iWorld
Global South stories take spotlight as IN10 and Beacon join forces
MUMBAI: Content knows no borders and neither do these storytellers. In a bold cinematic handshake that spans continents, Movieverse Studios, IN10 Media Network’s content arm has inked a global alliance with UAE-based Beacon Media to turbocharge stories from the Global South for a global audience of over three billion. The goal? A borderless entertainment ecosystem powered by co-creation and cultural exchange from India to Latin America, Africa to the Middle East.
“Our vision is global storytelling without fences,” said Movieverse Studios CEO Vivek Krishnani who promised a slate that embraces Malayalam feature films, micro-series for Instagram Reels and Tiktok, and even adaptations of Deepak Chopra’s bestselling fiction. “The Global South is bursting with stories that deserve a global stage and we’re building that bridge.”
This isn’t just lip service. Among the first projects are a Malayalam-language feature and a wave of digital-first series aimed at next-gen viewers, alongside a premium slate of films and web shows under active development. With this, IN10 is aiming not just for reach but resonance.
Beacon Media, helmed by chairman Manoj Narender Madnani, dubbed the alliance “1+1=11 in action,”a nod to how collaboration between legacy platforms and new-age players can create outsized impact. “This isn’t about competing,” he said. “It’s about multiplying reach and cultural capital.”
The collaboration leverages deepening cultural and investment ties between India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE countries fast becoming central to the global entertainment and tech conversation. It also ropes in big industry names: Beacon’s Arabic production arm works with Fadi Ismail, the former MBC Group drama director, while acclaimed writer Manini Priyan has been appointed head of content for Beacon’s original programming.
“This is about future-proof storytelling,” said IN10 Media Network MD Aditya Pittie. “We’re blending Hollywood-grade scale with deeply rooted Indian storytelling. This is not just an alliance, it’s a movement.”
With content categories ranging from short-form social storytelling to high-budget features, and formats ready to travel across languages and regions, the IN10-Beacon alliance is poised to become a game-changer in reshaping the global entertainment map from the Global South to screens worldwide.
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iWorld
Rusk Media announces Battleground Season 2 on Amazon MX Player
Fitness reality show returns in April 2026 with bigger challenges and mentors.
MUMBAI: The arena is reopening and this time the competition promises even more sweat, strategy and spectacle. Rusk Media has confirmed the return of its fitness reality format Battleground for a second season, set to stream on Amazon MX Player from April 2026. The announcement follows the breakout success of the show’s debut season, which positioned itself as a high energy blend of sport, strategy and reality television. Season 1 brought together 16 contestants for a 28 day test of endurance and discipline, as aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts competed in physically demanding challenges and team based battles.
Divided into four teams, the participants trained under a panel of mentors drawn from the fitness and lifestyle space, with former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan serving as the show’s Super Mentor.
The format quickly found an audience among digital viewers and was listed among the most binged titles on Amazon MX Player. The show also picked up industry recognition, winning the “Most Popular Non Fiction Show” honour at the IWMBuzz Digital Awards 2025.
The first season also drew a slate of brand partnerships, including Honda Bigwing, Charged, American Pistachio Growers, Bigmuscles Nutrition, Ritebite Max Protein, Plix and Sparsh CCTV, highlighting the show’s appeal to brands targeting India’s rapidly growing youth and fitness audience.
For Season 2, the producers say the format will evolve with tougher physical challenges, a sharper competitive structure and deeper mentor involvement while continuing to focus on discovering the next generation of Indian fitness personalities.
Rusk Media, chief executive officer and co founder Mayank Yadav said the first season proved the appetite for competitive fitness storytelling. “Battleground was always envisioned as more than a show. Season 1 demonstrated that there is a massive audience for aspirational fitness competition at scale. With Season 2 we are going even bigger in ambition, intensity and opportunities for contestants and partners,” he said.
Rusk Ads lead Rahul Arora added that the series has also evolved into a strong platform for brand integration and advertiser engagement. “Season 1 showed that Battleground is not just compelling content but a powerful brand ecosystem. As we move into Season 2, we are looking to deepen brand collaborations and build more integrated partnerships,” he said.
With a larger format, an expanding fan base and a new season set to arrive in April 2026, Battleground is positioning itself as one of India’s emerging fitness reality franchises in the digital entertainment space.
