iWorld
OML launches talent search for India’s next comedy star
MUMBAI: The search for the next big guns of comedy on YouTube in India has begun, with OML announcing the first ever web hunt for the kings and queens of comedy through ‘The Comedy Hunt on YouTube.’
Presented by Quikr, powered by Micromax, and co-sponsored by 5 Star, Garnier Men and Royal Challenge Sports Drink, the three-month-long contest began on 6 July, 2015. Over the next three weeks ending on 26 July, anyone interested in cutting their teeth as Indian’s next top online comedian can apply by creating a funny video, uploading it to their own YouTube channel, and then submitting the video URL at www.youtube.com/thecomedyhunt.
‘The Comedy Hunt’ will be a digital search for budding talent, which is backed by popular comedians on YouTube in India. Comic stars such as All India Bakchod, Kanan Gill, Jose, SnG Comedy, East India Comedy, Abish Mathew, Aditi Mittal and Shudh Desi Endings will shortlist top participants and work with them to help sharpen their skills before they’re put through seven weeks of challenge rounds.
These YouTube creators will also act as judges and pick the top finalists from these challenge rounds. The top five finalists will then be on stage and display their videos live alongside the mentors in front of an audience.
OML director Ajay Nair said, “There is huge appetite among younger audiences to consume content that’s not formulaic and that has been traditionally served by television. This initiative is a platform to find and reward creators across various comedic forms- not just stand-up or sketches. It’s an exciting time to create humorous content and with this hunt, we want to accelerate that process”
“YouTube has always worked with fresh and innovative comedy talent, and creators like AIB and TVF are helping make comedy one of the fastest growing content verticals on the platform today. We are sponsoring this first of its kind initiative , which will help us continue to support new comedians across the country as they build their brands as entertainers and find global audiences for their talents through YouTube,” added YouTube Partnerships, Asia-Pacific regional director Ajay Vidyasagar.
AIB’s Ashish Shakya said, “We’re kicked to be a part of the ‘Comedy Hunt’. It’s an exciting time to be a digital content creator in India and we’re happy to help in pushing new comic talent centre stage. Also, people are tired of seeing our ugly faces and the scene could always use new blood.”
Quikr founder and CEO Pranay Chulet informed, “We are delighted to sponsor the first ever ‘Comedy Hunt on YouTube.’ Quikr is a young Indian company and it is a natural fit for us to encourage the next generation of talent in India. Comedy is one of India’s fastest developing entertainment genres in India and at Quikr, we love the kind of dynamic, fast paced experience it offers. We wish all the participants the best of luck.”
Micromax CMO Shubhajit Sen opined, “Micromax is a young brand, never content with the world as we find it – always wanting to improve it with innovative, disruptive solutions. We hope to see the same irreverent, disruptive and insightful wit from the young and talented participants. Micromax is proud to power the laughter at the inaugural ‘Comedy Hunt’ on YouTube.”
iWorld
JioStar revenue hits Rs 9,784 crore as cricket fuels 22 per cent growth
A surge in digital viewership and sports dominance fuels a blockbuster quarter for the media giant
MUMBAI: JioStar is batting on a flat pitch. The media titan’s fourth-quarter results for the financial year 2026 reveal a business scaling new heights, propelled by an unprecedented appetite for premium sports and digital-first storytelling.
Gross revenue for the quarter soared by 22.15 per cent to Rs 9,784 crore, up from Rs 8,010 crore in the third quarter. Operationally, the momentum was equally strong; revenue from operations climbed 21 per cent to Rs 8,372 crore. These figures underscore the firm’s successful integration following the Reliance and Disney merger, creating a dominant force in the Indian market.
The annual performance has been nothing short of a spectacle. Full-year gross revenue reached a massive Rs 36,248 crore, while annual profit after tax hit Rs 3,210 crore. This rapid expansion reflects JioStar’s ability to capture and monetise the massive growth in India’s media consumption.
Cricket proved to be the ultimate growth engine. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and TATA IPL 2026 delivered “record-breaking viewership” across both television and digital screens. The World Cup final alone drew a global peak concurrency of 72.5 million on JioHotstar, cementing its status as the nation’s premier streaming destination. On television, JioStar maintained a commanding 34.2 per cent viewership share, reaching a staggering 810 million viewers nationwide.
The digital numbers were just as impressive. JioHotstar averaged 500 million monthly active users, driven by consistent subscriber growth and innovative AI-led content discovery tools. These advancements are ensuring that JioStar remains at the cutting edge of the global “Race for Attention.”
With a firm grip on the country’s most valuable sporting rights and a rapidly growing digital footprint, JioStar is perfectly positioned for the future. It has built the ultimate content powerhouse—one that is ready to dominate the Indian living room for years to come.
