ITV

Category: iWorld

  • Zaggle swipes big with Mastercard in co-branded card power play

    Zaggle swipes big with Mastercard in co-branded card power play

    MUMBAI: When Zaggle and Mastercard join forces, you know the swipe game just levelled up. In a move set to reshape India’s prepaid card landscape, Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services Limited has inked a five-year deal with Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd., paving the way for a new wave of co-branded domestic prepaid cards.

    The agreement, effective from 22 September 2025 and running until 30 September 2030, will see Mastercard incentivise Zaggle to launch and promote these cards on its network. The deal is positioned as a customer business agreement, but in the wider payments ecosystem, it’s a strong signal that prepaid solutions are no longer niche, they’re going mainstream.

    Zaggle managing director Avinash and CEO Ramesh Godkhindi confirmed the collaboration in a regulatory filing, noting that the tie-up is fully aligned with SEBI’s disclosure requirements. Importantly, there’s no related party angle here, the deal is clean, international in origin, but domestic in focus.

    For Zaggle, this partnership means more than just plastic in wallets, it’s about scaling digital payments for an India that is rapidly going cashless. With Mastercard’s global heft backing its distribution, the co-branded cards are expected to target a wide consumer base, from urban professionals to emerging Tier 2 plus spenders looking for secure, flexible, and reward-heavy payment tools.

    The timing couldn’t be sharper. With India’s digital transaction volumes already scaling new highs and festive spending season underway, the Zaggle-Mastercard alliance is poised to capture both consumer trust and transaction value.

    By the numbers:

    ●    Agreement duration: 22 September 2025 – 30 September 2030

    ●    Nature: Domestic prepaid card co-branded with Zaggle on Mastercard’s network

    ●    Structure: Internationally awarded, domestically executed

    ●    Consideration: Mastercard incentivising Zaggle for launch and promotion

    As fintech partnerships continue to blur the lines between consumer convenience and financial innovation, Zaggle’s latest move signals that the prepaid card is no longer the poor cousin of credit, it’s a rising star. With Mastercard in its corner, Zaggle isn’t just playing the payments game; it’s aiming to rewrite the rulebook.

  • India’s internet lobby gets new chiefs to shepherd digital policy

    India’s internet lobby gets new chiefs to shepherd digital policy

    MUMBAI: India’s Internet and Mobile Association (IAMAI) has shuffled the deck at the top of its influential public policy committee, installing fresh leadership to guide the country’s booming digital sector through an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

    Amazon Web Services India & South Asia head of digital and AI policy  Saurabh Singh, has been elected chairperson of the committee that shapes industry positions on everything from data governance to consumer protection. He replaces Vineeta Dixit of Spotify, who had steered the group through a period of rapid regulatory change.

    Joining Singh as co-chairs are ride-hailing firm Rapido general counsel and head of corporate affairs & public policy Manasvi Mann, and Swedish caller-identification app Truecaller head of public affairs Seema Jindal. They take over from Senthil Kumar of agritech startup Ninjacart and Richa Mukherjee of fintech firm PayU.

    The reshuffle comes as India’s digital economy hurtles towards the government’s ambitious target of reaching $1trillion in value. The IAMAI committee serves as the industry’s primary voice in policy discussions with New Delhi, weighing in on thorny issues like data localisation rules, platform liability and digital competition.

    “Our focus will be on addressing critical digital policy matters that are relevant to our members whilst the ultimate goal would be to contribute to the national vision of building a $1 trillion digital economy,” Singh said following his appointment.

    The new leadership takes charge at a pivotal moment. India’s tech sector faces mounting scrutiny over market dominance, data privacy and content moderation—issues that will require deft navigation of both domestic political pressures and global regulatory trends.

    Jindal emphasised the need for industry-government collaboration to build “a safe and inclusive digital ecosystem” as India positions itself as a global digital leader. Her appointment brings telecoms expertise to a committee increasingly grappling with infrastructure and connectivity challenges.

    The leadership change reflects IAMAI’s evolution from a relatively niche trade body to a powerful lobbying force representing hundreds of companies across India’s sprawling digital economy. As regulatory battles intensify, the new team will need to balance member interests whilst maintaining credibility with policymakers in the world’s most populous democracy.

  • Rise & Fall climbs to top as reality TV’s latest cultural power play

    Rise & Fall climbs to top as reality TV’s latest cultural power play

    MUMBAI: When it comes to reality television, what goes up must come down but for Amazon MX Player’s Rise & Fall, the only direction right now is up. Premiering on 6 September, the high-drama reality experiment has shot straight into the Top 2 original reality shows on Ormax ratings, winning fans across both metros and rural India. And the buzz isn’t limited to television screens, the show has already racked up a jaw-dropping 500 million social media views, turning reels, memes, and reactions into a second stage of drama.

    Hosted by Ashneer Grover, Rise & Fall drops 15 celebrity contestants spanning Bollywood, music, sports, entrepreneurship, and social media into a unique social experiment that examines the eternal tug-of-war between the powerful and the powerless. Over 42 days, alliances are built and broken, friendships tested, and betrayals executed with both tears and applause.

    The star-studded line-up features Arbaaz Patel, Aarush Bhola, Aahana Kumra, Aditya Narayan, Arjun Bijlani, Dhanashree Verma, Kubra Sait, Kiku Sharda, Anaya Banger, Nayandeep Rakshit, Bali, Akriti Negi with the first elimination seeing Noorin Sha bow out.

    “With Rise & Fall, Amazon MX Player is redefining reality television for India,” said Amazon MX Player director & head Karan Bedi. “We went back to the basics of what audiences want, not just spectacle and drama, but strategy, leadership, and emotion. By reimagining a global format through an Indian lens, we’re bringing viewers a bold, refreshing and powerful narrative that resonates deeply.”

    The opulent set, designed by National Award-winning art director Omung Kumar, provides the perfect stage for the drama. Behind it all, Banijay India’s powerhouse creative team has tailored the format to spark conversation across every medium and judging by the memes flooding Instagram and Twitter, it’s working.

    The show has also become a marketer’s playground. Amazon India head of advertising Girish Prabhu explained: “The response from brands has been phenomenal, they see real value in being part of Rise & Fall. Integrations feel natural and memorable, which is why sponsors like Lux Cozi, Orient Electric, Haier, Pintola, Avvatar Whey Protein, Envi, and HMD are seeing strong impact.”

    With streaming on Amazon MX Player, Prime Video, Fire TV, the Amazon shopping app, Airtel Xstream and airing on Sony Entertainment Television at 10:30 pm, brands also get the bonus of multi-platform reach.

    Rise & Fall isn’t just another unscripted series; it’s shaping up to be the OTT cultural moment of the year, where entertainment collides with hustle, and power shifts become prime-time spectacle. As fresh episodes drop daily at 12 pm, one thing’s clear, the only thing falling here are the contestants, while the show itself continues its meteoric rise.
     

  • Shemaroo wins ‘creative marketing team of the year’ at Gema 2025

    Shemaroo wins ‘creative marketing team of the year’ at Gema 2025

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo has done it again, twenty times over. The entertainment pioneer was crowned “creative marketing team of the year” for the second straight year at the Gema India awards 2025, while also sweeping up an impressive 20 trophies across categories.

    The wins included eight golds and 12 silvers, with standout honours in sound design, music usage, editing, promos, campaign design, animation, and key art. Celebrated projects such as The Rings of Time, Vash, The Goat movies, Bhraanti – An Illusion, and applause-worthy movies stood out for originality, cultural resonance, and audience impact.

    Speaking on the recognition, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd., chief operating officer, Arghya Chakravarty said, “Shemaroo Entertainment winning ‘Creative Marketing Team of the Year’ at Gema India awards for the second consecutive year, is a reflection of the consistency and creative leadership we have built over time. We have always believed in staying ahead of the curve, combining innovation with cultural relevance to engage audiences meaningfully. These wins are not isolated achievements but part of a sustained journey where year after year, our teams have set new benchmarks in creativity.”

    Now in its seventh decade, Shemaroo continues to cement its reputation as one of India’s most inventive entertainment brands, pioneering in storytelling, creative campaigns, and cultural engagement.

  • Animeta launches AI film studio

    Animeta launches AI film studio

    MUMBAI: Singapore-based Animeta has fired up an AI film studio in Mumbai, betting that artificial intelligence can turbo-charge content creation for brands and filmmakers hungry for rapid-fire storytelling.

    The creator-tech company’s new vertical marries human creativity with machine-generated visuals, promising to churn out everything from promotional clips to feature-length films at breakneck speed. The venture taps into Google Cloud’s start-up programme, which provides access to the tech giant’s Vertex AI Veo3 video generation model alongside copyright protection.

    “We’ve built a hybrid model where human creativity and AI technology work together seamlessly, empowering creators to tell their stories faster, smarter, and infinitely scalable,” said Animeta founder Anish Mehta who has spent two decades reimagining animation storytelling.

    The Mumbai studio aims to capitalise on India’s booming digital content market whilst addressing creators’ perpetual challenge: producing high-quality material at scale without breaking budgets or timelines. The platform allows writers and filmmakers to blend original scripts, music and voice work with AI-generated visuals.

    Animeta already boasts heavyweight clients including Amazon, Starbucks, Warner Music, L’Oréal Group, Tata Group, McDonald’s and Uber through its Brandstar platform, which corrals over 400,000 creators. The company’s tech arsenal spans computer vision, video encoding, natural language processing and large language models.

    The move signals how AI is reshaping content production as streaming platforms and brands scramble for fresh material. Traditional filmmaking’s lengthy production cycles increasingly clash with digital-first audiences’ appetite for constant content consumption.

    Google Cloud’s backing provides crucial copyright indemnity—a key concern as AI-generated content faces legal scrutiny over intellectual property rights. The partnership positions Animeta to exploit AI’s creative potential whilst shielding clients from potential litigation.

    The venture underscores Mumbai’s emergence as a hub for AI-powered media innovation, challenging Hollywood’s traditional dominance in cutting-edge production technology.

  • Prime Video streams Kannappa in Hindi: a divine tale with starry cameos

    Prime Video streams Kannappa in Hindi: a divine tale with starry cameos

    MUMBAI: Prime Video today dropped the Hindi dub of the epic fantasy-action drama, giving audiences a chance to stream the much-talked-about Telugu blockbuster in their own tongue.

     

     

    Headlined by Vishnu Manchu, Kannappa isn’t short on star power, with dazzling cameos by Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar and Kajal Aggarwal. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced by Mohan Babu, the film is now available on Prime Video in Hindi, along with Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada versions.

    Based on true events and steeped in mythology, Kannappa follows the journey of Thinnadu (played by Manchu), a fearless tribal warrior who begins as an ardent atheist. His life takes a dramatic turn after a fateful encounter with Vayu Linga, a form of Lord Shiva, sparking a transformation into one of Shiva’s most devoted followers.

    With its mix of high-octane action, spiritual depth and larger-than-life visuals, the film aims to strike a chord with audiences across generations. Its sweeping narrative promises both spectacle and soul, making it a quintessential big-screen tale, now brought home via streaming.

    For Prime Video, this exclusive Hindi premiere further cements its position as India’s go-to entertainment hub, offering everything from homegrown originals to global blockbusters.

    So whether you’re here for the mythology, the megastars, or just the sheer scale, Kannappa is now just a click away. 
     

  • Short and sweet, One Take Media launches Vertigo TV for micro-dramas

    Short and sweet, One Take Media launches Vertigo TV for micro-dramas

    MUMBAI: Two minutes to drama, sixty to closure storytelling just got a major speed boost. Mumbai-based One Take Media has taken a bold leap into India’s streaming wars with the launch of Vertigo TV App, a first-of-its-kind platform dedicated to vertical, short-form dramas. The app introduces Indian audiences to a global bingeing trend micro-dramas that wrap up entire story arcs in 40 to 60 episodes, with each instalment lasting barely two minutes.

    In an era where Gen Z and millennials live by the swipe, Vertigo TV is built for the thumb and not the remote. It’s mobile-first, snackable, and designed for those who want their narratives as fast-paced as their feeds.

    “Vertigo TV App isn’t just a platform; it’s a movement redefining storytelling,” said One Take Media Founder & CEO Anil Khera. “Today’s viewers want rich narratives—and they want them fast. We’re bringing gripping Korean, Chinese and international micro-dramas to India in a way that feels fresh, addictive and mobile-native.”

    Micro-dramas, sometimes called mini-dramas or vertical dramas have exploded in Asia. By 2024, short-form videos made up over 60 per cent of all video consumption among 18–34-year-olds in Asia-Pacific, according to industry reports. In China alone, the micro-drama market was worth 5.3 billion dollars in 2023, growing at an impressive 18 per cent CAGR.

    Vertigo TV aims to replicate that boom in India with its SVOD model priced at Rs 499 per year, available on both Android and iOS.
    Why it clicks

    ●    Hook in 10 seconds: Every drama is crafted to capture attention instantly.

    ●    Mobile-optimised vertical format: Designed for on-the-go, one-hand viewing.

    ●    Global stories, local touch: Content spans Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi, and English originals, complete with subtitles.

    ●    Binge without guilt: An entire show can be polished off during a commute, lunch break, or workout.

    ●    High replay value: Short arcs make rewatching and sharing irresistible.

    India’s OTT space has long been dominated by long-format web series and films. Vertigo TV flips the script by going short, vertical and international. With storytelling now tailored to India’s growing smartphone-first population, it offers a fresh alternative to the clutter of big-screen bingeing.

    For viewers tired of endless episodes, cliffhangers that drag for months, or padded narratives, Vertigo TV offers a micro-dose of high-stakes drama with cinematic quality. It may well spark India’s own micro-drama revolution.

    As Khera summed it up: “This is entertainment reimagined for the attention economy quick, powerful, and always within reach.

  • Betting racket whacked for Rs 307 crore as ED strikes in Dubai

    Betting racket whacked for Rs 307 crore as ED strikes in Dubai

    NEW DELHI: India’s financial crimes enforcers have seized Dubai property and domestic bank deposits worth Rs 307 crore in a crackdown on an online betting operation centred around the Fairplay platform, according to a PTI report. 

    The Enforcement Directorate froze land, villas and flats in the Gulf emirate alongside Indian bank accounts under anti-money laundering laws, the agency said on Monday. The haul represents one of the largest asset seizures in India’s escalating war against illegal online gambling.

    The probe stems from a complaint filed by Viacom18 Media with Mumbai Police’s cyber wing, alleging the betting platform had inflicted revenue losses exceeding Rs 100 crore through violations of information technology and copyright laws.

    Investigators subsequently bundled together multiple cases against Fairplay and its associates for illegal online betting operations. The web of connected entities suggests a sophisticated money-laundering network spanning domestic and international jurisdictions.

    The seizures underscore how Indian authorities are pursuing betting operators’ offshore assets with increasing vigour. Dubai has emerged as a favoured destination for parking proceeds from India’s booming but largely illegal online gambling sector.

    The Fairplay case highlights the complex interplay between broadcasting rights violations and betting operations, with platforms allegedly using pirated content to drive traffic to gambling sites.
    India’s regulatory crackdown on online betting has intensified as authorities grapple with the sector’s explosive growth and its links to money laundering and tax evasion.

  • Atrangii hires veteran producer to spearhead content blitz

    Atrangii hires veteran producer to spearhead content blitz

    MUMBAI: Atrangii and Hari Om OTT have recruited  Vidyuth Bhandary as executive vice-president for content and studios, as the streaming platforms gear up for an aggressive expansion push.

    The appointment brings nearly three decades of media muscle to the homegrown platforms. Bhandary previously ran studios at Dice Media, where he masterminded OTT content development and production. His cv spans heavyweight roles at Times Internet/MX Media, FremantleMedia, Star India and Big FM, with credits including top-rated international format shows and blockbuster Indian streaming content.

    In his new perch, Bhandary will commandeer content teams across both platforms whilst heading up their newly-minted studio division. His brief includes turbo-charging Atrangii’s fiction and non-fiction pipeline and crafting devotional stories for Hari Om. The studio arm will churn out original intellectual property for third-party OTT services, television and films.

    “We’re in a phase of aggressive growth, expanding our footprint and cementing our leadership,” said Vibhu Agarwal, founder of both platforms. “Vidyuth’s appointment is a key step—his experience will help strengthen our in-house content engine and accelerate our plans to build a world-class studio ecosystem.”
    The hire signals Atrangii’s intent to muscle in on India’s crowded streaming battleground. Bhandary pledged to forge fresh content partnerships whilst building “a multi-year roadmap” for both domestic and international markets.

    “My goal is to help build a strong in-house content slate, while also developing a full-fledged studio setup,” he said. “I look forward to expanding into new markets, genres and achieving the vision set by the management.”
    The move underscores how Indian streaming services are doubling down on original content to differentiate themselves in an increasingly saturated market.

  • Vietnam’s Duc Phuc hits the high note, wins Intervision 2025 in Moscow

    Vietnam’s Duc Phuc hits the high note, wins Intervision 2025 in Moscow

    MUMBAI: Talk about a chart-topping comeback, after three decades in silence, the ‘Intervision song contest’ returned with a bang in Moscow, crowning Vietnamese pop star Duc Phuc as its 2025 champion.

    Held on 20 September at the packed Live Arena, the revived contest brought together 23 nations from BRICS, CIS, South America and West Asia. Phuc’s powerhouse performance of Phu Dong Thien Vuong wowed the 11,000-strong crowd, earning him 422 points, a clear 49 points ahead of the runner-up, along with a crystal trophy and a hefty 30 million Russian ruble prize.

    India struck the right chord on debut. Kashmiri singer-producer Rauhan Malik delivered a stirring performance of his track Ishq, finishing a respectable 12th and earning plaudits for his soulful vocals. Beyond the stage, India’s presence was equally prominent: acclaimed Bollywood composer dr. Jaan Nissar Lone made history as the first Indian jury member, while actress-model Stefy Patel, draped in a traditional pink Kanjivaram saree, co-hosted the global spectacle with flair.

    The organisational spotlight also fell on India, with Mumbai-based ARMS record label private limited / AR music studios serving as co-organiser, Newsx as media partner, and Roshan space brandcom handling outdoor promotions.

    Backed by an international committee chaired by Russia’s deputy pm Dmitry Chernyshenko, the rebooted ‘Intervision’ carried the stamp of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s cultural vision. More than just a competition, it became a showcase of global unity and artistic exchange.

    For India, this debut signals more than just a song, it marks a growing role on the international performing arts stage, with Malik summing it up best, “Intervision 2025 was an unforgettable experience. The love and warmth made it feel like music truly knows no borders.”