ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • MX Player collaborates with MG Motor & Gujarat Tourism for new show

    MX Player collaborates with MG Motor & Gujarat Tourism for new show

    Mumbai: Offering brands innovative content solutions to engage with its large and diverse audiences, MX Player is producing MX Specials that not only appeal to viewers but also meet the business needs of advertisers. The entertainment platform has teamed up with MG Motor and Gujarat Tourism to present “Hidden Taste of Gujarat”, a food & travel show that sees chef Smit Sagar’s immersive journey around Gujarat.

    The show brings together culture, tradition, festivities, landscape, and the lovely cuisine of Gujarat. The five cities that are explored through one episode each include Rajkot, Mangrole, Surat, Dwarka, and Ahmedabad with  Smit Sagar traversing through these different localities and meeting local chefs. The show uncovers recipes and the hidden stories behind them that haven’t been explored in the culinary world, the platform said in a statement.

    Speaking about this association, MX Player’s head of brand partnerships, Pankaj Malani said, “We wanted to take viewers on a delectable culinary journey that brings the rich culture of Gujarat alive, as well as features the ease of travelling its landscape in an MG vehicle. Each episode sees Chef Smit Sagar’s expeditions as he traces a recipe back to its roots and then highlights the stories of the natives of that region. We, at MX Player, constantly strive to make content that is impactful and entertaining and we’re glad to have partnered with MG Motor and Gujarat Tourism for this MX Special.”

    Gujarat Tourism’s commissioner of tourism and MD, Jenu Devan (IAS) said, “The best way to explore a state’s culture is by exploring its cuisine, which is heavily influenced by the geography, history, and traditions of the region. With this MX Special, we hope citizens from across the country are intrigued by all that Gujarat has to offer.”

    Talking about the partnership, MG Motor India’s marketing head Udit Malhotra said, “At MG, our endeavour is to consistently create exciting and meaningful content experiences for our audience. The collaboration with MX Player and Gujarat Tourism for the “The Hidden Taste of Gujarat” is an ode to our home state where we have our manufacturing facility in Halol. Chef Smith Sagar, with his penchant for discovering exciting cuisines across the state, found the perfect partner in his MG that helped him navigate through the rich cultural landscapes with a lot more ease and comfort.”

    All five parts of this MX Special are now streaming for free on MX Player.

  • Twitter names Vinay Prakash as resident grievance officer for India

    Twitter names Vinay Prakash as resident grievance officer for India

    Mumbai: Twitter has named Vinay Prakash as its resident grievance officer for India in line with the new IT rules which came into effect on 26 May.

    The US-based microblogging site has been at loggerheads with the central government over its alleged non-compliance with the new IT rules in India, which mandates, among other requirements, the appointment of three key personnel — chief compliance officer, nodal officer, and grievance officer by social media platforms with over 50 lakh users. All three personnel have to be residents in India.

    The site also published a ‘transparency report’ regarding the handling of complaints from users in India between 26 May and 25 June – which was another requirement under the new IT law.

    “Twitter can be contacted in India at the following address: Fourth Floor, The Estate, 121 Dickenson Road, Bangalore 560 042,” it said on its website. Prakash’s name appears along with Jeremy Kessel, who is the global legal policy director and is based in the US. Users can contact him using an email ID listed on the page.

    Prakash’s appointment follows after the Delhi high court on 8 July refused to allow any interim protection to Twitter and noted that it is open to the government to pursue any action regarding the social media company in compliance with the IT rules.

    Twitter had previously appointed Dharmendra Chatur as its interim resident grievance officer for India as required by the IT rules. However, Chatur stepped down within weeks of taking over the key role.

    The government had earlier made clear, that as per new rules, any failure to comply with the guidelines could lead to exemption from liability under section 79 of the IT Act, 2000. This essentially means that the platform could be held responsible for content posted by the users. The rules recommend a three-tier mechanism for the regulation of all online media.

  • Trell’s latest masterclass gives tips to budding content creators

    Trell’s latest masterclass gives tips to budding content creators

    Mumbai: Content creators today have become one of the crucial aspects of product marketing as they influence the decision of buyers, and make recommendations that are beneficial to both the brand and the consumer.

    Against this backdrop, lifestyle content app Trell recently conducted a masterclass with celebrity chef Ranveer Brar and Trell content creator Nilu Thapa, in which they shared their professional experiences and useful tips for budding content creators.

    “The only secret recipe about good content I have nailed down is that I took some time to discover myself in front of the camera through my content,” said Ranveer Brar. “In order to be authentic and to be able to connect with people, it’s important to learn and recognise to be yourself, be unique, and comfortable with your flaws.“

    “The biggest life lesson that I can share is to be patient and consistent with your content. A viral video doesn’t ensure huge followers but a viral video does ensure exposure,” he further added.

    “It is very important to have a vision when you create content, to have your own identity, vibe and signature,” said fashion and beauty influencer Nilu Thapa. “If you create the content blindly by following trends, it might not appear authentic to your audience, and you won’t be able to relate to it as well. It’s essential to create content which is organic, unique, and of the best quality.”

    “The aim of this Masterclass was to give a platform to content creators to learn from renowned influencers and better their content creations on social media,” said Trell’s VP & content head Parul Menghani. “We plan to do a lot of initiatives for content creators and provide them with better opportunities which can help them to grow along with Trell.”

    Trell has content creators creating content on various categories including health and fitness, beauty and personal care, travel, food, and more.

  • ALTBalaji launches monsoon special #ALTBINGEATHON campaign

    ALTBalaji launches monsoon special #ALTBINGEATHON campaign

    KOLKATA: ALTBalaji has introduced its latest monsoon campaign #ALTBINGEATHON to take a fun route to raise awareness around staying safe at home amidst the pandemic and lift spirits by binge-watching ALTBalaji’s entertaining content library.

    With 80 per cent of its audience aged below 35 years, ALTBalaji introduces this quirky campaign for the youth that encourages everyone to stay at home safely while giving them a wide variety of captivating content to explore and enjoy, the platform said in a statement.

    The OTT platform has also rolled out a social media campaign, reminding people to log into ALTBalaji and binge-watch their shows, amidst monsoons, with an engaging video.

    Speaking on the campaign, ALTBalaji’s marketing & revenue SVP Divya Dixit said, “Monsoon is the perfect weather to get into our cozy space and enjoy binge-watching our favourite shows while we relish the rains through the window. #ALTBINGEATHON is a reminder to our audience to go back and watch those shows they always wanted to. With 84+ Hindi original shows across all genres, we want our audiences to be spoiled for choice. We can only promise more and more entertaining content going forward.”

    With a strategy to focus on youth programming for the country, ALTBalaji’s offerings include premium, disruptive content and original series across genres. The company boasts of 4.7 million subscriptions during the year and currently has an active subscriber base of over 2.3 million.

  • Zee5 premiers ‘State of Siege: Temple Attack’ in three languages

    Zee5 premiers ‘State of Siege: Temple Attack’ in three languages

    KOLKATA: Zee5 original film State of Siege: Temple Attack has premiered in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu simultaneously on 9 July. To create buzz around the film, the OTT platform has deployed an extensive 360-degree campaign consisting of print, TV, digital and on-ground promotions.

    From multiple print ads and an on-air promotional plan to a stimulating digital plan including a UGC activity where people sent in their gratitude in the form of a message to NSG commandos, ZEE5 left no stone unturned to promote the film, the platform said in a statement.
     
    Inspired by true events, State of Siege: Temple Attack pays tribute to our soldiers, salutes the brave Indian spirit, and continues the legacy of the Siege series. It stars Akshaye Khanna in the lead role, alongside Vivek Dahiya, Gautam Rode, Sameer Soni, Parvin Dabas, and Manjari Phadnis.

     “After receiving an overwhelming response from audiences across the country for State of Siege: 26/11, we are extremely thrilled to bring forth another story from the successful State of Siege franchise that will captivate the audience’s attention,” ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra said. “We take immense pride in telling stories of valour and unwavering grit, and this film, which is based on NSG commandos’ sacrifices, pays a befitting tribute to these real-life heroes who risk their lives to save ours.”

    State of Siege: Temple Attack is produced by Contiloe Pictures led by Abhimanyu Singh, and Ken Ghosh who previously helmed ZEE5’s web series Abhay 2 has directed the film. With a generous dose of thrill, action, drama, and suspense, this latest offering from ZEE5 promises the audience an edge-of-the-seat experience.

  • Amazon Prime signs multiyear licensing deal with Comcast’s Universal

    Amazon Prime signs multiyear licensing deal with Comcast’s Universal

    New Delhi: Starting 2022, Universal Pictures’ new live action films will first debut on Comcast’s OTT platform Peacock after their theatrical releases, and then land exclusively on Amazon Prime Video four months later.

    The arrangement is part of a multiyear deal that Amazon has signed with Comcast’s Universal Pictures and Peacock, and applies to all live-action films including Jurassic World: Dominion that are scheduled to be released in theatres in 2022.

    The deal is part of the company’s plan to change the traditional home entertainment release pattern. Generally, new movies go to a cable channel or streaming service about six months or more after they debut in cinemas. These films remain with the outlet for an 18-month window, which is referred to as the ‘Pay-One Window’.

    Under the new arrangement, Universal will send its films to streaming quicker and will break up the 18-month period. So, new movies will go to Peacock four months after their theatrical debut, and four months later, these films will be available on Amazon Prime Video for ten months and then back to Peacock for four months, it said in a statement.

    “We’re thrilled to team up with Amazon to deliver our titles to its customers. This agreement further delivers on our distribution strategy to monetize our unparalleled movie library across multiple services, while offering customers the most choice, control and flexibility in how, when and where they watch films,” said UEFG, vice chairman and chief distribution officer, Peter Levinsohn in a statement.

    As the streaming war rages on, media companies are trying new strategies to bolster their streaming services and challenge the domination of streaming giant Netflix, which currently boasts of 208 million subscribers. 

  • Adobe to hold a virtual workshop on content creation on 10 July

    Adobe to hold a virtual workshop on content creation on 10 July

    New Delhi: As digital overtakes all forms of businesses across the world, creating content that connects with the masses has become a challenging proposition. The pandemic threw its challenges, compelling organisations to adapt to the changing demands, and take a re-look at how they generate and publish new content.

    So, what are the elements of a successful content strategy in the post-pandemic world? How can content creators pivot to the changing dynamics, as people clamour for new and refreshing content? What are the secrets that you wish you knew about the emerging field?

    These are some of the questions that Adobe plans to address in its upcoming virtual workshop being organised in collaboration with Indiantelevision.com this Saturday, 10 July.

    The workshop will begin with a session on ‘The Influencer and the craft of videos’ by Suhani Shah, a mentalist, magician, and YouTuber. This will be followed by a session on ‘The Art of Filmmaking’ from 11:20 AM to 12:05 PM, where Indiantelevision.com’s founder and editor-in-chief Anil Wanwari will engage in a conversation with the filmmaker and production designer Omung Kumar Bhandula.

    Art director turned filmmaker, Bhandula made his directorial debut with the 2014 biographical sports drama Mary Kom starring Priyanka Chopra, which was a critical as well as a commercial success. He then went on to make another biopic on Sarabjit Singh, who was lodged in a Pakistan jail.

    This will be followed by a session on ‘Know-How from content producers and career opportunities in content creation, where Digital Media Adobe Systems, India and South Asia, head-education, Supreeth Nagaraju A will be in conversation with Bodhi Tree Multimedia Ltd’s director and co-founder Sukesh Motwani.

    The virtual workshop will conclude with a sneak preview on Adobe’s professional video editing tools by Adobe, Digital Media, senior solutions consultant, Chetan Jadhav.

  • Zee5 announces OTT series on Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi partnership

    Zee5 announces OTT series on Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi partnership

    KOLKATA: Zee5 has announced sports docu-drama “Break Point” with the award-winning filmmaker duo Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari at the helm. The series will explore the untold story of the titans of tennis Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, their partnership and the bitter break-up, the platform said in a statement on Thursday.

    The show will also mark Zee5’s first partnership with the filmmakers under their banner Earthsky Pictures.

    Speaking about the offering, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd content and international markets president Punit Misra said, “Our Content design philosophy is simple – Build a deep understanding of viewers as people, not just as consumers of content. Build a bank of insights about the people, their culture, what interests and inspires them, what are their fears, hopes and aspirations. And powered with these insights, tell stories that connect, inspire, entertain and energize.”

    “To tell these powerful stories in an impactful way, we want to partner with the best creative leaders. I am very proud of our partnership with Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari, to tell the amazing story of Lee and Hesh, true champions of our great country. ‘BREAK POINT’ is our effort to bring to our countrymen and to the world the told, but more importantly, the untold story of these adored champions of India,” he added.

    Consumer delight and a seamless user experience have been an integral aspect of Zee5’s approach, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd Digital Businesses & Platforms president Amit Goenka said . With Break Point, the platform is set to further delight its viewers with a gripping story that drove one of the most famous partnerships in sports from India. They see this story opening the floodgates to a new format of narrative and the breadth of content on Zee5, Goenka added.

    Commenting on the partnership with Zee5, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari in a joint statement said, “Break Point is an emotionally moving human story of India’s biggest sports legends and their incredible journey through the ups and downs in their professional and personal life. Through this show, we will witness an exemplary story of hard-work, conflict, belief, emotions and ambitions and showcase some of the most iconic moments of Indian tennis. We are both thrilled to be bringing this interesting story through Zee5, one of India’s largest home-grown video streaming platforms.”

  • Travelxp bets big on OTT content, launches new platform Travelxp RED

    Travelxp bets big on OTT content, launches new platform Travelxp RED

    New Delhi: The OTT boom has taken the world by storm over the last few years and India remains one of its fastest growing markets. The latest entrant is India’s global travel channel, Travelxp, which has now joined the race and announced its new streaming platform- Travelxp Watch.

    Travelxp is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store and is planning to add TV Apps by the end of this month. More than 250 original travel stories, of which 50 per cent are shot in 4K HDR, will be available in English, Hindi as well as in two regional Indian languages – Tamil and Bengali, it said on Wednesday.

    It will be streaming more than 150+ hours of original travel content and hopes to increase the library strength to 1000+ hours of content by the end of FY 2022.

    “We launched the world’s first 4K HDR Channel in 2016, and now the world’s first 4K HDR Travel OTT Platform, with Travelxp Watch. We are delighted to bring the power of 4K HDR to our Indian fanbase,” said Travelxp 4K| HD, founder CEO Prashant Chothani. “The project has been in the works for nearly two years now, we wanted to get it right with regards to the entire customer experience. In a period where travel is going to see a big resurgence, Travelxp is going to be at the heart of supporting the travel recovery with the power of content.”

    The entire product was built by an inhouse team through the entire Covid lockdown.

    “The passion of the team in creating a platform that resembles the simplicity and joy of travel has seen us shoot up to the Top 50 Apps in India for the Travel Category in less than a week since launch, and we have more than 30,000+ Monthly Active Users already,” said Tanay Chothani, who joined Travelxp two years ago to lead all Digital Projects, a major part of which constituted the OTT Platform.

    Chothani highlighted that the content driven commerce model is going to be a big part of Travelxp’s strategy going forward. “The power of video is unparalleled in driving demand and also giving viewers more decision making power. While we showcase the world in the beautiful 4K HDR quality we are known for, we are also going a step further and allowing our users to book and plan their travels, right from the same app,” he added.

    Travelxp’s OTT Platform is available at www.travelxp.com.

  • Pocket Aces’ Gobble and DEWAR’S join hands for ‘You Got Chef’d’ season 3

    Pocket Aces’ Gobble and DEWAR’S join hands for ‘You Got Chef’d’ season 3

    Mumbai: Pocket Aces’ lifestyle channel, Gobble, in collaboration with DEWAR’S double aged Scotch Whisky by Bacardi, is back with the third season of “You Got Chef’d”.

    The latest season will have Bollywood celebs Arjun Kapoor, Tahira Kashyap, Pratik Gandhi, and Rohan Joshi, cooking their gourmet creations with chef and host Ranveer Brar, the channel said. Under the supervision of DEWAR’S India brand ambassadors, Greg Benson and Myles Carroll, the guests will be challenged to try bartending tricks that boost their chances of winning, it added.

    “You Got Chef’d! helps bring out the finest cocktail and food pairings alongside fun banter and highlights the amazing occasions at home and otherwise to experience with DEWAR’S,” Bacardi India’s consumer marketing lead-Whiskies, Vijay Dev said. “We hope consumers enjoy this season as well and try their hand at these easy-to-make DEWAR’S Highball cocktails.”

    DEWAR’S brand ambassador-India Greg Benson shared, “As DEWAR’S continues to champion innovative Scotch whisky highball cocktail experiences for consumers across the world, You Got Chef’d will further enable the brand in doing so. Especially, at a time when consumers are actively seeking to experiment with easy-to-make cocktails at home, we will help them take their Highball cocktail experiences a notch higher through the show. Furthermore, with Chef Brar as my co-host for the second consecutive season, I am elated as the two of us together effortlessly bring out the Double is Better spirit.”

    “Thanks to our unique offerings, viewers are hooked to Gobble for lifestyle content, resulting in our audience base having tripled over the last two years. After the success of the previous two seasons, we decided to push the boundaries and make our guests attempt more difficult cuisines in this season,” Gobble channel manager Ankit Chhabra shared. “The idea was to have our viewers experience global culture from the comfort of their homes. It is going to be super fun to watch the audiences’ favorite celebrities putting their culinary and bartending skills to test. We could not have been happier with the lineup of this season.”

    “With every passing season, we have been able to widen the scale of the show in terms of production and viewership,” Pocket Aces’ VP-sales and brand solutions, Vishwanath Shetty said. “Dewar’s, our brand partner, has been on-board for three consecutive seasons for one of Gobble’s ‘Impact property’, making this our longest association with a brand for a given series. This goes to show the merit brands seek in our content and hence choose to associate themselves with it. We have been able to initiate conversations with potential brand partners, taking into account the strong backing of our previously successful associations. This also gives other brands an opportunity to visualise different ways in which they can integrate themselves into seamlessly flowing content like ours; furthermore, witness scale year-on-year.”