ITV

Tag: Mantra

  • Spotify invests in 3 original podcasts for Indian market

    Spotify invests in 3 original podcasts for Indian market

    MUMBAI: Opening new opportunities for the growing creator community in India, Spotify has announced three original podcasts for the country, which will go live on the platform on 3 December. Tapping into pop culture, cricket centric ‘22 Yarns with Gaurav Kapur’, fiction thriller ‘Bhaskar Bose’ narrated by Mantra, and love and relationship advice-based ‘Love Aaj Kal’ by Aastha & Ankit, Spotify is looking forward to strengthen its position within the market.

    The announcement comes as a reiteration to Spotify’s global audio-first strategy that focuses on the brand’s potential to grow faster with more original podcasts. As with music artists, Spotify aims to offer better discovery, data, and monetization to podcast creators.

    Spotify marketing director—India Amarjit Singh Batra said, “Storytelling is intrinsic to India, and almost nostalgic because most of us have grown on stories that our grandparents and parents told us; Spotify wants to re-establish that listening culture here, especially as users seek more screen-free moments. We are so happy to partner with these talented storytellers who’ve managed to explore different aspects of the local culture to deliver differentiated content and rekindle the love Indians have for audio.”

    With over 500,000 podcast titles on the platform, up from 10,000 in 2018, Spotify has seen exponential growth in the podcast hours streamed globally (up approximately 39 per cent from Q2 2019 to Q3 2019), with podcast adoption reaching almost 14 per cent of total monthly active users (MAUs). And while the U.S. accounts for the largest share of podcast streams, a majority of the growth and listening is now coming from outside the U.S.

    “Just a little over one year ago, we announced Spotify for Podcasters, which provides listener insights to all creators who have podcasts on our platform. Today, we have 140,000 registered creators across the world, on the platform, and the data for a few of these creators shows that India features in their top streamed markets. Much of this content is lifestyle, educational, and news,” added Batra.

    India features in the all-time top 3 streaming markets for tech show Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast, and for On Purpose with Jay Shetty, a show that’s been number 1 on Spotify’s India podcast chart since the time of launch. The country is also currently in the top ten streaming markets for TED Talks Daily and The Mindset Mentor. Other globally acclaimed podcasts such as Stuff You Should Know, and BBC’s Global News Podcast are also in the top 20 most streamed podcasts in India. Interestingly, local charts showcase 60 per cent of the top 10 podcasts on Spotify are on self-motivation-based lifestyle content.

    Globally, Spotify has invested in new original podcasts in the US, Europe, and South America. In June this year, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, announced a partnership with Spotify to produce podcasts exclusive to the platform. The acquisitions of podcast networks Gimlet, and Parcast, and creator platform Anchor have also enabled the company to invest in high-quality content as well as providing an easy way for creators to record a podcast, respectively. In fact, the Sandeep Maheshwari podcast is an example of how Indian creators can leverage Anchor to create their content. 

  • Big Magic launches short format ‘Big Googly’

    Big Magic launches short format ‘Big Googly’

    MUMBAI: To up the entertainment quotient, Big Magic has launched an innovation within its programming and content that goes with its character to have funny and unpredictable elements within the channel. 

    Titled Big Googly, it is a topical short format with refreshing comical scripts for two minutes. The format went live starting 4 May.

    Keeping in mind the nature of the fillers each capsule will last for two minutes and will be played throughout the day. The best comical interstitial will be featured at the beginning of the shows to ensure that the laughter riot continues.

    Big Googly has ace comedians Ali Asgar and VIP as its lead protagonists to be supported by other Big Magic comedy characters such as Kiku Sharda, Mantra, Upasana Singh and more.
     

    With a focus on serving wholesome entertainment for the entire family, Asgar and VIP will cover situational and topical issues, disguised as famous personalities from Bollywood, politics, sports and so on. Some of the episodes will feature iconic characters from the channel’s shows like Narad Muni. 

    Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) network creative director Paritosh Painter said, “Big Magic believes in bringing refreshing content and with Big Googly we want to look beyond the traditional sitcom space along with creating a niche position for ourselves as the ultimate comedy destination. In the coming few months, we shall have various such innovative and unique formats which will have element of surprise, fun and thus instantly connect with our viewers as a result of their topicality.” 

    The show launch will be supported by a multi-media marketing campaign.

  • Sundance Screenwriters Lab submission by 1 July

    Sundance Screenwriters Lab submission by 1 July

    NEW DELHI: The submission deadline for Mumbai Mantra Sundance Institute Screenwriters’ Lab 2014 has been extended by a month.

    The new deadline is 1 July. The lab will select six to eight writers for a five-day intensive workshop with creative advisors who are acclaimed global screenwriters and directors.

    Screenwriters who are Indian, Indians living abroad and non-resident Indians or of Indian forigin descent can apply for the lab. They should be working on their first or second feature film.

    Applicants are required to send: Synopsis, first five pages of screenplay, artistic statement, and cover letter.

  • Dharm’s original content mantra

    NEW DELHI: The recently launched religion-based channel Dharm claims to be the only channel in the genre to have original programming including serials and films.

    Channel founder and head Prajanan Bhattacharya told indiantelevision.com that the channel has a 470-episode series on Ramakrishna Paramhans, and other shows like Bharat ke Mandir, Shaktipeeth, Teerthsthal, Mera Dharm Mera Karam, A day with a Saint, Satsang, Siddha, Utsav ke Rang and Ahaar (on vegetarianism).

    Bhattacharya said that the channel will also telecast selected devotional feature films in Hindi to begin with and later go on to other languages as well. Weekend specials also include programmes like Dharmyatra, Reeti Rivaj and Vidhi Vidhan. Apart from this Pravachan, Panchang, Yoga and Astrology will also be part of the channel‘s daily shows.

    He said the channel is the only one among religious/spiritual channels to have a talent hunt show, Bhajan Sangram, on religious music in India.

    Launched by Dharm Media Ventures, the channel will delve into the ancient Sanatan Dharma, Vedic period and Gurus and Godmen of modern India, apart from covering sacred temples and festivals throughout the country.

    He claimed that though the channel is generally seen only in parts of north India, it is on INSAT 4A and can be downloaded on the D/L 3725(H) S/R 26.666FEC3/4 frequency.

    Dedicated to religious awakening, the channel is presently beamed by cable operators in Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Gujarat, and parts of Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

    Refusing to divulge the sources of funding, he said it was being run by “a few friends as promoters” and denied any risk of closing down or not breaking even. In fact, Bhattacharya claimed that the number of channels being run by the group would grow to six in the next two years.

    He said that slot selling and advertising had already commenced to increase the popularity of the channel. The entire programming was being done on a 24X7 sold slots system.

  • “Aao Inka De Saath” Radio Mirchi’s mantra on AIDS Day

    “Aao Inka De Saath” Radio Mirchi’s mantra on AIDS Day

    MUMBAI: India is one of the largest and most populated countries in the world, with over one billion inhabitants. Of this number, at least five million are currently living with HIV. According to some estimates, India has a greater number of people living with HIV than any other nation in the world. World AIDS Day, December 1st is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This year too, it’s up to you, me and us to stop the spread of HIV and end prejudice.

     

    Aao Inka De Saath (AIDS) is the mantra Radio Mirchi team is spreading in the city to highlight the importance of this day. On December 1st , Radio Mirchi team along with NGO Udaan will be out on the streets giving out pamplets & making people wear red ribbons. Messages of HIV and AIDS affected patients talking about how they cope with the illness will be aired through out the day. Dr. Hemant Gupta, Consulting Physician & Cardiologist, Intensivist & Diabetologist who is attached to Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre & Sir JJ Group of Hospitals will be on air on to clarify myths such as AIDS is contagious or AIDS spreads via mosquitoes or on sneezing and so on.

     

    Says Hitesh Sharma, VP & Station Director, Radio Mirchi – Mumbai “Radio Mirchi’s attempt is to remove myths about HIV & AIDS and spread appropriate information. Also, we are trying to sensitise Mumbaikars about the silent epidemic in India by distributing ribbons at major traffic junctions. ”

     

    So, tune in to Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM on December 1st and participate in this campaign to fight HIV & AIDS.