ITV

Category: Video On Demand

  • Sony’s video service Crackle leaves UK shores

    Sony’s video service Crackle leaves UK shores

    MUMBAI: The Sony run video service – Crackle – is no more crackling among UK users and the media conglomerate has had to take the tough call of shutting it down completely from 1 April.  

     

    The company posted a notice about the closure on Crackle’s UK homepage that read: “We’d like to thank all those who have supported and enjoyed Crackle UK. As of April 1, 2014 Crackle’s UK service will no longer be operating.”

     

    Crackle offers viewers free, ad-supported video content, including full-length movies and TV series. The service also operates in US as well as Canada, Australia and close to 20 countries across Latin America, and those operations will not be affected by this closure.

     

    One of the major reasons for the call to shut shop in UK seems to be the increasingly competitive market in the country. Netflix entered UK two years ago and reached out to an estimated 1.5 million subscribers and there is also Amazon, which has been fighting hard to stay relevant by closely aligning its Lovefilm service with its core brand.

     

    Both companies have also tried to outbid each other on content rights for British viewers, undeniably raising the costs for Crackle and any other third-party service to compete. And in the case of Crackle, Sony also had to monetise the service through ads, which may be even harder in a comparably small market like UK.

  • Sony Liv signs distribution deal with BoxTV

    Sony Liv signs distribution deal with BoxTV

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media’s video on demand service Sony Liv has inked a deal with Times Internet’s BoxTV to make its video content available on BoxTV’s website. The service will be available to BoxTV users worldwide.

    Speaking on the development, Sony Entertainment Network executive VP – new media, business development and digital/syndication Nitesh Kripalani said in a press statement, “Our vision is to make Sony Liv the leader in Video Entertainment and to reach audiences, both organically and inorganically. We need to expand our reach and be where our consumers are. This distribution partnership with Box TV is a step in fulfilling our vision.”

    BoxTV users will get to see over 18 years of content from Sony’s stable, covering genres including drama, comedy, thriller and many more on the platform. The content will include currently running shows that BoxTV users can watch across MSM’s leading channels – Sony and Sab. In addition to original complete content, the deal will also include content made specifically for the web that include sneak peek videos, “Quickisodes” and “Short-crunch” episodes.

    BoxTV business head Pandurang Nayak added, “We are very happy to bring Sony Liv’s content for BoxTV users. The association is also a big new leap for BoxTV where we’re building more and more on the platform through aggregation of content via unique tie-ups with existing digital brands like Sony Liv. We believe that this enhances the experience for users to get more at a single destination and enables content brands like Sony Liv to reach out to wider base of audience, creating a win-win for both our services, with the end-user reaping the maximum benefit.  It is an exciting step forward for us to build BoxTV as a platform of choice for both premium content owners and users alike.” 

  • Shotformats, today unveils Kaanchi Music APP

    Shotformats, today unveils Kaanchi Music APP

    MUMBAI: Shotformats, one of the top 2 New-Age Digital Distribution Company in India, launched The Digital Music album in an offline app format for the most awaited movie Kaanchi –The Unbreakable. The music app was unveiled by the hands of the noted film-maker Subhash Ghai whose romantic flick – Kaanchi, set against the backdrop of breath-taking rural locales and her fight against the power, is set for a National release next month.

    The launch witnessed live performances of Kaanchi songs by Anwesha, Ankit Tiwari and Salim-Sulaiman composed by Ismail Darbar and Salim-Sulaiman. They captivated the audience with the breath-taking numbers in presence of the Mishti, the lead actress, Kartik, the lead actor of the film, Salim – Sulaiman, Ismail Darbar, Irshal Kamil and Jackie Shroff.

    On the occasion the Showman – Subhash Ghai said, “I am glad to unveil this First-ever in India, the Digital Cassette from Shotformats. I love to be upbeat with the latest technological advancements. Not only this, I have also used Auro 11.1 sound technology in the film. The music in Kaanchi is majorely drum based and with Auro 11.1, it will enable the powerful sound impact while you watch the film.”

    Commenting at the event, Niyati Shah – MD & CEO of Shotformats says “I am glad to be a part of this event. I have worked very closely with Subhash Ghai ji since my Tips music days and today sharing a stage with him and he unveiling the very first Digital Cassette in India for Shotformats is a huge honor for all us”
     

    With the evolving App Era, Shotformats has been revolutionizing the concept of the applications by going the offline way. It has various offline applications under the brand name – Biscoot; a desi version which has several movie apps, movie gaming apps and various utility applications. Shotformats caters across the sectors and age-groups. They also have several awards to their credits for bringing in the innovation in the digital distribution sector.

     

  • New video platform to compete with YouTube, Vimeo

    New video platform to compete with YouTube, Vimeo

    NEW DELHI: A new video platform for lifestyle content Wonder PL hopes to compete with YouTube and Vimeo and capitalise on the soaring popularity of online video streaming.

     

    Backed by Universal Music Group, Qualcomm Ventures, former Apple executive Pascal Cagni and a personal investment by Vice Media president Andrew Creighton, Wonder PL which was launched on 13 March features topics from wellness to food to entertainment targeting women.

     

    Wonder PL is differentiating itself from YouTube by targeting professional content makers to use its platform for an annual fee. Whereas, YouTube is free to anyone who wants to upload a video.

    “We want to be the Whole Foods of video,” said Wonder PL founder and CEO Sofia Fenichell. “YouTube is Wal-Mart.”

     

    Wonder PL is going after brands and content creators such as the National Film Board of China and chef Tom Aikens. Wonder charges an annual fee of $300 for its members to use the platform to upload videos. “We know everyone is going to produce more videos,” Fenichell said.

     

    While more people are uploading and consuming video, it is a crowded market. Google’s YouTube, which is ad-supported, has more than a billion unique users per month who watch more than six billion hours of video.

     

    IAC/Interactive’s Vimeo provides a platform for professional users too. Anyone can post videos to the Vimeo platform for free but it charges up to $199 for more comprehensive features like additional storage, support and the ability to sell video on demand. Vimeo takes a 10 per cent cut on all videos using this additional feature. The platform has over 22 million registered members and reaches a global monthly audience of about 150 million.

     

    Fenichell said Wonder will depend on subscription revenue for now but could eventually start providing opportunities for sponsored content. People view videos on Wonder in an ad-free environment.

     

    “The industry currently trades a free or nominal membership fee in exchange for taking very high platform commissions,” she added. “We believe this is an unsustainable model for creators who need to generate value from their work.” 

     

  • Celebrate Holi with Sony LIV’s Digital Pichkari!

    Celebrate Holi with Sony LIV’s Digital Pichkari!

    MUMBAI: Sony LIV, Multi Screen Media (MSM’s), premium video-on-demand brand, announced its special programming line up for this weekend’s Holi festivities. With Sony LIV, you no longer have to worry about missing Holi special shows on TV, while you are away with your friends and family, celebrating the festival of colours. Sony LIVallows you to catch up on all the episodes and videos from your favorite show,Jab Aap Chahein.

     

    Sony LIV will also host a “Digital Pichkari – Holi Special”series where hit Holi-themed episodes from popular serials will be featured. Some of these popular shows include FIR, Kya Huaa Tera Vaada, Mai Kab Saas Banungi, Chidiya Ghar, Kahani Comedy Circus ki, Taarak Mehta and The Rasoi Show

     

    The highlight will be“SAB Ki Filmy Holi”eventwhere you will be able to watch electrifying performances by the marquee characters of SAB. This year, the theme is “Bollywood”, hence the characters will be performing with a filmy twist, where they will talk about the Bollywood film characters that influence them the most and dress up like them as well.

     

    To top it all, LIV will run a mix of your favorite Sony and SABshows that are currently off-air. Enjoy the best of the best erstwhile episodes from “Main Kab Saas Banungi”, “Kahani Comedy Circus ki” and “The Rasoi Show”, to name a few.

  • Most Millennials still pay for TV

    Most Millennials still pay for TV

    MUMBAI: While it’s not startling that Millennials (consumers in the 16-24 year-old age group) watch a lot of TV online, it might be more unexpected that the vast majority of them haven’t cut the cord, according to a new study (PDF) from Verizon Digital Media Services (VDMS), the company’s cloud video unit.

     

    As a group that translates to multiple screens and represents about 21 per cent of total consumer spending, Millennials spend three times as much of their TV time watching online – 34 per cent versus 12 per cent among non-Millennials, VDMS found in a study that surveyed 1,000 consumers (800 Millennials and 200 non-Millennials) and based its findings in part to in-home interviews with eight selected Millennials.

     

    But 75 per cent of the Millennials surveyed haven’t cut the cord and still pay for TV through a traditional MVPD, the study revealed.  And most (64 per cent) also pay for an online streaming subscription, versus 33 per cent of surveyed non-Millennials. Only 14 per cent of the Millennials surveyed said they had never watched TV from an online source, versus 44 per cent among non-Millennials.

     

    Here is a look at how the Millennials surveyed broke down their total TV distribution time, 41 per cent was for live TV, 34 per cent online, 15 per cent on the DVR, and 10 per cent using VOD.

     

    But broadcasters could have some reason for concern. While Millennials are generally brand loyal, not a single broadcast network made the top ten list of brand loyalties among the Millennials surveyed, VDMS said.

     

    According to the survey, the top 10 brands among Millennials were: Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, Google, Walmart, Netflix, Apple, Microsoft, McDonald’s, and Samsung. Verizon was 16th.

     

    Among other findings:  40 per cent of Millennials want access to live TV online, 40 per cent want 4K/Ultra HD video, 25 per cent want device and session shifting, and 19 per cent want interactive TV.

  • CEA: Digital sources for content on the rise among US adults

    CEA: Digital sources for content on the rise among US adults

    MUMBAI: The latest study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) finds that while the vast majorities (79 per cent) of online US adults obtain the video content they watch from traditional TV programming providers such as cable, satellite or fiber-to-the-home, a significant number of viewers are turning to digital sources as well.

     

    In addition to traditional television programming, DVD/Blu-ray discs (66 per cent), free video streaming services (47 per cent) and paid video streaming services (37 per cent) are also common sources of video content.

     

    More than half (53 per cent) of consumers say they skip commercials, yet they site traditional TV programming as being critical to the discovery of new video content, for both movies and TV shows. The sources consumers use most frequently to discover new movies are channel surfing (44 per cent), on-screen program guides (44 per cent), previews at the movie theater (39 percent), commercials on TV (39 per cent) and word of mouth (37 per cent). The leading ways consumers discover TV shows are channel surfing (50 per cent), on-screen program guides (47 per cent), TV commercials (47 per cent), word of mouth (34 per cent) and network websites such as NBC or CBS (27 per cent).

  • Pokemon set to stream on Netflix

    Pokemon set to stream on Netflix

    MUMBAI: Two seasons of the hit animated franchise Pokémon, as well as two of its movie spin-offs, are becoming available to stream on Netflix beginning today.

     

    The agreement will allow Netflix customers in the US, Canada, Latin America, the Nordic countries, UK, Ireland and the Netherlands to watch the animated adventures. The content includes a season of Pokémon: Black & White, as well as a season of Pokémon: Indigo League. Also featured are the dual films Pokémon the Movie: Black-Victini and Reshiram and Pokémon the Movie: White-Victini and Zekrom.

     

    The popular franchise follows aspiring Pokémon Master Ash and Pikachu, his Pokémon partner, as they embark on several adventures.

  • Hulu moves out of Japan market

    Hulu moves out of Japan market

    MUMBAI: The online video on demand (VOD) service giant Hulu has decided to move out of the Japanese market. It’s been three years since it has operated in the region and now Hulu is selling its business Nippon Television Network Corporation.

     

    Hulu launched in Japan in September 2011. Now, Nippon TV is taking over the operations, in a transaction expected to close in early spring. The move marks Nippon TV’s entry into the SVOD business.

     

    As part of the acquisition, both companies will be entering into a separate agreement in which Hulu will license its brand and technology to a subsidiary of Nippon TV, as well as provide support services that will enable Nippon TV to continue to make the SVOD service available under the Hulu brand using the same platform. Nippon TV’s popular shows and original exclusive content will launch on the Hulu service in Japan.

     

    Nippon TV also plans on consolidating on the already prevalent business of Hulu and will look to add on its already boisterous presence in terrestrial broadcasting with delivery of content through the internet. The company is confident of using Hulu’s brand and wide content line-up and technology to further its brand value.

  • Amazon’s Prime Instant Video strengthens its library

    Amazon’s Prime Instant Video strengthens its library

    MUMBAI: Amazon and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) are getting into a content licensing partnership that will see Prime Instant Video streaming past seasons of MTV’s Teen Wolf, along with a host of old classics.

     

    The popular series will air exclusively on Amazon’s online-only subscription home. The deal will also make available for streaming past MGM movies such as The Usual Suspects, Raging Bull and Thelma and Louise. More movies are set to be available on Prime later this year.

     

    The company is glad to add more MGM classic films such as Raging Bull and Thelma and Louise to Prime Instant Video; and is confident that its customers will love these great films.

     

    Teen Wolf is an exciting addition to the library of MGM content available for instant streaming exclusively to Amazon Prime customers. The company strives to deliver its most popular TV shows and movies on a variety of platforms which its audiences can access from anywhere.