iWorld
Voot launches show on 2016 urban marriages
MUMBAI: Voot, Viacom18’s digital VOD platform, has added one more feather to its original shows’ hat. It has announced the launch of their new web-series, It’s Not That Simple. Slated to go online from 6 October, the six-part show is a first of its kind relationship drama that explores the complexities of urban marriages.
Written by Charudutt Acharya and directed by Danish Aslam, the story is about a school reunion, which along with fond memories also brings back a little part of Meera that was lost in the process of just being a wife. Tempting her to go on a journey to find her lost self again, is an unfinished love triangle from days bygone. The story further develops based on the decisions the lead protagonist takes.
“The one box that digital content needs to check is being relatable to the viewer. And relationships & marriage in India are going through a dynamic change from the classic interpretation we are used to. We really wanted to take a closer look at urban marriages in 2016 with all their pressures and challenges… because at the end of it, marriage is the one choice that is life altering, good or bad, it’s really not that simple,” said VOOT head programming Monika Shergill.
The starcast of the show includes Swara Bhaskar as Meera, along with Vivan Bhatena as Rajeev, Akshay Oberoi as Sameer and Karanveer Mehra as Jayesh.
iWorld
T20 World Cup ’26: India–England semi-final sets global streaming record of 619 million views on JioHotstar
India–England semi-final records 65.2 million peak streams
MUMBAI: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set a new milestone in global sports streaming, as the India–England semi-final drew record digital audiences on JioHotstar.
The match on 5 March registered 65.2 million peak concurrent viewers, the highest ever recorded for a live event on any streaming platform worldwide. The semi-final also generated 619 million views, making it the most streamed T20 international match in history.
The landmark audience numbers were driven largely by viewers in India, setting a record achieved within a single market, rather than through aggregated viewership across multiple countries.
The high-scoring encounter between India national cricket team and England cricket team produced 499 runs across both innings, fuelling widespread fan engagement across platforms.
According to the International Cricket Council, the digital record surpassed the previous global benchmark of 65 million concurrent viewers, set in November 2024 by another international streaming platform.
Across television and digital platforms combined, the semi-final reached more than 320 million viewers, while total watch time exceeded 23 billion minutes, making it the most watched T20 international match ever.
“This World Cup demonstrates the immense passion of cricket fans and the progress made in bringing the game closer to audiences worldwide,” said ICC chairman Jay Shah.
“This moment reflects the scale of cricket fandom in India and the technological capability required to serve hundreds of millions of viewers simultaneously.”
JioStar vice-chairman Uday Shankar, said the audience surge underscored the future of large-scale digital entertainment.
“One in every three Indians tuned in to watch the second semi-final. Delivering such an experience at scale requires the very best of technology,” he said.
The 619 million views during the match also eclipsed the 533 million views recorded during the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
With the final yet to be played, the 2026 tournament has already set multiple benchmarks in audience reach and digital engagement.
India will face the New Zealand national cricket team in the final on 8 March at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.
