ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • ZEE5 brightens Diwali with Manoranjan festival & special premium subscription discounts

    ZEE5 brightens Diwali with Manoranjan festival & special premium subscription discounts

    Mumbai: ZEE5, India and Bharat’s largest home-grown video streaming platform, the multi-lingual storyteller and the OTT arm of ZEEL, announced the Manoranjan Festival and exclusive festive discounts on premium subscriptions for ZEE5 viewers. Starting from 4 – 14 November 2023, ZEE5 is streaming 18 premium SVOD titles across 6 languages at zero cost. The platform has announced a 30 per cent discount on premium HD subscription at Rs 699 from 3 to 15 November. Along with this, consumers can avail a 40 per cent discount on 4K subscription at Rs 1199/- from 3 to 9 November and a 50 per cent discount from 10 to 15 November at Rs 999.

    The slate of free-to-watch festive entertainers includes marquee titles across thrillers, fiction, romance like Padman, Kaagaz, Jhund in Hindi; Bangarraju, Varudu Kaavalenu, Rang De in Telugu; Bommai Nayagi, Captain, Valimai in Tamil; Bhajarangi 2, Ek Love Ya, Arjun Gowda in Kannada; Thattassery Koottam, Vedikkettu, Prakashan Parakkatte in Malayalam; and Har Har Mahadev, De Dhakka 2, Zombivli in Marathi. Further, prominent TV shows across languages will celebrate ‘Ghar-wali Diwali’ with ZEE5 viewers on the platform.

    ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra said, “For the festive season 2023, our focus was on expanding the offerings on the platform for both the formats to ensure the wider audience is benefitted. On AVOD, in the last quarter we have launched unique content through campaigns every month alongside releasing top blockbusters for premium users. Audience response has been positive with an increase in engagement on the platform through our family entertainers. I hope audiences will enjoy the Diwali offerings as we assure to continue creating quality entertainment for ZEE5 viewers.”

    ZEE5 is one of the fastest-growing OTT platforms in India as per latest industry reports, with a significant presence in regional markets. The platform is known for its diversified content across over 100 taste clusters and its focus on real, relevant, and resonant storytelling. In 2023, the platform had announced a massive slate of 111 titles spanning across genres and formats. Today, ZEE5 is present in over 190 countries and is home to over 5 lakhs+ hours of on-demand content, over 160 Live TV channels and a strong library of 4000+ titles in 12 Indian languages. With a seamless user interface and amazing user experience, the platform is the highest rated OTT platform on both Android PlayStore and iOS App Store with a rating of 4.5/5 on the Android Play Store and 4.8/5 on the iOS App Store.

    Tune in for a Mega Entertaining Festive Period from 4 Nov- 14 Nov only on ZEE5!

  • “Would like to stay” in India: Walt Disney’s Bob Iger

    “Would like to stay” in India: Walt Disney’s Bob Iger

    Mumbai: Walt Disney Company CEO said that the company “would like to stay”. He further stated that, “In India, our linear business actually does quite well. It’s making money. But we know that other parts of that business are challenging for us,” Iger made these comments during an innings call.

    While Hotstar grappled with a loss of 28 lakh subscribers in the last quarter, bringing the total loss to about 2.3 crore in a year, Disney+ globally added nearly 70 lakh subscribers, surpassing 15 crore, including Hotstar.  

    For the quarter ended September 30, Disney reported adjusted per-share earnings of 82 cents, topping an average forecast of 70 cents, according to LSEG data. Quarterly revenue of $21.2 billion was largely in line with consensus estimates. The company said it added nearly 7 million Disney+ streaming subscribers in the quarter, with the inclusion of “Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3” and the original series “Star Wars: Ashoka.” Disney+ and Disney + Hotstar together boast 150.2 million subscribers, ahead of Visible Alpha’s estimate of 147.4 million.  

  • Tata Play Classic Cinema celebrates Diwali with eight timeless blockbusters

    Tata Play Classic Cinema celebrates Diwali with eight timeless blockbusters

    Mumbai: Diwali, the festival of lights, is when traditions and nostalgia take center stage. What better way to celebrate this beautiful occasion than by revisiting the timeless classics that have enriched our cultural heritage alongside family and loved ones. With Tata Play Classic Cinema, take a journey through the enchanting world of old Bollywood classics that have not only entertained generations but continue to light up our lives, much like the festive lamps of Diwali. These films have stood the test of time, offering a glimpse into the golden era of Indian cinema, making them the perfect cinematic companions for the Diwali season.

    Milan


    Directed by Adurthi Subba Rao, Milan, a 1967 Hindi movie, is a remake of his successful Telugu film ‘Mooga Manasulu’ from 1963. The film features Sunil Dutt, Nutan, and Jamuna from the original cast, along with Pran and Deven Varma. It revolves around Gopi, a ferryman, and Radha, a rich girl, falling in love. However, they are accused of having an illicit affair. When fate turns unkind to them, a tragic incident changes their lives forever. A timeless classic, the film also features memorable music scores created by the award-winning duo Laxmikant Pyarelal.

    Kati Patang


    Kati Patang, a 1971 Hindi film directed by Shakti Samanta, features a noteworthy cast, including Rajesh Khanna, Asha Parekh, and Prem Chopra. The film tells the story of Madhu, a young woman who takes on a new identity to escape a loveless marriage. She crosses paths with a charismatic man, leading to a complex web of relationships and emotional turmoil. The film builds on themes of love, tragedy, and resilience. The film also witnessed Asha Parekh win her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her role. Moreover, Kati Patang also has some of the greatest hit songs, composed by the legend Mr. R.D. Burman.

    Guddi


    Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Guddi, a 1971 Hindi film, stars a talented ensemble cast, including Jaya Bachchan in the titular role as Kusum alongside Dharmendra, Sumita Sanyal, Utpal Dutt, and Asrani in pivotal roles. The story revolves around Kusum, a young and impressionable girl who is a fervent Bollywood fan. Her deep admiration for the film industry makes her blur the lines between reel and real life. When she encounters a charming and straightforward film actor portrayed by Dharmendra, her perspective on the film world begins to change. Guddi is a heartwarming exploration of the boundary between reality and the glamour of the movie industry, brought to life by its talented lead cast members. The movie marked Jaya Bachchan’s debut as an adult actor following her first appearance on screen as a teenager in a Satyajit Ray movie.

    Bawarchi


    Bawarchi, the 1972 Hindi film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, stars Rajesh Khanna as Raghu along with a stellar cast including Jaya Bachchan, Asrani, A.K. Hangal, and Durga Khote. The film tells the story of Raghu, a cook who enters a troubled joint family and uses his culinary skills and kindness to mend relationships and resolve conflicts. Bawarchi is a heartwarming tale of simplicity and its transformative power within a family, making it a unique Diwali watch!

    Namak Haram


    Namak Haraam, the 1973 Indian film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, stars Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna in lead roles. The film explores the intricate friendship between Somu (Amitabh Bachchan) and Vicky (Rajesh Khanna) and how it’s tested when they find themselves on opposing sides of a labor-management conflict. With powerful performances from the lead actors and a strong supporting cast, Namak Haraam remains a compelling classic known for exploring complex human relationships and moral dilemmas. Amitabh Bachchan won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and Govardhan Asrani won the Filmfare Award for Best Comic Actor

    Jurmana


    Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Jurmana, the 1979 Indian film stars Amitabh Bachchan and Raakhee Gulzar. The movie tells the story of a couple, Inder (Amitabh Bachchan) and Suman (Raakhee Gulzar), who must confront unexpected challenges that test their love and resilience. Jurmana is a touching classic in Indian cinema, exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption.

    The Great Gambler


    With an iconic cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman and Neetu Singh, The Great Gambler is a 1979 Indian film directed by Shakti Samanta. The movie follows Jai, a master of disguise and a professional gambler, on a high-stakes mission to capture a notorious criminal. Known for its thrilling narrative and international intrigue, The Great Gambler is a classic in Indian cinema.

    Khubsoorat


    Khubsoorat, a 1980 Indian film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, starring Rekha and Rakesh Roshan, is an award-winning film of its time that secured the Filmfare Award for Best Film with lead actress Rekha winning the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. The movie follows Manju (Rekha), a strict and orderly woman, as she brings laughter and disruption to a royal family known for their eccentricities. This delightful comedy explores the clash between tradition and modernity within the household, making Khubsoorat a timeless classic in Indian cinema, celebrated for its humor and endearing characters.

    Celebrate Diwali with Tata Play Classic Cinemas on 318 with timeless classics

  • Runn TV launches in India

    Runn TV launches in India

    Mumbai: India based Runn Media Labs launched Runn TV, the first Indian FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) based content streaming platform designed to provide a reimagined and delightful TV viewing experience to Indian audiences. With 24×7 theme-based targeted channels with highly curated content, Runn TV aims to bring back the joy and comfort of traditional TV watching while leveraging the power of digital technology.

    Runn TV will have multiple content categories including movies, short films, web series, kids, reality and performances in addition to top national news networks. The content will run as personalised channels where the users can start enjoying content without any subscription and switch between channels with just a single tap, with an option to watch the title live or later when they want.

    Through a combination of deep content curation, multi-dimensional discovery engine and proprietary technology, Runn TV aims to maximise watch hours and minimise searching and browsing for its OTT users.

    “We are building Runn TV with a vision to make it the go to Entertainment Experience Destination for Indians across the globe. We are very selective with our content partners, channels and content strategies and not in the race to increase the count of channels which is pretty common in today’s FAST world,” said Runn Media Labs founder & CEO Manish Sinha. “On the business side, we are cognizant of challenges in this industry and are working on it with a long term strategy. With Runn TV, we are targeting the high growth connected TV advertising for monetization and our advanced proprietary technology and value & data driven content sourcing approach will help us enable differentiated experiences for users and make economics work for business sustainability & growth.”

    Runn TV will be expanding to other content categories such as music, infotainment and lifestyle and regional Indian languages over the next few months with addition of 2-3 channels on an average every month. 

  • ZEE5 partners with Designyatra 2023

    ZEE5 partners with Designyatra 2023

    Mumbai: ZEE5, India and Bharat’s largest homegrown video streaming platform, and the OTT arm of ZEEL, partnered with Kyoorius for Designyatra 2023 that took place between 26 to 28 October, in Goa. In line with ZEE5’s digital-first and consumer-centric philosophy, the 3-day yatra set a global stage for the design and creative enthusiasts across industries to interact, demonstrate, and celebrate their work of art. Showcasing new age entertainment exposures on OTT, ZEE5 created engaging and enriching exposures at the event which marked a presence of over 1000 attendees and multiple eminent speakers. Acclaimed names like Jonathan Barnbrook, who won a Grammy for David Bowie’s album cover design, and Nelly Ben Hayoun -Stépanian, the founder of NASA’s International Space Orchestra were also a part of the coterie.

    ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra said, “Designyatra is one of the most prominent platforms that witnesses global representation from various industries to showcase and celebrate design excellence. At ZEE5, the endeavor has always been to enhance platform experience through multiple touchpoints where design plays an integral role in the final product offerings. We are thankful to our partners for bringing together the most talented minds in the creative industry, leading the way towards a new era of design brilliance.”

    Kyoorius founder CEO Rajesh Kejriwal said, “Designyatra has always been a hub for creative stimulation. In 2023, this meant bringing together talented folks from all principles of design to create a cross-pollination of insights as a first in the industry. The Kyoorius Design Awards 2023 similarly pushed the envelope by recognizing the best of Indian Design and paving the path for the future. ZEE5’s commitment to fueling design thinking in India, and boosting the young generation manifested brilliantly at the conference through AR/VR experiences, capturing the Typography excellence in film, and workshopping for Responsible Design.”

    Experience zone:

    ZEE5 witnessed an encouraging response from the participants at the AR/VR zone as they put their imagination to test to design movie characters virtually. The on-ground contest saw an enthusiastic turnaround from the audiences to create avatars basis the plot of content titles. Further an illuminating experience was created at ‘Lite Bright’ where participants used coloured glowsticks to create patterns of their choice. The ‘Kyoorius Young Blood Awards’ segment was unveiled as part of ZEE5’s ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging creative talents, dedicated to fostering the next generation of innovators and artists.

    Sessions by ZEE5 Senior Management

    Vatsal Chaoji, head of product design from the ZEE Tech and Innovation Centre did an interactive session on ‘Responsible Design for OTT’ reflecting on the significance of ethical design attuned to consumer lifestyle and consumption patterns. The session opened discussions on the varied facets of responsible design, the current landscape of digital product experiences which necessitates intervention and regulations. The role of AI and creativity in marking the next phase of entertainment experiences on streaming platforms.

    ZEE5 creative director Vipul Salve conducted an insightful session titled ‘The Futura of Cinema is Gotham!’ which was a huge hit amongst the young crowd, where they engaged in an enticing conversation on how typography helped change the course of Cinema over the decades. Tracing the evolution of cinema and typography- hand-in-hand, the attendees explored right from the history of hand drawn title logos of single screen eras to the impactful legible typography that is consumed constantly by everyone today on OTT.

    The event saw attendance from students, industry veterans and designers from across geographies, who came together to celebrate design and discuss fresh narratives to match the flux of life, with ZEE5 at the forefront. Designyatra is a truly anti-disciplinary conference, hosting designers from the fields of graphic, interior, product, industrial, furniture, and many more.

  • Thinkin Birds Communications secures creative mandate for Curry Up Now

    Thinkin Birds Communications secures creative mandate for Curry Up Now

    Mumbai: Thinkin’ Birds Communications has won the creative media mandate for Curry Up Now, a popular fast-food brand headquartered in California, USA. The mandate includes digital media, campaigns, website management duties, and more.

    Curry Up Now, known for its innovative approach to Indian street food and its fusion with global flavors, has entrusted Thinkin Birds Communications with the task of shaping its creative narrative and branding strategy to propel the brand to new heights.

    Curry Up Now CEO Akash Kapoor said, “We are excited to welcome Thinkin Birds Communications to the Curry Up Now family as our creative partner. Their demonstrated creativity and insight into our industry is impressive, and we believe they are the right choice to drive our brand’s creative vision forward”

    Curry Up Now has rapidly expanded across the nation, offering a delightful assortment of Indian-inspired culinary creations, from classic curry dishes to inventive street food items. The partnership with Thinkin Birds Communications is poised to usher in a new era of creativity, bringing fresh energy to Curry Up Now’s marketing efforts.

    Commenting on the newest addition to their roster, Thinkin Birds Communications CEO and co-founder Bhavik Mehta said, “We are thrilled about the partnership with Curry Up Now on this exciting journey. Our team is committed to creating innovative and memorable campaigns that will capture the essence of Curry Up Now’s delectable cuisine and vibrant culture”

    Thinkin Birds Communications will be responsible for developing and executing comprehensive advertising campaigns, encompassing brand strategy, creative design, digital and social media marketing, and more, to reinforce Curry Up Now’s position as a leader in the restaurant industry.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery marks Diwali with a special brand film

    Warner Bros. Discovery marks Diwali with a special brand film

    Mumbai: Warner Bros Discovery is delighted to announce the release of a special brand film to commemorate the joyous festival of Diwali. The captivating brand film celebrates the spirit of togetherness while capturing special moments across the broad spectrum of shows available on the network.

    From the secrets of Koh-i-noor featuring Manoj Bajpayee to the Journey of India with Amitabh Bachchan and to the history of India’s Space Program in India’s Space Odyssey, the brand film celebrates the uniqueness that each show represents while coming together as a whole to celebrate innovation, ideology, history, culture, food, adventure, and various aspects of our country. Glimpses of shows such as Legends of Ramayana with Amish, Star Vs Food: Survival,  Little Singham and Teen Titans Go are seen in the film and goes on to evoke the festive celebratory feeling of Diwali.

  • Zee Music presents Madhaaniyaan Rewritten sung by sufi vocalist, Radhika Sood Nayak

    Zee Music presents Madhaaniyaan Rewritten sung by sufi vocalist, Radhika Sood Nayak

    Mumbai: Presenting her captivating voice immersed in Sufi mysticism, famous Sufi vocalist Radhika Sood Nayak, has sung “Madhaaniyaan Rewritten” a lyrical song that is an ode to love, new beginnings and unions in our times. Zee Music has presented the rewritten song, which is a mother’s emotional reinvention and expression, unlike the earlier ones describing a daughter’s parting from her parents’ home forever following her wedding. Madhaaniyan Rewritten is a beautiful rendition of new beginnings, new homes, and larger, expansive, inclusive families coming together! The lyrics are written by Gita Chadha and the music is produced by Vinayak Netke.

    Talking about the song, Radhika Sood Nayak said, “Madhaaniyaan Rewritten is more than just a song; it’s an emotional quest for unification, a celebration of our present times and choices, a heartsong of mothers for their daughters and sons alike.”

    After graduating from XLRI with an MBA, Radhika Sood Nayak left a successful job at ANZ Grindlays Bank to focus on her love & passion for music. This composition is the outcome of her collaboration with the artists, who are inspired to rewrite more inclusive narratives.

  • Atrangii’s ‘KINK’ reality show sets new viewership and engagement record

    Atrangii’s ‘KINK’ reality show sets new viewership and engagement record

    Mumbai: Atrangii TV and its OTT app helmed by Vibhu Agarwal has brought a one of its kind reality show called ‘K.I.N.K (Kiss Ishq N Konnections)’. This show also marked the debut of Reality TV Queen Divya Agarwal. Atrangii TV’s first-ever relationship-based reality show tested the love of six hot and happening couples in bold and challenging situations. This show was shot in an island resort in Daman and Diu.

    With this, Atrangii became one of India’s first OTT to have a record growth in subscription because of their game-changer show. It was also amongst top 10 most-watched reality shows on OTT platforms in the month of September and is seeing a steady increase in viewership. It has also seen a multifold increase in viewership and subscription in the past few months and it has been steadily growing at 20-25 per cent month on month.

    This show witnessed overall 250 million views across all social media platforms which was the highest for the platform since its inception. K.I.N.K had all the ingredients of a reality show and found its audience amongst youngsters, primarily in the states of Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana.  It has been a raging hit on social media too, raking in record engagement by being amongst the top 15 most engaging show as fan clubs were created and each task discussed in detail. While this show was enjoyed by all age demographics, it was majorly dominated by females, followed by men who turned to the show after the first few episodes.  The platform also received record breaking subscriptions from iOS users and received a staggering 70% views/subscription from female viewers

    Speaking on the success of KINK, VP content & business alliances Nivedita Basu said, “We are thrilled to see this unprecedented response to our first ever reality show KINK. We always believed this show will be a gamechanger for Indian OTT and for our platform as it has all the ingredients for a masala reality show. We scouted for contestants across the length and breadth of the country, who were confident, bold had a personality of their own and full of the zing to keep the viewers engaged and hooked.  This has only encouraged us to further bolster our non-fiction offering. Our next show will be a unique chat show and we will soon be making an announcement for that.”

    The host of the show, an elated Divya Agarwal shared, “This show got my attention from the concept itself!  There are a lot of dating reality shows but this one feels fresh and new. I am thankful to the audience for giving me constant love, from being a contestant in a dating reality show to now hosting one.  KINK will remain very special for me. I made some genuine connections and I am blessed to receive so much love from people across the country. My social media is flooded with messages and I can say that this has been getting so much love from all over the country. My social media is flooded with messages and Indeed it has been a dream stint! Can’t thank Atrangii enough to help me connect with my fans and audiences.”

    This show is streaming on Atrangii OTT!

  • SiMa.ai launches ‘OnEdge’ a YouTube series on embedded edge innovation

    SiMa.ai launches ‘OnEdge’ a YouTube series on embedded edge innovation

    Mumbai:  SiMa.ai, a leading machine learning company specialising in embedded edge solutions, today announced the launch of “OnEdge,” an engaging YouTube series dedicated to celebrating the unsung heroes of technological innovation. Designed for the pioneers at the forefront of progress, this series promises to be a catalyst for those seeking deeper insights into the embedded edge landscape.

    Produced by SiMa.ai, “OnEdge” will deliver up-to-the-minute news, thought-provoking discussions, and insightful debates covering all facets relevant to the embedded edge. With a focus on demystifying this swiftly evolving field, each episode will showcase SiMa.ai’s Solutions Architects, Carlos and Alicja, who will share their expertise and perspectives on a wide spectrum of topics, from architectural principles to real-world applications.

    SiMa.ai CEO and founder Krishna Rangasayee, commented, “This series aims to be an invaluable resource for anyone eager to stay ahead in the embedded edge revolution. It provides opportunities for everyone to engage with the pioneers driving innovation at the cutting edge of technology.”

    The key objective of the series is to cultivate a vibrant community of enthusiasts and professionals. Viewers are wholeheartedly encouraged to actively participate in shaping the conversation and influencing future innovations by submitting questions, comments, or suggested topics to OnEdge@sima.ai.