iWorld
Viacom18 to launch VOOT VOD service in April; firms up content pipeline
MUMBAI: The latest addition to the growing digital family in India, Viacom18’s new digital video-on-demand (VOD) platform – VOOT is all set to launch its service in the first week of April armed with a slew of shows from various content houses.
According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, among the few production companies that Viacom18 has roped in to produce original content for VOOT are Endemol Shine India, Saurabh Tiwari Films, Colosceum Media, Frames Production Company, Sunshine Production, Shakutantalam Telefilms and Bodhi Tree.
Unlike Netflix’s subscription based revenue model, VOOT will follow the advertising based VOD model, wherein content will be offered free for subscribers.
When asked to comment on VOOT’s decision to go for the ad based VOD model, a senior media planner on condition of anonymity says, “It’s very early to predict anything. Getting an advertising pipeline takes time. Initially they will be making money out of advertising and it will be limited to certain brands, which they already have in their portfolio and slowly they will be able to expand in the market.”
Speaking on their show for VOOT, Frames Production co-founder Ranjeet Thakur says, “Yes, Frames is producing show for VOOT called Soadies. It’s a shows based on how Roadies has influenced families and their behaviour.”
Soadeis will be an eight-episodic story of 20-25 minutes duration.
According to information available, the per episode production cost of Soadies is said to be between Rs 5-6 lakh.
Sudhir Sharma’s Sunshine Production is also in the process of producing two shows for VOOT. Though production is in its early stages, the production house has begun casting for one of the shows, which will comprise four episodes.
Additionally, Colosceum Media will be producing a dating reality show for the VOOT platform.
VOOT’s launch comes at a time when Netflix has already made a big bang entry into India, following the likes of Star India’s Hotstar, Sony Pictures Networks India’s Sony Liv, Zee Enterprises’ dittoTV, Eros International’s ErosNow and HOOQ amongst others. With a handful of more players like Balaji Telefilm’s Alt Digital and Vuclip poised to enter the space, the OTT content production space is likely to get a shot in the arm.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
