ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Punjabi most popular regional language, Korean leads international: Iplix

    Punjabi most popular regional language, Korean leads international: Iplix

    Mumbai: Punjabi is the most popular regional language, while Korean takes the lead as the most preferred international language in India, revealed Iplix Content Consumption Survey. 52.5 per cent of respondents spend an average of two-four hours per day on social media. Among the platforms, maximum time was spent on YouTube, followed by Instagram and Snapchat, the study further revealed.

    With the growing affinity for regional languages, Punjabi emerged as the most preferred regional language with 24.3 per cent of users opting for it. Marathi was at 9.9 per cent. Among popular international languages, Korean took the top spot, validating K-Pop’s craze in India. Comedy was the most popular category, followed by travel and technology. Infotainment (43.3 per cent) and gaming (31.1 per cent) were the most-consumed categories.

    52.5 per cent of respondents spend an average of two-four hours per day on social media. YouTube took the lead in ‘time spent on platforms’ (87.5 per cent), followed by Instagram and Snapchat. In further bifurcation, 57.3 per cent of people consume 5-15 minutes-long content on YouTube, and 54.3 per cent consume short-form content (reels) the most on Instagram.

    Influencer marketing and talent management agency Iplix’s Content Consumption Survey was carried out with over 14600 respondents, the majority of which came from metro cities (40.6 per cent), followed by Tier-II cities at 35.2 per cent. 86.8 per cent of the respondents were Gen-Z (less than 25 years of age).

    “Creator Economy is growing at a scale which none of us could have imagined and content is the biggest contributing factor behind it,” stated Iplix Media LLP co-founder Neel Gogia. “We at Iplix Media believe in the power of content and are constantly working with brands and content creators to bring the best quality content to the audience. This content consumption survey is an initiative towards furthering the same vision and mission. We came up with it to help our stakeholders- brands and content creators, understand the audience and their changing preferences better.”

  • FanCode to exclusively stream Afghanistan’s tour of Bangladesh in India

    FanCode to exclusively stream Afghanistan’s tour of Bangladesh in India

    Mumbai: Digital sports platform FanCode has announced that it will exclusively live-stream Afghanistan’s tour of Bangladesh in India. The tour, comprising three ODIs and two T20Is, will begin on 23 February 10.30 a.m onwards. Fans in India can watch all the action live on FanCode website and app.

    The ODIs, which are part of the ICC World Cup Super League, will take place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka will host the two T20 matches on 3 and 5 March. The ODI series will be a vital fixture for Afghanistan and Bangladesh to strengthen their positions on the Super League points table.

    Top cricketing nations will look to battle it out for next year’s global showpiece event – The 2023 Cricket World Cup in India and the ODI series will be part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. Bangladesh is currently placed second behind England. Afghanistan is sixth after their 3-0 win against the Netherlands.

    The hosts will see experienced southpaw Tamim Iqbal returning to the ranks while the touring party will be strengthened with the return of seasoned all-rounder Mohammad Nabi and global superstar Rashid Khan.

    The live-stream on the FanCode app will include interactive live scores, in-depth sports stats, and analytics, real-time match highlights, and personalised viewing experiences among other features, said the platform.

  • Dice Media partners with JTBC Studios to remake ‘Something In The Rain’

    Dice Media partners with JTBC Studios to remake ‘Something In The Rain’

    Mumbai: Pocket Aces’s long-form studio Dice Media has joined hands with South Korean production house JTBC Studios. Dice Media will remake the award-winning series “Something In The Rain” that will be co-produced by JTBC Studios, making their entry project in India.

    JTBC Studios is a pioneer of the K-drama content industry that encompasses all value chains in the content business by discovering the source IP, producing content and distributing it worldwide.

    “The ever-growing fandom for K-dramas makes this collaboration very exciting, and given Dice Media’s expertise in the relationship and family drama genres, they are the perfect partner to remake these shows,” said the statement.

    Originally broadcasted through JTBC’s Television network in 2018, “Something In The Rain” has won hearts worldwide along with being awarded ‘Excellence in Korean Drama’ at Seoul International Drama Awards in 2018 and ‘Best Drama Series’ at Asian Television Awards in 2019. The story is a bold yet heart-warming narrative around issues that plague both Korean and Indian cultures, seen from the lens of a girl in her mid-30s and a boy in his mid-20s who try to make their taboo relationship work amongst the backdrop of conservative families, workplace harassment, and socio-economic differences.

    “We are excited to present our successful TV series ‘Something In The Rain’ to Indian audiences through a remake,” said JTBC Studios CEO Jung Kyung-Moon. “We expect this collaboration to bring a significant opportunity for JTBC Studios to make the first step into the dynamic Indian content market. We also hope that Pocket Aces’ production expertise will be able to make an excellent result, with JTBC Studios’ proven IP. We believe the partnership between JTBC Studios and Pocket Aces will deliver a wonderful experience to the Indian audience.”

    “The key for a successful remake is maintaining the soul of the story and characters while localising plot points and motivations,” said Pocket Aces co-founder and CEO Aditi Shrivastava. “Korea and India have very similar hearts – the societal and familial structures are quite alike. This makes the content ripe for adaptation. We look forward to working with the JTBC Studios team and are extremely excited to co-produce their highly successful shows here in India. What we share in common is that both JTBC Studios and Pocket Aces truly care about the creatives and about localising the content in the right manner. With our expertise in relationship/family/workplace dramas, and our methodology of using audience insights for development, I am confident that we will be able to do this effectively. ‘Something In The Rain’ is my personal favourite K-drama, and I look forward to making one of India’s most sought-after franchises.”

    Dice Media is bringing other proven IPs to India including the remake of an Emmy-award-winning US show and a French show. They are also working on adapting a few successful books. 

  • Smaaash Entertainment appoints Shirish Kotmire as CEO

    Smaaash Entertainment appoints Shirish Kotmire as CEO

    Mumbai: Gaming and entertainment centre operator Smaaash Entertainment has announced the appointment of Shirish Kotmire as its new CEO.

    Kotmire brings about three decades of experience in aggressive growth-oriented mature global companies as well as successful new ventures and start-ups. “He is a quintessential growth hack that demonstrates entrepreneurial spirit in all his endeavours with innovation, team building, professional work ethic and techno commercial savviness,” said the statement.

    Based out of Mumbai, Kotmire’s immediate task will be to build a team of experienced CXO who shall anchor the transformation journey of Smaaash to create new benchmarks in this industry, the company said.

    “We are elated to have Shirish Kotmire in our team at Smaaash, he has experience in marquee retail, technology brands, and promoter-driven ventures,” said Smaaash Entertainment founder and chief imagination officer Shripal Morakhia. “At 63, I worked hard to resurrect Smaaash in the last six months. It was high time that a professional leadership team took over to guide Smaaash to new heights. The appointment of Shirish as the CEO is the first step in that direction. With his vast experience in creating value across businesses we look forward to his leadership to deliver same store growths as well as execute the blitzkrieg of new stores expansion nationally”.

    “I am honored and pleased to accept the privilege of heading Smaaash and strengthening the position of Smaaash as the fun, party, play, bonding and entertainment destination for informal friends’ groups, corporate and retail customers along with building digital engagement with them,” said Shirish Kotmire.

    He added, “Our consumers have grown up on Smaaash over the last 11 years and have a strong affinity to the brand. In our second inning, we are giving a classy environment along with a potent combination of gaming-bowling, go-karting, arcade and VR games along with a pocket-friendly resto bar to relax after a tiring but fun gaming time. To build stickiness and exploit opportunities in the growing gaming space, we are on the cusp of introducing exciting innovative formats in the physical edutainment space also”.

    Shirish holds a postgraduate diploma in Marketing from IIM Bangalore and did his graduation bachelor of technology computer engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka. “With his vast skill set in monetizing assets by innovation in sales, marketing and technology it makes him the ideal choice as the CEO at Smaaash,” said the statement.

    His previous companies in leadership positions include Reliance Retail GVK-Mumbai International Airport, Bharti Airtel, Rediff.com and Asian Paints, among others. The top skills which his seniors and colleagues acknowledge are business development, financial planning, business strategy, and execution as well as team management.

    He is passionate about mentoring start-up co-founders as well as sharing his entrepreneurship leanings through skill-based courses as a visiting faculty in SPJIMR, Mumbai.

  • Brands must tap into the emotional value of digital: Google’s Siddharth Shekhar

    Brands must tap into the emotional value of digital: Google’s Siddharth Shekhar

    Mumbai: Digital adoption is no longer a mere consequence of the pandemic. It has become an integral part of life for many who took to the internet because of the unprecedented situation. “Brands, therefore, need to be, not just Covid-proof, but also future proof,” said Google industry head – telecom, media, and entertainment Siddharth Shekhar.

    Shekhar was delivering the keynote address on ‘Decoding Current Digital Trends’ at the inaugural edition of the ‘Digital Brand Fest 2022’ being organised by Indiantelevision.com from 21 to 25 February 2022. The five-day virtual summit is presented by Voot. Interakt, Josh, and Pixis have joined as industry partners.

    Sharing the findings of the Google annual ‘Year in Search 2021’ report, Shekhar outlined five key trends under the broad themes – ‘Digital Mainstreamed’, ‘Lives Re-examined’, ‘Bridging Distances’, ‘Truth Seekers’, and ‘Growing Inequalities’.

    Digital Mainstreamed: Millions of consumers who migrated online in 2020 have demonstrated the staying power of digital from shopping to services to new users, who may have begun their online journeys due to necessity, now proactively deepening their usage. Speed, convenience, and price are some of the reasons why more consumers are now choosing a digital-first lifestyle, irrespective of offline mobility picking up.

    In 2021 India posted higher digital adoption than other regions like the US, EU, and China. The country has 600 million smartphone users and their number is increasing by 25 million every quarter. Users accessed more than four industries through digital channels in 2021. 65 per cent of Indians went online to buy a product they previously bought in-store. Search interest in online shopping and D2C brands grew by 32 and 533 per cent, respectively. Time and cost-saving, flexible payment options, diversity of offerings, improved delivery services as well as ease of tracking were their primary motivation.

    Search interest in virtual try-on increased by 55 per cent, while YouTube search interest in short video grew more than 100 per cent. “Among media consumption trends, streaming on CTV took off in a big way. Short-form videos became one of the largest sources of online entertainment. Even when people take a break from the screen, they are opting for formats like podcasts and audiobooks to stay informed and entertained. Live commerce is expanding its reach, with virtual try-ons becoming more common,” remarked Shekhar. 

    Lives Re-examined: As a result of introspection and revaluation of lifestyle choices and values, people are looking for more comfort in their personal and professional lives. They are placing more value on spending time with families which are echoed in their online searches.

    Search interest in the hybrid workplaces also grew by 350 per cent as people consider returning to offices in a hybrid set-up. “Even as restrictions ease, a blended way of living is likely to stay. Trends point towards a semi-remote future of work with 70 per cent of organisations in India looking at hybrid work models,” Shekhar observed.

    Holistic wellness with an emphasis on physical, emotional, and mental health is playing a bigger role in the decision-making process. There was an 80 per cent increase in search interest for online doctor consultation.

    Bridging Distances: Covid 19 still being a top concern in APAC, people in India feel more cautious about resuming normal activities, as compared to the global average. With one in two Indians saying they will not host events at home, festivals are now going virtual.

    “However, fears haven’t overtaken the need for personal connection and belonging. People are finding new ways to connect with each other,” shared Shekhar. “63 per cent users searched how to celebrate differently amid the pandemic, and some have also found new brands to help them do so.” This was also indicated by search interest in group orders growing by 85 per cent. Interest in virtual versions of offline activities also registered a 120 per cent increase.  

    Digital Brand Fest 2022: Decoding digital transformation for tech-led future

    Truth Seekers: People have become more aware of the spread of false information. 80 per cent of those surveyed say it is now more important for them to have trusted sources of information, as compared to pre-covid times. Searches about frauds and scams have grown by up to 35 per cent; trusted websites were searched +38 per cent.

    “Consumers want brands to be accountable and transparent at every step of the value chain. This is reflected in increased searches for delivery tracking and official stores (+80 per cent) of popular brands. They are doing extensive research prior to making a purchase. For as many as 31 per cent shoppers, authenticity is the key issue with online marketplaces.”

    Growing Inequalities: “Dubbed as ‘inequality virus’, the pandemic has exposed many societal fractures along the lines of wealth, race, language, gender, and more. Not everyone has equal access to the support systems they need,” observed Shekhar.

    Searches show the anxiety that consumers face when transacting in a foreign language. Up to 40 per cent say they won’t make a purchase unless they can access information in their local language. Search interest in songs and videos in local languages is also on the rise. Pandemic-induced unemployment in India has increased search interest in job security by 53 per cent. There was also a 38 per cent growth in searches for buy-now-pay-later financing options.

    Summarising the marketing implications of these trends for brands, Shekhar suggested that “brands must move forward with digital as an elementary strategy and not a complementary one. This will entail solutions such as bringing the storefront closer to shoppers, agile omnichannel strategies, owned or D2C channels that enable the building of bespoke brands presence and experience, and tapping into the emotional value of digital to build customer loyalty by delivering  at each touchpoint.”

    As consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about privacy, ‘building trust as brand equity’ is now more important than ever. “Brands will need to use first-party data more effectively to find the right balance between privacy and personalised interactions while preparing their own digital ecosystem without third-party cookies,” noted Shekhar.  He also advised businesses to “not let language be a barrier, and work towards closing technical, financial and accessibility gaps for consumers across the board.”

    For more details on the event, click here

  • PTC Play launches new political drama series ‘Chausar’

    PTC Play launches new political drama series ‘Chausar’

    Mumbai: Keeping pace with the current poll vibe and aligning itself with Punjab assembly elections 2022, PTC Network has announced a new political drama ‘Chausar – The Power Games’ on its OTT Platform PTC Play. The series will be available on the app starting 21 February.

    ‘Chausar’ attempts to expose the intricacies and intrigues of Punjab politics. The ten-episode web series is expected to be a riveting account of the binaries of good and evil in politics. It talks about leading the political party, the infighting in family, the political rivals, politicians hungry for power, the pulls and pressures of running the state government, balancing the act of managing public aspirations and holding on to the seat of power.

    The story revolves around the journey of Hashneen Chauhan, the central character of the web series, who plays as Mannat Pratap Singh. Mannat is a conservative and docile woman, who eventually turns into a fiery politician taking on the mantle of power to save the bastion and the lost political supremacy.

    EMBED: https://youtu.be/YHILdD_WwAM

    PTC Network managing director and president Rabindra Narayan said, “The way the audience is consuming content these days has opened up many opportunities for creators to be more innovative and offbeat. ‘Chausar – The Power Games’ as an interactive fictional political drama series, allows us to be versatile with our imagination and has helped us build something completely unique for our audience.”

    The series narrates the battle for political power between the rival claimants of the same party. When the venerable elder retires, the seat of power automatically shifts to his subordinate who becomes the chief minister, much to the discomfiture of retired politician’s son, Veer Pratap Singh (Mahekdeep Singh) who considers himself to be the rightful heir to his retired father’s throne. He seeks the assistance of Brar (Narjeet Singh) to play his political cards and clear the path for his ascent to the top job (chief ministership). He underestimates the power and political shrewdness of the CM (Narinder Neena), who believes in traversing a blood-strewn and violent road that leads through the killings, which changes the entire plot of the series and highlights how a woman enters into the political battlefield, winding through the gates of political maturity in a much lesser time than expected.

    The political thriller is directed by Gaurav Rana, screenplay is written by Pali Bhupinder Singh and produced by Rabindra Narayan for PTC Network. It has an ensemble cast including Mahabir Bhullar, Ashish Duggal, Narinder Neena, Hashneen Chauhan, Narjeet Singh, Paramveer Singh, Soanpreet Jawanda, Deep Mandeep, Saira, SuchiBirgi and Mahekdeep Singh.

  • Mzaalo partners with Jio to deliver digital entertainment to rural India

    Mzaalo partners with Jio to deliver digital entertainment to rural India

    Mumbai: Gamified video and entertainment ecosystem Mazaalo has announced its strategic partnership with Jio. Through this partnership, Mzaalo’s content catalogue and rewards ecosystem will be available on Jio’s low-cost phones and will be freely accessible for millions of rural Indians most of whom are first-time internet users.

    Mzaalo app will be native in the JioStore for all JioPhones powered by KaiOS. 150 million+ low-cost Jio phone users will have access to the app’s library of 12,000+ content pieces including Bollywood films, regional cinema, original series, and music videos. They will also have an opportunity to earn rewards across 600+ brand partners, said the statement.

    “As internet penetration grows deeper across India, there is a growing demand for quality online video streaming content,” said Mzaalo COO Vikram Tanna. “The collaboration with Jio enables us to expand our digital footprint and democratise digital entertainment for the Indian hinterland.”

    The Indian hinterland – the remote parts of the country comprise about 65 per cent of India’s population, nearly 900 million people. While mobile services have reached this population, it is not as widespread as it is in urban cities. This partnership between Mzaalo and Jio will provide a new opportunity for those who do not have access to the mobile phone economy.

    In addition to this partnership, Mzaalo has also been chosen to join the Jio Developers Build for Bharat Growth Pad Program. As a member, Mzaalo and its community will receive special program benefits like first market access program, year-round technical support from Jio, an exclusive community of leaders for mentorship within Jio’s rich leadership ecosystem, JioAds credits, tools and services, training on Jio Developer Tools, and more.

  • Josh Studios’ ‘World Famous’ talent hunt heads to Rajasthan

    Josh Studios’ ‘World Famous’ talent hunt heads to Rajasthan

    Mumbai: Short video app Josh has announced the launch of the third edition of ‘World Famous’ – a multi-city talent hunt for discovering India’s talented youth. The platform has roped in Parle Kismi as a sponsor.

    A three-week-long talent hunt spanning three cities will first arrive in Jodhpur, before travelling to Kota and then concluding in a grand finale at Jaipur, said the statement.

    Registrations for the mega talent hunt has been kickstarted on the Josh app wherein participants can upload content across genres on the app with the hashtag #WFR. The participants with highest number of votes will get the opportunity to participate in the semi-finales at Jodhpur and Kota on 2 March and 4 March, respectively. The winners of the semi-finales will then get the chance to battle it out for the ultimate prize at the grand finale at Jaipur scheduled for 6 March.

    The winners of World Famous will stand the chance to win up to Rs 1 lakh in cash prizes and the opportunity to be mentored and groomed by the top creators in the ecosystem. Bollywood stars such as Dino Morea, Rannvijay Singh, Urvashi Rautela and Karan Wahi to interact with participants and give the talented youth of Rajasthan the platform to share their passion with the world.

    “Rooted in a rich artistic heritage, Rajasthan is home to some of the most rustic and dynamic art forms in India – be it the graceful Ghoomar dance, the rich folk music, the expressive kathputhli or the lively paintings,” said Josh Studios head Seher Bedi. “We, at Josh, are very excited to launch World Famous in Rajasthan as we continue our quest to discover India’s hidden talent. World Famous was crafted around the philosophy of celebrating talent. We believe the talented youth at Rajasthan will be a true reflection of the state’s artistic roots and are very excited to see what the state has to offer.”

    Josh Studios was unveiled in March 2021 to scale the short-video platform’s capabilities to create a cutting-edge content and talent hub.

  • Nielsen, The Trade Desk announce strategic alliance for open internet

    Nielsen, The Trade Desk announce strategic alliance for open internet

    Mumbai: Nielsen and The Trade Desk on Thursday announced a strategic partnership to power identity resolution for open internet measurement in key international markets around the world. 

    The Trade Desk will help fuel Nielsen’s demographic data starting with France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Japan, Australia and Germany will launch on 1 April, with plans to launch in other Asian and European markets, in addition to Canada and Mexico, on a regular cadence following the initial releases in 2022. 

    Nielsen will integrate demographic data provided by The Trade Desk into the Nielsen ID System to provide more scope and accuracy in Nielsen’s digital ad measurement for the open internet, thereby connecting digital impressions to demographics across millions of devices. This will help in advancing more robust measurement and reporting across digital media, particularly over-the-page advertising, in key international markets that have the most room to benefit.  

    Advertisers and publishers can use Nielsen Digital Ad Ratings with more confidence knowing that the solution is aimed towards appropriately assigning and deduplicating audience demographics across mobile and PC platforms when a digital ad is viewed. With this initiative, Nielsen becomes a preferred measurement provider of The Trade Desk and builds on the two companies’ long-standing relationship.

    As part of the Nielsen ID System, the Nielsen ID Graph is calibrated against, and validated by, Nielsen’s people-based panels and truth sets. This deal will further position Nielsen to scale its ID Resolution System globally and truly deliver deduplicated audiences across linear and digital platforms as part of Nielsen One, its cross-media measurement solution.  

    “This strategic partnership with The Trade Desk immediately scales Nielsen’s Identity System globally, and showcases our commitment to independent measurement and marketplace interoperability, facilitating an open ecosystem for the media industry, with audiences de-duplicated across multiple platforms,” said Nielsen COO Karthik Rao. “We continue to evolve our technologies and methodologies as we move towards Nielsen One and this is a very important milestone for that vision of true cross-platform measurement across all screens, underpinned by a strong digital measurement capability.”

    “As the world’s largest independent demand-side platform, The Trade Desk is in a prime position to provide the open internet with a standard of measurement that improves data-driven decisioning, advertising performance and transparency,” stated The Trade Desk chief data officer Michelle Hulst. “We have long believed that it takes all of us to support the digital media ecosystem, especially in the world of measurement. We look forward to advancing the open internet together with Nielsen internationally.”

  • Zee5, Applause announce latest collaboration with ‘Bloody Brothers’

    Zee5, Applause announce latest collaboration with ‘Bloody Brothers’

    Mumbai: After the launch of “Kaun Banegi Shikharwati” and “Mithya” (premiering on 18 February), streaming platform Zee5 has announced its third project “Bloody Brothers,” as a part of its multi-show partnership with Applause Entertainment. The upcoming show is the Indian adaptation of British mystery thriller “Guilt.”

    Directed by Shaad Ali and produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India, the six-part series will premiere on Zee5 next month.

    “Bloody Brothers” is headlined by Jaideep Ahlawat and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub. The cast includes Tina Desai, Shruti Seth, Maya Alagh, Mugdha Godse, Satish Kaushik and Jitendra Joshi. 

    The series revolves around the lives of two brothers, Jaggi and Daljeet. While the elder brother Jaggi enjoys the comfort of a wealthy and seemingly perfect life, the younger one Daljeet struggles to survive running a vintage book shop cum café. Their life spins out of control when a tragic accident occurs and distrust starts enveloping their lives, creating a rift between them and everyone around. The series builds with some edge-of-the-seat plot twists and turns.

    “We are happy to further enhance Zee5’s slate with premium and quality content that will resonate with viewers,” said Zee5 CBO Manish Kalra. “In ‘Bloody Brothers’ we have explored the realm of dark comedy, with a stellar star cast in an unconventional setting. The focus has been to experiment with genres, narratives and multi-layered characters for increased authenticity and resonance. We are looking forward to viewers’ reaction to this content, which is through our partnership with Applause Entertainment.”

    “With ‘Bloody Brothers’ we add another captivating story to our content slate. It is a story of two brothers who must stick together to fight through a challenging situation,” commented Zee5 CCO Hindi originals Nimisha Pandey. “Jaideep and Zeeshan are an absolute delight as Jaggi and Daljeet. I am extremely happy to have partnered with Sameer, Applause and BBC Studios India on this series packed with unexpected plot twists and black humour. The show cannot be boxed in one genre and that is one of the many fascinating things about it. We are very excited for the viewers to experience this tale.”

    “Even as we gear up for the launch of ‘Mithya,’ we are delighted to announce our third collaboration with Zee5. With a show packed with powerful performances and a riveting plot, we are happy to continue creating unique, popular and distinctive entertainment for our audiences across the globe,” added Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair.