iWorld
Catch the latest episodes of the new socially-distanced Shark Tank – Season 12 in India on the same day as the US, exclusively on Voot Select
“The road to riches is never straight and narrow. It can be riddled with financial land mines.”
Kevin O’Leary’s words couldn’t ring truer in present time, where the pandemic has made life even harder for entrepreneurs. But as sharks never stop moving ahead, so does life in the business-world, as the critically acclaimed and multi-Emmy® Award-winning business-reality show returns despite the pandemic with new health and safety protocols in its latest season. Premiering internationally, season 12 will be available to viewers in India at the same time as the US, streaming exclusively on Voot Select on Saturday October 17; along with a double-episode television premiere on Colors Infinity on Saturday October 24 at 9pm.
Showcasing the latest season alongside the US on the streaming platform and television, Ferzad Palia, Head – Voot Select, Youth, Music and English Entertainment, Viacom18, said, “Every new season of Shark Tank sees its popularity go through the roof in India. Bringing the show to Voot Select has seen a multi-fold growth in viewership, thus for the new season we decided to go a step further by streaming the show on the same day as its US telecast. Which will be followed by a double-episode premiere on Colors Infinity for television audience in India.”
He further added, “This season is even more unique, as the show adapts to the harsh consequences of the pandemic and many of the products and ideas being featured have evolved as a direct result to the new reality of life around the world. Shark Tank has been a source of inspiration for viewers globally, motivating aspiring entrepreneurs to go the extra mile in realizing their start-up dream.”
Season 12 of the show was filmed for the first time ever in Las Vegas, and our favorite Sharks in the new season are joined by new guest-Sharks – Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS and co-founder of Madefor, Kendra Scott, founder and CEO, Kendra Scott, LLC and Kevin Harrington, American entrepreneur and business thought leader.
Shark Tank has become a culturally defining series that gives people from all walks of life the chance to chase the American dream and potentially secure business deals that could make them millionaires. This season will feature more pandemic-related innovations and products on the show. And the entrepreneurs are hungrier than ever before, having to already experience the major negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, as they pitch not only for their business but also a last-resort to their livelihood.
Watch concept, ideas and dreams turn into reality on the latest season of Shark Tank – Season 12, streaming exclusively from Saturday October 17 on Voot Select; and airing every Saturday from October 24 at 9pm only on COLORS INFINITY
iWorld
WhatsApp tests ‘WhatsApp Plus’ paid subscription tier
€2.49 plan adds customisation tools, messaging and calls remain free.
MUMBAI: Your chats may soon get a glow-up at a small monthly price. WhatsApp is testing a new paid subscription tier called ‘WhatsApp Plus’, signalling a shift towards premium personalisation features while keeping its core services free. The feature is currently being rolled out to a limited set of Android beta users, with early reports from WABetaInfo indicating a price of €2.49 per month (approximately Rs 274). Meta has confirmed the test, stating that it is designed for users who want more control over how they customise and organise their app experience.
Importantly, the subscription remains optional. Core functionalities including messaging, voice calls and community features will continue to be available free of charge, ensuring that the platform’s primary use case remains unchanged.
Instead, WhatsApp Plus focuses on aesthetic and organisational upgrades. These include exclusive sticker packs, new themes, custom app icons and personalised notification tones. On the functional side, subscribers may be able to pin up to 20 chats significantly higher than the current limit of three along with access to custom chat lists and enhanced categorisation tools.
Industry observers suggest the offering is largely cosmetic. Social media consultant Matt Navarra noted that the features lean more towards visual and usability enhancements rather than altering the app’s core functionality.
While global pricing has not been finalised, the subscription is expected to remain a low-cost monthly plan, with reports indicating a possible one-month free trial for eligible users. The feature is still in beta, meaning the final set of offerings could evolve before a broader rollout. Support for iOS users is also anticipated in the coming weeks.
The move mirrors a broader trend in the social and messaging ecosystem, where platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram have introduced similar subscription layers adding premium features without placing core services behind a paywall.
For WhatsApp, the strategy appears clear, keep the conversation free, but charge for a little extra flair around it.
