iWorld
Eros Now strikes a strategic partnership with BSNL
Mumbai: Eros International PLC (NYSE:EROS) (“Eros”), a Global Indian Entertainment Company, announced today that Eros Now, its cutting-edge digital over-the-top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform has entered into a platform and content association with Indian state-owned telecommunications company – Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). The association comes as an initiative to deliver high quality on-demand entertainment to BSNL consumers thus enhancing the reach of Eros Now paid subscribers across the rural parts of India.
The partnership between Eros Now and BSNL will further enhance the entertainment experience of BSNL’s post-paid as well as the pre-paid subscribers through their access to the Eros Now app including the vast library of over 11,000+ movies, digital originals, Eros Now Quickie, music videos and more. The alliance is a first for BSNL’s large pre-paid customer base to avail the services of an online video platform. The tie-up will allow all BSNL customers across all packs and tariffs to access the collection of Bollywood and Regional entertainment, on the go via the Eros Now app.
As per the recent report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), by 2020, half of the internet population in India will be from rural India as the internet penetration there is expected to grow to as much as 35%, thus driving Video OTT services to take off in rural India. Eros Now’s association with BSNL reiterates its own reach strategy in connecting with predominantly rural Tier II and III markets where the telecom service provider has a strong foothold.
Commenting on the partnership, Rishika Lulla Singh, CEO, Eros Digital, said, “As trends indicate, the OTT industry in India is expected to reach a size of $5 billion by 2023 with tier II, III and rural areas of India witnessing a sizeable increase in mobile penetration and data consumption. We are well poised to cater to this growing community and our alliance with BSNL is a step towards bridging the urban-rural gap and expanding our national reach”.
Mr. Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL informed that keeping up to the commitment of offering great service at affordable price to BSNL subscribers, BSNL has taken this initiative of offering unlimited free viewing of video content on the Eros Now app. This service will be made available to BSNL subscribers by end of January 2019.
Gaming
Sony raises PS5 prices for second time in under a year
US disc edition jumps $100 to $649.99 as memory costs surge.
MUMBAI: Sony just hit the pause button on affordable gaming because when memory prices skyrocket, even the Playstation has to pay the premium. Sony has announced its second price increase for the Playstation 5 range in less than a year, citing pressures in the global economic landscape and a sharp rise in memory component costs driven by AI demand.
In the US, the PS5 disc edition will rise from $549.99 to $649.99, a $100 hike while the digital edition increases to $599.99. The more powerful PS5 Pro will jump $150 to $899.99. The Playstation Portal remote player will also rise by $50 to $249.99. The new prices take effect on 2 April 2026.
Similar increases have been applied in the UK (£90 per model), Europe and Japan. Sony last raised PS5 prices in the US in August 2025.
“We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide,” Sony said in a blog post.
The hikes come amid an unprecedented surge in memory prices, as manufacturers prioritise supply for AI data centres. Analysts say Sony had likely secured price protections for components that have now expired, forcing the company to protect its hardware margins.
Ampere Analysis research director of games Piers Harding-Rolls told CNBC that further increases from Microsoft and Nintendo would not be surprising, though Nintendo may hesitate to raise the price of its recently launched Switch 2 while establishing the new platform.
The increases arrive eight months before the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, which is expected to drive strong console sales. However, early reactions online have been a mix of disappointment and resignation, with growing concern that premium gaming is increasingly becoming a hobby for higher-income players.
In a sector already grappling with tariffs, inflation and component shortages, Sony’s move underscores a tough reality: even the most popular consoles are not immune to the rising cost of keeping up with the latest technology.
