Category: Over The Top Services

Mumbai: Marketers have to keep up with new ways of winning the consumer with the rapid adoption of digital commerce, the ever-changing media consumption habits and the rise of D2C brands putting pressure on legacy FMCG brands. In today’s competitive market, every aspect of digital marketing is improving and brands are looking for deeper deterministic audience segmentation to boost in-target audience reach. The pace of innovation is fast and everyone in the ecosystem is looking for smarter collaboration and solutions. India’s number one OTT platform, MX Player has partnered with Vserv AudiencePro to enhance its audience stack and provide advertisers with richer audience segments and an evolved marketing solution. This partnership is a game-changer for brands and brings cutting-edge solutions with simplicity at its core – be it unlocking new audiences or finding innovative ways to retain existing customers, it addresses both sides of the coin.

This partnership presents two new avenues for advertisers to unlock the potential of MX Player:

1.    Brands can now choose from over 700 deeper deterministic segments from AudiencePro like grocery shoppers, credit score, modern trade offline shoppers, travel transactors & many more for sharper reach to unlock new audiences with frequency campaigns on MX Player. AudiencePro segments have delivered higher performance metrics on video campaigns for a variety of brands like Nykaa, Coke, Bajaj Haircare, Dettol, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, ID Fresh, etc across many platforms. Brands across diverse sectors like FMCG, BFSI, Fintech, Retail, OEM, etc. can now leverage the power of content & core target audience with the massive scale of MX Player with AudiencePro segments.

2.    Leveraging  AudiencePro Insights, MX Player will now be able to offer brands with first party data deeper insights into content consumption and over 700 transacting behaviour points of their consumers. This will bring unique insights to the forefront and help brands construct smarter creatives to make their remarketing campaigns more personalised on MX Player. Eg. MX Player content insights like Night Owls Segment + AudiencePro Food and grocery buyer segments + first party segments of the advertiser will now allow a QSR brand to run smarter segmented campaigns on MX Player with highly relevant creatives.

Similarly, for D2C brands seeking sharper segmentation, the partnership creates a secure, cost-effective way to invest in brand building. With this partnership, the brand’s requirement of secured activation of first party segments remains front and centre. The AudiencePro DCR (data clean room) enables MX Player to onboard advertisers hashed/encrypted first party segments in a neutral & secured environment, providing complete transparency and an audit trail for brands.

Vserv AudiencePro VP Saurabh Khanna said, “The combination of quality reach & scale, sharper audience segmentation, and cutting-edge data-driven solutions presents a compelling proposition for brands. MX Player & Vserv AudiencePro partnership brings this unique combination to the forefront thereby opening new avenues for brands to unlock new audiences or do smarter remarketing”

MX Player spokesperson said, “As one of the largest content platforms in the market, we are at the forefront of innovation and are constantly looking for ways to improve our offerings for advertisers. AudiencePro platform has established credibility in delivering quality segmentation to a range of brands. Our integration and partnership with them empowers us to offer more comprehensive audience segments and offer advertisers an evolved marketing solution that leverages data for deeper audience insights.”

Mumbai: Amazon miniTV – Amazon’s free video streaming service is bringing back the new season of the widely popular family drama Yeh Meri Family. Set in the 90s, the first season garnered immense appreciation for its fresh, nostalgic, and sweet storyline that takes you down to the golden era. Taking the storyline ahead, the new season with a fresh ensemble featuring Juhi Parmar, Rajesh Kumar, Hetal Gada, and Angaad, the series is set to go live on the service starting 19 May 2023.

Making her OTT debut with this season of Yeh Meri Family, Juhi Parmar is ready to entertain her fans with her portrayal of a woman balancing her life as a mother and wife in a middle-class family during the 90s. A schoolteacher, a homemaker, and a mother – Neerja Awasthi, played by Juhi Parmar in this series is a jack of all trades. Like every TV serial from the 90s, Neerja has her own chemistry going on with her mother-in-law which is extremely endearing in its own way. With her own battles at home, Neerja tries very hard to help the kids in her class who are not very fond of her because she doesn’t grade them well to what they believe. She is quintessentially the anchor of the family, who loves her near ones to the bits and plays a sensible, sharp and the perfect homemaker. 

On being asked about her character, Juhi said, “Neerja is a very relatable character for many Indian women. I am glad that my OTT debut is with the new season of Yeh Meri Family which is a slice of life lighthearted show. The premise of the show is extremely endearing and I am sure the viewers will relate to it as well. It’s the kind of content I would love to watch myself, a family show with emotions, laughter and entertainment. A lot of nostalgia will kick in as even while shooting it we were all taken back to the golden era of the 90s. I am sure people will simply fall in love with the Avasthi family. For me Yeh Meri Family is extra special because it’s the kind of content that reaches the heart. I am excited to see my audience’s reaction to see me in a completely new avatar.”

The new season of Yeh Meri Family is scheduled to release exclusively on Amazon miniTV, for free within the Amazon shopping app and on Fire TV on 19 May, 2023.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by amazon miniTV (@amazonminitv)

Mumbai: JioCinema, the official digital streaming partner of TATA IPL 2023, has set a new streaming record with its IPL viewership. The platform’s viewership numbers have been growing rapidly, and the latest IPL season has broken all previous records. The average user time spent on JioCinema per IPL match has surpassed 60 minutes, a feat that is comparable to linear TV, which remains in the range of 60 minutes, as per the report by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).

JioCinema has announced that it clocked over 1300 Crore video views in the first five weeks of the tournament. This milestone indicates the growing popularity of the platform among users who prefer to watch their favourite content on the go.

Last week, the TAM Report revealed that Connected TV (CTV) advertising spots have been increasing every week during the ongoing season of IPL. According to the report, CTV ad spots have demonstrated a consistent growth trend, increasing from 78 spots (average ad spots per match) in week 1 to 94 spots (per match) in week 4, which represents a 20 per cent growth. TATA IPL 2023 on Connected TV has reached twice the number of viewers than that on HD TV. This indicates the growing trend of viewers preferring the convenience and flexibility offered by CTV platforms.

The number of sponsors during IPL’s digital streaming has reached 25, the highest ever for any sporting tournament.

As JioCinema continues to set new records, it remains committed to providing the best possible IPL experience to its users.

Mumbai: Ayushmann Khurrana, an actor-par-excellence and a certified sneakerhead, has taken it upon himself to deliver a crucial public service announcement (PSA) aimed at those who fail to comprehend the fascination surrounding sneaker culture. The popular actor has come out in support of sneakerheads who are often ridiculed and judged for buying expensive pairs of sport shoes and sometimes even old ones!

In his compelling PSA video, Ayushmann passionately emphasises that being a sneakerhead goes beyond a mere lifestyle choice—it is an emotion that resonates deeply. He highlights how this shared passion unites individuals from diverse backgrounds worldwide, on a collective journey towards greatness. With genuine enthusiasm, Ayushmann urges viewers to delve into the rich legacy of sneakers, encouraging them to watch the captivating film AIR, directed by the talented Ben Affleck, exclusively available for streaming on Prime Video in India.

The film chronicles the unbelievable game-changing partnership between Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division, which revolutionised the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. Concluding the video, the actor says on behalf of all sneaker lovers, “A shoe is a shoe until greatness steps into it.”

The film stars Ben Affleck, who also dons the hat of the director, along with Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, and Matthew Maher in lead roles. Produced by Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, Mandalay Pictures, and the first project from Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, the movie is streaming exclusively on Prime Video in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Mumbai: TIPS Industries Ltd (Tips Music), a leading Indian music label which creates and monetises music, announced its financial results for the quarter & financial year ending 31 March 2023.

Key financial performance:

Key financial highlights:

1.    Highest ever quarterly revenue growth. Revenue for Q4 FY23 was Rs 52 cr, a growth of 52 per cent y-o-y and 2 per cent q-o-q. For FY23 revenues stood at Rs 186.8 cr up by 38 per cent y-o-y.

2.    The content cost for the year was Rs 62.4 cr which has risen by 95 per cent over the previous year and for Q4 FY23 the content cost was Rs 19 cr, up 120 per cent y-o-y.

3.    For FY23 the company released 896 new songs from which 240 new songs were released during Q4 FY23. Out of 240 new songs, 141 were new film songs and 99 non-film songs.

4.    Latest releases including PS-1, performed exceptionally well. Two songs of Freddy have crossed over 55 million views, and the Yo Yo Honey Singh “Yai Re” has crossed over 35 million views.

5.    YouTube subscribers now stand at 82.1 million. For FY23 YouTube views were 112.7 billion up 89 per cent y-o-y while for Q4 FY23 views were 33.6 billion, which is a growth of 105 per cent y-o-y.

6.    Successfully completed buyback of the maximum permissible amount of Rs 40.1 cr during the year. Also, the board has recommended a dividend of Rs 0.5 per equity share taking the FY23 payout ratio to 60.8 per cent (buyback + dividend).

Commenting on the results, chairman & MD Kumar Taurani said, “I am thrilled to announce that we have had an eventful and successful quarter. We have reported our highest ever quarterly sales growth. This achievement is a result of our dedication to providing must have hits to listeners. On the business front, we have released 240 new songs during the quarter, including 141 new film songs and 99 non-film songs. Our latest releases, including PS-1, have performed exceptionally well. We are proud to say that we have been consistently gaining market share and improving our rankings. We are confident that we will continue to do so in the future and are committed to providing the best products and services to our customers. We have also successfully completed a buyback of the maximum permissible amount in this quarter and recommended a dividend of Rs 0.5/share (post-split), which is the highest ever in our company’s history. The buyback and the dividend cumulatively bring our payout ratio to 60.8 per cent for FY23, which is a testament to our commitment to creating value for our shareholders. We are grateful for the support and trust of our stakeholders and are committed to creating sustainable value for all stakeholders.”

Mumbai: It looks like the big-talking Shane Smith-promoted Vice Media group is making its way to the junkyard. Once valued at $5.7 billion, the media firm has recently filed for bankruptcy and is seeking protection under Chapter XI. Its assets are being sold to a consortium of its lenders that includes Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management, and Monroe Capital.

On Monday, Vice Media filed for bankruptcy. It is facing financial challenges due to the changing landscape of digital media. Despite this bankruptcy filing, Vice Media intends to continue its daily operations without any major disruptions.

The bankruptcy filing includes Vice Media and its affiliated entities, such as the ad agency Virtue, the Pulse Films Division, and the women-focused site Refinery29. These entities are all part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

In an effort to acquire Vice Media, a group of investors, including Fortress Investment Group and Soros Fund Management, has submitted a bid of $225 million. This amount is expected to cover existing loans and help absorb some of the company’s significant liabilities. If the bid is successful, it could provide Vice Media with the opportunity for a fresh start.

Throughout the sale process, Hozefa Lokhandwala and Bruce Dixon, the co-chief executives at Vice Media, will continue to remain in their positions. The sale is anticipated to be finalized within the next three months, paving the way for a potential new beginning for Vice Media.

Mumbai: Dream11, the world’s largest fantasy sports platform, has appointed Priyanka Kodikal as their chief design officer (CDO). She joins Dream11 from WhatsApp, where she headed design for the consumer app and led a large number of initiatives including core experiences across calling and messaging, to launching high-quality products.

Kodikal returns to India after over two decades of a stellar career in the US where she worked for global brands. The spurt of new-age companies across Indian technology and other sectors backed by rapid digitalization, favourable policies by the government, and regulators like Make in India and Digital India coupled with a strong growth momentum has been instrumental in making the country an attractive hub for jobs.

Commenting on the appointment, Dream11 & Dream Sports CEO & Co-Founder Harsh Jain, said, “We are delighted to have Priyanka join us as our Chief Design officer. Her appointment aligns with our commitment to hire the best global talent and develop Mumbai as a tech hub. Priyanka will be responsible for growing our design team and will play an integral role in helping all our portfolio companies with their design philosophy and execution.”

Kodikal added, “I’m extremely passionate about building products that are intuitive and delightful to use. I’m excited to explore the world of sports tech and look forward to working with a great team to elevate the experience for our users.”

Kodikal will be based in Mumbai and will report to Jain.

Mumbai: Can love be truly blind, even when you jump in with eyes-wide open? Lionsgate Play brings you another compelling watch, with its latest psychological-thriller, Alice, Darling streaming exclusively on the platform in India on 26 May. Starring Anna Kendrick in a titular role alongside Charlie Carrick, Kaniehtiio Horn, and Wunmi Mosaku, the film follows Alice, through an abusive relationship where she’s forced to see her boyfriend for who he really is. When her best friends stage an intervention, an unwitting Alice faces the harsh reality she was desperately running away from. Carefully touching upon the subject of emotional abuse and domestic violence, Alice, Darling is a revelation on the masked and hidden issues of society.

Sharing what drew her to the film, actor Anna Kendrick said, “There was something about Alana’s writing that felt so poetic and restrained. I was really interested in telling a story about a toxic, abusive relationship that didn’t look the way that it’s always kind of been portrayed in movies. And the way that Alana wrote this woman’s inner turmoil, and the subtle, but very rewarding journey that she goes on, very much intrigued me.”

Talking about abuse, Kendrick further added, “I feel like everybody’s been touched by this kind of confusing, very insidious abuse – whether it’s happened to you or a friend of yours, you’ve seen someone in your life start to shrink and start to look and feel suffocated, and you’re not sure what’s going on. It’s this very unsettling feeling – you don’t know what you can say, how you can help.”

Mumbai: Virat Kohli, in partnership with Trion, has launched the first ever one8 Fitness app, which aims to transform and revolutionise the fitness industry by offering personalised workout programs and supporting users to achieve their fitness goals. The app is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms.

The one8 Fitness app has been designed keeping in mind the needs of fitness enthusiasts who want to train anywhere, anytime. The app features personalised workout programs that adapt to the user’s fitness level and personal preferences and is designed to accommodate those new to fitness as well as those with advanced training backgrounds. Capable of creating more than one billion unique workout combinations, the app offers immense variation and provides a fun and highly progressive experience. With support for a wide range of training types, ranging from strength to mobility and athletic performance, the app effectively enables users to take their fitness game to the next level at the gym, at home or wherever they are.

The one8 Fitness app also offers an exciting and unique feature that sets it apart from other fitness apps – the motivation from Kohli himself. Through the app, users have the opportunity to get motivational messages whilst training and access exclusive content of Virat and his passion for fitness. The app also offers special discounts from one8 and its partner brands including Puma, one8 Commune, one8 Select, Hyperice and Ocean Beverages, making it a complete fitness solution for users.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli)

Speaking on the launch, Kohli said, “I have always been passionate about fitness and have personally experienced the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. With the one8 Fitness app, I aim to provide a platform that encourages people to make fitness a part of their daily routine. The app’s smart backend system creates personalised workout plans that cater to users’ individual needs, making fitness more accessible to everyone.”

“We are excited to expand our portfolio of innovative products and services with the launch of the one8 Fitness app. With Virat Kohli onboard, we aim to revolutionise the fitness industry and provide users with a personalised fitness experience. We believe the app has the potential to disrupt the market and become the go-to fitness app for millions of users worldwide,” said Cornerstone Sport COO Jogesh Lulla.

Trion CEO Tom Liljefors said, “As a technology company, we are proud to partner with one8 to develop its first ever fitness app, which represents the future of digital fitness solutions. Our team has worked tirelessly to create an app that provides a truly unique workout experience that is both fun and effective. With Virat’s guidance and expertise, we have been able to deliver a product that will engage fitness enthusiasts of all levels. The launch of the one8 Fitness app marks a significant milestone for Trion and a big step forward in our vision of making high- quality fitness guidance more accessible and dynamic. And this is just the beginning, there’s much more to come!”

The monthly subscription for the one8 Fitness app starts from as low as Rs 199 making it affordable for everyone. Download the app today and take your fitness game to the next level.

Mumbai: FirstPost, India’s leading digital news platform, has witnessed a massive 673 per cent growth in YouTube views since the launch of managing editor Palki Sharma’s show, ‘Vantage’ in late January this year. The show has been a game-changer for the platform, as it captivated global audiences with its gripping content.

The YouTube channel of FirstPost has garnered viewers from all over the world, with over 60 per cent of its audience coming from international locations.

Despite being a new entrant in video content production, the platform’s video pivot is paying off in the form of this remarkable growth. The YouTube channel of FirstPost had 11 million views in January, and following a staggering 673 per cent growth in video views, it reached an impressive 85 million views in April. The channel has also crossed one million subscribers on YouTube, cementing the platform’s position as one of the world’s top digital news platforms.

“The tremendous growth of FirstPost is proof that there is a growing audience for meaningful news content. The numbers give us the confidence to stay the course in an otherwise challenging media business environment. In the weeks ahead, we’ll introduce new offerings, as we continue to reimagine storytelling, disrupt formats and reach out to a diverse multimedia audience,” said  FirstPost managing editor Palki Sharma.

FirstPost recently launched two additional shows on its YouTube channel. ‘Flashback,’ which airs on Saturdays at 8 PM, narrates the story of significant historical events in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. ‘Between The Lines,’ which airs on Sundays at 8 PM, goes beyond the usual headlines to provide audiences with the untold story.

Catering to a global audience, Vantage covers the biggest news stories from a 360-degree perspective, giving viewers a chance to assess the impact of world events through a uniquely Indian lens. The show goes beyond the headlines to uncover the hidden stories – making Vantage a destination for thought-provoking ideas. Vantage was launched on 26 January this year and aired Monday to Friday at 9 PM IST on FirstPost.com and Firstpost’s YouTube channel.

Firstpost