ITV

Tag: Disney +Hotstar

  • Disney+ Hotstar brings back its iconic dance reality show Dance+ Pro

    Disney+ Hotstar brings back its iconic dance reality show Dance+ Pro

    Mumbai: Carrying on the legacy of being home to one of the biggest dance shows in India, Disney+ Hostar is thrilled to announce an all-new season of widely watched dance reality show, Dance+ Pro. Season seven of the show will see veteran choreographer Remo D’Souza once again resume his role as the super judge. Along with him on the judge’s bench will be skilled dancers Punit J. Pathak, Shakti Mohan and Rahul Shetty as team captains herding 12 teams on the show. Season 7 of the cult show is taken to the next level and the upcoming edition is free to stream on all devices and will present brands with an exciting and powerful opportunity to connect with a loyal fan base.

    Disney+ Hotstar is the go-to platform for captivating entertainment, especially for iconic dance reality shows like Nach Baliye, Dance Champions, and Dance+. This rests on the idea of the genre forever innovating itself. Dance+ Pro carries forward this legacy with the introduction of industry-first innovations like AI chatbots, will share contestants’ backstories, and a unique ‘Watch Plus’ tool that for the first time will allow viewers to closely analyze a dance move at their own pace. Along with these, the show also introduces newer collaborations like dancers joining hands with local social media stars and representing various regions and languages. Additionally, the show will also offer a host of engagements with Remo D’Souza inviting dance entries from the audience every week. Fans can also record and send their favorite dance move. Winning entries stand a chance to get featured on the show. Additionally, viewers are also invited to create reels replicating the popular steps of the dances. The multi-touchpoint engagements take it beyond screens and make it an ideal platform for brands to gain maximum visibility.

    Disney+ Hotstar head – content, & Disney Star HSM entertainment network Gaurav Banerjee said,  “Disney+ Hotstar has propelled entertainment storytelling through genres and formats and Dance Plus Pro is a step forward towards this commitment. We are extremely excited to bring forth a brand new season of this spectacular dance show headlined by super-judge Remo Dsouza and hope the audience will enjoy it.

    With Dance+ Pro being a popular reality show, Disney+ Hotstar this year is set to elevate the watch experience further through a plethora of technological and content innovations for viewers. Brands can also be a part of the experience with the platform’s expansive reach and innovative features like in-episode integrations, branded segments, anchor mentions, ILU showcase, astons and windows as well as show-based vignettes with celebs.

  • Probus Insurance joins hands with Disney+ Hotstar for Pro Kabaddi League 2023

    Probus Insurance joins hands with Disney+ Hotstar for Pro Kabaddi League 2023

    Mumbai: After an overwhelming response during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Probus Insurance, one of the Insurtech brands, yet again joined hands with Disney+ Hotstar for Pro Kabaddi League 2023. Like their previous association, Probus will again be the exclusive partner for the action replay bug for Pro Kabbadi League Season 10, featuring their brand ambassador, Bollywood celebrity Hrithik Roshan.

    Pro Kabaddi League is the most popular kabaddi league in the world. In a testament to its widespread popularity, the PKL league achieved a staggering viewership of 435 million during its last season resonating with a diverse audience from avid sports enthusiasts to casual viewers, making it one of the most-watched sporting events in the country after the IPL.

    Probus Managing director Rakesh Goyal said in the announcement, “We are thrilled to embark on this new journey with exclusive rights for the Action Replay Bug for Pro Kabaddi League this season. Probus has a strong local footprint of 800+ cities, serving 15000 pin codes, where most of our penetration is rural. With this tie-up, we aim to reach out to the rural belt, where Pro Kabaddi League is also making the sport an aspiration for the people in Tier 2 3 cities, touching diverse segments of the population. This is exactly where our brand ethos binds us together, boosting the purpose of this association.”

    Disney+ Hotstar Head – Ads Dhruv Dhawan said, “At Disney+ Hotstar, it is our constant endeavour to enable our advertisers to meet their business goals by leveraging our tentpole events. We are delighted to associate with Probus across our marquee sports properties, such as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and now the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10. We hope to continue to build on this association in the future as well.”

    Probus’s online platform presents an array of insurance products, including motor, life, health, and SME. Having surpassed 1000 crore premium in the last year, the company has achieved a significant milestone. Aligned with IRDAI’s goals, Probus aims to expand into rural markets by deploying Bima Vahak, a specialised distribution channel, in every gram panchayat nationwide.

  • How has the Indian viewer of long-content evolved?

    How has the Indian viewer of long-content evolved?

    Mumbai: A decade ago, Indian television was dominated by soap operas and family dramas. The limited choice and often repetitive content left viewers wanting more. This frustration paved the way for the streaming revolution. Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar, and others entered the Indian market, offering a plethora of options across genres and languages.

    The Indian viewers, once bound by rigid TV schedules, suddenly had the freedom to watch what they wanted, when they wanted. This marked the beginning of a seismic shift in the consumption of long-form content. The audience was no longer tethered to the living room; they could watch their favourite shows and movies on their smartphones, tablets, or laptops. One of the most significant changes in the Indian viewer’s preferences has been the diversification of content. While family dramas and sitcoms still hold a special place in our hearts, viewers have grown more inclined towards exploring diverse genres. Crime thrillers, historical dramas, sci-fi series, and international content have found a dedicated fan base. Here are some more evolutions of the long form content consumer

    Nuanced storytelling

    The long form content viewer today has broken away from traditional, run of the mill concepts which were mass favourites. Traditional entertainment often followed familiar and predictable formulas. For example, many television shows and movies relied on standard plotlines, character archetypes, and storytelling techniques that had proven successful. Today more and more viewers are shifting are demanding nuanced and complex storylines to keep them hooked. This means they want narratives that challenge them intellectually, emotionally, and morally. They want characters with depth and development, intricate plot twists, and thought-provoking themes. This demand has led to the creation of content that explores a wide range of topics and genres.

    Binge watching

    Binge-watching has transformed the way audiences consume content. In the past, viewers were limited by TV schedules and movie timings, but now, with long-form content readily accessible, binge-watching has become a common phenomenon. It involves viewers becoming deeply engrossed in a show, series, or movie, often watching multiple seasons or episodes in one sitting due to content availability. Many proudly admit to being binge-watchers. This surge in binge-watching has created a higher demand for content, as consumption accelerates, prompting content creators to produce more to meet viewers’ insatiable appetite for continuous, immersive storytelling

    Watching content from different regions

    Most long form content had restricted distribution due to language issues. However, today, global accessibility, including subtitles and dubbing, has cultivated enthusiastic fans worldwide. The popularity of Turkish serials and K-dramas in India stands testament to this fact. The pandemic accelerated language-agnostic viewing as viewers sought compelling content through digital streaming, uncovering gems from various regions. Now, the focus is on the content’s concept and storyline, transcending language and cultural origins. This shift has expanded markets for long-form content creators.

    Passive to active consumers

    Today’s social media natives aren’t passive consumers of long-form content; they’re active and engaged fans. They form fan clubs, create pages for celebrities and characters, drive trending hashtags, and participate in content discussions on platforms like Reddit. This involvement sparks spin-offs, alternate storylines, and direct feedback loops with writers, influencing the creative process

    Over the years, the Indian viewer’s journey has undergone a remarkable transformation, as they have played a pivotal role in shaping and driving numerous changes within the long form content market.

    The author of this article is Creative Viibe founder Santosh Kher.

  • Disney+ Hotstar launches OTT advertising handbook

    Disney+ Hotstar launches OTT advertising handbook

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar, India’s leading streaming platform, has launched a handbook for effective brand building on the platform. Titled Winning in the OTT era with Disney+ Hotstar, the handbook shares learnings based on the analysis of over 200 plus campaigns and offers a 360° view of why marketers must include OTT in their marketing strategy. The playbook has been developed in collaboration with industry experts Kantar, Neurons, Integral Ad Science, Mediasmart and Metrix Lab.  The playbook shares key media planning principles along with creative best practices for video ads to enable advertisers to make the most of their campaigns on OTT platforms, it also inspires advertisers to go beyond vanilla advertising by collaborating with the Disney+ Hotstar’s CreativeWorks team to create bespoke, contextual, impactful campaigns. It also shares insights to make the most of the connected TVs (CTV) feed as a medium to connect with their desired audiences.

    “The changing media-scape of advertising has made it imperative for brands to embrace OTT platforms. Disney+ Hotstar has continuously led the way in the ever-evolving OTT industry, constantly innovating to provide exceptional experiences for both consumers and advertisers. We are delighted to present the Winning in The OTT Era with Disney+ Hotstar playbook, that shares the recipe for success to enable advertisers harness the full potential of our platform thus maximizing impact for their campaigns. Created in collaboration with leading industry experts, the handbook offers invaluable guidance for effective media planning and brand building, enabling our advertisers to make data-driven decisions and significantly enhance advertising ROI,” said Disney Star head of network – ad sales Ajit Varghese.

    Additionally, the handbook lays down the best practices that can be deployed by brands to maximize their ROIs when advertising on Disney+ Hotstar:

    ●   Campaigns with three plus video ads were most successful in driving brand awareness, favorability, and purchase intent.

    ●   Campaigns with 20 plus second video ads delivered the highest success

    ●   Midroll campaigns supplemented with other creative formats delivered 30 per cent more success in driving brand message and purchase

    ●   Operating at a frequency of six plus increases purchase intent by 70 per cent and brand awareness by 50 per cent

    ●   Longer campaigns (>six weeks) yield higher success on upper and lower funnel metrics.

    Campaigns following these practices on Disney+ Hotstar recorded a 10 per cent higher success rate vs. industry benchmarks defined by Kantar across digital campaigns. The study also highlights how Impact advertising on the platform has delivered 100 per cent success across the funnel for sponsors and inventory buyers and outperformed industry benchmarks. The case studies recorded reveal the following:

    ●   Sponsors of Koffee With Karan Season 7 achieved 3X Uplift through in-show integration and branded vignettes, 4X brand awareness, 2.8X Online ad awareness, 3.3X message association, 2.8X brand favorability and 2.6X purchase intent.

    ●   Sponsors of Dance+ Season 6 achieved two times organic value through impact advertising on the show making it one of the most successful campaigns across the industry.

    ●   Tanishq co-creating and hosting reality series with Disney+ Hotstar CreativeWorks, The Great Indian Bride, saw the brand creatively reach out to modern brides of India and, in the process, achieve five times purchase intent and 2.3x brand awareness uplift.

  • DishTV’s Watcho – OTT Super App surpasses three million subscriptions within a year of launch

    DishTV’s Watcho – OTT Super App surpasses three million subscriptions within a year of launch

    Mumbai: Dish TV’s new OTT aggregation platform, Watcho – OTT Super App, a one-stop solution for OTT entertainment for all generations, urban and rural alike including the Gen Z, has exceeded the notable milestone of three million paid subscriptions, closely following its attainment of the 2 million subscriber mark in August this year. This is a significant highlight for the platform’s sustained growth in the competitive OTT aggregation and entertainment landscape since its launch in 2022.

    Watcho – Dish TV’s OTT platform has demonstrated exceptional growth, amassing a user base exceeding 90 million since launch, showcasing its dedication towards delivering high-quality entertainment solutions to a diverse audience. The platform not only gained a substantial user base but also solidified its position as a leading OTT solution.

    The success of Watcho is attributed to its unique approach, offering bundled packages of leading OTT platforms under a single subscription along with its own exclusive content under ‘Watcho Exclusives’. This provides users with a seamless and comprehensive entertainment experience, featuring 16 popular platforms such as Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, Sony Liv, Lionsgate Play, Hungama Play, HoiChoi, Chaupal, Manorama Max, FanCode, Raj Digital, Tarang Plus, ShortsTV, ETV Win, Stage, Aao Nxt, and ‘Watcho Exclusives’.

    The OTT Super App also grants entry to Watcho’s extensive collection of original content, including 45 plus captivating web series, Swag (user-generated content), popular shows, and exclusive live TV. The diverse array of shows covers genres such as romance, corporate conspiracies, family drama, fantasy, adventure, and sci-fi providing seamless access to premium content.

    Commenting on the milestone achievement, Dish TV India Ltd CEO Manoj Dobhal said, “As we celebrate the achievement of three million paid subscriptions on Watcho – OTT Super App, it’s a moment of pride and gratitude. This milestone underscores the resonance of Watcho as a unique offering that provides complete 360-degree OTT entertainment on one platform ‘One hai to done hai’. The audience has validated this new concept and solidified our position as a preferred entertainment destination. We interpret these numbers not just as subscriptions but as a measure of trust, loyalty, and a validation of our commitment to delivering top-notch entertainment.”

    He emphasised, “At Dish TV and Watcho, we are committed to creating a new immersive content experience for our users, and driving business growth through innovative new business streams’

    Dish TV and Watcho corporate head – marketing head Sukhpreet Singh said, “The milestone of 3 million paid subscriptions of Watcho is a testament to the evolving preference of the Indian audience validating that it is a go-to destination of the youth for diverse and engaging entertainment. For user’s, the idea to create their own content and not just consume the given content has given us a significant foothold in the market. Reaching this landmark in just about a year reaffirms our commitment to providing compelling content and innovative products. We look forward to continuously evolving and sustaining this momentum by shaping the future of entertainment”

  • Legends League Cricket expands global reach

    Legends League Cricket expands global reach

    Mumbai: Legends League Cricket continues its successful broadcast partnership with Star Sports Network owing to the massive response to the previous editions of the League. All matches of the upcoming season of Legends League Cricket will be broadcast across Star Sports, and Disney+ Hotstar starting from the 18 of November 2023 till the 9 of December 2023.

    “Legends League Cricket brings together the best national and international talent to the fans, and it was only right that we continue our association with the Star Sports Network and FanCode to showcase the Legends of the sport. This association will continue to give millions of cricket lovers in India the best viewing experience and bring them closer to the stars that they know and love.” said Legends League Cricket CEO Raman Raheja.

    The addition of newer international cricketers and Indian Legends this season will help increase the viewership both in India and abroad. The league’s broadcasting numbers speak for themselves with 388 per cent higher reach than other T20 Leagues on Sports TV (excluding IPL), being the second most watched and rated T20 League (source: BARC 15+ AB), and a whopping 280 million global viewership in just its previous season.  

    The second franchisee edition of Legends League Cricket is scheduled from November 18 to December 9 and will feature matches in five cities: Ranchi, Dehradun, Jammu, Vizag, and Surat. The tournament will kick off with a match between Bhilwara Kings, led by Irfan Pathan, and the defending champions, India Capitals, captained by Gautam Gambhir. Six teams, including India Capitals, Manipal Tigers, Gujarat Giants, Urbanrisers Hyderabad, Southern Super Stars, and Bhilwara Kings, will compete for the coveted trophy.

    Legends League Cricket will be broadcast in eight countries in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. The broadcasting partners for different countries are Star Sports in India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh along with Disney+ Hotstar, and ESPN+ will be available for viewers in South Africa and USA with an addition of Willow TV just for American viewers. Fox and Kayo Sports will cater to the Australian region, Etisalat in the Middle East, and BT Sports in the UK region. 

  • Disney+ Hotstar breaks their own record for 4th time this tournament with 5.3 Cr peak concurrent viewers

    Disney+ Hotstar breaks their own record for 4th time this tournament with 5.3 Cr peak concurrent viewers

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar creates history yet again with a record-breaking peak concurrency of 5.3 crore viewers during the semi-final match between India and  New Zealand of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Virat Kohli registered his 50th ODI century in the semi-final match surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries in ODI format. The outstanding Indian team stands undefeated in the tournament and is now only a match away from the coveted trophy.

    Let’s take a look at Team India’s performance in the ICC Cricket Men’s World Cup 2023 so far:

    ●    Team India defeated Sri Lanka and South Africa by bowling them out with a double-digit score

    ●    Rohit Sharma ‘The Hitman’ becomes the top player with 51 sixes in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup after Chris Gayle

    ●    Virat Kohli ‘King Kohli’ is the top scorer with 711 runs in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 673 runs

    ●   Mohammad Shami becomes the first Indian bowler to take 7 wickets in one match in ICC Men’s Cricket World   Cup 2023

    Commenting on this, Disney+ Hotstar India head Sajith Sivanandan said, “It’s not just Team India breaking records with their 10th straight win at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Indian fans are also tuning into Disney+ Hotstar in unprecedented numbers. Their incredible passion has led us to shatter the peak concurrency record four times during this tournament, setting new benchmarks in live sports streaming. The 5.3 cr concurrent viewers for India’s semifinal against New Zealand exceeds the combined population of Australia and New Zealand by more than 1.5 times! This milestone is not just a triumph of technology but a testament to our viewers’ unwavering support. With the final just around the corner, we look forward to bringing the nation together to witness the making of sporting history.”

    Disney+ Hotstar, in collaboration with the International Cricket Council (ICC), recently added MaxView – a technological innovation that allows cricket fans to watch the game in vertical mode (9X14 portrait view) for the very first time in the history of streaming cricket. This feature facilitates a one-handed viewing experience, aligning with the way most users consume content. MaxView is a brand new, bespoke opt-in feature. Other surrounding features, such as the Live feed tab, Scorecard tab, have also been made available in vertical mode, along with vertical ad formats.

    Following the success of the Asia Cup 2023 and the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Disney+ Hotstar recently announced that Pro Kabaddi League Season 10, will be made accessible to all mobile users without the need to subscribe.

  • Ranbir Kapoor’s cinematic roar echoes in support of Team India on Cricket Live

    Ranbir Kapoor’s cinematic roar echoes in support of Team India on Cricket Live

    Mumbai: In an exciting convergence of Bollywood glamour and high-stakes cricket, the charismatic Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor is set to make a dazzling appearance on the Star Sports “Cricket Live” pre-show. The much-anticipated event will see Kapoor promoting his eagerly awaited pan-India movie “Animal” while extending his support to Team India during their blockbuster semi-final clash against New Zealand.

    This electrifying collaboration adds a touch of cinematic excitement to the cricketing arena as fans gear up for a nail-biting rematch from the 2019 World Cup semi-final, where New Zealand emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter. With Team India seeking redemption from their previous defeat, the stakes are higher than ever, promising an unforgettable blend of cinematic charisma and cricketing fervour on the cricket live stage. Get ready for an afternoon filled with the magic of both the silver screen and the cricket field!

     

     

    The highly anticipated movie “Animal” not only stars Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor but also boasts the powerhouse performances of veteran actors Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol in pivotal titular roles. Actress Rashmika Mandanna is also a part of the ensemble as Ranbir Kapoor’s love interest, marking their first-time pairing in films. Promising to be a gripping action-drama, “Animal” is set to enthral audiences with its compelling storyline and powerhouse performances. The anticipation builds as the film gears up for a worldwide release on December 1st, spanning Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam languages. As the cricketing and cinematic worlds collide on the Cricket Live pre-show, fans can look forward to a mesmerizing blend of cricket, charisma, and the upcoming blockbuster.

    Catch all the action from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Semi-Final 1–India vs New Zealand, 15 November 2023, from 12:00 pm onwards, LIVE & exclusive on the Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar.

  • Top OTT series to light up your Diwali with entertainment

    Top OTT series to light up your Diwali with entertainment

    Mumbai: The festival of Diwali is just around the corner and what’s better than the extended festive weekend to get cozy with family and friends, create joyous moments, and cherish memories? While celebrating outside is fun, binge-watching a range of incredible shows with your loved ones will definitely make the festivities even brighter. From romance, comedy, and drama to thriller and mystery, the popular streaming platforms have got it all covered for everyone’s delight and taste. For the starry night of Diwali and the heartwarming vibes of Bhaidooj, here’s a list of shows to light up your world with entertainment this festive season.

       Crushed S3

    With the first 2 seasons being runaway hits, Crushed is returning with its Season 3 to win over everyone’s hearts with its adorable storyline. Following the journey of students as they navigate love and understanding the meaning of commitments, relations and their complexities, the series delves deeper into the life of teenagers, set in picturesque hills of Dehradun. The romantic drama features Aadhya Anand, Naman Jain, Arjun Deshwal and Urvi Singh amongst others.

    Where to watch: Amazon miniTV

       Aarya S3

    After two successful seasons, Aarya Sareen is forming new coalitions in her pursuit of dominance, returning to face both old and new foes. The series, which is co-directed by Shraddha Pasi Jairath, Kapil Sharma, and Ram Madhvani, presents an engrossing drama that carries on the compelling plot of its predecessors. The drama, which stars Sushmita Sen, Vikas Kumar, Ila Arun, Vishwajeet Pradhan, and Sikandar Kher, transports viewers to a world to a dangerous and mysterious world of money-driven society.

    Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

       Hack Crimes Online

    Chasing and digging deeper into the dark world of cybercrime, the series takes a strong stand against the criminal activities occurring in the digital world. Hack Crimes Online follows the devious acts of hackers and online frauds to steal money and private information including bank scams, corporate hacking, cyberbullying, and honey traps. Adapted from a novel by India’s prominent cyber-crime investigator, Amit Dubey, the series features Vipul Gupta and Riddhi Kumar in significant roles.

    Where to watch: Amazon miniTV

       Aspirants S2

    Bringing back the stellar cast of Naveen Kasturia, Shivankit Singh Parihar, Abhilash Thapliyal, Sunny Hinduja and Namita Dubey, Aspirants S2 explores the intricacies of friendships and the difficulties of making the move to the working world. Navigating through the lives of our favorite trio Abhilash, Guri and SK, along with Sandeep Bhaiya, the series canvasses their back-breaking journey of dreams and ambitions. Escalating between love, career and their life goal, the series delves deeper into the world of IAS aspirants and administrative world.

    Where to watch: Prime Video

       Half Love Half Arranged

    This romantic comedy series delving into the realm of arranged dating, revolves around the life of a millennial gynaecologist Riya Tanwar. With strict rules and a meticulously organized lifestyle, her life takes a turn where she gets stuck in the middle of arranged marriage drama filled with a roller coaster of emotions. With Maanvi Gagroo and Karan Wahi in the lead roles, this rom-com treasure offers a healthy mix of family relationships, humour, insane arranged matches, romance, and friendship.

    Where to watch: Amazon miniTV

  • Disney+ Hotstar enables all mobile users to access Pro Kabaddi League season 10

    Disney+ Hotstar enables all mobile users to access Pro Kabaddi League season 10

    Mumbai: After the resounding success of the Asia Cup 2023 and the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Disney+ Hotstar is gearing up to present Pro Kabaddi League, the most watched sport in the country after cricket. The platform has announced that the upcoming season of Pro Kabaddi League will be available to stream for all the mobile users in India starting 2 December 2023.

    The decision to enable ad-supported streaming of the tenth edition of Pro Kabaddi League closely follows the historic viewership achieved during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. During the India vs South Africa match, the platform recorded a peak concurrency of 4.4 Crore viewers, and this is expected to go up as we draw closer to the culmination of the tournament.

    Commenting on this, Disney+ Hotstar India head Sajith Sivanandan said, “The landscape of sports viewing is evolving, as was witnessed by the phenomenal response to our free on mobile offering during Asia Cup 2023 and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Our audience is continually seeking the thrill of sports with the convenience of on-the-go access and we are elated to meet this demand. The popularity of Pro Kabaddi League spans across age groups and by making it available to all our mobile audience without having to subscribe, our aim is to make Kabaddi accessible to all of India and foster a stronger sense of engagement amongst the fans.”

    The upcoming season of the Pro Kabaddi League will be conducted in a 12-city caravan format with 12 competing teams.

    Tune into Disney+ Hotstar to stream Pro Kabaddi League 2023 live. The tournament will also be broadcast live on Star Sports Network.