ITV

Category: Video On Demand

  • The 120 Media Collective & Diagonal View to launch digital video platform

    The 120 Media Collective & Diagonal View to launch digital video platform

    MUMBAI: India based The 120 Media Collective has inked a joint venture with UK’s Diagonal View to form a company called Sooperfly.

     

    The new company in the digital video space will offer video creation, distribution and monetisation for the Asian market.

     

    The partnership is the first of its kind in the rapidly growing digital video space, where two companies have come together to provide talent and publishers with an opportunity to enter the world of video creation, distribution and monetization. The 120 Media Collective will package professional content and substantial audiences to drive premium ad sales and brand integrations.

     

    The company will have a three-pronged approach to empowering the entire digital video ecosystem:

     

    1. Bringing new and existing talent into the digital ecosystem by breaking down barriers and providing an entire suite of services including development, production, channel management and audience building. The content will range from the self-promotional for individual talent to premium content that can fit into emerging subscription platforms.

     

    2. Tap into large publishers and curate, manage and monetize their existing content.

     

    3. Sooperfly will also empower and enable brands to turn publishers with the creation of video led properties around the enormous talent pool that exists in the ecosystem today.

     

    Sooperfly aims to forge 200 partnerships during 2015, across individuals, publishers and content collectives, who will co-produce content across a range of genres including lifestyle, beauty, fashion, comedy, sports, education, technology, the performing arts and more.

     

    The network already has on board journalist Vir Sanghvi, celebrity chat show host Tara Sharma and stand-up comic Radhika Vaz, while collectives such as Shalom Films and The Rolling Garaari bring in a variety of topical and serial content.

     

    Initial advertiser partners will be announced later this quarter.

     

    Currently internally funded by the partner entities, the company aims to be amongst the top three in digital video across the APAC region over the next 36 months.

     

    The 120 Media Collective founder and CEO Roopak Saluja said, “Sooperfly is The 120 Media Collective’s digital video distribution arm that gives us the capability to build content brands direct-to-audiences. It capitalizes on the production expertise of Bang Bang Films and Sniper and the digital marketing credibility we’ve built with Jack in the Box Worldwide but most importantly, it leverages our credibility with brands built over nine years.  Diagonal View as the global leader in audience development and channel management is the ultimate partner to join forces with in taking Sooperfly to a position of leadership in empowering digital video across Asia.”

     

    “The market for professional video is global, and through local partners we have had great success throughout the US, Europe and the Middle East. We see huge potential in the Asia Pacific market, and believe this partnership and its unique skill sets will deliver professional video to substantial audiences. Our past success and experience with audience management and IP creation meets a current need gap in the APAC market, whether it’s brands looking at a scientific approach to video, or content creators and publishers looking for better management of their online properties,” added Diagonal View founder Matt Heiman.

  • Streaming video services fuel consumers’ appetite for bingeing: survey

    Streaming video services fuel consumers’ appetite for bingeing: survey

    MUMBAI: Streaming video services, now used by more than 42 per cent of American households, are heavily changing media consumption habits across generations, according to the ninth edition of the Deloitte Digital Democracy survey.

     

    The study reveals that streaming content has overtaken live programming as the viewing method-of-choice, with 56 per cent of consumers now streaming movies and 53 per cent streaming television on a monthly basis, as compared to 45 per cent of consumers preferring to watch television programs live. Moreover, younger viewers have moved to watching TV shows on mobile devices rather than on television. Among Trailing Millennials (age 14-25), nearly 60 per cent of time spent watching movies occurs on computers, tablets and smartphones, making movie viewing habits decidedly age-dependent.

     

    The report also finds that the trend of binge-watching – viewing three or more program episodes at one sitting – is prevalent with 68 per cent of consumers doing so today. In fact, 31 per cent of Americans who binge-watch, do so at least once a week, led by Trailing Millennials, who binge watch more frequently than any other generation at 42 per cent. The survey also notes that TV-dramas are the most popular television genre to binge-watch, commanding 54 per cent of binge-watchers’ attention; a characteristic more pronounced among females. Additionally, 20 per cent of Americans binge-watch comedies, with more being male.

     

    Deloitte’s Digital Democracy survey compares and contrasts generational preferences of more than 2,000 consumers, ages 14 and older in the US, revealing significant technology, media, and telecommunications consumption trends, including attitudes and behaviour toward advertising and social networks, mobile technologies, the Internet, and consumption preferences across platforms and devices.

     

    “Personal viewing experiences and the ability to consume media at your own pace is significantly impacting how U.S. consumers value their content devices and services. Today, binge-watching, and the ability to watch what we want, when we want, and where we want, is an exciting cultural phenomenon that is shifting consumer behaviors and attitudes towards curating an individual experience,” said Deloitte LLP vice chairman and US Media & Entertainment sector leader Gerald Belson.

     

    At home, multitasking commands attention

     

    The growing ubiquity of digital devices and corresponding engagement activities among the American consumer is profound, with 90 per cent of consumers now multitasking while watching TV. Among Millennials and Generation X (age 32-48), both engage in an average of three additional activities while watching television, including internet browsing, reading email and text messaging.

     

    Other interesting findings include:

    * Multitasking activities, while abundant, are not usually tied to television programs being watched. Less than one-quarter of those watching television are engaging in multitasking activities that correlate with the ongoing program.
    * Consumers tend to pay more attention to digital (online) ads as compared to traditional TV advertising, with nearly 75 per cent of consumers saying that they tend to multitask more during television ads than during digital ads.
    * Consumers are willing to endure advertisements in exchange for discounted services. Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) agreed that they would be willing to view advertising during their streaming video programming if it significantly reduced the cost of their subscription.

     

    Personalization of gaming

     

    With mobile device ownership continuing to grow, gamers are now spending one-third of their time playing games via mobile platforms. The survey also reveals that:
    * Almost 40 per cent of consumers and 54 per cent of Trailing Millennials play at least some video games on a daily or weekly basis.
    * Of the time spent on playing games, 24 per cent of consumers play on gaming consoles, 21 per cent on a smartphone and 11 per cent on tablet devices
    * Gaming consoles are no longer being used solely for gaming anymore, with 38 per cent of consumers using them to stream movies and television online, and 29 per cent using their consoles to view online content.

     

    “While gaming continues to be influenced by mobile technology, consoles are expanding in functionality, and in doing so, are helping to feed the consumption needs of a larger consumer base. Gaming devices are not just geared to satiate the appetite of avid gamers, but of those who require devices capable of providing a full package of quality entertainment services, coupled with the speeds to deliver them,” added Belson.

     

    State of the Millennial Buyer

     

    Millennials, which the survey divides into Leading Millennials (age 26-31) and Trailing Millennials (age 14-25) for this study, are increasingly influencing product and service functionalities and are eager to adopt, even model, the next big thing.

     

    The survey reveals that 13 per cent of Trailing Millennials who don’t already have smart watches intend to buy one in the next 12 months, and 12 per cent of the same age group who don’t already own fitness bands intend to buy a fitness band within the same period. Among Leading Millennials, 17 per cent intend to buy a smartwatch in the next 12 months, and 14 per cent intend to buy a fitness band within the same time frame.

     

    The value that Millennials place on devices and services was also examined, with home Internet overwhelmingly the most valued service among subscribers according to 93 per cent of Millennials. Furthermore, more than half (58 per cent) of Trailing Millennial subscribers still value Pay TV, with 22 per cent of those consumers who don’t currently own a television planning to purchase a new television within the next 12 months. Among Leading Millennials, 75 per cent of subscribers were shown to value Pay TV, with 25 per cent of non-owners planning to purchase a new television in the next 12 months.

     

    According to the survey, there was a decrease in the number of Pay TV subscribers that say they have no plans to change providers or cut the cord this year. A quarter of Trailing Millennials either cancelled their Pay TV subscriptions in the last 12 months or haven’t had Pay TV for more than a year. Among Leading Millennials, it was shown that 16 per cent indicated they had either cancelled their Pay TV subscription in the last 12 months or haven’t had Pay TV for more than a year.

     

  • Deluxe and Technicolor ink digital cinema joint venture

    Deluxe and Technicolor ink digital cinema joint venture

    MUMBAI: Deluxe and Technicolor have inked an agreement to create a new digital cinema joint venture, Deluxe Technicolor Digital Cinema, which will specialize in theatrical digital cinema mastering, distribution and key management services.

     

    This joint venture in digital cinema will bring together best-in-class technologies, personnel, work processes and facilities to provide seamless and exceptional services to its customers on a greater global scale.

     

    Both Technicolor and Deluxe will be committed to the operational and financial success of the new business, which will be managed by Deluxe and based in Burbank, Calif. All other lines of business will continue to operate independently of one another.

     

    “As the global entertainment industry continues its transition to 100 percent digital distribution and delivery, this transformational partnership will be optimally positioned to offer our companies’ existing and future customers industry-leading digital cinema services with greater efficiencies. This is yet another example of Deluxe expanding our partnerships to deliver a suite of next generation digital cinema services to our industry customers,” said Deluxe Entertainment Services CEO David Kassler.

     

    “This partnership puts us in a stronger position to offer industry-leading digital cinema services around the world. At Technicolor we have committed ourselves to services that are driven by creative talent and technology, creating the next generation immersive media experiences our customers have come to expect from us,” added Technicolor president of production services Tim Sarnoff.

     

    This joint venture is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015.

  • UFO Moviez sets IPO price band at Rs 615 – 625 per share

    UFO Moviez sets IPO price band at Rs 615 – 625 per share

    MUMBAI: Digital cinema company UFO Moviez India has announced its Rs 600 crore initial public offering (IPO), which will open between 28-30 April.

     

    Each share of face value of Rs 10 is priced at a Rs 615 – 625 per share. The minimum bid lot is 24 equity shares and in multiples of 24 thereafter.

     

    Earlier this month, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had approved UFO Moviez’ IPO application.

     

    The company’s existing shareholders are selling the shares not just to offer them an exit but also increase visibility for the company.

     

    Fifty per cent of the offer will be allocated to institutional shareholders. Non-institutional investors are allocated 15 per cent, and retail investors will get 35 per cent allocation.

     

    While Axis Capital and Citigroup Global Markets are the merchant bankers handling the issue, 3i Research and P5 Asia Holding Investments are the selling shareholders.

  • Shemaroo to distribute Magna’s magazines on mobile

    Shemaroo to distribute Magna’s magazines on mobile

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment has entered into an association with Magna Publishing Company to distribute content from its magazines on mobile and digital platforms including YouTube. 

     

    The magazines that fall under Magna are Stardust, Savvy, Society and Health & Nutrition.

     

    Shemaroo will provide videos, snippets, stories, gossip, images and audio from Stardust on mobile WAP and IVR platforms. The company will convert text from Stardust in audio and video format and will distribute it on mobile and YouTube.

     

    Shemaroo Entertainment director Jai Maroo said, “We are glad to join hands with Magna Publishing Company. The tie up has given Magna Publication a wider distribution platform to meet its end consumers’ needs. Also Bollywood is one of the most popular genre and interests all age groups. Now when the latest update of Bollywood is easily accessible on your handset and is in an interesting format, the feature will surely change the dynamics of entertainment consumption on mobile.”

     

    Magna Publishing Company head content and digital sales Rajeev Mokashi added, “We see this association as a progressive initiative and have faith in the growing reach of the Indian audience on the digital and mobile platform. Shemaroo’s popularity in the digital space and Magna’s robust content will expand a new content distribution market. This further ‘content on Mobile platform’ tie-up announced today will bring for a collaborative business that will use the content creation and planning skills of Magna and the content production experience, marketing and distribution skills of Shemaroo to offer a rich experience to the audience.”

  • ‘Bombay Velvet’ song to premiere on Hotstar

    ‘Bombay Velvet’ song to premiere on Hotstar

    MUMBAI: One of the most anticipated releases of Bollywood this year, Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet starring Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, will be premiering one of its song on Star India’s video on demand (VOD) platform hotstar.

     

    In what is seen as a first for cinema anywhere in the world, Fox Star Studios will premiere the song titled ‘Mohabbat Buri Bimari’ on hotstar during the Indian Premier League (IPL).

     

    The song will play out at 7.45 pm on 17 April on hotstar, just before the Pepsi IPL 2015 match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

     

    With the increasing popularity of the hotstar platform, the song premiere is likely to attract a few million fans and give a dramatic fillip to one of Fox Star Studios’ biggest movie releases of 2015.

     

    With a million downloads in the first six days and nearly 15 million downloads since launch, hotstar has seen one of the fastest adoption of any digital service anywhere in the world.

     

    Fox Star Studios India chief marketing officer Shikha Kapur said, “We are excited about this premier. We believe this innovation will be a trailblazer for Indian cinema and an example of how it can engage with an audience that is young and on a mobile phone. We live in times where the digital doorway is omnipresent and is fast becoming the most effective and astute way to reach out to consumers. Bombay Velvet is a special film. And its song is being launched on a special platform, hotstar.”

  • Lionsgate partners Comic-Con to launch online video service

    Lionsgate partners Comic-Con to launch online video service

    MUMBAI: As part of its ongoing commitment to deliver branded content to online audiences around the world, Lionsgate has partnered with Comic-Con International: San Diego on a subscription video-on-demand service that will launch later this year.

     

    The new service will launch with a broad portfolio of content including original short-form content created exclusively for the channel’s subscribers, films and television series from Lionsgate and other studios designed to appeal to the diverse interests of Comic-Con’s fan base as well as exclusive archived footage from Comic-Con’s 45-year history. As part of the new channel, the two companies will also work closely to make the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (CCI-IFF) a 365-day-a-year online event.

     

    Last year 17 of the top 20 North American box office blockbusters had a presence at the Comic-Con Convention along with iconic television series such as The Walking Dead and American Horror Story. Comic-Con International has grown from 300 attendees in the basement of San Diego’s US Grant Hotel in 1970 to well over 130,000 fans from around the world last year, marking its evolution into a staple of popular culture and the longest-running comics and popular arts convention in America. Badges for this year’s Comic-Con sold out in 60 minutes.

     

    “We’re thrilled that the biggest pop culture event of the year will become a year-round digital channel for Comic-Con fans and audiences around the world. The fan base for the kind of films and television series showcased at Comic-Con has grown exponentially, and a subscription video-on-demand service is the ideal platform to capture the magic and excitement of the Comic-Con experience year-round as well as the perfect vehicle for Comic-Con fans to discover new content,” said Lionsgate president of worldwide television and digital distribution Jim Packer.

     

    Reflecting the tremendous interest in the diverse roster of comics, films and television series showcased at Comic-Con International each year, the two companies plan to roll out the new service beginning with the US later this year.

     

    “From the beginning of our discussions, nearly two years ago, we have been extremely impressed with Lionsgate’s embracing and understanding of fan culture. Working with our Lionsgate partners has been an exciting exercise in finding great ways to expand our horizons to deliver the unique magic of Comic-Con and the celebration of comics and popular art to our fans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and around the world,” said Comic-Con director of marketing and public relations David Glanzer.

     

    “As a next generation studio, Lionsgate has grown up with Comic-Con, and their fans are our audiences. We’re excited by the opportunity to expand and enrich the world of Comic-Con for existing fans and extend it to a whole new global audience with a channel distinguished by its imaginative curation, depth and diversity of content and fierce loyalty to the Comic-Con brand,” said Lionsgate president of interactive ventures & games Peter Levin.

     

    Originally showcasing comic books, film and fantasy literature, Comic-Con has grown to also encompass science fiction, horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectibles, video games, interactive multimedia, webcomics, fantasy novels and other aspects of pop culture. In addition to San Diego Comic-Con International, the new subscription video-on-demand service will also have exclusive access to the archives of sister convention WonderCon.

     

    The new Comic-Con International channel is the third streaming service to be launched or announced by Lionsgate as the company continues to build its suite of online platforms to deliver content directly to consumers. Lionsgate also recently launched the Lionsgate Entertainment World platform with the Alibaba Group in China and has announced the planned launch this summer of Tribeca Shortlist, a subscription video-on-demand service for film aficionados in partnership with Tribeca Enterprises.

  • InstaLively raises $120,000 from Angel investors

    InstaLively raises $120,000 from Angel investors

    NEW DELHI: InstaLively, the first mobile app in the world, which can live stream directly in HD from any android phone to YouTube, has recently raised $120,000 from six Angel Investors.

     

    InstaLively is the first end-to-end live streaming solution, available both on mobile and the desktop.

     

    The six Angel Investors, who have invested about Rs 75 lakhs ($120,000) into this new venture includes Outbox Ventures’ Niraj Singh, MeraEvents, Google India MD Rajan Anandan, Slideshare co-founder Amit Ranjan, GSF founder Rajesh Sawhney and German investor AECAL.

     

    The primary aim of the fundraise is to capture the global live streaming market. The target market includes events ranging from entertainment to corporate to personal events (like birthday parties and weddings). 

     

    In the past two months, the company has successfully piloted with marquee clients like Google, Mary Kom, NASSCOM for Start-ups, NrityaBharati, GSF, Meraevents and Belgian Embassy amongst others.
     

    InstaLively helps broadcast videos to the cloud in just a single click. The technology is such that using the InstaLively mobile app, one can live stream to YouTube directly from an Android phone with a single click. Moreover, InstaLively has also builtDesktop Apps (Windows & Mac) to live stream from a professional camera.

     

    The USP of InstaLively is that it integrates seamlessly into one’s YouTube channel and has two live streaming modes – “Do-it-Yourself” OR “Get External Help.” In the latter, the nearest videographer comes to your location on the click of a button to live stream or record the event into your YouTube channel.

     

    InstaLively co-founder Karthik Vaidyanath said, “Our technology is way superior to live streaming apps like Meerkat, Stre.am or any other app doing the rounds lately. Cross-platform low bandwidth video delivery is important in Asian market and closely integrating with YouTube, InstaLively facilitates it way better than any other LiveStreaming solution in the market today.”

     

    Sawhney added, “InstaLively is bringing together the video delivery capabilities of YouTube with the real time reach of Social Media.”

  • Hotstar notches record 340 million views during WC

    Hotstar notches record 340 million views during WC

    MUMBAI: The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 has registered 340 million video views on Hotstar through the tourney making it the most viewed sporting event ever on digital in the world. The eleventh edition of the World Cup registered a record 87 million unique users on Star’s digital platforms – Hotstar and starsports.com, over the course of the tournament, the highest ever aggregation of users for a sporting event on digital, claims Star India.

    With 13.5 billion hits during the course of the event, the tournament registered an all-time high for any single digital broadcaster for a sporting event globally. The tournament also created global history for digital viewership with 50 million video views for the India Australia semi-final clash, the largest for a single event for any broadcaster anywhere in the world on digital. The game surpassed the previous record of 25 million video views set by the India – Pakistan league game of the WC.

    Speaking on the achievement, Star India COO Sanjay Gupta said, “The tournament logged record views on digital from the opening day itself and broke the internet during the India – Pakistan game. Mobile has emerged as a preferred platform for the 87 million Indians, and we will look to renew the fans’ relationship with their sport again with the Pepsi IPL on Hotstar.”

    Hotstar will stream all the 60 games of the Pepsi IPL live, including the qualifiers, eliminators and the final. With a dramatic surge in viewership on digital platforms in the last 12 months, Hotstar is likely to reach more than 100 million fans over the course of the IPL. Hotstar will also be programming a digital-only pre show that builds on the dramatic success of the two original shows it created for the WC, One Tip One Hand and Juicy Half Volley.

    The Pepsi IPL has also witnessed interest from a mix of large traditional advertisers as well as new advertisers looking to associate with cricket. Key categories of advertisers include two-wheelers, four-wheelers, e-commerce, FMCG, handsets and durables.

    Hotstar digital platform that has content across sports, TV shows and movies in seven languages, was launched on 1 February, 2015, 14 days before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. With over 12 million downloads in a month, the application has witnessed the fastest adoption of any digital service in the world.

  • Star India’s Hotstar records 7.2 million views on IPL day 1

    Star India’s Hotstar records 7.2 million views on IPL day 1

    MUMBAI: After setting the record for the largest sporting event on digital with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Star India’s Hotstar is off to a stunning start with Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015. 

     

    The platform recorded 7.2 million video views for the first match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders on 8 February. This is six times the viewership on starsports.com last year for the first match of Pepsi IPL 2014.

     

    Coming soon on the back of the World Cup, which recorded the biggest digital traffic for a single sporting event for a broadcaster globally, the surge in traffic for the start of start of Pepsi IPL 2015 suggests that the tournament is likely to set new global records for Hotstar.  

     

    Hotstar is streaming all the 60 games of the IPL. With a dramatic surge in viewership on digital platforms in the last 12 months, the platform is likely to reach more than 100 million fans over the course of Pepsi IPL 2015. It is also likely to see a striking growth in video consumption over last year’s version, which was broadcast on starsports.com.

     

    Hotstar will also be programming a digital-only pre-show that builds on the dramatic success of the two original shows it created for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, One Tip One Hand and Juicy Half Volley.