Category: Over The Top Services

BookMyShow brings Westlife’s ‘The Wild Dreams’ tour to India

Mumbai: Chart-topping Irish music sensations, Westlife are set to captivate fans across India with their much-anticipated ‘The Wild Dreams’ Tour. Brought to India by BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow, the global best-selling band will perform live across three cities as part of the India leg of the ‘The Wild Dreams’ Tour.

The tour will kick-off at the Members Enclosure, RWITC, Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai on 24 Novembe, followed by Embassy International Riding School Ground, Bengaluru on 25 November and culminate at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 26 November 2023.

Produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, the tour promises an unforgettable experience, with Westlife all set to bring their magic to the Indian stage, leaving fans in awe with their unparalleled talent and energy. Renowned for their chart-topping hits and incredible live performances, ‘The Wild Dreams’ Tour promises to be a spectacular showcase of Westlife’s timeless music and unmatched showmanship.

Speaking about their highly anticipated India tour, Westlife shared their excitement, “India has always held a special place in our hearts. We are so excited to share The Wild Dreams tour with all of our fans in India. Get ready for an unforgettable night of music and memories with us!”

Exclusive pre-sale of tickets for Kotak credit card holders will begin on 15 September 2023 at 12 PM IST (Noon) on BookMyShow. Kotak White Reserve and Kotak White credit card holders can enjoy a special discount for limited seats. General On-Sale of tickets for Westlife’s ‘The Wild Dreams’ India Tour will go live starting 17 September at 4 PM IST on the platform. For more information on the tour and to get your hands on the tickets log on to BookMyShow.

Westlife’s ‘The Wild Dreams’ Tour in India is presented by Kotak White Credit Card.

WESTLIFE: ‘THE WILD DREAMS’ TOUR – INDIA (2023)

Date	City	City
November 24, 2023	Mumbai, India	Member’s Enclosure, RWITC, Mahalaxmi Racecourse
November 25, 2023	Bengaluru, India	Embassy International Riding School Ground
November 26, 2023	Delhi-NCR, India	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Gate no. 2)

Marking a remarkable quarter-century of a band that has maintained its relevance in the world of music, gathering an ever-growing fan following and an enduring, timeless legacy, ‘The Wild Dreams’ Tour is making its debut in India. The group is expected to perform all their greatest hits including ‘Swear It Again’, ‘If I Let You Go’, ‘Uptown Girl’ and ‘Hello My Love’ as well as fresh pop anthems from the 2021 special-edition studio album ‘Wild Dreams’, released to critical acclaim.

Fans can expect to hear all their favourite tunes and expect a few surprises that bring back some sweet nostalgic memories of the golden era of music. Despite forming 25 years ago, Ireland’s most successful band, consisting of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily, is still delighting audiences globally. As a live act, they have sold over five million concert tickets worldwide and counting. Westlife has sold over 55 million records across the globe and is the only band to have their first seven singles enter the UK chart at No.1.

Westlife’s ‘The Wild Dreams’ Tour has been an international phenomenon, drawing fans from all corners of the world. The global pop sensation kicked off ‘The Wild Dreams’ Tour in 2022 performing across the UK, including a sold-out headline show at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium which was shown live in cinemas across the UK and Europe. This year, the tour has travelled across a few more cities in Europe, the UK as well as USA and is now headed East, travelling to China, the Middle East, followed by a visit to South Africa, a return to China and a highlight stop for a three-city tour in India scheduled for November 2023.

As the pioneers of melodic pop, Westlife’s performances are an unmissable experience, filled with infectious energy and designed to create lasting memories. India, book your tickets to this soulful experience, now!

September 12, 2023

Swagger Sharma: ‘Lucky Guy’ stands out for its core human emotions

Mumbai: Amazon miniTV, Amazon’s free video streaming service, recently released a fantasy drama, Lucky Guy, an ode to family, friendship, love, and fortune. It narrates the story of a young boy, following his journey of luck and emotions where his life changes after receiving a locket. Featuring Swagger Sharma in the lead, portraying the character of Lucky, a college-going student with big dreams and good luck the show is a slice-of-life drama that entertains viewers with its unique storyline and endearing characters.

Commenting on the script, Swagger stated, “I actually wrote the script so didn’t have the experience of reading it fresh but when I first saw the fully-edited version in one go, I got goosebumps during the climax. Even though I wrote it, after seeing the edited version I gave myself a pat on the back for creating something good and worthwhile.”

Additionally, Swagger outlined the unique element of the show, making it a must-watch for viewers, “While on the face it’s a fantasy tale, where a boy receives a locket bringing him immense luck and changing his life, for me the show’s true USP is its portrayal of core human emotions. We have depicted the bond of a boy with his family and his grandmother whom he is so close to. It showcases the typical Indian family where he and his father don’t talk much with each other, a best friend whom he unknowingly annoys every time and then his love story in college. Everything we go through in college, along with studies, love interests, and how things get tangled if not handled properly, impacts his life and career. We have tapped into this human life and the real-world scenarios in the show. Viewers would surely resonate with some or the other characters and relationships in Lucky Guy.”

Embark on the journey of good fortune with Lucky Guy, streaming live on Amazon miniTV, for free within the Amazon shopping app, on Fire TV and on the Play Store.

September 11, 2023
Jagran Film Festival reveals star-studded jury for features and shorts

Mumbai: The 11 editions of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF), recognised as the world’s largest travelling film festival, have revealed its panel of judges for the feature film and short film segments. In a distinctive approach, the festival will have distinct jury members for each category – Feature Films and Short Films. With its 11 seasons, the festival has enlisted highly experienced figures from the industry as jury members. The distinguished jury for this year comprises celebrated Indian directors, editors, screenwriters, and film critics.

The ‘Best Feature Film Award category’ will have its feature films evaluated by a panel consisting of Rahul Rawail, known for directing and editing Indian classics like Love Story, Betaab, Arjun, Dacait, Anjaam, Arjun Pandit, and the recent release Jo Bole So Nihaal. Additionally, Girish Kasaravalli, a well-established Kannada film director with a remarkable tally of fourteen national awards, and Juhi Chaturvedi, the accomplished screenwriter behind acclaimed Bollywood hits such as Vicky Donor, Piku, October, and Gulabo Sitabo, will be part of the panel.

The assessment of short films will be undertaken by a distinguished panel of jurors, including A. Sreekar Prasad, a renowned film editor from the Telugu and Tamil film industry, with a remarkable nine national film awards to his credit. Joining him is Haobam Paban Kumar, an accomplished filmmaker honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation, and Baradwaj Rangan, a respected film critic and editor-in-chief of Galatta Plus, who formerly served as an editor at film companion (South). Following their review of the films, the jurors will proceed to select the recipient of the Best Short Film award category.

Both categories are dedicated to honouring and celebrating the outstanding achievements of directors and filmmakers who bring remarkable narratives to life through the medium of feature and short films. It’s a platform designed to recognize the exceptional storytelling and creative prowess that these artists exhibit within their respective formats, highlighting their significant contributions to the world of cinema.

Jagran Prakashan Sr VP, strategy, brand and business development Basant Rathore, said, we are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our esteemed jury, entrusted with the challenging task of choosing the best amongst equals. Anticipating some exciting times as the festival marches ahead in its journey.

Jagran Film Festival has gained immense popularity and each year it attempts to present a treat for cinema lovers by showing unique and popular movies during the show. Some prominent sections of the festival are In conversation, World Panorama, Homage, Country Focus, Asia Premiere, World Premiere, and the Retrospective of Films.

The world’s largest travelling film festival is all set to enrapture audiences with an exceptional array of world-class films from all around the globe. The Jagran Film Festival started in Delhi on 3 August and has travelled through Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and will travel to, Dehradun, Hisar, Gurgaon, Ludhiana, Patna, Darbhanga, Ranchi, Raipur, Indore, and Siliguri. For registration log on to: www.jff.co.in. The award ceremony will happen in Mumbai on 15 October 2023.

September 9, 2023
Red FM’s South Side Story Season 5 – Mumbai edition: An immense success

Mumbai: 93.5 RED FM, India’s leading private radio and entertainment network’s event ‘South Side Story Season 5’ – Mumbai edition proved to be a tremendous success. The event held at Richardson & Cruddas, Byculla witnessed an incredible turnout, with music lovers braving the rain to be a part of this unforgettable experience.

South Side Story season five featured exceptional performances by Aattam Kalasamithi ft The Theikkinkaadu Band, Maalavika Sundar, Sean Roldan & Friends, Arivu, Agam, and Thaikkudam Bridge. Beyond the captivating music, attendees had the opportunity to indulge in a sumptuous spread of Sadhya and other South Indian delicacies, and refreshing beverages.

In light of the tremendous success of the Mumbai edition, Red FM is thrilled to announce the next stop in Delhi for the musical journey. South Side Story Season 5 – Delhi Edition is set to take place on 16 September 2023, at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. This edition promises a unique blend of hip-hop, rap artists, and playback singer and composers like Thirumali, Arivu, Humankind, All OK, Neeraj Madhav & Sithara’s Project Malabaricus who will take the stage to deliver unforgettable performances. The Delhi edition will be headlined by Karthik.

Speaking on this announcement, RED FM, and Magic FM director & COO Nisha Narayanan stated “Our vision to introduce diversity in the regional music space has appropriately translated into South Side Story. The Mumbai edition was a testament to the colossal celebration of our humble effort to bring the south of India to the metros. We were delighted to witness a massive turnout of our audience that even the torrential rains were not able to cease the spirit of the festive season. By joining in wearing traditional South Indian attire and celebrating the various ingredients of the South, the Mumbai audience came through. We are eagerly awaiting to recreate or take the celebrations a few notches higher in Delhi.”

Mark your calendars and prepare to immerse yourself in the colors, sounds, and flavors of South India. The tickets are available on Skillbox.

https://bit.ly/SSS2023_PressRelease

September 9, 2023
TakeTen is back for its second edition, but with a twist!
Mumbai: The first successful edition of the Take Ten initiative, a workshop and competition by Netflix and Film Companion to discover and support emerging Indian creators from varied backgrounds, provided a stage for 10 new filmmakers to shine.

This year, we are again partnering up with the aim of finding and nurturing the talent of five new series creators.

The new batch of storytellers will be given an exciting opportunity to:
- Attend exclusively curated workshops by some of the best creative talent in the industry like Prashant Nair, Raj Nidimoru, Gazal Dhaliwal, Varun Grover, Utsab Nath, Tanuj Chopra, Sanyukta Kaza, Pranav Thakkar and Sidharth Meer.
- Make a fully funded pilot for a series with a grant of Rs.12 Lakhs each.
- Get a chance to be featured on Netflix India’s Youtube channel
The competition is open for submissions at the official Take Ten website: https://www.taketen.in/
September 8, 2023
One of the most diverse experiences I’ve ever had: Josh Lucas on Lionsgate Play’s Black Demon

Mumbai: Man vs. beast at its finest! Lionsgate Play presents Black Demon starring the charismatic Josh Lucas in the lead role as he takes a work-family vacation. However, lurking in the shadows is an ancient curse, cast by vengeful deities, that threatens all that dare cross its path. This malevolent curse spares no one, as a solitary Megalodon circles the El Diamante oil rig, unleashing its fury upon anyone who dares to venture too close. Joining Josh Lucas in this heart-pounding Lionsgate Play thriller are the talented Fernanda Urrejola, Julio Cesar Cedillo, and Venus Ariel. Catch the exclusive premiere of Black Demon on 8 September exclusively on Lionsgate Play, and prepare for a showdown like no other.

Talking about his character, lead actor Josh Lucas said, “I play Paul Sturgis, who is an oilman. In the sense, he’s an inspector of oil rigs. He is also a guy who goes on a family vacation slash work trip down to Baja… he takes his family there for a kind of mix ‘work and pleasure weekend’ as he’s doing an inspection of an oil rig called El Diamante. So yes, his job is to inspect the rig and make sure that everything’s running safely.”

Further elaborating on his experience as a filmmaker, “It’s been one of the most diverse experiences I’ve ever had from a filmmaking standpoint, which is one of the things I love most about getting to travel and work with people from all over the world.”

Watch the curse of nature be brought on men, as Josh Lucas stars in Lionsgate Play’s Black Demon.

September 8, 2023
India’s biggest Karate League returns: WKKL season two presented by Watcho

Mumbai: Watcho, one of India’s fastest-growing OTT platforms, is proud to present season two of the Watcho Khel Karate League (WKKL). WKKL has swiftly ascended to become the nation’s premier karate sporting event, amassing an impressive reach of more than 20 million. Season two of WKKL is scheduled to take place from 9 to 11 September 2023 at the prestigious SMS INDOOR STADIUM in Jaipur and will be broadcasted exclusively on Watcho exclusives from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

DishTV’s OTT platform, Watcho, actively supports various sports by broadcasting live sporting events, offering exclusive sports content, and furnishing real-time updates. Their commitment to sports enthusiasts enhances the overall experience, making it one of the go-to platforms for sports enthusiasts to stay engaged and informed. Moreover, Watcho’s aggregation service, boasting 17 diverse OTT platforms, empowers users to access a wide array of sports content, solidifying Watcho’s position as the ultimate one-stop destination for sports fanatics across the nation.

This thrilling karate extravaganza, dedicated to the principles of strength and well-being, is poised to enthral audiences nationwide. WKKL’s core mission is to identify, nurture, and empower talented karate players in India, offering them a sustainable, competitive, and entertaining platform. Over 3000 karate players from 28 States and eight Union Territories of India will compete, showcasing their exceptional skills and dedication to the sport.

WKKL Season Two will also witness the participation of 20 of the nation’s sports icons, including luminaries such as Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Sangram Singh, Krishna Poonia, Deepak Hudda, Babeeta Phogat, and Yogeshwar Dutt. These renowned athletes will grace the opening and closing ceremonies. Additionally, the grand finale will feature a mesmerizing concert by Bollywood singer Swaroop Khan.

Dish TV India Ltd CEO Manoj Dobhal said “Watcho, our OTT streaming platform, is thrilled to present Watcho Khel Karate League season two, a celebration of karate’s spirit, skill, and dedication. Through this partnership, we aim to not only promote this incredible sport but also support the growth and development of talented karate players across India. With this exciting collaboration, Watcho aims to bring the power of karate and entertainment to millions of households across the nation. We look forward to an exhilarating season of action, competition, and entertainment!”

“As the founder of the Khel Karate League, I am immensely proud to welcome Watcho as our chief presenter for Season 2. This partnership signifies a shared vision for promoting martial arts and sports in India. It’s an exciting moment for the league and for karate enthusiasts across the nation. Together with WATCHO, we are set to elevate the league’s reach and impact, bringing the thrill of karate to households. Season 2 promises to be an extraordinary journey filled with talent, passion, and fierce competition”, Khel Karate League founder Dhananjay Tyagi.

Launched in 2019, Watcho exclusives offers many original shows, including web series like Aarambh, GillHarry, Joint Account, Manghadant, Avaidh, Explosive, Aarop, Wajah, The Morning Show, Bauchaar-E-Ishq, Gupta Niwas, Jaunpur among others. That’s not all, Watcho also offers Korean Drama and various other international shows. Last year Watcho forayed into the OTT aggregation business with its signature Rs 253 per month plan. Featuring 17 popular OTT apps, it is fast becoming the go-to destination for an all-in-one OTT subscription. Watcho also features a unique platform for user-generated content called Swag where people can create their own content and discover their potential. Watcho can be accessed on a variety of devices (including Fire TV Stick, Dish SMRT, Android, and iOS cellphones, and D2H Magic devices) or online.

September 7, 2023
ZEE5 Global sees 46 per cent surge in original content watch time in US

Mumbai: ZEE5 Global, the world’s largest streaming platform for South Asian content, has registered significant growth in engagement and viewership in the United States, driven by strong original content launches in the market. The platform has reported an impressive 46 per cent increase in watch time for original content over the last year and a 40 per cent jump in viewer growth across original movies and web series. The business also recently reported a 35 per cent YoY increase in viewership over the year in the market.

This surge in audience engagement underscores the appeal of ZEE5 Global’s exclusive content offerings across multiple languages. After Hindi, the top two languages that grabbed eyeballs within original content were Telugu and Tamil. Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and Maya Bazaar – For Sale respectively emerged as the most-watch movies and series in the last year, closely followed by widely consumed titles like Tarla, Pitchers, The Kashmir Files: Unreported, Aha Naa Pellanta, Mrs. Undercover, Lost, Vyavastha, United Kachche, Duranga, Rangbaaz: Darr Ki Rajneeti, and Ayali among others.

Interestingly the platform has also seen a huge response for its Bangla originals in the US in 2023. Recently released thriller drama Abar Proloy not only became the most-watched Bengali Original in 2023 but also witnessed a 25 per cent jump in consumption post its first week of release.

ZEE5 Global chief business officer Archana Anand said, ” We’re constantly looking to bring our viewers stories that highlight the best of South Asia, stories that not only entertain but also spark meaningful conversations and drive positive change. From Docu-series and biopics to thrillers and titles with strong social and cultural messages, we have been innovating to enhance our Original content library with newer formats and themes across languages. We’re thrilled to see how well this content is resonating across the linguistically diverse diaspora in the U.S.”

Viewers can catch ZEE5 Global’s upcoming original movie Haddi and more, and stock up on their yearlong entertainment by availing of the limited period Annual pack offer.

September 7, 2023
Prime Video channels expands with Punjabi streaming service Chaupal addition
Mumbai: Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, today announced the addition of Chaupal, India’s leading Punjabi video streaming service, to Prime Video channels. Chaupal offers a curated line-up of popular Punjabi language content including a wide library of the latest and blockbuster Punjabi movies and web series. Prime members can now purchase an annual add-on annual subscription to Chaupal with a special introductory offer of Rs 599, available only through Prime Video channels.

Chaupal’s immersive and engaging multi-genre content includes popular titles across movies and series, such as Kaali Jotta, Aaja Mexico Chaliye, Outlaw, Chal Jindiye, Khao Piyo Aish Karo, Panchhi, and Paani Ch Madhaani, to name a few. In addition to this, Chaupal will also offer subscribers an opportunity to stream the latest theatrical movie releases, beginning with Carry on Jatta 3 (available from 7 September onwards), an uproarious comedy with charismatic performances and an irresistible storyline that has struck a chord with audiences across the world and emerged as a mega-blockbuster worldwide.

Commenting on the collaboration, Chaupal VP of strategic partnership and alliances Mahesh Sharma said, “With Chaupal, we want to provide the best Punjabi language content to our viewers. For us, this integration is a milestone, and we believe it will have a significant impact in driving the Punjabi content consumption across the length and breadth of this country in the long term. We are thrilled to partner with Prime Video Channels to offer subscribers relevant, world-class Punjabi entertainment and, at the same time, take our content deeper across India.”

Prime members can purchase an add-on subscription to Chaupal at a special introductory offer of Rs 599 annually.

Prime Video channels benefits for Prime members include:
- No hassle login & billing: Customers do not have to juggle between multiple usernames, passwords and billing due dates. With Prime Video channels, all premium content subscriptions are managed within a single destination – Prime Video apps and website.
- More time watching, less time deciding: Customers don’t have to spend time toggling between their favourite services to discover what’s new and popular. With Prime Video channels they can browse in one place, search across all their premium subscription and get personalized recommendations. All of this without ever having to leave the Prime Video app or website.
- Enjoy your favourite features, no matter which service: Customers can enjoy IMDb’s X-Ray feature and a single consolidated watch list and download library for offline viewing. Subscribers can also manage data consumption and much more across all their premium channel subscriptions.
- More choice: With Prime Video channels, Prime members can access thousands of additional titles across 21 OTT services, including Chaupal, BBC Player, BBC Kids, Animax + GEM, Lionsgate Play, discovery+, Eros Now, DocuBay, ManoramaMAX, hoichoi, MUBI, AMC+, ShortsTV, VROTT, Acorn TV, NammaFlix, Stingray All Good Vibes, iwonder, Curiosity Stream, MyZen TV, and Museum TV.
September 6, 2023
Frequency elevates linear channel streaming with the IBC2023 launch of Studio 5
Mumbai: Frequency has announced the launch of Studio 5, the next major release of its leading cloud-native, multi-tenant SaaS platform, which enables the creation, management, distribution and monetization of linear channels. With Studio 5, subscribers can access enhanced capabilities and services, including new content ingestion automation, scheduling automation, ultra-low latency live channel switching, advanced content filtering, and a comprehensive suite of tools for streamlining management and scheduling of episodic programming.

The launch of Studio 5 further extends Frequency’s position as the leading linear streaming solution that enables many of the world’s preeminent broadcasters, studios, networks, and digital-first content creators to deliver compelling 24/7 channels to connected TVs globally. Frequency is integrated with the world’s leading Free Ad Supported TV (FAST), vMVPD and MVPD platforms. During IBC2023, the company will demonstrate the full capabilities of Studio 5 on the stand of its strategic partner, AWS (#5.C80).

Frequency CEO Blair Harrison said, “The market for compelling linear channels is exploding across all platforms globally. At a time when content owners and rights-holders are increasingly recognizing the value and opportunity of this market, Frequency is giving them an enhanced suite of tools to empower them to produce seamless and engaging viewing experiences with ever greater efficiency. We’re excited to show IBC 2023 visitors how the launch of Studio 5 builds on our five-year journey of leading the way in providing the most feature-rich and easiest-to-use platform that is defining the future of TV.”

The new and enhanced features of Studio 5 include:
- Ingest Automation: A completely self-serve, real-time console for media ingestion via a single dashboard brings unparalleled visibility and efficiency to content ingestion, processing, and management.
- Scheduling Automation: An enhancement to Studio’s industry leading scheduling tool that provides fully automated programming, and makes the process of scheduling repeated content significantly simpler and faster. Studio users can reduce time spent programming channels by up to 90%.
- Content Filtering: An interactive and intelligent filtering service for content discovery during programming, using any combination of contextual and technical metadata to quickly find the precise content to be scheduled.
- Series Management: A complete suite of tools for series and episodes to streamline management and programming. Studio collates and validates all the assets and metadata associated with any series, including season and episode-specific artwork. Studio also handles all metadata requirements for EPGs and custom metadata for all distribution platforms.
- Live Switching: An ultra-low latency dynamic live switching capability for scheduled or on-demand live segments such as news or sports. Studio now switches to and between live sources in under a second.
September 6, 2023