ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Spotify acquires Betty Labs to step up live audio foray

    Spotify acquires Betty Labs to step up live audio foray

    NEW DELHI: In an attempt to make its presence felt in the non-musical audio market, Swedish audio streamer Spotify has acquired Betty Labs, the company behind sports-focused social audio app Locker Room. With this acquisition, Spotify aims to pose competition in the live audio sector, which has been heating up since the arrival of Clubhouse. 

    The popularity of live audio has gained steam during the pandemic months, with Clubhouse – which offers broadcasts, talks, and conversations between internet users – being the clear market leader. Betty Labs also specialises in this niche, and in 2018, it launched Locker Room, which hosts live audio exchanges about sports and watch parties. One of Betty Labs' investors was GV, the private equity arm of Google parent company Alphabet. 

    In a recent statement, Spotify revealed that it is planning to develop Locker Room into a platform that will be open to a wider range of creators and fans. 

    It was in February that Spotify initially expressed its ambitions to expand its market to the non-musical audio business. According to reports, the company has already poured hundreds of millions of dollars to build an integrated podcast that could offer an advertising platform and exclusive content. 

    Meanwhile, social media giant Facebook is developing a platform very similar to Clubhouse, while Twitter is testing a live audio app Spaces, set to publicly launch by April. LinkedIn is also gearing up with the beta testing of the new audio chat feature soon.

    "We're doing some early tests to create a unique audio experience connected to your professional identity. We're looking at how we can bring audio to other parts of LinkedIn such as events and groups, to give our members even more ways to connect to their community," the professional networking app said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

    Clubhouse is currently available on Apple App Store and has been downloaded more than eight million times. The company is currently working to create an Android version of the app. 

  • Disney+ Hotstar promotes its entertainment offering amid IPL fever

    Disney+ Hotstar promotes its entertainment offering amid IPL fever

    KOLKATA: As India prepares for the launch of its most celebrated cricket phenomenon, Vivo IPL, Disney+ Hotstar VIP has rolled out an exciting new campaign – Entertainment Ka All-Rounder. Conceptualised by DDBMudra Group, these new films feature popular actors Ajay Devgn and Tamannaah Bhatia; each in a recognisable disguise, as they try to convince people to watch their soon-to-release titles on Disney+ Hotstar VIP rather than just focusing on live cricket action.

    Ajay Devgn stars as Sudarshan and Tamannaah Bhatia as Manickam, both are put in everyday office situations as they praise their work only to be informed of the platform’s expansive content offering. The quirky campaign signifies the fierce battle that will be fought between the biggest superstars – on & off the cricketing field as they try to win the viewers’ attention.

    Disney+ Hotstar EVP & chief marketing officer Sidharth Shakdher said, “Disney+ Hotstar is the default digital platform for sports in India today, and this year, when India comes to us for Vivo IPL 2021, we will give them a no-holds-barred entertainment experience – cricketainment in its truest form. Based on the insight that cricketainment is tantamount to having the best of both worlds, we wanted this campaign to reinforce that we are the only OTT brand that offers Vivo IPL 2021 and LIVE sports, along with the latest movies and original shows. And to drive home this message in a fun, memorable and entertaining way, we are launching our campaign ‘Entertainment Ka All-Rounder’ which breaks through the clutter by using never-seen-before avatars of Ajay Devgan and Tamannaah Bhatia.”

    Starting 9 April 2021, all live matches of Vivo IPL 2021 will be exclusively available to new and existing subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar VIP (Rs 399/- for 12 months) and Disney+ Hotstar Premium (Rs 1499/- for 12 months). Fans will be able to enjoy commentary in eight languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bangla, Malayalam and an exclusive feed in Marathi.

    As cricket fever takes over the country, Disney+ Hotstar VIP will soon be home to some of the most anticipated titles of the year including mega blockbuster films that will directly release on the platform (The Big Bull, Bhuj: The Pride of India), the best of global movies and shows (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) dubbed in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, upcoming exclusive Hotstar Specials shows in seven languages (Special Ops 1.5, Season 2 of Aarya) and much more; that promise a full year of quality entertainment. These ad-films have been rolled out in three languages – Hindi, Tamil and Telugu and are available on Disney+ Hotstar VIP’s digital platforms.

  • ‘Tenet’ to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on 31 March

    ‘Tenet’ to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on 31 March

    KOLKATA: Amazon Prime Video has got the long weekend locked and loaded with the premiere of Christopher Nolan's much anticipated sci-fi spy thriller Tenet on 31 March 2021. The film will be available for Indian audiences in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

    Armed with only one word, Tenet, and fighting for the survival of the entire world, John David Washington plays an international spy who journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold into something beyond real time. Filmed across seven countries, this intense thriller will see a time travelling protagonist risking his own life to stop the inevitable catastrophe that could be bigger than World War III and a nuclear holocaust.  Will he make it ‘back in time’ to save the world? Viewers will get the answer soon.

    Tenet will join thousands of TV shows and movies from Hollywood and Bollywood in the Prime Video catalogue. These include Indian-produced Amazon Original series Tandav, Mirzapur Season 1 & 2, Comicstaan Semma Comedy Pa, Breathe: Into The Shadows, Bandish Bandits, Paatal Lok, The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye, Sons of the Soil: Jaipur Pink Panthers, Four More Shots Please, The Family Man, Made In Heaven, and Inside Edge.

    Prime Video’s extensive library also includes Indian films such as Coolie No. 1, Gulabo Sitabo, Durgamati, Chhalaang, Shakuntala Devi, Ponmagal Vandhal, French Biriyani, Law, Sufiyum Sujatayum, Penguin, Nishabdham, Maara, V, CU Soon, Soorarai Pottru, Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja, Drishyam 2, Halal Love Story, Middle Class Melodies, Putham Pudhu Kaalai, Unpaused among others; and award-winning and critically acclaimed global Amazon Originals like Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, The Boys, Hunters, Fleabag, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

    Prime members will be able to watch Tenet anywhere and anytime on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV, etc. In the Prime Video app, Prime members can download episodes on their mobile devices and tablets and watch anywhere offline at no additional cost.

  • ByteDance moves to court over blocking of bank accounts in India

    ByteDance moves to court over blocking of bank accounts in India

    KOLKATA: Indian authorities have reportedly blocked bank accounts of ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. The Chinese tech company has moved to court asking to quash the directive as it fears that the decision will hit Indian operations hard.

    According to a Reuters report, at least two bank accounts held by ByteDance have been frozen due to alleged tax evasion. Quoting sources, the report mentioned that ByteDance India’s accounts in Citibank and HSBC Bank were ordered to be blocked in mid-March.

    Moreover, the authorities also directed the abovementioned banks to stop ByteDance India from withdrawing funds from any other bank accounts linked to its tax identification number. The Bombay high court has listed the case between ByteDance and the Indian government for hearing on Wednesday.

    “At ByteDance, we are committed to abiding by local laws and regulations. While we disagree with the decision of the tax authority in this matter, we will extend our full cooperation to the government," ByteDance said in a statement as quoted by several reports.

    In January 2021, ByteDance decided to cut down its Indian workforce amid the uncertainty over its biggest business TikTok’s future in India. Following the political conflict between India and China, the Centre imposed a ban on a number of Chinese apps including short-video app TikTok last June.

  • Telecom bundling, availability of smart TVs boosting OTT market in India

    Telecom bundling, availability of smart TVs boosting OTT market in India

    NEW DELHI: The Covid2019 outbreak which brought the entire world to a standstill has helped one sector in India – the OTT industry. Post the pandemic, OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar gained massive popularity in the country, and they successfully expanded their userbase in 2020. 

    From bundling plans to cheaper smart televisions, there are various factors that have played a crucial role in elevating the popularity of OTT platforms in India, according to data shared by analytics firm Redseer.

    Telecom bundling helps OTT platforms increase their userbase

    Bundling plans offered by telecom and broadband providers have helped OTT platforms to increase their customer base during the pandemic. 

    Telecom companies like Airtel are offering subscriptions to Hotstar, Netflix, and Prime Video as a part of their bundling plans, while Jio Fibre's broadband bundling offers free Prime Video and Netflix subscriptions. 

    According to the report, unique paid user growth rate was 35 per cent in February 2021 when compared to April 2020. Subscriptions also increased by eight percent during the same period, and the subscription revenue also witnessed a rise of 41 per cent. 

    In an attempt to expand its customer base, Netflix last year launched a new plan priced at Rs 199, where the user can watch their favourite movies and shows on their smartphones. Even though this plan will not work on smart televisions, it has impressed the urban youth in the nation who spend most of the time on mobile screens. 

    The rise in smart TV users helps streamers

    The growing number of smart TV users in India is also contributing to the growth of OTT platforms in India, the Redseer analysis revealed. Unlike previous years where smart TVs were confined to rich homes, the entry of companies like Xiaomi in the Indian market turned things upside down, as they are now offering full HD and 4K smart televisions at an affordable rate. 

    Indians spend 188 billion minutes streaming videos in February

    According to the survey, Indians spent 188 billion minutes on OTT platforms in February, a drop of six percent when compared to the 200 billion OTT minutes Indians spent last April. The drop is primarily due to the country's return to normalcy, and the arrival of television soaps in channels. However, with more releases in the pipeline along with product improvement, the engagement is likely to increase in the coming months. 

    Out of the 188 billion minutes, users spent 69 billion minutes watching daily soaps, followed by movies with 31 billion minutes and then originals produced by the OTT platforms. 

  • NCPCR asks Centre to order removal of scenes from Netflix’s ‘Bombay Begums’

    NCPCR asks Centre to order removal of scenes from Netflix’s ‘Bombay Begums’

    KOLKATA: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) asked the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) to direct Netflix to remove certain scenes from its recently launched show Bombay Begums.

    According to a PTI report, NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo wrote in a letter that the streaming service is continuing to violate law impacting the interest of children. It has asked the Centre to direct Netflix to immediately remove the scenes.

    “You are further requested to furnish an ATR [action-taken report] in this regard within seven days of issue of this letter, failing which the commission will be constrained to initiate proceedings under Section 14 of CPCR [Commissions for Protection of Child Rights] Act, 2005,” the letter read.

    Earlier this month, the NCPCR issued a notice to the streaming giant to stop streaming Bombay Begums. The commission said it received complaints from two Twitter handles regarding the Netflix original. The objection had been raised in regards to the scene where a 13-year-old girl is seen “snorting cocaine” at a party.

    The NCPCR further stated that a series with this type of content will pollute young minds and may result in abuse and exploitation of children at the hands of perpetrators and offenders.

    "Netflix should take extra precaution while streaming any content in respect of the children or for the children and shall also refrain themselves from getting into such things," the commission said in the notice.

    Bombay Begums, written and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, started streaming on Netflix on 8 March and revolves around five women whose lives are interconnected.

  • Digital media, gaming dominated M&E deals in 2020

    Digital media, gaming dominated M&E deals in 2020

    KOLKATA: Over the last few years, the media and entertainment industry has seen a number of major deals with the rapid change in the business. Some of the global merger and acquisition activities have impacted the Indian M&E sector too. Along with that, Indian media companies also witnessed big deals in the traditional broadcasting space as well as increased activity in the digital segment.

    The experts were skeptical about deals in the space as the Covid2019 pandemic derailed the economy. However, the sector witnessed moderate activity in 2020 with 77 deals compared to 64 in 2019. However, overall deal value reduced to Rs 68 billion in 2020 from Rs 101 billion in 2019, the recently released FICCI-EY report revealed.

    The decline in deal value has been attributed to the absence of big deals with only two deals crossing the $100 million threshold as compared to four such deals in 2019. But even before the pandemic, there were fewer high value deals in 2019 compared to earlier years. The overall deal value was significantly lower at Rs 101 billion as compared to Rs 192 billion in the previous year.

    The lockdown during the pandemic boosted the uptake of digital media and gaming. Hence, these two segments together attracted 92 per cent of the investment in 2020. New media increased its share in terms of deal value from 37 per cent in 2019 to 92 per cent in 2020. Considerably, television saw the highest investment in 2019.

    For instance, Dream11 raised $225 million from Tiger Global Management, TPG, ChrysCapital and Footpath Ventures. Dailyhunt got funding of $100 million from Google, Microsoft, Falcon Edge, Sofina and Lupa Systems.

    Moreover, a number of Chinese apps like TikTok, PUBG were banned due to political tension amid India and China. As many of the banned apps were leaders in the space, the sudden vacuum created opportunity for local apps which got investors' backing to scale up their operations.

    The audio streaming segment also saw a few important deals. While Reliance Industries bought a further 10.9 per cent stake in Saavn Media for Rs 6.5 billion from its erstwhile promoters, Gaana raised Rs 3.8 billion from Tencent and Times Internet.

    On the other side, traditional media’s contribution to overall M&E deal value plummeted to eight per cent, compared to 63 per cent in 2019. There were primarily just three deals in the space including the Eros International-STX Filmworks merger, PVR’s rights issue and Inox’s fund raising via QIP, compared to 10 deals in 2019 including four marquee deals.

    Private equity and venture capitalist firms led 70 per cent of the M&E deals in 2020, contributing to 79 per cent of the total funding received in the year. The share of deals led by strategic players fell to 27 per cent compared to 52 per cent in 2019.

    The report forecasts more investments in scalable d2c business models, digital companies with a differentiated product offering, companies with strongholds in next-gen technologies in the next few years. Traditional advertising agencies and tech giants will both continue to invest in niche martech companies. Media entities under financial stress will also look at partnering with a larger strategic player.

  • Binge-worthy shows to get you through the week

    Binge-worthy shows to get you through the week

    MUMBAI: Girls rule the roost! Well, at least that’s what the latest report from US-based information, data and market measurement firm Nielsen seems to suggest. The top three most watched acquired titles on OTT platforms – Good Girls, Ginny & Georgia and I Care A Lot – are all female-driven shows. But that’s where the similarity ends. While all three are to be found on popular streaming platform Netflix, their content involves very different storylines.

    Good Girls is an American crime comedy-drama television series created by Jenna Bans that premiered on NBC on 26 February 2018. The series showcases the story of sisters Beth and Annie and their best friend Ruby, who become fed up with playing by the rules and not getting the respect they deserve. They band together to take control of their lives and go on to hold up a local grocery store.

    Ginny & Georgia is an American dramedy streaming television series created by Sarah Lampert that was released on Netflix on 24 February 24 this year. It’s a tale about free-spirited Georgia and her two kids, Ginny and Austin, who move north in search of a fresh start but find that the road to new beginnings can be bumpy.

    I Care a Lot is a 2020 American black comedy film starring Gone Girl actor Rosamund Pike. If you come to watch this movie going by its deceptive title, expecting a feel‑good story of a female protagonist with a heart of gold who can do no wrong and that shines as a beacon of moral goodness untainted by the big bad world, then you are in for several shocks. The film is about a court-appointed legal guardian who defrauds her older clients and traps them under her care. Also, this title came up tops in the Top Ten Movies list too.

    If we switch over to original content on streaming platforms, it’s the same story. So let’s tune in for a more detailed insight on the top ranked subscription video on demand (SVoD) programs. The Nielsen data curated is from the end of February (Week of 21 February 2021 – 28 February 2021).

    The top three programs are Ginny & Georgia, WandaVision and Behind Her Eyes, with the just released Ginny & Georgia once again topping this list too. Again, all three are women-dominated stories set in completely different backdrops.

    WandaVision again remains the only non-Netflix show in the top Ten. The American television miniseries created by Jac Schaeffer based on the Marvel Comics characters Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch and Vision can be found on the streaming service Disney+.

    Behind Her Eyes is a British supernatural psychological thriller web series created by Steve Lightfoot, based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Sarah Pinborough, that premiered on Netflix on 17 February 2021. It depicts the story of a single mother, who enters a world of twisted mind games when she begins an affair with her psychiatrist boss while secretly befriending his mysterious wife.

    The next in line, Firefly Lane, also revolves around two women – Tully and Kate, who meet as young girls on Firefly Lane and become inseparable friends throughout 30 years of ups and downs. This American streaming television series was created by Maggie Friedman for Netflix and is based on the novel of the same name.

    Bridgerton – the period drama set in the world of Regency era London, produced by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix rounds up the top five under originals. Together, the girl power seems to have dethroned royal drama The Crown from its top spot in the rankings.

    Amongst the most watched acquired shows, long running American television productions like Criminal Minds and Grey's Anatomy have managed to hold the fort this week too. In fact, Grey's Anatomy, an American medical drama television series that premiered in 2005, is the longest-running scripted primetime series carried by ABC. The fictional series focuses on the lives of surgical interns and residents as they develop into seasoned doctors while balancing personal and professional relationships. The series was most recently renewed for its seventeenth season.

    Criminal Minds is an American police procedural crime drama television series which also premiered in 2005 on CBS, and concluded in 2020. It follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) and tells the story of the team as they work various cases, and tackle their personal struggles.

    Schitt’s Creek, the Canadian television sitcom created by father and son Eugene and Dan Levy and aired on CBC Television, is the fourth contender on the top ten. The hilarious but heart-warming tale of the stinking rich family of four, who suddenly find themselves bankrupt left with an ugly small town named Schitt's Creek as their only remaining asset has found many takers, not to mention awards. The series has been raking in awards in the comedy category ever since its finale season six was aired in April 2020 on Netflix .

    Together, these top ranked shows comprise an eclectic mix of originals and acquired programs, encompassing dramas, reality shows, sitcoms, movies and psychological thrillers. Something to chew on as you breeze through your weekend. Cheers!

  • Major piracy racket busted, accused illegally streamed premium content in US markets

    Major piracy racket busted, accused illegally streamed premium content in US markets

    KOLKATA: In a major breakthrough, the cyber-crime branch of Faridabad police has arrested six persons including the business partner of the main accused who were allegedly involved in streaming premium Indian content in some international markets. All the employees work for a Faridabad based company— Rhysley Pvt Ltd, which is currently under investigation.

    The racket was busted on 10 March, following a police complaint by online TV platform YuppTV, which reported that the company was allegedly stealing signals from various Indian and international broadcasters illegally. The complaint also detailed how it was also running back-end operations including sales of boxes, tech support and activation of boxes.

    The cyber-crime unit sprang into action and conducted raids at various locations including the accused firm’s manufacturing unit and sales office in Faridabad and seized 10 systems (laptops/desktops) for forensic examination. The systems were found to have email communication related to sales of illegal set top boxes and premium Indian channels at the manufacturing unit.

    "We have been struggling with piracy in the international market for the last six-seven years. For instance, 90 per cent of the content is pirated in the Canada market,” said YuppTV Uday Reddy. “They sell Android TV boxes with Live TV pirated from India, international markets, Hotstar, Voot, SonyLiv, original web-series and sports. This has been a major problem for a platform like YuppTV because we are a leader in NRI space. The overall broadcast industry is losing somewhere around 200-300 million dollars of revenue each year because of this.”

    Further investigation revealed that illegal set-top box Boss IPTV allegedly used various vendors such as DataCamp as the CDN provider, GoDaddy.com, Proxy, LLC, AllstreamCorp, Canada, and infomir.eu. YuppTV issued a statement saying pirates such as Boss IPTV intercept the legitimate domestic or international signals and illegally broadcast that signal to the public all over the world. As a result, legitimate licensees/rights holders that are authorised to carry programs from broadcasters suffer huge losses on account of these crimes whose operations are being conducted from India. It also poses a grave risk to the personal data of the subscribers, as their credit cards and database can be hacked easily.

    According to the statement, Boss IPTV is part of a group of pirates such as Tashan IPTV, Vois IPTV, Punjabi IPTV, Indian IPTV, Brampton IPTV, Boss Entertainment, and Guru IPTV who use the same chat provider, hosting provider, and IP address and illegally stream the broadcaster’s signal across the world. The company is registered under the name of Harpreet Randhawa who also has multiple companies registered under his name including Server Center Ltd, Chakde TV, VOIS, Tipsy Time, Tashan Iptv, 2144644 Alberta Ltd and Rhysley Couture Pvt Ltd renamed as Rhysley Pvt Ltd.

    “Such raids by cyber-crime can help us understand how they are doing this. There was a dire need to clean up the two premium markets- US and Canada and send a message to these pirates. Once we get the forensic data, we will get all the information. Major private broadcasters, including Star, Colors are also in support of the crusade against Boss IPTV, the pirate cartel working under Rhysley, which is illegally streaming premium Indian content offering all the top broadcaster networks by selling the Boss IPTV service across the world,” added Reddy.

    The accused identified as Sumit Sharma, Harminder Singh Sandhu, Ganesh Nair, Anil Kumar Pal, Virender Kumar, Debovrat Rai currently remain in police custody. “Stern action must be initiated against them for supporting piracy. Such pirates dilute the endeavours of the industry and must be wiped out.  The court has already dismissed the bail order against the pirates in this case, which is a step in the right direction,” said YuppTV in a statement.

    Around 70-80 per cent of key international markets have been penetrated by pirates. More than 400 Indian and numerous international channels are illegally streamed in these regions, without paying any fees to Indian broadcasters. If major pirates across the globe are shut down, it will open around $113 million for the industry.

  • PlayboxTV all set to offer enhanced internet-based entertainment

    PlayboxTV all set to offer enhanced internet-based entertainment

    NEW DELHI: Next Trillion Technologies and Microscan InfoCommTech have come together to launch Playbox TV, an innovative product that offers multiple OTT platforms on one single screen with a cost-effective solution

    Playbox TV offers two distinctive features to users; PlayboxTV-OTT, an app-based OTT aggregator with a sign-on payment that will help to access all OTT subscriptions, and PlayboxTV-OS, a smart operating system designed to make ordinary smart TVs and set-top boxes into the binge-worthy TV experience. 

    It will also help users stream content across live TV and OTT at the same time on a single interface. 

    PlayboxTV is also offering PlayboxTV-OTTAS, a product tailor-made for internet service providers & multi-system operators. This product is expected to become a platform for them to showcase the content to their users and open new opportunities for additional revenue and avoid churn of their existing cable and internet customers.

    "PlayboxTV is developed with the passion for technology and content that eliminates the hassle of switching from one application to the other for OTT and Live TV content. We are also happy and excited to launch PlayboxTV with a partner like Microscan who has an understanding and in-depth knowledge of the growing Internet broadband market in India," said PlayboxTV founder & CEO Aamir Mulani. 

    Microscan founder & MD Sandeep Donde, after unveiling the PlayboxTV, revealed that this product could enhance the quality of internet-based entertainment. 

    "After pioneering high-speed fiber-based ILL and home broadband services in Maharashtra for over a decade, we at Microscan look forward to bringing this state-of-the-art technology to the consumer for enhanced internet-based entertainment. This product will also enable our partners to rise above their peers and rival telecom giants with service offerings at par with the industry," added Donde.