Category: iWorld

Mumbai: News9 Plus, the world’s first news OTT promoted by TV9 Network, has diversified beyond news and current affairs with the launch of News9 Plus Lounge. This dynamic addition further enriches the platform’s content bouquet, offering a diverse range of lifestyle content, including travel, fashion, food, adventure, and more.

Elaborating on the vision behind the inception of the new content extension, TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das said, “Lounge is of strategic importance for brands to partner with News9 Plus. I feel that advertising in the traditional form will seize to exist as you always have the luxury of exploring millions of options at the tip of your finger. In a world of ‘skip-ad,’ advertising will pivot to storytelling via content. Hence advertisers and brand owners will have to ensure their brand communication is sticky as well for the audience in the digital ecosystem. Hence advertising in the digital world will also have to be ‘content’ which is where News9 Plus Lounge fits in.”

“News9 Plus Lounge infuses freshness into our existing content library to seek out the YOLO (You only live once) culture among the youth and the more mature audiences together. Lounge captures the aspirations of the upwardly mobile with compelling content that pushes them to live life to the fullest,” Barun added.

The Lounge section currently features a variety of intriguing series, including ‘Make the Cut,’ ‘Route to Food,’ ‘Connoisseur Conversations,’ ‘Smart New World,’ and ‘Postcards from Goa’.

Brands like Postcard Hotels and Hamdard have already come on board and forged lasting content partnerships.

Hamdard Laboratories chief sales & marketing officer Mansoor Ali, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration with News9 Plus. He said, “We are thrilled to be associated with News9 Plus, the news OTT platform of TV9 Network, and their sensational cooking show, ‘Filmy Masala’. The integration of our flagship spice brand Khaalis with the delightful recipes and Bollywood magic on the show is a perfect match. Our curated range of blended spices will offer consumers an authentic and traditional culinary experience they have been longing for. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to engaging with our discerning consumers, and News9 Plus proves to be the ideal platform to showcase the essence of brand Khaalis.”

Sharing his experience on the show ‘Connoisseur Conversations,’ Whisky Samba founder & restaurateur Ashish Kapur, expressed his delight, stating, “Being a part of ‘Connoisseur Conversations’ has been a fantastic and joyful experience. From ideation to execution, it has been a pure joyride. And the participation of fabulous Women Connoisseurs added the cherry on the top. It felt surreal as it was the kind of show I personally enjoy watching, and here I was, right in the midst of it all!”

Bacardi India marketing director Zeenah Vilcassim, expressed her excitement about being featured in an episode of ‘Connoisseur Conversations’ on News9 Plus Lounge, stating, “I am delighted to be a part of the talk show ‘Connoisseur Conversations,’ which caters to the new-age Indian consumer’s penchant for experimentation and premium drinking experiences. The show’s combination of informative content, interactive games, and entertaining elements offers the perfect blend of education and entertainment for discerning Indian audiences.”

Arpita Chatterjee, who leads TV9 Network’s production powerhouse – The Studio9, shared her insights on the captivating content being produced by her team. She said, “Make the Cut serves as a comprehensive guide to corporate style, providing actionable advice on attire, accessories, and personal grooming. While Connoisseur Conversations combines the art of conversations with the charm of cheer, featuring captivating discussions with social celebrities and epicurean adventures that tantalise taste buds and expand spirits expertise.”

Mumbai: Mirchi, India’s no.1 city-centric music and entertainment company, is thrilled to announce its grand celebration of World Music Day. To commemorate this special occasion and its longstanding association with music, Mirchi presents an extraordinary lineup of renowned artists from the music fraternity who will take over their radio network. With the aim of offering a unique and immersive experience to its listeners, Mirchi invited Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukhwinder Singh, and Harshdeep Kaur to don the hat of a radio host for the entire day. The show will be aired across 44 Hindi-speaking stations.

Throughout the day, there will be multiple segments, each hosted by these artists as RJs, where listeners will get to experience riveting conversations, personal anecdotes, and the melodious voices of these talented individuals. As it’s World Music Day, all the artists will reveal that special moment in their life when they realised that music was their true calling. Besides this, they will engage with Mirchi listeners, share exclusive backstories of their hit tracks, sing unplugged tracks and much more.

Kicking off World Music Day with the right beats, the morning spot will be hosted by superstar singer Sonu Nigam from 7 am to 12 pm, warmly greeting Mirchi listeners. Sonu Nigam will delight the audience by sharing his personal favourite musical instruments and even revealing his secret to beating morning traffic. Additionally, he will make a special call to a friend from the music industry and serenade listeners with some of his popular tunes. Following the morning slot, the afternoon slot from 12 pm to 4 pm will be hosted by the melodious Harshdeep Kaur. She will take listeners on a captivating journey of her musical career, sharing stories and anecdotes along the way. Taking the reins from 4 pm to 8 pm is the powerhouse of talent, Sunidhi Chauhan, who will uplift the evening mood. Listeners can tune in to catch exclusive and never-before-heard excerpts from Sunidhi’s personal and professional life. She will also have a jam session with her music fraternity friends and share intriguing on-stage and in-recording studio conversations. Bringing the celebrations to a memorable close is everyone’s favourite, Sukhwinder Singh, who will present the late evening show starting from 8 pm onwards. He will treat the listeners to a captivating music performance alongside his talented team of musicians, culminating in a perfect grand finale for this radio takeover on World Music Day.

Commenting on this ENIL, Mirchi national content director Vishaal Sethia said, “Back in the day, while roaming the streets, the captivating voices of the likes of Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan on the radio used to work like glucose for my energy levels. Their voices have that effect. On this World Music Day, Mirchi’s aim is to provide the same energy to our cherished listeners – our favourite performers, albeit in a different avatar – as RJs. Mirchi has tried to constantly bring the best in music and entertainment and we hope, once again, to create an unforgettable experience for our listeners and inspire them with the transformative power of music over their friendly radio.”

Talking about this collaboration Sonu Nigam said, “Mirchi is family and I’m glad to join forces with Mirchi ka Musical Hijack to celebrate World Music Day. My whole existence is Music. I am nothing without music. So on this World Music Day it’s interesting to fill in for Mirchi Jeeturaaj as a morning jock. Listeners can be assured of a day filled with laughter, soulful melodies, and a whole lot of fun as we celebrate the power of music together!”

Sunidhi Chauhan said, “Mirchi has always been at the forefront of empowering artists and promoting music.  I’m happy to be a part of Mirchi’s Musical Hijack to celebrate World Music Day and become an RJ for the day. This is a new experience for me and I am really looking forward to having a great time”

Listeners can tune in to Mirchi 98.3 FM on 21 June and be a part of this unparalleled celebration of music. That’s not it! If you missed it, catch this star-studded radio takeover exclusively on the Mirchi Plus app, website and YouTube.

Mumbai: Rusk Media – a full-stack Gen Z-first digital entertainment company, has announced the launch of its highly-anticipated show ‘Pret Boys’, exclusively on Amazon miniTV. Premiering on 21 June, this horror-comedy series will take viewers on a thrilling, hilarious adventure as a group of youngsters runs a ghost-busting start-up only to find themselves trapped in an unending nightmare.

Speaking on the release of Pret Boys, Rusk Media CEO Mayank Yadav said, “As a company, we are driven by our passion for storytelling and our commitment to delivering high-quality content for young audiences. ‘Pret Boys’ is a unique story that blends laughs and scares in a way that would resonate with genZ sensibilities. We’re confident that this show will redefine entertainment for the adventurous spirits of the youth.”

‘Pret Boys’ follows the misadventures of three Gen Z misfits: Prem (played by Ritik Ghanshani), Tatsat (played by Ahan Nirban) and Rajat (played by Shardul Pandit). The trio sets up Pretboys.com – an unconventional start-up dedicated to capturing and busting ghosts. Prem hails from a lineage of tantric practitioners, Tatsat is a passionate paranormal research enthusiast and Rajat is the business-savvy brain behind the operation.

Their lives take an unexpected turn when they encounter Eisha (played by Aanchal Munjal) – a vulnerable yet quick-witted girl with the ability to see ghosts. As the four team up to tackle various supernatural spirits, they unwittingly cross paths with UN_KRA – a malevolent force of darkness. Eisha’s connection to this sinister realm puts her and those close to the girl in grave danger. Can the Pret Boys rescue her from this trap? A high-voltage showdown unfolds as they confront UN_KRA, resulting in a shocking twist that leaves them as real ‘Prets’ with souls separated from their bodies.

‘Pret Boys’ promises to deliver an exhilarating viewing experience that seamlessly blends thrills and shrill laughter. The series showcases the talents of Shardul Pandit, Aanchal Munjal, Ritik Ghanshani and Ahan Nirban, who bring quintessential charm to their respective roles. With 10 gripping episodes, ‘Pret Boys’ will keep audiences hooked from start to finish. The show is helmed by director Nisheeth N Neelkanth.

Talking about the OTT debut and his character, Pandit said, “So this is my first venture in the world of OTT and I was very excited to play a comedy character because I have done very intense roles on television in the past, but this was a project which was a complete comedy. The director sat me down and explained to me the character and expressed that Rajat was his favourite character from the show and the lines they were writing were best suited for me and convinced me to do Rajat. Throughout the show we kept improvising on our dialogues which made it a lot of fun.”

Munjal said, “It was a wonderful experience working with people that were equally involved in making the show with great enthusiasm and the fact that everyone portrayed their role correctly & beautifully. Here’s hoping the audience loves watching it as much as we loved working on it.”

Mumbai: 93.5 RED FM, India’s leading private radio and entertainment network is excited to announce the third season of Red Indies Radio Festival 2023 – the biggest celebration of indie music on radio. Under the theme of Sounds of India, this unique celebration will bring together talented independent artists from India to showcase their incredible music. Listeners can experience the musical extravaganza from the 19 to 24 June on-air.

Red FM has curated a lineup of exceptional Indian independent artists, representing various genres and different states of India. From folk to electronic to indie rock and hip-hop, Red Indies Radio Festival will offer a diverse experience for every music enthusiast. Moreover, star celebrities such as Ammy Virk, Jubin Nautiyal, Raghu Dixit, Raftaar, King, Langa Maanganyaar, Taba Chake, and more. will talk about their journeys during the week-long celebration.

Speaking on this announcement, RED FM, and Magic FM director & COO Nisha Narayanan stated “Red FM has been observing the radio festival for the last three years. The purpose has been multifold, to promote and encourage independent artists and music for its cookie-cutter and experimental appeal and also to give listeners a chance to discover fresh music. This festival is a testament to the incredible talent and diversity found within the independent music scene and our commitment to take the talent a notch higher.”

This World Music Day, Red FM pledges to craft a captivating and immersive experience for all music enthusiasts.

Mumbai: India’s esports tournament for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) since the game’s return last month, the Tecno Skyesports Champions Series (SCS) has ended with eye-watering viewership numbers. The 10-day tournament amassed a total viewership of 30 million across YouTube and Loco, with an impressive peak concurrent watching (CCV) of 131,000. 

Blind Esports were standout performers in the Tecno SCS. The team has been absolutely dominant in the BGMI esports scene and this tournament was no exception. Headlined by Rudra “Spower,” who was also the MVP of the tournament, the team put up a dominant performance to finish in first place, far ahead of the second-place Team Soul. 

Blind Esports’ Spower said, “I am very happy with this team. We will continue to give our best, all five of us will. We will of course try our best to win upcoming tournaments. Even in this event, we did a lot of mistakes and despite that were able to have a lead maintained. To our fans, keep believing in Blind”.

Team Soul was another team who impressed in the Tecno SCS Finals. After placing 13 in the group stage, they completely turned their fortunes around in the Grand Finals with a much more consistent outing to finish in second place. 

Blind Esports will pocket Rs 12,00,000 of the Rs 25,00,000 prize pool while Team Soul will get Rs 6,00,000. 

Skyesports founder and CEO Shiva Nandy said, “We are extremely delighted with the overwhelming response and record-breaking viewership of the Tecno Skyesports Champions Series. I would like to express my appreciation to all the participating teams, the fans, and the support from our partners, AMD, Flipkart, Zebronics, and broadcasting partner Loco, which has been instrumental in making the Tecno SCS a grand success. We at Skyesports look forward to bringing more tournaments for the BGMI community in the future”.

The Skyesports Champions Series was the first major esports tournament for the game since its return last month. The top 24 teams in the country competed for the title. Now, the top teams of the Tecno SCS will be felicitated in a grand on-ground award ceremony in Bangalore on 27 Aug 2023. 

The Tecno Skyesports Champions Series was powered by AMD with Flipkart as the ‘co-powered’ sponsor. Zebronics was the peripherals partner and Loco was the broadcasting partner for the BGMI esports event. 

Mumbai: Every great friendship has an even greater beginning. Such was the case for the amazing late Lance Reddick and veteran actor Ian McShane. From their very first interaction, as funny as it may be, their friendship seemed inevitable and it served to be a memorable one. Lance always had an interesting dynamic with Ian, much like Charon has with Winston, resulting in spectacular on-screen and off-screen chemistry between the two. With John Wick: Chapter 4 gearing up for its digital premiere on 23 June exclusively on Lionsgate Play, what better way to pay tribute to an icon than honoring him and his amazing friendships through his own words!

Talking about his friendship and working with Ian McShane, Lance Reddick said, “It’s so funny because the first time I ever met Ian was in the scene at the end of John Wick: Chapter 2. So I’ve been a fan but I’d never met him before. As a matter of fact, when I first met Ian, I was being very weird because I was kind of tongue-tied and he was just – ‘Hey man how are you doing’,  and I was like – ‘Oh, uh, huh?’,  and he was looking at me like – ‘what’s the matter with you, are you okay?’ (laughs) That’s really when we became friends.”

Speaking about his onscreen chemistry with Ian, Lance said, “One of the things that’s so interesting about that relationship is it feels so close from the first film, particularly Charon, it seems like he’s calling the manager every other scene, but you don’t really see them together until the very end of the second film. We didn’t really have any scenes together until the third film, but the way the relationship plays out in the third film, it almost informs what happened before in the first two films, so you get a sense that they’ve been together for many, many, many years, probably even before the continental.”