ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Hungama Play launches ‘Comedycha Raada’

    Hungama Play launches ‘Comedycha Raada’

    MUMBAI: Hungama Play, a leading video-on-demand platform owned by Hungama Digital Media, today launched ‘Comedycha Raada’, a Hungama Original featuring stand-up comedy acts in Marathi. The show includes 10 episodes and features a total of 21 aspiring comedians performing fresh, topical and relatable acts that cover a wide range of themes including satire, slice of life, abstract topics and more. Hosted by the versatile Marathi actor, Pranav Raorane, ‘Comedycha Raada’ is created and produced by CafeMarathi.

    Starting today, the show will be available to stream on Hungama Play, Hungama’s video on demand platform. It will also be available to stream through Hungama Play on Vodafone Play, Idea Movies & TV, Airtel Xstream App, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Tata Sky Binge, MX Player and Android TVs. Additionally, Hungama’s association with Xiaomi will enable consumers to watch the show via Hungama Play on Mi TV.

    Hungama Digital Media COO Siddhartha Roy said, “With Hungama Originals, we have created a diverse library of multilingual and multi-genre content. There is an immense demand for stand-up comedy in regional languages and we are glad to offer Comedycha Raada, a show that is local, funny and relatable. At a time when Maharashtra and the entire country is staying at home to practice social distancing, we are certain that our stand-up comedy special will offer the audiences an easy way to entertain themselves from the safety of their homes.”

    CafeMarathi Co-founder & CEO Nikhil Raibole commented, “We are delighted to work with Hungama Play again and offer a new original show that provides a huge platform to budding comedians in Maharashtra. We are certain that Hungama Play’s strong distribution network will help deliver the stand-up comedy special to a diverse audience. Given the current situation, I hope that Comedycha Raada succeeds in bringing entertainment and humour in people’s lives.”

    Talking about his involvement in the show, Pranav Raorane said, “I feel glad to have been the host of the show. Maharasthra has immense talent and it is heartening to see platforms like Hungama Play and CafeMarathi come together to promote regional comedians. I am certain that the audiences will enjoy watching the show, as much as I enjoyed working on it.”

    Comedians performing in Comedycha Raada include Ramdas Tekale, Nishant Ajbele, Saish Gotekar, Akash Khedkar, Akshay Kokane, Chirantan Lonkar, Swapnil Jadhav, Yogesh Khedkar, Mandar Patil, Spandan Ambekar, Tejas Ghadigaonkar, Kishor Salunkhe, Shriram Parve, Prashant Wakode, Vinay Natekar, Sukeshini Waghmare, Prashant Manore, Sachin Bhilare, Anand Kulkarni, Vilas Panchal and Aditya Sawant.

  • DocuBay premieres ‘Epicenter: 24 hours in Wuhan’

    DocuBay premieres ‘Epicenter: 24 hours in Wuhan’

    MUMBAI: After bringing some extraordinary titles across politics, crime, human issues in recent times, DocuBay adds a new and very topical film to its rich content library. While the world grapples to deal with the invisible enemy, this documentary brings to fore how the people of the city banded together to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

    Titled ‘Epicenter: 24 hours in Wuhan’, the 50-minute feature is a humane and compassionate story, highlighting how the people of that city fought against the COVID-19 outbreak.

    Trailer link – https://www.docubay.com/epicenter-24-hours-in-wuhan

    The city of Wuhan, located in the centre of Hubei province, is a highly-populated area and one of the main industrial and technological zones of China. Millions set out across the country to see family during the Lunar New Year, China's biggest festival, had their plans changed as deadly pneumonia-like virus started making news outside of the city of Wuhan. Just before Lunar New Year the city of Wuhan went into lockdown to fight the novel virus named ‘COVID-19’. The coronavirus which was spreading rapidly through the city, as asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic people went about their lives, was proving deadly to elderly or weak patients. The city administration mobilized to fight the virus, with healthcare workers at the frontline.

    Get a glimpse of the herculean efforts by healthcare workers to deal with this unprecedented crisis in the EPICENTER. Viewers can watch this documentary without membership on DocuBay app, which is available across 180+ countries on the App Store, Google Play, Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV.

    Watch the documentary here: – https://www.docubay.com/epicenter-24-hours-in-wuhan

  • Times Prime offers complimentary ZEE5 subscription to entertain during COVID-19 social distancing

    Times Prime offers complimentary ZEE5 subscription to entertain during COVID-19 social distancing

    MUMBAI: As more and more people stay home following state-imposed lockdowns or self-quarantine due to rising cases of COVID-19, Times Prime has partnered with ZEE5 to offer digital entertainment to all those who are confined to their home during this unprecedented situation. As part of this initiative, Times Prime is offering new users complimentary access to six months of ZEE5 subscription worth Rs 599 as a part of the membership experience.

    ZEE5 offers an exhaustive array of digital content with 100+ live TV channels and 1.25 lakh+ hours of viewing across the languages of English, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and Punjabis, making it one of the most comprehensive video destinations for OTT viewers. The platform is also set to host a large bouquet of blockbuster movies, new exclusives, binge-worthy ZEE5 Originals, and bespoke premium content to cater to this burgeoning new audience.

    Times Prime business head Vivek Jain said, "The world is currently fighting a battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, with hundreds of millions of Indians having to be confined to their homes to be safe. Social distancing is surely the need of the hour. We want our members to stay home, stay safe and stay entertained. To enable this we are adding many partners that can help Prime patrons workout from home, get access to nutritionists and digital diet passes and most importantly get online consultation from doctors. I am very pleased to share that ZEE5, a leading OTT platform in India, will now be available on Times Prime keeping all our users entertained 24×7 across devices.”

    ZEE5 India business development and commercial vice president Manpreet Bumrah said, “We are fully committed to undertake any preventive measures necessary to help the media ecosystem curb this unprecedented situation caused due to the COVID-19 crisis. With our partnership with Times Prime, we want to reach out to all the audiences across the country and help them enjoy responsibly by staying home whilst, catching up on their favourite shows/movies uninterrupted across 12 languages – only on ZEE5.”

    At an introductory price of Rs 999, Times Prime’s premium lifestyle membership now offers exclusive access to nine premium memberships that include Zee5 subscription worth Rs 599, Gourmet Passport by Dineout worth Rs 1499, Grofers membership worth Rs 249, Gaana+ by Gaana worth Rs 399, exclusive access to TOI+ the ad-free online version of the world’s largest circulating newspaper, ETPrime membership worth Rs 399, FitCoach membership worth Rs 999, FreshClub subscription worth Rs 399, and OYO Wizard Blue worth Rs 499. Additionally, Times Prime’s exclusive payment partnerships with HDFC Payzapp and HDFC Times Card can be used to purchase the Times Prime membership at up to 30 per cent discount. Customers can easily recover their membership fee within the first week and save up to Rs 60,000 every year, making Times Prime the most comprehensive and cost-effective premium subscription service available in India.

  • ZEE LIVE’s Supermoon launches “Live to Home” on ZEE5

    ZEE LIVE’s Supermoon launches “Live to Home” on ZEE5

    MUMBAI: Entertainment is a very important element of people’s lives. Be it commuting, office breaks or staycations at home, we all need some entertainment to keep us engaged and stimulated. It boosts our energy and desire to do everything that we need to do. As people stay indoors and look for ways to keep themselves happy, ZEE LIVE in collaboration with ZEE5, India’s Entertainment Super-app, will offer the best of content under Supermoon “Live to Home” curated specially for the ZEE5 subscribers. 

    Supermoon, with “Live to Home”, will offer a daily dose of refreshing and engaging content on Entertainment, Fitness, and Food in the comfort and safety of your home. The content will be exclusively available on ZEE5 from April 03-07, 2020.

    Supermoon “Live to Home” houses your favourite celebrity creators. The highlights include:

    ·         Fitness Hour (7 am to 8 am) – Home workouts with experts like Mandira Bedi, Prashant Sawant, Rakesh Udiyar and Shivoham, Yoga by Anushka Parwani and Rupal Sidhpura, Diet & Nutrition by Luke Coutinho and Rujuta Diwekar, Pilates by Namrata Purohit, and Mental wellbeing by Vrinda Mehta.

    ·         Food (12 pm to 12.30 pm): Home recipes made easy with Chefs like Kunal Kapur, Rakesh Raghunathan, and Sanjyot Keer.

    ·         Entertainment (8 pm to 9 pm) – Unplugged music by Jasleen Royal, Folk Music by Mame Khan, Songs by Dr. Palash Sen and Sukhbir, Percussions by Bickram Ghosh and Storytelling by Annu Kapoor.

    Supermoon Live to Home aims to encourage social distancing while keeping you positively engaged and entertained. Enhancing the entertainment experience for users, special sets will be created to stream the content live. Users will also get an opportunity to watch their favourite celebrity creators create and perform in an informal set-up.

    Swaroop Banerjee, COO and Business Head, ZEE LIVE, said: “ZEE LIVE was started with a dream of bringing you the best of live entertainment experiences across culture, education, music, and comedy. In difficult times like these, we still want to live up to, and deliver on our promise to keep you safe at home, and at the same time, being engaged with us. We are glad to announce our scintillating offerings for our family of fans and subscribers of ZEE5 with daily two hours of content on entertainment, food, and fitness. I would like to thank all the talent which has come together to keep you engaged with us.”

    Tarun Katial, CEO, ZEE5 India said, “We have seen a spike across key metros with audiences continuing to consume a wide variety of content across languages on ZEE5. We are excited to collaborate with ZEE LIVE to bring the best-in-class content to our subscribers anytime and across devices. We hope our new offerings will help in keeping our viewers engaged and entertained while they are safe at their homes.”

    Shivoham quoted, "I am excited to be part of this new initiative by ZEE LIVE which will be streamed on ZEE5. Let us all come together and conquer this phase while keeping ourselves fit! Let's make use of this time and learn the new way of workouts which are easy to do at your home ."

    Mandira Bedi said, “Live to Home is a wonderful initiative by ZEE LIVE. I am glad to share some workout videos and motivate you'll to stay fit and safe. I would urge everyone to have a routine and use your time to exercise daily and stay positive.”

    Mame Khan quoted, "Music is something which keeps us connected. I hope my music videos will be a magical experience for the entire family. I am glad to be associated with ZEE LIVE who is providing a platform to everyone to stay motivated and you can watch me perform on ZEE5"

    Dr. Palash Sen said, “Our band Euphoria has been churning out music videos regularly on our YouTube channel and all social media platforms to engage with our fans. I am glad to extend our music to the subscribers of ZEE5 and ZEE LIVE for this initiative. I hope our music will spread positive vibes and keep you motivated and entertained through these difficult times.”

  • VMate launches #21DaysChallenge to ensure people stay busy at homes during lockdown

    VMate launches #21DaysChallenge to ensure people stay busy at homes during lockdown

    MUMBAI: Despite a strict countrywide lockdown enforced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, the authorities have been struggling to stop people from venturing out of their homes. While some people are moving out only in cases of exigencies, there are many who are doing so out of boredom, triggered by prolonged stays at home. To help such people cope with the situation, short video platform VMate has launched an interesting and innovative #21DaysChallenge, which would aid people in remaining busy while staying at their homes.

    As part of the drive, a fresh challenge would be given to the users each day throughout the lockdown period. The users need to create videos on the same and share it on the platform. For instance, on Day 1 the users were asked to create interesting videos using coronavirus-related stickers on the app, and the next day, they were asked to perform a trick wherein they had to pull a piece of cloth from underneath a house made of playing cards, glasses etc. Taking it a notch further, the users were asked to film themselves while drinking water from a glass without using their hands. The creators will be asked to undertake various similar challenges everyday till April 14.

    What’s even more interesting is that under each challenge, users are offered rewards in the form of money. VMate has also created an in-app H5 page where the best videos from creators are featured. The page also has a ranking of top users whose videos clocked the maximum response on the platform.

    The message behind the #21DaysChallenge is loud and clear – helping people make the most of the ample free time at their disposal. The response by the users further suggests that we must refrain from sulking and complaining, and instead, utilize the lockdown period by adhering to social distancing and engaging ourselves in creative activities.

    VMate has emerged as a responsible and outstanding platform since the outbreak of the pandemic. Recently, several doctors and medical professionals converged on the short video app to spread awareness and provide authentic information related to Covid-19 among the users. In addition to this, users from interior parts of the country also took to the platform to showcase how rural India was waging a war against the dreaded virus. Videos shared on the app showed how authorities were disseminating information/government orders through unconventional means like loudspeakers on bicycles and autorickshaws.

    While those in urban areas are relishing on streaming services like Netflix, people in smaller towns and rural belts seem to have found a good companion in the trending short video app, which is often referred to as ‘Rural India’s TikTok’.

    Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvNDff12QO0&feature=youtu.

  • Zoom comes under malware attack

    Zoom comes under malware attack

    MUMBAI: Hackers have been on the prowl, targeting popular video conferencing application Zoom as more and more people are resorting to virtual meetings in the wake of COIVD-19 pandemic. Such malware attacks, commonly called Zoom Bombing, have been reported from different parts of the world.

    In a Zoom Bombing, hackers typically intrude a video conference and post hate or pornographic images.

    Following the COVID-19 pandemic, companies world over adopted the work-from-home system as part of social distancing, necessitating the use of online communication tools like Zoom, for meetings and conferences. Zoom, a cloud-based communication platform, has increasingly been used by organisations for virtual meetings, video conferencing, and webinars. Zoom has seen increased downloads. In March alone, the app was downloaded around 40 million times across the world, even surpassing popular apps like TikTok and Facebook.

    The changed scenario, however, has given rise to wily hackers who are on the prowl within the dark underbelly of the online world. Cyber security experts have found that such cyber criminals are targeting communication platforms, thereby putting those who communicate via the likes of Zoom at risk. Phishing and malware attacks have also increased.

    The Zoom Bombing has been attracting news headlines with reports of virtual conferences being interrupted by hate-spouting oddballs who disrupt the meetings by posting pornographic or hateful images.  In the US, a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous was disrupted by a hacker who spouted anti-Semitic and misogynistic words. There have also been other instances where high school online classes were interrupted by such intruders.

    On Thursday morning, the launch of BARC-Nielsen week 12 report on ‘Crisis Consumption: An insight into TV, digital and audience’ via Zoom was disrupted due to what seemed like a malware attack. The meeting was rescheduled after it was disrupted apparently by a malware within half-an-hour of the start. 

    Hackers have been found to be taking advantage of the increased use of Zoom by registering fake Zoom domains. According to a report by cyber security website Check Point, cyber criminals have created around 1,700 fake Zoom domains after the COVID-19 virus broke out.

    Despite the popularity, there is of late no dearth of trouble for Zoom. In the US, the virtual communication platform, which has seen a spurt in usage after the COVID-10 pandemic, has been mired in data privacy issues. On Wednesday, shares of Zoom tumbled six per cent for the third consecutive day. In fact, it has been a downward journey for its stock since 27 March.

    So how do you prevent intruders from disrupting Zoom meetings?

    According to Business Insider, you can go to “account management > account setting,” find the “waiting room” button and turn it on. “That way, the host can allow in participants who are invited and weed out uninvited guests who will sit in the queue,” it says.

    A Zoom spokesperson was quoted by Forbes as saying this. “For those hosting private meetings, password protections are on by default and we recommend that users keep those protections on to prevent uninvited users from joining. We also encourage users to report any incidents of this kind directly so we can take appropriate action.”

    Here are some tips for organisations before they log on to a Zoom meeting room:

    Ø  Send meeting invitation on official email ID and to those individuals who are required

    Ø  Ensure that only authenticated users can join meetings and enable 'require password' feature

    Ø  Use the 'waiting room feature' to avoid unwanted attendees

    Ø  The host can enable "co-host" for the purpose of moderation

    Ø  Do not download or install any unauthorised software from malicious site. Install only legitimate and licensed software.

  • Smule’s ‘India Jam Karega’ calls for unity

    Smule’s ‘India Jam Karega’ calls for unity

    MUMBAI:  Smule is inviting music-lovers across India to come together and jam online together. Whether it's singing a duet, crooning away with an international or local artist, creating an original, cheering each other on, making friends across the globe, sparking the creative energy of Indians and getting music lovers across languages and geographies together.

    The new brand campaign, India Jam Karega, tells a musical story highlighting the tenets of the social singing app. Set to a groovy, foot-thumping anthem by the inimitable Sneha Khanwalkar, sung by Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgadhe, they are expressing the joy of jamming that people in India enjoy, the film weaves through various situations showing people from all corners of the country singing together. It has a friendly and inviting vibe, completely in sync with the essence of the brand- a community of music lovers uniting across the globe, including jamming with the biggest names in the music industry like Darshan Raval, Neha Kakkar, Salim Merchant, Papon & many others. Playing up the authenticity factor, the lyrics encourage people to sing with pride and without fear of any judgment. The film also brings out the features of the app where users can show appreciation for each other's singing by awarding virtual ‘gifts’.

    Smule president Bill Bradford said: “Music has the inter-cultural ability to cross frontiers. It’s a language the world understands and that connects societies.  We believe it's more crucial than ever to invoke the power of music to bring people closer, while encouraging, engaging and exciting anyone who likes to sing, anytime, anywhere. We aim to be the one stage where all of India unites to celebrate its passion for music. This campaign is an invitation for Indian music lovers to join our growing community of millions of music lovers – the rookie, the enthusiast and the expert.”

    Times Bridge Sr. VP Investment Operations Viral Jani said: “At Times Bridge, it is our endeavor to work with our global partners to help them find a brand voice that will resonate with the discerning Indian consumer thereby become a part of the Indian cultural zeitgeist. The campaign “India Jam Karega” is an expression of how the Indian consumer connects over music and forms new connections that are driven by the passion of singing together from north to south, east to west of India and across the world. This campaign is a true reflection of how the Smule community of singers in India come together to Jam and unite on this platform.”

    Smule is backed by Times Bridge, a leading investment firm that seeks to bring the world’s best ideas to India and India’s best ideas to the world.

    Links to Campaign Films:

  • Creators on VMate show how rural India is fighting Coronavirus

    Creators on VMate show how rural India is fighting Coronavirus

    MUMBAI: India is practically under a house arrest by the deadly global pandemic Covid-19 or coronavirus. In the prevailing 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, there is increased reliance on television channels, news websites and newspapers for any information. However, the lockdown has confined the scope of media to a great extent, compelled by restricted movement of journalists and cancellation of events. And this is the situation in metros and other urban areas, which have better literacy, enhanced media and FM stations. But have you wondered how the battle against the pandemic is being fought in rural India?

    Videos shared by users on trending short video app VMate, which is also referred to as ‘Rural India’s TikTok’, have showcased how the rural parts of the country are dealing with the unprecedented crisis that has gripped the whole world. Videos shared by creators on the short video app have shown how authorities are leaving no stone unturned and excluding no means of communication to reach out to millions in villages and remote areas.

    Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBZR0b6G9VQ&feature=youtu.be

    Those of us who grew up in areas beyond metros, loudspeakers on bicycles or autorickshaws, announcing the latest movie release in cinema theatres was a usual sight. And VMate videos have revealed that this same mode is being used by government authorities to disseminate information related to the pandemic/lockdown in villages across India. In one of the videos shared by Jitesh Kumar, a user from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, government officials can be seen announcing the Dos and Don’ts related to the virus on a bicycle. The video also features avid listeners who keenly listen to information such as why they should not venture out of their homes.

    Another video, posted by Max Khan from Samastipur in Bihar shows announcements being made from an autorickshaw, telling people that there is still time to take action to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 virus. Similarly, Prince Lal Gabru’s video from Jehanabad shows a police jeep informing people about the lockdown and asking them to stay inside their homes. The announcement further says that only essential commodity shops are allowed to remain functional.

    VMate user Deepak has also shared a video of Faridabad police jeep, wherein the cops can be seen warning people against venturing out of homes without valid reasons. SungHo Jamali, another short video creator, has posted a video of similar announcement being made in a regional dialect and people being asked to refrain from even meeting relatives during the lockdown period.

    The videos shared by users of the platform, who hail from smaller towns and villages, has displayed how rural India is battling the crisis, which has virtually brought the biggest economies in the world to their knees. While most social media platforms are flooded with trending hashtags and monologue videos, apps like VMate, which is among the 10 most downloaded social media apps globally, has shown the real battle being fought at ground zero.

  • TikTok donates Rs 100 cr worth medical equipment in India

    TikTok donates Rs 100 cr worth medical equipment in India

    MUMBAI: Video-sharing social media giant TikTok has made a donation of Rs 100 crore to the government of India to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Keeping the safety of India's medical personnel in mind, TikTok’s contribution covers 400,000 hazmat medical protective suits and masks, as an important safety measure.

    “The government of India has been making concerted efforts to contain the spread of the virus and through this donation we want to contribute towards this effort. With support from the union ministry of textile, this essential gear, which meets the prescribed standards and guidelines, is being handed over to the ministry of health and family welfare, government of India,” says a release.

    While citizens are practising social distancing and staying at home as a preventive measure, India's medical personnel are working tirelessly to keep all of us safe and protected. As a result, our medical doctors and health workers are the most vulnerable and exposed to the virus. At times like these, their safety is of utmost priority, said the release.

    Additionally, TikTok’s contribution also covers local/state level medical workers, as it has donated 200,000 masks, to Delhi and Maharashtra governments. 

    As a responsible organisation committed to the safety and security of citizens in India, TikTok said that it is open to extending further support by way of additional donations in the days to come.

  • VidMate Appoints Ventes Avenues as its Exclusive Sales Partner for India

    VidMate Appoints Ventes Avenues as its Exclusive Sales Partner for India

    MUMBAI: VidMate, a free video downloader app has appointed Ventes Avenues as its exclusive sales partner for India to look after VidMate in-app advertising inventory in India. VidMate currently has 180 Million MAU and 40 Million DAU in India.

    VidMate’s USP lies in the fact that it seamlessly steps in to fill in the void by capturing video streaming from popular websites and saving it as a file on your device. Its strength lies evenly across 1500+ cities/towns/ with special mention of 67% audience from Tier 2, 3, 4 markets.

    Key points to be noted on VidMate are that 82% of the audience is between 18-34 age group. Daily average time spent is 26 minutes (beating the industry estimate of 25 minutes). Google searchfor VidMate is 4x more than that of other similar OTT apps. Devise break up of VidMate users is: Xiaomi 26%, Samsung 23%, Vivo 14%, Oppo 13%, Realme 5%. Furthermore, it supports sharp interest & language targeting and third party click & impressions trackers.

    Harry Yang, Sales Director of Flat Ad, which is global exclusive agent of VidMate, says “VidMate was incubated in UC Web back in 2013, it has witnessed 500 million downloads till now from over 180 countries who like to get free HD videos and music along with MP3 files from multiple  platforms. VidMate is a free and safe application which provides reliable downloads all over the world. This has helped us recognise the opportunity of mobile advertising and hence we have decided to partner with Ventes Avenues in India. Their experience clubbed with their network will help us make good inroads in a short amount of time by offering innovative advertising solutions and services in the mobile branding space in India. ”

    Fauzan A Rahim, Co-Founder Ventes Avenues, commented “We at Ventes Avenues are delighted to represent VidMate in India. Ventes believes in pushing the envelope by continuing to partner with new publishers who have captured the Indian audiences with their ground-breaking numbers.
    Recently, since we are all under lockdown; we have seen a huge surge in OTT consumption in India(83% of VidMate users are using 4G/WIFI), & consequently VidMate numbers have also grown. We are offering high impact, brand safe ad units on VidMate. We have immense trust in this partnership and strongly believe that we can touch new heights together.”