Category: Over The Top Services

Mumbai: Reliance Entertainment and Continental Entertainment PTE Ltd. (CEPL) are thrilled to announce its collaboration with Sony LIV for the exclusive streaming rights of two highly acclaimed films, ‘Hawa’ and ‘Saturday Afternoon’. 

Directed by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, ‘Hawa’ is a groundbreaking film that has revolutionized the Bangladeshi film industry. “Hawa” was Bangladesh’s official entry to the 95th Academy Awards and the highest grosser ever in Bangladesh. After its tremendous success in Bangladesh, ‘Hawa’ will exclusively be available for audiences worldwide on Sony LIV from 7 July.

Directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Saturday Afternoon’s unique narrative explores the aftermath of an unprecedented attack that unfolds in a peaceful café. The film unravels the clashes and contradictions of ideology and civilization through a drama shot in a single take.

Sony LIV head of content Saugata Mukherjee said, “We are delighted to partner with Reliance Entertainment and CEPL to bring ‘Hawa’ and ‘Saturday Afternoon’ to our viewers. These two captivating films add to our already sparkling roster of thought-provoking cinema from different parts of India and the globe. At Sony LIV, we remain committed to delivering compelling content and being the home for the most exciting voices from across the world.”

Commenting on this collaboration, CEPL CEO (South-East Asia) Sreyashii Sengupta said, “This collaboration with Sony LIV and Reliance Entertainment to showcase ‘Hawa’ and ‘Saturday Afternoon’ is a beginning of slew of films from South Asia for us at CEPL and furthering cross border distribution models and accessibility of content. A wider audience in India will now enjoy diverse films from Bangladesh which have gripping stories and reflect the different genres of film making from a variety of directors. We believe that this partnership will create a significant impact on the film industry and contribute to fostering cultural exchange.”

Mumbai: Looking at ways to escape the July blues? Get ready to kick back and immerse yourself in a treasure trove of gripping titles including empowering dramas, thrillers, and heartfelt tales from the comfort of your homes. From undercover spies to glamorous girl bosses, Lionsgate Play has you covered on all ends. Be it a sneaky chef on ‘High Heat’ or a group of girls ready to ‘Run The World’, this July is packed with titles that will ‘One Up’ even your cloudiest days. So, pour yourself some hot chocolate and get your favorite snacks in order as Lionsgate Play is here to lift your spirits this gloomy July.    

Exclusive to Lionsgate Play

Movie Premieres

One Up – Release Date: 7 July 2023

They say video games are a ‘guy thing’, but these girls are here to prove you wrong. When Vivian’s gaming skills get her enlisted for a college scholarship, she’s stoked, until she learns about a competition against the male-dominated team. Tired of women being undermined in the esports world, Vivian recruits a group of professional girl gamers to prove once and for all, that she can do it all. Starring Ruby Rose, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Paris Berelc, and Hari Nef in titular roles, One Up is a riotous comedy that will leave you ever so empowered.   

Wrath Of Man – Release Date: 14 July 2023

Wrath of Man will be available on Lionsgate Play Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bhojpuri as well. Starring Jason Statham in the role of a cash truck driver, Wrath Of Man showcases the extent a father will go to for his son. Following his son’s death as part of collateral damage in a heist, Mason plans the long game to get revenge against the ruthless thieves. Centered on the fury of a grieving father, the movie includes Scott Eastwood, Josh Hartnett and Holt McCallany in pivotal roles alongside Josan Statham.  

Black Lotus – Release Date: 21 July 2023

An ex-soldier finds himself caught in a sticky situation when he learns that his late friend’s daughter has been kidnapped. Embarking on a mission to rescue her from the clutches of a criminal underboss played by Frank Grillo, he doesn’t know if he will succeed. With Rico Verhoeven, Marie Dompnier and Peter Franzén headlining this action thriller, it is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

The Promise – Release Date: 28 July 2023

Always keep your promises or they come back to haunt you, in this case, your loved ones. A friendship that started with a vow to end their lives together, results in Boum leaving Ib alone as she commits suicide. 15 years later, when Boum’s daughter is all grown up, Ib comes back to take her revenge. Starring Panisara Rikulsurakan, Namthip Jongrachatawiboon and Nichapalak Thongkham, this horror fest is going to keep you up at night.

Series Premiere

Run The World: Season 2 – Release Date: 28 July 2023

After a triumphant season one, Run The World is back with another season which is bigger, better and bolder. This American comedy follows three black women, Whitney, Renee and Sondi as they strive for global domination. Dealing with breakups, hook-ups and hardships, this trio is back to dazzle you with their resilience, ethic and fabulous clothes. Starring Amber Stevens West, Bresha Webb, Corbin Reid and Stephen Bishop, these girls will really rock your world.

Mumbai: This July, immerse yourself into the world of compelling stories with MX Player’s captivating MX VDesi line-up. The platform has kept the viewers glued to their screens by offering them content in multiple languages and across varied genres. Take a look at the mix of engaging and entertaining slate for July, which is just unmissable.

5th July 2023 – Legend of Fuyao

Legend of Fuyao is a Chinese fantasy drama about Meng Fuyao (Yang Mi), a young woman born from a divine lotus petal. At 16, she masters an invincible fighting technique and embarks on a journey to collect the secret talisman from five kingdoms that will gain her entry into a sacred land called the Firmament. On her journey, Fuyao falls in love with Crown Prince Zhangsun Wuji (Ethan Juan), who helps her to fight the powerful political forces along the way. With the support of her friends, can Fuyao unravel the dangerous conspiracy originating from the heavens and restore peace to the land? Witness this adventure and unravel the story ‘Legend of Fuyao’ streaming on MX Player in Hindi from 5 July 2023.

19th July 2023 – Ice Fantasy

Ice Fantasy is a Chinese fantasy drama. Hundred years after the war between the Ice Tribe and the Fire Tribe, the only two remaining royal heirs of the Ice Tribe struggle for power. Prince Ka Suo (Feng Shao Feng) and his younger half-brother, Yong Kong Shi (Ma Tian Yu), are the only pureblood illusionists and royal heirs left in the Ice Tribe. Ka Suo reluctantly battles his brother for the throne, but he wants nothing more than the freedom to be with his lover Li Luo. Kong Shi does everything he can to take the throne away from Ka Suo, while Yan Da (Zhang Meng), the only daughter of the Fire Tribe royal family, is willing to give up everything for Kong Shi. When both Kong Shi and Li Luo suddenly go missing, can Ka Suo protect his kingdom alone when another war breaks out? Watch ‘Ice Fantasy’ streaming on MX Player in Hindi from 19 July 2023.

22nd July 2023 -The Return (Kikyo)

‘The Return’ is a captivating Japanese samurai drama that follows the journey of a sickly outlaw who, after three decades of wandering, comes back to his birthplace. Upon his return, he decides to save a girl in dire straits. With his hardened skills and a sense of duty rekindled, he embarks on a mission to protect the girl and confront the injustices that plague his hometown. As the story unfolds, the ailing outlaw’s path becomes intertwined with the village’s fate, leading to a gripping tale of redemption, honor, and sacrifice. Watch ‘The Return’ streaming on MX Player in Hindi from 22 July 2023.

Mumbai: India is a country that is home to several religions. People tend to practise religious customs and traditions that are more often rooted in their culture. Religion has played an important part in preserving the customs and traditions of the nation and this is hardly unsurprising.

Over time and generations, there has been a steady decline in how the youth in the country perceive religion as a whole. This is mostly imminent in tier-one cities, where religion and customs have seen a substantial decline. However, the same cannot be said for youths belonging to tier II cities. There is more to religion that’s keeping a generation of people from one subclass of society engaged.

OMTV, World’s first Indic storytelling app, has recently conducted a survey on their 2500 users and came up with surprising revelations. The popular app showcasing content related to spirituality has declared that 80 per cent of viewership in the app comes from the 18-30 age group.

The result reflected most of the viewers are youngsters from tier-two cities, with Indore, Jaipur, and Kanpur emerging as the top cities in terms of user engagement. A popular web series called “Gita Stories” is the preferred choice among users.

Within the age group of 18-30, the majority of users (85 per cent male and 15 per cent female) belong to the Hindi-speaking market (HSM).

20 per cent  of respondents above the age of 30(adults), take less interest in religious-specific content, with 70 per cent male and 30 per cent  female respectively

The most-watched show on the OMTV app is “KALAM” – Gita Stories, which revolves around one of the true-life events of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Azad

Addressing the surge of the younger generation on the app, OMTV Founder & MD at  Nitin Jai Shukla said, “In today’s rapidly changing Indian society, the inclinations of the country’s youth towards religious content are noticeably shifting. Factors such as social media addiction, anti-India propaganda, urban anxiety, academic pressures, mental health concerns, and the disintegration of joint families contribute to this trend. Religious content acts as a bridge, allowing them to connect with their cultural and spiritual roots, imparting a sense of identity and heritage. Encouraging an inclusive approach to religious content while providing support in areas such as mental health, academic pressures, and career guidance will help the Indian youth navigate the complexities of the modern world while staying connected to their cultural roots”.

OMTV has recently collaborated with Phando Technologies to deliver a flawless streaming experience to its users. In a bid to captivate audiences, the app has also introduced an exhilarating series that delves into the rich tapestry of Sikhism, shedding light on its diverse aspects.

OMTV is a one-stop platform that covers content from all prevalent religions in India, including Hindu, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Sikhism among the major ones. This diversified approach addresses all the corners of different religions and evokes spirituality through various shows covering life lessons. Every individual has something to consume concerning their own customs and practices. Since its launch, the app has garnered over 45,000 downloads, showcasing its growing popularity among users.

Mumbai: How far would you go to protect your family? Promising an action-thriller like no other, Lionsgate presents to you its latest theatrical release Retribution premiering globally on 25th August in theaters near you. Known for his prowess in the action genre, director Nimrod Antal brings back the iconic Liam Neeson in a high-speed chase as he breaks the rulebook to save his family from an anonymous threat. Dropping his kids off, on a seemingly regular day, Matt Turner receives a bomb threat while on-route to his kid’s school. With his kid’s safety being the utmost priority, how will Matt fight his way out of this situation?

Talking about the official announcement and trailer release of Retribution, Lionsgate VP – licensing & content partnerships Gayathri Guliani said, “We are elated to bring Retribution to our Indian audiences on 25 August; the film is packed with everything a viewer looks for – action, thrills, and drama. After the stellar success of John Wick: Chapter 4 at the Indian box office, Retribution is the perfect addition to our theatrical line-up. With Liam Neeson’s popularity in India, we are sure the film is going to be an absolute treat for fans. Stay tuned for a lot more surprises this year as another exciting title from Lionsgate hits your nearest theater soon.”

Mumbai: NXTDIGITAL, the digital media division of technology-led customer experience company Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd. (HGS), have rolled out their Over The Top (OTT) service strategy with the launch of NXTPLAY, their TV and Mobile application. This will be an extension of the successful ‘ONEDigital’ combo service, where the digital distribution major offers linear television, wireline broadband and other services at competitive price points. 

NXTPLAY offers over 300,000 hours of local and global OTT content in the customer’s favourite genres and local languages. The app, which customers can download from the Google Playstore, is available for television and mobile phones and aims to fill content gaps accessible only through OTT channels. NXTPLAY enables a consumer to discover what content to watch, where to find it, and assess reviews. Consumers can browse content by topic, genre, source, and choice of language. Consumers can also add movies to their view lists and give ratings to the shows.

Commenting on the launch, NXTDIGITAL COO NK Rouse said, “For us, this is a continuation of one of our business principles centered around “Partnership for Growth”. We have always strived to provide our Digital Service Partners with innovative solutions for their customers. After digital TV via cable and HITS, broadband and other services like public WIFI and CCTV, adding OTT to our services portfolio was a natural progression – considering the surge in popularity of on-demand platforms in India. We’re sure our partners will be excited to engage with a wider universe of customers and build a new revenue stream through this.” 

NXTDIGITAL advisor Mukund Sharma said, “NXTPLAY is designed as a one-stop content discovery and data platform. The smart recommendation engines for varied content, ease of payment and affordable prices are the three pillars of the service, ensuring consumer delight and long-term customer engagement and retention. Our partners OTTPlay, SABOT, and PLAYFLIX bring 25+ immensely popular OTT platforms with diversified linear and non-linear streams of multi-genre, niche and special interest content.”

Mumbai: When the brilliance of the legendary novelist Agatha Christie and the inimitable artistic genius Vishal Bhardwaj converge, they promise a gripping ride of thrills and entertainment. Sony LIV is thrilled to bring an exclusive subscriber-only pilot episode preview of its original detective thriller from today. But it won’t be an ordinary debut, as the pilot episode will take subscribers on an interactive escapade.

Adapted from Christie’s celebrated novel, Sony LIV’s series is directed, co-produced, and co-written by Vishal Bhardwaj. In a unique interactive initiative, Sony LIV invites the audience to be a part of the creative process by co-creating the title of the baffling detective thriller. Additionally, after watching the pilot episode, users can help Charlie (the protagonist) solve the mystery by finding clues and identifying a character to dig deeper. So, grab your magnifying glasses and get ready to be a part of this thrilling adventure brought to you by Sony LIV.

The series is produced by Vishal Bhardwaj Pictures along with Priti Shahani’s Tusk Tale Films and in association with Agatha Christie Ltd. Along with Bhardwaj, the show is co-written by Anjum Rajabali and Jyotsna Hariharan. The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring Wamiqa Gabbi, Priyanshu Painyuli, Naseeruddin Shah, Neena Gupta, Ratna Pathak Shah, Gulshan Grover, Lara Dutta, Chandan Roy Sanyal, and Paoli Dam amongst others.

So, prepare to be astounded by the formidable minds and join Charlie’s course in solving the mystery from now!

Mumbai: The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has released the second phase of its research into differences between advertising in premium OTT and mass streaming video environments (UGC / video sharing services). While phase 1, completed in 2022, looked at consumer usage and attitudes towards advertising in both environments, phase 2 gauged consumer attention and recall to ads in both a premium and mass environment. Research was conducted between January to April 2023, and conducted by Milieu Insight.

In line with the findings from the first phase, phase 2 established that both product recall (10% uplift) and brand recall (12% uplift) were significantly higher for the same ads when shown in a premium OTT environment over a mass environment.

In terms of actions taken, from searching for more information about the product to visiting the brand’s website, reading reviews etc, there was not a notable difference between behaviour of those seeing ads in a premium or mass environment.  And given the higher recall, this still demonstrates that there are likely to be higher conversion rates from ads shown in premium environments.

Phase 1 of the research established that consumers clearly felt that premium OTT was higher quality (58% OTT vs 36% mass) and commanded higher attention than mass streaming video environments (49% OTT vs 35% mass).

Commenting on the findings, AVIA CEO Louis Boswell said, “The results are definitive and support what we have long felt obvious – ads that are shown in premium OTT services are more effective than those you see in a social media or video sharing services.  We believe there is a huge opportunity for brands to increase the efficiency of their advertising and rethink the allocation of spend across premium and mass video environments.  OTT is growing in leaps and bounds, and provides a unique and not sufficiently exploited opportunity for advertisers of all sorts to increase the efficiency of their campaigns.”

Mumbai: Sony LIV’s most loved gang from College Romance is back for one last time! Amidst movie nights, adventures, trips, job interviews, and heartfelt farewells, they confront their anxieties and insecurities, making their way into the real world in the finale. Will they stumble or stand tall as they step into the real world? Join them on a journey of friendship, self-discovery, and the triumph of embracing their madness!

Created by The Viral Fever and produced by Arunabh Kumar, College Romance season 4 is directed by Ashutosh Pankaj. The show features Gagan Arora, Apoorva Arora, Keshav Sadhna, Shreya Mehta, Nupur Nagpal, Jahnvi Rawat, and Eklavey Kashyap in pivotal roles.

Commenting on the show, Gagan Arora said, “College Romance has received a lot of love from the audiences since its inception. They have seen the characters mature through the years and have been fully invested in their journey as a gang, just like we have been. So, it is an emotional moment for all of us as we bring the final season. The viewers will surely be reminded of their senior year of college with this season as everyone will take important decisions and prepare to step into the real world. Our hearts are full and we can’t wait for the audiences to embark with us on this journey one last time! Watch the gang for the one last time on Sony LIV from 14th July.”

Mumbai: 93.5 RED FM, India’s leading private radio and entertainment network, is proud to announce the return of Hidden Files, an award-winning crime show aimed at raising awareness and combating cybercrime. Featuring a year-long show format, the Hidden Files will premiere on 1 July 2023.

Amit Dubey, an esteemed authority in the field of cybersecurity, will bring his expertise to the forefront as the host of Hidden Files. The show will incorporate a diverse range of elements, including social experiments, real-time scenarios, and cutting-edge hacks. Through these compelling segments, listeners will gain invaluable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of cybercrime, equipping them with knowledge and tools to protect themselves in the digital realm.

Speaking on this announcement, RED FM, and Magic FM director & COO Nisha Narayanan stated, “In the past year, we observed a wave of cyber attacks that were far more advanced than ever before seen. With massive data leaks and a new complicated threat landscape, it was a year that saw cyber criminals ascending their threat game. While our digital world becomes increasingly interconnected, therefore to protect ourselves we must seek expert advice. The series Hidden Files with cyber expert, Amit Dubey is our quantum leap in disseminating information about cybercrimes. It is Red FM’s endeavour as a broadcaster to educate the masses about the rising cyber crime cases in the country and keeping themselves protected. We believe by harnessing the power of research and leveraging the expertise of our host, the show will make a lasting impact on listeners.”

Each one-hour episode will premiere every Saturday, followed by a repeat broadcast on Sundays, ensuring that audiences have multiple opportunities to engage with the thought-provoking content.