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OTT

Vodafone Idea Launches Vi Movies and TV App for Comprehensive Entertainment

Vodafone Idea has unveiled a new all-in-one entertainment app, catering to the telco’s subscribers with a plethora of over-the-top (OTT) content and live TV. The app boasts access to more than 13 OTT platforms and over 400 live TV channels, complemented by complimentary access to various content libraries. Priced at Rs 202 for prepaid users and Rs 199 for postpaid users, the subscription to the app aims to streamline the viewing experience by offering one subscription for multiple platforms. Dubbed as Vi Movies and TV, the app provides access to leading OTT platforms like Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLiv, Manorama Max, NammaFlix, Klikk, Chaupal, and Playflix, among others. Additionally, users can enjoy access to TV channels such as Discovery, Aaj Tak, Republic Bharat, ABP, and India Today, along with complimentary content libraries from Shemaroo and Hungama. Accessible across smartphones, smart TVs, and the web, the app enables users to simultaneously stream two content feeds on all OTT platforms. Avneesh Khosla, Chief Marketing Officer at Vi, highlighted the significance of the app in today’s content landscape, stating, “India is watching content like never before – multiple formats, multiple subscriptions, and multiplying hours on the screen every day. However, this unlimited choice also brings fatigue and complexity. We take immense pride in announcing Vi Movies & TV – one app, one subscription with the best of OTTs and TV content. We are committed to providing an entertaining experience to our consumers by empowering them to access entertainment in a simple, affordable, and accessible way. We will soon add new partners and more curated options for ease of choice for our viewer.” With its comprehensive offering and user-friendly interface, Vi Movies and TV app aims to redefine the entertainment experience for its subscribers, providing them with a seamless and engaging platform to enjoy their favorite content.

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I&B Ministry Proposes Comprehensive Broadcasting Bill to Modernize Regulatory Framework

The Information & Broadcasting Ministry is proposing a new Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill to regulate broadcasting services, including DTH, OTT, and digital news platforms. The draft Bill, released for public consultation, aims to replace the outdated Cable TV Networks (Regulations) Act 1995 and other governing policies. The proposed legislation includes content evaluation committees, a more participative Broadcast Advisory Council for self-regulation, differentiated codes for programs and advertisements, and statutory penalties. Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur described the draft as a “pivotal legislation” to modernize the regulatory framework for the dynamic world of broadcasting, adapting to emerging technologies. The bill introduces contemporary definitions and extends regulatory purview to cover OTT content and digital news. It mandates self-regulation through Content Evaluation Committees and proposes a Broadcast Advisory Council with independent experts. The draft allows differentiated codes for various services, requiring self-classification of content and access control for restricted content. Statutory penalties, including advisory, warning, censure, or monetary penalties, are proposed, with provisions for imprisonment and fines for serious offenses. The bill also suggests fairness by linking monetary penalties to the entity’s investment and turnover. It includes provisions for infrastructure sharing among broadcasting network operators and carriage of platform services. Overall, the proposed unified law is seen as a positive step for business ease and appropriate regulation.

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OTT video market in India likely to reach $7 billion by 2027

According to a media report on Monday, the over-the-top (OTT) streaming video market in India is predicted to reach $7 billion by 2027. The OTT streaming video business in India is currently in its second growth phase, with total revenues expected to reach $3 billion in 2022, according to Livemint, quoting a report published by Media Partners Asia (MPA). New, affluent local players are vying for market dominance in India, lead by Viacom18, which has recently raised new capital and is supported by Reliance, Bodhi Tree, and Paramount. The report stated that established firms like Sony and Zee are going to unite to build a powerful online video and television sector. According to MPA data, India had 97 million OTT subscribers by the end of March. With revenues of more than Rs 17,000 crore in 2021, it is one of the OTT markets with the fastest growth. Subscriptions made up almost Rs 5,200 crore of this total. SonyLIV is now a significant player in this sector thanks to its comeback. Globally dominant companies and freshly capitalised indigenous players are anticipated to face increasing competition in the Indian market. However, telcos’ market presence, together with the advertising video-on-demand (AVoD) sector and low-average revenue per user (ARPU), large volume subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) services, continues to be crucial. Online video revenue in Total Asia Pacific will increase by 16% year on year (YoY) in 2022 to reach $49.2 billion, predicts MPA in its report titled Asia Pacific Online Video & Broadband Distribution 2022. UGC (user-generated) AVoD will contribute 37%, premium AVoD will contribute 13%, and SVoD will contribute 50%. China, the largest market in Asia Pacific, will produce $11.2 billion of revenue in 2022, accounting for 48% of the region’s online video revenue. 20 online video platforms will account for 67% of all APAC online video revenues, according to MPA’s analysis.

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