iWorld
One Take Media launches new OTT app
Mumbai: One Take Media Co (OTMC), a global content production and distribution hub, is all set to enter the OTT space with its newly launched app called “Playflix”.
Playflix will stream content across 28 genres ranging from Hollywood movies in nine languages, regional language movies, kids, cooking, Korean TV dramas in Hindi, and many more.
OTMC is a global content production and distribution hub with a content library of more than 10,000 hours. It produces, acquires and distributes content in various genres like Hollywood movies, regional movies, kids’ animation, etc.
Being the first ever mover in the Korean content space, its Korean library boasts of popular Korean drama series (Hindi dubbed), K-pop music. Playflix highly appeals to all kinds of audience in urban as well as regional audience as it has a varied selection of movies in nine Indian regional languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Bhojpuri and Bengali.
OTMC founder-CEO Anil Khera says: “We are very excited to enter the fast moving OTT space with our newest launched app ‘Playflix’. This is the best of time for both consumers and content creators. We are hopeful for an excellent consumer response and we are confident to create our own space in the crowded OTT market.”
OTMC has partnered with leading OTT apps, broadcasters, telecom operators, DTH platforms in India and abroad.
KPMG in India says: “The online video consumer in India has evolved in a significant way in the last couple of years. With consumption now going mass and viewers spending close to 8.5 hours a week on online video, we see a homogenous pattern of consumption emerging cutting across age groups, income levels and professions.”
India is one of the fastest-growing entertainment and media markets globally and is expected to keep that momentum. As data and digital infrastructure have become exceedingly accessible even in small cities of India, the market for OTT has widened enormously. With easy and affordable availability of internet, the internet users have increased to 500 millions. By 2023 estimation, the internet users are likely to touch $5 billion. The penetration of smartphones has surpassed 600 millions.
In 2018, the global pay OTT subscription was $14.5 billion and by 2025, it is estimated to be around $179.9 billion dollars. According to a report by Ernst & Young, the number of OTT users in the country will reach 500 million by 2020, making India the second–biggest market after the US. In fiscal year 2018, the OTT market in India was worth Rs 2,150 crore (₹21.5 billion, US$303 million as of 2018), and its value grew to Rs 35 billion in 2019.
The Indian OTT market is expected to grow 45 percent to reach ₹138 billion by the end of fiscal 2023.
iWorld
Meta tests Instagram Plus with stealth features and extended story tools
New paid tier targets everyday users with more control and privacy perks
MUMBAI: Meta appears to be doubling down on subscriptions, quietly testing a new premium tier called Instagram Plus that brings a mix of privacy, control and visibility tools to everyday users of Instagram.
Unlike Meta Verified, which is geared towards creators and businesses, the new offering is aimed squarely at regular users who want a little more control over how they show up and what they see on the platform.
At the heart of Instagram Plus is a rethink of Stories, the app’s most widely used feature. The test introduces the ability to view Stories anonymously, meaning users can watch or preview content without appearing in the viewer list. It also adds “rewatch insights”, allowing users to see how many times their own Stories have been viewed, a metric that has long been a source of curiosity.
There is more. Stories can stay live for up to 48 hours instead of the usual 24, giving posts a longer shelf life. Users can also create multiple audience lists beyond “Close Friends”, making it easier to tailor content for different circles such as work, family or social groups.
For those chasing visibility, a weekly “Story Spotlight” feature lets users push a post to the front of their followers’ feed. Meanwhile, searchable viewer lists make it simpler to track who has seen a Story, and a new “superlike” reaction adds a more animated way to stand out in direct messages.
The feature set may feel familiar to some. Several of these tools have previously existed through third-party workarounds or have been widely requested by users, particularly the ability to browse Stories discreetly.
Pricing for the test is deliberately modest, suggesting a strategy focused on scale. Early trials show subscription costs at roughly $1 to $2 per month in markets such as the Philippines, Mexico and Japan. The feature has not yet rolled out in India, the United States or Europe, though a broader launch later in 2026 is widely expected if the pilot gains traction.
The move reflects a broader shift in Meta’s business model. With digital advertising facing increasing competition and regulatory scrutiny, subscription products offer a more predictable revenue stream. Rivals such as Snapchat Plus have already found success, building a sizeable paying user base with similar premium add-ons.
For Meta, the bet is simple: give users more control, a touch of stealth and a dash of exclusivity, and they may be willing to pay. If the early signs hold, Instagram Plus could turn everyday scrolling into a slightly more curated, and monetised, experience.
