iWorld
Streaming service Spuul.com shuffles senior management
MUMBAI: The online streaming service for Indian cinema and TV shows – Spuul.com – has appointed a new CEO in Rajiv Vaidya to strengthen its position across markets, and bring in a focus on brand and ad-sales.
Speaking on the development Spuul’s co-founder and global CEO Subin Subaiah said in a statement: “Spuul has successfully established itself in India as a top of the line content platform and a front runner in the OTT space. With that set, the restructure will allow us to take the business to its next level of engagement with this fast evolving ecosystem. This will include expanding to new markets, generating access to the ballooning digital ad spends and building mutually beneficial partnerships.”
Vaidya joins Spuul from Hughes Networks. He was based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he headed sales and marketing for US and later for the APAC region. He started his career in advertising with DDB Mudra and went on to head Triton BDDP in India.
Vaidya said: “Within a short span, the brand has garnered a tremendous customer base not only in India but also internationally. With online video consumption gaining popularity in India, I am excited to join the team to further enhance the brand promise amongst advertisers and consumers.”
Along with this appointment, Spuul’s current India-CEO, Prakash Ramchandani will move to the Spuul headquarter office based out of Singapore and assume a global responsibility of chief content officer. His portfolio will also include overseeing international marketing. Ramchandani held management positions across TV networks in India and then out of Sydney where he worked in the DTH space prior to moving to Mumbai to establish Spuul’s Indian subsidiary office.
Taking on the new role, Ramchandani said: “Having been involved with the company since inception and establishing its presence in India has been an extremely rewarding experience. Spuul is a global play and we want to connect with the broader audience base. Content has been the crux of the brand and I look forward to unlocking its value across key markets.”
Gaming
Sony raises PS5 prices for second time in under a year
US disc edition jumps $100 to $649.99 as memory costs surge.
MUMBAI: Sony just hit the pause button on affordable gaming because when memory prices skyrocket, even the Playstation has to pay the premium. Sony has announced its second price increase for the Playstation 5 range in less than a year, citing pressures in the global economic landscape and a sharp rise in memory component costs driven by AI demand.
In the US, the PS5 disc edition will rise from $549.99 to $649.99, a $100 hike while the digital edition increases to $599.99. The more powerful PS5 Pro will jump $150 to $899.99. The Playstation Portal remote player will also rise by $50 to $249.99. The new prices take effect on 2 April 2026.
Similar increases have been applied in the UK (£90 per model), Europe and Japan. Sony last raised PS5 prices in the US in August 2025.
“We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide,” Sony said in a blog post.
The hikes come amid an unprecedented surge in memory prices, as manufacturers prioritise supply for AI data centres. Analysts say Sony had likely secured price protections for components that have now expired, forcing the company to protect its hardware margins.
Ampere Analysis research director of games Piers Harding-Rolls told CNBC that further increases from Microsoft and Nintendo would not be surprising, though Nintendo may hesitate to raise the price of its recently launched Switch 2 while establishing the new platform.
The increases arrive eight months before the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, which is expected to drive strong console sales. However, early reactions online have been a mix of disappointment and resignation, with growing concern that premium gaming is increasingly becoming a hobby for higher-income players.
In a sector already grappling with tariffs, inflation and component shortages, Sony’s move underscores a tough reality: even the most popular consoles are not immune to the rising cost of keeping up with the latest technology.
