ITV News
Olio Pizza, Rajasthan Royals renew partnership for IPL 2026
Campaign blends cricket frenzy with food play as brand bets on match-day consumption and fan engagement
New Delhi: Cricket meets crust again. Curefoods’ Olio Pizza has renewed its partnership with Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2026, doubling down on a high-decibel campaign—“Slice Maar”—to turn match nights into a consumption ritual.
At its core is a punchy, crowd-ready slogan that straddles sport and snacking: the crack of a big hit and the bite of a large slice. Anchoring the campaign is a new hero product, the Royal Pizza Slice—a 24 cm, single-serve portion priced from Rs 99, aimed squarely at budget-conscious fans looking for a quick indulgence during games.
“Our partnership with the Rajasthan Royals is a cornerstone of our year, and we’re thrilled to be back for another season. The ‘SLICE MAAR’ campaign is pure, unadulterated fan energy. It’s the sound of a six being hit and the feeling of grabbing the perfect slice of pizza on match night. With the new Royal Pizza Slice, we’re not just selling a product; we’re serving an essential part of the cricket ritual for every single fan, making the game-day experience more accessible and exciting than ever before,” said Gokul Kandhi, chief operating officer, Curefoods.
For Rajasthan Royals, the tie-up is less about logos and more about loyalty. “Our partnership with Olio Pizza is a testament to the long-term relationships we hold dear. Over these years, we have grown together, creating a platform that goes beyond sponsorship—one that enriches how our fans connect with every match. We look forward to strengthening this collaboration further as we continue to create meaningful, high-quality experiences for our fans,” said Alok Chitre, chief operating officer, Rajasthan Royals.
The campaign will roll out across stadiums and screens. Olio Pizza will dominate concourse activations at Royals’ home fixtures in Jaipur and Guwahati, serve as presenting sponsor for one key match, and feature an Olio-branded cheer squad during broadcasts. Co-branded kiosks and hawker units inside stadiums will push the Royal Pizza Slice to fans in real time.
Off the field, the brand is building a longer play. The Olio Dugout on Sahakar Marg in Jaipur will host watch parties, house a live merchandise store and run fan engagement programmes through the IPL season. In partnership with Super Royals, the franchise’s official fan community, Olio Pizza will also roll out contests and match-day experiences, sending select fans to live games.
Distribution is wide by design. The Royal Pizza Slice will be available across Olio Pizza outlets in more than 40 cities and via delivery platforms Swiggy and Zomato.
One campaign, one slice, one swing at owning the IPL appetite—and this time, Olio wants a bigger bite.
ITV News
HMVL to stop onboarding new users to OTTplay from 31 March
Platform contributed Rs 60 crore in FY25 but carries negative net worth of over Rs 38 crore.
MUMBAI: HMVL just hit pause on its OTTplay ambitions because when the streaming waters get too crowded and costly, even a media giant knows when to stop adding passengers to the boat. Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd (HMVL) has decided to stop onboarding new users to its OTT aggregation platform OTTplay from 31 March 2026. The move, approved by the board and disclosed in a regulatory filing, signals a strategic re-evaluation of the business amid rising competition and challenging economics in the streaming space.
Existing subscribers will continue to be serviced, indicating a measured, phased wind-down rather than an abrupt shutdown. OTTplay contributed nearly Rs 60 crore in revenue in FY25, accounting for roughly 8 per cent of HMVL’s overall revenue, but operated with a negative net worth of over Rs 38 crore.
The decision reflects broader industry pressures: escalating content acquisition costs, aggressive direct-to-consumer strategies by major streamers, and difficulties in sustaining profitable bundling models. HMVL noted that timelines for achieving meaningful profitability no longer align with internal expectations.
While the parent company maintains a strong balance sheet, the OTT vertical has become a disproportionate drag, prompting the shift in focus toward core operations and capital efficiency.
In a streaming world where everyone wants to own the remote, HMVL has chosen to step back from the aggregation game, proving that sometimes the smartest play isn’t adding more channels, it’s knowing when to switch off the set.
