Tag: Harit Nagpal

  • What makes  Harit Nagpal’s Adapt tome great to look at, not just read

    What makes Harit Nagpal’s Adapt tome great to look at, not just read

    MUMBAI: Just got my hands on Tata Play CEO Harit Nagpal’s tome Adapt – to Thrive, not just survive. I must say better late than never. It appears to be an amazing read. But a lot has been written about what we as managers can learn from his stories about challenges and how to overcome them.

    I don’t know if a lot has been written about how the book looks, that is, its striking art work and cover design. At least, I could not locate it despite a lot of deep google searches. 

    The cover design is by Westland (the publisher of the book) design head Saurabh Garge who has been behind some of the gee-whiz looks of books that it brings out. 

    To begin with, the visual metaphor Saurabh has used aligns seamlessly with the book’s exploration of how businesses must evolve to thrive in dynamic environments.

    A large part of the cover is dominated by a curled tail of a chameleon, a reptile renowned for its adaptative capabilities. The animal’s tail has a myriad of colours showing its ability to change quickly (probably in micro-seconds) depending on its environment and the threat to its survival and thriving. The design employs a clean and minimalist aesthetic, ensuring that the chameleon remains the focal point, thereby reinforcing the book’s message of strategic adaptation.

    Similarly, corporations too have to be agile and quick to adapt to the crazily-spinning almost-out-of-control and ever-changing dynamic environment. 
    Harit Nagpal

    Also, the color scheme of the book title from cool colour like the blue green to the warmer yellows and oranges to the hot red clearly elucidates the cycle that organisations need to go through from start up to maturity wherein sales become red hot. And they also become noticeable. The same colour gradient has been followed at the back of the book and even in the spine with the title now going clean white. 

    Overall, the cover design is both visually appealing and thematically resonant, effectively conveying the book’s focus on the importance of adaptability in achieving business success.

    (Adapt – To Thrive, Not just Survive by Harit Nagpal, pp 213, publisher Westland  Books, price Rs 599. To buy the book click here)

  • APOS 24: Tata Play powers  Philippines-based Cignal TV’s super app

    APOS 24: Tata Play powers Philippines-based Cignal TV’s super app

    MUMBAI: Tata Play has added another feather in its cap. Speaking at APOS in Bali this morning, Tata Play managing director & CEO Harit Nagpal announced -alongside Cignal TV’s president & CEO Jane Jimenez-Basas and Akash Digital TV CEO Tariq Alam – that the it  had provided its Tata Play Binge app’s platform as a service (PaaS) to Cignal TV. This follows quickly in the footsteps of Akash Digital in Bangladesh also opting for PaaS.

    The  Cignal Super app is the first ever OTT-aggregation platform to be introduced in the Philippines. Currently in its pilot phase, Cignal Super  app will soon give users a unified subscription to access content from various OTT platforms.

    “Tata Play’s intuitive user interface makes content discovery easy for our TV customers,” stated Nagpal at APOS. “We have applied the same principle while designing Binge. This will become even more relevant in the future as the number of apps increase. It is all about understanding what today’s viewer really needs: simplicity, choice, and affordability. And with Tata Play Binge’s cloud technology, we are making sure this vision can be scaled globally. The launch of the Akash Go app and now Cignal Super demonstrates the universal appeal of our platform and our rapid delivery times, allowing partners to create their own branded app.”

    Cignal Super will launch with partners including VIU, Lionsgate Play, Curiosity Stream, Fuse+, Pilipinas Live, and Cignal Play.
    “At Cignal, we’re excited to launch Cignal Super, the first of its kind in the Philippines.  With content becoming increasingly fragmented, and streaming subscription prices increasing, we believe this service will be compelling and relevant for our customers as we simplify access to content from multiple apps into one platform – with a single subscription, unified content discovery, and one affordable price. This further establishes Cignal’s continuing commitment to aggregate the best content for our customers, and we thank Tata Play and all our partners for enabling us to bring this product to life”, said Cignal TV’s Jane Jimenez-Basas. 

  • Tata Play Binge launches PaaS solution for Bangladesh’s Akash Digital TV

    Tata Play Binge launches PaaS solution for Bangladesh’s Akash Digital TV

    Mumbai: Tata Play Binge’s Cloud technology simplifies content access by offering content from multiple OTT channels on a single screen, through a single app and subscription. Featuring a unified interface for a streamlined, enabling OTT aggregators anywhere in the world to concentrate on building content acquiring partnerships and subscribers.

    The first launch under this arrangement was announced by Akash Digital TV, the Direct To Home (DTH) service by BEXIMCO Communications Ltd in Bangladesh. The product is being launched as a companion App under the name Akash Go. The Akash Go app will allow subscribers in Bangladesh to access content on their mobile devices, providing access to live TV channels and Video on Demand with personalized recommendations based on their viewing history. Akash Go will aggregate a blend of local and global premium content and be available for DTH subscribers of Akash Digital TV on IOS or Android mobile phones.

    Talking about this collaboration, Tata Play managing director & CEO Harit Nagpal said, “In the truest sense of Make-in-India and Show the World, by providing Tata Play Binge PaaS to global OTT aggregators, we are pioneering a tech-first industry move from India where international content delivery companies will benefit from our tried and tested technology to create localised offerings for their consumers at low cost and within a short time frame. Our collaboration with Akash Digital TV is a pivotal moment in this journey.”

    Akash Digital TV CEO Dr Tariq Alam added, “Akash Digital TV aims to provide the Bangladeshi audiences the same world class standards in terms of performance, services and user experience and access to quality premium content as subscribers of Tata Play Binge experience in India. To have Tata Play as our technology and Strategic (Knowledge) partner will guarantee that this objective is met and will ensure our ability to always provide comprehensive value to our customers.”

  • Goafest 2024: Adapt to thrive not just survive

    Goafest 2024: Adapt to thrive not just survive

    Mumbai: This year, Goafest has adapted to new horizons, bringing the 17th edition of the festival to the vibrant city of Mumbai.

    As they celebrated numerous ground-breaking ideas, they rose a toast to adaptability – the key to success in their ever-changing world. From diverse view-points to cutting-edge strategies, set amidst the serene backdrop of Powai Lake, this year’s Goafest ignited the creative spark and empowered people to navigate the exciting unknown.

    In the first session presented by News 18 Network, titled Adapt To Thrive Not Just Survive, Tata Play managing director & CEO Harit Nagpal emphasised the importance of adaptability as a key to thriving rather than merely surviving. In a captivating speech that left the audience both thinking and inspired, laden with anecdotes, the keynote speaker emphasised the inevitability of disruption in our lives and the critical importance of resilience in the face of it. “Disruption can be caused by anything or anyone, but it becomes our responsibility to survive and thrive,” he asserted! He then discussed Business Continuity Planning, a strategy used in the 2000s, designed to address both expected and unexpected scenarios, and its relevance to COVID-19.

    He then moved on to highlight the surge in digital interactions, including video calls and remote work, which have become the norm. The pandemic, he noted, disrupted traditional office setups but ultimately led to more flexible and efficient work arrangements.

    He also revealed that a significant and growing proportion of Tata Play’s customer base is now opting for digital recharge options, marking a notable shift in consumer behaviour. This trend is reflected in the company’s increasing market share, as more and more customers embrace the convenience of virtual recharges. In a nod to the rapid pace of innovation, he declared, “Disruption is the new norm.” From the worldwide web to AI, each breakthrough is shrinking the gap between disruptions, and we’re just getting started.

    His parting words, “Either you disrupt, or someone else is going to do it for you, and the best time to do it is when you feel the most comfortable!” left an indelible mark!
     

  • Tata Play and Amazon Prime collaborate to offer Prime benefits to viewers across TV and OTT

    Tata Play and Amazon Prime collaborate to offer Prime benefits to viewers across TV and OTT

    Mumbai: Leading content distribution platform, Tata Play, has joined hands with Amazon Prime to offer Tata Play DTH and Tata Play Binge customers multiple ways to access Prime Video’s blockbuster content. Tata Play DTH subscribers can now choose from multiple packs starting from Rs 199 per month, that offer a variety of their favourite TV channels along with Prime Lite with Tata Play. In addition, Binge subscribers can enjoy Prime Lite with Tata Play along with 30+ other popular apps at various price points. At INR 199 per month, users can subscribe to 6 OTT apps, including Prime Video, from a list of 33 apps, or can subscribe to all 33, including Prime Video at Rs 349 per month.

    The new price plans from Tata Play Binge put the freedom of choice in the hands of its audience to make their own OTT packs. Prime Video’s addition to the league of 30+ national, international, and regional apps on Tata Play Binge aims to further elevate content bingeing into an even more indulgent experience, all in one convenient location across languages, genres, and devices.  

    This extensive collaboration between Tata Play and Amazon Prime is dedicated to offering comprehensive value to the customers, ensuring they enjoy video, shipping and shopping benefits. Consumers can enjoy the full selection of amazing shows and movies on Prime Video including the highly popular Original series like Panchayat, Mirzapur, The Family Man, Dhootha, Inspector Rishi, Farzi, Dahaad, Made in Heaven, Indian Police Force, Suzhal – The Vortex, Dil Dosti Dilemma, Poacher, among others, blockbuster movies like Pathaan, Jailer, Ponniyin Selvan I & II, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Tiger 3, Kantara, Mast Mein Rehne Ka, Maja Ma, Bawaal, Pippa, Captain Miller, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, and many more, along with international series and movies like Fallout, Citadel, The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, The Idea of You, The Boys, Jack Ryan, Reacher, to name a few. This is in addition to other Prime Lite benefits like, free unlimited same day delivery across 1M+ products and next day delivery across 4M+ products, prime early access & exclusive deals and 5% cashback on Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card while on shopping on Amazon.

    While on the one hand, Tata Play’s robust content distribution network will help in expanding Amazon Prime’s outreach to newer audience segments, on the other, addition of Prime Lite Membership with Tata Play will make Binge a more compelling proposition,” said Tata Play managing director & CEO Harit Nagpal, on this first-of-its-kind partnership.

    “At Prime Video, our mission is to super-serve our customers with the best of entertainment, and we are constantly looking at ways to strengthen our distribution to ensure wider availability of our much-loved movies and series,” said Prime Video VP, APAC & MENA Gaurav Gandhi. “The collaboration with Tata Play provides its DTH and digital customers seamless access to Prime Video’s full selection of content, as well as Prime Lite benefits like unlimited free shopping & shipping of ‘Same-day/Next-Day’ delivery, Prime exclusive deals and much more. We look forward to working with Tata Play to make premium entertainment even more accessible to customers in India.”

    Amazon Prime and Tata Play – Plans & Benefits

    DTH Packs and Prime Lite with Tata Play

    • Access Prime Video content on any 2 screens (mobile or TV)

    • Access to exclusive deals and free shipping on Amazon

    • Available as a bundle with linear TV packs  

    • Price – Starting at Rs 199 per month

    Prime Lite with Tata Play Binge

    • Access Prime Video content on any 2 screens (mobile or TV)

    • Access to exclusive deals and unlimited same day and next day delivery across millions of products

    • Select 6 OTT apps, including Prime Lite at Rs 199 per month, or enjoy all 33 apps, including Prime Lite, at Rs 349 per month

    In addition to the above new plans, DTH customers can also subscribe to the annual subscription of Amazon Prime through Tata Play DTH at an attractive limited time introductory offer, and gain access to Prime Video, free shipping/ shopping benefits, Amazon Music, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming etc., and access through 5 devices.

  • Star Sports and Tata Play roll out addressable ads to target affluent audiences this IPL season

    Star Sports and Tata Play roll out addressable ads to target affluent audiences this IPL season

    Mumbai: Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Tata Indian Premier League (IPL), has announced an association with Tata Play, India’s leading DTH operator. Together, they are pioneering the introduction of targeted advertising on linear TV, during live sports broadcasts, beginning this IPL season, marking a significant first for the industry. This collaboration aims to provide advertisers with unprecedented access to the most premium audiences in the top eight metro cities, an important milestone in the realm of television advertising.

    For the first time ever, advertisers will have the opportunity to precisely target their ads to the most premium cohorts during live IPL matches on key Star Sports channels. Leveraging the targeting capabilities facilitated by Tata Play, brands can now connect with affluent viewers in metro markets like never before.

    “We are thrilled to join forces with Tata Play in revolutionizing the way advertisers engage with audiences during live sports broadcast, raising the bar for industry standards. The convergence of the largest DTH provider and the biggest TV network presents a significant advantage for advertisers. Tata Play’s affluent viewer-base in metropolitan areas, coupled with the precision in reaching these audiences, unlocks exciting advertising opportunity on the grand stage of IPL on Star Sports,” said Disney Star head – Network Advertising Sales Ajit Varghese.

    “Addressable Ads capability for unconnected boxes is a groundbreaking global first in Pay TV that will be introduced for the first time on live sports during Tata IPL. Our association with Disney Star has brought this to life and provided advertisers with opportunities never before. With this initiative, brands can now achieve even sharper targeting on live TV, setting a new standard for advertising effectiveness on linear TV,” said Tata Play CEO & managing director Harit Nagpal.

    The addressable advertising capability allows advertisers to reach their targeted audience at scale, making advertising more engaging, effective and cost-efficient. Tata Play has partnered with INVIDI and TAM for this initiative. While INVIDI will manage the tech aspect of addressable ads, TAM will facilitate audience measurement and monitoring.

  • Tata Play becomes the first DTH player to carry 100+ HD and all DD channels

    Tata Play becomes the first DTH player to carry 100+ HD and all DD channels

    Mumbai: Tata Play, India’s largest content distribution platform, touches another milestone by becoming the first DTH player to carry 100+ HD Channels. This closely follows the brand’s recent success in launching the country’s first demand-driven satellite GSAT-24 which gave Tata Play the largest satellite bandwidth in the country.

    Living up to its promise of catering to all subscribers, genres and languages, the 100+ HD channels available on Tata Play span across 17 genres and includes HSM as well as key regional markets like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Odia.

    Tata Play also onboarded all 44 Doordarshan channels to its ever-expanding portfolio. The sharp increase in the number of channels being offered occurred after its satellite bandwidth increased by 50 percent. Tata Play today operates on 36 transponders – which is by far the highest in the country.

    Tata Play MD & CEO Harit Nagpal, sharing about the landmark development, said, “We’ve always been committed to delivering the ever-increasing infotainment needs of our subscribers with the best quality of picture and sound. We’d now urge the broadcasters to create more channels in HD for us to take to our viewers.” 

  • Tata Play introduces Addressable Ads for linear television

    Tata Play introduces Addressable Ads for linear television

    Mumbai: India’s largest content distribution platform Tata Play, has announced Addressable Ads for linear television. Addressable TV advertising technology enables advertisers to selectively segment TV audiences and serve different ads to different households, even if they are watching the same content. In essence, digital-akin media planning can now be achieved on television through Addressable Ads. Starting today, brands can sharpen the targeting of their linear TV ads through filters of geographies and audience profiles.

    Addressable TV ads mark a revolutionary milestone for television advertising as it merges linear TV with digital capabilities. TV advertising is essential for top-of-funnel deliveries. With Tata Play’s Addressable Ads solution, advertisers can enjoy a better ROI with functionalities like targeting and buying impressions. Broadcast partners are now empowered with an opportunity to offer a more relevant, rewarding, and effective inventory.

    Tata Play CEO & managing director Harit Nagpal explained how the new development disrupts the linear TV advertising ecosystem, “While Television delivers the highest advertising reach for brands, it doesn’t offer sharper targeting. With our targeted ad delivery, we can now split a TV spot into multiple beams with each beam carrying messages to distinctive audience cohorts, as required by the advertisers.”

    This breakthrough marks a first for unconnected boxes, empowering advertisers to reach their targeted audience with complete measurability. The segmentation will be based on audience profiles and various geographical cuts, making television advertising more engaging and effective. Tata Play has partnered with Invidi and TAM for this initiative. While Invidi will manage the tech aspect of Addressable ads, TAM will facilitate audience measurement and monitoring.

  • Tata Play offers industry-first OTT PaaS solution for emerging markets

    Tata Play offers industry-first OTT PaaS solution for emerging markets

    Mumbai: Tata Play, India’s leading content distribution platform providing pay-TV and OTT aggregation services today announced the launch of the Tata Play Binge PaaS for OTT aggregators across the globe. The first project collaboration to that effect is with Philippines’ leading Pay-TV provider, Cignal TV.

    Tata Play’s aggregator solution will empower users to watch content from multiple OTT apps by downloading one app, with one subscription and on one screen. While the promoter company focuses on tying up with various OTT partners and acquiring subscribers in the region, Tata Play will manage its end-to-end technology platform, over the cloud.

    Talking about this development, Tata Play MD & CEO Harit Nagpal said, “Tata Play Binge software architecture is now available as PaaS, providing end to end development and deployment opportunities. Apart from providing the software architecture, our partner companies will also benefit from Tata Play’s learnings over the years in areas of forging commercial partnerships, recommendation engine, subscription management, analytics, and much more. With the launch of this enterprise solution, we have now created a unique OTT content aggregation and distribution ecosystem.”

    Cignal TV president & CEO Jane J Basas said, “We are keen on an OTT aggregation product as a natural evolution of our service and recognize the success of Tata Play Binge in this space as a model to follow. We are in advanced stages of finalising our engagement, targeting go-to-market in less than a year.”

  • MIB secretary Apurva Chandra visits Tata Play’s technology centre

    MIB secretary Apurva Chandra visits Tata Play’s technology centre

    Mumbai: Ministry Information & Broadcasting (MIB ) secretary Apurva Chandra has visited Tata Play’s technology center in New Delhi to explore how Tata Play is leveraging technology and providing benefits to the end consumers.

    While exploring various ideas about technology that can benefit the customers, Chandra spent a considerable time understanding the complexities of a content distribution platform and steps Tata Play is taking to boost Make in India efforts for manufacturing set-top-boxes.

    During his visit, the Tata Play team demonstrated to Chandra the complete satellite communication and direct-to-home (DTH) delivery workflow and discussed other topics of mutual interest.

    Last year, Tata Play launched the first batch of Make-in-India set-top boxes in association with Technicolor Home and Flextronics. Earlier, Tata Play’s managing director & CEO Harit Nagpal had said that the India made set-top boxes would help generate employment and serve Indian consumers better.

    Tata Play has invested in advanced digital infrastructure and partnered with global leaders to provide superior technology. The company has a pan-India footprint of 23 million connections.