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.”
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
