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Tag: streaming

  • Flipkart’s entry into video streaming space more of an e-commerce play

    Flipkart’s entry into video streaming space more of an e-commerce play

    MUMBAI: Ever since Flipkart announced its entry into India’s booming video streaming space, it’s been the talk of the town. The Walmart-owned e-commerce platform will open it up for Flipkart Plus loyalty program members in a fashion similar to Amazon Prime Video.

    The upcoming video streaming service will enter the market in September, before the festive season of Diwali. The difference between the two is that Flipkart’s service is entirely free for Plus members while the other entails a cost of Rs 129 a month. Another difference is that Flipkart is currently licensing content while Amazon invests in its own. However, industry experts are divided on the effectiveness of the e-commerce player’s plan to enter the market with commissioned content.

    “Walmart acquired Vudu in 2010 and has been trying to scale it with an ad-funded model rather than originals/subscription. For India, if they have decided to do aggregated content, I think it is because they are testing waters initially. Walmart as a new video OTT player is a good step for consumers and the industry. I think once they taste the success they will start investing in local content or originals as well. Walmart is also as deep-pocketed as Netflix or Amazon,” Eros International group chief marketing officer Manav Sethi commented on the strategy.

    On the other hand, Elara Capital vice president research Karan Taurani is of the view that until and unless OTT players make an investment into original content, no massive changes can be expected since it is a very crowded space with more than 30 players. Reports say that Flipkart has not ruled out the possibility of launching originals.

    Despite its different stance, experts are sure that it will definitely boost Flipkart’s business. One media analyst opined that the model is similar to Amazon Prime Video where content is one offering in Flipkart’s loyalty programme. However, instead of targetting a million subscribers, Flipkart’s aim is to get more consumers to spend money on its platform.

    “The play they want to have is really similar to Amazon than Netflix. The idea is to hook the audiences to its content to study consumer behaviour for better targetting,” said another analyst from an auditing firm who wished to remain unnamed. He added that if it can get people to linger on the platform and increase the number of services provided to them, Flipkart will be in a better position to target them efficiently. But he added that the quality of content and price point will also matter.

    “In the past 10 years, our vision and ethos have been to create India-specific tech solutions. What we are rolling out when it comes to addressing the needs of the next 200 million users in our country, is taking forward those founding principles of access and affordability,” Flipkart group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy commented as per media reports.

    Taurani added that Flipkart can tie up with multiple OTT platforms which will help it boost its e-commerce segment. As Amazon Prime is restricted to have in-house content, this can be an advantage.

    Moreover, as per Taurani, the OTT platforms or broadcasters providing content to Flipkart will also gain from the deal as this will be an additional revenue stream for them apart from their current tie-up with the telcos. Hence, it’s a win-win situation for both but it will obviously help Flipkart’s e-commerce play more.

    It’s yet to be ascertained how this move will create a dent in the market. “It will increase the competition. The consumers who were having 30-plus options will have one more big option to consume. Depending on how Walmart packages and prices it, I think it should see significant consumption uptake,” Sethi added.

    According to a recent report from KPMG, the digital segment of the media and entertainment industry in India contributed Rs 173 billion in revenue in FY19 with digital advertising and subscription from OTT platforms contributing significantly. The potential of the market is noticeable as the report predicts 580 million OTT consumers by FY24 will be spending more than 30 minutes on online video platforms each day.

  • OTT and digital are becoming mainstream for advertisers: MXPlayer’s Abhishek Joshi

    OTT and digital are becoming mainstream for advertisers: MXPlayer’s Abhishek Joshi

    MUMBAI: With five original web-series, Times Internet-owned over-the-top (OTT) service MX Player made its grand entry in the highly contended Indian market. While the new entrant in the market has gained enough traction within six month of its launch, the platform has kept an eye on the most promising opportunity in the ecosystem, the regional belt. Since the launch, it has been taking several interesting marketing initiatives with a special focus on the marketing of Originals to create impact for the brand.

    According to a report from RedSeer, a Bangalore-based research and consulting firm, MX Player has already acquired its place in the top three list in terms of users with 176 million monthly active users. To understand its marketing strategy, interest from advertisers, key challenges of the new player, Indiantelevision.com spoke to MX Player marketing and business partnerships head Abhishek Joshi.

    Edited excerpts:

    From local video player to a streaming service – what are the marketing initiatives you are taking to change the brand image among users?

    The biggest opportunity we face lies in the question itself. The paradigm shift from offline to online and educating the user of the same is the task we were faced with. I think the biggest step we took was rebranding ourselves and creating the brand promise of “Everytainment”. This word brilliantly echoes our brand ethos and encapsulates all that we offer – which essentially is entertainment suiting your every need, want, mood, reason or season. Our approach for this messaging to reach the consumer stretches from associating with brands across demographics/categories, TV, radio and print (enabling us to reach out to those that are not present on the internet) and social + digital mediums to name a few. The marketing of our Originals is yet another avenue to create impact for the brand and we do so by bringing you innovative campaigns that appeal to varied palettes.

    How are you leveraging the strength of your own network?

    Many in the OTT market are players who are backed by large broadcasters and each uses the might of its network which is challenged by their own set of pros and cons. But having said that – it’s always an added edge that weighs in when needed.

    Are OTT platforms, in general, seeing good interest from advertisers? Has it increased this year?

    There’s no getting around the fact that OTT and corresponding advertising offerings are in hyper drive as more content and advertising inventory becomes available. The OTT and digital window is becoming mainstream to most advertisers so this definitely seems to be a trend that is here to stay.

    A lot of campaigns are going digital-first. The way advertising is targeted to the user changes when you have a mobile in your hand. It’s the only entertainment device you carry with you 24*7. Advertisers see OTT as a compelling proposition: a high quality, brand-safe environment allowing for targeted ads along with a means for even better audience segmentation.

    We, in fact, encourage branded content as an option as well which leads to great brand visibility. For example, our association with Too Yumm! for our show Love OK Please has seen great results for us as well as the brand.

    What are the key challenges MX Player is facing in terms of marketing?

    There has been a rise in the number of platforms and hence in the number of shows which presents marketers with an opportunity to make a mark with impactful campaigns. With everyone trying to bite into the same pie, the only edge one has is to be relevant to viewers, position the brand in a way that is simple to understand and yet compels them to be engaged which I believe is the biggest challenge for any marketer today.

    Are you doing targeted advertising while attracting new consumers? Which are the key demographics you are attracting?

    Big pivots are happening. From a marketing perspective, it’s really how you engage your viewers, use your data to target and make sure your messaging is reaching the right customer at the right time. As MX Player’s TG is digitally driven, we incorporate the digital and social mediums in all our marketing strategies and tactics.

    Our approach is always dependent on the story and the narrative of what the series consists of. Based on that, we decide the route, medium and strategy to use for a particular show.

    Our app caters to not just the top 8 cities but also a lot of tier II and tier III markets. The regional belt is an area that we are actively trying to nurture and build.

    Which are the brands showing more interest in your content? Which are the new brands coming on-board?

    These are announcements that we will make alongside the launch of the respective series. But currently, the platform sees a lot of  ad traction coming in categories like FMCG, ecommerce, technology, telecommunication, banking and automobile with brands like OnePlus, Vivo, P&G, KFC, Reckitt and LIC amongst others.

  • Netflix testing pop-out video player

    Netflix testing pop-out video player

    MUMBAI: Netflix seems to be testing a new feature, a pop-out video player, that will allow users to stream videos in a small floating box that hovers above other windows and applications. The new feature means a user can watch videos on Netflix while doing other work, a perfect tool for multi tasking.

    According to engadget report, users will have to click on a small icon along the bottom of the screen to use the pop-out player. Users can resize it and position it according to their own choice once the window appears. However, subtitles are not yet available in the window.

    Although Netflix has yet to formally announce the feature,  the pop-out player seems to be rolling out slowly. But Netflix has confirmed to engadget that it is testing a pop-out player.

  • Disney’s OTT plan not contingent on Fox deal: Bob Iger

    Disney’s OTT plan not contingent on Fox deal: Bob Iger

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger has said that the company’s plan to launch a direct-to-consumer entertainment streaming service does not hinge on completing its deal to acquire key 21st Century Fox TV and film assets.

    Speaking to Wall Street analysts about the company’s fiscal second quarter earnings, Iger said that the pending $52.4 billion buyout would enhance Disney’s offering. But the streaming service was envisioned prior to the Fox deal coming together and will be rooted in content carrying Disney’s gold-plated imprints: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.

    The fate of Disney’s deal to buy 21st Century Fox has grown murkier in the past week as Comcast is taking steps to mount an all-cash counterbid that could put pressure on Disney to sweeten the terms of its all-stock takeover of 20th Century Fox, FX Networks, National Geographic Global Networks, and Fox’s regional sports networks.

    “It’s not dependent at all on the assets we’re buying from Fox,” Iger said. He emphasized that Disney is committed to making the bulk of its film and TV library available exclusively on its proprietary streaming service in order to make sure it is a must-have for families. That marks a significant investment from Disney in the decision to forgo third-party licensing coin.

    Iger said content from the Nat Geo channels would be a natural fit with the Disney-branded streaming service. Fox’s regional sports cablers will also be boon to the ESPN Plus sports streaming service that launched last month. But he reiterated that both services were conceived before the Fox assets were in the picture.

    Disney’s family-focused streaming service will launch by the end of 2019. The timing is dictated in part by the end of Disney’s theatrical output deal with Netflix, in order to ensure that recent Disney titles will have their pay-TV window on Disney’s service. Disney also needs time to develop original content for the service. Iger said more details on the original content plan will be revealed “in the coming months.”

    Iger did not address the potential for a showdown with Comcast over the 21st Century Fox assets, nor did he address Comcast’s bid to buy out the Sky satellite platform. Disney is set to acquire Fox’s 39 per cent stake in Sky, or more if Fox’s acquisition of the remainder of Sky is completed before the Disney-Fox acquisition is final. Comcast’s $31 billion bid for all of Sky has thrown a wrench in Fox’s plans for Sky. Fox sought to buy up the remainder of Sky for about $15 billion but the deal, first struck in December 2016, has been under heavy fire from U.K. lawmakers and bogged down in a regulatory review.

  • FuboTV raises $75 million from Fox, AMC Networks and Sky

    FuboTV raises $75 million from Fox, AMC Networks and Sky

    Days after ESPN launched its new streaming service ESPN+, FuboTV, a three-year old streaming TV service for sports fans, is announcing the close of $75 million in Series D funding. The round included new investor AMC Networks and existing investors 21st Century Fox, Luminari Capital, Northzone, Sky, and Scripps Networks Interactive, which was recently acquired by Discovery, Inc.

    FuboTV has been working to carve out a niche for itself in the streaming TV market, where a number of competitors are delivering television programming to cord cutters by way of the internet.

    While many streaming TV services offer some sports content in their base packages, or sell additional access through add-ons, FuboTV’s core focus has been on serving the sports fan.

    The service provides access to live games from the NBA, NHL, UFC, and football, including matches from Bundesliga, EPL, La Liga to Liga MX, MLS, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and UEFA Champions League matches.

    FuboTV’s basic package with 70-plus channels, Fubo Premier, is $19.99 for the first month, which then becomes $44.99 per month after. The streaming service doesn’t just generate revenue from subscriptions, however, and also sells advertising.

    Since the last funding round ten months ago, the company has streamed its first MLB All Star Game, Playoffs and World Series; Tour de France; NFL regular season, playoffs and Super Bowl; college football; and the Winter Olympic Games. And it has exited beta on Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iOS and Android; revamped its user interface; and debuted new features like “Lookback” and “Startover.”

    The lineup it offers has begun to broaden beyond sports in recent months, as well.

    While it has added several new sports additions in the last ten months, it has added entertainment networks, too–including those from its strategic investors. These include AMC, BBC AMERICA, CBS, CBS Sports Network, CBSN, Food Network, FUSION TV, HGTV, IFC, MSG, MSG+, NESN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, Pop, SNY, SundanceTV, The Olympic Channel, Travel Channel and WE tv.

    Combined, FuboTV offers viewers more than 30,000 sporting events per year and 10,000 plus titles in its video-on-demand library.

    Also Read :

    ALTBalaji’s Sethi reaffirms faith in originals

    Shilpa Shetty makes digital debut with Amazon dating show

  • Fox News launches OTT platform

    Fox News launches OTT platform

    MUMBAI: Fox News is getting into the digital business with an upcoming over-the-top (OTT) platform called Fox Nation. It will launch in the fourth quarter of 2018.

    Fox Nation will show live exclusive daily streaming content and there will be long-form programming content that will be accessible only to subscribers. The OTT platform will also have access to exclusive events and archival content from two decades that isn’t available elsewhere. One of them will be popular interactions with Fox’s popular opinion hosts and personalities.

    In making the announcement, Fox senior vice president of development and production John Finley said, “With our traditional cable viewership at an all-time high, we are proud to announce a new digital offering geared entirely toward the superfans, who represent the most loyal audience in cable, if not all of television. This initiative will capitalise on providing that viewer, who is among the most affluent and well educated in cable, with a highly specialised content experience on a platform they can watch anytime, anywhere.”

    Fox Nation will be housed at Fox News headquarters in New York utilising its new state-of-the-art technology and the most modern studio space in the industry. Hiring for the new venture will begin in Q2 2018.

    Fox News Channel is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service dedicated to delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. Owned by 21st Century Fox, it is available in more than 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape.

    Also Read :

    Fox Sports Asia to broadcast SFL 

    Lachlan Murdoch opens up about Fox & Star TV’s billion-dollar EBITDA target

    Disney to buy 21st Century Fox assets for $52.4 billion

     

  • Eros Digital ropes in former Google exec Ali Hussein as COO

    Eros Digital ropes in former Google exec Ali Hussein as COO

    MUMBAI: Kishore Lulla-Rishika Lulla Singh-run Eros Digital is muscling up. The digital content streaming and distribution company has signed up former Google and You Tube executive Ali Hussein as chief operating officer (COO). Rishika Lulla Singh is the CEO of the company.

    Hussein will be spearheading Eros’ digital initiatives including Eros Now, its cutting-edge digital over-the-top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform.

    Hussein is a co-owner of Monozygotic Productions promoted by Rajiv and Raghu Lakshman, Rajiv Luthria, Siddharth and Rahul Tewary (of Swastik Productions). Sources indicate Hussein will continue to retain his substantial stake in the company.  Monozygotic is behind reality show MTV Drop Out Pvt Ltd, which was launched last year.

    Rishika Lulla Singh said, “We are delighted to have Ali join the leadership team at Eros. The impact of digital technology on media consumption is growing at a rapid space, making this sector one of the most exciting in present times. At ErosNow, we are in a robust growth phase and continue to reinvent ourselves as a digital company. With Ali’s experience in media, entertainment and the digital space, we look forward to further capitalising our digital expansion strategy and I wish him all the best.”

    Prior to Monozygotic, Hussein was head of media partnerships, You Tube, where he spent around two and a half years. Before YouTube, he was assistant vice president of digital at Viacom18—looking after Nickelodeon, MTV and Colors—over a three and a half year period. And prior to that, Hussein was assistant general manager at Hungama Mobile.

    Speaking on his appointment, Hussein said, “This is an exciting time for the Indian digital landscape and we are poised to become India’s largest digital entertainment company. I truly believe Eros Now is an established global player that is best positioned to leverage this space with the strength of its vast content library and dominant market share and I am very happy to be a part of this opportunity to take the company to the next level”.

    Earlier this year, Eros Now, the group’s streaming app, had announced a five million paying subscriber base globally. Eros Now has partnered players worldwide to expand its offerings, including Amazon across the US and the UK, Roku in the US, Canada and the UK, and T-Mobile in the US. The company most recently partnered LG for its Smart TVs worldwide, apart from having deals with companies such as Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone, and Idea Cellular in India.

    Eros Now is slated to launch its original shows soon.

    Also Read:

    Eros Now Available on Amazon Channels

    2017: The year OTTs went regional in India

    Eros reports higher profit margin despite fewer releases

  • Netflix: 46% of streaming couples cheat & watch ahead of partners

    MUMBAI: No relationship is safe. According to a new study (also covering India) released on 13 February by Netflix, nearly half (46%) of streaming couples around the world have “cheated” on their significant other, but it’s not what you think.

    Defined as watching a TV show ahead of your significant other, Netflix cheating was first uncovered in a study in the U.S. in 2013. Four years later, cheating has increased three times[1] and has become a common behavior around the world. This behavior only continues to grow with 60% of consumers saying they’d cheat more if they knew they’d get away with it. And once you cheat, you can’t stop: 81% of cheaters are repeat offenders and 44% have cheated 3+ times.

    In a binge-watching world where it’s easy to say ‘just one more,’ Netflix cheating has quickly become the new normal…

    Where is cheating happening? (Everywhere)

    Cheating happens all over the world….though it varies a bit by country. The most cheaters are in Brazil and Mexico where 57%-58% of streaming couples have cheated, respectively. The most loyal viewers are in Netherlands (73% have not cheated), Germany (65%) and Poland (60%).

    What shows are we cheating on? (All of them)

    While no show is off limits, top cheating temptations are The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, American Horror Story, House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black, Narcos, and Stranger Things.

    Why do we cheat? (We just can’t help it)

    Most don’t plan to cheat…it just happens: 80% of cheating is unplanned. The trigger for the growing trend in cheating? Two-thirds (66%) of cheaters said that “the shows are just so good we can’t stop bingeing.”

    How do we cheat? (Any way that we can)

    Sleep with one eye open: 25% of cheating happens when one partner falls asleep. But whether this is even cheating is hotly debated. Half say “sleep cheating” doesn’t count (53%), but the morality of “sleep cheating” varies across the globe. Chileans think it’s no big deal, Japan sees it as unforgivable. Many are still cheating in secret: 45% never admit to their indiscretions.

    Is cheating so bad? (Depends on where you live)

    If you stray, don’t beat yourself up about it. Cheating has become more socially acceptable, with 46% saying it’s “not bad at all.” Unless of course you live in Hong Kong, where 40% think watching ahead of your partner is worse than having an actual affair.

    Is my partner a cheat? (Spoiler alert: Most likely)

    Cheating comes in many forms. Netflix has created a series of assets to help explain the phenomenon. Cheating Profiles highlight the most common types of offenders lurking in households around the world. This infographic illustrates cheating motivations and behaviors, and reaction GIFs help couples work through their indiscretions so they can protect their relationship…or keep on cheating.

    Methodology

    *The survey was conducted by SurveyMonkey from December 20-31, 2016 and based on 30,267 responses. The sample was balanced by age and gender and representative of an adult online population who watch TV shows via streaming services as a couple in The United States, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, India, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, UAE, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, and Denmark.

     

  • Amazon seals Rajini film deal; dares Netflix, hikes sellers’ commissions

    Amazon seals Rajini film deal; dares Netflix, hikes sellers’ commissions

    MUMBAI: Amazon India has signed a content agreement with the Tamil Nadu-based V Creations. The alliance has been negotiated at a time when Amazon is all set to launch Prime Video India, competing with Netflix streaming and Star India’s Hotstar.

    Amazon is bringing the cheapest VOD subscription service in India with Amazon Prime, which comes with a complementary Amazon Prime Video subscription.

    Amazon has been focusing on the two most popular categories in India, that is, sports and of course Bollywood, Mint reported. With this alliance, Prime would have exclusive subscription streaming rights for two of Tamil Nadu’s highest grossing films — Rajnikanth’s Kabali and Theri, a crime drama released earlier this year. Amazon India recently launched its global Prime membership programme, offering fastest product deliveries for an initial fixed price of Rs 499 a year.

    The largest global online retailer Amazon has signed the long-term content partnership with the film production company V Creations when the former is gearing up for launching of its Prime online television service in India which is dubbed as a leading market for entertainment.

    In the UK and the US, Amazon Prime Video is available for $8.99 a month. Now, it is bringing the same service in India for as low as $15 a year. This significantly dents Netflix India regardless of content availability since the subscription price difference is vast.

    As part of its localization efforts, Amazon has been signing content rights in India. Recently, it teamed up with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.

    Amazon meanwhile has hiked the sellers’ commission in categories such as electronics, while reducing it in others such as large appliances, after a festive season confrontation with its competitor Flipkart. Amazon at present has over 120,000 sellers on its platform in India.

    Amazon, Snapdeal and Flipkart operate as marketplaces charging fees and other charges for connecting customers with third-party sellers.

  • Amazon seals Rajini film deal; dares Netflix, hikes sellers’ commissions

    Amazon seals Rajini film deal; dares Netflix, hikes sellers’ commissions

    MUMBAI: Amazon India has signed a content agreement with the Tamil Nadu-based V Creations. The alliance has been negotiated at a time when Amazon is all set to launch Prime Video India, competing with Netflix streaming and Star India’s Hotstar.

    Amazon is bringing the cheapest VOD subscription service in India with Amazon Prime, which comes with a complementary Amazon Prime Video subscription.

    Amazon has been focusing on the two most popular categories in India, that is, sports and of course Bollywood, Mint reported. With this alliance, Prime would have exclusive subscription streaming rights for two of Tamil Nadu’s highest grossing films — Rajnikanth’s Kabali and Theri, a crime drama released earlier this year. Amazon India recently launched its global Prime membership programme, offering fastest product deliveries for an initial fixed price of Rs 499 a year.

    The largest global online retailer Amazon has signed the long-term content partnership with the film production company V Creations when the former is gearing up for launching of its Prime online television service in India which is dubbed as a leading market for entertainment.

    In the UK and the US, Amazon Prime Video is available for $8.99 a month. Now, it is bringing the same service in India for as low as $15 a year. This significantly dents Netflix India regardless of content availability since the subscription price difference is vast.

    As part of its localization efforts, Amazon has been signing content rights in India. Recently, it teamed up with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.

    Amazon meanwhile has hiked the sellers’ commission in categories such as electronics, while reducing it in others such as large appliances, after a festive season confrontation with its competitor Flipkart. Amazon at present has over 120,000 sellers on its platform in India.

    Amazon, Snapdeal and Flipkart operate as marketplaces charging fees and other charges for connecting customers with third-party sellers.