Category: Over The Top Services

Mumbai: Today the lines are blurred as the streaming business is getting more complex and complicated, as monetization gets unclear. There is so much disruption happening, AVOD is offering SVOD and vice versa. Premium content is provided absolutely free and much more happening in this sector. Subscriber add-ons are slowing down. Time spent viewing on OTTs has plateaued for almost each and every platform, and high churn continues despite attractive annual schemes being offered by them. However, the good news is that the paid OTT subscription market in India continues to excite an increasing number of advertisers who are willing to put out their ads on these platforms. Mobile continues to be the main device of consumption even as connected TVs are increasingly getting into Indian homes. Investments in content continue to burgeon as viewers’ insatiable appetite continues to demand more and more.

It is certain that this new ecosystem is calling for new relationships to be forged, new partnerships to be developed as TV manufacturers, Cable TV, and DTH, and telcos and other aggregators’ presence as gatekeepers to their customers is increasingly being felt. So, what is the way forward for the OTT platforms? Where do the opportunities lie? What are the challenges?

This year’s Vidnet 2023 looked at all these scenarios and more, and found answers to some of these questions along with experts from the industry.

White Rivers Media co-founder and chief creative officer Mitesh Kothari moderated the second panel discussion – the speakers included Friday Filmworks Pvt Ltd CEO Devendra Deshpande, BBC Studios India general manager Sameer Gogate, The Q India co-founder and managing partner Sunder Aaron, and Pocket Aces studio head – Dice Media Vidyuth Bhandary.

Kothari spoke about the concept of demystifying the OTT content landscape “I want to centre our conversation around the audience, Bharat, and technology. There are a lot of things that you’ll are tracking when it comes to content. What is this audience going to be actually consuming? Why should we make something? What should be going across into the OTT landscape? About acquisition and retention content – something that is big, and is going to be across and crossing seasons.”

He questioned the panelists, “Today’s consumers are quite explorative in nature, as we would like to believe. How has the content influenced the offerings that you’ll are taking? With the change in the audience consumption pattern, what are the changes that you are seeing in the selection and creation of content and how are OTTs picking up the content?”

Aaron put forth his view, “We did some research about the secondary towns and the consumption there, and it has been noticed that even in the last couple of years, there have been a lot of changes in consumption. A couple of years ago when we did the same study, we found that women in the household primarily did not have smartphones. And now, within a span of two-three years, 80 per cent of them have smartphones. So the consumption pattern that we are talking about, is not simply about women controlling the remote control of the television, it is that everyone can have their personalised entertainment experience now.”

He added, “About Bharat – it’s important to understand what is being watched here. I think the Indian OTT industry got going well five-six years back – we did a lot of creative and programming which was geared at the urban top metros.  So, it’s not just about following trends – if you don’t do research and if you don’t understand what they are viewing, it’s just going to pass you by. The same goes for millennials and Gen Z – we are not really producing content for these audiences yet, and I think there is a huge opportunity there. But again, if you’re aiming at this generation but only in the urban cities, then you’re going to miss out.”

Deshpande brought out, “The answer lies in the statement that you made initially. Multiple genres, multiple formats – the content is so spread out, it’s very difficult to point out what is working and what is not. As a production house, we’ll only tell stories that we are excited to talk about and that we think we can do justice to. The question is, whether the content defines the trends, or do trends define the content. So a couple of good programmes work, and the audience preferences throw up a new trend. That is an ongoing process. Purely, we do subjects which have not been done before.” Giving the example of A Wednesday, which starred no celebrities and defined a new way of filmmaking, he said that that content would keep defining new trends.”

Gogate mentioned, “What OTT has done is it’s actually allowed us to cater to the young adult TG and infact platforms are so focused in trying to cater to them today, and we have been able to do that successfully. What OTT has done is that it has allowed us to operate at both spectrums – catering to the young millennials and also to the family audience. OTT has allowed us to operate specifically to different TGs and different taste clusters.

Bhandary said, “We started in 2015 as a content-first digital company. Pretty much most of our shows were young adults, slice of life for the urban audiences. Earlier we were making content for the Dice platform which had a lot of Gen Z content. As we started making content for the OTT platform, the content also started changing. We stuck through the young adults but we also have different kinds of shows. And yes, we are making a lot of shows, but we need to adapt as per the audience preference, and constantly keep tweaking our content accordingly.

Kothari concluded by asking what is going to be the state of OTT content in 2024 in India, to which Bhandary replied that young adult content is here to stay, and the premium will only become more premium. Aaron expects the business model to change and understands that producers should be appreciated more for the work that they do.

Mumbai: Today the lines are blurred as the streaming business is getting more complex and complicated, as monetization gets unclear. There is so much disruption happening, AVOD is offering SVOD and vice versa. Premium content is provided absolutely free and much more happening in this sector. Subscriber add-ons are slowing down. Time spent viewing on OTTs has plateaued for almost each and every platform, and high churn continues despite attractive annual schemes being offered by them. However, the good news is that the paid OTT subscription market in India continues to excite an increasing number of advertisers who are willing to put out their ads on these platforms. Mobile continues to be the main device of consumption even as connected TVs are increasingly getting into Indian homes. Investments in content continue to burgeon as viewers’ insatiable appetite continues to demand more and more.

It is certain that this new ecosystem is calling for new relationships to be forged, new partnerships to be developed as TV manufacturers, Cable TV, and DTH, and telcos and other aggregators’ presence as gatekeepers to their customers is increasingly being felt. So, what is the way forward for the OTT platforms? Where do the opportunities lie? What are the challenges?

This year’s Vidnet 2023 will look at all these scenarios and more, and find answers to some of these questions along with experts from the industry.

The moderator for this session was film critic, journalist and author Mayank Shekhar and the panellists were Contiloe Pictures CEO & founder Abhimanyu Singh, Juggernaut Productions CEO Samar Khan, Rose Audio Visuals producer, director & showrunner Goldie Bahl and Jio Platforms Ltd. senior VP content licensing & partnerships Kaushal Modi.

Shekhar started the session by asking a question to Singh, “ How did you start your firm? Where was it when you started it? Where is it now and how has the scene changed since we talked about OTT quite often in reference to cinema, but the fact is it impacted television as well. Take us through your whole journey so we can get off how the world has changed.”

Singh said, “I started in the mid-’90s, and at that time there was very little satellite broadcast and it was largely Doordarshan, which was the terrestrial channel. At that time we had to sell our own content so you learn the business of selling, marketing as well as producing. But from there on Star, Sony and broadcasters came in, which increased the amount of content and the requirement for content and the first disruption at that time. So there were lot of makers that would do a lot of scope for Doordarshan, they got disrupted because you need to reinvent with each tectonic shift in technology. If you look now at what’s happening in the OTT space, there has been a change as far as the requirement of content and genre that you can tell.”

Shekhar also asked the same question to Khan who responded, “ Everything has changed and nothing has changed. When I say everything has changed I think the opportunity to tell stories has increased. When we started off our careers in the 90s, there were so many stories to tell but there was only a limited avenue. That avenue has grown. So this is why there are more diverse stories being taken out.” 

Shekhar asked Bahl about his journey and said, “ I was about 15-16 years when I started Bollywood and business has changed a lot. The greatest learnings are from the tragedies and jumping straight into the deep end. So I got to learn the tough part of the business. The trend of individual producers, selling it to distributors, showing a little bit of their film and raising some more money then marketing it to their own audience directly, speaking to the exhibitors is coming back. So one has seen all that how it works.”

Modi said, “ I started off with FMCG and then decided I want to do something different. Those days the internet was not even 256kbps connectivity dial-up, it would take 30 seconds to load a home page of the website. But the realisation there was, the internet was there to stay, but the way it would get consumed would change.”

Mayank concluded the session by asking Kaushal, “ Do you think the OTT industry would take the model of Hollywood.” To which Kaushal said, “Its an open market, people will come and people will create, business models are gonna be different, you will have a social media platform, you will have an SVOD platform.” 

Mumbai: The internationally acclaimed and national award-winning producer and director, Nila Madhab Panda, is all set to bring India’s first cli-fi thriller series, The Jengaburu Curse. The series is set to stream from 9 August only on Sony LIV. Set in a small town in Odisha, the show follows the story of London-based financial analyst, Priya Das. When her father, Professor Das, goes suspiciously missing, Priya is forced to come back to Odisha. As she starts to search for him, a series of strange events ensue that unravel an unlikely connection between the indigenous Bondia tribe and the mining state of Odisha. The Jengaburu Curse, which marks Nila Madhab’s OTT debut, delves into the repercussions of mankind’s never-ending needs on nature.

Produced by Studio Next, The Jengaburu Curse is created and directed by Nila Madhab Panda. Written by Mayank Tewari, Paulo Perez serves as the DOP on the series. Alokananda Dasgupta and Durga Prasad Mohapatra serve as music director and production designer respectively. Edited by Jabeen Merchant, the series features Faria Abdullah, Nasser, Makarand Deshpande, Sudev Nair, Deipak Sampat and Hitesh Dave in pivotal roles.

Commenting on the show, creator and director, Panda said, “The Jengaburu Curse is the first Indian cli-fi thriller series. The show delves deep into the repercussions of mankind’s relentless pursuit of natural resources, revealing the alarming consequences that follow. Through Jengaburu, our aim is to entertain the audience as well as raise awareness about the dire need for environmental conservation. We are proud to have brought together a talented cast and crew and can’t wait for audiences to embark on this thrilling adventure with us.”

Mumbai: The guests at the recent episode of Amazon miniTV’s (Amazon’s free video streaming service) By Invite Only were popular actors Abhishek Banerjee and Ashish Verma. The show has carved a reputation for itself for entertaining the audiences with high doses of fun with the conversation between host Renil Abraham and the celebrity guests. The latest episode was no different as Abhishek Banerjee and Ashish Verma spoke at length about how they met each other and the evolution of the entertainment industry.

During the popular segment of the show- Quickie, Ashish Verma was asked an interesting question by the popular host, “ If you were in a same-sex relationship, which Bollywood actor would you pick as a partner?” To which Ashish replied, “Ranveer Singh”.  

While talking about whether the casting over the years has changed or not Ashish commented, “The industry has changed a lot, previously I was doing geeky roles but over time I am getting several types of roles without any conventional psyche, people now think out of the box”.

In the same segment when the host asked Abhishek Banerjee, “What is it about you that you think women find the most appealing” To which the actor replied, “ I think it’s just me being very casual around them and like just being myself because I think most of the guys are not even themselves when they are around women. They try to be somebody else, and I don’t do that” Another question that was shot at the actor was, “Which Bollywood celebrity is a perfect 10 according to you?” the answer to this will leave you impressed, the actor said, “Amitabh Bachchan”.

This was just the tip of the iceberg, and the episode was filled with such moments.  If you haven’t watched the latest episode, tune in to Amazon miniTV right away!  By Invite Only is streaming now on Amazon miniTV for free, available within Amazon’s shopping app and Fire TV.

Mumbai: Sirca Paints, the esteemed Italian wood coatings and wall textures brand, presented a comedy bonanza with their latest TV commercials created by DigiStreet Media, featuring the talented actor, Manoj Pahwa. Titled “Sirca Hai to Shaan Hai,” these ads not only showcase humorous slice-of-life situations but also highlight the unique selling points of Sirca’s PU Polish range. Accompanied by captivating music tracks that leave a lasting impression, these commercials offer a complete entertainment package.

Sirca Paints joint managing director Apoorv Agarwal expressed his excitement for the campaign, emphasising its significance in supporting channel partners and reaching a wider audience. He further stated, “We aimed to deliver our message with humour, and the team successfully achieved the envisioned output. The positive responses received from key stakeholders are a testament to the campaign’s effectiveness.” Agarwal also praised Manoj Pahwa’s exceptional talent and the unique charm that he brought to the commercials.

“Working on this project has been an absolute joy ride. We are thrilled with the launch of these two TV ads as they promise viewers a delightful experience in a combination of humorous situations & clever messaging. Breaking away from the conventional approach of diving straight into a selling spree, the idea was to create a funny twist in the ads to engage audiences, bringing laughter and entertainment while capturing the essence of Sirca’s PU Polish range. From nitty-gritty to major elements, all components were well thought out and seamlessly incorporated with an on-point art direction. We hope that the ad films get their share of love from the market,” said DigiStreet CEO and strategist Darpan Sharma.

To amplify the reach of the campaign, Sirca Paints has partnered with over 100 influencers and implemented various other marketing initiatives. Additionally, the commercials are being aired nationally on major TV channels, targeting audiences across different languages and regions. With a perfect blend of humour and relatable scenarios, these ads extend the brand’s communication strategy, focusing on enhancing customers’ décor and autographing the living standards with premium Italian wood coatings and wall textures.

Mumbai: Prime Video, India’s entertainment destination, has joined forces with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), Government of India, to create Mission Start Ab, a first-of-its-kind series, that will showcase India’s grassroots innovators as they turbo-charge their business growth. The seven-episode series will show these promising entrepreneurs, focussed on scaling made-for-India innovations with the potential to impact socio-economic change, undertake a series of challenges in pursuit of scaling their business and securing funding for their ventures. With India as one of the world’s largest and most vibrant start-up ecosystems, this wholly Made-In-India series also brings together three renowned investors who will search for India’s next Unicorn, by putting these ten early-stage founders through a series of intense exercises and simulations that will test their entrepreneurial, management, communication and crisis management skills.

Mission Start Ab is a new series that will engage audiences with the power of human stories behind every promising Indian start-up. It will celebrate the ingenuous and audacious entrepreneurs who have the potential to build and scale their businesses, and give three of the most prolific investors the opportunity to invest in them. The series promises to captivate viewers with stories of these unique Indian start-ups and founders, their humble beginnings, never-say-die spirit, and the sacrifices they have made along the way to turn their dreams into reality. Far from being a show about raising funding alone, where entrepreneurs seek investments, and investors seek profits; in this series, investors will also act as mentors, challenging and empowering some of the brightest minds in the country. The audience will get to witness these amazing early-stage entrepreneurs compete with each other to become India’s next Unicorn. Currently in production, this upcoming reality show is slated to premiere soon on Prime Video.

“Lauding the remarkable spirit of India’s grassroot innovators, I am delighted to announce Prime Video’s reality series Mission Start Ab. This captivating series will serve as a powerful platform, showcasing the inspiring stories of those driving social change through innovation,” said Government of India, Principal Scientific Adviser, Ajay Kumar Sood. “I am optimistic that it will offer immense learning opportunities to grassroot innovators in India, providing valuable insights into sustainable start-up practices and attracting the right investors. Furthermore, the series promises to entertain viewers while promoting the growth of our nation’s grassroots innovation ecosystem.”

“Our mission at Prime Video has always been to be a force for good, and an enabler of India’s economy – directly and indirectly. We are incredibly proud to partner with the Office of the PSA, Government of India and bring to life Mission Start Ab, a path-breaking series,” said Sushant Sreeram, Country Director, Prime Video, India. “This collaboration between the Office of the PSA, Government of India and Prime Video is another milestone on the journey that started earlier this year with Amazon India signing the Letter of Engagement (LoE) with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) with an objective of contributing to the growth of India’s creative economy. This marquee collaboration exemplifies our commitment to the country and our viewers, as we create new formats that empower entrepreneurs, innovators and creators in expanding their horizons through our service. By tracing the journey of some of the most innovative minds in India, our aim with Mission Start Ab is not only to highlight grassroots innovations taking place across the country but also help fuel the dreams of many young Indians.”

“Supporting and nurturing entrepreneurs has been one of Amazon’s focus areas in India. Over the years we have taken a number of initiatives to propel India’s start-up ecosystem. Today, we are excited to announce this Amazon Original show on Prime Video, in association with the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India,” said Amazon India VP- public policy Chetan Krishnaswamy. “We believe this show will inspire many individuals to choose the path of entrepreneurship and contribute in advancing the government’s ‘Start-up India’ initiative.”

Alia Bhatt, who dons multiple hats – that of a popular actor, a successful entrepreneur, and an investor too, was also present at the event to talk about her journey as an entrepreneur. She said, “While there are many great ideas and ambitious young founders around us, it takes a special kind of determination to turn that idea into reality, build the right team, find the right mentors, raise funding, and create something out of nothing. I applaud both the Office of the PSA, Government of India, and Prime Video India for taking the initiative to enable and empower entrepreneurs through Mission Start Ab, which I believe can have a far-reaching impact on the country’s growing start-up ecosystem.”

Mumbai: Amazon miniTV – Amazon’s free video streaming service is hitting all the right chords as it gears up to launch India’s first hip hop based dance reality show – Hip Hop India. With ace choreographer Remo D’Souza and dancing queen Nora Fatehi coming together as judges for the first time, viewers are excited and are eagerly waiting to see who will emerge as India’s biggest hip-hop sensation. Adding to the anticipation, the streaming service today unveiled the promo of the show slated to launch on 21 July. The promo featuring Remo D’Souza & Nora Fatehi brings out the journey of the contestants from gullies on to the glorious stage of Hip Hop India, true to the show’s tagline of Gully se Glory Tak. The contestants, seen in a very fresh and street avatar, showcase immense talent and woo the judges with their powerful underground moves. The promo looks promising, set to grip the entire nation with the #HipHopFever. Amazon miniTV head of content Amogh Dusad said, “The Hip Hop genre has a lot of untapped potential and with our show Hip Hop India we aim to provide a renowned stage to the talented artists from all across the nation. With Nora Fatehi joining us as one of the judges along with Remo D’Souza, the bar of competition is going to be very high. This is a win-win situation for everyone including audiences and participants as the former can expect high octane entertainment and the latter will receive best quality guidance from the reputed judges.” Sharing her excitement as the show approaches, Nora Fatehi said, “Dancing is one of my passions and Hip-Hop is the best form to do it. Hip-Hop is energetic, passionate and full of life. I am exhilarated to be a part of Amazon miniTV’s Hip Hop India along with Remo D’Souza. I’ve had my own transformational journey and I can’t wait to witness the magic that the contestants bring to the stage in their quest of Gully se Glory Tak. This is a first of its kind reality show in India and we are pumped to bring the Hip-Hop energy to the audiences across the country.” Echoing Nora’s sentiments, Remo D’Souza said, “As the D-Day of Hip Hop India gets closer, my excitement to present this stupendous show to audiences across India increases! We’re elated to give these talented dancers a platform that catapults them to glory. The promo is just a glimpse of the phenomenal talent India possesses and with Hip Hop India, Nora and I will do our best in order to find India’s best hip hop dancer! Can’t wait for 21 July to bring in the madness only on Amazon miniTV.”

Mumbai: Zero Density, a global leader in virtual production and graphics solutions, has announced the appointment of the new regional sales manager, Jeff Hobbs. Hobbs will continue to support Zero Density’s ongoing expansion in the United States, a market where the company has seen demand for augmented reality (AR), extended reality (XR) and virtual studios increase exponentially.

Hobbs’ extensive experience and understanding of AR, XR and virtual studio technologies, honed at roles in leading media technology companies like EVS, Vizrt and Key Code Media, makes him a valuable addition to the Zero Density team.

“Jeff’s expertise aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver value-added innovative real-time graphics solutions,” says Zero Density CEO Ofir Benovici. “His appointment underscores our commitment to strengthen our client relationships and enhance customer experience in the U.S.”

In his new role, Hobbs will focus on building client relationships, driving sales and developing targeted strategies to meet customers’ ever-evolving needs. His ability to understand and creatively solve the technical and operational challenges faced by customers will greatly enhance Zero Density’s ability to deliver high-quality virtual production and graphics solutions.

Hobbs shared, “I’m thrilled to join Zero Density and help our clients unlock the power of AR, XR and virtual studio technologies to create engaging content with ease.”

Hobbs’ appointment exemplifies Zero Density’s dedication to providing customers with the tools they need to produce outstanding content, further consolidating its position as a leader in the industry.

Mumbai: The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. (‘Disney Japan’) and HJ Holdings, Inc. (‘HJ Holdings’) today announced the launch of a new bundle plan for Disney+ and Hulu (Japan) services, offering a breadth of global and Japanese entertainment to consumers.  The new bundle will be available to consumers in Japan today.

Hulu (Japan), operated by HJ Holdings (a subsidiary of Nippon Television Network Corporation) and the SVOD platform for Nippon TV, houses on-demand viewing of popular television series from Nippon TV as well as local original content. With the new bundle, consumers can enjoy an incredible collection of branded content from Disney+, including award-winning films, animation and live-action from Disney, PIXAR, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Star, as well as Hulu Japan’s popular domestic drama series, anime, variety shows, live music and sports.

“Since its launch, Disney+ has been delivering unparalleled storytelling and unforgettable entertainment to consumers in Japan, who continue to love our iconic characters, brands and franchises,” said Disney Japan managing director Carol Choi. “By joining forces with Hulu Japan, we will bring high quality global and local entertainment to audiences, offering more consumer choice at an attractive value. We are confident that this bundle plan will appeal to an even broader audience in Japan.”

“We are thrilled to announce this collaboration between Hulu and Disney+, which will bring the world’s best entertainment across all genres to consumers in Japan at an affordable price. This bundle will be an opportunity for Hulu Japan to evolve to an even more attractive service. We hope consumers will enjoy and take advantage of this bundled service,” said HJ Holdings president Kazuo Takaya.

This new plan is an extension of the strategic collaboration between Disney Japan and Nippon Television Holdings, Inc. (‘Nippon Television Holdings’) announced last year, which aims to leverage both companies’ respective platforms to deliver global and local entertainment to more audiences.

Nippon Television Holdings president Akira Ishizawa added, “Disney is one of the world’s leading entertainment companies, and has been a key business partner over the years, including broadcasting Disney films on Nippon TV’s Friday Roadshow. We are pleased to expand this relationship and collaborate in the SVOD field. By leveraging the creativity and brand affinity of Disney+ and Hulu Japan, we will deliver more content that consumers want to watch”.

The new bundle plan is priced at 1,490 yen per month (tax included), 25 per cent less than subscribing to each service individually.

Mumbai: Bigger threats, several hurdles and a mysterious folklore; as the modern world meddles with old world and customs, a pandora’s box opens unleashing a curse, an untold mystery and paranormal forces like never before. Disney+ Hotstar drops the power-packed trailer of the fourth season of their popular series, Aashiqana. While Yash and Chikki are standing on different paths, their lives are set to take an unusual, spooky turn, leaving us wanting for more. Zayn Ibad Khan and Khushi Dubey return with Aashiqana Season 4 to unveil the secrets of the past and face the brunt of an unforeseen curse. Series director is Gul Khan, and produced by Gen K Studios, Aashiqana Season 4 will stream exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar from 24 July onwards.

The series features veteran actor Himani Shivpuri alongside talented actors Jayati Narula, Indrajeet Modi and Geeta Tyagi in pivotal roles. 

Talking about Aashiqana Season 4, actor Zayn Ibad Khan said, “People have always had polar opinions about paranormal activities. Some feel its true, some believe its science. While Aashiqana has always been a journey full of thrills and mysteries, this season Yash and Chikki will be seen caught in a similar phenomenon. With secrets toppling out of the box and mysteries unfolding, they must bind together to fight against a curse. Yash will be seen in a completely different look as he navigates the connection between the modern world and old customs, leaving audiences with thoughts and questions. I am super excited for season 4 and am looking forward to audience reactions. In fact, if I had to describe it, I would say it in an old saying, ‘What we know is a drop, what we don’t is an ocean’”

Talking about the new season of Aashiqana, Khushi Dubey added, “In Aashiqana season 4, we are all set to take over new mythical mysteries and come face to face with an old legend. We are exploring a phenomena that has always been difficult to fathom despite having many theories about it. This time, Chikki has many shades to her character as she deals with instances that show how  intrinsically the past is connected with the present. Of course, its Aashiqana and her love story with Yash has also taken a different direction but they must come together to fight these demons. I must say, I had goosebumps when i first read the script and I hope the audience loves it as well!” 

Series director Gul Khan said, “With each growing season of Aashiqana, we have received immense love and appreciation for the show which has helped us to introduce newer characters and new plot twists. We are very excited about this season as it deals with a lot of dark mysteries beyond and how the duo – Yash and Chikki tackle them. In Aashiqana Season 4, one can experience love, thrill, mystery, paranormal activities and a lot of new integral characters. Looking forward to 24th July for the new season to be released on Disney+ Hotstar.”