Airtel Launches OTT Entertainment Packs for Prepaid Users Starting at ₹279
Starting at just ₹279 per month, these new Airtel prepaid entertainment plans provide a budget-friendly way for users to enjoy premium content across genres and languages. The company is positioning these packs as a one-stop entertainment solution, combining high-speed connectivity with a wide range of content offerings.
Breakdown of Airtel OTT Packs:
Direct Subscription Pack (₹279 for 1 month): Offers access to Netflix Basic, Zee5, JioCinema, and Airtel Xstream Play Premium.
Offers access to Netflix Basic, Zee5, JioCinema, and Airtel Xstream Play Premium. Prepaid Content-Only Pack (₹279): Includes the same OTT platforms as above, plus 1GB of data for the month.
Includes the same OTT platforms as above, plus 1GB of data for the month. Prepaid Data Bundles (28-Day Validity): Provides unlimited 5G data, unlimited voice calls, and access to the same OTT platforms.
Provides unlimited 5G data, unlimited voice calls, and access to the same OTT platforms. Prepaid Data Bundles (84-Day Validity): Offers the same benefits with an extended validity of 84 days.
All these plans are available through the Airtel Xstream Play app and support streaming content in over 16 languages, covering a broad spectrum of genres—from international and Bollywood blockbusters to regional hits.
Airtel stated, 'With benefits worth ₹750 bundled in, Airtel is now the only telecom provider offering such a wide bouquet of OTT content under one plan.' This move not only strengthens Airtel's digital offerings but also enhances customer value with affordable, high-quality entertainment options.
With the growing demand for streaming content in India, these new Airtel OTT packs are expected to attract a wider audience seeking both connectivity and diverse entertainment under one roof.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Heads Of State Review: Priyanka Chopra Saves The Day In John Cena And Idris Elba-Led Action Comedy
Last Updated: Heads Of State Movie Review: The film rides on the charm of its leads, but it's Priyanka Chopra who truly packs a punch in action, presence and how she rewrites the spy-girl trope. Heads Of State Movie Review: In Heads of State, a high-octane political action-comedy streaming on Prime Video, the buddy formula of mismatched leads gets a flashy upgrade with Idris Elba and John Cena at the helm. But it's Priyanka Chopra Jonas who ultimately walks away with the most memorable moments, asserting, once again, that she belongs not just in Bollywood royalty but in the global action elite. Directed by Ilya Naishuller (Nobody, Hardcore Henry), Heads of State throws together a fictional US President and UK Prime Minister in the middle of a full-blown assassination plot. President Will Derringer (John Cena), a former action star turned political figure, is vain, impulsive and oddly lovable. Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) is the polar opposite. He is stoic, composed and constantly unimpressed. When their plane crashes en route to a NATO summit, they're forced to survive in enemy territory, dodging bullets, betrayals and the burden of diplomacy. For Indian audiences, Priyanka Chopra's role as MI6 agent Noel Bisset is a huge reason to hit play and thankfully, the payoff is real. The movie opens with her high-octane action sequence at Spain's Tomatina festival, setting a thrilling tone. Though she disappears for a while, she returns midway with commanding presence, fluid fight choreography and whip-smart one-liners. Noel Bisset isn't a token sidekick or love interest; she's a fully realised, no-nonsense operative who literally saves the two most powerful men on the planet. Chopra, seasoned with past action hits like Don, Mary Kom, Quantico, and Citadel, delivers a physically convincing and charismatic performance that makes the spy fantasy feel tangible. It's particularly refreshing to see a South Asian woman in a leading action role that doesn't reduce her to a cliché but empowers her as the smartest person in the room and often, the strongest. Her flashback sequence revealing how she survived a covert operation gone wrong is both cheeky and cool. Whether she's sliding into combat mode or trading barbs with Cena and Elba, Priyanka Chopra is perfectly cast, commanding the screen every time she appears. As for the film's headliners, Cena and Elba make an unlikely but watchable pair. Cena plays Derringer with the same exaggerated bravado he brought to Peacemaker, skewering the Hollywood-hero-turned-politician archetype with abandon. Elba, ever the professional, gives his stiff, brooding Prime Minister just enough dry humour to prevent him from becoming a bore. Together, they bicker, banter and bomb their way across Eastern Europe in a bromantic detour full of explosions and ego clashes. While their chemistry can feel forced early on, it eventually hits its rhythm. Elba plays straight man to Cena's bombast, and some of their comic moments like disguising themselves as Canadians to avoid attention land well. Naishuller's direction leans into the absurdist energy he's known for. He stages elaborate, kinetic action scenes that rarely pause to breathe, from a thrilling mid-air assault on Air Force One to a firefight involving the President's heavily armoured limo 'The Beast." One visually striking moment includes drone POV shots reminiscent of Hardcore Henry, a creative, chaotic touch. However, while the action is slick and often inventive, the comedy doesn't always stick the landing. It tries to balance political satire, slapstick and buddy humour, but some jokes feel recycled or undercooked. The script teases a parody of real-world politics, but it never quite commits, offering caricature rather than critique. Jack Quaid makes a delightful, if brief, appearance as an excitable CIA weapons expert. His manic energy adds a fun burst of chaos in the second act. Meanwhile, the villains are generic at best, and their convoluted motives exist mostly to keep the chase going. The plot is merely a peg for the film's true intent: to entertain with stylish mayhem and loud laughs. By the climax, the film leans into its fantasy logic full tilt, abandoning realism for bombastic set-pieces. But that's the charm of Heads of State. It knows what it is: an action-comedy romp that doesn't want you to think too hard. It delivers on entertainment, if not depth, and does so with style. What elevates it beyond standard fare is its cast, particularly Priyanka Chopra Jonas. At a time when Hollywood is expanding its lens, her role feels both earned and overdue, giving global audiences a glimpse of what Indian fans have known for years: Priyanka Chopra is a powerhouse. First Published: July 02, 2025, 20:07 IST
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Indian OTT platforms continue to expand, but on smaller scale with low risk
Indian media and entertainment companies continue to rely on their streaming segments, but at a cautious pace—focusing on profitability and limiting financial risk. Major players with pan-India audiences, such as Zee Entertainment Enterprises' (ZEEL) ZEE5 and Balaji Telefilms-backed ALTT, have reduced operational costs over the years and rebranded their over-the-top (OTT) platforms. While the OTT industry broadly aims to cut costs, media analysts and executives note that this trend is more prominent among platforms launched by Indian companies, which cannot match the spending capacity of global giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The only notable exception is Reliance Industries-backed JioHotstar. 'OTT platforms have been present in India for the last 10 to 15 years… Even the most lenient investors would like to see some return right now,' said a media analyst, on the condition of anonymity. In FY25, ZEE5 recorded an EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) loss of Rs 550 crore, down from Rs 1,110 crore in FY24. This reduction was largely achieved through cost-cutting measures. In an investor presentation, ZEEL stated it aims to break even on ZEE5 from an EBITDA loss of Rs 548 crore (excluding network costs) in FY25, and is now positioned to become a leading and profitable OTT player, having completed its recent investment cycle. ALTT, meanwhile, has consciously scaled down operations, said Sanjay Dwivedi, group chief executive officer and chief financial officer, Balaji Telefilms. The company was burning Rs 145 crore annually to sustain the segment, which was unsustainable. 'As a result, we cut down on cost and reworked our strategy. We want to be Thums Up to Coke... Netflix and Prime Video will exist, and we will exist in a smaller way—we don't want to burn cash,' he said. According to Vivek Menon, managing partner at NV Capital, a media and entertainment fund, this shift is more visible among pan-India streaming platforms—particularly those buying content from Bollywood and the Tamil and Telugu markets, where content costs are higher. He added that OTT adoption only truly accelerated post-COVID, so the business is still in cash burn mode to build a subscriber base and requires a long, patient approach. 'It is a tough game right now for Indian players because the industry is still in the growth stage. The audience has enough free alternatives to consume content. Also, a streaming platform needs massive pockets to succeed,' the analyst said. Shemaroo Entertainment's Gujarati-focused platform ShemarooMe is 'on the road to profitability and viability,' according to Saurabh Srivastava, chief operating officer, digital business, Shemaroo Entertainment. Srivastava noted that the company saw high double-digit revenue growth in Q1 FY26, and will continue investing in its streaming platform. He said the industry is learning to rationalise operational costs and push for higher returns on investment. The subscriber base also grew by a high double-digit percentage year-on-year in Q1 FY26. Meanwhile, Hoichoi—a subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) platform focused on Bengali-language content—achieved cash breakeven in FY24. The platform currently hosts close to 200 original web series. 'As a production house creating Bengali films and TV for 30 years, transitioning to web content was a natural evolution,' said Vishnu Mohta, co-founder, Hoichoi. 'We focused deeply on one language—Bengali—and on serving that audience consistently. Over 60 per cent of our total expenses go into content creation. That's intentional. Unlike many platforms that spend heavily on marketing even when unit economics don't work, we've always aimed to keep marketing spends below 30 per cent of direct revenue.' He added that this approach—combined with strong intellectual property (IP) creation and organic subscriber growth—has kept the company profitable over the last few years and cash-flow positive for the past couple. Just as Balaji Telefilms expects its digital business to grow, Mohta noted that Hoichoi is considered a core business for its parent company. Media executives and analysts broadly agree that the OTT industry continues to grow, with each platform finding its niche. With several sub-segments still underserved, there is ample room for differentiated growth. 'Moving forward, it looks like most networks have a grasp on how the OTT model works and how one can monetise through subscriptions and advertising. The fact that ZEE5 is completely rebranding itself shows that investment in the sector will continue,' Menon said.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
This Tamil Actor Starred With Aishwarya Rai, Rajinikanth; Then Turned Taxi Driver After Flops
Last Updated: Mirza Abbas Ali's fall from superstardom to obscurity highlights the film industry's unpredictability and the resilience required to survive its highs and lows Popular South cinema actor Mirza Abbas Ali, once a superstar of the 90s, has faced significant highs and lows in his career. Known for his work alongside big stars like Aishwarya Rai and Rajinikanth, Abbas starred in many successful films during the early 90s. However, his career took a downturn, leading to financial struggles so severe that he couldn't afford rent. Abbas, who has acted in both South Indian cinema and Bollywood, made his Bollywood debut with ' Ansh: The Deadly Part '. Unfortunately, the film did not perform well, and Abbas even advised his fans against watching it, admitting it was not up to par. The early 2000s saw a string of flops for Abbas, which caused his career graph to plummet. Despite having worked with superstars like Aishwarya Rai and Rajinikanth, he quickly vanished from the acting scene. Quit Acting After Career Began To Decline Abbas became a well-known face in Tamil cinema with hits like 'Kadhal Desam', ' V.I.P. ', and ' Kandukondain Kandukondain '. Yet, as his career declined, he started taking on supporting roles before eventually disappearing from the industry altogether. He ultimately left films and moved abroad, settling in New Zealand, where he took up jobs as a mechanic and taxi driver to support his family. Struggled To Pay Rent In an old interview, Abbas recounted the hardships he faced, 'Initially, some of my films were successful, but then a series of flops left me without money to pay rent or even buy cigarettes. Out of self-respect, I initially resisted taking up other work, but eventually, I sought help from producer RB Chaudhary, who gave me a role in ' Pooveli '. However, I soon quit films as I no longer enjoyed it." Abbas's financial struggles were so dire that he had to use petrol station washrooms because he couldn't afford to use the facilities at construction sites. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he attempted to reconnect with fans through Zoom calls to offer some encouragement and support. 'I tried to motivate people by connecting with them over Zoom," he shared. First Published:
