FAST in India Updates
FAST in India Updates
SamsungTV Plus India Review: Emphasis on News Channels Reflects Shifting Content Landscape
Hey Streamers 👋,
A warm welcome to the 37th edition of the “Streaming in India” newsletter, your weekly news digest about streaming players, OTT trends and more in one of the fastest growing video markets! If you are not already a subscriber, please sign up and join 2,850+ others who receive it directly in their inbox every Wednesday.
Last week marked the unveiling of Hari Om, India's groundbreaking mythological OTT platform, envisioned to redefine the digital terrain. Spearheaded by media luminary Vibhu Agarwal, Hari Om aims to emerge as the premier destination for immersing oneself in the rich tapestry of Indian heritage and religious narratives.
Breaking new ground, Hari Om stands apart by offering an extensive collection of Indian mythology and traditional content, a concept hitherto unexplored. With a growing global fascination among younger demographics, Hari Om bridges the gap, providing a singular platform to explore the depths of Indian culture and spirituality.
Scheduled for launch in June 2024, Hari Om boasts a lineup of over 20 epic mythological shows, featuring esteemed cast and crew members.
This pioneering OTT platform will feature long and short-format 'U' rated series tailored for audiences of all ages, including senior citizens, children, and young adults. Additionally, Hari Om will offer bhajans in both video and audio formats, alongside curated animated content on mythology—an unprecedented offering in the OTT landscape.
Vibhu Agarwal, synonymous with innovation, has previously revolutionized the digital sphere with platforms like Ullu and Atrangii. With Hari Om, he introduces India's first dedicated mythological platform, setting a new standard in content curation.
Source: afaqs
Today’s program:
Samsung TV Plus: Updated Channel line up
My Views
And….Action!
Samsung TV Plus: Updated Channel Line Up
Channel line up as on 16th May ‘24 (mobile interface, screenshots from my Samsung smartphone). TOTAL channels: 106
Movies (7): The Movie Club, South Station, Hollywood Desi, Best Action, Pitaara, Magellan TV NOW, Filmstream
Music (8): Mastiii, 9XM, 9X Jalwa, 9X TASHAN, Maiboli, 9X Jhakaas, Balle Balle, Qwest TV
Hindi News (11): Aaj Tak, NDTV India, Republic Bharat, ABP News, ZEE News, News 18 (India), Times Now Navbharat, TV9 Bharatvarsh, GNT, CNBC Aawaz, Zee Business
English News (11): India Today, Wion, Republic, NDTV 24x7, CNN News18, News Nine, NDTV Profit, CNBC TV18, Bloomberg Television, CNN, Bloomberg Originals
Regional News (18): TV9 Marathi, ABP Mazaa, ZEE 24 Taas, News18 Haryana, New18 Gujarati, ABP Asmita, TV9 Gujarati, CNBC Bazaar (Gujarati), ABP Bengali, News18 Bengali, Republic Bengali, Zee Gujarati, News18 Odiya, News18 Tamil, TV9 Telugu, TV9 Kannada, News18 Kannada, News18 Malayalam
Entertainment (11): Comedy King, Korean TV, Dangal, Real Crime, True Crime Now, Q TV, Enterr10 Bangla, FailArmy, TPC Theater (The Pet Collective), Nosey, Real Stories,
Kids (8): Pogo, Cartoon Network, Hooray Rhymes, The Q Kahaniyan, Toon Goggles, BEANI TV, Baby First, Animax,
Sports (10): FIFA+, Boxing TV, PGA Tour, Fight TV, Tennis Channel, Q GameX, MAV TV Motorsport, Introuble, Motorvision.TV, Billiard TV.
Infotainment (7): Wild Earth, Xplore, Real Wild, Jack Hanna, WeatherSpy, Inwonder, Inwild
Lifestyle (14): Cook & Bake, Fashion TV, Gusto TV, Tastemade, NDTV Goodtimes, Heritage, HD Travel, INFAST, People are Awesome, Real Life, History Hit, Wonder, GoUSA TV, Don’t Tell the Bride
Devotional (1): Divya
My Views
SamsungTV Plus Review: Evolution and Emphasis on News
In our latest assessment of the Samsung TV Plus platform, we observe a slight reduction in the total number of channels, from 109 (check out our previous review of Samsung TV Plus in India here - October ‘23) to 106. However, the most notable trend is the clear emphasis on news channels, particularly relevant amid ongoing Indian elections with results to be announced on June 4th. News channels have increased from 37 to 40, indicating a significant focus on current affairs programming.
Conversely, lifestyle channels have seen a decrease from 17 to 14, while infotainment channels have been reduced from 13 to 7. Interestingly, there has been an addition of one more kids channel, suggesting a growing appetite for children's content on the platform.
One notable observation is the lack of pre-roll ads while accessing Samsung TV Plus India via a VPN from Dubai. This raises questions about the advertising strategy for video on mobile devices, prompting the need for a review or potential adjustments in advertising rates.
Despite the reduction in sports channels from 11 to 10, the absence of cricket or other popular sports like kabaddi is conspicuous. With major sports rights typically held by platforms like Jio and Hotstar, there may be opportunities to aggregate hyperlocal sports content from across India to cater to diverse audience preferences.
In summary, the dominance of news channels underscores the platform's commitment to serve content that is in demand at the moment. However, there is also recognition of the growing demand for lifestyle and children's content, highlighting the need for continued diversification and adaptation to evolving viewer preferences.
That’s all for today folks. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues.
The Test, a documentary series focusing on Australian cricket, focused on the team's transition from a toxic culture post-Sandpapergate to a more humane environment. The second season explores another leadership shift but skips the compelling story of India's iconic 2020-21 series win. Instead, it covers the 2021-22 Ashes and the Sri Lanka tour, focusing solely on Test matches. A fascinating watch on sports leadership and teamwork.
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