iWorld
Dialog ViU partners ALTBalaji for original Indian content
MUMBAI: Dialog Axiata PLC from Sri Lanka has announced its partnership with ALTBalaji to provide users of its ViU service with original Indian video content for the first time in Sri Lanka, at subsidised rates.
Dialog Axiata PLC senior general manager Global and content services Mangala Hettiarachchi said, “The launch of the ViU app signified a new era of accessible content for Sri Lankan consumers, not only in terms of local content but regional and international as well. Dialog’s partnership with ALTBalaji strengthens our commitment to providing consumers with a host of diversified content including programming in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and more at affordable prices.”
Available in 90 countries with a global paid subscriber base of over 2.5 million, ALTBalaji is rapidly growing towards four million subscribers. With a growing library of original shows and a robust distribution strategy, ALTBalaji aims to reach out to audience worldwide.
Commenting on the association, ALTBalaji group COO and CEO Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “ALTBalaji is constantly working towards creating path-breaking content which caters to the Indian language urban mass audience. The response to our content so far has been overwhelming and we wish to make it available to audience inside all environments. Our association with Dialog will help us with a unique opportunity to reach out to a wide customer base and let them enjoy the content we are proud to present.”
This strategic partnership with Dialog through the ViU app will result in the introduction of original Indian content to over one million Sri Lankan users, diversifying its already varied portfolio of offerings. To access over 150 hours of original content in various Indian languages, ViU users simply need to log into the app, click on the ALTBalaji for Dialog icon to download the app and subscribe at a subsidised rate. ViU users are entitled to a one-month free subscription and are required to pay only Rs 160 per month thereafter.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
