iWorld
RIL close to buying majority stakes in DEN, Hathway
MUMBAI: Reliance Industries is expected to buy controlling stakes in two of India’s largest cable TV and broadband service providers, DEN Networks and Hathway Cable & Datacom, according to a report by the Times of India (TOI). The plan mostly is to increase the reach in particular regions of the country for its Gigafiber, Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) service.
In May 2017, Reliance Jio had begun rolling out beta trials of the FTTH service at select locations in six cities- Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Surat and Vadodara.
RIL is likely to own more than 25 per cent each in the two companies which will enable it to control developments and get a seat on the board. The deal is expected to be announced in the next few days. Both companies have told the stock exchanges that the respective boards are meeting on 17 October to discuss and approve a proposal for raising funds.
“RIL wants to create a platform which will accelerate home broadband penetration in India, which is currently in a low single-digit. The aim is to push home broadband penetration to around 60 per cent in the coming years,” TOI quoted a source.
Last September, RIL was in advanced talks to acquire DEN but could not reach an agreement. Some months ago, it began talks with Hathway as well.
Industry experts told TOI that a stake in Hathway and DEN will be a major boost to Jio. Both operators have 7.2 million digital cable subscribers each, with operations across 350 and 200 cities, respectively.
iWorld
Hari Om OTT bets on AI-first filmmaking after Bharat Next Gen takeover
Platform plans six devotional series yearly, with Dronacharya set for June 2026 release.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… algorithm. In a move that blends mythology with machine learning, devotional streaming platform Hari Om OTT is placing artificial intelligence at the heart of its filmmaking playbook. Founded by media entrepreneur Vibhu Agarwal and recently acquired by Bharat Next Gen Digital Pvt Ltd, the platform has announced a full scale AI first content strategy that positions artificial intelligence as the backbone of its film production model. The company plans to launch six original devotional series annually, beginning in the upcoming financial year.
Rather than treating AI as a post production shortcut, Hari Om OTT says it has spent the past 14 months building a full 360 degree in house AI ecosystem designed to power the entire creative pipeline. The platform has assembled a specialised internal team that includes AI Creative Directors, devotional content researchers and dedicated scriptwriters, bringing everything from concept development to execution under one roof.
The studio already has multiple films in production and is targeting at least three theatrical releases in the coming financial year. Leading the slate is Dronacharya, scheduled for release in June 2026, followed by Khatushyam Ji, Salasar Balaji and Rani Dadi Sati. Additional projects in development include stories centred on Agrasen Maharaj Ji and Chatthi Maiya.
Beyond feature films and series, Hari Om OTT is also expanding into a documentary vertical that explores the cultural heritage and temples of different Indian states. Designed as a state wise tourism promotional series, the project will use AI driven visual tools to offer immersive glimpses into India’s spiritual and architectural legacy, aiming to connect devotional storytelling with heritage tourism for global audiences.
Bharat Next Gen director Kanhiya Mittal described the upcoming slate as the start of what he calls a new cinematic movement powered by artificial intelligence.
“With Dronacharya, we are initiating a new cinematic movement powered by AI. This technology allows us to present India’s sacred history and cultural legacy with greater scale and authenticity. Our vision aligns with the prime minister’s emphasis on AI first innovation for India’s growth. We believe storytelling rooted in tradition, enhanced by technology, can position India as a global leader in human centric AI creativity,” he said.
Backed by Bharat Next Gen, Hari Om OTT is now positioning itself as a technology forward devotional content studio operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and culturally rooted storytelling, where epics from the past may soon be shaped as much by code as by creativity.
