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Tag: Disney +Hotstar

  • Disney+ Hotstar to stream its first Telugu original ‘Parampara’

    Disney+ Hotstar to stream its first Telugu original ‘Parampara’

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar has announced that its first Telugu Hotstar Special “Parampara” will begin streaming on 24 December. The platform dropped a trailer for the new show on Wednesday.

    Written by Hari Yelleti and directed by Krishna Vijay L and Viswanath Arigela, the show features a stellar cast including Naveen Chandra, Ishan, Aakanksha Singh and others. The show is led by Jagapathi Babu and Sarath Kumar. The series is backed by Baahubali producers Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni of Arka Mediaworks Production.

    “‘Parampara’ is a drama that is based on the power ambitions of its characters,” said director Krishna Vijay L. “The audience will be treated to a power drama that packs emotions, actions and an enticing story that will keep them hooked on to the series.”

    “I am honoured to mark my digital web series debut with Parampara and the waves it is expected to create for Telugu digital entertainment space,” said veteran actor Sarath Kumar. “My role as a powerful business tycoon has multiple layers that have been masterfully maneuvered through Krishna Vijay L’s direction. As an actor working on a web series for the first time, there are certain transitions that need to be done and it was a journey filled with excitement and exploration about my acting process. I hope ‘Parampara’ finds resonance with the audience.”

    “‘Parampara’ has a very unique story to tell. Through the series, the audience will enjoy a roller coaster ride of power tussles, deception and family infightings,” said actor Jagapathi Babu. “For my character Mohan Rao, there is a silent intensity to the way he walks, moves and talks that is very captivating. The entire build-up of the character had several learnings for me both as an actor and human. I had a lot of fun playing Mohan Rao and I hope that comes through in the series as well.”

  • Disney+ Hotstar announces first Telugu series ‘Parampara’

    Disney+ Hotstar announces first Telugu series ‘Parampara’

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar has announced its first Telugu Hotstar special “Parampara.” The streaming service has shared a teaser for the new series on Instagram.

    Directed by Krishna Vijay L, the series will feature actors Jagapathi Babu, Sarath Kumar, Naveen Chandra, Ishan, and Aakanksha Singh. Produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni of Arka Mediaworks Production, “Parampara” is based on familial infighting and generational bad blood and brings forth emotions loaded in an action-packed series.

    “Parampara is a passionate project and a format I was eager to experiment with a story so well written, bringing together a ravishing ensemble cast including big guns like actors Jagapathi Babu and Sarath Kumar,” said director Krishna Vijay L. “Telugu audiences love family drama and action; with this series have brought the two genres together to build out a story that is gripping and heart-wrenching in parts.”

  • Disney+ Hotstar appoints Parita Razdan as head of growth strategy and Ops

    Disney+ Hotstar appoints Parita Razdan as head of growth strategy and Ops

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar has appointed Parita Razdan as head of growth strategy and Ops. She begins her new role in December.

    She was previously vice president, pricing and customer intelligence at Star TV Network for three years. Prior to joining Star India, Razdan was at Viacom18 since March 2015 and quit as vice president, head of corporate analytics and data. She has 18 years of experience out of which almost eight years were spent as a consultant for ZS Associates. She also had a three-year stint at BizInsights.

    LINK: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/paritapatel_happy-to-share-that-im-starting-a-new-role-activity-6873660013903134720-5-mt

    Razdan had completed her Master’s in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University and her Bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Gujarat University.

  • Disney+ Hotstar bags 20 nominations at Filmfare OTT awards

    Disney+ Hotstar bags 20 nominations at Filmfare OTT awards

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar has bagged 20 nominations across 12 categories at the Filmfare OTT awards this year. Four Hotstar Specials’ are in the race to win the award including “Grahan” which has received 10 nominations, followed by “Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors” with six, “OK Computer” with three and “City of Dreams 2” with one nomination.  

    This year’s Filmfare OTT awards include several Hotstar Specials’ talent nominated across categories, including Anshumaan Pushkar (Grahan), Pankaj Tripathi (Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors) and Atul Kulkarni (City of Dreams 2) for best actor, series (male), drama as well as Vijay Varma (OK Computer) for best actor, series (male), comedy. Kirti Kulhari and Zoya Hussain bagged the nomination in the category of best actor, series (female), drama and Anupriya Goenka for best supporting actor, series (female), drama for their performances in “Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors” and “Grahan” respectively.

    “Grahan” has nominations for best series, best director, along with additional nominations for best music, best production design, best cinematography, best editing and best costume. “Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors” has been nominated for best series, best director and best adapted screenplay. Additionally, “OK Computer” has bagged a well-deserved nomination for best VFX (series) – imagery.

    “At Disney+ Hotstar, it has been our endeavour to bring to audiences stories that are unconventional and an entertainment experience that is unparalleled,” said Disney+ Hotstar and HSM entertainment network president and head of content Gaurav Banerjee. “We are thrilled with the several nominations for Grahan, Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, OK Computer as well as City of Dreams 2, at the coveted Filmfare OTT awards. I would like to congratulate the amazing creative teams behind the shows. It further encourages us to consistently rise above convention and bring to our viewers compelling content and the best of entertainment!”

    “Grahan was a unique project that saw multiple talented performers and creators come together,” said actor Anshumaan Pushkar. “I am excited to have been a part of a series that has received multiple nominations in top categories at the awards’ platform. The nomination for best actor in the drama category is particularly special as it motivates me, an upcoming talent, to push harder and explore challenging avenues.”

    “It fills me with immense joy that Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors has received multiple nominations at the prestigious Filmfare OTT Awards,” said Pankaj Tripathi. “It is a true recognition of the time and effort devoted by its talented team at Applause Entertainment to bring Madhav Mishra’s story on screen. To have been nominated for best actor is an added joy for me. The fact that I also get to share this joy with my colleague Kirti Kulhari is a bonus. I hope it motivates our team further to keep working on such phenomenal stories.”

    “An award nomination is a token of appreciation you receive for all the hard work you pour into your work,” said Vijay Varma. “Getting it for the category of Best Actor in Comedy is a new stepping stone for me. OK Computer is a project very close to my heart. I got to work with an immensely talented cast and crew. Its recognition at the Filmfare OTT Awards fills my heart with immense pride and joy. It widened my horizons as an actor.”

  • Mallika Petkar joins Viacom18 as senior vice president – sports

    Mallika Petkar joins Viacom18 as senior vice president – sports

    Mumbai: Viacom18 has appointed Mallika Petkar as senior vice president – sports. Petkar was previously working with Disney+ Hotstar as head of SMB growth strategy and inside sales since March 2019.

    She has spent a decade in various roles at both Star TV network and Disney+ Hotstar. At Star TV network she held the role of customer strategy and integrated sales network and Star Sports product and revenue strategy. At Disney+ Hotstar she has held the role of vice president product and revenue strategy. She had joined Star India in August 2011.

    “After a decade at Star India/Hotstar, I have moved on to the next adventure. It’s been an incredible ride, through which I’ve been fortunate to have some of the smartest mentors and colleagues ever assembled under one roof. And many dear friends. From the early days of building Star Sports to the last few years on the rocket ship that is Disney+Hotstar, there’s never been a dull moment,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post.

    She also had a three-year stint at Ernst and Young as senior consultant – business advisory services.

  • Indian content producers see uptick in revenues from online video platforms

    Indian content producers see uptick in revenues from online video platforms

    Mumbai: The production of local originals in India is heating up and giving a boost to the creative economy. Online video platforms are expected to invest heavily into local original content to ensure robust paid subscriber growth.

    “The market for digital content has definitely increased,” said Fremantle India managing director Aradhana Bhola. Fremantle India is known for its unscripted TV reality series like “India Idol” and “India’s Got Talent.”

    Fremantle is a global production and distribution company based in the UK that has created hit reality series “Too Hot To Handle” on Netflix and “Hear Me. Love Me.” featuring actor Shilpa Shetty on Prime Video. The Indian arm of the production company has collaborated with YouTube India for two YouTube originals “Hello 2021” followed by “You V YouTube” hosted by actor and cricket presenter Gaurav Kapur.

    “We don’t have a formal partnership in terms of some kind of output deal, however, we are working a lot with them (YouTube),” said Bhola.

    According to Media Partners Asia, investment in online video content reached $1 billion in 2021. Furthermore, the investments in local content increased from 29 per cent in 2020 to 37 per cent in 2021. Licensed/acquired content accounts for 63 per cent share of investments in online video content.

    OTT platform Lionsgate Play, the streaming arm of Lionsgate Entertainment is also launching its first Indian original “Hiccups and Hookups” starring Lara Dutta and Prateik Babbar. Prime Video is releasing the third season of its hit series “Inside Edge.” Disney+ Hotstar is releasing its family drama “Dil Bekaraar.” Netflix is releasing its comedy “Decoupled” that stars R Madhavan and Surveen Chawla. The space for local originals is heating up.

    There is a strong correlation between OTT players who are willing to invest in premium content to service uptake and audience stickiness, according to a study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). “In the last two-three years, the Indian OTT industry has come of age. The subscription OTT industry is growing at a much faster pace compared to the rest of the industry. This indicates a maturing of the consumer who is now willing to pay for specific content,” said BCG senior partner and managing director Kanchan Samtani.

    Media Partners Asia vice president and head of India Mihir Shah estimates that if OTT players continue to invest in local content at this rate the subscription video on-demand adoption will grow by four times and reach 224 million subscribers and $ 2.1 billion in revenues by 2026.

    The leading OTT players in terms of subscriber share in the SVOD market are Disney+ Hostar (50 per cent), Prime Video (19 per cent) and Netflix (5 per cent). Revenue share of SVOD subscriptions is at 25 per cent for Disney+ Hotstar, 22 per cent for Prime Video, and 29 per cent for Netflix.

  • Disney+ Hotstar launches LEAP program for agencies

    Disney+ Hotstar launches LEAP program for agencies

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar has announced the launch of LEAP – An educational program for agency planners on advertising solutions and online video marketing on Disney+ Hotstar.

    Through this program, agencies will gain in-depth knowledge and expertise in planning and executing strategic digital campaigns. The first session of LEAP goes live on 25 November with team Dentsu India.

    From media to measurement, the two-day program will cover various aspects for agency planners on digital advertising and media planning and help them to understand how to leverage Disney+ Hotstar’s advertising solutions to maximise brand visibility, said the platform in a statement.

    “At Disney+ Hotstar, our constant endeavour is to equip advertisers and agencies with solutions that bring them closer to their customers and help them stand out in the industry,” said Star and Disney India head – ad sales Nitin Bawankule. “With the digital world evolving rapidly and online video marketing platforms playing an extremely important role in consumers’ lives, it is imperative to comprehensively understand the potential these platforms offer. Through LEAP, we aim to further strengthen our commitment towards the digital advertising ecosystem by equipping them with insights and knowledge that will help them maximise outcomes.”

  • Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story’ sets viewership record

    Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story’ sets viewership record

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar’s espionage thriller “Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story” is trending number one on the streaming platform. The show has broken the highest first-day viewership record on the platform as subscribers tuned in to catch the spy drama on 12 November as part of the Disney+ Day celebration.

    Directed by Neeraj Pandey and starring Kay Kay Menon, the spy thriller delves deep into the aftermath of the 2001 Parliament Attack. The show has witnessed the highest viewership and the highest watch time for any show launched on Disney+ Hotstar to date and has managed to thrill viewers across the country and even scored an incredible IMDb rating of 9.4 from fans and critics alike in addition to a 4.9/5 rating on Google.

    “We are thrilled with the appreciation received for our show Special Ops’ new season,” said the president and head content of Disney+ Hotstar and HSM entertainment network, Star and Disney India Gaurav Banerjee. “The show’s launch day success is a testament to the team’s continued perseverance and commitment to telling stories that are path-breaking and rise above the convention. Special Ops is a franchise that’s seeping into popular culture in India with the latest season being a bigger hit than the first one.”  

    “To see your hard work and a role that is so close to you, trend at number one to become the most-watched show on a launch day is a magical feeling,” said actor Kay Kay Menon.

  • Disney+Hotstar appoints Shalini Poddar as EVP & head of ad sales

    Disney+Hotstar appoints Shalini Poddar as EVP & head of ad sales

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar has appointed Shalini Poddar as executive vice president and head of ad sales. Poddar replaced Gulshan Verma who had quit the streaming service in July to join Jio Ads as chief executive officer.

    At Disney+Hotstar, Poddar will lead ad sales revenue and strategy for the service in India and lead a team of 140 across all aspects of the ads business from business planning, sales, sales strategy including pricing and format, revenue management, operations, data partnerships, programmatic, brand lab, measurement/RoI and customer marketing.

    She was previously associated with Google as head of business development, Google Play Apps, India, Southeast Asia and Australia. She had joined Google in March 2016 as industry manager for telecom, gaming and payments. In a career spanning 17 years, she has had stints at Accenture Management Consulting and Kotak Mahindra Bank.

    She completed her graduation from Delhi University and is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

  • Disney Plus subscriber growth decelerates with 2.1 mn additions in Q4 2021

    Disney Plus subscriber growth decelerates with 2.1 mn additions in Q4 2021

    Mumbai: Disney Plus added 2.1 million subscribers in the fourth quarter 2021 much lower compared to the previous quarter where it added over 12 million subscribers. The streaming service saw subscriber growth in domestic and international markets except in India (Disney Plus Hotstar) where the number of total subscriptions decreased.

    The Walt Disney Company’s total subscriptions for its direct-to-consumer (DTC) business stood at 179 million including Disney Plus at 118.1 million, Hulu at 43.8 million and ESPN+ at 17.1 million subscribers.

    The overall subscriber growth stood at 48 per cent on a year-on-year basis whereas for Disney Plus it was 60 per cent. The Walt Disney Company chief executive officer Bob Chapek affirmed that the company would reach its target of 230-260 million subscribers by 2024 and achieve profitability for its streaming service Disney Plus by then.

    Beginning next year, Disney Plus will be doubling its slate of original content from its tentpole brands including Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and Nat Geo. The company has 340+ local original titles in various stages of development and production and expects its total content expense to be about $ 8 to 9 billion by 2024.

    While the company is not expecting linear subscriber growth on a quarter-on-quarter basis, it does expect to see an increase in subscriptions based on two factors – its expansion into new markets and increasing cadence of content during the third and fourth quarters of the year.

    In two years, Disney Plus expanded across 60 countries in 20 languages. The streaming service expects a further expansion into 50 additional countries by the end of next year and reach a total of 160 countries by 2023. It recently launched in Japan and will launch in South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong on 12 November which is also Disney+ Day. It will continue to expand into markets like Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and South Africa in the future.

    The direct-to-consumer business revenues increased by 38 per cent to $4.6 billion. The average monthly revenue per paid subscriber for Disney+ decreased from $4.52 to $4.12 due to a higher mix of Disney+ Hotstar subscribers in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter. Disney Plus Hotstar subscribers account for 37 per cent of Disney+ paid subscriber base.

    “As we celebrate the two-year anniversary of Disney Plus, we’re extremely pleased with the success of our streaming business, with 179 million total subscriptions across our DTC portfolio at the end of fiscal 2021 and 60 per cent subscriber growth year-over-year for Disney Plus,” said Bob Chapek. “We continue to manage our DTC business for the long-term, and are confident that our high-quality entertainment and expansion into additional markets worldwide will enable us to further grow our streaming platforms globally.”