Tag: Endemol Shine India

  • Disney+ Hotstar drops Aarya Season 3 trailer

    Disney+ Hotstar drops Aarya Season 3 trailer

    Mumbai: Aapne uske baare mei jo suna hai woh bilkul sach hai. The hunt begins as the reigning queen of power and fury is back with a thunderous roar! Disney+ Hotstar has dropped the trailer of the third season of the Emmy-nominated and fan-favorite web series – Aarya which takes the gritty world of Aarya Sareen up a notch with high-octane action and drama. Cobbed in a world of family dynamics, a dangerous business, vengeance from the past and newer enemies, will Aarya survive?  

    Created and co-directed by the ace filmmaker Ram Madhvani and co-produced by Amita Madhavni, Ram Madhvani, Ram Madhvani Films and Endemol Shine India, Aarya Season 3 is set to stream exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar from 3rd November onwards. Starring Sushmita Sen as Aarya Sareen, the web series features a talented ensemble cast which includes Ila Arun, Sikandar Kher, Indraneil Sengupta, Vikas Kumar, Maya Sarao, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Shweta Pasricha, Viren Vazirani, Pratyaksh Panwar, Aarushi Bajaj, Bhupendra Jadawat and Vishwajeet Pradhan amongst others. The raging sherni of the game has sharpened her claws and is all set to attack!

    Returning as Aarya, Sushmita Sen said, “Aarya is the brightest jewel in my crown. Portraying her has been an empowering journey. What fuels my excitement for season 3 of Aarya is that she’s totally unabashed and ruling the game of life once played with her. She’s making new enemies and new allies because this Sherni is now the new Don in town. Ram Madhvani has really grown the action, emotions and twists three fold in this new season, so, get ready to meet the Sherni only on Disney+ Hotstar.”

    Disney+ Hotstar head – content & HSM Entertainment Network, Disney Star Gaurav Banerjee said, “Ever since we have announced the third season of Aarya, the love and excitement that has poured in has been phenomenal. When we started off with Aarya on Disney+ Hotstar, we had a feeling this was going to be big but the love the franchise has received is immensely gratifying. We’ve had a remarkable journey with the series and are proud to present yet another compelling season with Aarya 3. Sushmita is a true sherni and it’s always a pleasure  collaborating with Ram Madhvani and Amita Madhvani.”

    Creator, co-producer and co-director of Aarya (S1, S2 and S3), Ram Madhvani, “Aarya has been an uplifting journey of its own. She was bruised and battered in the past, but what’s more dangerous than a tigress, is a hunted one. Moreover, this season will explore the themes of vengeance, sacrifice and betrayal; there are newer enemies and newer allies that only make this journey more interesting. As the audiences dive deeper into this season, they may wonder if Aarya can play this game or be at the core of it. So, I would say, brace yourself and stay tuned to Disney+ Hotstar for the fiery season 3 of Aarya.”

    In response to the release of the Aarya Season 3 trailer, Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India founder & group CEO Deepak Dhar shared his thoughts: “Aarya has been an incredible journey that has captivated audiences with its gripping narrative and powerful characters. This new season promises to take Aarya’s story to even greater heights, delving into themes of vengeance, sacrifice, and betrayal. The hunted tigress has transformed into a formidable force, and viewers can expect a rollercoaster ride of emotions and suspense. We are proud to be part of this journey, and it’s a testament to the enduring appeal of the series.”

    Witness the reign of this raging sherni with Aarya Season 3, set to stream only on Disney+ Hotstar on 3rd November!

  • Disney+ Hotstar to release Aarya Season 3 on 3 November

    Disney+ Hotstar to release Aarya Season 3 on 3 November

    Mumbai: Make way as Aarya Sareen (Sushmita Sen) flaunts her claws and takes on the throne as the new don in town in Aarya Season 3. After receiving an International Emmy Award Nomination for Season 1 and two successful seasons, the wait ends as the fan favorite franchise returns with its third season with newer challenges, newer enemies and with a newer ambition. Created and co-directed by the visionary Ram Madhvani and co-produced by Amita Madhavni, Ram Madhvani Films and Endemol Shine India, the dawn of a fearless reign unfolds with Aarya Season 3 exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar on third November

    Sushmita Sen, added “Aarya Sareen has now become a very integral part of my life. Her experiences across seasons have touched my heart. It’s an honor to step back into her shoes for ‘Aarya’ Season 3. This season explores the profound power of Aarya, as she strikes down her enemies and begins to create an empire of her own, while grappling the threats to her loved ones. Aarya’s story is a testament to a woman who defies life’s constraints and will go to any lengths to protect the ones close to her. Aarya’ Season 3 isn’t just a show on Disney+ Hotstar; it’s an emotional journey that fills me with love and pride.”

    Disney+ Hotstar head – content & Disney Star HSM entertainment network Gaurav Banerjee said, “It brings us such joy to announce season 3 of Aarya, a marquee franchise from the Disney+Hotstar content slate. This series has been a winner since Season 1, we never anticipated the incredible love and acclaim it’s received not just in India, but also the world over. It’s been a phenomenal collaboration with Ram Madhvani and Sushmita Sen who have created such a powerful series. We are confident that Season 3 takes the legacy of this title many notches higher and we are looking forward to sharing this with our viewers.”

    Creator, co-producer and co-director of Aarya (S1, S2 and S3), Ram Madhvani added, “After the immense love that we have received from audiences over the last two seasons, we present to you a new era of Aarya where she leaves no stone turned. Season 3 will keep audiences on their toes with the exciting journey of Aarya to emerge as the ultimate don. Aarya will shock you. The emotional graph of her journey is exhilarating. She will own her power. Is this her final chance? You will soon find out. Collaborating alongside with Disney+ Hotstar and Sushmita Sen to narrate this story has been incredible and I hope audiences and fans receive this season with the same love.”

    Endemol Shine India CEO Rishi Negi said, “Endemol Shine India along with Ram Madhvani Films and Disney+ Hotstar is proud to have brought to audiences across the globe the phenomenon of Aarya.. Gripping, relevant and hard-hitting, Season 3 will take this franchise and the story of Aarya forward. We hope the audiences will enjoy this exciting and thrilling season. ”

    Get ready to embark on an exhilarating new journey with Aarya Season 3, set to stream only on Disney+ Hotstar on 3 November!

  • Sony Entertainment Television acquires the rights to Endemol Shine’s MasterChef India

    Sony Entertainment Television acquires the rights to Endemol Shine’s MasterChef India

    Mumbai: Celebrating food, togetherness and diversity, Sony Entertainment Television embarks on an appetising journey as it acquires the rights for the Indian adaptation of the internationally revered culinary reality format, “MasterChef”, produced and distributed by Endemol Shine India.

    The show has been airing on StarPlus ever since it was adapted from the original international version, produced by EndemolShine India.

    The Indian version of MasterChef is based on the Australian show, MasterChef Australia, which itself is based on the original British MasterChef, created by Franc Rodaam. It is a top-rated show across the globe, from the UK to Australia, France to Israel, Italy to the Middle East, India and beyond.

    The show has been wowing audiences for more than thirty years. It is produced in over 50 countries worldwide and broadcast in over 200 territories, with over 64 local versions and more than 10,000 episodes, with over 500 milestone seasons. MasterChef is watched globally by over 250 million viewers and has transformed over 100 amateur chefs into professionals.

     

     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     

     
     

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    Sony Entertainment Television (SET) head-programming (non-fiction) Sonal Yadav said, “MasterChef has revolutionised the global foodscape, changing the way cooking is perceived while transforming the lives of amateur chefs globally who have a passion for cooking.” The pandemic has seen a swift rise in home chefs who embark on culinary adventures, experimenting and whipping up food recipes. Hence, now is an apt time to bring forth a platform like MasterChef India that puts the spotlight on such aspirants. We are delighted to be collaborating with Endemol Shine India to cook up a flavorful new season that will celebrate India’s diverse gastronomic excellence.

    Speaking on the collaboration, Endemol Shine India CEO Rishi Negi said, “MasterChef has revolutionised the global foodscape, changing the way cooking is perceived while transforming the lives of amateur chefs globally who have a passion for cooking. The Pandemic has seen a swift rise in home chefs who embarked on culinary adventures experimenting and whipping up food recipes. Hence, now is an apt time to bring forth a platform like MasterChef India that puts the spotlight on such aspirants. We are delighted to be collaborating with Endemol Shine India to cook up a flavorful new season that will celebrate India’s diverse gastronomic excellence.”

  • Disney+ Hotstar, Endemol Shine India and Ram Madhvani Films to bring ‘Aarya’ season 3

    Disney+ Hotstar, Endemol Shine India and Ram Madhvani Films to bring ‘Aarya’ season 3

    MUMBAI: The Sherni is all set to sharpen her claws as OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar greenlights a new season of International Emmy-nominated Hotstar Specials’ Aarya. The series from filmmaker Ram Madhvani has officially entered its scripting stage. This show  follows the journey of a fierce mother to keep her family safe from the world of crime after entering the vicious network following her husband’s demise.

    The show’s lead actor Sushmita Sen said, “It is a new dawn for Aarya Sareen, and she is fierce. In Season 3, she is going places and starting her own story free from the obstacles of her past. Reprising the role of Aarya is like slipping into old jeans but for a brand-new journey. It feels great to be back with Ram Madhvani and the Disney+ Hotstar team, can’t wait to return the love and appreciation viewers have showered on Aarya.”

    Madhvani said, “Disney+ Hotstar has been an amazing partner in building Aarya through two seasons and we are delighted to associate with them once again for yet another season. The journey of developing a gripping storyline, thrill and family love has started and we are sure this will once again leave audiences wanting more! The stakes are only getting higher from here…! It’s great to be back with Sushmita Sen and co-producer Amita Madhvani and the full Ram Madhvani films team.”

    Disney Star HSM Entertainment Network head Gaurav Banerjee said, “Being nominated in the International Emmy Awards last year, Aarya is a crown jewel of Disney+ Hotstar. Since its first season, the show has truly been a game-changer, redefining Indian storytelling with women breaking stereotypes. We have received immense love and appreciation from viewers for the first two seasons, coupled with high anticipation on knowing what follows. We look forward to unfolding what happens next through the narrative of season 3! ”

  • Khatron Ke Khiladi returns for Season 12; Colors on boards 5 sponsors

    Khatron Ke Khiladi returns for Season 12; Colors on boards 5 sponsors

    Mumbai: India’s most awaited stunt-based reality show Maruti Suzuki presents Khatron Ke Khiladi Charged by Thums Up is set to return on Colors with a blazing new season. Host and renowned filmmaker Rohit Shetty will challenge 14 daredevil contestants with exhilarating stunts as they navigate through their innermost fears in the beautiful boulevards of Cape Town. 

    With central theme – ‘Bachke Kaha Jaayega, Khatra Kahi Se Bhi Aayega’ the show is packed with lots of Darr and Terror, infused with tonnes of Dare and Josh, the contestants will have to showcase a lot of Jigar and Himmat to tread through the Khatras

    Along with Maruti Suzuki as the presenting sponsor and Charged by Thums Up as the powered by sponsor,  the show also welcomes Ching’s, Amazon Prime and Hershey’s Kisses as the associate sponsors for the season. Produced by Endemol Shine India, Khatron Ke Khiladi will premiere on 2 July and air every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm, only on Colors.

    Viacom18 head – Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “At Colors, it has been our continuous effort to deliver a variety of content through our fiction and non-fiction properties. In the reality entertainment segment, we have pioneered different genres over the years that include dance, singing, talent, voyeurism, and we are once again delighted to bring back our action-based show Khatron Ke Khiladi. Last season the show broke significant records by becoming the number one non-fiction show in the Hindi GEC space and has received immense love from the viewers and sponsors alike. The excitement amongst the fans is palpable and we are looking forward to a super, action-packed new season.” 

    She further added, “We are elated to continue our partnership with Maruti Suzuki as our presenting sponsor, and welcome on board  ‘Charged’ by Thums Up as the powered by sponsor along with Ching’s, Amazon Prime and Hershey’s Kisses as the associate sponsors.”

    The daredevils who will be competing this season are TV personalities including Rubina Dilaik, Shivangi Joshi, Sriti Jha, Mohit Malik, Kanika Mann, Aneri Vajani and Chetna Pande. Ace choreographer Tushar Kalia and Nishant Bhat along with social media sensations Faisal, Jannat Zubair, Erika Packard and Bigg Boss season 15 contestants Pratik Sehajpal and Rajiv Adatia are also on the list.

    Viacom18 chief content officer – Hindi Mass Entertainment Manisha Sharma said “Khatron Ke Khiladi presents a unique blend of action and entertainment that the viewers eagerly look forward to every season. We are thrilled to return with another power-packed and adventurous season with the action maven Rohit Shetty as the reigning host. He has been an integral part of the show and he will be adding his personal touch and expertise to some of the featured stunts. The new season will have many adrenaline-surging stunts performed by 14 feisty and popular mixes of contestants. This time the contenders will be seen exploring new arenas of Cape Town which will test their mental and physical tenacity like never before.”

    Host and action maestro Rohit Shetty said, “Every year, Khatron Ke Khiladi gets bigger and better with larger-than-life stunts and I am looking forward to elevating the action quotient this season. This year, we have an extremely promising line-up of contestants who have been giving each other a tough competition. The show has been built on a larger scale wherein the viewers will see many new stunts in the unexplored locales of Cape Town. Being a part of Khatron Ke Khiladi has always been extremely special to me.”

    Maruti Suzuki India senior executive director – marketing and sales Shashank Srivastava commented, “We are excited to be a part of season 12 of Khatron Ke Khiladi. This is our fourth association with Khatron Ke Khiladi in a row and the partnership has only gone from strength to strength. Khatron Ke Khiladi is an extremely popular show and has created a niche for itself, especially amongst the youth of our country. At Maruti Suzuki, we constantly strive to bring out more youthful and dynamic imagery. We are extremely delighted to associate the iconic Swift with Khatron Ke Khiladi, which since its launch in 2005 has revolutionised the premium hatchback segment in India. The all-new Swift stands out from the crowd and has earned the love of nearly 2.4 million customers with its upright stance, sporty performance and unmistakable road presence which emphasises individuality. Our partnership with the show resonates with Swift’s proposition of performance and being Limitless. We believe that the Khatron Ke Khiladi contestants of this season will bring limitless action to the viewers through their limitless performances on the show.”

    Coca-Cola, India & Southwest Asia, head – integrated marketing experiences Sumeli Chatterjee said, “We have recently introduced ‘Charged’ by Thums Up to the Indian market, and we are excited with the immense consumer applause and appreciation that has been received for this electrifying drink. With double caffeine and double kick, this beverage is a perfect partner to the action-packed Khatron Ke Khiladi franchise. We are absolutely thrilled to be part of this season.”

    Endemol Shine India CEO Rishi Negi said, “Over the years, Khatron Ke Khiladi has become the most sought-after destination for action on television. The show has carved a niche for itself and this season is going to be nothing short of a blockbuster. With Rohit Shetty as the host and 14 incredible and popular contestants, the bar is already set high. The viewers will see many jaw-dropping stunts that have been designed on a bigger scale with immense precision whilst enhancing the thrill. With some intense action unfolding in Cape Town, we look forward to a great season ahead.”

    Colors has designed a mega marketing and digital campaign to announce the arrival of its flagship action-based reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi. A seven-day on-air campaign has been initiated on network channels across Hindi movies, Hindi news, music and regional channels with upto 1,000 spots. High-impact billboards featuring Rohit Shetty and the contestants have been installed in more than 200 sites across prominent sites in Mumbai, national highways, Mumbai Airport digital screens and Delhi. 

    On the digital front, in keeping with the show’s central theme – ‘Bachke Kaha Jaayega, Khatra Kahi Se Bhi Aayega’, fans can use interactive Instagram filters to match the expressions of their favourite khiladis. A series of fun videos showcasing contestants’ preparation where they test their reflexes and guess what is in the boxes provided to them has been creating a storm on the internet. Elevator-style contestant-unveil videos wherein they are seen entering the stunt arena have been uploaded on the channel’s social media platforms. The meticulous planning that has gone into the campaign has set the stage for another blockbuster season of Khatron Ke Khiladi. 

  • Rishi Negi to take over as CEO of Endemol Shine India

    Rishi Negi to take over as CEO of Endemol Shine India

    Mumbai: Banijay Asia chief operating officer Rishi Negi will take over as CEO of Endemol Shine India, highly placed sources have confirmed to Indiantelevision.com.

    Negi takes over from Abhishek Rege whose departure from the production house was announced on Tuesday. His appointment is expected to be announced on Wednesday at noon.  

    Negi took over the role of COO of Banijay Asia in 2018 and reported to Banijay Asia founder and CEO Deepak Dhar.

    He has over 24 years of experience, across entertainment, hospitality and retail sectors. His repertoire of work includes key positions to drive growth strategies across corporate giants like Emerald Asia Media, Fame India Limited, Pizzeria Restaurants and Taj Group of Hotels amongst others.

    Endemol Shine India is the production house behind some of the biggest unscripted reality shows like Bigg Boss, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi, India’s Next Superstars among others.

  • Abhishek Rege parts ways with Endemol Shine India after 15 years

    Abhishek Rege parts ways with Endemol Shine India after 15 years

    Mumbai: After a 15-year stellar stint at Endemol Shine India, Abhishek Rege has decided to move on from his role as CEO. Rege will work closely with his successor (once announced) and the Endemol Shine India team during the transition.

    The key force behind the company’s success over the years, Rege has been pivotal in driving an upward trajectory at Endemol Shine India with a proven success record. Having joined Endemol in 2007 as head of commercial and legal, being elevated to chief operating officer in 2012 and then chief executive officer in 2017, has since then led the company to great heights delivering multi-fold growth for the company. An accomplished leader, he has been successful in leveraging comprehensive markets and industry knowledge to ensure high momentum business growth, build a high-performance team and forecast future business needs.

    Commenting on behalf of the Endemol Shine India Board and Baniya COO Peter Langenberg said, “Abhishek has played a central role in Endemol Shine India’s growth during his time as CEO and has been a strong leader who has built on the company’s remarkable successes across the business. He will be leaving with our sincere thanks for all he has done in driving Endemol Shine India to become the market leader that it is today, and we wish him every success for the future.”

    Rege has been pivotal in driving growth at Endemol Shine India be it in a creative role or that of a business administrator. An empowering leader skilled in attracting and retaining industry talent, building positive employee relationships, and tailoring management style to accommodate diverse personalities, skill sets and experience levels.

  • Colors launches the new season of ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ with Rohit Shetty

    Colors launches the new season of ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ with Rohit Shetty

    Mumbai: Hosted by a Bollywood filmmaker, the popular stunt-based reality show produced by Endemol Shine India Khatron Ke Khiladi is back on Colors, according to a company statement on Monday.

    Last year, the show broke significant records by becoming the number one non-fiction programme in the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) space for the financial year 2022 (on 2+) reaching 168 million viewers across India.

    Returning with an exciting new season, Khatron Ke Khiladi will see many electrifying contestants challenging their innermost fears and taking on many thrilling and gruelling tasks in the picturesque locations of Cape Town, South Africa. Ace filmmaker and an epitome of action Rohit Shetty will return as the host leading and mentoring the daring troop in their journey.

    Extending their association for the new season, Maruti Suzuki once again comes on board as the presenting sponsor while ‘Charged’ by Thums Up has been signed on as the powered by the sponsor for the new season of the show. This season will feature popular faces including Rubina Dilaik, Sriti Jha, Shivangi Joshi, Mohit Malik, Erika Packard, Aneri Vajani, Kanika Mann, Tushar Kalia, Faisal Shaikh, Chetna Pande, Nishant Bhat, Rajiv Adatia, Jannat Zubair and Pratik Sehajpal who will set out on an action-filled journey in Cape Town.  

    Colors Viacom18 revenue head Pavithra KR said, “Khatron Ke Khiladi is our flagship property and has become synonymous with action on Indian television. The previous season was the number 1 non-fiction property in the Hindi GEC category, and we are excited about its return. Given the show’s popularity, it serves as a great opportunity for advertisers to engage with and reach out to their audience. We are excited to once again associate with Maruti Suzuki as the presenting sponsor and welcome onboard ‘Charged’ by Thums Up as the powered sponsor for the show and look forward to a great partnership. The new season will see a powerful ensemble of contestants experiencing the thrill and adventure with the action maestro Rohit Shetty.”

    Filmmaker Rohit Shetty said, “Khatron Ke Khiladi is special to me, and I am delighted to be back. This season, the adventure and entertainment quotient is going to increase manifolds with new and innovative stunts designed by me. It’s always an honour to be such an integral part of the show’s journey and it’s always our endeavour to take the show to greater heights. Cape Town is an incredibly amazing high action ground and with this exceptional mix of daredevil contestants, it is going to be extremely exciting.”

    Maruti Suzuki India senior executive director, marketing and sales Shashank Srivastava commented, “We are excited to be a part of season 12 of Khatron Ke Khiladi. This is our fourth association with Khatron Ke Khiladi in a row and the partnership has only gone from strength to strength. Khatron Ke Khiladi is an extremely popular show and has created a niche for itself, especially amongst the youth of our country.”

    He added, “At Maruti Suzuki, we constantly strive to bring out more youthful and dynamic imagery. We are extremely delighted to associate the iconic Swift with Khatron Ke Khiladi, which since its launch in 2005 has revolutionized the premium hatchback segment in India. The all-new Swift stands out from the crowd and has earned the love of nearly 2.4 million customers with its upright stance, sporty performance and unmistakable road presence which emphasizes individuality. Our partnership with the show resonates with Swift’s proposition of performance and being limitless. We believe that the Khatron Ke Khiladi contestants of this season will bring ‘Limitless Action’ to the viewers through their ‘Limitless Performances’ on the show.”

    Coca-Cola, India & Southwest Asia head of integrated marketing experiences Sumeli Chatterjee said, “We have recently introduced ‘Charged’ by Thums Up to the Indian market, and we are excited with the immense consumer applause and appreciation that has been received for this electrifying drink. With double caffeine and double kick, this beverage is a perfect partner to the action-packed Khatron Ke Khiladi franchise. We are thrilled to be part of this season.”

  • VidNet 2022: How can Indian OTTs reach 100 million subscriptions?

    VidNet 2022: How can Indian OTTs reach 100 million subscriptions?

    Mumbai: In 2021, OTT paid subscriptions in India touched the 70-80 million mark, according to the latest report by Boston Consulting Group. The subscriber numbers remain in flux with high levels of churn and potential marketing efforts are required to generate and acquire new users. The streaming giant Netflix has also reported a decline in its subscriptions for the first time in a decade. The company recently reported that it lost 0.2 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2022. In such a scenario, what can OTT platforms do to drive new subscriptions and reach the magic 100 million subscribers in India?

    That was the agenda for the panel discussion at IndianTelevision.com’s VidNet Summit 2022 held on Wednesday. The two-day summit was supported by technology partners Dell Technologies and Synamedia, summit partners Applause Entertainment and Viewlift, industry support partners Gupshup, Lionsgate Play and Pallycon, and community partners Screenwriters Association and Indian Film and Television Producers Council and gifting partner The Ayurveda Co.

    The conversation was joined by Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege; International Media Acquisition Corp chairman and CEO Shibashish Sarkar; Swastik Productions and One Life Studios founder and chief creative officer Siddharth Kumar Tewary and Mzaalo (Xfinite Global Plc) COO Vikram Tanna.

    Speaking in this context, Abhishek Rege pointed out that the 100 million is merely an arbitrary number and what OTTs should look at is the revenue model. To entice new customers OTT platforms are offering free trial subscriptions, non-paywalled content and lowering the price of subscription plans, which is eating into their bottom line.

    He gave the example of Amazon’s Kindle device and added, “There was a Kindle available for $79 that served ads and then you paid a little bit more to get the ad-free version. That’s the kind of space we need to look at as OTT players and content creators if we want to land up at better revenues.”

    Mzaalo’s Vikram Tanna observed that for a long time the consumption of media in India has always been subsidised by advertising. The trend continues today with devices like DD Free Dish that offer TV channels for free. “When you look at the mass audience the solution to the problem lies in technology. They are the future consumers for us all. I believe we need to figure out how to make free content profitable. Can you reward the community for consuming content and return a part of the revenue that you earn back to them?” he pointed out.

    Mzaalo is a part of Xfinite Global Plc, which is a decentralised entertainment ecosystem. They have a digital token called XET that is listed on the cryptocurrency exchange. Tanna stated, “We believe in equal distribution of value creation among stakeholders of the ecosystem. Since content drives commerce and we all remember moments rather than the entire content piece, we tried to figure out if you can buy, sell and resell NFTs of content. Of course, they will have multiple other utilities.”

    Tanna concluded his remarks by adding that to reach the magic 100 million target the two pillars that will drive the growth of OTTs will be content and technology.

    Speaking from a content standpoint, Swastik Productions’ Siddharth Kumar Tewary said, “We’re just at the tip of the iceberg of what’s going to happen in terms of content. Content is the biggest driver of subscribers on OTT platforms and he felt that one piece of content doesn’t necessarily reach 100 million people. Platforms need to give the audiences all varieties of content to consume, similar to TV. The only difference is that content consumption on TV was led by appointment viewing and now people can watch anytime they want.”

    He added, “Every platform is different and serves a different audience. While the numbers will come, whether it is SVOD or AVOD, not every platform may be necessarily targeting 100 million subscribers.” Sharing a metaphor, Tewary noted that there are brands that cater to the masses and brands that cater to the classes across categories and we don’t compare them purely by the numbers to understand how big they are. So why should we judge OTTs that way?

    Commenting on whether the growth of OTTs is being driven by content or distribution partnerships, Rege also stated, “The content that we have served to OTT audiences is scaled up and has succeeded not to an extent, though not as much as we’d like.”

    He added, “Content on OTT is certainly different from mainstream TV. Over time an audience that is used to TV needs to be slowly nudged to OTT with simpler content. For them, jumping into OTT content that is nuanced will not get absorbed quickly. However, there is a demand for different types of content on OTT platforms compared to TV.”

    International Media Acquisition Corp’s Shibashish Sarkar believes that compared to 100 years of print, more than 30 years of TV, OTT which is only six years old is still a nascent media and will continue to grow, defying expectations. He questions the way audiences are segmented and served content across platforms.

    “Historically, on TV, we like to segment the audiences as tier 2 and tier 3. These descriptions of audiences don’t hold anymore,” he affirmed. “Going back six months, three out of four blockbusters were South Indian dubbed films. They were attracting audiences in a small town in Rajasthan as well as in Nariman Point in Mumbai. Divisions like language barriers, genres and other content divisions have become redundant,” Sarkar added further.

  • Endemol Shine India promotes Anaya Mohanty to top creative role

    Endemol Shine India promotes Anaya Mohanty to top creative role

    Mumbai: Endemol Shine India on Wednesday announced the promotion of Anaya Mohanty into the role of head of development for premium scripted and non-scripted, reporting directly to Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege.

    Previously the business’ creative director for premium scripted development, Mohanty was responsible for managing talent acquisition, internal development, and creative supervision. Now expanding her remit, she will oversee premium scripted and non-scripted development, with the view to identifying new projects to take to market. 

    Under scripted, she will supervise the concept pipeline, service platforms for projects in development and will coordinate with co-producers, outlets, and various entities to create, package, and produce shows. While on the non-scripted front, she will support the development of homegrown ideas and IP, while targeting TV Networks and OTT platforms with titles that have the potential to resonate with their relevant audiences.

    “Given Anaya’s experience, I have no doubt she will thrive in this role. In her new capacity, she will play a key role in ensuring we devise and execute a standout premium slate, which garners attention from our network and OTT clients across the county,” stated Abhishek Rege. “Quality has always been key to our strategy and in setting this new role, we will continue to commit to delivering in line with this goal.”   

    A skilled leader with a master’s in mass communication and media studies from Jamia Millia Islamia, Mohanty has almost two decades of experience in the creative field. Prior to joining Endemol Shine India, she worked with Colour Yellow Productions Pvt Ltd, Eros Now, and CNBC-TV18. She has also worked as a creative consultant, writer, and senior producer on multiple projects.

    “I am honoured to be taking on this new role, which presents a hugely exciting opportunity to have strategic oversight of our entire premium development pipeline,” said Mohanty on her promotion. “Universal themes have always been at the heart of all our shows and ensuring our titles remain relatable for diverse audiences is key. Over the coming months, we will look to build up a slate which is bursting with ground-breaking, high-quality titles that are carefully considered, tailored, and targeted to capture the attention of all our clients.”