IPTV

VICE to launch digital service with ToI Group 1Q 2017

Published

9 years ago

November 10, 2016

MACAO: VICE Media, the Canadian-American digital media and broadcasting company, will be launching its digital services in India, as part of a slew of other product offerings, in association with Times of India Group in the first quarter of 2017, while actively exploring the option of starting its pay TV service under Viceland brand sometime in the near future.

“”We are working towards a launch of our digital offerings in Q1 of 2017 in India,” VICE Media Co-President James Schwab told indiantelevision in an exclusive interview.

Schwab, who also went off to visit India to confabulate with his India partners this week, was in Macao to deliver a keynote at the CASBAA Convention 2016, which also saw a galaxy of other media industry stalwarts, including GroupM global boss Irwin Gotlieb; Bennett Pozil, Head of Corporate Banking & EVP, East West Bank; Chad Gutstein, CEO, Machinima; Avigail Gutman, Programme Director, Operational Security, Cisco; Nickhil Jakatdar, CEO & Founder, Vuclip; Basil Chua, CEO, AsiaMX; Dave Downey, CEO, INVIDI; Zaid Mohseni, COO, MOBY Group, apart from heads of Indian platform operators like Jagdish Kumar of Hathway and Tony D’Silva of the Hinduja Group.

Schwab, who announced VICE’s launch in Indonesia at the CASBAA Convention, said that India was an exciting market in Asia and that he’s looking at bringing the whole suite of company products in India, of course in association with the Indian partner.

Originally based in Montreal, Canada, VICE re-located to New York City in 2001. In 2014, VICE Media got injected by US$200 million investment (10 per cent equity) by American broadcasting company A&E Networks, a joint venture of The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Corporation. Disney made a second 10 per cent (US$200 million) investment in 2015. Known for some edgy content, VICE also has Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox as an investor.

VICE Media, according to Wikipedia, after starting with a magazine expanded primarily into youth and young adult-focused digital media, including online content verticals and related web series. The news division VICE News, a film production studio, and a record label are among other properties. In February 2016, VICE launched a cable television network in Canada and the United States, Viceland, which is a millennial-targeted network that draws upon the resources of the lifestyle-oriented verticals of the company.

Though India has foreign investment restriction in news ventures of a non-majority stake of 49 per cent, VICE Media feels that it would not hamper their news offerings in association with the Times of India Group. “VICE creates local content in various territories around the world, produced by local hosts, editors, and shooters. VICE looks at each market on an individual basis and makes sure that the content that airs in specific territories is content that young people in those territories care about,” Schwab said.

The Indian market that is witnessing a slew of new product offerings to consumers on traditional and new technology platforms, including OTT, for VICE offers opportunities that could be monetised and exploited. And, as part of the strategy, the launch of pay TV service Viceland with local and foreign content too is in the pipeline.

“As we would like to be on all platforms, including digital, at some point of time we would look at launching our pay TV service too in India. But the launch won’t be soon as we still are working on distribution strategies. We’d launch when we feel the product is right (for the Indian market). But we would like even Indian consumers to experience all our products,” Schwab said.

While speaking at the CASBAA Convention, he admitted that TV was a “powerful tool to reach audience(s) and revenue from subscription TV preserved the “quality of good content.”

With estimated revenues of US$ 915 million in 2015 and total assets worth about US$ 2.5 billion as on 2014, VICE Media is betting big on Asia-Pacific, including India. Partnership with the TOI Group in the form of two joint ventures is part of that strategy, which will witness creation of new local production studios with leading journalists and filmmakers hired for 24-hour local news and lifestyle programming.

“We would like to bring all our capabilities to Asia. However, before we enter a market, we think through the local market economics as we would like our businesses to be self- sustaining. Indonesia and India are great examples (of such strategies) as the population of young people is huge as is growth in mobile usage,” Schwab explained.

VICE also feels that the Indian market is economically viable for the company’s creative agency service despite presence of strong and existing global and domestic players. As VICE’s creative agency, Virtue, works closely with both brands and other media agencies to deliver for clients, Schwab said, “We believe there is interest (in India)…some of our global customers have evinced interest.

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IPTV

Swift TV & Hoichoi Partner to Redefine Regional Streaming

Published

5 months ago

September 10, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

Swift TV, India’s rapidly growing Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) platform, has partnered with Hoichoi, the leading destination for Bengali and Hindi entertainment, to deliver premium regional content absolutely free.

With 800K+ downloads and 130+ live channels in 12+ languages, Swift TV offers an extensive catalog of movies, shows, and live entertainment. This collaboration brings Hoichoi’s acclaimed Bengali and Hindi originals, movies, and series directly to the Swift TV app, at no extra cost.

A major highlight is the exclusive Hoichoi Live Channels—a first-of-its-kind innovation in FAST streaming. The Bengali Hoichoi Live Channel is available internationally (except India), while the Hindi channel is accessible worldwide, including India. This positions Swift TV as the go-to destination for regional entertainment across India, the US, and Canada.

“We’re thrilled to bring Hoichoi’s exceptional content to our audiences,” said a Swift TV spokesperson. “Our bespoke Hoichoi Live Channels set new benchmarks for free, high-quality regional entertainment.”

For Hoichoi, the partnership opens doors to the FAST ecosystem, expanding its reach beyond SVOD audiences while staying true to its mission of celebrating Bengali narratives.

With top partners like Viacom18, Zee, Pitaara, Republic TV, and Bloomberg Originals, Swift TV continues to strengthen its premium content lineup.

Download the Swift TV app today Swift Tv and enjoy Hoichoi’s world-class Bengali and Hindi entertainment—free, accessible, and tailored for every mood, in your language, on your terms.

IPTV

Indian police crack cross-border TV piracy ring run via WhatsApp

Published

6 months ago

August 13, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Indian authorities have dismantled an international television piracy network that streamed over 10,000 channels—including banned Pakistani networks—to customers via WhatsApp groups, in what investigators describe as the first fully exposed cross-border content theft operation.

Police in Ghaziabad registered a case against a 35-year-old businessman accused of running the illicit internet protocol television (IPTV) service in collaboration with handlers across the border, according to StoryBoard18, which first reported the investigation.

The probe began when officers from Tilamod Police Station traced a suspicious WhatsApp group facilitating illegal access to premium television channels. The investigation led to the blocking of 53 domains distributing pirated content under the “IPTV World” brand name.

According to the First Information Report filed on 27 July, the accused illegally streamed copyrighted content from JioStar India Pvt Ltd and its OTT platform JioHotstar without authorisation. The pirated catalogue included popular Indian channels such as Star Plus HD, Star Bharat HD and Colors HD, alongside Pakistani networks Hadi TV and Noor TV—the latter raising national security concerns.

Investigators discovered the accused coordinated with a Pakistan-based pirate, paying in cryptocurrency to obtain copyrighted material. The service reached customers primarily through WhatsApp groups, with payments processed via UPI accounts.

“The modus operandi of the accused was to provide services through WhatsApp groups, which became the key lead in our investigation,” said a senior officer involved in the probe.

The complaint filed by JioStar accused IPTV World of bypassing technical protection measures and hosting pirated content on servers linked to providers including Hostinger and GoDaddy, violating copyright, information technology and criminal laws.

The case represents a breakthrough in understanding digital piracy’s mechanics. JioStar’s John Doe lawsuit before the Delhi high court led to the voluntary appearance of the service provider’s owner, who agreed to a permanent injunction and disclosed the network’s complete operations, including business associates, 300 infringing URLs, and distribution platforms.

These disclosures revealed coordinated cross-border collaboration, cryptocurrency payments, and systematic circumvention of content protection measures. The entire operation—from content sourcing to distribution via WhatsApp and Facebook—was organised from Pakistan.

The investigation marks the first time authorities have fully mapped premium content piracy’s complete lifecycle, from origin to delivery. It exposes how digital platforms initially designed for communication have become conduits for large-scale intellectual property theft.

The case highlights broader challenges facing India’s digital entertainment industry as streaming services proliferate. Content owners face sophisticated piracy networks that exploit encrypted messaging platforms and cryptocurrency payments to evade traditional enforcement mechanisms.

In a related development, police in Rajasthan have registered a separate case against cable operator Hazi Ali for allegedly broadcasting JioStar channels without proper licensing. The ministry of information and broadcasting had cancelled his broadcasting licence in 2024 for regulatory violations, yet he reportedly continued transmitting copyrighted content.

The crackdown reflects heightened enforcement efforts as India’s entertainment industry pushes authorities to tackle digital piracy more aggressively. With streaming revenues at stake and national security concerns over unauthorised Pakistani content, expect more coordinated action against cross-border piracy networks.

Whether these enforcement successes can meaningfully dent the broader piracy ecosystem remains uncertain. As investigators shut down established networks, new operators typically emerge using evolved techniques to evade detection.

The cat-and-mouse game between content owners and pirates continues, now with WhatsApp groups as the unlikely battlefield.

IPTV

What Are Overseas Viewers Loving About Indian TV in 2025?

Published

7 months ago

July 22, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

Indian TV is no longer just for Indian households. Viewers from the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia are tuning in like never before. Shows from Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad are building global fanbases. This isn’t just Bollywood spillover. People are watching daily soaps, thrillers, game shows, and reality series. And they’re sticking around.

So what’s pulling international viewers in? What shows should they watch? This guide answers that. It breaks down the trends, the titles, and how to jump in.

Why Is Indian TV Getting Global Attention?

Streaming platforms made Indian TV easier to find. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hotstar now offer subtitles, better curation, and global access. Shows that were once stuck behind time zones and language barriers are now front and center.

Viewers Want Emotion and Drama

Western shows often focus on subtlety. Indian shows bring the opposite. Big drama. Strong emotions. Larger-than-life characters. That contrast is refreshing for new viewers.

A UK college student said, “I started watching Anupamaa as a joke with my roommate. Three episodes in, we were crying and yelling at the screen.”

Shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Kundali Bhagya are slow-paced but heavy on relationships and emotion. For some, that’s the point. They want time with the characters.

Stories Feel Personal

Family tension. Cultural values. Sacrifice. Indian TV hits these themes hard. And it turns out, they’re universal. You don’t need to be Indian to connect with a mother trying to support her kids, or a couple fighting family pressure.

A viewer in Toronto explained, “My mom is Egyptian, not Indian. But when we watched Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, we both got it. The aunties. The guilt. The family drama. It felt like home.”

What Genres Are Popular with International Viewers?

Soap Operas and Dramas

This is the big one. Indian daily soaps are still dominating. Viewers love the long arcs and family themes.

Top choices in 2025:

● Anupamaa (Hotstar)

● Imlie (JioCinema)

● Parineetii (Voot)

These shows air nearly every day in India but are available with subtitles overseas. New fans binge through hundreds of episodes in weeks.

Mythology and History

Viewers want stories they haven’t seen before. Indian TV delivers with epics and historical tales. Shows like Mahabharat and Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat bring Indian legends to life with colorful costumes and massive sets.

Netflix recently added a remastered version of Ramayan and saw a 40% spike in South Asian sign-ups in the UK that month.

Crime and Thriller

This is where Indian TV is gaining new fans fast. Indian police procedurals and crime thrillers are picking up steam. Series like Crime Patrol, Sacred Games, and Delhi Crime bring suspense, corruption, and high-stakes investigations.

Even fictionalized stories like Asur and Rudra offer a mix of culture, mystery, and edge.

One American fan posted, “Asur was way better than most crime shows on HBO. It’s weird, smart, and totally messed up in a good way.”

Reality and Game Shows

People outside India are discovering the chaos and charm of Indian reality TV. Whether it’s cooking, dancing, or singing, the emotion is always on full blast.

Top picks:

● Indian Idol

● Dance Deewane

● Kaun Banega Crorepati (India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?)

These shows often go viral on YouTube too. Full clips with subtitles bring in millions of views from outside India.

What Makes Indian TV Different?

Indian TV doesn’t hold back. Characters cry hard, love harder, and argue louder. The sets are colorful. The music is constant. The stakes feel huge even when the plot is small.

New fans enjoy how immersive it is. Watching Naagin might feel like stepping into a whole other world of shape-shifting serpents and epic curses, but that’s exactly why people like it.

Another key difference is the length. Indian series can run for years. Some have thousands of episodes. That’s a lot of screen time, but it also means you get attached.

How Can Overseas Viewers Start Watching?

Use Subtitled Streaming Platforms

The best platforms for Indian TV in 2025:

● Hotstar: Great for StarPlus and Star Bharat shows

● Netflix India: Best for crime, thrillers, and originals

● Amazon Prime Video: Wide mix of drama and comedy

● ZEE5: Strong in regional content (Marathi, Bengali, etc.)

● Sony LIV: Good for soaps and sports

Most of these platforms offer subtitles in English. Some are adding French, Spanish, and Arabic too.

Don’t Start in the Middle

Some shows have long histories. Jumping in at episode 1472 won’t help. Find recap videos or start with new seasons. YouTube channels often post “story so far” clips.

Explore Different Languages

Indian TV isn’t just Hindi. Try Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, or Malayalam shows. Each brings a different style and pace.

One Australian viewer shared, “I watched Koodevide (Malayalam) with subs. I don’t speak a word, but the acting pulled me in. Now I’m learning bits just to follow better.”

What’s the Cultural Impact?

As more people watch Indian TV globally, it’s shaping how India is seen. Not just Bollywood, but real India. Families, food, arguments, humor. This kind of media spreads soft power.

It also boosts language interest. Duolingo reports that Hindi and Tamil enrollments from U.S. users rose 22% year-over-year in early 2025.

And it builds community. Facebook groups, Reddit threads, and TikTok edits connect fans across borders. Some viewers even learn how to remove google search result pages to hide spoilers before watching new episodes.

Final Thoughts

Indian TV is loud, long, and full of life. That’s why global viewers love it. In 2025, it’s not just about watching from afar. It’s about joining the party.

If you’re new, start with Anupamaa or Delhi Crime. Then try a regional language show. Explore genres. Share clips. Get hooked.

Because once you’re in, you’re in. Indian TV doesn’t just tell stories. It pulls you into them.