iWorld
Viu forays into micro originals with ‘Viru Ke Funde’
MUMBAI: Vuclip, a PCCW Media Company and the leading premium video on demand (VOD) service for emerging markets, has today announced the launch of ‘Viru ke Funde’, a fifteen episode web series that will be streamed on Vuclip’s OTT Video on Demand Service – Viu.
Virender Sehwag will play the central character in the show and will be seen doling out advice to his group of friends on issues such as weight loss, managing stress, dodging telemarketers and the taxman as well as ways to win an argument with your better half and learning to cope with your mother-in-law’s taunts among others.
The show was conceptualized based on Vuclip’s research insight that 60% of India’s digital audiences show the propensity to consume cricket focused comedy genre content which ties well with Sehwag’s raw, earthy and ‘in your face’ humor which has made him a Twitter sensation with over 7.5 million followers.
The first five episodes of the show have been released today on Viu, with one new episode scheduled to be released every day for the next ten days until 2 December 2016.
With a run time of about two minutes per episode, the show marks the advent of ‘Micro Originals’ – short form snackable video content aimed at entertaining the mobile audience ‘on the go.’ This effort also underscores Viu’s differentiated short form content strategy.
Vuclip India country head Vishal Maheshwari said, “Viu is a celebration of fandom and a video destination that knows its viewers’ entertainment quotient. Much like our first original show ‘What the Duck,’ this series too will enable fans of Virender Sehwag to see him in his off-field personality which they have grown to like. ‘Viru Ke Funde’ is an exciting addition to our catalog of originals for our viewers.”
Sehwag said, “Life is all about keeping things simple. See the Ball, Hit the Ball! Viru ke Funde is about sharing what I have learned in life and cricket with my real friends, making the experience all the more ‘FUN.’ I am delighted to partner with Viu which has given me a platform to engage with my fans through the digital medium. I hope the show will give you as much thrill as my batting did.”
Links to the first five episodes of ‘Viru Ke Funde’
Promo – https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139615025?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #1: How to Win an Argument with your Wife
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341106?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #2: How to behave in a 5 Star Hotel
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341134?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #3: How To Increase Facebook Likes
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341139?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #4: How To Manage Stress
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341149?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #5: How To Lose Weight
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341137?containerId=playlist-24122189
iWorld
WhatsApp tests ‘WhatsApp Plus’ paid subscription tier
€2.49 plan adds customisation tools, messaging and calls remain free.
MUMBAI: Your chats may soon get a glow-up at a small monthly price. WhatsApp is testing a new paid subscription tier called ‘WhatsApp Plus’, signalling a shift towards premium personalisation features while keeping its core services free. The feature is currently being rolled out to a limited set of Android beta users, with early reports from WABetaInfo indicating a price of €2.49 per month (approximately Rs 274). Meta has confirmed the test, stating that it is designed for users who want more control over how they customise and organise their app experience.
Importantly, the subscription remains optional. Core functionalities including messaging, voice calls and community features will continue to be available free of charge, ensuring that the platform’s primary use case remains unchanged.
Instead, WhatsApp Plus focuses on aesthetic and organisational upgrades. These include exclusive sticker packs, new themes, custom app icons and personalised notification tones. On the functional side, subscribers may be able to pin up to 20 chats significantly higher than the current limit of three along with access to custom chat lists and enhanced categorisation tools.
Industry observers suggest the offering is largely cosmetic. Social media consultant Matt Navarra noted that the features lean more towards visual and usability enhancements rather than altering the app’s core functionality.
While global pricing has not been finalised, the subscription is expected to remain a low-cost monthly plan, with reports indicating a possible one-month free trial for eligible users. The feature is still in beta, meaning the final set of offerings could evolve before a broader rollout. Support for iOS users is also anticipated in the coming weeks.
The move mirrors a broader trend in the social and messaging ecosystem, where platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram have introduced similar subscription layers adding premium features without placing core services behind a paywall.
For WhatsApp, the strategy appears clear, keep the conversation free, but charge for a little extra flair around it.
