Category: Over The Top Services

Mumbai: Orangutan emerged victorious in the recent Valorant Challengers League South Asia: Split 1 held in Delhi by Nodwin Gaming, winning a grand prize of $14,000. To secure victory, the team competed against some of the best esports valorant teams in India.

The tournament was a challenging one, with numerous obstacles that the team had to overcome. However, their dedication and hard work paid off, and they were able to come out on top. The team members expressed their happiness and pride in their accomplishment, saying that it was a moment they would always cherish.

“We are thrilled to have won this tournament and taken home the grand prize,” said Sabyasachi ‘Antidote’ Bose, captain of the team. “It’s been a long and challenging road, but we’ve always believed in ourselves, and we knew that we could do it. This victory is a testament to our hard work and dedication.”

The team’s success is a proud moment for their fans and supporters, who have been following them throughout the tournament. The team has expressed their gratitude to their supporters and fans for their unwavering support.

“We couldn’t have done it without the support of our fans and supporters,” said Orangutan founder Yash Bhanushali. “Their encouragement and belief in us have been instrumental in our success, and we are grateful for every single one of them.”

The team is now looking forward to the upcoming Valorant Challengers League South Asia: Split 2, where they hope to continue their winning streak and make their fans and supporters proud. The winner of this tournament would further go ahead and represent the nation in the Asian Championship.

“We are excited about the upcoming championship, and we are confident that we will be able to perform at our best,” said Mathanraj ‘The Doctorr’ Munisparan. “We have a great team, and we are determined to continue our winning streak and bring home more victories.”

Mumbai: The popularity of Netflix’s documentary “The Elephant Whisperers” has been evident both before and after its Oscar win, highlighting the ability of OTT platforms to build communities of viewers. This also emphasizes the significance of advertising strategies, especially programmatic advertising, in driving subscriptions.

The OTT industry is still in its customer acquisition and retention stage. Using programmatic user acquisition and unique targeting methods, Mobavenue, aN adtech and martech company, has helped OTT brands drive paid subscriptions, views, and retention.

All major OTT players are investing in original content and, in some cases, live sports streaming. Streaming services allow users to pay for only the content they wish to watch without committing to expensive long-term contracts. As a result, users can access quality sports streaming at competitive prices.

“We have seen streaming companies buying exclusive rights with popular sports such as cricket and football. The rise of these digital streaming giants breaking into the market will bring significant changes in audience behaviour. With more people now able to access quality streaming at an affordable price, there is no doubt that streaming giants will go big in 2023,” said Mobavenue Media Private Ltd co-founder and chief operating officer Tejas Rathod.

The OTT market still faces unique challenges, which require unique solutions too. In general, not everyone would continue paying for several memberships for an extended period. Although OTT brands are coming up with more affordable subscription plans, password sharing is still a prevalent issue, especially among GenZ and Millennials.

“GenZ and Millennials are more likely to sign up when something interests them to watch and cancel the subscription once they no longer need to watch. With subscriber growth stalling, streaming businesses will invest more in subscriber acquisition and retention. Our expertise leverages OTT platforms with a full-funnel approach in acquisition, retargeting, monetization, and promotion,” added Rathod.

The OTT segment is likely to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 14.1 per cent to reach Rs 21,032 crore in 2026. Subscription services, which accounted for 90.5 per cent of revenue in 2021, are projected to account for 95 per cent of revenue by 2026, as per a report by global consultancy firm PwC.

Mumbai: Come May 5, fireflies will swarm all over the TV screens. No, we are not prophesying a futuristic horror scenario, but talking about a one-of-its-kind web series on Zee 5 titled Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu. The series is Directed by national award-winning Hemant Gaba, with Animesh Verma as the showrunner, and produced by Amrit Walia, targets family audiences, including teens who are at a vulnerable stage in their lives and grappling with all kinds of problems.

“Our protagonist, Parth, is one such teenager who fails in his exams and is now in the same class as his bright, sassy younger brother. An object of derision and ridicule, he lives in the small Himalayan town of Bheem Mukteshwar and one afternoon, on his way home from school, lands up in the nearby forest, which is believed to be haunted by a Van Rakshak (Demon of the Forest) at that particular time of the year when a Sanjeevani tree, known to bring people back from the dead as evidenced by Lakshman’s resurrection in the Ramayan, takes root. He is followed back by hordes of fireflies,” shared Hemant.

“The series raises and answers queries of teens through the young Parth across ten episodes, using live-action and animation to not just entertain but impart some life lessons too,” added Hemant.

Renowned mythologist and author Devdutt Pattanaik is the script consultant of the series and American comic book writer who has worked extensively with DC and Marvel, Ron Marz is the script doctor, for this one-of-a-kind Indian fantasy drama.

The show has a talented ensemble. Besides Meet Mukhi, seen in Sony TV’s Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 2, who plays Parth, the show also features Riva Arora, popular from Colors’ Pavitra Bhagya, Zee’s Dance Bangla Dance Akshat Singh and other child actors Anaya Shivan and Aekam Binjwe. Priyanshu Chatterjee and Vineeta M Joshee play Parth’s parents, while Madhoo Shah is his wise grandmother. Varun, who made his Bollywood debut in Gangubai Kathiyawadi as Gangu’s love interest Ramnik Laal, brings in the romance with Zoya Afroze’s Nyasa. DJ-actor Luke Kenny plays a pivotal role.

“While Fireflies Parth Aur Jugnu is primarily for teens, it will appeal to their younger siblings, parents, and even grandparents because the issues it raises are very relatable across generations, and the lessons come out of not just age and experience but are imparted through tales from Indian mythology that like the fireflies light up the darkness in every way. That’s I think the USP,” said Madhoo Shah, who plays Nani in the series.

“The content for kids, especially teens is very far and few in our country and it is nice to be part of a series where all the family members can sit and watch it together without feeling uncomfortable. That was something that made me say yes.” added the actor who was earlier seen in the series Nail Polish with Arjun Rampal.

Mumbai: Business Today magazine has won two Best Spread Design awards and one Best Spread Illustration award from the  New York-based The Society of Publication Designers (SPD), in its annual awards for 2022.

The two Best Spread Design awards were awarded for two stories– On Cloud Nine and The Transformation of Nestlé – and the third award has been given to the story HR Turns SaaS-Y for Best Spread Illustration. Business Today competed with the likes of The New Yorker, The New York Times Sunday magazine, The New York Times Sunday magazine for Kids, Garden and Gun, The Economist, Fortune, and Fast Company, among others.

Commenting on the accolade, Business Today editor Sourav Majumdar said, “We are delighted that BT has won these prestigious design honours from SPD. Design is an integral part of a magazine, and at BT we believe that today’s reader demands a product which is an amalgam of both top-quality writing and high visual appeal. These honours spur us to do even better.” India Today Group group creative editor Nilanjan Das, of which Business Today is a part, said,  “In the world of business, Business Today is a path breaker. The design is intelligent and visually stunning, and we have shown it again and again by winning the best design awards around the world. Really proud to be leading such a talented design team.”

Business Today deputy creative editor Anirban Ghosh said, “I am very happy to get recognised and awarded by SPD, New York. It’s not just my win, but a win for the whole editorial team, the desk, reporters, our editors, and a lot of others who are closely associated with the entire process. Editorial design is not a process in isolation, it is teamwork. So it’s not only a design award, but the whole team deserves it.”

On Cloud Nine, a story by Nidhi Singal that was published in the 24 July 2022 issue of Business Today, spoke at length on the attempts of organisations to move into a multi-cloud environment, a complex and intricate technology setup that requires great expertise and brings extensive benefits. The visual played on the idea of cloud, and displayed nine benefits of multi-cloud computing to match the headline.

Also published in the 24 July 2022 issue of Business Today was The Transformation of Nestlé, written by Arnab Dutta, which spoke of how the food major rebuilt its reputation after the Maggi crisis and is now on its way to becoming a solutions company. “In this visual, we worked along the idea of a ‘Nest’, which is part of the classical logo of Nestle. We created a semi-circle around the logo to create a mood for the overall story. It’s like showing readers the tip of an iceberg and drawing them into the story,” said Ghosh.

The third award was given for Best Illustration Spread to HR Turns SaaS-Y in the 26 June, 2022 issue. The story by Vidya S. spoke of how SaaS start-ups are helping companies iron out kinks in their HR processes including in hiring, interviewing, employee engagement, and rewards & benefits, among other HR processes. On the design, Ghosh commented, “I wished to break the mold of usual design, mulled over AI, machines and so on. I tried something unusual not used in magazines, but in art galleries. I am grateful to my team for supporting such creative ventures. Such work helps break the monotony of typical design and breaks new ground.”

Business Today is India’s business news and analysis platform. In addition to the magazine, Business Today has an extensive network of digital channels, social media channels and television programming, with a combined reach of more than 20 million users.

Mumbai: India Today Originals is set to launch a new true-crime documentary series titled Dancing On The Grave that will be aired on Prime Video in India and across 240 countries and territories worldwide from 21 April. The show, which caters to a global audience with local content, is an unscripted investigative docu series that takes a deep dive into a bone-chilling crime – the murder of Shakereh Khaleeli–in the early 90s in Bangalore.

Produced by India Today Originals and directed by the talented Patrick Graham, Dancing On The Grave is a four-part docu-series that presents an unbiased perspective of the mysterious murder through exclusive interviews of the key characters in the events as well as by some who were at peripheries, the perpetrator himself and, unseen footage. Delving into a grisly real-life crime, the docu-series is about the disappearance and murder of Shakereh Khaleeli (maiden name Namazi), a well-known and wealthy heiress from a respected family.

The series promises to captivate audiences with its gripping storytelling and extensive research into the shocking murder. The docu-series goes beyond the already-known facts, digging deep into the murder that shook everyone 30 years ago.

India Today Originals, a part of India’s most credible media house, the India Today Group, is an original content hub that produces high-quality non-fiction series and features for streaming and audio platforms. The production house was launched as a part of the group’s expansion, leveraging its expertise in storytelling across various formats such as print, broadcast, radio, and digital.

Backed by an experienced team of correspondents, content writers, and directors hand-picked by the India Today Group, India Today Originals has built an extensive content pool for creating intriguing and stimulating stories that are informative and entertaining.

Dancing On The Grave is the second production by India Today Originals which has established itself as a producer of gripping, high-quality, true-crime content. Its first production, Indian Predator – Diary of a Serial Killer (Season II), currently streaming on Netflix features among the top 10 shows on the platform.

Mumbai: Enhancing the excitement of the ongoing cricket fever in India, GoLive Games, the country’s mid-core games publisher, has unveiled Cricket Stars, the nation’s first NFT-based cricket strategy esports game powered by Tezos.

Being the only NFT-based multiplayer game with no Pay-to-Play or Play-to-Earn model attached to it in the market, Cricket Stars offers players of all ages the opportunity to experience the thrill of cricket in a virtual format like never before. This game serves as more than just an interface for playing India’s popular sport as it also offers a platform for cricket fanatics to apply their strategic thinking and showcase their in-depth knowledge and passion as they approach this latest esports game.

Cricket Stars is based on a unique concept, presenting players with a range of six batting as well as six bowling card options to select from in each game. By utilizing their extensive knowledge of the game, the player has to pick the right batting card from the multiple options offered to score runs on their opponent’s delivery whilst also selecting the perfect bowling skill to bowl to dismiss their opponent. Moreover, Cricket Stars also provides users with the opportunity to win exclusive cricket bats and other prizes.

Speaking about the unique blend of cricket, Esports and NFTs made possible through cricket stars, GoLive Games founder Ravi Kiran said, ”We’ve poured our heart and soul into creating Cricket Stars, a game that we’re incredibly proud of and one that we believe will resonate with the nation’s gamers. With Cricket being a beloved sport with a global following and the Esports industry in India growing exponentially, we saw the opportunity of merging the two in order to create a truly unique and rewarding gaming experience for cricket aficionados all over the Esports world. Moreover, we believe that the integration of NFTs in our game represents the future of the industry, as it empowers players with true ownership and value in the virtual world. By leveraging the nation’s fiery passion towards cricket as well as gaming, we are confident that the game will become a groundbreaking success in the community and become a significant part of the country’s gaming ecosystem.”

The game not only takes cricket gaming to a whole new level with its engaging gameplay and card mechanics but also stands out as the only NFT-based cricket game in the Esports market that doesn’t require players to invest upfront in NFTs. Players can acquire batting and bowling cards in the form of NFTs at different levels of rarity – Rare, Epic, and Legendary – and utilize their unique features to compete against other players in real time through thrilling matchups, campaigns, or Esports tournaments.

The game’s NFT marketplace is powered by the Tezos Blockchain, allowing users with Tezos wallets to conveniently trade, buy, and sell their cards within the in-game store without the need for any cryptocurrency.

“We are thrilled to partner with GoLive Games to launch Cricket Stars, an exciting cricket strategy game with digital collectibles. This partnership marks an exciting step forward for the gaming industry and for the Tezos blockchain. Cricket fans will enjoy a deeply strategic game that tests their knowledge of the sport while collecting and trading cricket-themed NFTs that add a new dimension to the gameplay experience. We look forward to this partnership being a cornerstone of our shared commitment to make great games even better on Tezos, the best blockchain for games.” said Jeremy Foo, Global Head of Gaming at TriliTech and responsible for game development in Tezos Ecosystem, on their exclusive partnership with GoLive Games.

According to the ‘We, the sports fans of India’ report by Ormax Media, Cricket has more than 124.2m fans in India which is more than any other sport in the country by a considerable margin. Cricket isn’t just a sport in the nation but is considered a religion and people worship this sport.

On the other hand, the ‘India Games Market’ report by Niko Partners states that India had 396.4 million gamers in 2022 which will grow to reach 630 million gamers in 2026.

By merging the mania surrounding cricket with the ever-growing Esports industry of the country, Cricket Stars holds immense potential to cement its position as a leading Esports title in the country. The game is currently available to play on Google Play Store.

google play

MUMBAI: Prime Video is rolling out a new accessibility feature called Dialogue Boost, which has initially launched on select Amazon Originals worldwide. Dialogue Boost lets you increase the volume of dialogue relative to background music and effects, creating a more comfortable and accessible viewing experience that cannot be found on any other global streaming service.

While Dialogue Boost was built with the needs of customers who are hard of hearing in mind, anyone can use the feature to suit their personal listening preferences.

“At Prime Video, we are committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and enjoyable streaming experience for all our customers,” said Prime Video VP of technology and Amazon Studios Raf Soltanovich. “Our library of captioned and audio described content continues to grow, and by leveraging our technological capabilities to create industry-first innovations like Dialogue Boost, we are taking another step to create a more accessible streaming experience.”

This new feature that allows customers to self-select their preferred dialogue volume is the latest addition to Prime, where members in India enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership.

How Dialogue Boost works

Dialogue Boost analyzes the original audio in a movie or series and intelligently identifies points where dialogue may be hard to hear above background music and effects. Then, speech patterns are isolated and audio is enhanced to make the dialogue clearer. This AI-based approach delivers a targeted enhancement to portions of spoken dialogue, instead of a general amplification at the center channel in a home theater system. As a result, Dialogue Boost can be enjoyed anywhere the Prime Video experience is available.

How to find Dialogue Boost

During playback, customers can view and choose which level of Dialogue Boost they would like to use via the audio and subtitles drop down menu. The audio tracks are labeled “English Dialogue Boost: Medium” and “English Dialogue Boost: High.”

The detail page for a title will indicate whether Dialogue Boost is available.

Dialogue Boost availability

Dialogue Boost is available across all devices that support the Prime Video experience and offers a capability that was previously only available to customers with high-end theater systems, specialized audio equipment, or select smart TVs.

Customers can now access Dialogue Boost on select Amazon Originals including “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and Harlem, as well as movies including The Big Sick, Beautiful Boy, and Being the Ricardos. The feature will become available on additional titles this year.

Mumbai: A week after announcing the first winners of Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan, JioCinema announced the next ten winners who won a car each for TATA IPL 2023 matches played between 10 & 17 April. Somashekara PV from Hassan, Karnataka won the car during the Southern Derby between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings on 17 April.

New Delhi resident Mohammad Shahroz Khan and Munendra Kumar from Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, won a car during the Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders match and Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals match respectively on 16 April.  

Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings fixture on 15 April saw Ashok Kamble from Udgir, Maharashtra winning the grand prize while Sundarban’s Miraj Laskar won the car during the first match on Sunday between Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals.

Harry Brook’s scintillating century got Sunrisers Hyderabad a crucial away win against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 14, which also was a lucky day for Rakesh Kumar from Katra, J&K. Satya Prakash Gupta, a businessman from Hojai, Assam, won the car in the contest played during Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans on 13 April.

Lalhriatpuia Hauhnar from Aizawl, Mizoram, was elated that his experience of watching the match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals live on April 12 JioCinema turned out to be rewarding. On April 11, Mumbai Indians registered a dominating win over Delhi Capitals that saw Hajipur, Bihar resident Abhishek Kumar win the car playing Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan.

Jagdish Chandra Dhaker of Thukrai, Rajasthan hit the jackpot during the thrilling encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants on 10 April.

Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan is aimed to enhance the viewer’s experience while watching the TATA IPL on JioCinema vis-à-vis passively watching the league on legacy platforms. The contest offers viewers prizes like smartwatches, Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth neckbands, and wireless earphones, and a chance to win one car every match, among other prizes.

Mumbai: Web series have become one of the most popular sources of entertainment today. Looking at the enormous viewership that these web series enjoy, several production houses have released their original projects that have seen massive success among viewers. RVCJ Originals witnessed similar success with “Friends Request”, a three-episode mini-series launched on Youtube in 2021.

Exciting news for all the fans, RVCJ Originals has finally announced the “FRIEND REQUEST SEASON TWO” which will be a three-episodic series and a continuation of the previous season.

The gang (Vikram, Munni, Dheeraj, Aditi & Juhi) is back with a season two full of drama. Expect nothing less than a laughter riot with many new friends this year!  The second season introduces “Reyansh”, their rival, who is going to bring a lot of challenges in their lives. Tensions are at their peak as they compete against each other in the college election. But when an unfavourable situation arises for Aditi, things turn for the worse. Can the gang come together to overcome this new challenge, or will their friendship be tested like never before?

RVCJ Digital Media Pvt co-founder & CRO A. Aziz Khan. Ltd, “The response we got on Friend Request’s first season motivated us to plan the second season. However, we all know how much the audience has evolved in the past two years in terms of content consumption, so we wanted to come up with a fresh idea. And, I am happy to say that the wait was worth the result we got. It is finally time for Friend Request season 2 to hit the airwaves after a year of speculation and it has already been an enormous hit and has sparked a lot of lively conversation among friends, rivalry, love and all-over emotions. It is a power pack full of everything you can ever imagine and will make you laugh until you feel dizzy.”

MUMBAI: Prime Video, India’s entertainment destination, has released the latest session of Maitri: Female First Collective. The collective is an endeavour to help build a community for women from media and entertainment as a safe place for them to come forward and discuss their experiences, challenges and successes, and offer their perspective and advice on how to bring about a positive shift. The latest session was graced by six women professionals from Indian entertainment – from superstars to contemporary women, producers and corporate leaders – coming together on this forum with a collective experience of over 100 years. The discussions primarily focussed on the struggles and ambitions of women in Indian cinema, evolution of these challenges, resolutions sought and processes adopted to create a more equitable and inclusive ecosystem. 

Moderated by the creator and curator of Maitri, Smriti Kiran, the participants comprised Aparna Purohit, Creator – Maitri & Head of India Originals, Prime Video; Asha Parekh, Actor; Tanuja, Actor, Dipa De Motwane, Producer; Aditi Rao Hydari, Actor; and Wamiqa Gabbi, Actor.

Watch the latest session of Maitri: Female First Collective here –

Sharing deeply personal stories and experiences, the participants discussed the challenges faced by women professionals in the industry, be it in films, streaming, or television – covering aspects such as conscious and unconscious biases, gender stereotyping, safety, sanitation for women and much more. The presence of two of the most talented and revered female actors – Asha Parekh and Tanuja – who have seen the industry evolve over the years, made the session even more insightful.  From touching upon the era when the term ‘superstar’ was often reserved for male actors, when very few stories and characters depicted women at the forefront, to a time and age when women have finally started speaking about the issues that matter to them, the latest session of Maitri was a holistic discussion that brought to the fore issues that concern women across all age groups.  Actors Aditi Rao Hydari and Wamiqa Gabbi, who play lead characters in Amazon Original series Jubilee, offered their perspectives and experiences of working in the modern-day film industry. Producer of the show, Dipa De Motwane, who has been part of this industry for a long time, threw a fresh perspective on how the work situation for women in cinematography, production, technical areas of filmmaking, etc., has changed over time. She also elaborated upon the opportunities being created for female talent, in-front of, as well as behind-the-scenes, to grow and prove their mettle. 

Highlights from the latest session are now available: 

The discussion was underpinned by the respect and camaraderie the attendees demonstrated, as they collectively agreed that to power the growth of the industry, it is imperative to have more women in decision-making roles, who in turn can ensure wider and more equitable work opportunities for women across the helm, and to create an environment that is safe and secure for women to pursue their dreams unequivocally.

Prime Video is deeply committed towards promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within its content and productions, as well as with its partners in the creative community. With Maitri: Female First Collective, Prime Video aims to raise awareness of the pivotal role women play within the entertainment industry.