iWorld
Mad Influence, YouTube India, and Star Sports transform live-streaming landscape with #DostsLive
Mumbai: In a historic collaboration, Mad Influence, YouTube India, and Star Sports have come together to pioneer a revolution in live-streaming, unveiling a remarkable, never-seen-before intellectual property (IP). This groundbreaking partnership has given birth to #DostsLive, an interactive YouTube livestream event held at the prestigious Star Sports Studios in Mumbai, marking a pivotal moment in the broadcasting industry.
#DostsLive hosted the biggest watch party of top creators during the India Vs South Africa match in the CWC2023, delivering an unparalleled viewing experience to fans worldwide. The event, live-streamed on Star Sports’ official YouTube channel, captivated audiences for an impressive 6 hours, 49 minutes, and 30 seconds on November 5, 2023.
Mad Influence CEO Gautam Madhavan expressed his excitement stating, “The creation of #DostsLive marks a significant milestone in the evolution of live-streaming. Our vision was to redefine the viewing experience, and the overwhelming response with 15 million+ viewership and 1.5 million+ engagement validates the success of our endeavour. This collaboration exemplifies the power of synergy in the digital age.”
This collaborative effort brought together renowned YouTube content creators, including Gaurav Chaudhary (Technical Guruji), Tanmay Singh (Scout), Real Hit, RJ Mahvash, Thugesh, Chetan Monga, and others, showcasing the strength of collective creativity and influence in the digital space.
The event commenced with a powerful announcement by Star Sports, followed by creators taking to their YouTube communities and Instagram stories to build anticipation among their vast audience.
The creators not only brought energy to the livestream but also celebrated Virat Kohli’s birthday in style. Gaurav Arora, the famous doppelganger of Virat Kohli, cut the cake with Cricket experts Mohammad Kaif and Sreesanth, making it a memorable moment. Videos capturing the birthday celebration were shared on the creators’ profiles, adding a personal touch to the event.
As part of the celebration, the creators also had the chance to create videos with cricket experts Mohammed Kaif and S Sreesanth, bringing insightful and entertaining content to their audiences. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of the studio shenanigans were also shared by the creators on their profiles, giving fans an exclusive peek into the making of #DostsLive.
Despite the challenges posed by tight timelines, the successful execution of #DostsLive stands as a testament to the dedication and collective efforts of all teams and creators involved.
The event generated immense buzz on social media, with fans contributing over 100 posts on #DostsLive and over 5916 posts on #WorldCupOnStar, highlighting the impact and resonance it had among audiences.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
