ITV

Tag: US

  • Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global are into talk for merger – Sources

    Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global are into talk for merger – Sources

    Mumbai: Us-based International conglomerates Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount global chiefs met on Wednesday, sources told Reuters. Both companies attributed to making international content are planning to collaborate for upcoming potential projects. For that purpose, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav met Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish allegedly on Wednesday.

    Still, it is not clear that Warner Bros may buy Paramount Global or its parent company ‘ National Amusements Inc ‘(NAI) as per sources speak to the news agency Reuters. According to the Axis report talks between both conglomerates are in the initial stage, so talks have not converted yet into a deal. Paramount is under the management of Shari Redstone led media which owns 77 per cent stakes in Paramount class A.

    In April last year, Warmers Media unit and Discovery merged and formed Warner Bros Discovery, a portfolio that included Discovery Channel, Warner Bros. Entertainment CNN, HBO, Cartoon Network streaming services Discovery+, HBO Max, and franchises such as Batman and Harry Potter. Earlier Bloomberg News reported Paramount was in talks to sell its Black Entertainment Television network to a management-led investor group.

    As per the Bloomberg report old media companies struggle with the transition to streaming. Both companies can collaborate to build infrastructure for film studios and TV networks. If these two media merged it could become the largest media house other than Disney.

  • Colors partners with Diwaili @Times Square In the US; telecast on 26 November

    Colors partners with Diwaili @Times Square In the US; telecast on 26 November

    Mumbai: Times Square, New York is a location almost everyone heads to when visiting the Big Apple. 28 October, this year, visitors were treated to another edition of the grand Diwali festival with the square between 46 and 48 the street being transformed into a colourful tapestry of Indian culture  NYC Mayor Adams, majority leader Chuck Schumer, director for United States domestic policy, Neera Tanden, and assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar lit a diya (lamp) at the famed ball drop tower with family and friends in attendance, symbolising the illumination of the soul and the dispelling of ignorance

    Viacom18’s Aapka Colors channel in the US partnered with Event Guru and sponsor Gopi Dairy came on board to people from various backgrounds in the spirit of love, friendship, and togetherness.

    The celebration culminated in an electrifying concert which started at 8 pm, featuring renowned artists from Bollywood, headlining the event was Mika Singh, the iconic Bollywood singer, and former American Idol contestant, Shuba. Along with, soul-stirring British Indian classical singer, Shivali. Their performances captivated the audience, making 2023’s  Diwali Festival at Times Square an unforgettable experience!

    “As a network dedicated to providing quality entertainment, culture, and connectivity to our diverse audience, being associated with Diwali at Times Square aligns perfectly with our core values. This event is a true celebration of the rich traditions and heritage of India, and we are proud to lend our support to such an extraordinary platform,” said IndiaCast Media executive vice-president & head of international business Govind Shahi.

    “We are delighted to be associated with the magnificent Diwali at Times Square event along with Gopi Dairy. It is a great honor for Colors TV to be a part of this grand celebration, as it provides us with a unique opportunity to connect with audiences every year and spread the spirit of Diwali,’ added  IndiaCast Media senior vice president and business head Americas Sameer Targe.

    “Our collaboration with Diwali at Times Square has successfully spanned for the past three years! This year is exceptionally exciting as our client Gopi Dairy, the title sponsor, increases their focus on the East Coast with our 360 media solution that combines ‘ground’, ‘on air’ and ‘digital elements’, all centered around Diwali. We have elevated our partnership with a multi-level sales and marketing initiative responding to the growing demand for integrated media solutions. Our partnership promises to redefine the media engagement and captivate our audience,” said IndiaCast head of sales & marketing Americas Shalaj Dang.

    “Gopi Dairy is proud to sponsor ‘Gopi Dairy Diwali at Times Square 2023’, a festival rooted in peace, new beginnings, and the human values of gratitude and humility. At Gopi, we’re honored to have been part of your daily lives for over a decade, delivering pure dairy products from our family to yours. This is an historic moment for us all to celebrate the universal festival of light and joy!” added Karoun Dairies CEO  Rostom Baghdassarian.

    “The annual Diwali festival in Times Square plays a pivotal role in the western hemisphere as the festival’s significance and fostering a peaceful and harmonious world. During Diwali, people decorate their homes and share sweets and gifts with their friends and loved ones. Our title sponsor, Gopi Dairy, aligns perfectly with the tradition of spreading sweetness and joy,” stated Diwali at Times Square founder  Neeta Bhasin.

    The event was livestreamed on 28 October and is to now to be telecast on Aapka Colors on 26 November at 1 pm Eastern time and 10 am Pacific Times. 

  • Pocket FM surpasses $25 mn ARR

    Pocket FM surpasses $25 mn ARR

    Mumbai: The audio series platform Pocket FM has announced its entry into the US market and international development.

    The company published a performance update for the period October 2021–September 2022 after finishing its fourth year of operations in September 2022.

    Due to the launch of the micropayment model and advertising solutions, the company’s ARR (annualised revenue run rate), as recorded through October 2022, has surpassed $25 million.

    In its fourth year of operation, the platform has seen a 10X increase in revenue thanks to the addition of micropayments, with 500,000+ weekly transactions.

    Commenting on its fourth-year performance update, Pocket FM co-founder & CEO Rohan Nayak said, “We started with a vision to redefine the audio entertainment space, reviving it as a mainstream entertainment form with audio series, and unearthing unique and unheard stories for our listeners worldwide. As we scale up to emerge as the global audio series platform, we will continue to strengthen our content library and nurture and grow our creator community across the world to keep our listeners entertained.” 

    He further added, “We are glad to have led this category creation with sustainable and profitable growth. As we successfully discovered the content monetisation model in the audio space, our revenue has grown 10X to $25 million ARR in just 12 months. With the continued momentum and expected growth targets, we foresee another 4X growth in our revenue during our fifth year of operations, thus entering the $100 million ARR club within five years of our operations.”

    Content, creators, and consumption

    With 733 audio series, the audio series platform has expanded its selection of content. As a result, audio series, a fictional long-form audio storytelling genre developed and pioneered by Pocket FM, have increased by 270 per cent. With over 90 per cent  of all time spent on the platform, this category has dominated consumption.

    The company’s creator community has grown to over 500,000 people worldwide, and its listener community has increased to over 80 million people. In its fourth year, streaming on Pocket FM has increased by 75 per cent and surpassed 40 billion minutes.

    The age range of its listeners, which makes up more than 80 per cent , is 15 to 35. The majority of people in this category enjoy family drama, romantic suspense, and thrillers. In addition to these well-liked genres, Pocket FM has observed a positive pattern of consumption in the fantasy segment, which has seen a 4X increase in listening minutes. 

    User insights 

    With a median age of only 28.4 years, India is a young country, and younger people have found Pocket FM’s storytelling to be engaging. 85 per cent of all Pocket FM listeners are younger than 35, with 68 per cent falling under the age of 25. Due to its extensive library of content, Pocket FM is incredibly well-liked in rural areas as well as small towns, but among the top five cities on the platform are Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and Hyderabad.

    Over 50 million people listen to audio series, a long-form storytelling genre that Pocket FM developed and promotes. Of these listeners, 26 per cent  are romance junkies, and 20 per cent  are thriller fans. On average, its audience listens for more than 100 minutes every day.

    31 per cent  of Pocket FM listeners tune in to their preferred programming while in motion, primarily during their commute to and from work between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. It’s interesting to note that listeners are more attentive to the platform before bed or when they are unwinding. During the hours of 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight, about 45 per cent of listeners tune into Pocket FM.

    Pocket Novels

    In addition to its audio programming, Pocket FM launched its online reading service, “Pocket Novel,” in October 2021. More than 100,000 novels have been uploaded by the writer community to Pocket Novel in the past year or so.

    Similar to Pocket FM, Pocket Novel has seen a daily average user time of 100+ minutes. During that time, it has recorded well over 400 million reads. Additionally, the company has begun turning the best-selling novels into audio series and has added a robust pipeline across genres.

    Tech and Product

    To increase user engagement and retention, Pocket FM is doubling its investments in its AI and ML capabilities and focusing on developing a sophisticated, personalised content recommendation engine. Additionally, it is developing cutting-edge text-to-speech, image, and NLP generative AI capabilities, which will accelerate content testing and production.

    Additionally, it is enhancing its AI capabilities for content moderation and quality testing that are automated.

    Funding

    With two rounds of capital injections in its fourth year, Pocket FM is in a strong financial position. In December 2021, the company raised $22.4 million in Series B funding, and in March 2022, it raised $65 million in Series C funding.

    The company has raised $93.5 million in total.

  • Meta expands Facebook Reels to over 150 countries globally

    Meta expands Facebook Reels to over 150 countries globally

    Mumbai: Meta has announced the availability of Facebook Reels for iOS and Android to more than 150 countries across the globe. The company is also introducing better ways to help creators to earn money, new creative tools and more places to watch and create Facebook Reels. 

    “Watching video is half of time spent on Facebook and Instagram, and Reels is our fastest growing content format by far. We’re focused on making Reels the best way for creators to get discovered, connect with their audience and earn money. We also want to make it fun and easy for people to find and share relevant and entertaining content,” said Meta in a statement.

    Facebook Reels will be available in Feed, Groups and Watch. When viewing a reel, users can follow the creator directly from the video, like and comment on it or share it with friends. Meta is exploring ways to make it easier for creators to share Reels to both their Facebook and Instagram audiences, such as crossposting. 

    With this move, the company is creating a variety of opportunities for creators to earn money for their reels. The Reels Play bonus program, part of its $ one billion creator investment, pays eligible creators up to $35,000 a month based on the views of their qualifying reels. These bonuses have helped creators fund their reels creation and better understand what types of content works on Facebook. In the coming months, the bonus program will be extended to more countries.

    Building on deep experience in helping creators earn meaningful income from its monetisation products like in-stream ads and Stars, Meta is also building direct monetisation options for Facebook Reels through ad revenue share and fan support.

    “We’re expanding tests of Facebook Reels Overlay Ads to all creators in the US, Canada and Mexico, and to more countries in the coming weeks. We’re starting with two formats: banner ads that appear as a semi-transparent overlay at the bottom of a Facebook Reel, and sticker ads: a static image ad that can be placed by a creator anywhere within their reel. These non-interruptive ads enable creators to earn a portion of the ad revenue,” said the statement.

    Any creator in the US, Canada and Mexico who is part of the in-stream ads program is automatically eligible to monetise their publicly-shared reels with ads. By mid-March, these tests will expand to creators in nearly all countries where in-stream ads are available.

    Meta will also begin testing Stars on Facebook Reels in the coming weeks, so that people can buy and send them while watching reels to support creators. Both overlay ads and Stars are designed so that as more people view and engage with Reels on Facebook, creator payouts can grow.

    Brand suitability controls, including Publisher Lists, Blocklists, Inventory Filters and Delivery Reports for Banner and Sticker Ads in Facebook will be launched shortly. Reels in every region they are available, give advertisers more control over how their ads appear in places they don’t consider suitable for their brand or campaign. The company has been testing full-screen and immersive ads in between Facebook Reels since last October, and will roll them out to more places around the world over the coming months. Just like with organic content on Facebook, people can comment, like, view, save, share and skip them.

    In addition to the features announced last year, creators around the world will be able to access: 

    ·Remix: Create their own reel alongside an existing, publicly-shared reel on Facebook.

    ·60-second Reels: Make reels up to 60 seconds long.

    ·Drafts: Create a reel and choose to “Save As Draft” below the Save button. 

    ·Video Clipping: In the coming months, video clipping tools that will make it easier for creators who publish live or long-form, recorded videos to test different formats will be rolled out. 

    Over the coming weeks, following updates will be introduced to make it easier to create and discover reels in new places:

    ·Reels in Stories: Share public reels to Stories on Facebook, making it easy to share favourite reels with friends and giving creators more visibility and reach. Creators will also be able to create reels from existing public stories.

    ·Reels in Watch: Watch reels directly within the Watch tab. Tools to help create reels in the Watch tab are in the offing 

    ·Top of Feed: New Reels label at the top of feed to easily create and watch reels in just a few clicks.  

    ·Suggested Reels in Feed: Available in select countries, it will suggest reels that users may like in their Feed from people they do not already follow.

    Since launching in the US last September, Facebook Reels has seen creators like Kurt Tocci (and his cat, Zeus) share original comedic skits, author and Bulletin writer Andrea Gibson offer a reading of their published poetry, Nigerian-American couple Ling and Lamb try new foods, and dancer and creator Niana Guerrero do trending dances, like the #ZooChallenge.

  • Sony Pictures Networks launches Sony Kal in the US

    Sony Pictures Networks launches Sony Kal in the US

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), in association with Sony Pictures Television (SPT), has launched Sony Kal Hindi, its first free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel in the US. Sony Kal is SPNI’s new general entertainment destination featuring celebrated and award-winning drama and comedy television series direct from India.

    The channel is now available on Sling TV, LG Channels and Plex, and will be available on additional platforms and services in early 2022, said the statement.

    “With Sony Kal, anyone in the US can get free access to more of our rich and vibrant premium programming on a smart TV, computer or phone,”  said SVP of international business- head of the Americas Jaideep Janakiram. “As our business continues to evolve, this launch follows the successful integration of SonyLIV on SLING and is part of our ongoing commitment to offer the best family-oriented South Asian content in high quality to viewers across multiple platforms and devices.”

    Sony Kal is available on Sling Free and as an addition to Sling international language packages at no extra cost from 26 January. It has iconic shows such as “Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin” and “Bade Achhe Lagte Hai.” The channel’s programming lineup also includes popular shows such as “Mann Mein Vishwaas Hai,” “Dr Bhanumati on Duty,” “Super Sisters,” “Shankar Jai Kishan,” and “Band Baja Bandh Darwaza.”

    “Sling and Sony have a long history of partnering to deliver compelling South Asian content to consumers in the US,” said Sling TV – VP of international Liz Riemersma. “The launch of Sony Kal on Sling is another milestone in that partnership. We are excited to provide this engaging new channel as a valuable addition for all Sling Desi customers.” 

  • Hollywood Scrambles to Avert Strike

    Hollywood Scrambles to Avert Strike

    Los Angeles: Negotiations between the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which represents film and television crew members throughout North America, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Televisions Producers (AMPTP), the bargaining unit for producers with studios, have now resumed in Hollywood in order to avert a threatened strike which would affect film and TV productions nationwide.

    As widely reported, members of the IATSE voted overwhelmingly over the weekend to authorise a strike, bringing film and TV productions one step closer to shutting down if a contract negotiation with major studios is not resolved soon.

    It was the first time in the 128-year history of the IATSE that a nationwide strike has been approved and with the support of 98 per cent of the voters. The outcome is a clear indication that the 60 thousand members who work in television and film will keep pressing for better working conditions. Talks between the two organisations broke down earlier last month.

    “The members have spoken loud and clear. This vote is about the quality of life, as well as the health and safety of those who work in the film and television industry,” said IATSE president Matthew Loeb of the strike authorisation.

    IATSE’s recent three-year contract expired in July and the two parties have been trying to craft a new one, however, IATSE said the AMPTP needs to address issues such as excessively unsafe and harmful working hours, fair wages for all production workers, and reasonable rest periods and meal breaks.

    It is well known that individuals that work in film and television productions don’t usually have set hours, often skip meals, and are forced to work on weekends and holidays. In addition, many of these workers are in the lowest-paid positions.

    In a statement after the strike authorisation, the AMPTP said by leaving the table, the IATSE “walked away from a generous comprehensive package.” They further stated that the contract offered included improvements in rest periods, as well as increases in wages and benefits.

    The threat of a strike comes as Hollywood productions are starting to boom again after being shuttered due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Soundstages are beginning to, once again, be in short supply and productions are now having trouble finding enough workers to keep shooting.

    This fact has further emboldened the IATSE, with members arguing that the pressure to work long hours has grown worse in the streaming age, particularly as studios scramble to ramp up production time lost during the Covid-19 shutdowns. The union said it received over 50 reports of 14+ hour workdays during the first seven months of 2021 as reported by Quartz News.

    “I hope that the studios will see and understand the resolve of our members,” Loeb said. “The ball is in their court. If they want to avoid a strike, they will return to the bargaining table and make us a reasonable offer,” the IATSE president stated as talks were set to resume with the AMPTP.

    The last major Hollywood strike was from 2007 to 2008 when 12,000 writers walked off their jobs. It lasted for 100 days and caused productions to be delayed, shortened, and even resulted in shows being canceled. It’s too soon to know how long an IATSE strike would last but it would affect significantly more workers with 60,000 crew members, ranging from editors to make-up artists to camera operators, potentially walking out.

    Film and television shows produced by studios including Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros, Apple TV, Netflix, Disney+ and others could be affected by the strike which could extend through the United States and Canada and could have ripple effects on shows worldwide.

  • DocuBay goes live on US-based streaming service Struum

    DocuBay goes live on US-based streaming service Struum

    Mumbai: DocuBay, the global documentary platform by IN10 Media has partnered with the US-based streaming service Struum to offer the OTT’s SVOD content to the US market.

    Under this partnership, the aggregation platform created by senior-level Disney and Discovery executives will allow consumers to discover and consume content from DocuBay’s library via a credit-based exchange system with a single subscription.

    DocuBay’s premium (SVOD) factual entertainment content across multiple genres like biographies, sports, nature, science, technology, and more will be made available. Some of the flagship documentaries are “Himalayan Gold Rush”, “The Creepy Line” and “WHO is in control”.

    The partnership will enhance DocuBay’s growth plans to increase the availability to more audiences – around the world, expanding its global presence and growing its user base, it said in a media statement.

    DocuBay, vice president, strategy, Girish Dwibhashyam said, “The digital streaming ecosystem has been evolving for some time and content curation, aggregation is increasingly playing an important role in helping users to find what to watch. DocuBay’s content reaches out to a vast set of audience from across the globe and this partnership with Struum will help viewers in the US sample our premium content.”

    Struum CEO Lauren Devillier said, “Premium content like DocuBay is an excellent addition to Struum with its broad library of documentaries from filmmakers across the globe. With this new offering, Struum subscribers will have the opportunity to explore an incredible array of films they might have not otherwise been able to discover outside the Struum streaming service.” 

  • Times Network expands its global footprint with DistroTV

    Times Network expands its global footprint with DistroTV

    Mumbai: Times Network has partnered with California-based media technology company, DistroScale to distribute its news channels globally. DistroTV is an independent, free, ad-supported streaming television service available across international markets.

    Through the partnership, the network channels Times Now, Times Now Navbharat, and Zoom will be available in the UK and Europe. Mirror Now will be available across the UK, US, and Europe. Times Network is now present in over 100 countries, said the broadcast network in a statement.

    The channels will be a part of DistroTV specialised Southeast Asian package ‘DistroTV Desi’.

    “Catering to the appetite of the rapidly growing global audience, DistroTV is a robust network that offers us the opportunity to strengthen our reach amongst oversees South-Asian viewers and I am confident that with our holistic offering we will continue to keep them informed and entertained,” said Times Network, chief operating officer and executive president, Jagdish Mulchandani.

    “Times Network is part of India’s largest media conglomerates and a great brand that provides news and entertainment channels to audiences in India and around the world,” said Distroscale, co-founder and chief executive officer, Navdeep Saini. “We are thrilled to welcome a multitude of their channels, including their news channel Times Now and Times Now Navbharat, to our diverse, and growing fast platform. The addition of these channels signifies our ongoing commitment to deliver thought-provoking and engaging content to a globally-minded audience.”

    “We are excited to launch four channels from the Times Network for our audiences from UK, Europe, and the US on our specialised SE Asian package ‘DistroTV Desi’. Our international audiences will consume their daily dose of news and infotainment on the Times Now, Mirror Now, and Times Now Navbharat channels and be entertained by the glitzy showbiz, music, and celebrity updates on Zoom,” added Distoscale, vice president of business development, Rajesh Nair.

  • ViacomCBS restructures its global leadership

    ViacomCBS restructures its global leadership

    New Delhi: Global media and entertainment major ViacomCBS has announced that it will unify the company’s US and international businesses under a simplified global leadership structure. Effective immediately, Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins were promoted to the role of president & CEO, with global oversight for their respective brand groups, MTV Entertainment Group and Nickelodeon.

    In addition, CBS president and CEO George Cheeks will expand his role to include responsibility for a global content strategy across ViacomCBS’ FTA networks around the world.

    McCarthy, Robbins, and Cheeks will continue to report to ViacomCBS, president and CEO, Bob Bakish and work closely with ViacomCBS Networks International, president and CEO Raffaele Annecchino. International brand leadership will be realigned under this new structure.

    In addition, ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group president, Dan Cohen will add distribution of ViacomCBS International Studios content to his group’s mandate, which will now oversee all ViacomCBS content licensing and distribution globally. Barbara Zaneri assumes the title of chief program acquisitions officer for ViacomCBS, to reflect her expanded role leading all acquisitions globally across linear, streaming and pay. Zaneri will continue to report to McCarthy and partner closely with leaders across ViacomCBS and VCNI.

    “These changes enable a truly global approach to brand management, content acquisitions and licensing across ViacomCBS’ networks around the world,” said Bob Bakish. “With a global reach of 4.1 billion cumulative homes in over 180 countries, our globally aligned leadership structure will ensure that our internationally recognized brands and content are ubiquitous across every platform and every market.”

  • Mobile Premier League forays into the US market

    Mobile Premier League forays into the US market

    KOLKATA: Esports and skill gaming platform Mobile Premier League (MPL) on Thursday announced the official launch of the MPL App in the US. The app is now available on the Apple App Store and on Android for gamers to download.

    “It is a historic moment for MPL as we launch in the USA and continue to grow our presence around the world,” said MPL co-founder and CEO Sai Srinivas. “With our proven success in India and Indonesia, combined with the soaring popularity of casual real-money skill gaming in the USA, we look forward to providing millions of players in the USA with a safe, fair and incredible gaming experience.”

    MPL will provide gamers in the USA the opportunity to compete in a variety of formats, including head-to-head matches or in tournament play, with the option to participate in free competitions or for low minimums ranging from 60 cents to $6.

    The first slate of quick, fun, and fast-action games includes Baseball Star, Block Puzzle, Bowling, 21 Puzzle, among others. All head-to-head match-ups will be determined by MPL’s proprietary and best-in-class player matching technology.  For any games with real cash prizes, players need to be at least 18 years of age. MPL has deployed security features within the platform to ensure fairplay.

    MPL’s headquarters in the USA will be in New York. The company’s foray into the USA comes on the back of successfully completing two years in the Indonesian market as a leading gaming platform. MPL recently hit five million registered users in Indonesia and offers over 30 games on its platform.

    MPL recently acquired esports company Gaming Monk in India to strengthen its esports portfolio and to scale up esports tournaments and live streaming. MPL organised the first edition of its College Premier League in November last year, with over 13,000 gamers from 100 colleges participating, and the live stream of finals was watched by millions of viewers on MPL’s social media handles. The company aims to scale such tournaments even further in India and Asia this year.

    MPL is backed by marquee investors such as Sequoia Capital, Moore Strategic Ventures, SIG, Pegasus Tech Ventures, Founders Circle, Telstra, Composite Capital, MDI, Go-Ventures, RTP Global, Base Partners, among others. The company has raised $225.5 million in funding till date, and is valued at $945 million.