iWorld
Bingo! Tedhe Medhe launches ‘Institute of Isspecial Talents’ web series with Hoi Choi
Mumbai: Bingo! Tedhe Medhe, the delicious snacks from ITC Ltd, is thrilled to announce its association with the popular regional OTT platform, Hoichoi. Known for its innovative and entertaining approach, Bingo! Tedhe Medhe has created an exclusive mini-series titled Institute of Isspecial Talents. It is a never-before-featured spoof comedy of Bengali stars teaching their own special talents to a group of young college students.
The rise of OTT platforms has revolutionised the entertainment industry and viewers now prefer to consume content on these platforms. Bingo! Tedhe Medhe has embraced this trend by launching rib-tickling series for its consumers in West Bengal through the Institute of Isspecial Talents. Some of the most popular stars of Bengali cinema embrace the very characters through which they have gained a reputation amongst their audience and try to teach a group of young students the tricks to master the same. The following are the episodes and the iconic personalities featuring in them:
● Episode 1: “Potanormetry” by Silajit – Learn how to solve your love problems from the guru himself
● Episode 2: “Melodrama” by Geetashree – The ultimate drama queen teaches how any drama can turn into melodrama in a matter of seconds
● Episode 3: “Gundagraphy” by Sumit Ganguly – The ultimate villain studies!
● Episode 4: “Jamaistry” by Rajatabha Dutta – The father-in-law specialist teaches how to keep the “pari” of the house happy
Commenting on the association, ITC Foods VP & head of marketing, snacks, noodles and pasta Suresh Chand said, “The series is a perfect example of Bingo!’s commitment to providing our consumers engaging and entertaining content. We are confident that the series will be a hit with our target audience in West Bengal. The wacky, spoofy comedy perfectly aligns with Bingo! Tedhe Medhe’s style of communicating to its audience. Through this mini-series we are aiming to make a resounding impact during the upcoming festive season.”
“We are excited to partner with Bingo! Tedhe Medhe to bring ‘Institute of Isspecial Talents’ to our viewers in West Bengal. This unique mini-series is a perfect blend of comedy and entertainment. We believe that this collaboration is a great example of how brands can come together to create innovative and engaging content for their consumers.”, spokesperson from Hoichoi said.
The four branded episodes are seven-eight minutes duration, each. These episodes will air as freemium content on the Hoichoi platform. As Bingo! Tedhe Medhe continues to be a pioneer in delivering entertainment to its consumers, Institute of Isspecial Talents promises to be a hilarious and entertaining journey that will leave audiences laughing, learning and wanting for more.
iWorld
Spotify Q1 revenue hits €4.5bn as users cross 760 million globally
Subscriber growth and margins rise as platform bets big on AI and discovery
LONDON: Spotify has kicked off 2026 on a strong note, reporting first-quarter revenue of €4.5 billion, up 14 per cent year-on-year in constant currency, as its global user base swelled past 760 million.
The streaming giant said monthly active users rose 12 per cent year-on-year to 761 million, while premium subscribers climbed 9 per cent to 293 million. The steady rise in both free and paid users signals continued demand for its expanding mix of music, podcasts and audiobooks.
Profitability also struck a chord. Gross margin improved by around 140 basis points to 33 per cent, marking one of the company’s strongest first-quarter performances to date. Operating income reached €715 million, comfortably ahead of expectations.
Spotify co-CEO Alex Norström said, “We surpassed 760 million MAU, delivered on the subscriber growth we aimed to achieve, and saw healthy engagement from existing users, reactivations and new users alike.” He added that increased listening and viewing activity in key markets such as the United States reflects confidence in sustained growth and low churn.
The company’s other co-CEO, Gustav Söderström, pointed to long-term ambition, saying the platform’s scale, creator ecosystem and investments in personalisation are opening up “new growth vectors” across formats and user engagement.
Revenue growth was largely driven by the premium segment, which rose 10 per cent to €4.1 billion, supported by price increases and stable average revenue per user of €4.76. However, the ad-supported business saw a 5 per cent dip to €385 million, though it still posted a modest 3 per cent increase in constant currency terms.
Cash generation remained robust, with free cash flow at €824 million for the quarter and €3.2 billion over the past 12 months. The company also benefited from lower-than-expected operating expenses, including €49 million in reduced social charges linked to share-based compensation.
Beyond the numbers, Spotify is leaning into product innovation. New AI-driven features such as “Taste Profile” and “Prompted Playlist” aim to give users more control over recommendations, while tools like “SongDNA” and “About the Song” deepen music discovery. The platform is also expanding audiobook charts in the United States and United Kingdom to boost engagement in newer formats.
Looking ahead, Spotify expects momentum to continue into the second quarter, forecasting 778 million monthly active users, 299 million subscribers, revenue of €4.8 billion and operating income of €630 million.
With €8.8 billion in cash and 7,258 employees, the company appears well-positioned to keep its growth story in rhythm as competition in digital entertainment intensifies.
