Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>The combined short video platform will have over 300M MAUs and 100M strong creator community.</li><li><keyword id="11984975" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="mx-media" source="Orion">MX Media</keyword> and its shareholders will become strategic shareholders of <keyword id="3358959" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sharechat" source="Orion">ShareChat</keyword>.</li></ul>MX Media Co. Ltd, the parent company of <keyword id="9555198" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mx-takatak" source="Orion">MX TakaTak</keyword>, and ShareChat, the parent company of <keyword id="8678883" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="moj" source="Orion">Moj</keyword>, today announced a strategic merger between Moj and MX <keyword id="7638068" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="takatak" source="Orion">TakaTak</keyword>, to create the largest short video platform for Indians, whereby the two platforms will now be controlled by ShareChat. The combined platform will have 100 million creators, over 300 million Monthly Active Users (MAU), and nearly 250 billion monthly video views. Post this transaction, MX Media and its shareholders will become strategic shareholders of ShareChat. Since its launch in July 2020, Moj has emerged as the largest Indian short video app, with over 160 million MAUs and over 50 million creator communities in the 15 Indian languages. The company has been investing heavily in social and live commerce and growing its AI/ML team which is now over 100 people strong and spread across the US, Europe, and India. MX TakaTak was launched in July 2020 and reached 150 million MAUs, across 10 languages. The platform’s deep access to content talent and understanding of the MX Media ecosystem user base has seen this high growth in a short span of time. MX TakaTak will continue to function as a separate platform for now, but the two platforms’ creator base, content supply and recommendation algorithms will be integrated. In the coming months, the experience of users and creators will converge enabling creators from both platforms to reach the most extensive set of audiences in India. This will provide users access to unique features including best-in-class camera creation tools with Snap filters, live commerce, and a vast music library. Commenting on the merger, Ankush Sachdeva, CEO and Cofounder, ShareChat &amp; Moj, said, “We at ShareChat are building India’s largest content ecosystem which has been on an unprecedented growth trajectory. MX TakaTak is a popular platform and this merger further solidifies our position in the short video ecosystem. With this development, we aim to build the largest original content platform on Moj along with the largest community of users across India.” Commenting on the partnership, Karan Bedi, CEO MX Media said, “I am excited to announce the strategic merger of India’s two most popular social media platforms. As India's largest digital entertainment platform, MX has always strived to build superior world class products, and TakaTak is no exception. This combined with Moj’s AI and execution capabilities makes the combined business a truly world class short video platform. MX has created two ‘unicorns’ within one business, unlocking significant value for our shareholders, and will now continue to double down on OTT, with significantly increased financial resources.”

ShareChat and MX Media announce a strategic merger of Moj and MX TakaTak

<ul><li>Big Boss has launched in its digital avatar on Voot.</li><li>Bigg Boss OTT roped in 8 leading brands as sponsors for the exclusive digital season. After <keyword id="6358977" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="swiggy">Swiggy</keyword> and <keyword id="6416838" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coindcx">CoinDCX</keyword> joined in as the ‘co-powered by’ sponsors, Viacom18’s Voot roped in Vimal Elaichi, <keyword id="9555198" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="MX-TakaTak">MX Takatak</keyword>, <keyword id="2875740" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Netmeds">Netmeds</keyword>, <keyword id="150626" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="HM">H&amp;M</keyword>, <keyword id="270570" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Durex">Durex</keyword> and Lotus Herbal as sponsors.</li></ul>With screens turned from television to digital, Bigg Boss, in its digital avatar, unleashed a super storm of over-the-top celebration and entertainment with its opening episode. With its launch on Voot with 13 contestants, Bigg Boss OTT roped in 8 leading brands as sponsors for the exclusive digital season. The season premiere episode witnessed viewers tuning in from across India registering the highest numbers of subscriber tune-in for a Bigg Boss opening till date. After Swiggy and CoinDCX joined in as the ‘co-powered by’ sponsors, Viacom18’s Voot roped in Vimal Elaichi, MX Takatak, Netmeds, H&amp;M, Durex and Lotus Herbal as sponsors. Joining as Presenting Sponsor, Vimal Elaichi is recognized as a brand to champion pioneering ideas with a strong youth appeal. Vimal Elaichi will leverage Bigg Boss’ fandom to connect and interact with viewers through highly engaging IPs like Video Vichaar and Extraa Masala giving the brand widespread exposure throughout the reality series. While Video Vichaar will enable viewers to share thoughts and opinions around daily developments within the house, Extraa Masala is a successful content around content IP that traditionally attracts hordes of Asli Fans who can’t keep away from the Bigg Boss phenomena. MX Takatak is a recognized brand in the short video format domain and in capacity as Social Media Partner, MX Takatak will deepen synergies with the show and its audience. MX Takatak will foster and drive growth for the Bigg Boss OTT x Voot community on its platform. As Style Partner, internationally loved fashion brand, H&amp;M will spruce up with style quotient on the show. A host of distinctive partners will seamlessly integrate with the daily storyline thus becoming an essential aspect of the overall storytelling. Additionally, Netmeds joins as Pharmacy Partner, Durex as <keyword id="11846994" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="special-partner">Special Partner</keyword> and Lotus Herbal as Beauty Partner will drive engagement through tasks and activities that both contestants and viewers will actively be involved in. Elaborating on the sponsorships, Gourav Rakshit, Chief Operating Officer, <keyword id="2947361" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Viacom18-Digital-Ventures">Viacom18 Digital Ventures</keyword>, said, “Bigg Boss has grown to become a celebrated proposition for brands to connect and engage with viewers. Given the multi-touchpoint offering, the interest the show generates is unlike any other. The diverse brands that have come onboard as sponsors, some of whom have joined the Bigg Boss family for the first time in this exciting edition, is testimony to popularity of Bigg Boss and the wide appeal of the Voot platform. We are excited to be working closely with them to create an ‘Over The Top experience’ for their audiences as well.” Speaking on associating with India’s largest reality phenomena, spokesperson at Vimal Elaichi said, “We are delighted to come on board as the presenting partner of Bigg Boss OTT- a new, pioneering idea for an OTT platform in India. Vimal has always associated with shows and IPs that have a large mass audience connect; testimony to that are our brand ambassadors Ajay Devgn and Shahrukh Khan! An innovative property like Bigg Boss OTT which is watched and loved by millions, fits in seamlessly with the same vision. We are very confident that this partnership will enjoy tremendous success.” On its premiere association with Voot for Bigg Boss OTT, Janhavi Parikh, Business Head - MX TakaTak said, “With this exciting partnership, we bring reality television to short video as well! Bigg Boss OTT shows the real side of celebrities to its viewers while MX TakaTak offers a great platform and encourages users, creators, digital enthusiasts to showcase their real talent across different genres. The natural content synergies that both platforms drive make it a win-win for us and we believe this will make for a great content fit for our users.” With the entertainment phenomenon’s tremendous popularity and reach, the sponsorships aim to provide brands with an opportunity to engage and collaborate through various touchpoints throughout the digital season. With prominence through ad spots, task integrations, special zones and other interactive and innovative branding opportunities, Bigg Boss OTT is all set to further give impetus to the brands to enhance their visibility and influence consumers.

Voot onboards 8 sponsors for Bigg Boss OTT as it opens its digital-first exclusive season

<ul><li><keyword id="2778410" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="havas-media-group" source="Orion">Havas Media Group</keyword>'s Mumbai office has reported a growth of 150% in 2020-2021, on the back of 15+ new account wins.</li><li>In total, <keyword id="906445" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="havas-media" source="Orion">Havas Media</keyword> Mumbai has added a total billing of Rs 500+ crore in 2020-2021.</li></ul>Following the strategic restructuring of Havas Media Group India’s senior management a few months ago, the agency’s Mumbai office has reported a growth of 150% in 2020-2021, on the back of 15+ new account wins. This includes <keyword id="508991" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="acc-cement" source="Orion">ACC Cement</keyword>, <keyword id="122370" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ambuja-cement" source="Orion">Ambuja Cement</keyword>, <keyword id="46909" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="icici-securities" source="Orion">ICICI Securities</keyword>, <keyword id="11954595" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="de-beers-forevermark" source="Orion">De Beers Forevermark</keyword>, Wai Wai, GITAM University, Dr. Reddy’s, OZiva, and several others. In addition, the agency has seen tremendous growth on the back of marquee clients like Tata Motors and TVS Eurogrip and their increased media spends even in 2020. In total, Havas Media Mumbai has added a total billing of Rs 500+ crore in 2020-2021. In the last 15 months, Havas Media bolstered its senior leadership team in Mumbai. <keyword id="2928941" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uday-mohan" source="Orion">Uday Mohan</keyword> took over as President &amp; Head - North &amp; West India, which includes the Mumbai operations. In addition, Manish Sharma was elevated, as Executive Vice President and Head of the Mumbai operations. To further strengthen the strategy teams, Sanchita Roy was appointed, as Strategy Head of Havas Media Group India. <keyword id="1193084" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rana-barua" source="Orion">Rana Barua</keyword>, Group CEO, Havas Group India, said, “Despite the market challenges, in the last 15 months we stuck to our task, defined our vision and kept investing in both our talent and product. In 2020, Havas Media Group India has garnered a growth rate of 35% (RECMA June 2020) - the highest among all media agency networks in India. From the group perspective, I am delighted as the overall results are a testimony of the leadership of Mohit, Uday, Venkat and the entire Havas Media team, which has been working relentlessly on both existing clients and also winning many new ones.” Mohit Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, Havas Media Group India, further added, “Our North operations have always been extremely strong, and now it&amp; heartening to see the same being replicated in other markets. We have seen both organic growth and won some fabulous new client wins in the West in the last 15 months resulting in an unprecedented growth. The wide range of new businesses that we have added in our portfolio across industries and sectors demonstrates our talent and prowess as a media conglomerate." Uday Mohan, President &amp; Head - North &amp; West India, who has led this unprecedented resurgence story of Havas Media in the West, said, “We are firmly aligned to the network’s global philosophy of creating Meaningful Media and Brands. Havas Media Group is growing the business on 4 pillars - product, people, pitches, and partnerships. Built on the Media Experience [Mx] operating structure, each phase of the Mx process is powered by Converged, an identity–based planning platform, which places the audience including data, convergence, automation and AI, strategy, e-comm and marketplace, and so on, at the heart of the media planning process and capitalizes on media that matters.”

Havas' Mumbai office reports a growth of 150% in 2020-2021, adds new businesses worth over Rs 500 crore

Mohalla Tech, the parent company of homegrown social media apps <keyword id="8678883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="moj" source="Orion">Moj</keyword> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/media/article/bharat-users-are-as-affluent-and-digitally-savvy-as-india-users-sharechat-and-groupm-report/articleshow/89154657.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">ShareChat</a>, is acquiring Times Internet-owned short-video platform <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/india-predicted-to-have-650-million-short-form-video-users-by-2025/articleshow/86792986.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">MX TakaTak</a> for nearly $600 million (about Rs 4,500 crore), sources said here on Thursday. In 2021, Mohalla Tech cumulatively raised $913 million, at a valuation of $3.7 billion. The acquisition, sources close to the development told IANS, will further bolster <keyword id="3358959" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sharechat" source="Orion">ShareChat</keyword>'s short-video market share through the platform Moj. When contacted, the companies declined to immediately comment on the development. Moj and ShareChat together have a 340 million-strong user community, while <keyword id="9555198" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mx-takatak" source="Orion">MX TakaTak</keyword> has nearly 150 million monthly active users (MAUs). Founded in 2015, Mohalla Tech has raised over $1.177 billion across eight fundraising rounds to date. Moj currently has an average user time spent of 34 minutes every day, scoring over 4.5 billion views daily. ShareChat is positioned uniquely with an average user time spent of 31 minutes daily. Since January this year, the company has grown to over 2,000 employees and added several new features as it focuses on building its products to be the leader in the Indian short video and social media space. In December, Mohalla Tech raised $266 million as part of its Series G round. "Both our products (Moj and ShareChat) have been leading the market with the highest monthly active user base, a very active creator set and amazing new partnerships to delight our community. This fresh funding will further strengthen our position," said Ankush Sachdeva, CEO and Co-founder, Moj and ShareChat. After the ban on TikTok and other Chinese short-video making apps, the advertisement revenue from Indian short-form space has been growing at a rapid pace and tripled in just six months. According to a latest report by homegrown consulting firm RedSeer Consulting, short-form content has grown 1.37 times in terms of monthly active user (MAU) and 1.1 times in terms of daily active users from June 2020 when Chinese app TikTok was banned in India. The monthly active users of the short-form segment in the country are expected to grow more than two times to reach 650 million users by 2025, clocking the second spot after television. This significant growth is largely expected to be driven by the new 300 million Internet users that will be added by 2025. "Both Josh and Moj apps have seen a good jump in user and creator net promoter score (NPS) largely driven by users seeing more personalisation, fresher and more filtered content, and creators having access to new tools, increased reach and more collaboration opportunities," said the report.

ShareChat to acquire short video platform MX TakaTak for around ₹4,500 crore

A year ago, Times Bridge, the global investments and partnerships arm of The Times Group and Smule, the world’s leading social network for music announced a strategic partnership in India. And, Smule had a good year in India. “We have developed a deeply integrated relationship in India over this period, giving Smule a decisive edge in scaling up its operations in the country. By effectively leveraging the network of Times Group’s media assets and facilitating long-lasting partnerships, we’ve helped Smule vastly increase its exposure to India’s diverse digital music landscape,” said Smule. Today, India is Smule’s third largest market in the world. And Indians make up 20% of its active users who engage with the app for an average of 57 minutes every day. A range of high-octane collaborations with the country's best music properties, movies and labels helped achieve this. Smule provides unique engagement opportunities to immerse in India’s multi-lingual music culture by leveraging best in-house brands such as Radio Mirchi, Gaana and MX Player. Bollywood collaboration Smule has also inked big ticket movie collaborations with studios like Fox Star &amp; <keyword id="62161" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dharma-Productions">Dharma Productions</keyword>. This has ensured that Smule's recall among music aficionados remains high. Last year, Smule formed a brand association with 'Student of the Year 2' for a Bollywood singing contest where music enthusiasts won a chance to fly to and perform in the US with <keyword id="15009" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Neha-Kakkar">Neha Kakkar</keyword> and <keyword id="6574" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sonu-Nigam">Sonu Nigam</keyword>. It also rolled out the country’s biggest talent hunt though partners like <keyword id="1701" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Idol">Indian Idol</keyword> and Surya Super Singer. The Smule Mirchi Cover Star IP, now in its second edition, had over 35,000 participants in Season 1. A partnership between Smule and Apple for the latter’s premium reseller, Aptronix’s retail store launch in India included a Live event for the Smule community. It had live performances by music composer-singer, Salim Merchant and a live duet with fans led by singer <keyword id="2571326" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nikhita-Gandhi">Nikhita Gandhi</keyword>. One of the reasons why Smule has become so popular in India so quickly is because the app is home to an ever expanding community of users and artists. “We’ve been proactive in on-boarding top artists - from regional pop-icons like Maninder Butter to gen-next rapper Naezy, we onboarded a string of new artists on Smule over the past 12 months. Shahid Mallya of ' Ikk Kudi' fame made his debut on the network &amp; Darshan Rawal, one of the most followed Bollywood artists on the network came back with 5 monsoon-special song releases. We’ve made it a point to remain on the <keyword id="47552" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="radar">radar</keyword> of our audience by curating cultural moments on key calendar dates and by running influencer campaigns on social media to ensure high visibility,” said Smule.

A year in India, Smule is getting almost twice  the engagement than TikTok

<ul><li>Even after the record growth witnessed by streaming services in India, the question remains whether these platforms can retain the massive lockdown gains </li><li>With streaming services under pressure to provide new content frequently and producers trying to not lose money in films, web premiers might be another new normal. </li><li>Moreover, a KPMG report suggested that OTT platforms should look at gaming as an extension to their ecosystem offerings. </li></ul>Streaming services are the only bright spot for the millions who are isolating at home during lockdown. With ample leisure time and fewer options, usage of streaming platforms surged. Most of the 35 streaming giants in India — <keyword id="3960758" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Prime-Videos">Amazon Prime Videos</keyword>, <keyword id="6245082" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ZEE5">Zee5</keyword>. Voot, Hungama, AltBalaji, MX Player — witnessed a record growth fueled by quarantine. The Big Boost During the lockdown, there was a 265% increase in OTT traffic since February last week — in spite of the drop from HD to SD, according to Internet Exchange operator DE-CIX. The five services that gained the most are Amazon Prime Videos, Netflix, Youtube, Zee5 and Hotstar. Disney+ — which was launched soon after India locked itself down —<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/08/disney-has-more-than-50m-subscribers/"> added 8 million users </a>within a week. Whereas, Netflix India — which was earlier losing to the homegrown market — too <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/exclusive-app-tracking-data-for-netflix-reveals-the-countries-where-usage-spiked-in-march-and-suggests-strong-viewership-heading-into-q1-earnings/articleshow/75162782.cms">saw at least an 8% growth in Q1FY20 driven</a> by its cheapest mobile online plan at ₹199. Zee5, a homegrown OTT platform, saw 36% growth during the lockdown. Whereas its foreign arm, <keyword id="7124509" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ZEE5-Global">Zee5 Global</keyword> saw a 60% surge in users across the world including the Middle East and Canada. Alt Balaji, yet another homegrown platform, saw a 60% growth in its subscription. <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 services </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;">Change in viewership due to Covid-19 </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 India </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;">+8% in Q1 </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;">Zee5 </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;">+36% </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;">Hungama Play </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;">+20% </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;">Eros Now </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;">+70-100% </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;">MX Player</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;">130% surge on engagement </td></tr></tbody></table> A short-term spike or a long-term gain A<a href="https://rollingstoneindia.com/how-the-coronavirus-is-impacting-audio-and-video-streaming-in-india/"> Nielsen report</a> predicted that lockdown can trigger a 60% rise in content consumption in India. Even after the record growth witnessed by streaming services in India, the question remains whether these platforms can retain the massive gains post lockdown. Hence, when Netflix recently said it added a record 15.8 million paid subscribers globally, it also added that it is treating it as “<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/21/neflix-q1-earnings/">a short-term spike” and the growth will gradually decline. </a> A KPMG report, however, believes that OTTs are likely to see continued accelerated growth. "While the same levels of consumption may not be achieved once we overcome this pandemic, there is definitely a new and higher normal that is likely to be established when it comes to time spent on OTT platforms," Girish Menon, Partner and Head, Media and Entertainment, KPMG in India told Business Insider. Moreover, Menon believes consumers are likely to develop a habit of consuming video online during lockdown which would later drive subscription growth. However, According to Karan Bedi, MX Player, OTT platforms might witness some immediate dip post lockdown, but the overall base and average time spent would continue the rise. With shooting of new TV series being delayed and movie theatres closed, services with large, legacy libraries and fresh content, have an inherent advantage. “A new normal has been witnessed as consumers adapt to the evolving situation of the pandemic. We feel this pattern will stay as it is in the post-COVID-19 era as well and perhaps there will be some incremental change in the overall user growth,” Aparna Acharekar, programming head of ZEE5 India. Ferzad Palia, who heads Voot Select in India too thinks the same. Rohit Paranjpe who heads SugarBox Networks believes new content will continue to enthuse people. The pressure on OTT services to release new content more frequently may also go up. Also, OTT players too should not be happy just retaining users and will have to engage them more. Apart from films, KPMG in a report suggested OTT platforms look at gaming as an extension to ecosystem offerings. “OTT will look to bring their consumer’s value in other areas: from aggregating other third party content providers who are not competing with them to promoting and pushing other adjacent services, like fitness and food delivery apps, and education platforms,” said Lior Friedman, VP - global partnerships and strategy at Amdocs Media. Directly onto OTT platforms With streaming services under pressure to provide new content frequently and producers trying to not lose money in films products, web premiers might be a new normal. Lakshmi Bomb featuring Akshay Kumar might release on Disney+Hotstar. MUBI is premiering Pablo Larrain’s film ‘Ema’ in India, UK and Ireland on May 2. Whereas, Zee5 is also considering premiering movies directly on its platform in the near future. AB Anni CD will be yet another film to be released directly on Amazon Prime Videos. Akshay Bardapur, the producer of the movie that stars Amitabh Bachchan said, “We didn’t want to keep audiences from watching two megastars. Also, it made sense to recover losses by selling content to the OTT.” But big-budget movies are preferring to hold back. Recently, the makers of Ranvir Singh starrer movie ‘83 said they will release the film in theatres first even <a href="https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ranveer-singhs-83-to-not-release-on-ott-platforms-makers-aim-for-theatrical-release/articleshow/75401861.cms">if they had to wait for six or nine months. </a> “While producers of movies that have a reasonable budget may experiment with releasing movies directly on OTT platforms or opt for a pay-per-view model, bigger films are unlikely to be released until later this year or next year,” says Neeraj Roy, founder and CEO of Hungama Digital Media. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/cinema-halls-may-not-open-in-india-until-june-end/articleshow/75407053.cms">Cinema halls may not open in India until June end</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/lockdown-watchlist-want-to-binge-watch-a-show-that-lasts-a-week-try-these-long-running-shows-on-netflix-amazon-prime-disney-hotstar-and-others/articleshow/75173116.cms">Lockdown Watchlist: Want to binge-watch a show that lasts a week? Try these long-running shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar and others</a>

Streaming platforms who are on a new high — are hosting web premiers and might even expand to gaming

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Everyone from Donald Trump to Stephen Colbert has taken a side on the alleged outrage surrounding Starbucks' plain holiday red cups. But was there ever any actual outrage in the first place? Last week, American evangelist and internet personality Joshua Feuerstein <a href="https://www.facebook.com/joshua.feuerstein.5/videos/vb.443476065755081/689569711145714/?type=2&amp;theater">posted a video on Facebook</a> saying that Starbucks "removed Christmas from their cups," and that in protest, Christians should ask baristas to write "Merry Christmas" on their cups. Media organizations, including Tech Insider,&#xa0;pointed to the hashtag #MerryChristmasStarbucks, which was trending on Facebook and Twitter over the weekend, as evidence of disappointment surrounding Starbucks' decision to forgo Christmas imagery on their holiday red cups. However, now that the dust has settled, actual social media responses demonstrate that far more people used the hashtag to show disgust than support for Feurerstein's ideas. To uncover the truth about the "outrage," one has to go to the root of the issue: Feuerstein's video. As of Thursday, the video has close to 16 million views and more than 185,000 likes. However, it also has more than 512,000 share - many of them critical.<div><div id="fb-root"></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/joshua.feuerstein.5/videos/689569711145714/" data-width="500"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joshua.feuerstein.5/videos/689569711145714/">Post</a>by<a href="https://www.facebook.com/">Joshua Feuerstein</a>.</div></div></div>In fact, most of the most-liked comments on the video are dismissive of the "movement.""I'm a Christian. I also work for Starbucks," reads <a href="https://www.facebook.com/joshua.feuerstein.5/videos/689569711145714/?comment_id=689606674475351&amp;offset=0&amp;total_comments=57777&amp;comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D">one popular comment,</a> written the day the video was posted. "I've worked for companies where my religion is mocked or laughed at. This company is not one of them."Another comment, posted after the video began trending on November 10, also called out Feuerstein as incorrect. As of Thursday, it had received more than 22,000 likes - more than quadruple the number of the most-liked comment supporting Feuerstein.If even people who checked out the original video disagreed with Feuerstein, how did the hashtag begin to trend?Watching the evolution and eventual explosion of the trend on Twitter sheds light on exactly what went down. On November 5, the day the video was posted, there weren't many tweets about the hashtag. While most that appear did show support, none were hugely popular. In fact, the most-liked and retweeted example was a&#xa0;skeptical responses. <div></div><div></div><div></div>On November 6, people began actually sharing pictures of themselves with Starbucks cups that say "Merry Christmas" - evidence that Feuerstein wasn't the only member of his so-called movement. &#xa0;<div></div>&#xa0;<div></div>&#xa0;<div></div>&#xa0;It also brought the beginning of the backlash. <div></div>&#xa0;<div></div>Searching through the hashtag on November 7, the vast majority of tweets are simply criticizing the movement. The switch had begun: a hashtag created criticize Starbucks had transformed into a movement to raise awareness of this criticism. <div></div>&#xa0;<div></div><div></div>Since Saturday, the social media ratio has remained about the same, with more people using the hashtag to criticize than support Feuerstein.<div></div><div></div>Meanwhile, the growth of the hashtag - inflated by critics' own posts - prompted media coverage of the topic. Regardless of publications' political leanings, the majority of commenters responded in disgust - that Feuerstein was wasting his time on such a project."I'm offended by everyone being offended by this!!!" succinctly reads one of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FoxNews/posts/10153823108096336?comment_id=10153823108666336&amp;offset=0&amp;total_comments=17064&amp;comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D">most-liked comments</a> on Fox New's Facebook post about the issue. Offline support from a wider Christian community also failed to materialize. As <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/11/10/most-christians-dont-actually-care-about-starbucks-cups-heres-what-we-do-know/">Jonathan Merritt wrote in the Washington Post</a>, most Christians simply didn't care about the red cups. No Christian groups have gone on the record boycotting Starbucks or joining the hashtag movement.<div></div><div></div>In fact, the only major new supporter of the movement to come out since the weekend has been <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-boycotting-starbucks-red-cups-2015-11">Donald Trump</a>. Other than his call to boycott Starbucks, the majority of on- and off-line commentary has been critical of the movement - all while bringing more and more attention to Feuerstein. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for Feuerstein, who has reasons of his own to want people to visit&#xa0;his Facebook page, whether they agree or disagree with his views. The self-described "social media personality" offers partnerships, starting at $10, $20, or $50 a month, for people and organizations who want to reach Feuerstein's reported 500,000 daily followers, reports the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/11/10/who-is-josh-feuerstein-the-man-behind-the-starbucks-red-cup-frenzy/?tid=sm_tw">Washington Post</a>. Feuerstein has experience with posting on polarizing topics, and is sure to understand that tackling issues that will earn him criticism will also expand his reach - even if most people disagree. An example of a past Feuerstein topic is ordering a cake that says "We Do Not Support Gay Marriage," and harassing the bakery that refused to make him the cake until it temporarily closed.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>At the end of the day, most people who appeared to be a part of Feuerstein's social media movement were, in fact, attacking the man. However, their involvement merely served to make the hashtag more prominent, over time making it a topic of discussion for most major publications, late night talk show hosts, and even a presidential candidate. The outrage may have never been real, but its effects - including the growth it allowed Feuerstein - certainly are. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jeans-could-become-extinct-activewear-yoga-pants-nike-lululemon-2015-10">One of America's longtime wardrobe staples could become extinct</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="xkcGJoeDpaDsGZt3jD1qmQ1K9riwHwdr" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

People are mad about the outrage over Starbucks' red holiday cups - but it's unclear if customers were ever upset to begin with

<ul><li>Advertising and Media Insider introduces you to its latest property, The Influencer Adda, where we speak to social media stars who have made it big -- about their journey.</li><li>In our first episode, digital influencer <keyword id="8944292" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="saloni-gaur">Saloni Gaur</keyword> gets candid about her experience of working on her first TVC and Web Series with Sony LIV, making Indian middle-class parents understand the power of social media, her all-time favourite jingle and much more! </li></ul>Saloni Gaur aka Nazma Aapi aka Kangana Runout is a contemporary Indian comedian and mimicry artist, who has become an internet sensation, thanks to the relatable content she puts up. She has created 11 different characters who offer a fearless point-of-view on social and political issues even in volatile climes. Part of an industry that is highly misogynistic and sexist, she is changing the landscape, one funny video at a time. Saloni recently landed a show with Sony Liv, touched 535k followers on Instagram and worked on her first TVC with Paytm. In the past, she has worked with brands like Amazon Prime, Doritos India, MX Player, upGrad, to name a few. In an exclusive interview with Advertising and Media Insider, digital influencer Saloni Gaur got candid about her experience of working on her first TVC and Web Series with Sony LIV, making Indian middle-class parents understand the power of social media, the boycott culture, her all-time favourite jingle and much more! <div type="Video" msid="79450578" hostid="261" title="Here's the story behind social media star Saloni Gaur's journey" dataSource="BUSINESSINSIDER" thumbUrl="https://denmark.timesinternet.in/cmslite/api/app/images.jpg?msid=79450578"></div> On her way from aiming to become a banker to becoming a social media influencer Saloni discovered the world of social media because she was bored and had a tough time making new friends in her college. “This was the first time I moved away from my parents and it was tough for me to make new friends in college and I was getting really bored. I got my first smartphone and learnt about all these social media apps. I had no clue that Instagram has videos as well and I thought why was I wasting my jokes on my friends, now I can make a video to make others laugh. We had one TV in our hostel and kids would watch Bigg Boss there, so I thought I should start something of my own, for myself,” recounts Gaur. In 2018, Saloni mustered courage to make her account public and around this time last year, one of her videos went viral and she tasted the sweet fruit of social media fame. And with it, Saloni realised that this is what she always wanted to do because 'her passion started paying her'. However, she did not really have a plan. She did what her instincts told her to and followed her passion. She would make content around everything from her personal experience while taking a metro and speaking to neighborhood aunties to commenting on the status quo. Nazma Aapi was her first character that had a proper background. She gave her an identity, thought of what her husband and kids would be like, and where does she live. <div type="javascript" title="Instagram" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[ ]]></cdata></div> Even Saloni’s first viral did not have a script -- she just poured her heart into the video. She was in a poor network area and couldn’t even add a caption. It was on a holiday trip with her family in Benaras that she got a call from her friend, “We have started getting your videos on WhatsApp.” “It is around this time that Delhi faces pollution issues. I was in my hostel, I opened my door and saw nothing -- it was all hazy. I thought a lot of people who have breathing issues like me, would relate to my video. I didn’t even clean my front camera, which worked to my benefit and it felt like I was in a polluted area. I also received my video on hostel WhatsApp group. So when you start receiving your own videos on WhatsApp, that’s when you realise that you have gone viral,” recalls Saloni. That was also the first video she had uploaded on Twitter. Before that, she wasn’t very regular with her Tweets. Some famous person posted her video asking about her, which served as another indication that she had arrived. Saloni uploaded videos on social media to escape from her mundane college life. She wanted to be a banker who does stand-up comedy on the weekends. After the lockdown, as she had more time to spare, she started posting videos more frequently. Saloni’s mother, like many other middle-class Indian women, wanted to at least see one of her kids become a banker. After Saloni’s first video went viral, she became her biggest cheerleader. She downloaded Instagram and Facebook to track her videos and read the comments to understand the pulse of the market. “My mother calls me to tell me that this person called you fat on social media today,” laughs Saloni as she speaks fondly of her mother. Recently, Saloni added another feather to her cap by starring in her own web series with Sony Liv. She was in college when she got an email from Sony Liv and she assumed it was just for a shout out deal. “We were on a Zoom call with Sony Liv’s team and my internet connection was so bad that I couldn’t see or hear them. After the call, I asked my brother, what were they talking about? He told me that they are offering you your own show. This year has been full of surprises, I haven’t planned anything about my future yet, ” tells Saloni. <div type="javascript" title="Instagram" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[ ]]></cdata></div> This year has also taught Saloni to appreciate little things in life and gave her a privilege check. “I saw our migrants walking back miles to their homes and I realised that I was cribbing too much about my problems. I wasn’t demanding, but I complained a lot. This lockdown made me realise that what I have right now is more than enough.” Saloni works for brands that she truly resonates with and enters into a partnership only if she would use the brand herself. On whether budding content creators should be picky about their brand deals, she said, “Every creator has his/her preferences. A lot of people said no to endorsing Fair &amp; Lovely, which is now ‘Glow &amp; Lovely’ but there are celebrities who are okay with associating with that brand. But if you want to create a good image, you want to survive in the long-run and you really care for people, you will have to be wary about choosing the right brand and making sure you endorse what you relate with. I was careful about this. I only work with brands who align with my values.” Saloni has maintained a fresh, neutral voice on her social media. She offers an honest opinion on the status quo, whether it be the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act to U.S. Politics, she is fearless. A few of the brands who have reached out to Saloni in the past, have told her to stay away from politics. And Saloni doesn’t blame them. “I do what I like for my content pipeline, so it is not a problem for me if they deny to comment on a political issue. Twitterati is quick to jump on a boycott trend today and I think it is right that they stay away. It is not like they stay away from creators who have a political opinion, but they just give a guideline to follow so that they don’t become a part of the boycott trend. All of the brands I have associated with have been very open to experiment with news ideas as well,” says Saloni. Talking about the state of advertisements today and the brandverse, Saloni said, “Brands shouldn’t take their consumer for a fool. They should change that attitude. For example, take Fair &amp; Lovely again, they thought it would be okay to change the name. Maybe brands need to replace their CEOs because they are not really in the right frame of mind because they think consumers wouldn’t notice if you change the brand name.” It took Saloni Gaur three years to become a star on social media. She was patient, confident and trusted her instincts to reach where she is and never worried about how she looked or where she was. She has learnt how to be happy with little achievements and not worry too much about setbacks. So, her advice to budding content creators is to stay real. She says, “A lot of the creators worry about production quality from the beginning. I think they should just be patient and not compromise on their content quality. I had a weird phone but all I ever worried about before uploading videos was whether it would make people laugh. If I am creating a one-minute video, every line should be a joke. If people are laughing, it doesn’t matter which phone you have used to shoot your video or what you are wearing. Don’t plan too much, just go with the flow and be patient. Do it for fun!”

From studying to become a banker to now having her own OTT show, here's social media star Saloni Gaur's journey

Music has been instrumental in coping with our new routines. The soothing voice of <keyword id="146060" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arijit">Arijit</keyword>, a peppy number by <keyword id="10474637" type="AGENCY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ap-dhillon">AP Dhillon</keyword>, or a calming podcast by Neelesh Misra has helped listeners cope with many a difficult day. Moments with audio follow the listener through the day and across devices, creating different listening experiences. Whether it's while doing daily chores such as cooking, working out, or spending time with family, the versatility of audio makes it engaging and personal. Audio advertising allows your brand to create a personal connection with consumers in moments when other mediums cannot. On an average, the Indian listener spends 2.5 hours per day on audio, and 80% of this time, they can’t be reached through visual media1. So with only a display or a video ad you are missing out on valuable time with your audience. <div type="image" title="Spotify listeners" msid="84965364" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Spotify listeners&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Ads that match the moment, make an impact" comment="subhead" text="Ads that match the moment, make an impact">Ads that match the moment, make an impact</cmsannotation> With <keyword id="685487" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Spotify">Spotify</keyword>, you can be sure that your message will get noticed: we deliver your ads at the right moment when the listeners are most receptive — in a no swipe, no scroll environment. A deep understanding of our listeners and a constant connection with them throughout their day can help create and deliver messages that enhance rather than interrupt the moment. 75% of Spotify listeners say they remember ads more when the ads recognize their moment or setting2. Spotify helps brands reach consumers in the right moment, and the results are - 2.7x higher awareness and 5.3x higher intent than campaigns with basic demographic targeting2. <div type="image" title="Ad recall better when it matches the moment" msid="84965399" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Ad recall better when it matches the moment&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Striking the right chord" comment="subhead" text="Striking the right chord">Striking the right chord</cmsannotation> Multi-device listeners in India stream music for 2.5 hours per day1. These are precious screenless moments on screenless devices such as home speakers, cars, gaming consoles, and smart TVs. According to a survey by Spotify, for 56% of <keyword id="4550079" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="GenZ">GenZ</keyword> these screenless moments offer an escape from the world of visual overload4. With over 4 billion playlists on Spotify, there are endless opportunities to know what your audience is listening to and you can match your creative to that vibe. At Spotify, we’re constantly learning about how people listen in real-time through our streaming intelligence — first-party, contextual data that reveal moods, mindsets, habits, and tastes at the moment. Audio brings moment marketing to life for a mother in Mumbai when she listens to focus playlists in the afternoon while working from home, fitness playlists when she is working out, and sleep playlists when she’s putting her kids to bed. Audio allows you to go well beyond primary data related to age, gender, location, and device type and really own a moment Playlist keywords give us clues to the listeners’ context in the moment they’re listening: their setting and their current genre preference. Campaigns that include playlist targeting drive 2.1x higher intent than campaigns that don’t3. <div type="image" title="Building a connect with your brand and listeners" msid="84965487" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Building a connect with your brand and listeners&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Creating the right sensory mix" comment="subhead" text="Creating the right sensory mix">Creating the right sensory mix</cmsannotation> Multi-format campaigns (<keyword id="9500690" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="audio-video">audio &amp; video</keyword>) showed a 1.8x increase in ad recall than video ads alone5. From playful statics and creative videos during screen time to immersive audio as the consumer moves to non-screen devices, multimedia campaigns ensure that your brand complements the consumer’s device journey. On Spotify, the sound-on environment lets you tell stories with both audio and visual elements — and you can be confident they’re being seen and heard. We’ve seen that running both video and audio increases ad recall by 90% and results in a 2.2x increase in brand awareness5. This sensory combination extends your creative options, giving you the best of both. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Capturing the imagination of the listener" comment="subhead" text="Capturing the imagination of the listener">Capturing the imagination of the listener</cmsannotation> Our brains process information through audio 22x faster than through visualizations6. With audio, there’s no limit to storytelling — it can communicate emotions, capture moods in seconds, engaging listeners to fill in gaps with their imagination. Here are some ideas for an audio creative on Spotify: ● Provide an elevated sensory experience with a full sonic palette - ASMR, 3D audio, immersive effects, entertaining narration, and great music - to tell memorable stories. ● Explore sequential messaging, telling a story from one ad to the next. ● Use your audio identity, an audio signature, or jingle! The familiarity offers an impactful way to enhance the listener’s sonic environment and effectively get their attention. And all of this can be done in a personal, one-to-one manner with no clutter, audio is disruptive without disturbing. We spend a large part of our day listening. Get your brand heard in the moment that makes the most impact. Whether you're taking the first steps in exploring the power of audio on Spotify or looking to connect with an audience that is difficult to reach otherwise, now's the time to act. Ready to get your message heard? Write to us at <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="mailto:spotify-advertising-india@spotify.com">spotify-advertising-india@spotify.com</a> to get in touch with our client support team.1- IFPI Digital Music Report 2019 2 - Spotify Nielsen Brand Effect Studies, 2018 3- Spotify First Party Data, global, based on daily content hours / daily active users, free users multiplatform, May 2019 4 - Spotify Culture Next trend survey among 4,000 respondents 15-37 globally [U.S., MX, BR, FR, DE, U.K., PH, AU], February 2019) 5 - Data Source- Nielsen Brand Effect on Spotify, March 2020 6- Source - Petra Vetter, Fraser W. Smith, Lars Muckli. Decoding Sound and Imagery Content in Early Visual Cortex. Current Biology, 2014 Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Spotify SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/microsoft-could-expand-support-for-the-apps-feature-of-the-your-phone-app-to-the-galaxy-a52/articleshow/84965781.cms">Microsoft could be expanding the ‘Apps’ feature of the Your Phone app to more apps</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/zomato-indigo-paints-bectors-food-ujjivan-small-finance-bank-and-other-hot-stocks-that-have-lost-steam-since-listing/articleshow/84964352.cms">Don’t subscribe for an IPO just because it saw great interest from institutional investors ⁠— Indigo Paints, Mrs Bectors Food, and Ujjivan are examples to look at</a>

You Searched For "mx media partnership" and got 9 results

ShareChat and MX Media announce a strategic merger of Moj and MX TakaTak

BI India Partner

Voot onboards 8 sponsors for Bigg Boss OTT as it opens its digital-first exclusive season

BI India Partner

Havas' Mumbai office reports a growth of 150% in 2020-2021, adds new businesses worth over Rs 500 crore

BI India Partner

ShareChat to acquire short video platform MX TakaTak for around ₹4,500 crore

IANS

A year in India, Smule is getting almost twice the engagement than TikTok

BI India Partner

Streaming platforms who are on a new high — are hosting web premiers and might even expand to gaming

Preeti Soni

People are mad about the outrage over Starbucks' red holiday cups - but it's unclear if customers were ever upset to begin with

KATE TAYLOR

From studying to become a banker to now having her own OTT show, here's social media star Saloni Gaur's journey

Karuna Sharma

The power of audio ads — tap into the right moment and make an impact

Insider Studios

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides