iWorld
SonyLIV lines up an innovation filled FIFA World Cup 2018
MUMBAI: The world’s most popular tournament – FIFA World Cup 2018 is just around the corner. SonyLIV, one of the premium OTT platforms in India, is the official mobile and internet broadcaster for FIFA and will be the go-to destination for all football lovers once the World Cup kicks off.
This year SonyLIV brings to its viewers a host of innovations that will make watching the game more engaging on all screens. Features like key moments, highlights, match playbacks (VOD) and real time updates are available for a seamless viewer experience. The #ScreamLoud campaign by SonyLIV echoes the passion of fans and ardent followers of the game who are so involved that they end up screaming to cheer for their favourite star or country.
To encourage exciting conversations with football fans through the season, SonyLIV has launched the first ever-social Facebook chatbot in the OTT entertainment space. The bot is intelligent and equipped to handle all queries and will update the user with match fixtures, points table and help set reminders for games.
On Match Centre, viewers can see live scores, player positions, team information, match statistics and live commentary. To make their experience more engaging, users can set reminders or view the entire schedule, while the points table gives a quick update on the standings, scores, etc. Additionally, SonyLIV has also created a fan-zone on second screen, which users can access on their mobile phone or tablet and experience features like predictions, emotion meter, polls, contests, even as they watch the game in real-time.
Some of the other features also include, viewing missed games with snippets and clips of key moments from every match along with highlights. To cater to the widest possible range of viewers, SonyLIV will be available in six simultaneous audio feeds – Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and English.
The FIFA World Cup 2018 will stream via SonyLIV on partner platforms like Xiaomi’s MI Phones and MI TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, CTV and JIO feature phones.
Subscribers get access to the live feed of all the matches without any delay while non-subscribers can still watch their favourite team play but with a delay of 5 minutes. SonyLIV has also introduced a ‘Super Sports’ pack at just Rs.199 for 6 months.
SonyLIV is the biggest platform for all major football championships like UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and more. So, this FIFA World Cup 2018, enjoy the best players and teams in the planet battle it out for football glory only on SonyLIV.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
