ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Digital series ‘Matsya Kaand’ crosses 100 million views on MX Player

    Digital series ‘Matsya Kaand’ crosses 100 million views on MX Player

    Mumbai: Digital series “Matsya Kaand” has crossed 100 million views on MX Player within 30 days of its release, the OTT platform said on Wednesday.

    Produced by Banijay Asia, the series stars Ravii Dubey, Ravi Kishan, Piyush Mishra, Zoya Afroz, Madhur Mittal, Rajesh Sharma and Naved Aslam amongst others and is directed by Ajay Bhuyan. The series has been well received with a 9.4 out of 10 rating on IMDb.

    “We are amidst a content revolution where we are witnessing refreshing, experimental content taking the front seat with the audience all over the world,” said Banijay Asia founder and CEO Deepak Dhar. “At Banijay Asia, we thrive on presenting narratives that resonate with the cultural milieu and we look forward to following the same route with accelerated zeal and efforts in our forthcoming presentations.”

    “We are thrilled to have witnessed such a fantastic response from audiences for Matsya Kaand,” said MX Player chief content officer Gautam Talwar. “While the show crossed a 100 million views mark within a month, we are still seeing new viewers joining the Matsya Club each day.”

    “Matsya Kaand has truly changed the trajectory of my career. It challenged me as an actor and made me physically mentally and spiritually align with this craft like never before,” said actor Ravii Dubey. “Receiving positive reviews of the show re-affirmed that all the hard work we’ve put in as a team has paid off.”

  • Voot Select enters Karnataka with its first Kannada original

    Voot Select enters Karnataka with its first Kannada original

    Mumbai: Video-on-demand service Voot Select is all set to enter the Kannada market with its maiden Kannada language series ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ releasing exclusively on the platform on 6 January 2022.

    Produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Firstaction Studios and Danish Sait, ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ is written and directed by Saad Khan. Sait will be seen in the title role. The 10 episodic original is a satirical comedy based on the popular and critically acclaimed Kannada film with the same name.

    The character Nograj enjoys a strong following in the Kannada market owing to its journey from being a voice on the radio to making it to the silver screen. By introducing it to the digital ecosystem Voot Select aims to ride on Nograj’s fandom to broaden its base and win over viewers from the region. 

    To ensure the widespread promotion of its first Kannada original Voot Select will leverage Viacom18’s television network presence with special integrations on Colors Kannada’s ‘Nannamma Superstar’ and on Colors Kannada Cinema’s Talk Show. In addition to local activations in the Karnataka market that will target consumers the series will also be promoted through social media activation and a robust influencer marketing programme.

    Viacom 18 head – SVOD & international business Ferzad Palia said, “At Voot Select, we have been constantly growing our content offering. The release of our first Kannada original reinforces our commitment to cater to audiences across the country and serve them entertainment in a language of their choice. ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ is the first in a robust list of regional originals that will drop over 2022. Over the next 12 months, we will significantly dial-up our regional language roster, while we continue to strengthen our Hindi, international, sports & kids offering.”

    ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ is filled with unexpected twists and turns to depict the corrupt and chauvinistic Nograj’s journey from being an MLA to vying for the most prestigious post in Karnataka, that of the chief minister. Ace comedian Danish Sait will be seen as Nograj, a conceited and self-serving civil servant. The funny political potboiler will also star Prakash Belawadi, Vinay Chendoor, and Disha Madan in pivotal roles.

    “The art of taking something serious and turning it around with a dash of humour is a difficult thing to do. We approached writing the script keeping in mind that if our jokes are funny on paper, it would mostly translate to the visuals as well. The different shades of ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ as a zany character shine through his eccentricity. Danish is a thinking actor and embodies Nograj with ease and comic finesse. Also, the genre of our show touches on political satire, and since all our characters are fictitiously funny, we are confident that it will leave our audiences entertained,” stated director Saad Khan.

  • DoubleVerify names Rose Velez-Smith as EVP and CHRO

    DoubleVerify names Rose Velez-Smith as EVP and CHRO

    Mumbai: DoubleVerify, a software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics, has announced the onboarding of Rose Velez-Smith as EVP and chief human resources officer (CHRO).

    As CHRO, Rose will be responsible for all aspects of our human resources strategy and people functions globally, including talent management, leadership development, compensation & benefits, diversity, and inclusion & belonging, said the company in a statement on Tuesday. She will work closely with the CEO and executive leadership team to ensure the company continues to build a culture that attracts, retains and develops the best people for DoubleVerify’s rapidly growing workforce, it added.

    “DV’s people are our greatest asset and driver of our competitive advantage,” said DoubleVerify CEO Mark Zagorski. “Rose’s experience in executing large-scale employee acquisition, development and engagement programs for high growth global companies, make her perfectly suited to help advance the DoubleVerify organization to our next stage of success.”

    Prior to joining DV, Rose managed global HR efforts for Pitney Bowes, spending more than two decades with the organisation. Most recently, she served as vice president of Total Rewards and HR Shared Services and led the organisation’s Covid-19 management team throughout the pandemic. Prior to Pitney Bowes, Rose worked at Navigant International as regional human resources director. She also spent nine years at Champion International in various HR roles.

    “I am excited to join DoubleVerify at a time when the company is rapidly expanding globally,” said Rose Velez-Smith on her new role. “I look forward to working with the world-class DV team to solidify an organization and culture that reflects the innovation and passion we bring to solving the industry’s toughest challenges.”

    Rose holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and a master’s degree in human resources development and counseling from the University of Bridgeport, CT. She also completed several executive leadership programmes at the RBL Group, Cornell University ILR School, and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

  • Nextgen TV powered by ATSC 3.0 to be the focus for CES 2022

    Nextgen TV powered by ATSC 3.0 to be the focus for CES 2022

    Mumbai: The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is all set to open in Las Vegas on 5 January with ATSC again taking exhibit space to showcase the expansion of next-generation TV by broadcasters and the growing list of consumer technology companies who are supporting the effort with integrated ATSC 3.0 receivers.
     
    With the recent expansion of Nextgen TV service in Los Angeles, CA and Washington DC, the next-generation broadcasting now reaches nearly half of all American viewers, it said on Monday. Stations in 46 US markets now offer Nextgen TV powered by ATSC 3.0, and market-by-market service launches are expected to continue throughout 2022.

    “With South Korea in its sixth year of ATSC 3.0 services, Jamaica launching commercial services in 2022 and other countries also considering the ATSC 3.0 broadcasting standard, next year is promising to carry forward the tremendous momentum of 2021,” said ATSC President Madeleine Noland.  “We’re excited to carry that message to CES in Las Vegas, as the consumer technology industry gathers to mark new innovations for the coming year.”

    Over 2200 exhibitors are confirmed to exhibit in person at CES 2022, which is set to begin on 5 January. According to organisers, in the last two weeks, 143 additional companies have signed up to exhibit in person. The event will also close one day early on January 7 in view of the current health protocols.

  • AIR doubles transmission time for programmes in six languages

    AIR doubles transmission time for programmes in six languages

    Mumbai: Stepping up its outreach to neighbours through airwaves, All India Radio (AIR) has decided to double its transmission time in six languages, starting 3 January.

    Making the announcement, the External Services Division of AIR said, the broadcast time has been doubled from the existing 1- 1.5 hours to three hours. The six languages include Dari, Pashto, Tibetan, Nepali, Baluchi, and Mandarin Chinese. The transmission would now be available daily for 1.5 hours every morning as well as evening.

    While Balochi is spoken in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, Dari and Pashto are spoken in Afghanistan which is currently under Taliban rule.

    Keeping its mandate of reaching out to regions across the globe the External Affairs Division of AIR currently broadcasts in French, Sindhi, Indonesian, Tibetan, Mandarin Chinese, Baluchi, Urdu, Pashto, Arabic, Swahili, Punjabi, Saraiki, Bengali, Persian, Nepali, and Dari.
     

  • Rizzle app announces music partnership with Day One

    Rizzle app announces music partnership with Day One

    Mumbai: Short video platform Rizzle has partnered with Day One to engage its users with a diverse music catalogue. Day One, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, is an upcoming music label dedicated to launching the next generation of budding artists.

    Day One recently released a new track “Khoya Sa” by singer Kasyap. Rizzle users were encouraged to check out the music and create ‘Filmis’ and ‘Rimix’ videos with it. Creators also participated in the #KhoyaSa contest that was held exclusively on the short video app.

    “We are pleased to partner with Day One, a label that puts talent first, and hence aligns well with our motto,” said Rizzle’s principal program manager Sridevi Gottipati. “This association will allow our users to access an ever-evolving music catalog.  We want to catalyse their creative expression by providing them with the right resources and features on our platform.”

  • Mantra Softech signs multi-year contract for Fingerprint Cards’ touchless solution

    Mantra Softech signs multi-year contract for Fingerprint Cards’ touchless solution

    Mumbai: Mantra Softech on Tuesday signed a multi-year contract with Fingerprint Cards AB (Fingerprints) for its touchless (iris) solution. To address the growing demand for touchless biometric solutions, Mantra Softech’s biometric hardware will be integrated with Fingerprints’ touchless solution technology, said the statement.

    “We are very pleased with this contract, which confirms the positive trend in demand for touchless solutions. It demonstrates the strength of our solution, and the tight collaboration with Mantra Softech India Pvt Ltd,” commented Fingerprints SVP business line payment and access Michel Roig.

    Mantra Softech intends to use Fingerprints’ solution in a diverse range of devices in the future, as well as to focus on creating greater synergies to develop more innovative and future-ready biometric devices. “The combination of Fingerprints’ cutting-edge solution and our proprietary hardware highly complement each other. We are really delighted with our close collaboration and look forward to continuing it,” said Mantra Softech India Pvt Ltd director Hiren Bhandari.

  • Rusk Studios and Fyp join hands for new web series ‘Tuition Ke Baad’

    Rusk Studios and Fyp join hands for new web series ‘Tuition Ke Baad’

    Mumbai: Rusk Studios in collaboration with the Fyp app have announced the launch of “Tuition Ke Baad,” a new rom-com and drama web series. Starting 28 December, the first episode of this flagship launch is now streaming on the YouTube channel of Rusk’s entertainment vertical, Binge.

    With some of the freshest talent on board, “Tuition Ke Baad” promises the much-needed light-hearted entertainment with a relatable plot that revolves around the love and the lives of five school-going teens who find themselves in comic situations. The series will air its fifth and final episode in the first week of January.

    From bunking tuition to getting into a fight with rival groups, “Tuition Ke Baad” captures relatable scenarios centered on the life of four friends, all of whom are crushing on the female lead, Sneha. Helping their friend in pursuing his first love, they find themselves in comical situations. Rusk has onboarded a cast of Instagram influencers and YouTube personalities like Abhishek Kapoor, Mugdha Agarwal, Sanyam Sharma, and Ritik Ghanshani who play the roles of Shole, Sneha, Jhatarburg, and Aashiq respectively.

    “Fyp App enables the teenagers to get easy access to money anytime from their parents or siblings in their Fyp Wallet and have their own Fyp Card for online and offline purchases,” said Fyp CEO Kapil Banwari. “The series ‘Tution Ke Baad’ has captured those moments that are relatable and close to the hearts of school kids.”

    “At Rusk Studios, we bring together a smart blend of entertainment and brand integrations by creating relatable IPs that drive immense value for advertisers,” said Rusk Studios head of revenue Karanvir Sofat. “Delivering across an omnipresent network of platforms and multiple formats: long format on YouTube, short snackable bits on Facebook and Instagram; our content reaches its viewers no matter where they choose to view it.  Targeting 6 million views on ‘Tuition Ke Baad’ over the course of next 10 days across Rusk’s multiple platforms, we aim to amplify brand’s connect with its TG.”

  • Amazon Prime Video to stream New Zealand-Bangladesh test series

    Amazon Prime Video to stream New Zealand-Bangladesh test series

    Mumbai: Amazon Prime Video is set to exclusively stream the two-match Walton Test series between New Zealand and Bangladesh starting on 1 January 2022 at 3.30 a.m onwards. The match will count towards the ongoing 2021-23 World Test Championship.

    The New Zealand squad comprises players such as Trent Boult, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kyle Jamieson, among others, alongside captain Tom Latham. The Bangladesh team will have Mominul Haque as its captain while Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Abu Jayed, among others, will be a part of the team.

    Up until now, New Zealand and Bangladesh have played in 15 test matches, with New Zealand coming out victorious 12 times, and the other three games being drawn.

    The first test match in the series is scheduled to be played at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga from 1-5 January. The second and final test match is scheduled to commence on 9 January and conclude on 13 January at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

  • Glance’s active user base crosses 160 million in India

    Glance’s active user base crosses 160 million in India

    Mumbai: Lockscreen content platform Glance recorded 163 million active users as of Q3 2021, according to Counterpoint Research’s Quarterly Mobile Application Tracker. Experiencing consistent growth since its inception, its active user base which now consists of 30 per cent of India’s smartphone users, grew by eight per cent QoQ in Q3 of 2021.

    Glance’s presence is highly prominent in the $100- $250 price segment, with nearly two-thirds of the active users coming from this price band. Upper-mid-and-affordable premium ($250 and above) comprises about 20 per cent. Over the past year, the lockscreen content platform has expanded its reach beyond India, and is currently also available on devices across Southeast Asia.

    Glance enables its users to access a wide range of content, including live interactive content, on their smartphone lockscreens. This content is curated from top publishers and developers in India across categories such as sports, current affairs, fashion, travel, food, commerce and entertainment.

     

    Commenting on the development, Research Analyst Arushi Chawla said, “The lockscreen is the most visited real-estate on a smartphone. It is the first screen users see every time when unlocking their smartphone. Being present on this surface, Glance makes content discovery frictionless and improves the opt-in rate for interactive broadcasting, compared to any other in-app event features that require users to login. Glance’s recent foray into Live, interactive content has also helped it to differentiate itself as a platform and has helped boost user engagement levels.”

    “As per our estimates, about a billion smartphones will be sold in the next five years in India, which brings a huge opportunity for a content platform to expand using Hardware as a Distribution (HaaD) model. Being a multilingual, pre-installed application in many leading smartphone OEMs it serves as a gateway to the latest content for many first-time smartphone users,” she added.

    Glance continues to come up with engaging ways to create stickiness on the platform. With the launch of Glance Live, and a rise in interactive, real-time content, it is progressively bringing newness in content delivery. Content from Roposo’s top creators onto the Glance lockscreen platform has increased content uniqueness as well.

    India is a price-sensitive and highly competitive market for OEMs. In many cases, it directly affects their operating margin and ability to maintain their market position. As the market dynamics are moving from hardware-level competition to providing an overall holistic experience, most of the OEM’s strategy will concentrate on maximising the customer’s lifetime value. In such a scenario long-term loyalty and value creation will depend on providing differentiating over-the-top services. Content will certainly play a key role in developing brand stickiness.

    (The findings are based on a sponsored survey to better understand the brand’s presence in the Indian smartphone market.)