iWorld
Gaana brings in Sandeep Lodha as new CEO
Mumbai: Music streaming app Gaana has bolstered its management by naming Sandeep Lodha its new chief executive officer and roped in former Times Internet executives Vivek Pandey as chief operating officer (COO), and Ram Awasthi as chief technology officer (CTO). With this new leadership team in place, the Times Internet-owned streaming service plans to foray into the OTT sector.
All the three leaders bring with them almost 60 years of rich experience that is poised to provide Gaana with the growth impetus, said the platform in a statement on Tuesday.
Times Internet, chief executive officer, Gautam Sinha said that the Indian OTT ecosystem is about as “exciting, dynamic, and competitive” as it has ever been and there is “unprecedented interest” from global companies keen to tap into the Indian consumer opportunity. “At Gaana, we are equally excited about our next stage of tech-led relationships with users, content producers, and advertisers,” Sinha added.
A leader within the media and entertainment industry, Lodha has 22 years of rich experience in scaling brands in hyper-growth sectors with Disney, Bain & Company, Weddingz, and Intel Capital.
Pandey has been the vice president of revenue strategy and analytics at Times Internet and also managed TIL’s adtech stack. Previously, he was at the helm of major digital transformations at companies like Tata Cliq, MakeMyTrip, and Indiatimes Shopping.
Awasthi is a technology leader with experience in envisioning, architecting, and delivering a broad range of distributed, internet-scale, and real-time applications. In his earlier role, he was responsible for leading new business initiatives and setting up high-performance technology teams and evaluating tech stacks for different business units under Times Internet.
“Our new CEO Sandeep’s experience leading hyper-growth brands like Disney & OYO, Vivek’s 360-degree product, growth and monetisation experience, and Ram’s strong & visionary leadership in technology make us believe we can achieve the audacious goals we have set for the brand in the coming years,” Sinha said.
iWorld
Cineflicks set to enter India’s OTT market with community-first focus
New platform aims to blend streaming content with interactive viewing experiences
MUMBAI: A new player is gearing up to join India’s crowded streaming arena, with Cineflicks preparing to launch as a community-driven OTT platform aimed at redefining how audiences engage with digital entertainment.
The platform plans to offer a mix of movies, series and digital content, while placing equal emphasis on building an interactive ecosystem where viewers can connect, share and participate beyond passive viewing.
India’s OTT market has seen explosive growth over the past decade, fuelled by rising smartphone penetration and affordable internet access. As streaming becomes the default mode of content consumption, new entrants are increasingly looking to differentiate themselves not just through content libraries but through user experience.
Cineflicks appears to be positioning itself within this next phase of evolution. Instead of focusing solely on scale, the platform is aiming to create a space where audiences can engage more deeply with the content they watch, turning entertainment into a shared experience rather than a solo activity.
While details around its content slate remain under wraps, people familiar with the development say the platform is currently building out features and partnerships ahead of a phased rollout. The broader strategy suggests a blend of content discovery, community interaction and digital participation.
The timing is notable. With global and regional streaming platforms competing intensely for attention, the emphasis is slowly shifting towards engagement and retention rather than just acquisition. Platforms that can foster stronger audience connections may have an edge in this evolving landscape.
Cineflicks’ entry reflects the continued expansion of India’s digital entertainment ecosystem, where innovation is increasingly being driven by how content is experienced, not just what is offered.
As the platform moves closer to launch, the real test will be whether it can translate its community-first pitch into a compelling, everyday habit for viewers.
