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Tag: Dexter

  • Dexter decodes Youtube moments as VDO.AI replays the adtech playbook

    Dexter decodes Youtube moments as VDO.AI replays the adtech playbook

    MUMBAI: Ads are finally getting smarter than the “skip” button. VDO.AI has unveiled Dexter, a cutting-edge contextual intelligence solution that promises to transform Youtube advertising by reading video content the way a human would only faster. Billed as the future of contextual advertising, Dexter can scan scenes, audio, transcripts, objects and even sentiment to ensure ads appear at precisely the right moment. That means your luxury resort spot could play after a cinematic drone shot of a Ferrari, never before a violent fight sequence.

    VDO.AI co-founder and CTO Arjit Sachdeva explained, “Dexter is built to read video content the way a human would, understanding visuals, audio, sentiment, and context at scale. It is this human-like intelligence, applied with machine speed, that sets a new benchmark for contextual advertising on YouTube. Early partners using Dexter have already seen 40–60 per cent higher performance across view-through rates, recall, and conversions. These results demonstrate that contextual intelligence, when applied at scale, is not just the future of advertising, but a growth driver for businesses today.”

    The promise is not just precision, it’s protection. By keeping brand ads clear of unsafe or unsuitable content, Dexter tackles one of the industry’s biggest headaches: maintaining brand safety while delivering engagement at scale.

    VDO.AI chief business officer Akshay Chaturvedi elaborated, “Dexter’s advanced AI engine analyses video content with unmatched precision, reading every contextual signal to create perfect advertising moments. When a viewer is engaging with luxury car content, Dexter will intelligently serve an ad for an exclusive resort getaway or a luxury handbag while ensuring your brand ad never appears alongside inappropriate content like violent footage. This powerful combination of contextual intelligence and brand safety allows brands to reach audiences when they’re most engaged and receptive, driving meaningful connections that translate into measurable business impact.”

    Now rolled out globally, Dexter marks a significant expansion of VDO.AI into Youtube’s ad ecosystem. It’s the culmination of years of AI research and development, placing the company firmly at the forefront of contextual advertising innovation.

    With brands increasingly demanding precision targeting and brand safety, VDO.AI is betting that Dexter can become the industry’s new secret weapon turning what was once guesswork into smart, context-driven placements that boost both trust and conversions.

    For Youtube viewers, it might mean the ads finally make sense. For brands, it could be the difference between being tuned out or remembered.

  • VDO.AI reinvents brand engagement with Dexter

    VDO.AI reinvents brand engagement with Dexter

    Mumbai: VDO.AI, a leader in the advertising technology industry, unveils Dexter, a game-changing creative feature poised to redefine brand engagement by harnessing the power of innovative Gen AI algorithms. In today’s fast-paced digital arena, brand engagement isn’t just crucial; it’s the lifeblood of success. Recognising the ever-evolving landscape of consumer expectations, VDO.AI introduces Dexter, a groundbreaking tool that will revolutionise how brands connect with their audiences.

    Dexter is a testament to the fusion of creativity and technology. It leverages the capabilities of Gen AI algorithms to empower brands with the ability to craft deeply personalised, contextually relevant, and visually stunning content. By understanding individual user preferences, Dexter ensures that brands can deliver messages that resonate deeply, fostering authentic connections. Moreover, this avant-garde technology streamlines content creation, enabling brands to deliver the right message at precisely the right moment.

    Key Features of Dexter:

    •    Personalisation perfected: Dexter analyses user data to create bespoke content that speaks directly to individual preferences, thereby boosting user engagement and retention.
    •    Contextual brilliance: Understanding the context of user interactions, Dexter ensures that brands provide timely and relatable content, forging more profound connections.
    •    Visual mastery: Dexter elevates visual elements, creating attention-grabbing and memorable content that lingers in the minds of the audience.
    •    User-friendly integration: Dexter effortlessly integrates into existing marketing strategies, making it accessible and adaptable for brands of all sizes.

    The launch of Dexter represents a significant milestone in VDO.AI’s relentless pursuit of innovation in the digital advertising arena. Brands that embrace Dexter can anticipate heightened user engagement, increased conversion rates, and strengthened brand loyalty.

    VDO.AI CEO and founder Amitt Sharma shared his excitement about Dexter: “We find ourselves on the verge of a groundbreaking era in brand-consumer interaction. Dexter empowers us to establish dynamic connections with our audiences, converting passive observers into engaged participants. This achievement signifies a pivotal milestone in amplifying customer engagement and loyalty, as it allows us to harness the interactive potential that AI offers—a facet that brands have yet to fully explore.”

    “We are thrilled to introduce Dexter to the market. In a landscape where user engagement is king, Dexter empowers brands to create authentic, impactful connections. This innovation is set to reshape the very foundations of digital advertising.” added VDO.AI co-founder Arjit Sachdeva.

    Dexter is now available, offering forward-thinking brands an opportunity to elevate their brand engagement strategies. It unlocks endless avenues for brands to explore novel approaches, fostering innovation that resonates on multiple levels of engagement.

  • Kids will be excited to own contemporary merchandise that reflects sophisticated storytelling in animation, says Turner CNE exec

    Kids will be excited to own contemporary merchandise that reflects sophisticated storytelling in animation, says Turner CNE exec

    MUMBAI: India – Gear up to relive your childhood! Take along your favourite Powerpuff Girls for a coffee break, or make your workstation adventurous with the ladies’ man, Johnny Bravo. Cartoon Network Enterprises, the licensing and merchandising arm of Tuner International India, is all set to bring back the golden age of cartoons with Cartoon Network Retro merchandise, reminiscent of iconic characters like Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, and Dexter that have stood the test of time.

    Speaking on the new partnerships forged by Cartoon Network Enterprise, Anand Singh, Sr. Director – Cartoon Network Enterprises, South Asia, Turner International India, said, “We are delighted to bring to our fans the nostalgic era of cartoons, with some cool and exclusive Cartoon Network Retro merchandise. These cartoon characters make for great family co-viewing experience and have transcended several generations. Their timelessness is what translates into great demand for them even now. We are sure that not only will the 90s kids love this collection, but also that the new generation would be excited to own contemporary merchandise that reflects sophisticated storytelling in animation. We’re thrilled to bring the Cartoon Network Retro collection for the Indian fans.”

    Recognizing the inherent global appeal of classic cartoons and their long-standing bond with the viewers, the brand-new Cartoon Network Retro collection which includes T-shirts, shoes, mugs, badges, posters, flipflops, mobile covers and much more will be cherished by true blue fans.

  • AXN India to take viewers on twisted criminal ride with all seasons of ‘Dexter’

    AXN India to take viewers on twisted criminal ride with all seasons of ‘Dexter’

    MUMBAI: A forensic technician by day and a serial killer by night. He analyses blood splash pattern during the day and hunts down criminals who go unnoticed by justice system at night. He is Dexter you will love in the day and Dexter you will fear at night.

    AXN India is all set to celebrate 10 years of Dexter by airing all seasons of this psychological thriller starting 26 December every Monday to Friday at 9 pm.

    Dexter was nominated 4 consecutive times for ‘Outstanding Drama Series’ at Primetime Emmy Awards as well as for ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series’ 5 times in a row. It has also won 2 Golden Globe Awards out of 9 nominations, making it one of the most acclaimed and followed series of all times.

    Michael C. Hall, who plays the protagonist Dexter Morgan in the show, shot to fame as the most loved serial killer globally. He said, “These 10 years have been amazing! In the first season it was so awkward and intense. We were doing something that hadn’t quite been done and by then people didn’t root for a serial killer. Playing the part, I appreciated how much fans were in Dexter’s corner. It’s a real trick because the story is subjectively told and you are always in his head. You are sort of a silent accomplice.”

  • AXN India to take viewers on twisted criminal ride with all seasons of ‘Dexter’

    AXN India to take viewers on twisted criminal ride with all seasons of ‘Dexter’

    MUMBAI: A forensic technician by day and a serial killer by night. He analyses blood splash pattern during the day and hunts down criminals who go unnoticed by justice system at night. He is Dexter you will love in the day and Dexter you will fear at night.

    AXN India is all set to celebrate 10 years of Dexter by airing all seasons of this psychological thriller starting 26 December every Monday to Friday at 9 pm.

    Dexter was nominated 4 consecutive times for ‘Outstanding Drama Series’ at Primetime Emmy Awards as well as for ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series’ 5 times in a row. It has also won 2 Golden Globe Awards out of 9 nominations, making it one of the most acclaimed and followed series of all times.

    Michael C. Hall, who plays the protagonist Dexter Morgan in the show, shot to fame as the most loved serial killer globally. He said, “These 10 years have been amazing! In the first season it was so awkward and intense. We were doing something that hadn’t quite been done and by then people didn’t root for a serial killer. Playing the part, I appreciated how much fans were in Dexter’s corner. It’s a real trick because the story is subjectively told and you are always in his head. You are sort of a silent accomplice.”

  • After ‘Breaking Bad’, 5 TV shows that can turn into Bollywood movies

    After ‘Breaking Bad’, 5 TV shows that can turn into Bollywood movies

    MUMBAI: After news broke that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is keen to acquire the rights for the popular American crime drama series Breaking Bad and wants to make it into a Hindi movie, there’s been a somewhat mixed reaction from the audience at large.

     

    While some are looking forward to the Bollywood spin, some others are reluctant towards the quality of the new conversion.

     

    We at Indiantelevision.com decided to sift out five widely loved English television series that successfully penetrated in the Indian market, which have the potential to be made into Bollywood movies.

     

    Read on…

     

    1. Doctor Who

     

    Doctor Who is a British science-fiction television, which successfully ran for a period of 26 seasons with nine series and approximately 825 episodes. This series shows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord—a space and time-travelling humanoid alien exploring the universe. The series has become a cult television favourite and seeing its popularity amongst the audience globally would definitely earn a million bucks if converted into a Bollywood film.

     

    2. Quantico

     

    This Priyanka Chopra starrer is a much talked about series in the society with a crazy following. Quantico, recently launched, is an American television thriller series revolving around a group of young FBI recruits; each having a specific reason for joining. Flashbacks detail their previous lives, while the recruits battle their way through training at the academy in Quantico. With the buzz and the following the series has created, it will definitely touch new heights of fame if converted into a movie. And on the top, this series would not even face actress issues.

     

    3. Game of Thrones

     

    This series has to be in the list seeing the crazy following the show has achieved. Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series and has attracted record numbers of viewers on HBO and attained an exceptionally broad and active international fan base. Seeing the already high level of curiosity amongst the audience for the show, it will, without doubt, be a movie to die for.

     

    4. How I Met Your Mother

     

    Sure, it will be quite a stunt if Bollywood can pull off a mammoth of a series such as How I Met Your Mother into a film even by our standards of a long movie; but the result could be more relatable to the Indian audience than we think. If looked at in a nutshell How I Met Your Mother works on that perfect romantic comedy formula – a formula we have seen plenty of filmmakers use and reap in millions at the box office. It has friendship, comedy, romance, some drama and a multi star cast — a combination that directors like Rohit Shetty would kill for!

     

    5. Dexter

    Like Breaking Bad, the concept of anti-hero has off-late appealed to the Indian audience. A different side of it could be seen in films like Drishyam and Kickk where the hero takes on the ‘bad guy’ role, to cleanse the society off its evil doers. In short, a vigilante. Add a badass lead, some serial killers, unsolved murder mysteries, and blood and gore to the formula and you have a Bollywood equivalent of the popular thriller series Dexter. Though we can’t predict if India is ready to cheer for a serial killer yet, Bollywood’s attempt at Dexter is certainly something to look forward to.

  • Q3-2015: Cable Networks & Broadcasting revenues pull down CBS Corp revenue 3.3%

    Q3-2015: Cable Networks & Broadcasting revenues pull down CBS Corp revenue 3.3%

    BENGALURU: CBS Corporation (CBS) reported a 3.3 per cent decline in revenue to $3,257 million in the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q3-2015, current quarter) as compared to the $3,367 million reported for the corresponding year ago quarter. Revenue pulled down because of decline in revenue of two of its four segments – Cable Networks; and Broadcasting, which saw declines of 15.6 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively in Q3-2015 as compared to Q3-2104.

     

    CBS’s other segments-Entertainment and Publishing saw revenue growths of 1.1 per cent and two per cent respectively, but not enough to prevent the YoY slide in revenue.

     

    From the type perspective, CBS’s Advertising revenue and Content Licensing & Distribution revenues declined by 4.3 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively, while Affiliate and Subscription fee revenue increased 9.2 per cent.

     

    CBS Total Operating Income for Q3-2015 increased 12.7 per cent to $753 million in the current quarter as compared to $668 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    “Thanks to the strength of our great content, CBS continues to have a winning hand,” said CBS executive chairman Sumner Redstone. “Les and his team are capitalising on all of the opportunities before us, and I’m confident they are setting the company up for continued, long-term growth.”

     

    “During the third quarter, we once again grew our profit and EPS while continuing to increase our investment in content and new distribution services,” said CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves. “I’m particularly pleased with the gains we’re seeing in network advertising, including underlying ad growth in the third quarter and even better pricing here in the fourth. Plus, having sold less inventory in the upfront, we stand to benefit throughout this television season as we sell our #1 network in a very robust scatter marketplace. Add to that CBS’s broadcast of Super Bowl 50 in February and the upcoming presidential election, you can see why we feel very good about advertising in 2016. At the same time, our non-advertising revenue continues to grow even faster, led by retransmission consent and reverse compensation, which were up 50 per cent in the third quarter and are well on their way to exceeding $1 billion next year. Looking ahead, as viewers increasingly want to access and pay for content in new ways, we see continued increases in subscription revenue from our in-house over-the-top services at CBS and Showtime, as well as those from outside distribution partners. The good news is, no matter how quickly the industry changes — from big bundles to ‘skinny’ ones to a la carte — CBS is positioned to succeed.”

     

    CBS says that lower YoY revenues in Q3-2015 primarily reflect the timing of television licensing sales and decreases in lower-margin revenues, including the non-renewal of a sports contract and lower pay-per-view revenues. Revenues for Q3-2015 benefited from growth in underlying network advertising, as well as 9 per cent higher affiliate and subscription fees, including a 50 per cent increase in revenues from retransmission consent and CBS Television Network-affiliated television stations.

     

    The company says that YoY increase in operating income in the current quarter reflects growth in high-margin affiliate and subscription fee revenues, which were offset by lower profits from television licensing.

     

    Segment numbers

     

    Entertainment (CBS Television Network, CBS Television Studios, CBS Global Distribution Group, CBS

    Interactive, and CBS Films)

     

    Entertainment revenues in Q3-2015 rose to $1.93 billion as compared with $1.91 billion for the same prior-year period, primarily reflecting a 55 per cent increase in affiliate and subscription fees. Network advertising revenues were up one per cent despite the broadcast of fewer sporting events on the CBS Television Network. Content licensing and distribution revenues decreased three per cent, primarily reflecting the timing of television licensing sales.

     

    Entertainment operating income for Q3-2015 of 2015 was $339 million, up 12 per cent YoY from $302 million, driven by growth in higher margin revenues, which were partially offset by an increased investment in programming and digital distribution initiatives says CBS.

     

    Cable Networks (Showtime Networks, CBS Sports Network, and Smithsonian Networks)

     

    Cable Networks revenues for the current quarter were $526 million compared with $624 million for Q3-2014, which included significant domestic streaming sales of Dexter and Californication and higher revenues from pay-per-view boxing events. An increase in affiliate and subscription fees, reflecting growth in rates and revenues from new digital distribution platforms, partially offset the decline.

     

    Cable Networks operating income for Q3-2015 was $246 million compared with $266 million Q3-2014, primarily reflecting the lower revenues. The decline was partially offset by lower programming costs that were mainly associated with pay-per-view boxing events.

     

    Publishing (Simon & Schuster)

     

    Publishing revenue for Q3-2015 was $203 million compared to $199 million for Q3-2014. Digital revenues represented 25 per cent of Publishing’s total revenues for Q3-2015. Bestselling titles included The Survivorby Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills and Plunder and Deceit by Mark R. Levin, as well as the continued success of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 2014 release, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

     

    Publishing operating income of $43 million for Q3- 2015 increased two per cent from $42 million in the

    Q3-2014, primarily reflecting the revenue increases.

     

    Local Broadcasting (CBS Television Stations and CBS Radio)

     

    Local Broadcasting revenue was $638 million for Q3-2015 as compared to $680 million in Q3-2014. CBS Television Stations YoY revenues declined as a result of the benefit to 2014 from the midterm elections and the broadcast of fewer sporting events on CBS in 2015. Growth in affiliate fees partially offset the decline. CBS Radio revenues decreased six per cent, reflecting several non-comparable items, including fewer stations and lower political revenues, as well as continued softness in the radio advertising marketplace.

     

    Local Broadcasting operating income for Q3-2015 was down 9 per cent to $174 million from $192 million in Q3-2014, primarily because of the revenue decline, which was partially offset by the recent cost-cutting measures CBS put in place.

  • Cartoon Network to host ‘Toonami: Game On, Video Gaming Championship’; re-freshed Toonami block starts 6 November

    Cartoon Network to host ‘Toonami: Game On, Video Gaming Championship’; re-freshed Toonami block starts 6 November

    MUMBAI: Following Hojaye Shuru! – The Beyblade Championship Cartoon Network has announced yet another championship – Toonami: Game On, Video Gaming Championship for Indian kids, which is slated to kick off in Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad, at the end of November.

    The network doubles its dose of action on Toonami, the prime time action franchise, with brand new action series like Gransazers, Series 7 from Pokémon and new episodes of Transformers Cybertron. Some of Cartoon Network’s popular toon stars including The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter, Tom & Jerry will play hosts to add to the fresh, new look. The block will go on air starting 6 November at 5 pm.

    The Toonami: Game On, Video Gaming Championship is an on-ground extension of the new Toonami look and feel, giving kids an opportunity to personally experience shows featured in the action block. Cartoon Network will undertake a school contact programme spanning seven cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Ludhiana, to promote the stunt.

    Kids can participate in the on-air contest which will give away prizes for early bird entries on the premiere day. Toonami watches, loads of Pokémon goodies, Cybergiants and one Xbox 360 gaming console will be up for grabs every week, states an official release.

    Turner International India vice president advertising sales and networks India & South Asia Monica Tata said, “We have always believed in constant innovation and creativity through self evaluation as well as our understanding of what our viewers need. Cartoon Network’s latest study, New Generations, revealed that the concept of gaming is fast gaining popularity with Indian kids and in keeping with our commitment to listen to our consumers, we have launched Toonami: Game On, Video Gaming Championship while also giving a new look to the Toonami block during this time to make it one of the trendiest destinations on television.”

    Toonami claims to be the first block for kids on Indian television that focused on action shows. This block airs shows such as Pokémon, Beyblade, Digimon, Duel Masters and now Gransazers between 5 pm to 6.30 pm.

    Pokémon is the story of Ash, a 10 year old Pokémon trainer. His Pokémon – ‘Pikachu’ and his friends – Brock, May and Max – are always on an adventure as they travel to participate in battles, win medals and come closer to being a Pokémon Master Trainer. Pokémon Series 7 is the brand new season of Pokémon Advanced Challenge which sees Ash continuing on his journey in the Hoenn League.

    While Gransazers revolves around the descendents of an advanced human civilization, which was wiped out billions of years ago during a conflict with a terrestrial race called the Astral Allies. The twelve descendents, called Sazers, form four separate tribes: Fire, Wind, Earth and Water. Each Sazer possesses extraordinary powers, and is able to control the ‘Super Star God’, mammoth war machines constructed by their ancient ancestors. At first, the tribes begin to wage wars amongst each other on Earth, until they discover that the Astral Allies are planning another strike, this time the domination of humankind. Upon this revelation, the tribes join forces to mobilize a resistance against the invaders and protect the future of all life on Earth.

    Cartoon Network has played hosted to several on-ground events in the past including such as Join The Powerpuff Generation, Toon Cricket, Toon Yatra, Next Big Toon, School Is Cool and Save Dexter’s Brain.