iWorld
SonyLIV records 596 million interactions for KBC Play Along
MUMBAI: In yet another pioneering initiative, SonyLIV’s Play Along has garnered a landmark 596 million interactions for the 10th season of the reality show. The user engagement initiative has registered 8.2 million users with total time spent of over 47 million hours. Tapping almost 360 million smart-phone users, KBC Play Along was SonyLIV’s effort to bring the audience closer to its most favourite reality show, within the comfort of their homes.
If the consumption patterns are to go by, Play Along got a thumbs up from the audience right from day one of the show hosted by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. Given the proliferation of internet users amongst youth, almost 76.7% players who glued onto the feature were between 18-40 years, primarily the millennials. However, the momentum wasn’t confined to the urban netizens only. KBC Play Along saw phenomenal response across the country within the Hindi belt – Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh accounting for 54.5% of the players.
Much like FIFA 2018, SonyLIV continued to bust myths about digital engagement with Play Along which fetched as high as 69.8% participation from beyond 6 metros along with a remarkable rise in female viewership. KBC Play Along not only spiked SonyLIV subscriptions notches higher but also increased KBC led app downloads by 7.3 million.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
