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Tag: Voot Select

  • Vikas Boni appointed Crunchyroll’s India lead for global distribution & partnerships

    Vikas Boni appointed Crunchyroll’s India lead for global distribution & partnerships

    MUMBAI: Vikas Boni has taken on the role of senior director and India lead for global distribution & partnerships at Crunchyroll, the world’s leading destination for anime and fandom. Based in Mumbai,  Boni’s mandate is to shape the next phase of growth for Crunchyroll in the region. He commenced his new role in July 2025.

    With over 16 years of experience across the media and digital landscape, Boni specialises in building high-impact partnerships, driving revenue growth, and leading content-driven businesses at scale.

    Prior to joining Crunchyroll, he served as business head & chief operating officer at Stars N Stripes, an award-winning digital marketing agency, from April 2023 to June 2025. In this capacity, he was responsible for developing and implementing the agency’s go-to-market strategy, aiming for a tenfold expansion within five years. His responsibilities included managing the agency’s overall profit and loss and establishing four distinct growth services: Studio SNS (branded content division), Social Circle (social media management), Shortcuts (short video content and tech solutions), and In The Air (creator platform).

    Boni also held significant leadership positions at Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd  for over 13 years. His roles there included vice president and head of content licensing & partnerships for JioTV & JioTV+, where he led content licensing, acquisition, and partnerships to enhance the content portfolio and drive value for Jio Platforms Ltd.

    He also served as vice president and head of partnerships for Voot Select & Voot Shots, leading global partnerships for Voot and launching the short-form video product Voot Shots. Additionally, he was vice president and head of MTV Beats, business planning & content partnerships (YME), overseeing business planning and strategic partnerships for Viacom18’s Youth, Music & English Entertainment cluster. He played a pivotal role in launching and scaling youth-focused platforms like MTV Beats, MTV Indies, and Voot Shots.

    He began his career as an assistant manager in the strategy group at TAM Media Research from December 2007 to March 2010. Boni holds an MBA in marketing and a BE in information technology from the University of Mumbai.

  • Tata Play Binge becomes a standalone OTT offering for Rs 59

    Tata Play Binge becomes a standalone OTT offering for Rs 59

    Mumbai: Content distribution platform, Tata Play (formerly known as Tata Sky), has announced the expansion of its OTT entertainment app, Tata Play Binge, to all smartphone users, with no pre-requisite of needing a DTH subscription. Tata Play Binge, the application that aggregates content from across OTT platforms in India and presents it on a single screen, offers subscribers one of the largest collections of movies, TV series, web originals, and live sports from 17 streaming apps, along with gaming, under one roof. In an endeavour to ease the process of content discovery and reduce the hassle of multiple subscriptions, Tata Play Binge is introducing plans starting at Rs 59 per month and providing access to premium content across popular national, international, and regional apps as per subscribed plans. The platform will soon host 25 apps as eight more apps are slated to be added in the coming months.

    The all-new Tata Play Binge offers content in 12 languages from popular OTT apps such as Disney+ Hotstar, ZEE5, Voot Select, SonyLIV, MX Player, hoichoi, Namma flix, Chaupal, Planet Marathi, Sun NXT, Voot Kids, Eros Now, Hungama Play, ShemarooMe, EPICON, DocuBay & Curiosity Stream. Upcoming integrations include Apple TV+, Lionsgate Play, Travelxp, Shorts TV, Reeldrama, Manorama Max, Tarang Plus, Koode, and more. Tata Play DTH subscribers can access Netflix combo plans, and Amazon Prime Video can be accessed with an add-on subscription on Binge.

    Tata Play MD & CEO Harit Nagpal said, “Today, in India, approximately 70+ OTT services cater to 450 million plus consumers with just 90 million paid subscriptions. The penetration at a subscriber level drops further as each consumer needs to subscribe to multiple OTT services. The biggest bottlenecks to the growth of OTT subscriptions are accessibility, availability, and affordability. With our aggregated OTT platform, Binge, we endeavour to address these pain points. Content from across 17 OTT providers plus gaming is available today to all subscribers, accessible through a unified interface with a single subscription package starting at Rs 59 a month. Tata Play Binge makes entertainment easy for consumers while increasing the subscription footprint for our OTTpartners.

    “India is a value-conscious market and value is a derivative of both time and money. Just as Tata Play DTH has connected television viewers across the country to channels from multiple broadcasters, so will Tata Play Binge aggregate content from across OTTs for digital viewers across the country.”

    Tata Play Binge app presents a freemium model, wherein anyone can install the Binge app and view and browse free content across partner OTT apps; and can also watch premium content behind paywalls by choosing subscription plans starting from Rs 59 per month. A single subscription will allow simultaneous viewing on two or more devices. Options such as “Universal Search,” “Language Preference,” and “Create Your Own Binge List” have been made prominent features of the app to create personalised experiences for consumers that reduce time spent navigating multiple platforms.

    Tata Play continues its association with actors Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, R. Madhavan, and Priyamani, who have played relatable, everyday characters to bring out the essence of Tata Play Binge to larger audiences through the campaign, to make entertainment more jingalala. Covering multiple touchpoints, Tata Play Binge’s marketing campaign aims to reach out to potential customers across the country this festive season.

    Tata Play chief communication officer Anurag Kumar said, “Through our campaign, “Bachcha Bachcha janta hai” we have created relatable, slice-of-life characters to bring out the essence of the Tata Play Binge offering, which is – access to all the content from 17 OTT apps covering movies, shows, live sports and more, under a unified platform-  making entertainment consumption easy and simple.”

    Rooted in its mission of providing entertainment on any budget, any screen, anytime and anywhere, Tata Play, through Binge, gives easy and simple access to a variety of OTT content, personalised for the consumer.

  • ACT Fibernet launches its OTT aggregator platform YuppTV scope

    ACT Fibernet launches its OTT aggregator platform YuppTV scope

    Mumbai: Non-telco internet service provider (ISP) ACT Fibernet announced the launch of its OTT aggregator platform, YuppTV Scope. It will offer its users a range of OTT applications such as ZEE5, SonyLIV, and Voot Select.

    YuppTV scope provides users with a single-subscription OTT streaming platform with a large selection of live TV channels, eliminating the time-consuming task of accessing and managing multiple apps on their devices.

    Customers will receive 400+ live channels, 1000+ TV shows, 500+ originals, and 10,000+ movies as part of this package.

    YuppTV founder and CEO Uday Reddy said, “We are excited to partner with ACT Fibernet to launch YuppTv Scope, our single-subscription OTT streaming platform for ACT broadband users. YuppTV Scope offers a unique differentiation by bringing a traditional TV experience to the platform, which we are sure will be enjoyed by platform users. At YuppTV, we look at revolutionising content consumption in the country and ushering in the era of OTT, through this tech-driven content curation platform YuppTV Scope.”

    While existing customers can visit actcorp.in/yupptvscope, enter their registered mobile number or user ID, and generate an OTP to subscribe and add to their bill, new customers can contact the sales representative at the time of booking and request an add-on to their bill.

    Furthermore, new customers who book their connection online can add YuppTV Scope at the time of booking.

    YuppTV Scope provides users with a single-subscription OTT streaming platform that includes SonyLIV, ZEE5, Voot Select, and YuppTV—with an extensive bouquet of live TV channels, eliminating the time-consuming task of accessing and managing multiple apps on their devices.

    The platform provides a highly curated experience with personalised recommendations based on viewership patterns, which are manually curated by a team of experts while also utilising AI and ML capabilities.

    YuppTV Scope simplifies content discovery even further by eliminating the need to access multiple apps to find appropriate content from device types such as Smart TVs, PCs, mobile phones, tablets, and streaming media players.

    In the coming weeks, YuppTV Scope will add two more premium OTT partners to the subscription package.

    Atria Convergence Technology marketing head Ravi Karthik said, “Today, the OTT market boasts 55+ video entertainment apps and is still growing. With so many choices, Indian OTT customers are finding it difficult to subscribe to multiple video services separately. Thus, OTT aggregation services are becoming more popular in the country. With Yuppscope, we aim to satisfy the rising consumer demand for original content and offer a hassle-free experience of subscribing to many platforms with a single click.”

    “We are excited to launch a platform that is fast and provides the best entertainment in the form of a simple monthly subscription with a single sign-up for accessing multiple streaming services,” he added.

  • Tata Play Binge brings bengali entertainment by onboarding hoichoi

    Tata Play Binge brings bengali entertainment by onboarding hoichoi

    Mumbai: Diversifying its content offerings, content distribution platform Tata Play (formerly known as Tata Sky) has added its 13th OTT platform, Hoichoi, to Tata Play Binge. The integration carries forward Binge’s objective of providing users access to content from across all OTT platforms in multiple languages, as well as easing the process of content discovery. With the incorporation of SVF Entertainment, owned and maintained by Hoichoi, users will have access to a library of movie titles and 100+ original series in Bengali. Enabling a wider audience appeal, the key shows are also dubbed and presented in Hindi. The content bouquet can be enjoyed with subtitles through large-screen connected devices—Tata Play Binge+ Android Set Top Box and Tata Play edition of the Amazon FireTV Stick—along with the Tata Play Binge mobile app and the website.

    Tata Play chief commercial and content officer Pallavi Puri said, “Entertainment in the digital age is breaking barriers of language and borders, leading to a widened horizon for content discovery. This allows viewers to choose their titles based on storylines and not restrict themselves to a particular language or region. With this partnership, we aim to take Hoichoi’s vast Bengali movie and original series collection to the whole of India and diversify the watch preferences of the viewers. “

    Hoichoi co-founder Vishnu Mohta said, “As a brand, Hoichoi always aims to provide quality entertainment across the nation and globe and to as many people as possible. This partnership with Tata Play Binge takes us a step closer to that goal. With this collaboration, we can reach a wider audience and have our content on a platform that traverses language barriers, and we are glad to be doing this.”

    Hoichoi has shows and movies across genres, like Eken Babu, Hello!, Rekka, Mandaar, Indu, Haami, Tiktiki, Srikanto, Mon2 Pilot, Feludar Goyendagiri, “Byomkesh,” “Cheeni,” “Dwitiyo Purush,” “Tasher Ghawr,” “Refugee,” and many more.

    Hoichoi joins 12 OTT platforms on Binge – Disney+ Hotstar, ZEE5, SonyLIV, Voot Select, SunNxt, Hungama Play, Eros Now, ShemarooMe, Voot Kids, CuriosityStream, EPIC ON and DocuBay. 

  • Neeraj Pandey, Voot Select unveil upcoming web series ‘Bandon Mein Tha Dum’

    Neeraj Pandey, Voot Select unveil upcoming web series ‘Bandon Mein Tha Dum’

    Mumbai: Voot Select on Wednesday launched the trailer of its upcoming web series, titled Bandon Mein Tha Dum. The series will show the nail-biting journey of the 2020/21 India tour of Australia. Directed by Neeraj Pandey the web series will soon premiere exclusively on Voot Select.

    The trailer was unveiled at a grand launch in the presence of ace cricketers Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Siraj, Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari and director Neeraj Pandey.

    Coupled with a powerful script, behind-the-scenes footage, candid narratives from the winning squad like Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammad Siraj, Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Vihari, their coaches, as well as journalists who covered the series, Bandon Mein Tha Dum sheds light on the trials and tribulations that the Indian cricket team had to navigate ahead of their unforgettable victory against team Australia at their home ground of Gabba, where they hadn’t lost a Test match for 32 years. The web-series focuses on how the team played extraordinarily high-quality cricket and simultaneously redefined the concept of hard work, perseverance, determination, and commitment, setting the highest standards of sportsmanship while breathing new life into the fading format of Test cricket!

    Talking about how Bandon Mein Tha Dum came about, Neeraj Pandey said, “Bandon Mein Tha Dum is an epic tale that outlines ‘Miracles do happen’ and it happened in the India-Australia Test series 2020/2021 which culminated in India’s stunning defeat of the world no.1 test side at their hallowed home turf of Gabba where they hadn’t lost a test match for 32 years. The series was won by India in such a manner that it not only captured the imagination of the entire nation but also provided tremendous joy to the cricketing and wider sporting community all over the world at a time when people were still trying to come to terms with the devastation Covid-19 had brought in their lives. The human stories in this cricketing fairy tale elevated the series beyond a cricketing audience and created huge euphoria across all segments of Indian society. The nation was gripped and it was therefore befitting for us to bring the story to the people of India of one of the greatest comebacks in the history of sports and cricket.

    Nothing excited me more than retelling this story which went beyond high-quality cricket, hard work, perseverance, determination, commitment, sportsmanship and decoding the x-factor through the mind of the players which repeated the David Vs Goliath story!”

    Talking about the series, Viacom18 Digital Ventures chief operating officer Gourav Rakshit said, “At Viacom18 Digital Ventures we have successfully built an ecosystem that caters to the evolving needs of our viewers. With a strategy to create an everyday consumption proposition, we have consistently brought forward entertainment that is high in quality and binge-worthy. Our robustly curated content mix and our success with digital-first is a testament to our commitment to providing viewers with game-changing experiences. ‘Bandon Mein Tha Dum’ is the first of the many such narratives and we will continue to explore new genres and avenues that are in sync with our audience’s core values.”

    Further Viacom18 head- SVoD and international business Ferzad Palia added, “Bandon Mein Tha Dum is a story that every Indian deserves to know, and re-live. The series is based upon the unheard stories and the real struggles behind the victory of the Indian cricket team during one of it’s toughest times. Neeraj is a storyteller par excellence and we are honoured to have him create this special event series for our members. This is the first among many of an entertainment slate like never before. We’re certain that the series will set a new benchmark in special event storytelling.”

  • Viacom18 to premiere ‘Neer Dose’ on Colors Kannada and Voot Select

    Viacom18 to premiere ‘Neer Dose’ on Colors Kannada and Voot Select

    Mumbai: Viacom18 Network’s broadcast channel Colors Kannada and digital platform Voot Select will premiere the Kannada film “Neer Dose” on 31 March. 

    The comedy film will premiere digitally on Voot Select, followed by the world TV premiere on Colors Kannada.

    “Neer Dose” explores the challenge of narrating the life of a sex worker who forges unexpected but meaningful and selfless friendships with a crematorium van driver and a retired man. 

    The film features veteran talents such as HG Dattatreya, Jaggesh, Hariprriya and Suman Ranganathan in the lead roles.

    “I have seen sex workers closely and that has helped me in narrating the character of Hariprriya in this movie,” said director Vijaya Prasad. “I am so excited about the OTT release of the film as the demand of mass audiences for the film is finally being addressed by Voot Select. I can say that the same baby is born twice.”  

  • Voot Select enters Karnataka with its first Kannada original

    Voot Select enters Karnataka with its first Kannada original

    Mumbai: Video-on-demand service Voot Select is all set to enter the Kannada market with its maiden Kannada language series ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ releasing exclusively on the platform on 6 January 2022.

    Produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Firstaction Studios and Danish Sait, ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ is written and directed by Saad Khan. Sait will be seen in the title role. The 10 episodic original is a satirical comedy based on the popular and critically acclaimed Kannada film with the same name.

    The character Nograj enjoys a strong following in the Kannada market owing to its journey from being a voice on the radio to making it to the silver screen. By introducing it to the digital ecosystem Voot Select aims to ride on Nograj’s fandom to broaden its base and win over viewers from the region. 

    To ensure the widespread promotion of its first Kannada original Voot Select will leverage Viacom18’s television network presence with special integrations on Colors Kannada’s ‘Nannamma Superstar’ and on Colors Kannada Cinema’s Talk Show. In addition to local activations in the Karnataka market that will target consumers the series will also be promoted through social media activation and a robust influencer marketing programme.

    Viacom 18 head – SVOD & international business Ferzad Palia said, “At Voot Select, we have been constantly growing our content offering. The release of our first Kannada original reinforces our commitment to cater to audiences across the country and serve them entertainment in a language of their choice. ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ is the first in a robust list of regional originals that will drop over 2022. Over the next 12 months, we will significantly dial-up our regional language roster, while we continue to strengthen our Hindi, international, sports & kids offering.”

    ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ is filled with unexpected twists and turns to depict the corrupt and chauvinistic Nograj’s journey from being an MLA to vying for the most prestigious post in Karnataka, that of the chief minister. Ace comedian Danish Sait will be seen as Nograj, a conceited and self-serving civil servant. The funny political potboiler will also star Prakash Belawadi, Vinay Chendoor, and Disha Madan in pivotal roles.

    “The art of taking something serious and turning it around with a dash of humour is a difficult thing to do. We approached writing the script keeping in mind that if our jokes are funny on paper, it would mostly translate to the visuals as well. The different shades of ‘Humble Politiciann Nograj’ as a zany character shine through his eccentricity. Danish is a thinking actor and embodies Nograj with ease and comic finesse. Also, the genre of our show touches on political satire, and since all our characters are fictitiously funny, we are confident that it will leave our audiences entertained,” stated director Saad Khan.

  • Voot Select set to bring new series ‘Candy’ on 8 Sept

    Voot Select set to bring new series ‘Candy’ on 8 Sept

    Mumbai: Premium OTT platform Voot Select is all set to premiere its next original web series “Candy” on 8 September. The eight-part murder mystery features actors Richa Chadha and Ronit Roy in lead roles

    Directed by Ashish R Shukla and produced by Wakaoo Films, the show also has Manu Rishi Chadha, Gopal Datt Tiwari, Nakul Roshan Sahdev, and Riddhi Kumar in prominent roles.

    In the mists of Rudrakund, the gruesome murder of a school student pushes troubled teacher Jayant Parekh (Roy) and local cop Ratna Sankhawar to unravel a web of disturbing secrets that involve rave parties in the hills, cold cases from the past, malevolent demons in the woods and a hallucinogen smuggled under the garb of Candy. While one section of the society is petrified about the mystery killings and the rumors revolving around an evil force, the others try and solve the mystery behind the drug-infused candy sold to school kids. With infinite twists and turns, “Candy” is a thrilling journey through the world of dark secrets where sins dwell, shared the platform.

    “Ever since its launch, Voot Select has been synonymous with top-drawer storytelling. Candy, our latest original series, is yet another compelling story that audiences will be glued to, right till the very end. Candy marks the launch of our new content slate and we are excited to bring more high-quality entertainment to India,” said Viacom18, head – Voot Select, Voot Kids, and international business, Ferzad Palia.

    “Candy’s gripping storyline and top-drawer cast will ensure to keep our users at the edge of their seats. The thrill and excitement of the show will deliver top-notch entertainment as we look forward to creating more such stories that are compelling and meaningful,” added Voot and Voot Select, head – originals, Manjit Sachdev.

    “It was great directing a stellar and talented star cast for a show like Candy that is so intense and layered. Richa and Ronit have been fantastic and very collaborative. The show is intriguing, thrilling and will keep the audience hooked till the very end,” said director Ashish R Shukla.

  • Voot Select to kick off direct-to-OTT Film Festival on 24 July

    Voot Select to kick off direct-to-OTT Film Festival on 24 July

    Mumbai: Voot Select is all set to host its first ever direct-to-OTT film festival starting 24 July. The Voot Select Film Fest will stream as many as 15 critically acclaimed movies across genres in a span of eight days, the platform announced on Friday.

    The specially curated line-up includes a wide range of movies, including those that focus on socially relevant topics coupled with inspiring stories that challenge conventions and showcase #IndiaUnfiltered.  The movies that will be part of the film festival include Natkhat, Shuruaat Ka Twist (anthology), Ek Duaa, Love in the Times of Corona (anthology), Jaan Jigar, Lines, The Shaila(s) and Lihaaf.

    While the globally renowned and Oscar entrant Natkhat challenges patriarchy that has been embedded in our society and highlights gender equality, Ek Duaa, throws light on gender discrimination in a family set-up while Shuruaat Ka Twist, is an omnibus of six short films mentored by Rajkumar Hirani, Vikramaditya Motwane, Raj Kumar Gupta and Amit V. Masurkar, offering varied interpretations of the theme of ‘Twist’ through short stories. A gripping satirical narrative The Shailas will showcase a tumultuous relationship, wrought by class and caste boundaries, while Jaan Jigar will deal with the issue of moral policing around ‘love’ in a small town of North India.

    Lihaaf, based on one of the most celebrated masterpieces of author Ismat Chughtai by the same name, will throw light on the same-sex love and freedom of speech for women, in a male-dominated society. The anthology Love, In The Times Of Corona explores the current turbulent time when the whole world is reassessing what’s most important in their lives with a deeper understanding. Lines, set in 1999, chronicles the life of a young girl who is divided by borders with her husband and how she returns to him.

    “Highlighting the theme ‘Twist’, my movie Tap Tap in the Shuruaat Ka Twist anthology showcases the struggle of a singer at the twilight of his career to regain his magic.  I related a lot while playing this character and thoroughly enjoyed playing it and I am certain that the audience will love it too,” said actor  Chunkey Panday talking about his performance in Shuruaat Ka Twist.

    Speaking about Ek Duaa, actor Esha Deol said, “I’m extremely proud of ‘Ek Duaa’ which is my home production, and it was an enriching experience to portray the character of Abida who is fighting against gender discrimination in the thresholds of her own house. Ek Duaa is my humble contribution towards such a big issue and I have never been so emotionally invested in any character before. It has truly been a product of sheer hard work that will strike a chord with the audience.”

  • Voot Select hits one mn subscribers within first year of its launch

    Voot Select hits one mn subscribers within first year of its launch

    KOLKATA: Launched with the brand promise of ‘made for stories’ that are differentiated and compelling, Viacom18’s premium SVoD offering Voot Select has hit the landmark milestone of one million active direct paying subscribers in less than a year of its debut. The newest kid on the block has in a short period of time emerged as a formidable game changer by creating disruptive and innovative viewing experiences through fresh stories and category defining initiatives.

    Digital first strategies like 24 hours before television windowing of network content, high decibel immersive experiences, international content and multi award winning originals have all been growth drivers for the platform. Adding to the content diversity, Voot Select will also be the new home to Showtime content in India and the exclusive destination for upcoming Paramount+ shows in the country. The diverse repertoire of international content will include much awaited titles such as Dexter (Limited Series), Ray Donavan Feature-Length Film,  The First Lady from Showtime, and Frasier (Reboot) and Why Women Kill S2 from Paramount+ amongst others, expected to premiere on the platform in India.

    Despite being launched at the cusp of the global health crisis, Voot Select has delivered a phenomenal first year. In an industry first innovation, the brand took their digital-first strategy a step ahead on the back of originals, before TV content and multi genre international offerings. With content available 24 hours before TV, access to 24 Hours Live channel of Bigg Boss and producing pandemic-based fiction thriller series ‘The Gone Game’ – the first series in the category to be shot during the lockdown, Voot Select drove high engagement throughout the year. The award-winning line up of originals like the breakthrough series Asur that emerged amongst the top three shows of 2020, Illegal, Raikar Case, Marzi, and Crackdown amongst others added to the diverse content experience of viewers on the platform.

    With strengthened tech partnerships and more than 40 per cent of watch time on smart TVs, the platform has attracted a cohort of premium customers, providing them with an enhanced viewing experience.

    Viacom18 Digital Ventures chief operating officer Gourav Rakshit said, “We launched Voot Select to engage and entertain audiences in India, with the most compelling stories from across the world. Despite being a recent entrant in the crowded subscription industry, we're thrilled to have made a mark, being the fastest to a million subscribers and delighting audiences on the back of our unique and innovative approach.  Now that we have gotten a better sense of what they loved (and some of the stuff they didn't), we're excited to bring an even bigger and better entertainment extravaganza to their screens in 2021."

    Voot Select, Viacom18 international business head Ferzad Palia added, “It has been a phenomenal year for Voot Select. We have, ahead of our estimates, made the fastest run to a million active paying direct to consumer subscribers in the category in less than a year of launch. Our success story through the year has been scripted on the back of a digital first strategy that keeps consumers at its core as well as a multi genre slate of originals and international content experiences. With our upcoming slate of content and partnerships, we aim to build our leadership position as we continue to entertain our members. We have had a fantastic start to this journey and will continue to invest in quality content and enhanced product experience driving Select towards new echelons of growth.”

    The platform has accelerated its growth with an enhanced viewing experience and continues to be an industry disruptor. With a stellar growth trajectory and offerings such Bigg Boss being available on the platform before TV, launch of premium content and originals like The Gone Game, Asur, Raikar Case, and the robust multi-genre international slate, the platform is all set to further accelerate its growth with an enhanced viewing experience for its users.