iWorld
Sony LIV expands global presence and announces foray in Africa and the Caribbean region
Mumbai: Sony LIV, a video-on-demand (VOD) service, is proud to announce its strategic expansion into select countries in Africa and the Caribbean region. This move underscores Sony LIV’s commitment to providing indigenous entertainment to a global audience and delivering high-quality content to viewers worldwide. Sony LIV’s extensive library boasts over 40,000 hours of content across multiple languages. Users of South Africa, Mauritius, Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago can now access this rich content catalogue, catering to their diverse tastes and preferences.
The users will have access to an impressive lineup of content that ranges from gripping original series such as Scam 2003: The Telgi Story, Rocket Boys, Maharani, and Gullak to 18,000 hours of high-octane TV shows to select sporting events. The platform is also home to acclaimed regional and Hollywood films such as Gargi, 2018, Por Thozhil, and Saudi Vellakka among others.
Users can visit sonyliv.com or download the app from Google Playstore, Apple Appstore, or AFS store. The app is compatible with a wide range of devices and platforms, including Android Mobile/Tab, Android TV, iPad, and Apple TV, ensuring that viewers can enjoy their favourite content anytime, anywhere.
This expansion is a pivotal step in Sony LIV’s mission to connect with the Indian community globally while also reaching out to new audiences and enriching the entertainment experiences of viewers in Africa and the Caribbean.
Sony LIV head – growth and monetization Manish Aggarwal We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our services in South Africa, Mauritius, Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago. These continents are home to a significant population of the Indian diaspora and with an accelerated digital adoption amongst consumers in the market, there is an increasing appetite for digital entertainment that is both culturally rich and has a wide appeal. Leveraging this, Sony LIV aims to offer an inclusive and seamless viewing experience to the users.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
