iWorld
Paramount+ launches in Italy with originals showcasing female stories and voices
Mumbai: Paramount+, the global streaming service from Paramount has been launched in Italy. It offers more than 8,000 hours of entertainment.
Paramount Global rolled out the Blue Carpet and hosted an event at the iconic Cinecittà Studios in Rome to celebrate the Italian launch of Paramount+. Following the event, the service revealed its content slate that features the biggest stars and most compelling stories. Roberto Benigni, Elodie, Greta Scarano and Carlo Verdone are among the Italian stars aligning on Paramount+, alongside global talent including Harrison Ford, Jessica Chastain, Helen Mirren, Sylvester Stallone, Miles Teller and more.
The streaming service provides a slate for the whole family, spanning new and exclusive Paramount+ originals, shows and movies across every genre from Paramount’s brands and production studios.
This includes Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Showtime and the Smithsonian Channel, offering the best from international exclusive titles and local content.
Global series that will become available on Paramount+ in Italy include The Offer, based on Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy’s experiences of making “The Godfather”. Meanwhile, The Man Who Fell To Earth follows a new alien character who arrives on Earth at a turning point in human evolution. Tusla King stars Sylvester Stallone “The General”.
Additionally, Paramount+ will be the home of films following their theatrical and home entertainment releases, including “Top Gun: Maverick” which will arrive on service in Italy later this year.
The service is investing in local content and talent, with a line-up of Italian originals, such as the newly announced “Francesco Il Cantinco”. This is an immersive reading of one of the most iconic texts dedicated to love, hosted by Oscar-winning Italian star Roberto Benigni. There will be will a new season of Vita Da Carlo, which sees Italian comedian and actor Carlo Verdone as director and lead of this highly anticipated series around his life.
“Tonight, we are celebrating the debut of Paramount+, which seamlessly combines Hollywood with Italian storytelling and creativity. Italy has been home to Paramount for many years and now we’re bringing the best Italian – and global – films and series together in one place, on Paramount+,” said Paramount president & CEO (streaming) Tom Ryan.
“We’re the only streaming service where you’ll see Sylvester Stallone, SpongeBob, Star Trek, South Park and incredible Italian stars like Elodie and Verdone… all in one place. With over 100 years of storytelling experience from our renowned Hollywood studio to our international production hubs – Paramount knows how to make great entertainment for everyone,” said Paramount+ executive vice president- International GM Marco Nobili.
Gaming
Roblox appoints Sunil Rao as India managing director to drive growth
Former AWS leader to lead creator ecosystem, partnerships and local strategy
MUMBAI: Roblox has appointed Sunil Rao as managing director for India, as the company looks to deepen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Rao, who will join in May, will serve as the senior-most representative for Roblox in India, leading local strategy, partnerships and day-to-day operations. His mandate includes strengthening the platform’s presence, supporting the creator ecosystem and aligning India’s market needs with global priorities.
A key focus area will be nurturing India’s growing community of developers and creators, enabling local studios to leverage Roblox’s tools for scaling and monetisation. Globally, the platform’s creator community earned over $1.5 billion in 2025, underlining the economic potential of user-generated content ecosystems.
“Roblox is at the forefront of enabling a new generation of creators and games. India’s scale, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy present a massive opportunity,” said Rao. “I’m excited to build a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem that empowers developers and creators across the country. Ensuring child safety and aligning closely with India’s regulatory framework will be among my top priorities.”
Welcoming the appointment, Roblox vice president international Zhen Fang said India represents a high-potential market for the company. “Sunil brings deep expertise in building operations across diverse markets, and his passion for community-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader to drive our next chapter of growth in the country.”
Rao brings over two decades of experience across technology platforms, venture capital and developer ecosystems. He was previously part of the leadership team at Amazon Web Services, where he led strategy and corporate business development across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also served as a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, working closely with startups and founders.
Earlier in his career, Rao played a key role in building developer ecosystems at Symbian, Nokia and Google, contributing to the growth of major mobile and internet platforms.
With India’s large youth population and rapidly evolving digital landscape, Roblox’s latest leadership move signals a sharper focus on long-term growth, local relevance and creator-led innovation in the market.
