Category: iWorld

dittoTV to show Zee Cafe content alongside U.S.

MUMBAI: Be content with this treat! TV buffs are in for a treat as Zee Digital Convergence Limited’s (ZDCL) OTT platform dittoTV will bring Zee Cafe’s shows to viewers live. With an array of five popular shows, along with a brand new action series, the platform’s subscribers can watch these shows on-the go, anytime, anywhere on their internet connected devices.

“Indian viewers often have to wait for weeks, even months to watch their favourite U.S. shows. With Zee Café now broadcasting these shows along with the US, fans can watch the latest seasons and be as updated as their U.S. counterparts.

With this new lineup of international shows, dittoTV brings together an interesting mix of genres – drama, comedy and action on a single online platform, which caters to the content preferences of the young Indian audience,” said dittoTV business head Archana Anand.

Secrets and Lies season 2 will air on Mondays at 10 pm whereas Big Bang Theory season 2 will air on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm. The season 3 of Gotham will air on Tuesdays at 10 pm. Series premiere of Lethal Weapon will happen on Thursday at 10 pm. The season 2 of Supergirl will air on Tuesdays at 7 pm while season 12 of Grey’s Anatomy will air on weekdays at 6 pm.

Apart from this addition, the platform offers access to over 100 live channels like the entire Zee Network, Colors, Sony, Aaj Tak, BBC, MTV and Ten Sports.

October 6, 2016
dittoTV to show Zee Cafe content alongside U.S.

MUMBAI: Be content with this treat! TV buffs are in for a treat as Zee Digital Convergence Limited’s (ZDCL) OTT platform dittoTV will bring Zee Cafe’s shows to viewers live. With an array of five popular shows, along with a brand new action series, the platform’s subscribers can watch these shows on-the go, anytime, anywhere on their internet connected devices.

“Indian viewers often have to wait for weeks, even months to watch their favourite U.S. shows. With Zee Café now broadcasting these shows along with the US, fans can watch the latest seasons and be as updated as their U.S. counterparts.

With this new lineup of international shows, dittoTV brings together an interesting mix of genres – drama, comedy and action on a single online platform, which caters to the content preferences of the young Indian audience,” said dittoTV business head Archana Anand.

Secrets and Lies season 2 will air on Mondays at 10 pm whereas Big Bang Theory season 2 will air on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm. The season 3 of Gotham will air on Tuesdays at 10 pm. Series premiere of Lethal Weapon will happen on Thursday at 10 pm. The season 2 of Supergirl will air on Tuesdays at 7 pm while season 12 of Grey’s Anatomy will air on weekdays at 6 pm.

Apart from this addition, the platform offers access to over 100 live channels like the entire Zee Network, Colors, Sony, Aaj Tak, BBC, MTV and Ten Sports.

October 6, 2016
Fake copyright registration website to be blocked

NEW DELHI: Denying that the website copyright.in was an official website, the Government today said action was being initiated to block the website and initiate legal proceedings against the owners.

The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) of the Commerce & Industry Ministry said that the authorised and authentic website is www.copyright.gov.in, and only this website should be used for any copyright registration and other related issues on copyright.

The matter has already been referred to the concerned ministries to block the fake website and the false impression it is creating by claiming to be the official website of the copyright registration office in India. The website was inviting applications for protection of the various works – literary, artistic, dramatic, musical, sound recording and cinematographic films along with its evidence. This claim is totally fraudulent and creating confusion among public, DIPP said.

The DIPP and Copyright Office have no relation with this website. Hence, all concerned are advised that they should not make any payment or submit application forms on-line or otherwise take any service relating to copyright registration or any other activity relating to copyright through this website. The DIPP or Copyright Office will not be responsible for any damages or loss in this regard.

October 6, 2016
Fake copyright registration website to be blocked

NEW DELHI: Denying that the website copyright.in was an official website, the Government today said action was being initiated to block the website and initiate legal proceedings against the owners.

The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) of the Commerce & Industry Ministry said that the authorised and authentic website is www.copyright.gov.in, and only this website should be used for any copyright registration and other related issues on copyright.

The matter has already been referred to the concerned ministries to block the fake website and the false impression it is creating by claiming to be the official website of the copyright registration office in India. The website was inviting applications for protection of the various works – literary, artistic, dramatic, musical, sound recording and cinematographic films along with its evidence. This claim is totally fraudulent and creating confusion among public, DIPP said.

The DIPP and Copyright Office have no relation with this website. Hence, all concerned are advised that they should not make any payment or submit application forms on-line or otherwise take any service relating to copyright registration or any other activity relating to copyright through this website. The DIPP or Copyright Office will not be responsible for any damages or loss in this regard.

October 6, 2016
A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend to be dubbed in Tamil; S2 on cards

MUMBAI: Following the successful run of the season 1 of A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend, Arre plans to release its Tamil version. With this category, it intends to reach out to a wider audience.

This version is presented by Gillette Flexball in association with Palo Alto Networks, Indo Nissin Foods and Dell.

In addition, the show is also syndicated to the digital platform of one of France’s television networks, TF1 Xtra, apart from various Indian digital platforms such as Sony LIV, Yupp TV, Vodafone Play, etc.

“The southern regional markets are growing markets from a mobile internet consumption and advertiser interest point of view. They’re also interesting future forays for Arré considering that digital media in these markets is more secular as compared to broadcasting and cable and there isn’t enough original content available currently. A.I.SHA, our first show, is possibly the best show to begin our regional foray with, given its universal appeal and the overwhelming viewer response so far,” said Arre founder B. Saikumar.

The series is produced by Raghu Ram and Rajiv Laxman’s production venture, Monozygotic.

Ram added, “A.I.SHA is a special project for all of us at Monozygotic since it was our first fiction show and also the first show that Arré launched with.”

A.I.SHA (Artificial Intelligence Simulated Humanoid Assistant) is India’s AI-based digital series. A fiction thriller, the story pivots around the widely debated and chilling premise of what happens when AI (Artificial intelligence) develops feelings and consciousness.

Pre-production work for A.I.SHA season 2 is underway and is planned for launch later this year.

October 6, 2016
A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend to be dubbed in Tamil; S2 on cards

MUMBAI: Following the successful run of the season 1 of A.I.SHA | My Virtual Girlfriend, Arre plans to release its Tamil version. With this category, it intends to reach out to a wider audience.

This version is presented by Gillette Flexball in association with Palo Alto Networks, Indo Nissin Foods and Dell.

In addition, the show is also syndicated to the digital platform of one of France’s television networks, TF1 Xtra, apart from various Indian digital platforms such as Sony LIV, Yupp TV, Vodafone Play, etc.

“The southern regional markets are growing markets from a mobile internet consumption and advertiser interest point of view. They’re also interesting future forays for Arré considering that digital media in these markets is more secular as compared to broadcasting and cable and there isn’t enough original content available currently. A.I.SHA, our first show, is possibly the best show to begin our regional foray with, given its universal appeal and the overwhelming viewer response so far,” said Arre founder B. Saikumar.

The series is produced by Raghu Ram and Rajiv Laxman’s production venture, Monozygotic.

Ram added, “A.I.SHA is a special project for all of us at Monozygotic since it was our first fiction show and also the first show that Arré launched with.”

A.I.SHA (Artificial Intelligence Simulated Humanoid Assistant) is India’s AI-based digital series. A fiction thriller, the story pivots around the widely debated and chilling premise of what happens when AI (Artificial intelligence) develops feelings and consciousness.

Pre-production work for A.I.SHA season 2 is underway and is planned for launch later this year.

October 6, 2016
India ready for data revolution with 350 million plus Net users: Minister

NEW DELHI: India’s Telecoms minister Manoj Sinha has said the sector had been growing at a phenomenal pace and was considered as the fastest growing telecom market in the world with the second largest subscriber base with more than 1060 million connectivity, 160 million broadband connections and 350 million plus internet users.

India is ready for another digital and data revolution, the minister said while inaugurating the 8th Telecom Export Promotion Council’s Buyer-Seller meet earlier this week here.

(India’s mobile phone revolution has been spurring many media players, global and domestic, to enter the OTT space despite challenges. It is also expected that, with the introduction of 4G technology, the market for streaming video will grow in India.)

Sinha said the rapid growth of the telecoms sector has fuelled the demand for telecom equipment, including mobile phones, which was worth about $ 20 billion in 2015-16 and is estimated to exceed $ 30 billion by 2020.

Sinha added that India has all the ingredients of a globally competitive telecom industry like a large domestic market, world class talent, focus on R&D and IPR creation, beside a robust framework for electronic manufacturing, including set-top boxes used in a variety of telecoms and broadcast services.

According to the Minister, Indian manufacturers have already made significant strides in exports of IT and telecom products to several countries and established that Indian IT and telecom products are of world-class quality and globally competitive on technology and price.

The massive thrust on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ initiatives offers a large opportunity for creation of innovative products and services and India is poised for another digital and data revolution.

Sinha told the representatives from 28 participating countries from South Asia, South-East Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa that India holds the distinction of being the fastest growing telecom network, especially with advent of increased broadband penetration.

Meanwhile, joining issue with his colleague, Electronics and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that, during the last fiscal ending March 2016, the sector recorded an export of $ 108 billion, which is around 45 per cent of services export from India. The sector gave direct employment to 3.7 million people and around 200,000 additional employment was created in just the past year.

Prasad said the prime minister Narendra Modi’s government was determined to create a knowledge-based society to “improve effeciency and reach of the services.”

He said unlike industrial revolution (that India missed), the country was all set to take lead in the ongoing digital revolution.

October 6, 2016
India ready for data revolution with 350 million plus Net users: Minister

NEW DELHI: India’s Telecoms minister Manoj Sinha has said the sector had been growing at a phenomenal pace and was considered as the fastest growing telecom market in the world with the second largest subscriber base with more than 1060 million connectivity, 160 million broadband connections and 350 million plus internet users.

India is ready for another digital and data revolution, the minister said while inaugurating the 8th Telecom Export Promotion Council’s Buyer-Seller meet earlier this week here.

(India’s mobile phone revolution has been spurring many media players, global and domestic, to enter the OTT space despite challenges. It is also expected that, with the introduction of 4G technology, the market for streaming video will grow in India.)

Sinha said the rapid growth of the telecoms sector has fuelled the demand for telecom equipment, including mobile phones, which was worth about $ 20 billion in 2015-16 and is estimated to exceed $ 30 billion by 2020.

Sinha added that India has all the ingredients of a globally competitive telecom industry like a large domestic market, world class talent, focus on R&D and IPR creation, beside a robust framework for electronic manufacturing, including set-top boxes used in a variety of telecoms and broadcast services.

According to the Minister, Indian manufacturers have already made significant strides in exports of IT and telecom products to several countries and established that Indian IT and telecom products are of world-class quality and globally competitive on technology and price.

The massive thrust on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ initiatives offers a large opportunity for creation of innovative products and services and India is poised for another digital and data revolution.

Sinha told the representatives from 28 participating countries from South Asia, South-East Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa that India holds the distinction of being the fastest growing telecom network, especially with advent of increased broadband penetration.

Meanwhile, joining issue with his colleague, Electronics and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that, during the last fiscal ending March 2016, the sector recorded an export of $ 108 billion, which is around 45 per cent of services export from India. The sector gave direct employment to 3.7 million people and around 200,000 additional employment was created in just the past year.

Prasad said the prime minister Narendra Modi’s government was determined to create a knowledge-based society to “improve effeciency and reach of the services.”

He said unlike industrial revolution (that India missed), the country was all set to take lead in the ongoing digital revolution.

October 6, 2016
Amazon India seasonal sale boosts Prime Video subscribers

Mumbai: Amazon’s bet seems to have paid off. In the past few weeks, it has been accumulating original content and striking content licensing deals. Amazon had been firming up its content strategy by tying up with several Bollywood production houses for original TV shows and films while it was gearing up for its Prime Video service launch in India. Among the few notable deals it has made were with Dharma Productions and T-Series. Amazon Prime Video, the paid subscription service of Amazon India, yesterday emerged as the highest selling product for the e-tailer.

Amazon’s five-day festive season sale period ended on Wednesday, and one out every three units sold was membership of Prime Videos, Amazon India country manager, Amit Agarwal, told FE. The e-tailer moreover claims to have sold more than 5 million units over a period of five days. The paid subscribers of Amazon Prime will be default users of the video streaming service called Prime Videos.

After the entry of global video over-the-top (OTT) player like Netflix in India early this year, Amazon is the second large player to announce the launch of its video streaming service in India. Amazon India is presently selling the membership at a 50 per cent discounted rate of Rs 499 for a year.

“Despite a slump in the market, Amazon India has been growing at a rate of 150% over the the last three years. This sale was three times bigger and 30 times bigger than last Diwali,” said Agarwal. Mobile, fashion and lifestyle and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) were the other top selling categories on the platform during the sale period.

The e-tailers claim that mobile saw a five times jump in number of orders placed apart from television which grew by 25 times. While large appliances saw a seven times growth in terms of sale.

According to Agarwal, the platform saw a five times growth in the number of new customers who came online to shop, compared to last year. Tier 2 and smaller towns contributed to 70% of the orders. Agarwal added that during the festive season sale period, Amazon continued to witness high traffic both on the website as well as on its mobile app. “80% of the traffic came through mobile. In fact, the app recorded seven time growth in direct traffic,” he explained.

Amazon has also signed deals with Excel Entertainment to create original TV shows for the platform and with Vishesh Films for its film catalogue. Given the backdrop of competition in the OTT space, Amazon is also reportedly participating in the IPL tender with a keen interest to bid for the digital rights.

As a result of the partnerships with T-Series, Amazon Prime members would soon enjoy a wide variety of some of the best Bollywood movies in the country, all within a few weeks of their theatrical release, said Amazon Video India director and country head Nitesh Kripalani.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos had announced that the company would be investing an additional $3 billion in India, taking the total investment to more than $5 billion. It reportedly plans to invest around $300 million in producing original content for India. Amazon had launched its Prime subscription service in India in July.

October 6, 2016
Amazon India seasonal sale boosts Prime Video subscribers

Mumbai: Amazon’s bet seems to have paid off. In the past few weeks, it has been accumulating original content and striking content licensing deals. Amazon had been firming up its content strategy by tying up with several Bollywood production houses for original TV shows and films while it was gearing up for its Prime Video service launch in India. Among the few notable deals it has made were with Dharma Productions and T-Series. Amazon Prime Video, the paid subscription service of Amazon India, yesterday emerged as the highest selling product for the e-tailer.

Amazon’s five-day festive season sale period ended on Wednesday, and one out every three units sold was membership of Prime Videos, Amazon India country manager, Amit Agarwal, told FE. The e-tailer moreover claims to have sold more than 5 million units over a period of five days. The paid subscribers of Amazon Prime will be default users of the video streaming service called Prime Videos.

After the entry of global video over-the-top (OTT) player like Netflix in India early this year, Amazon is the second large player to announce the launch of its video streaming service in India. Amazon India is presently selling the membership at a 50 per cent discounted rate of Rs 499 for a year.

“Despite a slump in the market, Amazon India has been growing at a rate of 150% over the the last three years. This sale was three times bigger and 30 times bigger than last Diwali,” said Agarwal. Mobile, fashion and lifestyle and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) were the other top selling categories on the platform during the sale period.

The e-tailers claim that mobile saw a five times jump in number of orders placed apart from television which grew by 25 times. While large appliances saw a seven times growth in terms of sale.

According to Agarwal, the platform saw a five times growth in the number of new customers who came online to shop, compared to last year. Tier 2 and smaller towns contributed to 70% of the orders. Agarwal added that during the festive season sale period, Amazon continued to witness high traffic both on the website as well as on its mobile app. “80% of the traffic came through mobile. In fact, the app recorded seven time growth in direct traffic,” he explained.

Amazon has also signed deals with Excel Entertainment to create original TV shows for the platform and with Vishesh Films for its film catalogue. Given the backdrop of competition in the OTT space, Amazon is also reportedly participating in the IPL tender with a keen interest to bid for the digital rights.

As a result of the partnerships with T-Series, Amazon Prime members would soon enjoy a wide variety of some of the best Bollywood movies in the country, all within a few weeks of their theatrical release, said Amazon Video India director and country head Nitesh Kripalani.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos had announced that the company would be investing an additional $3 billion in India, taking the total investment to more than $5 billion. It reportedly plans to invest around $300 million in producing original content for India. Amazon had launched its Prime subscription service in India in July.

October 6, 2016