ITV

Category: Video On Demand

  • Amazon’ ‘The Rings of Power’ attracts over 25 mn global viewers

    Amazon’ ‘The Rings of Power’ attracts over 25 mn global viewers

    Mumbai: Amazon has announced that its show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power attracted more than 25 million global viewers on its first day. The record marked the biggest premiere in the history of the OTT platform Prime Video.

    The series was launched exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

    Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said, “It is somehow fitting that Tolkien’s stories – among the most popular of all time, and what many consider to be the true origin of the fantasy genre – have led us to this proud moment. I am so grateful to the Tolkien Estate and to our showrunners J.D. Payne, Lindsey Weber, executive producer Patrick McKay, and other cast and crew – for their tireless collaborative efforts and boundless creative energy. And it is the tens of millions of fans watching – clearly as passionate about middle-earth as we are – who are our true measure of success.”

    Episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will launch weekly through the 14 October season finale on Prime Video.

  • MPL announces Bug Bounty programme; aims to bolster the player-first approach to enhance user security

    MPL announces Bug Bounty programme; aims to bolster the player-first approach to enhance user security

    Mumbai: Mobile and skill gaming platform MPL has launched a Bug Bounty programme with the aim of strengthening the security of the users and continuing to provide a safe and fair gameplay environment. The programme will reward security researchers with up to Rs 10 lakhs for successfully identifying a valid vulnerability on MPL. This is open to researchers globally, and reports that address valid security vulnerabilities that are within the scope of the programme will be eligible for the rewards and recognition.

    With the Bug Bounty programme, MPL will not just focus on identifying security vulnerabilities but will also make targeted efforts to devise a timely resolution to tackle them.

    This initiative is aligned to the company’s player-first approach that considers the safety and security of the users as its topmost priority.

    Interestingly, the MPL Bug Bounty programme does not restrict its scope to just identifying security loopholes but also allows researchers to report any possibility of fraud that could give a player an unfair advantage. The programme encourages reports on instances that can enable a player to compromise with the gameplay or the outcomes, like winning a game without playing, altering the gameplay, or even posting outrageous scores. Along with this, reporting of any vulnerability that can target the users on the platform, like taking over user accounts or dumping user data, also falls within the scope of the program.

    MPL VP of security and compliance Ruchir Patwa said, “At MPL we are always committed to the player-first approach and the Bug Bounty programme has been launched to continue our efforts towards enhancing the user security and safe playing experience on our platform. With this, we also intend to reward and recognise some of the good samaritans of the gaming fraternity. We look forward to some great collaborations with researchers across the globe and will continue to create the best gaming experiences for all our users.”

    MPL will also recognise the contributions of the researchers who have submitted the most insightful reports by featuring them in the Bug Bounty Hall of Fame page.

  • 61% consumers watch online video content like YouTube/OTT on their mobile/home TV: Axis My India Sep CSI Survey

    61% consumers watch online video content like YouTube/OTT on their mobile/home TV: Axis My India Sep CSI Survey

    Mumbai: Axis My India, a leading consumer data intelligence company, released its latest findings of the India Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI), a monthly analysis of consumer perception on a wide range of issues.

    According to reports, 20 per cent of consumers are planning to shop more this festive season. On media consumption, 61 per cent mentioned that they watch online video content either on their mobiles or connected TV. 32 per cent mentioned that they notice advertising on TV, followed by digital (26 per cent). An interesting observation was on app usage. On average, nine apps are used by a smartphone user.

    The net CSI score for September, calculated by percentage increase minus percentage decrease in sentiment, is at +10, from +9 last month, reflecting an increase of one point. The sentiment analysis delves into five relevant sub-indices: overall household spending; spending on essential and non-essential items; spending on healthcare; media consumption habits; and mobility trends.

    Key Findings:

    •     Overall, household spending has increased for 61 per cent of families, which is the same as in August. The net score, which was +52 last month, has increased by +1 to +53 in September.
    •     Consumption of media remains the same as the previous month, i.e., 19 per cent. The overall net score, which is -1 in September, also remains the same.
    •     Mobility has increased for seven per cent of families, representing a one per cent increase over the previous month.
    •     Spending on essentials like personal care and household items has increased for 46 per cent of the families, which is an increase of one per cent from last month. The net score, which was at +26 this month, has increased by +3 to +29.
    •     Spending on non-essential and discretionary products like air conditioners, cars, and refrigerators has increased for seven per cent of families, which reflects an increase of one per cent from last month. The net score, which was at nil last month, has improved to +2 this month. This could reflect the spirit of the festive season approaching.
    •      Consumption of health-related items has increased for 37 per cent of the families, which reflects a decrease of one per cent from last month. The health score, which has a negative connotation i.e., the less spent on health items, the better the sentiments, has a net score value of -23 for September, as compared to -24 last month.

    On topics of current national interest:

    •      In an attempt to understand consumers’ engagement with mobile apps, the survey discovered that, on average, consumers have nine apps on their smartphones. 16 per cent use a minimum of 4–8 apps on their smartphone, and 22 per cent have more than eight apps. A significant 24 per cent mentioned that they use a feature phone.
    •     In order to determine which medium advertisements are more likely to be noticed, the survey discovered that a majority of 32 per cent notice ads on TV, while 26 per cent notice them on online media. It was also discovered that only 17 per cent notice ads on social media platforms, 15 per cent in print, six per cent in outdoor and two per cent on radio.
    •      The survey further revealed that a majority of 61 per cent watch online video content like YouTube or OTT on their mobile/home TV.
    •     Digging deeper into the festive spirit, the survey shows that 20 per cent plan to shop more this festive season compared to last year. However, 32 per cent plan to shop the same as last year.
    •     According to the Axis My India Consumer Sentiment Index Survey, 48 per cent of consumers shop/purchase more products during the festive season as compared to the rest of the year.
    •      Exploring farmers’ sentiments towards new tractors, the survey found out that 10 per cent are planning to purchase new tractors in the coming year, while three per cent and two per cent plan to do so within six months and three months, respectively. For reasons like smaller land size, renting, or affordability, a significant 86 per cent of farmers don’t own a tractor.

    The survey was carried out via computer-aided telephonic interviews with a sample size of 10014 people across 32 states and UTs. 68 per cent belonged to rural India, while 32 per cent belonged to urban India. In terms of regional spread, 23 per cent belong to the northern parts while 24 per cent belong to the eastern parts of India. Moreover, 29 per cent and 23 per cent belonged to the western and southern parts of India, respectively. 59 per cent of the respondents were male, while 41 per cent were female. In terms of the two majority sample groups, 32 per cent reflect the age group of 36-year olds to 50-year olds, while 31 per cent reflect the age group of 26-year olds to 35-year olds.

    Axis My India chairman and MD Pradeep Gupta said, “After compromising the past two festive seasons because of the pandemic and its related constraints, this year consumers are expected to shop more during festivities. One can already witness a slight increase in expenses across essential and discretionary products. Further improvement in mobility sentiments highlights the fact that more and more people are enjoying the stores’ and malls’ experiences of discovering, shopping, and gifting.”

    He further added, “This sentiment is also extended among the Indian farmers, wherein a significant percentage of 15 per cent intend to buy a brand new tractor in the next one year. This is thus a crucial time for the Indian advertising business as spending is expected to bring a lot more returns than usual. As more and more people (61 per cent) are watching online video content (YouTube/OTT) on their mobile/home TV and thereby noticing ads across TV, online and social media platforms, it is of utmost importance for the media industry to tap the right medium for addressing differentiated consumer needs.”

  • MX Player to bring new original and international shows in September

    MX Player to bring new original and international shows in September

    Mumbai: MX Player announced its latest slate of originals and international series on Friday. The OTT platform brings plenty of drama, fiction, romance, mystery, and thrill with the web-shows scheduled to launch in the month of September.

    As a part of MX’s original series slate, Shiksha Mandal is set to launch on 15 September.

    Shiksha Mandal is a hard-hitting narrative inspired by true events that revolves around the biggest scam in the educational system in India. With a socially relevant premise, Shiksha Mandal will reveal corruption, fraud, cheating, and criminal conspiracy that affect vulnerable students in India.

    Shiksha Mandal is directed by Syed Ahmad Afzal and stars Gauahar Khan, Gulshan Devaiah, and Pavan Raj Malhotra in lead roles.

    In addition to Shiksha Mandal, as a part of their latest content category – MX VDesi, MX Player is also bringing six acclaimed international shows from across the globe, including one of the most popular Korean dramas, Boys Over Flowers, which started the K-wave in India with the same love of melodrama, intricate storylines, and adrenaline-pumping action.

    The shows included in the pipeline for a September launch are:

    Boys Over Flowers

    The 21-episode long Korean drama, Boys Over Flowers, starring Ku Hye Sun, Lee Min Ho, and Kim Hyun-Joong, launches on 7 September in Hindi. The blockbuster series follows the story of a humble girl who attends the prestigious Shin Hwa High School. She is immediately bullied by the leader of F4 (the four richest boys), who eventually falls in love with her. However, she has a crush on his best friend. Whom will she pick? Tune in to find out.

    Alphas

    Up next is the Hollywood hit series Alphas. Alphas are ordinary citizens with amazing abilities, including superhuman physical and mental abilities, who operate within the department of defence. A secret group, led by pre-eminent neurologist Dr. Lee Rosen, investigates cases that point to others with similar Alpha abilities. With its unique premise, this show will keep you on your toes throughout 12 episodes. The science fiction drama will be streamed in Hindi from 14 September onwards.

    Secret of Love

    All 30 episodes of the hit show Secret of Love will be streamed in Hindi from 21 September onwards on MX Player. The show revolves around the story of Su Yi, who loses her memory after getting burnt in a fire accident. She meets Li Jia Cheng, who has countless ties to the incident. The pair form a tactical partnership on equal footing after Su Yi challenges his outlook and beliefs.

    Signed, Sealed and Delivered

    A crew of postal detectives seeks to unravel the mysteries behind undeliverable letters and packages from the past, delivering them at crucial moments in the Hollywood production Signed, Sealed, and Delivered. Watch 34 episodes of this series in Hindi starting 21 September.

    Wild District

    After the signing and approval of the Colombian Peace Agreements, a deadly guerrilla warrior escapes from the forest and makes his way to Bogotá, where he attempts to reintegrate into society. Watch all 20 episodes of this Spanish series in Hindi streaming from 28 September onwards!

    Innocent Defendant

    At the Seoul central district prosecutors’ office, a prosecutor wakes up one morning to discover that he is a death row inmate. He is temporarily amnesiac and is unaware of the events that led to his arrest. Before his time is out, he tries to jog his memory and clear his name. Catch this award-winning Korean series starring Seong Ji, Ki-joon Uhm, and Jo Jae-yoon on 28 September in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam!

  • MX Player launches MX Advantage

    MX Player launches MX Advantage

    Mumbai: MX Player has launched MX Advantage, a one-stop solution for brands across India to leverage the power of content across formats, languages, and genres, on Monday.

    MX Advantage is a platform for all of MX Player’s existing and new advertisers to launch ad offerings.

    This platform has been developed in order to directly make MX inventory available to small, medium, and large business owners, marketing managers, media agencies, SMEs, metros, and non-metro advertisers.

    MX Advantage will enable the digital advertising sector to advertise across all forms of entertainment through impact-driven campaigns, maximising ROI and assisting in the achievement of corporate goals.

    MX Player chief operating officer Nikhil Gandhi said, “We are India’s first entertainment super app driven by high-tech innovations and offer content that appeals to our consumers. As technology continues to infiltrate every aspect of our lives, convenience is more important now than ever before for businesses of all sizes.We understand Bharat, which has led us to be the second-largest video platform in India with 236 million users, which helps advertisers reach a larger audience in today’s highly competitive market.”

    He further added, “MX Advantage is a one-stop solution for advertisers of all sizes and budgets, including our current partner advertisers. Our huge and diverse user base across demography, markets, interests and languages will help brands reach the audience that matters for their business.”

    The self-serve platform offers immersive ad formats across tabs like video, display, audio, and content solutions that will help in driving the brand’s awareness and engagement with important features like customisation and total campaign control.

    Additionally, brands can easily take advantage of MX Advantage’s additional services, which are all housed under one roof and include sponsorships, rich media ads, entertainment commerce, etc. There are several benefits as a part of the promotional launch period for verified advertisers who sign up on the platform.

    MX Player has also collaborated with DanAds, a technology platform, to make its engaging media and industry-leading advertising solutions available to SME businesses in India via MX Advantage.

    DanAds CEO and co-founder Istvan Beres said, “The launch of MX Advantage is hugely exciting. With a strong foothold in India and a growing global presence, MX Player is well-positioned to take full advantage of the benefits offered by self-serve advertising. Streaming TV is one of the hottest formats right now for sponsored content, and we look forward to offering an engaging and dynamic solution for MX Player’s portfolio of advertisers. Speed, ease-of-use, and flexible budgets are some of the most important factors for SME advertisers, and DanAds is proud to partner with MX Player to offer just that.”

  • Zing is set to air K-Drama ‘Cheer Up’ in its Hallyu time slot

    Zing is set to air K-Drama ‘Cheer Up’ in its Hallyu time slot

    Mumbai: The leading youth entertainment channel, Zing, is all set to air Cheer Up on 22 August in its popular Hallyu Time slot from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

    A fascinating teen drama set in Seoul, South Korea, Cheer Up revolves around a group of five high-school students who hail from two school clubs who are always clashing. However, the clubs must collaborate to form a cheerleading squad for greater benefit. This mission brings the five youngsters together, who go through unforgettable misadventures and experience love, heartbreak, pain, and most importantly, friendship like never before.

    Zing chief channel officer Arghya Roy Chowdhary shared, “Zing is the most preferred platform for entertaining content, which resonates with GEN-Z’s. Our “apni vibe, apni tribe” mantra matches the ever-increasing popularity of Korean dramas around the world. Airing K-dramas for a while now, our special Hallyu time slot features hit Korean fictional shows, dubbed exclusively in Hindi on Zing. Cheer Up is the latest exciting addition to that slot. We hope that Cheer Up entertains the viewers and reaches new audience demographics across the country.”

    Zing will amp up the excitement by launching the ‘Hallyu Time Watch and Win’ contest, which will run from 29 August to 9 September. Viewers can win exciting Zing Merchandise by simply watching their favourite K-drama show from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Monday through Friday and answering simple questions!

  • Streaming accounted for over one-third of US’s TV consumption in June: Nielsen

    Streaming accounted for over one-third of US’s TV consumption in June: Nielsen

    Mumbai: In June, streaming captured 33.7 per cent of total television consumption in the US, according to The Gauge, which is Nielsen’s monthly total TV and streaming snapshot. This is streaming’s largest share of TV usage to be measured by The Gauge since its inception in May 2021. Conversely, while viewership for broadcast and cable is traditionally lower during the summer months, June represented the smallest share yet for the formats, which totaled 22.4 per cent for broadcast and 35.1 per cent for cable.

    Total time spent watching TV in June increased slightly (+two per cent) from May, bolstered by 8 per cent uptick in streaming volume over the same interval. Time spent streaming jumped by 23.5 per cent on a year-over-year basis, allowing the digital format to add six  percentage points to its share of TV in 12 months.

    This considerable increase in streaming had a similar effect on streaming platforms, four of which saw record-high viewing shares in June: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and YouTube (including YouTubeTV). Viewers spent 16 per cent more time watching Netflix than the previous month, allowing Netflix to gain a full share point from May and capture 7.7 per cent of total TV viewing—the largest month-to-month growth for a streaming platform. Compared to June 2021, all reported streaming platforms in The Gauge have seen significant growth in viewing, led by Amazon Prime Video (+31.9 per cent), Disney+ (+22 per cent), and Netflix (+18.1 per cent).

    While cable viewing in June fell two per cent from the previous month, the category lost 1.4 share points in TV usage over the same period. Cable continues to show some of the largest year-over-year shifts of any viewing category, dropping five percentage points and -11.9 per cent in viewing compared to June 2021.

    Due to the conclusion of the traditional broadcast TV season, time spent watching broadcast was down 6.7 per cent in June compared to May, and the share of viewing declined 2.1 percentage points. While these declines are fairly typical for this time of year, broadcast viewing this month was down 3.9 per cent compared to June 2021, and a full share point lower.

  • Josh partners with Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle TV to explore international content

    Josh partners with Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle TV to explore international content

    Mumbai: Josh, India’s fastest-growing and most engaged short-video app has entered into a one-year strategic partnership with Deutsche Welle, popularly known as DW, Germany’s leading international broadcaster to provide high-quality content to users on Josh in an engaging short-video format. Through this partnership, DW aims to bolster its reach across Bharat with news and informational content, leveraging the Bharat-centric platform that Josh is.

    Speaking on the partnership, Josh’s Head of Creator and Content Ecosystem Sunder Venketraman said, “We are looking forward to our partnership with DW TV, as we strive to leverage Josh’s reach and deep engagement with Bharat to bring to the users of Bharat news and infotainment from a global perspective. Through this partnership, we aim at empowering our users with the knowledge and global awareness using engaging formats and narratives while also ensuring to meet the local language content needs of our audience.”

    Commenting on the collaboration, DW’s Distribution Manager – DW in Asia Daniel Schulz and DW Distribution Representative for India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Jaya Oberoi said: “At Deutsche Welle, we aim to produce versatile content which is not only entertaining and educative but a conversation starter. Our partnership with Josh presents us with a unique opportunity to connect to a much younger and vibrant audience in India. The timing couldn’t be better as we are planning to expand our bouquet on regional languages with DW’s flagship programs in the coming months. We are excited to be joining hands with Josh, in our journey to distribute DW videos to the heart of India.

    As DW looks at significantly expanding its presence in India, the partnership with Josh enables DW to engage more meaningfully through their content thus making news more informative and engaging. The collaboration further elevates the objectives of both brands as they aim to cater to the demand for high-quality infotainment content in a format that is snackable and engaging while also meeting the local language needs of the users. The international content from DW will be available to users in English and Hindi.

    DW will be bringing information and content on diverse topics such as current affairs, climate change, history, health, and unique human interest among others, from around the world to users on Josh. 

  • Ready Player Me partners with blockchain-based video streaming service Mzaalo

    Ready Player Me partners with blockchain-based video streaming service Mzaalo

    Mumbai: Leading avatar creation platform Ready Player Me has announced a collaboration with blockchain-based video streaming service Mzaalo.

    Following this partnership, Mzaalo will offer a special series of Ready Player Me avatars based on selected IP from iconic movies on the platform to all users across its iOS and Android apps.

    Launched by Xfinite, Mzaalo is a new video on-demand service which used Ready Player Me avatars earlier this year to promote the motion picture release of ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’. Rewarding users with Mzaalo coins which are exclusive to the platform, in return for watching movies, the company plans to give users access to an even wider range of customization assets that will become unlockable for avatars using the in-app currency.

    Talking about the partnership with Ready Play Me Xfinite COO Vikram Tanna commented, “Digital avatars are a stepping stone to the metaverse revolution. We constantly strive to deliver immersive experiences to Mzaalo users, and our partnership with Ready Player Me enables us to take our gamified entertainment ecosystem to the next level. Mzaalo and Ready Player Me are powered by cutting-edge technology, and we are confident that this innovative collaboration will enhance user experiences for both platforms.

    Speaking on this collaboration Ready Player Me CEO Timmu Toke said, “We are delighted to be bringing avatars from Ready Player Me to Mzaalo. With such a great blend of interactivity, gamification and entertainment, we feel this is the perfect partnership and will help our avatars reach a larger audience than ever before. This is our next step in connecting like-minded companies to the metaverse. We have more developments on the horizon and are excited to share what’s in the pipeline very soon.”

  • Indian SVOD audience consumes content in more than four languages: Study

    Indian SVOD audience consumes content in more than four languages: Study

    Mumbai: The Indian subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) audience consumes content in 4.6 languages on an average, found a study by media consulting firm Ormax Media.

    The presence of widely available subtitling and dubbing options available on SVOD platforms makes it much easier for audiences to watch content outside their native language. The study found that for advertising video-on-demand services that outlook on language content is more conservative, primarily because of the low presence of multi-language dubbing on AVOD services, including YouTube.

    The study titled ‘Ormax OTT Audience Report: 2022’ is based on research conducted across more than 6,000 SVOD and SVOD audiences in urban India. As per the report’s estimates for the year 2021, India’s digital video audience universe stood at 353.2 million out of which 31 per cent were SVOD audience while the remaining 69 per cent were AVOD audience.

    As per Ormax’s findings, a large share of the audience of content in the four South Indian languages comes from outside their native state. For example, 88 per cent Malayalam content viewers are from outside Kerala, while 82 per cent Tamil content viewers are from outside Tamil Nadu.

    Dubbing has also fuelled the growth of English and other foreign language content, including Korean, according to the report. It found that 65 per cent SVOD audience and 43 per cent AVOD audience in urban India watch English language content, though a sizable section among them (more than half) prefer to watch it in an Indian language via dubbing.

    Average number of languages of content consumption among SVOD audience are higher in the Southern states, with Karnataka leading with an average of 5.7 languages. UP, Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh rank the lowest on this measure, at an average of less than four languages.

    “Streaming is a fast-growing category in India, and hence, it is important for content creators and marketers to constantly upgrade their understanding of the audiences, their taste, their viewing habits, and their viewing triggers,” said Ormax Media founder and CEO Shailesh Kapoor. “This report is a comprehensive update on how the behaviour and choices of Indian OTT audience have evolved over the course of the pandemic years, where there was unprecedented exposure to streaming content”.

    “A lot of AVOD content is being made in India today with an SVOD lens,” noted Kapoor. “However, this report reveals that the formats and genres preferred by SVOD and AVOD audiences are significantly different from each other. Since streaming has come up in India only recently in a big way, a lot of content greenlighting in the category has happened on instinct so far, without any robust consumer data to aid the decision-making process. The Ormax OTT Audience Report is our endeavour to help platforms make more informed content choices.”