ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • nexGTv all set to claim Bengali market

    nexGTv all set to claim Bengali market

    MUMBAI: nexGTv, the subscription-led video entertainment app has announced expansion into the Bengali market with the acquisition of three Bengali channels – Rupashi Bangla, Dhoom Music and News Time Bangla – from Brand Value and an Oriya movie channel, Alankar TV, from Odisha Television Ltd. As a part of the initiative, nexGTv will now hold the worldwide digital rights to broadcast these channels for its users across the globe through its web and mobile platforms.

    Amongst the acquired channels, Ruposhi Bangla is a general entertainment channel with shows ranging from reality to socio-mythology, feature films to news updates and from comedy to drama. Dhoom Music is a dedicated channel for Bengali music, while News Time Bangla is a popular regional news channels that delivers news on current events and latest happenings in and around the West Bengal region. Alankar TV, on the other hand, is a 24-hour Oriya movie channel from Odisha Television Network and is also the first movie genre-specific channel in Odisha.

    nexGTv claims that by acquiring these channels, it underlines the commitment to deliver highly curated entertainment solutions to its users globally by augmenting its regional entertainment content library.

    Speaking on the announcement, nexGTv CEO Abhesh Verma said, “We, at nexGTv, enjoy a rich, diverse consumer base both within and outside the country. As such, our endeavour has always been to curate and deliver highly relevant and popular entertainment solutions to our viewership. We are confident that the latest addition will add greater value to the mobile viewing experience of our users by granting them access to even more regional content to satisfy their entertainment needs.”

    The application claims that nexGTv’s latest content acquisition will no doubt delight the expatriate population, who will now be able to view their preferred regional entertainment content at their convenience anytime, anywhere. All the channels are a part of the paid category at nexGTv, and can be accessed either through www.nexGTv.com or through the nexGTv mobile app for Android and iOS.

  • nexGTv all set to claim Bengali market

    nexGTv all set to claim Bengali market

    MUMBAI: nexGTv, the subscription-led video entertainment app has announced expansion into the Bengali market with the acquisition of three Bengali channels – Rupashi Bangla, Dhoom Music and News Time Bangla – from Brand Value and an Oriya movie channel, Alankar TV, from Odisha Television Ltd. As a part of the initiative, nexGTv will now hold the worldwide digital rights to broadcast these channels for its users across the globe through its web and mobile platforms.

    Amongst the acquired channels, Ruposhi Bangla is a general entertainment channel with shows ranging from reality to socio-mythology, feature films to news updates and from comedy to drama. Dhoom Music is a dedicated channel for Bengali music, while News Time Bangla is a popular regional news channels that delivers news on current events and latest happenings in and around the West Bengal region. Alankar TV, on the other hand, is a 24-hour Oriya movie channel from Odisha Television Network and is also the first movie genre-specific channel in Odisha.

    nexGTv claims that by acquiring these channels, it underlines the commitment to deliver highly curated entertainment solutions to its users globally by augmenting its regional entertainment content library.

    Speaking on the announcement, nexGTv CEO Abhesh Verma said, “We, at nexGTv, enjoy a rich, diverse consumer base both within and outside the country. As such, our endeavour has always been to curate and deliver highly relevant and popular entertainment solutions to our viewership. We are confident that the latest addition will add greater value to the mobile viewing experience of our users by granting them access to even more regional content to satisfy their entertainment needs.”

    The application claims that nexGTv’s latest content acquisition will no doubt delight the expatriate population, who will now be able to view their preferred regional entertainment content at their convenience anytime, anywhere. All the channels are a part of the paid category at nexGTv, and can be accessed either through www.nexGTv.com or through the nexGTv mobile app for Android and iOS.

  • Hotstar aiming 100 million viewers mark

    Hotstar aiming 100 million viewers mark

    Mumbai: With more than 80 million viewers for the Vivo Indian Premier League 2016 to date, Hotstar, India’s largest premium streaming platform, is on course to cross the 100 million mark in this year’s edition. The tournament’s reach on Hotstar has doubled in comparison to last year at the same stage and the total watch time is up 275 per cent from 2014, with 95 per cent of all consumption coming from the top 10 cities. 

    Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan says, “We are delighted at the growth we have seen on the IPL viewership on Hotstar over the last two tournaments. Hotstar has become the primary screen for IPL for the urban affluent and the young cricket fans. With more than double the reach of last year, we are well set to exceed the 100 million targets. we had set for ourselves for this year.”

    Ever since its launch, Hotstar has become the preferred destination and a habit amongst the millennial in large cities where users have access to broadband data; in fact, when cricket is on, it has become the primary screen for the urban young.

    Hotstar has invested heavily in creating a world-class streaming experience. Users on Hotstar have access to live scores and match data integrated into the experience. The persistent efforts to reinvent consistently and stay fresh to maintain engagement levels among the 18 to 24 year has been the driving force behind the ever-rising popularity of the platform. 

    Hotstar made the Vivo IPL 2016 an even more enjoyable experience for its viewers, with a complete content package including pre and post show programming with the best anchors and commentators in the country. Two wrap around shows – Cricket Live and One Tip One Hand, along with The Boundary Riders (a Video Blog) have been popular programming additions, along with Hotstar’s presence at the IPL Fan Park.  

    Cricket Live

    Cricket Live is a one-hour exclusive show hosted by Jatin Sapru featuring the expert panel of David Hussey, Bret Lee, Mohd. Kaif, Aakash Chopra, Deep Das Gupta and Shoaib Akthar. The show is a detailed analysis on the games played in the Vivo IPL 2016 and focused purely on the cricket part of the game and not entertainment. It also brings alive all the inside scoops for all the franchises, covering their strategy, behind-the-scenes action and what’s happening in the camp, including player secrets and more. 

    One Tip One Hand

    One Tip One Hand hosted by Cyrus Sahukar and Varun Thakur, is a weekly analysis of the Vivo IPL 2016 games, and features on Hotstar every Saturday. The show analyses the game with a bit of banter and humour along with a star-studded line-up of experts.

    The Boundary Riders

    Three Vloggers scour the length and breadth of the nation in search of stories that introduce fans to the unseen world around the Vivo IPL 2016 calendar and match cities. This video log (Vlog) serves as a platform for the Vloggers to share their stories. As a collective of stories, this blog demonstrates how the Vivo IPL 2016 touches and affects the lives of millions of Indians every year in a positive and uplifting way. The Vloggers also engage the players in fun activities together with pop quiz where the cricketer questions the Vlogger, and sometimes also lets the Vlogger experience a batting or bowling with the player and much more.

  • Hotstar aiming 100 million viewers mark

    Hotstar aiming 100 million viewers mark

    Mumbai: With more than 80 million viewers for the Vivo Indian Premier League 2016 to date, Hotstar, India’s largest premium streaming platform, is on course to cross the 100 million mark in this year’s edition. The tournament’s reach on Hotstar has doubled in comparison to last year at the same stage and the total watch time is up 275 per cent from 2014, with 95 per cent of all consumption coming from the top 10 cities. 

    Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan says, “We are delighted at the growth we have seen on the IPL viewership on Hotstar over the last two tournaments. Hotstar has become the primary screen for IPL for the urban affluent and the young cricket fans. With more than double the reach of last year, we are well set to exceed the 100 million targets. we had set for ourselves for this year.”

    Ever since its launch, Hotstar has become the preferred destination and a habit amongst the millennial in large cities where users have access to broadband data; in fact, when cricket is on, it has become the primary screen for the urban young.

    Hotstar has invested heavily in creating a world-class streaming experience. Users on Hotstar have access to live scores and match data integrated into the experience. The persistent efforts to reinvent consistently and stay fresh to maintain engagement levels among the 18 to 24 year has been the driving force behind the ever-rising popularity of the platform. 

    Hotstar made the Vivo IPL 2016 an even more enjoyable experience for its viewers, with a complete content package including pre and post show programming with the best anchors and commentators in the country. Two wrap around shows – Cricket Live and One Tip One Hand, along with The Boundary Riders (a Video Blog) have been popular programming additions, along with Hotstar’s presence at the IPL Fan Park.  

    Cricket Live

    Cricket Live is a one-hour exclusive show hosted by Jatin Sapru featuring the expert panel of David Hussey, Bret Lee, Mohd. Kaif, Aakash Chopra, Deep Das Gupta and Shoaib Akthar. The show is a detailed analysis on the games played in the Vivo IPL 2016 and focused purely on the cricket part of the game and not entertainment. It also brings alive all the inside scoops for all the franchises, covering their strategy, behind-the-scenes action and what’s happening in the camp, including player secrets and more. 

    One Tip One Hand

    One Tip One Hand hosted by Cyrus Sahukar and Varun Thakur, is a weekly analysis of the Vivo IPL 2016 games, and features on Hotstar every Saturday. The show analyses the game with a bit of banter and humour along with a star-studded line-up of experts.

    The Boundary Riders

    Three Vloggers scour the length and breadth of the nation in search of stories that introduce fans to the unseen world around the Vivo IPL 2016 calendar and match cities. This video log (Vlog) serves as a platform for the Vloggers to share their stories. As a collective of stories, this blog demonstrates how the Vivo IPL 2016 touches and affects the lives of millions of Indians every year in a positive and uplifting way. The Vloggers also engage the players in fun activities together with pop quiz where the cricketer questions the Vlogger, and sometimes also lets the Vlogger experience a batting or bowling with the player and much more.

  • Hotstar and Akamai renew web streaming partnership

    Hotstar and Akamai renew web streaming partnership

    NEW DELHI: Video streaming platform Hotstar and content delivery network Akamai Technologies Inc. today announced the renewal of their partnership to support Hotstar in delivering live sports content and the expected surge in viewership with the help of Akamai’s Intelligent Platform.

    Hotstar which was launched in February last year claims 65 million downloads and a content portfolio that covers local and international drama, movies and sports. Live sports in particular has seen a huge surge in viewership on Hotstar, especially as audiences turn to mobile as the primary screen for cricket updates and streaming.

    The partnership between Hotstar and Akamai announced in Bangalore plans for an expected surge in viewership over the next 18 months especially in light of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 tournament in India, which saw a peak of 1.55 million concurrent video streams, and an average concurrency close to 350,000. The peak traffic for this event almost doubled from 655 Gbps in 2015 to 1.3 Tbps this year, highlighting the growing demand for live streaming online, across devices.

    Star and Hotstar delivered more than 23 million hours of live sporting video over the course of the T20 World Cup with the help of Akamai’s Media Delivery Solutions. The two companies are currently working to deliver the 2016 season of the Indian Premier League, which has also seen a surge in viewership over the last 2 years.

    “The Internet has become an important source for accessing global sporting events, and Akamai has consistently helped deliver events of scale around the world. Hotstar is a valued partner for Akamai and one that is consistently setting new benchmarks in video streaming and live sports consumption in particular. We are extremely proud of this successful partnership,” said Akamai Technologies Vice President, Media, APJ Parimal Pandya.

    “Since the launch of Hotstar in February 2015, we have seen a 10x increase in online viewership for sporting events. Planning for concurrency in live sports is a big part of delivering an outstanding uninterrupted experience for our users and Akamai has been an instrumental partner in helping us scale numbers that are very rarely seen online globally,” said Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan.

    As Hotstar continues to develop and bring to market world class events, including movie premieres and live sports such as the ongoing Indian Premier League and the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, the two companies are working together to introduce new features and innovations on the video streaming front.

  • Hotstar and Akamai renew web streaming partnership

    Hotstar and Akamai renew web streaming partnership

    NEW DELHI: Video streaming platform Hotstar and content delivery network Akamai Technologies Inc. today announced the renewal of their partnership to support Hotstar in delivering live sports content and the expected surge in viewership with the help of Akamai’s Intelligent Platform.

    Hotstar which was launched in February last year claims 65 million downloads and a content portfolio that covers local and international drama, movies and sports. Live sports in particular has seen a huge surge in viewership on Hotstar, especially as audiences turn to mobile as the primary screen for cricket updates and streaming.

    The partnership between Hotstar and Akamai announced in Bangalore plans for an expected surge in viewership over the next 18 months especially in light of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 tournament in India, which saw a peak of 1.55 million concurrent video streams, and an average concurrency close to 350,000. The peak traffic for this event almost doubled from 655 Gbps in 2015 to 1.3 Tbps this year, highlighting the growing demand for live streaming online, across devices.

    Star and Hotstar delivered more than 23 million hours of live sporting video over the course of the T20 World Cup with the help of Akamai’s Media Delivery Solutions. The two companies are currently working to deliver the 2016 season of the Indian Premier League, which has also seen a surge in viewership over the last 2 years.

    “The Internet has become an important source for accessing global sporting events, and Akamai has consistently helped deliver events of scale around the world. Hotstar is a valued partner for Akamai and one that is consistently setting new benchmarks in video streaming and live sports consumption in particular. We are extremely proud of this successful partnership,” said Akamai Technologies Vice President, Media, APJ Parimal Pandya.

    “Since the launch of Hotstar in February 2015, we have seen a 10x increase in online viewership for sporting events. Planning for concurrency in live sports is a big part of delivering an outstanding uninterrupted experience for our users and Akamai has been an instrumental partner in helping us scale numbers that are very rarely seen online globally,” said Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan.

    As Hotstar continues to develop and bring to market world class events, including movie premieres and live sports such as the ongoing Indian Premier League and the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, the two companies are working together to introduce new features and innovations on the video streaming front.

  • Netflix becomes exclusive US pay TV home for Disney, Marvel, Lucas film & Pixar movies

    Netflix becomes exclusive US pay TV home for Disney, Marvel, Lucas film & Pixar movies

    MUMBAI: The global OTT player Netflix has partnered with Disney to broadcast forthcoming titles throughout the summer. Under the pact that was signed three and a half years ago, the streaming service will become the exclusive US pay TV home of the latest films from Disney, Marvel, Lucas film and Pixar with effect from September 2016.

    Netflix’ chief content officer Ted Sarandos has also announced that Netflix original movie Mascots and War Machine will be arriving the same month. While the earlier is a mockumentary on sports mascots from This Is Spinal Tap writer Christopher Guest, the latter is from acclaimed Australian director David Michod and starring Brad Pitt, in the serio-comic tale of the U.S. military adventure in Afghanistan.

    The partnership with Disney will allow Netflix to offer the movies during the same window as HBO and other paid cable channels but after the DVD and Blu-Ray releases.

    It has also added various films that will be available in its catalogue this summer which includes titles like The Big Short, Hotel Transylvania 2, Spotlight, Goosebumps, the Back to the Future trilogy, the Lethal Weapon franchise, Sixteen Candles and The Wedding Planner. Other new additions include Spotlight, the Jurassic Park series and The Fundamentals of Caring.

    Meanwhile, few Disney movies will not be featured on the platform. Movies that will no longer be aired from next month include titles like Hercules, Mulan and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

     

  • Netflix becomes exclusive US pay TV home for Disney, Marvel, Lucas film & Pixar movies

    Netflix becomes exclusive US pay TV home for Disney, Marvel, Lucas film & Pixar movies

    MUMBAI: The global OTT player Netflix has partnered with Disney to broadcast forthcoming titles throughout the summer. Under the pact that was signed three and a half years ago, the streaming service will become the exclusive US pay TV home of the latest films from Disney, Marvel, Lucas film and Pixar with effect from September 2016.

    Netflix’ chief content officer Ted Sarandos has also announced that Netflix original movie Mascots and War Machine will be arriving the same month. While the earlier is a mockumentary on sports mascots from This Is Spinal Tap writer Christopher Guest, the latter is from acclaimed Australian director David Michod and starring Brad Pitt, in the serio-comic tale of the U.S. military adventure in Afghanistan.

    The partnership with Disney will allow Netflix to offer the movies during the same window as HBO and other paid cable channels but after the DVD and Blu-Ray releases.

    It has also added various films that will be available in its catalogue this summer which includes titles like The Big Short, Hotel Transylvania 2, Spotlight, Goosebumps, the Back to the Future trilogy, the Lethal Weapon franchise, Sixteen Candles and The Wedding Planner. Other new additions include Spotlight, the Jurassic Park series and The Fundamentals of Caring.

    Meanwhile, few Disney movies will not be featured on the platform. Movies that will no longer be aired from next month include titles like Hercules, Mulan and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

     

  • Sports only OTT service Veqta to launch in June

    Sports only OTT service Veqta to launch in June

    MUMBAI: With the aim of expanding its portfolio, Veqta, a digital broadcast network dedicated to sports is all geared up to launch its OTT service in June 2016. With the launch of the platform, the venture will also roll-out its application followed by content in various regional languages.

    Through this platform, sports fans across India can engage into various other categories of sports content that they have not yet explored. Breaking apart from the other content providers, Veqta plans to provide content via on-demand videos and live streaming.

    “Veqta will follow a very friendly content format. There is very little sports content for the viewers. We will be a destination for sports fans to enjoy high quality content coming from the biggest names in the business”, asserts Veqta ‎co-founder and director Varun Mathur.

    It has raised $500,000 (Rs 3.4 cr) in seed funding from Chatsworth Management and sports management company ITW Consulting Pvt. Ltd. The firm had earlier received initial-stage backing from ITW.

    “What will make us different form the rest is our packaging, our different formats of short form and live streaming content as well as feeds in various regional languages which everyone can understand,” says Mathur.

    The platform will follow the freemium model wherein the users will have some content available for free while there will be a pay wall for some premium content. Its offerings will include licensed content and flagship studio content across various ‘underpunctuated’ categories like cricket, football, motorsports, basketball, tennis, badminton and a range of Olympic sports.

    The venture has signed deals with various international partners from the field of sports.  The venture has not locked deals with any advertisers as of yet and are just focused at expanding its consumer reach, building team and strengthening its product development.

    Taking a hint from this, it will be interesting to see whether the other OTT players like HotStar, Spuul, Hooq, Eros Now, Sony Liv, Ditto TV, VOOT, etc, might also look at mushrooming their target niche audiences.

  • Sports only OTT service Veqta to launch in June

    Sports only OTT service Veqta to launch in June

    MUMBAI: With the aim of expanding its portfolio, Veqta, a digital broadcast network dedicated to sports is all geared up to launch its OTT service in June 2016. With the launch of the platform, the venture will also roll-out its application followed by content in various regional languages.

    Through this platform, sports fans across India can engage into various other categories of sports content that they have not yet explored. Breaking apart from the other content providers, Veqta plans to provide content via on-demand videos and live streaming.

    “Veqta will follow a very friendly content format. There is very little sports content for the viewers. We will be a destination for sports fans to enjoy high quality content coming from the biggest names in the business”, asserts Veqta ‎co-founder and director Varun Mathur.

    It has raised $500,000 (Rs 3.4 cr) in seed funding from Chatsworth Management and sports management company ITW Consulting Pvt. Ltd. The firm had earlier received initial-stage backing from ITW.

    “What will make us different form the rest is our packaging, our different formats of short form and live streaming content as well as feeds in various regional languages which everyone can understand,” says Mathur.

    The platform will follow the freemium model wherein the users will have some content available for free while there will be a pay wall for some premium content. Its offerings will include licensed content and flagship studio content across various ‘underpunctuated’ categories like cricket, football, motorsports, basketball, tennis, badminton and a range of Olympic sports.

    The venture has signed deals with various international partners from the field of sports.  The venture has not locked deals with any advertisers as of yet and are just focused at expanding its consumer reach, building team and strengthening its product development.

    Taking a hint from this, it will be interesting to see whether the other OTT players like HotStar, Spuul, Hooq, Eros Now, Sony Liv, Ditto TV, VOOT, etc, might also look at mushrooming their target niche audiences.