iWorld
Disney+ Hotstar to enter Thailand market on 30 June
KOLKATA: Disney+Hostar has been a significant contributor to Walt Disney Co. (Disney)’s biggest OTT bet Disney+. Following its success in India and Indonesia, Disney+Hotstar is now rapidly expanding its footprints in the South East Asian market. Coming 30 June, the service will be operational in Thailand.
As revealed on the official website of Disney+Hotstar Thailand, the service will be available at 799 baht a year or 99 baht per month. It will have close ties with local telecom provider AIS. For AIS customers, the service will be priced at 35 baht per month if pre-subscribed between 8-27 June with an additional one-month free service.
Along with Thai shows, content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic will be available for its users. Disney has entered partnerships with studios like GDH 559, Sahamongkolfilm, Kantana Group, and One 31 for a robust content library. Exclusive shows like God Bless The Trainees Too!, Extraordinary Siamese Story: Eng and Chang, movies such as Pee Mak, Friend Zone, Brother Of The Year, Laddaland, and Tom Yum Goong will be on the service.
Disney+Hotstar entered Malaysia just a week back on 1 June. The platform struck a deal with Astro Malaysia Bhd for distribution. For its Singapore launch last year, it tied up with Starhub.
Hotstar, which grew as an Indian OTT platform under Star India, came under the Disney umbrella after the 21st Century Fox acquisition. After Disney Plus’ launch, the parent company decided to rebrand it as Disney+Hotstar in India to leverage the existing base of consumers. Notably, Hotstar was already regarded as the biggest OTT platform after YouTube in the Indian market. As Disney+Hotstar was launched in India last April, it was soon expanded in Indonesia.
Disney+ paid subscribers already exceeded 100 million at the end of March, Disney+Hotstar was the strongest contributor to net subscriber addition and made approximately a third of the total Disney+ subscriber base.
Recently, the company announced that it will close 100 linear channels this year to push its direct-to-consumer strategy. A large part of the linear TV content will move to Disney+.
iWorld
Samay Raina confirms return of India’s Got Latent after controversy
Still Alive mixes humour and reflection as comedian revisits 2025 row
MUMBAI: Samay Raina has signalled a possible return of his controversial show India’s Got Latent, using his latest stand-up special Still Alive to address the past and hint at what lies ahead.
Released on YouTube, the special marks Raina’s most candid take yet on the backlash that forced the show off air in 2025. While much of the performance leans on humour, it also dips into more reflective territory, offering a glimpse into the emotional toll of the controversy.
Recounting the fallout, YouTube comedian samay raina said, “We were both extremely unsettled. How would we navigate this? It was terrifying. We were lost as to what was happening.” He also spoke about a moment involving fellow comedian Balraj Ghai’s family, describing it as overwhelming and difficult to process.
The personal impact of the episode came through most strongly when Raina spoke about his family. He admitted he struggled to even answer a call from his mother during the crisis. YouTube comedian samay raina said, “I hesitated to answer her call and show my tear-streaked face. How would she react? My mom is unaware of anything except how to love.”
Amid the introspection, Raina also dropped a clear hint about the future of his show. While he believes the first season ended on a high note, he confirmed that he intends to revive it. YouTube comedian samay raina said, “I will bring back the show because it used to be fun making it.”
The original run of India’s Got Latent had been pulled down following widespread criticism and legal scrutiny over controversial remarks that went viral, prompting debates around content boundaries in India’s digital entertainment space. Raina later removed episodes and issued an apology, stepping back from major releases for a period.
His return now appears more measured, blending humour with reflection and signalling a creative reset. He also hinted that the next iteration of the show could be more raw and unfiltered, though details remain under wraps.
For fans, the takeaway is simple. The show that sparked both laughter and debate may be gearing up for a second act, with Raina ready to test the limits once again, this time with a sharper sense of where the lines lie.
