ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • SuperGaming launches web3 tower defence game Ethernia

    SuperGaming launches web3 tower defence game Ethernia

    Mumbai: SuperGaming has revealed Ethernia, a new web3 game for PC and mobile playable in October 2022. In Ethernia players assemble a squad, wage battles, and strategise their way to victory.

    Ethernia has been in development since the beginning of 2022. It’s a part of SuperGaming’s multi-year, multi-game endeavour to change how games are played while staying true to the company’s player-first and community-driven approach honed since its inception.

    With Ethernia, SuperGaming hopes to solve one of the key issues plaguing this nascent ecosystem—most web3 games aren’t even games or fun. In addition to this, it said that it has combined its expertise in free-to-play with the power of web3 to elevate our player-first approach, allowing our players to own assets earned while playing.

    The company said that in web3 games, the economy is as important as the gameplay itself. Ethernia’s economy has been designed to ensure a sustainable game that’s in line with SuperGaming’s ethos of making games people play for years.

    SuperGaming VP of product Venkat Chandar said, “Our vision when we set out to build Ethernia was to have a long-term sustainable economy that’s resilient and in-line with player needs. The economy in Ethernia heavily focuses on the players and is created with them in mind. We hope this makes Ethernia a self-sustaining and thriving economy for all.”

    Ethernia is powered by the Polygon blockchain. It resonates with SuperGaming’s vision of having a sustainable and thriving economy, along with low gas fees and a network that aims to make it a seamless experience for players of Ethernia.

    The waitlist for Ethernia is open now on the game’s official site, with over 1,50,000 players signed up in the first week. Waitlist rewards include 500mETN, the native token for Ethernia.

    More details regarding Ethernia’s Whitepaper and Tokenomics will be revealed in the run up to the October 2022 release, along with several contests and airdrops. Fans can also expect a deeper look into its factions, lore, and gameplay.

  • Western Europe continues to witness growth; adds 73 mn Svod subscribers

    Western Europe continues to witness growth; adds 73 mn Svod subscribers

    Mumbai: Western Europe will have 238 million Svod subscriptions by 2027. The figure has increased from 165 million by end-2021. Six US-based platforms will account for 81 percent of all Svod subscriptions by 2027.

    Netflix will have 62 million subscribers by 2027 – three million more than 2021. Subscriptions are flat for 2022 mainly due to increased competition. Netflix’s share of the total will fall from 36 percent in 2021 to 26 percent by 2027.

    Disney+ will have 46 million subscribers by 2027 – 20 million more than 2021. Newcomer Paramount+ and SkyShowtime will add 11 million subscribers and HBO Max will bring in an extra 5 million.

    Western European Svod revenues will total $25 billion by 2027 – up from $16 billion in 2021. The UK will remain the Svod revenue leader.

    Digital TV Research principal analyst Simon Murray said, “Netflix will slowly lose Svod revenues as we assume that it will convert its cheapest tier to a lower-priced hybrid Avod-Svod tier. Any Svod revenue shortfall will be covered by its Avod revenues. Netflix will remain the Svod revenue winner, although its share of the total will fall from nearly half in 2021 to a third in 2027.

    “We do not expect many more price rises due to the intense competition. We assume that Disney+ will follow its US example by converting its present tier to a hybrid Avod-Svod one and charging more for SVOD-only tier,” Murray added.

  • D23 Expo 2022: Disney theme parks announces new additions to Avengers Campus, including ‘King Thanos’ & ‘A Multiverse Battle’

    D23 Expo 2022: Disney theme parks announces new additions to Avengers Campus, including ‘King Thanos’ & ‘A Multiverse Battle’

    Mumbai: At the recently concluded Disney fan convention, D23 Expo, presented by Visa in Anaheim, California, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products chairman Josh D’Amaro shared a look into the future for Disney theme parks and beyond. Highlights included the expansion of Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort with a third attraction; a first look at the Disney Treasure, the next ship joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet; a closer look at Frozen-themed lands coming to three park destinations around the world; and a behind-the-scenes look at the blue-sky brainstorming of Walt Disney Imagineers.

    “There’s no limit to where we are going. When I look back over our first 100 years, what jumps out at me is how we are just constantly reinventing ourselves, telling new stories for brand-new generations. You all know this: We need those stories more than ever. And that’s a lesson we take straight from Walt. He believed in the power of storytelling,” D’Amaro said.

    New stories coming to Disneyland Resort: D’Amaro was joined on stage by executive producer and Disney Legend Jon Favreau, who shared a first look at the Mandalorian and Grogu, two new characters whom guests will encounter at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, starting in mid-November.

    Then, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige shared how the Avengers Campus at Disney California’s adventure park will expand the multiverse with a third attraction, along with the debut of the Incredible Hulk, who will appear in his Quantum Suit at Avengers Campus in California beginning next week for a limited time. The new attraction will allow guests to join in battle with the Avengers, which means facing foes from anywhere and everywhere, including a new threat, King Thanos, a multiverse variant designed specifically for Avengers Campus.

    “The fun thing about Marvel is [seeing] all of the characters, all of the time—and with the multiverse at Avengers Campus, you’re going to be able to do that,” Feige shared, before showing a rendering of King Thanos. “This is a new version of Thanos for the very first time coming into the MCU via this attraction. He’s got a cool white beard, too, and a crown. This is Thanos that won, and the Avengers aren’t too happy about that. And you have to help them,” he explained.

    Just around the corner from Avengers Campus, Pacific Wharf will be re-imagined as San Fransokyo from the Oscar-winning Disney Animation film “Big Hero 6,” complete with a place to meet Baymax as well as new spots to eat and shop.

    Meanwhile, over at Disneyland Park, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will invite guests into a cartoon world where toon rules apply, and Mickey’s Toontown will step into a new era of inclusive experiences for families of all ages when it opens in early 2023.

    “We are going to celebrate Mickey, Minnie, and their best pals in a whole new way in ToonTown at Disneyland Park,” D’Amaro said before sharing concept art with the audience.

    D’Amaro also said progress continued on the reimagining of the Paradise Pier Hotel into Pixar Place Hotel, where guests will feel as though they’ve stepped into a Pixar art gallery featuring new interpretations of favourite Pixar pals. Over at the Downtown Disney District, more than a dozen new and reimagined locations will open, including Porto’s Bakery and Café. For running fans, runDisney races will return to the resort in 2024 for the first time since 2017.

    Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort: Imagineers joined D’Amaro onstage to discuss new story details for the attraction Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and showcase stunning new concept art of the attraction at night. It was revealed that several members of the original film cast will return to lend their voices to the attraction, coming to Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort in late 2024, including Disney Legend Anika Noni Rose as Tiana, Bruno Campos as Naveen, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, and Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie.

    Walt Disney World Resort and the transformation of Epcot: In terms of Disneyworld Florida, the next major milestone in Epcot’s multi-year transformation will include the completion of the World Celebration neighbourhood in late 2023. The Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, will also open in late 2023, inviting guests to follow the story of water on the planet, inspired by Moana’s connection to the ocean. By the end of 2023, fans’ favourite character Figment will also appear live to park guests.

    Over at Magic Kingdom, Tron: Lightcycle Run will invite guests to enter the grid in spring 2023. Popular anthem “Happily Ever After” will play again when an updated nighttime spectacular returns to light up the skies over Cinderella Castle in 2023. At the Haunted Mansion, the Hatbox Ghost will materialise in 2023.

    Three frozen-themed lands highlight expansions at Disney Parks around the world: Inspired by Disney Animation’s stunning films, World of Frozen will open in the second half of 2023 at Hong Kong Disneyland—the first of three Frozen-themed areas coming to international Disney parks. It will blend Arendelle with the park’s natural landscape on Lantau Island.

    At Disneyland Paris, the Frozen-themed land will be the next major milestone in the ongoing transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park. This land will offer a gorgeous lakeside promenade and will immerse guests in the same magical wintry setting from the films. A new Tangled-themed family attraction will join the new gardens leading into the land. Frozen will also be part of the transformation of the Disneyland Hotel, reopening in 2024. As part of the grand finale of the 30th anniversary celebration underway, a new stage show, “Pixar: We Belong Together,” will debut in 2023 in the Walt Disney Studios park.

    At Tokyo Disney Resort, Frozen is one of the stories coming to life as part of the Fantasy Springs expansion at Tokyo DisneySea, joining two other Disney Animation stories, Peter Pan and Tangled, plus a brand-new hotel integrated right into the park. Fantasy Springs will feature several new audio-animatronics figures, including Elsa, who sings in Japanese and whose movements sync with the rhythms of the language.

    D’Amaro then shared a first look at the transformation of space mountain at Tokyo Disneyland, showcasing how the attraction will transition from day to night. “With a nod to the original architecture, this reimagined space mountain will anchor a new plaza and will be completed by 2027,” he said.

    Shanghai Disney Resort will be the first Disney resort to bring the world of the Oscar-winning Disney Animation film Zootopia to life. At Zootopia Central Station, guests will find animals going about their daily lives. At the Zootopia Police Department, which doubles as the entrance to the land’s new family attraction, guests will be greeted by an Audio-Animatronics figure of fan-favorite Officer Clawhauser.

    Mickey’s favourite teddy bear, Duffy, is a fan favourite in all three Disney resorts in Asia. D’Amaro shared that Duffy & Friends will star in their very own six-episode, stop-motion animated series on Disney+ next year.

    New Horizons for Disney Cruise Line and the Disney Treasure: The sixth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Treasure, will set sail in 2024. The Imagineers have dreamt up a new design concept inspired by the theme of adventure, celebrating Walt Disney’s lifelong love of exploration. The Grand Hall—the magnificent three-deck-tall atrium that welcomes guests on board—is inspired by the grandeur and mystery of a gilded palace, drawing on real-world influences from Asia and Africa and paying homage to the far-off land of Agrabah. At the center, the signature statue will feature Aladdin, Jasmine, and their Magic Carpet.

    For the first time, Disney Cruise Line will bring the magic of a Disney vacation to families and fans in Australia and New Zealand during limited-time cruises that immerse guests in Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars stories beginning in late October 2023. Additionally, repositioning cruises for the Disney Wonder will be the first South Pacific voyages for Disney Cruise Line, giving guests the chance to experience destinations like Fiji and Samoa.

    In the Bahamas, progress continues on a new island destination at Lighthouse Point, which will bring the natural beauty and rich culture of the Bahamas to life for Disney Cruise Line guests and be powered 90 percent by solar energy.

    What’s Next: A highlight of the morning included a look at what’s possible when Walt Disney Imagineers and their collaborators dream big. Disney Animation chief creative officer Jennifer Lee, the Academy Award-winning writer and director of “Frozen” and “Frozen 2,” shared how the studio is working with Walt Disney Imagineering on concept explorations for Dinoland USA at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park and potential expansion opportunities at Magic Kingdom park, both at Walt Disney World.

    WDI creative portfolio executive Chris Beatty offered a glimpse of what could lie “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” through concept art, citing two recent Disney Animation hits, as well as “what if” renderings of a land of Disney Villains. “Imagine what if we could pass over those fires in Big Thunder Mountain? Maybe there’s a little valley in front of us with the little town of Santa Cecilia [from Coco] and celebrate Encanto. And what if we could… fly into the land of the dead with our friend Miguel, just like the Riveras [from Coco]?  That’s what could be out there,” Beatty said.

    Disney 100 Years of Wonder: D’Amaro concluded the presentation with a first look at how Disney Parks, Experiences and Products will mark Disney 100 Years of Wonder (Disney100). This is the biggest celebration in the history of the company. New décor, specialty food and beverages, character experiences, and more will come to parks around the world, with the heart of the celebration rooted at Disneyland Resort.

    Two new nighttime shows, World of Colour—One and the new fireworks show Wondrous Journeys, will debut at Disneyland Resort in late January. World of Colour—One at Disney California Adventure will celebrate the storytelling legacy started by Walt a century ago. It’s going to be World of Colour like guests have never seen it before, with an all-new inspiring story told through characters. Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland Park will ignite the wonder in everyone and feature nods to all 60 Walt Disney Animation Studios films to date, taking viewers on a journey filled with artistry, music, storytelling, and heart. Special entertainment moments will also pop up across the resort, including the long-awaited return of the Magic Happens parade this spring.

    A brand-new nighttime spectacular will come to the World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot in late 2023 as part of the Disney100 Celebration. Hong Kong Disneyland will also unveil a new statue of Walt and Mickey near Cinderella’s Carousel as part of the Disney100 Celebration. Fans were given a keepsake rendering at the presentation’s conclusion.

  • OTTplay Premium targets 1.5 mn subscribers in a year: co-founder and CEO Avinash Mudaliar

    OTTplay Premium targets 1.5 mn subscribers in a year: co-founder and CEO Avinash Mudaliar

    Mumbai: An OTT platform aggregator, OTTplay Premium, has been a content discovery platform for streaming services. Earlier this year, it turned into a streaming service provider.

    Currently, OTTplay distributes 12 OTT platforms, including SonyLIV, ZEE5, Lionsgate Play, Sun NXT, ShemarooMe, Curiosity Stream, ShortsTV, DocuBay and four international brands-Hallmark Movies Now, DUST, FUSE+ and Tastemade+—with the goal of scaling up.

    OTTplay co-founder & CEO Avinash Mudaliar said, “We have 12 OTT players. We have signed up with another three OTT players. In this quarter, we plan to have 20 OTT services on our platform.”

    A product of HT Labs, OTTplay offers five subscription packs, and regional content markets are the major players in its offerings. It has no plans to create content. It aims to ensure that its partners get the best distribution reach.

    Mudaliar said, “We will bring in Turkish and Korean content. The subscriber numbers are encouraging. We plan to reach 1.5 million subscribers in a year. We aim to break even in 2.5-3 years.”

    He noted that while HT is an investor, the company will look at external investors. Investors have made substantial investment.

    He further explained that when OTTplay started a couple of years back, the company realised that over 60 per cent of people struggled to figure out what to watch and where, digitally. While there were great pieces of content, nobody knew how to find them. “There were large and small OTT platforms. The conundrum for people is do you spend money on creating or marketing content? Great content is put on OTT platforms and gets lost. We come from a product-tech background. Our strength is in recommendations, but we also respect the concept of manual editorialisation. We started with solving the problem of what to watch and where. That was the market gap.”

    Every person has their own set of choices. So, we built a personalisation engine. “We would lead consumers to the payment gateways of OTTs.” Further, it was decided to layer the engine with content. For this purpose, 25 people started to work on the content and reviewed it.

    He said that many OTT platforms use the company’s ratings and reviews. “That was phase one. Another problem was how to watch and how much to pay. People wanted us to bring content together. This was the feedback that we got from consumers. So we built a subscription gateway. You pay once for multiple OTT platforms. You can watch their content on your phone, laptop, Amazon’s fire TV stick, and Android TV.”

    The powerplay package on the platform costs Rs 1,999 for 12 OTT platforms. The cheapest package costs Rs 699 for five OTT services. There is a lot of interest in the powerplay package due to its value offers, he said.

    Mudaliar remarked that deals with OTT platforms tend to be a mix of licensing and revenue sharing. “The deals are interesting and complicated.”

    He further noted that the cost per subscriber is a struggle for OTT platforms. OTTplay gets a subscriber that the OTT platform might not have gotten. OTTplay, through its recommendation engine, also gets people to consume content on those platforms that they might not have otherwise consumed.

    “We enable discovery of content pieces. It is a win-win. It is a marriage of equal minds. One is a creator and one is a discovery engine. OTTplay premium provides new users, content discovery, and marketing muscle to the OTT platforms. OTTplay Premium provides a cohort of users that those OTT platforms might never have had,” said Mudaliar.

    One challenge for the company is to retain consumers. He mentioned that they must come back. OTTplay Premium has to offer a value add that others do not offer. One also has to keep users engaged and see that the time spent on the OTT platforms on OTTplay Premium increases. “The more the number of hours he/she watches on those platforms the better it is for OTTplay Premium. That is revenue coming in.”

    Sharing about the distributor platform’s collaboration with five international OTT platforms in India and their launch. He said, “Hallmark Movies Now plays in the romance and comedy space. Meanwhile, DUST plays in the sci-fi space. How much sci-fi content is available on television? Hardly any. People love cooking in India, and again, that kind of content is not shown much on TV. Tastemade+ is a food OTT platform. FUSE+ is a full-fledged lifestyle OTT offering. Docubay is a documentary OTT. CuriosityStream is a science and information-related OTT. You will spend close to Rs 14,000 on subscribing to each of them individually,” Mudaliar added.

    He said that the company is very serious about the regional space. Namma Flix will be on OTTplay Premium, he revealed . “We are getting pretty active in the regional space. Conversations are on for the platforms’ reach in the North and East. Bengali has amazing content. The barrier to entry in OTT is high. You need to plan your content and marketing strategy. These are the three key levels. The product has to be clearly differentiated. We have a lot of problems.” It is also important, he added, to plan for when you will get customers and what kind of an experience you will provide to them.

    Explaining how the recommendation engine works, he said that someone who likes crime may watch Agatha Christie on SonyLIV. Now, if someone has put English and Kannada as the languages of choice, the aggregator can suggest an Agatha Christie movie made in Kannada on another platform. Then the aggregator will recommend an Agatha Christie documentary on Docubay. “People end up discovering different pieces of content across OTT platforms. The user experience is great across the OTT platforms. This is what OTTplay Premium brings. We have solved the problem of what, where, when, how, and why to watch. It has solved the ecosystem. We have become that voice,” he explained.

    In terms of content preferences by subscribers, he said that Hindi is first, followed by regional languages, and then English. In terms of genres that people consume, he points to crime, comedy, family dramas, and documentaries.

    However, he mentioned that the company is thoughtful to the fact that India is a price-sensitive market. “So our products suit the Indian customer. We build whatever works for the customer. We respect both SVOD and AVOD. Indians like the thali approach. They like the sampling and tasting approach. It is how the Indian content consumption ecosystem works. You need to give to take. You need to show value. The concept of hidden value to an Indian customer does not exist. The more content you put out there, the more they like it, and the more they are willing to pay.” 

    He highlighted that the subscriber base comes from the metros. OTTplay Premium is like Spotify. It is not a bundled product that runs on only one data plan. It runs regardless of the telco service provider, he said.

    On the tech front, he noted that the company has its own algorithms, which are homegrown. There are multiple teams, including data science and engineering teams. They work on algorithms, and it is a learning algorithm. The more a user interacts with the app, converses with the app, and gives feedback, the more the app starts to respond. That is how the algorithm works. Collaborative filtering goes on in the algorithm. The company’s editorial team provides articles for the machine to learn from.

    He concluded by mentioning his remarks on the marketing front that the company will do couponing. It has tied up companies who will gift OTTplay as a subscription. It has tied up with the HT circulation team, who are selling Diwali packages with the newspapers. The concept is that OTTplay premium gives you happiness. Diwali is about happiness. So one can give an OTTplay premium as a gift of happiness. This is the marketing plan for the next few months.

  • Shailesh Amonkar and Darshan Gangakhedkar join Planet Marathi as strategic advisors

    Shailesh Amonkar and Darshan Gangakhedkar join Planet Marathi as strategic advisors

    Mumbai: Vistas Media Capital Company’s Planet Marathi OTT announced its leadership expansion with veteran experts in media, marketing, and business. The OTT platform has onboarded Shailesh Amonkar and Darshan Gangakhedkar in the roles of strategic advisors. They will assume the responsibilities of mentoring and guiding the team on monetisation and strategy for the fast-expanding company and its various departments.

    To develop exemplary capabilities, the focus is on appointing effective mentors who will steer and back pivotal decisions with their in-depth insight and command developed through years of market experience.

    With three decades of core experience in revenue generation and brand building, Shailesh Amonkar considers himself both a marketing and a sales person at heart. Having worked with media conglomerates like The Times of India Group and Sakal Media Group, Amonkar has also worked in new media and new product development. His specialities include the building and monetisation of audiences and communities. Amonkar is an entrepreneur who runs Kemistry Media Solutions, a media consulting firm.

    Commenting on his appointment, Amonkar said, “Planet Marathi OTT has surpassed expectations with its spectacular performance and ingenious ideas in concept and marketing. It will be an honour to guide as well as learn from these great minds, both fresh and experienced, all of whom are brimming with ideas for the firm.”

    Darshan Gangakhedkar, a media sales expert, is an entrepreneur and media professional. He comes with 20 years of extensive experience and has won many accolades in the media sales space throughout his time in the industry. He has worked with prominent regional media businesses, including Hindi language media houses, Nava Bharat and Raj Express, and the leading Marathi language daily Sakal from the prestigious Sakal Media Group. 

    Gangakhedkar’s comprehensive knowledge of the language industry and exceptional skills in active media sales make him a great mentor asset. Speaking on his appointment, he said, “It is always great to be surrounded by teams who are willing to push boundaries. I have been following Planet Marathi OTT’s outstanding trajectory closely and it will be exciting to work on developing this business further, taking it to newer heights.”

    Planet Marathi OTT founder and head Akshay Bardapurkar shared, “We are happy to announce that we will have the guidance of two exceptional names in the fields of media, branding and sales, both Shailesh Amonkar and Darshan Gangakhedkar. Planet Marathi OTT needs the expertise of these talents to draw out bigger goals and set out in the right direction to achieve them. Our teams will work to develop products, revenue streams, branding and audience engagement in the OTT space under the guidance of these professionals.”

    Founded and helmed by national award winner, Akshay Bardapurkar who is known as a game-changing icon in the industry, Planet Marathi OTT has made a mark for itself in a short span of one year. Since its inception in August 2021, the OTT platform has seen a phenomenal spike of 500 per cent in its subscriber base due to its path-breaking content slate and genius marketing efforts.

  • D23 Expo 2022: Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Studios showcase upcoming offerings

    D23 Expo 2022: Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Studios showcase upcoming offerings

    Mumbai: At the recently concluded Disney fan event, D23 Expo 2022 in Anaheim, California Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios and 20th Century Studios made presentations.

    The Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Bergman reflected on the 13-year history of D23 Expo—as well as the evolution of the Studios group. “That [first] year, none of the iconic studios you’ll hear from today were part of the company. It was just Disney Animation, Disney Live Action, and Pixar. We announced the Marvel acquisition just before our first expo in 2009. Then three years later, we added Lucasfilm, and in 2019, 20th Century Studios. I’ve been at Disney for 26 years, so it’s been incredibly exciting to welcome each of them to our studio family. And like Disney and Pixar, each of these studios has a phenomenal legacy of storytelling,” Bergman explained.

    Lucasfilm: Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy introduced the content line-up. The movie “Indiana Jones 5” will be released next year on 30 June 2023. She welcomed the film’s director, James Mangold, who shared details and first-look footage from the upcoming fifth instalment of the “Indiana Jones” franchise. Kennedy and Mangold were joined on stage by the film’s stars, Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. “Thank you for making these films such an incredible experience for all of us. I’m very proud to say that this one is fantastic, and [Waller-Bridge] is one of the reasons.”

    “”Indiana Jones” movies are about fantasy and mystery, but they’re also about heart… I’m really, really happy that we have a really human story to tell, as well as a movie that will kick your [butt],” said an emotional Ford. This is the first “Indiana Jones” movie that will not be directed by Steven Spielberg.

    Andor is a 24-episode spy thriller. The era featured in Andor—the five years before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story—is filled with danger, deception, and intrigue, where Cassian Andor will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero. Much to the delight of the assembled crowd, Luna and his co stars unveiled a final trailer for the series.

    The series presents Star Wars from a different perspective, focusing on everyday people whose lives are affected by the empire. The decisions they make have real consequences, and the stakes for them—and the galaxy—couldn’t be higher. The series debuts with three episodes on Disney+ on 21 September.

    Meanwhile, Willow is a live-action fantasy-adventure series that returns to the world of Andowyne that we first met in the 1988 feature film (directed by Ron Howard and produced by Disney Legend George Lucas). Set in a magical world where brownies, sorcerers, trolls, and other mystical creatures flourish, Willow is the story of an unlikely group of heroes who set off on a dangerous quest, facing their inner demons and coming together to save their world. An epic period fantasy told with a modern sensibility and plenty of humour and heart, Willow begins streaming on Disney+ on 30 November.

    Kennedy welcomed Dave Filoni, who shared a host of Star Wars-related announcements. First, Filoni showed a new image from the upcoming 16-episode second season of the animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch. Months have passed since the events on Kamino, and the Bad Batch continue their journey, navigating the empire after the fall of the republic. They’ll cross paths with friends and foes, both new and familiar, as they take on a variety of thrilling mercenary missions that will take them to unexpected and dangerous new places. The series will begin streaming on Disney+ with a two-episode premiere on 4 January, 2023.

    Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi comprises six brand-new animated shorts featuring parables built around Jedi from the prequel era. Journey into the lives of two very different Jedi—Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku—who will be tested as they make decisions that will shape their destinies. Filoni delighted the audience by sharing an official trailer for the shorts. All six shorts will debut on 26 October on Disney+.

    Filoni shared with Hall D23 how much the character of Ahsoka means to him—having crafted her story from her 2008 debut in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars through her live-action debut in The Mandalorian. Ahsoka is a new live-action series heading to Disney+, starring Rosario Dawson in the title role. Set after the fall of the empire, Ahsoka follows the former Jedi knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy. The new series is slated for 2023 and will be exclusive to Disney+.

    Star Wars: Skeleton Crew coming soon on Disney+. Skeleton Crew tells the story of four kids who find themselves lost in the vastness of the galaxy trying to find their way home.

    Meanwhile in the third season of The Mandalorian, the Mandalorian and Grogu have been reunited and continue their journey through the lawless galaxy. Season three is set to launch exclusively on Disney+ next year.

    Marvel Studios: Marvel Studios producer, president Kevin Feige detailed several recent announcements, including the Multiverse Saga—the conclusion of Phase 4, the Phase 5 slate, and the Phase 6 titles that include “Fantastic Four” and two new “Avengers” films: “The Kang Dynasty” and “Secret Wars.”

    “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” releases in theatres on 11 November.

    Ironheart is a series that takes place after the events of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” The new series is slated for Disney+ in 2023.

    Feige then officially kicked off Phase five of the MCU with “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” Hitting theatres on 17 February 2023, the film connects to “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” Feige announced.

    Feige then announced Marvel Studios’ first-ever special presentation, created for this “Halloween: Werewolf by Night,” directed by music composer Michael Giacchino who Disney said is also an accomplished filmmaker. The special starts streaming on Disney+ this October 7.

    Secret Invasion is a new event series that showcases a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating earth for years.

    Loki season two picks up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. The new season streams on Disney+ next year.

    Feige has also officially confirmed that Matt Shakman—who directed every episode of 2021’s WandaVision and who was in the Hall D23 audience—would be directing “Fantastic Four.” The film opens in theatres on 8 November, 2024.

    Echo is a new series. In the show Maya Lopez’ ruthless behaviour in New York City (after the events in Disney+’s “Hawkeye”) catches up with her in her hometown.

    Daredevil: Born Again is an 18-episode Disney+ series. Production has not yet started on the show.

    A movie “Captain America: New World Order,” continues Sam Wilson’s journey as Captain America and comes to theatres in 2024. “Thunderbolts” opens in theatres on 26 July, 2024.

    Finally, Feige wrapped the Marvel Studios portion by revisiting key moments in the MCU before welcoming to the stage director Nia DaCosta and The Marvels cast members Iman Vellani (Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel), Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau), and Brie Larson (Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel). Fans were given a look at scenes from the new movie, which opens in theatres on 28 July, 2023.  

    20th Century Studios:  Bergman then returned to the stage to introduce—via Zoom from New Zealand—Oscar-winning producer/director Cameron, director of the upcoming “Avatar: The Way of Water.” He’s hard at work finishing the film—the highly anticipated sequel to the biggest film of all time, “Avatar”—so he couldn’t join the D23 Expo in person. But the film’s producer, Jon Landau, helped welcome returning cast members Sam Worthington (Jake Sully), Zoe Saldaña (Neytiri), Sigourney Weaver (Kiri), and Stephen Lang (Colonel Miles Quaritch)—plus new-generation cast members Jamie Flatters (Neteyam), Jack Champion (Spider), Bailey Bass (Tsireya), and Trinity Jo-Li Bliss (Tuk)—before the audience was treated to several scenes from the new film! Fans were invited to don a pair of Dolby 3D glasses (a Hall D23 first!) to get fully immersed in the brand-new footage.

  • Netflix, Ubisoft announce plans to create three mobile games

    Netflix, Ubisoft announce plans to create three mobile games

    MUMBAI: OTT platform Netflix and Ubisoft have announced plans to create three mobile games from game franchises to Netflix, starting in 2023. Announced at Ubisoft’s annual digital event Ubisoft Forward, the three games will expand on the Valiant Hearts, Mighty Quest and Assassin’s Creed universes, and will be available exclusively on mobile to Netflix members around the world with no ads or in-app purchases. 

    A new Valiant Hearts game, sequel to Ubisoft’s game Valiant Hearts: The Great War, is directed by the original core team and will retain the same DNA while featuring a new story. It will be available to Netflix members in January 2023. 

    After The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot mobile game, The Mighty Quest will come to Netflix in 2023 with a new game. This time, the game will draw inspiration from the roguelike genre to deliver an experience that celebrates the series’ premiere hack-and-slash combat in a fresh and highly replayable format.

    And for Assassin’s Creed fans, they will be able to immerse themselves in the Assassin’s Creed universe on Netflix in more than one way. In addition to the previously announced live-action series, an all-new mobile game is being developed exclusively for Netflix.

    “We’re thrilled to work with Ubisoft, whose track record creating memorable worlds for fans is unmatched. This partnership will provide our members with exclusive access to some of the most exciting game franchises as we continue to build a catalogue of great mobile games for our members around the world,” said Netflix’s vice president Games Mike Verdu.

    “As we continue to create great experiences on all platforms, we’re glad to be partnering with such an innovative and creative partner as Netflix. I believe that this partnership will be a great opportunity for Netflix members to further explore our worlds and universes on mobile” said Ubisoft chief mobile officer Jean-Michel Detoc. 

  • Locomotive Global Media appoints Roshni Ghosh as producer

    Locomotive Global Media appoints Roshni Ghosh as producer

    Mumbai : An international production company, Locomotive Global Media has moved to further bolster its leadership team with the appointment of Roshni Ghosh as producer for the company’s original films and series. Roshni’s appointment is with immediate effect.

    Roshni will collaborate closely with Sunder Aaron and Kanupriya Iyer in her new job to find intriguing new projects and partners for the company’s shows and films in addition to working in a producing capacity on the ongoing projects.

    Locomotive Global’s co-founder & principal Sunder Aaron said, “We are delighted to welcome Roshni to LGM. It’s not enough to identify and develop exceptional ideas for original films and series, and it is equally important that you be able to promote, sell and produce the projects based on these ideas. We know Roshni to be a professional who operates effectively and efficiently across the whole value chain of our production business. Quite simply, she is an outstanding creative executive who gets things done! Her appointment comes at a crucial point as we move towards an important phase of growth in the business.”

    Roshni will play a key role in managing all stages of the development and production of LGM projects. The company also said that Roshni is a wonderful addition to the team at Locomotive Global Media because of her talent for managing content development with a 360-degree perspective. Her appointment deepens and broadens the company’s executive ranks.

    Locomotive Global Media senior producer Roshni Ghosh said, “It gives me immense gratitude to be a part of the team at Locomotive Global Media. I am looking forward to working alongside Sunder and Kanupriya and the rest of the team to create projects that are in line with the company’s brand ethos, and more importantly, have an impact on audiences in India and around the world.”

    In her previous stint at Emmay Entertainment and Motion Pictures, Roshni headed the content vertical and was involved in all aspects of project green lighting for films and television shows. During her time there, she was instrumental in the creation and execution of popular series such as The Empire, Rocket Boys S1 and S2, and Mumbai Diaries S1 and S2.

    With almost two decades of expertise in the Indian media and entertainment sector, Roshni’s greatest joy has always been to challenge the status quo with novel formats, source intriguing and relevant topics, and discover fresh and exciting storytelling techniques.

     

  • MX Player gets into a multi-year partnership with Lionsgate

    MX Player gets into a multi-year partnership with Lionsgate

    Mumbai: MX Player has partnered with global giant Lionsgate to bring premium Hollywood content, including award-winning titles across genres.

    With over 200,000 hours of content across 800+ original series, web series, international, dubbed content and an average time spent of 56 minutes per user per day, MX Player continues to ink partnerships to make quality content available to all of its users.

    MX Player senior vice president (content acquisitions and alliances) Mansi Shrivastav said, “At MX Player, we are invested in our consumers. As the second largest entertainment ecosystem across the globe, we have continually and consistently brought diverse content to the platform across genres, formats, and languages. Our partnership with Lionsgate allows us to bring some of the most popular and commercially acclaimed Hollywood films to our viewers in their local languages.”

    She further added, “This partnership also enables us to attract new users to the platform while consolidating our existing audience base. We are thrilled with this alliance and look forward to working closely with the team at Lionsgate to make more Hollywood content available for users in the region.”

    MX Player users in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives will now have access to 50+ Hollywood blockbuster films dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu each year as a result of this collaboration.

    Through this collaboration with Lionsgate, MX Player will have access to the most recent and well-liked Hollywood blockbusters, significantly broadening its current content inventory and enabling fans to watch movies in their preferred language.

    Lionsgate vice president (licensing and content partnerships) Gayathiri Guliani said, “Lionsgate has been bullish for its compelling content slate, and we are delighted to partner with MX Player as this will multiply our consumption, reaching out to maximum viewer base. It’s all about genre diversification, breaking language barriers, and having the best stories to watch. This alliance is all set to grow with multiple Lionsgate titles made available on the platform, spoiling viewers for choice.”

    “Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1”, “Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 2”, “War” (2007) and “Destruction: Las Vegas” (2013) are among the recommended titles for September 2022 on MX Player.

     

  • Nikhil Madhok joins Amazon Prime Video as original content head-Hindi

    Nikhil Madhok joins Amazon Prime Video as original content head-Hindi

    Mumbai: Nikhil Madhok, former executive vice president & head of original content of Disney+ Hotstar has joined Amazon Prime Video as its new original content head (Hindi). 

    Under his leadership, he will oversee the growth and expansion of its original content, which will facilitate Prime Video to expand its original content footprint in Hindi.  Amazon Prime Video plans to utilise Madhok’s rich experience across TV and digital ecosystems to ramp up its original content offering. He will report to Aparna Purohit-Head of India Originals who continues to lead the charge in developing original series and movies across multiple Indian languages.

    In addition, the company’s spokesperson said, “In its content upfront in April, the company showcased over 40 titles that will stream on the service in the next 18-24 months and we understand that there are 70 titles under production/ development.”   

    During his stint at Disney+ Hotstar’s Madhok led the conception and launch of Hotstar’s foray into original content titled Hotstar Specials. He was responsible for the entire slate of specials from content strategy, ideation, curation, script development, production, and launch. 

    Disney+ Hotstar has produced original shows such as Special Ops, Aarya, Criminal Justice, Human, Grahan, and Ghar Waapsi under his leadership.

    Sharing his farewell posts on social media Linkedin, Madhok said, “ It is an extremely special feeling when you build something from scratch. I was fortunate to get that opportunity 4.5 years ago when I was asked to lead Disney + Hotstar’s foray into original shows. What started as an exciting but uncertain initiative soon blossomed into a strategic agenda. Ideas grew from one line and scripts to shows and franchises.”

    At the end of the note, he added, “ I am incredibly excited about the next challenge at one of the most innovative companies of all time, where I start very soon. I am even more excited about the confluence of consumers, content, and technology in our incredible country and the bright future ahead.”

    Embed:https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6970577608191152128/

    Previously, he worked at Star India for over five years, he was executive vice president of content and developed the use case & business strategy for Hotstar’s foray into original content. Madhok held several positions at Star, including vice president of network marketing, head of programming strategy, marketing & on-air promotion for Star Plus, and business head of Star Bharat.

    He later worked for Discovery as the head of products in the Asia Pacific region, where he was in charge of the company’s linear TV and digital products across APAC. Madhok began his career at Unilever as global marketing manager from 2005 to 2008. He left Unilever to become senior director of marketing at Turner (now WarnerMedia).