Category: Press Release

  • Nickelodeon celebrates SpongeBob SquarePants’ 20th birthday

    Nickelodeon celebrates SpongeBob SquarePants’ 20th birthday

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon – India’s leading kids entertainment franchise boasts of some of the beloved classic shows in its line-up and one such iconic character is celebrating his 20th birthday. Yes, you heard that right! This year marks the 20th birthday of Nickelodeon’s most renowned and beloved SpongeBob SquarePants, the super cool sponge who has inspired pop culture and been a part of every kids’ life since the 90’s. The channel has planned a year-long celebration to celebrate this Bikini Bottom resident through the goofiest gags, memes, fun activities, birthday specials on television and a lot more all year round.

    Nickelodeon in India kicked off the birthday bash festivities by premiering brand new episodes of the show. The channel Nick HD+ also paid tribute to some of the marquee moments of the show on social media platforms with relatable memes and the campaign hashtag being #BeLikeSpongeBob. Nickelodeon is teaming with online micro-fiction platforms like Terribly Tiny Tales and inviting people to share stories on how SpongeBob has been part of their lives, taking fans down memory lane.

    In another birthday special the SpongeBob 3D movie is set to be re-released in August across PVR Playhouse screens pan India (including Mumbai, Delhi, Noida, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai). The movie screening will provide SpongeBob fans i.e. kids as well as adults with one more reason to celebrate the comic capers and fun escapades of the adorable Sponge.

    Globally the brand Nickelodeon apart from the various collaboration and numerous activities all year round partnered with The Pantone Colour Institute to create official SpongeBob Yellow and Patrick Star Pink colours in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary. Not only this but Kyrie Irving and Nike have joined forces with SpongeBob for a colourful range of shoes, which is available for purchase globally. Besides this, from fashion (Moschino X SpongeBob) to automobiles (Toyota) Nickelodeon has gone all out to celebrate this legendary character’s birthday and we’re just getting started cause this is going to be the #BestYearEver !

    Viacom 18 Head- Hindi and Kids TV Network Nina Elavia Jaipuria commented on the celebrations, “Nickelodeon has always introduced characters that kids have loved and adored. Classic characters like SpongeBob SquarePants are a phenomenon and have entertained kids across generations with his nautical mischief. Driven by nostalgia, the internet’s favourite Sponge has been inspiring many pop culture trends globally, as well as in India. This ever optimistic character sets an example for all fans to #BeLikeSpongeBob. The birthday of this pop culture icon will be celebrated all year long with various interesting birthday specials.”

  • Be the #Changemaker with SEVEN by MS Dhoni’s New Collection

    Be the #Changemaker with SEVEN by MS Dhoni’s New Collection

    MUMBAI: Let your wardrobe evolve this spring by investing in the exciting new styles designed for young and energetic millennials. Crafted for all young #Changemakers out there, the collection encompasses a wide range of running and training apparel as well as accessories for all sports enthusiasts. With prices starting at Rs. 699, the new collection is available on various e-commerce platforms and on SEVEN by MS Dhoni’s official website.

    Having decoded the trend this season, SEVEN’s new range features designs which will hit the right chord with the youth by blending cool styling, functionality, adaptability and great prices.

    According to Lokesh Mishra, COO, Rhiti Sports “The sportswear industry is a highly competitive and dynamic one, with several brands coming into the fashion space and creating a niche for themselves. Also, the demand for evolving and fashion-forward sports apparel is quite high, thanks to the athletic lifestyle that millennials are now espousing and this is where SEVEN has an edge over other brands.”

    He further added “being an indigenous brand, SEVEN by MS Dhoni takes into account the requirements of the Indian sportsperson and designs its apparel accordingly. Further, having legendary cricketer MS Dhoni as its ambassador means that the brand benefits greatly from his insights and inputs and incorporates his suggestions in all its offerings.”

    The newly launched SEVEN by MS Dhoni collection encompasses a complete range of sportswear emulating the ideology of the youth while also injecting a hep exuberance. The key offerings this season include the Privetee, Prive Polo, AZTEC tee, Roken Puff tee, Your Grace Polo, Bird Eye Polo, Rain long-sleeve tee, Keep running crop tee, Killing it crop tee, Trio crop , Camo tee, 7 cot tee, Camo uppers and trendy caps.

    Each of SEVEN’s products incorporate latest technologies across categories and is a perfect blend of style and comfort to ensure utmost pleasure to the wearer. 

  • Two Premieres in one day. for the love of canines! celebrate international dog day as &flix premieres A.X.L. and A Dog’s Way Home for the perfect Sunday-entertainer

    Two Premieres in one day. for the love of canines! celebrate international dog day as &flix premieres A.X.L. and A Dog’s Way Home for the perfect Sunday-entertainer

    MUMBAI: The faithful companion who’s always there by your side, especially in times of need. The best friend you've always yearned for. Nothing compares to the unbreakable bond between a man and his dog. In a lead up to International Dog Day &flix, the destination of the biggest Hollywood hits, is all set to bring a slice of this emotion alive with heart-warming stories of your favourite canines’ escapades. As part of the Flix First Premiers, these two films – A.X.L and A Dog's Way Home, will premier this Sunday, August 25, 7PM onwards. While one takes you on a 400-mile journey, the other makes you leap forth into a world with the wonders of robotics as you ask yourself – how far would you really go for your beloved canine counterpart?

    A science-fiction film that thrives on adventure, A.X.L on &flix depicts the story of a teenage boy who encounters and befriends one of the military’s most-confidential creations – a robotic dog. Code-named by the scientists who created him, A.X.L stands for Attack, Exploration, Logistics whose sole purpose is to protect the soldiers. Created with the most advanced, next-generation artificial intelligence, A.X.L in the film goes absconding due to an experiment gone wrong. As fate would have it, young Miles (Alex Neustaedter) chances upon this robotic invention who is found hiding in the desert. Soon the two build a strong connection and a beautiful camaraderie based on trust, loyalty and compassion. Pressure soon builds as the military, with the fear of this superior-tech reaching the wrong hands, is seen on a hunt to bring back A.X.L. The film features the duo in a deadly face-off with the scientists as the two go to any lengths to protect each other in an epic-adventure.  Will they survive this battle?

    ‘A lot can happen between lost and found.’ A Dog’s Way Home on &flix is the story of Bella, a young pup who grows up in the arms of her loving owner Lucas (Jonah Hauer-King) also featuring Emmy Award Winner Edward James Olmos. However, this unconditional bond is soon broken as she is separated from her beloved owner. Kept in a strange new home, miles away from Lucas, Bella soon escapes into the wilderness and prepares for a 400-mile journey to find her way back home. The film traces her spirited encounters with the many new people she meets along the way as she adds a sparkle of hope and happiness to their troubled lives. Abandoned yet motivated, will Bella finally find her way back home?

  • Get the ultimate Premier League fan experience with Watch’n Banter on Hotstar VIP

    Get the ultimate Premier League fan experience with Watch’n Banter on Hotstar VIP

    MUMBAI: As Premier League gathers steam, it’s time to get the squad together and join in the action on Hotstar VIP. An exciting feature, Watch’nBanter lets viewers watch the match LIVE and chat with other football fans on the platform.

    With the LIVE social feed, viewers can now enjoy the game, discuss match highlights, show allegiance to their team or simply take jibes at the opponents – ALL on a single screen. Users can also invite their friends to Watch’nBanter and join the chat that’s armed with emojis, stickers and club logos.

    Every Premier League match will be available in Full HD on supported devices, with expert analysis pre-match, at half time and post-match. Viewers who missed the match can catch all highlights of the game at their convenience.

  • IBC 2019: Synamedia unveils new solutions and services to combat piracy

    IBC 2019: Synamedia unveils new solutions and services to combat piracy

    MUMBAI: At IBC 2019, Synamedia, the world’s largest independent video software provider, will unveil enhancements to its security portfolio that help combat the evolving threat from hyper-distributed piracy in the age of infinite entertainment.

    Synamedia’s Streaming Piracy Disruption managed service features a single workflow across both broadcast and IP streaming for easy and comprehensive security management on any distribution and delivery network. Also new is the ability to disrupt leaks immediately without waiting for third-party takedown.  Synamedia also offers an effective way for its Infinite customers to convert viewers of pirated content to legitimate subscribers by replacing basic takedown warnings with notices that encourage viewers to sign up, resulting in new revenue streams.

    “Often, consumers are unaware of what constitutes an infringement, and will see their video provider in a much more positive light if offered the carrot of a legal alternative, rather than a stick in the form of a shutdown,” said Steve Hawley, Managing Director of Piracy Monitor.

    Another highlight from Synamedia will be Intelligent Piracy Monitor for Streaming Piracy Disruption customers. Unlike other analytics services that only use standard web site crawling techniques, Synamedia offers deeper intelligence about piracy from its world-class Operational Security (OpSec team). This gives customers a detailed analysis of the nature and scale of the problem and the impact of anti-piracy initiatives.

    Also new from Synamedia’s OpSec team is an anti-piracy service for any content owner wishing to deepen its understanding of pirates’ activities. This new service leverages significant investment in Synamedia’s forensics lab with a focus on reverse engineering, as well as an expanded team that comprises psychology and criminology experts working alongside engineers, intelligence analysts, cyber- and  field-investigators.

    Synamedia is also unveiling enhancements to its award-winning Credentials Sharing Insight, which helps combat both casual and for-profit credentials sharing and turn casual account sharing into incremental revenues. New security responses for compromised accounts are tailored differently for the account owner and the accounts sharers.

    At IBC, Synamedia will also highlight its platform-agnostic approach by showcasing deployments on RDK, Android TV and Synamedia Evo. Synamedia has pre-integrated its security software into set-top boxes from Android TV ecosystem partners including Sagemcom and Arris, helping customers accelerate their time to market. Synamedia’s security software is also deployed on Vodafone Deutschland’s GigaTV service running on RDK devices, and on its Evo platform at a large number of customers worldwide.

    “Our holistic view of the ever changing piracy threat ensures our products and every customer deployment has security hard wired into it, benefitting from our technology leadership and insight gleaned by our top notch OpSec team” said Jean-Marc Racine, chief product officer, Synamedia. “The next chapter in our battle with piracy is to double down on our efforts to ensure the entire video ecosystem works together to reduce consumer confidence in pirated services so demand falls away fast.”

    Synamedia’s VP Intelligence and Security Operations, Avigail Gutman, will be speaking on the topic of ‘Protecting Content Distribution’ at the IBC Cyber Security Forum on Thursday, 12th September at 15:00.

    Orly Amsalem, Senior Product Manager, Security, Synamedia will be on an IBC Content Everywhere hub panel ‘Securing content to protect revenues and the eco-system’ on Tuesday, 17th September at 11:00.

  • ClearTax launches ‘Big Filing Days’: India’s 1st large-scale tax-filing initiative

    ClearTax launches ‘Big Filing Days’: India’s 1st large-scale tax-filing initiative

    MUMBAI: Bangalore based Financial-Technology platform ClearTax, that provides solutions for Income Tax filing, GST and Mutual Fund Investments has launched ‘BIG Filing Days’ on 21st and 22nd August 2019.

    The deadline for filing income tax returns is just around the corner. A lot of anxiety surrounds tax filing in the run-up to the due date for filing income tax returns. Taxpayers face undue pressure of last-minute filing and need a quick and easy way to finish their compliance in a timely manner. At ClearTax, we recognise that taxpayers are nation builders. It has been our mission to make financial lives simple for the citizens of India and to nix the pain that comes with tax filing. With this in mind, ClearTax has launched the first version of  ‘BIG Filing Days’ on 21st and 22nd August 2019 to help taxpayers file their taxes on time.

    The ‘BIG Filing Days’ offer exciting rewards to our users if they finish filing on the given dates. The rewards offered by ClearTax include Netflix subscriptions handed out every minute, and Google Home smart speakers every hour and a free trip to Thailand every day.

    This is the first time in India that such a large-scale tax-filing event has been created for tax filers. In addition to these rewards, all users who file taxes on ClearTax will separately get an assured basket of rewards worth Rs. 10,000! ClearTax has extended these rewards till the 31st of August. Since its inception, ClearTax has offered free and hassle-free filing experience to over 40 Lakh Indians over the years.

    To participate in the event, one can log on to the ClearTax.in or download the newly launched ClearTax e-filing app and finish filing IT returns in a simple and hassle-free way. Those who complete tax filing on 21st and 22nd August 2019, will be eligible for the rewards. The winners will be notified via an email about their winnings.

    Commenting on the announcement, Archit Gupta, Founder, and CEO, ClearTax said,” This is a unique offering from ClearTax. We want every taxpayer to be rewarded for paying taxes and filing their returns; taxpayers contribute to nation-building, we want to applaud their efforts.”

  • Mother’s Recipe strengthens its instant mix category; unveils healthy Indian breakfast option ‘Instant Upma’

    Mother’s Recipe strengthens its instant mix category; unveils healthy Indian breakfast option ‘Instant Upma’

    MUMBAI: Breakfast is regarded to be a significant meal because it breaks the period of overnight fasting, replenishes your glucose supply and offers other essential nutrients to maintain your energy levels up all day long. Keeping in mind the significance of breakfast, Mother’s Recipe, India’s leading household name in the ethnic food division, has expanded their instant mix category with the launch of traditional Indian breakfast Upma. The South Indian speciality prepared using the freshest and authentic ingredients like semolina (suji), Black gram dal (Urad dal) Onion, green chilli, cumin, curry leaf, lemon powder and asafetida seasoned for your convenience with mother’s magical touch. Consumers just need to add hot water and it is ready to eat in five minutes.

    Speaking about the category, Sanjana Desai, Chief Strategy officer, Mother’s Recipe said, “The instant food is gaining popularity in India because of the comfort and accessibility of products that provide the genuine flavour of Indian food across retail channels. According to a report by Future Market Insights, India’s instant food market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15.7% and reach a valuation of US$ 284.4 Mn by 2020. The key factors driving the instant food is employee affluence and growing millennial customers along with a rise in working women's population which has resulted in altering lifestyles and less time for home cooking. As a result, we continuously innovate in line with the growing consumer expectations while providing our customers with the finest quality & tastier products.

    Mother’s Recipe’s Upma pack is available in 73gm Cup Upma and 170 gm pillow pouch across all hypermarkets, local stores, exclusive brand outlets and Mother’s Recipe e-store in major & mini metro  cities. Cup Upma is competitively priced at Rs.50/- and pillow pouch at Rs. 35/-, the instant mix Upma has shelf life of nine months.

    The current company scenario:

    Mother’s Recipe was founded in 2001 by Desai Brother’s Ltd. and has successfully expanded to all regions across India as well as 42 countries around the world. What started as a pickle brand has today grown exponentially, consisting of a diverse product range including, Condiments, Pastes, Spices, Papads, Appalams, Cooking Pastes, Curry Powders, Ready to Cook Spice Mixes, Ready to Eat meals (Canned and Retort Packing), Mango Chutneys, Ethnic Chutneys, Chaat-Chutneys, Canned Vegetables, & Mango Pulp.

    Sanjana Desai, Chief Strategy Officer, Mother’s Recipe, said, “The FMCG market is ever-evolving, and consumers are always looking for something new and exciting. The Indian FMCG market has been growing steadily at 25% per annum. Even the pickles, where Mother’s Recipe are market leaders have been growing at 10.7% CAGR and RTE/RTC categories at 17% CAGR. With a market that is cluttered with multiple players, Mother’s Recipe as a brand has continued to stand out due to its diverse range of products, and constant focus on reinvention, to meet consumer demands”

  • Fakt Marathi up the ante at content creation

    Fakt Marathi up the ante at content creation

    MUMBAI: Fakt Marathi channel which was launched 2016, is upping the ante by coming up with fresh shows from July 2019 onwards. Fakt Marathi has launched two new shows catering all age audiences. Fakt Marathi now has an enriched hour and half of original content in prime-time from 8-9.30pm.

    The channel is currently offering its audience a fictional show titled 'Sindhu' and a nonfictional skit-based comedy show called 'Dhoomdhadaka'. In today's day and age of tension, 'Dhoomdhaka…Comedicha Surgical Strike' serves as a humorous stressbuster. This show aims to jolt out the current Marathi Tv comedy and promises to deliver unlimited fun for all the humour loving audiences.

    On the contrary, marathi audiences are witnessing 19th century era on their screens through a new serial titled Sindhu. Setting self apart from the typical Saas-Bahu saga, this costume drama shall definitely be a visual treat to the audiences.

    Original content shows along with the few others in the pipe-line are touted to give audiences something fresh in terms of its content and artists. Both the new shows have thrown some interesting results. So, now the channel airs its devotional content in the morning, best of Marathi cinema at noon and original content at the evening prime time slots.

    Thus the audience can witness cinematic excellence as well as the right mix of programming catering to all entertainment needs. Overall, Fakt Marathi now is a complete package of entertainment and drama, available across all DTH and cable platforms.

    Fakt Marathi is a favourite Marathi television channel dedicated to all entertainment needs of viewers with best programs and exhibition of choicest Marathi Cinema. The free to air Marathi channel is ready to change the experience of entertainment for its audiences. Now, Fakt Marathi is one of the fast growing Marathi GECs. It is all set to compete with the competitors through medium of original content creation.

  • From novels to personal screen – these book adaptations on Hotstar Premium are a must watch

    From novels to personal screen – these book adaptations on Hotstar Premium are a must watch

    MUMBAI: While some people find joy in turning pages and letting imagination take over, others simply prefer enjoying the celluloid version of the same story. As the constants debate of ‘which is better’ continues, here’s a look at some TV shows based on books that you can enjoy right away on Hotstar Premium.

    SHOWS:

    Killing Eve  

    Based on a series of novellas by British author Luke Jennings entitled Codename Villanelle, the globally acclaimed spy-thriller series ‘Killing Eve’ is the story Eve and Villanelle who are bound by a mutual obsession that is as fascinating as it is psychotic. Featuring Sandra Oh and Jodie Corner as the leads, other cast members include Fiona Shaw, David Haig, Kim Bodnia, Darren Boyd and Sean Delaney.

    Big Little Lies

    Based on author Liane Moriarty’s book of the same name, Big Little Lies tells the tale of three mothers whose seemingly perfect lives unravel to the point of murder. Featuring a renowned star cast – Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley and Zoë Kravitz in pivotal roles, the second season of the show dropped last month with Meryl Streep and Poorna Jagannathan joining the cast.

    Sharp Objects

    With a total of eight Emmy award nominations, the psychological thriller mini-series is based on author Gillian Flynn's debut novel ‘Sharp Objects’. After treating her mental illness, crime reporter Camille Preaker returns to her hometown to solve the murder of two young girls. The show features Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson in lead roles.

    Game of Thrones

    A show that needs no introduction, Game of Thrones is based on the hugely popular book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin. Game of Thrones depicts nine noble families wage war against each other to gain control over the mythical land of Westeros. Meanwhile, a force is rising after millenniums and threatens the existence of living men.

    The Loudest Voice

    Based on a book by Gabriel Sherman, ‘The Loudest Voice’ is a seven-part limited series that brings forth events around the life of Roger Ailes, the former CEO of Fox News. Focusing primarily on the past decade, the series touches on defining moments in Ailes' life, including his experiences with world leaders that gave birth to his political career; and the sexual harassment accusations and settlements that brought his reign to an end.

  • Zee Telugu’s Zee Heroes – Episode 3, an art of ‘Picasso’

    Zee Telugu’s Zee Heroes – Episode 3, an art of ‘Picasso’

    MUMBAI: Zee Telugu’s latest show Zee Heroes had showcased the contestants performing stunts that have not only kept the audience on the edge but also brought the participants face – to – face with their biggest fears. As the tasks and the competition gets tougher; the ability and courage of the contestants are getting challenged at every level. An amalgamation of thrill, adventure, courage, reality, entertainment and a whole lot of fear, Zee Heroes goes on-air every Sunday at 9:00 PM only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD.

    As a sneak peek to the next episode, in the wilderness of Thailand, 10 daredevils perform a dynamic stunt atop a moving truck. Team Ashwa gets the opportunity to play first, while Gaja team contestants distract their opponents by throwing the water balloons on them, as Ashwa team is painting a sketch on a moving truck. Amidst the game, Akarsh Byramudi from Ashwa team gets hurt due to water balloons.

    The end of every episode will witness a face-off task, and the winner of this task will be elected as Garuda contender. This week Vidhyulaekha, Milind, Sunanda and Samrat will fight for the title of Garuda contender and the Garuda winner would earn the power to save themselves or a friend from elimination.