iWorld
SonyLIV onboards four sponsors for India-Australia series
KOLKATA: Since its rebranding, the India tour of Australia is the first major sporting event to be aired on SonyLIV. While the digital arm of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) created quite a buzz on the back of its original content, it’s continuing to promote all its tentpole properties aggressively. Following the same route of marketing for Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, SonyLIV has chosen The Times of India (TOI) front page for advertising the India-Australia series.
The ad published on TOI mentions four sponsors – WinZo and McDowell’s No1 as co-powered sponsors, IIFL Finance and MUTUAL FUNDS Sahi Hai as segment partners. It also promotes upcoming shows like Sandwiched Forever, Gullak 2, College Romance Season 2, Girls hostel 2.0, along with other promotional content. Along with print, SonyLIV is actively pushing the sports event on its social media handles as well.
The two-month long India tour of Australia comprising a three-match ODI series, followed by a three-match T20 series and a four-match Test series has started streaming on 27 November. This is India’s first international tour after nine months post the global Covid2019 pandemic lockdown; India last played New Zealand in February 2020. However, it will be available for premium subscribers only.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
