ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • MX Player deploys H.266, slashes video streaming data usage by half

    KOLKATA: Online video consumption in India has grown exponentially, accounting for 80 per cent of consumer internet traffic. However, the user experience remains highly dependent on data usage and network speed.

    Now, MX Player has upgraded its video encoding & compression technology to H.266 (Versatile Video Coding), cutting down data usage for streaming videos by more than 50 per cent. MX Player as well as MX TakaTak users will be the first in the world to experience the benefits of H.266, enabling them to consume higher quality HD video streams with significantly less data consumption.

    With H.266, MX Player users will be able to stream more content with less data and network bandwidth – video streams will load faster and buffer less since they require only half (or less) the data it would need otherwise. H.266/VVC is the world’s most advanced video codec designed to succeed H.264/AVC and H.265/HEVC, used by most streaming video services worldwide today. Unlike its competitors, the H.266 upgrade makes MX Player the first OTT platform in the world to deploy this technology.

    MX Player and MX TakaTak CEO Karan Bedi said, “Video consumption dominates internet usage wherever you go across India, but the quality of experience deteriorates in areas with inconsistent data networks. The new standard is an opportunity for MX Player to give millions of users, regardless of where they are, an exceptional streaming experience that allows them to consume content the way content creators intended: faster loading, buffering-free, and true-to-life HD quality.”

    MX Player SVP Product Sidd Mantri further added, “At MX Player, the future is now. We relentlessly focus on raising the customer experience bar for Indian users. We were amongst the 1st few OTTs to deploy AV1 that reduced data consumption by 20-30 per cent compared to H.265. With H.266, we are taking it to the next level. H.266 offers the most advanced video compression standard available in the world and reduces data usage by more than 50 per cent. Many users in India live on daily data consumption caps, so with H.266 they can watch more as well as watch better on MX Player.”

  • We are working towards a diverse content offering: Zee5’s Nimisha Pandey

    KOLKATA: Zee5 has announced a partnership with TVF (The Viral Fever) as the platform looks at diversifying its library. In the last few months, ZEE’s digital arm has stepped up its content game by acquiring blockbuster Radhe and buying rights for Friends: The Reunion to stream in India.

    “We have been aggressively going after a vast range of consumers, pan-India audience base, and catering to an audience of all kinds of backgrounds. That is why from Radhe to Friends, and now Sunflower, we are working towards a diverse content offering. It is the continuation of that ambition that we bring TVF onboard,” Zee5 India Hindi originals head Nimisha Pandey said.

    She also added that Zee5 does not only want diverse content but wants to be the home to the country’s best storytellers. The platform is focusing on getting good content creators of the platform and the TVF partnership is one of the many to come in the future.

    The latest partnership includes the launch of originals and new seasons of iconic TVF shows on its SVOD platform, along with popular cult favourites that will be accessible to all, on its AVOD platform. Thus Zee5 will have some of the key IPs on the platform which will also be available on another platform but it will have the subsequent seasons of those IPs exclusively. In addition to these subsequent seasons, Zee5 is also creating some exclusive new IPs.

    “People often say that we are targeting youth with this content, I am a firm believer that it’s more about the content you like irrespective of the age group you are in. TVF content resonates with the spirit of youth. That’s the DNA we are going after,” Pandey noted.

    Hence, the audience that Zee5 is targeting through the deal is not tied to not a segment per se, but to a taste cluster itself. Moreover, a huge chunk of the new audience has come on the platform thanks to a new slate of content. The platform hopes to continue to engage them with content from TVF, she added.

    Zee5 has an exclusive line-up of new seasons of acclaimed TVF shows such as Pitchers Season 2, Tripling Season 3, Humorously Yours Season 3 for its subscribers. Iconic titles like Permanent Roommates, Tech Conversations with Dad, Awkward Conversations, PA-Gals, Inmates, Weekends, The Insiders, Zeroes will be accessible to all users.

    “We don’t want to miss an opportunity to have a piece of content that will be loved by the audience. Even if we talk about the TVF deal, we will shoot new seasons. The partnership has not happened because we have not been able to create content. It happened because we wanted to have TVF content,” Pandey answered when asked if Zee5 is going big after the acquisition because of difficulties in shooting in the current time.

  • Short-video app Changa ropes in Abhay Ojha as CEO

    New Delhi : Tech firm BITCS has roped in Abhay Ojha as the CEO of its short video app, Changa.

    According to the company, Ojha’s main role will be to scale up the platform and bolster its content offerings.

    Ojha has worked with Star India and ZEEL in the past, after which he set up a company called the Audit Next Research Services India in December, 2017.

    Before that, he was the co-founder and chief business officer of Fearless Media, which had launched the Marathi news channel – Maharashtra1.

    “The platform has ten million active users, with two million users generating content every day,” said Ojha.

    The platform has recently introduced some AR features, filters and face mark stickers. The app had recorded over four download within days of its launch. It also provides the option to share the short videos on WhatsApp.

  • Cricketer Rishabh Pant signs up with Moj

    New Delhi: Cricket buffs can now look forward to connecting with cricketing sensation Rishabh Pant on short video app Moj. Ace wicket-keeper and batsman, Pant is the first Indian cricketer to join the app.

    “He will be sharing exclusive content from his cricket tours, thrilling action moments from the dressing room, and fun banter on Moj. The 120 million strong monthly active Moj community can now just Swipe-Up to get sneak-peeks into his practice sessions, daily routine, celebratory moments, and other behind-the-scenes videos,” said the company on Monday.

    Rishabh has announced his entry on Moj with an engrossing video. Click Here

    “As a fun-loving person, I love to connect with new people and keep up with the latest trends and pop culture. This brought me to Moj, as the platform gives me a much needed escape into a ‘world of fun’.  I am excited to create some exclusive content and give a glimpse of my personal life and all the work that goes into being a cricketer. My fans will get to see a unique, little known side of me on Moj with lots of never-told stories coming their way,” said Pant.

    Moj, director, content strategy and operations, Shashank Shekhar said, “Cricket fever is always on a high in our country and it’s quite thrilling to have the Gen Z sports sensation Rishabh Pant on Moj. We are confident that he will not only strengthen the sports content category but also carve out new trends with his unique style. The Moj community can now experience and celebrate their love for the game with the inspirational Pant.”

    The short-video app has been expanding its content tail with a focus on multiple niche content categories including travel and adventure, sports and wellness, nature, infotainment and food amongst others.

  • Aaron Herps appointed GM for AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy

    KOLKATA: The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has appointed Aaron Herps as the general manager of its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), following the departure of Neil Gane who moved on to take up a position with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE).

    Herps joined AVIA in 2019 as the operations manager for CAP, working alongside Gane on all CAP initiatives from government outreach to criminal investigations and associated enforcement actions against syndicates and streaming website operators in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

    In his role as general manager of CAP, Herps will build on the strong legacy that he and Gane have built, maintaining the coalitions and alliances across the industry which have made CAP so effective and continuing to provide expert technical and forensic analysis of the shifting state of the piracy ecosystem to members and government officials, said the association on Monday.

    “Aaron has been instrumental to the success of CAP over the last two years so it gives me great pleasure to see him now taking over the role of General Manager. The fight against piracy never remains static but Aaron has the creativity and skills to lead our industry’s efforts as both the threat and our response to it evolve. I am looking forward to the next chapter of CAP,” said AVIA CEO Louis Boswell.

    Herps has over 15 years of content protection experience in the sports and entertainment industries across the Asia Pacific. Prior to joining AVIA, he was manager of Digital Content Protection for the Asia Pacific at beIN Media Group and was the senior manager of Global Content Protection at the Motion Picture Association of America for more than a decade.

  • OTT industry working on compliance with new IT rules

    Kolkata: For the last few months, the new regulations introduced for over-the-top platforms at the beginning of this year, has been the talk of the town. As the new rules introduced by the government came into effect on 26 May, the industry is working towards complying with all the rules. However, both the self-regulatory bodies, the newly formed digital segment under Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI ) have asked for additional time, as per industry sources.

    On 27 May, the digital media division of the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) wrote to the OTT and digital media publishers to furnish all their details and compliance status under Rule 18 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Codes) Rules, 2021 within 15 days.

    Soon thereafter, IDBF announced the appointment of Justice (retd.) Vikramjit Sen as chairman, along with six other media and entertainment industry members for its newly formed Digital Media Content Regulatory Council (DMCRC). IAMAI followed suit and announced its self-regulatory body for streaming content companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council’s (DPCGC) Grievance Redressal Board (GRB) will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Arjan Kumar Sikri, it announced.

    The withdrawal of broadcaster-led OTTs such as Disney+Hotstar, Zee5, SonyLIV from IAMAI has created two lobbies in the industry. International tech and media giants like Netflix, Amazon have stayed with IAMAI, along with tech giant Apple who also joined the body recently. Several independent bodies have also decided to remain under IAMAI.

    According to a senior official with a leading OTT, both are in touch with MIB and have asked for additional time. While the ministry may grant some extension, it seems it is not very happy with the fact that “people have been toying around deadlines”, the official added.

    “IBF has to work on the registration, including a new name, trademark for its new body, and IAMAI has to work on the formation of its second-tier mechanism. IBF has assured that it would come up with rigid guidelines exactly based on the code of ethics”, he added.

    Indiantelevision.com surfed through websites of leading platforms like MX Player, Zee5, SonyLIV, Disney+Hotstar, and found details of the grievance redressal officers identified by the respective platforms. Moreover, most of the leading platforms have already classified age-rating on their shows, some of the platforms have even rated the overall show, still others have rated each episode wise.

    According to a Hindustan Times report over 800 OTT platforms including video streaming services such as Netflix and Hotstar, and digital news media outfits, have shared details under the new IT rules. Most of the top OTT players have shared the details including Netflix, Amazon, Jio, the report said, quoting an unnamed MIB official.

    The new rules apply to digital news publishers as well. While traditional media companies with digital footprints asked for an exemption. But MIB clarified that it would not grant any relief because making an exception of the nature proposed “will be discriminatory to the digital news publishers who do not have a traditional TV/print platform.”

    The News Broadcasters Federation has stated on Friday that all its current members have duly complied with the requirements of the new rules by providing required information of their entities. However, the new rules have been challenged in court by a few digital news media outfits including LiveLaw and The Wire.

  • Zee5 strikes up partnership with TVF

    KOLKATA: OTT platform Zee5 has announced a content partnership with TVF (The Viral Fever). After introducing Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai and Friends: The Reunion last month, the platform has now amped up its existing robust content library with more content of inherently Indian stories that resonate with entertainment seekers across the country.

    The partnership includes the launch of originals and new seasons of iconic TVF shows on its SVOD platform, along with popular cult favourites that will be accessible to all, on its AVOD platform.

    Zee5 has an exclusive line-up of new seasons of acclaimed TVF shows such as Pitchers Season 2, Tripling Season 3, Humorously Yours Season 3, and other popular titles like Engineering Girls Season 2 and The Aam Aadmi Family Season 4.  The platform will enrich its bouquet of content offerings with the addition of 13 exciting TVF shows to its AVOD platform, it announced on Monday.  In addition to the existing seasons of these shows, iconic titles like Permanent Roommates, Tech Conversations with Dad, Awkward Conversations, PA-Gals, Inmates, Weekends, The Insiders, Zeroes will be accessible to all.

    Zee5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra said, the company’s focus for this year is ‘Entertainment Inclusion’, to ensure everybody, irrespective of the demographic and language preference, has access to purposeful entertainment on ZEE5. “Over 60 per cent of our audience comes from Hindi-speaking markets and TVF caters perfectly to that group. Being a customer-obsessed platform, we are delighted to bring these much-loved and iconic TVF shows to our platform to further enhance our extensive library of purposeful, multilingual, and diverse titles. Going forward, we will continue to satiate viewer’s appetite for entertainment by offering them a robust slate of differentiated stories in the language of their choice and at their fingertips, reinforcing our positioning as the Multilingual Storyteller for millions of entertainment seekers,” Kalra added.

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd president (content & international markets) Punit Misra said, “Consumer obsession is the cornerstone of our content design thinking on Zee5. Our partnership with TVF is driven by that same obsession, as we seek the love and advocacy of both the OTT native youth audience as well as family audiences. Bringing in a mix of iconic shows and characters on one hand, and heart-warming new shows on the other, we hope to truly delight our viewers.”

    The OTT platform is planning to build a strong repository of purposeful content and democratizing access to quality entertainment across the country, it said on Monday.

    TVF founder Arunabh Kumar, said TVF has been trying to push the boundaries with its characters and stories. “We are confident that with the power of the Zee5 platform, our teams and stories will win the hearts of millions of new viewers across the country and the world over. With this collaboration, we are looking forward to creating real magic, not just bringing the best of TVF on the platform but also creating memorable new seasons and shows that our viewers and fans can thoroughly enjoy,” he added.

    “We are excited to team up with TVF, the creators who put streaming content on the map in this country. Their stories inspire an instant connect as their slice-of-life shows closely mirror the viewers’ lives, with a charming ensemble of characters having relatable quirks brought alive by some very talented actors,” Zee5 India Hindi originals head Nimisha Pandey said.

  • SonyLIV on-boards Dr G Dhananjayan as head of Tamil content

    KOLKATA: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) on Friday appointed Dr G Dhananjayan as head – Tamil Content, Digital Business for its streaming service, SonyLIV.

    In his new role, Dhananjayan will spearhead the launch of Tamil content initiatives to drive the platform’s expansion plans for users who prefer consuming content in the language in India & international markets. Prior to this, he was associated with the Blue Ocean Film and Television Academy.  

    With a career spanning over 25 years in management, Dr.G Dhananjayan has held key leadership positions in film production houses, marketing and distribution divisions across Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi languages.

    His previous stints span across leading conglomerates such as Kansai-Nerolac Paints, Saregama-HMV, Airtel, Vodafone, Moser Baer Entertainment, and Disney-UTV. Dr. Dhananjayan has multiple accolades to his credit, including a Ph.D. doctorate in the film business and the title of a National Award-winning author, twice for his exemplary work on Cinema.  

    “I am elated to join the leadership team at SonyLIV. Being a part of the premium platform’s journey in bringing breakthrough stories that engage, entertain and stand out from the clutter in the Tamil market is exciting,” Dhananjayan commented.

    At SonyLIV, he will be responsible for curating and strengthening the Tamil content catalogue. Dhananjayan’s rich experience makes him ideal to oversee the growth plans of SonyLIV in the Tamil region, said the company.

    “We are pleased to have Dr. G. Dhananjayan on board to oversee SonyLIV’s Tamil market expansion. With his versatile experience in the domain and an impressive passion to drive authentic and localized stories, we aim to strengthen our portfolio in the Tamil market,” SET and Digital Business content head Ashish Golwalkar said.

  • Bollywood should explore superhero films with long-term licensing: Cosmos-Maya’s Anish Mehta

    Mumbai: Anish JS Mehta started his career as an accounts executive in 2003, and over time, he has managed to reach new heights. In 2010, he became the chief operating officer of Cosmos-Maya, a leading animation studio in India. Two years later, Mehta was promoted as the chief executive officer (CEO) and since then, he has been a key player in the Indian animation industry catalysing the production of noted anime shows that include the iconic Motu Patlu. 

    Cosmos-Maya has recently launched Salman Khan’s Dabang as an animation series Dabanng-The Animated Series, which is now available for streaming on Disney+Hotstar VIP, in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. This animated series is also being streamed on Cartoon Network. 

    As the series receives rave reviews from audiences and critics, Indiantelevision.com’s Nirmal Narayanan got into a conversation with Cosmos Maya CEO Anish JS Mehta to track the journey of Cosmos Maya in creating the animated avatar of Chulbul Pandey, and the future of the animation industry in India. 

    Edited Excerpts

    On collaborating with Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan for Dabanng-The Animated Series

    Dabangg-The Animated Series is one of the biggest film franchise extensions executed for Indian TV. We have released the show with CartoonNetwork as our TV broadcast partner and Disney+Hotstar as our streaming partner. Since the start of the pandemic, we have been working to create more original animated content titles in greater volumes to suit the increased consumption by kids staying at home. We spoke to Arbaaz Khan the owner of the franchise and created our vision of the animated series. Both the channel partners loved the concept and provided the backing to bring the show before the audience.

    On the audience response to the series

    It’s been a week since the series went live on TV and OTT, and we have received a great response to the characters and their new colourful world. There has been a decent amount of buzz, especially within the franchise’s existing fanbase, and it’s been liked by kids and their families alike. We have also been getting a lot of queries for the licensing & merchandising extension for Dabangg across the categories such as gaming, Apparel, Toys & Promotional licensing. We have some exciting associations lined up. 

    On choosing a character like Chulbul Pandey 

    The Dabangg series and its lead Chulbul Pandey has been a mega-franchise in India for the past 11 years and adapting the super cop to a kids’ format was a creative challenge, but it was also a fun opportunity. But, the principal challenge was to do justice to the source material. When we are adapting a pre-existing template into a new look, we need to capture the quirks and the idiosyncrasies of the characters as they were originally brought to life by their actors and filmmakers. Also, Dabangg is one of the few Indian animated shows to feature the same adult version of the lead character, unlike most series that go with a child-like avatar of their source character. Our creative team captured the likeness and the ticks of not just Chulbul but also his entire posse including Makhi, Rajjo, and Tiwariji. 

    On the future of animated series on OTT platforms

    The industry is witnessing growth on every platform and across a plethora of genres. The genre has a consistently growing presence on domestic TV, and with the OTT boom during the past few years, animation producers have utilized the mutual coexistence model, where the content releases with a TV and OTT partner simultaneously. Pay-TV usually works on a volume and sequential storytelling system, especially in areas with lesser internet penetration, and OTT audiences get to watch and choose and binge the episodes in their time and convenience. Balancing and blending the show’s presence on both formats was a creative challenge in itself.

    On creating an Indian animated superhero for global audience

    We have a bevy of superheroes from the Indian film and comic book ecosystem that have immense business potential to emerge as individual franchises. However, most commercial Indian films have audiences, which is used to their regular film heroes having superhero status. Until Bollywood decides to venture into superhero flicks with a long-term licensing and merchandising plan, we should not expect any such projects out of India in the foreseeable future.

    On the impact of Covid pandemic on the animation industry

    We had over a year to synergize our work processes from home, and it worked out. We have released seven new shows since April 2020. The animation industry collectively did not face a severe impact, like the live-action entertainment industry. The entire team at Cosmos-Maya adapted to the status quo extremely well which helped us to accelerate the workforce like before and pace up the production to deliver content on time.

  • Netflix launches online store to offer products curated from popular shows

    KOLKATA: Streaming giant Netflix has taken its retail ambition a step ahead with the launch of an online store. Netflix.Shop that will offer curated products based on its content.

    It will drop limited editions of carefully selected high-quality apparel and lifestyle products tied to its shows and brand on a regular basis. Among the items debuting this month are streetwear and action figures based on anime series Yasuke and Eden; as well as limited-edition apparel and decorative items inspired by Lupin in collaboration with the Musée du Louvre. 

    For the launch on Thursday, Netflix.shop has introduced a collection of anime-inspired collectibles from a remarkable group of up-and-coming designers: Nathalie Nguyen, Kristopher Kites, and Jordan Bentley.

    Additionally, it has hinted to unveil exclusive products from beloved titles like The Witcher and Stranger Things, as well as new Netflix logo-wear from Japanese fashion house BEAMS soon. The Netflix.shop will first be available in the US before expanding into other countries around the world in the coming months.

    Like many major studios, it is a rational move for the streaming giant to add another revenue stream through merchandise sales. It becomes more important at a time when the streaming market is becoming increasingly competitive, and its domestic growth is slowing down.

    “We’re thrilled to give fans a new way to connect with their favorite stories, and to introduce them to the next wave of artists and designers who embrace the power of storytelling in all its forms,” Netflix VP consumer products Josh Simon said in a blog post.