MAM
Media Distillery pours AI power into search with game-changing discovery suite
MUMBAI: Ever felt like finding the right show to watch is harder than choosing what to eat for dinner? Media Distillery has heard the struggle and is uncorking a revolutionary solution, its new Search and Discovery Suite. Designed to make finding content as effortless as a Tik tok scroll, this AI-powered suite ensures viewers spend less time searching and more time watching.
The video streaming industry has long battled with decision fatigue, with research showing that consumers spend over 10 minutes deciding what to watch often giving up entirely. Media Distillery’s latest suite tackles this head-on, using cutting-edge AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Visual Language Models (VLMs), and semantic search to help viewers discover exactly what they’re looking for sometimes before they even know it.
“2025 is the year of search and discovery,” said Media Distillery CEO and co-founder Roland Sars. “With so much content available, viewers can’t always see the forest for the trees. Our AI-powered suite ensures they never miss out on great content again.”
Instead of the usual ‘because you watched xyz’ recommendations, the Search and Discovery Suite uses AI to dynamically generate suggestions across multiple sources. Say a viewer searches for the Academy Awards the tool doesn’t just show Oscar-winning films, but also TV shows featuring the winners, red carpet highlights, interviews, and more.
A pilot test with a major cable operator delivered impressive results, with 75 per cent of viewers discovering sports content they wouldn’t have found otherwise, while 65 per cent received more relevant sports recommendations directly on the platform, reducing their need to search elsewhere. This AI-powered intelligence goes beyond on-demand content, enabling broadcasters, live TV providers, and OTT platforms to unlock the full potential of their catalogues and enhance viewer engagement.
Media Distillery’s Search and Discovery Suite complements its Preview Distillery solution, offering a seamless content discovery experience. By integrating real-time broadcast content analysis, the suite enables broadcasters, operators, and OTT services to boost engagement and monetisation while keeping viewers glued to their screens.
So, if you’re tired of endless scrolling, Media Distillery’s latest innovation ensures your next binge-worthy show is just a smart search away.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
