ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Mitron TV launches new initiatives to enhance user engagement

    Mitron TV launches new initiatives to enhance user engagement

    Mumbai: In a bid to enhance viewer engagement and promote its content creators, homegrown short video app Mitron TV has announced two prime initiatives: ‘The 7 PM Show’ and ‘In-App Quiz’.

    ‘7 PM Show’ is a live session that majorly focuses on giving a platform to the upcoming creators and it will be broadcast every Friday at 7 pm on the Mitron app; ‘In-App Quiz’ called #JeetoCash1000 is a knowledge-based quiz that encourages consumers to participate and win cashback rewards, the app said in a statement.

    “At a time when people are at home, the social media universe has witnessed massive growth in the number of creators and users that have shown active contribution on many social media platforms,” said Mitron TV co-founder & CEO, Shivank Agarwal. “As a short format video platform, we strive to provide a platform that is both entertaining and informative. We believe that it is important to unwind in these difficult times, which is why we have launched interactive games that are both engaging and rewarding for the audience.”

  • Netflix sets up its first Music Creative and Production team in Mumbai

    Netflix sets up its first Music Creative and Production team in Mumbai

    New Delhi: Streaming giant Netflix on Tuesday announced the setting up of its first Music Creative and Production team in Mumbai.

    Ramprasad Sundar, who will lead the team at Netflix for Music Creative and Production said, “I am excited to lead this new Music and Creative Production team in India. Bringing viewers closer to the stories we tell through the magical combination of sight and sound is very inspiring. I can’t wait to get started.”

    This is the first such facility in the Asia-Pacific region, where the team will partner with composers, producers, labels, publishers, and artist management teams to bring incredible music to its series and films from India for members across the world.

    “Music is a powerful universal language. At Netflix, we believe that music is critical to building an emotional, intrinsic connection to a story no matter where that story comes from,” said the company in a statement. “As we grow in India, we are committed to making a universe of exciting and authentic stories from all corners of the country and in all languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and more.”

    The idea behind the launch is to provide exceptional production support to the creators in India and connect them with local music talent. The team will be engaged in creating an instantly recognisable sonic brand for titles, like the theme song to Sacred Games, and drive conversations around titles such as the Tamil blockbuster film Jagame Thandhiram, through soundtracks and music promotions.

    The Music Creative and Production team will also partner with organisations across the country on bespoke programs and a range of initiatives, including workshops for training music supervisors and music editors. With the aim of developing the next generation of music supervisors and specialists, the team will work towards building a more inclusive talent pipeline of individuals from underrepresented groups, said the company.

    In June, the streaming platform also announced Mumbai as the home to its first fully owned, live-action, full-service post-production facility globally. The facility which will become operational by 2022 will have 40 offline editing rooms designed as a flexible, collaborative and inspiring environment for showrunners, directors, editors and sound designers to create their best work.

  • The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs launches its first video game in India

    The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs launches its first video game in India

    Mumbai: The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italian MFA) has launched Italy Land of Wonders, a video game that aims to promote the country’s culture and heritage. The title is available to download for free on App Store and on Google Play.

    As with all the cultural initiatives by italiana.esteri.it, Italy Land of Wonders is part of Italian MFA’s general post-Covid programming strategy aimed at supporting Italian culture as well as creative sectors. The interactive game is targeted at both children and adults and is currently available in English for iOS and Android, smartphone and tablet, via italiana.esteri.it, Italian MFA’s new portal dedicated to Italian culture in the world, the official statement read.

    The game has several interesting characters, who will help users explore Italy. From opera to baroque to famous movie soundtracks, the original scores in the video game are inspired by the great Italian classics. The music helps set the mood to a game that is also an engaging and informative learning tool for schools that teach Italian as a foreign language. Itlay Land of Wonders also serves as a travel guide, thanks to a collection of 600 articles filled with stories, news, and fun facts.

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, director-general for cultural and economic promotion and innovation, ambassador Lorenzo Angeloni, said, “Today, the mobile gaming market is one of the main channels for the diffusion of every type of content, including cultural and informative topics. It’s our job to leverage any opportunity we see to promote our country and its culture to the world. This is why we have embraced the mobile platform and are communicating in a way that is innovative not only for our Ministry but also for Italy’s public administration in general.  We are engaging with a younger audience with ‘Italy Land of wonders’ and it is our objective to engage people from all over the world and to get them interested in our country and its beauties, creating a sense of familiarity that can guide them, one day, to the actual discovery of our territories and our products.”

    “’Italy Land of wonders’ isn’t just an enjoyable mobile game – it’s a real Made in Italy product, skilfully mixing culture and technology,” Angeloni added.

    The game is being launched at a time where India has placed itself on the top in the global gaming industry. As per SensorTower’s data, the first nine months of 2020 saw India rise to the number one spot in mobile game downloads worldwide, clocking 7.3 billion installs and raking in a 17 per cent market share of the installs volume.

  • Disney International HD & Disney+Hotstar to premiere ‘Spin’ on 15 August

    Disney International HD & Disney+Hotstar to premiere ‘Spin’ on 15 August

    Mumbai: Disney Channel original movie ‘Spin’ will release on Disney International HD and Disney+ Hotstar Premium on 15 August at 12 noon, two days after its US release.

    Directed by Manjari Makijany, the film is about an Indian American teen named Rhea (played by Avantika Vandanapu) who discovers her artistic side through the unique world of DJ culture. Actor Abhay Deol plays the role of Rhea’s father in the film.

    Spin also features Meera Syal in the role of Rhea’s spirited grandmother and actor Simhadri as Rhea’s younger brother.

    The film is written by Carley Steiner and Josh Cagan and executive produced by Zanne Devine.

  • Amazon Prime Video launches ‘Shershaah’ trailer on Kargil Vijay Diwas

    Amazon Prime Video launches ‘Shershaah’ trailer on Kargil Vijay Diwas

    Mumbai: On the momentous day of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Amazon Prime Video has launched the trailer of an Amazon Original Movie ‘Shershaah‘. 
    The war drama is jointly produced by Dharma Productions and Kaash Entertainment.

    The trailer was launched in the presence of actors Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, director Vishnu Varadhan, producers Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Shabbir Boxwala, Amazon Prime Video director and head – content Vijay Subramaniam, general Y K Joshi, general officer commanding-in chief, Northern Command and chief of defence staff, general Bipin Rawat who had gathered at Kargil for Kargil Vijay Divas.

    Shershaah celebrates the unflinching courage and valor of Kargil War Hero, captain Vikram Batra (PVC), and is an ode to the relentless spirit and bravery of Indian armed forces.  

    The film will premiere across 240 countries and territories ahead of the Independence Day weekend on 12 August, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

  • Lomotif announces #DostiRemixed contest to ring in Friendship Day

    Lomotif announces #DostiRemixed contest to ring in Friendship Day

    Mumbai: Friendship Day is just around the corner and to celebrate it, there’s no better way than spending fun moments with your best friends in these otherwise despairing times. Keeping this in mind, video-sharing platform Lomotif has announced its latest #DostiRemixed challenge.

    The challenge that takes place between 23 and 30 July, encourages creators across the country to make videos by dancing alongside their best friend on their favourite song and win exciting prizes.

    All one has to do is subscribe to the official #DostiRemixed channel, record their performance and post the videos using the hashtag #DostiRemixed on the campaign channel in the app, said the platform in a statement. The top three pairs of BFFs with the maximum number of video likes will win OnePlus Nord CE 5G phone each, it added.

    “India is a land of emotions and what better way to celebrate the emotion of friendship than to create our #DostiRemixed challenge that sees users perform to their favourite songs with their BFFs and express their love for their friends through a Lomotif,” said Lomotif co-founder & CEO, Paul Yang. “It allows them to experiment with formats, features, and tools to express themselves authentically and strengthen their bonds. We are always looking to enhance what we, as an app, can offer to the user and this challenge is an extension of our philosophy to bring the community even closer, by making this Friendship Day extra special for one and all.”

  • discovery+ announces coverage of Blue Origin’s space launch

    discovery+ announces coverage of Blue Origin’s space launch

    Mumbai: discovery+ India on Friday has announced the coverage of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos’ first flight to space made on 20 July. 

    The show, ‘Jeff Bezos In Space: Blue Origin Takes Flight’ is anchored by The Washington Post’s Libby Casey and Discovery’s Chris Jacobs. It also features on-the-ground analysis from The Washington Post’s space industry reporter Christian Davenport and commentaries from astronaut Leland Melvin, Dr Ellen Stofan – the Smithsonian’s Undersecretary for Science and Research, and a team of experts from the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

    ‘Jeff Bezos in Space: Blue Origin Takes Flight’ highlights the morning’s event, along with interviews from after the launch, behind-the-scenes material and background stories of Blue Origins and Jeff Bezos. 

    “We are delighted to be joining forces with The Washington Post to once again cover the next major chapter in space advancement,” said Science channel, executive vice president of multiplatform programming, factual & head of content, Scott Lewers. “With no on-site public viewing areas in the vicinity of the launch site, this premiere continues discovery+ mission to bring the world to our viewers.”

    “The Washington Post has made a distinct investment in live coverage of major news events, drawing in tens of millions of viewers to its programs featuring the latest developments alongside real-time analysis and commentary from our top journalists,” added The Washington Post’s director of editorial video, Micah Gelman. “After the success of our joint coverage of SpaceX’s first crewed mission last summer, we are thrilled to be partnering with Discovery and Science Channels once again to bring this historic launch to the eyes of Americans nationwide as the appetite for space tourism intensifies.”

  • Eros Now partners with Live Satellite Media to bolster presence across India

    Eros Now partners with Live Satellite Media to bolster presence across India

    Mumbai: South Asian entertainment platform Eros Now has partnered with Mumbai-based Live Satellite Media, part of the ABS group to ensure delivery of video services across all parts of the country. As part of the deal ABS Subsidiary, Live Satellite Media will distribute and enable Eros Now subscriptions through various modes, including unique bundling, prepaid codes, and API integration of the SVOD platform across its extensive customer base. 

    “We will do bundling of various OTT apps and will distribute to ISP, MSO, LCO & other platforms all India. This will be a unique distribution of bundling of all OTT platforms under one company,” said ABS Group CMD Atul B Saraf. “And, by partnering with Eros Now, we can offer a unique experience of OTT platforms to our customers. We will leverage our 30 years of distribution network management experience to ensure the service reaches the multicultural and multilingual audience at large.”

    A noted multi-system operator- ABS Group carries a strong presence in Mumbai for 30 years. Live Satellite Media was founded in 1996 to distribute corporate advertisement on cable networks across India with over 2000 MSO affiliated to it. In 2004 India’s only health & wellness channel was launched by the group with 100 per cent in-house production with more than 1000 hours of library. In 2008 through its subsidiary ABS Media Service had distributed various satellite channels on all platforms for carriage fees & revenue as pay channel. ABS also owns various other companies such as ABS digital cable, ABS broadband services.

    The company is now in the process of finalising as many as six OTT platforms. “We should be able to close it by next month,” said Saraf, who has been in the Satellite and Cable TV Industry for over 30 years. In 1994 he founded Seven Star Satellite Cable Network in Mumbai which became one of the biggest Independent Multi System Operators.

    Talking about the partnership, Eros Now, senior vice president – distribution and alliances, Manpreet Bumrah said, “This partnership is unique and enables us to tap into Live Satellite Media’s massive distributions network of customers and serve them with Eros Now’s enormous library of Bollywood movies, originals, music, short-format content, and more.” 

  • Voot Select to kick off direct-to-OTT Film Festival on 24 July

    Voot Select to kick off direct-to-OTT Film Festival on 24 July

    Mumbai: Voot Select is all set to host its first ever direct-to-OTT film festival starting 24 July. The Voot Select Film Fest will stream as many as 15 critically acclaimed movies across genres in a span of eight days, the platform announced on Friday.

    The specially curated line-up includes a wide range of movies, including those that focus on socially relevant topics coupled with inspiring stories that challenge conventions and showcase #IndiaUnfiltered.  The movies that will be part of the film festival include Natkhat, Shuruaat Ka Twist (anthology), Ek Duaa, Love in the Times of Corona (anthology), Jaan Jigar, Lines, The Shaila(s) and Lihaaf.

    While the globally renowned and Oscar entrant Natkhat challenges patriarchy that has been embedded in our society and highlights gender equality, Ek Duaa, throws light on gender discrimination in a family set-up while Shuruaat Ka Twist, is an omnibus of six short films mentored by Rajkumar Hirani, Vikramaditya Motwane, Raj Kumar Gupta and Amit V. Masurkar, offering varied interpretations of the theme of ‘Twist’ through short stories. A gripping satirical narrative The Shailas will showcase a tumultuous relationship, wrought by class and caste boundaries, while Jaan Jigar will deal with the issue of moral policing around ‘love’ in a small town of North India.

    Lihaaf, based on one of the most celebrated masterpieces of author Ismat Chughtai by the same name, will throw light on the same-sex love and freedom of speech for women, in a male-dominated society. The anthology Love, In The Times Of Corona explores the current turbulent time when the whole world is reassessing what’s most important in their lives with a deeper understanding. Lines, set in 1999, chronicles the life of a young girl who is divided by borders with her husband and how she returns to him.

    “Highlighting the theme ‘Twist’, my movie Tap Tap in the Shuruaat Ka Twist anthology showcases the struggle of a singer at the twilight of his career to regain his magic.  I related a lot while playing this character and thoroughly enjoyed playing it and I am certain that the audience will love it too,” said actor  Chunkey Panday talking about his performance in Shuruaat Ka Twist.

    Speaking about Ek Duaa, actor Esha Deol said, “I’m extremely proud of ‘Ek Duaa’ which is my home production, and it was an enriching experience to portray the character of Abida who is fighting against gender discrimination in the thresholds of her own house. Ek Duaa is my humble contribution towards such a big issue and I have never been so emotionally invested in any character before. It has truly been a product of sheer hard work that will strike a chord with the audience.”

  • HBO Max, HBO add 2.8 mn subs in Q2, WarnerMedia’s revenues touch $8.8 billion.

    HBO Max, HBO add 2.8 mn subs in Q2, WarnerMedia’s revenues touch $8.8 billion.

    New Delhi: Media and telecommunications giant AT&T showed continued customer growth in wireless, fiber and HBO Max in the second quarter, the company has said. In its Q2 report released on Thursday, AT&T reported consolidated revenues of $44 billion, up from $41 billion in Q2 2020.

    WarnerMedia’s total revenues climbed to $8.8 billion from 8.5 billion in Q1 indicating partial recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

    HBO Max and HBO added 2.8 million domestic subscribers. Total domestic subscribers for both topped 47 million — up 10.7 million from the past year and 67.5 million globally, up 12 million in the past year. The parent company has also raised its expectations for HBO/HBO Max growth by the end of 2021, and now expects 70 million-73 million global HBO Max/HBO subscribers by the end of year. 

    “We are pleased with our performance and our momentum is strong,” said AT&T CEO John Stankey. “For the fourth consecutive quarter, we saw good subscriber growth across wireless, fiber and HBO Max. Mobility delivered strong service revenue, EBITDA and postpaid phone growth. Our fiber business grew subscribers and penetration.”

    The company’s top executive said, HBO Max had another strong quarter and is ahead of plan to be a leading direct-to-consumer streaming platform, with both subscriber- and ad-supported choices. “As a result, we’re raising our global HBO Max year-end forecast to 70 million to 73 million subscribers. Also, we’re updating full-year guidance for consolidated revenue, wireless service revenue, adjusted EPS and free cash flow,” he said.

    Early this May, AT&T and Discovery Inc. had agreed to combine their media assets into a new public traded company. The deal is expected to be completed by mid-2022 pending regulatory approvals.  “No news is good news… We continue to move through it,” said Stankey responding to a media query on the deal.

    The merged entity to be led by current Discovery chief executive David Zaslav will bring together brands like HBO, Warner Bros., Discovery, DC Comics, CNN, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Food Network, the Turner Networks, TNT, TBS, Eurosport, Magnolia, TLC, Animal Planet, ID. The larger aim is to compete globally in the fast-growing direct-to-consumer business- bringing compelling content to DTC subscribers across its portfolio, including HBO Max and the recently launched discovery+.