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Tag: LoveBytes

  • LoveBytes 2: SonyLiv’s Sodhi says prime focus is youth issues; international Aus matches after Diwali

    LoveBytes 2: SonyLiv’s Sodhi says prime focus is youth issues; international Aus matches after Diwali

    MUMBAI: What happens when love revisits your door and you decide whether to let it in or not. This is today’s basic situation which youth is facing, according to SonyLiv team.

    Addressing this confusing state of mind that most of us go through, SonyLiv takes on the concept of love, break-ups, unrequited love and the repercussions of the ‘second chances’ with the second season of its signature web series LoveBytes, with LuvIt.

    The new season got under way on 11 October 2017.

    SonyLiv EVP and digital business head Uday Sodhi said, “Season first was a great success in terms of gaining audience. We wanted to create a new audience for OTT. And now, we have audience who would come to us to watch our originals. LoveBytes season 2 is an expensive series with six television actors in it, and the production cost per episode is more than the cost of a television episode. The shooting of LoveBytes season 2 has been done on locations in Mumbai, Lonavala and Madh Island.”

    LoveBytes season 2 came after two years of season 1, which released in September 2015. Sodhi said, “In the last two years, we have experimented with 40 originals on our platform. Besides our sports, movies and shows offerings, originals became a new category for us which brings in a lot of digital natives who live and breathe digitally. Hence, it has created a bigger buzz for us. Therefore, we are creating more shows based on issues related to urban audience, related to youth and issues which common people face in their day to day life.”

    SonyLiv team says, “LoveBytes Season 1 beautifully encapsulates the nitty-gritties of relationships and sheds light on the things that are necessary for an urban relationship to sustain itself. The first season took us through the clicks and clashes between Ananya (Sukhmani Sadana) and Abhishek (Kushal Punjabi), a new-age couple.”

    “The first season ended on a bitter note with the lead couple Ananya and Abhishek ending their relationship. After the success of season 1, the second season takes on from there and revolves around how the two of them are dealing with their lives after choosing their individual paths. This season also introduces characters like Gunjan (Shweta Gulati), Varun (Manish Goel), Soniya (Manasi Scott) and Vikram (Ayaz Khan) who impact the relationship of Ananya and Abhishek in their own ways. The series underlines the journey of these characters, all while discovering the true meaning of love.”

    About BARC India entry into digital measurement, Sodhi said, “When there is an industry standard on the point of measurement, it helps industry to grow. We are excited about it. OTT measurement will become easier and transparent, so we are participating in the process and giving all information to BARC.”

    After Diwali, Sodhi said, SonyLiv will be streaming all men’s international matches played in Australia, beginning with the Ashes Series in November 2017 played between England and Australia.

  • Sony Liv forays into original digital programming with ‘#LoveBytes’

    Sony Liv forays into original digital programming with ‘#LoveBytes’

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media’s (MSM) OTT platform Sony Liv has set its foot into original web programming with the launch of its signature series #LoveBytes. Going online from 7 September, the web series has been exclusively made for the digital platform and is centred on an urban Indian romance, which is relatable for the digital destination’s millennial audience.

     

    The web series is unlike regular television soaps as it deals with the real life situations between a young couple. The digital platform through this offering invites viewers to take a sneak peek into their daily lives. Sony Liv has created a 360 degree marketing campaign with video blogs and social connect with the protagonists to market the show.

     

    Multi Screen Media EVP and head – digital entertainment Uday Sodhi says, “From launching digital premieres of the world’s best entertainment properties to becoming the country’s first digital VOD platform to produce a song, Sony Liv has been at the forefront of innovation. With our signature series #LoveBytes, we offer consumers a digital-first experience like never before. The fact that the show has been made as an independent, exclusive series for Sony Liv also bolsters the widespread popularity of the digital destination. With this, Sony Liv becomes the first digital OTT platform to foray into original production. Setting a benchmark in the video entertainment space, we plan to further invest in original content with new concepts and ideas.”

     

    Sodi informs Indiantelevision.com that the show will have 26 episodes, wherein two episodes will be released per week. “This is just the beginning. Liv will come up with a series of original shows, which will be exclusively produced for the digital platform,” he adds.

     

    Sony Liv has been seeing a year on year growth of 35 per cent on mobile advertising, which, according to Sodhi is indeed encouraging. “The ecosystem will also be enhanced with technical upgradations like 4G,” he says.

     

    While currently Sony Liv follows the advertising based revenue model, Sodhi says that depending on the scenario and market insights going forward, the company may evaluate the possibility of a subscription based platform.

     

    Directed by Vishal Mull, #LoveBytes stars Kushal Punjabi and Sukhmani Sadana. Each episode of the show plays out the trials and tribulations of the leading characters Ananya’s and Abhishek’s romantic relationship.

     

    Ananya Singh is a 26-year old girl from Lucknow who has been working in Mumbai for the last six years. Simple, not very social and rather homely, Ananya is possessive and doesn’t quite understand or appreciate all the female attention her boyfriend gets. Abhishek on the other hand, is a 28 year-old copywriter in a media firm. A party animal, he is best described as driven, ambitious and affable all at once.

     

    With a deliciously urban and youthful flavor, the series underlines what makes these two very different individuals click and sometimes clash, the show also elucidates all those things that are necessary for an urban Indian relationship to sustain itself and the daily challenges that come in the way.

     

    The theme of the show has been specifically crafted keeping Sony Liv’s cosmopolitan viewership in mind. Viewers can delve into this entertaining and delightful world of squabbles, love and drama on the Sony Liv website or mobile app, anytime anywhere.

     

    While the presenting sponsor for the show is Integriti, the associate sponsor is Caprese. The radio partner for #LoveBytes is Fever 104 FM, beverage partner is Café Coffee Day and outdoor partner is Bright Advertising.