iWorld
ALTBalaji announces #High5withALT campaign to celebrate fifth anniversary
Mumbai: Video streaming platform ALTBalaji on Monday announced a new campaign titled #High5withALT to celebrate its fifth anniversary.
With a proven track record of developing ventures and creating new opportunities, ALTBalaji currently has an MAU base of over 10 million and has sold 2.9 million subscriptions in H1 alone. In addition, the platform has an average audience engagement of 83 minutes per day with 91+ shows and a rich bouquet of genres that cater to a variety of audiences, according to the statement.
Now, with its AVOD model, the platform is looking to gain more viewers and continue its mission of entertaining its audience.
ALSO READ | ‘Lock Upp’ is ALTBalaji’s ‘KBC moment’ as it forays into AVOD: Divya Dixit
“The platform has experienced a 36 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth in subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) in FY21. Furthermore, its active subscriber base increased by 75 per cent yearly to 2.1 million from 1.2 million in the previous quarter, 2020. As a result, the platform now has over 35 million subscribers and nine million monthly active users,” said the statement.
ALTBalaji’s journey started with a promise of presenting the viewer’s non-stereotypical and groundbreaking shows that were never seen before in the Indian OTT space. With over 80 per cent of ALTBalaji’s audience under 35 years of age and its exciting library boasting 91+ original shows, the platform has rightly owned the tag of ‘OTT of the masses.’
“We have continued to break barriers in content creation, with which we have built a unique loyalty & following amongst the audience especially the youth who contribute to 80 per cent per cent of our audience base. The year ahead is going to be even bigger, better, and bolder by creating differentiated content for our audience base,” commented ALTBalaji CEO Zulfiqar Khan. “We have also added another layer to our consumer offering by introducing AVOD to complement our SVOD business with the launch of the record-breaking non-fiction show ‘Lock Upp.’ We thank our viewers for the enormous love and support, and we take a step into our sixth year with a promise to make it even more exhilarating.’’
This year, ALTBalaji launched two new shows “Pavitra Rishta” and forayed into the non-fictional space with Kangana Ranaut-fronted reality show “Lock Upp.” Its upcoming lineup includes shows such as “Apharan 2,” “Bois Locker Room,” “Cold Lonelly Messy,” “Hashtagwarrs,” “Paurashpur 2,” “Mentalhood: S2,” and many more.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
