JioStar Launches JioHotstar, Bringing Together JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar

JioStar, the recently formed JV with the merger of Viacom18 and Star India, announced the launch of JioHotstar, bringing together JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar – two of India’s leading platforms for premium sports, entertainment and lots more. This coming together of brands, expansive content, cutting-edge features, and a large audience and subscriber base marks a globally unprecedented milestone in the streaming industry. With close to 3 lac hours of entertainment, unparalleled live sports coverage, and more than 50 crore users, JioHotstar is set to redefine entertainment and unlock Infinite Possibilities for audiences.

Speaking on the launch of JioHotstar, Kiran Mani, CEO – Digital, JioStar said,

At the core of JioHotstar is a powerful vision—to make premium entertainment truly accessible to all Indians. Our promise of Infinite Possibilities ensures that entertainment is no longer a privilege, but a shared experience for all. By integrating AI-driven recommendations and offering streaming in over 19 languages, we are personalizing content like never before.

In line with its promise of making premium entertainment accessible to all, JioHotstar invites everyone to come and watch all their favourite shows, movies and live sports without the need for a subscription. For those looking for an uninterrupted and enhanced experience, JioHotstar provides compelling subscription plans tailored to diverse audience needs, starting at Rs. 149/quarter. Existing JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar subscribers will be able to seamlessly transition and set up their JioHotstar subscriptions.

An Unparalleled Content Universe

JioHotstar is set to redefine entertainment with an extensive and diverse content slate curated for 1.4 billion Indians across 10 languages. From the widest selection of TV programming anywhere in the world to genre-defining originals to widely loved reality entertainment to blockbuster films, anime, and international premieres, JioHotstar ensures there’s something for every viewer. JioHotstar will offer the best of Hollywood, with Disney, NBCUniversal Peacock, Warner Bros. Discovery HBO, and Paramount – all on the same platform; something almost no other streaming service globally provides.

Bringing together the deepest selection of Hollywood entertainment, the best of Indian shows and movies from all parts of the country, and the widest sports offering – JioHotstar promises no matter what you want to watch, you will find it here.

Additionally, the platform introduces ‘Sparks’, a flagship initiative spotlighting India’s biggest digital creators through innovative and engaging formats.

“JioHotstar is setting a new benchmark for digital-first entertainment. The platform is immersive, inclusive, and audience centric. While we have endless entertainment to offer, we are committed to continually innovate and elevate storytelling, ensuring that every Indian, regardless of language, discovers content they love,” added Kevin Vaz, CEO – Entertainment, JioStar, while elaborating on the entertainment offering.

The Ultimate Sports and Live Events Destination

JioHotstar is transforming how audiences engage with sports with immersive, interactive experiences for every fan, from passionate connoisseurs to big-event viewers.

JioHotstar is the home of premier tournaments like ICC events, IPL, and WPL, while also spotlighting grassroots cricket with the Indian Street Premier League and pathway events from BCCI, ICC, and state associations. Beyond cricket, it brings global sporting excellence with the Premier League and Wimbledon while powering domestic leagues like Pro Kabaddi and ISL.

What sets JioHotstar apart is its elevated streaming experience — featuring ultra-HD 4K streaming, AI-powered insights, real-time stats overlays, multi-angle viewing and range of 'culture' and 'special interest' feeds — ensuring fans enjoy deeper, more immersive access to the sports they love.

Emphasizing the platform’s transformative role in sports, Sanjog Gupta, CEO – Sports, JioStar, said, “Sports in India is more than just a game—it’s a shared experience that unites millions. JioHotstar is revolutionizing how fans experience live sports, combining the best of technology, access, storytelling, and innovation with the fan at the heart of everything. Whether it’s the pride in India Cricket, the electric atmospherics of Premier League, passion for India's indigenous sports or exposure for grassroot-level competitions, we will deliver a range of experiences, catering to both 'lean in' and 'lean back' behaviours across a billion screens. We are now taking this philosophy beyond sports by bringing culture-defining live experiences to our audiences. The overwhelming response to Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres live-stream has set us off on this exciting new journey towards infinite possibilities.”

A Brand Built on Infinite Possibilities

JioHotstar’s new brand identity embodies its vision for boundless entertainment. The ‘Big Bang’ symbolizes the dawn of a new era, while the ‘Ripples’ radiate outward, representing energy, transformation, and innovation.

Beyond entertainment, JioHotstar presents unprecedented opportunities for brands and advertisers. With its vast audience reach, advanced ad formats, and data-driven personalization, the platform offers unique ways for businesses to engage meaningfully with consumers.

JioHotstar is not just shaping the future of entertainment—it is unlocking limitless possibilities for audiences, creators, and brands alike.

How to Navigate the Vast Online Entertainment Space in India

There’s a whole host of major entertainment brands vying to win over the massive Indian audience. Seeing India as a growing market that already has more than half of its population using smartphones, it makes sense to try to appeal to the country. In recent years, we’ve seen several major brands enter the market and even fund some local entertainment companies. Netflix, for example, has powered up its service by tapping into local productions.

As a direct result, Netflix picked up RRR and it became a global hit. While a superb film in its own right, without Netflix’s reach and the platform pushing it, RRR may not have been as successful as it eventually proved to be. Now, we’ve even got social media companies diving in to feed the market. Meta has announced that its platforms have helped three in four casual and paying gamers find, play, and purchase new games.

Meta does have its toes firmly dipped in the future gaming space. Their work to create their Metaverse and make virtual reality headsets more accessible looks primed to make them an important player down the line. For now, though, the online entertainment market of India is vast enough as it is. Luckily, there are a few standout platforms that can help those seeking a bit of fun to locate exactly what they need.

Homing in on the Most Important Rating

Of all of the different kinds of online entertainment available in India, nowhere is it as important to pick the right app or platform as it is in iGaming. Most other platforms offer free ways to play or are accessible via a fairly low-cost subscription. In iGaming, you pay as you play. So, from the get-go, you need to know that you’re playing at an online casino that offers the best experience possible.

Reviews of these platforms have many things to consider. There’s the number of slots, the quality of the live casino games, the usability of the app, the size of the welcome bonus, if there are other promotions for loyal players, and much more. However, the most important rating is the payout rate. The best paying casinos available in the country offer a strong baseline for the overall experience.

Being with the sites that have the highest payout rates means that you know you’re getting the best shot at landing a win, on average. The return to player (RTP) of a casino site indicates the average overall RTP of all of its games. So, while you’d want to home in on the games with the highest RTP, a high-paying casino means that there are plenty of them to go around. The top sites range from 97.5 percent to 96.3 percent, so there’s a fair difference.

So Many Streaming Platforms to Navigate

Streaming platforms, especially the biggest ones, feature more shows and movies than anyone could possibly scroll through on their smartphone or smart TV in a reasonable timeframe. The counts are simply massive, and while in-app recommendations can help, they rarely know exactly what you want to watch. To much more easily find the shows and movies that are worth watching and ones that you want to watch, turn to Reelgood.

This is the ultimate platform for finding the best films and shows to watch and where to find them. You can use the top filters to add the services that you subscribe to or narrow it to just one. Then, use the second filter option to cut the selection down by the platform’s score of the production, the release year, and its genre. There’s so much to see across the many Indian streaming platforms, but Reelgood makes it easier to find the good ones.

Picking the Hit Games to Grow an Audience

As gaming grows across India, so too does live streaming. Many people like to build up their gaming experience by inviting a live audience to watch their outings. Of course, it’s not easy to generate a live audience. Platforms like Twitch are loaded with entertaining streamers, so competing can be tough. While you should always play the games you like the most, you could take the approach of picking entertaining-but-niche or just popular titles.

For this, you can turn to Githyp. This platform tracks player counts and viewer counts for games being played on Steam or streamed on Twitch. At the time of writing, the most-watched games on Twitch were League of Legends and Grand Theft Auto V. The most-played on the PC launcher were Counter-Strike 2 and DOTA 2. A good way to generate an audience quickly is to put your spin on the games proving to be popular to watch.

With these platforms, it’ll at least be a bit easier to navigate the sprawling, and ever-growing, online entertainment scene of India.

Vodafone Idea & Lionsgate Play Sign Strategic Partnership to Offer Premium Content on Vi Movies & TV

Lionsgate Play will be available with all the Vi Movies & TV subscription plans, for both, existing as well as new customers

Vi, India’s leading telecom operator, announced a strategic partnership with premium streaming service, Lionsgate Play, unlocking an exclusive library of top-tier content. Featuring action blockbusters, iconic franchises, acclaimed films and series, global awards, exclusive premieres, and a range of dubbed content, Lionsgate Play promises an unmatched entertainment experience. This collaboration further expands Vi’s OTT portfolio, providing a premium, diverse library of Hollywood movies, original series, international titles and more at an affordable price.

Vi Movies & TV is designed to cater to the diverse entertainment needs of consumers, via aggregation of the top OTTs through a single app and single subscription offering consumers the convenience to enjoy content from a wide range of OTTs. Users can explore a rich selection of content, ranging from Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, ZEE5 to Fancode for Sports as well as regional content from Sun NXT, ManoramaMax, Nammaflix, Klikk and Chaupal and now the best of Hollywood with its latest addition - Lionsgate Play. It also offers 300+ Live TV Channels including 30+ Live News Channels. All this is available through Vi Movies & TV app available for viewing on Smartphones, Smart TVs as well as Laptops & Tablets.

With Lionsgate Play, Vi Movies & TV users can now enjoy its extensive library of global hits, featuring blockbuster franchises like John Wick, The Hunger Games, and Saw, alongside standout titles such as Past Lives, Tokyo Vice, Paris Has Fallen, Normal People, Operation Fortune, Plane, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, The Iron Claw, The Beekeeper, Arcadian, and more. Additionally, users will have access to prestigious award shows like the Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, and BAFTA Awards, bringing the best of premium, world class entertainment for Vi Movies & TV subscribers.

The partnership with Lionsgate Play is a testament to Vi’s continuing pursuit of innovation and commitment to delivering best-in-class entertainment. By continuously adding renowned platforms like Lionsgate Play to its offerings, Vi reaffirms its dedication to curating a rich and diverse content ecosystem tailored to the evolving tastes and preferences of Indian viewers.

Govt-owned Prasar Bharati Launches Its Own OTT Platform 'WAVES' to Rival Netflix, Jiostar and Amazon Prime

Prasar Bharati, India's national public broadcaster, recently launched its new OTT platform called WAVES. The platform aims to offer a diverse range of content, including classic shows like Ramayan and Mahabharat, contemporary programming, live events, educational content, and more.

Chief Minister of Goa Dr.Pramod Sawant launched ‘WAVES’ the OTT platform of the national public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati at the opening ceremony of 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, on 20 November 2024. Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary I&B, among other dignitaries was also present on the occasion.

Over 65 live channels, movies, interactive games, live events, and even online shopping are available on WAVES. Available in over 12 languages, including Hindi, English, Tamil, Marathi, and Assamese.

‘WAVES’ makes its entry as a large aggregator OTT with Inclusive India stories embracing Indian culture with an international outlook. It will be spread across 10+ Genres of Infotainment. It will provide Video on demand, free-to-play gaming, Radio streaming, Live TV streaming, 65 live Channels, several App in App integrations for video and gaming content, and online shopping through Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) supported e-commerce platform.

WAVES has three tiers subscription plans —Platinum, Diamond, and Gold, with varying features and pricing.

The Prasar Bharati OTT app is Free to download and view content, with subscription fees for premium content.

WAVES cover live events like the US Premier League Cricket Tournament and religious events like Prabhu Shriram Lalla Aarti from Ayodhya.

WAVES aims to provide a rich viewing experience by blending traditional favorites with innovative new content across multiple genres. It's designed to cater to a wide audience, including those in rural areas, through the BharatNet infrastructure. 

Tech Mahindra and Japanese Broadcaster Fuji TV to Co–Develop/Produce Content for Global Entertainment Industry

Tech Mahindra has entered into a strategic partnership with Japan's Fuji TV. This collaboration is aimed at co-developing and producing content that will cater to the global entertainment industry. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signifies a significant step towards bringing diverse content to international audiences, especially in major markets like India and Japan.

The partnership will leverage Tech Mahindra's expertise in localization and animation services to adapt Fuji TV's original content for Indian viewers in various local languages. This includes dubbing, sub-titling, and animation, which are essential for engaging a broader audience. Moreover, Tech Mahindra will assist Fuji TV in licensing its content to OTT and PayTV platforms within these regions.

This move is particularly exciting as it opens up opportunities for cross-cultural content creation and distribution, potentially introducing new genres and storytelling methods to different audiences. It also reflects the growing importance of the Indian entertainment market on the global stage.

Tech Mahindra and Fuji TV's partnership is set to produce content across a variety of genres for the global entertainment industry. The collaboration will focus on combining Fuji TV's original content with Tech Mahindra's expertise in localization and animation services¹. This means they will be working on adapting Fuji TV's content library to suit Indian audiences in various local languages, which includes dubbing, subtitling, and animation.

The content strategy aims to cater to major content markets like India and Japan, with a particular emphasis on genres that are gaining popularity in these regions, such as Anime and Korean dramas. Additionally, Tech Mahindra will help Fuji TV license Indian content IP and leverage its animation expertise to create fresh and captivating Japanese content for a global audience.

Harshvendra Soin, President – Asia Pacific and Japan Business, Tech Mahindra, said, “We have partnered with Fuji TV to bring their content library in various local languages to Indian audiences. This also marks a significant milestone in Tech Mahindra's growth strategy and strengthens our position in the media and entertainment industry. We see great potential in developing IPs catering to the Indian, Japanese, and other major content markets.”

This partnership is not only about expanding business in the Indian market but also about creating innovative content that has the potential for global reach. The goal is to explore content strategies tailored to the Indian market while introducing a variety of Fuji TV's content to the Indian audience². Through collaboration with creators at Tech Mahindra's subsidiary studios, known for their significant achievements in animation content production and XR & game development, they aim to co-develop unique content.

Toru Ota, Executive Vice President, Fuji Television Network Inc., 大多亮（フジテレビ専務取締役), said, “In the midst of the rapidly growing Indian entertainment market drawing global attention, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with a leading global IT company in India. As part of our initiative to expand into the global content market, we intend to collaboratively explore content strategies that are tailored to the Indian market, leveraging Tech Mahindra's extensive marketing expertise within the region. We are particularly excited about the opportunity to introduce a variety of Fuji TV's content to the Indian audience. Moreover, through collaboration with creators at Tech Mahindra's subsidiary studios, known for their significant achievements in animation content production and XR & game development, we aim to co-develop unique content. Our goal is to not only expand our business in the Indian market but also to create innovative content that has the potential for global reach.”

Fuji TV has produced a wide range of popular content across various genres. This include – First Love: Hatsukoi (2022), a romantic drama, available on Netflix; Silent (2022), A touching drama available on Viki; Mystery to Iunakare (2022), a suspenseful drama available on Viki; Alice in Borderland (2020-2022), an electrifying survival series, available on various platforms including Netflix; and Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend), The OG of android romance Japanese dramas, inspiring a Korean remake and other K-dramas.

In A NielsenIQ Study, 97% Respondents Prefer Streaming on TV Around Dinner Time with Family

• Customers increasingly prefer streaming movies and shows on TV: Study
• Better video and sound quality, variety of content across OTT providers, and comfort of watching on big screen such are the top reasons for streaming on TV
• 66% of respondents binge-watch for more than 5 hours during weekends
• 97% of respondents prefer streaming on TV around dinner time with family

A custom study conducted by NielsenIQ and commissioned by Amazon for TV streaming trends*1 in December 2023, has revealed interesting insights about preferences of Indian audiences to stream their favorite movies and shows. According to the study, 78% respondents prefer streaming online content on their TVs through streaming sticks, smart TVs, and set-top-boxes compared to their other available options like smartphones, tablets and laptops.

Almost 66% of respondents streamed five hours daily over the weekend, as opposed to less than three hours during the weekdays. Additionally, 97% preferred to stream online content on TV around dinner time, and 74% of them watched the same with family especially spouse and children. Per the study, comedy was the most popular genre of content watched by respondents. It was closely followed by sports, thriller, romantic, horror, international TV shows, and news in order of preference. 

Preference to stream on TV due to comfort and better viewing experience

In addition to the availability of an active broadband connection at home, people are streaming on TV due to better video and sound quality, and convenience of accessing variety of content across OTT providers and online sources. Ergonomic benefits also contribute to this preference. Viewing on TV may also allow to maintain a comfortable body posture, alleviating the aches and pains sometimes associated with watching content while holding the phone. 

Speed matters to Indian viewers

When streaming on TV, the most sought-after features according to the respondents were lag-free streaming (39%), and wide range of OTT Apps (24%). Other preferences were availability of voice assistant for searching content and controlling smart home appliances, and ability to stream online content and live TV shows from DTH channels on a single screen.

“Online video streaming has come a long way since its inception, and so has streaming habits of consumers. What has remained a constant is our preference to view content on the biggest screen in our homes – the television. Fire TV is a convenient way to get your favorite shows, movies, sports, and more on your TV,” said Parag Gupta, Director and Country Manager, Amazon Devices India. “Be it to stream content on your older non-smart TV, or get more out of your existing smart TV, the Fire TV stick provides a faster streaming experience, simpler content discovery with Alexa’s universal voice search, and access to 12,000+ apps across genres to users. We are encouraged by the popularity of Fire TV, rated 4+ stars consistently by users.”

Based on a study conducted by NielsenIQ in October 2023*2, it was noted that Fire TV offers the most advanced TV streaming experience to customers. 

*1: The study was conducted by NielsenIQ and commissioned by Amazon for TV streaming trends in December 2023 across 12 major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. The sample size included 800 respondents between the ages 25-45 years, with a demographic distribution of New Consumer Classification System (NCCS) under socio-economic level– A. 

*2: The study was conducted by NielsenIQ in October 2023 in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata. The sample size included 311 respondents between the ages 25-45 years, with a demographic distribution of New Consumer Classification System (NCCS) under socio-economic level– A.

“Estimates and values are incomplete and unreliable, do not accurately represent Amazon’s position within a segment, and do not include the full set of substitutable products available to customers. These data limitations likely underestimate segment shares and understate the impact of competitors in the segment.” While the report has been prepared by Nielsen, it is clarified that the conclusion, views and findings have not been verified by Amazon and the shares noted are an estimate by Nielsen.”

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.aboutamazon.in and follow @AmazonNews_IN.

About NielsenIQ (NIQ)

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full ViewTM.

NIQ, is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit NIQ.com.

JioCinema Sets the Stage for the World of Angel Investing with 'Indian Angels’ the World's 1st Angel Investment Show on OTT

• Digikore Studios has created a new one-of-a-kind show ‘Indian Angels’ which will be streamed exclusively on Jio Cinema
• The show is set to revolutionize the world of investing by offering viewers the opportunity to invest in the featured businesses
• The inaugural episode is scheduled for exclusive release on Jio Cinema at the end of this month

Digikore Studios (NSE: DIGIKORE), has announced the launch of "Indian Angels," the world's first angel investment show which will be streamed on India’s leading OTT platform Jio Cinema. Indian Angels will not only offer angel investors the opportunity to support emerging startups but will also extend a rare invitation to viewers to become investors themselves.

The show boasts an exceptional panel of angel investors, each of whom has risen from humble beginnings to achieve remarkable success. The distinguished lineup includes Ankit Agrawal, Founder and CEO of InsuranceDekho; Shreedha Singh, CEO and Co-founder of T.A.C – The Ayurveda Co; Kunal Kishore, Founder and director of Value 360; Ajinkya Firodia, Managing Director of Kinetic Engineering Ltd.; Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip and director and Aparna Thygarajan, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of Shobitam..

Abhishek More, Founder and CEO of Digikore Studios echoed their sentiments, adding, "At Digikore Studios, we are exceptionally proud to be part of this pioneering venture. 'Indian Angels' embodies the essence of innovation and the boundless possibilities of OTT platforms. It transcends mere entertainment; it signifies a movement that promises to reshape our understanding of investment. So get ready for a transformative journey that will have a profound impact on India's investment landscape and the trajectory of Indian businesses."

JioCinema spokesperson expressed their excitement, stating, "We are thrilled to introduce 'Indian Angels' to the world—a transformative show that transcends traditional entertainment. This innovative endeavor places investment opportunities at the forefront of your screens, democratizing angel investing for all. Prepare to be inspired, educated, and empowered as you witness the dawn of a new era in business entertainment."

The inaugural episode of "Indian Angels" is slated for release in late October, followed by the unveiling of two episodes every week on the JioCinema platform. "Indian Angels" is set to make startup investing more accessible than ever for everyday people. If you've always wanted to invest in startups but felt held back by a lack of knowledge or a formal platform to assist you, this show is a game-changer. It's like your chance to be a part of the action, just like the big players. "Indian Angels" levels the playing field, giving everyone with the passion for investing a shot at shaping the future of exciting new businesses. It's not just another show; it's a movement that empowers regular folks to chase their investment dreams.

Stay tuned for further exciting updates about the show.

About JioCinema:

Viacom18's JioCinema, India's premium digital streaming platform is now emerging as the undisputed leader in the realm of sports and premium entertainment. On sports JioCinema is home to the India’s biggest live sporting event ‘The Indian Premiere League’ and global sporting IPs like FIFA, IPL, LaLiga, amongst others. On entertainment, JioCinema, a powerhouse of stories boasts of a robust and diverse repository of riveting originals, digital film premieres, reality series, regional content, network content and curated entertainment and sporting content, all available for free. This along with the recently introduced subscription segment that will present real-time uninterrupted streaming of premium global titles from across leading studios like Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal is set to establish JioCinema as the ultimate entertainment destination. With 'new movies every week’, ‘new episodes everyday’, and ‘24x7 non-stop non-fiction reality and live sports in ultra-HD across languages and genres, Jio Cinema is a game changer in the Indian Entertainment Ecosystem. JioCinema is available for Android, iOS, and for web users on https://www.jiocinema.com.

About Digikore Studios:

Digikore (www.digikorevfx.com) is a Visual Effects Studio that offers a full suite of visual effects services managed by its seasoned production team. Digikore's dedicated team makes the impossible possible, fulfilling the demands of studios and independent creators alike. Digikore's artists utilize the latest software, hardware, and proprietary tools, which enables them to deliver outstanding VFX on tentpole films and episodic. They count every major studio among their creative partnerships, including Disney / Marvel, Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Lionsgate. They work on the spectacular scenes and tiny details that make movies and shows truly mind-blowing!!!

Click here to view/download Digikore's RHP: https://ipo.digikorevfx.com/rhp.

TRAI Exploring Emergency Ban on WhatsApp and Facebook

TRAI releases Consultation Paper on Regulatory Mechanism for Over-The-Top (OTT) Communication Services, and Selective Banning of OTT Services.

India's telecom services regulator, TRAI, has floated a consultation paper to explore a framework for internet-based calls and messaging apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Apple's FaceTime etc. and selectively ban their services during emergency situations.

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has requested TRAI to suggest a suitable regulatory mechanism for OTTs, including issues relating to 'selective banning of O1T services' as part of its recommendations to DoT.

Further, a parliamentary panel has recommended the DoT to examine the recommendation of TRAI and come out with a policy which will enable the selective banning of OTT services such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram during unrest and crisis as these apps are prone to be used by terrorists or anti-national elements in specified regions.

In December 2021, a Parliament’s Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology submitted its 26th report titled ‘Suspension of telecom services/ Internet and its impact’.

The Committee feels that it will be of great relief if the DoT can explore the option of banning selective services, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram etc. instead of banning the Internet as a whole. This will allow financial services, health, education, and various other services to continue to operate for business as usual thereby minimizing inconvenience and suffering to the general public and also help in controlling spreading of misinformation during unrest.

Through the letter dated 7th September 2022, DoT has also mentioned that "in view of the humongous growth of services in the recent past and these services having reached a matured stage, there is a need to holistically look into the various aspects of these services induding regulatory, economic, security, privacy, and safety aspects. This is also in keeping with para 2.2 of the National Digital Communications Policy - 2018 which mentions the policy goal for "Ensuring a holitic and harmonal approach for harnessing Emerging Technologies' It has been mentioned therein that a policy framework for 'Over the Top' services will be developed."

The consultation paper mentions — "In some use cases such as messaging, consumer preferences have switched from traditional telecommunication services to OTTs. With OTTs used increasingly for messaging and to some extent for voice communication, globally, the general trend is a transition from voice and SMS towards data as a primary source of revenue for telecom service providers. In India, composition of the revenue basket of wireless access service providers has undergone a sea-change in the period from the year 2013 to 2022.

Cloud based OTTs : An Issue for Selective Banning

DoT has informed committee that services hosted on cloud are difficult to ban selectively since they operate from multiple locations in multiple countries and continuously shift from one service to the other. However, websites operating through fixed URLs can be banned.

The websites that use dynamic IP addresses and are hosted on cloud servers can pose a challenge to conventional methods of blocking – said the consultation paper. In such situations, such situations, alternative methods may be necessary to effectively control internet filtering. Advanced techniques can be employed to identify and block access to such websites.

Further, there may be scenarios where the targeted websites use Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (https) protocol. HTTPS protocol provides encryption and security for websites, making it difficult for service providers to block content on these sites. However, there are still ways to block or filter content at a network level, such as using a firewall or content filtering software. As far as area specific barring is concerned, it also needs to be carried out at network level, for which effective methods are required to be worked out.

The Department have also informed the parliamentary committee that Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram etc. are basically categorized as OTT services in short. These OTT services are riding over the existing telecom service provider's network.

In the consultation paper, the regulator has sought views on the requirement of a framework for OTTs encompassing lawful interception, privacy and security, customer verification, pesky calls and messages, technical challenges in banning specific service etc.

In the past several consultation papers, TRAI has set aside the demand for regulating internet-based calling and messaging apps.

TRAI has set August 4 as the last date for comments on the paper and August 18 for counter comments.

OTT Advertising: The Future of Streaming Ad Campaigns

As consumer preferences shift towards streaming services, over-the-top (OTT) platforms have emerged as a powerful force in advertising. OTT advertising is transforming how marketers reach their target audiences, offering unparalleled personalization and flexibility.

As you read on, we delved deeper into the intricacies of OTT advertising, discussing its challenges and opportunities, and explored how this advertising medium is shaping the future of streaming ad campaigns.

What is OTT Advertising

OTT advertising is a modern approach to reaching audiences through streaming platforms like Roku, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. It's like traditional TV commercials but with a digital twist.

OTT video ads are the commercials you see while watching shows or movies on these streaming services. They come in different flavors – some play before your show starts (pre-roll), some during (mid-roll), and others after it ends (post-roll).

TV viewership data is the secret sauce that makes OTT advertising even more powerful. It's all about collecting information on what people watch, how long they watch, and who they are. This data allows advertisers to create ads that speak to viewers' interests and habits.

So, picture this: When an ad appears, you're cozy on the couch, binge-watching your favorite series on a streaming platform. But instead of being annoyed, you're interested because it's about something you love.

That's the magic of OTT advertising – using OTT video ads and viewership data to create a tailored advertising experience that keeps viewers engaged and entertained.

The Rise of OTT Advertising: A Game Changer for Marketers

OTT platforms have disrupted traditional advertising by offering marketers new ways to engage audiences. The key advantages of OTT advertising include the following:

Advanced Targeting

With OTT advertising, marketers can leverage user data to deliver highly targeted ads based on demographics, interests, and viewing habits. This precision targeting ensures that ads are relevant and engaging to the viewer, resulting in higher conversion rates.

Cross-Device Reach

OTT ads can be displayed across various devices, including smart TVs, tablets, and smartphones. This cross-device reach enables advertisers to engage audiences wherever they consume content, providing a seamless and consistent brand experience.

Measurable Results

Unlike traditional TV advertising, OTT advertising offers robust measurement and analytics capabilities, allowing marketers to track ad performance and make data-driven decisions to optimize their campaigns.

Navigating the Complexities of OTT Advertising

Despite its numerous benefits, OTT advertising presents unique challenges for marketers due to its complexities.

Complexity in OTT advertising refers to the intricacies of creating effective ad campaigns on streaming platforms. Key factors contributing to these complexities include:

Diverse Ad Formats

OTT advertising offers various formats, such as pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll, interactive, and native ads. Marketers must carefully select the most effective campaign format, considering factors like viewer engagement and platform compatibility.

Fragmented Landscape

The OTT ecosystem is highly fragmented, with numerous platforms offering distinct content and advertising options. This fragmentation requires marketers to develop tailored strategies for each platform, increasing the complexity of their campaigns.

Agile Ad Budgets

The nature of OTT advertising requires advertisers to maintain flexible ad budgets to capitalize on emerging opportunities or scale back when necessary.

Real-Time Optimization

Advertisers must continuously monitor and adjust their campaigns based on viewer engagement and platform performance to maximize the return on their ad spend.

The Road Ahead: Trends Shaping the Future of Streaming Ad Campaigns

As OTT advertising continues to gain momentum, several trends will redefine the future of streaming ad campaigns:

Enhanced Personalization

Data-driven targeting will enable advertisers to create increasingly personalized and relevant ads, leading to a more engaging viewer experience.

Unified Cross-Platform Strategies

Advertisers will increasingly integrate their OTT campaigns with other digital channels, such as social media and programmatic advertising, to deliver a cohesive brand experience across multiple touchpoints.

AI-Powered Campaign Optimization

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies will be pivotal in optimizing OTT ad campaigns, enabling marketers to make data-driven decisions and improve overall performance.

Immersive and Interactive Ads

Advancements in technology will lead to the development of more interactive and immersive ad formats on OTT platforms, providing advertisers with innovative ways to engage viewers and create memorable brand experiences.

Expansion of Addressable TV

Addressable TV allows advertisers to deliver targeted ads to specific households and will likely grow with OTT advertising. This will give marketers even more opportunities to reach their desired audiences with accuracy and relevance.

The Emergence of New Business Models

Advertisers must explore alternative methods to reach viewers as more OTT platforms adopt subscription-based models with limited or no ads. These may include sponsored content, product placements, and strategic partnerships with content creators or platforms.

Focus on Privacy and Compliance

As privacy regulations evolve, OTT advertisers must prioritize user data privacy and comply with regulatory requirements. This will necessitate the development of innovative targeting and measurement solutions that respect user privacy while delivering effective ad campaigns.

Rise of Connected TV (CTV) Advertising

With the growing popularity of smart TVs and the convergence of traditional TV and digital video, CTV advertising will become an essential component of marketers' OTT strategies. CTV advertising will offer enhanced targeting and personalization opportunities and the ability to bridge the gap between linear TV and OTT ad campaigns.

Wrapping Up

The entertainment world is changing like never before, with streaming services stealing the show. And guess what? OTT advertising is totally flipping the script for marketers trying to reach their audience.

It's all about custom-made experiences, super smart targeting, and getting actual results. No wonder everyone's raving about it.

But hold on, it gets even better! Imagine even more personalized ads, AI handling all the nitty-gritty, insanely immersive experiences, and making sure privacy stays a top priority.

It's mind-blowing how OTT advertising is transforming the whole streaming ad scene, opening up a whole new world of opportunities for advertisers to make a splash with viewers.

Indian Languages OTT Platform Stage Raises Rs 40 Cr in Funding Round Led By Blume Ventures

Indore-based STAGE, World's first OTT platform in local Indian languages/dialect, has raised Rs 40 crore in funding round led by Blume Ventures, reported Economic Times.

STAGE is an Indian language content platform (OTT) for artist led entertainment such as poetry, comedy and storytelling etc.

Other investors who participated in the latest round of funding include NB Ventures, Dholakia Ventures, TSM Ventures, WeFounderCircle, Mumbai Angels, and Tarmac Ventures, among others, reported Economic Times.

Existing investors Better Capital, IPV, TCA, and Venture Catalysts also participated in the funding round.

The startup plans to use the freshly raised funds in going deeper into Haryana and Rajasthan region, and create more original content and grow the product.

The startup also plans to capture 10% of the 25 million-plus households watching video content in Haryana and Rajasthan by mid-2024. By 2027, STAGE plan to launch in the top 20 dialects of the country, which have the potential to reach 200 million-plus Households.

Founded in 2019, by Praveen Singhal, Shashank Vaishnav and Vinay Singhal, STAGE allows the artists to create local standup content for the local audience in their local context and dialects, a "STAGE" that allows the artists to distribute and monetize their content, a STAGE that allows the audience to discover highly curated local standup content that connects with them.

Last year in March, STAGE raised Rs 3.5 crore in an angel round led by Inflection Point Ventures. Paytm’s founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma also participated in the funding in his personal capacity, along with Sprout Investment Fund and Giridhar Malpani, founder of Climber Capital. 

Currently, STAGE offers content in Haryanvi and Rajasthani languages only and is available on Mobile (android and iOS), TV, Web and Tablets.

STAGE also offers a VIP service which allows users to consume premium web series and videos through a subscription.

Conscent, Building India's 1st Pay-Per-Use Subscription Service for News/ OTT, Raises Rs.13.26 Cr in a Bridge Round Led by Inflection Point Ventures

The company will launch 15 product features in the next 12 months around payments, discovery, engagement, and retention

ConsCent, an Indian start-up that provides monetization diversification technology to power reader revenue funnels for news, OTT, and other content platforms, raised a total of Rs 13.26 crore in a bridge round. The round was led by Inflection Point Ventures. In India, 30 news publishers and OTT platforms use ConsCent to maximise user revenue.

The round also witnessed the participation of early-stage funds like Varanium Capital, RiSo Capital, SucSEED Innovation Fund, Sigurd Ventures, Startup Angels Network, AngelList, PitchRight Ventures, and angels like Quess Corp’s Vijay Sivaram, Droom’s Sandeep Aggarwal, former Rivigo Co-founder Gazal Kalra, among others.

This is the ConsCent’s second round since it raised a seed capital of Rs 4 crore in August 2020, from AngelList, WhiteBoard Capital, PitchRight Ventures; and marquee angels like Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Innov8's Ritesh Malik, Droom's Sandeep Agarwal, BharatPe's Suhail Sameer, and Mamaearth's Varun Alagh, alongside others who continue to support the idea and commit to empowering the content ecosystem in India.

ConsCent is the world's first and only platform that provides a complete micropayment to subscriptions stack with best-in-class analytics and engagement tools. Built on top of a universal login and interoperable payment mechanism, it helps content companies get more paying users and convert them over time into long-term subscribers, and manage their renewals. The ConsCent login system enables users to binge-pay for premium content on all its network partners without having to repeatedly or separately log into them – without losing any data.

Digital news publishers and OTT players can use ConsCent to diversify their content monetisation funnels beyond ads and subscriptions by establishing a strong "direct-to-consumer" journey via a combination of:

• Understanding the user via behavioural and predictive analytics
• Engaging the user via customised targeting and recommendation solutions
• Easing the Content payment via a Universal login and an Interoperable Payment Mechanism
• Letting a wider user base sample their premium Content through micropayments and build a subscription flywheel
• Retain the subscribers via automated customer retention solutions (LAUNCHING SOON)

Some of ConsCent’s existing partners include: India Today Group (India Today, Cosmopolitan, and Business Today), Outlook India Group (Outlook India and Outlook Business), MidDay, Indian Retailer, Amar Ujala, Udayavani, Amar Chitra Katha, EPIC On, Tinkle Comics, and New Indian Express.

Former journalists Sunny Sen and Sounak Mitra founded ConsCent to bridge the gap between access and digital payments for premium content. The company has since evolved into the world's first integrated solution that provides content companies with 360-degree insight into consumers and converts scrolling moments into revenue.

Sunny Sen, CEO & Co-founder, ConsCent

"We are excited about ConsCent’s future, and welcome our new investors. The financing is a validation of ConsCent's vision to create great monetisation opportunities for media and content companies and democratise the consumption of premium content through easy one-click payments, better recommendations, and intelligent engagement. We see this as a multi-billion opportunity as we pioneer the concept of pay-per-use to subscription, coupled with ML-driven recommendations, and intelligent paywalls and engagement," said Sunny Sen, CEO and Co-founder of ConsCent.

"With this funding, ConsCent will be able to achieve faster speed-to-market as we expand our technology and sales teams. ConsCent will use the funding to build futuristic tech solutions that will help media companies understand the digital consumer, engage with them in the best way possible while creating technology solutions that will allow media companies to introduce the world's first intelligent paywall, based on user behaviour understanding of who will pay how much, and for what kind of content, whether it is through pay-per-use or subscriptions," said Sounak Mitra, Founder and COO.

“ConsCent will primarily use the new funding to expand the product. "We will expand our technology team and launch over 15 new products and features over the next 12 months, in the areas of payments, engagement and retention, and design. We are also developing an entirely new AI/ML-based personalisation engine to ensure the highest level of content affinity for each content consumer,” added Sen.

The next six months will be critical for ConsCent as the venture eyes expanding its operations beyond India and deepening its penetration into the Indian subcontinent.

Mitesh Shah, Co- founder, Inflection Point Ventures said, “Content in the form of news is a powerful consumption tool. Increasingly, serious readers are preferring to move to a subscription led model because amidst the noise it is challenging and time consuming to get meaningful content. ConsCent’s pioneering approach of pay per use subscription model promises to provide premium content and also enables like minded people to connect, strengthen their partnership and monetise their service. We believe this amalgamation of content and fintech has the potential to disrupt traditional content as we know it.”

"Global trends in digital content consumption are rapidly changing. ConsCent's solution provides data-driven personalized recommendations and monetization using micro payments and subscriptions. ConsCent empowers publishers to better manage their content lifecycle. We are excited to join them in this growth journey" said, Aparajit Bhandarkar, Partner at Varanium Capital.

ConsCent has surpassed 5 lakh users who can access premium content on ConsCent's partners without creating multiple logins and can unlock premium content with a single click. 

India Today Group (India Today, Cosmopolitan, and Business Today), Outlook India Group (Outlook India and Outlook Business), MidDay, Indian Retailer, Amar Ujala, Udayavani, Amar Chitra Katha, EPIC On, Tinkle Comics, and New Indian Express are amongst some of our key partners.

ConsCent's partners have not only increased their paying user base 10X in a year, but have also assisted publishers in making their premium content more discoverable through recommendations, engaging with users through audience segmentation-based targeting, and even retaining them through a host of marketing tools – all through one single dashboard.

Edtech Startup PrepInsta Launches New OTT Learning Platforms - PrepInsta Prime

PrepInsta, edtech startup for practice coding, aptitude, and new technologies announces new platform PrepInsta Prime which will follow an OTT format enabling learning material and techniques for college students and working professionals.

PrepInsta prime shall offer 150+ courses under a single subscription plan. The array of courses covers popular upskilling programmes including- UpSkilling Courses, Coding Courses, Placement Preparation courses etc., to widen the scope of job opportunities for the aspirant.

The subscription includes upskilling courses like - AI/ Machine Learning, Cyber Security, coding courses in C/C++, Python, DSA, Competitive coding and the platform also provides company-specific micro-courses for brands like Amazon, TCS, Mu Sigma, Capgemini and others 150+ courses. 

PrepInta Courses

“We aim to democratise learning where a learner should get access to quality education at affordable prices with PrepInsta Prime Subscription. Students should not sacrifice learning outcomes and should have access to and explore all skills, technologies and job opportunities in the new digital world,” said Atulya Kaushik, CEO & Co-Founder, PrepInsta.

"We target upskilling around 100K learners by the end of 2022. Additionally, PrepInsta prime shall continue adding new courses in sync with the market demand. By the end of the current calendar year, we plan to have at least 300 courses on its portfolio.", said Manish Agarwal, Chief Marketing Officer, PrepInsta. 

Unlike other platforms where aspirants can only access a single course, and get restricted if they wish to explore, through PrepInsta Prime they may avail all the courses available on the platform. The subscriptions for the students are available at a very nominal price starting from INR 2499 for 3 months to INR 6499 for 48 Months.

About PrepInsta

Founded by Atulya Kaushik & Aashay Mishra, PrepInsta is a free platform for students to practise coding, aptitude, and new technologies. PrepInsta helps students to prepare for placements with the best study material, coding problem set, AI based performance tracker with over 1.5 million + monthly users.

PrepInsta Prime is a new learning OTT platform for college students and working professionals which offers 150+ courses under one subscription offering - UpSkilling Courses, Coding Courses, Placement Preparation courses with Certifications and job opportunities.

Website - https://prepinstaprime.com/

Prime trailer - https://youtu.be/VIJZDU6XjVk

Mumbai-based Video Tech Platform Toch AI Partners with USA Cricket for the Historic Series Between USA and Ireland

Toch AI will provide fans the opportunity to relive the best moments of the match during and after the game through highlights on USA Cricket Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels

Toch.ai, a cloud agnostic platform that uses AI and ML powered technology to create new assets from video content in real time has partnered with USA Cricket. Through this partnership fans will not miss a minute of the action and can relive best motments for the Dafabet USA vs Ireland Men’s International Series 2021 that began yesterday in Florida.

The five-match series will feature two T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals which will be played between 22 December to 30 December. This will be the first ever game where the Irelands Men’s Cricket team would be playing against the United States of America team on American soil.

Toch.ai was formed in 2016 with the vision to disrupt video technology through automating workflows and has developed an industry leading platform, which specializes in sports content production amongst others. With video consumption on a rise, federations across the globe are embracing the technology to reach fans faster and to provide engaging content outside of live coverage.

Toch AI co-founders

Commenting on this partnership, Vinayak Shrivastav, Co-founder and CEO said, “The USA is a key geography that we are expanding into. Cricket can no longer be considered loved only by Indians. The popularity of cricket is growing worldwide. The series between Ireland and USA is the first ever game played by Ireland on American soil and is one to look forward to. Through our revolutionizing technology we will provide video highlights and clips for USA Cricket Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels ensuring fans never miss a moment. “

Acknowledged as one of India’s most promising startups, Toch.ai has been recognized across the technology sector including Best AI startup 2021 by Franchise India and Entrepreneur Media and by Nasscom AI Game Changers for the category of ‘Computer Vision Award’ for accelerating India with innovation in 2021.

About Toch.ai

Toch AI uses deep learning technologies to meta-tag video content and generate bite sized clips based on pre-identified key moments (for eg: in Football - goal, save, yellow card etc). The clips are auto-resized and time-optimised to suit different social platforms and can be auto-shared with relevant graphics and bumpers added as per the client's requirements. The entire process is automated and does not require any manual intervention. The technology renders itself across all popular sports and Toch works closely with broadcasters, OTTs and rights holders to ensure they get the maximum ROI from their content. For more information visit www.toch.ai.

B2B Video Tech Startup Mogi IO Launches OTT Cloud Platform for Bharat

OTT Cloud Benefits -Enable millions of content creators & owners to launch their own video / OTT app & monetize their content

Mogi IO (www.mogiio.com), a B2B Video tech venture haslauncheda global first - OTT Cloud solution for Bharat. This platform would enable millions of content creators & owners esp in Bharat (Tier 3 & 4 towns) to launch their own mobile app & web platform to stream their video content & start monetizing their content via Subscription (SVOD), Pay per View (TVOD) & Advertising (AVOD)

Speaking about the launch, Mogi’s Founder & CEO Vikrant Khanna said, “India has an abundance of talent that runs deep into our villages & small towns, while creators & content owners can showcase their content on Youtube& other video apps their monetization is marginal & content ownership for the IP gets compromised on these platforms. With Mogi’s totally managed, plug & play, no code OTT cloud solution they can now launch their own branded apps & web apps in days & start making money. The best part is there is no upfront cost, they pay only if they get viewers & start making subscription money through the payment gateway integration in the OTT or if they opt for advertising based revenue. So Mogi’s OTT cloud is zero risk while empowering the youth of Bharat thereby bringing alive the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Story. Built by Indians, For Indians and Used by Indians.”

Mogi OTT cloud platform, has been designed keeping the ever-evolving needs of the OTT industry combined with extremely streamlined and simple video delivery workflow along with flexibility and scalability of a cloud platform. Additionally, Mogi’s OTT Cloud is powered by its patented Streaming Engine which leverages a multi CDN architecture to deliver buffer free videos even in tier 3 & 4 towns where network connectivity maybe fluctuating, while Mogi’s AI based compression ensures 50% better reduction in video size compared to even global solutions. This would a result in a user experience which is truly world class.

Mogi OTT Cloud Platform would enable -

• Buffer free video streaming, even in Tier III& IVtowns
• Up to 50% Superior Compression than other solutions, while enhancing video resolution
• Up to 4 K streaming quality
• More 50% better cost efficiency
• Robustness, reliability & scalability of a world class platform

Mogi is already working with marquee clients such as DishTV, Stage, FlowersTV, Momspresso, BritAsia TV (UK) & WTF Sports (Thailand) among many others

About Mogi

Established in 2019, Mogi is a B2B Video Tech SaaS start-up that leverages Artificial intelligence (AI) in building cutting-edge IPs to disrupt the Video streaming space. Mogi enables content platforms to stream buffer-free videos, of high quality, at 50% of their size leveraging its patented AI technology. This buffer-free video results in superior viewer engagement while reducing streaming costs to half for the video platform.

Mogi recently raised an undisclosed amount from Pentathlon Ventures and aimed to raise another round by the end of this year. This year, the Startup plans to launch retail products for video & image tech solutions across product segments along with their white label OTT. Additionally, to scale the company to the next level, the Mogi team would be expanded and aims to hire people at different levels such as tech development, product and sales.

Mogi is started by Vikrant Khanna and Rahul Lahoria. Vikrant is Ex COO of Homeshop18 & Ex VP Digital at Airtel. Rahul Lahoria is M Tech in Comp Sc (IIT Kharagpur) and has filed for six patents.

AiStream and Delinet Announce Partnership to Address the Needs of Unconnected People in Underserved Broadband Markets

AiStream UK and Delinet India are pleased to announce that they have entered into a strategic partnership, bringing together their complementary capabilities to support unconnected and under-served digital markets.

The AiStream content experience and payments hub plug-and-play hotspot is bundled with Delinet's IP-TV to deliver a value added service based on wi-fi enabled appliances at the last mile.

The premise of the partnership is to enable deployment of education, health and other citizen centric services-at-scale for service providers without the requirement of a fixed or mobile network infrastructure.

The credible platform comes with the key benefits of pre-integrated marketplace, play store, billing, DRM protection and supports multiple new-age business models in a stand-alone or connected environment. To expand into underserved markets, Delinet and AiStream are planning to initially deploy its edge appliances at 100 challenging locations in the coming quarter, with a major roll out planned over the next 12 months and beyond.

The company is working to reach 300 million users in India and other developing countries by 2025." COO and Co-founder of AiStream Peter Abbott said."This partnership has been made to exploit strong synergies of the technology platform developed by AiStream with the current business of Delinet and the Surbhi Group. We jointly see a potential to significantly augment the digital content consumption in unconnected markets" Udit Aggarwal, Director of Delinet commented.

Director of Delinet also commented "Deploying AiStream technology within our Group of companies will give us a disruptive capability to open up new digital markets. Our strategic ambition as a Group is to constantly extend our reach and bring opportunities for content partners and advertisers alike to reach previously unconnected eyeballs, audiences and communities in an affordable way."

About AiStream:

AiStream brings an on-demand solution for education, entertainment and public services in markets and communities around the world who have little or no access to the internet. Over 3.6 billion people live without access to digital services and the AiStream solution removes the barriers normally associated with bringing access to the unconnected. The AiStream software platform creates both social impact for communities and market opportunities for content owners and service providers by delivering content via ‘On Grid/ Off Grid’ hubs at the very edge of the network. The edge wi-fi hub enables users to access and download content free of data charges. One experience-connected or unconnected.

All of the services available at the edge are available in the cloud providing a consistent user experience. As 4G/5G networks roll out and bandwidth becomes available and affordable then AiStream communities will seamlessly integrate into the 5G edge ecosystem. Learn more at www.aistream.tv and follow us on LinkedIn. For all direct enquiries please contact ckapoor@aistream.tv

About Delinet:

Delinet Broadband Pvt Ltd is a company promoted by industry veterans who come with a vast background of working in the field of Cable TV, DTH, Satellite TV Channels, IPTV, Mobile TV and Triple Play and now delivering next generation enhanced services in the same domain.

Pallycon Adds a Powerful Anti-Piracy Service to Trace Illegal Content Leak Sources on OTT Platforms

The anti-piracy service tracks send red alerts and later eliminates illicit content from the pirated site.

Mumbai, India Sept 8, 2021 : PallyCon, a global leader in Multi DRM and content protection service provider, announced the launch of a powerful Anti-piracy service for the OTT platforms. The Anti-Piracy service tracks and mines illegal content leakage and sends a red alert to the source of the illicit content generator.

The Anti-piracy service supported by forensic watermarking integration globally monitors content leakage. It issues a DMCA Takedown Notice to the pirated website for eliminating unlawful content from the site.

Pallycon’s forensic watermarking integrated system intelligently crawls and detects hundreds of illicit pirated links over the internet. It takes down the same while providing customers with the choice to detect the source of piracy

Features of powerful Anti-piracy service -

• 24×7 Fully Automated service for monitoring
• Global Coverage (for crawling, Detection & Takedown)
• Automated and manual takedown service
• Pre-integrated with PallyCon Forensic Watermarking
• Unique identification of piracy source
• Suitable for VOD content

Expressing his views on the launch, Mr James Ahn, Founder & CEO of INKA ENTWORKS, said that producing premium content requires effort, time, and money. Illegal content copy leads to massive losses to producers and diminishes the charm of new movie releases or any creative content produced.

Pallycon can now safeguard and enable content production houses and content studios to fearlessly produce and distribute content safely by adding an anti-piracy service to the digital arsenal.

The Anti-piracy service is a premium addition to the suite of PallyCon content protection, warehousing and forensic watermarking technologies designed to secure and guard apps and developers against various breaches and content piracy.

Details - https://pallycon.com/anti-piracy/

About PallyCon

PallyCon is a premium content protection service by INKA ENTWORKS trusted by 200+ customers globally. With a 360-degree, cloud-based end-to-end content security for OTT platforms, such as Multi DRM, Forensic Watermarking, Visible Watermarking, Distributor Watermarking, Anti-Piracy services, App Security with Quick and Simple integration, Inka Entworks is a ONE-IN-ALL solution for OTT owners.

Narendra Firodia Led Hyperlocal, Vernacular Media Platform LetsUpp Acquires Majority Stake in Khaas Re TV

Popular Hyperlocal Vernacular platform 'LetsUpp' led by Entrepreneur Narendra Firodia acquires majority stake in well known digital entertainment company 'Khaas Re TV'

The digital space gained big popularity in the past year as online activity increased due to the pandemic. Many OTT platforms along with YouTube channels saw a massive increase in their viewership. Looking at this popularity and its bright future 'LetsUpp' which is led by Narendra Firodia recently acquired majority stake in the Marathi youtube channel 'Khaas Re TV.'

LetsUpp is a hyperlocal vernacular infotainment app which gives regular updates on international, national, entertainment & sports news etc. with an aim to provide information on different subjects to the people in different Indian languages. Today it is one of the fastest growing mobile platforms with more than 3 million global subscribers. 'Khaas Re TV' is a digital entertainment company known for creating comedy videos, songs etc. 'Trump Tatya', a parody of 'Mulshi Pattern' trailer, Joe Biden's funny remix are some of their popular videos. Their recent song 'Usacha Ras' & 'Gavran Munde' which is the Marathi version of the Punjabi song 'Brown Munde' received more than 4 lakhs & 2.6 million views. Apart from these, they have also promoted many Marathi films which eventually got huge box office success.

'Khaas Re TV' was started by Sanjay Shridhar from Barshi, Solapur. While studying in Pune Sanjay started doing wedding photography and that was the time when he gained interest in media. He then shifted his focus on video production and started 'Khaas Re TV' with Mahesh Mahamuni & Krishna Jannu. In this journey Sanjay and his team's 'Khaas Re TV' gained big popularity. 'Pablo Sheth', 'Thet Bhet', web series titled 'Viral', are some of their trending videos. Their unique and engaging content also grabbed the attention of many marathi celebrities. 'Khaas Re TV' which was started in April 2017 completed its four successful years in 2021.

Talking about this investment Narendra Firodia says, "Over the time YouTube channels have gained immense popularity & I feel that 'Khaas Re TV' has a lot of potentials to become one of the topmost YouTube channels. My aim is also to make good quality content for the mass audience. Along with this investment, I will also give good infrastructure & mentor them for creating more engaging content."

He feels that digital content space is the next "Big Thing". Being the founder of many successful ventures in different fields, the entertainment field has always been his favourite. Along with this recent investment in 'Khaas Re TV', in the past, he also invested in digital platforms like "WYN Studio" which is a content creation startup that creates content for brands etc. & "The Bridge," which makes sports-related content. A few months back Narendra Firodia also announced the launch of a new regional OTT platform 'Letsflix Marathi' which will feature originals, movies, short films, documentaries etc. The launch of these ventures in the entertainment industry shows his love and passion for this field. But very few know that he entered this industry back in 2012 with the start of "Ahmednagar Mahakarandak," which is a big platform for artists to showcase their talent. Today it has become Maharashtra's biggest One-Act Play competition.
 
With this investment, Narendra Firodia aims to give people more premium quality and engaging content. It will be very interesting to see what kind of different and unique content will be offered to the audience in future.

Homegrown OTT Platform STAGE Raises INR 3.5 Cr in Angel Round led by Inflection Point Ventures, Participated by Vijay Shekhar Sharma

(L-R) Shashank Vaishnav, Co-founder and CTO, Vinay Singhal, Co-founder and CEO, Parveen Singhal, Co-founder and CCO

Homegrown OTT platform STAGE, launched in 2019 by Vinay Singhal, Shashank Vaishnav and Parveen Singhal has raised INR 3.5 Cr in an angel round, led by Inflection Point Ventures, India’s largest and most active angel network. Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma along with other investors Sprout Investments Fund, Giri Malpani (Malpani Ventures) also participated in the round.

Being the first and the only dialect-based OTT platform, STAGE boasts of over 1.5 million downloads in Haryanvi dialect alone. It is now available in Rajasthani dialect too. STAGE plans to launch new dialects such as Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magadhi in 2021. It is also the only artist-based OTT platform in the country as well; with content in art forms such as comedy, poetry, folk, and storytelling.

STAGE plans to use the funds for building a stronger content library and launching subscription service of their platform.

Mitesh Shah, Co-Founder, Inflection Point Ventures says, “India is a country made of micro countries, with different markets from each other. While the Hindi/English language dominated OTT platforms have changed the decades old entertainment rules, we believe vernacular OTT platforms will be the next wave, considering we have large regional media consumption in the Country. Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali are some of the biggest regional content churning industries with a much higher viewer engagement statistics. STAGE is the first and the only dialect-based OTT platform in India. With 1.5m+ downloads in Haryana alone, the platform is all set to build the most hyper local content company ever built in the world. Focusing on the diversity of the country, Stage is gradually taking up different regions and increasing its penetration. Its uniqueness in idea and a great founding team helped IPV decide to fund the start-up."

STAGE has kept its focus intact to optimize the ROI by working on professionally generated content at incredibly low prices. It has the production cost of 1/10th as compared to other OTT platforms. It aims to go beyond the centralisation and work on creating a platform focused on the regional diversity of the country.

Vinay Singhal, Co-Founder & CEO, STAGE says, “We found the right partner in IPV as their turnaround time, founder friendly processes helped us in closing the round quickly. IPV’s actively leverages its investor network strength to help its portfolio companies. They are aligned with us on our vision to build the most hyper local vernacular OTT platform ever built for Bharat.”

He adds, “We believe that languages are just an urban concept in our country, the moment we move beyond the urban settlements, everyone speaks a dialect. The great thing is most of these dialects are as big as some of the European languages. It is not just a great business opportunity to create quality content in these dialects, but absolutely necessary to preserve the unique diversity and culture of our country for the next generation."

STAGE aims to reach about 500 million users in the next 5 years.


About STAGE

STAGE is a leading digital, hyper-localized, professionally-generated content platform offering trending, entertaining, informative content in multiple languages and dialects. Launched in 2019, STAGE, the first of its kind, artist-led and dialect-based OTT platform offers sensible and premium content through stand-up artforms such as Poetry, Comedy, Storytelling, Folk, and many more.

OTT Platform Forays Into Theatrical Distribution

As an old adage goes, ‘New games need new mindsets’, the space of Indian Entertainment is witnessing some new disruptions with novel mindsets. Leading the trend is the new OTT Platform which intends to exploit its films theatrically before traditional streaming. NET5 is the OTT Platform which is in the process of releasing Hollywood and International content in Cinemas before making it available to its digital subscription base. With almost two films to be released in every month, NET5 is widening the reach by dubbing it in various Indian languages.

Explaining the move, Chief Operating Officer Balwant Singh explains, “We have great reverence for Exhibition sector and we firmly believe that nothing comes closer to the Cinema watching experience. The stardom it generates and the euphoria it brings is an altogether different experience which is inimitable. We want to create a sound balance of exhibition and digital arm of entertainment by bridging the gap. As an OTT Platform, we intend to offer both experiences to our consumers and Legacy of Lies’ is our first offering followed by Bruce Willis starrer Antilife.”

With sudden eruption of OTT Platforms and majority of content preferring this new breakthrough, the scene at Cinema Hall is quite dismal. This move will ensure a steady flow of content to Cinemas before they are consumed on digital space. The move looks positive and timely!

About Prime Original’s

Prime Original’s Pvt. Ltd. is an entertainment service company engaged in the business of films, web series, short movies & digital entertainment. The company is actively promoting world cinema & entertainment content through the movie distribution channels like cineplexes and its new OTT App - NET5, a video streaming platform that allows users to watch content across electronic devices.

Govt Notifies Guidelines and Ethics Code Rules 2021 for Digital Media (Social Media) and OTT Platforms

Social media platforms welcome to do business in India but they need to follow the Constitution and laws of India

Social media platform can certainly be used for asking questions and criticize

Social media platforms have empowered ordinary users but they need accountability against its misuse and abuse

The new Rules empower ordinary users of social media, embodying a mechanism for redressal and timely resolution of their grievance

Rules about digital media and OTT focuses more on in house and self-regulation mechanism whereby a robust grievance redressal mechanism has been provided 

while upholding journalistic and creative freedom
The proposed framework is progressive, liberal and contemporaneous.

It seeks to address peoples’ varied concerns while removing any misapprehension about curbing creativity and freedom of speech and expression.

The guidelines have been framed keeping in mind the difference between viewership in a theatre and television as compared to to watching it on Internet

Amidst growing concerns around lack of transparency, accountability and rights of users related to digital media and after elaborate consultation with the public and stakeholders, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 has been framed in exercise of powers under section 87 (2) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and in supersession of the earlier Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2011.

While finalizing these Rules, both the Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting undertook elaborate consultations among themselves in order to have a harmonious, soft-touch oversight mechanism in relation to social media platform as well as digital media and OTT platforms etc.

Part- II of these Rules shall be administered by Ministry of Electronics and IT, while Part-III relating to Code of Ethics and procedure and safeguards in relation to digital media shall be administered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The Digital India programme has now become a movement which is empowering common Indians with the power of technology. The extensive spread of mobile phones, Internet etc. has also enabled many social media platforms to expand their footprints in India. Common people are also using these platforms in a very significant way. Some portals, which publish analysis about social media platforms and which have not been disputed, have reported the following numbers as user base of major social media platforms in India:

1. WhatsApp users: 53 Crore
2. YouTube users: 44.8 Crore
3. Facebook users: 41 Crore
4. Instagram users: 21 Crore
5. Twitter users: 1.75 Crore

These social platforms have enabled common Indians to show their creativity, ask questions, be informed and freely share their views, including criticism of the Government and its functionaries. The Government acknowledges and respects the right of every Indian to criticize and disagree as an essential element of democracy. India is the world’s largest open Internet society and the Government welcomes social media companies to operate in India, do business and also earn profits. However, they will have to be accountable to the Constitution and laws of India.

Proliferation of social media, on one hand empowers the citizens then on the other hand gives rise to some serious concerns and consequences which have grown manifold in recent years. These concerns have been raised from time to time in various forums including in the Parliament and its committees, judicial orders and in civil society deliberations in different parts of country. Such concerns are also raised all over the world and it is becoming an international issue.

Of late, some very disturbing developments are observed on the social media platforms. Persistent spread of fake news has compelled many media platforms to create fact-check mechanisms. Rampant abuse of social media to share morphed images of women and contents related to revenge porn have often threatened the dignity of women. Misuse of social media for settling corporate rivalries i blatantly unethical manner has become a major concern for businesses. Instances of use of abusive language, defamatory and obscene contents and blatant disrespect to religious sentiments through platforms are growing.

Over the years, the increasing instances of misuse of social media by criminals, anti-national elements have brought new challenges for law enforcement agencies. These include inducement for recruitment of terrorists, circulation of obscene content, spread of disharmony, financial frauds, incitement of violence, public order etc.

It was found that currently there is no robust complaint mechanism wherein the ordinary users of social media and OTT platforms can register their complaint and get it redressed within defined timeline. Lack of transparency and absence of robust grievance redressal mechanism have left the users totally dependent on the whims and fancies of social media platforms. Often it has been seen that a user who has spent his time, energy and money in developing a social media profile is left with no remedies in case that profile is restricted or removed by the platform without giving any opportunity to be heard.

Evolution of Social Media and Other Intermediaries:

If government notice the evolution of social media intermediaries, they are no longer limited to playing the role of pure intermediary and often they become publishers. These Rules are a fine blend of liberal touch with gentle self-regulatory framework. It works on the existing laws and statues of the country which are applicable to content whether online or offline. In respect of news and current affairs publishers are expected to follow the journalistic conduct of Press Council of India and the Programme Code under the Cable Television Network Act, which are already applicable to print and TV. Hence, only a level playing field has been proposed.

Rationale and Justification for New Guidelines:

These Rules substantially empower the ordinary users of digital platforms to seek redressal for their grievances and command accountability in case of infringement of their rights. In this direction, the following developments are noteworthy:

The Supreme Court in Suo-moto writ petition (Prajjawala case) vide order dated 11/12/2018 had observed that the Government of India may frame necessary guidelines to eliminate child pornography, rape and gangrape imageries, videos and sites in content hosting platforms and other applications.
The Supreme Court vide order dated 24/09/2019 had directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to apprise the timeline in respect of completing the process of notifying the new rules.

There was a Calling Attention Motion on the misuse of social media and spread of fake news in the Rajya Sabha and the Minister had conveyed to the house on 26/07/2018, the resolve of the Government to strengthen the legal framework and make the social media platforms accountable under the law. He had conveyed this after repeated demands from the Members of the Parliament to take corrective measures.

The Ad-hoc committee of the Rajya Sabha laid its report on 03/02/2020 after studying the alarming issue of pornography on social media and its effect on children and society as a whole and recommended for enabling identification of the first originator of such contents.

Consultations:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) prepared draft Rules and invited public comments on 24/12/2018. MEITY received 171 comments from individuals, civil society, industry association and organizations. 80 counter comments to these comments were also received. These comments were analyzed in detail and an inter-ministerial meeting was also held and accordingly, these Rules have been finalized.

 

Guidelines Related to Social Media to Be Administered by Ministry of Electronics and IT

Due Diligence To Be Followed By Intermediaries: The Rules prescribe due diligence that must be followed by intermediaries, including social media intermediaries. In case, due diligence is not followed by the intermediary, safe harbour provisions will not apply to them.

Grievance Redressal Mechanism: The Rules seek to empower the users by mandating the intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, to establish a grievance redressal mechanism for receiving resolving complaints from the users or victims. Intermediaries shall appoint a Grievance Officer to deal with such complaints andshare the name and contact details of such officer. Grievance Officer shall acknowledge the complaint within twenty four hours and resolve it within fifteen days from its receipt.

Ensuring Online Safety and Dignity of Users, Specially Women Users: Intermediaries shall remove or disable access within 24 hours of receipt of complaints of contents that exposes the private areas of individuals, show such individuals in full or partial nudity or in sexual act or is in the nature of impersonation including morphed images etc. Such a complaint can be filed either by the individual or by any other person on his/her behalf.

Two Categories of Social Media Intermediaries: To encourage innovations and enable growth of new social media intermediaries without subjecting smaller platforms to significant compliance requirement, the Rules make a distinction between social media intermediaries and significant social media intermediaries. This distinction is based on the number of users on the social media platform. Government is empowered to notify the threshold of user base that will distinguish between social media intermediaries and significant social media intermediaries. The Rules require the significant social media intermediaries to follow certain additional due diligence.

Additional Due Diligence to Be Followed by Significant Social Media Intermediary:

• Appoint a Chief Compliance Officer who shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act and Rules. Such a person should be a resident in India.
• Appoint a Nodal Contact Person for 24x7 coordination with law enforcement agencies. Such a person shall be a resident in India.
• Appoint a Resident Grievance Officer who shall perform the functions mentioned under Grievance Redressal Mechanism. Such a person shall be a resident in India.
• Publish a monthly compliance report mentioning the details of complaints received and action taken on the complaints as well as details of contents removed proactively by the significant social media intermediary.
• Significant social media intermediaries providing services primarily in the nature of messaging shall enable identification of the first originator of the information that is required only for the purposes of prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution or punishment of an offence related to sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order or of incitement to an offence relating to the above or in relation with rape, sexually explicit material or child sexual abuse material punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than five years. Intermediary shall not be required to disclose the contents of any message or any other information to the first originator.
• Significant social media intermediary shall have a physical contact address in India published on its website or mobile app or both.
• Voluntary User Verification Mechanism: Users who wish to verify their accounts voluntarily shall be provided an appropriate mechanism to verify their accounts and provided with demonstrable and visible mark of verification.
• Giving Users An Opportunity to Be Heard: In cases where significant social media intermediaries removes or disables access to any information on their own accord, then a prior intimation for the same shall be communicated to the user who has shared that information with a notice explaining the grounds and reasons for such action. Users must be provided an adequate and reasonable opportunity to dispute the action taken by the intermediary.
• Removal of Unlawful Information: An intermediary upon receiving actual knowledge in the form of an order by a court or being notified by the Appropriate Govt. or its agencies through authorized officer should not host or publish any information which is prohibited under any law in relation to the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, public order, friendly relations with foreign countries etc.

The Rules will come in effect from the date of their publication in the gazette, except for the additional due diligence for significant social media intermediaries, which shall come in effect 3 months after publication of these Rules.

Digital Media Ethics Code Relating to Digital Media and OTT Platforms to Be Administered by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting:

There have been widespread concerns about issues relating to digital contents both on digital media and OTT platforms. Civil Society, film makers, political leaders including Chief Minister, trade organizations and associations have all voiced their concerns and highlighted the imperative need for an appropriate institutional mechanism. The Government also received many complaints from civil society and parents requesting interventions. There were many court proceedings in the Supreme Court and High Courts, where courts also urged the Government to take suitable measures.

Since the matter relates to digital platforms, therefore, a conscious decision was taken that issues relating to digital media and OTT and other creative programmes on Internet shall be administered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting but the overall architecture shall be under the Information Technology Act, which governs digital platforms.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting held consultations in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai over the last one and half years wherein OTT players have been urged to develop “self-regulatory mechanism”. The Government also studied the models in other countries including Singapore, Australia, EU and UK and has gathered that most of them either have an institutional mechanism to regulate digital content or are in the process of setting-up one.

The Rules establish a soft-touch self-regulatory architecture and a Code of Ethics and three tier grievance redressal mechanism for news publishers and OTT Platforms and digital media.

Notified under section 87 of Information Technology Act, these Rules empower the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to implement Part-III of the Rules which prescribe the following:

1. Code of Ethics for online news, OTT platforms and digital media: This Code of Ethics prescribe the guidelines to be followed by OTT platforms and online news and digital media entities.
2. Self-Classification of Content: The OTT platforms, called as the publishers of online curated content in the rules, would self-classify the content into five age based categories- U (Universal), U/A 7+, U/A 13+, U/A 16+, and A (Adult). Platforms would be required to implement parental locks for content classified as U/A 13+ or higher, and reliable age verification mechanisms for content classified as “A”. The publisher of online curated content shall prominently display the classification rating specific to each content or programme together with a content descriptor informing the user about the nature of the content, and advising on viewer description (if applicable) at the beginning of every programme enabling the user to make an informed decision, prior to watching the programme.
3. Publishers of news on digital media would be required to observe Norms of Journalistic Conduct of the Press Council of India and the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act thereby providing a level playing field between the offline (Print, TV) and digital media.
4. A three-level grievance redressal mechanism has been established under the rules with different levels of self-regulation.
5. Level-I: Self-regulation by the publishers;
6. Level-II: Self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of the publishers;
7. Level-III: Oversight mechanism.
8. Self-regulation by the Publisher: Publisher shall appoint a Grievance Redressal Officer based in India who shall be responsible for the redressal of grievances received by it. The officer shall take decision on every grievance received by it within 15 days.
9. Self-Regulatory Body: There may be one or more self-regulatory bodies of publishers. Such a body shall be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, a High Court or independent eminent person and have not more than six members. Such a body will have to register with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This body will oversee the adherence by the publisher to the Code of Ethics and address grievances that have not be been resolved by the publisher within 15 days.
10. Oversight Mechanism: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shall formulate an oversight mechanism. It shall publish a charter for self-regulating bodies, including Codes of Practices. It shall establish an Inter-Departmental Committee for hearing grievances.