both creators and fans, Communities is YouTube’s answer to a growing demand, more control for creators and more connection for fans. Unlike the fleeting nature of comment sections, this new space is fan-initiated and community-powered, allowing subscribers to start conversations, share stories, ask questions, or just hang out, all under the creator’s watchful moderation.

Currently in limited mobile testing, Communities is expected to expand to more creators in early 2025. YouTube hopes it will eventually become a cornerstone of creator-fan interaction, not just sustaining engagement but enriching it.

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YouTube rolls out ‘Communities’ feature for deeper fan interaction

The courtroom of the Karnataka High Court turned into a flashpoint on July 1 as lawyers representing Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) said that every "Tom, Dick, and Harry" government official had been authorized to issue content takedown orders, which drew a sharp rebuke from New Delhi's counsel in the latest clash over content moderation.

According to <em>Reuters</em>, X’s lawyer, KG Raghavan, informed the HC that the platform recently received a notice from the railways department to remove a video, which featured a car being driven on a railway track. Raghavan argued that the video was “news” but the government found it “unlawful”.

“This is the danger, My Lord, that is done now, if every Tom, Dick, and Harry officer is authorised,” Raghavan reportedly said. 

The comment prompted a strong response from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is representing the Indian government in the case. Mehta reportedly noted that “officers are not Tom, Dick, or Harry … they are statutory functionaries”. 

“No social media intermediary can expect completely unregulated functioning,” Mehta reportedly said. 

The legal confrontation comes as part of an ongoing case filed by X challenging the Indian government’s takedown orders under the Information Technology Rules, 2021. In 2021, X had refused to comply with several blocking orders, citing freedom of speech and public interest. While it eventually followed the government’s directives to avoid penalties, the platform simultaneously filed a legal petition contesting the constitutional validity of those orders.

As per media reports, X also filed a plea before the Karnataka HC to amend its petition filed four months ago. The social media platform made an additional demand to scrap Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology Rules, which empowers the government agencies to order intermediaries to remove content pieces from their platforms.

Notably, the original petition sought to declare that Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000 did not authorize the government to issue information blocking orders to social media platforms. 

Mehta noted that he had no objections in allowing the petition to be amended. After hearing both sides, Justice Nagaprasanna reportedly allowed X to file its amended petition in two days.

The HC also set July 8 as the date for the final hearing. 

India and X in legal tussle over content takedown rules, ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’ remark sparks tension in court

India’s Digital India mission, launched on July 1, 2015, has transformed from an ambitious vision into a reality shaping the everyday lives of over a billion citizens. Ten years on, the initiative has laid the foundation for a digitally empowered knowledge economy, fueling the country’s rise as the world’s fourth-largest economy with a GDP of $4.19 trillion.

As per a data released by MIB, the expansion of digital infrastructure under Digital India has been nothing short of phenomenal. Telephone connections have surged from 93 crore in 2014 to over 120 crore in 2025, with rural tele-density growing nearly 40%. Broadband connections have seen an exponential 1452% rise, from 6 crore in 2014 to nearly 95 crore in 2024. India now leads globally in 5G deployment and has seen a 285% growth in internet users over the past decade.

Flagship projects like BharatNet have connected more than 2 lakh gram panchayats with nearly 7 lakh km of optical fiber, revolutionizing connectivity in rural India. These achievements have set the stage for inclusive digital growth at scale.

The JAM Trinity—Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile has been instrumental in redefining service delivery. As per the MIB data, over 141 crore Aadhaar numbers have enabled identity-driven governance, while the DBT ecosystem now covers 176 crore beneficiaries, disbursing Rs 44 lakh crore directly and transparently. These reforms have also helped remove over 10 crore fake beneficiaries, saving the exchequer Rs 3.48 lakh crore.

The impact has been transformative: financial inclusion in India now stands at over 80% for adults, with 25 crore people lifted out of multidimensional poverty between 2014 and 2023. The PM Jan Dhan Yojana alone saw deposits surge by 704%, turning homes into financial hubs.

<strong>Global game-changer UPI </strong>

Among the most significant breakthroughs is the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), launched in 2016. Now responsible for nearly 50% of the world’s digital transactions, UPI has surpassed Visa in transaction volume and records over 65 crore transactions daily.

Its zero-cost, real-time transactions and interoperability have made it the backbone of India’s digital finance ecosystem, particularly in rural areas, enabling instant credit and digital payments through agri-fintech platforms.

India’s digital-first approach extends to service delivery and commerce. Over 5 lakh Common Service Centres operate across rural India, and the PMGDISHA scheme has trained over 6 crore people in digital literacy.

Initiatives like BHASHINI, with 8 lakh+ downloads, offer multilingual support across 35+ Indian languages and 1600+ AI models. DigiLocker has scaled from just 10 lakh users in 2015 to over 54 crore users today. UMANG has become a unified platform for over 2,300 government services, serving 8 crore users with 597 crore transactions.

Further, the open digital commerce network ONDC now empowers 8 lakh sellers across 616 cities, while the GeM platform has recorded Rs 5 lakh crore in GMV in FY25 and saved Rs 1.15 lakh crore in procurement costs since inception.

<strong>The new age technology</strong>

India’s AI capacity now exceeds 34,000 GPUs as of May 2025, propelling domestic research and innovation. The AI market is projected to reach $17 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 25–35%.

Meanwhile, the India Semiconductor Mission has approved six major projects, attracting Rs 2 lakh crore in investments and fast-tracking the establishment of five semiconductor fabs, making India more self-reliant and globally competitive.

Read More: 

DIGITAL