Category: iWorld

Elon Musk announces a potential subscription model for X (formerly Twitter)

Mumbai: Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), has suggested that users may soon be required to pay a subscription fee for platform access. Musk alluded to the possibility of implementing a paywall to combat the proliferation of bot accounts, which has posed a significant challenge.

He stated, “We are moving towards implementing a small monthly fee for system usage.”

This revelation occurred during a meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Tesla Motors in California. Currently, users are charged for accessing premium features on X, such as verification checkmarks for accounts. Introducing subscriptions may dissuade bot account creators from establishing new accounts.

However, Musk has not disclosed the exact cost of the new paid service or the special features it will offer. During the meeting with Netanyahu, Musk also addressed the issue of antisemitism that persists on the platform.

September 20, 2023
Big FM marks 15 years as exclusive radio partner for Lalbaughcha Raja

Mumbai: The auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi shines as the grandest celebration of the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is worshipped with great devotion as the symbol of strength, wisdom and good luck. Each year, the festivities commence with the unveiling of the ‘Lalbaughcha Raja,’ marking the beginning of Ganeshotsav in Maharashtra. For the fifteenth consecutive year, BIG FM, one of the leading radio networks in the country, proudly affirms its exclusive radio partnership for the auspicious celebrations of Lalbaughcha Raja. With Union Bank of India as the presenting sponsor and co-powered by Finolex Pipes and Ather, this initiative under the tagline ‘Bajega Band Aur Baaja, BIG FM Phir Karvayega Big Darshan of Lalbagh Cha Raja’, brings the grandeur and devotion of this event closer to millions of listeners.

During the grand 10-day celebrations, BIG FM’s talented RJs will be broadcasting live from Lalbaug, fostering engagement with devotees, organizers, officials, and avid listeners alike. Their presence will serve as a bridge, connecting people from every corner of India to the divine darshan of Lalbaughcha Raja. With digital live coverage directly from the location, the audience will have a front-row seat to the festivities, enriching their experience. Additionally, the excitement will be further amplified with celebrity appearances alongside the RJs, bringing an extra layer of fervour and enthusiasm, making this year’s celebrations even more memorable.

Year after year, the initiative has received an overwhelming response from countless devotees and has been showered with accolades. This year, taking the initiative a notch higher the radio network has a special musical treat in store. BIG FM is set to release an exclusive song, beautifully sung by the exceptionally talented artist, Brijesh Shandilya. This melodious composition will be brought to life by BIG FM RJs – RJ Vrajesh, RJ Rani, RJ Abhilash, and RJ Dilip, adding an enchanting rhythm to the celebrations.

BIG FM COO Sunil Kumaran said, “Lalbaughcha Raja holds a special place in the hearts of Mumbaikars and our longstanding partnership exemplifies our commitment to bringing this divine experience closer to every home. Now, in our 15th year of this initiative, we are thrilled to continue to personalize the sacred experience for our listeners and devotees. With various on-ground, digital and on-air activities planned, we aim to unite hearts of all devotees and create a memorable celebration that reflects the essence of Lalbaughcha Raja.”

The radio network will provide live coverage of the Visarjan, providing listeners with real-time updates through a helicopter ride. The live event aims at spreading goodwill, cheer, and uniting well-wishers nationwide with Bappa. The initiative is being extensively promoted through on-air, digital, social media elements and on-ground activations.

September 20, 2023
ZEE5 returns as the exclusive OTT partner for MumbaiCha Raja

Mumbai: ZEE5, India and Bharat’s largest home-grown video streaming platform and multilingual storyteller for multiple entertainment seekers, is proud to announce its continued partnership with the iconic MumbaiCha Raja for the second consecutive year. From 19 – 28 September, ZEE5 will be live streaming Bappa’s darshan and aarti straight from the pandal on the platform, bringing the divine festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi directly to the screens of millions of viewers across India, at zero cost.

Adding to the fervor of Ganpati celebration, ZEE5 launched a festive campaign, ‘Manoranjana Cha Raja’ (or ‘Manoranjan Ka Raja’) featuring a compilation of Ganpati celebrations from the top shows on ZEE5.

ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra, said on the collaboration, “We are elated to embark on another year of festive celebrations, graced by the blessings of MumbaiCha Raja at ZEE5. As a leading OTT platform with a significant presence in the regional markets, our endeavor is to take the iconic celebration of Ganpati at MumbaiCha Raja to millions of households across the nation. I extend my warmest wishes to all our audiences and welcome them to indulge in the joyous celebrations from the comfort of their homes with ZEE5.”

ZEE5 head of AVOD marketing Abhirup Datta said, “The celebration of Ganpati holds a special place in the hearts of people all across India and MumbaiCha Raja is iconic for the devotees. By livestreaming the darshan directly, we offer our audiences an opportunity to experience these auspicious moments in real time. Last year we received an encouraging response from our audiences, and we are going bigger and grander with the celebration this year. I hope that our viewers will join us in celebrating this festive occasion, as we promise/continue to provide them with high-quality and engaging content throughout the festive season.”

ZEE5 offers a diverse range of high-quality content catering to its viewers, showcasing popular titles and a selection of thoughtfully crafted narratives, including premium Marathi titles such as Dharmaveer: Mukkam Post Thane, Mulshi Pattern, Fatteshikast, Zombivli, Timepass 3, Gulabjaam, Timepass, Chi Va Chi Sau Ka, Ventilator, Anandi Gopal, among others.

To watch the Bappa darshan, download the ZEE5 app now or click on the link below.

https://www.zee5.com/live-tv/mumbaicha-raja/0-9-9z5210099

September 20, 2023
Media Quick View (TV/OTT) – Disney in talks to sell Hotstar and Star to Viacom – POSITIVE FOR ZEE/INDIA OTT

Mumbai: As per recent media reports (Link – https://tinyurl.com/2f4d65zm), Walt Disney Co. held preliminary talks with potential buyers for its India streaming and television business including Reliance Industries Ltd. Disney has been weighing strategic options for the business including an outright sale or setting up a joint venture; this is very different from their earlier statements wherein, as per CNBC (Link – https://tinyurl.com/bad4uyuc), Bob Iger had spoken about exiting only the linear TV business in India.

We had predicted the above (Viacom18 may want to acquire Star’s TV assets) in our report dated 15 July 2023 (Link – https://tinyurl.com/4mftmwm8) – that due to Viacom 18’s high interest in the media business, they could potentially bid for Star India, and also the potential impact of the same on the Indian ecosystem.

Recent media reports indicate that they may even sell Hotstar (digital business) to Viacom/Reliance, which means even the OTT market may see signs of consolidation, which in turn is a big positive for Z/Sony merged Co. (TV and OTT) once the merger goes through. In the case of Viacom18 and Star, there could be a potential shutdown of multiple channels by CCI (Competition Commission of India), as they have a big overlap on the regional/urban GEC side, as compared to Zee/Sony which had a relatively lower overlap.

If the above were true, on the TV side – Zee/Sony and Viacom18/Star would have an ad revenue market share of 25 per cent and 45per per cent respectively (as of FY22) as the TV industry may turn into a duopoly; on the OTT side, this could be a trigger, as only large global giants like Netflix, Amazon could sustain in this highly fragmented market with players like Jio Cinema/Hotstar and Zee5/Sony Liv on the other side. Consolidation in the OTT industry will lead to a better path to profitability and break even for the OTT platforms, which are currently making hefty losses due to high content costs.

PFA, our report sharing views on Disney’s potential India exit plans.

The credit for this article goes to Elara Capital SVP Karan Taurani.

September 20, 2023
Joel Kinnaman discusses his character and Nicholas Cage in ‘Sympathy for the Devil’

Mumbai: This devil is definitely not in disguise! Sympathy for the Devil is all set to make its digital premiere exclusively on Lionsgate Play in India on 29 September. Bringing Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman in brand new avatars, the film follows an innocent taxi ride, taking an unexpected turn when the passenger holds the driver at gunpoint. A serious case of ‘there’s always more than meets the eye’, this thriller uncovers the characters’ secrets in a mind-boggling chain of events. With Nick Cage and Joel Kinnaman at their emphatic best, Sympathy for the Devil is directed by Yuval Adler and will leave you wanting more.

Talking about the film, Joel Kinneman said, “Sympathy for the Devil is the psychological cat-and-mouse game between the driver and the passenger. I play the driver, Nicolas Cage plays the passenger. The Passenger has a lot of anger built up. He’s out to get the driver but we don’t really know why and we don’t know what’s going on but he kidnaps him in the beginning of the film and over the course of the film we get to watch this game unspool. It’s almost like a cinematic theater play because it’s me and him throughout the whole journey.”

Continuing about his experience, he said, “I’ve done a lot of theater and of course, you’re on stage for hours sometimes and there’s like a concentration that builds between you and there’s this logic that performers understand. And to get to do that with Nick Cage was a career highlight.”

Stay tuned for the thrill of a lifetime with Sympathy For The Devil streaming exclusively on Lionsgate Play this 29 September.

September 20, 2023
Amazon miniTV announces Builders – an inside story of a modern-day gym!

Mumbai: Amazon miniTV – Amazon’s free video streaming service has been a part of the hit parade with its path-breaking and diverse content library. Adding yet another feather to its hat, the streaming service today announced its latest show, Builders – a unique one-of-a-kind comedy series that will give viewers an insight into the day-to-day incidents of a gym! Taking the excitement a level higher, Amazon miniTV released the trailer for the young adult drama bound to strike a chord with viewers across India.

Releasing on 22 September 2023, Builders will accord a heightened dramatic situation but will also leave the viewers in splits with cleverly crafted humor. Following the quest of a naive manager’s struggle to save his gym from a financial fallout with some help from a few countable members, Builders features Swapnil, Ankit Motghare, Anushka Mishra, Vidushi Kaul, Avtar Gill, and many more.

Created by The Screenpatti – a subsidiary under The Viral Fever (TVF), the amusing trailer of Builders unveils how the task of saving the gym falls on the manager, Mandar, who is a very simple-minded guy. The trailer is an amalgamation of fun and drama. While Mandar has been given the task of saving the gym, his simplicity is no match for a business runner which results in him seeking some help from his friends who are also members of the gym. The trailer also shares a glimpse of these friends cum gym members who join the hustle. This dream team includes the ambitious actress Parul, the hopeless romantic Kaameshwar, and the “been there, done that” uncle.

Amazon miniTV head of content Amogh Dusad expressing his thoughts about the show, said, “We at Amazon miniTV aim to deliver unconventional yet relatable content for our viewers.It brings me great joy to bring to the audiences yet another comedy riot- Builders. This unique take on gyms is definitely going to touch your funny nerve.”

Anandeshwar Dwivedi said, “We are delighted to announce the release of our latest series, ‘Builders,’ on Amazon miniTV. This marks another exciting addition to our collaboration with Amazon miniTV, where we have successfully launched several series. We are confident that the audience will find ‘Builders’ to be a captivating situational drama, with engaging characters and a witty tone. It is always inspiring to see how our work is received by the national audience, as it fuels our dedication to developing more interesting content, cultivating collaborations with brilliant artists, and extending Amazon miniTV’s remarkable content catalog.”

September 20, 2023
Sony LIV shines the spotlight on Asian Games in a new campaign by Nitesh Tiwari

Mumbai: Sports, with their compelling tales and thrilling moments, have always been a source of inspiration and entertainment for Indians. Giving many more moments to rejoice, Sony LIV is set to exclusively stream the 19th edition of the Asian Games. These diverse sporting traditions serve as a reminder of the vibrant tapestry of culture and competition that will be celebrated during the event, uniting Asia in the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie in 40 different sports.

As India is set to delve into the world of multi-sports championship, Sony LIV is set to uncover facts about sports, sportsmen, and more through its latest campaign for the Asian Games. This campaign shines a spotlight on the resurgence of India in the world of sports as the nation has evolved into a multi-sport powerhouse, with Indian athletes excelling in various disciplines on the global stage. Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, the campaign brings out lesser-known facts and trivia on multi-sport events through young characters – Vaibhav Raj Gupta and Harsh.

From bringing the spotlight on 72-year-old – Kiran Nadar, Indian Bridge Team, to highlighting the addition of cricket in the Asian Games, the campaign sheds light on India’s sporting landscape and celebrates sports personalities. The narrative honours the global recognition of India, highlighting many new athletes and their strengths across multiple sports. Further understanding the passion of viewers from across age groups, Sony LIV echoes the sentiments and solidarity of the entire nation for Indian athletes through its ad films. Supporting the championship, the platform has collaborated with esteem brands like Eatfit, JSW, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, ACKO, Limca Sportz, among others, to elevate the tournament experience.

The Asian Games is poised to be a significant one for India, as a total of 655 Indian athletes will be competing in 41 disciplines. After 19 years, Asian Games will feature a T20 tournament, where Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams will be making their debuts, giving many more reasons for viewers to be glued to their screens this year.

Tiwari said, “With this ad campaign for Asian Games, we aim to capture the excitement of this prestigious event. By infusing playful banter among friends to drive the storyline, we ensure that the spotlight remains on promoting awareness for the Asian Games and taking pride in the achievements of our players, as well as cheering for them. This is a comprehensive and meticulously crafted campaign poised to deeply connect with the audience.”

September 20, 2023
Mouni Roy’s glamorous look revealed from Disney+ Hotstar’s, Sultan Of Delhi

Mumbai: The road to power, a heart-warming friendship and the charm of the 60s, Disney+ Hostar’s upcoming power-packed series, Sultan Of Delhi has it all. Based on the book, Sultan of Delhi: Ascension by Arnab Ray, the series is produced by Reliance Entertainment and directed by visionary director, Milan Luthria and co-directed and Co-written by Suparn Verma. Reimagining the charm of old India and creating a visual spectacle on-screen, Milan Luthria marks his OTT directorial debut with this series. A larger-than-life mass entertainer, Sultan Of Delhi is all set to release on 13 October 2023. The series stars Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anjum Sharma, veteran actor Vinay Pathak and Nishant Dahiya in pivotal roles, alongside the ladies Anupriya Goenka, Mouni Roy, Harleen Sethi and Mehreen Pirzada, making for a perfect ensemble cast.

Widely appreciated and loved for her acting prowess and glam, Mouni Roy has time and again captivated our hearts with everything she does. The gorgeous actor makes her web series debut with director Milan Luthria’s Sultan of Delhi and we can’t get enough of her! She will be seen embracing the retro vibe with classic, elegant dresses, hair-do’s and much more! This little sneak peak into Mouni’s voguish style for the series is sure to leave you stunned.

Talking about her look and character, Mouni Roy said, “Which girl doesn’t enjoy dressing up and looking strikingly different. Sultan Of Delhi gave me the opportunity to explore my own style and color schemes across each episode, as Nayantara. It was a tedious process to find the perfect look for the character and I went through over 200 outfits and experimented a lot with my hair as well. After trying over 10 test looks, we finally got what we wanted. Nayantara brings a lot of glamor and glitter to the storyline in her own way. This is the first time I am donning a look from the 60s era and am very excited for the audiences to see this side of me”

Sultan of Delhi will stream from 13 October, only on Disney+ Hotstar!

September 20, 2023
Get ready for the comeback of #BappaOnMoj, a virtual Ganeshotsav celebration

Mumbai: It’s that time of the year we all eagerly await! It’s when diets take a back seat, and we savor delectable modak, puran poli, and satori. It’s when the powerful rhythm of dhol-tasha echoes through the streets daily. It’s when the evening aarti becomes a surreal experience. It’s a time when devotion, passion, culture, and artistry merge to create a magnificent display, celebrating our beloved Ganpati Bappa.

To bring the grandeur and splendor of Ganeshotsav to every corner of the country, Moj, India’s largest short video platform, presents #BappaOnMoj. Starting from 16 September at 8 AM and continuing until 28 September at 12 AM, this celebration allows you to witness Lord Ganesha in all His glory, live from popular pandals across Maharashtra. Over 100 renowned Moj creators will livestream the Darshan of Ganpati Bappa from these celebrated pandals, ensuring that devotees everywhere can pay their respects and immerse themselves in the vibrant festivities.

Across the ten days, Moj creators, including popular creators such as Rohit Bhoir, Raj Prasad, Nishant Khalade, Kavita More, Akash Kamble, Shubham Mapralkar, Siddhesh Sante and Sanket Shinde, are set to visit famous pandals and cover the celebrations. The pandals include Lalbaug cha Raja, ChinchPoklicha Chintamani, Ganesh Galli (Mumbaicha Raja), Khetwadicha Raja, GSB seva king Circle, Andhericha Raja, Girgaoncha Raja, Sahyadri Krida Mandal, Bhandarkarcha Raja Mandal, Dagdusheth halwai Mandir, Kasba Peth Ganpati, Tulshibag Ganpati, Dashbhuja Ganpati Temple, Chintamani Temple, Mayureshwar Mandir, Khinditla Ganpati, Omkareshwar Mandir and Parvati Hill temple, in Mumbai and Pune.

Talking about the #BappaOnMoj campaign, ShareChat and Moj Sr. director of content strategy and operations Shashank Shekhar said, “The real essence of Ganeshotsav in India, and especially in Maharashtra, is the diversity of celebrations, underlined with shared devotion and passion. For the second time in a row, we wanted our users to truly and closely feel the spirit of Ganpati festivities which are an amalgamation of devotion, culture, art, food, music, and historical relevance. With #BappaOnMoj on Moj LIVE, we want to ensure that our users feel like they are a part of the glorious celebrations across the state through the eyes of their favorite creators. Through this campaign, our user community will be able to fully immerse themselves in the exciting celebrations and seek the divine blessings of Bappa, wherever in the country they might be.”

The ten-day campaign will be a cultural extravaganza as creators from varied genres like dance, music, acting, and food, will take you through an unparalleled immersive experience which will cover all the aspects of the festivities – from the preparations and the amazing decor to the delicious food being offered, the historical significance of the pandals, and of course the Live Darshan of Bappa. Other Moj creators will also give the users a sneak peek into the celebrations at pandals in their neighborhoods, and even the family celebrations at their homes. Get ready to join Moj LIVE from 16 to 28 September to celebrate Ganeshotsav like never before and seek the blessings of Bappa from anywhere in the country!

September 20, 2023
Disney India to scale down it’s linear TV business

Mumbai: Reportedly, Disney India may scale down its linear TV business or seek strategic options. It reported an EBITDA margin (with OTT losses) of four per cent (average of FY19-22), due to hefty investments/losses in high-cost cricket content. Zee’s (Z IN) average EBITDA margin (with OTT) was 24 per cent in FY19-22. As per our assessment, unit economics of the TV business is strong, led by healthy profitability margin (~30-32 per cent EBITDA for larger broadcasters core Tv business, ex OTT losses).

Digital has gained sharp traction since the launch of affordable 4G data, as the India OTT market has posted a CAGR of 19 per cent in FY19-23 to USD 2.1bn. Also, TV industry CAGR declined one per cent in FY19-23, on: 1) regulatory concerns on ARPU, 2) tepid ad environment in linear TV and 3) consistent drop in viewership and consumption patterns. Despite this, TV is still the largest medium after digital, with an ad market share of 34 per cent in FY23 (dip of 330bp from FY20).

We continue to believe that despite converging growth rate, linear TV medium is a key mode of mass campaigning for larger advertisers (FMCG contributes 45 per cent to TV ad revenue), given the reach/scale it has. Digital has the potential to grow, but unit economics are not yet proven. No larger OTT platforms in India have turned profitable despite: 1) launch

since 2017 (post 4G data becoming cheaper), and 2) strong adoption/during Covid, which increased time spent/consumption. Also, India OTT has many concerns such as: 1) price sensitive market (lower APRUs), 2) higher distribution costs (heavy dependence on telcos/OEM, 3) higher content costs, 4) lower wired broadband penetration and 5) fragmented nature of the OTT market (multiple languages). This further makes break-even or profitability is difficult for any OTT platform, in the near- or medium-term. We, thus, prefer the linear TV business from a profitability standpoint and believe it will be a win-win for India despite tepid growth rates, as digital is an expensive medium. This may be a challenge to scale at mass – Digital ARPU for a consumer with major OTT platforms subscriptions and data costs is Rs 1,500, 4x higher than that of TV ARPU (Rs 350).

We believe an exit or a strategic change by Disney in India may augur well for peers such as Zee, Sony, Viacom18, SUNTV, enabling a strategic shift in the ‘go to market’ strategy, in turn benefitting other players to gain market share. Subject to regulatory approvals (NCLT), Zee-Sony merger may be the biggest beneficiary of any changes in Disney management or market strategy, as Zee-Sony commanded an ad market share of 25 per centin FY22, slightly below Disney’s 32 per cent. The merged entity (subject to approval) may thus see a big valuation re-rating , on likelihood of market share loss by market leader, Disney India. Disney India enjoys strong recall across genres such as urban GEC, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and sports, which together contribute 65 per cent to India’s TV revenues. TV may become further consolidated post Z-Sony merger with top two players (Z-Sony and Disney India) commanding ~60 per cent ad market share, leaving little or no potential for peers to gain (or spike) market share. We believe there is also a likelihood of Viacom 18 (73 per cent owned by RIL/TV18, 11 per cent TV ad market share)- the third largest broadcaster after Zee/Sony and Disney, becoming a strategic partner with Disney India as the former is aggressively seeking to make inroads in the media segment (TV via TV18/NW18; digital via Jio Cinema).

This scenario too may not be very disruptive for the Z-Sony merged entity as it leaves with two players having an even larger share in the TV ad market. India OTT market is a long haul – Expect early signs of consolidation in the medium term, but broadcaster-based OTTs (Zee, Sony, Disney), Jio Cinema (largest telecom player) and global giants such as

Amazon and Netflix may eventually command a lion’s share in this market. We expect smaller OTT platforms to tie up with these larger platforms for distribution/scale. Consolidation is the only way OTT platforms in India may move closer to break-even or profitability helped by 1) lower content cost 2) tech cost efficiency and 3) bargaining power with distributors. OTT is a business of scale/depth as platforms with a large customer base and strong content library may be the first ones to attain profitability due to efficiency on technology and distribution costs.

The credit of this article goes to Elara Capital SVP Karan Taurani.

September 20, 2023