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The government has made it mandatory for <keyword id="5293670" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ott-platforms" source="Orion">OTT platforms</keyword> to display an anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent static message at the bottom of the screen during the period of a tobacco product being displayed or used in a programme, the Rajya Sabha was told on Tuesday. The government notified the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules, 2023 on May 31, Minister of State for Health SP Singh Baghel said in a written reply. According to the amended rules, every publisher of online curated contents displaying tobacco products or their use has to display anti-tobacco health spots, for a minimum 30 seconds each at the beginning and middle of the programme. They have to display anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent static message at the bottom of the screen during the period of display of the tobacco products or their use in the programme, and also display an audio-visual disclaimer on the ill-effects of tobacco for a minimum 20 seconds each in the beginning and middle of the programme, Baghel said in his written reply. Moreover, all compliance is ensured as per Rule (6) of the Amendment Rules, 2023 through an inter-ministerial committee consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Now, OTT platforms must display anti-tobacco warnings onscreen

OTT platforms in India produce a wide range of material for viewers each month. In the forthcoming month of June, 2023, many much anticipated OTT releases are expected to be published. Let's take a look at some of most awaited list: 'Asur 2' Viewers are anxiously anticipating the second season of this legendary criminal drama series following the success of the previous season. JioCinema will offer this web series starring Arshad Warsi without charge. For an overview of the plot, viewers can watch its first season on the <keyword id="3113913" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="voot" source="Orion">Voot</keyword> app. <keyword id="662858" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="release-date" source="Orion">Release Date</keyword>: June 1 'Mumbaikar' The plot revolves around the happiness, drama, joy, and romance that Mumbai residents experience on a daily basis. Release Date: June 2 'Scoop' A well-known crime reporter battles for justice in the death of a journalist and gets in trouble with the media, the police, and Mumbai's underworld as a result. This Netflix original series is based on Jigna Vora's book Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison. Release Date: June 2 'School Of Lies' The main character of this new criminal thriller starring <keyword id="6366186" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nimrat-kaur" source="Orion">Nimrat Kaur</keyword> is a young child who gets lost in a dormitory. As a number of kids and staff enter the vision linked with the scenario, this one incidence completely affects the climate of the school. Disney Plus Hotstar will host the world premiere of The School of Lies. Release Date: June 2 'Bloody Daddy' This Ali Abbas Zafar-directed film starring <keyword id="6355887" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shahid-kapoor" source="Orion">Shahid Kapoor</keyword> will air on JioCinema. Release Date: June 9 'The Night Manager 2' This exciting thriller is perfect for those who enjoy beautiful scenery and lavish drama. The main character of this programme is Shaan, a night manager on a mission to bring down prominent arms dealer <keyword id="17568574" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shailendra-rungta" source="Orion">Shailendra Rungta</keyword>. This program's second season will run on Disney Plus Hotstar. Release Date: June 30 SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/imd-issues-yellow-alert-for-delhi-after-rain/articleshow/100641439.cms">IMD issues 'yellow' alert for Delhi after rain</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-becomes-a-global-leader-by-regulating-anti-tobacco-warnings-on-ott-platforms/articleshow/100642342.cms">India becomes a global leader by regulating anti-tobacco warnings on OTT Platforms</a>

OTT releases to watch for June, 2023

The <keyword id="46227" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Cricket-Council" source="Orion">International Cricket Council</keyword> (<keyword id="6355164" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICC" source="Orion">ICC</keyword>) chairman and CEO are in Lahore to seek guarantees from the <keyword id="6355595" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PCB" source="Orion">PCB</keyword> that it will not push for implementing a hybrid model for its matches in the ODI World Cup in India later this year. Insiders confirmed to PTI that ICC chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice have specifically come to Lahore to get some assurances from the <keyword id="43712" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan-Cricket-Board" source="Orion">Pakistan Cricket Board</keyword> on the national team's participation in the World Cup in October-November. The development comes after PCB chief Najam Sethi made it clear that the team will not travel for the World Cup in India if the Rohit Sharma led side doesn't visit Pakistan for the preceding Asia Cup. “The ICC and World Cup hosts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are concerned with the hybrid model being pushed by Najam Sethi who heads the cricket management committee of the PCB. “Although the hybrid model has been suggested by Sethi for the Asia Cup which precedes the ICC event, the concern remains that once accepted for the regional event the PCB might also then ask the ICC to implement it for the World Cup when it comes to Pakistan playing in India,” he explained. Sethi has already indicated that if the Pakistan government doesn't give clearance or has security concerns about sending the team to India, PCB could ask the ICC to hold Pakistan's matches at a neutral venue. “Naturally neither the ICC nor the BCCI want such a situation since Pakistan's unequivocal participation in matches in India would guarantee the success of Indo-Pakistan matches and also the tournament itself.” Another source said this was the primary reason why BCCI secretary Jay Shah was still reluctant to accept the hybrid model for the Asia Cup and support having three or four matches of the tournament in Pakistan and the remaining games in UAE or Sri Lanka. Pakistan are the hosts of the Asia Cup and Sethi has said repeatedly that if the tournament is moved to one neutral country from Pakistan, it will not take part in the competition. He has also hinted that if Pakistan didn't get to host some Asia Cup matches it could have an adverse bearing on the World Cup as well. “The ICC officials are trying to work as a bridge between the PCB and BCCI and resolve the outstanding issues pertaining to the Asia Cup and World Cup.” SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-becomes-a-global-leader-by-regulating-anti-tobacco-warnings-on-ott-platforms/articleshow/100642342.cms">India becomes a global leader by regulating anti-tobacco warnings on OTT Platforms</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/ott-releases-to-watch-for-june-2023/articleshow/100643939.cms">OTT releases to watch for June, 2023</a>

ICC top brass seeks PCB assurances that it will send team to India for ODI World Cup

<ul><li>Walt Disney is all set to launch its Disney+ streaming service in India starting April 3. </li><li>But this new addition to Hotstar will not be easy on the many of its subscribers. </li><li>Hotstar will increase its annual subscription price to ₹1,499 ($20) </li></ul>Amid Coronavirus crisis, Walt Disney is all set to launch its Disney+ streaming service in India starting April 3. It will be a part of the country’s most popular <keyword id="959269" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ott-platform">OTT platform</keyword>, Hotstar, which has over 300 million monthly active users. Disney+ and Hotstar are both part of the same parent company, Walt Disney. And they are utilizing the strength of their network. But this new addition to Hotstar will not be easy on the many of its subscribers. As it offers a new range of entire Disney library, Hotstar will increase its annual subscription price to ₹1,499 ($20). This will make Disney+ Hotstar the second most expensive OTT service in India after Netflix to offer a premium subscription at ₹1499. The OTT services also promises to let users view its free content library which includes several movies like Chhichhore, Mission Mangal and soap operas like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata hai. However, the free content library will not have any Disney+ originals or shows. “Today, as we unveil Disney+ Hotstar, we take yet another momentous step in staying committed to our promise of delivering high-quality impactful stories for India that have not only entertained but also made a difference in people’s lives, a promise that is even more meaningful in challenging times such as this, Uday Shankar - President, The Walt Disney Company APAC and Chairman, Star &amp; Disney India said. Disney+Hotstar subscription fee <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Old Plan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">New Plan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Old subscription fee </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">New subscription fee </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Hotstar VIP </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Disney+Hotstar VIP </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹365 a year </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹399 a year </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Hotstar Premium </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Disney+Hotstar Premium </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹999 a year </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1499 a year </td></tr></tbody></table> While Netflix charges ₹5,988 per annum for its basic plan, Amazon charges ₹999 yearly for its prime membership and comes jumbled with access to its music streaming, and other shopping deals. Premium plans of OTT platforms in India <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">OTT Platform </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Premium Plan </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Disney+Hotstar </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1499 a year </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Amazon Prime Video </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹999 a year </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Netflix </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹9588 a year </td></tr></tbody></table> All existing subscribers of Hotstar will be automatically upgraded to their respective new subscription plans and will be charged the new rates upon renewal. Disney+ was earlier scheduled to launch on March 29. Disney also rolled out a beta app to test the streaming service for select users. But they delayed the launch after health authorities identified clusters of coronavirus in several parts of the country and cancelled the IPL cricket matches. As people spend more time in seclusion, the usage of OTT and others has been going up and is expected to grow further. “We hope the power of Disney’s storytelling, delivered through Hotstar’s technology, will help our viewers find moments of comfort, happiness and inspiration during these difficult times,” Shakar added. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/shatikmaan-chanakya-and-shrimaan-shrimati-to-be-brought-back-by-doordarshan/articleshow/74904917.cms">Shaktimaan, Chanakya and Shrimaan Shrimati to be brought back by Doordarshan</a>

Disney+ Hotstar Premium set to become the second most expensive OTT subscription in India

<ul><li>Regulation of OTT platforms and digital news providers will now fall under the gambit of the Information and Broadcasting (I&amp;B) Ministry instead of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY).</li><li>With the winter session of parliament right around the corner, many are nervous that this could indicate more than just the changing of the guard. </li><li>Here are the burning unanswered questions that the online community is wondering about.</li></ul>The regulation of OTT platforms like <keyword id="128682" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Netflix">Netflix</keyword>, HotstarDisney+, Amazon Prime Video and others has been pulled from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) and handed off to the Information and Broadcasting (I&amp;B) Ministry. Aside from the changing of the guard, the government is yet to shed light on what it actually means for the OTT channel and news content curators themselves. One can only assume that a new regulatory framework will be put in place to address the challenges that have cropped in recent years. The winter session of Parliament is also right around the corner. “Although there is little to no clarity about what this entails for different types of intermediaries, platform and content creators, it portends a regime with more interference from the Ministry of I&amp;B and less reliance on self-regulation by the OTT platforms extending the censorship heavy legacy to the Internet,” technology lawyer and founder of the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) told Business Insider. Despite the ambiguity, Internet Freedom Foundation chair and founder of SaveTheInternet Raman Chima, also believes that this is more than just a reorganisation of departments. “It does indicate government intent. That is definitely worrying. This change was made without any proper public consultation,” he explained on <a href="https://twitter.com/tame_wildcard/status/1326553154893217795">Twitter</a>. Here are some of the unanswered questions around what the change in regulations could mean for OTT platforms and news content providers: <ul><li>Will the government be holding a discussion with stakeholders before implementing new regulations?</li></ul>Some experts believe that there is a trend in the making. First, the government added a regulatory structure around foreign direct investment (FDI) and now, it’s looking to regulate content. <ul><li>Will the new regulations be on par with current regulations currently in place?</li></ul>The key obstacle they will face is that, at a technical level, broadcast, print and digital aren’t the same. This will make treating them as the same increasingly difficult. <ul><li>How will user-generated content be regulated on platforms like YouTube, Facebook and others?</li></ul>While OTT platforms curate content and are responsible for what goes up on the platform, YouTube and Facebook are ‘intermediaries’. This means that they do take any responsibility for the content that is posted on their site, and instead pass the buck onto individual users. <ul><li>How will digital news media be defined? Will personal channels like Dhruv Rathi and Akash Banerjee come under digital news media?</li></ul>The mediums used to dispense the news in the digital era expands well beyond the written word or even structured news publications. There are influencers like Dhruv Rathi analysing the news, personalised newsletters that people can subscribe to, instagram alerts and so much more. The new regulations will have to define what amounts to news, and what does not. <ul><li>Will every news organisation on the internet will have to register itself?</li></ul>Not every news publication exists in the brick-and-mortar world, some are only digital. In fact, the freedom to register a website and dispense content at a minimal cost is of the primary pros of being on the internet. But non-digital news organisations have to register and get government approval before they can take off. If the same applies to the online world, it should lead to a drastic cut in the number of publications able to report the news. <ul><li>Will this mean nobody can post on YouTube or Facebook if they’re not registered?</li></ul>In addition to channels and influencers, day-to-day users also express their opinion and share the news online. Like FM channels, will this mean that those who are not registered will no longer be allowed to post about the news on social networking hubs like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube? Will generic vlogs be flagged or taken down should they make mention of any current events? <ul><li>Will there be a cap on subscriptions and memberships, or a minimum rate that can be charged?</li></ul>News publications and individuals are also offering newsletters and subscriptions. The new slew of regulations hold the potential to cap the number of people who can sign up. They could also dictate a ceiling price that would limit how much can be charged for such services. <ul><li>Is the government going to block any news outfit or OTT that’s not registered in India?</li></ul>In addition to the publications in India, it’s uncertain what the regulations will mean for foreign entities. While they do report on India, without registering with the government on par with print regulations the government may block access. <ul><li>Will content rules for OTT platforms now be the same as the ones for television channels?</li></ul>Television channels have to adhere to strict rules about what can and cannot be said while OTT platforms do not. This has been one of the critical reasons behind the success of shows like Sacred Games, or Mirzapur. <ul><li>Will movies that release exclusively on the internet now require a certification from the licensing board?</li></ul>Movies that get released online don’t need to be licensed by Central Board of Film Certification. But with the I&amp;B Ministry at the helm, they may have to adhere to the rules and regulations of the board, which many fear will restrict creative expression. The way news is disseminated is also diversifying. Publications have alerts on WhatsApp and Telegram, others have personalised newsletters, and most are spread across difficult mediums — from text to video to podcasts. Individual states already have anti fake-news task forces within their ranks that have thus far proven ineffective, other than in cases on anti-government news deemed to be misleading. Given the wide array of complications in implementing blanket regulations, the task will be nearly impossible to execute. So, what remains to be seen, is what the government’s intent is behind bringing a new regulatory authority for OTT platforms and news content providers. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-photos-will-no-longer-offer-free-and-unlimited-photo-uploads-starting-june-next-year/articleshow/79184955.cms">Google Photos' most endearing feature is going out the window starting June next year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/psu-bank-employees-wage-revision-finalised-after-three-years-of-waiting-only-a-1500-increase-in-salary-for-officers/articleshow/79166497.cms">PSU bank employees wage revision finalised after three years of waiting — only a ₹1,500 increase in salary for officers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/instagram-down-users-complain-of-frozen-timelines-and-likes/articleshow/79146012.cms">Instagram down for a second consecutive day — Facebook is working on a fix but has not disclosed what's wrong</a>

Unanswered questions as regulation of OTT platforms and digital news providers moves from one government department to another

<ul><li><keyword id="686589" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nbcuniversal" source="Orion">NBCUniversal</keyword> launches all-reality TV and ad-free subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) <keyword id="1797224" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="streaming-service" source="Orion">streaming service</keyword>, hayu.</li><li>hayu offers over 8,000 episodes of top reality TV content. </li></ul>hayu, the all-reality TV and ad-free subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming service from NBCUniversal, has launched in India. Launching direct-to-consumer (DTC) on a full array of devices: mobile, tablet, laptop, connected TVs and selected consoles, hayu will be available, for the first time in India. Targeting the broad base of viewers who are fans of the reality genre, hayu offers over 8,000 episodes of top reality TV content including all seasons of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, from the very beginning to the final season, as well as its spin-offs – along with numerous other franchises, including the popular The Real Housewives, Top Chef, Million Dollar Listing and Family Karma. hayu’s breadth of content uniquely super-serves reality fans. The service offers extensive choice, with a wide variety of unscripted sub-genres in English language including: Home and Design, Dating, Cooking, Fashion and True Crime. Subscribers don’t have to worry about spoilers as the vast majority of US shows are available on hayu the same day as their US broadcast. “Given the immense popularity of reality TV in India, we are thrilled to be launching hayu in the country and we look forward to super-serving Indian viewers with the best unscripted content has to offer,” commented Hendrik McDermott – Managing Director, Direct to Consumer – Global. “hayu is already the premiere destination for must-watch reality TV in 27 other countries and will now deliver the same great service in India.” In multiple markets hayu has distinguished itself as the must-have, all-reality TV service. Fans of reality TV can now subscribe with a 3-month prepaid pass for R349 or 12 months for R

NBCUniversal launches on-demand streaming service hayu

Anti-tobacco day — Next-gen technology to help you quit smoking

<ul><li><keyword id="758541" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Prime">Amazon Prime</keyword> Videos deleted an entire episode of the CBS political drama Madam Secretary in its India version. </li><li>The deleted episode of Madam Secretary’s season 5 contained violent scenes against Muslims and other minorities in India — that could have possibly hurt sentiments. </li><li>In 2017, <keyword id="128682" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Netflix">Netflix</keyword> India released Angry Indian Goddess in the theatres with several cuts to avoid a backlash. </li><li>While India has strict guidelines on what’s going to be released in theatres nationwide it is yet to regulate OTT platform. </li></ul>Last week, Amazon Prime <a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/news/amazon-prime-video-madam-secretary-india-censorship-hindu-nationalism-muslims-kashmir-2136139%3famp=1&amp;akamai-rum=off">deleted an entire episode of the CBS political drama Madam Secretary in its India version</a>. The deleted episode of season 5 contained violent scenes involving Muslims and other minorities in India — that could have possibly hurt sentiments. The episode also had dialogues regarding India-occupied- Kashmir — <a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/amp.scmp.com/week-asia/geopolitics/article/2188041/kashmir-conflict-explained-what-brought-pakistan-and-india-air">a political hot potato </a>since independence and especially after the <a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-india-49234708">abrogation of Article 370</a>. Hence, all the Indian users were dropped straight to the second episode of the series, breaking continuity. This isn’t the first time Amazon has done something like this. Previously, it had either cut scenes from an episode of the Grand Tour or wiped out an episode from American Gods featuring cows — a holy animal for Hindus — that could have triggered controversy. Prime isn’t the only OTT platform which is pivoting its content either. In 2017, Netflix India showcased the movie <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/arts/television/netflix-censorship-turkey-india.html">Angry Indian Goddess in the theatres with several cuts to avoid a backlash</a>. However, after heavy user demand, it released the uncut version. Netflix said, “Our members reached out to us and we listened.” Netflix’s popular Indian series — Sacred Games — landed in a lawsuit after several political parties <a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.ndtv.com/india-news/complaint-against-nawazuddin-for-abusing-rajiv-gandhi-on-netflix-show-sacred-games-1880837%3famp=1&amp;akamai-rum=off">alleged that the thriller drama has defamed India’s late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi</a>. OTT platforms which had niche users when it started had earlier broadcasted content which would have been otherwise censored. These shows which are ‘streamed’ and now ‘shown like TV shows; came with warnings ahead -- and allowed makers with a creative edge. However, this theory is diluted now that OTT platforms have gained popularity, and a few shows with cult following are coming under the radar of religious and political groups. OTT platforms are supposed to self-censor like in the case of broadcasters as no regulations exist. Since many TV channels have been staying away from controversy, a need for laws was never felt. But OTT platforms are all set to breach them and <a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/news/netflix-hotstar-talks-indian-government-establish-regulation-code-content-1257664">now talks have been doing the rounds that the government might step in to regulate it</a>. Recently, all the leading platforms Netflix, Hotstar, SonyLiv, Zee5 <a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/news/netflix-hotstar-talks-indian-government-establish-regulation-code-content-1257664">held a discussion with the Indian government over self regulation policies. </a>In January 2019 all the platforms reportedly came together to sign an industry code that will self-regulate online content in India. It means OTT platforms which started with ‘bold and uncensored’ content are toeing the invisible line set by invisible powers that govern the country. Business Insider India contacted Netflix, Amazon Prime and Alt Balaji for comment and is waiting for a response. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/netflix-and-hotstar-hedge-their-bets-against-government-regulation-through-self-censorship/articleshow/67573187.cms">After Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hotstar plan to go down the path of self-censorship in India</a>

From cuts to deleting an entire episode, here’s how Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services are censoring its own content

<ul><li>It has chosen to remain a premium player that provides original content.</li><li>Almost 40% of <keyword id="1723835" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hoichoi" source="Orion">hoichoi</keyword>’s revenues come from international subscriptions – US, UK, Australia, Canada, Middle East and Bangladesh are its key overseas markets.</li><li>It’s expanding its distribution globally with tie-ups with telecom players in Bahrain, Bangladesh and more.</li><li>The group’s television background helped them maintain the timelines and stick to budgets, which helped contain creative costs.</li></ul>When Shree Venkatesh Films (SVF), a West Bengal-based film and TV production company, wanted to get into OTT in 2017 – they wanted to start small – launching five original shows across three genres under the brand name hoichoi, which means excitement. Those were early days for vernacular shows – until then Indian original series across languages mostly premiered on YouTube and were short-form content. This was just before the launch of Netflix’s Sacred Games and Amazon Prime’s Inside Edge. Much like these shows, hoichoi’s bets took off too. <div type="image" title="WhatsApp Image 2022-10-03 at 6.08.30 PM." height="900" width="1200" msid="94629590" hostid="261" sizebytes="34982" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Soumya Mukherjee, chief operating officer of Hoichoi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “We saw an initial uptick for our originals. Four out of the five shows we launched created a lot of buzz,” Soumya Mukherjee, chief operating officer of hoichoi told Business Insider India. Ever since, there has been no stopping this regional OTT platform, which now caters to over 250 million Bengalis worldwide. The platform claims to be one of its kind with over 100 originals in a single language and more than 2,000 hours of content across web series, movies, shorts, docu-series and more. Moreover, it claims to have turned profitable within five years of its launch in spite of a large number of in-house productions of original films and shows. The OTT player claims that its direct subscriptions grew 50%, with a 20% month-on-month increase in watch time, in the post-lockdown period. “Along with this, hoichoi continues to have one of the highest refresh rates in India for a single language, with close to 5-7 titles, which includes original shows, world premiere movies and Hindi-dubbed originals releasing every month,” the company said. Turu love, Tansener Tanpura, Karagar and Kaiser are some of its top-rated shows on IMDB. Premium-only The secret, Mukherjee says, lies in its pricing strategy. “From the start, we positioned ourselves as a premium product with around ₹1,000 per annum. From day 1, we knew that content had to be protected and had never looked to diversify. We want to tell great stories with a good mix of movies and shows,” he said. In the US, it charges around $10 per month - on par with what OTT giant Netflix charges in the market. The reason is the love for content in the mother tongue, Bengali, which is the second most-spoken Indian language, as per Mukherjee. “Bengalis are deeply rooted to their culture wherever they are,” he said. In fact, almost 40% of hoichoi’s revenues come from international subscriptions, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Middle East and Bangladesh. The OTT claims that customer stickiness is high and almost 70-75% of their subscribers renew subscriptions annually. It premiers a new movie every month and that aids its renewals, it claims. “While our monthly active users have increased by 40%, our international user base has also risen by 30%. Not only do these numbers make us ecstatic, but also motivate us to do even better, as we step into our sixth year,” said Vishnu Mohta, co-founder of hoichoi. Content Refresh: 25 new shows announced Hoichoi also claims to go the extra mile with its user experience. “To help some of our elderly subscribers, we send our people to visit personally and demonstrate as and when needed,” says Mukherjee. As India’s first vernacular OTT enters its sixth year, it announced 25 new shows – four from Bangladesh and 21 from India – with top creators and across genres. For its latest series, it also roped in national award-winning creator Srijit Mukherji, who is creating a crime detective show Feluda. Mukherjee attributes hoichoi’s success to Bengal’s wide talent pool of writers, producers, actors, technicians and directors, in addition to its legacy. “We imbibed the discipline of TV and the quality of films into the OTT venture,” he explains. The group’s presence in television helped them maintain the timelines and stick to budgets, which helped contain creative costs. Their targeted marketing also helped contain marketing costs to 20% of the overall revenue — which Mukherjee claims is one of the lowest in the industry. Over the years, hoichoi launched a lot of new faces, but is also now focusing on bringing in bigger actors into its fold. “Naturally production costs will increase but in terms of revenue growth we are doing ok,” he says. Distribution strategy Last year, the platform became a part of Prime Channels – where multiple OTTs can be subscribed to. While it is seeing traction for its Hindi-dubbed library on Prime Channels as well as on MX Player, it wants to remain rooted in Bengali. Its best-performing show on both these platforms was Charitraheen. It has also partnered with Jio, Airtel XStream, Tata Play and Dish TV and is looking at deep integration within and outside India as well. It has tied up with Bangladeshi telecom players Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink and also Bahrain-based telco Batelco. Also, the player is not too worried about password sharing, which is the blight of its business. “We do not see too many cases of password sharing. We only offer two simultaneous streaming across five devices,” Mukherjee says. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/auto-sales-remain-buoyant-in-september-with-reports-of-a-good-festive-season-ahead/articleshow/94622721.cms">Auto sales remain buoyant in September with reports of a good festive season ahead</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/electronics-mart-india-ipo-set-to-open-on-oct-4-commands-grey-market-premium-of-30/share/articleshow/94620046.cms">Electronics Mart India IPO set to open on Oct 4; commands grey market premium of ₹30/share</a>

This pioneering regional OTT has turned profitable in 5 years – here’s how

<ul><li>The government's efforts have led to a reduction of 8.1 million smokers between 2009 and 2017. </li><li>Over 103 million adults and 625,000 <keyword id="6354493" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="children">children</keyword> still smoke on a daily basis.</li><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> needs to raise taxes further, crack down on illegal <keyword id="6361871" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tobacco">tobacco</keyword> sales and do a better job of implementing the guidelines of the National Tobacco Control Program. </li></ul>The WHO’s Global Adult Tobacco Survey estimated that the total number of smokers in India fell by 8.1 million between 2009 and 2017. Yet, 625,000 children still use tobacco in the country on a daily basis. According to the Tobacco Atlas, a report compiled by the American Cancer Society and Vital Strategies, <a href="https://tobaccoatlas.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/india-country-facts.pdf">103.6 million</a> people in India over the age of 15 consumed tobacco every day as of 2015, 87% of which were men. The results indicate that over 20% of India’s male population smokes compared to 2% of its females. Worse still, the report shows that the habit starts at a young age. Over half a million children between the age of 10 and 14 years also smoke on a daily basis. Nearly 70% of this figure is accounted for by boys, which indicates that the proportion of female smokers could increase in the future. While the report maintains that there are fewer deaths from <keyword id="6357278" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smoking">smoking</keyword> in India in comparison to countries with similar levels of human development, around 13,452 men and 4,435 women die every week owing to smoking-related issues, amounting to 930,000 annual deaths. The direct <keyword id="6354750" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> costs and indirect costs such as lost productivity were pegged at 1.8 trillion rupees. India has cracked down on tobacco use in recent years. The government has implemented measures such as a graphic pictorial warning that covers 85% of the package, higher duties on cigarettes and a ban on smoking in educational institutions, government facilities and hospitals. It has also made anti-tobacco advertising spots, which are distinguished by their appallingly low production value, a regular fixture at the cinema and on television. So, despite efforts by various governments, more work remains to be done. What can India do to further? “There needs to be greater intervention at the ground level,” according to Dr Srinivas Ramaka, a noted cardiologist and tobacco control advocate. He says that the government has fallen short in implementing the guidelines of the <a href="https://mohfw.gov.in/major-programmes/other-national-health-programmes/national-tobacco-control-programme-ntcp">National Tobacco Control Program</a> (NTCP). Under the guidelines, there should be a Tobacco Control Cell in hospitals at the district level, which offers counselling and medical services for patients who wish to quit smoking. Srinivas also cited the sale of illegal forms of tobacco, noting that it was an issue for the police to address. Even though gutka (oral tobacco) is banned, his patients are often able to buy the harmful mixture for as low as Rs. 5 in “loose form”, he said. India needs to do a better job of targeting bidis, which are hand-rolled cigarettes. Unlike most countries where cigarettes account for a high proportion of tobacco usage, branded cigarettes comprise only <a href="http://www.tiionline.org/facts-sheets/tobacco-consumption/">11% </a>of tobacco consumption in India, according to the Tobacco Institute of India. Srinivas said that the government needs to provide bidi-rollers with alternative modes of employment through skill training programmes. Tobacco cultivators should also be incentivised to grow different crops that offer similar margins, as per NTCP guidelines. Finally, taxes need to be raised on all forms of tobacco as the WHO states that this is one of the only proven ways to reduce tobacco consumption, especially among the poor, under its <a href="http://www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/mpower_report_six_policies_2008.pdf">MPOWER</a> policy. The Tobacco Atlas estimates that only 26.5% of a tobacco product’s retail price in India is attributable to excise taxes. The WHO says that at least 70% of the price of a pack of cigarettes should be covered by taxes. Being the second-largest consumer of tobacco in the world, India has the power to raise taxes on tobacco products further.

Despite government efforts, 625,000 Indian children still use tobacco daily

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US surgeon general is pushing for a warning label on social media about teen mental-health risks.</li><li>A comparison to cigarette warnings is tempting, but social media might be more like explicit lyrics.</li></ul>US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is recommending a warning label on social-media sites cautioning that "social media is associated with significant mental-health harms for adolescents."This label would warn teens and their parents of the risk of harm from using social media. In an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/social-media-health-warning.html">op-ed for The New York Times</a>, Murthy writes, "The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency — and social media has emerged as an important contributor."Murthy references the warning label on tobacco products, which is viewed as a public-health success story, helping reduce tobacco use significantly since the 1970s.But is social media really comparable to cigarettes? And could a warning label actually make an impact? Sure, apps like TikTok and Instagram can be addictive and harmful. However, there are a few really basic differences that I think are worth considering.First of all, unlike social-media apps, cigarettes are aimed at adults (yes, they have also been stealthily marketed to teens), and they are legally sold only to adults (yes, obviously, teens are getting their hands on them anyway). The warning label is for everyone: Cigarettes pose a health risk to anyone who smokes.Secondly, there's little hope that tobacco companies will be inspired to make cigarettes healthy — there is no healthy version of an American Spirit. But there is hope that social media could be less harmful. There could be all sorts of changes, small and large, that make social platforms safer for kids. Big Tech platforms could make these changes if spurred by regulation, negative media coverage, advertiser boycotts, or simply their belief that it's the right thing to do.Speaking of regulation, the decline in cigarette use over the past 50 years has been aided by smoking bans in offices, planes, restaurants, bars, and other public places. These bans resulted from a series of state, local, and federal regulations.So far, the government's approach to social-media regulation has been somewhat chaotic. A few bills exist, like the Kids Online Safety Act, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1291">Protecting Kids on Social Media Act</a>, and an overhaul of the existing COPPA laws on data privacy and advertising to kids online.There's also a bunch of state attorneys general who have filed lawsuits over social-media harms to kids, and individual states have crafted their own laws, like a <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-tech-kids-new-york-82779a3040385dfc26c6ee15f490234e">new bill in New York</a> that would ban "addictive" algorithmic feeds for teens. Meta has said it would welcome regulation (meaning regulation that it likes) and has also suggested that it would like the responsibility of age gating and parental consent to download social apps to be shifted over to Apple's and Google's app stores.Perhaps instead of thinking of social media like cigarettes when it comes to warning labels, there's another analogy that might help us make more sense of this moment: the parental-advisory stickers on music albums with explicit lyrics.Social media is maybe closer to music than cigarettes, at least in terms of the First Amendment (there's a far more obvious speech implication than the right to rip heaters in the airport).In the mid-1980s, a group called the Parents Music Resource Center, which included a handful of influential wives of senators like Tipper Gore, was incensed over songs like Prince's "Darling Nikki" and Judas Priest's "Eat Me Alive" and urged record labels to attach warnings to albums containing explicit lyrics. The pressure campaign culminated in a media spectacle when John Denver, Frank Zappa, and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister spoke before Congress to defend their art.Ultimately, no law was passed — the parental-advisory labels you still see on albums today resulted from self-regulation by the record industry to avoid actual regulation: a compromise between the Recording Industry Association of America and the PMRC. (This <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/853600?mag=parental-advisory-the-story-of-a-warning-label&amp;seq=1">1999 article from the journal Popular Music</a> is a fun read if you're interested in diving deeper into the history of the warning labels.)A surgeon general's warning label that pops up when you open Instagram is probably going to be annoying, but it can't really hurt. So, hey, why not? I'm not going to sit here and say a government effort to help teen mental health is bad. Go for it.But I am skeptical of how effective it will actually be, and how much political capital might be wasted on this instead of the hard, unfun work of coming up with regulations on social platforms that are actually effective.

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