ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • ShemarooMe’s platform design gets recognized at ‘India’s Best Design Awards 2019’

    ShemarooMe’s platform design gets recognized at ‘India’s Best Design Awards 2019’

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo’s video-streaming OTT platform- ShemarooMe's design has bagged India’s Best Design Project 2019 award at the recently concluded ‘India’s Best Design Awards 2019’ organized by Indi Pool for the work done by Fractal Ink Design Studio on its user interface and experience. The award is an initiative by POOL Magazine, "India’s Best Design Awards" was the first to recognize Design Studios for their professional work, business practices and transparency.

    The prestigious award received entries from numerous brands and had a prominent line up of jury panel and many other eminent personalities from across the globe. Amongst several entries received, Fractal Ink Design Studio was recognized for their work on ShemarooMe’s OTT platform design.

    Developed by Fractal Ink Studio, the interface of ShemarooMe app comes across as fresh and vibrant which resonates with the target audience. The wide array of categories on the ShemarooMe app are displayed in a unique way which is user friendly for the consumers.

    ShemarooMe, which was launched earlier this year, has already received an overwhelming response from all OTT viewers. It is a one-stop destination for authentic Indian content across Bollywood, Gujarati, Kids, Devotion and Punjabi.

  • VICE Media Group taps Rohit Tugnait as Commercial Director, India

    VICE Media Group taps Rohit Tugnait as Commercial Director, India

    MUMBAI: VICE Media Group, the world’s largest independent youth media company, is pleased to announce the appointment of senior media executive Rohit Tugnait as Commercial Director for its India territory. 

    Tugnait will lead the commercial teams based in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi and will be responsible for growing all lines of business within VICE’s India region, including VICE Digital, Studios, Content Partnerships and VIRTUE, the creative agency borne out of VICE. 

    With nearly twenty years of experience across youth-oriented and culturally relevant media platforms, Tugnait has deep expertise in business strategy, content solutions and delivering both growth and revenue. As National Head of MTV, Tugnait led the channel’s brand solution wing and was a critical player in the launch and development of marquee properties including Coke Studio at MTV and the acclaimed Royal Stag Unplugged Series. Prior to joining VICE, Tugnait led the business division at 101india.com, a youth-focused digital media site aimed at connecting urban Indian audiences. There, he drove collaborations with television networks and OTT platforms in addition to licensing content on global platforms. 

    "VICE leads with purpose-driven content" says Rohit Tugnait, Commercial Director, VICE India. “I'm extremely excited to be a part of a global digital media company that is the go-to destination for advertisers who want to be relevant, effective and a part of the youth conversation". 

    Tugnait’s appointment comes after a string of recent award wins including the Kyoorius Creative Awards and the Digipub Awards in India for both original and branded content.

    “India’s dynamic, engaged and outspoken youth make the country a priority market for VICE, whose mission is to amplify youth voices.” said Nilesh Zaveri, COO, VICE Asia Pacific (APAC).  “Having someone with the depth of commercial experience that Rohit has, will further bolster our India momentum behind the successful portfolio of partnerships that we have built over the past 18 months with companies such as Budweiser, PepsiCo, Amazon Prime, Myntra and One Plus.”

    Tugnait will be based out of VICE’s Mumbai office, where he joins the leadership team led by Samira Kanwar, Head of Content for VICE’s APAC region. His appointment is effective immediately.

  • Microscan launches Internet Service in Aurangabad

    Microscan launches Internet Service in Aurangabad

    MUMBAI: Internet Service Provider Microscan Infocommtech has launched its services in Aurangabad. Microscan has joined hands with Elixir Telelinks to increase its reach and offer premium Internet Services in the city. This partnership plays to both partner’s individual strengths in which the consumer will get maximum benefit. Microscan has over a decade of expertise in handling large networks by virtue of serving Tier1 Telcos, ISPs, Enterprise & Retail customers in Mumbai & Pune. Elixir is a last mile infrastructure provider with resilient network infrastructure in Aurangabad. This collaboration will help both parties deliver best-in-class service with guaranteed uptime.

    Microscan Retail Business Head Samson Jesudas said, “We are delighted to offer uninterrupted internet services to Home Users and Enterprise Customers in Aurangabad. Retail Broadband Plans will offer great value to our customers in form of impressive speeds at affordable prices. Enterprise customers will benefit from dedicated secured bandwidth, ideal for running critical applications. Alliance with Elixir Telelinks will help us extending our footprints in Marathwada region.  ”

    Microscan is an established internet service provider with large customer base in Retail & B2B in Maharashtra.  

  • ONEOTT Intertainment Limited wins TelecomLead.com Innovation Leaders award 2019

    ONEOTT Intertainment Limited wins TelecomLead.com Innovation Leaders award 2019

    Mumbai: OneOTTIntertainment Limited (OIL), was awarded the 2019 Innovation leaders award by Telecomlead.com. OIL won this prestigious award for adopting innovative steps for expanding broadband connectivity to under connected population in urban locations, like –connectivity of 50 Hotspots in Dharavi which enabled Internet consumers access 2GB data per day free for 30 days via OIL’s Wi-Fi hotspots.

    Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Yugal Sharma,CEO of ONEOTT iNTERTAINMENT LIMITED said,“We are extremely proud and delighted to receive an awardthatis a testament to our endeavors of providing affordable internet services to our customers.OIL’s purpose is to lead digital inclusion in India by connecting homes & offices online thereby, enriching lives of all our subscribers. This initiative in Dharavi directly aligns to why we exist.’’

    In the first phase of the project,50 Wi-Fi hotspots have been enabled in Dharavi, the largest underserved urban locality in India,powered by OIL’s high-speed internet service, and supported by the Express Wi-Fi by Facebook’s software platform. Anyone, who is present in the Wi-Fi zone can connect to a participating hotspot by registering on the ONE Express Wi-Fi by Facebook sign-up page or by downloading the Express Wi-Fi by Facebook Android App available in the Google Play store.

    OIL also has plans to scale up Wi-Fi deployment to 10,000 Access Points and aims to extend its reach to the other Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities. 
     

  • Prime Focus Technologies selected as event coverage partner for L’Oréal Professionnel’s Indian Hairdressing Awards 2018-19

    Prime Focus Technologies selected as event coverage partner for L’Oréal Professionnel’s Indian Hairdressing Awards 2018-19

    MUMBAI: Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) announced that its video agency, PFT Brands was selected by L’Oréal Professionnel as the official event coverage partner for the prestigious Indian Hairdressing Awards (IHA) 2018-19.

    IHA was launched as a platform to recognize excellence in not only the art, but also the business of hairdressing. One of the most anticipated events on the Indian hairdressing calendar, it serves as a source of inspiration to hundreds of hairdressers and launches its stars into successful careers of their own.

    Capturing the grandeur of the mega event, PFT created a total of 10 compelling webisodes (10 minutes each), 3 special ‘glam’ videos (3 minutes each) and an exclusive long-form video compilation. The videos feature a wide range of fascinating looks, unmatched on-stage glamour, behind the scenes moments, riveting interviews, stunning location shots and much more. The team filmed the regional rounds for over 6 months, travelling across several locations including Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. They also captured the stunning, first-ever international grand finale of IHA, which was held in Dubai. Jury members included eminent personalities from the global fashion world including Adam Reed, Nonita Kalra, Jatin Kampani, Gavin Miguel, and Mehera Kolah.

    As a one-stop video agency, PFT Brands provided end-to-end creative services for showcasing IHA –  including conceptualization, scripting, production and post production. Watch some of the videos here:

    “IHA is our biggest and most exciting property where L’Oréal Professionnel successfully engages and interacts with the hairdressing industry. We are delighted that PFT Brands helped us create an impactful, out-of-the-box series of videos around the event which captured the attention of viewers on digital platforms and social media,” said Binaifer Pardiwalla, General Manager, L’Oréal Professionnel.

    “In today’s hyper-digital world, creating short-form snackable video content is an excellent way for brands to get on consumers’ radar,” said Bhaskar Sitholey, Senior Vice President, Creative Services, PFT. “We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to showcase this dynamic mega event for L’Oréal Professionnel. Our focus was on delivering great production value while effectively capturing the energy, emotions, innovation and scale of the competition.”

    PFT Brands helps transform brands into digital content destinations that build customer loyalty. 

  • Amazon Prime Video’s Original -Jestination Unknown to premiere on October 18

    Amazon Prime Video’s Original -Jestination Unknown to premiere on October 18

    MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video today launched the trailer of its upcoming first-of-its-kind comedy travelogue, Amazon Original Series, Jestination Unknown. The Unscripted Amazon Original Series features six episodes starring India’s funny man, Vir Das and a group of his comedian friends, who embark on a journey across the country to find an answer to the question plaguing every Indian comic, “What does India find funny?” The show follows Vir Das, along with his set of friends, through Jodhpur to explore the history of jesters, Patiala where they discover comedy of clichés, Lucknow as a destination of hasya kavis, Mysore for its idiosyncratic comedy, Kumarakom where comedy after tragedy is explored and Leh – to discover what makes people from the harshest region of the country laugh.

    The Amazon Original Series also features top Indian comedians, namely, Anu Menon, Ashwin Mushran, Raj Sharma, Amogh Ranadive, Manan Desai, Amit Tandon, Shruti Seth, Suresh Menon and Rohini Ramanathan as they accompany Vir on his travels. The show will launch on October 18, 2019 across 200 countries and territories, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

    Speaking about their latest Amazon Original offering, Amazon Prime Video India Director and Head, Content Vijay Subramaniam said, “Reality shows are very popular in India and that too across a variety of genres. At Amazon, we want to experiment with exciting new formats in the reality genre for customers while working with top content creators and talent. With Jestination Unknown, we aim to find out what kind of comedy tickles the funny bone of Indians across the country and we are excited to offer a unique concept through Jestination Unknown to our viewers”. 

    Vir Das, comedian, host and also the producer of the show said, “If you head out into the world beyond your comfort zone to find out what the people there find funny, take some crazy friends along, you're going to experience India in a way you never did before. That’s what show is about …the madness of India leading to the madness on stage and we’re thrilled to partner with Amazon Prime Video to make Jestination Unknown and show to the world the things that make India so unique."

  • Content creators discuss binge-worthy content at Vidnet 2019

    Content creators discuss binge-worthy content at Vidnet 2019

    MUMBAI: Binge-watching has become synonymous to over the top (OTT) platforms and content. Indiantelevision.com’s summit Vidnet 2019 had an interesting panel discussion on creating binge-worthy content. The panel was moderated by Indiantelevision.com founder CEO and editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari while MX Player CEO Karan Bedi, House of Cheer founder & CEO Raj Nayak, Vikatan Group managing director B Srinivasan and Viniyard Films founder Ashvini Yardi were the panellists.

    Wanvari started off by asking the panellists about the shows they have binge-watched on Netflix. Yardi has binge-watched The Boys, Bedi watched The Spy, Nayak binge-watched Unbelievable and Srinivasan has watched Mirzapur.

    Yardi first gave her definition to binge-watching by saying, “If we go beyond the allotted time in our head for the show, that’s binge-watching where we are hooked to the story.” On the other hand, Nayak says that you can’t categorise particular content as being binge-worthy. He said, “If we are creating content that it is good, people will watch it.”

    Yardi argued, “Content can be made for binge-watching. Every online platform has guidelines according to the viewership data they have. For OTT – the first five minutes, in-between and the last seven minutes are very important. Those times are planned accordingly to hook the viewers. On television, we plan according to the breaks. Since OTT doesn’t have breaks, everything is planned from the storyline; it’s not just simple storytelling.”

    Yardi believes that if content creators follow OTT’s format and create cliffs at regular intervals to hook the audiences, they can succeed in creating binge-worthy content.  

    However, Nayak said, “OTT players have those set rules but otherwise also I feel these are the basics that content creators do because we want our viewers to come back on the show. So, we have to create those hooks due to which they stay on television or OTT.”

    Whereas, Srinivasan said, “The character and content are behind the success. Definitely there is a science to it and data involved on how to refine the whole process. But I would say content and characters are important.”

    MX Player has delivered 5 to 6 successful shows in the last six months. Sharing his experience, Bedi said, “Creating content on any platform requires a lot of efforts. On online, there is a huge difference while creating content for AVoD or SVoD platform. SVoD people have already paid and they are watching as they have invested in it. On AVoD, customers move in and out as they have not invested money for viewing there, so the level of hook that content creators need to create is very high.”

    Wanvari also inquired whether the content creators constantly think of hooks or they line-up the story and then get into the hooks. Yardi replied, “We create the story and build the characters first and then get into hooks.”

    She also informed, “Currently, in India, everyone is learning. Most of the platforms are using what they have from parent companies and try to localise the format. It’s not necessary what works on Netflix or Amazon in America will work here because our lifestyle and mindset is different. I feel it’s a trial and error period for OTT.”

    Srinivasan also said, “We are trying to understand what kind of stories work for the OTT platform. We want to create that content. We have enough knowledge of the ecosystem but the biggest constraint would be getting the writers to write in a format that is required for OTT.”

  • VOOT brings non-stop new entertainment from India’s biggest reality show “BIGG BOSS”

    VOOT brings non-stop new entertainment from India’s biggest reality show “BIGG BOSS”

    MUMBAI: 13 celebrity contestants, 1 House, 15 weeks, 1 winner and memories galore! Nations biggest entertainment show vivo V17 Pro presents BIGG BOSS is back on COLORS and India’s second largest premium AVOD platform VOOT is all set to make it bigger and better for its fans this year.  After the stupendous success of the last season on VOOT, the platform all set to once again unleash the power of fandom and garner a phenomenal billion plus views by bringing to life a diverse and immersive digital exclusive content slate around the national phenomena – BIGG BOSS.  As they say – “Asli fans hote hain fan se badkar, dekhte hain Bigg Boss sirf VOOT par.”

    This year asli fans of BIGG BOSS Season 13 is in for an enhanced digital viewing experience with a phenomenal mix of unseen content, new magazine shows, newer interactivity formats where they can stay connected with the show 24 X 7.  Fans can now stream several exclusive show extensions like UNSEEN UNDEKHA, CUTLESS, BIGG BUZZ and the all new VOOT NIGHT LIVE along with full episode of the show while also voting for their favourite contestants.  Staying true to its promises of entertaining viewers VOOT will present unlimited week– end fun with BIGG BUZZ featuring playful moments like MISHEARD CONVERSATIONS, INTERVIEW THAT WASN’T, BB BUZZ-ER and FAMILY’S TAKE, capturing every detailed insight on the show.  Further upping the entertainment quotient for BIGG BOSS’s asli fans will be VOOT NIGHT LIVE – BIGG BOSS EDITION, a first of its kind show that will be streamed live from the sets immediately post the episode on COLORS.

    The diverse and engaging content slate will see over 3500 exclusive content stacks across key Bigg Boss being created providing an augmented viewing experience for the VOOT user.  The BIGG BOSS experience will be made further special for fans with   a slew of new and fun interactivity formats like voting, Video Vichar, VOOT Chugli Booth, pulse meter and others that will them to be a part of their favourite show. The slate has also received significant patronage from a slew of advertisers, who have joined the chorus of Bigg Boss on VOOT through partnering across various content around content properties.   The current edition of Bigg Boss on VOOT has an array of Digital Sponsors ranging from online platforms like Ace2Three, Swiggy, Flipkart and Revv Cars, to varied advertisers across categories like beverage (DSP Black), packaged food  (Doritos) and QSR (KFC),  helping drive engagement and build resonance and reach for  each of these brands. With a host of interactive solutions and customized, scalable brand associations across VOOT exclusive shows like Bigg Buzz and VOOT Night Live etc, offering is larger than life experience this year.

    Commenting on the popularity of BIGG BOSS, Akash Banerji, Head – AVOD Business, VOOT said “BB over the multiple seasons has managed to create a massive fandom in this country and the fans wait for the new season with bated breath. This year’s edition on VOOT is an extravaganza for the asli fans with a slew of exclusive content clips, new magazine shows, unique interactivity formats all with the aim to drive satiate their appetite. The 100-day festival on VOOT is equally compelling for advertisers & brands across categories as the show on the platform will see massive scale and exponential increase in watch time. Partnering with COLORS, this heady mix of crazy fans, exciting brands & new-age advertisers on the back of unique & exclusive offerings around the show is going to make Bigg boss bigger than any other entertainment property in India. Our exclusive fan-anthem around ‘alsi fans’ created by Orchard encapsulates this unbelievable spirit around the show for the next 100 days.”

    The exclusive segments, over and above the full episodes, curated for BIGG BOSS on VOOT include:

    UNSEEN UNDEKHA: An exclusive space of unheard conversations, games and a close eye on the contestants, which didn’t appear on TV. UNSEEN UNDEKHA offers a daily, exclusive view into the lives of the contestants as they survive their journey in the Bigg Boss house.

    CUTLESS – A favourite with the loyal Bigg Boss fans, CUTLESS provides complete access to watch the unedited action and drama around the game changing events inside the Bigg Boss house. With the show exploring larger boundaries this year, this segment will keep you at the edge-of-your-seat.

    VOOT NIGHT LIVE – The viewer’s opinions will not go unheard. The newest LIVE segment – BB NIGHT LIVE around Bigg Boss will air every night, right after the show telecast. BB NIGHT LIVE will be a fun and casual banter between 2 ex-contestants or social media influencers will have converse on the current episode. Fan’s take on the episode will also be integrated in the live interaction.

    HELO PRESENTS BIGG BUZZ –The intensity around the show will increase with all new BIGG BUZZ presented by Helo, a fun weekend social media round-up show. Showcasing a creative spin-off around the show, the segment – ‘Interview that wasn’t’ will feature a cartoon caricature of a celebrity being interviewed about their views on Big Boss. Another segment will include a Bigg Boss footage creating with a humorous twist when the different situations from the show are dubbed and featured under the label – ‘Misheard conversations.’ There also be – ‘BB Buzz-er’ – where a recurring humorous character will come every episode with exclusive insights about the show. Lastly, the segment – ‘Family’s Take’ will reveal the opinions of family members of the contestants right after they indulge in a controversy or a fight on the show.

  • realme launched India’s biggest campus concerts, realme Sundowners

    realme launched India’s biggest campus concerts, realme Sundowners

    MUMBAI: realme, the fastest growing smartphone brand in India that resonates with the young generation, has announced a series of events for the youth to kick-start the seasonal festivities. The brand will be hosting “realme Sundowner” with celebrities like  Guru Randhawa and Divine in 4 cities, Campus Star Program across 40 colleges, and 11 campus fests at leading colleges like IIT Delhi. Initiated in major metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai to name a few, realme, plans to provide a platform for the youth to take a leap and explore their passion.

    Speaking about the multi-city campus campaigns, Mr. Madhav Sheth, CEO, realme India said, “We are a young brand with young people who connect with the youth of India. We understand the importance of ‘breaking free’ from the daily routine not just to break monotony but to experience new things. As a brand, we have always been closely associated with our fan community that includes students. To engage them further we have launched the multi city-campus campaign, where we will bring Bollywood sensations to the campuses and also help students realize their passion in different fields. By 2020 we aim to collaborate with over 100 colleges for such events.”

    Its first-ever multi-city music concert, ‘realme Sundowners’, will feature music sensations Guru Randhawa and Divine so that music lovers can experience world-class music and their favorite music artists in their own campuses. Guru Randhawa will be performing on October 10 and 17 in Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar and in  IIT Bombay, Mumbai. While Divine will be rapping in Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai and Royal Global University,  Guwahati on October 13 and 23. 

    In July this year, realme also launched the ‘realme Campus Star’ program – an initiative for students to showcase their talent, receive national exposure, and win exciting prizes. 40 college student societies such as Photography, Theatre, Music, and Dance participated in a competitive campaign themed ‘Dare to Leap’. The winners will be announced on October 15, 2019, and will be awarded realme smartphones, goodies and accessories along with a sponsorship worth INR 3 lakh for the winning society.

    realme has partnered with multiple colleges across the country for their annual Campus Fests. Recently, the brand supported IIT Delhi’s fest, Rendezvous, where ace music composer and singer Amit Trivedi to rocked the stage. It has also partnered with Mumbai’s Sophia College, IIT – Kanpur, IIT – Ropar, BITS Pilani and NIT Trichy for their annual fests that are happening throughout October. In addition, the brand will also conduct and promote offline events/activities on the campus.

    realme, which provides high- quality products for the youth of the country, has always  been closely connected with the student community. They have launched multiple devices on college campuses like realme 2 Pro in Amity University, Noida and realme 3 Pro in Delhi University, North Campus. The brand is known to offer a wide range of sophisticated and advanced products for the youth at the best price-points. And over a short time-span has established an unbreakable bond with its users making them, true brand ambassadors. These youth initiatives for students aims to showcase their talent, receive national exposure, and win exciting prizes.

  • VOOT Studio partners with TikTok to launch “Work It Up” a celebrity chat show with an educational-fitness twist

    VOOT Studio partners with TikTok to launch “Work It Up” a celebrity chat show with an educational-fitness twist

    MUMBAI: VOOT, India’s second largest premium video on demand platform      has collaborated with TikTok, world’s leading short video platform,  to make B-town favorites sweat out secrets as they ditch the usual couch and ‘Work It Up” in the all new celebrity chat show- TikTok India presents “Work It Up”. Hosted by Bollywood insider and fitness queen, Sophie Choudry, the show is all set to engage its viewers with fun, fitness and diet stories from their favorite Bollywood celebrities, whilst they get candid and reveal their fun and edgy locker room secrets. The show will      go live      starting 13th October 2019, exclusively on VOOT.

    Launched in April, VOOT Studio is a playbook for advertisers and brands across categories that has been built using a combination of creative storytelling, in-house production expertise, interactivity offerings, and platform reach all coming together to meet the brand objectives. The upcoming show “Work It Up” has been conceptualized by VOOT Studio for TikTok under the    #EduTok initiative, one of TikTok’s most successful knowledge-based campaigns that encourages TikTok users to create educational, inspirational and meaningful content across themes, including fitness and well-being. This is India’s first chat show under      #EduTok where Voot Studio and      TikTok have come together to bring a healthy change in the society with leading Bollywood celebs sharing their fitness mantras with Voot viewers and TikTok’s 200 million strong community of users    

    After the massive popularity of VOOT’s celebrity chat show Feet Up with the Stars, the all new quirky and category first chat show presented by TikTok India will reveal fitness regimes, fun workouts, and more, that make B-Town celebs stunning and popular

    amongst their fans. “Work It Up” is a 7part series featuring leading Bollywood faces such  as Kriti Sanon, Vaani Kapoor, Malaika Arora and many more.

    Speaking about the show, Akash Banerj, Head – AVOD Business, VOOT said “VOOT has continuously created content that is immersive and provides an ideal opportunity for brands to integrate and effectively deliver their brand proposition. The recently launched VOOT Studio is focused on leveraging this story telling capability by providing high engagement, innovative and relevant brand solutions for advertisers beyond the conventional 30 seconder format.

    “Work it Up created in association with TikTok India is one such initiative that will entertain while educating its viewers through the      #EduTok initiative. We are sure that audiences will enjoy the show while also learning from the fitness stories of their favorite stars.” 

    Speaking about the association with VOOT, Sachin Sharma, Director-Sales and Partnerships, TikTok India said, “#EduTok was conceptualised with an aim to ensure that learning becomes fun and engaging. Fitness is a popular and prominent category among on TikTok’s #EduTok. We are thrilled about our collaboration with VOOT as it’s the perfect platform to encourage people to adopt fitness as a lifestyle and inspire them through some of their favourite celebrities. We are excited to see the reaction of our users for the show and look forward to being a part of something that is entertaining and trendy yet inspirational.”

    Set to stream soon exclusively on VOOT, TikTok presents “Work it Up” With Sophie Choudry will give you a sneak peek into the glamorous, sassy, chic and charismatic lives of your favorite stars who have made gym looks popular.