iWorld
US AVOD streamer Tubi racks up scorching growth pace
MUMBAI: To be or not to be?
Well, Tubi is. And it is growing stronger.
The American AVOD streaming video service – which is available in Canada and Australia and is set to launch in Mexico and the UK in 2020 – has reported jaw-dropping signups and consumption numbers for 2019. The company- headed by Farhad Massoudi – announced monthly active users of 25 million with total viewing or watch time (TVT or TWT) totting up to 163 million hours for the month of December 2019 alone. TVT overall exploded 160 per cent year over year (YOY), while for Canada and Australia it skyrocketed 357 per cent.
Recently, Tubi announced a partnership with one of the largest broadcasters in Mexico – TV Azteca – to provide Spanish language content, which includes their most popular series and advertising sales support. Tubi also announced a global deal with one of the world’s largest manufacturers of TVs – Hisense – to prominently include Tubi as part of their Vidaa platform.
In 2019, Tubi ratcheted up its headcount to over 229 full-time employees, an increase of 78 per cent versus 2018. The company will rapidly add more employees in the coming year as Tubi continues its expansion both domestically and internationally. It is all geared up to spend big dollars to acquire content beyond its 20,000 movies and TV series; the budget is expected to cross nine figures in 2020.
“Our growth over the last year is a clear testament to the success of our focused strategy in a now-cluttered marketplace,” said Tubi CEO Farhad Massoudi. “We’re excited people globally have embraced Tubi as a complement to subscription video and aim to deliver an even larger library of premium content in 2020.”
https://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/over-the-top-services/most-of-the-svod-businesses-are-not-going-to-be-viable-tubis-farhad-massoudi-200123
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.
