Tag: MX Player

  • MX Player rides K-drama wave this holiday season

    MX Player rides K-drama wave this holiday season

    Mumbai: MX Player is hosting Hindi dubs of popular Korean dramas (K-dramas) on its platform this holiday season. The titles can be streamed for free exclusively on the streaming platform. 

    Gentle romances, soapy dramas, exciting thrillers, and unique stories from a familiar culture are one of the main reasons why K-content is gaining popularity in the Indian subcontinent. By offering these titles in Hindi, MX Player aims to democratise international content for the mass Indian audiences, said the OTT platform in a statement.

    The lineup has an overarching theme of romance weaved into various genres such as medical procedural, corporate conspiracies, family drama, fantasy, adventure, and sci-fi. It includes shows like “Heirs,” “Pinocchio,” “Rich Man Goblin,” “Dr Romantic,” “Doctor Stranger,” “Penthouse,” “Kill Me Heal Me,” “I’m not a Robot,” “Into the Ring,” and “Doctor John” among others.

    “The volume of content consumption on OTT has significantly increased over the last two years, not just in regional/ local content but also for international shows that we localise and dub in Indian languages for our large audience base at MX,” stated MX Player SVP and head – content acquisitions and alliances Mansi Shrivastav. “One big obsession/major trend we see today is the love and craze for K-dramas that have all the makings of an entertainment potboiler dressed up in sharp production design and fresh, well-written narratives. We are delighted to share that MX VDesi will continue to offer Korean shows that have gained popularity and are loved by global audiences, along with new releases that are in the pipeline.”

  • Sunstone Eduversity’s maiden Content Day concludes, over 20 brands participate

    Sunstone Eduversity’s maiden Content Day concludes, over 20 brands participate

    MumbaI: Sunstone Eduversity concluded its maiden Content Day event, which witnessed participation from over 20 brands. The event was organised to shortlist the best Content ideas from top media houses, OTT platforms, production houses and youth-oriented content creators, from all over India.

    Apart from YouTube, MTV and MX Player, the event also saw Voot, Mirchi, Culture Machine, Jagran Group and Anugrah Madison competing with each other in a bid to impress the jury and bag a spot in Sunstone’s 2022 Marketing Calendar.

    Content Day is Sunstone Eduversity’s first self-curated mega event since the higher education platform bagged $28 Million in a Series-B round of funding, in October this year. It also marks the brand’s first manoeuvre towards its upcoming marketing and brand-building initiative wherein it plans to venture into fictional web-series content to engage with students and parents through OTT platforms and in-person/virtual interaction with students from various colleges across cities, in the form of Business Case Studies, Hackathon Competitions, and various other tools.

    Sunstone Eduversity co-founder & CEO Ashish Munjal said, “We plan to deploy a significant portion of our recent Series-B fundraise towards building cutting-edge learning & technology assets, that will help us communicate with our TGs upfront. Our Content Day event is a crucial step forward towards the creation of an adhesive communication strategy which will not only enable us to connect with our audience more effectively, but also educate them about the various exciting propositions in store.”

    Sunstone Eduversity head of marketing Alekhya Chakrabarty said, “This is the ideal time for the brand to go the extra mile and have active conversations with patrons that would help them make informed decisions. Given that parents are key decision-makers in their children’s higher education journeys, they deserve to be equally informed of India’s job market requirements and the skills necessary for one to make a mark.”

  • MX Player crosses one billion downloads on Google Play Store

    MX Player crosses one billion downloads on Google Play Store

    Mumbai: OTT streaming platform MX Player has crossed one billion downloads on Google Play Store over two years after its launch.

    According to data, there are only 15 non preinstalled apps, worldwide, that have more than one billion downloads (70 apps if default Google Apps on Android are included).

    MX Player has over 280 million monthly active users in India and features alongside Netflix, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Spotify as one of the apps that has more than a billion downloads.

    It ranks in the same league as Microsoft Word, Skype, ShareIt, and popular games such as Subway Surfers and Candy Crush Saga.

    “We are very excited to have crossed the one billion downloads mark, which is a testimonial to Indian audiences adopting this platform as their preferred destination for all things entertainment,” said MX Media chief executive officer Karan Bedi. “Our vision since the launch has been to cater to the true Bharat and in just over two years since the launch of our OTT offering, we’ve managed to achieve this iconic business milestone. We are looking forward to continuing this momentum on the back of compelling content and innovative product offerings in the imminent future.”

    The OTT platform’s hit shows include “Ek Thi Begum 2,” “Aashram,” “High”, “Chakravyuh – An Inspector Virkar Crime Thriller,” “Hello Mini” season 2 and 3, and “Samantar 2,” with upcoming shows like “Matsya Kaand” and “Girgit” amongst others.

    The video streaming platform was the first to upgrade its video encoding and compression technology to H.266 (versatile video coding) that slashes data usage for streaming videos by more than half.

    MX Player’s diverse content library ranges from their exciting slate of MX originals, MX exclusives, MX vdesi – international content dubbed in local Indian languages, and branded content as MX specials. The platform has also expanded its OTT service internationally in March 2020 across 12 territories including UAE, US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bhutan.

  • MX original ‘EK Thi Begum 2’ crosses 300 million streams

    MX original ‘EK Thi Begum 2’ crosses 300 million streams

    Mumbai: MX Player original series “Ek Thi Begum 2” has crossed 300 million streams over five days, said the OTT platform in a statement. The Anuja Sathe starrer has received an 8.8 rating on IMDb and ranks amongst the platform’s biggest hits like “Aashram,” “Bhaukal,” and “Raktanchal.”

    Directed by Sachin Darekar and Vishal Modhave, “Ek Thi Begum 2” is laced with a host of talented actors including Shahab Ali, Ajay Gehi, Hitesh Bhojraj, Chinmay Mandlekar, Vijay Nikam, Resham Shrivardhankar, Rajendra Shisatkar, Nazar Khan, Sauraseni Maitra, Lokesh Gupte, Mir Sarwar, Purnanada Wandekar and Rohan Gujar in pivotal roles.

    “I am overwhelmed by the response Ek Thi Begum 2 has received,” said the lead actress Anuja Sathe. “This series goes to show that it isn’t star power but gripping narratives and content that pulls in audiences.”

    The show was available for streaming in Hindi and Marathi dubs and is a rare sequel that has received as much acclaim as its predecessor.

    “We are delighted to see a regional, bilingual show like Ek Thi Begum turn into one of the most-watched series on MX Player,” said MX Player chief content officer Gautam Talwar. “We always strive to deliver interesting elements from different realms and Ek Thi Begum 2 has given us a chance to recreate that era’s fascination in today’s world and we are glad that the audience is appreciating it.”

  • The Q to premiere MX original show ‘Aashram’ on TV

    The Q to premiere MX original show ‘Aashram’ on TV

    Mumbai: The Q has partnered with MX Player to bring its critically and commercially successful original series “Aashram” to television. The first season of the show will air on 11 October at 8:30 p.m from Monday to Friday followed by the second season.

    Directed by Prakash Jha, the crime thriller features Bobby Deol, Tridha Choudhury, Aditi Sudhir Pohankar and Anupriya Goenka in the lead roles.

    “Great content does wonders irrespective of its platform. Having understood the pulse of our viewers, we at The Q continue to make efforts in bringing content that is strong, and unique with a compelling and relevant plot and storyline,” said The Q chief executive officer Simran Hoon. “Airing Aashram on TV is in sync with our strategy to bring the best from digital to TV.  We will continue to pioneer such initiatives to help strengthen The Q’s position in the industry while being the preferred entertainment destination for viewers across India.”

    Inspired by true events, “Aashram” was launched in 2020 and revolves around the story of Baba Nirala, an actual conman who ensures that his devotees or followers devote their wealth to him and stay attached to his aashram.

    “Aashram unfolds a great story and given its relevance in today’s day and age, it is sure to strike the right chord with our viewers,” said The Q programming head Tanya Shukla. “Television is a medium that brings families together and by bringing a high-end limited series on television, we aim to provide our viewers with the most engaging form of entertainment. We will continue bringing such compelling stories from the digital world for our discerning viewers.”

  • Azaad launches first two Originals designed for the rural mindset

    Azaad launches first two Originals designed for the rural mindset

    Mumbai: Beginnen Media’s first consumer-specific entertainment channel, Azaad has announced its Originals content offering exclusively designed for the ‘Rural Mindset’.  The premium Hindi rural entertainment channel will be launching two new shows titled ‘Meri Doli Mere Angana’ and ‘Pavitraa Bharose Ka Safar’, both of which have been created after deeply understanding the rural person through years of periodic syndicated research, said the channel on Tuesday.

    Staying true to the brand proposition of ‘Hamari Mitti Hamara Aasman’, themes have been specially created to attract, engage and connect with this super mass. Starting 14 September, ‘Meri Doli Mere Angana’ will air at 9:00 p.m and ‘Pavitraa Bharose Ka Safar’, at 9: 30 p.m on Azaad as well as on MX Player (digital partner).

    Produced by Jitendra Gupta and Mahesh Tagde from Tell-A-Tale Media, ‘Meri Doli Mere Angana’ portrays the beauty and complexities of relationships in the Bithoor-based Singh family, especially the loving bond between Janki and her father. The show captures Janki’s journey from being an innocent daughter to becoming an experienced daughter-in-law who learns to manage complex situations and relationships in a society that differentiates between the two roles. Astha Abhay plays the lead protagonist Janki. Surendra Pal, Rudrakshi Gupta and Ankit Raizada will be seen in key roles.

    ‘Pavitraa Bharose Ka Safar’ is a family drama set in Meerut. While it is based on the main themes of encouraging women empowerment and battling societal issues, the show also depicts the passionate love story of two diverse personalities. Produced by Santosh Singh, Rochelle Singh, and Pearl Grey from Parth Production, ‘Pavitraa Bharose Ka Safar’ is the story of Pavitraa, the daughter of an underprivileged taxi driver who aspires to complete her education and become self-reliant. She fights against all odds to become a successful entrepreneur who strived to make other women capable of taking care of their families and themselves in all respects. The role of Pavitraa is played by Shaily Priya. The cast also includes Neelu Vaghela, Kumaar Raajput and Sheezan Mohammed.

    Commenting on the Originals launch, Beginnen Media Pvt Ltd (BMPL) managing director, Bharat Kumar Ranga, said, “It’s an industry-first with Azaad making the shift from a creative to a consumer-focused business model. Gaining the trust of our viewers is at the heart of our model as our customer experience is based on deep insights. Our Originals have a rural consumer-centric proposition which places the viewer, rather than the creative at its core.”

    Welcoming the viewers who had joined the launch event live from different villages in North India, he added, “By its sheer size, the rural super mass is clearly emerging as a segment with huge untapped opportunities. Azaad’s philosophy of ‘People Centricity’ reflects the rural DNA that is the Unapologetically Real Indian (U-R-I). We are delighted to present the ‘UnionShip’ with our content creators, Jitendra Gupta, Mahesh Tagde, Santosh Singh, Rochelle Singh, and Pearl Grey who have created our first two originals. The shows are relatable and would inspire the U-R-I mindset to reconcile with rural traditions and values while ushering in a sense of dynamism and growth to meet their aspirations.”

    “Azaad is a first on many levels. There has always been a clear-cut divide between urban and rural India, where rural in spite of being a majority, unfortunately, has always got a hand-me-down treatment in every sphere of life. And that’s what we want to change with our’ rural first’ approach,” commented Beginnen Media, general manager – product, Doris Dey. “At Azaad we truly believe in democratising the entertainment industry by creating content for much-ignored Rural India, as well as creating an ecosystem where equal opportunities are provided to existing and new makers. We are a ‘challenger brand’ determined to create a unique parallel ecosystem within the industry. I am sure that we will set new benchmarks with the unwavering support and participation of all our stakeholders.”

    Azaad’s brand proposition, Hamari Mitti Hamara Aasman, was developed in partnership with Scarecrow M&C Saatchi Ltd. The idea was arrived at through an extensive consumer study of the rural person by Future Brands. The unique proposition spells out rural dreams and aspirations and wears the rural pride. Both the brand film and the brand anthem are devised and created by Azaad’s internal on-air promotions team. The brand film takes a closer look at the U-R-I’s mindset to reveal the pride they take in their roots, culture, and belief systems. Music director Santosh Nair and singer, Divya Kumar rendered the brand anthem.

  • Beginnen Media’s Azaad and MX Player announce strategic partnership

    Beginnen Media’s Azaad and MX Player announce strategic partnership

    Mumbai: Beginnen Media’s premium rural entertainment channel Azaad and entertainment app MX Player have announced a strategic partnership to enable exponential growth by bringing together the linear, rural, and digital worlds.

    With the strong belief in the ‘power of engaged connections’ and the aspiration to meet its viewers at their doorstep, Azaad and MX Player are all set to reach out to the Indian diaspora with new stories embedded in the rural fabric and culture, said the statement. “Azaad will soon add to its repertoire original content, besides the syndicated content that is currently on air,” it added.

    Beginnen Media recently launched Azaad with the premise of being ‘People First. Rural First’ and MX Player, with its large and diverse audience of over 200 million monthly active users caters to its audiences with varied entertainment palettes.

    “The union with MX Player offers a seamless consumer experience on both mediums as we attempt to be innovators at the intersection of TV and digital,” said Beginnen Media’s managing director, Bharat Kumar Ranga. “Azaad is for people with rural mindsets where people access entertainment on both TV and the internet. We needed to find the right anchor that compliments Azaad on the internet. MX Player immediately aligned to our vision as we share a commonality of consumer centricity that will assist us with our expansion goals. MX valued our idea and intent, and Azaad loved their youthfulness, vigour, hunger for growth, and uncanny consumer centricity. For consumers, MX and Azaad will appear like one common platform. This reflects Beginnen Media’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to using our experience of innovation as the roadmap for propelling the industry forward to an all-new way of doing business,” he added.

    “In an industry first, this association will transcend traditional TV and digital OTT to drive synergies and foster growth for both players, by creating innovative new content and catering to a larger audience set. As a platform that can reach consumers at every touchpoint, this strategic partnership with Azaad is sure to entertain the masses and drive more engagement for both brands,” shared MX Group CEO, Karan Bedi.

    “We believe that this distinct UnionShip with MX Player will surely be the best manner in which two standalone brands together will unlock the power of TV and OTT in an integrated manner by leveraging synergies to reach and engage with maximum viewers,” said Beginnen Media CMO, Rachin Khanijo. “We have approached this association creatively as well as strategically to ensure that there’s a strong audience fit and have planned on scaling it with projected metrics of what TV and digital are expected to deliver – both at an attributed and holistic level.”

    “This unique union compliments MX strategically – adding many hues of entertainment to our diverse content offering and bringing with it fresh, young, and new flavours reflecting the ethos of today’s rural Indian fabric,” said MX Player, SVP, and head – content acquisitions and alliances, Mansi Shrivastav. “With this distinctive slate, we are well poised to cater to every palette and are excited that this association with Beginnen Media’s premium heartland entertainment channel Azaad will enhance viewership and aid market expansion.”

  • MX Player launches interactive film ‘Balcony Buddies’

    MX Player launches interactive film ‘Balcony Buddies’

    Mumbai: Entertainment app MX Player in association with Amazon, exclusively premiered its second interactive film ‘Balcony Buddies’ to celebrate Friendship Day on 1 August. The film is an extension of e-tailing giant’s ‘Har Pal Fashionable’ campaign. 

    The film starring Aisha Ahmed and Amol Parashar is about an accidental friendship between two strangers in lockdown who have only one thing in common – a balcony facing each other, and it celebrates their lockdown friendship like never before. It allows viewers to make fashion choices for the characters and even decide the course of the story. The merchandise can simultaneously be purchased on Amazon.

    “With interactive video, MX has enabled personalising the story to each individual user’s preferences. We are putting the user in control of exploring multiple forks in the story – by generating user curiosity with multiple ‘what-if’ moments that deliver non-linear storylines,” said MX Player, SVP-product, Sidd Mantri elaborating on the product innovation. “We’ve fundamentally disrupted video as a story-telling format that’s remained linear for 100+ years since its invention in the late 19th century.”

    Speaking about the association with Amazon, MX Player’s head of brand partnerships, Pankaj Malani added, “There is an appreciation for brands that invest in content and innovate with their storytelling in order to break through the clutter. We’re delighted to have had this opportunity to collaborate with Amazon to bring alive their ‘Har Pal Fashionable’ campaign in this MX special interactive film. Content today needs to add value and entertain the viewers, and with initiatives like these, we aim to seamlessly integrate the brand voice with content making it a wholesome experience for our large audiences. ”

    https://bit.ly/BalconyBuddies

  • MX Player inks two-series deal with GoQuest Media

    MX Player inks two-series deal with GoQuest Media

    Mumbai: Global independent content distributor GoQuest Media has joined forces with Indian entertainment app, MX Player for an exclusive two-series licensing deal. This association sees MX Player acquire the Indian rights to two captivating Ukrainian dramas Ruby Ring (95 x 45’) and I’m On Your Side (48 x 45’) produced by Media Group Ukraine (MGU).

    Capturing the attention and imagination of audiences around the world, Ruby Ring has aired in more than 40 countries. The series is a multilayered and captivating story of two sisters, Anna and Yana, whose lives change drastically by events that alter their destiny, putting them at a vital crossroads of their lives in conflict with each other for the perfect life. A romantic crime drama I’m On Your Side is based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, where on one particularly bad day, Anastasiya becomes an involuntary witness to a murder and gets drawn into the dark world of crime.

    Elaborating on the deal, MX Player’s SVP and head – content acquisitions & alliances, Mansi Shrivastav, said, “International content is now widely accepted and available in India; at MX Player, we dub these in local languages so as to appeal to a wider set of audiences.  After Korean and Turkish shows, there is a rising interest in Ukrainian dramas across the country, mainly because of how these stories depict the everyday lives of ordinary people and their trials and tribulations, making them relevant for viewers across the globe.  Our association with GoQuest is yet another step in adding to our large catalogue of global content that Indian viewers can consume for free.”

    GoQuest Media VP – sales & acquisitions, Jimmy George added, “Our belief is that the appetite for foreign-language content will only grow as more and more streaming giants like MX Player want to provide variety to their subscribers.  This belief is now strengthened with this deal. We are very excited to bring these titles home and couldn’t have found a better partner than MX Player to do it with.”

    MGU head of content sales department, Iryna Chernyak said, “We’d like to thank GoQuest Media, the international distributor of our TV dramas for the fruitful cooperation. We have many new high-quality series’ catering for every taste and budget and we look forward to further developing our collaboration with GoQuest Media.”

  • MX Player, Edukemy and Rusk Media team up for a short film

    MX Player, Edukemy and Rusk Media team up for a short film

    Mumbai: EdTech company Edukemy has collaborated with entertainment app MX Player and Rusk Media for a short film named When your Roommate is a UPSC Aspirant.

    The film-cum-ad campaign is created by Rusk Media and it revolves around two young UPSC aspirants (essayed by GenZ influencers – Keshav Sadhna and Parikshit Joshi) and their efforts to clear the highly competitive examination. It highlights how Edukemy plays a vital role in fulfilling the dreams of the aspirant by providing a high-quality personalised learning experience through an AI-Driven evaluation system, along with mentors who provide them the right kind of guidance.

    “We are delighted to partner with MX Player for this video series campaign,” said Edukemy CEO & co-founder Chandrahas Panigrahi. “The UPSC exam is one of the most prestigious exams in the country and we at Edukemy are focused on providing an uninterrupted learning experience by maximizing a student’s potential. Our courses are designed meticulously to address the gaps and requirements to enhance the overall learning experience.”

    “We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Edukemy, which is supporting many students preparing for civil service examinations,” said Rusk Media’s co-founder & CEO Mayank Yadav. “We admire their efforts to provide evaluation-driven pedagogy and personalized learning experiences to learners. We are thrilled to be working with MX Player to bring the kids’ lives and hardships to life. It was a pleasure to work with both organisations, and we look forward to continuing to do so in the future.”

    “We are delighted to partner with Edukemy and make an engaging sketch on how their immersive and personalized sessions help train the UPSC aspirants to clear the CSE examination,” said MX Player’s head of brand partnerships Pankaj Malani. “Rusk Media has beautifully brought alive the journey of working professionals who prepare for UPSC CSE that millions of Indians will be able to relate to. At MX, we strive to seamlessly connect the brand’s ethos to our large and diverse audience base and this short film is yet another example of the bespoke content solutions we offer brands/advertisers.”