iWorld
Hallmark upgrades OTT using Accedo One
MUMBAI: When Hallmark was looking at relaunching its streaming service, it reached out to its partner Accedo and extended its partnership. Together, the two elevated the features – as part of Accedo One – of its newly rebranded streaming service, Hallmark+ which officially launched on 10 September.
According to an Accedo release, Hallmark+, seamlessly integrates ad-free viewing with exclusive retail and product benefits, offering fans an unparalleled Hallmark lifestyle experience.
The features are:
Unauthenticated homepage: This feature allows potential users to explore and experience the richness of Hallmark+ without the need for immediate sign-up. With this feature, Hallmark+ aims to entice new users through a compelling initial interaction, fostering trust and interest even before they commit to a subscription.
Conditional containers: Conditional containers display content tailored to individual user preferences, behaviours and login status.
Gifting options: In line with Hallmark’s tradition of celebrating relationships and special moments, the new gifting options provide users with the ability to purchase and send Hallmark+ subscriptions. This feature reinforces Hallmark’s position as a thoughtful and heartfelt brand, perfect for gifting during holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions.
Design facelift: To align with modern user expectations, a complete redesign of the OTT service interface was undertaken. The new design is intuitive, user-friendly, and visually appealing, providing a fresh and seamless navigation experience.
“The support we received from the Accedo team during this intense period was unwavering. Utilising Accedo One platform to further grow and expand our offering has accelerated our progress tremendously, allowing us to bring Hallmark+ to market fast and greatly optimize our internal resources,” says Hallmark Media. SVP technology Lusha Bodie.
“We are highly impressed with the Hallmark team, its ambitious vision, and the new direction of Hallmark+. We believe this will greatly benefit its loyal customers. It is especially encouraging to see Hallmark leveraging several new key features of Accedo One in its re-launch,” says Accedo SaaS Products SVP Fredrik Andersson.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
