iWorld
Koode, a new Malayalam platform enters OTT landscape
KOLKATA: Riding on the regional wave of over-the-top (OTT) platforms, a new independent service has entered the Malayali market. Studio Mojo has launched the Malayalam OTT Koode in September, which is now available across android, IOS devices as well as on android TVs. At present, the streaming service is operating on free model to reach more users.
For the record, Studio Mojo was amongst the first to launch an OTT platform in the country with iStream. While the service did not pick up well back then, the company decided to get back into original programming for OTT platforms with video consumption going through the roof over the past few years.
“This time around we thought of focusing on Malayalam to begin with, since none of the large OTT platforms were seriously looking at Malayalam. Except for movies, original programming was not just happening. And we all know Malayalam creates possibly the finest content amongst all Indian languages, if our movies are anything to go by,” Studio Mojo founder and CEO Radhakrishnan Ramachandran said.
The company is trying to build a new content ecosystem by bringing together a bunch of fresh talent who are looking for an alternate independent platform. Ramachandran said that they are putting together a content creator network in Malayalam. The platform will support these creators in creating compelling content by providing infrastructure support to them along with mentors to fine tune their creative capabilities. He noted that their first studio is soon coming up in Kochi. While most platforms are primarily focusing on movies, Ramachandran added that they would like to bet on a wider range.
He described Studio Mojo as a tech-first media company. He went on to explain that data and analytics will give deep insights into consumers consumption patterns which will greatly help in the content strategy. Although iStream could not make a significant mark in the OTT landscape, Ramachandran recounted lessons from the past which could be applied to Koode as well.
“Betting on the right content is critical. With most of the OTT players struggling with their business model, one needs to spend wisely on content. It needs to be a win-win situation for the content producers and the platform,” he said.
As Koode is running on free model, it will look at branded content as an important source of revenue. The marketing team will focus on bringing brands and creators together. Moreover, it will also be launching a pay per view model very soon for some select exclusive programming.
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.
