iWorld
Disney+ Hotstar breaks their own record for 4th time this tournament with 5.3 Cr peak concurrent viewers
Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar creates history yet again with a record-breaking peak concurrency of 5.3 crore viewers during the semi-final match between India and New Zealand of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Virat Kohli registered his 50th ODI century in the semi-final match surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries in ODI format. The outstanding Indian team stands undefeated in the tournament and is now only a match away from the coveted trophy.
Let’s take a look at Team India’s performance in the ICC Cricket Men’s World Cup 2023 so far:
● Team India defeated Sri Lanka and South Africa by bowling them out with a double-digit score
● Rohit Sharma ‘The Hitman’ becomes the top player with 51 sixes in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup after Chris Gayle
● Virat Kohli ‘King Kohli’ is the top scorer with 711 runs in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 673 runs
● Mohammad Shami becomes the first Indian bowler to take 7 wickets in one match in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Commenting on this, Disney+ Hotstar India head Sajith Sivanandan said, “It’s not just Team India breaking records with their 10th straight win at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Indian fans are also tuning into Disney+ Hotstar in unprecedented numbers. Their incredible passion has led us to shatter the peak concurrency record four times during this tournament, setting new benchmarks in live sports streaming. The 5.3 cr concurrent viewers for India’s semifinal against New Zealand exceeds the combined population of Australia and New Zealand by more than 1.5 times! This milestone is not just a triumph of technology but a testament to our viewers’ unwavering support. With the final just around the corner, we look forward to bringing the nation together to witness the making of sporting history.”
Disney+ Hotstar, in collaboration with the International Cricket Council (ICC), recently added MaxView – a technological innovation that allows cricket fans to watch the game in vertical mode (9X14 portrait view) for the very first time in the history of streaming cricket. This feature facilitates a one-handed viewing experience, aligning with the way most users consume content. MaxView is a brand new, bespoke opt-in feature. Other surrounding features, such as the Live feed tab, Scorecard tab, have also been made available in vertical mode, along with vertical ad formats.
Following the success of the Asia Cup 2023 and the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Disney+ Hotstar recently announced that Pro Kabaddi League Season 10, will be made accessible to all mobile users without the need to subscribe.
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.
