ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Streann Media & Level 3 joins hands to enable worldwide streaming OTT-TV services

    Streann Media & Level 3 joins hands to enable worldwide streaming OTT-TV services

    MUMBAI: Streann Media, a media streaming service provider headquartered in Miami, has selected Level 3 Communications, a global communications provider, to provide content delivery network (CDN) services to Streann’s global media streaming solution. With this new global CDN platform, Streann Media can now offer a full streaming solution to customers worldwide. 

     

    “TV, video, and audio are a necessity, but how we consume them is changing. While the market for traditional TV platforms is shrinking, the market for OTT-TV is growing exponentially. The millennial generation wants TV on its tablets, smart TVs and smart phones. Consumers want TV everywhere, and they’re cutting the cord from traditional cable operators that continue to offer the same entertainment without new interactive or innovative development,” said Streann Media chief operating officer and co-founder Antonio Calderon.

     

    Streann’s collaboration with Level 3 enables the streaming service company to offer its social media integration, push notification, live content recording, advertising roll back, and play out over IP streaming services to a global market.

     

    “Over the last six months, we expanded our footprint through valued-added resellers in Europe, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as grew our white label customer base. The collaboration with Level 3 will enable us to guarantee bandwidth quality to our global resellers for streaming and OTT-TV. Streann is also working on two exciting streaming patents that will increase social media Television engagement and improve bandwidth optimization,” added Calderon.

  • YuppTV forays into Sri Lankan market

    YuppTV forays into Sri Lankan market

    MUMBAI: Focusing on providing international content to subscribers and expanding its network in markets around the world, YuppTV has launched premium channels SirasaTV and Shakthi TV, part of Capital Maharaja Group, in homes worldwide.

    Sirasa TV is a Sinhala language channel broadcasting entertainment, news and current affairs, while Shakthi TV broadcasts in the Tamil language in Sri Lanka. Its content includes entertainment, sports, current affairs, children’s programmes and news.

    YuppTV CEO Uday Reddy said, “We are thrilled to launch Sri Lanka’s top television channels Sirasa TV and Shakthi TV for the first time in markets across the world today. It is our constant endeavour to offer viewers from varied ethnicities and backgrounds top quality television viewing experience. We welcome viewers from Sri Lanka into the YuppTV family. The Capital Maharaja Organisation owns Sri Lanka’s largest Media network and a respected Sri Lankan brand. This launch will give viewers across the world access to the channels’ premium content. We trust subscribers in different markets will receive this launch very well. We are soon to add more Sri Lankan channels to make it a complete package of entertainment to the Sri Lankan viewers worldwide.”

    The Capital Maharaja Organisation group director electronic media business Nedra Weerasinghe said that being a forward thinking media network, moving into new territories was of prime importance. “As Sri Lanka’s most innovative local content and trusted news provider we realise that OTT will play an important role in allowing consumers to access services in the way they want. We believe consumers will enjoy content ‘any time, any place’ through a range of devices including mobile phones, iPads, game consoles or connected TVs, all connected to a central content gateway. It is our pleasure to partner with YuppTV on this venture,” said Weerasinghe.

    Channel head Chammantraj added, “Since its inception, the Capital Maharaja Organisation has always believed in setting new benchmarks as far as its business strategy is concerned. We are excited to partner with YuppTV in offering two of our premium channels Sirasa TV and Shakti TV for the first time to subscribers across the globe and trust this will mark the beginning of a new and exciting international partnership.”

  • Bonnier Broadcasting & Ericsson collaborate for OTT & SVOD services

    Bonnier Broadcasting & Ericsson collaborate for OTT & SVOD services

    NEW DELHI: Telecom network Ericsson will supply online video platform to the over-the-top (OTT) and live TV subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service of Bonnier Broadcasting.

     

    The multi-year deal will see Ericsson provide a number of managed services including content management and preparation, digital rights management, subscriber management and billing and advertising insertion for multiple devices and platforms.

     

    The Nordic next-generation online TV services will launch later this year. From launch, Bonnier Group content – including a mix of sports, local and international drama series, sitcoms and Swedish and international feature films – will be available both on-demand and live. Multiple platforms will be supported, including the web, iOS and Android devices.

     

    Ericsson Broadcasting and Media Services Head Thorsten Sauer said, “Our long-running relationship with TV4 for their linear channels has now been extended to a business transformation that encompasses on-demand and live services across platforms. Consumers want access to content anytime, anywhere and on any device, which is something TV4 is providing through its platform agnostic strategy. Ericsson is the partner in this transformation and our Ericsson Managed Player is designed to help our clients meet the needs of their audiences in this ever-changing landscape.”

     

    Ericsson’s Managed Player masters the combination of OTT delivery and playout to deliver content to consumers. Ericsson Mediaroom Reach, a scalable adaptive bitrate-based technology platform for intelligent OTT video delivery to cross-platform connected devices, powers it.

     

    Bonnier Group’s TV4 selected Ericsson in 2009 to manage their technical operations end-to-end as part of a 10-year contract. In addition, Ericsson and TV4 established a joint technology and business development forum, where the two companies evaluate new business opportunities.

  • YuppTV app hops on to Vizio Smart TVs

    YuppTV app hops on to Vizio Smart TVs

    MUMBAI: YuppTV is all set to bring South Asian content to television viewers and has collaborated with the US based smart TV giant Vizio, through the their Internet Apps Plus platform for the same. 

     

    The platform offers a world class broadcast experience with extensive range of options.

     

    YuppTV CEO Uday Reddy said, “We’re glad to add yet another leading television manufacturer to our list of choices for the benefit of consumers. Vizio Smart TV’s products are well-recognized in the market and we are confident the launch will give our customers many reasons to rejoice as they enjoy the entertainment they love.”

     

    Viewers using YuppTV app on Vizio Smart TVs can benefit from more than 200 channels in 12 South Asian languages and 10 days of Catch-up TV and unlimited movies in different genres from various production houses. YuppTV application on Vizio Smart TVs will be available for customers in US, Canada and Mexico regions.

     

    Vizio vice president product management John Schindler added, “Vizio is excited to offer YuppTV on its Smart TV platform, Vizio Internet Apps Plus. For Vizio consumers looking to stream South Asian content, YuppTV is a great fit and adds yet another entertainment option to Vizio’s already robust app collection.”

     

  • OTT video service HOOQ to launch in India soon

    OTT video service HOOQ to launch in India soon

    MUMBAI: Digital platforms are making giant strides across the globe and its ripples are being felt across India too. Even as Star India’s recently launched all-encompassing over-the-top (OTT) video service Hotstar takes a steady lead in India, a new player is soon slated to enter the market.

     

    HOOQ – the new over-the-top (OTT) service in Asia from Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Television will soon launch in India.

     

    HOOQ, now launched in the Philippines, delivers Hollywood blockbusters and television series, as well as popular local movies and programmes, to customers anytime, anywhere by enabling viewers to stream and download their favourite shows on their device of choice.

     

    Apart from India, HOOQ will start off by rolling out progressively in the Singtel Group’s Asian footprint, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

     

    Additionally, HOOQ has joined hands with Quickplay’s managed video platform to power its services. Quickplay is providing HOOQ with a comprehensive multi-partner turn-key solution that enables service and content providers to deliver a superior unified viewing experience in the home and on the go.

     

    HOOQ has selected Quickplay’s managed services to operate the largest subscription based OTT service in Asia, leveraging Quickplay’s advanced virtual head-end, cloud economics and decade of experience in providing complex, multiscreen services for leading providers such as AT&T, Bell, and Verizon.

     

    HOOQ viewers across Asia will enjoy personalized experiences across all devices, platforms, mobile and WI-FI networks. 

     

    Quickplay will deliver the fully hosted premium OTT video solution, providing the largest library of multi-language content in Asia. The solution initially includes the secure streaming of over 10,000 movies and TV series of encoded and optimized Video-on-Demand (VOD) content and adaptive streaming.

     

    In addition, Quickplay’s managed services include DRM solutions by Microsoft PlayReady and Verimatrix, managed user entitlements by Evergent Technologies, and enriched content from premium content providers from North America (Hollywood) and Asia. QuickPlay, in partnership with Evergent, is providing a distinct feature that enables HOOQ to leverage Singtel Group’s extensive telco billing relationships across Asia, enabling consumers to employ a range of payments including mobile post-pay contracts and pre-paid credits. In emerging markets where credit card ownership is limited, this feature is a critical enabler to overall adoption and accessibility.

     

    “We are proud to enable this ground-breaking premium OTT video service for HOOQ. This is the largest OTT deployment of its kind in Asia – this level of scale and complexity is unmatched and is a service that Quickplay is uniquely positioned to deliver on. The HOOQ vision of securely bringing premium global and local content to Asian viewers – in the home or on the go – is truly disruptive and well aligned to Quickplay’s goal of enabling superior viewing experiences and providing the greatest choice of premium content to the most viewers, anytime, anywhere,” said Quickplay CEO and founder Wayne Purboo.

     

    “Quickplay was a clear choice for HOOQ when you are building a business that needs to scale up to a footprint covering over a billion people. Their proven market leadership and experience in powering premium video allows us to provide quality viewing experiences and seamless integration especially when working across emerging markets and multiple partners,” added HOOQ CEO Peter G. Bithos.

  • Netflix to release Ricky Gervais’ film ‘Special Correspondents’

    Netflix to release Ricky Gervais’ film ‘Special Correspondents’

    MUMBAI: Special Correspondents, a new original feature film written and directed by Ricky Gervais and starring Eric Bana and Gervais, will debut worldwide on Netflix next year.

     

    With Special Correspondents, Gervais has written a hilarious, modern comedy in which Bana plays a struggling New York based radio journalist, whose arrogance and decadent lifestyle has hindered his career. With his job on the line he fakes front line war reports from the comfort of his hideout above a Spanish restaurant in the heart of Manhattan.

     

    “Special Correspondents is classic Ricky Gervais: smart social satire with heart. It’s the kind of great grown-up comedy that studios rarely make anymore, one that’s perfect for Netflix members around the world,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

     

    Gervais added, “Having shaken up the TV industry, Netflix is about to do the same to Hollywood. It’s great to be part of the changing future. Ted Sarandos is the new Godfather of entertainment and he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

     

    The film is a co-production between Bron Studios and Unanimous Entertainment. Ricky Gervais, Unanimous’ Chris Coen, Bron’s Aaron L. Gilbert, Manuel Munz and Larry Sanitsky will produce.

     

    Creator and star of The Office, Extras, and Derek, Gervais has won three Golden Globes, two primetime Emmys and seven BAFTAS. The Office is the most successful British comedy of all time, shown in more than 90 countries with seven remakes. Gervais, an award winning stand-up comedian, has hosted the Golden Globes three times and has written, directed and acted in the films Cemetery Junction and The Invention of Lying.

     

    Bana is one of Australia’s best known actors and began his career as a comedian in the sketch comedy series Full Frontal before winning critical acclaim in the biographical crime film Chopper. Since then, Bana has starred in such films asMunich, Black Hawk Down, Hulk, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Hanna, and Star Trek. He has received Australia’s highest film and TV awards for his performances and will next be seen in director Jim Sheridan’s The Secret Scripture, Guy Ritchie’sKnights of the Round Table: King Arthur and The Finest Hours.

     

  • Spuul inks deal with MSM to stream shows from Sony and Sab

    Spuul inks deal with MSM to stream shows from Sony and Sab

    MUMBAI:  Online streaming service for Indian TV & film content, Spuul has inked a partnership with Multi Screen Media (MSM) to stream their TV shows from the Sony stable on the digital platform in India.

     

    Spuul users from India can now watch these shows on all second screen devices including mobile phones, tablets, web, smart TVs as well as stream to their TVs via Chromecast.

     

    In the current partnership, audiences from India will benefit from Spuul’s download feature, which will also allow them to download the TV shows on their devices apart from streaming. The shows from Sony Entertainment Television and SAB TV, which will be available on Spuul are Adalat, CID, Maharana Pratap, Chidiya Ghar, Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma and Hum Hai Na. These shows can be viewed for free on Spuul.

     

    Spuul CEO Subin Subaiah said, “India ranks fourth in world for content consumption. With 4G roll out, these numbers are expected to rise tremendously. Spuul data shows that about 80 per cent content is being consumed on mobile devices. Such partnerships reflect an increase in user figures and help us to provide content to our users on the go.”

     

    MSM EVP and head – digital business Uday Sodhi added, “We’re delighted to partner with Spuul to widen our reach. The second screen is quickly becoming the primary screen and it’s important for us to ensure that our content is available to all audiences across platforms and this association will certainly go a long way in making that happen.”

  • Anne Sweeney & Microsoft’s Brad Smith joins Netflix board

    Anne Sweeney & Microsoft’s Brad Smith joins Netflix board

    MUMBAI: Netflix, Inc has added former Disney Media Networks co-chair and Disney-ABC Television president Anne Sweeney, and Microsoft Corp executive vice president and general counsel, legal and corporate affairs Brad Smith to its board.

     

    With this the total number of directors are now nine.

     

    “We look forward to benefitting from Brad and Anne’s perspective as we continue to build our global Internet TV network,” said Netflix co-founder and chief executive Reed Hastings.

     

    Sweeney’s entertainment experience spans more than three decades including senior roles at the Walt Disney Co., 21st Century Fox and Viacom. Until she stepped down in January, she oversaw Disney’s cable, broadcast and satellite properties around the world since 2004. Previously, she helped establish and served as FX Networks chairman and CEO, part of the Fox Entertainment Group of 21st Century Fox. Earlier in her career, she spent more than 12 years at Viacom’s Nickelodeon network.

     

    Smith, who has served as Microsoft’s general counsel since 2002, has amassed broad global technology and public policy experience since joining the company in 1993. He spent three years leading the company’s legal and corporate affairs team in Europe and five years as deputy general counsel responsible for such teams outside the US. His area of expertise includes competition law, intellectual property, government surveillance and privacy.

  • Netflix to premiere Chris Tucker’s first-ever stand-up comedy special

    Netflix to premiere Chris Tucker’s first-ever stand-up comedy special

    MUMBAI: Actor and comedian Chris Tucker will headline his first full length stand-up comedy special, Chris Tucker Live, premiering exclusively on Netflix on 10 July. Tucker’s stand-up comedy performance will be available to stream in all territories where Netflix is available.

     

    In the special, Tucker returns to the stage he loves and showcases his mind-blowing comedic chops, from his pitch perfect impersonations to his singular on-stage physicality, as he shares his experiences from childhood to the big time. The special was filmed at the Historic Fox Theatre in Tucker’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

     

    “Chris Tucker is a true global movie star and a one-of-a-kind talent whose remarkable energy, delivery and original style make him one of the funniest comedians of our time. We cannot wait to share his distinct and hilarious voice with our members across the globe,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

     

    “I’m thrilled to be partnering with Netflix, one of the true global leaders in entertainment, on my first comedy special. Before people started seeing me in movies, I was doing standup. It’s always been a part of me, and now I’m excited to share it with my fans around the world,” added Tucker.

     

    Chris Tucker Live marks the first project that Tucker has starred in and produced through his own company, Chris Tucker Entertainment, bringing on board Phil Joanou to direct. 

     

    Tucker is an international award-winning actor and comedian best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series. He became a favorite on Russell Simmons’ HBO Def Comedy Jam in the 1990s and came to prominence in his first starring role, the 1995 film cult classic Friday starring opposite Ice Cube. In 1997, Tucker was an executive producer and starred in the hit movie, Money Talks with Charlie Sheen.

     

    Chris Tucker co-starred in the 2013 Oscar-nominated film Silver Linings Playbook with Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. To date, Tucker has starred in films that have collectively grossed over one billion dollars in box office sales worldwide. Tucker, who is currently on his successful 2015 US comedy tour, has received rave reviews from all over the world, including Asia, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Middle East. Outside of comedy, Tucker is a dedicated humanitarian, spending much of his spare time traveling around the world, doing philanthropic work to make a difference through the Chris Tucker Foundation.

     

  • HBO partners Apple to launch standalone streaming service

    HBO partners Apple to launch standalone streaming service

    MUMBAI: Home Box Office will launch its standalone premium streaming service called HBO Now in April, bringing the new product to audiences in time for the fifth season of Game of Thrones. HBO has joined hands with Apple, wherein for the first time an HBO subscription will be made available directly to Apple customers through HBO Now.

     

    HBO Now provides instant access to HBO’s programming. Watch every episode of every season of the best series programming, more of the biggest and latest Hollywood hit movies, original HBO Films, groundbreaking documentaries, sports, and comedy and music specials.

     

    Apple will give viewers the ability to enjoy HBO programming via HBO Now. Upon launch, customers can subscribe using the HBO Now app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch or directly on Apple TV for instant access. Users can purchase HBO Now directly in-app for $14.99 a month. Upon registering, subscribers will also be able to watch at HBONow.com. HBO will offer a 30 day introductory free trial period to new HBO Now customers who sign up through Apple in April.

     

    HBO continues to be in discussions with its existing network of distributors and new digital partners to offer HBO Now. At launch, HBO Now will be available on iOS devices and on PCs.

     

    “HBO Now is the next phase of innovation at HBO. With this new partnership, a natural evolution for the network, we have access to millions of Apple customers who are used to getting their favorite apps immediately. Now, they can do the same with an HBO subscription,” said HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler.

     

    “HBO Now offers a new generation of HBO fans many of the best TV programs in the world without a cable or satellite subscription. Now, with the same simplicity as buying an app, customers can subscribe to HBO Now and instantly start viewing their favorite HBO programs as they air—this is huge,” added Apple senior vice president of Internet software and services Eddy Cue.

     

    Similar to HBO Go, HBO Now will offer more than 2,000 titles online. This includes series like Game of Thrones, True Detective, Silicon Valley, Girls, Veep andThe Leftovers, as well as classics like The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Deadwood. 

     

    Upcoming original programs like Westworld, the drama series starring Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Evan Rachel Wood; The Brink, the dark comedy series starring Jack Black and Tim Robbins; the new season of the Emmy-winning True Detective, with Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams; and HBO Films’ Bessie, starring Queen Latifah, will become available on HBO Now as they air on HBO.

     

    In addition, HBO Now will showcase Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, named “best of 2014” on many critics’ lists; Vice, the Emmy-winning, cutting-edge news magazine series hosted by Shane Smith; HBO Sports documentaries, series and World Championship Boxing events; and documentary programming like Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst and the Oscar winning, Citizenfour.