ITV

Category: iWorld

  • Zee5-Jio Studios join forces to launch Hisaab Barabar and Mrs.

    Zee5-Jio Studios join forces to launch Hisaab Barabar and Mrs.

    MUMBAI: Last year’s collaborations had the internet buzzing, and this year, the trend isn’t slowing down!

    Zee5, India’s beloved homegrown streaming giant, has joined forces with Jio Studios, the media powerhouse of Reliance Industries, to unveil not one but two exclusive cinematic gems.

    Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions as Hisaab Barabar and Mrs. bring larger-than-life storytelling right to your screens.

    With Hisaab Barabar premiering on 24 January in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, and the release date for Mrs. just around the corner, this dynamic partnership promises to redefine entertainment for fans across India.

    Hisaab Barabar, a satirical social drama starring R. Madhavan, takes a hard-hitting yet humorous approach to the issue of financial fraud. The film follows a common man’s relentless fight to expose a corporate bank’s billion-dollar scam.

    Mrs., featuring Sanya Malhotra, explores the nuanced journey of a housewife navigating societal expectations and personal struggles, promising a poignant blend of drama and resilience.

    These films aim to elevate Zee5’s already robust portfolio of impactful and entertaining content.

    Zee5 chief business officer, Sivakumar Chinnasamy highlighted the platform’s commitment to offering premium content, “At Zee5, we are driven by the goal of providing high-quality and engaging content. Our partnership with Jio Studios brings two remarkable films—Hisaab Barabar and Mrs.—to our subscribers. These films embody meaningful storytelling that resonates deeply with audiences. We remain committed to expanding our rich content library and delivering innovative narratives.”

    Jio Studios COO & CFO, Priyanka Chaudhary added, “We’ve had an exceptional 2024 and are thrilled to collaborate with Zee5 to bring cinematic gems like Mrs. and Hisaab Barabar to audiences. Mrs. has garnered acclaim at prestigious festivals, and Hisaab Barabar delivers a bold narrative on financial corruption. This partnership marks a new chapter in delivering high-quality, engaging content to viewers.”

    With rising demand for original and diverse stories, Zee5 continues to enhance its portfolio by collaborating with leading studios like Jio Studios. This partnership underscores Zee5’s role as a pioneer in delivering premium and thought-provoking entertainment to Indian viewers.

  • Infinite Reality secures $3 billion investment to drive immersive technology innovation

    Infinite Reality secures $3 billion investment to drive immersive technology innovation

    MUMBAI:  Immersive technology and digital media innovation firm Infinite Reality (iR)  has closed a landmark $3 billion equity investment from a private investor specializing in global technology and real estate. The funding underscores confidence in iR’s vision for the next generation of the internet, leveraging extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI).

    The investment positions iR as a major player in the rapidly growing immersive technology sector, projected to reach nearly $1 trillion by 2030. CEO John Acunto emphasised the company’s commitment to empowering businesses and creators with tools to craft immersive digital experiences while retaining full ownership of their data and customer relationships.

    “This fundraise validates our mission to build an immersive platform that powers the next era of the web,” said Acunto. “Our customers can now seamlessly transition from 2D websites to immersive spaces, optimising their operations and unlocking new revenue opportunities.”

    IInfinite Reality plans to leverage the funding for continued expansion, including acquisitions, partnerships, and product development. Key recent milestones include:

    * The significant expansion of iR’s MENA presence through partnerships with both public and private sectors. This rapid growth is highlighted by multiple high profile collaborations, including the development of advanced digital twin technologies for practical applications such as interactive training and safety demonstrations for the UAE ministry of finance, as well as the recent unveiling of the digital twin of the DMCC Crypto Centre. The momentum will continue to build with upcoming prominent projects across the region including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and beyond, encompassing initiatives with government entities, tourism authorities, and premier real estate developers.

    *  The $450 million purchase of Dubai-based Landvault (now iR Enterprise) which has built over 1.2 million square feet of virtual experiences for countless high-profile brands including Mastercard, Standard Chartered, Hershey, a Cannes Lion-winning Heineken campaign with Dentsu, groundbreaking activations with Hershey in Decentraland, and the innovative World of Women experience in The Sandbox.

    * The closing of multiple acquisitions, including the $250 million acquisition of the Drone Racing League, the $75 million purchase of Ethereal Engine, Action Face, and Stakes. These deals strengthened iR’s capabilities in computer vision and spatial web technology, gaming, robotics, and more.

    * Continued work with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, including the launch of the FIM SGP-VERSE app, the world’s first socially interactive and fully immersive speedway experience with features such as customisable camera streams, an exclusive pit reporter feed and on-demand video content. 

    In addition, iR is advancing its Florida innovation hub, transforming a former Superfund site into a state-of-the-art headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, expected to create thousands of jobs and bolster the region’s technological leadership.

    Co-founder Amish Shah noted that the investment, secured as equity without debt, allows iR to execute its vision without restrictions. “This partnership provides us with unparalleled resources to grow through innovation, acquisitions, and global market expansion.”

    Infinite Reality’s iR Studio, a no-code immersive SaaS platform, will see further enhancements to democratise access to XR technology. By combining AI and proprietary tools, the company aims to make immersive digital experiences accessible and scalable for brands and creators worldwide.

  • Stage OTT unveils Rohidi Music Festival, honouring Rajasthan’s musical legacy

    Stage OTT unveils Rohidi Music Festival, honouring Rajasthan’s musical legacy

    MUMBAI: Against the golden backdrop of Rajasthan’s sprawling sand dunes, a symphony of melodies is set to echo across the Sheo region of Barmer.

    The Rohidi Music Festival, a dazzling homage to Rajasthan’s rich musical traditions, promises to be a sensory spectacle unlike any other. Slated for 12 January 2025, the festival unfolds amidst the desert’s mystic allure, blending the soul of folk music with the vibrant spirit of National Youth Day.

    As the setting sun casts its amber glow, the timeless tunes of Rajasthan will weave a story of culture, heritage, and harmony, celebrating Swami Vivekananda’s enduring legacy.

    The festival assembles over 350 Manganiyar artists, globally revered for preserving Rajasthan’s folklore and traditions through electrifying performances. Armed with powerful vocals and traditional instruments such as the khartal and dholak, these artists—renowned for appearances on platforms like Coke Studio—will mesmerise audiences with their soulful rhythms.

    Speaking about the initiative, Stage OTT CEO & co-founder, Vinay Singhal remarked, “The Rohidi Music Festival is our tribute to Rajasthan’s timeless musical legacy. Through this initiative, we aim to bring the Manganiyars’ artistry to a larger audience while fostering a deeper appreciation for traditional art forms. Visitors can look forward to an immersive cultural experience, complete with mesmerising performances and the majestic beauty of Barmer’s desert landscape.”

    Beyond its musical allure, the festival seeks to uplift Rajasthan’s border communities. By showcasing local talent, generating employment opportunities, and fostering cultural pride, it contributes to the social and economic development of the region. This initiative not only preserves art but also serves as a movement to rejuvenate and empower the area’s communities.

    Festival details

    . Date: January 12, 2025

     . Time: 2:00 PM onwards

     . Venue: Rohidi, Gadra, Sheo (Barmer District), Rajasthan

    Mark your calendars for this extraordinary journey into Rajasthan’s heritage, hospitality, and artistry. The Rohidi Music Festival offers a rare opportunity to celebrate the living history of the Manganiyars and embrace the unmatched beauty of Rajasthan’s cultural tapestry.

     

  • Shradha Sharma’s YourStory Media ropes in former Microsoft ace Sangeeta Bavi as COO

    Shradha Sharma’s YourStory Media ropes in former Microsoft ace Sangeeta Bavi as COO

    MUMBAI: This is indeed a big catch. Digital influencer and YourStory Media founder & CEO Shradha Sharma has hired former Microsoft executive director, digital natives  Sangeeta Bavi as the company’s chief operating officer (COO).

    As COO, Shradha shared on linkedin, Sangeeta will oversee the end-to-end business, drive revenue growth and overall operations as the company prepares for its next phase of expansion.

    “With two and a half decades of experience across global giants like Microsoft and Nokia, Sangeeta has loads of expertise in building high-impact teams and driving scale. In her decade of experience at Microsoft, she spearheaded the digital natives vertical, building it from the ground up and establishing it as a leading growth engine for engaging India’s top digital-scale startups.  Her leadership was instrumental in scaling the vertical into a trusted ecosystem partner for startups and a valued business vertical at Microsoft,” Shradha shared. 
    “Sangeeta has also been a mentor to several startups, and has played an active volunteer role in Saasboomi community.”

    A B. Tech in computer science and an MBA from IIM Bangalore, Sangeeta began her career at Wipro Technologies as a senior design engineer where she worked for three years. She was then picked up by  Nokia to work in the capacity  of senior software engineer at Tampere in Finland where she  did some cutting edge development work for the mobile maker.

    That done, Sangeeta then whizzed back to India and continued with the Finnish company for a decade and a half being exposed to various functions like leading teams, doing R&D, managing strategic projects, managing products and when she exited Nokia for Microsoft India  she was designated as head developer outreach.

    At Microsoft India, Sangeeta began as a product marketing manager in 2014 and moved into the company’s India president’s office as chief of staff and busines manager. From there, she was given the responsibility of working with startups at their early stages as director of Microsoft Indias start up business. Leadership of the digital natives vertical followed.

    Shradha is cock-a-hoop with delight at Sangeeta’s coming on board as YourStory Media COO. Said Shraddha: “For any entrepreneur, their journey gets strengthened when a leader comes along the way, sees the vision and commits to be with you to scale and transform the dream you’ve built and lived.. And I am grateful to have someone as brilliant as Sangeeta Bavi join me on this journey of YourStory.”

  • CES2025: Free, AI-powered cultural, tourism app looks for international partners

    CES2025: Free, AI-powered cultural, tourism app looks for international partners

    MUMBAI: Making waves at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Cryptors in the City is being positioned as the world’s first AI-powered cultural app. Free, ad-free, and multilingual, this innovative app transforms cities into immersive playgrounds where history comes alive, reimagining exploration as an interactive adventure.

    At the heart of the app are Cryptors—pixelated ceramic artworks crafted by renowned comic artist Guillaume Mazurage (Mazu). Strategically installed near iconic landmarks, these street art creations come to life through a simple smartphone scan. Acting as guides and companions, Cryptors engage users with interactive challenges, fascinating insights, and fun-filled exploration.

    Founded in 2023 by Louis de Carolis, Mazu, and Florent de Carolis, Cryptors in the City blends cutting-edge technology with a passion for cultural preservation. Supported by esteemed institutions like Château de Cheverny, Deauville, and the Île-de-France municipalities, the app aims to captivate global audiences by fostering intergenerational connections and promoting immersive tourism.

    With Cryptors in the City, users become the heroes of their own cultural journeys. Each step transforms into a treasure hunt, seamlessly blending history with modern exploration. Iconic locations become starting points for immersive quests, making every walk an engaging and educational experience.

    Inspired by 1980s retro gaming aesthetics, the pixelated Cryptors come to life with enriched conversational AI. These historical figures share captivating anecdotes, pose thought-provoking quizzes, and offer personalized challenges. High scores unlock unlimited access to conversations with Cryptors, each imbued with a unique personality and deep historical knowledge. Imagine exchanging ideas with Aurangzeb or Mahatma Gandhi in real time!

    “With Cryptors in the City, history and heritage become interactive playgrounds,” says Mazu, the app’s artistic director & co-founder. “Reimagining historical figures through a fresh lens makes them accessible and relatable to younger generations. For CES, Sacajawea was the perfect choice.”
     

    Cryptors—pixelated ceramic artworks

    Cryptors in the City was founded with three key objectives: to preserve and share cultural heritage in innovative ways;  to bridge generational gaps and captivate younger audiences and to offer immersive, year-round tourism experiences.

    By blending street art, AI, and retro gaming aesthetics, the app creates an engaging, interactive universe. “Our goal is to transform tourism into a connected, educational, and entertaining adventure,” says Louis de Carolis, the app’s president &  co-founder.

    With over 3.09 billion gamers worldwide (expected to grow to 3.32 billion by 2024), gaming is a powerful tool for engaging communities. Cryptors in the City draws inspiration from this global phenomenon, merging gaming elements with cultural exploration to connect users with history while revitalising cities and tourist sites.

    Cryptors in the City is preparing for its next chapter with a fundraising campaign. Its key goals include: enhancing user experiences with augmented reality, creating dynamic 3D playgrounds; expanding to new cities across France and exploring opportunities in international markets. This vision aims to overlay immersive, interactive elements onto real-world settings, transforming streets and monuments into vibrant, living experiences.

    Whether enjoyed solo, with friends, or as a family, Cryptors in the City transforms exploration into meaningful adventures. By integrating diverse forms of heritage—cultural, historical, artistic, natural, and even sports-related—the app creates connections across generations and offers a revolutionary way to experience the world.

    Cryptors in the City is more than just an app—it’s a bridge between the past and the future, powered by the creativity of its founders and the limitless possibilities of AI.

  • Battery Ventures invests sizeable sum in enterprise software firm Signiant

    Battery Ventures invests sizeable sum in enterprise software firm Signiant

    MUMBAI: Intelligent file transfer software  company Signiant has got a shot in the arm with technology-focused investment firm Battery Ventures investing a sizeable sum in it.  (Signiant called it “ a majority growth investment” though terms were not disclosed as the firm is  private.). 

    Signiant’s innovative technology allows large media files—from movies and TV shows to sports and news content—to move through the media supply chain quickly and securely, regardless of where the files are stored. The core technology is becoming more critical as media companies increasingly produce rich, effects-laden content for distribution across a range of online streaming platforms, often involving creators and vendors in multiple locations. From its key position at the foundation of the media tech stack, the company is now expanding the functionality of the file transfer SaaS platform into adjacent media services.  

    Signiant’s flagship products are used by some of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies in sectors such as post production, professional sports, gaming, and broadcast/cable TV. Customers include large companies such as NBCU, Warner Bro Discovery, Ubisoft and the National Hockey League, as well as many smaller companies throughout the global media ecosystem. 

    “We are thrilled to partner with Battery, a firm with a long history of scaling enterprise SaaS businesses, to begin writing the next chapter of the Signiant story,” said Signiant chief executive Margaret Craig. “Both the company and the media industry are at inflection points. We feel our solutions are uniquely suited to meet the current moment in media and entertainment, which demands the type of efficiency and fast time-to-value that only a modern multi-tenant SaaS platform can deliver.” 

    Signiant will use the investment from Battery to fund product development and go-to-market activities, as well as potential future acquisitions in the media technology space. The company previously completed two add-on acquisitions which expanded Signiant’s product footprint. The company remains committed to pursuing future acquisitions to better serve its customers.  

    “As the production of media content becomes more specialised and complex, owing to advancements in video and sound quality, and fancy visual effects, it means media files have gotten larger and more difficult to move around and track,” noted Battery Partner Dave Tabors. “In our view, Signiant has cracked the code on how to tackle this problem, building a robust SaaS business to facilitate the transfer of these files in a secure way. And we see the opportunity to grow the company’s market even more.” 

    Added Roland Anderson, a Battery principal: “Signiant’s solutions, including its Media Shuttle product—which uses a proprietary protocol to move files over any IP network, between both public cloud and on-premises storage locations–are high-quality and extremely sticky among its customers. We’re excited to work with the company to fuel further growth, both organic and through potential acquisitions.” Both Tabors and Anderson are joining Signiant’s board. 

    Pharus served as exclusive advisor to Signiant on the transaction and Mintz Levin acted as counsel to the company. 

  • Apple’s Tim Cook’s handpicked CFO Kevan Parekh takes office

    Apple’s Tim Cook’s handpicked CFO Kevan Parekh takes office

    MUMBAI: Is 12 a lucky number?

    Some may question the logic, saying there’s no such thing as luck. 

    But a dozen years proved extremely good for Kevan Parekh, who was handpicked by Apple CEO Tim Cook to become the CFO of Apple during his twelfth year with the company. Just as the clock hit the 12 midnight mark in New York on 31 December and the ball was beginning to drop in Times Square, Kevan’s term as the CFO commenced.

    Kevan, an Indian origin executive, joined Apple in June 2013 and has played a key role in its financial and business planning, and product development planning since then. Prior to becoming CFO, he served as Apple’s vice president of financial planning and analysis. Before that, he served as Apple’s vice president of worldwide finance, supporting a number of different functions throughout his tenure, including engineering, iTunes, marketing, retail, and sales.

    His pay package is speculated to be  $1 million a year, plus participation in the company’s executive cash incentive plan for fiscal 2025.

    Kevan, succeeds Luca Maestri, who was appointed  CFO in 2014, and he will be reporting directly to Cook. As CFO, Kevan will be overseeing Apple’s accounting, business support, financial planning and analysis, treasury, investor relations, internal audit, and tax functions.

    Maestri on his part continues to be part of Apple overseeing its corporate services teams. His responsibilities will include managing information systems and technology, cybersecurity, and real estate and development.

    Before joining Apple, Kevan worked for eight years with General Motors in New York and then Europe. He returned to New York to join Thomson Reuters and stayed put as vice-president of finance (professional division) and then as corporate treasurer till 2013. 

    Kevan has a solid academic background and holds a bachelor science degree in electrical engineering, and an MBA from the University of Chicago which he  completed in 2000 with a major in finance and strategic management.  

  • Vi Movies & TV adds Lionsgate Play

    Vi Movies & TV adds Lionsgate Play

    MUMBAI: There was a gap in the entertainment offerings that mobile telco Vi was giving to its subscribers under its Movies & TV section: that of certain Hollywood titles.

    Now that gap has been filled with its partnership with Lionsgate Play to make its slate of films like John Wick, The Hunger Games, and Saw, alongside standout titles such as Past Lives, Tokyo Vice, Paris Has Fallen, Normal People, Operation Fortune, Plane, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, The Iron Claw, The Beekeeper, Arcadian, and more available to subscribers, apart from award shows like the Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, and BAFTA Awards,.

    The Vi movies and TV section  has a wide selection of content, ranging from Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLiv, Zee5 to Fancode for sports as well as regional content from Sun Nxt ManoramaMax, Nammaflix, Klikk and Chaupal. It also offers 300+ Live TV Channels including 30+ live news channels.

  • XR Sports Alliance attracts new members

    XR Sports Alliance attracts new members

    MUMBAI: The XR Sports Alliance (XRSA) is beginning to gather momentum. Founded by video streaming solutions company Accedo  together with wireless tech company  Qualcomm Technologies and  sports host broadcaster HBS, in June 2024, it has announced its first batch of members. These include: sports rights owner E1 Series; telecom operator Deutsche Telekom; AR glasses and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) XReal and and technology service providers, Ateme, Skyrim.ai.

    The new members will  be contributing to the XRSA, which aims to accelerate knowledge gathering, technological advancement and time-to-market for XR sports services, as well as gather and share industry knowledge across the globe.

    Said Accedo CEO Michael Lantz: “The XRSA was born from a shared vision. Our ambition is to build a powerful collective of passionate leaders and experts from both the sports and XR industries, all committed to advancing the commercialisation of XR sports services. Every member is important for how we shape our end-to-end experimentation framework and how we lay the foundation for scalable technology and sustainable XR business models.”

    Qualcomm Technologies senior director business development Patrick Costello added: “Through the XRSA user testing framework, we  will gather valuable data from global deployments and share these lessons learned reports with our members, ensuring insights are drawn from diverse audiences to inform future developments.”

    HBS digital head Sylvain Lebreton  commented: “The planned experimentation deployments in early 2025 will involve extensive experimentation with both non-live and live spatial video formats and evaluating user interaction with various immersive fan features and spatial advertising. We will continue to grow the membership over the coming months and welcome interest from companies across the ecosystem, both those wishing to serve as contributing members, as well as observing members.”

    Accedo, HBS, and Qualcomm Technologies, will be at CES 2025 from 7-11 January 2025. 

  • Health tech firm Consint.AI raises Rs 5 crore seed investment

    Health tech firm Consint.AI raises Rs 5 crore seed investment

    MUMBAI: GenAI-driven healthcare Insurance fraud and risk management company Consint.AI has raised Rs 5 crore in a seed round led by Equanimity Ventures and Seafund. The capital raised will be deployed to scale operations through expanded sales outreach and accelerate the development of the genAI feature suite for the health AI platform.

    This includes enhancing fraud detection, optimising claims processing, and delivering personalised clinical care. Funding raised in the current round will also support team expansion, infrastructure upgrades, and R&D efforts to help it grow in the health tech solutions market.

    Says Seafund managing partner Manoj Agarwal:  “Our focus on emerging tech like GenAI, deep tech, IoT and sustainability has been the guiding force when it comes to backing unique and innovative startups. Consint.AI’s laser sharp focus on solving the problem of healthcare insurance claims processing and fraud detection improving performance of insurance and healthcare institutions is a multi-billion dollar problem to solve and we believe that we have the necessary expertise and network to help the company grow and reach its ambitions.”
     
    Adds Consint founder & CEO Ashish Chaturvedi:  “This current market traction and milestones highlight the transformative potential of generative AI in reshaping healthcare as we know it. At Consint.AI, we are pioneering genAI-driven platforms like CIPHR.ai and Risk.ai to solve complex challenges in healthcare transactions and personalised care. Our focus remains on advancing our genAI capabilities to drive innovation, deliver impactful solutions, and empower businesses globally to achieve seamless operations and value-based care. This funding accelerates our mission to lead the charge in AI-powered healthcare transformation”

    Founded in 2020 by Ashish Chaturvedi and later joined by Swadeep Singh as a co-founder, Consint.AI aims to optimise healthcare claims transactions, making them affordable and efficient with cutting-edge platforms like Risk.ai, engineered to optimise insurance transactions and mitigate fraud, and CIPHR.ai which is designed to enhance critical patient management and streamline claims generation. By harnessing advanced genAI solutions, the company helps businesses across emerging markets and the US to drive value-based care, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.

    In the past 12 months, Consint.AI has expanded  in India, the middle east, and Africa. The company recently launched CIPHR.ai, an AI-driven platform tailored for hospitals, built upon custom gen AI models for  care personalisation in critical patient management. CIPHR.ai provides intelligence at the point of care and generates claims transactions. It is targeted at emerging health markets and the US Accountable Care Organisation (ACO) sector.

    In the past two quarters, the company has achieved significant growth, securing Rs 10 plus crore in signed contracts. This includes multiple multi-year agreements with leading insurance providers and hospital systems. Consint.AI  plans to continue expanding Risk.ai to drive transactions in the emerging InsurTech markets, with a focus on product enhancements and accelerated sales efforts. Additionally, it aims to strategically penetrate the US market by establishing a strong product-market fit for its CIPHR.ai provider platform, leveraging its generative AI solutions to meet the specific needs of healthcare providers ACOs. 

    Consint.AI is focused on the $600 billion healthcare transaction market and with a projected 4x YoY business growth, the company is strategically expanding its Risk.ai product across private and public insurance markets in the APAC and MEA regions.