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Tag: Siddhartha Roy

  • Virgin Music & Hungama partner to expand global music distribution

    Virgin Music & Hungama partner to expand global music distribution

    Mumbai: The global independent music, Virgin Music Group has joined forces with Hungama Digital Media, South Asia’s digital entertainment giant, in a groundbreaking alliance. This strategic partnership will amplify Hungama’s diverse music catalogue, featuring SVF, Grassroute, OTV, and iconic film soundtracks, to a worldwide audience through Virgin Music Group’s unparalleled distribution network.

    As per the press release, Virgin Music Group will tap Hungama’s substantial user base and regional expertise, deepen its presence in India’s regional music scene, and offer both companies a unique opportunity to leverage their strengths and deliver exceptional experiences to music fans worldwide.

    Virgin Music Group country manager of India Amit Sharma said, “We are immensely proud to announce this important partnership with Hungama. This collaboration will expand our reach in India and enable their songs to reach new global audiences, supporting our commitment to artist empowerment and innovation. Through this venture, we aim to bring a diverse range of music to new audiences, while Hungama’s expansive network will enable us to unlock incredible new opportunities for our artists.”

    Hungama Digital Media Entertainment CEO Siddhartha Roy said, “Our partnership with Virgin Music Group marks a significant milestone in taking Indian regional music to global audiences. By tapping into Virgin’s extensive network, we’re providing our artists and labels with unparalleled exposure, helping them reach new markets and unlock fresh growth opportunities. It’s an exciting time for Indian music, and we’re proud to lead this global expansion.”

    The collaboration between Virgin Music Group and Hungama Digital Media brings forth opportunities which would showcase undiscovered music to global audiences as well as the expansion of the channels of distribution and enhance the way music is consumed while working towards creating impact for Indian music culture in the global music landscape.

  • Hungama Digital Media announces strategic partnership with VUZ

    Hungama Digital Media announces strategic partnership with VUZ

    Mumbai: Hungama Digital Media, a digital entertainment company in Asia, is excited to announce its strategic partnership with VUZ, a pioneering immersive video platform. This collaboration is set to redefine digital entertainment and social interaction, reaching a combined audience of over 200 million users globally.

    Hungama’s extensive influence in the Indian digital entertainment landscape provides a unique opportunity to integrate VUZ’s cutting-edge immersive technologies. This partnership will offer Indian users access to exclusive events and experiences, bringing them closer to the glamour of The Oscars, Hollywood premieres, NBA, Formula 1, LaLiga, and major regional concerts. Additionally, it will feature original content from top-tier creators and celebrities, offering unparalleled engagement and entertainment.

    Hungama’s established partnerships with telecommunications companies across India will be crucial in integrating VUZ’s platform seamlessly. This integration is anticipated to significantly increase reach and growth for both companies, offering Indian users access to a diverse array of events, including cultural festivals, music concerts, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content from the entertainment industry.

    With Hungama’s support, VUZ will be able to curate compelling local content from these events, forging stronger connections between creators and their audiences in India. This will enrich the overall user experience and foster deeper engagement with the platform.

    Echoing the shared enthusiasm for this promising venture, Hungama Digital Media CEO Siddhartha Roy articulated his vision for the partnership with VUZ, highlighting the transformative impact it is poised to have on the entertainment landscape. He remarked, “We couldn’t be more excited about teaming up with VUZ, as it represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to delivering entertainment experiences to our users. By combining VUZ’s immersive technology with Hungama’s vast reach & content, we’re revolutionizing how people experience entertainment in Asia, Africa and the Middle East Together, we aim to create a seamless, immersive experience that will set a new benchmark in the industry and drive the future of entertainment.”

    Speaking about the partnership, VUZ founder Khaled Zaatarah, expressed enthusiasm about the collaborative opportunities ahead, saying, “We are delighted to join forces with Hungama, a trailblazer in the digital entertainment domain. This partnership not only amplifies our reach but also reinforces our commitment to delivering unparalleled immersive experiences to users across Asia and Africa. Together, we are poised to reshape the landscape of social interaction and content consumption.”

    As Hungama and VUZ embark on this transformative journey, they remain dedicated to driving innovation, fostering creativity, and enriching the digital experiences of users across India. This partnership signifies a new era of entertainment, setting the stage for the future of immersive digital content.

  • Bollywood Hungama is now streaming on YuppTV’s FAST network platform

    Bollywood Hungama is now streaming on YuppTV’s FAST network platform

    Mumbai: Bollywood Hungama, India’s premiere Bollywood news and entertainment website has partnered with YuppTV, one of the world’s largest internet-based TV and on-demand service providers for South Asian content. Together they have announced the launch of Bollywood Hungama globally through YuppTV’s FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) network platform. This launch will feature all news and gossip surrounding the world of Bollywood and the Indian entertainment business for the South Asian audience.

    This collaboration offers users a diverse range of content, including the latest songs, popular movies, engaging original shows, music videos, and sought-after podcasts—all conveniently available on a unified platform. Through YuppTV’s FAST network, users gain exclusive access to Bollywood Hungama’s content. With an impressive user base of 70 million, Bollywood Hungama stands as the frontrunner in the Indian entertainment landscape, providing comprehensive coverage of Bollywood news and information. This partnership ensures users remain informed about the latest developments while enjoying a seamless entertainment experience. The fusion of YuppTV’s technology and Bollywood Hungama’s content is poised to enhance the digital entertainment landscape.

    Hungama Digital Media CEO Siddhartha Roy remarked on the partnership, “The collaboration between Bollywood Hungama and YuppTV is poised to introduce a compelling and vibrant facet of entertainment to the South Asian audience. In the ever-evolving and dynamic media landscape of today, where smart TVs play an indispensable role in the viewing experience, we acknowledge the need for innovation within the FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) category. We are looking forward to expand our footprints in this domain, with a commitment to delivering exceptional content tailored to the unique preferences of our valued audience.”

    Commenting on the launch, YuppTV founder & CEO Uday Reddy said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of Bollywood Hungama on our FAST network platform, a segment that has grown exponentially. The Bollywood entertainment website boasts a strong user base of 70 million, and has a highly engaging community of more than 16 million+ on social media, presenting a unique opportunity for us to reach out to more viewers globally. We are excited to provide our current user base with original content from Bollywood Hungama, helping them keep up with the latest news from Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT, and television.”

  • YuppTV launches Bollywood Hungama on its FAST network platform for global audiences

    YuppTV launches Bollywood Hungama on its FAST network platform for global audiences

    Mumbai: YuppTV, one of the world’s largest internet-based TV and on-demand service providers for South Asian content, today announced that it has launched Bollywood Hungama globally through its FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) network platform. Bollywood Hungama is India’s premiere Bollywood news and entertainment website with over 70 million users and this launch will feature all news and gossip surrounding the world of Bollywood and the Indian entertainment business for the South Asian audience.

    With the recent launch of its FAST network platform, YuppTV has forayed into the developing network segment which has shown massive potential in recent times. With a vast experience spanning across more than 10 years in the OTT segment, with premium offerings for millions of customers, YuppTV is now offering FAST channels, a category witnessing significant traction from viewers worldwide. Leveraging its new platform, YuppTV has availed Bollywood Hungama for viewers from across the globe. The platform has also partnered with major network providers to enable quality content through its FAST channels offering, and currently offers 200+ channels, while aiming to add 500+ total channels within the next few months. At present, YuppTV offers more than 250 TV channels, 5000+ movies and 100+ TV shows in 14 languages for viewers.

    Hungama Digital Media CEO Siddhartha Roy remarked on the partnership, “The collaboration between Bollywood Hungama and YuppTV is poised to introduce a compelling and vibrant facet of entertainment to the South Asian audience. In the ever-evolving and dynamic media landscape of today, where smart TVs play an indispensable role in the viewing experience, we acknowledge the need for innovation within the FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) category. We are looking forward to expand our footprints in this domain, with a commitment to delivering exceptional content tailored to the unique preferences of our valued audience.”

    Commenting on the launch, YuppTV CEO & co-founder Uday Reddy said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of Bollywood Hungama on our FAST network platform, a segment that has grown exponentially. The Bollywood entertainment website boasts a strong user-base of 70 million, and has a highly engaging community of more than 16 million+ on social media, presenting a unique opportunity for us to reach out to more viewers globally. We are excited to provide our current user-base with original content from Bollywood Hungama, helping them keep up with the latest news from Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT, and television.”

  • QYOU Media India and Bollywood Hungama unite forces

    QYOU Media India and Bollywood Hungama unite forces

    Mumbai: Having recognized the importance of offering diverse and engaging content to its viewers, QYOU Media India, in an endeavor to further strengthen its presence in the Connected TV space, announces that it has entered a partnership with Bollywood Hungama to launch a new Connected TV channel in Q4 of 2023 called BH Live TV Powered by QYOU Media. The new channel marks the addition of Bollywood content to QYOU Media India’s multi-genre FAST channels content library. Combining the power of both companies in the world of social media with the long-standing status of Bollywood Hungama as the world’s most widely visited Bollywood portal, the channel will feature all news and gossip surrounding the world of Bollywood and the Indian entertainment business.

    BH Live TV Powered by QYOU Media will be exclusively available on the Q Play+ app along with leading Connected TV platforms including Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Fire TV, Xiaomi, TCL, One Plus, and other Connected TV (CTV) brands. The addition of this new channel strengthens the network’s growing list of channels in the emerging FAST (Free Ad Supported TV) channel ecosystem, marking a significant milestone for QYOU Media India, as it bolsters its commitment to delivering top-quality, entertaining content to its diverse and ever-growing audience base.

    The driving impetus for the partnership is the explosive growth of the global CTV (Smart TV) industry which has also begun to expand its impact in India in recent years. The India CTV (Smart TV) market has tripled in size in the last 18 months with homes using CTV expected to grow to 60 million by 2025. While still relatively nascent in India in terms of television ad spend, the CTV industry globally is now responsible for generating $25.9 billion in ad revenue in 2023 according to Group M’s midyear forecast. With the introduction across CTV platforms of AI-driven recommendation engines, Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), and overall data-fueled TV performance, the CTV industry is expected to dominate television viewership and ad revenue growth going forward. In the last year, over 90% of all televisions sold in the country of India were Smart TVs.

    Speaking on the launch of BH Live TV Powered by QYOU Media, QYOU Media India COO Krishna Menon said, “In an era where Connected TV is becoming an integral part of entertainment, we at QYOU Media India, continue to recognize the importance of innovation in the FAST category. We aim to curate channels that cater to the varied interests of our audiences, and the collaboration with Bollywood Hungama is a fantastic addition to our portfolio. With this new channel, we aim to further solidify our position in the CTV space and continue providing unparalleled entertainment experiences.”

    Hungama Digital Entertainment CEO Siddhartha Roy remarked on the partnership, “This partnership of Bollywood Hungama and QYOU Media is poised to introduce an exciting new dimension of entertainment for viewers. In today’s landscape, where Connected TV is a vital part of the experience, we recognize the need for innovation in the FAST category. Our goal is to curate channels that cater to our viewers’ diverse interests, and this collaboration is a significant addition to our content offerings. We look forward to strengthening our presence in this arena and providing our audience with exceptional content tailored to their preferences.”

    With this latest addition, QYOU Media India strengthens its position as a leading player in the Connected TV space, offering viewers a diverse range of premium content across multiple genres.

  • Hungama partners with JioTV; eyes domestic reach in India

    Hungama partners with JioTV; eyes domestic reach in India

    Mumbai: Hungama has partnered with JioTV to expand its domestic reach in India. The partnership aims to expand Hungama’s reach in the country by leveraging JioTV’s large user base in tier II and tier III cities. With this partnership, Hungama gains access to a core Jio TV audience in the Hindi heartland.

    With the wide-ranging bouquet of content from Hungama, JioTV can also offer more diverse and specially curated content to viewers. JioTV Specials provide access to the service.

    The partnership gives JioTV subscribers access to 12 additional Hungama linear channels and 100+ hours of programming in Punjabi, Hindi, Kannada, Bhojpuri, and Malayalam.

    It also provides a selection of independent music in various dialects, as well as devotional content, ghazals, concerts, stand-up comedy, and award shows.

    Hungama also provides access to rich and exclusive in-house original content, such as gossip, scoops, interviews, paparazzi, trailer launches, movie premieres, and reviews, on JioTV as part of JioTV Specials.

    Together with the JioTV advantage, Hungama can reach millions of viewers in the heartland and is now available on the app, allowing Jio sim users to take their favourite content with them wherever they go.

    Hungama digital media CEO Siddhartha Roy said, “We have tremendous trust and loyalty amongst audiences across India. Through this partnership, we are taking entertainment to a larger section of the audience, especially in tier II and III markets. Hungama’s partnership with JioTV strengthens our endeavour to widen our reach and make content accessible across demographic boundaries. We look forward to a long-standing business partnership with JioTV in our commitment to entertain India.”

  • Hefty Games enters metaverse with leading influencers

    Hefty Games enters metaverse with leading influencers

    Mumbai: Hefty Games has announced a partnership with leading influencers to kickstart its gaming & NFT ecosystem, and blockchain gaming in India with exclusive P2E (Play to Earn) games and a plethora of unique utilities.

    To leverage the popularity of interactive gaming and its acceptance as an emerging cultural phenomenon, the company is partnering with influencers ‘Lokesh Gamer,’ ‘Gyan Gaming,’ and ‘Two Side Gamers’ who have a combined following of close to 50 million. Through this association, Hefty Games is set to launch trading cards that will allow gaming aficionados to own a collectible from their favourite gamer.

    Hefty Games is a collaboration between new-age tech company House of Gaming, Ethereum scaling and infrastructure development platform Polygon, Hindustan Talkies – a media content conglomerate transforming entertainment across e-sports, games and blockchain technology, and Hungama – one of the largest digital media entertainment companies in South Asia.

    “With this joining of hands between the three forerunners of the gaming fraternity and Hefty Games, we are ready to lead this innovation into Web 3.0 and the metaverse,” said House of Gaming co-founder and CEO Yash Pariani. “This much-awaited drop of India’s inaugural digital collectibles in the gaming zone would set in motion a series of drops by other gaming superstars who would feature in the Hefty Metaverse.”

    As the owner of intellectual property rights of the first set of influencers, the company will soon be announcing its first drop of NFTs. The auction will be followed by the foray of other gaming superstars into the Hefty Metaverse. Via this association, Hefty Games aims to establish itself as a one-stop destination that facilitates the movement of all forms of digital art in the gaming realm onto the blockchain.

    “2022 has opened an eventful slate for us, and we are excited about launching Hefty Games for the burgeoning tribe of Metaverse enthusiasts,” shared Hungama Digital Media CEO Siddhartha Roy. “With pioneers of the YouTube gaming community – Lokesh Gamer, Gyan Gaming & Two Side Gamers – on board, we are confident of revolutionising Web 3.0 in the country.”

    Taking the association forward, the gamers will join the e-sports platform Indian Gaming League to host an on-ground, open-for-all tournament. Winners will be awarded exclusive prizes and a chance to be whitelisted for the exclusive NFT drop, said the statement.

    In addition to the above, Hefty’s collaboration with eDAO, an entertainment and creator-focused entity, will support the growth of the Hefty ecosystem enabling users to interact and engage with their favourite gamers and artists. With more high-end creations in the pipeline, Hefty Gaming looks to enable users with access to the metaverse which is a perfect synergy of all things gaming and entertainment.

    “With today’s announcement, we have been able to expand the horizon for the gaming community of India. Through Hefty Games, we have enabled gamers to monetise their worth further, and engage their followers better,” commented Polygon’s Sandeep Nailwal.

    “With Hefty Games, we are now enabling gamers to create value –. After the phenomenal response we received to Hefty Entertainment and Hefty Art, we are confident about the success that awaits Hefty Games,” said Hindustan Talkies co-founder Ashish Chowdhry.

  • T-Series, Hungama join hands to foray into NFTs

    T-Series, Hungama join hands to foray into NFTs

    Mumbai: Music and film studio T-Series has announced its foray into Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in association with Hefty Entertainment – a division of digital media entertainment company Hungama. According to a statement, the association brings together the latter’s 90 million+ monthly active users (MAUs) across music, gaming and video to join hands with T-Series’ over 395 million YouTube subscribers base and 75 million followers on social media across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

    “The strategic partnership between the two companies is built on their 20-year-old, long-standing association. T-Series and Hungama will leverage their global distribution network and a library spanning two lakh songs, 65,000 music videos and 150+ films across Indian languages to create the next big digital revolution,” said the statement.

    “We are delighted to extend our two-decade-long alliance with Hungama, and to enable our community with access to the Metaverse,” said T-Series chairman and MD Bhushan Kumar. “Having set the ball rolling, we look forward to expanding and enhancing the value of our content that leads to the rapid expansion of the global digital entertainment industry, and offering a future full of potential, interactivity and collaboration for our communities around the globe.”

    The foray will witness the two entertainment brands raise the bar of entertainment creation and consumption via Hefty Entertainment (a Web 3.0 initiative by Hungama), and in partnership with Ethereum scaling and infrastructure development platform, Polygon. Hefty Metaverse will be built with the vision of fostering an ecosystem that helps to collaborate, interact and engage with flourishing web 3.0 communities.

    Hungama will create NFTs, rare collectibles and ‘money can’t buy experiences,’ in addition to unlocking special moments from T-Series’ catalogue of new and existing content.

    “We look forward to redefining content consumption with this Web 3.0 initiative as we find new ways to collaborate and engage with fans. We promise to give billions of fans of Bollywood, globally, an experience that will see value accrue to them on our platform,” said Hungama founder Neeraj Roy.

    “T-Series has demonstrated its leadership position on the back of innovation and adoption of new technology advancements to drive distribution across the ever-evolving digital landscape,” stated T-Series president Neeraj Kalyan. “T-Series and Hungama’s partnership is built on mutual trust and we will continue to consolidate into more meaningful avenues, akin to our foray in the NFT space.”

  • Hungama Music brings Dolby Atmos to music streaming in India

    Hungama Music brings Dolby Atmos to music streaming in India

    MUMBAI: Domestic music streaming platform Hungama Music and US-based audio tech major Dolby Laboratories have joined forces to offer a premium and high-quality streaming experience in India.

    Hungama Music users with compatible Dolby Atmos enabled mobile devices will be able to enjoy a growing library of music in Dolby Atmos from Indian music label T-Series, as well as local artists.

    Hungama Digital Media  COO Siddhartha Roy said, “We have always worked towards elevating the consumer experience on our platform by combining technology with a diverse library. Our work with Dolby is yet another step towards offering Indian users a premium and high-quality music streaming experience. Through this our users will be able to listen to music in an even more immersive and engaging way.”

    “Dolby Atmos Music is redefining how music is created and has been well embraced by artists in India, who are using it as a tool to create a deeper way to connect with their audience more intimately,” said Dolby Laboratories emerging markets MD Pankaj Kedia. “Together with Hungama Music, we are expanding the global reach of Dolby Atmos Music by enabling a more immersive and exciting way for music fans in India to enjoy their favourite songs and albums.”

    Here is a link to their campaign together- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHno9QcTOp

    T-Series  president Neeraj Kalyan said, “We have over the years worked closely with Dolby in delivering the Dolby Atmos experience in the cinemas. Adoption of Dolby Atmos for our music tracks was a natural choice, and we are committed to scaling up our music catalogue in Dolby Atmos.”

    Here is the link to the full playlist- https://www.hungama.com/playlists/dolby-atmos-collection/107457/

  • Hungama partners with telecom operators in Switzerland, Poland, Saudi Arabia and other countries

    Hungama partners with telecom operators in Switzerland, Poland, Saudi Arabia and other countries

    MUMBAI: Hungama, a digital entertainment company had announced strategic partnerships with leading telecom operators in Switzerland, Poland, Saudi Arabia and other countries, further strengthening its presence in international markets. These operators include the three largest telecom providers in Switzerland – Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt Mobile, T-Mobile Polska and Plus – two  telecom operators in Poland, and STC, Zain and Virgin Mobile – three of the primary telecom providers in Saudi Arabia. In addition to these, Hungama has also partnered with Ooredoo in Palestine, Batelco in Bahrain and Ncell in Nepal. Aimed at making subscriptions and billing more convenient, these partnerships will allow users to access a premium range of multilingual and multi-genre music and video content through Hungama Music, Hungama’s music streaming service and Hungama Play, Hungama’s video streaming platform.

    Through a Hungama Music subscription, international users gain access to an extensive range of HD music and music videos in leading Indian languages like Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati and more. A Hungama Play subscription gives users access to a premium library of Hindi and regional movies, original shows, TV shows, short films, kids’ content and short format videos across genres like music, lifestyle, humour etc.

    Speaking about the international expansion, Hungama Digital Media COO Siddhartha Roy said, “There is immense demand for Indian content in international markets. In the past 3 years, we have seen a 2x increase in consumption across various regions and have been taking significant steps that not only make it easier for users to subscribe to our services but also help us strengthen our global footprint. We are glad to partner with some of the leading telecom operators in each of these regions and look forward to offering an enriching experience to their users. Additionally, we are also actively working towards solidifying our presence further in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia Pacific regions.”

    Hungama Music and Hungama Play’s apps are available on all leading app stores across different ecosystems in over 190 countries. International users can subscribe using cards or various payment gateways offered by their telecom operators.