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.
iWorld
Spotify rolls out ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge for artists
New badge and profile details aim to boost transparency in AI-driven music era.
MUMBAI: In a world where even playlists can have imposters, Spotify is adding a badge of trust. The streaming platform has begun rolling out a new ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge, alongside expanded artist profile details, as it looks to bring greater clarity to listeners navigating an increasingly complex mix of human and AI-generated music. The badge, currently in beta, will appear on artist profiles that meet Spotify’s internal criteria for authenticity. These include consistent listener engagement, adherence to platform policies and signs of a real-world presence such as live performances, merchandise or active social media profiles. Notably, profiles representing primarily AI-generated artists will not be eligible for verification at launch.
Spotify says the verification process will combine automated systems with human review, prioritising artists with sustained audience interest over those driven by short-term spikes. The rollout will be gradual, with the badge appearing across profiles and search results over the coming weeks. The company noted that more than 99 per cent of artists users actively search for are already included in the initial phase.
Alongside the badge, Spotify is also introducing a new artist details section within profiles. Available even for non-verified artists, the feature will highlight career milestones, release activity and touring history, offering listeners a more comprehensive view of an artist’s journey and output.
The move builds on Spotify’s broader push towards transparency, complementing existing features such as SongDNA, expanded song credits and AI attribution tools. Together, these updates aim to give users more context about what they are listening to and who is behind it.
As generative AI continues to blur the lines between creator and creation, Spotify’s latest update signals a clear intent: in the streaming era, authenticity is becoming just as important as accessibility.
