iWorld
World’s first News OTT extends its content offerings with News9 Plus Lounge, redefining lifestyle programming
Mumbai: News9 Plus, the world’s first news OTT promoted by TV9 Network, has diversified beyond news and current affairs with the launch of News9 Plus Lounge. This dynamic addition further enriches the platform’s content bouquet, offering a diverse range of lifestyle content, including travel, fashion, food, adventure, and more.
Elaborating on the vision behind the inception of the new content extension, TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das said, “Lounge is of strategic importance for brands to partner with News9 Plus. I feel that advertising in the traditional form will seize to exist as you always have the luxury of exploring millions of options at the tip of your finger. In a world of ‘skip-ad,’ advertising will pivot to storytelling via content. Hence advertisers and brand owners will have to ensure their brand communication is sticky as well for the audience in the digital ecosystem. Hence advertising in the digital world will also have to be ‘content’ which is where News9 Plus Lounge fits in.”
“News9 Plus Lounge infuses freshness into our existing content library to seek out the YOLO (You only live once) culture among the youth and the more mature audiences together. Lounge captures the aspirations of the upwardly mobile with compelling content that pushes them to live life to the fullest,” Barun added.
The Lounge section currently features a variety of intriguing series, including ‘Make the Cut,’ ‘Route to Food,’ ‘Connoisseur Conversations,’ ‘Smart New World,’ and ‘Postcards from Goa’.
Brands like Postcard Hotels and Hamdard have already come on board and forged lasting content partnerships.
Hamdard Laboratories chief sales & marketing officer Mansoor Ali, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration with News9 Plus. He said, “We are thrilled to be associated with News9 Plus, the news OTT platform of TV9 Network, and their sensational cooking show, ‘Filmy Masala’. The integration of our flagship spice brand Khaalis with the delightful recipes and Bollywood magic on the show is a perfect match. Our curated range of blended spices will offer consumers an authentic and traditional culinary experience they have been longing for. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to engaging with our discerning consumers, and News9 Plus proves to be the ideal platform to showcase the essence of brand Khaalis.”
Sharing his experience on the show ‘Connoisseur Conversations,’ Whisky Samba founder & restaurateur Ashish Kapur, expressed his delight, stating, “Being a part of ‘Connoisseur Conversations’ has been a fantastic and joyful experience. From ideation to execution, it has been a pure joyride. And the participation of fabulous Women Connoisseurs added the cherry on the top. It felt surreal as it was the kind of show I personally enjoy watching, and here I was, right in the midst of it all!”
Bacardi India marketing director Zeenah Vilcassim, expressed her excitement about being featured in an episode of ‘Connoisseur Conversations’ on News9 Plus Lounge, stating, “I am delighted to be a part of the talk show ‘Connoisseur Conversations,’ which caters to the new-age Indian consumer’s penchant for experimentation and premium drinking experiences. The show’s combination of informative content, interactive games, and entertaining elements offers the perfect blend of education and entertainment for discerning Indian audiences.”
Arpita Chatterjee, who leads TV9 Network’s production powerhouse – The Studio9, shared her insights on the captivating content being produced by her team. She said, “Make the Cut serves as a comprehensive guide to corporate style, providing actionable advice on attire, accessories, and personal grooming. While Connoisseur Conversations combines the art of conversations with the charm of cheer, featuring captivating discussions with social celebrities and epicurean adventures that tantalise taste buds and expand spirits expertise.”
iWorld
WhatsApp may soon let users to pick who sees their status updates
The messaging giant is borrowing a page from Instagram’s playbook as it pushes to give users finer control over their social circles.
CALIFORNIA: WhatsApp is quietly working on a feature that could make its Status function considerably smarter and considerably more private.
According to reports from beta tracking platforms, the app is testing a tool called Status lists, which would allow users to create named groups such as close friends, family and colleagues, and control precisely which group sees each update. It is a meaningful step up from the platform’s current blunt instruments, which offer only three options: share with all contacts, exclude specific people, or manually select individuals each time.
The new feature draws an obvious comparison with Instagram’s Close Friends function, and the resemblance is unlikely to be accidental. Both platforms sit within Meta’s family, and the company has been nudging them toward a common logic of audience segmentation for some time.
The move also fits neatly into WhatsApp’s broader privacy push. The platform has been rolling out enhanced chat protections and is exploring the introduction of usernames, which would allow users to connect without exchanging phone numbers. Status lists extend that philosophy from messaging into broadcasting.
Meanwhile, Status itself has been evolving well beyond its origins as a simple photo-and-text slideshow. The feature now supports music stickers, collages, longer videos and interactive elements, pushing it closer to the social-media-style story format pioneered by Snapchat and refined by Instagram. In that context, finer audience controls are not merely a privacy feature. They are a precondition for people sharing more.
The feature remains in development and has not been confirmed for release. WhatsApp routinely tests tools that are later modified or quietly shelved. But the direction of travel is clear: the app wants Status to be a destination, not an afterthought. Letting users decide exactly who is in the audience is how it gets there.
