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  • Come 1 April, WWE will bodyslam its way onto Netflix in India

    Come 1 April, WWE will bodyslam its way onto Netflix in India

    MUMBAI: In a spectacular manoeuvre that has the wrestling world buzzing, WWE has officially announced its debut on Netflix India, following a colossal $5 billion deal that will see the streaming giant become the new home of spandex-clad drama and high-flying action.

    Starting 1 April 2025, Indian fans can swap their remote-wrestling for front-row streaming as WWE’s chief content officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, delivered the news via YouTube with all the dramatic flair of a perfectly executed entrance theme.

    “The Netflix era is upon us,” declared Triple H, confirming that Indian viewers will soon have uninterrupted access to RAW, SmackDown, NXT, and premium live events including SummerSlam, Money in the Bank, and the crown jewel – WrestleMania.

    The streaming platform isn’t just pinning down the basics. Netflix will unleash a treasure trove of archival content from the WWE vault, giving fans the opportunity to bodyslam their way through decades of wrestling nostalgia.

    “Created for fans and presented live and in living colour,” announced Netflix, “we’re stepping into the ring with WWE, showcasing serialised storytelling and high-adrenaline action three times a week, 52 weeks a year.”

    After years of WWE content being broadcast through Sony Sports Network – whose five-year deal taps out in March – this move represents a championship belt change in how Indian audiences consume their favourite squared-circle entertainment.

    In a move that would make any good tag-team partner proud, Netflix is also introducing Hindi commentary, ensuring that even the verbal smackdowns translate perfectly to the local audience.

    “Through this partnership, WWE fans in India will have seamless and immersive access to all WWE programming,” WWE declared in its press release, effectively drop-kicking barriers to viewing.

    With India boasting one of WWE’s most devoted international fanbases, this Netflix partnership promises to clothesline the competition and reach even more enthusiasts with its unique cocktail of athleticism, drama, and larger-than-life storytelling.

    The question on everyone’s lips now isn’t “Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?” but rather, “Are your streaming devices ready?” 

    As WWE prepares to power-bomb its way onto Netflix India, fans can expect nothing less than a championship-calibre viewing experience.

  • Rishtey Cineplex, Rishtey renamed as Colors Cineplex, Colors Rishtey

    Rishtey Cineplex, Rishtey renamed as Colors Cineplex, Colors Rishtey

    MUMBAI: Harnessing the power of brand Colors, Viacom18 has brought its 24-hour Hindi movie channel, Rishtey Cineplex and the Hindi general entertainment channel, Rishtey under the Colors umbrella. Assuming their new identities 1 March onwards, the channels will be known as Colors Cineplex and Colors Rishtey respectively. Amped up with new content, the channels will be establishing themselves as premium urban entertainment destinations available on a pay model.

    After having positioned itself as the #1 mass Hindi movie channel,  Colors Cinpelex in its reinvigorated avatar will woo the viewers with its powerful line-up of blockbuster films and content-around-content formats. Colors   Rishtey on the other hand, will showcase recent and popular shows from  Colors’ vast content library, like Naagin Season3, Dance Deewane, Bigg Boss, Madhubala along with newly introduced original series like Navrangi Re! and Hum Saaf Saaf Hai.

    Speaking about the new identity of the channels, said Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head – Hindi Mass Entertainment & Kids TV Network, Viacom18, “The idea is to expand the aegis of brand  Colors   and strengthen Viacom18’s Hindi Mass Entertainment portfolio drawing in more synergies. Colors has established itself as a household brand in just a decade and it was a logical move to consolidate the mass entertainment channels under its iconic clout.”

    “The new identity of the channels with golden hues and the archetype petal will convey the continuing evolution and growth of our business while also fortifying our bond with the viewers of the Colors Family. So far, the trend and consumption on both the channels have been extremely encouraging and now with the scaled-up movie library along with its premium positioning, we are confident of breaking new ground,” she further added.

    Colors Cineplex has acquired the most anticipated films of the year like, Brahmastra, Student of the Year 2, RAW, Drive, The Body, Thackeray, Fraud Saiyaan and many more. The line-up also includes Hindi dubbed version of blockbuster regional films like Mani Ratnam’s Chekka Chivantha Vaanam(Tamil), Kadaikutty Singam(Tamil), Kavacham(Telugu), Junga(Tamil), Charlie Chaplin(Tamil) and Seetharam Kalyana (Kannada). The existing library also contains compelling films like Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani, Andhadhun, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Om Shanti Om, Main Hoon Na, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Gabbar is Back, Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, Special Chabbis, Airlift, Rangoon, Force 2, R…Rajkumar, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani,  Kapoor and Sons, Ki & Ka, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Bazaar amongst others.

    Apart from the morning, matinee, prime-time and weekend line-up of impressive Hindi films and hot-selling South Indian dubbed content,  Colors Cineplex will showcase byte-sized content  like, ‘Teetar mausi’ – a gossip section that will spill the beans on celebrities; ‘Dialoguebaazi’, where popular dialogues from various films will be mashed up using animated kinetic typography. In addition to this there will be vignettes of various film festivals, behind the scene trivia and coverage of exclusive RedCarpet extravaganzas amongst many other interesting concepts. 

  • Raw and Smackdown now available live in hindi

    Raw and Smackdown now available live in hindi

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) and WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced that WWE’s flagship TV programs Raw and SmackDown will air with live Hindi commentary for the first time beginning tomorrow on SONY TEN 3.

    Fans can tune into SONY TEN 3 to hear the new announce team of Fahad Sheikh and Sandeep Iyer calling the action live in Hindi. SONY TEN 1 will continue to air Raw and SmackDown live with English language commentary. 

    WrestleMania 33 was the first WWE special event to air with live Hindi commentary. Since then, all WWE special events have aired with live Hindi commentary on WWE Network. Last June, Sony Pictures Networks India and WWE launched WWE Sunday Dhamaal, a weekly show in Hindi featuring the best of Raw and SmackDown plus exclusive features and interviews.  

  • Dentsu Marcom gives ‘raw, real, ripped’ look to CB Hornet 160R

    Dentsu Marcom gives ‘raw, real, ripped’ look to CB Hornet 160R

    MUMBAI: Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has premiered the television commercial (TVC) for its CB Hornet 160R. In sync with its aggressive warrior styling, the new commercial of CB Hornet 160R coincided with the much awaited world television premier of 2015’s biggest hit – Bajirao Mastani. 

    Developed by Dentsu Marcom, a Dentsu Aegis Network Company, the TVC that is running on air across channels has received a welcome  response from the youth.

    The brief to agency was to create an adrenalin high communication that reinforces the uniqueness of CB Hornet 160R and its advancements in terms of performance, style and technology to the target audience. 

    Elaborating on Honda’s communication line for the CB Hornet 160R, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India sales and marketing SVP Yadvinder Singh Guleria said, “Honda launched the new CB Hornet 160R, heralding a new era of Street Naked Sports biking in India. Through this TVC, we have tried to showcase the attributes like unbridled power, ambition, sheer hard work and precision that goes behind sculpting those perfect bodies, be it today’s youth or their machine- the CB Hornet 160R. Within just 4 months of its launch, the CB Hornet 160R has stuck an immediate resonance with the customers and this TVC will definitely help us soar to even greater heights.”

    The film was conceptualised to show the inherent connect between new CB Hornet 160R and its identified target group.

    “The human body is incredibly built. It’s the greatest machine that is ever built on earth. And increasingly, more than ever before, gyms are mushrooming all over the country, in basements, on terraces, and in swank glass buildings. The new CB Hornet 160 is for this new generation that is as much passionate about building their bodies as it is about motorcycles,” said Dentsu Marcom, NCD Titus Upputuru.

    The ad film explores the parallel journey of men building their bodies and the CB Hornet 160R being built in the factory. Fast-paced and edgy, the TVC, though visual and sound spectacle shows the coming together of, ‘building of the human body’ and ‘building of the bike body’, for road ripping ride. This is followed by thrilling shots of the riders creating an X on the tarmac that resembles the X-shaped LED tail lamp on CB Hornet 160R. The film ends with the tagline ‘Built After You’ linked that how the CB Hornet 160R is just as raw. real. ripped as its rider. 

  • Dentsu Marcom gives ‘raw, real, ripped’ look to CB Hornet 160R

    Dentsu Marcom gives ‘raw, real, ripped’ look to CB Hornet 160R

    MUMBAI: Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has premiered the television commercial (TVC) for its CB Hornet 160R. In sync with its aggressive warrior styling, the new commercial of CB Hornet 160R coincided with the much awaited world television premier of 2015’s biggest hit – Bajirao Mastani. 

    Developed by Dentsu Marcom, a Dentsu Aegis Network Company, the TVC that is running on air across channels has received a welcome  response from the youth.

    The brief to agency was to create an adrenalin high communication that reinforces the uniqueness of CB Hornet 160R and its advancements in terms of performance, style and technology to the target audience. 

    Elaborating on Honda’s communication line for the CB Hornet 160R, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India sales and marketing SVP Yadvinder Singh Guleria said, “Honda launched the new CB Hornet 160R, heralding a new era of Street Naked Sports biking in India. Through this TVC, we have tried to showcase the attributes like unbridled power, ambition, sheer hard work and precision that goes behind sculpting those perfect bodies, be it today’s youth or their machine- the CB Hornet 160R. Within just 4 months of its launch, the CB Hornet 160R has stuck an immediate resonance with the customers and this TVC will definitely help us soar to even greater heights.”

    The film was conceptualised to show the inherent connect between new CB Hornet 160R and its identified target group.

    “The human body is incredibly built. It’s the greatest machine that is ever built on earth. And increasingly, more than ever before, gyms are mushrooming all over the country, in basements, on terraces, and in swank glass buildings. The new CB Hornet 160 is for this new generation that is as much passionate about building their bodies as it is about motorcycles,” said Dentsu Marcom, NCD Titus Upputuru.

    The ad film explores the parallel journey of men building their bodies and the CB Hornet 160R being built in the factory. Fast-paced and edgy, the TVC, though visual and sound spectacle shows the coming together of, ‘building of the human body’ and ‘building of the bike body’, for road ripping ride. This is followed by thrilling shots of the riders creating an X on the tarmac that resembles the X-shaped LED tail lamp on CB Hornet 160R. The film ends with the tagline ‘Built After You’ linked that how the CB Hornet 160R is just as raw. real. ripped as its rider. 

  • WWE partners Vuclip for ‘Direct-To-Fans’ mobile service

    WWE partners Vuclip for ‘Direct-To-Fans’ mobile service

    MUMBAI: Video on demand (VOD) platform Vuclip has partnered with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to engage WWE fans in emerging markets of the world with video clips on their mobile phones. Through this partnership, Vuclip will make available WWE’s video clips on the Vuclip service in the markets of India, Africa, Middle East and South East Asia.

     

    Via this arrangement, WWE fans can stream the following mix of video clips on their mobile devices: match highlights such as Slam of the Week from both RAW and Smackdown; The Vault, a flashback to a monumental match; WWE Classics from legends of the past; and WWE Countdown which shows favourite superstars and match moments.

     

    Vuclip director and head of distribution Nikhil Naik said, “For more than three decades, WWE has been entertaining its fans across the world. With emerging markets such as India and Africa seen as ‘Mobile first’ markets, Vuclip will help pave the way for engaging WWE’s fan base in these countries along with deepening the engagement in the Middle Eastern and South East Asian markets. We are happy to offer WWE fans premium mobile entertainment in these markets.”

  • Ten Sports to bring MotoGP to India; introduce new racing league

    Ten Sports to bring MotoGP to India; introduce new racing league

    MUMBAI: The avenue for non-cricket sports properties like kabaddi, tennis, wrestling, and football, which saw a great start last year is set to grow bigger. The newest entrant is the niche sport Moto Grand Prix popularly known as Moto GP.  

     

    According to sources, Ten Sports has inked a five year deal with the sports property. Previously, Moto GP was a non exclusive property shared by three sports networks; Star India, Neo Sports and Ten Sports. But with the new deal coming in place and the two partners reaching a fine print, Ten Sports has gained an exclusive deal with Moto GP beginning from 1 February 2015.

     

    If multiple sources are to be believed, there will also be a set of new programming and races wrapped around it including studio produced shows to propel the sport’s popularity in India. What’s more, the network is also looking to foray into introducing a new racing league in the country.

     

    When contacted, Ten Sports officials denied the development. 

     

    On the other hand, the network is in a celebratory mood with the success of another property-World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). “The response has been fantastic as we have reached out to a mass audience via Facebook, Twitter Google Hangouts etc. When India was playing against Australia in Oz and we declaring we were going live with RAW, we were trending much above India playing with Australia on Twitter,” says Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi. Ten Sports had decided to go live with flagship properties like RAW and specials like Royal Rumble during the early morning slot at 6:30 am. 

     

    “We thought we were not going to do well but received more than 900 emails with regards to it. I am happy the way our ad revenues are shaping too,” adds Sethi.

     

    The network is also looking at the prospect of airing WWE in regional languages. Besides, with the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and the network having the rights of Pakistan cricket, it is busy promoting the mega event in the neighbouring country and will be announcing its plans soon.

  • WWE adds 25% ad revenue growth for Ten Sports

    WWE adds 25% ad revenue growth for Ten Sports

    MUMBAI: “In the last quarter, we saw 25 per cent growth in ad revenue from WWE,” says Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi while adding, “We are expecting this to jump higher by at least 50 per cent in the next calendar year with our fresh content and programming lineup.”

     

    The network in the last quarter has added four new advertisers from FMCG and e-commerce sector, who have previously not advertised with WWE.

     

    The optimistic note comes as Ten Sports gears itself to launch the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in a new avatar for Indian audiences, next year. Properties like RAW and specials will simulcast from USA on Ten Sports, beginning January 2015.

     

    Explaining the reason behind doing so even though the programme will be aired as early as 5:30-6:00 am, Sethi says, “We are trying to kill the time gap of 72 hours that exists today and move as close as possible towards live feed. Secondly, this will also help kill digital piracy which we want to curtail.”

     

    The network with this move wants to provide flexibility and opportunity for fans to watch WWE as close as possible.  To avoid being affected by ratings, the channel will have repeats of the show through the week. It will also air the repeat telecast of RAW with Hindi commentary. As it sees the Hindi feed as a value addition to the property. “WWE is a property that has deep penetration in the Indian hinterlands and is not confined to tier I and tier II cities. To further expand our base and coverage of WWE, we are going ahead with the Hindi feed for some programmes and after measuring the response, might get into other regional languages also,” he adds.

     

    The lineup of WWE has been changing from the  last three to four months as fictional aspects are being brought in, which is where female audience share been able to connect better to the property. “In addition, we have the young people who are our captive audiences.  DIVA, aired in the evening, has a huge segment attached to it. We are summing up together different segments rather than just the teenage segment,” Sethi informs.  According to Sethi audiences from the age group of seven to seventy can connect to the property. A customised special show with local connect will be seen on the network soon while to attract kids, animated snippets revolving around WWE will be aired.

    A live on-ground event too is being planned for the next year between October and November, which will have WWE superstars performing live in India.

    The channel head also plans to have VoD on its digital channel in the year ahead.

     

  • Ten Sports to have WWE Hindi feed starting January 2015

    Ten Sports to have WWE Hindi feed starting January 2015

    MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment popularly known as WWE is set to further grow as a sports property and find a new flavour in India.  Taking a leap, the network Ten Sports has decided to provide language commentary in Hindi for the repeat telecast of RAW. A special customised show is also being introduced which will be in Hinglish produced out of a studio. Another programme, the Main Event will be introduced for the first time in India, which will be a combined package of RAW and Smackdown.

    According to sources, established flagship properties like RAW and specials will have a live simulcast on Ten Sports as from USA, beginning January 2015.  The timings for these programmes will be between 5:30 am to 6 am.  Not to be deterred by ratings, the network will telecast repeats of the show.

    The development comes in the wake of Taj TV and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) signing a new agreement in September 2014, as per which starting January 2015, WWE will be available exclusively on the Ten Sports Network, for a further five years till 2019.

    WWE has been broadcast on Ten Sports since the launch of the channel in 2002. WWE together with Ten Sports will be investing little over $100 million in the Indian market as part of the new agreement.

    Ten Sports which is looking at a major revamp early next year, also has acquired the Indian sub-continent broadcast rights for the 2018 Common Wealth Games to be held in Gold Coast Australia. The network has a bouquet of premium football properties from across the globe including UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League among others.