ITV

Tag: Virendra Shahaney

  • SonyLiv ties up with Web Talkies, claims to have become India’s largest original VoD co

    MUMBAI: In a major move which potentially redefines the country’s digital entertainment landscape, SonyLIV has announced its strategic partnership with Web Talkies. Under the association, seven original web series from Web Talkies, including popular shows like CM CM Hota Hai and Maid in India (Season 1 & 2), will now be available on SonyLIV’s web and mobile platforms.

    A paradigm-changing development for the industry, this association follows close on heels of SonyLIV’s recent partnerships with several leading original content creators across India. Web Talkies is a unique platform for personal entertainment which creates, acquires and delivers highly-relatable and engaging content for Indian viewers. Its original web series, like Current 440 Volts, Gang of Big Boys, Border Border, Samadhanki Samasya and Mushaira Unplugged, have received an impressive response from viewers, thanks to their quirky takes, witty dialogues, and humour.

    With its extensive library of diverse and high-quality original content offerings, SonyLIV – the digital platform of Sony Pictures Networks India has become a comprehensive melting pot of India-based digital entertainment. The platform also recently tied-up with Pocket Aces to add high-quality short-form comedy and food-related videos to its vast content library.

    Comments Uday Sodhi, EVP and Head – Digital Business, SonyLIV: “Having pioneered and popularised the concept of original entertainment in India, we wanted to go a step further and curate the best of original content from across the country on our platform. Our partnership with Web Talkies is yet another step in that direction to offer high-quality entertainment to our esteemed viewers. Through our strategic partnerships as well as our own offerings, we have created the biggest repository of premium original content in the country. Complete entertainment offerings across genres of content is our intent and this partnership is a progression in that direction.”

    Virendra Shahaney- Chairman and Managing Director, Web Talkies: “Our partnership with SonyLIV gives our content a great platform and we are sure that this milestone will be crucial in making Web Talkies content the most watched digital content in India.”

  • Budget ’17: OTT players hoping for tax rationalisation to boost growth

    Budget ’17: OTT players hoping for tax rationalisation to boost growth

    MUMBAI: 2016 was indeed a critical year for the over-the-top (OTT) services in India. In an emerging market like India, the potential of more content consumption is certainly a reality. Increasing availability of smart phones, internet penetration, affordable data rates, 4G rollout, availability of good quality content and new entrants have led the OTT industry to bloom in 2016 and the trend is likely to continue. But the segment players are also looking up to the government for a clearer economic roadmap after the shockwaves of demonestisation.

    “The entertainment industry has always been on the forefront of economic contribution. Though it is expected that GST rollout (as and when it happens later this year) would bring about more uniformity in the system of paying multiple taxes, it is also expected that finance minister Arun Jaitley will announce reforms, which will help control piracy issues in the country and help boost video on demand market in India,” said Muvizz.com COO and co-founder Abhayanand Singh.

    Zee’s business head of digital for India Archana Anand opined that 2016 will go down as the year in which the wheels were set in motion for the growth of OTT. According to her, OTT platforms likely to become the go-to source of entertainment in the coming years, particularly for the millennials, who do not have easy access to a TV set and for whom it’s really about the content and not the size of the screen. But for that economic incentives are also needed from the government.

    Echoing similar views, Web Talkies chairman and managing director Virendra Shahaney asserted the government needs to beef up digital infrastructure like Internet and faster implementation of free wi-fi projects. “A relaxed taxation policy for start-ups would be welcome and tax breaks for start-ups should increase to five years with a significant improvement in ease of doing business,” he added.

    Pointing out that India downloaded six billion apps in 2016 making service usage the highest globally, Dekkho co-founder Tanay Desai said ,”The BHIM app has been downloaded 10 million times already indicating a healthy potential payment pipeline. GST will aid online payments for users as well as brands by reducing tax barriers across states in India and the industry looks forward to additional (tax) relaxation measures in the upcoming Budget.”

    Also Read:

    Budget ’17: Media segments seek succour, digital direction from govt

  • Budget ’17: OTT players hoping for tax rationalisation to boost growth

    Budget ’17: OTT players hoping for tax rationalisation to boost growth

    MUMBAI: 2016 was indeed a critical year for the over-the-top (OTT) services in India. In an emerging market like India, the potential of more content consumption is certainly a reality. Increasing availability of smart phones, internet penetration, affordable data rates, 4G rollout, availability of good quality content and new entrants have led the OTT industry to bloom in 2016 and the trend is likely to continue. But the segment players are also looking up to the government for a clearer economic roadmap after the shockwaves of demonestisation.

    “The entertainment industry has always been on the forefront of economic contribution. Though it is expected that GST rollout (as and when it happens later this year) would bring about more uniformity in the system of paying multiple taxes, it is also expected that finance minister Arun Jaitley will announce reforms, which will help control piracy issues in the country and help boost video on demand market in India,” said Muvizz.com COO and co-founder Abhayanand Singh.

    Zee’s business head of digital for India Archana Anand opined that 2016 will go down as the year in which the wheels were set in motion for the growth of OTT. According to her, OTT platforms likely to become the go-to source of entertainment in the coming years, particularly for the millennials, who do not have easy access to a TV set and for whom it’s really about the content and not the size of the screen. But for that economic incentives are also needed from the government.

    Echoing similar views, Web Talkies chairman and managing director Virendra Shahaney asserted the government needs to beef up digital infrastructure like Internet and faster implementation of free wi-fi projects. “A relaxed taxation policy for start-ups would be welcome and tax breaks for start-ups should increase to five years with a significant improvement in ease of doing business,” he added.

    Pointing out that India downloaded six billion apps in 2016 making service usage the highest globally, Dekkho co-founder Tanay Desai said ,”The BHIM app has been downloaded 10 million times already indicating a healthy potential payment pipeline. GST will aid online payments for users as well as brands by reducing tax barriers across states in India and the industry looks forward to additional (tax) relaxation measures in the upcoming Budget.”

    Also Read:

    Budget ’17: Media segments seek succour, digital direction from govt

  • New contest on Samadhan by Web Talkies

    New contest on Samadhan by Web Talkies

    NEW DELHI: Latest digital home entertainment brand Web Talkies is launching another competition linked with its popular satirical show, ‘Samadhan Ki Samasya’ based on a hapless helpline operator who does not have a clue on how to solve tricky situations of callers.

    Continuing its streak of innovative shows coupled with unique contests, the contest calls for creative answers to the question ‘Why do you hate Samadhan’? The participant with the best answer will be awarded a smartphone. Moreover, 10 second prize winners will get a chance to grab amazing goody bags while fifty third prize winners will win special gift vouchers.

    The show, ‘Samadhan Ki Samasya’, has been well appreciated for the whacky scenarios through which the operator and potential problem-solver, S.D. Nagagoje aka Samadhan, becomes the problem himself.

    With subtle political undertones and social commentary combined with oodles of humour, the show has quickly become a favourite with Web Talkies’ viewers.

    “Viewers share an interesting love-hate relationship with Nagagoje,” Virendra Shahaney of Web Talkies said. “Keeping his popularity in mind, we thought it would be great to pose a direct question and gauge the different parameters through which viewers relate with the operator’s character. Everyone has, at some point of time, been in this unenviable situation of handling a job or a situation for which they are completely ill-equipped. Thus, we wanted to explore the different emotions felt by viewers towards a helpline operator who obviously, needs some help himself.”

    The ‘Manoranjan ke 100 Din’ campaign was launched by Web Talkies to celebrate the completion of 100 days of entertaining its viewers with fun-filled and variety original entertainment content. Running since 23 September (and will go on up to to 21 October), a series of contests have already been featured in this campaign, garnering massive response from viewers.

    With ‘Why do you hate Samadhan’, Web Talkies hopes to continue the exciting stream of audience interaction and endear them further to the characters of its popular web properties.

    Launched in July 2016, Web Talkies is a new brand of home entertainment. Conceived and co-founded by former head of fiction programming at Sony Entertainment Shahaney and backed by promoter of the Siddhivinayak Group Kundan Dhake, Web Talkies aims to be amongst the top 5 players in Indian entertainment space in next two years.

  • New contest on Samadhan by Web Talkies

    New contest on Samadhan by Web Talkies

    NEW DELHI: Latest digital home entertainment brand Web Talkies is launching another competition linked with its popular satirical show, ‘Samadhan Ki Samasya’ based on a hapless helpline operator who does not have a clue on how to solve tricky situations of callers.

    Continuing its streak of innovative shows coupled with unique contests, the contest calls for creative answers to the question ‘Why do you hate Samadhan’? The participant with the best answer will be awarded a smartphone. Moreover, 10 second prize winners will get a chance to grab amazing goody bags while fifty third prize winners will win special gift vouchers.

    The show, ‘Samadhan Ki Samasya’, has been well appreciated for the whacky scenarios through which the operator and potential problem-solver, S.D. Nagagoje aka Samadhan, becomes the problem himself.

    With subtle political undertones and social commentary combined with oodles of humour, the show has quickly become a favourite with Web Talkies’ viewers.

    “Viewers share an interesting love-hate relationship with Nagagoje,” Virendra Shahaney of Web Talkies said. “Keeping his popularity in mind, we thought it would be great to pose a direct question and gauge the different parameters through which viewers relate with the operator’s character. Everyone has, at some point of time, been in this unenviable situation of handling a job or a situation for which they are completely ill-equipped. Thus, we wanted to explore the different emotions felt by viewers towards a helpline operator who obviously, needs some help himself.”

    The ‘Manoranjan ke 100 Din’ campaign was launched by Web Talkies to celebrate the completion of 100 days of entertaining its viewers with fun-filled and variety original entertainment content. Running since 23 September (and will go on up to to 21 October), a series of contests have already been featured in this campaign, garnering massive response from viewers.

    With ‘Why do you hate Samadhan’, Web Talkies hopes to continue the exciting stream of audience interaction and endear them further to the characters of its popular web properties.

    Launched in July 2016, Web Talkies is a new brand of home entertainment. Conceived and co-founded by former head of fiction programming at Sony Entertainment Shahaney and backed by promoter of the Siddhivinayak Group Kundan Dhake, Web Talkies aims to be amongst the top 5 players in Indian entertainment space in next two years.