ITV

Category: iWorld

  • Home ministry working on ‘cyber crime prevention’ project

    NEW DELHI: The Parliament was told today that the home ministry is executing a project on Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC), which will also act as specialised central institutional mechanism for online cyber crime reporting platform particularly cyber crime against women and children.

    Minister of state for electronics and information technology P P Chaudhary said that no study had been done the point made by the questioner about rampant misuse of social media by paedophiles and sex offenders to intimidate and harass women and children.

    However, the minister said the data maintained by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) showed a total of 749 and 792 cases were registered under publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc. in electronic form (section 67 & 67A IT of Act) and a total of 5 and 8 cases were registered under publishing or transmitting of material depicting children in sexually explicit act, etc. in electronic form (section 67B IT of Act) during 2014-2015.

    In addition, a total of 40 cases in 2014 and 94 cases in 2015 were registered under Sections 14 & 15 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

    He said cyber world is anonymous and universally available. Most of the child pornographic websites are hosted from outside India. INTERPOL maintains and updates list of “worst of list” on extreme child sexual abuse.

    The Government periodically blocks this list shared by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the national crime bureau of INTERPOL. More than 3000 such websites/URLs have been blocked so far.

    Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 has provisions for removal of objectionable online content. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2011 notified under section 79 of the IT Act require that the Intermediaries shall observe due diligence while discharging their duties and shall inform the users of computer resources not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update or share any information that is harmful, objectionable, affect minors and unlawful in any way.

    The Government is in regular touch with intermediaries including various social media websites to effectively address the blocking/removal of objectionable content. Further, Social Networking sites hosted anywhere in the world are monitored by the law enforcement agencies in order to check / remove objectionable contents from the web sites in accordance with the provisions of IT Act, 2000.

  • ‘Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat’, ‘Test Case’, ‘Once Upon A Night’, ‘Boygiri’ & ‘Maya Thirai’ etc to be on ALTBalaji

    MUMBAI: After making a mark in television and films, Balaji Telefilms Limited is all set to launch its OTT platform ALT Balaji. The company has forayed into the digital entertainment space with ALTBalaji that aims to reach out directly to Indian audiences by providing them with original, exclusive and premium content that they can access at their fingertips.

    The shows will be streaming on the ALTBalaji app from the 16 April, 2017.

    The shows that will be available on ALT include the much-awaited Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat featuring Ram Kapoor and Sakshi Tanwar, Nimrat Kaur-Juhi Chawla starrer The Test Case, Once Upon A Night, DEV DD, Romil and Jugal, Boygiri and regional show Maya Thirai (Tamil) among several others.

    ALTBalaji CMO Manav Sethi said, “ALTBalaji’s vision is to acquire leadership position in digital entertainment space in India and globally. We are launching ALTBalaji platform formally in April 2017 with original shows at the time of launch in Hindi and other Indian languages. This hasn’t been done before by any other OTT platform thus far. This content is created and curated by Ekta Kapoor diligently for Indian masses. It’s no secret that we Indians have humongous appetite for non-English entertainment content and mobile as a personal device has acquired that platform advantage to view content, location and time that is personal to every 200Mn smartphone owner. This huge potential is what motivates us and we would strive to create such mass appeal shows. Our brand are our shows and we would do everything to learn and invest in creating best consumer experiences.”

  • Nasscom projects 730mn Net users in India

    NEW DELHI: There were 391.50 million Internet subscribers as on 31 December 2016. The government has said it is expected that number of internet users will increase in the country owing to fast adoption of digital technology,.

    Minister of communications Manoj Sinha told the Parliament that the National Telecom Policy-2012 envisages 600 million broadband connections by 2020 at minimum 2 Mbps download speed.

    According to National Association of Software & Services Companies (NASSCOM) –Akamai report launched on 17 August 2016 regarding “The Future of Internet in India”, 730 million Internet users are anticipated in the country by 2020.

    The government has allocated 965 MHz spectrum through auction in October 2016 to various telecom service providers for access services. This will enable the telecom service providers to roll out 3G and 4G services which will facilitate proliferation of high speed internet facility.

    The BharatNet project is also being implemented to provide 100 Mbps broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (approximately 2,50,000) in the country by using an optimal mix of underground fibre, fibre over power lines, radio and satellite media.

  • ALTBalaji starts mid-Apr, ties up with Micromax & Mobikwik

    MUMBAI: The digital platform of Balaji Telefilms, ALT Balaji has announced a strategic partnership with a mobile brand Micromax to help its users get access to exclusive ALTBalaji content and mobile wallet Mobikwik.

    The global on entertainment platform ALTBalaji, will offer 250 hours of original content and subscribers can now avail 25 per cent cashback while paying for the service using MobiKwik wallet. The partnership will provide an easy payment facility to MobiKwik’s 55 million registered users to enjoy ALTBalaji.

    Speaking on the partnership, ALT Digital Media Entertainment limited CEO Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “With the partnership of Micromax, we will take our repository of original shows, exclusively available on ALTBalaji to the urban masses. Our ALTBalaji app would be bundled on Micromax devices for frictionless download experience, for them to enjoy over 250 hours of original, exclusive content. Micromax will distribute these original shows to its 30 million users via its digital properties. This collaboration makes ALTBalaji the only original digital content generation platform to reach viewers on such a massive scale.”

    He further added on partnership, with Mobikwik, “With a vision to create a better consumer experience, the partnership with MobiKwik will facilitate frictionless connection between our subscribers and ALTBalaji. This convenient payment option will allow our consumers to subscribe to our original and exclusive content with ease. We are glad that MobiKwik which is a pioneer in the wallets business will open a new consumer base to our service.”

    ALTBalaji, the subscription based digital entertainment platform, will be commercially available from mid-April. The app will be launched with six new shows and will be followed with a new show every 15 days for its viewers to binge watch. The content is created by some of the best talents of Indian Entertainment industry including critically acclaimed directors and actors. The long illustrious list of artists comprises of Nagesh Kukunoor, Juhi Chawla, Nimrat Kaur, Rajkumar Rao, Hansal Mehta, Sakshi Tanwar, Ram Kapoor, Atul Kulkarni, Sameer Soni, Yudhishtar Urs, Dipannita Sharma Atwal, and more.

    By joining forces together, ALTBalaji and Micromax are attempting to change the way digital content is consumed in India. Created to provide an alternative to mainstream Indian entertainment & TV content, ALTBalaji will bring fresh & interesting stories to audiences in varied genres. The platform will offer more than 250 hours of original content in the first year of it’s launch.

    MobiKwik also powers payments for the IRCTC service and can target the users based on the long­ distance rail tickets that they have purchased, allowing ALTBalaji to offer the service to these customers who are otherwise starved of entertainment or must consume the same content available elsewhere.

    MobiKwik business head Bikram Bir Singh said, “This association is in line with our endeavor to make MobiKwik payments ubiquitous.”

  • Amazon Prime brings Fugay & Autograph on Gudi Padwa

    MUMBAI: The festival of Gudi Padwa brings families and loved ones together to ring in the New Year and celebrate new beginnings. This year, Amazon Prime Video gives audiences another reason to celebrate by bringing together some of the best and biggest Marathi blockbusters on its platform. Just weeks after its theatrical release, catch the world premiere (before television) of Fugay starring Swwapnil Joshi and Subodh Bhave exclusively on Amazon Prime Video; and later in June 2017, Prime members can watch the popular movie Autograph with Ankkush Chaudhari and Amruta Khanvilkar in lead roles.

    Fugay is a story that revolves around two inseparable childhood best friends Swwapnil Joshi and Subodh Bhave. Swwapnil gets engaged to Prarthana Behere who is extremely possessive about him and also doesn’t approve of the bond between Swwapnil and Subodh. Assuming they won’t get to enjoy the same fun, they both decide to go for one last bachelor party to Goa. In Goa, they have a lot of fun but also make a mistake that leads to hilarious fun. What happens when they come back and how both Swwapnil and Subodh have to explain themselves, go back to clarify and prove their innocence is what makes the movie full of fun and laughter. Starring Swapnil Joshi, Subodh Bhave and Prarthana Behere in leading roles, this complete family entertainer sees the mayhem their unusual friendship creates. Directed by, Swapna Waghmare Joshi, this hilarious family drama can be seen exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

    Also, actor-director Nishikant Kamat will be seen as a villain in Fugay. He has directed ‘Dombivali Fast’ and ‘Lai Bhari’ earlier and debuts as an actor with this film.

    Upcoming Marathi film, Autograph, stars Ankush Chaudhari, Satish Rajwade, Amruta Khanvilkar and Manasi Moghe. Produced under the STV Networks banner, the film is set to release later this year. Watch the Marathi blockbuster produced by Inder Raj Kapoor exclusively on Amazon Prime Video this June 2017.

    Amazon Prime Video claims to have the largest selection of latest and exclusive movies and TV shows, ad-free across Indian and Hollywood movies, US TV shows, top/popular Indian and international kids’ shows, award winning Amazon Original shows along with content from top Bollywood, regional, Indian and international studios – all available in one location/service.

  • Smart TV & streaming device makers may collaborate as race intensifies for on-demand content: F&S

    MUMBAI: Growing preference for over-the-top (OTT) content is catalysing demand for streaming media devices and smart TVs. The market, which slowed down during 2014-15 fiscal, is now ready to match consumer expectations by offering seamless accessibility to on-demand content through a new generation of competitively priced streaming devices. Major market contenders are embracing strategic collaboration to increase their footprint. For instance, smart TV manufacturers such as Samsung, TCL, LG, Sony and Panasonic are developing apps in collaboration with streaming media device manufacturing companies such as Roku, Apple and Amazon.

    “High-efficiency video coding (HEVC), 4000 pixels (4K) and high dynamic range (HDR) will drive sales and shorten upgrade cycles, but competition will continue to intensify,” said Frost & Sullivan’s Digital Media Research Analyst. “Their agility and ease of replacement continue to provide streaming devices a distinct competitive edge over smart TVs.”

    Global Smart TV and Streaming Media Devices Markets, Forecast to 2021, a part of Frost & Sullivan’s Digital Media Growth Partnership Service program, finds that the smart TV market, which stood at 190 million devices in 2016, will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1% between 2016 and 2021, even as the price per unit steadily decreases. Google, with 33.1% share, will lead the streaming media devices market, followed by Apple with 31.% and Roku with 15.2%.

    For complimentary access to more information on this analysis and to register for a Growth Strategy Dialogue, a free interactive briefing with Frost & Sullivan’s thought leaders.

    While the streaming media devices and smart TV market is meeting consumer expectations in terms of ease of viewership and usability, it has not yet been able to offer a unified and intuitive search facility. Further, frequent updates are required to make the user interface of consumer-facing devices seamlessly operable. As a result, consumers find it difficult to use the devices to their full potential, which, in turn, can dampen interest in these services.

    “The primary screen will continue to play a dominant role in content consumption, but content will increasingly be discovered and played back from devices other than the set-top box,” observed the analyst. “The key to capitalising on this demand is to refine user experience and content inventory on connected devices to be at par with the quality and consistency of a fully managed experience.”

  • YouTube watch time grew 400% y-o-y, 80% on mobile

    MUMBAI: With a growing appetite among Indian consumers to watch videos online, YouTube, as per App Annie, has shared that over 180 million Indians are watching YouTube every month on mobile. The video streaming platform at the fourth edition of Brandcast India, further noted that the watch time in India has grown 400 per cent year on year and 80 per cent of watch time in India comes from mobile. From entertainment to education, from news to beauty – Indians are turning to YouTube for every aspect of their lives

    Held in Mumbai, the event brought together top advertisers, agencies, and partners from all across the country to discuss and celebrate YouTube – the destination where Indians choose to watch video.

    Improved connectivity, affordable data plans and huge variety of content available has led to over 400 million Indians online and 300 smartphone users today. In the mobile video era, viewers can watch what they want, where they want and when they want – and this greater choice for viewers also means greater opportunities for marketers. In today’s media environment, while there is plentiful reach, it’s harder to attract viewers’ attention.

    Elaborating on how ‘attentive reach’ has become the new currency for the advertisers, Google India and South-East Asia head of marketing Sapna Chadha, said, “According to a survey we conducted with Majestic Research, using eye-tracking technology we discovered, the first ad in an TV ad break is watched actively by 50 per cent of people while the last one is watched actively by only 13 per cent of viewers. Attention has always been inherent to advertising. But, capturing and keeping attention has never been harder for advertisers.”

    Addressing the audience, Chadha asked them to change how they buy and plan media for attentive reach. She also shared that over the years, YouTube captures audience attention by delivering 95 per cent audibility and 93 per cent viewability.

    Speaking on how to make advertising more effective online, MOAT CEO Jonah Goodhart added, “Everywhere in the world, consumption patterns are changing, making ‘attentive reach’ the foundation of any digital campaign. Measurability is the key to understand the efficacy of any brand engagement and we are thrilled to be the first company to independently measure viewability on YouTube.”

    Maruti Suzuki VP and head of marketing Sanjeev Handa asserted, “When you combine a format like video and you want to reach out to a billion+ Indians, the answer comes naturally and that is YouTube. YouTube allows us to tell the right brand stories to the right audiences helping us capture their attention. Case in point, is the launch of the IGNIS which was done simultaneously through the physical as well as digital medium to engage with the millennials and, the results were astounding. On YouTube, the launch was viewed over 10 million times, and 20 per cent pre-launch bookings came from digital in the first 10 days.” He further added, “For advertisers to leverage digital effectively, one needs to have deep insights into your consumers, look to target their interests and effectively measure the viewability of the ad.”

    Sharing his experience of working with brands, Kurt Hugo Schneider who has over 8 million subscribers on YouTube and has collaborated with over 40 global brands said, “Concept integration and not product integration, is key to making a brand video authentic and earning people’s attention. With technological innovation, brands today have the opportunity to interact more closely with their audience and get a feel of their preferences.”

    Attended by over 800 marketers, advertisers and creators, YouTube Brandcast 2017 also saw YouTube Leaderboard Awards where top 10 advertisers with the most creative ads were felicitated. The award celebrated the brands that performed best through a combination of popularity and promotion.

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  • You Broadband-Vodafone proposal accepted, Atria & Netmagic FDI cleared

    NEW DELHI: The government has accepted a proposal by Vodafone India Ltd for acquisition of 100% shares of M/s You Broadband India Limited by way of transfer from resident shareholders and non-resident shareholder. A 100% foreign owned company, Vodafone, will invest Rs 550.9 million as direct investment.

    The finance ministry, on the recommendation of the Foreign Investments Promotion Board, has also accepted a post facto proposal of You Broadband India Limited for acquisition of 9,79,875 equity shares of its downstream company Digital Outsourcing Private Limited (DOPL) in lieu of issue of 20,58,759 equity shares to its resident shareholders by way of swap of shares. This does not involve any fresh inflow of FDI.

    A proposal by Atria Convergence Technologies Private Limited for transfer of 0.99% of shares currently held by resident shareholders to the existing foreign investors Argan (Mauritius) Limited, Mauritius, and TA FVCI Investors Limited, Mauritius, and also for acquisition of up to 100% shares of the investee company by the foreign investors M/s Argan (Mauritius) Limited and TA FVCI Investors Limited, in future depending upon the exigencies of the remaining Indian resident shareholders. This will involve a fresh inflow of Rs 350 million in FDI.

    JC Decaux Advertising India Private Limited, an existing foreign owned company engaged in the activity of Out-of-Home advertising, has been permitted to bring in Rs 350 million for expansion of its business into telecom sector as a telecom infrastructure service provider.

    Netmagic Solutions Private Limited has been allowed to increase the foreign shareholding of the company from 81.63% to 100% by NTT Communications Corporation, Japan, with a fresh inflow of Rs 5.3383 billion FDI. FIPB has referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) a proposal by

    Flag Telecom Singapore Pte Limited, Singapore, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Communications, India, to acquire 100% shares of Reliance Global Cloud Xchange Limited. The amount involved as FDI is Rs 7.89 billion.

    (It may be recalled that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had in his budget on 1 February announced his proposal to scrap the FIPB.)

  • Ayaz Memon appointed as mentor for DigiOsmosis’ Sportswallah

    Mumbai: Senior journalist Ayaz Memon has been roped in as the mentor of sportswallah.com – the latest venture by digital media firm DigiOsmosis. Memon, who has been writing and reporting on sports for over three decades will now present a unique combination of sports and lifestyle news to the masses. Ayaz will also be reporting live on various sporting events on the Sportswallah.com and aims to keep fans up-to-date on all the action.

    Apart from focusing on innovative segments like social sporting trends, nostalgia, gossip, legends, statistics, live scoring and much more, Sportswallah will partner with lifestyle experts and create content that centres around the trends, looks, fashion and lifestyles of not just the athletes but also teams and even the games themselves.

    Commenting on the partnership, Memon said, “Interest in sports is undergoing a massive change globally and particularly in India. While serious sports content — driven by quality reportage and trenchant analyses — is still highly coveted, the younger generation is also keen to find out more about what’s going on in a sportsperson’s life in a 360 degree prism. Sportswallah aims to meet the demands and expectations of all factions of sports followers.’’

    DigiOsmosis CEO and co-founder Manish Kumar said, “Sports in India has grown to become a large and multi-faceted industry. There are a number of sports and franchisees that are now important to the audience and not just one. The ISL, Kabaddi League, Badminton League, and even the NBA and FIFA Under-17 World Cup are only some of the tournaments that come to mind. Media consumption in India has gone digital in a big way and there is a large gap when it comes to sports lifestyle and sports gossip. We aim to fill that gap.”

  • Amazon Prime debuts its US original ‘Z: The Beginning of Everything’

    MUMBAI: No couple epitomised the rebellion and the glamour of the Jazz Age like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald, and now their tumultuous romance and life will be brought alive in a bio-series titled Z: The Beginning of Everything on Amazon Prime Video. Z: The Beginning of Everything, is a 10-episode half-hour bio-series following the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (Christina Ricci), Southern Belle turned flapper, writer and icon of modern feminism. The series dives into the fascinating life of a woman ahead of her time and tells the story of her passionate, yet turbulent relationship with husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald (David Hoflin).

    Z: The Beginning of Everything is a ground-breaking concept: a fictionalized bio series of the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, the brilliant, beautiful and talented Southern Belle who becomes the original flapper and icon of the wild, flamboyant, Jazz Age in the 20s. The series begins the moment Zelda meets the unpublished writer F. Scott Fitzgerald in Montgomery, Alabama in 1918 and moves through their passionate, turbulent love affair and their marriage – made in heaven, lived out in hell – as the celebrity couple of their time. It will show the alcoholism, adultery and struggle with dashed dreams and mental illness that leads to Zelda’s tragic, untimely end. Z: The Beginning of Everything dives into the fascinating life of a woman ahead of her time, an artist determined to establish her own identity in the tempestuous wake of a world-famous husband.

    Amazon Prime Video has the largest selection of latest and exclusive movies and TV shows, ad-free across Indian and Hollywood movies, US TV shows, top/popular Indian and international kids’ shows, award winning Amazon Original shows along with content from top Bollywood, regional, Indian and international studios – all available in one location/service.