ITV

Tag: Youth Entertainment

  • Nodwin Gaming secures Rs 64 crore from parent Nazara for growth & global expansion

    Nodwin Gaming secures Rs 64 crore from parent Nazara for growth & global expansion

    Mumbai: Youth entertainment, gaming and esports company  Nodwin  Gaming announced that its parent  Nazara Technologies has approved an investment of Rs 64 crores in it.

    As per the press release, Nodwin  Gaming’s board has approved plans to initiate a private financing round to accelerate the company’s vision of becoming the No 1 new-age youth media, gaming and esports firm across emerging markets. As the first investor backing this investment, Nazara and Nodwin boards have both ratified this investment that is in the form of convertible preferred stock.

    The funds raised in this round will be primarily allocated to fuel Nodwin Gaming’s ongoing expansion momentum, focusing on enhancing its capabilities, growing its portfolio of intellectual properties (IPs), and strengthening its presence in emerging markets.

    Nodwin  Gaming has been growing organically and inorganically through acquisitions. In the recently announced quarter results of Q2 FY24, revenue grew 91 per cent on a QoQ basis and 111 per cent on a YoY basis. Nodwin  has recently announced the investment and scaling up of ComicCon India and the acquisition of Trinity Gaming.

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder &  MD Akshat Rathee said, “As we continue on our growth and expansion journey, we remain fully committed to building a truly global company coming from India that leads with innovation, expanding our capabilities in new age media in emerging markets. Our focus is on capturing the attention and mindshare of the global youth.”

    The press release highlights Nodwin Gaming’s global expansion, noting that the company manages a range of intellectual properties, including notable tournaments, festivals, and conferences in esports, gaming, music, comedy, pop culture, and live experiences that resonate with young audiences.

    Recently, Nodwin has enhanced its portfolio through several strategic acquisitions, such as the German esports and gaming marketing agency Freaks 4U Gaming.

  • Looking inside MTV Nishedh, an initiative to break social stigma

    Looking inside MTV Nishedh, an initiative to break social stigma

    MUMBAI: MTV is attempting to take the bull by its horns. With its new launch it aims to break the stigma around several health-related issues, make the youth aware about healthier social norms, talk about tabooed topics. The MTV Staying Alive Foundation has partnered with Viacom18 to bring a new campaign, “MTV Nishedh” to India. The campaign which has been adapted from The MTV Staying Alive Foundation’s multi-award-winning campaign ‘MTV Shuga', features a 13-episode fictional series.

    MTV Nishedh, produced by Mumbai-based production company Victor Tango, will premiere on MTV India starting 25 January every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 PM and on COLORS Rishtey starting 1 February, every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 pm. While youth audience will be targeted through MTV, Colors Rishtey will bring the message to a wider audience. MTV Nishedh will also be available anytime on VOOT.

    “The marketing budget will be skewed a little bit like this, but it will be based on what is required of the program. We will try and target the people whom we want to reach out to and therefore, we will use digital extensively,” Viacom 18 group CEO and MD Sudhanshu Vats said in a media roundtable while he was asked if marketing will be more digital-oriented.

    “We have to see as we go forward, so I think it's important. So basically, depending on how the first one performs, depending on how savvy we are with everything, depending on how committed all our partners are. I'm very hopeful they will be but I think it's incorrect for me to say as of now," Vats commented on the possibility of a second season.

    The MTV Staying Alive Foundation executive director and MTV Nishedh executive producer Georgia Arnold also explained how the research went on behind this project. Before starting off anything, they had a talk with the partners about the issues that partners are most concerned about. They also conducted a lot of formative researchs, and particularly in some of the key markets where they are trying to see a change. During focus group discussions with the youth,  they spoke about not only the issues but also about lifestyle. According to Arnold, all of these helped them to build a three dimensional picture of the audience that they are trying to reach.

    Moreover, the key story outline was also shared with young people unlike traditional research. The focus group’s inputs were also incorporated in the script. After the filming was done, the entire series was shown to them. In a unique way, the conversations that came up from watching the series was turned into a teaching guide.

    However, the social message will be delivered in an entertaining way to keep youth hooked to the show.

    Viacom18 also promotes social messages through Colors shows as well. “For primetime Colors, our challenge as of now is the ability to mount a more finite series in because I think India is still not ready for that. Because what happens is our series start building up in six to eight weeks, which is 30 to 40 episodes, whereas some of these shows are only those many in total. So, that is the challenge we have because most of our finite series are 100 or 150 episodes,” Vats answered while he was asked if the approaches are different for MTV initiatives. 

  • MTV announces exciting content line-up for the quarter

    MTV announces exciting content line-up for the quarter

    MUMBAI: In a country with diverse audience preferences, MTV has stood the test of time and withheld its position as India’s no.1 youth entertainment brand. Creating platform agnostic youth content, the first half of calendar year 2019 has been rewarding for MTV. Be it with content that struck a chord, campaigns that won accolades or brand partnerships that went beyond conventions, MTV has continued to bring the best to young India.

    From discovering the complexities of relationships in MTV Splitsvilla 12 or learning to fight one’s own insecurities in Ace of Space to now creating the country’s first ever hip-hop talent with Hustle, MTV invariably places youngsters’ entertainment and interests at the forefront, rightfully owning the position of India’s #1 youth brand.

     “MTV is the definitive leader for youth content in India with 700 mn views and 3.67 bn minutes of viewership in H1 2019, cumulatively on TV and VOOT.  The first half of 2019 also saw us winning big at prestigious platforms such as Promax Asia, Goafest Abby Awards and Indian Telly Awards, amongst others,” Viacom18  Youth, Music and English Entertainment head Ferzad Palia commented.

     “Incorporating the learnings from our Youth Insights report, we are introducing unique concepts such as Hustle and imbibing novelties in successful properties like Splitsvilla and Ace of Space. Experimenting with the time-slot, it’s also the first time that a marquee property like Hustle will be aired bi-weekly instead of once over the weekend,” he added.

    MTV Hustle – The rap mania gets here

    Continuing to be the torch-bearer of all music formats in India, MTV Hustle will foster India’s hip-hop culture for the first time through television. As India’s first-ever rap reality show, MTV Hustle is being judged by hip hop stalwarts Nucleya, Raja Kumari and Raftaar who will mentor and support the contestants. The show will witness 15 rap talents from across India, battle it out through gruelling training and competition to emerge as India’s biggest hip-hop star.

    JBL presents MTV Hustle, co-powered by Philips One Blade & Breezer Vivid Live Life in Colour and associate sponsor – Hike Messenger will air every Saturday and Sunday at 7 pm starting Aug 10th.

    In addition to print and television promotions, the channel will focus heavily on digital integrations such as crowdsourcing the MTV Swagtantra Rap for Independence Day, collaborate with participants to create raps on topics relevant to the youth, content pieces centred around rappers, campus connect events, etc. Another first will be an exciting multi-city Hustle Cypher activation in Mumbai and Delhi. A 12 hour on ground + Digital contest across 5 colleges + 1 public location will culminate into a mega on-ground event where 15 shortlisted rappers will be judged by the best Hip-Hop artists in India.

    Splitsvilla Season 12 – Your best shot at love

    Banking on the success of its past season with a reach of 131 million, MTV sensation Rannvijay Singha and diva Sunny Leone will once again host the 12th season of MTV Splitsvilla. With the theme of Your Best Shot at Love, contestants get the ‘dating app’ derived experience, in reality. Tasks designed to test physical, emotional and intellectual compatibility which empowers them to narrow down their search for the ideal match. Co-powered by All Fruit Juice, Manforce, Denver deodorants, and Vega Hair Styling Appliances, MTV Splitsvilla X2 is ready to premiere on August 16, 2019 and will air every Friday at 7 PM.

    Ace of Space Season 2 – Surviving tight spaces

    With a reach of 71 million in its first season, the highly successful show, Ace of Space is now set to launch its Season 2 with Mastermind Vikas Gupta again on board.  MTV Ace of Space S2 premieres on August 24, 2019 and will air daily at 6pm.

    With a triple dose of Rap, Love and Mind Games, MTV is set to do what its known to do best – be the entertainment destination for India’s youth.

  • YuppTV and Culture Machine partner for YuppTV Bazaar

    YuppTV and Culture Machine partner for YuppTV Bazaar

    MUMBAI: YuppTV Bazaar has tied up with India’s leading digital media firm, Culture Machine, to feature its network of media brands on the YuppTV platform.

    With over 500 million monthly views, Culture Machine has emerged as one of the leading producers of content across genres. Further to this association, YuppTV Bazaar viewers will now be able to watch various digital channels like- Being Indian, Epified, Old Delhi Films, Put Chutney, Blush, Rascalas, Being Indian’s Awesome Sauce, Whack and VIVA to name a few, all ‘owned and operated’ by Culture Machine.

    Speaking at the new alliance, YuppTV founder and CEO Uday Reddy said, “YuppTV Bazaar has gained traction within the young and dynamic internet users. We decided to associate with Culture Machine, following their repertoire of digital media brands and content that appeals to the South Asian internet audiences. We are positive that our users at YuppTV Bazaar would actively enjoy the refreshing new content.”

    Further elucidating on the same, Culture Machine CEO and co founder Sameer Pitalwalla said, “We are excited to partner with YuppTV and expand the reach of our brands to YuppTV Bazaar. The platform has already acquired a vast user base and we are looking forward to making our content available to them via YuppTV Bazaar.”

    The new and existing users at YuppTV Bazaar may now easily access vivid range of Youth Entertainment content, Recipes, Mythology, Audio Series, women’s & lifestyle channel, Tamil Humour and Desi Comedy.

  • YuppTV and Culture Machine partner for YuppTV Bazaar

    YuppTV and Culture Machine partner for YuppTV Bazaar

    MUMBAI: YuppTV Bazaar has tied up with India’s leading digital media firm, Culture Machine, to feature its network of media brands on the YuppTV platform.

    With over 500 million monthly views, Culture Machine has emerged as one of the leading producers of content across genres. Further to this association, YuppTV Bazaar viewers will now be able to watch various digital channels like- Being Indian, Epified, Old Delhi Films, Put Chutney, Blush, Rascalas, Being Indian’s Awesome Sauce, Whack and VIVA to name a few, all ‘owned and operated’ by Culture Machine.

    Speaking at the new alliance, YuppTV founder and CEO Uday Reddy said, “YuppTV Bazaar has gained traction within the young and dynamic internet users. We decided to associate with Culture Machine, following their repertoire of digital media brands and content that appeals to the South Asian internet audiences. We are positive that our users at YuppTV Bazaar would actively enjoy the refreshing new content.”

    Further elucidating on the same, Culture Machine CEO and co founder Sameer Pitalwalla said, “We are excited to partner with YuppTV and expand the reach of our brands to YuppTV Bazaar. The platform has already acquired a vast user base and we are looking forward to making our content available to them via YuppTV Bazaar.”

    The new and existing users at YuppTV Bazaar may now easily access vivid range of Youth Entertainment content, Recipes, Mythology, Audio Series, women’s & lifestyle channel, Tamil Humour and Desi Comedy.