iWorld
Dish TV hits play button on creator-led OTT with Watcho Fliqs
MUMBAI: Dish TV India, the country’s first direct-to-home (DTH) trailblazer, is now gunning for a front-row seat in India’s creator economy. After kickstarting the conversation with Content India 2025 Summit earlier this year, the company has now pulled back the curtain on Watcho Fliqs —a content segment within its Watcho app that could give every professional creator their own OTT stage.
Unveiled at Waves 2025, Fliqs promises to be more than just another tile on the crowded streaming screen. It’s Dish TV’s answer to a shifting digital appetite—where creators want control, consumers want choice, and no one wants to pay Rs 499 a month to find out they’ve seen it all.
“With Fliqs, we are taking a big and bold leap towards redefining what an OTT service can be. This isn’t just another content launch—it’s a statement of intent,” said Dish TV India CEO & executive director Manoj Dobhal. “Fliqs represents a new generation of curated, exclusive digital storytelling that aligns with the evolving consumer demand for distinct, high-value content. While the industry has seen a proliferation of platforms, very few offer something truly differentiated. Fliqs fills that gap by bringing untold stories, original productions, and exclusive titles into a highly personalized, affordable ecosystem.
“It supports India’s growing community of independent storytellers by providing a premium platform to showcase their work, reach wider audiences, and unlock monetization opportunities—strengthening Dish TV’s commitment to digital-first creative entrepreneurship.”
Fliqs serves up award-winning originals, regional marvels, cult international titles, and short-format snacks—all in a tightly curated, multi-lingual menu. With rates starting from as low as Rs 9 per title and a buffet of free content to boot, the platform is wooing value hunters and taste seekers alike.
But it’s not just the catalogue doing the heavy lifting. A sleek UI, AI-powered recommendation engine, and multi-screen features offer users a hyper-personalised ride through a universe of fresh entertainment.
Watcho CTO & business head V.K. Gupta added: “Fliqs is our solution to evolving consumer demands for uniqueness, exclusivity, and control over their entertainment. It’s not just an add-on, but a transformational layer within Watcho, offering a smarter, more relevant experience. With Fliqs, Watcho strengthens its position in the OTT market, marking the start of a larger content evolution.”
Going forward, Watcho’s Fliqs will continue to scale up with exclusive dubbed English content, regional blockbusters, and classic gems you won’t find on rival platforms. The real twist? It puts India’s storytellers in the director’s seat—creatively and commercially.
As the digital content ecosystem matures, Dish TV seems determined to rewrite the playbook—from content carrier to creator catalyst.
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.
