ITV

Category: iWorld

  • Celebrate Holi with Sony LIV’s Digital Pichkari!

    Celebrate Holi with Sony LIV’s Digital Pichkari!

    MUMBAI: Sony LIV, Multi Screen Media (MSM’s), premium video-on-demand brand, announced its special programming line up for this weekend’s Holi festivities. With Sony LIV, you no longer have to worry about missing Holi special shows on TV, while you are away with your friends and family, celebrating the festival of colours. Sony LIVallows you to catch up on all the episodes and videos from your favorite show,Jab Aap Chahein.

     

    Sony LIV will also host a “Digital Pichkari – Holi Special”series where hit Holi-themed episodes from popular serials will be featured. Some of these popular shows include FIR, Kya Huaa Tera Vaada, Mai Kab Saas Banungi, Chidiya Ghar, Kahani Comedy Circus ki, Taarak Mehta and The Rasoi Show

     

    The highlight will be“SAB Ki Filmy Holi”eventwhere you will be able to watch electrifying performances by the marquee characters of SAB. This year, the theme is “Bollywood”, hence the characters will be performing with a filmy twist, where they will talk about the Bollywood film characters that influence them the most and dress up like them as well.

     

    To top it all, LIV will run a mix of your favorite Sony and SABshows that are currently off-air. Enjoy the best of the best erstwhile episodes from “Main Kab Saas Banungi”, “Kahani Comedy Circus ki” and “The Rasoi Show”, to name a few.

  • Streaming service Spuul.com shuffles senior management

    Streaming service Spuul.com shuffles senior management

    MUMBAI: The online streaming service for Indian cinema and TV shows – Spuul.com – has appointed a new CEO in Rajiv Vaidya to strengthen its position across markets, and bring in a focus on brand and ad-sales.

     

    Speaking on the development Spuul’s co-founder and global CEO Subin Subaiah said in a statement: “Spuul has successfully established itself in India as a top of the line content platform and a front runner in the OTT space. With that set, the restructure will allow us to take the business to its next level of engagement with this fast evolving ecosystem. This will include expanding to new markets, generating access to the ballooning digital ad spends and building mutually beneficial partnerships.” 

     

    Vaidya joins Spuul from Hughes Networks. He was based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he headed sales and marketing for US and later for the APAC region. He started his career in advertising with DDB Mudra and went on to head Triton BDDP in India. 

     

    Vaidya said: “Within a short span, the brand has garnered a tremendous customer base not only in India but also internationally. With online video consumption gaining popularity in India, I am excited to join the team to further enhance the brand promise amongst advertisers and consumers.”  

     

    Along with this appointment, Spuul’s current India-CEO, Prakash Ramchandani will move to the Spuul headquarter office based out of Singapore and assume a global responsibility of chief content officer. His portfolio will also include overseeing international marketing. Ramchandani held management positions across TV networks in India and then out of Sydney where he worked in the DTH space prior to moving to Mumbai to establish Spuul’s Indian subsidiary office. 

     

    Taking on the new role, Ramchandani said: “Having been involved with the company since inception and establishing its presence in India has been an extremely rewarding experience. Spuul is a global play and we want to connect with the broader audience base. Content has been the crux of the brand and I look forward to unlocking its value across key markets.”

  • Most Millennials still pay for TV

    Most Millennials still pay for TV

    MUMBAI: While it’s not startling that Millennials (consumers in the 16-24 year-old age group) watch a lot of TV online, it might be more unexpected that the vast majority of them haven’t cut the cord, according to a new study (PDF) from Verizon Digital Media Services (VDMS), the company’s cloud video unit.

     

    As a group that translates to multiple screens and represents about 21 per cent of total consumer spending, Millennials spend three times as much of their TV time watching online – 34 per cent versus 12 per cent among non-Millennials, VDMS found in a study that surveyed 1,000 consumers (800 Millennials and 200 non-Millennials) and based its findings in part to in-home interviews with eight selected Millennials.

     

    But 75 per cent of the Millennials surveyed haven’t cut the cord and still pay for TV through a traditional MVPD, the study revealed.  And most (64 per cent) also pay for an online streaming subscription, versus 33 per cent of surveyed non-Millennials. Only 14 per cent of the Millennials surveyed said they had never watched TV from an online source, versus 44 per cent among non-Millennials.

     

    Here is a look at how the Millennials surveyed broke down their total TV distribution time, 41 per cent was for live TV, 34 per cent online, 15 per cent on the DVR, and 10 per cent using VOD.

     

    But broadcasters could have some reason for concern. While Millennials are generally brand loyal, not a single broadcast network made the top ten list of brand loyalties among the Millennials surveyed, VDMS said.

     

    According to the survey, the top 10 brands among Millennials were: Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, Google, Walmart, Netflix, Apple, Microsoft, McDonald’s, and Samsung. Verizon was 16th.

     

    Among other findings:  40 per cent of Millennials want access to live TV online, 40 per cent want 4K/Ultra HD video, 25 per cent want device and session shifting, and 19 per cent want interactive TV.

  • WWE Network not quite ready yet

    WWE Network not quite ready yet

    MUMBAI: So, WWE finally offered wrestling fans a trial of its much-hyped over the top platform, WWE Network for a week starting last Monday. At an offer price of $9.99 for a period of six months, avid followers of the sport readily lapped up the opportunity.

     

    I happened to be one such and though my experience was enjoyable on the whole, I’d say a lot of things can be improved before this beta graduates into the full-fledged video streaming service it is expected to be.

     

    To begin with, the network got off to a shaky start and though that was expected somewhat, users got a better feel of the service only towards the second half of last week.

     

    The good news is you can put on the 24×7 stream in the background and continue working or doing whatever it is you are doing. If talk of a particular match crops up during the conversation, you can quickly turn it on and watch it, friends in tow.

     

    In many ways, the WWE Network could be the beginning of a new era in both WWE and pay-per-view (PPV) television.

     

    However, while every PPV event has been included live on the network, the first such event i.e. Wrestle Mania 30, is still five weeks away. So, apart from the fact that you’d be paying a lot less for PPV shows, there isn’t much else to say.  

     

    Repetition of content is a major issue, especially with recent PPV events. Of all the shows WWE could pick, why does Survivor Series 2012 pop up so many times? While it’s good entertainment, there are only a few PPVs in rotation and that does not make sense. When WWE can plug in a wealth of PPVs, including a six-year-old library of high-definition shows, at a moment’s notice, why is it being so stingy with the content on offer on the network?

     

    In case of exclusive content, shows like Beyond the Ring have just two episodes so far. One can understand it being created as a weekly series but given that WWE isn’t doing much beyond recycling existing DVD documentaries, replication of shows makes watching the network stream a boring experience.

     

    Coming to home video content, what happened to the announcement made by WWE chief revenue and marketing officer, Michelle Wilson, in Las Vegas that the network’s on-demand archive would include their complete home video library? Where is it? Even if WWE dug into its archives and managed to offer on the network only its DVD era or everything it has released since 1985, it would give the network a more substantial and diverse on-demand library than the current one.

     

    Yes. The WWE Network is easily the most marketable content the company has but a hard-core wrestling fan would certainly want to see more of rare or off-beat content.

     

    Technically speaking, not all shows in the on-demand library have chapter marks added but wherever they have been, it’s a good thing. You can link anyone with a subscription to a specific match or even the match finish, which is great. 

     

    However, the biggest limitation is that only app and Web versions have a fully-featured search functionality which lets users look for specific shows and moves. On gaming consoles and dedicated streaming devices, users still require the app to auto-complete the performer name being searched, else there will be no results.

     

    At this stage, there’s not much to say about what’s good or bad about the WWE Network. Having access to old and new PPVs at a price tag of $9.99 for six months is pretty neat in itself. Overall, it’s an enjoyable product though a lot of things can be improved – some major, others minor.

     

    In my opinion, WWE Network has a lot of potential but isn’t completely ready. It feels like a product that needs quite a few months in beta testing mode though the company is comfortable charging for it now. The content line-up is great but has the potential to become brilliant. Hopefully, WWE will be able to make the network the service it has aspired for.

  • WWE Network not quite ready yet

    WWE Network not quite ready yet

    MUMBAI: So, WWE finally offered wrestling fans a trial of its much-hyped over the top platform, WWE Network for a week starting last Monday. At an offer price of $9.99 for a period of six months, avid followers of the sport readily lapped up the opportunity.

     
    I happened to be one such and though my experience was enjoyable on the whole, I’d say a lot of things can be improved before this beta graduates into the full-fledged video streaming service it is expected to be.

     
    To begin with, the network got off to a shaky start and though that was expected somewhat, users got a better feel of the service only towards the second half of last week.

     
    The good news is you can put on the 24×7 stream in the background and continue working or doing whatever it is you are doing. If talk of a particular match crops up during the conversation, you can quickly turn it on and watch it, friends in tow.

     
    In many ways, the WWE Network could be the beginning of a new era in both WWE and pay-per-view (PPV) television.

     
    However, while every PPV event has been included live on the network, the first such event i.e. Wrestle Mania 30, is still five weeks away. So, apart from the fact that you’d be paying a lot less for PPV shows, there isn’t much else to say.  
     

    Repetition of content is a major issue, especially with recent PPV events. Of all the shows WWE could pick, why does Survivor Series 2012 pop up so many times? While it’s good entertainment, there are only a few PPVs in rotation and that does not make sense. When WWE can plug in a wealth of PPVs, including a six-year-old library of high-definition shows, at a moment’s notice, why is it being so stingy with the content on offer on the network?

     
    In case of exclusive content, shows like Beyond the Ring have just two episodes so far. One can understand it being created as a weekly series but given that WWE isn’t doing much beyond recycling existing DVD documentaries, replication of shows makes watching the network stream a boring experience.

     
    Coming to home video content, what happened to the announcement made by WWE chief revenue and marketing officer, Michelle Wilson, in Las Vegas that the network’s on-demand archive would include their complete home video library? Where is it? Even if WWE dug into its archives and managed to offer on the network only its DVD era or everything it has released since 1985, it would give the network a more substantial and diverse on-demand library than the current one.
     

    Yes. The WWE Network is easily the most marketable content the company has but a hard-core wrestling fan would certainly want to see more of rare or off-beat content.

     
    Technically speaking, not all shows in the on-demand library have chapter marks added but wherever they have been, it’s a good thing. You can link anyone with a subscription to a specific match or even the match finish, which is great. 
     

    However, the biggest limitation is that only app and Web versions have a fully-featured search functionality which lets users look for specific shows and moves. On gaming consoles and dedicated streaming devices, users still require the app to auto-complete the performer name being searched, else there will be no results.
     

    At this stage, there’s not much to say about what’s good or bad about the WWE Network. Having access to old and new PPVs at a price tag of $9.99 for six months is pretty neat in itself. Overall, it’s an enjoyable product though a lot of things can be improved – some major, others minor.
     

    In my opinion, WWE Network has a lot of potential but isn’t completely ready. It feels like a product that needs quite a few months in beta testing mode though the company is comfortable charging for it now. The content line-up is great but has the potential to become brilliant. Hopefully, WWE will be able to make the network the service it has aspired for.

  • CEA: Digital sources for content on the rise among US adults

    CEA: Digital sources for content on the rise among US adults

    MUMBAI: The latest study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) finds that while the vast majorities (79 per cent) of online US adults obtain the video content they watch from traditional TV programming providers such as cable, satellite or fiber-to-the-home, a significant number of viewers are turning to digital sources as well.

     

    In addition to traditional television programming, DVD/Blu-ray discs (66 per cent), free video streaming services (47 per cent) and paid video streaming services (37 per cent) are also common sources of video content.

     

    More than half (53 per cent) of consumers say they skip commercials, yet they site traditional TV programming as being critical to the discovery of new video content, for both movies and TV shows. The sources consumers use most frequently to discover new movies are channel surfing (44 per cent), on-screen program guides (44 per cent), previews at the movie theater (39 percent), commercials on TV (39 per cent) and word of mouth (37 per cent). The leading ways consumers discover TV shows are channel surfing (50 per cent), on-screen program guides (47 per cent), TV commercials (47 per cent), word of mouth (34 per cent) and network websites such as NBC or CBS (27 per cent).

  • Pokemon set to stream on Netflix

    Pokemon set to stream on Netflix

    MUMBAI: Two seasons of the hit animated franchise Pokémon, as well as two of its movie spin-offs, are becoming available to stream on Netflix beginning today.

     

    The agreement will allow Netflix customers in the US, Canada, Latin America, the Nordic countries, UK, Ireland and the Netherlands to watch the animated adventures. The content includes a season of Pokémon: Black & White, as well as a season of Pokémon: Indigo League. Also featured are the dual films Pokémon the Movie: Black-Victini and Reshiram and Pokémon the Movie: White-Victini and Zekrom.

     

    The popular franchise follows aspiring Pokémon Master Ash and Pikachu, his Pokémon partner, as they embark on several adventures.

  • Hulu moves out of Japan market

    Hulu moves out of Japan market

    MUMBAI: The online video on demand (VOD) service giant Hulu has decided to move out of the Japanese market. It’s been three years since it has operated in the region and now Hulu is selling its business Nippon Television Network Corporation.

     

    Hulu launched in Japan in September 2011. Now, Nippon TV is taking over the operations, in a transaction expected to close in early spring. The move marks Nippon TV’s entry into the SVOD business.

     

    As part of the acquisition, both companies will be entering into a separate agreement in which Hulu will license its brand and technology to a subsidiary of Nippon TV, as well as provide support services that will enable Nippon TV to continue to make the SVOD service available under the Hulu brand using the same platform. Nippon TV’s popular shows and original exclusive content will launch on the Hulu service in Japan.

     

    Nippon TV also plans on consolidating on the already prevalent business of Hulu and will look to add on its already boisterous presence in terrestrial broadcasting with delivery of content through the internet. The company is confident of using Hulu’s brand and wide content line-up and technology to further its brand value.

  • Ditto TV introduces new payment model

    Ditto TV introduces new payment model

    MUMBAI: Ditto TV, India’s first OTT (Over-The-Top) TV distribution platform from Zee New Media, the digital arm of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has partnered with mobile payment provider Fortumo to introduce a new mobile payment option to further simplify the overall consumer experience. With this partnership, Ditto TV users can now subscribe to their favourite content on Ditto TV and make payments directly through their mobile operator, and without the need of a credit card, cash on delivery (COD), or net banking options. This payment model is available for both post- paid and pre- paid mobile users.

     

    Speaking about this partnership, Manoj Padmanabhan, Business Head, DittoTV said, “We at Ditto TV are committed to making the user experience as seamless, convenient and memorable as possible. With the association with Fortumo, we are now a few steps closer to ensuring that our users have the ease and simplicity they need to make payments using their mobile phones. Fortumo, with its multiple telecom operator tie-ups, will help us reach out to complex markets, where credit cards or net banking options are limited, and build our presence across key markets beyond the metros.”

     

    “Compared to mobile phone users, there are very few credit card owners in emerging markets like India and South-East Asia. This creates a situation where a lot of people want access to mobile entertainment, but have no way to pay for it. Operator billing solves this problem by allowing companies like Ditto TV to charge users on their phone bill. In addition to significantly expanding payment coverage for merchants, Fortumo also reduces the time to market as only one integration to enable payments in 80 countries globally,” said Gerri Kodres, SVP of Business Development and Carrier Relations at Fortumo.

     

    Interestingly, India has witnessed stronger adoption for smartphones with a market penetration of close to 100 million, as compared to 20 million for credit cards. Furthermore, credit card penetration remains largely confined to metros, comprising a mere 1.7% of the country’s overall population. Another challenge is the inherent resistance observed among credit card users, in sharing critical account-related information, along with the tedious sign-up processes involved. Allowing payments through mobile operators effectively mitigates the need for credit card information and will help Ditto TV reach out to a huge potential user base across smaller markets which have limited access to credit cards. Fortumo currently operates in about 80 countries across the world and has tie ups with most major Indian telecom operators – Idea Cellular, Vodafone, Airtel and Tata Docomo.

    Ditto TV has integrated this seamless process for mobile payment across all subscription packages, including VOD and MOD content. All a customer needs to do is to select the content to view and confirm the payment on the mobile phone charging the amount to their mobile operator. Fortumo will process the payment request with the concerned telecom operator and once the verification is generated, the user can avail the content. The payment is later charged to the customer mobile bill or deducted from his pre- paid account balance, as the case may be.

    Today, Ditto TV offers the largest collection of premium content through 70 LIVE TV channels spread across leading genres like GEC, Sports, Lifestyle, Regional and News along with rich on-demand video capabilities. Ditto TV can be downloaded from www.dittotv.com

  • Ticketplease.com offers customised solutions to users from Tier 2 & 3 cities

    Ticketplease.com offers customised solutions to users from Tier 2 & 3 cities

    MUMBAI: After partnering with biggest events and movies in 2013, TicketPlease.com, one of India’s largest entertainment ticketing portal has further re-inforced its market position with focus on Tier 2 & 3 cities of India. While Ticketplease team now offers movie tickets in 79 cities with its partner theatres and multiplex chains, it also has lined up events and discount deals that reach the heart of India i.e. the Semi urban and rural population

    From being the official ticketing partner for Yo Yo Honey Singh’s Concert which recently took place in Balewadi Stadium, Pune and bringingNikhil Chinappa’s EDM Fest to Baroda in February 2014, Ticketplease has been penetrating and targeting the smaller cities in the country with its line up of  India Fiesta Latina in Agra & Jaipur, Arijit Singh Live in Concert in Ahmedabad.

    Ticketplease.com has also partnered with various brands and created special offers exclusive to their customer base viz

    Speaking about how TicketPlease is expanding its operations, Mr Praful Baweja, Head – Business Development (Entertainment), Ticketplease says:  “We have had many key insights about Internet Users & thereby Entertainment consumers in Tier 2 & 3 cities through our Movies, Events & Offers.  Some of them include the growth of internet penetration in rural India being driven largely by the mobile phone; 70% of rural India’s active internet population access the web via mobile phones. This may have to do with the difficulty in accessing PCs.  Also forty-two percent of rural India’s internet users prefer using the internet in local languages. The high prevalence of content in English is a hurdle for much of rural India.

    We adapted this intelligence in current initiatives with communication being done in locally favoured language and seen encouraging response with higher conversion. Customised Solutions based on local language and local convenience would continue to be our key focus along with growth”