Category: Over The Top Services

Mumbai: Brace yourselves for the ultimate clash of the titans as TECNO Mobile, the global premium smartphone brand, has joined forces with Skyesports, India’s leading esports tournament organiser, as the title sponsor for the Skyesports Champions Series (SCS). This epic ten-day Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) tournament is set to captivate gaming enthusiasts nationwide, featuring the crème de la crème of Indian esports teams vying for glory and a share of the staggering Rs 25,00,000 prize pool. 

The SCS pits fan-favourite esports teams including GodLike, Team Soul, Blind Esports, and more in an intense showdown. The tournament is the biggest esports event for BGMI ever since India’s beloved battle royale title was relaunched last month. TECNO POVA, with its impressive lineup of smartphones, will be directly touching the Zillennial gamers of the country through this tournament. 

TECNO Mobile India CEO Arijeet Talapatra commented, “As a smartphone brand driven by consumer insights, we strive to cater to the diverse needs of smartphone consumers from all walks of life. In line with the rapid growth of the gaming sector in India, where a significant portion of Zillennials now view gaming as both a leisure activity and a means of livelihood, we are dedicated to further enhancing our POVA lineup through upcoming launches. Our phased releases are aimed at empowering the unwavering determination of Zillenials who refuse to settle for mediocrity. By partnering with Skyesports, we take a significant leap forward in accomplishing this shared objective. This collaboration promises to foster a more thrilling online gaming ecosystem, and we eagerly anticipate a valuable partnership that will bring excitement and innovation to gamers across the country”. 

The Skyesports Champions Series BGMI has currently wrapped up with its intense five-day semifinals stage, which saw 24 teams compete for the 16 spots in the finals. Top squads like Orangutan, Blind Esports, and GodLike Esports have all booked their berths in the finals. Fan-favorite Team Soul also managed to push through into the finals after an impressive chicken dinner in the final game of the Semifinals. Only 30 matches separate the 16 teams to ultimate BGMI glory. 

The 16 Grand Finalists are Team Soul, GodLike Esports, Revenant Esports, Orangutan Gaming, Blind Esports, Obey Esports, Insane Esports, Gladiators Esports, Medal Esports, OR Esports, Team Misfits, 7Sea Esports, Velocity Gaming, Gods Reign, Reckoning Esports, and Team VST. 

From June 14 to 18, fans can tune into all the nail-biting action live on the official Skyesports Loco channel from 1 PM onwards. Additionally, the top teams of the Skyesports Champions Series (SCS) BGMI will be felicitated in an award ceremony fit for champions in Bangalore on  27 Aug. 

Skyesports founder and CEO Shiva Nandy said, “We are thrilled to partner with TECNO POVA for the Skyesports Champions Series, as we embark on a journey to bring a structured roadmap for BGMI esports with the return of the game through our original IPs. This collaboration signifies our commitment to providing a platform for the country’s top esports teams, while TECNO POVA’s cutting-edge technology resonates with the aspirations of gen z gamers. With our 16 finalists locked in, I wish them the best of luck as they vie for the coveted title of champions”. 

Mumbai: The Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) collaborates with the Music Composers Association of India (MCAI) and Animation and Entertainment National Council WICCI for their campaign, “The World Behind the Music.” This multi-leg initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the extensive efforts and boundless creativity that go into the making of music.

Music creators pour their time, energy, and passion into their craft, constantly pushing the boundaries of their creativity. Writing and composing music require not only inspiration and innovation but also dedicated hard work. The process of making a song involves hours of meticulous production, combining technical precision with emotional expression. It is a career that demands immense emotional investment as musicians pour their hearts and souls into their music, expressing their feelings and experiences through their work.

However, the seamless experience of well-crafted and flawlessly performed music often obscures the skill, practice, and effort behind it. The efforts Behind the Music often go unnoticed, leading to decreased respect for copyright, challenges in enforcing copyright, unfair use and licensing practices, financial losses for creators, and limited support for copyright protection.

As the world gears up to celebrate World Music Day on 21 June, IPRS aims to bring attention to the world behind the music through its campaign and multiple initiatives. This endeavor seeks to offer the audience a glimpse into the arduous process of creating a song, from the birth of melodies in studios to the long hours spent penning lyrics in music rooms.

The “World Behind the Music” initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage all music users to acknowledge the efforts that go into creating music, promoting fair pay and fair play for music. By shedding light on the intricate and laborious journey of every musical composition, this campaign aims to change the narrative surrounding music creation.

Commenting on the initiative, IPRS board member and lyricist Sameer Anjaan said, “Behind every song lies a world of imagination, where words become the voice of emotions and stories. Writing lyrics is a journey of discovery, where inspiration can strike at any moment. It is the late nights spent searching for the perfect rhyme, the endless revisions to find the right cadence, and the relentless pursuit of words that will truly connect with the audience. So, when you listen to a song, remember that the lyrics hold a universe of emotions and stories. There’s a lyricist who has poured their heart and soul into crafting words that can inspire, heal, and ignite a flame within you.”

“We want to put the spotlight on the creators and everything that goes behind making the creation truly magical!” said IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam. “Every song has a story, countless hours of hard work, and heaps of creativity behind it. It’s time we acclaim those behind the music and appreciate the incredible effort put into crafting unforgettable melodies and lyrics.”

Sharing her thoughts, WICCI National Animation and Entertainment Council president Soniya Lamba added, “We are excited to join hands with IPRS and MCAI for the remarkable campaign, ‘The World Behind the Music.’ This collaboration allows us to shed light on the extraordinary efforts and boundless creativity of music creators. Through this initiative, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the artistry involved in music creation, while advocating for fair compensation and recognition for all creators. Together, we celebrate the stories, emotions, and dedication that shape the world behind every captivating melody.”

IPRS’s initiative includes a range of activities designed to engage and enlighten music enthusiasts. Through extensive digital promotion, behind-the-scenes stories, testimonials, and anecdotes, insights will be shared to give audiences a deeper understanding of the creative process. Additionally, IPRS will conduct an exclusive digital series titled “In Creator’s Den with Mayur Puri,” featuring candid conversations with eminent creators, broadcasting live from their studios and music rooms. These conversations will delve into their favourite songs, introducing the audience to the craft, the toil, and the immense effort involved in music creation. The episodes will be available for live viewing on the IPRS YouTube channel.

In collaboration with the Animation and Entertainment National Council WICCI and the Music Composers Association of India (MCAI), IPRS will present an exclusive on-ground event titled “The Story of a Song” on World Music Day, 21 June. An enthralling experience where music and stories will merge will feature acclaimed creators unveiling the world behind the music through engaging conversations, providing insights into the making of their iconic songs, and highlighting the untold stories behind their creations.

Moreover, IPRS will host a seminar titled “Metadata Matters” in association with industry stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of accurate data related to music in the digital world. This session aims to enlighten all stakeholders in the music value chain about the impact of metadata and the role they play in its creation and management.

Through these initiatives, IPRS and its collaborators strive to bring about a mindset shift in the perception and consumption of music. By celebrating the emotional and artistic commitment of musicians and shedding light on the immense efforts involved in music creation, they aim to foster a renewed appreciation and value for music and those behind its making amongst audiences worldwide.

Mumbai: Acer has announced a mega gaming sale event across India, catering to gaming enthusiasts from 14 June to 18 June. The sale guarantees a wide range of exclusive offers, exciting giveaways, and the opportunity to win the coveted Predator Helios Neo i7 gaming laptop. Take advantage of enticing deals on gaming laptops and enjoy additional bonuses like mouse, headset, and Acer backpack bundles. Buyers can also win game codes of AAA titles, making the offer even sweeter.

The event includes walk-in giveaways where lucky visitors can win a fantastic bundle of a mouse, headset, and stylish gaming bag. With ten giveaways daily, the atmosphere will be filled with anticipation. There is also a grand lucky draw for the Predator Helios Neo i7 gaming laptop, which guarantees an immersive gaming experience.

In addition to the giveaways and lucky draw, Acer has special offers for buyers during the event. Lucky buyers can enter a daily lucky draw to win Acer monitors, enhancing their gaming experience.

To make the gaming event even more enticing, Acer has introduced irresistible deals on an extensive selection of gaming laptops.

Mumbai: TO THE NEW, a leading digital technology services company, is thrilled to announce its official accreditation as Roku’s third-party development partner. This prestigious accreditation underscores TO THE NEW’s deep technical expertise in Roku app development and an in-depth understanding of the Roku ecosystem.

This new partnership is another addition to the list of existing alliances that TO THE NEW has, with some of the best names in the over-the-top (OTT) platform development and engineering domain. Over the past 6 years, TO THE NEW has successfully developed and released over 100+ high-quality Roku apps that are focused on delivering immersive experiences and delighting their audiences. With their proficiency and expertise in the Roku ecosystem, TO THE NEW has delivered and deployed Roku TV apps across diverse market segments ranging from Entertainment, TV Commerce, IoT, Sports, News, Lifestyle, Travel etc.

“We are excited to join Roku’s Third-Party Development Partner Program, and we are delighted our engineering skills in OTT Product and Platform Development have received recognition once again by another market leader like Roku,” said TO THE NEW vice president & business head – media & entertainment Manish Sinha. “Our diverse experience of Roku app development and deep understanding of the Roku ecosystem allows us to build and deliver high-performance creative apps built to elevate the viewing experience and create tangible business value for our customers. Our cross-platform development expertise enables media companies to embrace connected experiences and digital ubiquity faster, giving them an edge in capturing viewer eyeballs. We are continuing our expansion of new platform capabilities to help media companies embrace change and foster innovation with pace and precision.”

Roku devices enjoy a dominant position in households worldwide for consuming streaming content from multiple sources. TO THE NEW will enable media players to deliver novel and connected viewing experiences to their consumers.

Mumbai: All true romantics, gear up as Amazon miniTV has curated another exhilarating classic romcom ‘Highway Love’. The Hindi original love story produced by BBC Studios, is built around an unconventional road trip bringing together two unlikely strangers destined for each other. Featuring Ritvik Sahore and Gayatri Bhardwaj in prominent roles, the plot centres around the journey of two individuals with contrasting ideologies, who cross paths and ignite a captivating romance. With plenty of highs and lows, the story steers through the diversions, detours, milestones, and pit stops of their romantic journey till they reach their destination.

Amazon miniTV head of content Amogh Dusad said, “We at Amazon miniTV, have always strived to present relatable, unique and engaging content across various genres to our audiences. Highway Love is light-hearted romantic drama series which brings an unconventional love story of two strikingly different individuals. Their love story, with its gripping twists and turns, is sure to make the audience fall in love!”

Commenting about the series, BBC Studios India general manager (production) Sameer Gogate said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Amazon miniTV for Highway Love, an unconventional romcom. This BBC Studios Hindi original further adds to our growing originals portfolio. We are certain that this romantic highway adventure, through its unexpected detours and inevitable pitstops, will tickle a romantic and nostalgic nerve in each one of us.”

Highway Love will premiere exclusively on Amazon miniTV for free, accessible with the click-of-a-button on Amazon’s shopping app and Fire TV.

Mumbai: Games24x7, India’s multi-game platform, has announced the elevation of Saroj Panigrahi as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). As the new strategic leader, Panigrahi will spearhead marketing and operations across all existing and upcoming platforms including RummyCircle and My11Circle.

Panigrahi has been an integral part of the Games24x7 team for over 15 years and has held multiple positions within the organisation playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s product strategy. In his most recent role, he has been instrumental in building My11Circle. Under his leadership, My11Circle has witnessed significant growth, offering an engaging and immersive experience to millions of users, making it a distinct #2 player in the fantasy sports business.

Commenting on the appointment, Games24x7 co-founder & co-CEO Trivikraman Thampy said, “Saroj has been an invaluable team member over the years, and has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic acumen and deep understanding of the user. His dedication and unwavering commitment to delivering extraordinary user experiences has not only elevated our platform but has also inspired our entire team. We are proud to have Saroj in this new leadership role, and excited about the limitless possibilities of innovation and growth that lie ahead.”

Panigrahi said, “There couldn’t be a better time to be in the rapidly growing sunrise sector of online gaming. I am truly honoured for this opportunity and the trust placed in me by the founders of the company. Throughout my journey, I have had the privilege to work closely with an exceptional team that embodies values of integrity, innovation and customer-centricity. Building upon the strong foundation and our remarkable journey in the industry, my goal is to drive forward the next phase of growth for our businesses at Games24x7.”

As the Chief Operating Officer of Games24x7, he will drive operational excellence, ensuring the seamless execution of key initiatives towards overall growth.

Mumbai: Korean content has captured the imagination of Indians across all age groups. One Take Media, one of the first content distribution houses to bring thousands of hours of Korean content in Hindi to India will now provide these K-dramas in south Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages.

One Take Media brings many award-winning Korean drama series in south Indian languages like Money Flower, She Knows Everything,  Mother, Emergency Couple, Flower of Evil, Goblin, I am not a Robot and many more.

“Korean content consumption in India has increased post the lockdown,” said Joint Managing Director Dimpy Khera, One Take Media. “We have certainly noticed the rise of K-Drama popularity in the south Indian diaspora. Indian viewers love to watch their content in their own language. We are happy to provide popular Korean dramas in Tamil, Telugu & Kannada to enhance their viewership experience.”

With evolving consumer behavior, One Take Media is determined to continue providing popular Korean dramas to the diverse Indian audience. All of these shows can now be accessed on Playflix – a content-streaming OTT app by One Take Media Co.

Apart from Korean dramas, OTMC also offers a wide library of Kids Animated series, Spanish shows, Turkish shows, Hollywood movies and more.

Mumbai: Audible Inc., the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, multiplatform content company Skybound Entertainment, and visionary media company Anonymous Content has announced the cast and premiere date for the second season of the epic post-apocalyptic drama, Impact Winter, debuting on 13 July. At its launch in February 2022, Impact Winter was Audible Plus’ #1 bestseller across all categories and the #1 Audible Original fiction bestseller in its debut week, in addition to taking the #3 fiction spot on Apple podcast charts. Following the incredible fan reception, Impact Winter’s third season has been officially greenlit. 

From executive producers of The Walking Dead and the writer of Pacific Rim, Audible’s groundbreaking vampire-apocalypse series is back. Eight years after a cataclysmic comet impact blotted out the sun and triggered an endless winter in which vampires rule the Earth, two sisters — one training to fulfill her apparent destiny as humanity’s savior, and the other finding purpose and her true self while protecting a group of survivors in her elder sibling’s stead — are confronted with an inescapable truth: even if they succeed in fending off the biggest threat to humanity’s future, they still have to face their fate.

“The hit first season of Impact Winter combined extraordinary storytelling with the highest-quality production value and performances. We’re delighted to deliver two new seasons of this powerful series that has captivated audiences across the globe,” said Audible Studios head Zola Mashariki. “With the addition of new characters and a similarly immersive soundscape, we are confident that this epic tale will continue to provide listeners with a uniquely entertaining experience.”

Returning cast members include Holliday Grainger (CB Strike, My Cousin Rachel), Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna), David Gyasi (The Diplomat, Interstellar), Caroline Ford (Carnival Row), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us, Game of Thrones) and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) who will all be joined by newcomers Sacha Dhawan (Doctor Who, The Great), Ralph Ineson (Game of Thrones, The Witch), Ellie Bamber (Willow), Danielle Galligan (Shadow and Bone) and Andrew Gower (Being Human, Outlander), amongst others. Skybound and Anonymous Content serve as co-studios on the project which is co-produced in collaboration with Cliff Roberts (The Midnight Sky). From Travis Beacham, the mind behind Carnival Row and Pacific Rim, season two of this ambitious series brings listeners a combination of masterful storytelling, incredible binaural audio, superb performances, and extraordinary world-building, to continue the immersive story that originally enchanted audiences in 2022.

Revisit season one of Impact Winter, now on Audible: audible.com/ImpactWinter. In addition, Impact Winter S2 joins Audible’s growing catalog of Originals Audible members can listen to immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos from the Audible app at no additional cost.

This upcoming Audible Original joins a powerful slate of original audio dramas including Audible’s first foray with Skybound Entertainment, the best-selling series Death By Unknown Event, narrated by Pamela Adlon; James Patterson’s The Coldest Case: A Black Book Audio Drama, a prequel to his #1 New York Times Bestseller The Black Book and performed by Aaron Paul;  the #1 New York Times best-selling audio fiction The Sandman from Neil Gaiman, performed by James McAvoy, Kat Dennings, Michael Sheen and a full cast; the highly anticipated sequels The Sandman: Act II; and The Sandman: Act III; The Dispatcher series from New York Times best-selling author John Scalzi; Carnival Row, set in the world of the Amazon Original series Carnival Row, created by Travis Beacham and René Echevarria; and many more.

Mumbai: Keanu Reeves returns to his most iconic role in the latest installment of the John Wick saga. After a tremendous performance at the box office, Lionsgate Play brings the Baba Yaga back to you as John Wick: Chapter 4 is set to make its digital premiere in India on 23 June 2023. With an ever-expanding cast of industry legends, the fourth film of the action franchise sees the return of some familiar faces in Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, and Laurence Fishburne, but also welcomes new ones.

Dishing out some interesting details on the John Wick series, this is what the charismatic Keanu Reeves has to say.

Speaking on the new cast of John Wick: Chapter 4, Reeves said, “Chad really hooked into this idea of trying to study John Wick through the situations of other characters, and he was really drawn to the good, the bad, and the ugly. And so enter Donnie Yen as Cain, and Shamir Anderson as the tracker, we have Hiroyuki Sanada, who I worked with on 47 Ronin, he has a daughter who’s working with him, and that’s the incomparable Rina Sawayama, and then the antagonist of the piece, the Marquis, Bill Skarsgard.”

Continuing on the story of the action film, Reeves added, “You’re kinda following their stories as they’re trying to get John Wick and, Cain and John Wick have a past, the tracker is kind of a younger character, who’s kind of outside of it was not an assassin but and gets kind of takes a deal to force to become an assassin. And these characters come after John. And then there are moments where we have to work together against the table. So that dynamic is a way of opening up the world. Who are these other characters that exist in this world? And then how do they interact with John? How does John interact with them?”

Mumbai: Indian theatre is embarking on an exciting new trajectory with some of the most celebrated Zee Theatre teleplays all set to stream via a world digital premiere on ZEE5 from 9 June onwards. The line-up includes the Gajraj Rao starrer ‘Gunehgaar’, the psychological drama ‘Kusum Manohar Lele’ starring Shweta Basu Prasad, and director Seema Pahwa’s star-studded literary anthology ‘Koi Baat Chale.’ These nuanced teleplays with relatable characters and truly extraordinary writing will now reach a diverse worldwide audience, courtesy of a digital platform with over 119.5 million monthly active users.  

ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra says, “As a content provider to millions of entertainment seekers, our focus has always been on the art of storytelling. And adding Zee Theatre teleplays to our content portfolio will only enhance our content library further. At ZEE5, our aim is to make teleplays easily accessible to the audience. We are hoping that this association with Zee Theatre helps us build the appetite for more such content.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises chief creative officer – special projects Shailja Kejriwal says, “Digital platforms have reshaped the creation and consumption of entertainment around the world and now theatre too has become a vibrant part of this ever-expanding content pool. It gives me great joy that the finest Zee Theatre teleplays will now stream on ZEE5 and become more accessible to not just the passionate patrons of live theatre but those who for some reason have not explored it yet.  As a brand, our mission has always been to mainstream Indian theatre as an entertainment option and this synergy will bring it closer to audiences worldwide.”

In June, ZEE5 will stream the Akarsh Khurana directorial ‘Gunehgaar,’ which pits the histrionics of veteran actor Gajraj Rao against the talent of young sparks like Shweta Basu Prasad and Sumeet Vyas. The teleplay revolves around three protagonists whose lives are interlinked mysteriously.  Prasad also stars in playwright Ashok Samel’s iconic play ‘Kusum Manohar Lele’ which is about devastating deception and one woman’s obsessive desire for a child. June will also bring to the audience all six episodes of Seema Pahwa’s acclaimed anthology ‘Koi Baat Chale’ with stories by Munshi Premchand, Saadat Hasan Manto and Harishankar Parsai. These classic stories will be read by Manoj Pahwa, Gopal Datt, Vineet Kumar, Vinay Pathak, Vivaan Shah and Sadiya Siddiqui.  

In the months to come, the brilliance of KK Raina, Purva Naresh and many more gifted theatre exponents will also be showcased.  ZEE5 currently streams multi-genre treats like Shadyantra, ‘Ladies Sangeet’, ‘The Relationship Agreement’, ‘Ok Tata Bye Bye’, ‘Court Martial’, ‘Shireen Shah’ ‘Savita Damodar Paranjape’ and ‘Internal Affairs’. These selections are part of the exhaustive library and are a true celebration of India’s theatrical riches that can be seen in over 190 countries.

Since 2018, Zee Theatre, India’s primary curation and archival platform has expanded the reach of Indian theatre and has aired engrossing teleplays for a discerning audience in search of something more substantial than what mainstream entertainment can offer. Now as ZEE5 takes its teleplays to a global stage, Indian theatre has finally come home in more ways than one.