ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Ullu brings in a refreshing new change to its content with Slip

    Ullu brings in a refreshing new change to its content with Slip

    New Delhi: Ullu, a platform that streams 18+ content, is all set to launch a new show titled Slip that revolves around the life of three individuals, Johnny, Naina, and Anjuman. The story depicts how the lives of these characters slip and turn upside down in 24 hours due to the choices they make.

    A gripping tale, Slip is full of suspense, thrill and excitement. It portrays the realism and the downside of making wrong choices. The trailer for the show was released on 22 November and received strong reviews across social media platforms.

    Watch the trailer here:

    Directed by Rajeev Mendiratta, Slip features a stunning cast with well-known faces from the TV world featuring Anirudh Dave as Johnny, Pooja Bisht as Naina, Swati Sharma as Anjuman, Mayur Mehta as Prince, Vicky Ahuja as Inspector Ahuja and Dolphin Dubey as Saima. It is co-produced by Seventh Sense Productions.

    In a highly competitive world, Ullu has emerged to be one of the leading OTT platforms in the country and Slip is a unique addition to its list of premium shows. Ullu is highly focused on curating high-quality content and Slip is the first of the many shows to come.

    “Clean content started with Slip. While some people appreciated, some did not. But the overall response has been satisfactory. The audience needs time to change.” says Ullu CEO Vibhu Agarwal. He adds, “We will be bringing more of such content, our plan is to follow government guidelines and bring entertainment and good content for our audience”

    “When I heard the script, I loved the storyline and the screenplay. I put on weight for my character to look like an ordinary girl from UP and worked on my accent”, says Pooja Bisht. “The series is very realistic, life is all about the choices we make, that’s how people face different problems in their life and slip on the wrong path. Overall, it was a really amazing experience for me.”

    As Ullu evolves its content, season 1 of this exciting web-series is now streaming live on the OTT platform and has already received some very good reviews and comments from the viewers. Head over to the Ullu app and website, for a good binge-watch.

    The app was launched in December 2018 and has over 10 million downloads on Google's Play Store. It operates on a subscription model. On the content front, it follows a partnership model where the producers associate with the platform on a revenue-sharing model. 

  • After dip in revenue, ALTBalaji offers cashbacks on subscription

    After dip in revenue, ALTBalaji offers cashbacks on subscription

    KOLKATA: ALTBalaji has teamed up with payment gateways Paytm and Amazon Pay to offer consumers up to Rs 300 cashback on the first Paytm wallet or Paytm UPI transaction on subscribing to the OTT platform. On the other hand, consumers can opt for Amazon Pay and get a cashback between Rs 10 to 250. Both the offers will be valid for Android, and web only from 1 December to 31 December 2020.

    The offer comes on the back of the streaming service registering marginal degrowth in subscriber revenue in Q2, down to Rs 12.2 crore from Rs 12.9 crore in the preceding quarter. The company attributed this to downtrend to the Unlock phase, as customers returned “back to work and social commitments." In the same period, however, the platform clocked four million subscribers and an ARPU of around Rs 140–150.  

    To avail the offer through Paytm and Amazon Pay, the audience needs to buy an ALTBalaji subscription for Rs 100 or more. These offers can be availed only once, during the campaign validity. Once the whole amount is paid from Paytm wallet or UPI, cashback will be credited to the user's bank account linked to their Paytm UPI ID. For Amazon Pay users, it will be credited as Amazon Pay balance within three working days.

    ALTBalaji CEO and Balaji Telefilms group COO Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “Since the launch, our main focus has been on offering quality content which is also affordable. Available to stream at 0.80 paise per day today, we are one of the most affordable OTT platforms in the country. Our association with key payment gateways like Paytm and Amazon Pay is in sync with our objective of keeping our consumers at the very core and going deeper into the Hindi heartlands.”

    For the upcoming festive season, ALTBalaji has an exciting pipeline consisting of multiple shows. The festive month of November started with Mum Bhai, followed by Bicchoo Ka Khel and Dark7White. Coming up next are Paurashpur, LSD, Class of 2020 Season 2, Who’s Your Daddy Season 2, and Crashh, to name a few. Each of these new shows is high-octane dramas, which the audience can binge-watch through the festive season.

    With an extensive library of 68 Indian originals across genres that cater to all kinds of audiences, the shows at ALTBalaji are a mix of thriller, drama, romance, youth drama, horror, comedy, amongst others. Romantic dramas like Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain, Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat, It Happened in Calcutta, Baarish, Dil Hi To hai etc enjoy a growing fandom amongst women in the 25-45 years TG. While on the other hand, thrillers like Apharan, Fixxer, Boss, Ragini MMS, Code M are consumed by men in the 22- 45 age bracket. In addition to the above, shows such as Mentalhood, The Test Case, MOM: Mission Over Mars, Bose: Dead/ Alive, The Verdict – State v/s Nanavati are being consumed extensively by the urban audience across all age groups.

  • Zee5 partners with XroadMedia to ramp up personalised user experience

    Zee5 partners with XroadMedia to ramp up personalised user experience

    KOLKATA: Zee5 has onboarded XroadMedia to ramp up its hyper-personalised Video on Demand offerings and social media services. Through this partnership, Zee5 will put to use XroadMedia’s innovative back-end solution, Ncanto, to provide multiple content discovery, recommendations and personalisation use-cases to its users. XroadMedia is a leading specialist in building personalisation services and its expertise will also be deployed to scale up HiPi, Zee5’s new short-form-video platform.

    Since HiPi’s beta launch in August 2020, Zee5 has witnessed a massive 30 million new user installs along with 70 million existing Zee5 users upgrading to the short-form-video platform.

    Zee5 expansion projects business head and product head Rajneel Kumar said the platform had benchmarked XroadMedia’s solution for a few months and found adoption and click-through-rates on recommendations were significantly higher along with a substantial increase in average time spent by a user.

    “Zee5 has always believed in the power of great content and powerful technology coming together to offer the best experience to a viewer. We believe gone are the days of broadcast; even the current trend of viewing audiences in clusters and cohorts will soon give way to individual personalisation. And this is where XroadMedia comes in. XroadMedia’s cloud-based services have also provided us with a higher level of flexibility to serve personalisation use-cases and I’m confident this partnership will heighten our seamless content viewing experience, a feat we take great pride in and work tirelessly to maintain,” added Kumar.

    XroadMedia co-founder and CEO Adolf Proidl said the agency is working on several aspects to better streamline the OTT platform, from personalising entire screens in the user interface via creating and managing editorial services, to applying solutions across multiple content types and sources. “We are very pleased with this partnership, as the application of our solution shows how important personalisation is to ZEE5 and I am sure together we will push the boundaries of content discovery and personalisation even further in the future.”

    First launched in India in July, Ncanto provides dynamic personalisation of Zee5’s services based on interests and watching behaviour. Additionally, with the help of Piloto, XroadMedia’s advanced business and service management tool, Zee5 can provide an ever-changing user experience by closely following the user’s entertainment journey. XroadMedia’s cloud-based solution also encompasses a dynamic mix of statistical, editorial and user-based recommendations.

  • Disney+Hotstar thanks partner brands post IPL 2020

    Disney+Hotstar thanks partner brands post IPL 2020

    KOLKATA: Disney+Hotstar has seen massive traction during IPL 2020, both in terms of audience as well as advertising. More than 300 brands leveraged the platform’s scale and reach during the tournament. Thanking partners, the OTT platform tooted the horn of its success from the front page of The Economic Times’ last Friday.

    “Thank you for partnering with us and ensuring we were sold 100 per cent during this Dream11 IPL 2020,” said Disney+Hotstar in the jacket spread. However, the platform did not share any metrics on engagement or viewership like it did the last two years.

    Disney+Hotstar currently boasts 18.5 million subscribers, a figure shared by its parent company The Walt Disney. “Disney+ ended Q4 with 73.7 million paid subscribers or an increase of over 16 million subscribers versus Q3. Disney+ Hotstar subscriber additions were the largest contributor to this increase, driven by the start of the delayed IPL season. Disney+ Hotstar subscribers now account for a little over a quarter of our global subscriber base,” Disney senior executive vice president and chief financial officer Christine McCarthy said.

    The platform decided to take IPL matches behind a paywall this year. It struck a deal with Jio and Airtel to boost subscriptions too. Hence, the bold move allowed brands to reach high spender quality audiences. It also added new features to the interactive Watch’N Play social feed. Replicating the exhilarating roar of the stadium, fans were able to use an interactive emoji stream, a move designed to boost engagement and social media traction.

    Every year, once the tournament gets over, the platform advertises to thank its partner brands and share the overall metrics that it has achieved during the tournament. It helps in creating a strong perception for the tournament as well as about Disney+Hotstar and how it is preferred by the audiences across the country.

  • ‘Den of pirates’: Why OTTs should tackle Telegram soon

    ‘Den of pirates’: Why OTTs should tackle Telegram soon

    KOLKATA: There is no dearth of OTT platforms in India, and which one is the most popular is a matter of debate. But what is very evident is Telegram’s overwhelming popularity as an alternative to providing free access to any new movies or shows launched on these platforms. The wide availability and easy access to pirated shows is making the messaging app more appealing day by day to a section of internet users. Even as OTT platforms burn mounds of cash to roll out premium content, such piracy could eat up a significant revenue going forward.

    Soaring popularity of Telegram

    Make a list of all recent popular shows or original movies that dropped on streaming services – Scam 1992, Mirzapur Season 2, Ludo, Naxalbari – and you’ll already find every single one of them on Telegram. Students who don’t earn yet but are keen to watch these programmes, thus, go the pocket-friendly way by downloading the Telegram app. And another section of users who have subscription to a few OTT platforms but don’t want to shell out money to watch just one show on a different, unsubscribed platform, use the app as well. Moreover, the simplicity in downloading content both in terms of mechanism, required time and data – unlike Torrent – has made it a den of pirates.

    “Telegram is a vast source of VOD content; many groups offer updated content of newly released movies and series, even with subtitles in different languages. We have seen certain titles appear on Telegram within a few hours of release. Pirates are increasingly using such groups as a way to easily share, exchange and sell this content without being exposed to malware prevalent on the dark web,” Synamedia chief intelligence manager-security Ted Rose said.

    During a webinar hosted in late October by Indiantelevision.com, SonyLIV technology head Manish Verma also acknowledged that Telegram is evolving as a potential threat. He added that it is very important for the platforms to stop piracy with content acquisition and content production costs increasing – be it for original content or live sports events.

    How pirates use the platform

    Synamedia’s Rose shared that streaming pirates are increasingly using Telegram groups as a way to distribute links to consumers. In fact, streaming of live events can be found on the messaging app as links that direct users to open internet streaming websites. The app can only share files that are stored on its cloud service or links to other sites.

    On the other hand, there are Telegram groups that share stolen M3U links to different subscription-based pirate IPTV networks. These links are updated daily and usually contain information on the content available on each pirate network. Rose went on to share that pirates have taken to Telegram, as well as the dark web, to share and sell OTT subscribers’ stolen credentials.

    “It is really a game of cat and mouse. If there are repeated claims of infringement, Telegram will shut down a group. Removal of a channel can be more difficult for a pirate to recover from, although some pirates can pre-empt this by notifying consumers in advance of backup channels they can use should the first group or channel be removed,” he added.

    Surge in piracy during Covid2019

    With a massive uptick in the use of streaming services during the pandemic, Telegram piracy has also seen a huge surge as well. As sporting events came to a halt in the wake of the crisis, pirates were scrambling for other ways to fill the revenue gap. As a result, OTT providers with premium VOD content and originals emerged as hot targets at that time.

    According to data shared by Markscan, a firm that provides digital IP protection to entertainment companies, piracy on telegram skyrocketed by 1092 per cent, or about 11 times, during lockdown.

    How can the law help?

    Although there are anti-piracy laws in India, it is tough to track the breach happening on Telegram due to encryption. Moreover, it becomes more difficult to take legal steps as the platform itself is legitimate despite the fact that there is pirated content available, according to Kaushik Moitra, partner at Bharucha and Partners.

    Moitra explained that Telegram is not under liability to take pirated content off until someone files a complaint. Hence, it is not possible for Indian law enforcement to actively track the infringement. He noted that the onus is on individual OTT platforms to track whether or not any illegitimate link is being circulated on the messaging app so the latter can take it down immediately. However, he mentioned that Telegram will be put on notice if the OTT platforms opt for John Doe order for pre-infringement injunction.

  • SonyLIV onboards four sponsors for India-Australia series

    SonyLIV onboards four sponsors for India-Australia series

    KOLKATA: Since its rebranding, the India tour of Australia is the first major sporting event to be aired on SonyLIV. While the digital arm of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) created quite a buzz on the back of its original content, it’s continuing to promote all its tentpole properties aggressively. Following the same route of marketing for Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, SonyLIV has chosen The Times of India (TOI) front page for advertising the India-Australia series.

    The ad published on TOI mentions four sponsors – WinZo and McDowell’s No1 as co-powered sponsors, IIFL Finance and MUTUAL FUNDS Sahi Hai as segment partners. It also promotes upcoming shows like Sandwiched Forever, Gullak 2, College Romance Season 2, Girls hostel 2.0, along with other promotional content. Along with print, SonyLIV is actively pushing the sports event on its social media handles as well.

    The two-month long India tour of Australia comprising a three-match ODI series, followed by a three-match T20 series and a four-match Test series has started streaming on 27 November. This is India’s first international tour after nine months post the global Covid2019 pandemic lockdown; India last played New Zealand in February 2020. However, it will be available for premium subscribers only.

  • Ind-Aus tour: Facebook strikes digital content partnership with SPNI

    Ind-Aus tour: Facebook strikes digital content partnership with SPNI

    KOLKATA: Facebook announced a digital content partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) for the Indian cricket team’s tour of Australia. Kickstarting on 27 November, the partnership will involve exclusive video-on-demand match content being showcased on Facebook Watch, the only social media platform, across three ODIs, three T20Is, and four Tests.

    The wide range of content will include match highlights, in-play moments with best catches, best wickets, and man of the match amongst others, and will feature on Sony Sports India’s Facebook page, enabling fans to catch up on action they missed and talk about or share the top moments with their friends.

    Facebook India director and head of partnerships Manish Chopra said, “At Facebook, we are committed to deepen and enhance engagement with cricket fans across the globe by bringing best in class, premium action to them in ways that ignite conversations, build connections and enhance affinity towards the sport. We are delighted to work with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) to bring some of the most exciting moments from one of India’s most awaited overseas tours to cricket fans on Facebook Watch.”

    Sony Pictures Networks India digital business growth and monetisation head Manish Aggarwal said, “We are excited to partner with Facebook as the exclusive social media platform for the India tour of Australia. This association will enable us to offer interesting match content to a host of cricket enthusiasts and drive further engagement for the much-hyped tournament, across the Indian subcontinent. This collaboration will surely get the fans closer to the game.”

    Facebook Watch is built with the belief that watching video can help people to connect with each other more deeply. Facebook is constantly working towards building and enabling video experiences that connect people and sports is an integral part of building the social viewing experience on the platform.

  • Lens of regulation is more important: Uday Shankar on OTT platforms

    Lens of regulation is more important: Uday Shankar on OTT platforms

    KOLKATA: ‘Will OTT platforms be put on leash?’ is the question being discussed and debated lately, especially after being brought under the ambit of the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB). It is very much evident that the industry will have some regulatory framework sooner or later but what matters is the regulatory lens, as Star & Disney India president Uday Shankar said at the HT Leadership Summit 2020.

    “More than anything else, it is an official decision. I don’t really think it matters. What is important is what will be the lens of regulation. Do we really want to be over-prescriptive or do we want creativity and imagination to have a role in this?" Shankar commented on the matter of government monitoring OTT content.

    According to him, the country and consumers have always been way ahead of where the government and regulators believe they are. They are far more open and mature but regulators assume that a huge filter needs to be applied before they consume content.

    However, he cautioned that global streaming services must not be insensitive to India’s diversity and culture by offering content simply tailored to grab eyeballs. “I’m not a fan of censorship, I don’t believe in it…the kind of gratuitous content, the amount of sex, abusive language or violence, even though it is part of all our lives…a lot of the times it is just done to pander to attention," he said.

    In light of the recent controversies and calls for boycott of certain OTT platforms over shows that purportedly wounded religious sentiments, Shankar averred that foreign players need to take some responsibility for the content they put out, because in the end, India is a sensitive country.

    “We should not take the freedom for granted. I think this is what happens when the global services come into the country and disregard everything. They believe that what works in one country can work in every country. This is the backlash,” he noted.

  • Hits debuts on Jio

    Hits debuts on Jio

    NEW DELHI: Hits, one of Asia's top English networks bringing the best of Hollywood and UK TV shows, will now be available to Jio users. It will be introduced as a value-added linear service on JioTV for mobile users as well as JioTV+ for JioFiber users.

    Jio users can immerse themselves in their all-time favourite shows in HD quality and reconnect with well-told stories and iconic characters. Blockbuster TV series like Mind Your Language, Diff’rent Strokes, Small Wonder, Sherlock Holmes, Knight Rider, Baywatch, M*A*S*H, Murder, She Wrote and many more are part of the programming line-up.

    Rewind Network CEO Avi Himatsinghani said, “We are really happy and excited to be associated with Jio to launch Hits and bring a hand-picked selection of the superhit Hollywood and other favourite UK TV shows of all time to their subscribers. I am certain that these shows will stir up happy memories and will be thoroughly enjoyed today as good stories transcend time. Hits has been topping the charts in other Asian markets and we are confident that the service will be equally loved and well received by the 400 million-strong Jio family.”

    Hits features a carefully curated selection of top TV dramas and sitcoms from Hollywood and UK majors such as The Walt Disney Company, ITV Studios, ViacomCBS, NBCUniversal, Fremantle and Sony Pictures, and will progressively introduce more titles from other studios. 

  • Mitron TV launches ‘Atmanirbhar Anthem’

    Mitron TV launches ‘Atmanirbhar Anthem’

    KOLKATA: Short format video app Mitron TV has released the Atmanirbhar Anthem following the ban of 43 additional Chinese-origin apps by the Indian government. The anthem pays homage to the Indian technology community and reiterates the message of using homegrown products and services.

    The anthem’s powerful lyrics evoke strong feelings of national pride amongst Indians, whilst imparting a message on the importance of the #VocalForLocal movement. The anthem went live today on more than 200 music streaming platforms including Gaana, Spotify, Amazon Music, iTunes and Wynk.

    Atmanirbhar Apps was launched this year on the National Unity Day to bring noteworthy Indian apps from various geographies across the country on one platform. In just two weeks since the launch, Atmanirbhar Apps has recorded over 50K downloads and currently hosts more than 256 Indian apps. The initiative has been appreciated by leading personalities in the tech fraternity.

    CEO and co-founder Shivank Agarwal said, “We welcome the government’s move of banning 43 Chinese apps. Now more than ever, it is an opportune moment to focus on self-reliance and homegrown apps, which Indians have embraced whole-heartedly. To commemorate this spirit, we created the Atmanirbhar Anthem that pays homage to the country’s collective vision of embracing all things Made-in-India. I invite my fellow Indians to enjoy the upbeat lyrics and toe-tapping beat of this anthem as we work in unison to achieve our goal of an Atmanirbhar India.”