ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Arré to reach larger audiences through SonyLiv platform

    Arré to reach larger audiences through SonyLiv platform

    NEW DELHI: Leading multi-media, multi-format digital media brand Arré today announced its partnership with digital entertainment platform SonyLIV from Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) to enable users to watch Arré’s latest web series on its web and mobile platforms.

    This partnership will also see Arré’s entire video content library available as a part of SonyLIV’s extensive catalogue in due course.

    Arré will benefit from SonyLIV’s massive reach to digital viewers across India. SonyLIV users, on the other hand, will be able to sample all the rich and entertaining current and future content developed by Arré.

    Launched earlier this month, Arré’s latest offering titled ‘Official Chukyagiri’ is a five-part slice-of-life fiction dramedy. It is targeted towards the ‘attitudinally millennial’ audience which shows life in the corporate world through h the eyes of an intern, Spandan Chukya. Apart from this series, SonyLIV users can also view shows such as ‘A.I.SHA My Virtual Girlfriend (A.I.SHA)’, ‘I Don’t Watch TV’ and ‘Arré Ho Ja Re-Gender’.

    Other content from Arré’s stable, which will be made available under the partnership includes a new comic satire titled ‘Abbas Mastan’ about two movie buffs, as well as non-fiction video originals such as‘Death by Breath’, a documentary on pollution in Delhi (in partnership with the Indian Express Group), and ‘Kashmir’s Lost Children’, a documentary about the violence that children in the Kashmir Valley face. These shows will add on to the already established library of original web-series made by SonyLIV.

    SPE Executive Vice-President and Head – Digital Business Uday Sodhi said: “SonyLIV has endeavoured to provide the best and most relevant entertainment options to our viewers, as is being aptly demonstrated by our push for more and more original, user-centric entertainment content. We have been investing a lot on creating original web-series and this partnership with Arré is another step in that direction. We are confident that SonyLIV’s massive viewership in the country will enjoy the diversity of entertaining contentwhich this association heralds. Our aim is to bridge the gap between the digital audience and relevant original quality content creators.”

    Arré Co-Founder and CEO Ajay Chacko added: “We are delighted to partner with SonyLIV for ‘Official Chukyagiri’ to begin with, and look forward to hosting other shows from the Arré stable on the platform. Our model is to create highly engaging original content that can be distributed over a wide range of linear and non-linear platforms. SonyLIV’s wide and highly engaged premium audience base is a great fit to provide the reach, distribution and exposure for our shows.”

  • Arré to reach larger audiences through SonyLiv platform

    Arré to reach larger audiences through SonyLiv platform

    NEW DELHI: Leading multi-media, multi-format digital media brand Arré today announced its partnership with digital entertainment platform SonyLIV from Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) to enable users to watch Arré’s latest web series on its web and mobile platforms.

    This partnership will also see Arré’s entire video content library available as a part of SonyLIV’s extensive catalogue in due course.

    Arré will benefit from SonyLIV’s massive reach to digital viewers across India. SonyLIV users, on the other hand, will be able to sample all the rich and entertaining current and future content developed by Arré.

    Launched earlier this month, Arré’s latest offering titled ‘Official Chukyagiri’ is a five-part slice-of-life fiction dramedy. It is targeted towards the ‘attitudinally millennial’ audience which shows life in the corporate world through h the eyes of an intern, Spandan Chukya. Apart from this series, SonyLIV users can also view shows such as ‘A.I.SHA My Virtual Girlfriend (A.I.SHA)’, ‘I Don’t Watch TV’ and ‘Arré Ho Ja Re-Gender’.

    Other content from Arré’s stable, which will be made available under the partnership includes a new comic satire titled ‘Abbas Mastan’ about two movie buffs, as well as non-fiction video originals such as‘Death by Breath’, a documentary on pollution in Delhi (in partnership with the Indian Express Group), and ‘Kashmir’s Lost Children’, a documentary about the violence that children in the Kashmir Valley face. These shows will add on to the already established library of original web-series made by SonyLIV.

    SPE Executive Vice-President and Head – Digital Business Uday Sodhi said: “SonyLIV has endeavoured to provide the best and most relevant entertainment options to our viewers, as is being aptly demonstrated by our push for more and more original, user-centric entertainment content. We have been investing a lot on creating original web-series and this partnership with Arré is another step in that direction. We are confident that SonyLIV’s massive viewership in the country will enjoy the diversity of entertaining contentwhich this association heralds. Our aim is to bridge the gap between the digital audience and relevant original quality content creators.”

    Arré Co-Founder and CEO Ajay Chacko added: “We are delighted to partner with SonyLIV for ‘Official Chukyagiri’ to begin with, and look forward to hosting other shows from the Arré stable on the platform. Our model is to create highly engaging original content that can be distributed over a wide range of linear and non-linear platforms. SonyLIV’s wide and highly engaged premium audience base is a great fit to provide the reach, distribution and exposure for our shows.”

  • Amazon Prime to premier T-Series new films

    Amazon Prime to premier T-Series new films

    MUMBAI: Amazon’s intent is very clear: amass content, which gives it an unassailable advantage for its OTT service Amazon Prime Video India. With a war chest of $5 billion, it can well afford to. Cricket and movies is what it is focusing on.

    Earlier this week, it announced that it had been licensed to stream the entire upcoming Dharma Productions film roster on its Prime Video service. And, adding to its content, catalogue Amazon has announced that it has sealed a deal with leading music label and film studio the Bhushan Kumar-owned T-Series.

    Under this, Amazon will be the exclusive subscription streaming home for T-Series’ upcoming 17 film strong slate.  On it, feature films like the Anubhav Sinha-directed Tum Bin 2, the Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Noor, Chef, starring Saif Ali Khan, Raabta starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon, the Hansal Mehta directed, Simran, starring Kangana Ranaut, the Saket Chaudhary directed Hindi Medium, starring Irrfan Khan and Pakistani beauty, Saba Qamar, the Vishal Pandya directed, Wajah Tum Ho, Yaariyan 2, Hate Story 4 and other  future big budget features with top-of-the-line actors and top directors like Abhinay Deo and Luv Ranjan.

    A release states that the films will be seen first on Prime Video even before the TV premier.

     “T-Series is one of the leaders in the Indian entertainment industry.  As a result of this partnership, Amazon Prime members will soon enjoy a wide variety of some of the best Bollywood movies in the country, all within a few weeks of their theatrical release,” said Amazon Video India director & country head Nitesh Kripalani. “We are committed to adding value for Prime members and are excited to give them exclusive access to premium entertainment they will love.  We will continue to add more content in the coming months.”  

    Added T-Series chairman & managing director Bhushan Kumar: “T-Series has always strives to be ahead of the curve in the digital content distribution space, and this exclusive alliance for our future under-production films with Amazon is another step in that direction. Subscription services are being well-received by the consumers and hold tremendous potential in India. We hope to see higher traction and growth in this mode of content distribution. This alliance will bring in greater synergies for both, Amazon and  T-Series, and we wish great success to Amazon Prime Video.”

    ALSO READ:

    Amazon Prime, Dharma enter licensing deal

  • Amazon Prime to premier T-Series new films

    Amazon Prime to premier T-Series new films

    MUMBAI: Amazon’s intent is very clear: amass content, which gives it an unassailable advantage for its OTT service Amazon Prime Video India. With a war chest of $5 billion, it can well afford to. Cricket and movies is what it is focusing on.

    Earlier this week, it announced that it had been licensed to stream the entire upcoming Dharma Productions film roster on its Prime Video service. And, adding to its content, catalogue Amazon has announced that it has sealed a deal with leading music label and film studio the Bhushan Kumar-owned T-Series.

    Under this, Amazon will be the exclusive subscription streaming home for T-Series’ upcoming 17 film strong slate.  On it, feature films like the Anubhav Sinha-directed Tum Bin 2, the Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Noor, Chef, starring Saif Ali Khan, Raabta starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon, the Hansal Mehta directed, Simran, starring Kangana Ranaut, the Saket Chaudhary directed Hindi Medium, starring Irrfan Khan and Pakistani beauty, Saba Qamar, the Vishal Pandya directed, Wajah Tum Ho, Yaariyan 2, Hate Story 4 and other  future big budget features with top-of-the-line actors and top directors like Abhinay Deo and Luv Ranjan.

    A release states that the films will be seen first on Prime Video even before the TV premier.

     “T-Series is one of the leaders in the Indian entertainment industry.  As a result of this partnership, Amazon Prime members will soon enjoy a wide variety of some of the best Bollywood movies in the country, all within a few weeks of their theatrical release,” said Amazon Video India director & country head Nitesh Kripalani. “We are committed to adding value for Prime members and are excited to give them exclusive access to premium entertainment they will love.  We will continue to add more content in the coming months.”  

    Added T-Series chairman & managing director Bhushan Kumar: “T-Series has always strives to be ahead of the curve in the digital content distribution space, and this exclusive alliance for our future under-production films with Amazon is another step in that direction. Subscription services are being well-received by the consumers and hold tremendous potential in India. We hope to see higher traction and growth in this mode of content distribution. This alliance will bring in greater synergies for both, Amazon and  T-Series, and we wish great success to Amazon Prime Video.”

    ALSO READ:

    Amazon Prime, Dharma enter licensing deal

  • ‘Don’t WhatsApp users’ data to FB’

    ‘Don’t WhatsApp users’ data to FB’

    MUMBAI: WhatsApp’s revised privacy policy has been rejected by the Delhi High Court on Friday. With a few safeguards, the online messaging platform’s modified policy was originally scheduled to come into effect on 25 September and proposed to share information of users with the parent company Facebook and affiliate entities.

    This order came in response to a public interest litigation filed by the Over-The-Top (OTT) platform users against changes in the messaging service’s policy that took effect on 25 August. The order was given by the division bench of justices G Rohini and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal. WhatsApp has been directed not to share with Facebook information of users who would deactivate their accounts as well as the existing users up to September 25 to protect their interest.

    The bench said that, keeping in view that the issue relating to the existence of an individual’s right of privacy as a distinct basis of a cause of action is yet to be decided by a larger bench of the Supreme Court, it was considering it appropriate to issue the said directions. WhatsApp had earlier informed the court that, when a user account was deleted, the information of that person was no longer retained on its servers.

    The platform has been directed to erase all information, data and details of users who choose to delete their accounts. The bench has also prohibited the messaging service from sharing any data or information acquired from users who decide to remain post the date mentioned.

    The aggrieved users had also sought for directions to be issued to the Centre and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to consider the issues regarding the functioning of applications like WhatsApp and take an appropriate decision as to whether it is feasible to bring the same under the statutory regulatory framework.

  • ‘Don’t WhatsApp users’ data to FB’

    ‘Don’t WhatsApp users’ data to FB’

    MUMBAI: WhatsApp’s revised privacy policy has been rejected by the Delhi High Court on Friday. With a few safeguards, the online messaging platform’s modified policy was originally scheduled to come into effect on 25 September and proposed to share information of users with the parent company Facebook and affiliate entities.

    This order came in response to a public interest litigation filed by the Over-The-Top (OTT) platform users against changes in the messaging service’s policy that took effect on 25 August. The order was given by the division bench of justices G Rohini and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal. WhatsApp has been directed not to share with Facebook information of users who would deactivate their accounts as well as the existing users up to September 25 to protect their interest.

    The bench said that, keeping in view that the issue relating to the existence of an individual’s right of privacy as a distinct basis of a cause of action is yet to be decided by a larger bench of the Supreme Court, it was considering it appropriate to issue the said directions. WhatsApp had earlier informed the court that, when a user account was deleted, the information of that person was no longer retained on its servers.

    The platform has been directed to erase all information, data and details of users who choose to delete their accounts. The bench has also prohibited the messaging service from sharing any data or information acquired from users who decide to remain post the date mentioned.

    The aggrieved users had also sought for directions to be issued to the Centre and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to consider the issues regarding the functioning of applications like WhatsApp and take an appropriate decision as to whether it is feasible to bring the same under the statutory regulatory framework.

  • Eros International raises $30 million for Eros Now

    Eros International raises $30 million for Eros Now

    MUMBAI: Indian Bollywood major Eros International is getting hotter on OTT. It announced this morning that two of its existing top 10 institutional shareholders have increased their holdings in the company through a private placement and are pumping in approximately $30 million. The proceeds of the allotment will be primarily used to fund the further expansion of Eros Now, its OTT platform.

    Eros International group CEO & MD Jyoti Deshpande commented: “Our vision to transform Eros from a leading film studio to a leading digital company with a global footprint is well underway with Eros Now, our OTT platform crossing one million paid subscribers as of 30 June 2016. Our ownership of content and our strong balance sheet should provide tailwinds to grow the Eros Now subscriber base from one million to ten million and eventually hundred million within the next decade.”

    Eros Now is Eros International Plc’s leading on-demand Bollywood entertainment network accessible anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Eros Now offers users across 135 countries a large library of films (Eros Now has rights to over 5,000 films), as well as premium television shows, music videos and audio tracks.

    Eros Now is also working on launching compelling original drama series for its viewers. It also has compelling product features such as offline viewing where premium subscribers can download the content and view it when not connected to the Internet make Eros Now a unique offering with focus on user experience.

    Available on Apple and Android platforms, Eros Now has integration deals with Airtel, Idea and Reliance Jio and several other operators internationally. A crucial deal was struck with Reliance Jio, the 4G player that has rolled out the most aggressive plan for digital India. In its platform-agnostic strategy, Eros has struck deals with OEMs and telecom operators such as Micromax, Airtel, Idea, LeEco, and Maxis.

    Through the Eros-Jio partnership, new and old movies including Bajirao Mastaani, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Tanu Weds Manu Returns, will be available on the JioOnDemand app. With 30 HD channels, Jio is offering live streaming of over 300 TV channels 10 genres and 15 languages.

    Available on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and pre-installed in Android TV, Eros Now crossed over 50 million registered users worldwide across WAP, APP, and Web, as of 30 June 2016. It has already crossed over 1.1 million active unique paying subscribers who have paid for at least one month.

    Eros released 14 films in Q1 FY17 of which three were high, two were medium and nine were low-budget films. Sardaar Gabbar Singh (Telugu),Housefull 3 (Hindi), 24 (Tamil), Marudhu (Tamil) and Ki and Ka (Hindi) were the main revenue earning films during the quarter. Eros Now is planning to acquire 10,000 additional films to add to its strong library.

    Eros Now, in October 2015, partnered with Ortel, an MSO (multi system operator) and ISP, to offer a subscription-based movie streaming service. Eros had, in August last year, also negotiated a partnership with Airtel to offer video and movie content on Wynk. Eros Now tied up with WeChat in June 2015 so as to allow users to watch videos, listen to music, and get Bollywood gossip and news. Eros Now, in the same month, inked a content acquisition deal with Hum TV of Pakistan.

    Eros Now has a five-year worldwide target of at least 15-20 million subscribers with a blended annual ARPU of $30 internationally and $5 from India. Trinity Pictures, owned by Eros International is building its franchises with two Sino-Indian co-productions, with a scheduled FY 2018 release.

    Eros Now hopes to achieve at least two million paying subscribers by the end of FY 2017 and five million paying subscribers by the end of FY-18.

  • Eros International raises $30 million for Eros Now

    Eros International raises $30 million for Eros Now

    MUMBAI: Indian Bollywood major Eros International is getting hotter on OTT. It announced this morning that two of its existing top 10 institutional shareholders have increased their holdings in the company through a private placement and are pumping in approximately $30 million. The proceeds of the allotment will be primarily used to fund the further expansion of Eros Now, its OTT platform.

    Eros International group CEO & MD Jyoti Deshpande commented: “Our vision to transform Eros from a leading film studio to a leading digital company with a global footprint is well underway with Eros Now, our OTT platform crossing one million paid subscribers as of 30 June 2016. Our ownership of content and our strong balance sheet should provide tailwinds to grow the Eros Now subscriber base from one million to ten million and eventually hundred million within the next decade.”

    Eros Now is Eros International Plc’s leading on-demand Bollywood entertainment network accessible anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Eros Now offers users across 135 countries a large library of films (Eros Now has rights to over 5,000 films), as well as premium television shows, music videos and audio tracks.

    Eros Now is also working on launching compelling original drama series for its viewers. It also has compelling product features such as offline viewing where premium subscribers can download the content and view it when not connected to the Internet make Eros Now a unique offering with focus on user experience.

    Available on Apple and Android platforms, Eros Now has integration deals with Airtel, Idea and Reliance Jio and several other operators internationally. A crucial deal was struck with Reliance Jio, the 4G player that has rolled out the most aggressive plan for digital India. In its platform-agnostic strategy, Eros has struck deals with OEMs and telecom operators such as Micromax, Airtel, Idea, LeEco, and Maxis.

    Through the Eros-Jio partnership, new and old movies including Bajirao Mastaani, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Tanu Weds Manu Returns, will be available on the JioOnDemand app. With 30 HD channels, Jio is offering live streaming of over 300 TV channels 10 genres and 15 languages.

    Available on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and pre-installed in Android TV, Eros Now crossed over 50 million registered users worldwide across WAP, APP, and Web, as of 30 June 2016. It has already crossed over 1.1 million active unique paying subscribers who have paid for at least one month.

    Eros released 14 films in Q1 FY17 of which three were high, two were medium and nine were low-budget films. Sardaar Gabbar Singh (Telugu),Housefull 3 (Hindi), 24 (Tamil), Marudhu (Tamil) and Ki and Ka (Hindi) were the main revenue earning films during the quarter. Eros Now is planning to acquire 10,000 additional films to add to its strong library.

    Eros Now, in October 2015, partnered with Ortel, an MSO (multi system operator) and ISP, to offer a subscription-based movie streaming service. Eros had, in August last year, also negotiated a partnership with Airtel to offer video and movie content on Wynk. Eros Now tied up with WeChat in June 2015 so as to allow users to watch videos, listen to music, and get Bollywood gossip and news. Eros Now, in the same month, inked a content acquisition deal with Hum TV of Pakistan.

    Eros Now has a five-year worldwide target of at least 15-20 million subscribers with a blended annual ARPU of $30 internationally and $5 from India. Trinity Pictures, owned by Eros International is building its franchises with two Sino-Indian co-productions, with a scheduled FY 2018 release.

    Eros Now hopes to achieve at least two million paying subscribers by the end of FY 2017 and five million paying subscribers by the end of FY-18.

  • Netflix aims at 50% original programming

    Netflix aims at 50% original programming

    MUMBAI: Challenge for few, exhilaration for many. Netflix CFO David Wells has shown a keen interest in expanding its library of original content. The streaming service is driving towards having half the content to be original production over the next five years. The rest will represent licensed TV shows and movies.

    Wells said that they had been on a multiyear transition and evolution toward more of their owned content. Marking a shift in the balance between licensed and commissioned content, the service is already one-third to halfway towards reaching this target.

    According to Wells, the goal for Netflix was to release something that appeals to each individual subscriber. On that front, they had got ways to go across different genres and formats. The nice thing about the platform was that it allows a lot of creative freedom, allowing for episodes of varying lengths.

    It’s been three years since Netflix started making original programming with House of Cards, Daredevil and more recently Stranger Things. In the movie space, the service has Adam Sandler’s The Ridiculous 6.

    Internationally, Netflix aims for about 80 per cent Hollywood content and 20 per cent local programming. Wells said that the exception was Japan, where Netflix bent more toward 50 per cent local content. About having an ad-supported model, Wells said that there was no such immediate plan.

  • Netflix aims at 50% original programming

    Netflix aims at 50% original programming

    MUMBAI: Challenge for few, exhilaration for many. Netflix CFO David Wells has shown a keen interest in expanding its library of original content. The streaming service is driving towards having half the content to be original production over the next five years. The rest will represent licensed TV shows and movies.

    Wells said that they had been on a multiyear transition and evolution toward more of their owned content. Marking a shift in the balance between licensed and commissioned content, the service is already one-third to halfway towards reaching this target.

    According to Wells, the goal for Netflix was to release something that appeals to each individual subscriber. On that front, they had got ways to go across different genres and formats. The nice thing about the platform was that it allows a lot of creative freedom, allowing for episodes of varying lengths.

    It’s been three years since Netflix started making original programming with House of Cards, Daredevil and more recently Stranger Things. In the movie space, the service has Adam Sandler’s The Ridiculous 6.

    Internationally, Netflix aims for about 80 per cent Hollywood content and 20 per cent local programming. Wells said that the exception was Japan, where Netflix bent more toward 50 per cent local content. About having an ad-supported model, Wells said that there was no such immediate plan.