iWorld
Frequency elevates linear channel streaming with the IBC2023 launch of Studio 5
Mumbai: Frequency has announced the launch of Studio 5, the next major release of its leading cloud-native, multi-tenant SaaS platform, which enables the creation, management, distribution and monetization of linear channels. With Studio 5, subscribers can access enhanced capabilities and services, including new content ingestion automation, scheduling automation, ultra-low latency live channel switching, advanced content filtering, and a comprehensive suite of tools for streamlining management and scheduling of episodic programming.
The launch of Studio 5 further extends Frequency’s position as the leading linear streaming solution that enables many of the world’s preeminent broadcasters, studios, networks, and digital-first content creators to deliver compelling 24/7 channels to connected TVs globally. Frequency is integrated with the world’s leading Free Ad Supported TV (FAST), vMVPD and MVPD platforms. During IBC2023, the company will demonstrate the full capabilities of Studio 5 on the stand of its strategic partner, AWS (#5.C80).
Frequency CEO Blair Harrison said, “The market for compelling linear channels is exploding across all platforms globally. At a time when content owners and rights-holders are increasingly recognizing the value and opportunity of this market, Frequency is giving them an enhanced suite of tools to empower them to produce seamless and engaging viewing experiences with ever greater efficiency. We’re excited to show IBC 2023 visitors how the launch of Studio 5 builds on our five-year journey of leading the way in providing the most feature-rich and easiest-to-use platform that is defining the future of TV.”
The new and enhanced features of Studio 5 include:
- Ingest Automation: A completely self-serve, real-time console for media ingestion via a single dashboard brings unparalleled visibility and efficiency to content ingestion, processing, and management.
- Scheduling Automation: An enhancement to Studio’s industry leading scheduling tool that provides fully automated programming, and makes the process of scheduling repeated content significantly simpler and faster. Studio users can reduce time spent programming channels by up to 90%.
- Content Filtering: An interactive and intelligent filtering service for content discovery during programming, using any combination of contextual and technical metadata to quickly find the precise content to be scheduled.
- Series Management: A complete suite of tools for series and episodes to streamline management and programming. Studio collates and validates all the assets and metadata associated with any series, including season and episode-specific artwork. Studio also handles all metadata requirements for EPGs and custom metadata for all distribution platforms.
- Live Switching: An ultra-low latency dynamic live switching capability for scheduled or on-demand live segments such as news or sports. Studio now switches to and between live sources in under a second.
iWorld
Sony LIV acquires worldwide digital rights for Marathi romance Toh Ti Ani Fuji
Film shot in Japan and India to stream exclusively on the platform from 10 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Love knows no language, but this Marathi romance is about to speak to audiences far beyond its roots and it’s doing so with a scenic detour through Japan. Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired the worldwide digital rights for the Marathi-language romance feature Toh Ti Ani Fuji (also known as Main, Woh Aur Fuji), with an exclusive direct-to-digital release on Sony Liv scheduled for 10 April 2026. Sony Pictures Networks India will retain exclusive worldwide theatrical and linear rights.
Filmed extensively in Japan and India, the film marks an unprecedented Marathi-language romance set on an international canvas. It explores how relationships evolve under the pressures of distance, time, and shifting emotional realities, using Japan not merely as a backdrop but as an emotional landscape that mirrors the characters’ inner journeys.
Written by Irawati Karnik and directed by Mohit Takalkar, the story follows a deeply passionate relationship that gradually turns toxic due to contrasting personalities, shifting priorities, and unfair emotional expectations. Seven years after their separation, the former couple unexpectedly reunite in Japan, reopening old wounds and unspoken desires while questioning whether love altered by time can ever find its way back.
Producer Shiladitya Bora said the partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India reflects the growing belief that “regional is the new mainstream.” He added that the film’s multi-language digital release on Sony LIV will help it connect with newer audiences across India and the world.
Director Mohit Takalkar described the film as an exploration of how love changes in today’s urban world, shaped by ambition, geography, and the pressure to evolve. “It began as a very personal exploration of relationships, and to see it reaching a wider audience feels deeply satisfying,” he noted.
Actors Lalit Prabhakar and Mrinmayee Godbole highlighted the film’s intimate yet universal take on love, separation, and rediscovery. Godbole particularly praised how filming in Japan added a global dimension while keeping the story deeply personal.
From a toxic romance that travels from India to Japan and back, Toh Ti Ani Fuji promises an emotionally layered story that feels both specific and universal. For Sony LIV viewers, this first-of-its-kind Marathi film offers a chance to experience love, loss, and second chances with a refreshing international flavour.
The film streams exclusively on Sony LIV from 10 April 2026.
