ITV

Tag: Fire TV

  • Mythik brings Disney and Amazon veteran Gunjan Bhow on board

    Mythik brings Disney and Amazon veteran Gunjan Bhow on board

    MUMBAI: Mythik, the tech-first entertainment company aiming to become the “Disney from the East”, has appointed Gunjan Bhow, a veteran of Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and Fire TV, to its global advisory board.

    Bhow joins an illustrious panel of leaders from Softbank, Disney, Marvel, Amazon, BBC and Crunchyroll, who together bring decades of experience in scaling some of the world’s biggest media, entertainment and technology businesses.

    A global figure in digital entertainment, Bhow served as senior vice president and general manager at The Walt Disney Company, where he led direct-to-consumer platforms including Disney Plus, Disney Movies Anywhere and Disney Movie Club. Before that, he played a key role at Amazon in shaping the growth of Prime Video, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, redefining subscription models in the process.

    Currently a board member at the BBC and broadband company Wide Open West, Bhow also advises organisations on AI, media innovation and customer experience. He has held senior roles at Microsoft and Walgreens Boots Alliance and is an inventor on over 20 patents.

    “Gunjan’s leadership in scaling iconic direct-to-consumer businesses makes him an exceptional addition to Mythik’s advisory board,” said Mythik founder and chief executive Jason Kothari. “He embodies the mix of technology, creativity and consumer focus that defines our vision.”

    Bhow added, “Mythik stands at the intersection of technology, storytelling and audience behaviour. I’m excited to help bring timeless stories from the East to the global stage.”

    He joins a powerhouse board that includes Alok Sama (Softbank), Kun Gao (Crunchyroll), Nick Van Dyk (Disney), Bill Jemas (Marvel), John Lynch (Amazon Studios) and Gui Karyo (Marvel and Dapper Labs).

    Mythik aims to reimagine Eastern mythology, history and folktales for global audiences through technology-led storytelling, backed by a founding team drawn from Disney, Netflix, Amazon Studios, Jio and Tencent.

  • Half CA adds up as ClearTax joins Amazon MX Player with AI tax twist

    Half CA adds up as ClearTax joins Amazon MX Player with AI tax twist

    MUMBAI: When taxes meet television, even filing feels binge-worthy. Amazon MX Player’s hit series Half CA Season 2 has inked a smart partnership with fintech leader Cleartax, blending reel drama with real-life financial wisdom.

    The tie-up rolled out with a special video starring Ahsaas Channa and Gyanendra Tripathi, introducing Cleartax’s Agentic AI pitched as India’s first 24×7 AI-powered tax expert on Whatsapp. From auto-computing taxes with just a PAN number to answering queries instantly in multiple languages, the tool aims to take the sting out of tax season while speaking the language of Gen Z.

    The collaboration clicks neatly with Half CA’s storyline. The series produced by The Viral Fever (TVF) and now streaming free on Amazon MX Player follows CA aspirants Archie and Niraj as they juggle ambition, academic pressure, and adulthood’s curveballs. Just as the show champions perseverance, the partnership underscores financial literacy as a real-world survival skill.

    Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani said the move was about impact beyond entertainment: “Millions relate to the struggles of CA students. Our partnership with ClearTax simplifies financial literacy in a way that feels authentic and engaging.”

    Cleartax founder Archit Gupta echoed the sentiment, pointing to its AI leap: “By automating complex tax processes on Whatsapp, we’re making planning and filing seamless. Teaming with Half CA lets us connect with a new generation, combining entertainment with tools to build confidence for the future.”

    Half CA S2 brings back favourites Ahsaas Channa, Prit Kamani, Aishwarya Ojha, Anmol Kajani, Gyanendra Tripathi, and Rohan Joshi. The show streams across MX Player’s footprint from mobile apps and Connected TVs to Amazon’s shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, Google TV, Xiaomi TV, and Airtel Xtreme.

    For viewers, it’s not just about watching dreams unfold on screen, it’s also about learning to add up in real life.

  • Amazon MX Player gets its K fix with 18 CJ ENM dramas streaming for free

    Amazon MX Player gets its K fix with 18 CJ ENM dramas streaming for free

    MUMBAI: K is clearly for kickstart, as Amazon MX Player dives into the Korean wave with its biggest drama drop yet, an exclusive 18-title content deal with CJ ENM, one of the world’s most influential entertainment companies. Following Amazon’s acquisition of MX Player earlier this year, this marks the first official content package between the two players in India, and it’s a love story scripted for the country’s ever-growing K-drama fandom.

    Leading the line-up is Lovely Runner, the breakout romance that set global K-pop hearts fluttering, premiering on 8 September 2025. But the marathon doesn’t end there. Over the next four quarters, Indian viewers can expect a steady stream of fan-favourite titles from My Lovely Liar and Twinkling Watermelon to Wedding Impossible and Delightfully Deceitful. Each will roll out free of cost, dubbed in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, making them accessible to millions beyond the subtitle-savvy crowd.

    For MX Player, this is more than a content drop, it’s a sharp play in the AVOD streaming space, offering premium Korean dramas on a completely free model. “The demand for global content, especially K-dramas, has grown exponentially in India,” said Amazon MX Player director and head of content Amogh Dusad. “With 18 premium dramas many blockbusters now available in local languages, we’re thrilled to make these shows accessible at no cost.”

    CJ ENM, which has already proven its storytelling muscle worldwide, sees this as a milestone in K-content’s Indian journey. CJ ENM VP of international business Sebastian Kim called it a “very meaningful launch,” noting that the combination of strong casts, compelling narratives and high production values will strike a chord with Indian audiences.

    Viewers can catch the shows exclusively on Amazon MX Player across multiple touchpoints from the MX Player mobile and Connected TV app to Prime Video, Fire TV, Airtel Xtreme, and even the Amazon shopping app. With free access and familiar local languages, MX Player is betting that India’s growing K-drama community is ready to binge like never before.

    The partnership also underlines Amazon MX Player’s broader strategy: to blend global hits with local resonance, drawing new audiences through culturally adapted content. And with K-dramas now just a click away minus the subscription fee, the next big binge in India may well come with subtitles switched off and romance dialled up in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

  • Naseeruddin Shah steps into J.R.D. Tata’s shoes in Amazon MX Player’s Made in India – A Titan Story

    Naseeruddin Shah steps into J.R.D. Tata’s shoes in Amazon MX Player’s Made in India – A Titan Story

    MUMBAI – On the 121st birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna J.R.D. Tata, Amazon MX Player and Almighty Motion Picture unveiled the first look of their upcoming series Made in India – A Titan Story. The series sees veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah bring the legendary industrialist to life in a cinematic retelling of ambition, innovation, and nation-building.

    Produced by Prabhleen Sandhu, founder of Almighty Motion Picture, and directed by Robby Grewal with writing by Karan Vyas, the series charts the extraordinary journey of J.R.D. Tata and his pivotal role in shaping modern India.

    Joining Shah is Jim Sarbh as Xerxes Desai, the visionary founder of Titan, alongside Namita Dubey, Vaibhav Tatwawaadi, Kaveri Seth, Lakshvir Saran, and Paresh Ganatra.

    Slated for release early next year, Made in India – A Titan Story will stream free on Amazon MX Player across mobile, CTVs, the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and Airtel Xstream, promising audiences a front-row seat to the story of an empire built on grit and genius.
     

  • Baba Nirala breaks the internet as Aashram S3 hits 250 million viewers

    Baba Nirala breaks the internet as Aashram S3 hits 250 million viewers

    MUMBAI: From crime to cult status, Aashram S3 Part 2 isn’t just streaming, it’s storming. The smash-hit series on Amazon MX Player has crossed a jaw-dropping 250 million viewers, becoming a full-blown digital phenomenon and topping Ormax Media’s most-watched originals list for a fourth straight week.

    In the land of cricket and cinema, it’s rare for a web series to stir the nation with the intensity of a blockbuster film. But Aashram has done exactly that, transcending genre stereotypes, turning marketing on its head, and transforming Bobby Deol into a full-time messiah of mayhem.

    Forget the old trope of male-dominated crime thrillers. Aashram is busting audience myths left, right, and centre. Over 20 per cent of its viewership comes from women, while its reach spans both urban metros and Tier 2/3 towns. The drama has travelled in multiple tongues too, with dubbed versions in Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu clocking impressive numbers.

    Even Amazon’s internal data is dishing out interesting clues: 77 per cent of viewers are tech-savvy, and 64 per cent are fashion-forward. Yes, Baba Nirala has fans who not only meditate but also accessorise.

    The show didn’t just ride on hype, it engineered it. Aashram’s trailer trended on YouTube for 23 days, raking in 24 million views. A clever collab with cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, featuring a fictional blessing from Baba Nirala to let him open an innings, went viral with 6.3 million views and 850,000 engagements.

    Major brands were eager to hop onto the Baba bandwagon, Vimal served as presenting sponsor, co-powered by Lahori Zeera and Lux Nitro, with KEI Wires, Zandu Fast Relief and Kenstar also in the mix.

    Bobby Deol, reflecting on the overwhelming response, added, “Aashram has been a defining journey for me, and the love it continues to receive is truly humbling. This season, the stakes are higher, the drama is deeper, and the impact is greater than ever before. Seeing fans embrace Baba Nirala’s journey with such enthusiasm is incredibly rewarding!”

    National Award-winning director Prakash Jha expressed his gratitude, stating, “The journey of Baba Nirala continues to enthrall Indians. Every season, we push boundaries to make Aashram more intense, compelling, and relevant. I am deeply grateful for the unwavering love and enthusiasm of our audience.”

    Amazon MX Player director and head Karan Bedi shared, “Aashram is a tribute to Indian viewers. It’s phenomenal success reaffirms our commitment to delivering high-quality, free entertainment to audiences across India. The overwhelming response to Aashram S3 Part 2 has been extraordinary, driven by its gripping storytelling and outstanding performances. We are grateful to our sponsors for their support and helping us bring compelling stories to life.”

    And that’s the other key to Aashram’s stratospheric success: it’s entirely free. The series is available across Amazon MX Player, Prime Video, Amazon’s shopping app, Fire TV, Airtel Xtreme, and smart TVs, basically anywhere your thumbs can scroll.

    With its heady cocktail of social commentary, psychological manipulation, and pulpy thrills, Aashram has become more than a show. It’s a movement. A sermon with swagger. And by the looks of it, Baba Nirala isn’t done preaching just yet.

  • Hip Hop India season two brings bigger battles and bolder moves to the floor

    Hip Hop India season two brings bigger battles and bolder moves to the floor

    MUMBAI: The floor is set, the beats are dropping, and the stage is sizzling, India’s biggest hip-hop showdown is back! Hip Hop India Season two has hit Amazon MX Player, promising a bolder, grittier, and more electrifying dance battle than ever before. With Remo D’Souza and Malaika Arora as judges, the competition is tougher, the performances more jaw-dropping, and the talent pool ready to redefine India’s hip-hop landscape.

    From Shillong’s Afro-dance prodigy Iamonlang Karjana to Mumbai’s freestyle dynamo Oggy, the solo category boasts an electrifying mix of styles. Hectic from Mumbai, Funky Anna from Tamil Nadu, and Hitesh Patel, fresh from Romania and Italy’s Got Talent, are just a few of the dancers set to ignite the stage. With influences ranging from Krump and Tutting to Bhangra and Belly Dance, each contender brings a distinct flavour to the floor.

    The duo category is all about sync, style, and synergy. Snehal & Vaidehi bring an explosive mix of Whacking, Popping, and Afro, while Krish & Aditya Tyagi are set to seamlessly fuse Hip-Hop with Freestyle. Expect jaw-dropping chemistry and gravity-defying coordination as these duos battle it out.

    The group category is packed with powerhouse crews ready to command the dance floor. Mumbai’s Rule Breakers are set to bend the rules of gravity with their B-Boying and Breaking, while The Evokers, with members from Delhi, Lucknow, Goa, Haryana, and Meerut, promise a fusion of Openstyle choreography. Team SA from Siliguri completes the lineup with a dynamic blend of Hip-Hop, House, Locking, and Light Feet.

    This season isn’t just about dance, it’s about passion, storytelling, and pushing the limits. The contenders are not just here to compete; they’re here to make history.

    Streaming for free on Amazon MX Player, Hip Hop India Season 2 is available across mobile, Amazon’s shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and Connected TVs. It’s time to turn up the volume and let the battles begin!

  • Yuzvendra Chahal’s hilarious opening wish takes an unexpected turn

    Yuzvendra Chahal’s hilarious opening wish takes an unexpected turn

    MUMBAI: Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has stepped into unfamiliar territory, swapping the cricket field for the mystical world of Aashram. In a humorous crossover for Aashram season three part two, now streaming for free on Amazon MX Player, Chahal seeks divine intervention but the results are far from what he imagined.

    In the video, Chahal, fully kitted out with pads, helmet, and bat, approaches Bobby Deol’s enigmatic Baba Nirala with one request to become an opening batsman. True to his style, Baba grants the wish with a resounding Tathastu! However, instead of taking the crease, Chahal finds himself opening everything but an innings water bottles, lunchboxes, and even jammed doors. Left bewildered, he sighs, Accha opener bana diya, Baba. Meanwhile, Baba, ever the mysterious figure, remarks, “No one leaves my Aashram empty-handed.”

    Chahal said, “I’ve always joked about opening the batting. This time, Baba made it happen just not in the way I expected!”

    With Baba’s mystical powers at play, nothing is ever straightforward in Aashram. Fans can watch the latest twists and turns in Aashram season three part two, available to stream for free on Amazon MX Player via mobile apps, Amazon’s shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and connected TVs.

  • Bobby Deol is back with Ek Badnaam Aashram new season

    Bobby Deol is back with Ek Badnaam Aashram new season

    MUMBAI: The wait is almost over, Ek Badnaam Aashram is back, and this time, the stakes are higher than ever. With the second part of Season 3 set to premiere soon on Amazon MX Player, fans can brace themselves for even more drama, betrayal, and dark secrets than before. The series, one of India’s most-watched ott shows, has been a defining force in storytelling, with national award-winning director Prakash Jha steering the ship.

    The teaser, which dropped recently, has set the internet on fire, teasing Baba Nirala’s return to power, the unshakeable loyalty of his followers, and the simmering tensions within his inner circle. Bobby Deol returns as the notorious Baba Nirala, leading an all-star cast that includes Aaditi Pohankar, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Tridha Choudhury, Darshan Kumaar, Vikram Kochhar, Anupriya Goenka, Rajeev Siddhartha, and Esha Gupta. As old secrets and betrayals threaten to destroy everything, the new chapter promises to be gripping, thrilling, and unpredictable.

    The use of the iconic Duniya Mein Logon Ko soundtrack from Saregama adds another layer of suspense to the teaser, perfectly setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable season. The new chapter of the saga will focus on Pammi and Bhopa, as rivalries get more intense and revenge and redemption take centre stage.

    Amazon MX Player content head Amogh Dusad said, “Ek Badnaam Aashram has truly redefined storytelling in the digital space. With its hard-hitting narrative and compelling characters, it has captured the pulse of the audience. With new episodes coming soon, we’re pushing the envelope further with an explosive chapter that explores unchecked power and its consequences.”

    Reflecting on his role as Baba Nirala, Deol added, “The journey of Baba Nirala has been incredible, and the love this franchise has received is overwhelming. This time, the stakes are higher, the drama is bolder, and the secrets darker. I can’t wait for audiences to witness the next chapter of this story.”

    Jha further added, “Ek Badnaam Aashram has held up a mirror to society, exposing the dark intersections of faith, power, and exploitation. In the new season, we’re peeling back more layers, delving into the psychological grip of influence, and showcasing the thirst for control—where morality is often compromised.”

    The new season will stream exclusively on Amazon MX Player, available for free on mobile apps, Amazon’s shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and connected TVs. Fans can expect to be hooked as the drama unfolds over the next five episodes, ensuring they won’t be able to look away.

  • It’s raining new NextGen TV sets & receivers at CES 2025

    It’s raining new NextGen TV sets & receivers at CES 2025

    MUMBAI: There is a lot of excitement in the US about NextGen TV or TV broadcasts based on the ATSC 3.0 standard.  With 76 per cent of U.S. households now able to receive the signals,  America’s local TV broadcasters are hailing the introduction of new ATSC 3.0 receivers that will first be shown at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The affordable options will add to consumer choice, from high-end NextGen TV sets to affordable accessories that can transform Android and Fire TV devices already in consumer homes. 

    “We are very excited about the expanded offerings from accessory device manufacturers for NextGen TV. The new low-cost Atlanta  DTH (ADTH) USB receiver, powered by Tolka, is built for existing Android and Fire TV televisions and will, at a very affordable price, expand the reach of NextGen TV into homes who already have those sets. ADTH is also about to introduce a new model that works without an internet connection and will be doing a software update for deployed ADTH devices to give them the same functionality. In addition, Zinwell is adding pause functionality to their accessory device, with an add-on hard disc drive. In 2025, RCA is also coming to market with two new NextGen TV sets that will join TV options already available from Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Hisense, and TCL,” said Pearl TV managing director Anne Schelle. “We congratulate all of the manufacturers who are selling thousands of receivers each day to consumers looking for the best possible video and audio quality from local stations.” 

    Pearl TV is a business organisation of US broadcast companies with a shared interest in exploring forward-looking broadcasting opportunities, including innovative ways of promoting local broadcast TV content and developing digital media and wireless platforms for the broadcast industry. Pearl’s membership, comprising more than 820 TV stations, includes eight of the largest broadcast companies in America: Cox Media group, Graham Media group, Gray Television, Hearst Television, Nexstar Media group, Sinclair Broadcast group, the E.W. Scripps, and Tegna. 

    Broadcasters are loading up new services with new features for NextGen TV viewers, including interactive gaming options that will be launched by GameLoop. 

    GameLoop TV launches next week in Las Vegas on local NextGen TV channel 3.2 and will bring gaming directly to viewers with no additional hardware or subscriptions required. At the heart of GameLoop’s innovation is the channel’s exciting “play now” feature, which allows NextGen TV viewers to instantly play games showcased on the channel simply using their TV remote or mobile phone. 

    “We also salute TV broadcasters Gray and Sinclair, who are working to bring fun, interactive gaming to the living room through GameLoop – a service that utilises NextGen TV for web-based family fun that will work seamlessly with millions of installed NextGen TV sets. Easy interactivity is literally going to be a game-changer for viewers,” Schelle predicted. 

    High Dynamic Range (HDR) functionality is now live on more than 200 local NextGen TV services throughout the US , with more being added to enhance viewing of key sports games and other spectacles.  Broadcasters are promoting the advantages of NextGen TV this sports season on stations throughout the country and plan to continue these promotions as they continue to rollout HDR and Dolby Atmos services nationwide. 

    A holiday promotion effort in NextGen TV markets that began before December continues through early February, with broadcasters now indicating onscreen to viewers when local NextGen TV programming is available in HDR. 

    “We’re very excited to announce that broadcast stations throughout the country are adding HDR10+ capability in their NextGen TV broadcast services to accommodate a broad array of TV manufacturers. With other flavors of HDR that also may be present in the service, this allows every receiver to present the best picture possible, showing that local television just keeps getting better and better, which is exactly what we promised with the rollout of NextGen TV services,” Schelle said. In addition to providing better video quality through HDR, many markets are adding Dolby Atmos audio coding, which delivers immersive audio capability. 

    “HDR began for sports with the Kentucky Derby last spring. It really made the Olympic Games pop with brilliant video. We know that sports is a big driver for buying new TV sets as well as for enjoying broadcast services — your favorite games look even better in High Dynamic Range,” Schelle said. 

    Throughout the country, local stations not already broadcast on over-the-air ATSC 3.0 transmissions are gaining access to NextGen TV viewers through the innovative addition of more channels through broadcast internet protocol – or broadcast IP. These additional channels are available as NextGen TV channels and have added more choices for viewers in a range of markets, from public to commercial broadcasters who now have their programming available for NextGen TV viewers. 

    Consumers can easily find details of what NextGen TV services are available in their markets by visiting WatchNextGenTV.com, a resource maintained by Pearl that lists individual services by market and a full range of more than 90 NextGen TV receivers and antenna products certified to work seamlessly with the new services. 

  • Amazon miniTV to celebrate bond between siblings in series ‘Mera Bhai’

    Amazon miniTV to celebrate bond between siblings in series ‘Mera Bhai’

    Mumbai: Amazon miniTV, Amazon’s free video streaming service, is all set to bring viewers a heartwarming story of sibling love with its upcoming comedy-drama series, Mera Bhai. The streaming service announced the series by unveiling its trailer, filled with a gamut of emotions. Exploring new dimensions of love and highlighting the power of a brotherly bond, it will take the audience on an emotionally charged journey, with two polar opposite brothers who find strength in each other. Starring Badri Chavan and Chinmay Chandraunshuh in the lead roles, the 5-episode series is produced by The Screen Patti and will stream exclusively from 5 January on Amazon miniTV for free.

    Mera Bhai chronicles the story of two brothers, Bittu and Sittu, capturing the dynamics of their relationship and their journey amid the daily hustles faced by their family. The trailer gives a sneak peek into their love-hate relationship, which evolves with each incident. Highlighting the unbreakable bond of siblings, the series depicts the free-spiritedness of the younger brother, Sittu, along with the simplicity and maturity of the elder brother, Bittu. As the brother-duo navigates life facing different challenges, they understand the depth of their bond and their value in each other’s life.

    Badri Chavan who plays the role of the responsible elder brother shared his thoughts about being a part of the show, he said, “Growing up, having a sibling is like a blessing. Mera Bhai explores the journey of two siblings as they tackle the ups and downs of life in a relatable manner. While they constantly make fun of each other, indulge in ribbing, fights, and disagreements, they are always there for each other when in need. Over the course of 5 episodes, the viewers will see the evolution of these two brothers as well as their bond with each other”

    Expressing his delight about being a part of the series, Chinmay Chandraunshuh shared, “Siblings are one’s biggest supporters and best friends, who love and tolerate each other at the same time. Mera Bhai is one such relatable story, which perfectly highlights how two polar opposite siblings bring balance to each other’s lives. I play the role of the younger brother, Sittu, in the series. He is carefree, outgoing, mischievous, and in the curiosity-filled stage of teenage, stark opposite from his mature and disciplined brother, Bittu. I hope that viewers will love the bond of Bittu and Sittu. It will surely make them reminisce about the golden days of living together with their siblings.”

    Mera Bhai will be available to stream exclusively on Amazon miniTV from 5 January for free. You can download the Amazon miniTV App on Playstore or watch it within the Amazon Shopping App or the Fire TV App.