iWorld
ALTBalaji partners with Eko, India Financial Services
MUMBAI: India’s leading homegrown OTT platform, ALTBalaji announces a consumer benefitting alliance with Indian fintech company, Eko India Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. The association will allow the digital platform to use the Eko Store through which any merchant will be able to sell ALTBalaji subscriptions directly to potential subscribers who may not have access or may not be at ease using a digital payment mechanism.
Over 80% people earn in cash in India, thus, a number of potential customers are more comfortable paying in cash specially when it comes to modest amounts. The partnership is about providing assisted commerce not just as means of collecting money. Eko's merchant would be able to provide more information about ALTBalaji service and educate consumers and enable them to download the app. Using Eko, ALTBalaji is enabling payment in cash via Eko merchants, over & above all the digital modes of payment.
With over 40+ originals in its content offering, ALTBalaji has built on the legacy of creating iconic shows, like ‘Apharan,’ ‘Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain,’ ‘Home,’ ‘Gandii Baat’, ‘The Test Case’, ‘Bose: Dead or Alive’ among others which has been lauded by its audience. Established in 2007, Eko aims to enable seamless digital transactions for anybody, and from anywhere. Helming one of the largest and most efficient domestic money transfer services in the country, Eko also holds strong partnerships with banks with additional Prepaid Payment Instrument license from the RBI. With a demographic reach extending to over 150k retail stores in India, Eko will aid ALTBalaji to expand its presence by enabling easy process of selling the subscription. Merchants will have to follow a few easy steps to avail the voucher code provided on the portal giving easy access to sell ALTBalaji subscriptions.
Speaking about the association, Nachiket Pantvaidya, CEO ALTBalaji and Group COO Balaji Telefilms said, “ALTBalaji is fuelling the growth of subscription based digital video streaming. Partnering with Eko is a way to bring the offline consumers into the online world. With ALTBalaji now being a part of their Eko Store, we are expanding our reach to a whole new audience and are excited to welcome them as a part of the ALTBalaji family.”
Commenting on the association, Abhinav Sinha, Co-founder and COO, Eko India Financial Services said, "Eko is pleased to partner with ALTBalaji. Through this partnership, ALTBalaji has launched its brand and services on the Eko Store, which gives them access to our vast network of merchants and customers. We believe this is a perfect fit for both, our customers and ALTBalaji. At Eko, our endeavour is to take digital products to the masses and help everyone benefit from the digital economy.”
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.
