iWorld
Hallmark Movies Now’s heartwarming content finds a new home in Tata Play Binge
Mumbai: Tata Play Binge, one of India’s leading OTT aggregator platforms, further expanded its global content portfolio by announcing its latest milestone addition, Hallmark Movies Now – an American OTT platform known for its heartwarming romances, delightful comedies and thematic content around seasons and holidays. Hallmark Movies Now joins Tata Play Binge’s expansive portfolio of 25+ OTT apps.
Hallmark Movies Now provides positive and lighthearted entertainment the whole family can enjoy, spotlighting content from American pop culture juggernaut Hallmark Channel, which reigned as the #1 entertainment cable network of the year in 2022 and drives a prevalent, devoted fanbase for its brand promise to put feel-good programming into the world. On Tata Play Binge, audiences can expect a diverse selection of series and movies that guarantee a fulfilling experience throughout the year. Tata Play Binge will stream some of Hallmark Movies Now’s hit Hallmark films like ‘The Beach House’, ‘Love in Store’, ‘Dater’s Handbook’ starring Meghan Markle, along with the some of the platform’s most beloved titles like ‘Fashionably Yours’, ‘Her Pen Pal’, ‘Caribbean Summer’, ‘The Secret Ingredient’ starring Chef Maneet Chauhan, and the fan-favorite series ‘When Calls the Heart’, among others. With a robust library of seasonal films and shows, the OTT platform’s content library is sure to tug heartstrings.
Talking about this latest addition, Tata Play’s chief commercial and content officer Pallavi Puri said, “With each new OTT partner addition, Tata Play Binge presents an unparalleled selection that sets us apart from the rest. It has established itself as a vibrant destination where audiences can indulge in exceptional content from around the world, redefining their streaming experience. With its huge catalogue of Binge worthy content, we are certain Hallmark Movies Now will leave a mark on our viewers.”
“We’re proud to partner with Tata Play Binge and further expand the presence of our widely beloved Hallmark movies and series in India,” said Francisco Gonzalez, SVP, International Distribution, Hallmark Media. “Subscribers are sure to enjoy the positive impact of Hallmark Movies Now’s signature brand of feel-good content.”
Hallmark Media is represented by Brandwith, a premier representative and distribution company in the Asia Pacific Region.
Hallmark Movies Now will join the band of 25+ popular OTT platforms on Binge like Disney+ Hotstar, ZEE5, MX Player, SonyLIV, ReelDrama, Jio Cinema, Aha, Planet Marathi, NammaFlix, Chaupal, SunNxt, Hungama Play, Eros Now, ShemarooMe, Hoichoi, Voot Kids, manoramaMAX, Koode, Tarang Plus, Curiosity Stream, EPIC ON, ShortsTV, Travelxp and DocuBay. Content from all these platforms is available to viewers of Tata Play Binge through a single subscription and single user interface. Free gaming is also available on Tata Play Binge as another point of engagement. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video plans are available for Tata Play DTH subscribers. Viewers can enjoy all the apps on large-screen connected devices through Tata Play Binge+ Android Set Top Box, Tata Play edition of the Amazon FireTV Stick.
iWorld
WhatsApp may soon let users to pick who sees their status updates
The messaging giant is borrowing a page from Instagram’s playbook as it pushes to give users finer control over their social circles.
CALIFORNIA: WhatsApp is quietly working on a feature that could make its Status function considerably smarter and considerably more private.
According to reports from beta tracking platforms, the app is testing a tool called Status lists, which would allow users to create named groups such as close friends, family and colleagues, and control precisely which group sees each update. It is a meaningful step up from the platform’s current blunt instruments, which offer only three options: share with all contacts, exclude specific people, or manually select individuals each time.
The new feature draws an obvious comparison with Instagram’s Close Friends function, and the resemblance is unlikely to be accidental. Both platforms sit within Meta’s family, and the company has been nudging them toward a common logic of audience segmentation for some time.
The move also fits neatly into WhatsApp’s broader privacy push. The platform has been rolling out enhanced chat protections and is exploring the introduction of usernames, which would allow users to connect without exchanging phone numbers. Status lists extend that philosophy from messaging into broadcasting.
Meanwhile, Status itself has been evolving well beyond its origins as a simple photo-and-text slideshow. The feature now supports music stickers, collages, longer videos and interactive elements, pushing it closer to the social-media-style story format pioneered by Snapchat and refined by Instagram. In that context, finer audience controls are not merely a privacy feature. They are a precondition for people sharing more.
The feature remains in development and has not been confirmed for release. WhatsApp routinely tests tools that are later modified or quietly shelved. But the direction of travel is clear: the app wants Status to be a destination, not an afterthought. Letting users decide exactly who is in the audience is how it gets there.
