iWorld
Reliance Jio plans soft launch on Dhirubhai Ambani’s birth anniversary
MUMBAI: Touted as the most anticipated launch in the Indian telecommunications space, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio is planning a soft launch on the late family patriarch – Dhirubhai Ambani’s birth anniversary i.e 28 December, 2015.
While Jio’s launch is being regarded as the game changer of the Digital India vision, the task cut out for the newest telecom company in the fray is not as simple as rival Bharti Airtel, which is also gearing up to launch its 4G network.
During the company’s Annual General Meeting earlier this year, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani spoke about Jio’s commercial launch in December 2015. However, a source close to the development tells Indiantelevision.com that while the soft launch will happen in December this year, the commercial launch will only be somewhere around March 2016.
“Airtel has a full fledged 3G network across the country and hence if consumers are out of the 4G network area coverage, they can operate on 3G. However, Reliance Jio cannot follow this proposition due to unavailability of the 3G network. We are planning for a soft launch on a good day in December,” the source says.
The source also confirmed that Reliance Jio’s commercial launch, which will facilitate consumers from across 5,000 cities and towns, might get delayed to March.
Recently, Reliance Jio Infocomm signed a deal with US-based test and measurement equipment provider Keysight Technologies to test its 4G network. Analysts peg that the testing deal may have cost Reliance Jio approximately Rs 100 crore.
Ambani plans to launch 4G services in over 5,000 cities and towns across India with an approximate investment of Rs 100,000 crore. Test runs have already begun in some parts of the country.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
