ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Amazon launches Prime Video Channels in India; names Chaitanya Divan as head

    Amazon launches Prime Video Channels in India; names Chaitanya Divan as head

    Mumbai: Amazon has taken a giant leap transforming into a super app aggregator as it announced the launch of Prime Video Channels in India. Starting 24 September, Prime members will have the option to watch global and local binge-worthy content including shows, movies, reality TV, and documentaries from eight video-streaming services including discovery+, Lionsgate Play, Docubay, Eros Now, MUBI, hoichoi, Manorama Max, and Shorts TV – each accessible with respective add-on subscriptions.

    Media and entertainment veteran, Chaitanya Divan who joined Amazon in 2019 as part of the company’s leadership team will lead Amazon Prime Video Channels India as head. Prior to this, he was head of business for premium sports in his long stint with Star India. In his career spanning two decades, Divan has worked with HUL, Marico, Star India, and NDTV Imagine.

    Prime Video Channels aim to address customers’ need for a hassle-free entertainment experience, simplified discovery, and frictionless payments. It does so, by acting as an intermediary that allows members to stream content from popular OTT services on the Amazon Prime Video app and website in India through an add-on subscription. Customers therefore will need to pay only for the service they choose. At launch, Prime members can enjoy a special introductory annual subscription offer made available by the OTT channel partners.

    Commenting on the development, Amazon Prime Video, India country manager, Gaurav Gandhi said, “With the launch of Prime Video Channels, we now take the next big step in our journey to entertain India by creating a video entertainment marketplace – first of its kind in India – which will not only delight our customers by giving them even more entertainment choices but also benefit the OTT Channel partners who collaborate with us to leverage Prime Video’s distribution, reach and tech infrastructure.”

    “As content choices explode, a single interface for discovery, streaming, and payments, is a key need for customers and we aim to solve for this with the launch of Prime Video Channels,” added Amazon Prime Video, Head-Prime Video Channels, Chaitanya Divan “Prime Video Channels arrives in India after having successfully launched in 11 countries. Our choice of OTT partners for Prime Video Channels is reflective of our diverse and discerning customers’ entertainment needs and interest areas. The launch marks our effort to collaboratively grow the video streaming segment in the country. We look forward to increasing the selection of entertainment even further, with additional channel partners joining in the next few months.”

    Prime members will be able to watch subscribed Prime Video Channels on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, and Apple TV among other connected devices. Episodes can be downloaded for offline viewing at no additional cost.

    Other than the introductory offers and ease of discovery and payments, customers will also get the benefit of using Prime Video features to view content on Prime Video Channels.

    Elaborating on the same, Divan said, “We define the convenience that Prime Video Channels is offering as a layered benefit covering different aspects such as discovery, payments, etc., and making the overall viewing experience easier for customers. Additionally, all Prime Video features such as X-ray, downloads, and watchlists that are hugely popular among our viewers are available across Prime Video Channels content as well. The partner channels will be accessible on our service with these user-friendly features from the very start.”

  • Netflix acquires Roald Dahl Story Company

    Netflix acquires Roald Dahl Story Company

    Mumbai: Netflix has acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC) in what is believed to be one of its largest deals recently.

    The acquisition builds on the partnership the two companies started three years ago to create a slate of animated TG series, including a series based on the world of  “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” from the Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi and Academy Award nominee Phil Johnston.

    Additionally, Netflix is also working with Sony and Working Title on an adaptation of “Matilda The Musical.”

    “These projects opened our eyes to a much more ambitious venture – the creation of a unique universe across animated and live-action films and TV, publishing, games, immersive experiences, live theatre, consumer products and more,” said Netflix co-chief executive officer and chief content officer Ted Sarandos and RDSC managing director and Roald Dahl’s grandson Luke Kelly.

    “As we bring these timeless tales to more audiences in new formats, we are committed to maintaining their unique spirit and their universal themes of surprise and kindness, while also sprinkling some fresh magic into the mix,” they added.

    Roald Dahl’s books have been translated into 63 languages and sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, with characters like Matilda, The BFG, Fantastic Mr Fox, Willy Wonka, and The Twits delighting generations of children and adults.

  • Zee5 Global onboards Yogin Vora as associate director, digital marketing

    Zee5 Global onboards Yogin Vora as associate director, digital marketing

    Mumbai: Streaming service platform Zee5 Global has brought on board Yogin Vora as associate director – digital marketing.

    Vora joins from HDFC Life, where he worked as senior marketing manager – digital marketing for more than three years.

    A management graduate from the University of Mumbai, Vora is a digital advertising professional with eight years of digital and three years of mainline media and marketing experience.

    He was previously associated with companies like DDB Mudra as partner – digital and Graphene Media as group head – offline and digital. He has also worked with Starcom Media and Madison Media in the past.

  • slice targets Gen Z with its new campaign on Disney+ Hotstar

    slice targets Gen Z with its new campaign on Disney+ Hotstar

    Mumbai: In a move to capture the cricket momentum to build reach among millennials and Gen Z, credit card challenger brand slice has launched its first ad film on Disney+ Hotstar. 

    The campaign will be played on the streaming service platform and also be promoted across digital platforms including Youtube and Facebook, said the brand.

    Through a series of 20-second quirky films centered on the idea ‘Makes Everything Else Seem Slow,’ the brand puts the spotlight on its card’s USP of speed in this campaign conceptualised by 82.5 Communications.

    “From the fastest onboarding experience, instant rewards and cashbacks to the quickest customer service, the slice card is designed to be the ‘fastest’ card in the market in every way for millennials and Gen Z,” said slice founder and CEO Rajan Bajaj. “We believe that speed plays a critical role for today’s generation and we want to be with them every step of the way. This is also crucial to ensure this set of consumers have a delightful customer experience, where all their needs are addressed instantly to help them make the most of their now.”

  • I&B minister Anurag Thakur meets Netflix chief Reed Hastings

    I&B minister Anurag Thakur meets Netflix chief Reed Hastings

    Mumbai: Minister of information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur met with Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer Reed Hastings for a discussion on Tuesday. Thakur presented Hastings with a copy of the holy book Bhagvad Gita during the meeting. 

    The minister shared photos of the meeting via his personal handle on Twitter.

    “Good discussion with Mr Reed Hastings (Co-Founder & CEO Netflix),” said Thakur in a tweet. “Today consumers of content are traveling the world through stories; India offers a variety of opportunities and ideas – in multiple languages,” he wrote.

    Hastings recently announced that Netflix would invest more in India after already pumping Rs 3000 crore in the past two years. In an interview with Business Today, the Netflix chief had said that India is one of its “top priorities” and that the streaming company will continue its commitment to the Indian market by simply “investing more” in content.

    In February, the government framed the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 that introduced a grievance redressal mechanism for news publishers, OTT platforms and digital media and a Code of Ethics that prescribe the guidelines to be followed by OTT platforms and online news and digital media entities.

  • Zee Theatre, Nine Rasa team up to showcase ‘Pashmina’

    Zee Theatre, Nine Rasa team up to showcase ‘Pashmina’

    Mumbai: Zee Theatre has collaborated with performing arts-focused OTT platform Nine Rasa to showcase Manish Chaudhary and Anamika Tiwari starrer “Pashmina”. Tata Sky Theatre will air the play on 26 September at 2 p.m and 8 p.m.

    “This collaboration between Zee Theatre and Nine Rãsã is an attempt to make nuanced stories accessible to audiences and to familiarise them with the power and poignance of good theatre,” said the statement.

    “Pashmina” follows the story of Amar and Vibha Saxena, who habitually visit a new place every summer. However, a holiday in Kashmir turns out to be an eventful trip down memory lane. Directed by Rasika Agashe, the play also stars Shaurya Shanker, Paramvir Singh, Manjeet Yadav and Yasir Iftikhar Khan.

    “Zee Theatre and Nine Rasa are aligned in the belief that theatre must reach people even if they can’t reach it. By bringing immersive theatrical experiences to the audience on their screens, we collaboratively aim to expand the reach of poignant stories like Pashmina,” said Zee Entertainment’s chief creative officer of special projects Shailja Kejriwal.

    “The idea of Nine Rasa was started keeping in mind that the plays, skits, storytelling are accessible to all and also help the theatre community,” said Nine Rasa founder and actor Shreyas Talpade. “Zee Theatre coming on board is a positive sign that Nine Rasa is heading in the right direction and this collaboration will surely help reach more people.”

  • Trell acquires Womaniya as ‘strategic fit’

    Trell acquires Womaniya as ‘strategic fit’

    Mumbai: Homegrown social commerce platform Trell on Monday announced that it has acquired Womaniya, a community that empowers women to be self-aware on wellness and self-care. 

    The integration of Trell and Womaniya is aimed at providing a more comprehensive solution to improving efficiencies and facilitating collaborations among women, said the statement.

    Trell CEO and co-founder Pulkit Agrawal said that Womaniya is a “great strategic fit” for the platform as it will create significant value for the community of women who account for more than “60 per cent” of Trell’s user base, and generate more than “72 per cent” of the content on the platform.

    “We are happy to welcome Womaniya’s impressive team to the Trell family. With Womaniya’s expertise and our reach, we will create innovative solutions that educate and empower women, as well as provide them with financial inclusion and the freedom to monetise through social commerce,” he added.

    Womaniya has been dedicated to providing support and credible information on a variety of topics including menstrual health, child care, nutrition, fitness, and mental wellness.

    “Through Womaniya, we were able to build a strong community of over 400000 women from tier 2 and 3 cities of India. In order to grow and reach out to more women with credible sources, we always wanted to explore how a sustainable business can be built on a community foundation,” said Womaniya founders Siddharth Kothari and Lakhan Suchdev. “Trell, as a social commerce platform, has successfully integrated commerce with content and community offerings. We are excited about this collaboration which will enable us to empower more women across the country.”

  • ‘Ted Lasso’, ‘The Crown’ win big at the 73rd Emmys

    ‘Ted Lasso’, ‘The Crown’ win big at the 73rd Emmys

    Los Angeles: Netflix’s “The Crown” and Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” have won the Emmy for the Outstanding Drama and Comedy series respectively at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, which returned with in-person glitz and glamour on Sunday, after going remote in 2020 due to the pandemic.

    The ceremony honored the best in the US prime time television programming from 1 June 2020 until 31 May 2021, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences highlighting much of what folks have been watching during the pandemic.

    Among the closely watched categories were those in outstanding comedy, where a whopping 75 per cent of the nominees were new to the category. The big winner was “Ted Lasso” taking home the award for comedy series, as well as comedy lead actor, supporting actor, and supporting actress. The freshman comedy with 13 nominations walked away with four awards in all.

    “The Crown” which bagged a total of 11 nominations, won in the outstanding lead actor, drama (Josh O’Connor), lead actress, drama (Olivia Colman), and outstanding directing for a drama series (episode: ‘War’, directed by Jessica Hobbs) categories, in addition to five other wins.

    “The Queen’s Gambit” took home the award in the closely watched Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series race. “Mare of Easttown” surprised some pundits with wins for lead actress, supporting actor and supporting actress in the Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category.

    Cedric the Entertainer, hosting for the first time, kicked off the ceremony with a strong opening hip-hop performance set to Biz Markie’s iconic song, “Just a Friend.” Cedric enlisted the help of a few A-listers to the act including LL Cool J, Lil Dicky, Rita Wilson and more. “TV, you got what I need!” the group sang, as seemingly everyone in the audience joined in. 

    After a few trophies were handed out, Cedric brought his comedy A-game to the night with an opening monologue taking on Nicki Minaj, who was trolled online for her anti-vax commentary, the Jeopardy! host fiasco and also the royal family. Noting so much talent in the room, Cedric retorted, “Lock the doors, we’re not leaving until we find a new host for Jeopardy!”

    Television Academy CEO and chairman Frank Scherma gave an impassioned speech as he took the stage to introduce and present the winner of this year’s Governor’s Award. “It’s so great to see that television and the stories we tell are finally becoming a reflection of every part of our society,” said Scherma.

    Although television programming has seen a definitive rise in the representation of diverse characters, this year’s Emmy Awards is already being scrutinised since it had its most diverse field of nominees yet but failed to deliver. By the end of the night, no actors of color or LGBTQ actors had won any of the major acting awards.

    Multi-talented actress and dancer, Debbie Allen accepted the 2021 Governor’s Award from Scherma and with tears in her eyes shared a heartfelt tribute to women in Texas and Afghanistan and called on women worldwide to let the moment resonate. “It is time for you to claim your power, claim your voice, say your song, tell your stories,” she said. Allen, a Black woman was one of only a few people of color who won an award.

    RuPaul, the host and executive producer of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” became the most-awarded Black artist in Emmys history with 11 wins after the VH1 series won the award for top competition program for the fourth year in a row during Sunday’s ceremony.

    The attendees were drastically scaled back to around a reported 500 and were required to follow Covid-19 protocols that mimic safety measures put in place on Hollywood sets. This included proof of vaccinations and requiring guests to wear masks when not on camera.

    Complete list of winners:

    Outstanding Variety Talk Series: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”

    Outstanding Competition Program: “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

    Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart, “Hacks” 

    Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” 

    Outstanding Comedy Series: “Ted Lasso” 

    Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or a Movie: Ewan McGregor, “Halston”

    Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or a Movie: Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown”

    Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: “The Queen’s Gambit” 

    Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Olivia Colman, “The Crown” 

    Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Josh O’Connor, “The Crown”

    Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”

    Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”

    Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tobias Menzies, “The Crown” 

    Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Gillian Anderson, “The Crown” 

    Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Evan Peters, “Mare of Easttown” 

    Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Julianne Nicholson, “Mare of Easttown”

    Outstanding Drama Serie: “The Crown”

    Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: “Saturday Night Live”

    Outstanding Variety Special (Live): “Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020”

    Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded): “Hamilton” 

    Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: “Hacks” (Episode: ‘There Is No Line’), Directed by Lucia Aniello

    Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: “The Crown” (Episode: ‘War’), Directed by Jessica Hobbs

    Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: “The Queen’s Gambit,” Directed by Scott Frank 

    Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: “Hacks” (Episode: ‘There Is No Line’), written by Lucia Aniello, Paul W Downs, and Jen Statsky

    Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: “The Crown” (Episode: ‘War’), written by Peter Morgan

    Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: “I May Destroy You,” written by Michaela Coel

    Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” 

  • Tata Sky Binge onboards two new OTT Apps this festive season

    Tata Sky Binge onboards two new OTT Apps this festive season

    Mumbai: In order to make the most of the festive season, Tata Sky has added two new apps to bolster its streaming platform Tata Sky Binge, taking the total number of partner apps on the platform to thirteen.

    The two OTT apps- EPIC ON & DocuBay helmed by IN10 Media Network will add thousands of movies, shows, reality TV content, and award-winning documentaries from around the globe to the existing bouquet of content on Tata Sky Binge, the company announced on Monday. Subscribers will be able to access the new content library on existing subscriptions across large screen connected devices (Tata Sky Binge+ Box and Tata Sky edition of the Amazon FireTV Stick) and the Tata Sky Binge Mobile App, it added.

    The streaming platform currently aggregates content from 11 premium OTT apps including Disney+ Hotstar Premium, ZEE5, Sony Liv, Voot Select, SunNxt, Hungama Play, Eros Now, ShemarooMe, Voot Kids, and CuriosityStream. “EPIC ON and DocuBay will add more diversity to our content catalogue driving further engagement. We believe such platform additions will only make Tata Sky Binge the absolute go-to destination for the viewers,” said Tata Sky spokesperson.

    EPIC ON will bring to the table a vast array of content including a mix of movies, TV shows, short films, reality TV content, food & travel shows. This includes Gandhi, Dharmakshetra, Siyasat, Raja Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniyaan, and Stories by Rabindranath Tagore. It also features several Korean Drama titles dubbed in Hindi and short films.

    While, DocuBay specialises in streaming documentaries from around the globe and will add informative content including award-winning documentary films on nature, science, history, wildlife, travel, crime, world events, and much more. This includes Victims of ISIS, Financing Terror, and Bitcoin: The end of money as we know it.

    IN10 Media Network’s Spokesperson further added, “With the digital ecosystem seeing immense growth and viewers looking for diverse content, our digital offerings – EPIC ON and DocuBay – provide a rich library of world-acclaimed content. We are happy to partner with Tata Sky as its reach and our varied content of shows, movies and documentaries will provide the customers an enriching and enthralling content-viewing experience every week.” 

  • Disney+ Hotstar launches exclusive commentary feed for VIVO IPL

    Disney+ Hotstar launches exclusive commentary feed for VIVO IPL

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar has launched an exclusive commentary feed titled ‘Hotstar Dosts’ to enhance the entertainment quotient of VIVO IPL 2021, which resumed on Sunday.

    Featuring a commentator line-up of comedians and entertainers such as Zakir Khan, Varun Sharma, Abhishek Upmanyu, Anubhav Singh Bassi, Amit Bhadana, Amit Tandon, Harsh Gujral, Angad Singh Ranyal, and Vrajesh Hirjee who are popular among the young, digitally savvy cricket fans, the feed will present LIVE cricket action in a fun, engaging, and relatable manner.

    Speaking on the launch of ‘Hotstar Dosts’, Disney+ Hotstar India, president and head, Sunil Rayan said, “Disney+ Hotstar is the go-to digital platform for all sporting action and our constant endeavour is to offer newer engagement opportunities to tap into a wider set of users. As we continue with this edition of VIVO IPL 2021, we present to our subscribers a whole new dimension of ‘cricketainment’ with ‘Hotstar Dosts’, making VIVO IPL enticing for everyone.”

    Viewers can access the ‘Hotstar Dosts’ commentary feed from the audio settings tab on the Disney+ Hotstar interface. The feed will be available in the Hinglish language. It is currently planned for all evening matches.