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Category: Over The Top Services

  • Lionsgate Play’s October lineup: Comedy, Mystery, and Halloween chills

    Lionsgate Play’s October lineup: Comedy, Mystery, and Halloween chills

    Mumbai: Something’s brewing this Halloween and we bet you’re going to love it! As you come knocking on Lionsgate Play’s door, we’ve got nothing but treats for you this October. From something saucy in Joy Ride and Minx to something sweet in Past Lives, we’ve got it all simmering a cauldron. Building anticipation throughout the month with exhilarating titles like the star-studded dramedy Maggie Moore(s), cap off the month with a Halloween special in Lizzy Caplan’s Cobweb. So get your pumpkin spice lattes and blankets in order as Lionsgate Play promises to unleash a treasure trove of thrills this spooky season.

    Exclusive to Lionsgate Play

    Movie Premiere

    Joy Ride – release date: 6 October 2023

    These girls just wanna have fun! Packed with comedy, drama and some NSFW instances, Joy Ride follows Audrey Sullivan on a path to self-discovery. When Audrey’s business trip to Asia goes wrong, she calls on her childhood bestie, Lolo, her college friend Kat and Lolo’s eccentric cousin Deadeye for help. Stranded in a country with nowhere to go, this wild squad embarks on a journey of utter chaos and debauchery that unveils their true loving selves. Starring Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu and Sabrina Wu in titular roles, Joy Ride is the vacation we all want to go on.

    Past Lives – release date: 13 October 2023

    A love story that makes everything pale in comparison. Starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro, Past Lives is the heart-wrenching tale of two childhood friends who are separated when Nora immigrates to America. Almost a decade later when Hae Sung comes looking for Nora, they both confront destiny, love and the choices they made. Directed by Celine Song, the film is soul food for every romance lover.

    Maggie Moore(s) – release date: 20 October 2023

    A murder mystery like no other. When Police Chief Sanders comes across two dead bodies with the same name, he’s stumped. On a mission to uncover this tangled web of lies, he meets and falls in love with Rita, a nosy neighbor who solves a good mystery. With Tina Fey, Jon Hamm and Nick Mohammend at its helm, Maggie Moore(s) is sure to leave you befuddled.

    Cobweb – release date: 27 October 2023

    Cobweb is what nightmares are made of. Eight-year old Peter is plagued by a mysterious noise coming from the inside of his bedroom wall – a knocking that his parents insist is a fragment of his imagination. But as the sound and his fears intensify, he starts to believe that his parents may be hiding a terrible secret. Starring Lizzy Caplan, Antony Starr, Cleopatra Coleman and Woody Norman, the film is sure to leave you clutching your blanket every night.

    Series Premiere

    Minx Season 2 – release date: 6 October 2023

    Your favorite feminists are back! Minx Season 2 starring Jake Johnson and Ophelia Lovidbond takes us down the journey of Doug and Joyce as they open the first erotic magazine for women. Amid societal protests and navigating the cut-throat, money-hungry industry, Joyce and Doug fight for the survival of the magazine. Oscar Montoya and Jessica Lowe also return to this laughter riot with their own quirky quips.

  • Inspire Films Limited’s maiden IPO gets oversubscribed 129 times; garners Rs 1,823 crore

    Inspire Films Limited’s maiden IPO gets oversubscribed 129 times; garners Rs 1,823 crore

    Mumbai: Founded in 2012 by media veteran Yash Patnaik under his banner Beyond Dreams Entertainment Private Limited, Inspire FIlms has a rich history of producing top-notch content that has left a lasting impact on audiences across India. With an impressive portfolio of over 6,000 hours of content, including 35 original productions, Inspire Films has firmly established itself as a leading player in the world of Indian OTT platforms and broadcasters.

    The company’s commitment to creating cutting-edge content is evident in its partnerships with renowned platforms like Disney+ Hotstar, Jio Cinema, MX Player, Voot Select, and broadcasters like Star Plus, Sony Entertainment Television, Colors, Zee TV, Sun Network, and many others. This extensive reach allows Inspire Films to connect with a diverse and vast audience, ensuring that its unique storytelling captivates viewers from all walks of life.

    Under the visionary leadership of its founder and managing director Yash A. Patnaik and chief creative director Mamta Patnaik, Inspire Films has consistently delivered high-quality series that have become household names. Some of their popular series, such as Dear Ishq, Ek Veer Ki Ardaas Veera, Sadda Haq, Kuchh Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi, Ishq Main Marjawan, Tere Ishq Main Ghaayal, Rakshabandhan have not only garnered critical acclaim but also captured the hearts of millions of viewers.

    Moreover, Inspire Films has successfully ventured into multiple regional languages, including Tamil, Malayalam, and Marathi, with series like Chocolate and Vachana Dile Tu Mala, showcasing the company’s dedication to exploring diverse storytelling.

    The goodwill and reputation of Inspire Films within the entertainment industry are impeccable, reflecting their commitment to excellence and creativity. With the promise of new project announcements on the horizon, it’s clear that Inspire Films is poised for even greater achievements in the future, continuing to inspire and entertain audiences with its compelling content.

    The Inspire Films IPO has garnered significant interest and strong subscription numbers, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s potential. The Inspire Films IPO saw robust demand, with a subscription rate of 129.08 times on the last day of bidding. This level of oversubscription is a strong indicator of investor enthusiasm for the company.  The retail portion of the IPO witnessed exceptionally high demand, with a subscription rate of 180.41 times. The IPO was offered in a price band of Rs 56 to Rs 59 per share, making it accessible to a wide range of investors. Inspire Films shares are expected to be listed on the NSE SME platform with a tentative listing date of 5 October.

    The IPO consisted entirely of a fresh issue of 35.98 lakh equity shares. At the upper end of the price band, the company aimed to raise Rs 21.23 crore from the IPO. The proposed allocation of shares in the IPO was divided with 18.9 per cent reserved for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB), 33.3 per cent for Retail Investors, and 14.29 per cent for Non-Institutional Investors (NII).  Narnolia Financial Services Ltd. served as the book-running lead manager for the Inspire Films IPO, while Maashitla Securities Pvt Ltd acted as the IPO Registrar.

    The strong response to the Inspire Films IPO indicates positive market sentiment and investor confidence in the company’s business prospects. It will be interesting to see how the company performs on the stock exchange after its listing, and it may attract further attention from investors and analysts in the coming days.

  • ZEE5 global reports 75 per cent rise in CTV viewing among US South Asian audience

    ZEE5 global reports 75 per cent rise in CTV viewing among US South Asian audience

    Mumbai: ZEE5 Global, the world’s largest streaming platform for South Asian content, has revealed significant growth in both engagement and viewership in the United States on connected TVs. The business has reported over a 150 per cent increase in its connected TV user base and a 75 per cent jump in viewership for this segment over the year driven significantly by 4K content launches and an increasingly personalised and improved user interface.

    The platform has recently shared a first-ever look into viewership trends of South Asian and South Asian content in the US, pointing to a 35 per cent y-o-y increase in content consumption over 2022 and a 46 per cent growth in watch time of original content.

    Driving the Connected TV growth are Smart TVs, Google TVs, and Amazon Fire TV, among which the Amazon Fire TV registered the highest growth in consumption in the last year, closely followed by Smart TVs

    ZEE5 Originals like Maya Bazar – For Sale, Vyavastha, and Abar Proloy, as well as blockbuster movies like Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, and Tarla are the most-watched titles in their respective categories. More than 83 per cent of the viewership of movies, in fact, is seen on connected devices,

    TV shows have also continued to keep viewers hooked constituting a significant share of content watched on connected TVs, with the category witnessing a three times y-o-y increase in viewership. Hindi, Telugu, Bangla, and Marathi TV shows were the most watched with viewership peaking on weekdays, particularly on Thursdays and Wednesdays. Legacy titles, such as “Kundali Bhagya,” “Bhagya Lakshmi,” and “Kumkum Bhagya,” account for a significant portion of the content watched.

    Leading these trends was the city of San Jose. Data reveals the city to be the highest consumer of content on connected devices in the US, with close to a two-times increase in users.

    ZEE5 Global chief business officer Archana Anand said, “We are thrilled to see the rapid growth in viewership in the US and how well our content has resonated with a diverse South Asian audience. Connected TVs have seen the highest increase in viewership in the last year especially on the back of our 4K content launches, becoming the preferred choice for viewers who seek a larger-than-life content experience while watching our rich library and blockbuster movies. We are committed to meeting the evolving preferences of our viewers by bringing them a seamless and enriching entertainment experience on the devices of their choice.”

    As a special limited-time offer, users opting for the monthly pack can apply coupon code FIFTYZEE5 to avail 50 per cent off on their first month. 

  • ‘Tol Mol ke Bol’ makes a comeback with Rahul Dua on Eloelo App

    ‘Tol Mol ke Bol’ makes a comeback with Rahul Dua on Eloelo App

    Mumbai: Eloelo live entertainment application is thrilled to announce the return of ‘Tol Mol Ke Bol’, an engaging live game show built on the “Price is Right” format, exclusively on the Eloelo app. The show will be hosted by the celebrated comedian & Shark Tank host, Rahul Dua.

    Commencing on 3 October 2023, viewers can catch the show every Tuesday at 8 PM IST on the Eloelo app. This interactive live show presents an item on-screen for participants to guess its exact price. The player with the closest estimate wins the opportunity to take home exciting cash prizes.

    “Tol Mol Ke Bol” is set to offer an exciting 8-episode interactive experience that combines entertainment with rewards in cash prizes. Hosted on the Eloelo platform which has an extensive user base with over 37 million users and 120K creators. It’s an inclusive Invitation for participants from every corner of India, offering them the exciting prospect of being rewarded with cash prizes worth Rs one lakh.

    Rahul Dua, Host of the gameshow, said, “I am immensely excited to bring the classic Tol Mol ke Bol back to the people of India. Eloelo App is one of the leading live streaming platforms and this partnership with them is going to be a game changer for digital live entertainment. It’s going to be an extravaganza, where I will directly engage with participants and have a blast with them in real time. This is a new adventure for me, and I just can’t wait for the fun to kick off on Eloelo!”

    Eloelo COO Nisheeth Pandey said, “We are committed to building interactive entertainment which people can participate in with their friends and families, and is deeply ingrained in Indian sensibilities.  Tol Mol ke Bol brings back an Indian classic in a new digital, live format, and will definitely engage people across age groups. Rahul Dua hosting the gameshow will be seen in a new avatar, and we are excited to partner with him”

    Eloelo has recently raised a Pre-Series B funding round of $22 million, co-led by Courtside Ventures, Griffin Gaming Partners Mixi Inc, Waterbridge Ventures, Lumikai Fund, Kalaari Capital, Conviviality Ventures and Rocket Capital. Eloelo app further offers a diverse range of shows, including Lovehouse, Tambola, Ludo, and the latest addition, Tol Mol Ke Bol. The recent funding and continuous addition of interesting shows are intended to propel Eloelo’s business growth to newer heights.

  • Saregama acquires majority stake in Pocket Aces

    Saregama acquires majority stake in Pocket Aces

    Mumbai: A new chapter in Saregama’s growth story commences with a majority acquisition in a fast-growing digital entertainment company Pocket Aces Pictures Pvt Ltd, that owns direct relationships with over 95M younger digital-first customers across Instagram, YouTube, etc. Saregama will acquire 51.8 per cent shares for Rs  174 crores with a clear path to further acquire another 41 per cent stake in the next 15 months at pre-agreed multiples. The transaction is an all-cash deal.

    This acquisition will further strengthen Saregama’s strategic ambiton to take leadership position in new music across all Indian languages.  

    Pocket Aces, a youth-focussed digital content creator and publisher, boasts of an IP catalog of over 3000  content pieces ranging across web series, sketches, music videos and reels on its channels FilterCopy, Nutshell and Gobble, and releases over 30 new pieces of content every day. The company’s talent management arm, Clout, manages over 100 digital influencers, and its long-form studio, Dice Media, has created relatable youth-centric web series across OTT platforms such as Netflix, Hotstar, and Amazon.

    Pocket Aces’ revenue from operations was Rs 104 cr in FY23. Revenue has grown by 34 per cent CAGR over the last 4 years and is expected to grow even faster in future.

    Acquiring Pocket Aces will add on a whole new dimension of IP and a distribution network of over 95 million followers, which Saregama will leverage to further popularize its music library among the 18-35 audience segment. It will also create synergies across the artiste & influencer management and long-format video creation businesses of the two companies.

    Saregama vice chairperson Avarna Jain said, “This acquisition signifies the confluence of tradition and innovation. While we have always been leaders in the realm of music and media, this partnership with Pocket  Aces will add new dimensions to our business as we tap into the burgeoning young digital audiences.”

     

  • CleverTap recognised as the 2023 best overall marketing automation company

    CleverTap recognised as the 2023 best overall marketing automation company

    Mumbai: CleverTap, the all-in-one engagement platform was recognised as the 2023 best overall marketing automation company at the sixth edition of the MarTech Breakthrough Awards. The award recognises the most innovative companies, technologies, and products within global advertising, sales, and MarTech. Winning this award highlights CleverTap’s dedication towards innovation within the Marketing Automation space; enabling brands to drive customer engagement with its all-in-one engagement platform. CleverTap’s solutions help brands maximize customer lifetime value by creating real-time, personalised experiences at scale.

    Meeting the demands of the modern MarTech industry requires a very high degree of automation. CleverTap sifts through vast datasets to drive targeted customer engagement through automated segments, advanced analytics, actionable intelligence, and omnichannel experiences. CleverTap has made concerted efforts towards decreasing any campaign’s dependence on manual intervention. It helps brands scale experimentation and personalization to optimize campaigns at scale. Powered by TesseractDB – an innovative database enabling speed and scalability, the all-in-one platform enables over 2000 businesses to automate their marketing campaigns, and enhance product experiences through continuous granular experimentation and optimisation. Not just that, the product has demonstrated the ability to drive customer engagement and retention, leading to a positive impact on business growth by empowering brands to maximize customer lifetime value.

    CleverTap extends a huge thank you to customers, partners, and the committed team members who contributed to the development of our product; ultimately paving the way for the success that brought this award.

  • Minx Season 2 to return on Lionsgate Play on 6 October

    Minx Season 2 to return on Lionsgate Play on 6 October

    Mumbai: Your favorite feminist show is back with some new twists. Lionsgate Play is set to premiere the second season of Minx, with global icons Jake Johnson and Ophelia Lovibond reprising their roles in the series. Minx takes us down the journey of Doug and Joyce as they open the first erotic magazine for women. Amid societal protests and navigating the cut-throat, money-hungry industry, Joyce and Doug fight for the survival of the magazine. With Jake and Ophelia returning, Oscar Montoya and Jessica Lowe also return as Minx Season 2 premieres exclusively on Lionsgate Play on 6 October.

    Talking about where his character Doug is in Season 2, Jake Johnson said, “At the end of Season One, Doug gives the magazine to Joyce. So at this point, Doug is no longer part of Minx. He’s just part of the bottom dollar. And I think when season two starts, Doug instantly has regrets because you know, Minx makes him a lot of money. And it’s really good for his business. So instantly, when Doug starts at season two, it’s how do I get Minx back? How do I get Joyce back? And how do we get this team rolling again?”

    Minx Season 2 is coming to your screens exclusively on Lionsgate Play on 6 October.

  • Tata Play offers industry-first OTT PaaS solution for emerging markets

    Tata Play offers industry-first OTT PaaS solution for emerging markets

    Mumbai: Tata Play, India’s leading content distribution platform providing pay-TV and OTT aggregation services today announced the launch of the Tata Play Binge PaaS for OTT aggregators across the globe. The first project collaboration to that effect is with Philippines’ leading Pay-TV provider, Cignal TV.

    Tata Play’s aggregator solution will empower users to watch content from multiple OTT apps by downloading one app, with one subscription and on one screen. While the promoter company focuses on tying up with various OTT partners and acquiring subscribers in the region, Tata Play will manage its end-to-end technology platform, over the cloud.

    Talking about this development, Tata Play MD & CEO Harit Nagpal said, “Tata Play Binge software architecture is now available as PaaS, providing end to end development and deployment opportunities. Apart from providing the software architecture, our partner companies will also benefit from Tata Play’s learnings over the years in areas of forging commercial partnerships, recommendation engine, subscription management, analytics, and much more. With the launch of this enterprise solution, we have now created a unique OTT content aggregation and distribution ecosystem.”

    Cignal TV president & CEO Jane J Basas said, “We are keen on an OTT aggregation product as a natural evolution of our service and recognize the success of Tata Play Binge in this space as a model to follow. We are in advanced stages of finalising our engagement, targeting go-to-market in less than a year.”

  • Priyadarshini Indalkar and Priya Banerjee join the cast of Sony LIV’s Shantit Kranti 2

    Priyadarshini Indalkar and Priya Banerjee join the cast of Sony LIV’s Shantit Kranti 2

    Mumbai: After the success of Shantit Kranti, Sony LIV is now gearing up for the release of the highly anticipated second season of its hit Marathi original. The critically acclaimed show is set to take viewers on another enthralling journey filled with laughter, relatability, and introspection. Adding a fresh twist to the narrative, the makers have unveiled two new additions to the cast – Priyadarshini Indalkar and Priya Banerjee.

    This season will see Priyadarshini Indalkar, known for her remarkable stint on Maharashtrachi Hasyajatra, step into the shoes of Samruddhi, who navigates through the complexities of an arranged marriage with Shreyas. On the other hand, the versatile actress Priya Banerjee will be seen essaying the role of Kani, an NRI from San Francisco.

    Expressing her excitement about Shantit Kranti 2, Priyadarshini Indalkar shared, “I instantly resonated with Samruddhi’s character when it was first pitched to me. She’s a straightforward woman who believes in the power of genuine connections. Her journey in the show is a testament to the power of love’s potential. I can’t wait for the audience to witness my character and her relationship with Shreyas in the series.”

    Talking about her role in the series, Priya Banerjee added, “Kani’s character is such a beautiful blend of spontaneity and self-reflection. I think a lot of our generation can relate to her earnest search for happiness. Kani’s journey reminded me that life’s most special moments can be found in the simplest, most unexpected places. Shantit Kranti 2 is a rollercoaster of emotions and I’m so grateful to be a part of this incredible project.”

    Created by TVF in association with BhaDiPa and produced by Arunabh Kumar, the show is directed by Sarang Sathaye and Paula McGlynn. The series stars Abhay Mahajan, Alok Rajwade, Lalit Prabhakar, Mrinmayee Godbole, Priya Banerjee, Priyadarshini Indalkar among others.

    Shantit Kranti 2 streaming on 13 October only on Sony LIV!

  • OTTplay and DistroTV announce partnership to stream 180 free live channels in India

    OTTplay and DistroTV announce partnership to stream 180 free live channels in India

    Mumbai: DistroTV, a leading global streaming platform owned by DistroScale, and OTTplay Premium, a OTT content streaming, discovery and recommendation platform, have announced a new partnership that will bring DistroTV’s 170+ free-to-watch, live streaming channels to OTTplay users in India.

    OTTplay Premium, is a popular OTT platform in India that gives you access to 24+ OTT platforms with personalized recommendations of shows, web series and movies based on a user’s preference of language, genre, platform, actor, filmmaker, and more. This partnership with DistroTV will significantly expand the content available to OTTplay Premium users.

    “DistroTV’s mission has always been to bring diverse, global voices to audiences around the world,” said DistroScale CEO Navdeep Saini. “This partnership with OTTplay allows us to further that mission by bringing our extensive lineup of live streaming channels to even more viewers in India.”

    DistroScale India, SEA, and MENA CEO Vikas Khanchandani added, “We are thrilled to partner with OTTplay, a platform that shares our commitment to delivering a wide range of content to viewers. This partnership will allow us to reach even more viewers in India, providing them with access to our diverse lineup of channels.”

    “OTTplay Premium is excited to partner with Distro TV to bring live TV channels to more viewers in India. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to providing our users with the best possible entertainment experience. We are confident that our users will enjoy the wide variety of content that Distro TV has to offer, and we look forward to working with them to make it even more accessible and enjoyable for our viewers,” said OTTplay CEO & co-founder Avinash Mudaliar.

    This partnership reinforces DistroTV’s commitment to bringing diverse, global voices to audiences around the world, and OTTplay’s commitment to helping users discover new and exciting content.