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Tag: partnership

  • Josh and SVF Entertainment enter strategic alliance

    Josh and SVF Entertainment enter strategic alliance

    Mumbai: Short video app Josh has inked a strategic partnership with East Indian media and entertainment company SVF. The collaboration paves the way for the creation of short video content from Bengali influencers and celebrities on the Josh app, said the statement.

    SVF will enable the production of more regional content by Bengali talent on the short video app Josh with the aim to empower regional creators. SVF will additionally extend its vast Bengali music library of SVF Music ranging from Bengali films, web series, and hit singles from popular artists from India and Bangladesh. This wide range of songs can be accessed by Josh’s 115+ million-strong user base.

    The partnership was announced on the eve of 25 October and was graced by hoichoi co-founder and executive director of SVF Vishnu Mohta; Josh head – creator and content ecosystem Sunder Venketraman, and VerSe Innovation chief marketing officer Samir Vora.

    “Josh and SVF, with the similar intention to create a wider content building ambiance in Bengal, is certain that this partnership will enable a lot of talents to create short format content in their regional language with advanced and easy to use video making features,” said Vishnu Mohta.

    “We at SVF, are delighted to have this avant-garde partnership that will not only enhance the scope of content innovation but also recognise the local talents, thereby supporting the overall growth of the industry,” said hoichoi co-founder and director of SVF Mahendra Soni. “The SVF-Josh tie-up is all poised to make Bengali music library available to all creators across the country, opening up the paradigm beyond mainstream content visibility.”

    “SVF Entertainment is a leader in the Eastern Indian content space and we, at Josh are very excited to have brought this partnership to life that will revolutionise the space of content creation in Bengali language,” said Sunder Venketraman and Samir Vora.

    “We believe that our app will prove to be the perfect destination for budding Bengali creators to share their talent across audiences– bringing visibility to themselves and the plethora of invigorating content that Eastern India has to offer,” they added.

  • SAB Group partners with DistroTV to expand global footprint

    SAB Group partners with DistroTV to expand global footprint

    Mumbai: Media and entertainment company Sri Adhikari Brothers (SAB) Group has partnered with California-based media technology company DistroScale to expand its footprint across the globe. DistroTV is an independent free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platform and is available internationally.

    The group’s music and youth channel Mastiii, Bhojpuri channel Dabangg and Marathi music channel Maiboli will reach audiences in the UK, Europe, and the USA via DistroTV, said the media company in a statement on Monday.

    The channels will be part of DistroTV’s channel bundle called DistroTV Desi which offers more than 15 Southeast Asian channels for free. It offers viewers a variety of diverse content focusing on news, entertainment, and lifestyle geared towards the Southeast Asian (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) population abroad, it added.

    “We are very happy to enter into this partnership which will enable us to reach foreign audiences and our Indian diaspora settled abroad. Our aim is to not only promote our network channels but also our country through the content we air globally,” said SAB Group business head Kailashnath Adhikari.

    “We are always looking to grow and diversify our channel content to meet the needs of our rapidly expanding audience,” said DistroScale chief executive officer Navdeep Saini. “This partnership with SAB Group is allowing us to do just that and we could not be more thrilled to have them join our 150+ growing channel line-up.”

    “Our growing audiences in the US, Canada, and the UK can now watch and enjoy the latest and retro Bollywood musical hits on Mastiii TV, available as a free live 24×7 channel on DistroTV on the web or any device,” stated DistroScale vice president of business development and content acquisition Rajesh Nair. 

  • Zapr, PubMatic partner for integrated TV and digital media buying

    Zapr, PubMatic partner for integrated TV and digital media buying

    Mumbai: Media-tech startup Zapr has partnered with programmatic advertising company PubMatic.

    This partnership will enable media buyers to build integrated TV and digital plans by leveraging rich audience segments across all digital screens and channels including mobile, connected TV, and the open web – on PubMatic’s premium inventory.

    The direct integration, via PubMatic’s Audience Encore, allows buyers to activate data at the supply level, said the company in a statement.

    The integrated marketing solutions backed by India’s largest offline media consumption data can help brands and agencies achieve targeted engagement more efficiently, it added.

    Audience Encore is an audience data platform designed to improve how marketers and data owners transact by giving more control to the data owner and better ROI for the advertiser. Publishers with first-party data and data providers can simply upload their segments to Audience Encore, generate a deal ID for single, recurring, or customised use, and then transact programmatically alongside premium PubMatic inventory in private or open marketplaces.

    “There is significant adoption of programmatic advertising in the Indian market, where it has become an integral part of most brands’ digital plans,” said Zapr, senior vice president – revenue and ad operations, Bhavna Saincher. “This collaboration with PubMatic will expand the accessibility footprint of Zapr’s unique TV and behavioural segments for agency and brand partners.”

  • Netflix inks multi-year partnership with Excel Entertainment

    Netflix inks multi-year partnership with Excel Entertainment

    Mumbai: Netflix on Wednesday announced a strategic multi-year partnership with Excel Entertainment, the production company behind Bollywood blockbusters like “Dil Chahta Hai”, “Rock On”, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, “Lakshya”, “Toofaan” and the “Don” franchise. This creative pact dovetails Netflix’s diverse series slate in India, it said.

    As one of the pioneers in on-demand long-form storytelling, Excel Entertainment will produce a variety of stories under its series banner Excel Media & Entertainment for Netflix members in over 190 countries commencing with two projects tentatively titled “Dabba Cartel” and “Queen of the Hill”.

    Dabba Cartel is a story of five housewives who run a high-stakes secret cartel. Set in the backdrop of jazz-rich 1960s Mumbai, Queen of the Hill chronicles the dynamic relationship between two ambitious women that will change the city forever.

    Commenting on the partnership, Netflix India, vice-president- content, Monika Shergill said, “We are excited to join hands with Excel Entertainment, one of India’s path-breaking creative studios. They have continuously pushed the boundaries of entertainment and given us stories that have stood the test of time.”

    “Our partnership with Netflix marks a new global chapter for Excel Entertainment after 20 eventful years in storytelling. We are excited with the opportunity to create a variety of extraordinary stories to entertain people in India and around the world. We are thrilled to begin this next chapter with Netflix,” stated Excel Entertainment producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar.

  • Carnival Cinemas and MovieTime form strategic alliance

    Carnival Cinemas and MovieTime form strategic alliance

    Mumbai: Multiplex chain Carnival Cinemas on Monday announced a strategic partnership with MovieTime Cinemas.

    As part of this alliance, Carnival will offer business management services to MovieTime for operating their existing portfolio of 65 screens and also other upcoming screens as and when they start running.

    Carnival will bring in its expertise to tap the synergies between both the exhibitor brands for strengthening their market standing in the cinema exhibition space.

    Carnival Cinemas is accelerating towards its ‘Vision 1,000 screens’ in the next two years and this scaling up will further help it to carve a win-win for all partners involved, said the statement.

    Carnival Cinemas is currently present in 120 cities at 162 locations with 450+ screens. With this tie-up, Carnival will now be managing the operations of about 525+ screens across India, it added.

    “We are very happy to join hands with MovieTime and explore various ways of value addition for both the entities. We are also looking at synergy in other fields where we both can operate in spaces such as food business,” said Chairman Carnival Group, chairman, Shrikant Bhasi.

    “We are pretty confident that, this association will help both of us enhance each other’s operational efficiencies,” MovieTime Cinemas, chairman, Anil Kapoor.

    MovieTime Cinemas presently operates in Maharashtra, New Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, J&K, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Punjab, and Telangana under the owned and leased models.

  • Reckitt, UN Women join hands for betterment of women in India

    Reckitt, UN Women join hands for betterment of women in India

    Mumbai: UN Women and Reckitt have come together to create economic opportunities for women in the health, hygiene and sanitation sectors with a commitment to promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion as well as the incorporation of the highest standards of governance.

    A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by UN Women India, country representative, Susan Ferguson and Reckitt, senior vice president – South Asia, Gaurav Jain.

    With this partnership, the global consumer health and hygiene company will engage with two billion people through its programmes, partnerships, and campaigns. Each brand is driven by this purpose and is responsible for improving lives through education and providing access to the highest-quality health, hygiene and sanitation, said Reckitt in a media statement.

    “Women are the real catalysts of change. We must act as an enabler and catalyst to mentor them and create a more balanced environment,” said Jain during the signing event. “We, at Reckitt are happy to further strengthen our efforts in this direction with UN Women on this one-of-a-kind partnership to support women in our society to become resilient. This partnership aims to equip women with life skills like decision-making, and entrepreneurial opportunities in the health, hygiene, and sanitation sectors. Together, with UN women, we share the common goal of addressing the educational imbalance, gender inequality, and hygiene for all.”

    “UN Women and Reckitt are committed to improving women’s access to better health and hygiene and decent jobs for women, which is an urgent need in India,” said Ferguson. “Women and girls have been badly affected by Covid-19, so helping the most marginalised find decent jobs in sanitation and hygiene services is an important step towards improving women’s lives.”

    Reckitt has introduced several initiatives in marginalised districts of India that the government has categorised as “aspirational” and deserving of particular support. The initiatives cover areas of hygiene, health, and sanitation for women including its support for the Harpic World Toilet College, Dettol Hygiene Impact Bonds as well Dettol Banega Swasth India (India for Health) initiative, and Harpic Mission Paani.

  • Viacom18 acquires broadcast and digital rights for Italian Serie A

    Viacom18 acquires broadcast and digital rights for Italian Serie A

    Mumbai: Viacom18 on Friday announced that it has acquired the broadcast and digital rights for Italian Serie A for the Indian sub-continent region for the next three seasons. The latest edition of Italian Serie A will kick off on 21 August at 10 p.m. The matches will be aired on Viacom18’s TV channels, Voot and Jio.

    Viacom18 has entered into a partnership with Infront, whom Italian Serie A has appointed to manage its international media rights for all platforms across Europe, Asia, Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa, and Americas (excluding USA).

    “We are delighted to host the Italian Serie A across our network. The league enjoys great affinity with football lovers in India. Some of the world’s top clubs, coaches and players make the Serie A stand out as one of the best leagues in the football world. We are confident of growing the fan base through a slew of initiatives that are lined up,” said Viacom18 Digital Ventures, head – SVOD and international business, Ferzad Palia.

    The media company has been steadily expanding its sports offerings with the network recently entering multi-year partnerships for Spanish La Liga (football) and Abu Dhabi T10 League (cricket).

    “One of the core propositions of our network is the promise of variety in content. Sports is a whitespace that we have been consciously experimenting with for some time now. The response to our initiatives, thus far, has been very encouraging. Italian Serie A is one of the most exciting and competitive leagues in Europe and we are excited to bring it to our viewers across digital and broadcast platforms,” said Viacom18 Digital Ventures, chief operating officer, Gourav Rakshit.

    A total of 20 teams will be taking part in the Italian Serie A. While 17 teams will be from the previous season, the three new teams promoted from Serie B. Crotone, Benevento and Parma were consigned to the 2021–22 Serie B. The top four teams from the league will qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, while the fifth-ranked team will qualify for the Europa League group stage.

    “This is the start of what we hope will be a positive relationship between Infront and Viacom18. Serie A already has a significant resonance with Indian football fans and this will help us further grow the audience in the country. We believe this is the beginning of what we hope will be a promising future,” said Infront, vice president media sales and operations, Amikam Kranz.

  • Applause Entertainment licenses 400+ titles from Amar Chitra Katha

    Applause Entertainment licenses 400+ titles from Amar Chitra Katha

    Mumbai: Aditya Birla Group-backed content studio Applause Entertainment has announced a partnership with Amar Chitra Katha, a player in the children’s publishing segment. 

    As part of the collaboration, Applause Entertainment has acquired the license to Amar Chitra Katha catalogue, of more than 400 titles, which will be developed and produced into animated content.

    “At Applause, we only strive to deliver the best in storytelling. Over the last four years, we have significantly pushed the envelope in curating and creating the most disruptive stories for Indian audiences that cut across genres and geographies,” said Applause Entertainment, chief executive officer, Sameer Nair. “Amar Chitra Katha is a household name in India with a diverse and celebrated library that deserves to be retold. Like millions of other people, I have grown up reading these iconic comics and as a child, imagined them with dynamic visuals and dramatic sound & action. This is our opportunity to realise that dream. This partnership is also a small step towards helping export Indian culture by taking a unique and deep-rooted cultural brand like Amar Chitra Katha to screens across the globe.”

    Spanning 20 languages, the Amar Chitra Katha library boasts titles across epics and mythology, history, fables and humour, brave hearts, visionaries, and ACK Junior. The children’s publisher was founded in 1967 by Anant Pai and sells more than 1.5 million copies every year. Amar Chitra Katha has forayed into digital with their app as well as a presence on Alexa, YouTube, and other digital platforms.

    “At Amar Chitra Katha, we have been custodians of India’s stories for over 54 years, and we are thrilled to partner with Applause Entertainment to take our rich storytelling heritage to Indian and global audiences through animation,” said Amar Chitra Katha, president and chief executive officer, Preeti Vyas. “As the nation’s favourite storyteller, our mission has always been to provide Indian children a route to their roots and inspire in them a great sense of pride about India and being Indian. While we continue to keep our founder, Mr Anant Pai’s dream alive by telling new stories and creating fresh content in print and digital formats, we are also keen on presenting our iconic stories in an animated avatar. For this, we could not have hoped for a better partner than Applause. We are confident that Sameer Nair and his team, with their passion and superlative track record, will do an amazing job adapting our stories to animation and providing the new and future generations of Indians a crucial link to our past.”

  • Reliance’s Puric Instasafe ropes in Elephant for brand design

    Reliance’s Puric Instasafe ropes in Elephant for brand design

    Mumbai: Given that health and hygiene have become crucial in our pandemic-struck world, people are looking for informed lifestyle choices to safeguard their family. Reliance’s Puric range of personal & home care products was developed out of this insight. The Puric portfolio is comprised of diverse products across multiple formats.

    The brand has now collaborated with design-led strategic consultancy, Elephant to design a meaningful and sustainable brand. The prime challenge to be solved by design was to convey the efficacy and protection and alleviate contemporarily relevant concerns.

    “We set out to develop a contemporary brand of efficacious care. Solid blue, fresh green, and a hint of silver form the primary palette. The promise of instant action and safety-based cleanliness is backed by a clear mention of the potent, indigenously derived ingredients that the products are enriched with. We believe design is about helping consumers navigate better; whether through e-commerce or on retail shelves. Our work is always focused on people and their needs,” said Elephant co-founder and director Ashwini Deshpande.

    Speaking on the collaboration, Reliance Retail Consumer Brands (FMCG & grocery) business head, Surabhi Sen said, “We decided to bring Elephant on board at an early stage to benefit from their vast experience on design thinking. They helped plan and implement a clear and consistent architecture across the portfolio with a well-defined, relevant information hierarchy that cohesively addresses user concerns. We believe that we’ve made a stellar start and shall definitely stick to this user-centric approach as we move further.”