ITV

Tag: Amazon Prime Video

  • Amazon Prime Video, ZEE5 in talks for partnership

    Amazon Prime Video, ZEE5 in talks for partnership

    MUMBAI: Two strong players in the Indian over-the-top (OTT) ecosystem i.e, Amazon Prime Video and ZEE5 are in talks for a partnership. According to a report in the Economic times, the platforms are currently negotiating for a platform deal.

    The report also added quoting an unnamed source that it may take a month for both the parties to reach an agreement. Moreover, the structure of the deal and different models are being explored currently.  

    Whether ZEE5 content should be made available as an in-app or app-in-app format that is also being discussed. ZEE5 which is now more reliant on AVOD revenue is looking to expand its subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) business with the deal.

    While in the United States Amazon has an optional add-on service called Prime Video Channels, Amazon might launch Prime Video Channels in India too. If the deal works out, ZEE5 could be the first service on the platform.

    “Acquiring and retaining a customer and running an app is a completely different ball game altogether. Many people are now discovering that it is good to focus on content and partner with other players for distribution. Also, it is not sustainable to have 30-40 OTT services in a market. Economically too, these kind of partnerships are better for the consumer,” a top executive form a leading streaming service said as quoted by ET.

  • Amazon Prime Video brings to customers the digital premiere of kids’ favourite Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka as part of Prime Day Celebrations

    Amazon Prime Video brings to customers the digital premiere of kids’ favourite Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka as part of Prime Day Celebrations

    MUMBAI: Continuing this year’s Prime Day celebrations, Amazon Prime Video announced the digital premiere of the latest title from India’s most loved animated franchise – Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka, shortly after its theatrical release. The latest release from Chhota Bheem’s franchise includes a special track sung by none other than Punjabi pop sensation and legend Daler Mehendi. The digital premiere of Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka forms a part of Amazon Prime Video’s Prime Day 2019 offering, with 14 new, exciting titles across English and 8 Indian languages are launching on the service. Prime members across 200 countries and territories can stream Chhota Bheem and his action packed adventure in China starting 9th July. 

    Commenting on the film, Singer, Daler Mehendi, said “Chhota Bheem is a favorite amongst children these days. My daughter’s love for the character encouraged me to be a part of Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka, thereby making this collaboration extremely special. She has also played an integral part in the music video and features in it as well. I am thrilled to know that Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka will make its digital premiere on Amazon Prime Video, it’s a must watch for children and parents alike!”

    Chhota Bheem and his friends decide to participate in the annual martial arts competition held at China, where the country's princess gets kidnapped by an evil demon Zuhu. Bheem decides to go after him and end Zuhu's reign of terror.

    Amazon Prime Video has the largest selection of latest & exclusive movies and TV shows, stand-up comedy, biggest Indian and Hollywood films, US TV series, most popular Indian & international kids’ shows, and award-winning Amazon Originals, all available, ad-free, with a world class customer experience. The service includes titles available in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi, Malayalam and Bengali.

    To watch Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka and newest releases in Hollywood & Bollywood, the latest US TV shows, kids’ favourite toons and Amazon Originals, please visit www.PrimeVideo.com or download the Amazon Prime Video app today and sign-up for a Prime membership only at ₹999 annually or ₹129 monthly.

  • Amazon Prime Video premieres Bengali horror film Bhoot Chaturdashi as a Prime Day offering

    Amazon Prime Video premieres Bengali horror film Bhoot Chaturdashi as a Prime Day offering

    MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video continues its Prime Day 2019 celebrations with the digital premiere of Bhoot Chaturdashi, one of the biggest Bengali blockbuster films this year. The psychological thriller, starring Aryann Bhowmik, Ena Saha, Soumendra Bhattacharya and Deepshita Mitra releases across 200 countries and territories on July 8, shortly after its theatrical release. The digital premiere of this action-packed super starrer will be part of Amazon Prime Video’s Prime Day 2019 offering, with 14 new, exciting titles across English and 8 Indian languages, launching on the service as a run up to Prime Day 2019.

    Commenting on the film, debutant director Shabbir Mallick said, “Psychological thrillers are my personal favourite and I wanted to explore the genre with elements of mythology and spirits. Surprisingly, there haven’t been many horror-thrillers in the Bengali film industry in recent times, and we wanted to make an all-out Bengali horror-thriller.  Bhoot Chaturdashi is India’s very own version of Halloween, and creating a story around it was exciting. I’m so glad that it is going to be available as a Prime Day offering for everyone to watch and enjoy.”

    Bhoot Chaturdashi goes on to explore a horrifying turn of events as four friends – Rono (Aryann Bhowmik), Shreya (Ena Saha), Pritha (Deepshita Mitra) and Debu (Soumendra Bhattacharya) head out on a road trip to shoot a documentary at an abandoned house. What follows are a tumultuous series of mysterious happenings leaving the four of them in their biggest nightmare! 

    Amazon Prime Video has the largest selection of latest & exclusive movies and TV shows, stand-up comedy, biggest Indian and Hollywood films, US TV series, most popular Indian & international kids’ shows, and award-winning Amazon Originals, all available, ad-free, with a world class customer experience. The service includes titles available in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi, Malayalam and Bengali.

    To watch Bhoot Chaturdashi and newest releases in Hollywood & Bollywood, the latest US TV shows, kids’ favourite toons and Amazon Originals, please visit www.PrimeVideo.com or download the Amazon Prime Video app today and sign-up for a Prime membership only at ₹999 annually or ₹129 monthly.

  • Amazon Prime Video unveils the trailer for an All-New season of Amazon Original Series – Comicstaan

    Amazon Prime Video unveils the trailer for an All-New season of Amazon Original Series – Comicstaan

    MUMBAI: Following the big success of Season 1, Amazon Prime Video now brings an all-new season of Unscripted Amazon Original Series – Comicstaan as part of Prime Day 2019 celebrations. The 8-episode hunt for India’s next big comedy sensation returns with all new contestants, packed with new jokes and a double dose of laughter starting July 12, 2019. This season, popular comedians Zakir Khan, Neeti Palta, along with Season 1 host Sumukhi Suresh join the panel of veteran judges from the first season – Biswa Kaylan Rath, Kanan Gill, Kenny Sebastian and Kaneez Surka. The quick-witted host of Season 1, Abish Mathew, will be joined this time by another popular name in the stand-up comedy circuit, Urooj Ashfaq. Being a weekly release, Prime Members across 200 countries and territories can watch the first three episodes of Comicstaan Season 2 on July 12, followed by a new episode releasing every Friday.

    Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head, Content, Amazon Prime Video India, said, “When we first launched the service in India, we identified comedy as one of the most important genres for our customers and we focused on providing a strong selection while also creating a disruptive unscripted format for them. We believe we delivered on this promise through Comicstaan Season 1 – which, in many ways, was a game-changer in the way unscripted comedy content is viewed in India. The show with its pioneering format received a phenomenal response from audiences and encouraged us to push the boundaries of creativity further. So here we are, with a brand new season of this exciting show with fantastic new talent, a new jury panel and newer, rib-tickling jokes.  Our customers are in for many treats this Prime Day with Comicstaan and much more!

    Dhruv Sheth, Managing Partner, OML, said, “Our long standing association with Amazon Prime Video continues to grow stronger through successful launches of great new and original content. We are truly proud of the institution we have created in Comicstaan that is not just a show that’s different, funny and engaging but, with the second, it has also become an institute where we are able to discover, hone and present new stand-up comedians to Indian audiences. We are very excited about the new season that is even bigger in scale and talent”.

    Facebook: Comicstaan@ Twitter: Comicstaan@ Instagram: Comicstaan@

    Get ready to laugh with an all-new season of Comicstaan – an eight-episode series where ten contestants from across the country are chosen to compete for the winning title and mentored by comedian judges who are experts in their respective genres of comedy.  Comicstaan is laugh-out-loud funny with funny jokes, quick-witted dialogues and hilarious memorable moments that are relevant in pop culture today. The first three episodes are available to stream on July 12, followed by new episodes weekly, only on Amazon Prime Video.  

    Amazon Prime Video has the largest selection of latest & exclusive movies and TV shows, stand-up comedy, biggest Indian and Hollywood films, US TV series, most popular Indian & international kids’ shows, and award-winning Amazon Prime Originals, all available, ad-free, with a world class customer experience. The service includes titles available in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi and Bengali.

    To watch the upcoming Amazon Original Comicstaan Season 2 and to catch-up on the super successful Season 1 as well as the newest releases in Hollywood & Bollywood, the latest US TV shows, kids’ favorite toons and other Amazon Originals, please visit www.PrimeVideo.com or download the Amazon Prime Video app today and sign-up for a Prime membership only at ₹999 annually or ₹129 monthly.

  • Draft e-commerce policy: ‘Originals’ uncertainty to persist till efficient implementation course is charted

    Draft e-commerce policy: ‘Originals’ uncertainty to persist till efficient implementation course is charted

    India is emerging as a strong market for the over-the-top (OTT) service providers. Increased access to affordable internet, consumer preference for ‘Original’ content, and the ability to carry exciting entertainment in one’s pocket devices have given the perfect boost to this setup. While the consumers are happy about the service offerings, and the edgy content that is coming their way, social activists, government agencies, and moral vigilantes find this unsettling. The concerns around regulation, potential use and abuse of the platforms and welfare of the presumably gullible consumers have ensued, resulting in legislative speculation.

    Although several public interest litigations seeking stricter legislative regime have been filed in the past, the concerned agencies have chosen to defer to the extant framework. Interestingly, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) also will for the licence regime to be applicable to the OTT players. Recently, a draft National E-Commerce Policy was released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, bringing in a greater degree of uncertainty around the operation of OTT platforms in the country.

    The draft policy defines e-commerce as “buying, selling, marketing or distribution of (i) goods, including digital products and (ii) services through electronic network.” Further, the draft policy also uses the terms ‘e-commerce’, ’electronic-commerce’, and, ’digital economy’ interchangeably. It is not far-fetched to presume that OTT platforms will be part of this wider scope. With this definition holding true, the OTT service providers will also be subjected to Press Note 2 (2018 Series) with respect to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in e-commerce.

    To clarify, Press Note 2 does not permit FDI in inventory-based model of e-commerce. This is concerning, because Netflix Originals, Amazon Prime Originals, and Hotstar Specials, all focus on the creation and ownership of the content that they stream. Netflix became the first OTT player to foray into the space of providing original content streaming services when it acquired House of Cards in 2011 (show first aired in 2013). Since then, Netflix has been building on the Originals segment and has created a sizeable repository. This ownership of the content that they stream qualifies the OTT players as inventory-based entities, and so the draft policy delineates them from the marketplace-model which stands to benefit relatively.

    All these platforms have made notable investments in creating original content and preserving exclusivity. Needless to say, a lot of the investment money comes from the parent companies, which are not domestic entities. This might no longer be the case, when the draft policy becomes the law of the land.

    All these OTT players have introduced their Indian consumers to a lot of international content and have also invested heavily in sourcing locally created content to connect to their consumer base better. Several OTT players have also engaged with local artists for multiple projects, allowing them to appeal to a global market with relative ease. An embargo on the inflow of capital might result in considerable changes in content creation and delivery.

    It can be expected that the players might have to move to a marketplace model, to ensure that they can avoid being covered under the scope of Press Note 2 and continue to benefit from FDI. A walkaround solution could be streaming of Original content across competing platforms, a tad bit too much to ask of OTT players for this nascent Indian digital economy. If the draft policy is effected as-is, the OTT players will find it difficult to stream the in-house productions/ Original content on their own platforms.

    Along with the issues discussed herein, the implications around collection and processing of data will also add to the cost of compliance for the OTT players. Bringing in heavy-handed regulations will not be the best solution in the present case. Allowing the OTT players to innovate and compete freely will empower consumers with greater choices. As the current trade demonstrates, even home-grown OTT players are making efforts to bring home richer customer experience with original content.

    Under the extant framework, where the OTT platforms are regulated under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the rules thereof, amongst other claims, subjecting the sector to the proposed regulatory and governance mechanism will not bode well with the players. The harrowing uncertainty will continue to plague the concept of ‘Originals’ till an efficient course of implementation is charted for the draft Policy.

    (Bagmisikha Puhan is senior associate and Abhishek Malhotra is managing partner at TMT Law Practice. The views expressed here are their own and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them)

  • Amazon Prime Video is India’s most-viewed OTT platform in February

    Amazon Prime Video is India’s most-viewed OTT platform in February

    MUMBAI: Amid a large number of OTT platforms, Amazon Prime Video was the most-viewed one in India for the period between 12 February and 3 March. A survey done by market research and analysis company Velocity MR has revealed the high popularity of the international player, which is leaving no stone unturned to make big fortune in the country.

    2,100 participants based in top Indian metro cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Pune were surveyed. The findings revealed that more than 70 per cent of respondents claimed to watch Amazon Prime regularly at least once a week while 56 per cent watched Netflix and 50 per cent of them watched Star India-led Hotstar.

    According to a report by Inc42, Velocity MR managing director Jasal Shah said Amazon Prime has built its popularity on the back of its partnership with telcos which makes the service cheaper compared to other subscription based video on demand services.

    He also added that Netflix’s demand rose due to its originals. As the OTT platform has announced eight more Indian originals, the popularity is not going to fall down anytime soon. On the other hand, Hotstar’s viewership was mainly high on sports content. With IPL starting from 25 March, the viewership of Hotstar is expected to increase more.

    Among other OTT platforms, Voot had a viewership of 28 per cent, Eros Now stood with 17 per cent, ALTBalaji with 13 per cent, Viu had 9 per cent, Sun NXT had 7 per cent and TVF had 6 per cent viewership.

  • Amazon Prime Video to add TV channels in India

    Amazon Prime Video to add TV channels in India

    MUMBAI: Taking an edge over its rival Netflix, Amazon Prime Video is looking at making a bold move. The OTT player wants to be a content housing platform that is soon likely to include even TV channels of India.

    The section is called Amazon Prime Channels and is already live in other countries such as the US, UK and Japan. According to a report by The Hindu Business Line, Amazon Prime Video head of international originals James Farrel said that Amazon Prime Channels is soon heading to India.

     Subscribers here can use their Prime accounts to watch channels like HBO, CBS, Starz, etc., without paying the cable bill. However, users will have to pay for every channel they choose and this will be in addition to the annual prime membership of Rs 999.

    Amazon will still have a tough fight with other streaming platforms in the country that offer channels to watch. Leading OTT player Hotstar provides access to content from all 33 channels of its parent company Star India. Reliance Jio’s TV app also has over 500 channels to choose from.

    Recently, Amazon announced a number of upcoming Originals that are going under production across the world. Some of them include Indian names such as Bandish Bandits, The Last Hour, an untitled drama thriller, an untitled drama, an untitled reality series and Comicstaan (Tamil). Amazon Prime Video India content director and head Vijay Subramaniam, in a recent interview, said that three new languages are to be added in the first six months of this year. The dropping of data rates across telecom operators has been a boon for OTT players and enabled them to go into regional content targeting rural and interior India.

  • Amazon Prime Video Greenlights a new prime rriginal series – Bandish Bandits

    Amazon Prime Video Greenlights a new prime rriginal series – Bandish Bandits

    MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video today greenlit an all new Prime Original Series, Bandish Bandits, a romantic musical created by Still and Still Media Collective. Directed by Anand Tiwari and written by Amritpal Singh Bindra, Bandish Banditsis a unique story of two diametrically different personalities who come together for their love for music.  Created in a an episodic format, this series will see the hugely popular and much loved musical trio-Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa make their debut in the video streaming space and don the hat of music composers for this new Prime Original. Bandish Bandits will launch with all its musical splendour on Amazon Prime Video in 2019 for customers in India and across 200 countries and territories.

    Bandish Bandits is a young, dynamic love story between an excellent Indian classical singer shackled by centuries of tradition and a free-spirited pop star who makes up for her mediocre talent with her sensational skills as a performer. It is the story of Radhe and Tamanna who, despite coming from very different worlds, set out together on a journey of self-discovery to see if opposites, though they might attract, can also adapt and go the long haul.

    Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head of Content, Amazon Prime Video India, said, “At Amazon, we strive to provide our customers with immersive and engaging content across genres.  With Bandish Bandits, we are delighted to bring India’s first streaming original musical – a series that has a refreshingly new take on love. We are thrilled to have the musical trio of Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy on board for this musical extravaganza.”

    Amritpal Singh Bindra, Showrunner, said, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Amazon Prime to tell the story of Bandish Bandits. The show is a millennial love story set against the backdrop of a clash between Pop and Hindustani classical music. Based in Jodhpur, it explores the central theme of whether music is discipline or is it liberation. Bandish Bandits is extremely special to us because the show has been developed completely in house over the course of two years and is being directed by Anand Tiwari. Still and Still Media Collective stands for high quality content and we hope Bandish Bandits will engage and entertain audiences across the globe through the dynamic platform of Amazon Prime Video.”

    Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy, while talking of the new association, said, “We are super excited about Bandish Bandits. It’s our first series in the video streaming space and gives us a wide new canvas to work on. We are extremely excited to be working with Still and Still Media Collective on this passion project of theirs. While the background score will work in tandem to the story-line and building the scenes, the songs in this series form a part of the core narrative. Making musicals is a bit of a lost art form in India, and with Bandish Bandits we hope to bring this artistic format back to popular culture. Prime Video’s large audience and efforts in cinematic story-telling, makes it the perfect home for a show like this. ”

    Amazon Prime Video has the largest selection of latest & exclusive movies and TV shows, stand-up comedy, biggest Indian and Hollywood films, US TV series, most popular Indian & international kids’ shows, and award-winning Amazon Prime Originals, all available, ad-free, with a world class customer experience. The service includes titles available in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi and Bengali.

    To watch the upcoming Prime Original Series Bandish Bandits and newest releases in Hollywood & Bollywood, the latest US TV shows, kids’ favorite toons and Amazon Prime Originals, please visit www.PrimeVideo.com or download the Amazon Prime Video app today and sign-up for a Prime membership only at ₹999 annually or ₹129 monthly.

  • Amazon Prime Video greenlights six new India originals, Mirzapur to get season two

    Amazon Prime Video greenlights six new India originals, Mirzapur to get season two

    MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video today announced the greenlighting of more than 20 new and returning Prime Original Series to go into production in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Japan and Mexico. In addition to delighting local audiences, many of the Prime Original series will be available to stream for a global audience on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

    “We’re delighted to announce the commissioning of more than twenty new and returning series, to be produced in seven countries across three continents around the world. We know that customers watching Prime Video everywhere want to see authentic stories, set in their own countries, and to invest in characters that can reflect their own experiences and diversity,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “We’re excited and committed to amplifying the voices of storytellers from all over the world and to bring their visions to life for our viewers worldwide.”

    “We know our worldwide audience are thirsty for local shows from the best local voices, and we’ve already seen a great customer reaction from Prime Original international series such as the UK’s The Grand Tour and All or Nothing: Manchester City, Germany’s You Are Wanted, India’s Breathe and Mirzapur, Mexico’s Un extraño enemigo and LOL: Last One Laughing and Japan’s Hitoshi Matsumoto Presents Documental,” said James Farrell, Head of International Originals. “As well as delighting local audiences, we’re excited to showcase the work of these talented local writers, directors, producers and actors to be enjoyed by an international audience of more than 100 million Prime members worldwide.”

     New Prime Original series announced today include:

    The Power – UK

    The contemporary global ten-part thriller The Power is written and created by award-winning British author Naomi Alderman, and based on Alderman’s international best-selling and award winning novel. The Power will be produced by Sister Pictures and is Executive Produced by Jane Featherstone (Broadchurch, The Split, Utopia), Naomi de Pear (The Bisexual, Flowers), Naomi Alderman and Reed Morano (The Handmaid’s Tale), who will also direct. The series is produced by Tim Bricknell (Trust, Taboo) and will be shot on location around the world. The Power is the latest UK Prime Original drama series to go into production, and will premiere on Amazon Prime Video worldwide in over 200 countries and territories.

    La Templanza – Spain

    The new Spanish Prime Original drama La Templanza is a dramatic love story set in the 1860's spanning Mexico, Cuba, London and Spain. The series is based on the eponymous bestselling novel by María Dueñas produced by Atresmedia Studios. La Templanza will go into production in 2019, before being released on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

    El Cid – Spain

    Created and produced by Zebra Producciones and written by Luis Arranz and Adolfo Martinez, the new Spanish Prime Original series, El Cid, retells from a contemporary perspective the story of the most famous Spaniard in history, a man trapped between two worlds and two cultures. A nobleman, a hero, a mercenary, a vassal, but also a man who could have been king. El Cid was centuries ahead of his time and became transcended by his own legend. Production will start in 2019 leading to a release in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

    Untitled drama series – Italy

    Written by celebrated Italian writers Nicola Guaglianone and Menotti, the first ever Italian Prime Original drama series is a crime drama set in Milan in the late eighties which tells the story of a shy, insecure teenager who becomes the youngest member of the mafia, not for money, ambition or the desire of power, but to win the love of her father. Produced by Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani's Wildside for Amazon Studios, the show will begin filming in 2019 before launching exclusively on Prime Video in over 200 countries and territories around the world.

    Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo – Germany

    A new German Prime Original series, Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo, is based on the controversial 1978 autobiographical book of the same name [We Children of Bahnhof Zoo]. Adapted for television under head writer Annette Hess (Weissensee, Ku'damm 56/59) and her writers room, this new series tells the story of Christiane F. and her dysfunctional friends, who as teenagers descend into the gritty drug scene of 1970’s West-Berlin. Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo is a modern re-telling of a shocking but compelling story. Produced by Oliver Berben (The Verdict, Shades of Guilt I + II, The Typist, Perfume, Shadowhunters) and Sophie von Uslar (NSU – German History X, Tannbach – Line of Separation) for Constantin Television, the series will go into production in 2019 before being released on Prime Video in Germany. Philipp Kadelbach (Perfume, Generation War, SS-GB) will be directing.

    Bandish Bandits – India

    A new Indian Prime Original, Bandish Bandits is a romantic musical created by Still and Still Media Collective. Directed by Anand Tiwari and written by Amritpal Singh Bindra, Bandish Bandits is a young, dynamic love story between Radhe, a skilled Indian classical singer shackled by centuries of tradition and Tamanna, a free-spirited pop star who makes up for her mediocre talent with her skills as a seasoned performer. Despite coming from very different worlds, the two set out together on a journey of self-discovery to see if opposites, though they might attract, can also adapt and go the long haul. Bandish Bandits will launch exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in 2019 for customers in India and across 200 countries and territories.

    The Last Hour – India

    Created and directed by Amit Kumar (Monsoon Shootout), with Oscar-winning director Asif Kapadia (Amy) as Executive Producer, the new Indian Prime Original, The Last Hour is a crime thriller with a supernatural twist set in a small picturesque hill station in the Himalayas. The Last Hour will go into production in January 2019 before being released on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

    Untitled drama thriller series – India

    Created by Sudip Sharma (writer of NH 10 & Udta Punjab) and produced by Clean Slate Films, this new Indian Prime Original series is an investigative thriller that also acts as a scathing commentary of modern day Indian society and politics. The series will go into production in February 2019 before being released on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

    Untitled drama series – India

    A new Indian Prime Original series, this youth-focused political drama from writer/producer/director Ali Abbas Zafar (Sultan & Tiger Zinda Hai) explores the dark corners of Indian politics. Where powerful politicians, and those who aspire to be, sow chaos and manipulate others to control the country, ruthless pragmatism contrasts with the frustrations and aspirations of contemporary India and the ideals of the country’s youth. The series will go into production in March 2019 and will be released on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

    Untitled Reality Series – India

    Produced by OML, the reality series is a comedy talk-show hybrid where celebrities try their hand at stand-up comedy for the first time. The show is created and hosted by comedian Sapan Verma, member of East India Comedy (EIC).  Each episode will bring together a renowned stand-up comedian and a famous celebrity as they explore the celebrity’s life, discuss moments they found funny while the comedian guides the celebrity to write a comedy set for the first time. Each episode will have Sapan, the guest comedian and the celebrity performing in front of a live audience at a local comedy club.

    Comicstaan (Tamil) – India

     Created and produced by OML (Comicstaan), Comicstaan (Tamil) is a regional language spinoff from Amazon Prime Video’s highly successful Prime Original Series – Comicstaan. Comicstaan (Tamil) is the search for the next big Tamil stand-up comedian, where 6 contestants compete every week in different genres of comedy, judged by an audience and a panel of judges. The contestants are mentored in different genres of comedy by veteran Tamil comedians. In every episode, the contestants, with the help of the mentor, prepare a set and perform in front of a live audience. The finale sees the judges and mentors performing live for the audiences.

    El Presidente – Mexico

    Produced by Oscar‐winning director Pablo Larrain’s production company Fabula (Jackie, A Fantastic Woman) and Gaumont (Narcos), El Presidente, a new Mexican Prime Original series, is a true crime series inspired by the real-life characters and events behind the 2015 “FIFA Gate” corruption scandal.  The series explores the scandal from the  angle of a small‐time Chilean football club president who rises from obscurity to become a key player in a $150MM bribery conspiracy. El Presidente will go into production next year before launching exclusively on Prime Video in  more than 200 countries and territories.

    Untitled sci-fi/horror comedy – Mexico

    This exciting new series takes viewers through a rollercoaster horror story with high doses of suspense and dark humor throughout an apocalyptic battle of epic proportions. With production set for 2019 from Dynamo (Narcos, El Chapo) and Red Creek Productions (Sins of My Father), the new Mexican Prime Original will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories.

    El Juego de las Llaves – Mexico

    The new Mexican Prime Original, El Juego de las Llaves, is a comedy about long-term monogamy, self-realization and desire, set in modern day Mexico City. The series follows four long-lasting couples who are friends that one day decide to swing. In the comedic aftermath, each character must face the impact of the decision they’ve made on their relationship and personal outlook on sexuality. El Juego de las Llaves will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in Mexico and more than 200 countries and territories, excluding the US.

    Untitled Political Thriller Series – Mexico

    In this upcoming Mexican Prime Original series co-produced with Televisa , Mexico City plays the backdrop to an intense and intertwining story comprised of politicians, assassins, government spies and drug cartels all clashing in a struggle to seize control of leadership of both Mexico’s government and its underworld. The series is currently in production and will launch exclusively in 2019 on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories.

    Como Sobrevivir Soltero – Mexico

    A new Mexican Prime Original series produced by Campanario, Addiction House and Sony Pictures, Como Sobevivir Soltero (How to Survive Being Single) is a one-hour dramedy series is a fictionalized take on the life of Mexican actor Sebastian Zurita and a group of his millennial friends who are all unlucky in love. Rich with dramatic comedy, this Spanish language series set in Mexico City explores the highs and lows of what it's like to be single and searching for love in a macho Mexican culture that is rapidly evolving. The series enters the world of Sebastian, an actor whose life seems perfect until one day he discovers his fiancé is cheating on him. Hitting bottom, Sebastian is reunited with his single friends, and their comedic journey ensues as they try to navigate today’s dating market – dictated by apps and algorithms-. Como Sobrevivir Soltero begins production in 2019 and will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

    Untitled Social Issue Series – Japan

    An unscripted Prime Original produced by VICE MEDIA JAPAN, this new social issue series will be the very first original content collaboration between the global youth media company and Amazon Prime Video. Tackling various topics through VICE's authentic and alternative lens, in-depth documentaries will explore socially relevant issues, with each feature followed by spirited panel discussions headlined by popular entertainers and diverse panels of guest commentators.

    New original series announced today:

    The Bachelorette – Japan

    The Bachelorette is a local version of the American reality dating competition format that has aired continuously for 14 seasons in the US since 2003, when it was created as a spinoff of The Bachelor. In The Bachelorette, gender roles are reversed and women are put in the driver’s seat when a single Bachelorette embarks on a journey to find her future husband from a pool of eligible male contestants.

    Returning Prime Original series announced today include:

    Mirzapur Season Two – India

    Mirzapur, which premiered worldwide on November 16, 2018, has been greenlit for a second season. This riveting drama series tells the journey of two brothers lured by the idea of power only to be consumed by it. Mirzapur is an amped-up portrayal of India’s heartland and youth — a world replete with drugs, guns, and lawlessness, where caste, power, egos and tempers intersect and violence is the only way of life. Season two, produced by the makers of the International Emmy-nominated series Inside Edge, created by Puneet Krishna and directed by Gurmmeet Singh will depict the story of this violent world which, when coupled with greed for power, changes people and asks for sacrifices. The show will go into production in 2019 before being released on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

    HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental Season Seven – Japan

    The wildly popular Japanese Prime Original series will return for a seventh season in 2019.  Created and hosted by iconic comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto, Documental is a variety show where 10 idiosyncratic entertainers bet money and their comic pride in an anything-goes, “battle of laughter behind closed doors” for a chance to win a prize of 10 million Japanese Yen. The title “Documental” is a neologism created by Hitoshi Matsumoto from “documentary” and “mental.” The rules are simple: 10 participants bet one million Japanese Yen to enter a room together for six hours. Any person who laughs is immediately evicted, so the challenge is to make others laugh without laughing themselves.

    LOL: Last One Laughing Season Two – Mexico

    Based on Japan’s immensely popular format from HITOSHI MATSUMOTO Presents Documental, and originally developed by Hitoshi Matsumoto, LOL: Last One Laughing season one premiered December 14 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories. Hosted by actor, writer, director and mega-star comedian, Eugenio Derbez (Overboard, How to be a Latin Lover), LOL features ten renowned comedians in a no-holds-barred “battle of laughter behind closed doors” where the aim is to make each other laugh. The last person who manages to keep a straight face wins a cash prize of one million pesos. LOL is produced by Derbez’ 3Pas Studios and Endemol Shine. Production on season two of the series will begin in 2019.

    Diablo Guardian Season Two – Mexico

    Adapted from Xavier Velasco’s award-winning novel of the same name, Diablo Guardian will return for season two with Paulina Gaitan (Narcos), Andrés Almeida (Y Tu Mamá También) and award-winning actor Adrián Ladrón (La 4ª Compañía). In its first season, Diablo Guardian follows the troubling story of Violetta (Gaitan), an adolescent from Mexico who is frustrated with her life and in a moment of desperation steals USD $100,000 from her parents and crosses the border to reach New York City, where she has fantasized about starting a new life. But instead of a living a dream, Violetta is awoken to a harsh reality when she runs out of money, sending her into the arms of the villainous Nefastófeles (Almeida).  Produced by Televisa Alternative Originals for Amazon Studios, season two will premiere exclusively on Prime Video next year and will be available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

    The Grand Tour Season Four – UK

    Today’s news follows the recent announcement that the UK produced Prime Original global hit, The Grand Tour, has also been renewed for a fourth season. Season three of The Grand Tour launches worldwide on 18th January, 2019. Amazon announced in December that The Grand Tour series four will see Clarkson, Hammond & May ditch the tent and take on big adventure road trips that fans around the world love.

  • Broadcasters split over rising production cost of GEC content

    Broadcasters split over rising production cost of GEC content

    MUMBAI: The rise in over the top (OTT) platforms has also led broadcasters and production houses to drive up the investment into its TV shows. The same companies are now even producing for both TV and digital.

    TV still has more headroom for growth, despite the OTT hype. India has 64 per cent TV home penetration and much room for growth. Data also shows that 86 per cent of Indian homes still watch TV on CRT sets and only 3 per cent are multi-TV homes. TV viewing in India has grown from 3 hr 14 min (2015) to 3 hr 36 min (2017) but it is still lower than the US, which boasts of an ATS of 3 hr 54 min. This gives a clear indication that there is immense scope for TV and it will further rise. According to FICCI 2018 report, TV viewership has grown by 21 per cent and it has grown across all age groups. On the other hand, even giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are finding it tough to crack the OTT market here. The country’s online video market, valued at over $700 million, is expected to grow to $2.4 billion by 2023.

    According to Zee TV business head Aparna Bhosle, production cost will not increase. Whereas, Sony Sab, Pal business head Neeraj Vyas believes it will definitely increase. Viacom18 youth music and English entertainment head Ferzad Palia said that the cost of production will not be affected massively but will see a win-win situation for broadcasters, production houses and consumers.

    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria made her point by saying that a GEC needs fresh episodes every day, unlike OTT where the concept is of limited episodes and seasons with intervals. She added that there could be inflation and there could be little talent cost going up but there would not be that kind of inflation where the cost of production will go up.

    Vyas said, “Content house is constantly growing and this is the time where good, differentiated and innovative content is really needed, and that’s not going to be cheap." Whereas, Bhosle said, “The cost of production will not increase. It largely depends on the kind of story, where you set it and how much you want to spend on it. So you can make a story in Rs 40 lakh or you can also make a story in Rs 5 lakh. It all depends on the quality.” She differentiates that OTT viewing is individual in nature while TV here is more family-oriented. So even if shows are being watched on OTT, it does not mean that it’s eating away from television.

    Moreover, Palia said that there have been cases where the cost of production for digital is higher than what one would pay for television. He said that he has also heard about the instances where the bigger production houses had limited bandwidth and had chosen to do a digital show over a television show. According to him, it is a great opportunity for them because they can now monetise it across different screens and also for the production houses who could earlier make content for television to now broaden its base to mobile screens as well. “So I think it’s a win-win and I don’t think it will massively affect the cost of production. The consumers will also have a broader choice for the content that they want to watch and at a time and place where they want to watch,” he said.

    Indian broadcasters produce over 100,000 hours of content annually across languages and formats while newer players are investing higher amounts per episode and are tying up with leading talent. The increase in cost is expected to impact cost of film acquisition more than costs of episodic content. The overall cost of content rose by almost 2-3 per cent of their top line. With OTT companies refusing to take their foot off the pedal, broadcasters have no choice but to pay up. However, if their bid for quality programming fails to generate higher viewership which can be monetised better, broadcasters may not pursue quality, and stick to current cost metrics, according to a report. 

    Jaipuria said that TV needs to be supplied with 10 episodes a day and to meet such demands, the supply has to be at an affordable rate. While there is always inflation, I’m not sure there is going to be so much inflation in the cost of content per se when the demand is so high. "There has to be a demand and supply which will always even out. Even if there is an increase in cost, we are hoping that in the long term, we better our subscription revenue with the tariff order and that means we will invest more in content," she added. 

    Production houses have a similar story to tell. For Peninsula Pictures, led by Nissar Parvej and Alind Srivastava, the cost of production will not observe a hike. On the contrary, Swastik Productions writer, director, and producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary felt the opposite.

    Parvej said that the money is definitely more in the OTT space, but that doesn't make TV insecure.  “TV will be TV. I feel it will go down because I think the advertising money that they used to get before is not the same. The kind of cost we used to get five years is not seen anymore, it has come down and that is why the competition has become stiff. Reliance etc. are pumping in money but how much of it works, we will have to wait and see. There might be a cut-down or might take 4-5 years for OTT to settle,” he said.

    Srivastava chipped in and said, “I don’t think cost of production will go up. It also depends on the storylines like mythological shows can be made in Rs 10-50 lakh per episode.” Since consumers are exposed to global content now, local players, as per Tewary, will have to work on the content quality.

    Twisting it around, Carat India SVP Mayank Bhatnagar gave a different perspective to the mushrooming trend. He said that in 2019, the production quality has to be good but it will all depend on marketing. “People will only watch this content if there is enough awareness. Here, marketing spends will play a major role. If you look at the overall cost, it includes all the marketing expenses plus the production expenses then definitely the cost of production will go up because the kind of clutter that is there in the market, one needs to invest money behind promotion otherwise nobody will notice it,” he concluded.

    According to the KPMG FICCI report 2017, on an average, 20–30 minutes of fictional digital content can cost anywhere between Rs 12–15 lakh, which is higher than content costs on television. Despite significant beliefs from the broadcasters, production houses and media planners, OTT content is equally or more expensive than producing TV shows.