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  • ZEE5 sponsors iconic singer Asha Bhosle’s global farewell tour and tribute to music maestro R.D. Burman, in the UK

    ZEE5 sponsors iconic singer Asha Bhosle’s global farewell tour and tribute to music maestro R.D. Burman, in the UK

    MUMBAI: Digital entertainment platform ZEE5 has announced its title sponsorship of the UK leg of iconic Bollywood singer, Asha Bhosle’s global farewell tour 'Live In Concert…One Last Time'. The event is a tribute to her late husband, the award-winning Bollywood composer and singer RD Burman on his 25th death anniversary. Ashaji will perform at The Concertgebouw on 27th February, Resorts World Arena, Birmingham on 2nd March 2019 and The SES Arena, Wembley in London on 3rd March 2019.

    “My entire life has been about music and as an artiste, it is the love of my fans that has pulled me back to the UK for this last concert. This tour is my tribute to one of music’s greatest legends, R.D Burman whose music lives on in the hearts of millions around the world and is very special to me.” says Asha Bhosle.

    Asha Bhosle’s career spans nearly eight decades and over 12000 songs. She has dedicated this tour to her late husband, music maestro R.D. Burman and will be accompanied on stage by Bollywood singer, Sudesh Bhosle.

    ZEE5 is also hosting a special contest. To participate, audiences in the UK have to download and subscribe to ZEE5 from now till 25th February to win tickets to Ashaji’s shows in London and Birmingham.

    Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer- ZEE5 Global said, “Asha Bhosle is a music icon whose voice has captivated South Asian audiences across generations. When living abroad, it’s the music and movies in the language of your comfort that keeps you connected to home, that makes you ‘Dil Se Desi’, and her music is a big part of that. ZEE5 celebrates that ‘Desi’ pride and we are immensely proud to be associated with her final live performance in the UK.”

    Mr. Sumant Bahl, Director of Grace Entertainment & Events, the organizers of the tour said, “We are very happy to be associated with an artist of this magnitude. We look forward to fantastic performances and will put in our best to ensure that this is a memorable performance for her as well as for all Ashaji’s fans. We are also very thankful to all our sponsors, especially to the title sponsor, ZEE5 who have been our greatest supporter on this one.”

    ZEE5 offers over 1,00,000 hours of Indian TV Shows, Movies, News, Videos etc. across 12 languages to South Asians across the globe, including the UK.  The content repertoire includes top TV Shows like Kumkum Bhagya, Jodhaa Akbar and Bokul Kotha, blockbusters like Kedarnath and Veere Di Wedding, and Originals like Abhay (Kunal Kemmu), Final Call (Arjun Rampal), Rangbaaz (Saquib Saleem) and Sharate Aaj (Parambrata Chattopadhyay).

    ZEE5 is available on Google Play Store, iOS App Store, www.ZEE5.com and on Samsung Smart TVs, Apple TV, Android TVs and Amazon Fire TV.

  • Get ready to laugh, cry and cringe!

    Get ready to laugh, cry and cringe!

    MUMBAI: Today, Netflix unveils the premiere date and the first images of Sex Education, a distinctively honest and witty look at the universally awkward coming-of-age experience. Launching globally with eight, one-hour episodes on January 11, 2019, the dramedy delivers a healthy dose of nostalgia, taking you back to your high school days, with a fresh postmodern take on young adult life, friendships, and attitudes towards sex, identity, love and everything in between.

    Set in the fictional English town of Moordale and shot entirely in Wales, UK, Sex Education is a contemporary British love-letter to the classic American high-school story starring Asa Butterfield ("Ender's Game," "Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children" and Martin Scorsese's "Hugo") as Otis Milburn, the only child of two sex therapists, and award-winning actress Gillian Anderson ("The X-Files," "American Gods," "The Spy Who Dumped Me") as Jean Milburn, his mother, a larger-than-life sex therapist with no filter. Newcomers Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey star in key roles throughout the series — Gatwa as Otis’ best friend "Eric" and Mackey as "Maeve," the mastermind behind Otis’ underground sex therapy clinic. The series also features Kedar Williams-Stirling ("Jackson Monroe"), Aimee-Lou Wood ("Aimee Gibbs") and Connor Swindells ("Adam Groff") as Otis, Maeve and Eric’s Moordale classmates.

    SEX EDUCATION SYNOPSIS:

    Meet Otis Milburn – an inexperienced, socially awkward high school student who lives with his mother, a sex therapist. Surrounded by manuals, videos and tediously open conversations about sex, Otis is a reluctant expert on the subject. When his home life is revealed at school, Otis realizes that he can use his specialist knowledge to gain status. He teams up with Maeve, a whip-smart bad-girl, and together they set up an underground sex therapy clinic to deal with their fellow students’ weird and wonderful problems. Through his analysis of teenage sexuality, Otis realises he may need some therapy of his own.

    Sex Education is created and written by Laurie Nunn and executive produced by Jamie Campbell, and co-executive produced by Sian Robins-Grace. The series is a production of Eleven Film for Netflix, and was directed by Ben Taylor ("Catastrophe") and Kate Herron.

  • This October, Nickelodeon urges you to STAND UP! BE HEARD!

    This October, Nickelodeon urges you to STAND UP! BE HEARD!

    MUMBAI: A study done by Punjab University’s department of psychology, stated that a staggering 77 percent of school children in India reported being a victim of online or offline bullying, compared to 50 percent in the UK and 65 percent in France. Children being bullied in their formative years is a very grave issue that often tends to affect their mental health. If left unattended, the effects can damage the overall abilities of the child for the rest of his/ her life. October being the Anti Bullying month, Nickelodeon under its ‘Together for Good’ campaign will spread awareness about the issue of bullying in schools. It will educate people about what constitutes bullying and what action kids should take to avoid the same.

    With the help of its digital and social media reach, the channel aims to encourage children to speak up and talk to their parents or mentors if they were or are being bullied. The campaign is curated with interactive pictures where Superkid-Shiva champions how to stand up against bullying in different environments. Daaduji – our newest IP also gives out lessons of how bullying can be curbed and creating a safe environment for kids.

    The ‘Together For Good’ campaign was introduced earlier this year with the thought of ‘Say No to Fear and Yes to Safety’, reaching out to 40 million viewers with friendly yet informative videos. This initiative has received heaps of praises from the media fraternity, industry honchos, Bollywood and TV celebrities who’ve also spoken against bullying and promoting child safety.

  • Netflix’s ’13 Reasons Why’ shows massive popularity across markets

    Netflix’s ’13 Reasons Why’ shows massive popularity across markets

    MUMBAI: Netflix’s celebrated series 13 Reasons Why which returned for its second season in May has unbeaten popularity across several countries. Data science company Parrot analytics has come up with Global Television Demand Report for the quarter April-June where it examined ten markets. Among those ten markets, the Netflix original topped the chart for most in-demand original series in eight markets.

    The ten markets on which the report is based are the US, the UK, Austria, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Malaysia, Portugal, New Zealand and Poland.

    Stranger Things, Black Mirror and Orange Is The New Black have also been placed among top ten in-demand originals in most of the markets. The newly launched YouTube Premium original Cobra Kai has also attracted many viewers in some of the markets. Amazon Prime original The Grand Tour has also managed to maintain its appeal this quarter while its last episode was released in February. Hulu’s second season of The Handmaid’s Tale appeared within the top 20 across all evaluated markets.

    With the sweeping change in technology, viewers across the world are consuming TV content through various devices. Smart TV, a new obsession of viewers, has highest reported usage in the US (21 per cent). The UK is another market with high Smart TV usage (19 per cent).

    Interestingly, the audience in Malaysia is more likely to watch television on a mobile (24 per cent) or tablet device (22 per cent) than through a regular television set. In New Zealand, viewers that engage with TV content are very likely to do so through a laptop or desktop. On the other hand, people in Colombia and Germany are more likely to engage with TV content through traditional TV devices.

  • UK targets full-fibre broadband coverage by 2033

    UK targets full-fibre broadband coverage by 2033

    MUMBAI: To ensure that all citizens of UK benefit from technology, the government has said that FTTH should be fitted as standard in all new homes. This proposal is part of a new national telecoms strategy drawn up by the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

    Currently, copper wire network delivers the service which is targeted to be replaced by full-fibre broadband coverage by 2033 across the country. “We want everyone in the UK to benefit from world-class connectivity, no matter where they live, work or travel,” DCMS Secretary Jeremy Wright said.

    “This radical new blueprint for the future of telecommunications in this country will increase competition and investment in full-fibre broadband, create more commercial opportunities and make it easier and cheaper to roll out infrastructure for 5G,” he added.

    As in some parts of the country, it was unlikely that the market could deliver by itself, the government would support investment in the most difficult-to-reach areas. Recently, UK slipped from 31st to 35th place in the global broadband league tables, behind 25 other European countries, as per data from M-Lab.

    “We welcome the government’s review, and share its ambition for full-fibre and 5G networks to be rolled out right across the UK,” Ofcom chief executive Sharon White commented. “The government and Ofcom are working together, and with industry, to help ensure people and businesses get the broadband and mobile they need for the 21st century, ” she added.

    “As well as broadband, this plan will also leave the UK well-placed to introduce the latest 5G mobile technology wherever people live, work and travel,” National Infrastructure Commission chairman Sir John Armitt said.
     

  • Oyo expands footprint in China

    Oyo expands footprint in China

    MUMBAI: Indian budget hotel company Oyo Rooms has forayed into China to cater to the country’s burgeoning hospitality industry. Oyo Rooms.

    The Softbank-backed Oyo in China will have 11,000 exclusive-franchise or merchandised rooms across 26 cities. The service will be available in Xiamen, Kunming, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanjing, Xian among others.

    The company will compete with already established players in the market including Home Inns, GreenTree and Motel 168.

    Oyo founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal says, “The country’s tourism industry is on the cusp of booming and flourishing wherein it enjoys a strong influx of both domestic and international tourists; also the market is as fragmented as the Indian hotel market. With our expertise in managing chain of hotels backed by technological innovations, we will further continue to strengthen our footprint while empowering neighbourhood hotels to emerge in the same league as the big boys of hospitality.”

    The company is looking at expanding its footprint in international markets, with Dubai and Indonesia being high on its priority. Agarwal is also said to be exploring opportunities in the UK and US markets.

  • YouTube launches two new streaming services in 12 countries

    YouTube launches two new streaming services in 12 countries

    MUMBAI: YouTube has launched YouTube Red, YouTube Music, two paid services in 12 new countries. Google has announced that YouTube Music and YouTube Premium will continue its global rollout.

    The 12 new countries include UK, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden. YouTube Music was already available in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Korea.

    Users will be able to listen to tracks as well as watch music videos through YouTube Music. It allows users to listen to music ad-free as well as continue to listen even when the app is closed, and download tracks to their device.

    YouTube Premium which was earlier known as YouTube Red offers ad-free service. YouTube Premium members also can  get access to the full slate of YouTube Originals shows and movies including the hit series Cobra Kai, Impulse, F2 Finding Football and The Sidemen Show.

    Also Read :

    YouTube Red rebranded as YouTube Premium with expanded reach in 14 countries

    Three years down, YouTube Kids unable to make an impact

     

  • Travelxp trains focus on production

    Travelxp trains focus on production

    MUMBAI: Travelxp has made its first big international landing. Come 30 April, it will launch in the UK through the popular Freeview platform. This will be driven by Travelxp Europe MD Sumant Bahl who also leads Travelxp UK from its Greater London office. The network plans to strengthen its content capability by setting up its production houses first in the UK and subsequently in Eastern Europe and thereafter in the Americas. Travelxp CEO Prashant Chotani said that the UK production house would serve as the hub for western, central and eastern Europe within the next four to five months.

    The channel has gone free-to-air in the UK while in every other territory, including India, Travelxp is a pay-TV channel. The company claims to have sold 100 per cent of its ad inventory for its UK channel.

    Travelxp is relayed in local languages in countries such as the UK, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria. The channel also has Hindi, Tamil and Bengali feeds in India. It will get into more Indian languages, including Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, soon. France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary and Austria are also in the pipeline for launch.

    The channel has made aggressive marketing plans targeting the large mainstream audience in the UK with TV campaigns on mainstream television and digital billboard screens across the UK on buses, the underground, and on social media, amongst other initiatives.

    The network, which owns the IP for its content, has a digital platform in the works and details will be out by the year end.

    “We are confident that our popular, premium travel-related entertainment and infotainment-driven content will connect with close to 16 million Freeview subscribers all over the UK. Every television manufactured in the UK after 2008 includes an inbuilt Freeview tuner that enables it to receive channels from Freeview, which is operated by DTV Services Ltd, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva,” Chotani said.

    With end-to-end in-house infrastructure of the latest technology and equipment, Travelxp’s lean crew teams produce programming in line with global standards. Only last week, it announced the launch of two new shows, Thali–The Great Indian Meal and City Breaks’ Uzbekistan series in seven global and three Indian languages.

    The UK content will include the channel’s six main categories of destination, lifestyle, food, culture, nature and heritage.

    Also Read :

    History TV18 focuses on relatable local content

    Cartoon Network HD+ adds Tamil, Telugu feeds

    Sony Yay banks on originals with a slew of fresh content

  • Rahul Sarangi – Greymatter Entertainment @ Mip Formats

    Rahul Sarangi – Greymatter Entertainment @ Mip Formats

    Mumbai, April 6, 2018: Co-founder & Director, Rahul Sarangi is the First Indian invited to be on the panel of Spot the Talent (Formats) @ MIP Formats – 7th April & 8th April 2018 at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres de Cannes in Cannes, France. Rahul will be a panelist amongst renowned industry experts like Matt Steiner, MD, Primal Media, UK; Assaf Gil, CEO, Gill Formats, Israel; Roy Aalderink, Concept Street, Germany, David Flynn, Co-Founder, Youngest Media, UK; Meredith Chambers, MD, Electric Ray, Sony Pictures, USA; Ed Waller, ED, C21Media, UK.

    MIPFormats is the incubator for big ideas, the next wave of must-see formats. Taking place two days before MIPTV, MIPFormats is where the world’s leading producers, commissioners, buyers and distributors discover the very best in entertainment formats.

    Spot the talent – Indies Around The World – A platform to discover exciting formats that have just been commissioned (or are about to be) in this special spotlight, featuring independent format creators and producers from around the world.

    About US

    Greymatter Entertainment is a young media company that offers 360 degree media solutions. We produce LIVE sports, TV shows, digital content and focus on IPR creation. One of the few Indian companies to have sold original formats globally. Our energetic core team brings to the table over 60 years of corporate experience with companies like IMG, TWI, Sony Entertainment Television, MTV, Ten Sports & Viacom 18. With significant knowledge and experience of having produced shows all over the world, we thrive on pushing the evelope!

    Rahul Sarangi, Co-Founder & Director, Greymatter Entertainment

    Rahul has nearly a decade’s experience as a television professional. He has worked for top-of the-line media brands like Synergy and Contiloe in production and Colors and MTV Networks India. Rahul has been associated with shows like Roadies – India’s no.1 youth reality show, Fame Gurukul, Bluffmaster, Splitsvilla, MTV On the Job, MTV Style Awards, Music Awards Asia and many more.

    Apart from producing shows, Rahul also directs live events and has directed international events like the Shakira Concert, Roger Waters Live, the Standard Chartered Marathons, IIFA Celebrity Cricket Live, IPL Funfeed – Live on Youtube and Horse Racing among others.

  • BBC admits struggling to compete with Netflix, Amazon

    BBC admits struggling to compete with Netflix, Amazon

    MUMBAI: Even a broadcaster and ancient brand like the BCC cannot escape the threat of the new digital transformation and change in audience habit. In its second annual report, the British broadcaster admitted that it is facing a crisis as the viewing habits of younger audiences change.

    The kids of today find on-demand content more appealing. 82 per cent of children in the UK prefer YouTube for on-demand content, 50 per cent log into Netflix and only 29 per cent use BBC iPlayer. The report says children spend more time each week online than watching TV.

    “At the same time, maintaining the reach and time that audiences spend with our output is equally difficult, when they have so many other choices at their disposal,” BBC said in the report.

    The report estimates 16 to 24 year-olds spend more time with Netflix in a week than with all of BBC TV including the BBC iPlayer.

    Against this context, BBC wants to keep its commitment to the highest production and editorial standards. It will sustain investment in new and original British output, made all over the UK. “We will take creative risks and keep the right balance between new series and returning favourites,” BBC said.

    “Major new entrants such as Amazon and Netflix have meant that the global media market is increasingly dominated by a small number of US-based media giants with extraordinary creative and financial firepower,” BBC fears.

    BBC’s urgent challenge is to develop new ways to grow its income to keep pace with rich competitors like Amazon, Netflix whose money supply seems to have no end.

    Also Read:

    Netflix announces new Indian original film ‘Lust Stories’

    BBC launches news in Indian languages, ties up with Eenadu and India News