iWorld
ErosNow ties up with Ortel for movie streaming service
MUMBAI: Eros International’s over the top (OTT) service ErosNow has tied up with multi system operator (MSO) Ortel Communications for a subscription based movie streaming service.
The service will be called Ortel Broadband Movies and will allow Ortel Communications to stream movies from ErosNow’s library to its broadband users, who will be able to access the content across various platforms like TV, laptop, PC, tablet and mobile.
The subscription-based service will be available to all Ortel broadband customers with a one-month free subscription for ErosNow.
Eros Digital CEO Rishika Lulla Singh said, “We are happy to partner with Ortel Communications for providing an uninterrupted movie viewing experience through their extensive reach across these states in India. We aim to maximize our consumer base across various platforms and the association with Ortel further consolidates our goal.”
Ortel Communications president and CEO Bibhu Prasad Rath added, “We are delighted to offer ErosNow broadband movies to our subscribers. It is a unique digital entertainment platform that will help our customers to watch and listen to movies, music and other content in Indian languages. Our superior technology to deliver high speed broadband connection has been possible through implementation of DOCSIS technology.”
Ortel Communications operates in the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
