iWorld
Nippon TV’s Golden SixTones lands on Netflix from 6 June
TOKYO: In a pitch-perfect move for pop fans, Netflix is rolling out Nippon TV’s Sunday night sensation Golden SixTones for global streaming starting 6 June. The zany variety show, fronted by Japan’s chart-topping boy band SixTones (pronounced “stones”), becomes the first regular entertainment series from Nippon TV to be snapped up by the streamer for international audiences.
Launched in April 2025 and clocking in at 60 minutes per episode, Golden SixTones has quickly hit the high notes in Japan — bagging ratings gold and topping social media charts every week. With Netflix now turning up the volume, the show will be subtitled in multiple languages and streamed worldwide, alongside its existing availability on Hulu and TVer in Japan.
Packed with laughs, gourmet grub, quizzes and madcap competitions, Golden SixTones is a riotous studio variety show aimed at all age groups. The band’s infectious energy, mixed with celebrity guests and unpredictable segments, has already struck a chord with fans.
Nippon TV producer Yoshihiro Miyazaki called the global release “an immense honour”, adding, “We can’t wait for fans around the world to experience the electric vibe that SixTones brings each week.”
Netflix director of content Rie Sawaoka echoed the enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled to partner with Nippon TV featuring the popular boy band SixTones, to audiences around the world. Netflix is committed to bringing the best of uniquely Japanese entertainment to our members globally, and we are honored to bring the energetic charm of SixTones and this wonderful program, produced by Nippon TV, to their existing fanbase and new viewers alike. We eagerly anticipate Golden SixTones captivating audiences worldwide on Netflix, allowing them to experience the power of Japanese entertainment.”
With Golden SixTones now marching onto the global stage, it’s clear that this boy band isn’t just striking a chord at home — they’re set to rock screens worldwide.
iWorld
Talk to your telly: JioHotstar’s new AI voice feature reads your mood to suggest shows
The streaming giant ditches the scroll for a “conversational” AI that understands moods, cricket and Hinglish
MUMBAI: The era of the endless scroll may finally be over. JioHotstar has officially flicked the switch on its “Conversational Voice Discovery” (CVD) feature, a high-tech overhaul designed to turn the hunt for a Friday night film into a natural chat. Developed in a landmark partnership with OpenAI, the tool moves beyond clunky keyword searches, allowing users to find content by describing their mood, context or even the most bizarre viewing scenarios.
The feature is vision of Uday Shankar, vice chairman of JioStar, whose goal is to eliminate “content overload” by replacing the tedious, traditional scroll with natural dialogue. By leveraging ChatGPT’s ability to grasp context and cultural nuance, the new mobile interface allows users to bypass menus entirely, turning search into a seamless conversation.
The launch, which rolled out across India this month, sees a ChatGPT-powered interface integrated directly into the heart of the app. Instead of typing “action movie” into a sterile search bar, viewers can now speak to their devices as if they were asking a well-read friend for a tip. For now, the feature is exclusive to the mobile app, with a rollout for Connected TV (CTV) expected in later phases.
Beyond the keyword
The CVD feature is built on what JioStar calls “Multilingual Cognitive Search.” It is designed to interpret nuance rather than just matching text. If you tell the app, “I’ve had a long day, give me something mindless and funny,” it won’t just look for those words in a title; it will sift through 300,000 hours of library content to find a light-hearted sitcom or a stand-up special that fits the vibe.
The tech is natively multilingual, catering to India’s diverse linguistic landscape. Users can switch effortlessly between languages—asking for “Koi light-hearted comedy dikhao” (show me some light-hearted comedy) or requesting a “Thriller hai but zyada dark nahi chahiye” (a thriller that isn’t too dark).
Real-time curiosity and live sports
Perhaps the most ambitious aspect of the rollout is its integration with live sports. During a high-stakes cricket match, the AI acts as a digital companion. Fans can ask, “Who is the top scorer right now?” or “Show me that last wicket again,” and the system will pull the relevant data or clips instantly. It even attempts to explain the “why” behind the crowd’s energy, responding to prompts like, “Why is everyone reacting like that?” by contextualizing on-field events.
A shift in streaming strategy
The move is part of a broader reimagining of the entertainment experience following the massive merger between JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. Uday Shankar noted that the goal is to make premium entertainment “truly accessible” by embedding AI at the core of the user journey. By anticipating culture and context, the platform hopes to kill off “decision fatigue.”
For OpenAI, the partnership represents a major play in the Indian market. Fidji Simo, the head of applications at OpenAI, said the goal was to turn a “one-way” passive consumption experience into a “deeply personal conversation.”
As the feature goes live for millions of subscribers, the message from Bombay House is clear: the remote control is becoming obsolete. Whether you’re looking for a show that “feels like a rainy Sunday afternoon” or a crime series with a “strong female lead but not too violent,” all you have to do is ask.
