iWorld
Hotstar launches interactive campaigns for Rio 2016 Olympic Games
MUMBAI: Hotstar has launched a series of three heart-warming ad films to drive viewership and awareness about the unprecedented coverage it has planned for the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games. With the creative thought of Life Gives You Tough Choices, the VOD platform’s campaign will offer viewers a variety of options to choose from.
The complete campaign will be covered in a series of 3 films, 2 of which have already been released – the first, a heart-warming film in a family setting showcases the tough choices that a cute boy has to make in order to get what he wants: a peck on the cheek from his family members that he absolutely detests in exchange for their mobile phones to watch the 14 live streams simultaneously! The second campaign film humorously shows the predicament of a girl who’s struggling with simultaneous appointments she has with the sporting legends at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as she decides what to watch.
“Hotstar has emerged as the nation’s first choice for watching large sporting events, and sports aficionados have taken a keen liking for the interactive, data-rich experience that Hotstar offers. The coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Hotstar will not only enable the viewers to watch all sporting events live, but also empower them to choose sports and games of their interest,” said a Hotstar spokesperson.
The campaign has been fully designed and executed in-house by the creative team at Hotstar, and will be supported by a high-impact marketing campaign which will engage users across TV, social and digital platforms.
Hotstar will cover all 42 sports with over 3000 hours of live coverage and video-on-demand. The unprecedented depth of coverage will be accompanied by the most sophisticated Olympics Video Player with a day-wise calendar of events with exact timings, quick links to live/recap, highlights & event statistics, as well as sport and country-wise medals tally.
The app will have 14 Live feeds, whereas the interactive, data-rich video player on the web will present daily coverage running into multiple streams basis the events, access to day-wise listing of events, medals tally and the ability to personalize the experience by allowing the viewer to sort by the country/sport of his choice.
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games begin from 5 August 2016 in Brazil with participation of the largest ever Olympic contingent from India.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
