iWorld
Netflix’s Happy New Year: To end 2020 with 4.6 mn India subs
KOLKATA: Despite facing headwinds in other parts of the world, Netflix is sailing full speed ahead in India, suggests a recent report by Media Partner Asia. The global streaming giant has reportedly witnessed 2x growth in operating revenue in FY20, and is likely to end the calendar year with 4.6 million paid subscribers in the country.
The report attributes this spanking performance to Netflix’s partnership with telecom giant Jio. It also adds that the video-streaming service may touch average revenue per user or ARPU of $5. Moreover, the Indian market may well have contributed to 9 per cent of the company’s global revenue in Q3.
In late September, Jio announced postpaid plans offering mobile-only Netflix subscription to users of Rs 399 plan and above. Jio’s Rs 1499 fibre broadband package also gives access to Netflix’s basic plan.
“We’re also working with local partners like Reliance Jio, India’s largest mobile operator, wherein Q3 we launched a bundle with their mobile and fibre broadband plans. As part of this broad partnership, we’ll integrate Netflix with two of Jio’s set-top boxes. We’ve also partnered with financial institutions in India to make payment processing easier and more seamless for our members, which we expect will have retention benefits. All of these initiatives are important and work in concert with our big investment in local originals to improve the Netflix experience for our members,” the company stated in its Q3 earnings.
Starting from mobile-only plans to adding Hindi interface, and plans of giving free weekend access to users in India on top, the company is doing its best to land a large slice of the Indian streaming pie.
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.
