Category: iWorld

Mumbai: Pocket FM has announced the appointment of Anurag Sharma as the chief financial officer (CFO). He was previously Vice President – Finance at Pocket FM and has been a key driving force behind the company’s financial health, fundraising, operational efficiency and driving strategic partnerships.

In his new role, he will assume overall responsibility for Pocket FM’s financial operations, playing a crucial role in shaping the company’s financial strategy and driving its execution. He will work closely with the executive team to identify growth opportunities, optimise resource allocation, drive strategic partnerships and enhance profitability, supporting Pocket FM’s global expansions.

Speaking about Sharma’s elevation, Pocket FM co-founder & CEO Rohan Natak said, “Anurag has played a pivotal role in propelling our growth journey and driving our successful global expansion. Through his strategic acumen, we have forged key partnerships that have significantly expanded our content diversity and business efficiencies. He has exhibited exceptional financial leadership, led our successful fundraising efforts and ensured a strong trajectory for the company’s profitable and sustainable growth. We are confident that his strategic vision will continue to propel Pocket FM’s growth trajectory.”

“This further reflects our commitment to fostering internal talent, providing opportunities for growth and development within the organization,” added Nayak.

While expressing his excitement about his new role, Sharma said, “We have made remarkable progress over the past couple of years and driven exponential growth. As we are on our path to profitability, we will continue to forge new paths and harness the power of audio entertainment to captivate audiences around the globe. With this new role, I will continue to build a robust financial foundation, drive growth, and create immense value for our stakeholders. I am bullish about Pocket FM’s potential in the global landscape and will continue to contribute to strengthening our mission to revolutionize audio entertainment.”

Sharma has held senior leadership positions in multinational corporations, start-ups and Big4s. Prior to joining Pocket FM, he was heading finance at Ninjacart. He is both Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, apart from being a commerce graduate.

Mumbai: TIPS Industries Ltd (Tips Music), a leading Indian music label that creates and monetises music, announced its financial results for the Quarter ending 30 June 2023.

Key Financial Performance:

Key Financial Highlights:

.   Highest-ever quarterly revenue growth. Revenue for Q1 FY24 was Rs 52.6 Cr, a growth of 54 per cent y-o-y.

.   The content cost for the quarter was Rs12.2 Cr which has risen by 61 per cent over the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

.   For Q1FY24 the company released 259 new songs. Out of 259 new songs, 56 were new film songs and 203 non-film songs.

.   YouTube subscribers now stand at 85.5 Mn. For Q1FY24 YouTube views were 48.3 Bn up 132 per cent y-o-y

.   The Board of Directors have approved an interim dividend of Rs 1.00 per share; as part of our ongoing efforts to reward our shareholders.

Commenting on the Results, chairman & managing director Kumar Taurani said, “I am delighted to announce that we have achieved our best-ever quarter performance, with remarkable revenue growth of 54% year-on-year. These outstanding results reflect the efficacy of our strategic initiatives and the dedication of our team. During this quarter, we remained focused on our core objective of delivering captivating music to our diverse audience base. I am elated to announce that we released a total of 259 new songs during this period. Our consistent gains in market share and the continuous improvement in our rankings signify the effectiveness of our business approach, our ability to adapt to changing market dynamics, and most importantly, the loyalty and support of our valued customers. Looking ahead, we are committed to sustaining this momentum and pursuing avenues for further expansion. Our focus remains on nurturing talent, creating compelling music content, and enhancing our market presence through strategic collaborations and partnerships. I want to extend my gratitude to our Investors who supported and believed in our vision. We are committed to creating sustainable growth and value for all our stakeholders.”

Mumbai: 93.5 RED FM, India’s leading private radio and entertainment network is thrilled to unveil season five of ‘South Side Story,’ – the ultimate South Indian festival. The festival is set to enchant audiences in Delhi and Mumbai with the promise to celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Southern India. The event will be hosted in Mumbai on 2 September at Richardson & Cruddas, followed by 16 September in Delhi at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The fifth season of South Side Story will host an exceptional lineup of artists, including Thaikkudam Bridge, Agam, Arivu, Hanumankind, Sean Roldan & Friends, Aattam Kalasamithi & Thekkinkaadu Band, Thirumali, ALL OK, Neeraj Madhav and Maalavika Sundar. With a spectacle of South Indian delicacies and stunning art forms, the event will offer an unparalleled showcase of South Indian traditions, bringing them seamlessly into the contemporary ethos of the metropolitan cities. 

Speaking on this announcement, RED FM, and Magic FM director & COO Nisha Narayanan stated “The previous editions of South Side Story have bestowed upon us an enthusiastic response and an overwhelming responsibility to continue bringing the best out of regional spaces. In the spirit of inclusion and diversity, we are delighted to present another riveting season of South Side Story. Season 5 of the event commences in both Delhi and Mumbai offering an intimate experience of the South Indian cultural joyride. We look forward to celebrating all things south in the two major urban cities this year.”

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Mark your calendars and prepare to immerse yourself in the colors, sounds, and flavors of South India. The tickets are available on Skillbox.

Book Now – https://bit.ly/SSS2023_ 

Website – https://southsidestory.in/ 

Mumbai: Matrix Fight Night (MFN), India’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion, has already garnered a massive reputation across the globe since its inception in 2019. Matrix Fight Night 12 which was held at the Noida Indoor Stadium on 1 July featuring MFN’s first-ever all-female main event, saw exponential growth from the previous edition.

MFN 12 featured Puja Tomar successfully defending her Strawweight Championship belt against Russia’s Anastasia Feofanova, winning the intense main event bout via TKO due to corner stoppage after Anatasia broke her forearm. On the same show, 11 other thrilling fights enthralled the 9000-strong Noida crowd at the stadium that came to witness the live action.

Moreover, the audience watching the show on Disney+Hotstar from the comfort of their homes registered a significant increase of nearly 300 percent in watch time.

Speaking on the success of the show, MFN co-founder Ayesha Shroff said, “We always believed that India has the right set of audience to consume Mixed-martial arts and we are grateful for the tremendous response from our fans for MFN 12. This is just the beginning, and we are ready to create more magic in our upcoming editions this year.”

Krishna Shroff added, “The success of MFN 12 is a testament to the fact that our Indian audience are invested in the stories of our fighters, and are equally eager to watch the women fighters take centerstage. We are delighted with the response and we hope the MFN success stories continue in the editions to come.”

Mumbai: Ormax Media’s ‘Streaming Originals in India – Mid-year Review’ report revealed the top original films and shows from January to June 2023, featuring multiple ZEE5 direct-to-digital films across categories. Bagging a place in the coveted top 10 across ‘Most Watched Hindi Films’, ‘Most Buzzing Hindi Films’, and ‘Most Liked Hindi Films’ are the thrilling courtroom drama ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ and suspense thriller ‘U-Turn’. Joining these two audience favourites in the ‘Most Liked Hindi Films’ category is the gripping crime drama ‘Lost’, the social comedy ‘Chhatriwali’, and the entertaining spy comedy ‘Mrs. Undercover’.

The report by the leading media consulting firm offers valuable insights into the performance of original shows and films in the first half of 2023 on various OTT platforms. The report evaluated the content based on three crucial parameters: Viewership, Marketing Buzz, and Content Strength, focusing exclusively on original content.

Ormax Media Head business development (Streaming, TV & Brands) Keerat Grewal stated “Our mid-year report lists the best Indian shows in the Hindi streaming space on three parameters: estimated viewership, marketing buzz, and audience likeability. The report is a part of our ongoing efforts to build industry data in the Indian OTT category”.

The courtroom drama ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ emerged as the biggest highlight, crossing over 500MN minutes of viewing time on the platform. ZEE5’s five Direct-to-Digital films feature in the list of top 10 films, further solidifying its position as a frontrunner in the digital entertainment space. With a strong pulse on consumer preferences, ZEE5 has curated a rich and diverse pool of real and relatable content, for viewers of all demographics and psychographics. This success is a testament to the brand’s pragmatism and consumer-first strategy, backed by an insights-driven approach. It is reflective of the platform’s commitment to partner with the best of the talents across the creative ecosystem, to bring stories that resonate with the viewers.

 ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra said, “This achievement is a result of our team’s relentless efforts to curate and deliver content that strikes a chord with our viewers. Our focus on diverse, real, and relatable plots, backed by thorough research and in-depth audience understanding, led to curating a content slate from which five digital films made it to the top 10 movies in the first half of the year as per the Ormax mid-year report. We are proud to offer a range of stories that span across various genres and are committed to partnering with the best talents to consistently deliver exceptional entertainment to our viewers. Such achievements encourage us to keep doing better and I am thankful to our viewers and partners for their support in this journey”.

Currently the highest-growing OTT platform in India as per latest industry reports, ZEE5 is known for its diversified content across 100+ taste clusters and its focus on real, relevant, and resonant storytelling. Today, ZEE5 is home to over five lakh hours of on-demand content and 160 live TV channels. With a rich library of over 3500 films, 1750 TV shows, and 700 originals, ZEE5 offers content in 12 Indian languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, and Punjabi. The platform has an exciting line-up for 2023 that will add to its extensive library of content, offering a wider array of catalogues to entertainment seekers.

Mumbai: Spotify India director of sales Neha Sharma Katyal has joined Disney+ Hotstar as director of agency sales. Announcing her second stint with the network, she communicated about her homecoming through a LinkedIn post.

In her previous stint with the network, Katyal had stepped down as director of Star Sports, and moved out of Disney Star in 2018.

Prior to Spotify, Katyal has also worked with Twitter for four years.

Mumbai: Exciting news unfolds for spiritual seekers and enthusiasts as OMTV, a niche OTT platform specialising in spirituality, forges a powerful collaboration with PlayBox TV, a leading OTT aggregator platform. This strategic partnership aims to bring profound content to the premium paid category, revolutionising the spiritual entertainment landscape.

OMTV has been a trusted source of free spiritual content, captivating viewers with its enlightening programs. Now, through this collaboration with PlayBox TV, OMTV takes a significant leap into the premium paid market, offering an elevated spiritual experience to its dedicated audience. By joining forces with PlayBox TV, OMTV gains access to a robust distribution network and cutting-edge technology, enhancing its ability to deliver premium spiritual content to a wider audience. This expansion reflects OMTV’s commitment to providing high-quality, transformative programming that transcends boundaries.

The partnership with PlayBox TV allows OMTV to cater to the discerning needs of spiritual seekers who value insightful teachings, wisdom, and guidance. With an extensive library of spiritually enriching content, OMTV ensures a comprehensive range of programs, spanning various spiritual traditions and practices.

Speaking about the same, OMTV founder & MD Nitin Jai Shukla said, “We are very excited about our new collaboration with PlayBox TV. This partnership marks a significant milestone for our viewers, as it allows us to expand our premium spiritual content to a wider audience. Through this alliance, we aim to offer an elevated and transformative spiritual experience, inspiring and empowering viewers on their spiritual journey,”

PlayBox TV, renowned for its diverse content offerings, gains an esteemed spiritual partner in OMTV. The collaboration enables PlayBox TV to strengthen its position as a comprehensive OTT aggregator platform by adding spiritually focused content to its portfolio. This mutually beneficial partnership opens new avenues for growth and innovation in the spiritual entertainment segment.

Audiences can look forward to an enhanced spiritual journey as OMTV’s premium paid content becomes available on the PlayBox TV platform. From the teachings of renowned spiritual leaders to immersive meditation experiences, OMTV’s premium programs will provide subscribers with a transformative and enlightening viewing experience.

PlayBox TV founder Aamir Mulani said, “This collaboration enriches our platform by adding a premium range of content that spans various genres and interests. With OMTV’s varied library of spiritual and edutainment programs, we are catering to the discerning needs of our viewers who seek high-quality and engaging content. Playbox TV CTO Shalindera Sawant added, “This alliance enhances our commitment to providing a comprehensive user experience for our valued subscribers, we are thrilled to collaborate with OMTV.”

The collaboration between OMTV and PlayBox TV symbolises a collective commitment to expand spiritual awareness and foster personal growth. Both platforms aim to empower viewers by providing a curated collection of spiritually uplifting content, accessible with ease and convenience.

As OMTV embarks on this exciting chapter, the partnership with PlayBox TV paves the way for a new era of spiritual entertainment. Stay tuned for updates as OMTV’s premium paid content is seamlessly integrated into the PlayBox TV platform, enriching the lives of spiritual seekers worldwide. Together, OMTV and PlayBox TV strive to create a platform that inspires, enlightens, and transforms lives, where spirituality meets innovation, convenience, and premium content.

Mumbai: ‘The Bride’ is back for revenge and she’s serving it cold. After a long hiatus from the OTT scene, Uma Thurman’s legendary Kill Bill Volume one & two is back as Lionsgate Play is set to stream the franchise this 21 July. Helmed by the master of gore Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill is packed with action, violence and criminal genius. Having scored over 72 kills in both volumes, Thurman’s character is undoubtedly one of the coolest and most lethal female assassins till date. A pop culture revelation, the film is often regarded as one of the most gripping revenge stories in cinematic history. As we celebrate the homecoming of Kill Bill, here are some of the most iconic moments from the franchise.

Bye Bye Buck-o

When Beatrix Kiddo aka ‘The Bride’ wakes up from her four-year long coma, her memory comes racing back. Realising that Buck, her so-called ‘caretaker’ has been abusing her, she unleashes all her fury and offers him the bitter taste of revenge. As she slashes his ankle and bangs his head between the door till he breathes his last breath, Uma Thurman is living proof that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.  

The Bride Vs 88 Sword Wielding Goons

Regarded as one of Tarantino’s best action sequences, in this deadly showdown, Beatrix comes face to face with the Crazy 88 who absolutely obliterates them. With flawlessly choreographed swipes and jabs, Uma Thurman emerges as the blood-drenched victor. Squandering aimlessly on the floor, she loudly proclaims – ‘Those Of You Lucky Enough To Still Have Their Lives, Take Them With You! However, Leave The Limbs You’ve Lost! They Belong To Me, Now!’

Surviving A Shotgun To The Chest

In volume two, after several warnings from Bill, Budd is prepared for Beatrix’s arrival as he locks and loads his shotgun in anticipation. Hitting her in the chest with a not-so-lethal shot, Budd with the help of a friend buries her. But turns out, putting ‘The Bride’ to rest isn’t as easy as it looks. Owing to her intensive training, she breaks through the coffin like a phoenix rising from its ashes to finish what she started.

An Eye For An Eye

An eye for an eye makes the world go blind, however in this case it’s Elle Driver that loses sight. In perhaps one of the goriest scenes of the film, our feisty protagonist faces Elle Driver, her one-eyed rival for an explosive fight scene. A dark twist to the idiom, Beatrix gouges out Elle’s other eyeball leaving her blind and resumes her voyage to vengeance proving once again that she is someone worth being watched out for.

The Five Palm Technique

The five-palm technique is what Bill’s nightmares are made of. Having slaughtered anything and everything that stood in her way, ‘The Bride’ finally faces her ultimate nemesis in the climax of volume two. In an oddly calm conversation, both Bill and Beatrix exchange words, before they raise their swords for a final showdown. Taking his sword hostage – she hits him with the five-palm heart explosion technique, leaving him to wander off to his death.