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Tag: OTT

  • OTT app Watcho to showcase exclusive Korean content on its platform

    OTT app Watcho to showcase exclusive Korean content on its platform

    Mumbai: OTT platform Watcho, known for providing viewers with new and interesting content, announced on Monday to host 34 Korean web-series dubbed in Hindi on the platform.  

    With the motto of #RozanaKDrama, Watcho will release three hours of Korean content every day from its exhaustive Korean content library. The shows, ranging from drama, action, and romance to sci-fi, promise to keep its millennial viewers entertained and hooked. With this, Watcho is one step closer in democratising international content for mass Indian audiences by offering Korean shows dubbed in Hindi. A total of 650+ hours of Korean content will be released sequentially, with new episodes being streamed on the platform every day.  

    The first in the line-up is Welcome 2 Life, a fantasy drama that tells the story of a selfish lawyer who helps people who want to take advantage of the law. One day, he has a mysterious car accident and is drawn into a parallel world.  

    In addition to these, the line-up also features some of the leading dramas like Something About 1 Percent, Extraordinary You, Kairos and Flower of Evil among others.  

    DishTV & Watcho, Dish TV India, corporate head – marketing Sukhpreet Singh commented, “Korean content has, of late, made significant inroads into India’s mainstream popular culture. And, as the Watcho base expands, it also becomes imperative that we cater to this growing customer demand. We are thrilled to bring Hindi dubbed Korean content to our audience, helping reach audiences in Tier II and Tier III markets as well.”  

    Bringing in a unique assortment of snackable content cutting across all genres, Watcho offers many original shows including web series like The Morning Show, Happy, Bauchare-E-Ishq, Gupta Niwas, Jaunpur, Papa Ka Scooter, Aghaat, Cheaters – The Vacation, Sarhad, Mystery Dad, JaalSaazi, Dark Destinations, It’s My Pleasure, 4 Thieves, Love Crisis, Ardhsatya, Chhoriyan, and Rakhta Chandana along with also having original influencer shows like Look I Can Cook and Bikhare Hain Alfaaz. It also has a unique UGC platform called Swag where users can create their original videos and discover their talent. Available across screens. Watcho presently provides over 35 plus original shows, 300 plus exclusive plays, and 100 plus live channels in Hindi, Kannada, and Telugu.

  • Docflix – a cure for the infodemic plaguing the medical fraternity?

    Docflix – a cure for the infodemic plaguing the medical fraternity?

    Mumbai: Leading pharma company Mankind Pharma has launched an OTT platform called Docflix exclusively for doctors, paramedics and aspiring doctors.

    The platform is launched by the newly set up digital team at Mankind under the guidance of Mankind Pharma head of digital Rinkesh Shah. The new team brings in a plethora of experience in the health care professional (HCP) engagement space and has observed the growth of the medical professional’s space in India and Asia in the last decade.

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com Mankind Pharma senior president, sales and marketing Sanjay Koul speaks about OTT platform Docflix which only targets the medical fraternity.

    Koul told, “Mankind Pharma has hired a team of alumni of the National Institute of Design to ensure the best representation of data and figures, directors, and script writers who can weave science into a story to deliver the message in a fun and engaging way.”

    “It is a new age OTT platform with a wide range of scientific content tailored to various practice needs of doctors. Design, story, and convenience are three strong pillars of the platform that will deliver unique, authentic, and reliable scientific content,” he added.

    Sharing the vision behind Docflix, Koul said, Docflix is a manifestation of Mankind’s understanding of the new definition of learning and is meant to be a platform that will not only present the best of medical science but also delve into the art behind the science.

    “With Docflix, we envision a new age global knowledge platform that will be a humble partner in the learning journey of all our doctors,” he said.

    Sharing details about the content line up on Docflix, he said that the platform will have twenty different shows on varied subjects, a few shows include Science Simplified, Legend Inside The White Coat, Stitch In Time, Cardio Unflip, Digital For Doctors, Medico-Legal Cases In India, and Vantage Point among others.

    Explaining where Docflix stands in the age of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, he said, there is currently no video-only platform for doctors globally at scale. Docflix is one of .

    Not just on OTT platforms, there’s a lot of informative content available across video sharing platform YouTube as well. Sharing how Docflix will make a difference, Koul noted, “Content for doctors today is just delivering science. A doctor is a student all life. It’s important to make the content which is short, has a story and is engaging; however, very little content covers these parts. Docflix will fill this gap for the medical fraternity.”

    According to him, it’s not the OTT platforms but YouTube channels, global players like learning platform Osmosis, clinical news platforms Medscape and M3 that are the real competitors of Docflix.

    On being asked if he really thinks that while people are already bombarded with a lot of content, Docflix will really make a difference? He answered, “The new world brings a problem called infodemics. Means, we have a lot of information but there’s a dearth of reliable, relevant, and palatable content. Plus, the convenience of accessing this on a high-tech platform is a necessity today for doctors which is missing.”

    “We are the ones breaking the saturation and the need for this is very high,” he highlighted.

    Talking about the marketing strategy for Docflix, he said, “We are looking at unique never tried mediums to market Docflix. Other than the large field force of Mankind, we will use all digital and social media promotional channels.”

    “We also have AI-based automation engines to personalise communication with customers,” he noted.

    However, the platform is not going to have any advertisers unlike most OTT platforms. “We at Mankind are committed to supporting doctors in their knowledge and learning journey and thereby aid them in taking their clinical decisions faster. We are currently not taking any advertisers onboard,” said Koul.

    He concluded, Docflix will feature a three-level subscription model and none of them is paid. The subscriptions are based on different levels of the learning journeys of doctors. It’s a free platform for doctors.

  • Trivayu Media Works aims to double client base; focus on newly built startups

    Trivayu Media Works aims to double client base; focus on newly built startups

    Mumbai: Hyperlocal content distribution company TriVayu Media Works has announced ambitious targets to expand its client base by 100 per cent by specifically focusing on newly built start-ups. TMW is a one-of-a-kind hyper-local content distribution company with a presence over 200 districts, 1,000 villages, and 20+ states across the country. In addition to English, TMW offers content services in 12+ languages to help brands reach a wider audience.

    TMW has facilitated over 100 projects to date and currently has 50+ clients, with 80 per cent of start-up clients connected to TMW’s network. The company garners a major 60 per cent of its business from internet/social companies, 20 per cent from agriscience, 10 per cent from OTT, and 10 per cent from the news/media sector. In order to build its business traction, TMW aims to target the OTT start-ups understanding the growing demand and changing dynamics in the field of hyperlocal content.

    TMW co-founder Ratnendra K Pandey, “The OTT (over-the-top) industry is rapidly expanding and is one of the most competitive in emerging markets. Also, the OTT sector is witnessing a boost in investments in Indian original local content, which will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the number of hours of original content available to users. This has created enormous potential for content distribution networks, and we are attempting to capitalise on the market trends. We seek to expand our client base by focusing primarily on OTT start-ups and intend to make a substantial mark.”

    TMW team also trains and employs youth and the process until a candidate starts earning money is completely free. Candidates are onboarded based on their performance and work from TMW’s micro-offices that TMW claims no other company currently offers. The unique model helps TMW reduce 30 per cent  of the project cost of its clients by closely working with trained resources from Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities. TMW’s majority of the workforce in these cities has resulted in quick TAT, cost efficiency of projects, and multilingual operations without compromising on quality.

    The top four most popular services at Trivayu include bulk content distribution; data learning resources (moderation & tagging), and customer success; projects (such as voice calling and email support); creative designs; and production of hyperlocal news content. Since its inception, TMW has served over 110 clients and reached over 1 billion users through its various social media platforms.

  • The Content Hub 2022 Summit to be held on 29-30 June

    The Content Hub 2022 Summit to be held on 29-30 June

    Mumbai: Lights, camera and action! The scene is ready and the camera will soon be rolling on the sixth edition of Viacom18 presents Indiantelevision.com’s The Content Hub to be held on 29th and 30th June at JW Marriott Juhu, Mumbai.

    The two-day summit will bring together the leading content creators traversing the spaces of film, television and over-the-top (OTT) entertainment. The event is co-powered by Applause Entertainment and IN10 Media Network. Aaj Tak Connected Stream is the associate partner. The event is supported by industry partners Fremantle, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, One Take Media, Pratilipi, Pocket FM and The Viral Fever. The Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA) has come on board as a community partner. 

    This year, the event is centred around the theme – ‘The Roaring 20s – A Decade of Plenty?’ – signifying the opportunities for creators who are challenging the established content traditions and breaking free with refreshing narratives, content forms and the ability to tell stories on multiple platforms.

    The freedom enjoyed by creators today is encapsulated by the spirit of the 1920s which was marked by a general feeling of prosperity, novelty and associated with breaking away from tradition post the culmination of the First World War. A hundred years since the world is undergoing a transformation courtesy of the pandemic, streaming services, new content forms and formats have transformed entertainment consumption and the way content is produced.

    When it comes to content, consumers are enjoying a decade of plenty with the convergence of TV, film, video-on-demand, short-form, audio, video games and metaverse formats and transmitted over digital media.  Will the next decade see a further revolution and exploitation of the opportunities similar to the 1920s? That’s the question folks!

    Hear from India’s content czars and czarinas at The Content Hub outlining their plans for shaping the content landscape for the current decade. The head honchos from leading studios such as International Art Machine, Famous Studios, Applause Entertainment, Juggernaut Productions, StudioNext (Sony Pictures Networks), Endemol Shine India, Roy Kapur Films; OTT platforms including Zee5, Aha, Epic-On and renowned creators such as Alankrita Shrivastava (Bombay Begums), Jeo Baby (The Great Indian Kitchen), Aniruddha Guha (Rashmi Rocket), producer Sunir Kheterpal and more.

    India is at an interesting and exciting point in the content space where the next Emmy or Oscar will be awarded to the creator of an Indian film or series. Will Indian content follow the trajectory of the Korean Wave? And how? Will the 2020s prove to be India’s roaring twenties?

  • Muvi announces virtual recruitment drive for talent hiring in streaming industry

    Muvi announces virtual recruitment drive for talent hiring in streaming industry

    Mumbai: Global cloud-based audio and video streaming platform Muvi has announced a virtual recruitment drive, scheduled for 25 June 2022, from 10 am – 2:30 pm. Through its recruitment drive, the company plans to reach out to over 500 professionals focusing on hiring one skill each day and recruiting at least 50 to 60 people by the end of the drive.

    The virtual walk-in drive is focused on hiring across a variety of roles in technology, including automation engineers, software developers/PHP developers/JAVA developers/javascript developers/PHP fullstack developers and other roles. The company is looking for experienced professionals with relevant experience and a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering or a similar field. Candidates with industry-leading courses/certifications in PHP, JAVA, javascript, IOS & android app development will have an advantage.

    The drive intends to showcase Muvi’s work culture and allow interested individuals to have a sneak preview of working with a global leader in its domain. Muvi director HR Prashasti Prititpada and her team will be leading this drive. Anticipating a good turnout, she envisions helping the company with onboarding some exceptional talent through the drive. 

    She said, “In the coming years, Muvi is poised to capture a sizable portion of the streaming solutions provider talent marketplace. Last year alone, we set ourselves on the path of talent expansion by onboarding an additional 150 professionals. This solidifies our position as a leader in the streaming and OTT platform development space.”
    “With this drive, we aim to sieve through the untapped talent pool and hire passionate individuals who believe in our vision and will play an instrumental role in pushing Muvi onto the path of hyper-growth”. 

    Hired candidates will work full-time with the Muvi team, and will be based out of the company’s engineering division in Bhubaneswar depending on the job they have applied for, while hirings may opt for remote working facilities if permitted. Muvi employees enjoy tremendous opportunities to learn, grow and succeed both professionally and personally. 

    Interested candidates can register themselves by visiting the company’s recruitment page at www.muvi.com/walk-in-drive.html or check out the company’s official social media handles. They can also send an email to careers@muvi.com.

  • GUEST COLUMN: OTT platforms are revamping the art of storytelling

    GUEST COLUMN: OTT platforms are revamping the art of storytelling

    Mumbai: The OTT space in India is exploding. There are a plethora of options available for people to watch online. Be it any genre, one will find something interesting to watch and enjoy. There are new titles dropping every week, all trying to catch the eye of viewers. The number of users that are warming up to the OTT bandwagon too is increasing. With the internet penetration getting better and smartphone adoption improving, more people now have access to OTT services.

    OTT players are also looking to expand their market share and vying to get the maximum time spent and visibility. All this is ensuring that viewers have a lot of options to binge. While that might be the case, the space is still getting warmed up to the idea of storytelling.

    OTT and the art of storytelling

    Storytelling is akin to painting a picture albeit with videos. It is an art that requires a lot of extensive observation and weaving into an etched story that viewers can connect and resonate with. The current explosion in the OTT space has enabled many to tap into this world and create beautiful, well-thought stories that are entertaining, educating and enlightening the audiences. However, the process is still at a very nascent stage. A very few OTT players have been able to crack this space and use storytelling to its full potential.

    As the competition in the space continues to heat up, storytelling will become even more important. Platforms that are able to master this art will be the ones that will be able to leave a lasting impression on the minds of the viewers.

    Growing popularity of regional content

    In the last couple of years, regional content has started gaining popularity amongst the masses. Earlier the regional content was only limited to the audience of that geographic area. However, with the advent of OTT platforms, this content is now widely available. Moreover, most OTT platforms are offering dubbed versions of the content that is enabling users to enjoy the same in the language of their preference. The recent success of titles such as Dark, Money Heist, Lupin, Squid Games, Crash Landing on You, “Pushpa”, “Beast”, and “KGF” are glowing examples of how content from any language and geography is able to connect with the audience.

    The content viewing behaviour has become more personalised and everyone wants to watch what they like best. Television was more about watching it with family and OTT has changed that drastically.  To cater to the evolving tastes and preferences, OTT players are revamping their strategy and getting regional and local flavours to reach out to a wider audience base. Content is truly the king and if they can come up with an interesting story then they will find suitable takers for the same.

    Data-backed decisions

    OTT platforms heavily rely on the data of consumers. There are two sides to data, the good and bad. On a positive note, the platforms have a complete picture of what content is getting consumed and the demographics of their users. They even get to know details such as which device the content is being consumed, how much time the viewers are spending on their app, at what hour of the day they are getting maximum traffic, and the drop-out point. It also provides information on what type of content keeps the users engrossed and what they are searching for. This is the bad side of the data as it impacts their social behaviour and how their personality is getting moulded. A lot of companies use this data to push their products and services.

    While data is helping OTT players in finding the most engaging content but it is also typecasting them into making the same things. Serving similar content over time may result in fatigue and viewers switching over to other platforms. Therefore, one needs to be mindful of how they are using the data and make intelligent decisions.

    Emergence of short video app

    The attention span of people is reducing. OTT players now have a very short time to hook the audience to the content. There is also increased competition that OTT content is facing from the new age short video format apps. Tik-Tok, Instagram Reels, Moj and Chingari have managed to create a space for themselves. These short video apps deliver a variety of content and have become immensely popular. These apps are now forcing the OTT players to rethink and rejig their strategy. Some OTT players are now thinking of reducing the time per episode to 25 mins from 45 minutes. Netflix is also planning to come out with a short video format to take on these apps head-on.

    In nutshell, there is no dearth of content available online. From different genres to platforms to video lengths, there is space for everyone. Viewers are also exposed to quality content from across the globe. While there are global titles and K-Dramas that are ruling the roost, even the regional content is making a big impact. In the end, it is powerful stories and engaging content that is gaining the maximum attention. There is also a wider segmentation. Not everyone will be open to consuming content about spirituality and religion. The older audiences are more likely to connect with bhakti and pravanchans but to connect with the younger lot, the platforms will need to have a fresh approach. In the past, mythology shows that are well presented and made keeping in mind the sensibilities of today’s audience have worked wonders for the OTT platform. Legend of Hanuman on Hotstar was one such show.

    Presentation is an important aspect in today’s time. Great presentation and storytelling can go a long way in winning over the audiences and garnering viewership from across age groups.

    The author is OMTV (India’s first sanatan storytelling platform) founder and MD Nitin Jai Shukla.

  • Rahul Mishra promoted as head of Shemaroo’s Web 3.0 initiatives

    Rahul Mishra promoted as head of Shemaroo’s Web 3.0 initiatives

    Mumbai: Rahul Mishra, formerly the head of marketing of Shemaroo Entertainment, has been promoted to head the company’s Web 3.0 initiatives. In the third wave of the internet, which is more transparent and employs technologies like blockchain, AI, and IOT to offer a more engaging user experience for the business, he will be working on identifying & building various opportunities.

    Rahul joined Shemaroo in 2018 and has been instrumental in carving an identity for its various consumer facing businesses. He played a pivotal role in the transformation of Shemaroo from a B2B to a B2C new-age digital company, and its new imagery roll out with the company’s foray into OTT and broadcast.

    On the elevation, Shemaroo Entertainment CEO Hiren Gada commented, “We are delighted to elevate Rahul Mishra to his new role. His long and steady contribution has helped the company scale great heights. Rahul’s promotion is aptly timed as we plan to accelerate our brand’s growth using Web 3.0 technologies.”

    Newly appointed Shemaroo Entertainment’s Web 3.0 initiatives head Rahul Mishra added, “I am grateful and thrilled to take up this new role. It’s an honour to be a part of the brand that has been entertaining India for 60 years and to work with the best minds in the industry. The future is exciting and bright with the arrival of newer technologies, and I look forward to navigating Shemaroo’s journey into the next stage of the evolution of the internet.”

  • Amazon Prime & AMC Networks to launch AMC+ and Acorn TV on Prime Video Channels in India

    Amazon Prime & AMC Networks to launch AMC+ and Acorn TV on Prime Video Channels in India

    Mumbai: Amazon Prime Video & AMC Networks on Friday announced the launch of AMC+ and Acorn TV on Prime Video Channels in India. 

    AMC+ is a premium subscription program that provides prime members access to a variety of ad-free, exclusive series and movies from the US and around the world, as well as high-quality scripted dramas, fan favourites, and franchises. Acorn TV, which offers dramas and mysteries from Britain and other countries without advertisements, will also be fully accessible to Prime customers as part of their AMC+ membership. For the convenience of prime members, premier original programming will be available with subtitles in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

    To lock in a one-year membership to AMC+ for Rs 349 via Prime Video Channels, Prime members can now take advantage of a special 50 per cent limited-period promotional offer. With this, consumers can watch content from both AMC+ and Acorn TV on primevideo.com, the Prime Video app on iOS and Android smartphones, smart TVs, connected STBs, and Fire TV sticks. 

    After the initial discount, the subscription will cost Rs 699 per year. For an introductory annual cost of INR 249, Prime customers may also purchase an add-on subscription to Acorn TV alone. Customers who want to solely subscribe to Acorn TV after the introductory offer can do so for Rs 499 per year.

    AMC+ features exclusive new original series (all commercial-free) with new programming premiering each month, including The Walking Dead: Origins (premiering today); western noir Dark Winds (premiering 7 July) executive produced by Emmy-winner George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and Oscar-winner Robert Redford; sci-fi thriller Moonhaven (premiering 4 August) starring Dominic Monaghan (Lost) and Joe Manganiello (True Blood); the acclaimed epic western That Dirty Black Bag starring Dominic Cooper (Preacher); gritty crime drama 61st Street starring Emmy-winner Courtney B. Vance (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story); and high-octane vampire thriller Firebite, among many others.

    Audiences in India will also enjoy a host of new series from AMC Networks’ biggest franchises, including highly anticipated new dramas from The Walking Dead Universe. Tales of the Walking Dead is a new anthology series with an all-star cast premiering later this summer. Isle of the Dead will follow the popular Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) characters from The Walking Dead into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, coming exclusively to AMC+ in 2023. AMC+ will also launch a new franchise based on Anne Rice’s best-selling novels from ‘The Vampire Chronicles Series’ and ‘The Lives of the Mayfair Witches Series’. Premiering later this year, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire is an epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality. Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches will follow and focuses on an intuitive young neurosurgeon who discovers that she is the unlikely heir to a family of witches.

    “As the destination for the latest, acclaimed and popular international content, at Amazon Prime Video, we believe in super-serving our customers with choice, access and convenience. Since launch last year, prime video channels has expanded the choice of English and international content available to customers further by giving them access to a wide range of exclusive, high-quality programming from multiple streaming services, while offering them the convenience of enjoying their favourite shows and movies at a single destination, with all their favourite prime video features,” said Amazon Prime Video India head of Prime Video Channels & Sports Chaitanya Divan. “We are delighted to partner with AMC Networks and offer our viewers an even wider selection of popular and blockbuster English content. Prime members have loved our extensive selection of premium international content, available as add-on subscriptions, and we are committed to satisfying their diverse entertainment needs.”  

    AMC+ general manager Courtney Thomasma commented, “AMC+ offers viewers thousands of hours of celebrated and award-winning series, including our critically-acclaimed dramas from The Son to 61st Street as well as the next generation of fan-driven franchises including The Walking Dead Universe and Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. With our upcoming slate of AMC+ Originals like Dark Winds and Moonhaven along with access to Acorn TV’s beloved international mysteries and dramas, AMC+ combines thought-provoking stories and iconic characters in one subscription. We are excited to partner with Prime Video Channels to bring our slate of original programming to audiences in India and look forward to delivering many exclusive premieres in the months ahead.”

    AMC+ also offers full access to AMC Networks’ targeted streaming service Acorn TV at no additional cost. Acorn TV offers ad-free dramas and mysteries from Britain and beyond, including exclusive productions such as Emmy-nominated Queens of Mystery, My Life is Murder starring Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), London Kills, Under the Vines, Keeping Faith and The Madame Blanc Mysteries, fan favourites such as Line of Duty and Doc Martin, and acclaimed series Jack Irish starring Emmy-winner Guy Pearce, The Straits starring Emmy-winner Brian Cox (Succession) and The Good Karma Hospital, among others. Acorn TV’s newest exclusive series, Love Me, stars Hugo Weaving (V for Vendetta) and premieres 27 June.

  • India’s entertainment & media industry to grow 8.8% CAGR by 2026: PwC Report

    India’s entertainment & media industry to grow 8.8% CAGR by 2026: PwC Report

    Mumbai: By 2026, the Indian entertainment & media sector is anticipated to grow by 8.8 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach Rs 4,30,401 crore. These figures are taken from PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media (E&M) Outlook 2022–2026, which is the 23rd annual analysis and forecast of E&M expenditures by consumers and advertisers across 52 territories.

    ”The Indian media and entertainment outlook for the next few years is quite unique. There is an exciting pace of growth of digital media and advertising led by the deeper penetration of internet and mobile devices in our market,” said PwC India partner & leader – entertainment & media Rajib Basu. “At the same time, traditional media will maintain their steady growth rate over the next few years. We shall see a very different profile of media and entertainment related businesses & revenue models emerging in the digital space once we have the rollout of 5G.”

    Key findings for India in this year’s Outlook include:

    OTT Video: The elimination of public entertainment and more time spent at home helped the total OTT revenue more than double in 2020. Revenue nearly doubled once more in 2021 as a result of this pattern. The market would still increase at a remarkable 14.1 per cent CAGR to reach Rs 21,032 crore in 2026, despite slower growth rates. Subscription services, which accounted for 90.5 per cent of revenue in 2021 and are projected to account for 95 per cent of revenue in 2026, are fueling this rapid growth.

    Video games & esports: India’s overall revenue from video games and esports is expected to rise by 18.3 per cent CAGR to Rs 37,535 crore by 2026 from Rs 16,200 crore in 2021. India is the third-fastest-growing market for video games in the world, behind Pakistan and Turkey, although still being a relatively small market given the size and population of the nation. Social/casual gaming accounted for Rs 13,244 crore, or 83.9 per cent, of India’s overall video game and esports revenue in 2021. Revenue from social/casual gaming is anticipated to grow at a 20.6 per cent CAGR and reach Rs 34,581 crore by 2026. The introduction of 5G technology to the market will be a key enabler of this segment.

    TV advertising: India’s TV advertising market had a -10.8 per cent fall over 2019 levels in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 recession, which struck after several years of rapid expansion. This turned out to be a brief setback. This sector increased by 16.9 per cent to Rs 32,374 crore in 2021 as the country’s economy  started to expand again. By 2026, the market would have grown by 6.3 per cent CAGR, reaching Rs 43,410 crore. After the US, Japan, China, and the UK, India will soon rank as the world’s fifth-largest TV advertising market.

    Cinema: India is projected to expand at the highest growth rate among all segments throughout the forecast period, with a startling 38.3 per cent CAGR, to reach Rs 16,198 crore by 2026. India is now the third-largest market globally in terms of admissions after China and the US. More than 379 million cinema tickets were sold in India in 2021, a respectable rise over the 278 million admissions in 2020 (and higher than the 226 million admissions in the US in 2020) but a significant decrease (-85.4 per cent) from the 1.9 billion tickets sold prior to the pre-pandemic.

    Internet advertising: The Indian Internet advertising market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 12.1 per cent to Rs 28,234 crore by 2026. The mobile sector dominates the country’s Internet advertising business, accounting for 60.1 per cent of total revenue in 2021 and rising to 69.3 per cent by 2026 due to India’s market for mobile-first internet access. The mobile sector is dominated by display advertising, which generated 90.7 per cent of total income in 2021 but will drop to 88.9 per cent of the total in 2026. India’s revenue from wired Internet access was Rs 6,379 crore in 2021, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3 per cent to Rs 8,829 crore by 2026.

    Out-Of-Home Advertising: One of the strongest comebacks globally is being made by the out-of-home (OOH) advertising market in India, which is expected to rise at a 12.57 percent CAGR to reach Rs 5,562 crore in 2026. One of the sharpest market downturns and the largest revenue decline among the main economies of the world, total OOH revenue recovered by 63.4 per cent in 2021 over the levels of 2020. The total OOH revenue in 2021 reached Rs 3,076 crore. The momentum of this rebound will carry over into 2022, and by year-end the market will be at the value Rs 4,084 crore.

  • Global entertainment & media revenues surge to $2.3 trillion; OTT growth to moderate: PwC

    Global entertainment & media revenues surge to $2.3 trillion; OTT growth to moderate: PwC

    Mumbai: Last year, the global entertainment and media (E&M) industry grew significantly faster than the world economy as a whole. Following a 2.3 per cent dip in 2020 due to the pandemic, E&M sales increased by a solid 10.4 per cent in 2021, from $2.12 trillion to $2.34 trillion.

    Virtual reality (VR) and gaming are significant growth drivers for the industry as it becomes more digital, mobile, and youth-focused, and digital advertising permeates every aspect of the industry. These conclusions are drawn from PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2022–2026, which represents the 23rd annual research and forecast of E&M spending by consumers and advertisers across 52 countries & territories.

    Findings in this year’s Outlook include:

    – After growing by 35.4 per cent in 2020, OTT (over-the-top) video revenues increased by 22.8 per cent in 2021, to $79.1 billion. The rate of OTT revenue growth is anticipated to slow slightly; it will increase at a 7.6 per cent CAGR (compound annual growth rate) through 2026, pushing revenues to $114.1 billion.

    – Traditional TV still brings in a sizable amount of money, but it is facing intense competition from OTT streaming services. Global sales are expected to shrink at a CAGR of -0.8 per cent, from $231 billion in 2021 to $222.1 billion in 2026.

    – Revenue from video games and esports worldwide was $215.6 billion in 2021, and it is anticipated to increase by 8.5 per cent CAGR to $323.5 billion in 2026. With $109.4 billion, Asia Pacific produced the majority of the world’s revenues in 2021, more than double the second-highest region, North America. Gaming has overtaken video and communications as the third-largest data-consuming E&M content category.

    – Despite starting from a small base, VR continues to be the fastest-growing E&M segment. Following a strong 39 per cent growth in 2020, global VR spending increased by 36 per cent y-o-y to $2.6 billion in 2021. The segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 24 per cent between 2021 and 2026, reaching $7.6 billion. With $1.9 billion in revenue in 2021, gaming content is the main source of VR revenue. By 2026, this should rise to $6.5 billion, or 85 per cent of all VR revenue.

    – Due to its widespread use in the digital sphere, advertising now dominates its own industry sector. After falling by almost seven per cent in 2020, advertising increased by an astonishing 22.6 per cent in 2021, reaching $747.2 billion. Advertising is expected to expand at a 6.6 per cent CAGR through 2026, driven nearly entirely by digital. The revenue from internet advertising is expected to increase even more quickly, increasing at a CAGR of 9.1 per cent. Advertising is anticipated to exceed consumer spending and internet access in 2026 to become a one trillion dollar business and the largest E&M revenue stream.

    – In 2023, global cinema revenue is anticipated to hit a new high of $46.4 billion after experiencing losses due to the pandemic. Box office revenue is anticipated to grow by 18.9 per cent CAGR from $20.8 billion in 2021 to $49.4 billion in 2026. In 2020, China surpassed the US to become the world’s biggest cinema market, and it is predicted that it will continue to hold this position through 2026.

    – In 2024, live music revenue is anticipated to surpass pre-pandemic levels. Recorded music sales are expected to increase from $36.1 billion in 2021 to $45.8 billion in 2026, driven by the development of digital music streaming subscriptions.

    – Massive data consumption is being fueled by the expansion of content. Data consumption was 2.6 million petabytes (PB) in 2021, and it is projected to increase by 26 per cent CAGR to 8.1 million PB by 2026. With a predicted CAGR of 29.6 per cent, gaming will consume data at the quickest rate during the projection period. The fastest-growing device category between 2021 and 2026 will be mobile handsets, growing at a CAGR of 28.8 per cent and predicted to increase mobile data usage from 1.1 PB to 3.8 PB.

    PwC Germany Global Entertainment And Media Industry Leader Werner Ballhaus said, “Industry press tends to focus on the companies that have dominated the E&M industry. But it is the choices that billions of consumers make about where they will invest their time, attention and money that are fueling the industry’s transformation and driving the trends.  We are seeing the emergence of a global E&M consumer base for the coming years that is younger, more digital and more into streaming and gaming than the current consumer population. This is shaping the future of the industry.”

    North America dominates per capita E&M, but faster growth resides elsewhere: Regionally, North America has by far the biggest E&M expenditures per capita at $2,229, nearly double that of Western Europe’s $1,158. In contrast, Asia Pacific, which had E&M sales of $844.7 billion in 2021, had a per-capita expenditure of $224. Of all regions in the world, the Middle East and Africa spend $82 less per capita on E&M.

    While OTT video and gaming account for the majority of revenue growth, esports and the cinema industry are also experiencing rapid expansion. Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia make up the top ten growth markets by CAGR. The countries with the best prospects for E&M consumer spend growth over the five-year forecast period are Turkey (estimated 14.2 per cent CAGR), Argentina (10.4 per cent), India (9.1 per cent), and Nigeria (8.8 per cent).

    The metaverse awaits: The metaverse may soon develop into a wonderfully realistic environment where people may access immersive virtual experiences using a VR headset or other connecting device. The potential financial and commercial worth of the metaverse extends far beyond VR because it is an evolution that might fundamentally alter how companies and customers engage with goods, services, and one another. Over time, a significant portion of the profits from video games, musical performances, advertisements, and even online shopping may move into the metaverse.

    How big is the E&M opportunity in the metaverse?  

    One place to start is the rapidly expanding VR sector. Although it is now one of the less significant areas studied, the 36 per cent increase in global spending over the previous year gives an indication of its long-term potential. The number of stand-alone and tethered VR headsets installed worldwide is expected to increase from 21.6 million in 2021 to 65.9 million in 2026.

    Ballhaus added, “With the impressive growth and potential of the E&M industry comes tremendous volatility and what we describe as fault lines and fractures opening up between companies, within sectors and across geographies and generations. For businesses, intense competition and continual disruption will remain the order of the day. Our data shows the mix of revenues and spending is changing rapidly. As fault lines proliferate and widen, every business in E&M stands to be disrupted. The challenge and goal must be to understand your consumer and end up on the right side of disruption.”