ITV

Category: iWorld

  • Sanrio launches three Hello Kitty Youtube channels for Indian fans

    Sanrio launches three Hello Kitty Youtube channels for Indian fans

    MUMBAI: Sanrio, has launched three dedicated Youtube channels in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, bringing the beloved characters closer to Indian fans. With this expansion, audiences can now enjoy Hello Kitty and Friends episodes and exclusive content in their preferred language.

    This initiative highlights Sanrio’s commitment to inclusivity, ensuring Hello Kitty’s magical adventures reach a broader audience across India. By offering content in three regional languages, Sanrio is making its timeless stories of friendship and kindness more accessible and engaging.

    The Hello Kitty and Friends Youtube channels will feature a variety of content, including full episodes, special features, and exciting programming such as Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures. This fan-favourite animated series follows Hello Kitty alongside My Melody, Kuromi, Bad Badtz-Maru, Cinnamoroll, and Pompompurin on fun-filled, heartwarming adventures. With themes of friendship, kindness, and positivity, the series continues to captivate fans of all ages worldwide.

    Sanrio’s latest move reaffirms its dedication to creating meaningful, multilingual entertainment, ensuring that Hello Kitty’s charm reaches every corner of India.

  • Punit Garg exits Reliance Comms board as part of clean corporate break

    Punit Garg exits Reliance Comms board as part of clean corporate break

    MUMBAI: It’s curtains for Punit Garg at Reliance Communications. The seasoned executive has officially stepped down from the board of the beleaguered telecom firm, marking yet another departure from the company’s vanishing leadership deck. The resignation, effective 1 April 2025, was submitted in a formal letter dated the same day, with Garg citing, “in line with his resignation from all the board positions in all the companies.”

    While the exit lacked fireworks or drama, it signals a final unplugging from a company that once aimed to be the crown jewel of Indian telecom but is now knee-deep in insolvency proceedings.

    Reliance Communications, under the corporate insolvency resolution process since June 2019, confirmed the development in a filing with the BSE and NSE. Company secretary Rakesh Gupta signed off on the disclosure, attaching Garg’s resignation letter and noting compliance under Regulation 30 of SEBI’s listing obligations.

    Garg’s exit adds to the list of top-level resignations over the years as RCom continues its struggle to stay afloat under the oversight of resolution professional Anish Niranjan Nanavaty, appointed by the NCLT Mumbai Bench.

    The resignation itself doesn’t raise eyebrows, but in an industry known for boardroom battles and opaque exits, a clean-cut ‘no other reason’ departure is almost… refreshing.

    Garg, who has held prominent roles across the Reliance Group over the years, exits at a time when Reliance Communications is more of a cautionary tale than a market mover. The company has not been in active telecom operations since it shut down its wireless business in 2017 and has been tangled in debt and legal knots since.

    With his board seat now vacated and no lingering drama in sight, this might just be one of the quieter exits in India Inc. But in the telecom saga that is RCom, even silence speaks volumes.

  • Reliance teams up with Blast to storm India’s booming esports arena

    Reliance teams up with Blast to storm India’s booming esports arena

    MUMBAI: Reliance Industries’ wholly-owned subsidiary Rise Worldwide has joined forces with European esports powerhouse Blast to form a joint venture that aims to revolutionise India’s nascent but rapidly expanding competitive gaming landscape.

    The partnership will leverage Blast’s tournament expertise and publisher relationships to bring global esports properties to Indian shores while developing bespoke competitions for the local market—a digital playground that already boasts a staggering 600 million gamers, representing 18 per cent of the world’s button-bashers.
    India’s gaming market, currently valued at $3.8bn, is projected to rocket to $9.2bn by 2029, growing at a blistering 19 per cent annually. Meanwhile, the global esports market is expected to surge from $2.8bn to $16.7bn by 2033, suggesting there are digital gold mines yet to be excavated.

    “India is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing gaming markets in the world,” said Blast chief executive Robbie Douek, whose company currently works with gaming titans including Epic Games, Valve, Riot Games, Krafton and Ubisoft across popular titles with a combined monthly player base exceeding 350 million.

    The new venture will capitalise on Blast’s production prowess and intellectual property portfolio while tapping into Jio’s technological muscle and distribution network via the JioGames platform. Services will span tournament management, targeted marketing, production and broadcasting—essentially creating a full-service esports juggernaut.

    “With this partnership, Indian esports will be able to realise its full potential,” said Reliance Sports  head Devang Bhimjyani.

    The timing appears impeccable, as the Indian government recently granted official recognition to esports by declaring it part of the “multi-sports event” category, providing legitimacy to a pursuit once dismissed as mere child’s play.

    Blast, known for producing tournaments that fill arenas and generate billions of views across 150+ territories, will now bring its show-stopping production values to a country where cricket has traditionally dominated sporting consciousness. With planned arena stops in global cities like London, Singapore, Austin and Rio in 2025, the addition of Indian venues seems a natural next step in the company’s expansion strategy.

    For India’s growing army of competitive gamers, the partnership offers tantalising prospects: international exposure, improved tournament infrastructure, and potentially, a shot at the multi-million dollar prize pools that have transformed gaming nerds into millionaire celebrities elsewhere in the world.

  • Amazon MX Player names Amogh Dusad as head honcho of content hustle

    Amazon MX Player names Amogh Dusad as head honcho of content hustle

    MUMBAI: In the high-stakes circus of Indian digital content, there’s a new ringleader in town. Amogh Dusad, a seasoned content architect with a track record longer than most binge lists, has been named director & head of content at Amazon MX Player, effective April 2025. And if his past gigs are anything to go by, MX is about to see its programming strategy hit the gas-and then some.

    Dusad’s digital content journey is basically a masterclass in transformation. From leading second-screen experiments at Sony Pictures Networks to helming content and cloud success strategies at Amazon’s Mini TV, he has fine-tuned his radar for what works on-screen and off-script. Now, he’s steering the creative ship for Amazon MX Player, a platform that’s no stranger to churning out hits but hungry for more punch and purpose.

    “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as director & head of content at Amazon MX Player!”, he took to Linkedin.

    Before this latest move, Dusad served as head of content at Amazon MX Player from October 2024, and prior to that, at Amazon Mini TV where he led content from March 2022 to October 2024. His decade-plus stint at Sony LIV and Sony Pictures Networks India saw him taking on roles from head of business ops to leading partnerships and digital product innovation.

    From NDTV Imagine to TAM Media Research, where he kicked off his career with data-heavy consulting and big content plays, Dusad has worn many hats-and worn them well. Think consumer insights, digital business strategy, content licensing, gaming, and brand integrations. He’s like the Swiss Army knife of the Indian OTT space.

    At MX, Amogh will now oversee content strategy, programming, commissioning, and everything in between. As content wars rage across platforms, having a battle-hardened content general at the helm is just what the doctor (and audience) ordered.

    It’s an exciting plot twist, one the industry will watch closely-popcorn in hand.

  • Prime Video grapples Apple TV+ for Indian streamers, all under one tent

    Prime Video grapples Apple TV+ for Indian streamers, all under one tent

    MUMBAI: What happens when a Silicon Valley giant gets into bed with a streaming behemoth? No, it’s not the beginning of a dystopian tech romance, it’s your next binge-watch fix getting sorted. Prime Video India has just hitched Apple TV+ to its growing caravan of content partners, and it’s all yours for a wallet-friendly Rs 99 per month. That’s less than a fancy coffee and likely more satisfying.

    Indian Prime Video users can plug into Apple TV+ directly via the Prime Video app as an add-on subscription. That means hit Apple Originals—think Severance, Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Silo, Wolfs, Hijack and Disclaimer to name a few—now live happily in the same home as Mirzapur and Panchayat. No more app-hopping. No more billing circus. Just pure, uninterrupted streaming joy.

    “We’re delighted to continue to roll-out Apple TV+ on Prime Video with the launch in India today bringing Prime Video customers an even greater selection of TV shows and films, all in one app experience,” said Prime Video vice president of international Kelly Day.

    The move is part of Prime Video’s growing grab of content partners. With over 25+ OTT services already hitching their wagons to the Prime marketplace—including Lionsgate Play, Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures – Stream, Discovery+, and BBC Player—this new addition is like adding an Oscar-winner to your motley pub quiz team.

    Prime Video, India head of marketplace (add-on subscriptions and movie rentals), Gaurav Bhasin said, “We are now thrilled to welcome Apple TV+ and its stellar content to Prime Video’s extensive library in India.”

    Apple’s SVP of services Eddy Cue added, “We want to make Apple TV+ and its award-winning library of series and films from the world’s greatest storytellers available to audiences around the world.”

    So, what’s the catch? There isn’t one.

    Cancel anytime.

    No new app downloads.

    No platform-hopping fatigue.

    Just more choice, more convenience, and a very smug smile when you find all your favourites in one place. As if you needed another excuse to stay in this weekend.

  • GroupM sports report: Cricket leads in online buzz, but Olympics and Football are flexing their muscles

    GroupM sports report: Cricket leads in online buzz, but Olympics and Football are flexing their muscles

    MUMBAI: India’s digital sports scene is a proper riot, with cricket still the undisputed king, but other sports are making a right racket too, according to GroupM ESP’s  Sporting Nation report for 2024. According to the data, a whopping 74.70 per cent of online sports conversations revolve around cricket, proving it’s more than just a game; it’s a national obsession.

    The Indian Premier League (IPL) takes the crown for sporting event chatter, accounting for a staggering 56.65 per cent of all online discussions. It’s a two-month T20 spectacle that keeps fans glued to their screens and keyboards.

    But the Paris Olympics also made a significant splash, grabbing 24.46 per cent of the online conversation. It seems India’s medal hopes in shooting, wrestling, javelin, and badminton whipped up a proper frenzy. And while the T20 World Cup saw a 15.17 percent share of discussion, the Olympics still pipped it to the post.
    Football, meanwhile, trails behind at 12.62 per cent, showing a more “nuanced but demographically concentrated following.”

     It’s not just the Indian Super League (ISL) getting tongues wagging; global events like the FIFA World Cup and European leagues are also part of the digital discourse.

    When it comes to individual athletes, cricket’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dominate, accounting for over two-thirds of all athlete-related discussions. Rohit’s T20 World Cup victory and Kohli’s “generational talent” debates keep them firmly in the spotlight.

    Outside cricket, wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic disqualification sparked a wave of online sympathy, placing her third in athlete chatter. Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker, Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and chess champ Gukesh Dommaraju also made their mark, capturing the nation’s imagination.

    Team-wise, Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lead the IPL pack, while Mohun Bagan Super Giant reigns supreme in the ISL.

    The data reveals that Indian sports fans are a passionate bunch, shaping narratives and amplifying their voices through digital platforms. They’re not just spectators; they’re active participants in the sporting drama. And with increased media penetration and improved streaming, their voices are louder than ever. It’s a proper digital sports carnival.

  • BBC backs down on podcast ads, AudioUK expresses concern

    BBC backs down on podcast ads, AudioUK expresses concern

    MUMBAI: The BBC has made  a U-turn on plans to plaster ads around its licence fee-funded podcasts, after a right old public controversy. The broadcaster’s annual plan for 2025-26 confirmed that it  had  ruled out the idea, following a barrage of feedback.

    “We have listened to feedback and having considered the options carefully, we have decided to rule out placing adverts around BBC licence-fee funded programmes on third party podcast platforms in the UK,” the BBC stated, effectively slamming the door on the ad plans.

    AudioUK, the trade body representing independent podcast and audio producers, welcomed the decision, but they’re still keeping a beady eye on BBC Studios’ commercial activities. They’re worried that the BBC’s commercial arm, with its “powerful” presence, could disrupt the fledgling UK podcast market.

    “We remain concerned about the BBC’s entry into the UK podcast advertising market through content produced by the BBC Studios,” AudioUK said in a statement. “The potential disruption caused by such a large player entering the space without full consideration of its impact on these businesses is troubling.”

    AudioUK CEO Chloe Straw called for “greater engagement” from BBC Studios, urging it to “support, rather than disrupt” the developing podcast ecosystem. She’s keen to see the Beeb join the “vibrant, collaborative space” that independent producers have built.

    “Whilst the UK podcasting industry is thriving and growing rapidly, it remains relatively young and has been largely built and driven by the creativity, innovation and investment of over 200 SMEs, many of them regional and diverse,” Straw said.

    AudioUK is also keen to see “greater transparency and research” from the BBC on how it intends to grow the market, alongside the many other organisations and businesses already working to attract advertising investment.

  • Men of Platinum’s Honourthe7 pays tribute to MS Dhoni’s enduring legacy

    Men of Platinum’s Honourthe7 pays tribute to MS Dhoni’s enduring legacy

    MUMBAI: As IPL 2025 sets the stage for another thrilling season, Men of Platinum unveils Honourthe7, a heartfelt tribute to cricketing legend MS Dhoni. This fan-powered campaign invites supporters to express their admiration for Dhoni in a unique and deeply personal way through a seven-word tribute.

    Building on the success of the Men of Platinum x Dhoni Signature Edition, the initiative transforms fan tributes into AI-generated video anthems, featuring the fan and their message an unforgettable digital keepsake to be shared across social media. The most compelling entries will win match tickets to select CSK games, offering a chance to witness Dhoni’s greatness live.

    With IPL fever at its peak, Men of Platinum is amplifying the campaign across digital, social, and print platforms, celebrating Dhoni’s management, resilience, and composure values that mirror the strength of platinum itself.

    To take the storytelling even further, the brand has partnered with Espn Cricinfo to launch an exclusive content series, Men of Platinum presents The Dhoni Legacy. Hosted by Raunaq Kapoor, the series features legendary cricketing voices including Anil Kumble, Tom Moody, Ambati Rayudu, Ian Bishop, and Sanjay Manjrekar who will share first-hand insights and personal anecdotes about Dhoni’s remarkable journey. Timed around key CSK match days, the series blends real-time match reflections with Dhoni’s defining moments, reinforcing his enduring legacy.

    In addition to the Honourthe7 campaign and The Dhoni Legacy series, Men of Platinum is rolling out fan-focused activations, including memes, superfan integrations, and digital tributes, creating an emotionally charged brand moment that resonates with CSK supporters.

    Platinum Guild International (PGI)-India consumer marketing director Sujala Martis shared, “The Dhoni Signature Edition is more than just a collection it’s a tribute to the values and legacy of a true icon. This IPL, as Dhoni takes the field once again, we are giving fans powerful new ways to express their admiration. Just like platinum, Dhoni’s legacy is rare and enduring and this campaign honours that spirit.”

    Famous Innovations group creative director Tenzin Wangdi added, “Honourthe7 is a collective tribute, written by those who have watched, cheered, and been inspired by a legend.”

    Wavemaker chief client officer Shekhar Banerjee stated, “We have transformed fan tributes into timeless digital legacies, ensuring Dhoni’s enduring influence and the Men of Platinum philosophy shine brighter than ever.” 

  • JioHotstar and Amitabh Bachchan bring Ram Navami celebrations to millions

    JioHotstar and Amitabh Bachchan bring Ram Navami celebrations to millions

    MUMBAI: JioHotstar is set to bring the sacred grandeur of Ram Navami to millions with a special live stream from Ayodhya on 6 April, from 8 am to 1 pm. Featuring Padma Vibhushan Amitabh Bachchan as the narrator of the Ram Katha, the event will combine spiritual rituals, musical tributes, and cultural performances, making it an unmissable experience for devotees.

    Following the massive success of Coldplay’s Music of the spheres and the Mahashivratri: The Divine Night live streams, JioHotstar continues to revolutionise digital devotion, bridging the gap between audiences and India’s most cherished cultural celebrations.

    At the heart of this extraordinary event, Bachchan will narrate evocative stories from the Ramayana, offering reflections on Lord Ram’s virtues and timeless wisdom. The celebration will also include,

    Live aartis from sacred sites including Bhadrachalam, Panchvati, Chitrakoot, and Ayodhya , A special pooja from Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi, Interactive storytelling sessions for children, making the Ramayana engaging and relatable, Soul-stirring bhajans and musical performances by Kailash Kher, Malini Awasthi, and other revered artists. 

    A JioHotstar spokesperson stated, “Our live streaming capabilities have allowed us to bring culturally significant experiences to audiences across India. With the legend himself, Bachchan narrating Lord Ram’s journey, this event promises to be deeply moving and spiritually enriching.”

    Bachchan said, “Ram Navami is more than a festival it is a moment of deep reflection, a time to embrace the ideals of dharma, devotion, and righteousness that Lord Ram personified. Through JioHotstar, we are blessed with the power of technology to transcend distances, uniting hearts across the nation in an unprecedented celebration of faith, culture, and spirituality.” 

  • KKR serves up Knight Bite a tasty blend of cricket, fun and food

    KKR serves up Knight Bite a tasty blend of cricket, fun and food

    MUMBAI: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are adding a dash of flavour to fan engagement with Knight Bite, a unique digital series that blends cricket, camaraderie, and cooking.

    Partnering with TTK Prestige, KKR has kicked off Let’sgetcooking with Knight Bite a five-episode series that takes fans beyond the pitch and into the kitchen. Hosted by celebrity chef Kunal Kapur, the show features KKR players cooking, chatting, and competing in fun kitchen challenges, offering an exclusive glimpse into their personalities beyond cricket.

    Knight Riders Sports group chief marketing officer Binda Dey shared the inspiration behind the initiative, “Our partnership with TTK Prestige is more than just a collaboration it’s a celebration of Indian culture and the shared passions that unite our fans beyond cricket. Through our research, we found that beyond their love for the game and KKR, our fans are deeply passionate about food and fitness. This insight led us to introduce two new IPs that offer fresh, meaningful ways to connect with them. Knight Bite is the first of these initiatives, and we are thrilled to bring it to life with TTK Prestige. It’s more than just a series it’s a way to showcase our players’ personalities beyond the field while celebrating something that brings us all together: the love of food.”

    TTK Prestige MD & CEO Venkatesh Vijayaraghavan said, “Cricket and food have a way of bringing people together, and Knight Bite is a perfect fusion of both. At TTK Prestige, we’ve been a part of Indian kitchens for decades, making cooking effortless and enjoyable for generations. This collaboration with KKR allows us to reimagine the kitchen as a space of fun, energy, and shared experiences just like the game itself. Watching players step off the field and into the kitchen, taking on challenges with camaraderie and humour, makes this series truly special, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”

    With Knight Bite, KKR isn’t just serving up a digital series they’re building an immersive fan experience. Over the next year, the initiative will expand into special events, interactive workshops, and exclusive merchandise, making it a year-long celebration of cricket and cuisine.