ITV

Tag: Content

  • Thums Up’s ‘Stump Cam’ campaign engages consumers

    Thums Up’s ‘Stump Cam’ campaign engages consumers

    Mumbai: Thums Up, Coca-Cola India’s first billion-dollar homegrown brand, has unveiled a new ‘StumpCam’ campaign, just in time for the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup. This will provide audiences with exclusive access to match footage and content. The brand will be adopting a digital-first, multi-tech marketing approach to drive consumer engagement for the content-led campaign.

    The campaign, which features renowned cricketers and superstar bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Umran Malik, and Brett Lee, aims to amplify Thums Up’s new “Stump Cam” offering, which will offer a thrilling view into exclusive ’Toofani’ match moments, straight from the pitch. After each World Cup match, the Stump Cam video of ‘Toofani’ cricketing moments will be accessible to viewers by scanning a QR code on the Thums Up bottle. The offering will enable cricket lovers to access unique content from the tournament like never before.

    Commenting on the new campaign, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia vice president & head – marketing Arnab Roy said, “Cricket is a shared passion which connects billions of fans across genders, generations, and cultures. We are always finding innovative ways to activate passion points like cricket and especially the ICC T20 World Cup. Thums Up’s “Stump Cam” will offer audiences the most ‘Toofani’ view of key moments of the tournament – leveraging the Stump Cam footage was a disruptive opportunity that would bring to fans a complete new way of experiencing the game. We are elated to have on board with us India’s lead bowler and star Jasprit Bumrah, who is an indispensable asset for the Indian team; Umran Malik, who is touted as the fastest bowler in the country today; and one of the legends of the game, Brett Lee. This is the first time we are doing a content-led campaign, voiced by cricketing stalwarts like Harsha Bhogle”.

    Commenting on his association with Thums Up, Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, said, “Thums Up has been a longstanding partner and supporter of events and athletes across sporting formats and I’m extremely happy to have been associated with it for over a year now. It’s exciting to bring to cricket lovers and fans the brand’s new offering “Stump Cam” which will enable them to access thrilling cricketing content from a never-seen-before angle, straight from the pitch and get closer to the game.”

    Australian former international cricketer and one of the fastest bowlers of his time, Brett Lee added, “I am ecstatic to be partnering with India’s most iconic soft beverage brand Thums Up, for their new StumpCam campaign. I have lived and breathed cricket all my life, and I am thrilled to be part of Thums Up’s “Stump Cam” offering, which will excite consumers beyond measure as it gives them the ultimate view of key match moments as if they were watching it right from the pitch. #WicketSeCricket!”

    The campaign film has been conceptualized by Ogilvy India. Ogilvy India chief creative officer Sukesh Nayak stated, “Thums Up’s ‘Stump Cam’ is the most daring end-to-end experience idea. It’s the most Toofani, the closest possible view of the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup. And the ticket for this is the Thums Up bottle. We are proud to conceptualise and execute this end-to-end engagement idea in partnership with some incredible partners from the world of content. #WicketSeCricket campaign is an invitation for every Thums Up drinker to experience a Toofan he or she hasn’t had so far.”

    Ogilvy India- North chief creative officer Ritu Sharda added, “From sitting on tree-tops, to gathering around paan shops, India has watched cricket in every possible way. But we wanted to give Thums Up fans an opportunity to get the most toofani ‘view’ in the house and frankly that’s where Thums Up Stump Cam found its genesis. We wanted people to really feel the rush of a ball coming right at them at 95 mph. We wanted them to experience cricket, like a cricketer does, right from the middle of the pitch. We are partnering with ICC and Oaktree Sports, for a 24-hour match to pack to screen marathon, making World Cup 2022, the most toofani World Cup you have ever seen. Dum hai toh dekho #WicketSeCricket”

    Thums Up has been a longstanding partner of the ICC (International Cricket Council). The Coca-Cola Company has a long history of partnering with major sporting events around the world, including an eight-decade long association with the Olympics, four decades with the FIFA, and nearly 25 years with World Cup Rugby. These associations with sporting events underscore the company’s philosophy of endeavoring to be a part of the joyous moments and occasions of its consumers.

  • Manoj Jagyasi and the promise of Bharat24

    Manoj Jagyasi and the promise of Bharat24

    MUMBAI: Referred to as the turnaround man amongst kith and kin, Manoj Jagyasi was recently appointed as a chief business officer & strategic advisor to the board of month-old Hindi news channel Bharat 24. His remit: all aspects of the broadcast business (revenue management, marketing research, operations, and content co-creation) and advising the board on future expansion.

    His last sojourn was with Zee Media where he was chief revenue officer for around two years, and previously as an executive cluster head for a year. A professional with an experience of more than two decades in the industry, he has also had stints with ETV Network, ITV Network and Network 18 Media as associate vice president – revenue head for almost nine years. Jagyasi has also worked with Unilever and Red FM 93.5, in the past.

    What could have been the rationale behind launching on 15 August in an already crowded Hindi news market with a finite ad pie?

    “When most national news channels are focussing more on the NCR / UP market, we saw the opportunity for a truly national news channel. No matter how cluttered the market is, there is always room for the right product and with the right revenue strategy and the right talent, there is always scope for monetization. The TV business has been witnessing continuous growth and we intend to follow the same trajectory,” explains Jagyasi.

    With the understanding that to be a truly national news channel, the team would have to think big, in every way, including investments and people. A state-of-the-art studio with all the latest shiny tech spread over a 20,000 sq ft area in Noida serves as the hub from which both young and seasoned anchors beam out news and views day-in-day-out. An army of 4,000 reporters nationally beat the streets scouting for developments. Jagyasi says the goal is to expand this even more and have a reporter in every constituency.

    A slew of digital platforms, including a brand-new website and social media platforms, complete the initial debut offering for viewers of Bharat24.

    “News and information come naturally to us. With our network strength, we are delivering over 1000 original significant news stories from across the nation. We are also the first national news channel to launch with augmented-reality-enabled studios to deliver clean, clutter-free enhanced audio-visual content on-air,” expounds Jagyasi.

    The focus, since flag-off, has been on public interest stories like the impact of the increased rate of interest on FD’s or an awareness campaign on sharing a person’s location and other personal information through mobile apps. “Such stories which have a direct impact on viewers are regularly showcased on the channel,” he narrates.

    A high-impact marketing campaign and distribution drive has resulted in Bharat24 being available on most DTH platforms like Tata Play, Airtel DTH, Dish and several other large MSOs nationally. The messaging across all B2C and B2B touchpoints in key markets have been “Jahan Tak Bharat, Wahan Tak Bharat24” with the Bharat24 tagline being “A vision of New India.”

    ”It was important for us to be present across all key DTH and MSOs so that the discerning Hindi news viewers have the opportunity to sample a new news channel which resonates with their evolving needs. We are also focussed on connected TV and online platforms such as Jio,” he discloses.

    While Jigyasi and the team are happy about what has been achieved so far, he is loath to go into further details. “It is still early to gain the overall feedback for a news channel that is just over a month old, but it is exciting and assuring to witness the buzz and excitement among viewers,” he postulates.

    But he is quite sanguine that things can only get better from here on thanks to the right blend of young and experienced passionate professionals who have been recruited for the sales and revenue teams.

    “They understand the TV news business not only from the revenue point of view but also has a perspective on news content. We are confident in offering a wide range of customized media solutions catering to the evolving market demands. We remain focused on the growth of our TV and digital ventures and are committed to adding value to the clients who choose to advertise with us,” he highlights.

    Advertisers and media agencies are listening to his pitch and have given the thumbs-up to Bharat24. Within 24 days of its launch, over 24 clients had signed up. And within a month Bharat 24’s roster boasts more than 35 advertising clients.

    More are expected to board the channel’s bus, Jagyasi says, with a few big, customized deals being worked on with clients from Delhi and Mumbai.

    “We are already witnessing a huge interest for the upcoming festive season and assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The channel is also working on various big-ticket IP’s that will be announced soon enough,” he discloses.

    Clearly, Jagyasi and team Bharat24 have begun their journey into the TV news race well. How they do over the next stretch of the track, will determine whether Bharat24 really lives up to its promise.  

  • GUEST ARTICLE: Connected TV is emerging as an opportunity for entertainment brands in India

    GUEST ARTICLE: Connected TV is emerging as an opportunity for entertainment brands in India

    Mumbai: Connected TV (CTV) viewing has been gaining momentum in the western part of the world and is now on an escalating curve in India with 12–14 million monthly active CTV users, according to the FICCI-EY report of March 2022. The advancing new trends in the media and entertainment (M&E) industry have led to a noticeable change in the TV viewing habits of Indian audiences, leading to connected TV making a strong appearance in India. The exponentially growing CTV, which was earlier incomparable to linear TV, has now loomed out of the shadows and is considered a potent alternative for brands to advertise on. In the current digitally evolving ecosystem, affordable prices of smart televisions, increasing data penetration, and the availability of global content have aided in the medium’s rapid growth, making it a prominent mover and shaker in the M&E space. According to the March 2022 FICCI-EY report, by 2025, this number is expected to hit 40 million, highlighting its explosive growth as a medium in the country.

    A revenue stream within digital:

    For many years, traditional TV was the only platform for media buying. As users move towards connected TV, the medium is creating an opportunity to grow business revenues. In today’s time, content dissemination and consumption are platform-agnostic, giving brands an opportunity to generate visibility for themselves on the big screen. With CTVs ushering in the next big revolution, the ecosystem holds the potential for greater returns. As a new revenue stream within the digital landscape, CTV has grown to become an impactful channel that provides targeting capabilities and measurability. In a digital-forward world, measurement capabilities make the medium a must for any brand to push forth its marketing strategies and capitalise on the same.

    A powerful addition to the marketer’s toolbox:

    Connected TV, which has recorded notable growth in the past few years, is becoming a paradise for advertisers. In today’s data-rich world, consumers are increasingly demanding brands to deliver focused and relevant messaging. With more eyes on the big screen, CTV helps brands reach out to new and hard-to-reach audiences and form deeper connections with them. It has surfaced as a successful growth opportunity for advertisers who want access to a highly engaged, affluent audience. Advertisers, globally and in India, are lapping up the connected TV opportunity as it continues to grow as an exciting medium.

    With the widespread adoption of digital, CTV as a medium appears to be very promising for both consumers and advertisers. The growing adoption of streaming content through connected devices makes the medium an important and new touchpoint for advertisers. According to the IAB 2021 Video Ad Spend & 2022 Outlook report, globally, ad spending on connected TV grew 57 per cent in 2021 to $15.2 billion and will grow another 39 per cent in 2022 to $21.2 billion. In India, while CTV advertising spends are yet to fully catch up with growing smart TV subscriptions and consumers spending more time on these devices, ad spends will eventually move in a positive direction, making connected TV advertising the next big frontier.

    Towards a promising future:

    Presently, growing at a burgeoning pace, the connected TV market seems to have a propitious future. In our approach to reaching out to our digital audiences, CTV acts as a significant contributor. Needless to say, the medium will further prosper as a result of increasing attention from advertisers as they look to leverage the potential of digital advertising to reach their target customers in an innovative and effective manner. The overall ecosystem of connected devices, driven by technological advancements, will provide enormous headroom for growth in the future of media and entertainment. For a progressive future, it will become imperative for all stakeholders to strategically cater to this exponentially rising consumer growth trend.

    The author of this article is QYOU Media India COO Krishna Menon.

  • MX Player gets into a multi-year partnership with Lionsgate

    MX Player gets into a multi-year partnership with Lionsgate

    Mumbai: MX Player has partnered with global giant Lionsgate to bring premium Hollywood content, including award-winning titles across genres.

    With over 200,000 hours of content across 800+ original series, web series, international, dubbed content and an average time spent of 56 minutes per user per day, MX Player continues to ink partnerships to make quality content available to all of its users.

    MX Player senior vice president (content acquisitions and alliances) Mansi Shrivastav said, “At MX Player, we are invested in our consumers. As the second largest entertainment ecosystem across the globe, we have continually and consistently brought diverse content to the platform across genres, formats, and languages. Our partnership with Lionsgate allows us to bring some of the most popular and commercially acclaimed Hollywood films to our viewers in their local languages.”

    She further added, “This partnership also enables us to attract new users to the platform while consolidating our existing audience base. We are thrilled with this alliance and look forward to working closely with the team at Lionsgate to make more Hollywood content available for users in the region.”

    MX Player users in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives will now have access to 50+ Hollywood blockbuster films dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu each year as a result of this collaboration.

    Through this collaboration with Lionsgate, MX Player will have access to the most recent and well-liked Hollywood blockbusters, significantly broadening its current content inventory and enabling fans to watch movies in their preferred language.

    Lionsgate vice president (licensing and content partnerships) Gayathiri Guliani said, “Lionsgate has been bullish for its compelling content slate, and we are delighted to partner with MX Player as this will multiply our consumption, reaching out to maximum viewer base. It’s all about genre diversification, breaking language barriers, and having the best stories to watch. This alliance is all set to grow with multiple Lionsgate titles made available on the platform, spoiling viewers for choice.”

    “Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 1”, “Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 2”, “War” (2007) and “Destruction: Las Vegas” (2013) are among the recommended titles for September 2022 on MX Player.

     

  • GUEST ARTICLE: What is social entertainment and how can brands benefit from it?

    GUEST ARTICLE: What is social entertainment and how can brands benefit from it?

    Mumbai: Social entertainment is not just merely content creation and people interacting with each other; it includes different high-tech activities such as video streaming, video chat communication, multi-player gaming, music and video streaming with the help of different social networking services. Social media, as well, comes under the umbrella of social entertainment, covering almost 80 per cent of the market with applications such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Users from across the world also confirmed that social entertainment is now even taking the place of television and cinema. In order to win the audience’s heart, brands must go to the roots and try being more creative with designing and content creation and communicating their message at the same time through collaboration with creators who have a good amount of fanbase. One of the biggest benefits to brands deals with the prolongation of content through digital collection of videos or posts.

    Social media and social entertainment are similar and yet distinct. The social media landscape has changed over the last several years, and these days, social media platforms are intended to be more than just a count of your friends. Viewing other people’s films and photos has become a kind of enjoyment in modern times. The material is being engaged with by more individuals than ever in the social media era. In the history of social media, what you watch and the desire to see is more important than what you follow.

    As we are aware, the pandemic in 2021 will greatly impact social media, particularly entertainment. The social platform and means of entertainment benefited from the pandemic.

    Now, let’s talk about how brands can benefit 

    1. Increase brand awareness

    In this era, everyone has a smartphone and is using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or Twitter, which is a natural place to reach new and highly targeted audiences.

    Every single person updates there to see and show their side of living and making money out of it.

    2. Humanise your brand

    One of the keys to social media for businesses is that it benefits their brands. Introduce your products to the public by highlighting the benefits of your products to your followers.

    Show how you embrace your brand values, how it works in people’s life and how you are interested in customers.  

    3. Establish your brand as a thought leader 

    No matter which industry your business is in, social media offers plenty of opportunities to establish thought leaders.

    4. Stay top of mind

    Keep your social media posts creative, entertaining, and informative. 80 per cent of people log in to their account once a day. Social media is a platform where you can connect with fans and followers every time.

    If we are talking about the growth 

    1. Increase website traffic

    The keys to increasing the traffic on social media are posts and ads. Sharing fantastic content from your album or website on your preferred social platform.

    Participating in social reviews/chats can also be a great way to increase your brand’s visibility in the market.

    2. Boost sales

    Social networks will become more vital for product search and e-commerce as the number of individuals utilising social media keeps expanding and social sales technologies develop. The moment has come to match your social marketing initiatives with your sales objectives.

    3. Partner with influencers

    People who have a large following of people who can draw the attention of their immense social media following to your brand.

    4. Promote content 

    Make sure you have a content marketing strategy in place to maximise the advantages of social media for the company.

    Conclusion 

    Social media is undoubtedly simpler to use and has a wider audience than conventional media, which is advantageous for both companies and gaming gear. Everyone is quite active when it comes to social interaction, whether they are one year old or 70 years old. It allows you the chance to advertise your goods while also communicating on many channels. Whether a blessing or a curse, social interaction among people has never been impacted by other environmental elements since it has such a strong grasp on society and people’s daily lives.

    The author of the article is Treasure Records managing director Deepak Gupta.

  • Enter10 Network’s ex-chief business officer Shrutish Maharaj joins Worldwide Media as its president of revenue & strategy

    Enter10 Network’s ex-chief business officer Shrutish Maharaj joins Worldwide Media as its president of revenue & strategy

    Mumbai: Worldwide Media, India’s leading lifestyle and entertainment group has appointed the exemplary revenue leader, Shrutish Maharaj as its president of revenue & strategy, according to his Linkedin profile update. Having over 18 years of experience in this domain, he has diversified his portfolio into different mediums such as radio, print, TV, below-the-line advertising, branded content and digital sales. In his new stint, he will oversee the sales & business generation of the company, which is a Times Group entity.

    Maharaj was associated with Enter10 Network as the Chief Business Officer where he was instrumental in setting up and scaling up the group’s revenue & operations function. He was also responsible for overseeing media planning & buying activities of the organisation. During his tenure at Enter10 Network, he adopted a transformational approach toward business. The group’s channels like Dangal, Bhojpuri Cinema and Enterr10 Movies focused on creating the right positioning and perception under his leadership. At Enter10 TV Network, he restructured its leadership and looked after the revenue mandate of its flagship GEC Dangal TV.

    His strong acumen helped him to reach new heights and fostered in the business growth of companies he was engaged with. A go-getter, who constantly believes in innovation and drives sales & revenue growth with his experience and knowledge. Shrutish is a fearless young leader who shares the passion & vision for the media and entertainment space.

    Prior to this, he has also held multiple leadership positions with groups like UTV, Times TV Network and Helios Media. He also had a stint with HT media, CNBC TV 18, and Radio Today for over a year.

  • Sun TV veteran Kavitha Jaubin quits

    Sun TV veteran Kavitha Jaubin quits

    MUMBAI: For over 15 years, she was one of many bright lights at the Kalanithi Maran-owned Sun TV network. But for now, content & brand integration head the Chennai-based Kavitha Jaubin has decided to move on.

    Jaubin who put in her papers some time back at Sun TV spent her last day at the broadcaster on 14 August just a day before India’s Independence Day. Apparently, personal family exigencies forced her to take that decision. 

    She took up many challenging assignments at Sun TV. She was the head of Sun Life (the network’s second GEC), a position she held for nine years, prior to taking over the brand role in 2020. Between 2007 and 2011, she wore the hat of cluster head – content acquisition and kids channels – Chutti TV, Chintu TV, Kochu TV and Khushi TV.  

    A keen buyer of animation content, Jaubin was a speaker at many international forums. A keen creative professional, she spent quite a few years earlier on in her career as a writer and director at Disney+Star India’s Star Vijay channel in Chennai. 

    Jaubin, who is taking some time off currently, did not comment on her quitting Sun and was unwilling to reveal where she was headed. 

  • GUEST ARTICLE: How virtual reality (VR) is changing the dynamics of the content industry

    GUEST ARTICLE: How virtual reality (VR) is changing the dynamics of the content industry

    Mumbai: By offering a vivid, immersive, and interactive experience, virtual reality is changing the very face of the content industry by allowing users to be at the centre of all the action.

    The concept of virtual reality (VR) has sprung into prominence in the last couple of years. Although the technology has existed since as early as the 1990s, its applications were quite limited and confined only to high-tech, expensive gaming consoles. However, in the early years of the 2010s, VR started getting attention from wider sections of the industry, and consequently, the technology started reaching the doorsteps of potential customers. Going forward, VR has evolved significantly and has now established itself as one of the fastest and most cutting-edge technologies of the 21st century.

    While VR has applications in a number of different business domains, it is proving particularly beneficial for the content industry. With the help of VR, creators can produce far more engaging and immersive content that can prove instrumental in enhancing user experiences. In fact, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that VR is significantly uplifting the creative abilities of creators and helping them to take their engagement with audiences to a different level.

    With the help of VR-enabled content, users can experience the world like never before. Using specific headsets and devices, VR allows audiences to be there right in the middle of the action and experience the surroundings in immersive 3D formats. Just like we interact with our friends and colleagues on social media platforms, VR-enabled content takes this experience to another level through its immersive 3D experience. This captivating experience elevates the users’ experience and helps the creators strengthen their relationship with the target audience. No wonder, big tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Facebook are betting big on the potential of VR and investing heavily to capture the imagination of the masses faster and better than others.

    Before specifically elaborating on the role of VR in content creation, it’s important to put things in perspective. Let’s take the example of news, one of the cornerstone pillars of the content industry. Not long ago, we used to rely on television, newspapers, and radio to get our daily dose of news. While in the morning, newspapers were the primary source of information, news channels and radios were used to dish out the hot and happenings of the world in the daytime. However, fast forward to today, and the scenario is completely different. Digital media is leading the revolution in the news industry, and more than channels or publication houses, social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram have become our primary sources of news and information.

    In the backdrop of such altered realities, the content industry is now making a tectonic shift. To strengthen their user base and elevate the customer experience, many creators today offer their viewers the opportunity to experience the content in a completely immersive manner with the help of VR technology. Media outlets such as The Guardian, the BBC, and the New York Times are offering VR-enabled content that puts the viewers right in the “middle of the action”. It feels so real and engaging, as if you’re present at the venue and experiencing things as they are unfolding on a real-time basis. This unprecedented level of engagement that has never been completely unseen and unheard of before has become possible today only with the help of VR-enabled content.

    One of the most popular ways in which VR manifests its utility in content creation is through the 360-degree video formats. These formats, coupled with augmented reality (AR), capture scenes from every possible direction and help evoke a more passionate response from viewers. Especially in the background of falling sales in the print media, content creators are now banking on these surrounding videos to widen their appeal among new sets of customers while strengthening their current viewer base. Along with video formats, computer-generated graphics for a vivid interactive experience are also part of the VR technology that is used to offer a more immersive experience to users.

    Of course, there are many challenges that VR-enabled content has to overcome, with the high cost and gouging customers’ appetite for new-age technologies being the primary issues confronting the industry currently. To find satisfactory solutions, content creators, including the broadcasting studios mentioned above, are collaborating with leading VR players and other stakeholders in the industry, including policymakers, among others. The idea behind this coming together is to offer audiences a vivid perspective and a greater sense of understanding through VR-enabled content within the realistic boundaries of cost and resources.

    With the help of VR, content creators allow users to experience venues and situations first-hand. This is particularly beneficial for increasing engagement with viewers and strengthening the relationship between content creators and their target audiences. VR-enabled content with the help of certain gadgets and devices can create a sense of “belongingness” and take the engagement experience to a different level altogether. The use of immersive, 3D technologies is proving immensely beneficial for all stakeholders in the content industry, and if the costs of VR headsets rationalise further, the enormous potential of VR-enabled content can be realised in no time. In sum, while the segment of content creation has always remained dynamic and evolving, the latest change in the form of VR integration is changing the face of the industry like never before.

    The author of the article is Interality founder and CEO Farheen Ahmad.

  • Balaji Telefilms reports revenue of Rs 118.8 crore for Q1 FY23

    Balaji Telefilms reports revenue of Rs 118.8 crore for Q1 FY23

    Mumbai: Balaji Telefilms earned a revenue of Rs 118.8 crore for Q1 FY23 of which ALTBalaji contributed Rs 36.8 crore through its direct subscription, which stood at Rs 6 crore in Q1 FY23, the company said in a statement.

    The group’s EBITDA loss is Rs 20.4 crore and the loss after tax is Rs 24.5 crore. 

    Balaji Telefilms Ltd managing director Shobha Kapoor said, “Our content has always resonated with audiences at large as it is deeply ingrained in India’s socio-cultural fabric and this quarter has been no different given that we have continued to provide content-driven and quality entertainment while simultaneously focusing on sustainable growth for our investors.”

    “We continue to have strong controls on the cash spend while driving overall profitability including some strong strategic content sharing deals which allows us to further our growth,” she added. 

    OTT-business

    ALTBalaji has 93+ shows live on its platform. ‘Lock Upp’ which was live streamed, gained enormous popularity and went on to become the most watched reality show in the OTT space, with 500+ million views. As a result, the company generated significant long-term IP because this format had never been seen in the Indian entertainment domain before. This quarter they released Apharan- Season two which garnered more than a million views within a short time.
    For the three months ending 30 June, the company sold 3.1 lakh subscriptions (including 1.62 renewals). This excludes subscribers on partner apps where the content continues to do well. 

    The company, in its release, said, “ALTBalaji continues to produce content-driven shows and we are confident that it will be regarded as one of the leading Indian OTT players shortly as we have a strong content library catering to classes and masses alike with consistent hit shows across genres.”

    The company continues its strategy to drive deeper audience engagement by creating quality and content-driven shows that are targeted at a mass audience seeking differentiated stories. Currently, the engagement time stands at 62+ mins, with watch time at 16.19 billion minutes. Video views stand at 1.37 billion cumulative to date.

    Some of our shows continue to be highly rated and popular amongst our audiences, especially the youth, and also include our immensely popular niche reality competition show (that was released last quarter). 

    TV Business

    In Q1 FY23, Balaji’s TV business continued at normal for three months with 246.5+ hours of production across 8 shows compared to 174.5 hours in Q1 FY22. Two more TV shows are lined up across genres for the next quarter. ‘Apnapan’ was launched in Q1 FY23 which generated a good audience response.

    Kapoor said, “As always, we are confident that our content will strike a chord with audiences as our storytelling is backed by strong creative capabilities which drive our business growth.”

    Movie business 

    In terms of movies, “Ek Villain Returns” starring John Abraham and Arjun Kapoor, was released on 29 July to positive reviews, earning 51 crore plus at the box office. 

    Kapoor said, “Considering that theatres are now operating at 100 percent capacity, we are confident that our movie business will be back on track given that we have six more movies up for release in FY23, out of which two films are ready to release stage, three films in post-production stage and one film under production. We have pre-locked exciting revenue deals on our movies slate, thereby de-risking our movie business segment.”

  • Reliance Jio launched its streaming platform ‘JioGamesWatch’

    Reliance Jio launched its streaming platform ‘JioGamesWatch’

    Mumbai: Mukesh-Ambani-led Reliance Jio has launched its new streaming platform called ‘JioGamesWatch’ recently. It is the one-stop solution for all types of gaming content that the users will enjoy watching. The streaming service will be available on Android, iOS and even Set Top Boxes.

    Similar to Twitch, JioGamesWatch will offer game-streaming to the users in a convenient way. “The platform has set its sights on empowering and enabling creators to go live, with any device, under low Latency, and showcase the best of their content to millions of viewers,” Jio said in a press release.

    Its viewer engagement tools help to stay ahead of competition, such as emotes & audience polls. The app is fruitful for casual gaming enthusiasts, developers and game publishers. It also has amazing online games, esports and tournaments.