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<ul><li>Interesting business ideas have cropped up around OTT password sharing in India.</li><li>A verified source told Business Insider that he sells OTT subscriptions at half rates.</li><li>One such startup idea was also floated at an event organized by the Delhi — Business Blasters — named as ‘OTT Hub’.</li></ul>Netflix kickstarted a dangerous experiment to charge people who share passwords. While most subscribers are livid, in India sharing passwords has always been a way of life. In addition to families — undivided Indian families with chacha, bua and ‘friends who are like family’ — OTT passwords travel the length and breadth of bloodlines and beyond. But that’s not even half the story of how OTT passwords are ‘used’ in India. Interesting business models have cropped up around it. One such Delhi- based software engineer owns a ‘business’ that sells OTT subscriptions at half rates — but to a close network of people. Business Insider India has independently verified the veracity of this service. He sells Netflix’s basic one-month subscription at ₹80, while its market price is at ₹199 per month. This account which is shared by around 5-10 people, leaves little room for the half-price buyers to share it further. “We buy multiple subscriptions from another seller and sell them to different people at minimum rates. Everybody watches at different times during the day, hence, it doesn’t create any problems,” the seller told Business Insider India, on the condition of anonymity. He also added that there are hundreds of ‘resellers’ who are selling OTT subscriptions at minimum rates — a key factor which is disallowing large OTT players to discover the depth of the market. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="91919516" title="Netflix's plan to charge people for sharing passwords is already a mess before it's even begun, report suggests" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> While <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/disney-star-is-the-latest-victim-of-online-piracy-which-is-expected-to-touch-3-billion-this-year-in-india/articleshow/91912088.cms">piracy is illegal</a> and can even attract a prison sentence, jugaad business ideas such as this tread the grey area without a law that bans people from sharing passwords around. A lot of individuals also ‘re-sell’ OTT subscriptions on Telegram and Instagram as well — making content available at a variety of rates. <div type="image" title="Sellers on Instagram" msid="91942369" hostid="261"></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Many OTTs - and a hub to bring them all together" comment="subhead" text="Many OTTs - and a hub to bring them all together">Many OTTs - and a hub to bring them all together</cmsannotation> Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Hotstar, Zee5, Voot and SonyLiv are some of the most popular OTT platforms in India. But they are not the only ones. In fact, a large number of regional OTTs from Sun and other broadcasters and content creators have entered the market with niche offerings. Even Prime Video launched a service called Prime Video Channels that bundles eight OTTs like ShortsTV, ErosNow and more. This indicates that there is a need for an aggregator-like platform to cater to the varied interests of Indian users. One such startup idea was also floated at an event organized by the Delhi government — Business Blasters — which was held in the month of March. A group of 4-5 students of Std. XII presented an idea named ‘OTT Hub’. Their startup plans to give out OTT subscriptions to people on an hourly basis, at affordable rates of ₹5 per hour — for people who want to watch only a movie or two. They have claimed to have already kickstarted this service during the presentation. “Our team is providing OTT platforms for users on a rental basis who have not been able to buy the subscription of the OTT platforms,” said Nikhil and Roshan who are a part of the team. They had invested over ₹3,000, and earned a profit of ₹4,000 in March itself. “Our plan is to expand our business and customer base and tie up with more OTT platforms. For this, we require an investment of ₹20,000,” the team member added. The fact that these youngsters found willing consumers, shows that Indians prefer multiple OTT subscriptions across languages and genres. It could also be one of the reasons why few Indians would stick to one OTT and also keep its usage exclusive. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/meta-owned-whatsapp-takes-down-over-16-6-lakh-bad-accounts-within-india-in-april/articleshow/91941917.cms">Meta-owned WhatsApp takes down over 16.6 lakh bad accounts within India in April</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/vodafone-idea-wants-to-triple-the-money-it-makes-from-its-users-but-it-will-take-more-than-hope-and-prayers-to-achieve-it/articleshow/91941634.cms">Vodafone Idea wants to triple the money it makes from its users, but it will take more than hope and prayers to achieve it</a>

India has jugaad businesses & startup ideas that bank on sharing passwords of Netflix, Prime Video and other OTTs

<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>After <keyword id="128682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="netflix" source="Orion">Netflix</keyword>, another OTT platform is moving to an advertisement-based video-on-demand (AVOD) model.</li><li>Regional OTT platform Aha announced that it would have ads on its platform and a no-ad subscription option.</li><li>AVOD models are money churners for OTT players. According to the TMT<a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/in/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/big-bets-on-smartphones-semiconductors-and-streaming-service.html"> Predictions 2022 report</a> by Deloitte, AVOD is expected to garner more revenue than subscription-based video on demand (SVOD).</li></ul>India is home to around <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/a-cred-like-platform-is-what-indian-ott-users-want-to-juggle-multiple-subscriptions/articleshow/92570894.cms">60 over-the-top</a> platforms but most of them haven’t been able to make profit, as subscription revenue isn’t bringing them the revenue they desperately need. Netflix finally gave in and announced that it was now looking at ads on its platform. Regional player Aha, which provides Telugu and Tamil content is the latest to switch to a hybrid model. This is a mix of advertisement-based video on demand (AVOD) and subscription-based video on demand (SVOD). “All OTT platforms right now are burning a lot of cash in terms of both creating content and acquiring subscribers. Across India, there's only a certain amount of paid subscribers that you can bring onto the platform. So, at some point, everybody needs to walk towards profitability. The natural answer here is AVOD, which is where the consumer base is 10x or more than the subscription base that you have,” Vaasudev Koppineni, VP - content and strategy, Aha told Business Insider India. Aha will have three options for consumers by October. There will be free content with ads, gold subscription and premium with high-definition content. Aha is also optimistic that it would be on the path to profitability after moving to a hybrid model. “With our team expanding the non-subscription revenue into brand solutions, AVOD and other new initiatives, I think we are on our path towards profitability,” said Koppineni. AVOD models are money churners for OTT players. According to the TMT<a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/in/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/big-bets-on-smartphones-semiconductors-and-streaming-service.html"> Predictions 2022 report</a> by Deloitte, India’s AVOD market will double from $1.1 billion in 2021 to $2.4 billion in 2026. Rural consumers prefer affordable OTT plans Having established a strong presence in the cities of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Aha wants to expand and go deeper into the country and that was one of the reasons behind the switch in business models. “We wanted to reach out to the rural audience of AP, Telangana, where we were able to lower the entry-level pack. That's when we decided that it's time to launch inventory on our platform, take down the back price for our entry-level consumers, so that they can afford our premium-content viewing with ads,” Nitin Burman, head of non-subscription at Aha, told Business Insider India. He said that rural India was a price-sensitive market. Currently, Aha’s annual premium subscription plan is priced at ₹699. There’s a ₹399 basic annual package and the quarterly package is priced at ₹199. The prices will be revised in the festive months. To make the most of its budget and pass on the benefits to consumers, Aha also focuses on creating original content, which Koppineni says is more viable for a streaming platform from a business perspective. “Creating content or having your own IP makes more sense than acquiring content because today, with growth in the competition, everybody's fighting for the same piece of content, which actually leads to the costs going high. What was earlier capped at 40% recovery of a content piece from digital has now grown to 60%-70%. So acquisition has become more expensive,” said Koppineni. Growth of regional Born just before the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, Aha currently has 10 million monthly active users (MAUs) and its app is installed by 30 million people. It has captured over 2 million paid subscribers and each of them share their passwords with 2-3 people – so around 8 million users access Aha content on an average. According to a FICCI-EY <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/brandwagon/regional-ott-on-the-rise-as-subscribers-choose-native-language-over-hindi/2272860/">report</a>, the share of regional language consumption on OTT platforms will cross 50% by 2025 from the 30% share it held in 2019. FICCI-EY believes that regional consumption will surpass Hindi, but will settle at 45% of the pie. “As per various reports, the next step for any national player to get consumers on board is from the regional audiences. And we have already captured urban markets and are in phase two of going to Tier II and III markets,” said Burman. Aha is also aiming to become a super app of sorts for its regional audience by adding gaming onto its platforms.

Aha takes the Netflix way to reach out to subscribers from small towns

<ul><li><keyword id="128682" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Netflix">Netflix</keyword> is looking to expand into <keyword id="25195" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="video-games">video games</keyword> on its streaming platform.</li><li>Mike Verdu, a former EA and Facebook executive, will lead this development.</li><li>Video games will be available within the next year or so. </li></ul>The subscription-based streaming platform, Netflix, is planning to add to its categories by offering video games to its users alongside films and TV series. According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-14/netflix-plans-to-offer-video-games-in-expansion-beyond-films-tv">Bloomberg</a>, it has hired a formed Electronic Arts (EA) and Facebook executive to lead this development. Netflix is likely to offer games as a separate category much like documentaries and other genres. A <a href="https://jobs.netflix.com/jobs/64788193">job listing</a> on Netflix suggests that the company could develop entirely new interactive games as it is looking for a product innovative director to execute the task. As per the report, Mike Verdu, a former EA executive and Facebook VP, will take charge as vice president of Netflix and lead the game development segment. At Facebook, he was responsible for bringing games and other content to Oculus platforms. According to the report, the idea is to offer video games on Netflix within the next year or so. Netflix is looking to build its team for the development of games on its platform in the coming months. With video games into its fray, Netflix will go ahead of its competitors like Disney Hotstar, Amazon Prime and others. With this new development, Netflix might be targeting more subscribers as it added fewer subscribers than expected <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-20/netflix-plunges-after-subscriber-miss-bleak-customer-outlook">in the recently reported quarter. </a> As per Bloomberg, the addition of games is a natural extension of Netflix’s content strategy, allowing it to mine intellectual property from popular shows like ‘Stranger Things.’ The company may start by offering a few games based on its original content. Though we’re not sure how the company plans to monetize the games, it will help engage its subscribers, add a new avenue and have wider entertainment. The details on the company’s plans are still scarce as it seems to be in the early stages of development. We hope to have more details on its subscription model, price and availability in the near future. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/choosing-the-best-netflix-plan-heres-how-to-pick-the-right-plan-for-yourself/articleshow/83034945.cms">Best Netflix plan — Here’s how to pick the right plan for yourself</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/how-to/how-to-change-your-netflix-password-even-if-you-dont-know-your-current-one/articleshow/83789902.cms">How to change your Netflix password, even if you don't know your current one</a>

Netflix will reportedly add video games on its platform ‘within the next year’

<ul><li>The streaming giant <keyword id="128682" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="netflix" source="Orion">Netflix</keyword> announced last week that it will start charging extra for users outside their households as a way to prevent password sharing.</li><li>Netflix CEO Reed Hastings had recently said the company was “frustrated” that it couldn’t get subscriber growth momentum going in India.</li><li>So if Netflix were to crack down on password sharing in a price-sensitive market such as India, it could lose its subscriber base to other platforms, experts say.</li></ul>In India, your Netflix account isn’t just yours. Well, mostly. It is a collective account of your friends, their friends and even their ex-partners who are not in touch with them anymore. One person pays for the subscription and three to five other freeloaders mooch off of it; a new-age bond that transcends across religion, age and geography. So, when streaming giant Netflix made an announcement that it wants its users to stop sharing passwords with their friends and family — an update that is currently live across Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru — it riled up many internet users. Shortly after, a meme fest sparked up. <div type="twitter" handle="Shweta_baranwal" handlename="Shweta Baranwal" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1458726529173577729/rtylniVq_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1" retweetcount="0" status="Looks like it's time to giveup few friendships #netflixpassword" createdat="1647604581000" id="1504788798051614727"></div> <div type="twitter" handle="fine_as_wine1" handlename="Mekia ♊" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1501471608233414657/P8aqqFwF_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1" retweetcount="0" status="Went up on the price now trying to dictate people sharing their passwords all without even adding new content 🙄 Car… https://t.co/fBrlc3woIP" createdat="1647723017000" id="1505285553297760265"></div> Should freeloaders be worried in India? In a <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/paying-to-share-netflix-outside-your-household">blog </a>post that went live on Wednesday, Chengyi Long, director of product innovation said, “They [multiple streams] have also created some confusion about when and how Netflix can be shared. As a result, accounts are being shared between households – impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members.” So, Netflix will now start charging extra for users outside their households as a way to prevent password sharing in these markets, to begin with, and later evaluate whether to bring it to other markets. It is adding two features to curb sharing – ‘Add Extra Member’ and ‘Transfer Profile to New Account.’ While Netflix hasn’t given any indication as to whether it plans to expand this new feature beyond initial test markets, if it does, it could have a negative impact on its rather <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/netflix-added-8-3-million-paid-subscribers-in-last-quarter-its-slowest-growth-since-2015/articleshow/89033252.cms">slow growth</a> trajectory in India. As per data and analytics platform <a href="https://www.data.ai/en/insights/market-data/state-of-mobile-2022-bouyant-economy/">App Annie</a>, Netflix currently has the largest global footprint among video streaming services and is set to surpass 1 million downloads in over 60 countries in 2022. However, the story is different in India. The California-based global streaming platform Netflix is losing its users to homegrown platforms. As per App Annie’s State of Mobile 2022 report -- sorted by total downloads as of 2021, Disney+Hotstar is the most downloaded app, followed by MX Player and ZEE5. <keyword id="3194526" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="netflix-india" source="Orion">Netflix India</keyword> didn’t make it to its top 10 list. While Netflix doesn’t reveal its user base for the Indian market, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/netflixs-lack-of-success-in-india-frustrating-cofounder-reed-hastings-says/articleshow/89044470.cms">media </a>reports indicate that it is between 4.3 million-4.5 million, which is a small fraction of its competitor Disney+Hotstar (close to 36 million) and Amazon Prime Video (over 17 million). Even Netflix’s co-chief executive (CEO) and cofounder Reed Hastings admitted that the team has been stumped by the lack of success in India. In the company’s post-results webcast for the October-December quarter of 2021, Hastings said, “The thing that frustrates us is why haven’t we been as successful in India. But we are definitely leaning in there.” Business Insider India has reached out to Netflix India for comments on the story, but the company has not responded till the time of filing this report. Before Hastings voiced his frustration publicly, Netflix India had <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/netflix-india-cuts-prices-across-its-streaming-plans/articleshow/88267582.cms">slashed </a>its pricing for the mobile-only plan from ₹199/month to ₹149/month in December 2021 to expand its user base and cut through intense rivalry from Disney+Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video and other 60 over-the-top (OTT) platforms. With its choppy growth numbers and slow subscription rate, if Netflix were to restrict password sharing in a price-sensitive market like India, it could slide even further downhill. The streaming platform was launched in India in January 2016 and it is in the initial days of the launch, brand guru and founder of Harish Bijoor Consults Inc., Harish Bijoor, says that a brand or business must set the right practice, and changing it all of a sudden has aspects of ‘negative-peril biting into it.’ “Netflix is watched in India by more people who pay for it. And that is a reality that has its positives and negatives. Password-sharing is today the norm and accepted practice. Something Netflix did not curtail as a practice in its early days. India is a jugaad market. Password-sharing is today a practice that upset the apple cart of many a viewer and many a subscriber. It is going to have quite the effect that a Whatsapp could experience if it became a fee-paid service. Netflix's frustration is really of its own making,” explains Bijoor. As per consulting firm Ormax Media’s OTT sizing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/media/article/india-has-353-million-ott-users-and-96-million-active-paid-subscriptions-which-translates-into-a-penetration-of-25-3-ormax-media-report/articleshow/85791184.cms">report </a>2021, India had a total of 353.2 million OTT users, out of which only 40.7 million i.e., 11.5 % were subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) users and a huge chunk of this market relies on password sharing. Gautam Jain, partner, Ormax Media says, “A large set of OTT users are SVOD Non-paying -- around 19.8 % (69.8 million), i.e., those who watch SVOD content but through password sharing or downloads. While the SVOD subscribers would have shown growth, this non-paying segment would have also grown given the price sensitivity amongst Indian audiences.” In Chile, Peru and Costa Rica, Netflix is charging an extra fee to users who share their accounts outside their household. Subscribers will be charged about $2.98 a month in Chile, $2.99 in Costa Rica and about $2.12 in Peru. As per research firm Trust Research Advisory’s (TRA) CEO, N Chandramouli, the Indian market is so price sensitive that fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) giants are scared to make even a 2 rupee change in their packets of biscuits, shampoo or noodles. Similarly, he says that Netflix’s price-slashing strategy from ₹199 to ₹149 has not attracted new customers. It has allowed its current subscribers to move to an even cheaper plan. And in India, Chandramouli says, pirates are always a step ahead than creators. So, if Netflix were to revise its pricing strategy for the third time in India, it could confuse users, leading to a rise in pirated content. To buy pirated content in Mumbai without having to download an app, all you have to do is walk down the Fort area and you would find 4-5 vendors chasing you — offering the latest releases on a CD or a pen drive, he adds. “There is a huge amount of piracy, which has now climbed onto the OTT bandwagon. Whether it is Telegram or Chinese torrent apps, pirated OTT content is shared there indiscriminately. From the very beginning, from softwares to movies, Indians don't find too much of [sic] qualms about piracy. On top of that, there are about 40 OTT platforms in India. So, the options in entertainment is proliferated [sic] and in this market, a slight price increase could have an impact. Netflix is attempting different strategies in order to attract new subscribers, but nothing has happened. People have downgraded their plans. So, Netflix will suffer a big backlash from existing users if at all it was to renew prices and stop password sharing,” he says. According to a <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/as-digital-piracy-rises-amid-pandemic-original-content-creators-losing-money-ey/article34743362.ece">report </a>by Digital TV Research, the loss of revenue for OTT players on account of piracy in India is expected to hit $3.08 billion by 2022. OTT players are trying to woo consumers with exclusive Bollywood movies and regional content. Chandramouli pointed out that Netflix or Amazon Prime haven’t been able to get their acquisition strategy right in India yet. Citing a recent example, he said that both these streaming services rushed to get Amitabh Bachchan’s movie Sooryavanshi onto their platform for ₹100 crore, which is at least shown once a week on Set Max and other television channels. On television, a viewer can get a minimum of 900 channels in ₹300-350 per month bouquet. It is the only entertainment medium that drives close to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/media/article/how-india-is-cutting-the-cord-to-drive-an-ott-revolution/articleshow/90347924.cms">60%</a> of its revenue from a subscription-based model as compared to other forms of traditional media that are heavily dependent on advertisements. So, if Netflix charges a 10-15% extra for sharing passwords within an Indian household, which is ₹25 to 30, research firm Elara Capital’s senior vice president Karan Taurani also believes that it could have a negative impact. “Indian consumers are very value-centric and they don’t pay for one platform but a bundle of platforms. Netflix has done well in India after reducing its prices and offering a quantity of content. This two-fold strategy has led to the scaling of their subscriber base. If they ask for substituent fee from separate family members, it could work in a negative way because we haven’t been used to it. We pay for one TV set-up box and there are three-four watchers in every household,” says Taurani. When Netflix came to India, it priced its maiden premium plan at ₹500, which Tarurani says was 7X-8X higher than TV bundle plans and other OTT platforms. It was competing with OTT platforms and a huge TV-watching audience in India back then. This challenge led to Netflix’s slow growth and the streaming company has changed pricing as well as introduced a mobile-only plan in the country since then, slashing its price by 60%. “Netflix India revenue has grown 65% YoY in FY21 and it has a market share of almost 35% in India’s SVOD market; we believe Netflix has the first-mover advantage in India, as it was one of the first pay based OTT offerings in the country; it has been able to create a strong brand recall within Indian audience for premium content offerings behind a paywall and this will help it gain more market share as it penetrates deeper in India,” says Taurani. After the October-December quarterly results, Taurani says that Netflix is headed in the right direction. If Netflix now revises its password-sharing policy and price point, it could send the company back to square one.

Could the days of mooching off Netflix accounts come to an end in India? Here’s what experts say

<ul><li>India is the 12th country where <keyword id="18635" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon" source="Orion">Amazon</keyword> has launched its Prime Video Channels.</li><li>The platform allows customers to add on more subscriptions to their existing picks.</li><li>It has partnered with 8 platforms for India, which will add 10,000 screens on <keyword id="758541" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon-prime" source="Orion">Amazon Prime</keyword> videos.</li></ul>Global tech giant Amazon has announced its entry into the content distribution space in India with the launch of its Prime Video Channels. Prime Video Channels enables Prime members to subscribe to over-the-top (OTT) services as an add on to their existing subscription and stream the content on the Amazon Prime Video app/website in India. Prime members are people who subscribe to Amazon Prime services. The platform was launched for the first time about five years ago and India is the twelfth country where this service has been launched, Chaitanya Divan, Business Head at <keyword id="12163185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon-prime-video-channels-india" source="Orion">Amazon Prime Video Channels India</keyword>, told Business Insider. It has over 350 platforms globally, he added. The company has partnered with eight OTT platforms — discovery+, Lionsgate Play, Docubay, Eros Now, MUBI, hoichoi, Manorama Max, and Shorts TV — for the Indian launch and more platforms will be added along the way. These eight partners will add over 10,000 videos/screens to Amazon’s platform. Prime customers can buy an annual subscription to the channels of their choice. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;" class="redcator-table-advance"></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;">Channel </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;">Annual subscription pack on Amazon </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;">Discovery+ </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;">₹299 </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;">Docubay </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;">₹499 </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;">₹299 </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;">hoichoi </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;">₹599 </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;">Lionsgate 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;">₹699 </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;">Manorama Max </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;">₹699 </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;">MUBI </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;">₹1999 </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;">Shorts TV </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;">₹299 </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table> These add on subscriptions will provide more options for their customers to choose from, Divan added. The company aims to make this into a one-stop-shop for all content related subscriptions, so the customers don’t have to juggle between multiple username, passwords and billing due dates. “We are launching with annual packs and a lot of our partners are offering special launch offers as well. So that, at launch customers can subscribe at slightly lower prices. And that's essentially the key benefit for customers here — the ability to choose which services they want to watch and not be forced to pay for an entire group of services, some of which they may not want,” Divan added. Prime members will be able to watch subscribed Prime Video Channels on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV, etc. Notably, <keyword id="5301446" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon-prime-subscription" source="Orion">Amazon Prime subscription</keyword> costs ₹123 per month or ₹999 for a year. It offers an array of services including faster and free of charge delivery on Amazon ecommerce platform, access to audio streaming platform Amazon Music and more. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tcs-infosys-wipro-and-hcl-tech-share-price-can-jump-after-accentures-blockbuster-earnings/articleshow/86471274.cms" style="">TCS, Infosys and Wipro take a lot of heart from Accenture's blockbuster earnings</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/meet-girish-mathrubootham-founder-and-ceo-of-freshworks/articleshow/86453777.cms" style="">Girish Mathrubootham, the son of a retired bank officer who built a $13 billion company in just 10 years</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/airtel-rights-issue-details-record-date-issue-price-and-more/articleshow/86446419.cms">Airtel rights issue worth ₹21,000 crore opens next month – record date, price, ratio and everything else you need to know</a>

Amazon enters the content distribution space in India, will allow customers to subscribe to more video streaming platforms

Streaming giant <keyword id="128682" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Netflix">Netflix</keyword> on Friday announced to make its platform free for the December 5-6 weekend in India. Anyone in India can watch all the blockbuster films, the biggest series, award-winning documentaries and reality shows for two days, starting from 12 midnight on December 5. Last month, the OTT streaming company announced plans to give its users in India access to free streaming for a weekend. "We think that giving away everyone in a country access to Netflix for free for a weekend could be a great way to expose a bunch of new people to the amazing stories that we have, the service and how it works," Greg Peters, COO and Chief Product Officer at Netflix, said during the company's earnings call. "At Netflix, we want to bring the most amazing stories from across the world to all fans of entertainment in India. It's why we're hosting StreamFest: an entire weekend of free Netflix," the company said in a statement. To access it, visit netflix.com/StreamFest, sign up with your name, email or phone number, and password, and start streaming  no credit or debit card or payment needed. "Anyone who signs in during StreamFest gets one stream in standard definition so, no one else can use the same login information to stream," said -Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content, <keyword id="3194526" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Netflix-India">Netflix India</keyword>. Content streaming giant Netflix last month admitted that it has much work to do in countries like India. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/pubg-mobile-india-was-supposed-to-launch-today/articleshow/79315462.cms">PUBG Mobile India was rumoured to launch today — but there is no official update from the company</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-ril-infosys-vodafone-idea-apollo-hospitals-emami-route-mobile-syngene-and-others/articleshow/79314343.cms">Top stocks to watch — RIL, Infosys, Vodafone-Idea, Apollo Hospitals, Emami, Route Mobile, Syngene, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/lakshmi-vilas-bank-is-the-fifth-financial-firm-after-ilfs-dhfl-yes-bank-and-pmc-bank-to-collapse-in-india/slidelist/79286096.cms">Lakshmi Vilas Bank is the fifth financial firm to collapse in India within the last 30 months</a>

Netflix will be free for everyone, across all platforms, during the first weekend of December

<ul><li> A dating app survey shows 21% of Gen Z daters find sending memes, funny videos helps in establishing rapport with new matches. </li><li> The above 30 acknowledge a notable shift in getting-to-know-each-other dynamics compared to five years ago. </li><li>19% of daters residing in tier 1 and 2 cities emphasised the significance of shared music preferences. </li></ul>"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!", was how <keyword id="6359288" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="shakespeare" source="Orion">Shakespeare</keyword> penned <keyword id="13506" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="romeo" source="Orion">Romeo</keyword> expressing his love for <keyword id="13507" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="juliet" source="Orion">Juliet</keyword>. Cut to the present, and as <keyword id="18380" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bob-dylan" source="Orion">Bob Dylan</keyword> said, “The times they are a changin”. The GenZ, or ‘technically’ speaking, people born between 1996 and 2010, who have entered the dating scenario are now utilising modern tools of communication for more impactful connection. The survey of GenZ and millennials by dating app <keyword id="4932381" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="quackquack" source="Orion">QuackQuack</keyword> has found that from sharing memes that resonate with both parties to exchanging personalised playlists, the realm of communication between matches is changing by the day. Says Ravi Mittal, Founder and CEO, QuackQuack, "The new matches often send each other cute videos that might express the same emotions as they have for each other, memes, and we even see them discussing movies and current trends on the social media." The new language of love According to the survey, a notable 21% of GenZ daters expressed that sending memes and funny videos plays a significant role in establishing rapport with new matches. In other words, the traditional "Hey, how are you?" conversation starter seems to have evolved, with humorous content becoming a more engaging and meaningful way to communicate. Experts believe that when someone continues to send memes to their person of interest, it is a clear indication of their interest, suggesting that the content holds more significance than just providing amusement. The report does note that this trend is primarily observed between two individuals who have already demonstrated mutual romantic interest, rather than being applicable to interactions with random individuals. Love, more profound The survey has also found that a significant 37% of daters above the age of 30 acknowledge a notable shift in the dynamics of the getting-to-know-each-other phase compared to five years ago. Traditionally trivial questions like someone's favorite colour have taken a backseat in favour of deeper inquiries. Nowadays, conversations focus on understanding how well individuals have healed from past heartbreaks, their resilience in the face of challenges, and other aspects that provide meaningful insights into their character. Music is the food of love and sharing is caring As per the survey results, 19% of daters residing in tier 1 and 2 cities emphasised the significance of shared music preferences as a reason to establish a connection. Having similar musical tastes provides ample topics for conversation and facilitates smoother interactions between matches. It serves as a common ground that fosters a sense of understanding and compatibility. Additionally, 11% of respondents from the same cities revealed that sharing passwords for over-the-top (OTT) platforms is viewed as a means of connecting. They suggested that offering your subscription password to someone you've been conversing with for some time can potentially accelerate the friendship or bonding process. It is seen as a gesture of trust and intimacy, allowing both individuals to enjoy shared content and engage in discussions related to the shows or movies they watch. When it comes to OTT, even opposites attract Coming to OTT platforms, having a shared love for a particular series or, intriguingly, even a shared dislike for a series can serve as a reason to connect, as stated by 16% of male daters aged 22 to 28. Engaging in discussions about a series, exchanging critical opinions on its quality or whether it lived up to its expectations, can become excellent conversation starters. These topics provide a platform for meaningful interactions and allow individuals to delve into their perspectives on various series. Similarly, 14% of female daters in the same age group revealed that asking, "Did you watch so and so series?" has become the most common ice-breaker. This shows that mentioning specific series and seeking shared viewing experiences has become a popular way to initiate conversations and connect with potential partners. Laughter is the best medicine Over 24% of daters between the ages of 25-30 in tier 1 cities expressed a preference for comedy shows over other movie genres when it comes to spending time with their partners. These daters believe that laughter plays a significant role in fostering a healthy relationship. They argue that comedy shows provide an opportunity for couples to share a good laugh together while simultaneously assessing each other's sense of humor and overall compatibility. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/louis-vuittons-fall-is-elon-musks-gain-tesla-owner-reclaims-top-spot-in-richest-list/articleshow/100673138.cms">Louis Vuitton's fall is Elon Musk's gain — Tesla owner reclaims top spot in richest list</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/white-collar-hiring-activity-flat-in-may-it-sectors-woes-continue-report/articleshow/100673955.cms">White collar hiring activity flat in May, IT sector's woes continue: Report</a>

Looking for a date? Meme, playlist sharing may be the key to success

<ul><li>From October 1, <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>’s new auto-debit rules will be effective after which banks will have to process an additional authentication step for all recurring transactions through debit cards, credit cards and UPI.</li><li>Under the new norms, users who have set automated recurring payments for utility bills, phone recharge, OTT platforms etc., through above payment methods will receive notification from the bank every time before auto-transaction to approve or cancel payment.</li><li>The new norm looks to ensure secure and safe payments by inserting checkpoints before every auto transaction made.</li></ul>Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) new norms for auto-debit transactions will come into effect from today, October 1, according to which banks are required to notify users or rather take their confirmation before every auto generated transaction. This rule goes for those using debit/credit cards, wallets and unified payments interface (UPI) for transactions. Those who have e-mandated their recurring payments through net banking mode for paying either utility bills, phone recharge, over-the-top (OTT) will continue to be the same. Apart from these, systematic investment plan (SIP) transactions will also not be impacted. This is because most SIP transactions happen through the national automated clearing house (NACH) mandate, which is executed directly by the bank. So, investors who have their ongoing investment through apps like Zerodha, Upstox, Groww, Motilal Oswal, Angel Broking and other broking firms aka investment platforms need not worry about their SIP payments. “Zerodha uses an e-mandate facility on the NPCI NACH platform to allow its clients to set up auto-debits. Since the auto-debit instruction is authorised by the client using their bank account, the new RBI rules do not affect this channel. All existing and new auto-debit instructions will be carried out in the same mode as before,” said a spokesperson at Zerodha. An e-mandate is a standing instruction initiated by the RBI and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) that allows businesses to collect recurring payments of up to ₹5,000. For recurring payments above Rs 5,000, banks will require an additional link for authentication as they are not eligible for e-mandate based recurring transactions. This is also because SEBI doesn’t allow stock brokerage firms to accept debit or credit cards from users to make transactions through the investment platform. Basically, the new <a href="https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11668">guidelines </a>require users to opt for an e-mandate facility through a one-time registration process, which can only be successful once the user validates using a one-time password (OTP), besides entering their bank/card/UPI details. Users will also get an option to pause, modify or cancel their recurring transactions. So if you have been making payments to your Netflix account or any other OTT platform that lets you make recurring payments, you will have to set up an e-mandate. <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/ola-electric-raises-200-million-from-softbank-falcon-edge-at-valuation-of-3-billion/articleshow/86649236.cms">5-year old Ola Electric is now worth over a half of its older sibling Ola</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/from-netflix-and-hotstar-to-airtel-to-jio-bills-brace-for-surprises-as-rbis-guidelines-on-auto-debit-transactions-kick-in-from-october-1/articleshow/86642500.cms">From Netflix and Hotstar to Airtel to Jio bills, brace for surprises as RBI’s guidelines on auto-debit transactions kick-in from October 1</a>

If you’re paying electricity, water, LPG bills via auto-debit, RBI’s new norms affect you

<ul><li>Realme Pad 2 starts at a price of ₹19,999</li><li>The tablet features a 11.5-inch 2K display with a 120Hz refresh rate.</li><li>Realme Pad 2 is powered by MediaTek Helio G99 SOC.</li></ul>After a period of silence, the tablet space in consumer tech is starting to show up again. Post pandemic consumer behaviour has changed, and tablets have gained momentum for both entertainment and productivity. In a space where iPads have a strong hold courtesy of its solid software, Android tablets are slowly getting there. In this year alone, we have seen two massive Android tablets show up in the market - The OnePlus Pad, and the Xiaomi Pad 6. However you do have to pay a certain premium to get those devices, leaving a massive space for budget tablet options. This is where Realme Pad 2, comes into play. Launched today, the Realme Pad 2 is a quintessential tablet. It does not over promise or over deliver, but sticks true to its main use case - entertainment. But what's beyond that and is it better than the Redmi Pad? It's a direct competitor. I explain in my full review. Price &amp; Availability Realme Pad 2 is available in 2 configurations. There is a base variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage offered at ₹19,999.Then there is a variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage offered at a price of ₹22,999. All the variants support 4G LTE. It is available on Amazon and Realme’s D2C websites. Design <div type="image" title="Realme Pad 2 sports a sleek build" msid="102087504" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Realme Pad 2 sports a sleek build&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Realme has opted for a tried and tested form factor for the Pad 2, ensuring a safe and reliable design. The tablet exudes a sense of solidity, and its flat edges offer a comfortable grip. Featuring a sleek slate design, the Realme Pad 2 measures around half an inch in thickness, giving it a premium feel. Upon first sight and touch, many of my peers mistook it for a more expensive tablet, showcasing the tablet's appealing aesthetics. <div type="image" title="The tablet comes with a quad speaker set-up" msid="102087508" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The tablet comes with a quad speaker set-up&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The tablet boasts a generous screen size, providing ample real estate for various tasks. To ensure balanced weight distribution, Realme has taken great care, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. I have the Inspiration Green colour variant, which stands out pleasantly. Though I typically prefer more subtle colours, the green hue has grown on me, and its tasteful implementation enhances the overall appeal. The dual-tone colour scheme further adds to the tablet's attractiveness. The metallic finish on the back, combined with the textured finish on the camera module end, creates a subtle yet noticeable contrast. For those seeking a more understated option, there is also a silver colour variant available. At the back of the tablet, there is a compact round camera module housing a single sensor. Despite its size, the module sits securely, preventing any noticeable wobbling when the tablet is placed flat on a table. One notable design feature is the IP52 water and dust resistance rating, providing reassurance for worry-free travel with the tablet. Regarding button placement, the power button is situated on the top right of the tablet in portrait orientation, shifting to the top left in landscape orientation. In either case, the power button remains easily accessible. Similarly, the volume rockers are located on the right side in portrait orientation, corresponding to the top left in landscape orientation. Both the power button and volume rockers are tactile and effortless to operate. It's worth mentioning that the power button of the Realme Pad 2 lacks a fingerprint sensor, relying instead on face unlock, which is a common feature in the budget tablet segment, as seen on the Redmi Pad as well. The tablet comes equipped with four speaker grills for an enhanced audio experience. However, it doesn't include a 3.5mm headphone jack, which might be an essential feature for some users. For those who prefer wireless audio solutions like TWS earbuds, this omission may not be a concern. Nevertheless, for those who still prefer wired earphones, a Type-C to 3.5mm converter can be used. On the top left of the tablet, there is a slot for a SIM card, providing 4G LTE support, which proves to be a crucial addition to the device. Further details about its impact on the overall performance will be discussed in the performance section. Display <div type="image" title="Realme Pad 2 sports an 11.5-inch 2K Display" msid="102087600" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Realme Pad 2 sports an 11.5-inch 2K Display&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Perhaps the most important aspect of a tablet is its display. The more common use case for a tablet is content consumption, and Realme has taken care of it. The Realme pad 2 has a 11.5-inch 2K display with a resolution of 2000x1200 pixels. I used the Realme Pad 2 over the weekend to binge on all my favourite content, and the display didn’t disappoint me. The massive screen size, colour accuracy, and generally favourable HDR results in the beautiful image output. The cherry on top is that Realme Pad 2’s supports HD content for OTT apps like Prime Video and Netflix. So, there are no major compromises on the visual quality. Watching Andor on Disney+ Hotstar was fun on the Realme Pad 2. The space battles, chase sequences and low-light shots all looked great. The screen is also great for reading, especially with the right weight and design. I surfed through multiple web pages and read books on the tablet, the experience of which was satisfying. Realme Pad 2 has a peak brightness of 450 Nits which is apt for a tablet. The screen can get really bright indoors. But it might look underwhelming on a bright day if you plan on taking it to a picnic and watching something there. A hit and a miss is the keyboard on the Realme Pad 2. I have never been comfortable typing on a tablet; unfortunately,Pad 2 couldn’t change that either. The situation improves if you put it flat on a table and type. But punching the screen while holding it upright is a task. Hence I avoided typing notes here and mostly relied on voice prompts. A solution to this is using a compatible Bluetooth keyboard with the tablet. I, however, would suggest using a laptop to save time. Another point to note is the lack of a bundled stylus with the Realme Pad 2. This is not a surprise since the competition in this price bracket also skips it. However, the tablet does work with 3rd party stylus’ available in the market. On the other hand, the auto-brightness feature on the Realme Pad 2 felt choppy. It often failed to adjust the brightness according to the content on the tablet, leading me to disable the feature altogether. In terms of display capabilities, the Realme Pad 2 outshines the Redmi Pad with its maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, surpassing the 90Hz of the Redmi Pad. This higher refresh rate proves beneficial for both reading and gaming. The only drawback I found with the display is the absence of an adaptive refresh rate, a feature not commonly seen in budget tablets. Having adaptive refresh rate technology would have made the transition between web pages and games smoother and more seamless. Complementing the impressive display is the quad-speaker setup on the Realme Pad 2, which truly impressed me. The speakers deliver a substantial volume and even sound distribution. They retain a certain level of richness and detail in the audio at low to mid-volume levels. Though some detail may get lost at higher volumes, it's not a significant concern, especially when enjoying content with friends and peers. Software The Realme Pad 2 comes equipped with Android 13 straight out of the box, paired with Realme UI. Realme has optimized the UI skin to function seamlessly on a tablet, providing an enhanced user experience. One notable feature is the widget optimization, which adds to productivity and usability. Personally, I've integrated my Google suite with the Realme Pad 2, making it my primary device for managing calendars. With the spacious screen real estate, the split-screen functionality works like a charm, allowing me to multitask efficiently. While the Realme UI performs well, I believe there is still untapped potential that could further elevate the user experience. For instance, the addition of multiple floating windows could be a valuable enhancement. Over the years, Realme has continuously refined its UI, and the Realme Pad 2 maintains this tradition. The tablet impressively avoids unnecessary bloatware, presenting a clean and visually appealing interface. The animations are in line with the classic Realme style, and even though they are familiar, they still look great on this particular screen. Regarding security, the Realme Pad 2 offers face unlock or pin as authentication methods. However, it's essential to note that the face unlock mechanism, which utilises the front camera for recognition, may not be 100% reliable. As a result, I found myself resorting to punching in my password more frequently than relying solely on face unlock. Performance Under the hood, the Realme Pad 2 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity G99 SoC, a favoured chipset in the budget tablet segment, also utilised in the Redmi Pad. The tablet delivers impressive performance, and during my six days of usage, I have yet to encounter any lags or app crashes. The variant I have comes with 8GB of RAM, which proves more than sufficient to handle the onboard applications, most of which are OTT apps. Multitasking and switching between web pages or multiple apps running in the background pose no problem at all. The RAM's capability to hold applications in memory for extended periods is commendable. For instance, while switching between Netflix and YouTube, I consistently landed on the exact frame where I had left off. Gaming on tablets may not be the most ideal experience due to the form factor, but I tested it nonetheless. The tablet can handle games like COD Mobile with respectable graphic settings, specifically at HD resolution. However, the inherent limitations of the form factor prevent a truly immersive gaming experience. While I enjoy playing lightweight games like Hill Climb Racing on the tablet, the real fun comes from playing games like Ludo with my peers. Although these games may be basic and seemingly boring, the large screen size adds to the enjoyment. Regarding storage, my variant boasts 128GB of storage space, ample for storing around 20+ movies in Full HD resolution, along with various apps and games. If considering the Redmi Tab, I highly recommend opting for the 128GB storage variant. One significant advantage of the Realme Pad 2 over its competition is the inclusion of a dedicated SIM card slot. Having mobile network connectivity on a tablet adds substantial value, allowing access to entertainment anywhere. This addition is commendable, considering that even more expensive options lack a SIM card slot. The Redmi Pad offers all the features necessary for a content consumption device. It allows users to download their favourite movies or TV shows for offline viewing, making it suitable for indoor use. Lastly, it's essential to discuss battery life. The Redmi Pad is equipped with an 8360 mAh battery, which proves exceptionally resilient. As my primary content-watching device for the past five days, I only had to charge it twice. For light users, the battery can last up to three days. The tablet supports 33W fast charging, but due to its substantial battery capacity, it takes approximately two hours for a full 0-100% charge. Camera <div type="image" title="The primary 8MP camera is not the strongest point for Realme Pad 2." msid="102087766" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The primary 8MP camera is not the strongest point for Realme Pad 2.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Cameras on budget tablets have never been a strong point, and the Realme Pad 2 follows suit in this regard. The tablet features an 8MP primary camera on the back, labelled as a "super camera" on the module. Unfortunately, the camera's performance is not particularly impressive. The shots lack detail, and the colours appear oversaturated. Although the camera does slightly better in natural lighting conditions, the results are still not suitable for posting on social media platforms. The primary camera allows for 1080P video recording at 30fps, but the footage lacks detail, and the colour tones tend to be warmer. On a positive note, the audio quality during video recording is clear. However, there are some redeeming features. The camera app includes a text scanner, which proves handy for scanning documents. This feature becomes valuable as we often use tablets to store files and documents. <div type="image" title="The selfie camera is well suited for video calls." msid="102087782" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The selfie camera is well suited for video calls.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The front camera is also an 8MP sensor, but it shares similar limitations. The images lack detail, and the colours appear cooler in comparison. Interestingly, unlike the primary camera, the images here are under-saturated. On the bright side, for video calls, the front camera performs better than most webcams found on laptops, providing a decent experience in that aspect. Verdict Realme Pad 2 hits the right chord with its features, you have a solid display, optimised OS and a premium build quality. Added with the SIM card slot, it becomes a viable option for the masses. If you are in the market for a budget tablet, then I suggest paying attention to this one.

Realme Pad 2 review: A budget tablet for the masses

<ul><li>Many <keyword id="128682" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Netflix">Netflix</keyword> users end up sharing their passwords with friends and family, a problem the streaming platform faces globally. </li><li>A UK-based <keyword id="138263" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="startup">startup</keyword>, Synamedia, is offering AI-based solutions to track accounts with shared passwords. </li><li><keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> is the third largest market for Netflix.</li></ul>There are two kinds of Netflix viewers - the ones who pay for their account and the ones who are friends with those who pay. For those in the second category, streaming platforms could soon be able to track down multiple users sharing the same account. At the <keyword id="362383" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Consumer-Electronics-Show">Consumer Electronics Show</keyword> (CES) 2019 being held in Las Vegas, a UK-based startup, Synamedia, offered its Artificial Intelligence-led solution to service providers to take a sneak peek into their user analytics. With this <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/8/18174161/netflix-hbo-hulu-shared-password-account-synamedia-machine-learning-ai">tool</a>, online streaming sites will be able to get data on devices using the platform and the duration for which the person was logged in. The aggregated data, including the content consumed, can be shared with the service providers. Right after CES, Europe’s leading media and entertainment company <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sky-invests-in-synamedia-300774638.html">Sky</a> invested in the startup, which already boasts of high-profile clients like Tata Sky, Comcast and Disney among others. Globally, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/netflix-beats-expectations-200559060.html">Netflix </a>added seven million subscribers in Q3 of 2018 along with reported earnings of 89 cents per share on revenue of $4 billion. In India too, Netflix has been adding more and more users, with the country becoming the third-largest market for the global company. However, the problem of 'shared users' is a global problem for online platforms. Netflix under its different plans allows a maximum of six users to use one account, Amazon Prime allows a maximum of three users, while for <keyword id="2739840" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hotstar">Hotstar</keyword> only one user can use an account at a particular time. A survey done by <a href="https://www.thequint.com/tech-and-auto/tech-news/india-streaming-online-amazon-netflix-hotstar-prices-more">Pixights</a> Consulting, which covered 1,800 people from across India, showed that over 70% respondents share their accounts of Netflix, Hotstar and Amazon Prime with others. Netflix, whose pricing plans start at 500 and above, is still considered a premium service in India. Rivals like Amazon Prime costs ₹129 for a month while Hotstar charges ₹199 for a month. Synamedia’s AI tool may just what these companies need to plug the profit leaks. But for users, the solution could soon spell trouble, until of course another trick comes their way. See more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-why-ott-platforms-were-a-big-hit-among-indians-in-2018/articleshow/67286083.cms">Here's why OTT platforms were a big hit among Indians in 2018</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-new-cable-tv-pricing-will-force-broadcasters-to-put-on-better-shows/articleshow/67450569.cms">India’s new cable TV pricing will force broadcasters to put on better shows</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-produces-the-largest-number-of-films-in-the-world-but-a-large-section-of-its-population-still-doesnt-have-access-to-cinema-screens/articleshow/67272159.cms">India produces the largest number of films in the world — But a large section of its population still doesn’t have access to cinema screens</a>

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