iWorld
Amazon Prime Video India ties up with OML
MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video India has entered into a partnership with OML (Only Much Louder) to release 14 comedy specials exclusively for Amazon. The shows are set to launch in May.
“Each of the hour long specials will debut on the platform exclusively in May. OML best comedy talent will available to prime members exclusively and on demand,” said Amazon Prime Video India director and country head Nitesh Kripalani.
Recently, Zodiak Kids had announced that it has sold a series of titles to Amazon India, in a deal amassing over 100 hours. The shows are set to launch on Amazon Prime Video in early 2017.
Amazon India has acquired all four seasons of the popular children’s animation Horrid Henry. The show centres on a boy who constantly feels like life just is not fair. He is only a kid, but with a perfect little brother like Peter, a Mum and Dad who would love him dearly if only he starts behaving, well like a kid, and a moody girl next door who is on a mission to make Henry’s life miserable, who can blame him?
Talking about the partnership, Only Much Louder COO Ajay Nair adds “We are very excited to partner with Amazon Prime Video on this series of stand-up specials. Stand-up comedy in India has become massive over the last few years with a huge fan base across the country and the comics have worked tremendously hard to create and perform the funniest material for their fans. Amazon Prime Video is a great destination for fans to watch full hour-long sets of their favourite comics in one go.”
The comedians whose specials will be released as part of this partnership include:
- Sapan Verma (Obsessive Comedic Disorder has already launched on Amazon Prime Video in December 2016 to rave reviews)
- Sorabh Pant (My dad thinks he’s funny has already launched on Amazon Prime Video)
- Kanan Gill
- Kenny Sebastian (Don’t be that guy)
- Zakir Khan, (Single magar haq se)
- Biswa Kalyan Rath
- Naveen Richard (Don’t make that face)
- Anuvab Pal (Alive at 40)
- Varun Thakur (Vicky this side, Varun that side
- Azeem Banatwalla (Cometh the hour)
- Neville Shah
- Aadar Malik (Stand up – The Musical)
- S Aravind (Madrasi Da)
- EIC Outrage special, a live show based on EIC’s immensely popular EIC Outrage series will be part of the series.
These specials will be shot at iconic venues across the country in the first half of 2017 and two to three specials will be released exclusively on Amazon Prime Video every month.
iWorld
Bluesky’s CEO Jay Graber steps down, Toni Schneider takes the helm
Graber moves to innovation role as interim CEO Schneider steers platform of 40m users
SEATTLE: Jay Graber, the driving force behind Bluesky, is stepping down as CEO and moving into the newly created role of chief innovation officer. Graber, who has been at the forefront of building the open social platform since 2019, leaves the day-to-day running to focus on new ideas and innovation.
Stepping in as interim CEO is Toni Schneider, former boss of Automattic and partner at True Ventures, who has been an advisor to Bluesky for the past two years. Schneider brings a wealth of experience in open platforms, having worked with WordPress, Yahoo’s developer network, and supported companies like Bandcamp.
Bluesky, created by Jack Dorsey as an alternative to Twitter, has grown into a thriving social network with over 40 million users. Its open AT Protocol allows users to own their data and identity, while developers can build apps on top of the platform. Schneider described Bluesky as “a real, scalable foundation for a different kind of internet.”
Graber praised the team she assembled, saying the platform’s success stems from matching people’s passions with their strengths. “Scaling up this company has been a learning experience unlike anything else,” she wrote in a blog post, adding that she is “excited to dig into the next frontier of what decentralized social can be.”
The board has begun a search for a permanent CEO, but for now, Schneider will guide Bluesky through its next chapter of growth, supporting the team, users, and developers alike.
Bluesky’s rise gained attention during the November 2024 exodus from X, formerly Twitter, when changes to the platform prompted users to look for alternatives. With Schneider now at the helm, the platform looks set to continue its journey as a user-focused, open social network.
