Tag: dramas

YouTube eyes the big screen as 38 per cent tune in for TV and film

MUMBAI: YouTube’s not just for prank videos and pet fails anymore. That was a point made by YouTube global head Neale Mohan earlier this year when he talked about the platform being watched more on TVs in the US than on handsets. Now, this has been confirmed by the latest consumer research from Ampere Analysis. The only difference it is beginning to spread globally.

Nearly four in ten (38 per cent) of the platform’s global monthly users watch traditional TV shows, films and documentaries. The shift signals YouTube’s growing ambitions beyond the smartphone screen—right into the living room.

Once the digital playground of vlogs and viral clips, YouTube is fast becoming a home for full-length content from major studios and broadcasters. And it’s not just padding out the platform—TV and film content now ranks among YouTube’s top five most-watched genres. Documentaries alone are pulling in 24 per cent of users each month, while 23 per cent are turning up for shows and movies.

What’s interesting is how distinct the audiences are: only 22 per cent of viewers watch both. The rest are split between docu-devotees (41 per cent) and drama-only fans (37 per cent). And while the appeal spans age groups, there’s a slight tilt towards 35–44-year-olds and family households.

The trend is strongest in Asia Pacific (45 per cent) and Latin America (40 per cent), but less so in Western Europe (28 per cent). North America sits bang on the global average at 37 per cent.

The rise of smart TVs is a game changer here. While smartphones still dominate (used by 77 per cent of long-form viewers), a hefty 34 per cent of those watching both docs and dramas are doing so on smart TVs—compared to just 22 per cent of all YouTube users.

Ampere, senior research manager Daniel Monaghan sums it up: “YouTube has come a long way from meme montages and low-res vlogs. We’re now seeing serious, studio-backed content that’s pulling in eyeballs. Sure, there’s a risk of cannibalising traditional platforms—but the ad-share potential and massive reach make it a no-brainer.”

Whether YouTube counts as TV may still be up for debate. But with your gran and your sis now watching documentaries on it from their smart TVs, it might just be time to drop the “user-generated” label.

May 21, 2025
GoQuest Media licenses drama package deal to Disney+ Hotstar

Mumbai: GoQuest Media has licensed a drama package deal to Disney+ Hotstar. The video streaming platform has acquired the Indian rights to three thrilling European dramas, Civil Servant and Debt to the Sea produced by Serbian telecommunications and cable TV operator Telekom Srbija & Traitor produced by multi-service provider Elisa Estonia and Estonian public broadcaster ERR.

Produced in conjunction with Film Danas and directed by Miroslav Lekic and Ivan Zivkovic, Civil Servant is a gripping spy thriller series that follows a young, ambitious Serbian Secret Service (BIA) agent, Lazar Stanojević (played by Milan Marić, winner of the Shooting Stars Award at Berlinale and the Chopard Talent Award at the Moscow Film Festival) as he negotiates the rules of the international spy game in the modern world. He quickly learns that all is not what it seems, and he is left fighting the distrust that he has for everything he thought to be true. Despite this, his sense of duty still makes him make dangerous decisions to try to protect his nation, his family and himself.

Dark secrets, ancient myths and an unrelenting sea determine the life of the characters in Debt to the Sea produced in association with Monte Royal Pictures International and directed by Goran Gajic. The arrival of a mysterious stranger triggers an unstoppable wave of events for the unnerved inhabitants of a beautiful but deadly Montenegro coastal village. Fractured families, old friends and young lovers are forced to find answers in their tragic pasts and uncertain futures.

Disney+ Hotstar has also acquired the spy thriller Traitor directed by Ergo Kuld. Inspired by recent spy scandals in Estonia, Traitor is a captivating thriller which begins in 2004, just before Estonia joined NATO and became a top target for Russian intelligence. Greed and the need for recognition lead recruit Alfred Vint (played by Tambet Tuisk who received the Best Actor Award at EFTA 2020, Estonian Film and TV Awards) to cooperate with Russian intelligence, leading to a thrilling cat-and-mouse game with determined young Estonian counterintelligence officer Marko Arrak (Veiko Porkanen).

GoQuest Media Managing Director Vivek Lath added, “Spy dramas have enjoyed consistent success with Indian audiences on streaming platforms. Both Civil Servant and Traitor have the story, casting, and production brilliance to build a new fanbase in the country.”

“Debt to the Sea is perfect for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with myths, murders, and family secrets set against a stunning seaside location like Montenegro. We are very excited that these exceptional Eastern European titles are now premiering in India and hope that Disney+ Hotstar audiences will enjoy them as much as we did,” he added.

May 17, 2022
Nippon TV inks licensing deal with Netflix

Mumbai: Nippon TV, Japan’s multiplatform entertainment company, has partnered with Netflix for the first time to make 30 of its biggest drama series and entertainment shows available outside Japan, all across Asia.

The first 15 titles have just started to stream in October. Titles include its mega-hit 2011 drama series “I’m Mita,” “Your Housekeeper,” whose last episode broke records with a 40 per cent viewer rating in Japan and has also been successful as a scripted format and licensed to Korea; “Death Note,” which is a live-action drama based on its widely popular comic series, and “Tokyo Tarareba Girls,” which is also remade from the hit comic series that saw over 1.8 million copies printed throughout Japan.

From December, another 15 titles will be added, including the 2019 award-winning drama series “Mr Hiiragi’s Homeroom,” “Your Turn to Kill,” and “Life’s Punchline,” which was broadcast this year with almost 14 million total views to date on TVer, a VOD streaming service in Japan.

Entertainment shows as part of this deal include the highly popular adventure variety show “The Quest,” and the contest show “Masquerade,” which is one of Nippon TV’s longest-running programs with its over 40 years history.

“We are very pleased to announce that Netflix will be offering our content to its audience across Asia,” stated Nippon TV head of finished program sales, international business development Keisuke Miyata. “This region is a key part of our continued growth, and now coupled with Netflix’s strength as one of the world’s leading streaming platforms, we are confident that Nippon TV’s titles will be well received by viewers in this prominent new territory for us.”

November 1, 2021
FX promises to up its edge this New Year with a New prime time lineup

MUMBAI: FX, India’s exclusive destination for edgy and fast paced shows across genres is all set to up its game this New Year. The one stop shop for some of the best dramas, thrillers and comical shows will now boast of a more phenomenal line up to appeal to an even wider audience base.

In January, FX is set to change its weekday prime time lineup.

The X-Files – Essential Collection airing from Monday to Friday at 11 PM till January 28, 2016.

The first of the lot is the cult sci-fi series ‘The X-Files – Essential Collection’. Having premiered on January 1st, The X-Files – Essential Collection is a widely talked about and hugely anticipated build up series, to the all-new X-Files mini-series specially curated by the creator of the original series, Chris Carter himself. Carter has personally chosen 20 special episodes along with some never-seen-before footage to give new and long-standing audiences an extra edge before they catch up with the all-new event series.

Scare Tactics every Monday to Friday at 8 PM

The New Year also welcomed the premiere of the bone-chilling show Scare Tactics – a hidden camera, comedy television series that pranks victims by putting them into terrifying situations involving incredible special effects and makeup that recreates horror movie clichés, on FX. The show is meant to scare victims set up by their family and/or friends later revealing the prank with the break-out line – “Are you scared?” An exciting twist of thrill and spine-tingling entertainment, the show proves that there is nothing better than a hidden camera, an unsuspecting victim and the world’s coolest, most terrifying pranks involving movie style special effects.

House Season 1-8, starting 13th Jan every Monday to Friday at 10 PM

Following suit is one of the most popular shows on global television, House M.D. Airing right from Season 1 on January 13, 2016, the doctor that everyone loves to hate will come on Indian television screens every day from Monday to Friday at 10 PM. The show follows the genius but cranky yet charming Dr. House as he leads an elite medical team to solve bizarre illnesses and save lives despite his own constant physical pain. Hugh Laurie who portrayed the legendary character of Doctor House was a favourite among viewers across the globe. Now the show returns to television screens with all seasons being played out one after another.

The channel will also include renowned American comedy-drama television series Louie and critically-acclaimed cult sci-fi series Doctor Who as part of its programming line-up. While Season 1 of Louie commenced on January 1st, Doctor Who’s Season 8 will also begin with the airing of its very first episode on January 12th.

While all these popular shows are airing on FX and FX HD in January 2016 alone, FX has a bag full of treats and surprises for its audiences throughout the year with some famous dramas and all-new shows already lined-up! So stay happy, stay entertained, stay thrilled and stay tuned-in to FX and FX HD all year long!

January 6, 2016