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Tag: Amazon Prime

  • Amazon launches Prime Video mobile edition at Rs 599 per year

    Amazon launches Prime Video mobile edition at Rs 599 per year

    Mumbai: Prime Video has launched its mobile edition at Rs 599 per year. This single-user, mobile-only video annual plan offers everyone access to high-quality entertainment exclusively on their mobile devices and will now be available to all customers in India.

    Created especially for a mobile-first country like India, Prime Video mobile edition is a major step towards making premium entertainment across languages as ubiquitous as smartphones in the country.

    With this move, Prime Video is expanding the accessibility of its mobile edition, which launched last year as a telco-partnered product in collaboration with Bharti Airtel.

    Customers who want to enjoy the complete Prime Video experience, including multi-user access, streaming across devices including smart TVs, and the ability to enjoy content in HD/UHD in addition to having access to all Prime benefits, including free fast delivery on Amazon.in, ad-free music with Prime Music, Prime Reading, and other Prime benefits, can continue to sign up for or upgrade to Prime plans for Rs 1,499 annually.

    Prime Video mobile edition provides standard definition (SD) quality streaming to customers, giving them a chance to explore and watch Prime Video’s rich catalogue of Indian and international movies, Amazon Originals, LIVE cricket, including the eagerly-awaited upcoming India vs. New Zealand Men’s Cricket Series in November 2022, and much more on their mobile devices, all for Rs 599 per year.

    Talking about the launch, Prime Video India vice president Gaurav Gandhi said, “Over the last six years, we have seen a huge growth for Prime Video in India. With viewers from 99 per cent of the country’s pin codes, the service has become the preferred destination for premium content. Guided by our mission of making high-quality entertainment even more accessible across the country, we are excited to launch Prime Video Mobile Edition’s annual plan. This worldwide-first innovation saw an incredible response from Indian consumers when we launched it via a telecom association last year, and building on that success, we are extending its access, with it now being made available directly for subscription through Prime Video’s app and website.”

    Adding to it, Prime Video international vice president Kelly Day commented, “India is one of our fastest-growing and most engaged locales worldwide. Our success in the country can be attributed to innovations that are focused on creating an exceptional entertainment experience for customers. In fact, India is turning into an innovation hub for Prime Video. An initiative like Prime Video Mobile Edition, which had its genesis in India, is now being rolled out across multiple countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia. We are confident that the new Prime Video Mobile Edition annual plan will further help accelerate the growth of our India business and give an even larger customer base access to the high-quality content on the service. With this launch, we look forward to entertaining every Indian with our popular on-demand entertainment content and live sports.”

  • Ficci Frames 2022: Experts discuss the evolving trends in M&E across segments

    Ficci Frames 2022: Experts discuss the evolving trends in M&E across segments

    Mumbai: The media and entertainment industries have evolved over the years, and post-pandemic growth has been shared across segments.

    In a recently organised session on ‘M&E Consumption: Evolving Trends Across Segments’ at Ficci Frames 2022 discussed how media has evolved and new emerging trends are helping or affecting business. The panel discussion was moderated by EY LLP media and entertainment advisory services partner Ashish Pherwani.

    The expert panellist included Viacom18 youth, music and English entertainment head Anshul Ailawadi, International Media Acq (IMAC) CEO Shibasish Sarkar, Indian music industry president & CEO Blaise Fernandes, Pocket Aces CEO & co-founder Aditi Shrivastava and Amazon Prime Video head & SVoD business head Sushant Sreeram. 

    Starting the discussion, Anshul Ailawadi shared insights on how MTV has reached every corner of the country and helped youth have an audiovisual experience. 

    “There are two specific needs: the discovery of the channel and an audio-visual experience, and we try to give them to the audience.” He also expressed that each platform has its unique role.

    Shibasish Sarkar shared, “We have seen a substantial amount of growth in digital consumption. This discussion happens whenever there is a new emerging medium, and will it end the cinema? But it has survived, and even after a pandemic, people are watching movies in theatres.” 

    He further added that in these two years, there has been a substantial level of quality content consumption that has happened by the audience across all video platforms.

    “Today, Hindi language consumers have been consuming the best of Korean, Tamil, Telugu, and Spanish language content, so the consumer’s expectation for good quality content is higher,” he said.

    “Storytelling does not necessarily always need to be expensive. He added that it has to be in touch with the audience with the thought, “What will the audience like?”

    Blaise Fernandes expressed that music is not regional anymore and any music can be consumed in any part of the world; creators just need to choose the right platform.

    When talking about user-generated content, Aditi expressed that “audience is a god, content is a king, and distribution is a queen.”

    Audiences are starting to understand the business of content. And that is opening up possibilities for creators and platforms.

    She said, “Earlier, audience creation was restricted to putting something out. They’re trying to become obsessed, and some of them are becoming influencers. Brands are ditching celebrities and collaborating with digital influencers and micro-influencers to promote the product.”

    “UGC is going to move in the direction where people will buy things and make money based on content,” she added.

    She believes 80 per cent of big influencers and 20 per cent of small influencers will be in the ratio. “You will see digital avatars are beginning to participate in metaverse concerts,” she said.

    Anshul, agreeing with Aditi, said, “New monetisation opportunities, new sorts of avenues, and new platforms will emerge in coming years.”

    Sushant Sreeram talked about content on Amazon Prime where he said, “We programme to an extremely heterogeneous customer expectation across languages, across accessibility, across price points, and across an infrastructure and streaming simplicity.”

    He further added, “We absolutely continue to explore all forms of collaboration. In our journey over the last six years, we have explored a variety of models to work with producers, studios, and theatres.”

    While discussing TV vs OTT, Aditi expressed that it’s important to define because TV is just a device now and its content is consumed on mobile phones as well. Anshul talked about how the audience has done demarcation between OTT, TV, social media, and their functions.

    Aditi further talked about how her company is focusing more on short formats and engagement with the audience rather than how many views they have got.

    “We would like to see content increase across platforms. We would like to be a content provider. Now we are working on engagement. Distribution is very important. But it’s also very expensive to build. The way we are building distribution is by having channels across platforms. We have put out content that our marketing spend and we believe in organic growth.”

    While talking about price and content, Shibasish expressed that the audience won’t pay if they don’t like the content. He believes that good content will make audiences pay irrespective of the medium, and that all mediums will co-exist if they serve good quality content.

    Sushant agreed with Shibasish and talked about how international content on Amazon Prime is consumed not only by the Indian diaspora but also by natives of those countries because of quality content.

    Sushant suggested three things to keep in mind: customer delivery, collaboration with creators, and empowering the creative economy. Aditi advised to drop the elitism when it comes to content, Shibasish asked creators to understand the audience, Blaise stressed that only subscriptions could help creators  while Anshul emphasised how audiences can hate or love but can’t ignore creators.

  • Prime Video onboards Varun Dhawan as its first #PrimeBae

    Prime Video onboards Varun Dhawan as its first #PrimeBae

    Mumbai: Varun Dhawan has been named as the first “#PrimeBae” on Prime Video. Dhawan will make sure that the hordes of Prime Video fans are the first Bae (Before Anyone Else’) to learn about the upcoming Prime Video projects, in addition to being the first to get their hands on all the news and updates about them.

    The launch of #PrimeBae is a significant step in Prime Video’s aim to build an even more personal and deeper relationship with its viewers by delighting fans who constantly seek the latest information on their favourite Amazon originals & exclusives.

    Prime Video, India head of SVoD business Sushant Sreeram said, “Over the years, we have built a strong relationship with our customers, who now rely upon us as their trusted friend—one who encourages, inspires, motivates, and can be relied upon to entertain at all times.”

    “We see customers’ love and appreciation for us in their enthusiasm and inquisitiveness to know more about our upcoming shows and movies. With Varun as our first-ever #PrimeBae, we aim to build an even more tight-knit community of super-fans, taking them deeper and helping them experience the inner world of Prime Video,” said Sushant.

    The brand hopes to establish a humorous and tongue-in-cheek connection with viewers through Varun Dhawan, who is not only a well-known movie star but is also known and admired for his down-to-earth and friendly persona. As #PrimeBae, Varun brings his off-screen personality, style, humor, and love for Prime Video’s content to build a fun-loving conduit between the brand and the customers.

    Sushant further added, “Our shows and movies aim to entertain and immerse audiences in their world—why should the latest news on them not be entertaining too? And what better way to kick-start Prime Bae’s journey than with one of India’s favourite actors, Varun Dhawan? His humour and style are sure to make this an interesting ride. Honestly, there’s no knowing what details #PrimeBae might share next. Just get on-board and see where it takes you!”

    Talking about his new role as #PrimeBae, Varun said, “Actors often call their on-screen roles ‘challenging’, but trust me, my new real-life role as #PrimeBae is even more challenging. Let me tell you, getting the andar ki khabar ‘before anyone else’ from Prime Video on their upcoming series and movies is an almost impossible task! But, as a Prime Video super-fan I have accepted the challenge to uncover all the latest news from all the amazing series and movies in the works at Prime Video and share this information with my fans and content lovers across the world. To begin with, I can share with confidence that the first mazedar announcement I will make as Prime Video’s #PrimeBae next week will absolutely delight you. I have all the scoop on it.”

    Audiences will be treated to Varun’s personal, inimitable style, as he reveals the scoop on topics ranging from “where is Srikant Tiwari off to next?” to “what happens to Munna Bhaiyya?”, leaving no stone unturned to reveal what Prime Video has managed to keep hidden!

  • Streamers account for 16% of investments in European original content

    Streamers account for 16% of investments in European original content

    Mumbai: The global streamers’ share of investments in European original content grew rapidly to 16 per cent in 2021. Netflix accounts for more than half (56%) of the global streamers’ investments in European original content, down from 92 per cent in 2019, as other streamers, notably Amazon Prime, increased their investments.

    A new report, ‘Investments in original European content—2011–2021 analysis,’ has been published by the European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The report is based on data from Ampere Analysis. In 2021, private broadcasters accounted for 43 per cent of investments in European original content, slightly ahead of public broadcasters’ 41 per cent. Within the 16 per cent, Netflix claimed nine per cent, Amazon Prime four per cent, Disney+ two per cent and HBO Max one per cent.

    The report analyses the evolution of financing of original European content by broadcasters and global streamers since 2011. In the report, “original content” refers to all categories of original works (fiction, documentaries, game shows, talk shows, etc.). “European” refers to the EU27 + UK + Norway.

    Streamers’ investments have increased both for acquisitions and original content. However, investments in original content have grown faster than acquisitions and now account for the majority of content investments in Europe since 2020.

    Total investments in original European content have sharply increased with the entry of the global streamers into the European market. These investments by streamers were accompanied by a knock-on effect: they faced new competition and new standards for TV shows. Private broadcasters also increased their investments while public broadcasters faced budget constraints. 

    The increase in investments in original European content by global streamers has chiefly benefited Spain, and to a lesser extent, the UK. Spain’s economy therefore relies strongly on global streamers, whose investments account for 38 per cent of all investments. The comparatively low level of investment by the public broadcasters in Spain is compensated to an extent by the above-the-average investments of global streamers in the country. Germany and France appear to be lagging behind in their ability to capture global streamers’ investments.

    The report’s other key findings are:

    • Whereas the audio-visual sector in Europe was stable between 2011 and 2019, the share of revenues invested in original content has grown since 2015. But global streamers’ investments did not substitute for broadcasters’ investments.
    • On the contrary, broadcasters increased their investments, at least until the pandemic, faster than before the entry of the global streamers on the European market.
    • Global streamers kept on increasing their investments during the pandemic, therefore offsetting the decrease in investments by the broadcasters.
    • The comparison of the content investments between categories of players faces limits: the broadcasters’ costs associated with the news are not available; among the streamers, investments in acquisitions are only available for Netflix and Amazon Prime.
    • In the case of Netflix and Amazon Prime, 54 per cent of their content investment was in originals and 46 per cent in acquired films and TV.
    • Nonetheless, investments in sports rights explain a large portion of the differences between players: none for global players, limited for public broadcasters, and dominant for private broadcasters.
    • Private broadcasters significantly increased their investments in original content, even though sports rights costs were experiencing strong growth.
    • In turn, public broadcasters’ investments have likely been limited by stagnating resources.
  • Promax India Conference and Awards 2022: Focuses on engaging content, creativity, marketing ideas and others

    Promax India Conference and Awards 2022: Focuses on engaging content, creativity, marketing ideas and others

    Mumbai: Promax India is back with its 20th edition of Promax India Conference and Awards 2022 to be held in Mumbai on the 10-11 August, 2022 with workshops, sessions, one-to-one engagement with the speakers and honouring the best at the most awaited Promax India Awards 2022.

    Amazon Prime Video India head Aparna Purohit is the Awards Chair for this year.

    For Promax India, this year marks a milestone as it completes 20 remarkable years of honouring the best brands for their creativity, innovation, and storytelling. The coveted Promax India Awards introduced new additions this year. Some of the new categories include Best Static Image, Best Voice-Over Performance, and Best Social Media Content.

    Additionally, brands will also compete for The Creative Brand of the Year category.

    Some of the best minds in the industry will be hosting workshops titled, “The New Promo 10 Commandments” with the popular Rob Middleton, mentor-holding little promotions and marketing hands all across Asia for almost three decades now.

    Dynamite Design’s Sheetal Sudhir pitches in with principles and theory of motion and how you can use that to give a brand deeper values and dimension; digital mantras by RT Digital deputy creative & innovations director Ivor Crotty brings to us stories that build bridges; at the heart of building digital audiences is the power of the story, and the mantras of storytelling are at the centre of our endeavour. His mantra: what do you need to do to give your story the power to push through and to bring your audience with you on the journey?

    The essential masterclass session for all broadcast marketing professionals—whether new to writing briefs or looking for time-saving tips and hacks—is being presented by The Brief Doctor: Tim Hughes. His session explains how to maximise creative output by focussing on audience needs and business goals by setting a simple and effective creative strategy and managing through stakeholders.

    Some of the sessions to look out for are by well-known speakers – Trailer Voice Artists Agency owner Brent Hagel, Lee Hunt LLC founder Lee Hunt, Comedy Central voiceover artist Rahul Mulani, FX Network EVP marketing and on-air Stephanie Gibbons.

    Over the coming weeks, the speakers’ highlights will be shared based on their exchange of viewpoints and ideas.

  • Non-linear TV viewing draws attention of viewers in US, Europe & Australia: Omdia’s Report

    Non-linear TV viewing draws attention of viewers in US, Europe & Australia: Omdia’s Report

    Mumbai: New research from Omdia reveals that nonlinear viewing continues to gain greater hegemony in the daily viewing habits of TV users across the US, Europe, and Australia. Online long form and social media video viewing is growing beyond the previous year’s boom in viewing time.

    Omdia’s new ‘Cross-Platform Television Viewing Time Report – 2022’ finds that across all the markets covered, the average total daily viewing time reached 362 minutes per person per day in 2021 (six hours and two minutes), down 0.5 per cent on last year. Declines in linear TV, online short form and pay TV VoD account for this minor drop in viewing, with the former seeing the sharpest falls. Growth in online long form and social media video viewing, however, counterbalanced these declines, leaving overall viewing to drop by just two minutes.

    Linear TV viewing time decreased in all markets in 2021. The end of restrictions and lockdowns that marked most of 2020 was the primary cause, with the continual shift toward on-demand viewing also driving this.

    Omdia’s TV and Online Video team senior analyst Rob Moyser commented, “In highly developed markets such as the US and the UK, 2021 will likely be the last year where linear TV predominates over non-linear TV viewing. On a platform-by-platform level, however, linear TV still remains, by some distance, the most popular way to watch TV in the markets covered.”

    Online long form was a key area of growth across all markets, driven largely by incumbent online subscription services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, and the launch of several new OTT services such as Discovery+ and Paramount+. In total, long-form viewing grew by eight minutes, reaching 68 minutes, eight minutes ahead of social media video viewing.

    Time spent viewing video content on social media platforms increased by nine minutes in 2021 to an average of 60 minutes per person per day across the nine markets analysed. TikTok was the standout performer for video growth during the year, with the platform set to overtake Facebook in total time spent for the first time in 2022.

  • Khatron Ke Khiladi returns for Season 12; Colors on boards 5 sponsors

    Khatron Ke Khiladi returns for Season 12; Colors on boards 5 sponsors

    Mumbai: India’s most awaited stunt-based reality show Maruti Suzuki presents Khatron Ke Khiladi Charged by Thums Up is set to return on Colors with a blazing new season. Host and renowned filmmaker Rohit Shetty will challenge 14 daredevil contestants with exhilarating stunts as they navigate through their innermost fears in the beautiful boulevards of Cape Town. 

    With central theme – ‘Bachke Kaha Jaayega, Khatra Kahi Se Bhi Aayega’ the show is packed with lots of Darr and Terror, infused with tonnes of Dare and Josh, the contestants will have to showcase a lot of Jigar and Himmat to tread through the Khatras

    Along with Maruti Suzuki as the presenting sponsor and Charged by Thums Up as the powered by sponsor,  the show also welcomes Ching’s, Amazon Prime and Hershey’s Kisses as the associate sponsors for the season. Produced by Endemol Shine India, Khatron Ke Khiladi will premiere on 2 July and air every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm, only on Colors.

    Viacom18 head – Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “At Colors, it has been our continuous effort to deliver a variety of content through our fiction and non-fiction properties. In the reality entertainment segment, we have pioneered different genres over the years that include dance, singing, talent, voyeurism, and we are once again delighted to bring back our action-based show Khatron Ke Khiladi. Last season the show broke significant records by becoming the number one non-fiction show in the Hindi GEC space and has received immense love from the viewers and sponsors alike. The excitement amongst the fans is palpable and we are looking forward to a super, action-packed new season.” 

    She further added, “We are elated to continue our partnership with Maruti Suzuki as our presenting sponsor, and welcome on board  ‘Charged’ by Thums Up as the powered by sponsor along with Ching’s, Amazon Prime and Hershey’s Kisses as the associate sponsors.”

    The daredevils who will be competing this season are TV personalities including Rubina Dilaik, Shivangi Joshi, Sriti Jha, Mohit Malik, Kanika Mann, Aneri Vajani and Chetna Pande. Ace choreographer Tushar Kalia and Nishant Bhat along with social media sensations Faisal, Jannat Zubair, Erika Packard and Bigg Boss season 15 contestants Pratik Sehajpal and Rajiv Adatia are also on the list.

    Viacom18 chief content officer – Hindi Mass Entertainment Manisha Sharma said “Khatron Ke Khiladi presents a unique blend of action and entertainment that the viewers eagerly look forward to every season. We are thrilled to return with another power-packed and adventurous season with the action maven Rohit Shetty as the reigning host. He has been an integral part of the show and he will be adding his personal touch and expertise to some of the featured stunts. The new season will have many adrenaline-surging stunts performed by 14 feisty and popular mixes of contestants. This time the contenders will be seen exploring new arenas of Cape Town which will test their mental and physical tenacity like never before.”

    Host and action maestro Rohit Shetty said, “Every year, Khatron Ke Khiladi gets bigger and better with larger-than-life stunts and I am looking forward to elevating the action quotient this season. This year, we have an extremely promising line-up of contestants who have been giving each other a tough competition. The show has been built on a larger scale wherein the viewers will see many new stunts in the unexplored locales of Cape Town. Being a part of Khatron Ke Khiladi has always been extremely special to me.”

    Maruti Suzuki India senior executive director – marketing and sales Shashank Srivastava commented, “We are excited to be a part of season 12 of Khatron Ke Khiladi. This is our fourth association with Khatron Ke Khiladi in a row and the partnership has only gone from strength to strength. Khatron Ke Khiladi is an extremely popular show and has created a niche for itself, especially amongst the youth of our country. At Maruti Suzuki, we constantly strive to bring out more youthful and dynamic imagery. We are extremely delighted to associate the iconic Swift with Khatron Ke Khiladi, which since its launch in 2005 has revolutionised the premium hatchback segment in India. The all-new Swift stands out from the crowd and has earned the love of nearly 2.4 million customers with its upright stance, sporty performance and unmistakable road presence which emphasises individuality. Our partnership with the show resonates with Swift’s proposition of performance and being Limitless. We believe that the Khatron Ke Khiladi contestants of this season will bring limitless action to the viewers through their limitless performances on the show.”

    Coca-Cola, India & Southwest Asia, head – integrated marketing experiences Sumeli Chatterjee said, “We have recently introduced ‘Charged’ by Thums Up to the Indian market, and we are excited with the immense consumer applause and appreciation that has been received for this electrifying drink. With double caffeine and double kick, this beverage is a perfect partner to the action-packed Khatron Ke Khiladi franchise. We are absolutely thrilled to be part of this season.”

    Endemol Shine India CEO Rishi Negi said, “Over the years, Khatron Ke Khiladi has become the most sought-after destination for action on television. The show has carved a niche for itself and this season is going to be nothing short of a blockbuster. With Rohit Shetty as the host and 14 incredible and popular contestants, the bar is already set high. The viewers will see many jaw-dropping stunts that have been designed on a bigger scale with immense precision whilst enhancing the thrill. With some intense action unfolding in Cape Town, we look forward to a great season ahead.”

    Colors has designed a mega marketing and digital campaign to announce the arrival of its flagship action-based reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi. A seven-day on-air campaign has been initiated on network channels across Hindi movies, Hindi news, music and regional channels with upto 1,000 spots. High-impact billboards featuring Rohit Shetty and the contestants have been installed in more than 200 sites across prominent sites in Mumbai, national highways, Mumbai Airport digital screens and Delhi. 

    On the digital front, in keeping with the show’s central theme – ‘Bachke Kaha Jaayega, Khatra Kahi Se Bhi Aayega’, fans can use interactive Instagram filters to match the expressions of their favourite khiladis. A series of fun videos showcasing contestants’ preparation where they test their reflexes and guess what is in the boxes provided to them has been creating a storm on the internet. Elevator-style contestant-unveil videos wherein they are seen entering the stunt arena have been uploaded on the channel’s social media platforms. The meticulous planning that has gone into the campaign has set the stage for another blockbuster season of Khatron Ke Khiladi. 

  • PlayboxTV appoints Rannvijay Singha as their first brand ambassador

    PlayboxTV appoints Rannvijay Singha as their first brand ambassador

    Mumbai: Recently featured on Shark Tank India, Indian actor, TV personality and video jockey (VJ) Ranvijay Sigha has been appointed as the brand ambassador for PlayboxTV.

    PlayboxTV is a super OTT Aggregator and economical entertainment app aiming to give every Indian easy access to online content. It aggregates noteworthy OTT platforms including but not limited to VOOT, Amazon Prime, SonyLIV, ZEE5, ShemarooMe and EPIC ON into a single app at an affordable price. Given Rannvijay’s extensive experience in television and media distribution, he is agreeably the most compatible fit as the company’s premier brand ambassador.

    PlayboxTV’s mission is to partner up with the best OTT platforms and consolidate their shows and movies to serve a unified community of consumers who are always on the lookout for good content.

    Regarding this exciting partnership, Ranvijay stated, “I’m extremely delighted to join the PlayboxTV family as a brand ambassador and investor. Having spoken to Aamir behind the scenes of Shark Tank India and having understood the product in-depth, I am confident that this collaboration will last for years to come.”

    The PlayboxTV app allows you to watch multiple OTT platforms and Live TV channels, on both TV and mobile devices. It customises your interests and choices and gives you recommendations based on your viewing history. With over 1,00,000 movies, 350+ Live TV channels and your favourite shows, the app makes sure that you can view your favourite content anytime, anywhere.

    PlayboxTV founder and CEO Aamir Mulani said, “We are beyond delighted to have partnered with Rannvijay and hope to disrupt this OTT industry. This partnership also opened a new horizon to the business with his expertise in media & Content IP Creation for the last 20 years.”

  • Bharti Airtel launches new broadband plans for connected TV homes

    Bharti Airtel launches new broadband plans for connected TV homes

    Mumbai: Bharti Airtel on Monday announced the launch of new bundled plans for its home broadband customers. The highest tier plan at Rs 1,599 includes subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ Hotstar. All the plans include subscriptions to 14 OTT (over-the-top) platforms and 350 TV channels and speeds up to 300 mbps.

    The new Airtel Xstream fiber broadband plans include single-login access to the OTT platforms SonyLIV, Eros Now, Lionsgate Play, Hoichoi, ManoramaMax, ShemarooMe, Ultra, Hungama Play, EpicOn, DivoTV, Klikk, Nammaflix, Dollywood and Shorts TV for customers who purchase the Airtel 4K Hybrid TV Box.

    The home broadband market has grown by 2X while the number of OTT has jumped from 9 in 2012 to 40+ in 2021. Bharti Airtel has launched the new bundle plans keeping in mind the entertainment needs of connected TV homes.  

    Bharti Airtel CEO – homes Vir Inder Nath said, “Our new plans are built for India’s emerging entertainment needs. Through these bundle offers we plan to offer our discerning customers great value, convenience and unlock a multi-faceted digital experience.”

    “Increased broadband consumption in Indian homes has given rise to the phenomena of hybrid viewing, where families are looking to consume OTT content on the TV screen along with linear TV without the hassle of managing multiple subscriptions and devices,” he said in a statement.

  • WarnerMedia pauses business operations in Russia amid Ukraine conflict

    WarnerMedia pauses business operations in Russia amid Ukraine conflict

    Mumbai: As the Russia-Ukraine ongoing war has escalated over the days, the entertainment conglomerate WarnerMedia decided to pause “all new business” in Russia, CEO Jason Kilar said. This announcement comes a few hours after Discovery Inc, which is set to soon close its acquisition of WarnerMedia, suspended all operations in Russia amid the country’s war on Ukraine.

    According to Variety, Kilar, in a memo to WarnerMedia staff said, “Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing all new business operations in Russia. This includes ceasing broadcast of our channels, halting all new content licensing with Russian entities and pausing our planned theatrical and games releases.”

    Previously, along with suspending CNN broadcasts in Russia, WarnerMedia’s production house Warner Bros had halted its plans to release “The Batman” in the country ahead of its planned premiere. Kilar further stated, “We are following this situation closely and future business decisions will be made with that context in mind. Our thoughts in this moment are with  the people of Ukraine.”

    As per the Deadline report, Universal Music has also just announced it ceased operations there, along with McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and others. 

    Amazon will be shutting off Amazon Prime in Russia and stopping deliveries to the country, according to news agency ANI.