iWorld
India orders streaming giants to make content accessible for disabled viewers
NEW DELHI: India’s streaming platforms face a shake-up. The ministry of information and broadcasting has issued draft guidelines forcing OTT services to make their content accessible to people with hearing and visual impairments. The clock is ticking: platforms have six months to comply with the first phase, and two years to retrofit their entire libraries.
The regulations, published on 7th October, mark the government’s most aggressive push yet to enforce disability rights in the digital sphere. Every new release must carry at least one accessibility feature—closed captioning for the deaf, audio descriptions for the blind, or Indian Sign Language interpretation. No exceptions for Bollywood blockbusters or binge-worthy series.
The ministry is demanding 30 per cent of existing content be made accessible within a year, rising to 60 per cent after 18 months. The endgame? Full compliance across every title, from prestige dramas to reality shows, within 24 months. Platforms must also rewire their interfaces to work with assistive technologies and plaster accessibility indicators—(AD), (CC), (ISL)—on everything from trailers to thumbnails.
The rules stem from the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which the government has been nudging OTT platforms to follow since an advisory in April. India ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, but enforcement has lagged. Now the ministry wants quarterly reports tracking progress, with a joint secretary-led committee poised to police compliance.
Live streams, podcasts and clips under ten minutes get a pass. But for everything else, the message is clear: subtitle it, describe it, sign it—or face scrutiny. The consultation period ends on 22 October.
For India’s 26.8m disabled citizens—and the streamers courting them—the game just changed.
iWorld
Google, Tiger Telly unveil IPL-set micro-drama A Perfect Match
Six-part series blends romance and search tech amid cricket frenzy
MUMBAI: Google has extended its collaboration with Tiger Telly to launch A Perfect Match, a six-part micro-drama rolling out through the ongoing Indian Premier League season.
The campaign unfolded with a breadcrumb trail of intrigue, starting from a cryptic manuscript tease by Zoya Akhtar, followed by behind-the-scenes glimpses featuring Ishaan Khatter and Sara Arjun. The first chapter dropped over the weekend, introducing Kabir and Navya, whose first date takes an unexpected turn with a timely assist from Google Search.
Set against India’s enduring love affair with cricket, the series blends a light romantic narrative with everyday technology use. Five more episodes will roll out during the IPL season, building a story that is equal parts flirtation and functionality.
Written by Zoya Akhtar and directed by Arjun Varain Singh, the project continues the creative partnership within Tiger Baby. Singh, who previously directed Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan, returns to helm a story that leans into intimacy and relatability while quietly showcasing Google’s search capabilities.
The performances by Khatter and Arjun anchor the narrative in authenticity, making the tech integration feel less like a feature and more like a natural part of modern relationships.
Speaking about the collaboration, Tiger Telly writer & executive producer Zoya Akhtar said, “At Tiger Telly, we have always chased stories that live in the quiet, real moments, and A Perfect Match does exactly that. Two people, the excitement of the IPL, and Ishaan and Sara bringing something so genuine to it that it surprises you. It’s been great to collaborate with Google again as their allies in brand storytelling.”
Director Arjun Varain Singh added, “Delighted to have been a part of this project with Tiger Telly and Google. I have long admired Zoya and Reema and the stories they’ve consistently empowered. Working with Sara was a total joy and we had a blast shooting for the films.”
Positioned as an end-to-end creative studio, Tiger Telly continues to expand its footprint across branded storytelling, from commercials to long-form content, working with brands including Google, Vivo and Nykaa.
With A Perfect Match, the collaboration strikes a neat balance between romance and relevance, proving that even in the middle of cricket mania, there is room for a little love story powered by search.
