iWorld
Watcho’s OTT hits two million premium subscribers in ten months
Mumbai: Dish TV’s OTT aggregation platform ‘Watcho- OTT super app’ today announced that its one-stop OTT entertainment solution has achieved a significant milestone of two million premium paid subscribers and a total of 80 million plus users within just ten months of its launch in 2022. The unique service offers bundled packages of the most popular OTT platforms all in one place, providing the subscribers with a comprehensive range of digital content libraries while enabling them the convenience of a single subscription.
The service offered by Watcho enables viewers to access content from over 17 popular OTT destinations, including Watcho, Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, Sony LIV, Lionsgate Play, Hungama Play, HoiChoi, Klikk, EpicOn, Chaupal, Oho Gujarati, Manorama Max, FanCode, Raj TV, Tarang Plus and ShortsTV, through a single login and subscription model. Additionally, the OTT Super App provides access to Watcho’s massive library of original content including 40+ enthralling web series, Swag (UGC content), snackable shows, and live TV from Watcho exclusives.
The success of the aggregation app can be attributed to its focus on delivering high-quality content to its users. The exciting line-up of shows from different platforms spans various genres —romance, corporate conspiracies, family drama, fantasy, adventure, and sci-fi amongst others.
Dish TV India Ltd CEO Manoj Dobhal said, “We are delighted to announce that we have crossed the 2 million premium paid subscribers’ milestone for our Watcho OTT aggregation service, in just 10 months. This achievement is a testimony to our dedication to providing the largest spread of OTT content in a seamless user-friendly experience on our platform. Dish TV has been the pioneer in defining the way entertainment is consumed, carrying on the same legacy we remain committed to innovating and bringing new and exciting platforms to our ‘Watcho- OTT Super App’. We are confident that our efforts to deliver exciting entertainment content along with the best user experience will set a new benchmark in the industry. As we expand our content offerings and explore new opportunities, we thank our subscribers for their continued trust and support.”
DishTV & Watcho corporate head – marketing Sukhpreet Singh said, “We are elated to announce that our OTT aggregation platform has achieved the milestone of 2 million premium paid subscribers in a short span of time. This achievement is a significant step towards our goal of making Watcho the go-to destination for entertainment enthusiasts. We are dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of content that caters to the diverse interests of our subscribers. As we continue to expand our content offerings and explore new partnerships, we are committed to offering our users an unparalleled entertainment experience. We thank our subscribers for their support and look forward to adding more OTT partners to our platform in the near future.”
Watcho also has a unique platform for user-generated content called Swag where people may create their own content and discover their potential. In Hindi, Kannada, and Telugu, Watcho now provides more than 35 original series, 300 exclusive plays, and over 100 live channels.
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
