GECs
IndiaCast partners with Amagi to launch Viacom18’s new channel Desi Play TV
Mumbai: IndiaCast Media Distribution Pvt. Ltd., the multi-platform content asset monetisation entity jointly owned by TV18 and Viacom18, has partnered with Amagi to launch Desi Play TV, a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel in HD on Sling in the US and Plex across the US, Canada, and Middle East regions.
Amagi is a cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV. The network’s first FAST channel will feature some of the most well-liked, carefully chosen Hindi series with English subtitles from its catalog of Viacom18 material.
The channel features iconic shows like, Uttaran, Na Aana Is Des Laado, Dev, Tu Aashiqui, Kitchen Champion, Mahakaalalong with a local USA-based food show – Dine With Colors.
Desi Play TV connects with the shared tastes of South Asian viewers, their values & culture with a variety of shows across genres like drama, cookery, comedy, lifestyle, crime and mythology. Aptly named Desi Play TV, the channel aims to reach out to the desi audience worldwide, who can play premium quality content anytime, for free.
Amagi co-founder and CEO Baskar Subramanian said, “At Amagi, we cherish every opportunity we can get to bring great content closer to its intended audience. Our partnership with IndiaCast in launching their first free ad-supported streaming TV channel has been a gratifying experience for us. Gaining access to IndiaCast’s rich content library on FAST will bring great cheer to the Indian diaspora in the USA.”
Commenting on the launch, IndiaCast International Business executive VP & head Govind Shahi said, “It’s a huge step for us to launch the network’s first FAST channel at a time of significant growth in this space, with viewers willing to experiment and adopt newer and convenient options of content consumption. We are extremely delighted to partner with Amagi for this launch. With more platform launches scheduled in the coming months, combined with our rich library of content on the channel, we are sure that Desi Play TV will be widely accepted by our South Asian viewers.”
IndiaCast International Business, senior VP & business head – Americas, UK, Europe & FAST Sachin Gokhale said, “With Desi Play TV, our South Asian viewers now get free access to their most-loved premium Hindi shows from the Viacom18 library on their favourite digital streaming platforms whenever, wherever, and on whatever device they want to watch them on and that too at no cost. We will continue to invest in and develop this novel product – programming the best of content, having more partnerships to make it more and more accessible to consumers and supporting the offering with relevant and targeted interest-based advertising campaigns.”
Desi Play TV, a new channel brand launched by the network, is properly positioned as #PricelessEntertainment, referring to the best content that can be viewed on the channel without paying any money. Desi Play TV will benefit greatly from Amagi’s best-in-class cloud technology services through its partnership with the company. These services include Amagi Cloudport, a broadcast-grade channel playout solution, and Amagi Thunderstorm, an innovative dynamic server-side ad insertion solution. Amagi will be able to significantly increase the awareness of Desi Play TV because it is the top technology provider in the global FAST ecosystem.
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
