ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Chingari App unites with Rotary International & Being Human for Project Breathe

    Chingari App unites with Rotary International & Being Human for Project Breathe

    MUMBAI: Short video app Chingari has collaborated with Rotary International and Being Human for ‘Project Breathe’ to contribute to the country’s fight against the devastating second wave of Covid-19.

    The project aims to provide oxygen concentrators in the under-served regions of Southwest Maharashtra, North Karnataka, and the entire state of Goa which have been grappling to meet oxygen demands for the past few weeks.

    Speaking on the plan of action, Chingari App CEO & co-founder Sumit Ghosh said, “Rotary International and Being Human have always come forward to help those in need. As an organization that believes in building a better future for the nation, we are no different. It is the time to be with the people, and so, without a second thought, we have extended our support to help foster ‘Project Breathe’.”

    Under the project, Rotary Dist. 3170 will procure oxygen concentrators and send them to various hospitals in the region. These concentrators will be used by hospitals as an Oxygen Concentrator Bank for patients under home isolation, thus proportionately reducing their influx to hospitals that are already overwhelmed.

    Chingari and Fireside intend to start a fundraiser with CovidCitizens.org to support Covid initiatives undertaken by various NGOs across the country.

    Speaking on the collaboration, renowned laparoscopic surgeon & Director of Rotary International Dr. Bharat Pandya said, “Rotary International has been in the forefront of carrying out humanitarian projects across the world for more than a century. Rotary during Covid times has spent about $ 35 million across the globe and $ 5 million in India alone towards Covid relief measures and medical infrastructure support. We are grateful to Chingari and Being Human for collaborating with Rotary in supporting this noble cause and look forward to partnering with them in the future too.”

    Speaking on the collaboration, Chingari App co-founder and COO Deepak Salvi said, “These are testing times for the country & we all must extend our help to serve our people. We must take the battlefront to help our corona warriors. In its quest to help those suffering due to the shortage of oxygen, Chingari App will be extending its full support as part of its social responsibility and welfare initiative. I urge everyone to come together and help those around you in whatever way you can.”

  • Srishti Behl Arya to quit Netflix India

    Srishti Behl Arya to quit Netflix India

    KOLKATA: After a three years’ stint, Netflix India original films director Srishti Behl Arya has decided to move on. The veteran content creator joined the streaming service in May 2018 just when it began to expand its Indian content team. 21 May will be her last day at the company.

    Behl Arya has played a pivotal role in building Netflix India’s original film slate as starting from Hindi and then moving to regional markets as the competition around streaming intensified. In the last couple of years, the streaming giant has aggressively built its local library, enhanced its content investment in India. It began the year by unveiling a library with more than 40 originals consisting of as many as 13 movies.

    “Srishti has played a foundational role in building our original film slate in India, launching 35 titles over three years with critical acclaim and fandom including Guilty, AK vs AK, Bulbbul and Serious Men, and our first Tamil and Telugu films, with Paava Kadhaigal and Pitta Kathalu. We wish her every success and know she will bring her passion for storytelling to her future endeavours,” Netflix India VP content Monika Shergill said.

    Leading the Netflix originals film team in India over the last three years has been the adventure of a lifetime, Behl Arya stated. “I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and have learned so much along the way. I couldn’t be more proud of the stories we’ve told, from first time directors, female filmmakers, established voices and so many fresh faces. I wish this wonderful team all the very best and can’t wait to see what’s ahead,” she added further.

    However, film remains a focus and priority investment for the streamer in the country. India is a key focus area for Netflix. It has not only commissioned local language content but has moderated subscription packs for mobile centric viewers, and launched its Hindi user interface.

  • ByteDance’s founder Zhang Yiming to step down by end of 2021

    ByteDance’s founder Zhang Yiming to step down by end of 2021

    KOLKATA: Chinese giant ByteDance’s founder Zhang Yiming has decided to step down as chief executive and move into a key strategy role at the end of 2021. The company which owns the short video platform TikTok will now be led by it’s co-founder and head of human resources Liang Rubo.

    Yiming wrote in a letter that he would have a better impact on ByteDance if he moved out of his current CEO position. He also noted how Rubo has played a key role in advancing the company’s technology and hiring and managing people.

    “The truth is, that I lack some of the skills that make an ideal manager. I’m more interested in analyzing organizational and market principles, and leveraging these theories to further reduce management work, rather than actually managing people,” he wrote.

    He expressed his interest in analysing organizational and market principles, and leveraging these theories to further reduce management work, rather than actually managing people. “Similarly, I’m not very social, preferring solitary activities like being online, reading, listening to music, and daydreaming about what may be possible,” he added.

    This is the biggest corporate shakeup of the company after the appointment of chairman Zhang Lidong and chief executive Kelly Zhang at its China business. Yiming will work side by side with Rubo over the next six months for a smooth transition.

  • Discovery extends David Zaslav’s employment contract

    Discovery extends David Zaslav’s employment contract

    MUMBAI:  When you swing a deal like he has done, you probably deserve to be rewarded. Discovery president & CEO David Zaslav played a key role in getting AT&T’s WarnerMedia to align itself with the network he leads, an announcement of which was made earlier this week. Well, his labour has yielded fruit as his employment contract has been extended to run through 31 December 2027 from its previous effective date of 2023.

    Of course, we all know that the merger of the two media firms will lead to the creation of a behemoth offering WarnerMedia’s premium entertainment, sports, and news assets and Discovery’s leading nonfiction and international entertainment and sports businesses. And it was announced that Zaslav will lead the proposed new company.

    Since joining it in 2007, Zaslav has steered Discovery to new heights starting with taking it public in 2008, stream rolling it into the Fortune500 in 2014, acquiring Scripps Networks Interactive, in a transaction which closed in 2018 and ramping up its direct-to-consumer efforts under discovery+. The definitive real-life subscription streaming service launched in the US in January 2021 with more than 55,000 episodes, and internationally, continues its rollout to more than 25 markets and accounts for 15 million subs already.

    The Discovery comprises nearly 20 per cent of ad-supported pay-TV viewership in the US and nearly seven billion monthly video views, making it the No 1 pay-TV portfolio in Uncle Sam, claims a press release. And its global distribution has surpassed three billion viewers.

    Before Discovery Zaslav had a distinguished career at NBCUniversal, where he was instrumental in developing and launching CNBC and also played a role in the creation of MSNBC.

  • Mogi IO raises funding from Pentathlon Ventures

    Mogi IO raises funding from Pentathlon Ventures

    Mumbai: B2B Video tech venture Mogi IO has announced that it has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Pune-based, VC Pentathlon Ventures. The company is planning to use this raised capital to strengthen the product and make it more scalable and robust. 

    Mogi IO also plans to expand its footprint to tap the overseas market. As an initial step, the company has recently appointed sales partnerships in the Middle East & Singapore region. 

    Talking about the fundraise, Mogi founder and CEO Vikrant Khanna said, “80 per cent of the traffic on the internet is video, and content consumption is booming across all sectors ranging from OTT, Media & Entertainment, Short format Video apps, Education or Health care. However, consumer retention continues to be a challenge for content platforms. From a tech standpoint, there are 3 fundamental reasons for this i.e. buffering, poor video quality & the fact that the video delivery workflow is highly complex & fragmented. This leads to sub-optimal user experience and churn.” 

    “Mogi’s patent-pending technology delivers buffer-free videos of enhanced quality while compressing their size by 50 per cent. This means not only is the end-user experience par excellence but even for the video platform their streaming costs get reduced by 50 per cent while customer retention goes up,” said Mogi co-founder and CTO Rahul Lahoria. 

    “In a short period Mogi has demonstrated a rapid scale-up by acquiring marquee clients. We are excited to be a part of their journey & share their vision of building a disruptive, world-class video tech SaaS venture from India,” said Pentathlon Ventures partner Madhukar Bhatia. 

  • Lionsgate Play brings Argentine crime series to Indian audiences

    Lionsgate Play brings Argentine crime series to Indian audiences

    Mumbai: In an attempt to draw the millennial audience to its streaming service, Lionsgate Play is all set to launch a captivating Argentine crime drama on its platform. The series named The Cleaning Lady (La Chica Que Limpia) will premier on Lionsgate Play on 21 May. 

    The Cleaning Lady is an Argentine police drama that revolves around the life of Rosa, a young single woman who gives up her scholarly dreams to take care of her son’s medical treatment. As pressure mounts up, Rosa is forced to work as a cleaning lady at the boxing club in her neighbourhood, where fights and illegal bets are organized. Things take a turn in her life when she is expected to do the unexpected while working as the cleaning lady. 

    The series stars Marcelo Arbach, Antonella Costa, and Martín Rena in the lead roles. The series is directed by Lucas Combina and is scripted by Irene Gissara, Greta Molas, and Lucas Combina. 

    With an IMDB rating of 7.9, it has won several accolades that include Martín Fierro Federal Gold Award and the Martín Fierro FederalAward for the best Federal Fiction series.

  • Streaming war intensifies, as Amazon eyes MGM studios

    Streaming war intensifies, as Amazon eyes MGM studios

    KOLKATA: US tech giant Amazon is in talks to acquire the “Bond studio” MGM to bolster its ambition in the streaming media, according to reports. The mega-deal is being orchestrated by Amazon Studios and Prime Video senior vice president Mike Hopkins, along with MGM board chairman Kevin Ulrich.

    Founded in 1924 MGM’s wide Hollywood library includes names like Bond, Hobbit, Rocky, and Pink Panther franchises as well as movies like The Silence of the Lambs, The Magnificent Seven, Four Weddings, and A Funeral along with a streaming service Epix.

    Although media is not a big part of e-commerce giant Amazon’s portfolio, it has gradually increased focus on the segment. Prime Video’s viewer base has surpassed 175 million, the company revealed recently. According to reports, MGM has been looking for prospective buyers. While the company wants to value itself at $9 billion, others are valuing it at $5 billion.

    At the end of 2020, there were already reports that MGM had tapped Morgan Stanley and LionTree to explore a sale. Even Apple and Comcast also reportedly spoke to the studio but they could not reach an agreement.

    The reports came close on the heels of Discovery-AT&T’s media assets merger deal to build a new streaming giant. In the last few years, the global media and entertainment industry has witnessed a number of consolidations as the streaming competition rises.

  • Now blockchain & NFTs come to TV

    Now blockchain & NFTs come to TV

    MUMBAI: For all those naysayers and fence-sitters, it is here and it is now. Blockchain and cryptocurrency are coming to the broadcast television business. US TV network Fox has announced the formation of a new non-fungible token (NFT) company called Blockchain Creative Labs. The new firm will create NFTs based on the intellectual properties it owns. Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier announced this at the advertiser targeted Upfronts on Monday.

    NFTs, which exist on blockchain – a digital ledger similar to the networks that underpin bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies – notched up $1.5 billion in sales in just the first quarter of 2021. Each NFT is unique, cannot be duplicated, and is equivalent to an ownership deed to digital or physical artwork, music, or digital collectibles such as IPL 2021’s best video moments. Of course, someone else may have an image or copy of the piece, but that’s not the original which of course has a big-ticket price.

    They have become all the rage nowadays following the success of digital artist Mike Winkelmann aka Beeple, who sold an NFT for $69 million. They are not restricted to just art; they have extended to sports collectibles, highlight show reels, augmented reality sneakers, music, and even digital cats.

    Fox is getting into the NFT game in the hope of monetizing its properties beyond television (in the crypto world) where the major revenue sources are advertising, or pay-TV, or syndication.

    Blockchain Creative Labs’ first attempt at exploring the potential of TV show characters and properties is going to be with Krapopolis, an animated comedy series set in mythical ancient Greece, which is being directed by Ricky and Morty and Community creator Dan Harmon.

    Fox says that its marketplace “will curate and sell digital goods, ranging from NFTs of one-of-a-kind character and background art, and gifs, as well as tokens that provide exclusive social experiences to engage and reward super fans.”

    Addressing the advertiser-dominated audience during the upfronts, Collier said that as “an advertiser-focused, artist-first and animation-obsessed company, Fox is going to take advertisers into the world of blockchain-powered tokens, including NFTs…we will also help your brands connect directly with fans and enthusiasts through NFTs.”

    Will other broadcasters and networks also take the plunge? Will it inspire Indian media players to explore this space? These are cryptic questions.

  • Disney Plus’ Falcon and Winter Soldier tops Nielsen’s streaming chart

    Disney Plus’ Falcon and Winter Soldier tops Nielsen’s streaming chart

    Mumbai: Netflix is the uncrowned SVOD king in the United States. This is what the latest report from US-based information, data, and market measurement firm Nielsen seems to suggest. According to Nielsen’s data, the OTT giant enjoys an unquestionable lead compared to their competitors, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video in all categories that include original series, movies, and acquired shows. 

    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier leads the series category

    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the most popular original series in the United States. Premiered on Disney+, this six-episode series is a part of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). The mini-series received rave reviews from all corners, and audiences are now eagerly waiting for a fourth Captain America movie which will be the continuation of this series. 

    Amazon Prime’s Them is another original series that is grabbing maximum eyeballs. Created by Little Marvin and executive produced by Lena Waithe, this horror anthology series has impressed the viewers with its raw cinematic language. The series stars Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, and Ryan Kwanten in the lead roles. 

    Netflix has a handful of original series that are now the hottest picks among the US audiences. The OTT giant’s reality show ‘The Circle’ is enjoying a huge fan base in the country.  Amid receiving negative reviews, Netflix’s Dad stop embarrassing me has been received warmly by the US audiences. The historical drama series The Crown has also succeeded in impressing the audiences. Other Netflix series that are currently placed in Nielsen’s list of top originals in the US are The Crown, The Serpent, and Who Killed Sara. 

    Netflix’s Thunder Force creates wonders

    When it comes to movies on SVOD, Netflix’s Thunder Force topped Nielsen’s list. Directed by Ben Falcone, this film stars Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Bobby Cannavale, Pom Klementieff, Taylor Mosby, Melissa Leo, and Jason Bateman in the lead roles. Upon its digital release on 9 April on Netflix, the film received unanimously positive reviews from audiences and critics. The movie revolves around the life of two childhood best friends who meet in the latter part of their lives, and one among them now has a formula that could give superhuman powers to ordinary people. 

    American documentary movie Why did you Kill Me? is another top pick among US audiences. The film follows the life of Belinda Lane as she tracks down those involved in the murder of Crystal Theobald, her daughter, using MySpace.

    The science-fiction movie Synchronic is another Netflix film that is topping Nielsen’s list. Directed by Justin Benson, this film stars Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan in the lead roles. The film revolves around the life of New Orleans paramedics and long-time best friends Steve and Dennis who discover a mysterious new drug at the scene of multiple gruesome accidents. 

    Disney+ films that enjoy a spot in the Nielsen list are Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Frozen. However, no movies from Amazon Prime Video were included in this list of most-watched movies in the United States. 

    According to the Nielsen data in the acquired show category, Netflix is away ahead of Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. The top show in this list is Netflix’s NCIS, followed by Grey’s Anatomy, Cocomelon, Criminal Minds, Schitts Creek, Heartland, Nicky Ricky Dicky and Dawn, The Baker, and The Beauty, Supernatural and New Girl. No acquired show available on Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video made its way to the list of most-watched acquired shows. 

  • Radhe streams on pirated websites, Zee files complaint at Cyber Cell

    Radhe streams on pirated websites, Zee files complaint at Cyber Cell

    Mumbai: Hours after its release, the much-awaited movie Radhe got leaked on pirated websites, compelling the producers to take action. After appealing to the public to say no to piracy, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEE) has now filed an official complaint at the Cyber Cell against the pirated version of the film.

    According to an official statement from Zee, a pirated version of the film is being circulated across messaging platforms, including WhatsApp and Telegram. The officials are now actively tracking down the phone numbers involved in this act of piracy, taking the required legal actions, it said on Sunday.

    ZEE has also appealed to the public at large, seeking their support in bringing an end to piracy, not just for the film Radhe, but for any kind of content. “Films create livelihood, employment and a source of income for millions of people working in the industry. They also contribute to the economy with the taxes paid to the government. People engaged in spreading the illegal version of the film are not just embracing piracy, but are also negatively impacting the growth of the industry and the livelihoods of people working round the clock,” said Zee as it appealed to all people to consume entertainment content only through official platforms.

    Actor Salman Khan also took to Twitter on Saturday night to warn people against watching pirated versions of the movie.

     

     

    The first-ever multi-platform release of its kind, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai was released on 13 May on Zee5 with ZeePlex, theatres worldwide keeping the Covid protocols in mind, and across all leading DTH operators – Dish, D2H, Tata Sky, and Airtel Digital TV. The movie had garnered 4.2 million views across platforms on Day 1.