iWorld
Hotstar releases list of new premieres in Premium, VIP category for February
MUMBAI: Binge watchers be ready! As in the race to become numero uno, the Star Group’s digital platform – Hotstar — revealed the February line-up of new seasons and movies across genres. Subscription video-on-demand model of Hotstar – Premium, and VIP – has new seasons of shows such as 2 Dope Queens, High Maintenance, Homeland among others.
In the premium category, the over-the-top platform is scheduled to release 2 Dope Queens, a weekly standup and storytelling podcast that features Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson, along with their friends and favorite comedians, talking about sex, romance, race, hair journeys and living in New York.
In a similar category, it has also decided to premiere High Maintenance season four on 8 February, Homeland season eight on 10 February and Comedian John Olive’s satirical cover Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on 18 February.
The platform, in the movies section, will also premiere McMillion$, a six-part documentary series, on 04 February along with other movies such as Breakthrough and Tolkien on 07 February, and former WWE wrestler starring Stuber on 27 February. It will also launch the fourth franchise of animated movie Troy Story 4, starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts in the lead roles.
Besides, in the VIP section, the platform has new regional releases specifically from the Telugu genre. The movies that are to be launched on the platform are Prati Roju Pandage on 3 February and Entha Manchivaadavuraa on 14 February.
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.
