AD FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS
Josh Pigford built Baremetrics with just $0 in reported startup costs in 2013; years later, the software business was generating an estimated $1.2 million a year
Josh Pigford built Baremetrics in 2013 to solve a problem he faced with Stripe analytics. He spent seven working days developing the first version, focusing on recurring revenue, customer churn and lifetime value. Rather than relying on expensive marketing, he used Twitter to reach software founders. By April 2014, Baremetrics had reached $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue.
Amazon Prime Video subscriber paid Rs 1,499 for a year, but ads appeared before the plan expired; court orders Rs 9,499 payout
A Hyderabad consumer commission has directed Amazon Prime Video to pay Rs 9,499 to a subscriber after advertisements appeared during his paid annual membership and the platform sought an additional Rs 699 for ad-free viewing. The commission held the platform guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practice, ordering a full subscription refund, Rs 5,000 in compensation and Rs 3,000 towards litigation costs.
Xbox Cloud Playtime launched: What is it, pricing, and everything else you need to know
Microsoft has unveiled a groundbreaking service called Xbox Cloud Playtime, enabling gamers to stream titles without needing a Game Pass subscription. Currently in preview for Xbox Insiders, it is set for a broader release in November. Players can buy cloud playtime in several hour increments, allowing them to stream eligible games on compatible devices. Due to increasing costs, restrictions have been placed on cloud gaming for Game Pass users.
Meta's AI spending, Muse assistant adoption in focus for quarterly results
Meta is gearing up to unveil its third-quarter earnings, driven mainly by notable investments in AI and the innovative Muse assistant. Recent launches in AI technology have uplifted investor sentiment, yet analysts predict a significant spike in capital expenditures leading to cash depletion. Although revenue growth is anticipated, it is likely to be slower compared to previous periods due to competitive challenges.
Meet Scott Mathson, who built Plink with just $100 in 2019; by 2025, his podcast-link service was processing 8.2 million requests a month
Plink provides a service that creates smart links that direct listeners to podcast on their proffered listening platforms. It does not share separate links for Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other services. It just creates a single link. The service can direct the listener to a compatible podcast app when they open the link on a mobile device. Meanwhile, people who use desktop can access a page showing different listening options.
Tata Play dishes out ₹199 wildcard to stay connected in changing world
Tata Play is launching the Tata Play Smart app, enabling access to over 500 live television channels. The app requires an internet connection and is compatible with various devices including smart TVs. Tata Play maintains that traditional DTH services will continue to exist alongside streaming services. The company aims to expand its user base by attracting households yet to subscribe to pay television.
- Go To Page 1
In 1992, Jan Koum's family relied on food stamps; 22 years later, Facebook agreed to buy WhatsApp, which he co-founded, for $19 billion
Jan Koum grew up in Ukraine and had limited access to technology. He also reportedly had concerns about government surveillance. According to reports, his family moved to California in 1992. He was only 16 at that time. His father remained in Ukraine, and staying in touch with members was difficult.
SDKs emerge as key gateway to AI advertising as in-app ad market hits $400 billion
Independent advertising technology platforms are set to leverage SDKs to dominate the $400 billion in-app advertising market. Growth in this sector is characterized by a shift from traditional web-based advertising methods to SDK-driven strategies. Key companies like AppLovin and InMobi have established extensive SDK footprints, enhancing their competitive advantage. As AI products scale, the importance of advertising will increase to cover operational costs.
Lessons from Chinese AI Firms on Owning Customers’ Habits
As U.S. AI firms compete in an escalating race for superior models, bigger benchmarks, and more advanced features, Chinese companies are pursuing a fundamentally different strategy: embedding AI into users’ everyday habits. The authors argue that this “habit moat” approach may prove more durable than competing on raw capability alone. Whereas Western firms position AI as a destination consumers consciously visit, companies like Alibaba integrate AI into existing routines such as shopping, payments, food delivery, and travel booking, reducing friction until using AI becomes automatic behavior. Once AI capabilities become “good enough,” marginal technical improvements matter less than becoming the default path through recurring customer tasks. The authors outline four strategic imperatives for Western leaders: focus on behavioral cues rather than feature gaps, subsidize customer behavior instead of subscriptions, embed AI invisibly into existing workflows, and optimize for repeat usage rather than first-time adoption. The central warning is stark: AI may not replace employees first—it may instead capture the critical customer moments businesses currently own.
Meta expands Muse AI agent for small businesses
Meta Platforms is expanding its AI agent Muse to small businesses, adding integrations with tools such as Shopify, QuickBooks, Stripe and Canva to help owners run their businesses and find new customers, as the Facebook-parent aims to diversify its revenue beyond advertising.
India's ₹60,000 crore TV business faces a new reality: Fewer viewers, old rules
India's ₹60,000-crore television broadcasting industry is experiencing regulatory uncertainty due to shifting consumer preferences. Traditional television is losing customers to OTT platforms, forcing broadcasters to seek more commercial flexibility. The decline in active pay-DTH subscribers has raised concerns about revenue and employment in the sector. Key decisions awaited from regulatory bodies include tariff forbearance and renewal of licenses.
As microdrama content explodes, ShareChat says the algorithm could determine what gets seen
Charan said falling production costs and the use of artificial intelligence would lead to more stories being produced at greater speed. As the number of similar stories increases, he said, the algorithm will determine which ones get viewed.
Disney to hike Disney+ and Hulu subscription prices by 13%: Here's how much you will pay now
Disney is planning to raise prices for various subscription plans for Disney+ and Hulu in the near future. The ad-free Disney+ plan will see an increase of $2.50, resulting in a new monthly fee of $21.49. Similarly, Hulu's ad-free offering will also face a price hike, including the bundle option.
Apple expands iCloud+ in India with Apple TV and Apple Arcade, plans start at ₹75 per month
Apple is expanding iCloud+ in India by bundling Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no extra cost, with plans starting at ₹75 per month for 50GB storage. Subscribers will also get Apple Music Select and can share the plan with up to five family members. Apple is discontinuing standalone Apple TV and Apple Arcade subscriptions for new users in India, while Apple One will also stop accepting new subscribers.
Meta launches subscriptions with enhanced AI features
The service, which has already hit 15 million subscriptions and trials during its phased introduction, aims to offer more than 50 features across Meta's platforms for content creation, audience engagement and business management.
Advertising set to reshape India’s micro-drama business as AVOD gains ground: Redseer
India's micro-drama sector is on track to hit Rs 23,500 to 25,500 crore by FY32 and advertising video-on-demand is set to become a primary revenue stream next to subscriptions, Redseer Strategy Consultants said. The anticipated growth in AVOD could see active daily users skyrocketing to around 140-150 million, it added.
Live TV on PS5 launches in the U.S. with 100+ free channels, including sports, movies and anime
U.S. PlayStation 5 users can now dive into a treasure trove of over one hundred free live channels. This new offering brings a rich array of programming, from thrilling sports events to captivating movies and anime. Best of all, fans can watch beloved shows without any extra subscription fees, seamlessly integrated into the console's media section.
OpenAI says Indian advertisers to get direct access to ChatGPT Ads as ad business hits $1 billion ARR
OpenAI said self-service access to ChatGPT Ads will begin in India later on Monday, along with Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The expansion will allow businesses in India, including small and medium-sized companies and startups, to directly use OpenAI's advertising platform to reach ChatGPT users.
Snap sees opportunity as Indian advertisers look beyond Google, Meta: CBO Ajit Mohan
Advertisers are looking beyond Google and Meta as concerns over dependence on the two platforms grow, Snap’s Ajit Mohan told ET. Snapchat has crossed 250 million users in India, while domestic advertisers have grown 10x in two years. Snap is also expanding its advertising and subscription businesses to diversify revenue.
OpenAI launches ChatGPT ads in India
The ads will be for logged-in adult customers, the OpenAI announced in a statement. The company said that Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education subscriptions will remain ad-free. WPP and Omnicom will be OpenAI’s first agency partners for ChatGPT Ads in India.
Meta to launch ad-free Facebook and Instagram subscriptions in UK
The move will give users a choice between paying a monthly fee or continuing to use the services for free with targeted advertising, a model that has faced increasing scrutiny from European regulators.
Prime Video to launch ad-free subscription tier at higher price in India
Amazon Prime Video will add ads to its shows and films for Indian users in 2025. Users can choose an ad-free tier for a higher price. The current Prime membership fee remains the same for the ad-supported version. Prime Lite subscribers will continue to see ads. Changes aim to invest in engaging content.
Why will Netflix discontinue its $11.99 basic plan? Will an ad-supported plan help its revenue grow? Details of all plans
To attract more subscribers to its ad-supported plan, Netflix is discontinuing its most economical ad-free subscription. New signups are stopped, however current subscribers can continue with their current plans. Revenue and subscriber growth for the company are still increasing.
JioCinema teases a new 'Ads Free' subscription plan
JioCinema live-streams IPL 2024 with ads, teasing an ad-free tier. A new plan launch on April 25th. Merger between Reliance Industries and Walt Disney to create a TV and streaming platform in India.
EU queries Meta about ad-free subscriptions, 'shadow-banning'
The EU on Friday used new regulatory powers to query Meta about ad-free subscriptions to Facebook and Instagram as well as claims some voices are suppressed online in a phenomenon known as "shadow banning". Brussels also demanded Meta "provide information related to the practice of so-called shadow banning and the launch of Threads", a spin-off of the Instagram photo app.
Amazon Prime Video unveils ad-free option at extra $2.99 monthly fee from late January
Amazon Prime Video will introduce an ad-free option for an extra $2.99/month on top of existing subscriptions from late January. Viewers declining this will encounter ads in content. Comparative prices show varied tiers among streaming services. Amazon's move reflects advertising's growing role, constituting over 8% of total sales. Despite this, the company faces net losses from video content. This mirrors industry challenges in creating sustainable streaming financial models, leading to frequent price adjustments across platforms.
Meta Platforms' paid ad-free service breaches EU consumer laws, claims complaint
The joint complaint from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 18 of its members to the network of consumer protection authorities (CPC) came two days after advocacy group NOYB filed a complaint with the Austrian privacy watchdog, saying Meta's new service amounted to paying a fee to ensure privacy.
Meta introduces paid subscriptions for ad-free Facebook and Instagram in Europe | Details
Meta, the parent company overseeing Facebook and Instagram, has introduced a subscription service without ads, granting European users the opportunity to use their beloved social platforms minus advertising.
Meta floats charging $14 a month for ad-free Instagram or Facebook in Europe
Under the plan, Meta has told regulators it would charge users roughly 10 euros ($10.46) a month on a desktop for a Facebook or Instagram account, and roughly 6 euros for each additional linked account, the report said.
Load More
