iWorld
Voot strengthens content portfolio with Shemaro’s linear channels
KOLKATA: Voot has announced a strategic partnership with India’s leading content powerhouse Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd. to provide its live linear channels Shemaroo TV and Shemaroo MarathiBana to the millions of users of the platform.
The association will further strengthen Voot’s current content portfolio and provide unlimited entertainment to its viewers. The users will have access to Shemaroo TV’s popular and entertaining gamut of shows, across various genres likes Mythology, Drama, Horror, and Romance. In addition to this, viewers will have access to Shemaroo MarathiBana, a Marathi movie channel that will entertain Voot users by offering highly rated Marathi movies.
Commenting on the partnership, Viacom18 Digital Ventures COO Gourav Rakshit said, “At Voot, we believe that content is pivotal for the growth of digital platforms. Live TV is one of the highest growing categories amongst videos for the on-the-move digital consumers. We have specifically worked on ramping up this category to ensure our viewers stay connected with their favorite channels of movies and shows, even when they are not in front of a television set. With our partnership with Shemaroo, we believe that our viewers will find content relevant and engrossing. In tough times like these, Shemaroo’s efforts are in line with our idea of bringing engaging and enriching content on board for all our viewers.”
Sharing his thoughts on the partnership Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd broadcast COO Sandeep Gupta said, “Shemaroo’s broadcast business has been entertaining the masses of India since the start of the year and given the circumstances it was all the more necessary to have access to some friendly entertaining distractions. Our partnership with Voot will help us not only strengthen the bond with our audiences even further but also help reach out to a wider set of audience and geography. I am extremely happy and confident that both our channels will be appreciated and loved by Voot users since they have been the first choice for viewers since the launch.”
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.
