Sony LIV Secures Hindi & English Rights for Esports World Cup 2025 via NODWIN Gaming

NODWIN Gaming, South Asia’s leading esports and gaming company, has announced that Sony LIV has acquired the Hindi and English language media rights for select matches of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, further amplifying the tournament’s reach and representation across India.

As part of the partnership, Sony LIV will stream select matches from the Esports World Cup in India, bringing the action to millions of fans in languages they resonate with. Coverage begins with Chess in Hindi on July 24, followed by a Hindi livestream of EWC matches starting July 25, featuring India’s BGMI team Aryan x TMG Gaming among others. Tekken 8 kicks off on August 13.

The Hindi-language broadcast will be available exclusively on the Sony LIV app and official website.

In addition, Sony LIV will also stream the weekly shows, behind-the-scenes features, and player interactions spotlighting EWC athletes and teams, curated for both core and casual esports audiences. This collaboration follows NODWIN Gaming’s recent partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to manage media rights and regional distribution across South Asia.

Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said, “Our goal is to bring the Esports World Cup to as many passionate fans across South Asia as possible, and this partnership with Sony LIV is a major step in that direction. It combines Sony LIV’s incredible reach with NODWIN’s focus on building localized, fan-first esports experiences. With both Hindi and premium English content, we are creating a viewing experience that feels personal, immersive, and truly regional.”

The Esports World Cup 2025, organised by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), is set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in summer 2025, featuring the world’s top esports clubs and players across multiple formats. With a record-breaking global prize pool of $70.45 million (over INR 600 crore) and an ever-expanding international audience, the tournament continues to raise the bar for competitive gaming worldwide.

With the addition of Sony LIV as the exclusive Hindi broadcast partner and NODWIN Gaming as the strategic regional media and marketing partner, the EWC is poised to reach unprecedented heights in South Asia. This aligns with the mission of making esports more inclusive, accessible and locally relevant.

The momentum in India is already building as the country gears up for its first-ever representation at the Esports World Cup. AxTMG were recently crowned BMPS 2025 champions, earning their place to represent the country at the Esports World Cup. In chess, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi made history as the first Indian to qualify for the Esports World Cup 2025 and will compete under the banner of global esports powerhouse Gen.G Esports. Joining him are Grandmasters R Praggnanandhaa (India Rank: 1, World Rank: 4), Aravindh Chithambaram (India Rank: 4, World Rank: 11), Vidit Gujrathi (India Rank: 6, World Rank: 26) and Nihal Sarin (India Rank: 8, World Rank: 40), all representing the homegrown esports giant Team S8UL. Rising prodigy Aarav Dengla rounds out the contingent, making this India’s most formidable chess lineup ever on the global esports stage. 

With top-tier Indian talent competing across multiple titles, the Esports World Cup 2025 presents a unique opportunity to showcase India’s growing presence in global esports and to unite audiences around a shared national dream.

ACT Fibernet Collaborates with Amazon Prime to Offer Prime Lite Benefits to Consumers

Combining fast internet with the best of entertainment, shipping and shopping benefits, ACT Fibernet, India’s prominent wired Internet Service Provider, has partnered with Amazon Prime to launch new Prime Lite plans, delivering unparalleled value.

These new plans provide customers with seamless, high-speed internet coupled with unlimited access to premium entertainment through Prime Video. With Prime Lite subscriptions, members can enjoy unparalleled entertainment from Prime Video’s extensive library of award-winning and blockbuster Indian and international Originals, TV shows, movies, and more, on a single device of their choice, in HD quality. Prime members also enjoy benefits like free unlimited Same-Day/Next-Day delivery, special access to everyday Prime offers, exclusive access to shopping events like Prime Day, and early access to Amazon Great Indian Festival.

With these new plans, customers will continue to enjoy Amazon Prime for as long as they stay subscribed to the eligible ACT plan.

Naveen Nahar, ACT, VP, head of brands, content and partnerships, “At ACT Fibernet, our brand promise is simple — Feel the Advantage. It’s about going beyond fast internet to deliver real, everyday value to our customers. With the launch of Amazon Prime Lite on our platform, we’re giving our users the best of entertainment, shopping, and convenience — all in one seamless experience. Whether its world class shows, free express deliveries, or early access to deals, this partnership ensures our customers don’t just stay connected, they stay ahead.”

“At Prime Video, we remain committed to offering easy and convenient access to our much-loved Originals, movies, series, and more to customers across India,” said Shilangi Mukherji, Director & Head, SVOD Business, Prime Video, India. “This strategic collaboration with ACT Fibernet not only simplifies access to Prime Video's extensive content selection but also delivers other shopping & shipping benefits of Prime Lite, like unlimited free ‘Same-day/Next-Day’ delivery across millions of products, early access to exclusive deals, and much more."

The new plans are available to all ACT customers - both new and existing - who subscribe for 6 months or longer.

Below is a list of cities and their corresponding starting rates for Prime Lite with ACT Plans:

S.No	City	ACT x Amazon Plans Starting from:
1	Delhi	₹ 700
2	Jaipur	₹ 699
3	Lucknow	₹ 699
4	Ahmedabad	₹ 699
5	Hyderabad	₹ 798
6	Andhra Pradesh	₹ 778
7	Pune	₹ 998
8	Hosur	₹ 999
9	Tumkur	₹ 999
10	Tamil Nadu	₹ 749
11	Bangalore	₹ 949
12	Warangal	₹ 789
13	Ghaziabad	? 700

40 Trailblazing Women, ₹10 Lakh Golden Grants—The Battle Begins! Watch Her Start-Up Show Season 2 on JioHotstar!

• Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-Up Show Returns with Season 2, Offering ₹10 Lakh Golden Grants to Women Entrepreneurs
• In collaboration with GroupM Motion Entertainment and Mindshare, the show premiered on April 19 on JioHotstar

Britannia Marie Gold announces the launch of Season 2 of Her Start-Up Show. Launched in partnership with GroupM Motion Entertainment and Mindshare, it is the first-ever national reality series dedicated to women entrepreneurs from across the country, a platform to showcase their ideas. The show, which premiered on JioHotstar on 19th April, features 40 finalists competing for the ₹10 lakh Golden Grant

Conceptualized by GroupM Motion Content, Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-Up Show is more than just a series— it's a catalyst for change, empowering women to turn their ideas into impact through funding, mentorship, and national visibility.

The show is the culmination of the Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-Up Contest, launched in July 2024, which saw participation from over one lakh aspiring women entrepreneurs across India. From these, over 100 women underwent professional training, with 40 moving to the shortlisting stage. Every participant stands to receive 10 Lakh of Britannia Marie Gold Grant or mentorship, in addition to national visibility and ecosystem access. The standout top 10 performers will win the prestigious ₹10 lakh Golden Grant, while the other promising women entrepreneurs will gain entry into the NSDC Women Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program.

Representing cities like Indore, Aurangabad, Coimbatore, Jammu & Kashmir, and more, the 40 contestants pitch ideas across food, fashion, sustainability, tech, and agri-solutions. The show is presented in six languages—Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada—with subtitles and audio options available on JioHotstar. Spread across eight episodes, two new ones drop every weekend from April 19 on JioHotstar, showcasing journeys from pitches to mentorship to the ₹10 lakh Britannia Marie Gold Grant.

Hosted by actress Shriya Saran, the show features an all-star jury: actor-entrepreneur Neha Dhupia, MasterChef winner Shipra Khanna, artisan Ruma Devi, Suta’s Sujata Biswas, Aarti Gupta (Jagran Group), Riya Joseph (Britannia), and Shreshtha Gupta (NSDC India), to name a few.

Siddharth Gupta, General Manager - Marketing, Britannia, said, “Britannia Marie Gold’s journey of empowering women entrepreneurs began five years ago with a simple belief that millions of women across India have powerful ideas, and all they need is a platform to be seen and supported. What started as a nationwide contest has grown into a robust ecosystem with initiatives like HerStore and now, Season 2 of Her Start-Up Show. Each step has deepened our commitment to helping women ‘Do More, Be More’. We’re proud to partner with GroupM and Mindshare, whose belief in the power of storytelling has helped bring these entrepreneurial journeys to life. With this show, we not only celebrate ambition but also create access to mentorship, funding, and national visibility. Together, we remain committed to enabling every woman who dares to dream and dares to build.”

Ashwin Padmanabhan, COO, GroupM South Asia, “We have always believed in media’s power to spark movements, not just moments. Her Start-Up Show blends storytelling with purpose, driving real economic empowerment. The overwhelming response to Season 1 showed how deeply this platform resonated with women in one region. That’s why, in Season 2, we are expanding to six languages and a broader reach across India. Thus, bringing every ambitious woman closer to the support she deserves. This show goes beyond visibility; it is about bringing dreams alive via action, impact, and a re-imagined future for women entrepreneurship.”

“At Mindshare, we believe in building brands that don’t just sell but spark change. In its second season, Her Start-Up Show goes far beyond amplification, it’s about creating access, fuelling aspiration, and offering a platform to women entrepreneurs across India. We are incredibly grateful to our client, Britannia, for backing this bold vision and partnering with us to bring it to life. What started as a pioneering idea is now an award-winning show, with its impact resonating across markets and touching countless lives. With its expansion to a larger OTT platform, the show’s reach and influence have scaled significantly, finding its way into more homes, hearts, and boardrooms. These aren’t just stories; they are real journeys of transformation. Together with GroupM Motion Entertainment and Britannia, we are proud to drive a narrative where media becomes a powerful force for empowerment and enduring change.” Amin Lakhani, CEO, Mindshare South Asia.

Actress and host Shriya Saran said “Being part of Her Start-Up Show has been truly inspiring. It’s a powerful platform that gives women across India the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality. I’m proud to be part of a show that celebrates ambition, courage, and the spirit of women entrepreneurs.”

Britannia Marie Gold has always shown its unwavering commitment to empowering millions of women in their entrepreneurial dreams through initiatives like the Marie Gold HerStartup contest, previously known as MyStartup Contest and Her.Store. The Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-up Show is a continuation of that legacy, celebrating women who are shattering barriers and inspiring a nation.

Season 2 of Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-up show is streaming exclusively on JioHotstar.

About Britannia Industries

Britannia is a 100+ year old Company and is a market leader in the Bakery category in India with an annual revenue of over Rs 165 billion. The company’s two focus categories include - Bakery & Dairy, with trusted & iconic brands such as Good Day, Marie Gold, Milk Bikis & Nutrichoice. Britannia products are available in over 80 countries. The Company manufactures its products in nearly 100 factories, which are made available in over 27 lakh outlets to eventually reach over 180 million households in the country. The Company's vision is to be a responsible global, total foods company, and delight consumers with delicious, and wholesome snacks and beverages throughout the day.

About GroupM Motion Entertainment

GroupM Motion Entertainment is a global content investment and rights management company that meets the market demand for new economic models for premium content across the entertainment and media marketplace. This is achieved by investing and partnering with the world’s leading talent, producers, and distributors to fund, develop, produce, and distribute premium content to help drive and support editorially and commercially vibrant, premium content networks and platforms for the global benefit of our content partners and advertisers. GroupM Motion Entertainment India’s IP includes the No.1 YAARI Series, Critics’ Choice Awards, Hello Sago, and others. Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, the business operates in 26 countries worldwide with Motion’s broad range of award-winning programming distributed globally. GroupM Motion Entertainment is part of GroupM, the world’s leading full-service media investment management operation, a WPP company.

About Mindshare:

We were born in Asia in 1997, a WPP start-up designed to make media exciting, fun and life changing. For over 20 years our values of Speed, Teamwork and Provocation have guided us in a world where everything begins and ends in media. We are the Cannes Lions Media Network of the Year 2023 and WARC Media 100 #1 Media Network 2020, with the top 3 most creative campaigns of the past year – so basically, statistically the best media agency in the world! Our 10,000 people work with some of the world’s best brands and companies to challenge convention. In 116 offices across 86 countries, we integrate brand and demand, ruthlessly focus on outcomes, and create the unexpected.

JioStar Launches JioHotstar, Bringing Together JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar

JioStar, the recently formed JV with the merger of Viacom18 and Star India, announced the launch of JioHotstar, bringing together JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar – two of India’s leading platforms for premium sports, entertainment and lots more. This coming together of brands, expansive content, cutting-edge features, and a large audience and subscriber base marks a globally unprecedented milestone in the streaming industry. With close to 3 lac hours of entertainment, unparalleled live sports coverage, and more than 50 crore users, JioHotstar is set to redefine entertainment and unlock Infinite Possibilities for audiences.

Speaking on the launch of JioHotstar, Kiran Mani, CEO – Digital, JioStar said,

At the core of JioHotstar is a powerful vision—to make premium entertainment truly accessible to all Indians. Our promise of Infinite Possibilities ensures that entertainment is no longer a privilege, but a shared experience for all. By integrating AI-driven recommendations and offering streaming in over 19 languages, we are personalizing content like never before.

In line with its promise of making premium entertainment accessible to all, JioHotstar invites everyone to come and watch all their favourite shows, movies and live sports without the need for a subscription. For those looking for an uninterrupted and enhanced experience, JioHotstar provides compelling subscription plans tailored to diverse audience needs, starting at Rs. 149/quarter. Existing JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar subscribers will be able to seamlessly transition and set up their JioHotstar subscriptions.

An Unparalleled Content Universe

JioHotstar is set to redefine entertainment with an extensive and diverse content slate curated for 1.4 billion Indians across 10 languages. From the widest selection of TV programming anywhere in the world to genre-defining originals to widely loved reality entertainment to blockbuster films, anime, and international premieres, JioHotstar ensures there’s something for every viewer. JioHotstar will offer the best of Hollywood, with Disney, NBCUniversal Peacock, Warner Bros. Discovery HBO, and Paramount – all on the same platform; something almost no other streaming service globally provides.

Bringing together the deepest selection of Hollywood entertainment, the best of Indian shows and movies from all parts of the country, and the widest sports offering – JioHotstar promises no matter what you want to watch, you will find it here.

Additionally, the platform introduces ‘Sparks’, a flagship initiative spotlighting India’s biggest digital creators through innovative and engaging formats.

“JioHotstar is setting a new benchmark for digital-first entertainment. The platform is immersive, inclusive, and audience centric. While we have endless entertainment to offer, we are committed to continually innovate and elevate storytelling, ensuring that every Indian, regardless of language, discovers content they love,” added Kevin Vaz, CEO – Entertainment, JioStar, while elaborating on the entertainment offering.

The Ultimate Sports and Live Events Destination

JioHotstar is transforming how audiences engage with sports with immersive, interactive experiences for every fan, from passionate connoisseurs to big-event viewers.

JioHotstar is the home of premier tournaments like ICC events, IPL, and WPL, while also spotlighting grassroots cricket with the Indian Street Premier League and pathway events from BCCI, ICC, and state associations. Beyond cricket, it brings global sporting excellence with the Premier League and Wimbledon while powering domestic leagues like Pro Kabaddi and ISL.

What sets JioHotstar apart is its elevated streaming experience — featuring ultra-HD 4K streaming, AI-powered insights, real-time stats overlays, multi-angle viewing and range of 'culture' and 'special interest' feeds — ensuring fans enjoy deeper, more immersive access to the sports they love.

Emphasizing the platform’s transformative role in sports, Sanjog Gupta, CEO – Sports, JioStar, said, “Sports in India is more than just a game—it’s a shared experience that unites millions. JioHotstar is revolutionizing how fans experience live sports, combining the best of technology, access, storytelling, and innovation with the fan at the heart of everything. Whether it’s the pride in India Cricket, the electric atmospherics of Premier League, passion for India's indigenous sports or exposure for grassroot-level competitions, we will deliver a range of experiences, catering to both 'lean in' and 'lean back' behaviours across a billion screens. We are now taking this philosophy beyond sports by bringing culture-defining live experiences to our audiences. The overwhelming response to Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres live-stream has set us off on this exciting new journey towards infinite possibilities.”

A Brand Built on Infinite Possibilities

JioHotstar’s new brand identity embodies its vision for boundless entertainment. The ‘Big Bang’ symbolizes the dawn of a new era, while the ‘Ripples’ radiate outward, representing energy, transformation, and innovation.

Beyond entertainment, JioHotstar presents unprecedented opportunities for brands and advertisers. With its vast audience reach, advanced ad formats, and data-driven personalization, the platform offers unique ways for businesses to engage meaningfully with consumers.

JioHotstar is not just shaping the future of entertainment—it is unlocking limitless possibilities for audiences, creators, and brands alike.

Youtube is One of the World's Most Valuable Media Companies with Worth at Least $455 Billion

YouTube is one of the world's most valuable media companies and worth at least $455 billion on its own, which is more than 50% above Netflix's market cap, according to analysts at Needham & Co., reported Bloomberg.

Parent company Alphabet's revenue from subscriptions, platforms and devices, which includes YouTube subscriptions, is also poised to expand in the coming years.

YouTube's dominance in online video sharing and content creation is undeniable. With over 2 billion monthly active users, it remains the go-to platform for video content, generating substantial revenue through ads, sponsorships, and other monetization methods.

YouTube, often overshadowed by its parent company Alphabet Inc., is a media giant hiding in plain sight. According to analysts at Needham & Co., the streaming unit is worth at least $455 billion on its own, which is more than 50% above Netflix Inc.'s market cap. Despite this massive valuation, YouTube's true worth remains underappreciated due to Alphabet's conglomerate structure.

If even a small portion of YouTube were separately tradable, it could add significant value to Alphabet stock. However, there are no immediate signs of Alphabet considering such a separation. Regardless, YouTube's impact on the media landscape is undeniable, and its dominance in streaming continues to shape the industry.

YouTube primarily generates revenue through advertisements. It embeds targeted ads directly into the video clips users watch and promotes featured content. In the first three months of 2023, YouTube earned $6.69 billion from advertising, and in 2022, it generated $29.23 billion.

Additionally, YouTube's other revenue sources include YouTube Premium subscriptions, channel memberships, Superchat donations, YouTube TV, and merchandise commissions.

YouTube has a dominant and growing share in streaming, as consumers shift to such platforms and away from broadcast and cable TV. Ad revenue from the platform is expected to grow by nearly 17% to $37 billion in 2024 and by another 14% to $42 billion in 2025, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Alphabet’s revenue from subscriptions, platforms and devices, which includes YouTube subscriptions, is also poised to expand in the coming years. At Netflix, revenue is expected to be about $38.7 billion in 2024, with almost all of that derived from streaming, while YouTube accounts for about 10% of its parent’s total sales.

A recent survey of streaming platforms by TD Cowen showed that while Netflix still dominates in most TV categories, YouTube is often not far behind. And, it’s the top choice for watching content on a mobile phone.

Tech Mahindra and Japanese Broadcaster Fuji TV to Co–Develop/Produce Content for Global Entertainment Industry

Tech Mahindra has entered into a strategic partnership with Japan's Fuji TV. This collaboration is aimed at co-developing and producing content that will cater to the global entertainment industry. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signifies a significant step towards bringing diverse content to international audiences, especially in major markets like India and Japan.

The partnership will leverage Tech Mahindra's expertise in localization and animation services to adapt Fuji TV's original content for Indian viewers in various local languages. This includes dubbing, sub-titling, and animation, which are essential for engaging a broader audience. Moreover, Tech Mahindra will assist Fuji TV in licensing its content to OTT and PayTV platforms within these regions.

This move is particularly exciting as it opens up opportunities for cross-cultural content creation and distribution, potentially introducing new genres and storytelling methods to different audiences. It also reflects the growing importance of the Indian entertainment market on the global stage.

Tech Mahindra and Fuji TV's partnership is set to produce content across a variety of genres for the global entertainment industry. The collaboration will focus on combining Fuji TV's original content with Tech Mahindra's expertise in localization and animation services¹. This means they will be working on adapting Fuji TV's content library to suit Indian audiences in various local languages, which includes dubbing, subtitling, and animation.

The content strategy aims to cater to major content markets like India and Japan, with a particular emphasis on genres that are gaining popularity in these regions, such as Anime and Korean dramas. Additionally, Tech Mahindra will help Fuji TV license Indian content IP and leverage its animation expertise to create fresh and captivating Japanese content for a global audience.

Harshvendra Soin, President – Asia Pacific and Japan Business, Tech Mahindra, said, “We have partnered with Fuji TV to bring their content library in various local languages to Indian audiences. This also marks a significant milestone in Tech Mahindra's growth strategy and strengthens our position in the media and entertainment industry. We see great potential in developing IPs catering to the Indian, Japanese, and other major content markets.”

This partnership is not only about expanding business in the Indian market but also about creating innovative content that has the potential for global reach. The goal is to explore content strategies tailored to the Indian market while introducing a variety of Fuji TV's content to the Indian audience². Through collaboration with creators at Tech Mahindra's subsidiary studios, known for their significant achievements in animation content production and XR & game development, they aim to co-develop unique content.

Toru Ota, Executive Vice President, Fuji Television Network Inc., 大多亮（フジテレビ専務取締役), said, “In the midst of the rapidly growing Indian entertainment market drawing global attention, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with a leading global IT company in India. As part of our initiative to expand into the global content market, we intend to collaboratively explore content strategies that are tailored to the Indian market, leveraging Tech Mahindra's extensive marketing expertise within the region. We are particularly excited about the opportunity to introduce a variety of Fuji TV's content to the Indian audience. Moreover, through collaboration with creators at Tech Mahindra's subsidiary studios, known for their significant achievements in animation content production and XR & game development, we aim to co-develop unique content. Our goal is to not only expand our business in the Indian market but also to create innovative content that has the potential for global reach.”

Fuji TV has produced a wide range of popular content across various genres. This include – First Love: Hatsukoi (2022), a romantic drama, available on Netflix; Silent (2022), A touching drama available on Viki; Mystery to Iunakare (2022), a suspenseful drama available on Viki; Alice in Borderland (2020-2022), an electrifying survival series, available on various platforms including Netflix; and Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend), The OG of android romance Japanese dramas, inspiring a Korean remake and other K-dramas.

Reliance and Disney Form $8.5 Bn JV to Merge Respective Digital Streaming and TV Assets in India

Reliance and Disney Announce Strategic Joint Venture to Bring Together the Most Compelling and Engaging Entertainment Brands in India

• Companies to merge respective digital streaming and television assets in India to create a world class leader across entertainment and sports
• Reliance to invest ₹11,500 crore in the Joint Venture Disney to provide Content License to the Joint Venture

Reliance Industries Limited (“RIL”), Viacom 18 Media Private Limited (“Viacom18”) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) (“Disney”), on Wednesday, announced the signing of binding definitive agreements to form a joint venture (“JV”) that will combine the businesses of Viacom18 and Star India. As part of the transaction, the media undertaking of Viacom18 will be merged into Star India Private Limited (“SIPL”) through a court- approved scheme of arrangement.

In addition, RIL has agreed to invest at closing ₹11,500 crore (~US$ 1.4 billion) into the JV for its growth strategy. The post-money basis transaction values the JV at Rs 70,352 crore ($8.5 billion), not including any synergies.

The transaction values the JV at ₹70,352 crore (~US$ 8.5 billion) on a post-money basis, excluding synergies. Post completion of the above steps, the JV will be controlled by RIL and owned 16.34% by RIL, 46.82% by Viacom18 and 36.84% by Disney.

Disney may also contribute certain additional media assets to the JV, subject to regulatory and third-party approvals.

Mrs. Nita M. Ambani will be the Chairperson of the JV, with Mr. Uday Shankar as Vice Chairperson providing strategic guidance to the JV.

The JV will be one of the leading TV and digital streaming platforms for entertainment and sports content in India, bringing together iconic media assets across entertainment (e.g. Colors, StarPlus, StarGOLD) and sports (e.g. Star Sports and Sports18) including access to highly anticipated events across television and digital platforms through JioCinema and Hotstar. The JV will have over 750 million viewers across India and will also cater to the Indian diaspora across the world. 

The JV will seek to lead the digital transformation of the media and entertainment industry in India and offer consumers high-quality and comprehensive content offerings anytime and anywhere. The combination of the media expertise, cutting-edge technology and diverse content libraries of Viacom18 and Star India will allow the JV to offer more appealing domestic and global entertainment content and sports livestreaming services, while delivering an innovative and convenient digital entertainment experience at affordable prices. With the addition of Disney’s acclaimed films and shows to Viacom18’s renowned productions and sports offerings, the JV will offer a compelling, accessible and novel digital-focused entertainment experience to people in India and the Indian diaspora globally.

The JV will also be granted exclusive rights to distribute Disney films and productions in India, with a license to more than 30,000 Disney content assets, providing a full suite of entertainment options for the Indian consumer.

Speaking about the JV, Mr. Mukesh D Ambani, Chairman & Managing Director of Reliance Industries, said, “This is a landmark agreement that heralds a new era in the Indian entertainment industry. We have always respected Disney as the best media group globally and are very excited at forming this strategic joint venture that will help us pool our extensive resources, creative prowess, and market insights to deliver unparalleled content at affordable prices to audiences across the nation. We welcome Disney as a key partner of Reliance group.”

Mr. Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “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. Reliance has a deep understanding of the Indian market and consumer, and together we will create one of the country’s leading media companies, allowing us to better serve consumers with a broad portfolio of digital services and entertainment and sports content.”

Mr. Uday Shankar, Co-founder of Bodhi Tree Systems, said, “We are privileged to be enhancing our relationship with Reliance to now also include Disney, a global leader in media & entertainment. All of us are committed to delivering exceptional value to our audiences, advertisers, and partners. This joint venture is poised to shape the future of entertainment in India and accelerate the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of making Digital India a global exemplar.”

The transaction is subject to regulatory, shareholder and other customary approvals and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of Calendar Year 2024 or first quarter of Calendar Year 2025.

Goldman Sachs is acting as financial and valuation advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Khaitan & Co and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co are acting as legal counsels to RIL and Viacom18 on the transaction. Ernst & Young has provided an independent valuation to RIL and Viacom18, while HSBC India acting as financial advisor has provided a Fairness Opinion to Viacom18.

The Raine Group is acting as lead financial advisor to Disney on the transaction. Citi is acting as a financial advisor to Disney. Cleary Gottlieb served as lead outside counsel to Disney and Covington & Burling and AZB served as legal counsels to Disney on the transaction. BDO has provided an independent valuation to SIPL. 

About Reliance Industries Limited

Reliance is India’s largest private sector company, with a consolidated revenue of Rs 9,74,864 crore (US$118.6 billion), cash profit Rs 1,25,951 crore (US$ 15.3 billion) and net profit of Rs 73,670 crore (US$9.0 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2023. Reliance’s activities span hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, advanced materials and composites, renewables (solar and hydrogen), retail and digital services.

Currently ranked 88th, Reliance is the largest private sector company from India to be featured in Fortune’s Global 500 list of ‘World’s Largest Companies’ for 2023. The company stands 45th in the Forbes Global 2000 rankings of 'World’s Largest Public Companies' for 2023, the highest among Indian companies. Reliance is the top-ranked Indian company and the only one in the top 100 on Forbes' 'World's Best Employers' 2023 list. Additionally, it is featured among LinkedIn’s 'Top Companies 2023: The 25 Best Workplaces To Grow Your Career In India."

About Viacom 18 Media Private Limited

Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd. is one of India’s fastest growing entertainment networks and a house of iconic brands that offers multi-platform, multi-generational and multicultural brand experiences. Viacom18 defines entertainment in India by touching the lives of people through its properties on air, online, on ground, in cinemas and merchandise. Its portfolio of 40 channels across general entertainment, movies, sports, youth, music and kids genres delights the consumers across the country with its eclectic mix of programming. JioCinema, Viacom18’s OTT platform, is one of India’s leading streaming services and most popular destination for live sports. Viacom18 Studios has successfully produced and distributed iconic Hindi films and clutter-breaking regional films for over 13 years in India.

About The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Entertainment, Sports and Experiences. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $88.89 billion in its Fiscal Year 2023.

About Star India

With a television network that reaches more than 700 million viewers in nine different languages every month and a streaming platform (Disney+ Hotstar) that has transformed the way India consumes entertainment, Disney Star is a leading media & entertainment company in the country. The organization’s entertainment portfolio, which generates more than 20,000 hours of original content every year, cuts across general entertainment, sports, films, infotainment, kids and lifestyle content. With leadership positions in every segment it occupies, Disney Star has been redefining the media landscape for more than 30 years now, anchored on the three pillars of storytelling, innovation and an unwavering focus on delivering to the expectations of our audiences.

About Bodhi Tree Systems

Bodhi Tree Systems is a strategic investor in consumer technology opportunities in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on India. The entity is a platform of James Murdoch's Lupa Systems and Uday Shankar and was established in 2021 to explore and invest in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. In addition to media, Bodhi Tree expects to invest in other consumer technology sectors that represent significant opportunities but suffer from a lack of capital and innovation – including healthcare and education. Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, is an investor in Bodhi Tree Systems.

Indians Streaming F1 Races in 2023 Witnessed 50% Increase; Pathan, Jailer, Farzi Most Watched Movies: Fire TV Report

Cricket was one of the most streamed content in 2023: Amazon Fire TV Streaming Trends Report

• Pathan, Jailer, Farzi, Drishyam 2, and Rocky Aur Rani were some of the most-watched movies
• Comedy, thriller, and drama were some of the most popular genres of content watched by Fire TV users
• Tarak Mehta ka Ulta Chashma, Big Boss, Anupama, Ramayan, and CID were the most voice-searched Indian titles
• One in every three Fire TV users enjoyed playing music through Amazon Music, Spotify and others music apps on Fire TV
• Indians across 99% of the pin codes have purchased Fire TV Stick devices

Indians spent more hours streaming cricket vs entertainment content during domestic and international cricket tournaments in 2023 as per Amazon Fire TV Streaming Trends Report. Published by Amazon, the annual edition of the report captures aggregated insights on how Indian viewers consumed content on their Fire TV devices in 2023. Data reveals that Maharashtra, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu streamed more hours of cricket than other states on Fire TV.

In 2023, Indian households spent around four hours per day streaming their favorite movies, shows, cricket matches, playing games, and listening to music, through Fire TV. A family in Delhi streamed 5.4 hours every day in 2023, the highest by any Indian household through Fire TV.

Favorites on Fire TV: Sports, Kids’ content, news, and TV shows

• Besides cricket, Fire TV users also enjoyed streaming F1 races. Viewership for F1 races witnessed a 50% increase from last year
• Kids’ related apps saw approximately 31% increase in monthly streaming hours per customer. Some of the popular apps include YouTube Kids, ChuChu TV, HappyKids and others
• Fire TV users also enjoyed playing music on their TV. Last year, one in every three users played music through Amazon Music, Spotify, and other music apps through Fire TV.
• Fire TV users made the most of free (ad-supported) streaming platforms. Apps such as YouTube, miniTV, MX Player, and others saw approximately 23% year-over-year increase in streaming hours

Users enjoy the convenience of Alexa’s universal voice search on Fire TV

• Approximately 80% of Fire TV users took Alexa’s help in searching and navigating through their favorite content across 12,000 apps, controlling their Alexa-enabled smart home appliances, setting reminders, etc.
• Comedy, thriller, and drama were some of the most popular genres of content watched by Fire TV users. Tarak Mehta ka Ulta Chashma was the most voice-searched Indian title, followed by Big Boss, Anupama, Ramayan, and CID to name a few
• Parents of young kids used Alexa to search and play popular kids’ shows namely Cocomelon, Peppa Pig, and Chhota Bheem through Fire TV.

Indians across 99% of the pin codes have purchased Fire TV devices

• With thousands of positive reviews and a 4+ rating on Amazon.in, Fire TV Sticks have been bought by Indians across 99% of the pin codes of the country

From Kavaratti in Lakshadweep, Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar, Kamrup in Assam, Papum Pare in Arunachal Pradesh, to Purnia in Bihar – families enjoyed the streaming experience offered by Fire TV

Fire TV users enjoyed streaming Prime Video movies and originals

• Some of the most streamed movie on Prime Video were Pathan, Bawaal, Rocky aur Rani, Jailer, Drishyam 2, Pippa, and Mast Mein Rehne Ka
• Popular Prime Video original series streamed by Fire TV users were Farzi, Dahaad, Jubilee, and Made In heaven, to name a few

About Fire TV

Fire TV is the one-stop destination for all the streaming needs and brings together 12,000+ channels, apps, and Alexa skills for a flexible, easy-to-use, and personalized experience. It is built on the Fire OS and it converts your normal TV to a smart TV. It supports all the major OTT apps like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, JioCinema, ZEE5, Sony Liv, and much more. With Fire TV devices one can keep the whole family entertained. There’s a little something for everyone, be it kids, elders, movie buffs or sports fans. Kids have a whole range of content that can be accessed like Chu Chu TV, YouTube Kids, to name a few. Press and hold the voice/ Alexa button on the Fire TV remote and ask Alexa to find, launch and control content. Easily search and enjoy thousands of movies, TV shows, apps, and games. Alexa can also play music, control compatible- smart home appliances, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, and set alarms. Customers can choose from a range of devices such as Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, and Smart TVs with Fire TV built-in. For more information visit http://Amazon.in/firetv

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.aboutamazon.in and follow @AmazonNews_IN.

In A NielsenIQ Study, 97% Respondents Prefer Streaming on TV Around Dinner Time with Family

• Customers increasingly prefer streaming movies and shows on TV: Study
• Better video and sound quality, variety of content across OTT providers, and comfort of watching on big screen such are the top reasons for streaming on TV
• 66% of respondents binge-watch for more than 5 hours during weekends
• 97% of respondents prefer streaming on TV around dinner time with family

A custom study conducted by NielsenIQ and commissioned by Amazon for TV streaming trends*1 in December 2023, has revealed interesting insights about preferences of Indian audiences to stream their favorite movies and shows. According to the study, 78% respondents prefer streaming online content on their TVs through streaming sticks, smart TVs, and set-top-boxes compared to their other available options like smartphones, tablets and laptops.

Almost 66% of respondents streamed five hours daily over the weekend, as opposed to less than three hours during the weekdays. Additionally, 97% preferred to stream online content on TV around dinner time, and 74% of them watched the same with family especially spouse and children. Per the study, comedy was the most popular genre of content watched by respondents. It was closely followed by sports, thriller, romantic, horror, international TV shows, and news in order of preference. 

Preference to stream on TV due to comfort and better viewing experience

In addition to the availability of an active broadband connection at home, people are streaming on TV due to better video and sound quality, and convenience of accessing variety of content across OTT providers and online sources. Ergonomic benefits also contribute to this preference. Viewing on TV may also allow to maintain a comfortable body posture, alleviating the aches and pains sometimes associated with watching content while holding the phone. 

Speed matters to Indian viewers

When streaming on TV, the most sought-after features according to the respondents were lag-free streaming (39%), and wide range of OTT Apps (24%). Other preferences were availability of voice assistant for searching content and controlling smart home appliances, and ability to stream online content and live TV shows from DTH channels on a single screen.

“Online video streaming has come a long way since its inception, and so has streaming habits of consumers. What has remained a constant is our preference to view content on the biggest screen in our homes – the television. Fire TV is a convenient way to get your favorite shows, movies, sports, and more on your TV,” said Parag Gupta, Director and Country Manager, Amazon Devices India. “Be it to stream content on your older non-smart TV, or get more out of your existing smart TV, the Fire TV stick provides a faster streaming experience, simpler content discovery with Alexa’s universal voice search, and access to 12,000+ apps across genres to users. We are encouraged by the popularity of Fire TV, rated 4+ stars consistently by users.”

Based on a study conducted by NielsenIQ in October 2023*2, it was noted that Fire TV offers the most advanced TV streaming experience to customers. 

*1: The study was conducted by NielsenIQ and commissioned by Amazon for TV streaming trends in December 2023 across 12 major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. The sample size included 800 respondents between the ages 25-45 years, with a demographic distribution of New Consumer Classification System (NCCS) under socio-economic level– A. 

*2: The study was conducted by NielsenIQ in October 2023 in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata. The sample size included 311 respondents between the ages 25-45 years, with a demographic distribution of New Consumer Classification System (NCCS) under socio-economic level– A.

“Estimates and values are incomplete and unreliable, do not accurately represent Amazon’s position within a segment, and do not include the full set of substitutable products available to customers. These data limitations likely underestimate segment shares and understate the impact of competitors in the segment.” While the report has been prepared by Nielsen, it is clarified that the conclusion, views and findings have not been verified by Amazon and the shares noted are an estimate by Nielsen.”

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.aboutamazon.in and follow @AmazonNews_IN.

About NielsenIQ (NIQ)

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full ViewTM.

NIQ, is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit NIQ.com.

Record-breaking Digitizers Get Next Variant for Blistering Data Streaming

Record-breaking digitizers get next variant

Spectrum Instrumentation expands leading-edge digitizer family

The world's first digitizers to use the full 16 lane PCIe interface (Gen 3) for massive data streaming generated huge interest in the technical media this March. The cards can stream acquired data over the bus at a staggering 12.8 GB/s, which is a transfer rate nearly twice as fast as any other PCIe digitizer currently on the market. Now Spectrum Instrumentation has released a cost-effective variant, specifically designed for dual-channel applications. The new model boasts the same blistering streaming speed and matches it perfectly with synchronous 3.2 GS/s, 12-bit sampling on each channel.

The new model M5i.3321-x16 delivers 3.2 GS/s top speed, on two channels, with 12-bit resolution and record-breaking 12.8 GB/s streaming

This means no data needs to be lost, even when the card is acquiring data with both channels running at their maximum sampling rate. The ultrafast bus allows all the data to be transferred directly to PC memory for storage, or even to CUDA based GPUs for processing and analysis.

The new model M5i.3321-x16 is designed to handle a wide variety of signals. The unit's fast sampling rate and high resolution are supported by fully functional front-end electronics with 1 GHz bandwidth, programmable full-scale ranges from ±200 mV to ±2.5 V and variable offset. To allow the capture of long and complex waveforms, there is a generous 4 GB (2 GSamples) of on-board memory. This can be optioned up to an industry-leading 16 GB (8 GSamples) if necessary. The on-board memory can operate as a ring buffer, like a transient recorder, or as a FIFO buffer, for streaming the acquired data directly over the bus. It can also be partitioned into segments for recording multiple events, even when they happen with very fast trigger rates. Trigger events are time stamped and a host of sophisticated triggering modes (such as software, window, re-arm, logic and delay) are available to help ensure important events are never missed. 

With 12-bit resolution, the M5i.3321-x16 card offers exceptional dynamic range. Measurements are made with improved precision and better signal-to-noise ratio when compared to those made with more conventional 8-bit test instruments. Importantly, the extra resolution allows users to capture small signals that may ride on larger ones, revealing the fine signal details that are often missed by lower resolution devices.

Independently from the PC, two powerful fans are transporting the heat of the card out of the PC housing through holes in the front plates.

Installing the card into a PC turns it into a powerful test instrument that can be used to acquire and analyse signals in a huge variety of applications. The front panel provides SMA connectors for the channel inputs, clock and trigger inputs and outputs, as well as four multi-functional digital I/O lines. The extra clock and trigger connections make it possible to synchronize the card with additional digitizers or other measurement devices. The feature set makes the model very well suited for capturing the fast signals found in fibre optics, mass spectrometry, semiconductor testing, RF recording, AI, radar, LIDAR, communications, astronomy and quantum technology. 

Two fans, mounted on the rear of the card, deliver perfect cooling by transporting heat out of the computer through the holes in the front plates. The design means the user does not have to worry whether the PC has enough internal airflow to adequately cool the card.

Oliver Rovini, Chief Technical Officer, said: "With the model M5i.3321-x16, we've created a package that optimizes the cost/performance ratio for users of our M5i family that need dual-channel signal acquisition. This new card delivers exceptional performance for anyone needing to capture and analyse signals in the MHz to GHz range. Its ability to stream data, as fast as it is acquired, directly to the PC environment opens the door for anyone wishing to use the latest CPU and GPU hardware for signal processing and analysis. For example, we've tested the card running at full speed and making direct RDMA data transfers to an Nvidia model RTX A4000 GPU. Once there, the GPU with its 6144 cores can perform complex functions like continuous averaging, for noise reduction, and MPoint-FFTs, for spectral analysis. That's gapless processing of all the streamed data, even when the digitizer is sampling the incoming signals at 3.2 GS/s on both channels!"

The capability to stream data directly to a CUDA GPU is possible using the company's SCAPP (Spectrum's CUDA Access for Parallel Processing) package, which is available as a low-cost option. SCAPP includes the necessary drivers for CUDA GPU support and allows users to develop their own processing routines. To help getting started, the package includes working examples that can be modified and built upon.

The cards come with all the tools necessary to use them in a PC running either a Windows or Linux operating system. A software development kit (SDK) is provided so that the cards can be programmed with almost any popular language. This includes C, C++, C#, Delphi, VB.NET, J#, Python, Julia, Java, LabVIEW, and MATLAB. The SDK contains all the necessary driver libraries as well as programming examples. Alternatively, for users who don't want to write an own code, the company offers SBench 6 Professional. This powerful measurement software provides full card control, along with a host of data display, analysis, storage, and documentation capabilities.

Like all Spectrum Instrumentation products, the M5i.3321-x16 card carries a 5-year product warranty, with free software and firmware updates, as well as customer support, direct from the engineering team, for the whole lifetime of the product. The M5i.3321-x16 is available now. The new model joins two other M5i series products released in March 2022. The models are the M5i.3330-x16, a single channel card that can sample at rates up to 6.4 GS/s, and the M5i.3337-x16, a dual channel card that offers synchronous 3.2 GS/s sampling on both channels, and the full 6.4 GS/s on a single channel. These cards offer 2 GHz bandwidth. For more information, please visit www.spectrum-instrumentation.com

Spectrum Instrumentation, founded in 1989, uses a unique modular concept to design and produce a wide range of more than 200 digitizers and generator products as PC-cards (PCIe and PXIe) and stand-alone Ethernet units (LXI). In 30 years, Spectrum has gained customers all around the world, including many A-brand industry-leaders and practically all prestigious universities. The company is headquartered near Hamburg, Germany, known for its 5-year warranty and outstanding support that comes directly from the design engineers. More information about Spectrum can be found at www.spectrum-instrumentation.com

Social Music Platform Humit Raises Pre-Seed Funding from Antler India

The startup aims to reinvent music sharing and discovery by leveraging community and social tastemaking.

Humit, a social music app, has raised a pre-seed round of funding led by Antler India. Humit is reimagining the way people discover, share and express themselves with their taste in music. It makes engaging with music a social-first experience by letting users share the most powerful moments from their favourite songs, create micro-communities and engage with fellow music lovers in completely new ways. 

Unlike traditional streaming platforms that use algorithms to serve up recommendations, Humit relies on a community-driven approach where music is discovered and shared on user moderated channels called ‘stations’. The platform is currently home to 500+ stations created by users across 42 countries.

Founded in 2020 by BITS Pilani graduates and music lovers Rohit Ganapathy, Prithvi Sankar and Ishaan Negi, the idea of Humit took shape after the trio realised that existing social platforms used for sharing music were not ideal for audio consumption. Humit provides an audio-focused social media experience for Spotify users, with integrations across Apple Music, YouTube Music and SoundCloud currently in the works.

Rohit Ganapathy, Co-founder and Head of Product, Humit, said --

Music has an intrinsically social aspect to it. In fact, one’s taste in music is often considered brag-worthy. However, no product has yet been able to truly complete the feedback loop for social sharing of music. With Humit, we are decoding the nuances of sharing music recommendations with a friend, and what it means to be able to express yourself through your taste in music. This is a core desire, and what we believe will scale globally. A shared taste in music is known to be one of the best icebreakers and we are working on designing unique experiences around this.

The app for music lovers is getting traction in India, US and other global markets. Prithvi Sankar, Co-founder, Humit, said, “We are working on clever design and tech interventions that can lead to serendipitous ways of discovering some great music. We have several examples of super fans and folks who’ve never met each other before, building cross-border friendships by discovering each other’s music stations. This is truly rewarding to see, and tells us we are onto something special.”

Humit’s pre-seed round was led by Antler, with co-investments from First Cheque led by Farooq Adam (Co-founder, Fynd), and angels such as Alagu Periyannan (CTO, Bluejeans), Sarath Sura (Co-founder, Sierra Atlantic), Ankit Mathuria (CTO at Oyo Rooms), Shivakumar Ganesan (Co-founder, Exotel), Gajendra Jangid (Co-founder, CARS24), Kshitij Khandelwal (Co-founder, Pixxel) among others.

Rajiv Srivatsa, Partner at Antler, added: “Indian techpreneurs are ‘building in India, for the world’, which we believe will be one of the biggest trends to watch. Humit is pushing boundaries, and setting up new social constructs around music that has the potential to change consumer behaviour and create a new category where none existed before.”

Earlier this year, global early-stage VC firm Antler announced a full-fledged launch in India. Antler is one of the fastest growing VC firms in the world and plans to deploy $100M in 100+ Indian startups over the next 3 years.

About Antler:

Antler is a global early-stage venture capital firm that invests in the defining technology companies of tomorrow. The firm has offices globally across most major entrepreneurial hubs, including in London, Berlin, Stockholm, New York, Singapore and Sydney.

Founded in Singapore in 2017, Antler is on a mission to fundamentally improve the world by enabling and investing in the world's most exceptional people, by supporting the teams with deep business model validation and providing a global platform for scaling. To date, Antler has invested in over 300 companies globally across 30 different industries. Of these companies, 40% have at least one female co-founder, and the founders represent 70 nationalities.

Rajiv Srivatsa and Nitin Sharma are Partners at Antler India, and Co-founders for the Antler India Fund.

J L Stream launches a 'Made in India' Social LIVE streaming app

MUMBAI, India, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With over 680 million active internet users and 450 million social network users, India has one of the lowest-priced data in the world. This second largest online market is fast growing to be one of the largest consumers of content globally. J L Stream is promoted by Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra, entrepreneur Raj Kundra along with an advisory board of industry visionaries like Raj Nayak - former chief of Viacom, Bunty Bahl - CEO at ITW Playworx Media & Entertainment & Nandan Jha - former COO Ease My Trip. J L stands for Jaldi Live - a social LIVE streaming mobile app that gives users an opportunity to stream their talent, get discovered, chat & earn.

The app has a unique feature called K.I.S.S. that stands for 'Keep It Simple Streamer' & gives an option to the users to share a short video of their talent along with their introduction to help get discovered faster. On J L Stream, users can stream anywhere any time, showcase their talents, give shout-outs to their audience & earn money with instant cash out. The app will be available worldwide barring China. Users will be able to purchase coins in-app and pay streamers via virtual gifts during the live sessions. Streamers can withdraw their earnings instantly via multiple digital payment options.

Delighted about the upcoming launch, the CEO, Raj Kundra says, "In the last 5 years, India has seen a substantial amount of growth in the way we consume data and watch content. Jaldi Live is a major part of the new internet culture giving every person with any talent a platform to become a star. We have crossed 1 Lakh installs already. I am proud to say the app is made in India and will be available worldwide."

For more information or to download the app go to www.JLStream.com.

About J L Stream India Pvt Ltd

J L Stream India Pvt Ltd is founded and promoted by entrepreneur Raj Kundra. J L Stream is a seamless social live streaming app. The Logo J L comes together to form a 'Namaste,' a gesture of gratitude towards others. A proudly Made In India app, for the world.

New International Podcast 'betterthanPeter' Launched

• Reham Khan featured as the First Podcast Guest
• Titled better talks with betterthanPeter the first episode releases on December 3rd 
• Available on all major platforms like Spotify, JioSaavn, Gaana and others 

A new International podcast has been launched known as 'betterthanPeter' which endeavours to bring guests from different genres, cultures with interesting stories to share. Titled better talks with betterthanPeter the first episode airs on December 3rd on all major platforms like Spotify, JioSaavn, Gaana and others. The first podcast guest is celebrated personality Reham Khan, British-Pakistani journalist, author, and filmmaker and the teaser of the upcoming epsiode can be viewed on the Betterthanpeterpodcast Instagram page.

Rohan Bhardwaj, Director - betterthanPeter Podcast

According to Rohan Bhardwaj, Director - betterthanPeter Podcast, "With an estimated 40 million podcast listeners in India, the sector is witnessing a 60% growth as new firms and new shows swamp the market. Moreover, the pandemic has increased the reach of people and more people are tuning to the different content." He further added that with our unique podcast, we aim to reach out to millennials and create a niche audience making listening to podcast as a habit. There has been long hours of continuous work before releasing the podcast with ample research, reaching out to potential guests, editing and promoting across social media channels. 

betterthanPeter podcast focuses on conversations with Rohan Bhardwaj as the talk show host. The guest will be the hero of the show and the audience will definitely hear something that they have not heard before. For Instance, Reham Khan cannot live without Spotify or one of his upcoming high profile guests wakes up at 3:45 am every day. 

About Rohan Bhardwaj

Rohan Bhardwaj is the director of new international podcast betterthanPeter. At the start of 2020, Rohan was planning to launch a dating App by the same name and received pre-seed funding. But with the pandemic, he had to abort the idea as it was a time of uncertainty. After taking a month completely off and listening to an insane number of podcasts, Bhardwaj woke up with the idea of pivoting and launching his own podcast keeping the same brand name. A huge admirer of Gary Vee and making lemonade from lemon, he committed fully in research and understanding the podcast market and with persistence the idea of betterthanPeter Podcast became a reality.

With a diverse 15 years of experience, Rohan has been an entrepreneur and marketer for International Brands like Burger King, Applebees and worked in six different International markets. With such vast experience, Rohan has travelled extensively across India, US, Dubai understanding the consumer behaviour, needs of each market from brand perspective. It was this understanding which has led to his new venture.