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Category: iWorld

  • Netflix plans to become leading producer & distributor of high-quality Indian content

    Netflix plans to become leading producer & distributor of high-quality Indian content

    MUMBAI: Online properties are gradually overtaking television in the race to become video content leaders. From mass programming, entertainment now is moving towards personalised experience curated for each individual. Netflix plans  to become a leading producer and distributor of high-quality Indian content. In 2017, it has been doubling down on Indian investment and looking to put together a good content library.

    This year, it announced partnerships with Videocon, Airtel and Vodafone — which would help Netflix go deep into the diverse Indian market, taking in up millions of users to watch Netflix on a mobile phone, TV or through a set-top box.

    Netflix, although, very expensive as compared to the monthly subscription of other OTT / VoD players in India came to the rescue of content lovers, Netflix Asia vice president of communications Jessica Lee tells Verve.

    Be it TV shows or movies, Netflix, which closed Q2 2017 with 104 million members globally, has revolutionised video watching. It offers movies such as Okja and War Machine (both 2017) to a battery of shows such as House of Cards, Narcos and The Crown. Even though Netflix India charges the steepest subscription, it remains popular owing to its content.

    A viewer earlier spent months following a TV series to conclusion, but now, Indians are finishing a series in three days (although, the global average is four days) such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Narcos, Bloodline Jessica Jones. The most-loved genre in India is sci-fi, Netflix believes.

    Netflix believes it is touching a pool of consumers in India with a great passion for diverse entertainment.  The VoD service offers global original shows from The Crown and Stranger Things to mainstream, star-driven Indian films such as Shah Rukh Khan movies, Baahubali and Dangal.

    It is also working on independent films with film-makers in India. Comedy is another popular genre in India which Netflix is thriving on with original specials from Aziz Ansari, Russell Peters, Ali Wong, Chris Tucker, Hasan Minhaj and Dave Chappelle.

    Some of the popular Netflix originals in India, one of its heaviest users of the ‘download’ feature, are Daredevil, Luke Cage, Narcos, House of Cards, The Crown, Stranger Things and Master of None. As a global platform, Netflix sees great stories travelling across regions which is a huge opportunity for Indian content creators.

    Indian content is a part of Netflix’s global plan. For 2017, its content budget is USD 6 billion for both, licensed and original content. It plans to reach over 1,000 hours of original content this year — about 400 original TV series and films including ones from India.

    On the originals front, Netflix is focused on finding great Indian stories – for the world to see, ‘Sacred Games’ being the first. It recently announced two other originals, Selection Day and Again. Another area for Netflix is top-quality local stand-up originals with, for example — Aditi Mittal and Vir Das.

    Netflix believes watching together is becoming a trend in India, with 79 per cent of couples surveyed saying that streaming is a way to spend time together. It has gathered that India is a nation of commute streamers. Indians, it says, are 82 per cent more likely to stream at 9 am, and the peak streaming time in India is 5 pm.

    An interesting habit Netflix has observed in India is that while 31 per cent of its subscribers sign up on mobiles, they move to TV around six months later. While sign-ups on television are lower (at 12 per cent), within six months that behaviour grows to about 32 per cent. Netflix concludes that consumers are taking advantage of the flexibility it allows — to watch on multiple devices.

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  • Netflix to premiere multilingual original The Eddy by Academy award-winner Chazelle

    Netflix to premiere multilingual original The Eddy by Academy award-winner Chazelle

    MUMBAI: Netflix, a leading internet entertainment network, has announced The Eddy, a new Netflix original series from Academy Award-winning director Damien Chazelle. The eight-episode series comes from IMG and will premiere exclusively to Netflix members around the world.

    Executive produced by Damien Chazelle, who will direct two of the episodes, and written by five-time BAFTA Award-winning and Olivier-winning writer Jack Thorne (National Treasure, This is England, Wonder), The Eddy is an eight-episode musical drama series that will be shot in France and feature dialogue in French, English and Arabic. Emmy-winning producer Alan Poul (Six Feet Under, The Newsroom), will also executive produce, and original music will be written by six-time Grammy Award-winner Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, Michael Jackson’s Bad). Following on the heels of other productions in Europe, including The Crown and the upcoming Dark, The Eddy continues Netflix’s investment in international and French content.

    The Eddy is a musical drama set in contemporary multi-cultural Paris revolving around a club, its owner, the house band, and the chaotic city that surrounds them.

    Said Chazelle, “I’ve always dreamed of shooting in Paris, so I’m doubly excited to be teaming up with Jack, Glen and Alan on this story, and thrilled that we have found a home for it at Netflix.“

    Erik Barmack, Vice President of International Originals at Netflix says, “From the intense, complex relationship between a jazz drummer and his instructor in Whiplash to his dazzling duo of lovelorn Los Angelenos in La La Land, Damien’s work is emotional and electrifying. His projects have a rhythm all their own, and we’re incredibly excited for him, Jack, Glen, Alan and the production team to bring their vision for The Eddy to Netflix. We couldn’t be happier that he will be shooting The Eddy in France and that we will bring this bold, global and multilingual series to our members around the world.”

    Chris Rice, WME | IMG Partner says, “The creative team behind ‘The Eddy’ is truly visionary, and we can’t wait to see the world that they create. This project is the definition of premium, global programming, and as one of the first projects of its kind from IMG, we couldn’t be happier to have Netflix as the home to take it to audiences around the world.”

    The series will be produced by Patrick Spence and Katie Swinden’s Fifty Fathoms. BAFTA-winning producers Spence (Guerilla, Fortitude) and Swinden (Luther, Peaky Blinders) will executive produce along with Chazelle, Thorne, Poul and Ballard.

  • Hungama Digital associates with Ultra Festival – the Chainsmokers’ destination

    Hungama Digital associates with Ultra Festival – the Chainsmokers’ destination

    MUMBAI: Hungama has announced a partnership with Ultra Music Festival’s Road to Ultra Tour India to be held in Mumbai on 7 September and in Delhi on 8 September.

    Headlined by The Chainsmokers, the festival has created a buzz within the music circuit and is being eagerly anticipated by music lovers in India and around the globe.

    Hungama is associated with the festival as the official digital partner, and will offer EDM fans access to the ‘Road to Ultra’ specials and curated playlists comprising the best tracks by the festival headliners, along with some of their remixed versions, across its network including Hungama Music, Hungama Play, Tata Sky Music+ and more.

    Commenting on the association with Road to Ultra, Hungama.com CEO Siddhartha Roy said, “Hungama is set to become the ultimate destination for The Chainsmokers’ fans with a wide range of audio and video playlists curated specially for the festival. Interestingly, the Chainsmokers are among the top five most popular artistes on our platform.”

    Hungama has also lined up a Road to Ultra special on Tata Sky Music+.

    Hungama is also running contests for the Hungama Music app users that gives them an exclusive chance to win tickets, and be a part of the biggest EDM festival of the year!

    Percept Live’s Karan Singh says, “Hungama has been a preferred partner for digital amplification for our events of such magnitude.”

  • Cartoon Networks with Amazon Prime Video

    Cartoon Networks with Amazon Prime Video

    MUMBAI: Turner India and Amazon Prime Video have announced a strategic tie-up that will see Cartoon Network’s popular kids shows play on Amazon Prime Video.

    This content licensing deal will see Cartoon Network’s Ben 10 (Classic), Ben 10: Alien Force, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Ben 10 Omniverse, Grim Adventures of Billy Mandy, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls (Classic), Kumbh Karan, Roll No. 21 and Dexter’s Laboratory and many more shows that will play on Amazon Prime Video under the Kids & Family TV section.

    Kids today are consuming and engaging with their favourite content across diverse screens such as computers and mobile screens. This is increasing with the emergence of new OTT platforms and the rise in use of apps for games as an entertainment and learning activity.

    Turner, a pioneer in the kids’ entertainment space in India, has been at the forefront of providing engaging experiences to kids both on TV and beyond and the collaboration with Amazon Prime Video reaffirms Turner’s commitment to engage with its fans anytime, anywhere.

  • Qyuki partners Flipkart to create VR fashion video

    Qyuki partners Flipkart to create VR fashion video

    MUMBAI: Qyuki Media has collaborated with Flipkart to bring its newest creation – a 360-degree fashion video titled ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’ with spatial audio featuring the digital superstar Arjun Kanungo.

    In this all-round immersive experience, the new song used a refreshed rendition of the classic hit. Spatial sound allows the user to hear a different version of the soundtrack by simply turning around. This technology has never been used by a brand in a music video before. The interactive content allows the viewer to explore 360 degrees of the video to see the latest fashion trends from Flipkart in an innovative manner.

    Through this video, Qyuki and Flipkart have created a groundbreaking concept for brands and enabled Flipkart to deliver a special 360 degree video with different audio themes to its customers. Combined with the technological prowess of YouTube, the video is a showcase of cutting-edge innovation on the internet.

    This is the third in a series of projects Qyuki has been spearheading with Flipkart, after a successful gamified music video with Rapper Ishq Bector’ and a second track with musical duo Maati Baani

    Qyuki co-founder and MD Samir Bangara shared, “We have created a brand new way of consuming content for Flipkart. It is not only important to innovate on the ideas end but also on the technology front. With Flipkart, we have created a stellar experience that will transport customers to an immersive world of fashion to pique their curiosity. We are stoked to be associated with a strong brand who has its customer’s best interests at heart.”

    Flipkart CMO Shoumyan Biswas commented, “Flipkart is the market leader in fashion amongst all online businesses. Our vision is to be India’s most preferred destination for trendy and affordable fashion and our category communication task is to ‘Democratize Trendy Fashion’ for every Indian consumer.”

    “In our endeavor to showcase trendy fashion in an interesting and innovative format, we have engaged with Qyuki & Google to come up with a first of a kind 360 degree music video that combines a new technology with the evergreen music classic – “Mera joota hai japaani” – and latest fashion trends. Our fashion is for everyone and hence we wanted the right technology to enable the same being experienced by all. This video will revolutionize the way consumers across various demographics view and experience trendy fashion,” Biswas said.

  • OTT twenty3.tv to stream FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship

    OTT twenty3.tv to stream FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship

    MUMBAI: The 2017 FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship season returned to Asia with the world’s best SuperMoto rider competing for the year’s regional championship title. Gearing up for the season opener on 2 and 3 September 2017 at Thailand Circuit Motorsport Complex, Nakhon Chai Si, Thailand, motorsports enthusiast can rejoice as the championship streams live for global fans on twenty3.tv.

    “The 2017 FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship will be more competitive with the return of top international riders and manufacturers competing for the ultimate title. This year, global fans will be treated with more action packed SuperMoto races,” said Satheswaran Mayachandran, CEO of Asia Supersports Group.

    Tony Nagamaiah, General Manager of Malaysia Major Events, expressed his excitement for the season’s return. “FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship had been a catalyst for the growth of Malaysia’s reputation as a hub for international motorsport scene. Asia Supersports Group has created a bridge to bond agencies and government bodies between every host countries through the championship. I am looking forward to the development of the 2017 season, and I am confident that the championship will lead to greater tourism growth for Malaysia.”

    Nineteen top international SuperMoto riders worldwide will muster for the SuperMoto season, competing for the ultimate pride for their country. 2015 season champion from Thailand, Trakarn Thangthong, rejoins the race and vows to steal the fame from his Malaysian successor, Muhd Habibullah bin Saleh.

    Official OTT Channel Partner, twenty3.tv powered by E-Plus Global, provides HD Live Streaming and Video-on-Demand (VOD) sports and related lifestyle content. Every round of this year’s FIM Asia Supermoto Championship will be streamed live via twenty3.tv which will also have VOD and highlight shows for race.

    The 2017 FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship grand finale will be held at Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

    FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship is promoted by Asia Supersports Group, a consortium of three companies namely Bikenation Motorsports Sdn Bhd, Trade My Superbike and E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd; sanctioned by FIM Asia; and supported by Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia), Kelab Blogger Ben Ashaari and TX Sports.

  • Hooq releases Thai original ‘Saranair Love You’ starring Mario Maurer

    Hooq releases Thai original ‘Saranair Love You’ starring Mario Maurer

    MUMBAI: Hooq, a Video on Demand service in South-East Asia, has released its first ever Thai Hooq Original movie, Saranair Love You, done in collaboration with Tech Digital Corporation, Thailand’s leading movie studio. Saranair Love You is a cinematic comedy, directed by Kiattisak Udomnak. It follows the adventures and misfortunes of two best friends, played by ‘Saranair Hen Phi’ star Willy McIntosh and ‘Sena Hoi’ Kiattisak Udomnak.

    The plot centres around Willy and Kiattisak playing best friends, Rang and Peng, who after getting caught in a diamond heist goes on a whirlwind adventure to save their marriage, family relationships and even their friendship. At the same time, they are also trying to take revenge on their enemies and steal back their lost diamond, all while being tailed closely by a comedic cop duo who is just one step behind them.

    They are joined with a great medley of stars such as Tonhom Sakuntala, Sun Prachakorn, Pong Kapol, Jack Fanchan, Yut Fedfe, Japan, Ji-Yoen and superstar heartthrob Mario Maurer.

    “Where better to launch our first cinematic comedy original than in the land of a thousand smiles. Thailand comes with amazing talent for both movies and comedies and Hooq is very excited to release our first ever original in the country, Saranair Love You. This is the first of many exciting originals to come that delivers quality entertainment to our customers and hopefully will keep you Hooq’s to your screens. We will continue to push boundaries, to evolve and stay committed to delivering unique, compelling and edgy stories to millions of our customers both in Thailand and in the region,” said Hooq CEO Peter Bithos.

    Saranair Love You is currently playing in Thai cinemas and will be available on Hooq 3 months after the last cinematic screening. This comes hot after the several other announcements of cinematic Asian originals co-produced by Hooq from Indonesia including Critical Eleven, Sweet 20 and Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, which was also recently screened at the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes.

  • Indian content at Netflix to be creatively lead by Disney’s Simran Sethi

    Indian content at Netflix to be creatively lead by Disney’s Simran Sethi

    MUMBAI: Netflix is plumping up on executives of Indian origin as it continues to build its content catalogue targeted at the 1.3 billion strong population nation. Amongst the first to be hired for India was former Star TV-exec-turned-independent film producer,  Swati Shetty, who has been shuttling between Los Angeles and India. The latest to be recruited is experienced programming executive from traditional media, Freeform’s SVP – scripted development Simran Sethi. Sethi has left the Disney-owned network Freeform (earlier ABC Family)  to join Netflix International Originals Production Group in its in the Los Angeles office as the creative executive for India. Her immediate reporting superior is executive Erika North.

    Netflix, in the past couple of years, has been employing executives from traditional TV networks and studios.

    It, along with Amazon Prime Video, sees India’s 300 million smartphone users  as the great hope for global expansion.

    Netflix, which rated India’s Spectranet speed in July as climbing up to 3.19 Mbps, recently unveiled the Gateway Shows that lead to a heroic binge as it seems to know what viewers watch. Viewers are finding their way to the adventures of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist through shows as diverse as the Defenders crew. And, it’s by design – more than 80 per cent of the shows are discovered through Netflix recommendations.

    “At Netflix, we know genres are just wrappers, which is why we work hard to create algorithms that help members break these pre-conceived notions and make it easier for them to find stories they’ll love, even in seemingly unlikely places,” said Netflix VP of product Todd Yellin.

    A couple of months ago, Netflix head honchos Ted Sarandos and Reed Hastings met with Indian filmstars Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan as a part of its effort to break through in the subcontinent before competition does. Now, Netflix is bringing in experts such as Sethi to head India content.

    Sethi had joined Freeform in August 2015 where she helped lead the programming rebrand of ABC Family to Freeform, including developing the new series Famous in Love, The Bold Type, late-night show Truth & Iliza,  the upcoming Marvel series Cloak and Dagger,  the mermaid thriller Siren, and the Black-ish  spin-off, among others. Before joining Freeform, Sethi worked at NBC, Sony Pictures Television and Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison after receiving her MBA from Stanford Business School.

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  • Animated videos developed to spread message of anti-piracy

    Animated videos developed to spread message of anti-piracy

    NEW DELHI: Noting that creating awareness about Intellectual Property Rights can help in tackling piracy, the Cell for IPR Promotion & Management (CIPAM) has launched a campaign against piracy through a series of animated videos on anti-piracy.

    Joining hands with the industry, CIPAM took this initiative since limited knowledge about its social and economic impacts leads to circulation and consumption of pirated content.

    This was revealed at the three-day workshop on enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) organized by CPAM was held to help enforcement agencies establish a platform to share knowledge on IPR enforcement furthering appreciation and understanding among the enforcement authorities and common people.

    Rajiv Aggarwal, who is the joint secretary in the department of industrial policy and planning, stressed the need for Indians to respect and commercialize their intellectual property.

    Controller General of Patents – Designs & Trademark (CGPDTM) O P Gupta spoke on “Cooperation between various enforcement agencies, role of right holder and way forward.”

    Talking about the importance of IP for public interest, all the eminent speakers emphasised that the creativity will be restricted to great extent, if creative output is not protected.

    Delegates from World International Property Organization (WIPO), Central Government officials, police officers from across the country, people from the legal fraternity, industry experts and law students participated in the workshop. The renowned speakers shared the best practices and various aspects of effective implementation of IPR enforcement.

    CIPAM has also launched a social media campaign with hashtag #LetsTalkIP to create more interest among people on intellectual property.

    Also Read:

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  • VICE India hires Pragya Tiwari as content head and OML’s Samira Kanwar as head – video

    VICE India hires Pragya Tiwari as content head and OML’s Samira Kanwar as head – video

    MUMBAI: Last year, the global news industry’s disrupter Shane Smith’s VICE Media announced a joint venture with the Jains’ Times of India group. And, after that, there was silence from Shane and his gang of alternative newsmen.

    But, apparently some progress has been made by Shane and Jay Rosenstock, if one goes by the buzz online.

    Pragya Tiwari, a film maker, and former web editor of Tehelka, who recently got a masters degree in public administration from the London School of Economics, recently updated her Twitter profile stating that she is the editor-in-chief of VICE India. 

    And she tweeted: “Good people, @VICE is coming to India! If you’d like to work with/write for us email me on indiapitches@vice.com. Also, pls spread the word?”

    In response to the flood of applications and queries, she said that she had been appointed as the content head of VICE India and was looking for writers in Hindi and English.

    Tiwari’s Linkedin profile states that she is a “Freelance writer and journalist” and that she writes on politics, policy and culture for many different Indian and international publications. She is also the editor-in-chief of The Big Indian Picture as well as creative director of balconytv.com, which she will leaving to others to run.

    VICE India has also snared former Only Much Louder (OML) content director Samira Kanwar as the head of Vice – video.  The lady has oodles of experience having worked for  Channel [V] as a director/producer and as the CEO of OML division Babble Fish Productions.

    “Rosenstock and Shane have been big admirers of the work that Vijay Nair’s OML team produce,” says a media observer. “Hence, it is no surprise that they roped in Samira.”

    Tiwari has tweeted saying that VICE India is looking for journalists in Delhi and Mumbai – having both text and video journalism experience.  Not just full timers, but even freelancers.

    And, she has further tweeted that VICE’s Indian version will launch soon.

    Also Read:

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    VICE to launch digital service with ToI Group 1Q 2017