Kids
Now watch Nickelodeon on the go
MUMBAI: Being a children’s television channel is no cakewalk; as most players in this space would tell you.
Between makeovers, launching newer shows and newer applications, kids’ channels have enough going around between them to keep their viewers occupied.
A case in point is Nickelodeon India, which, after revamping its website recently, has, launched a first-of-its-kind application named Nickworld, developed by Robosoft, mobile app developer Robosoft, which allows audiences across Nick Jr, TeenNick and Sonic watch their favourite shows on the go.
About the app, Viacom18 VP and business head – digital media Rajneel Kumar says: “We want to be very aggressive on the digital front as today, one can see how children are always on their parents’ devices, be they smart phones or tablets.”
“It’s all about ‘what I want’ and ‘I want it now’ hence, if it isn’t available to the audience when they want it, it is only going to hamper itself in today’s day and age. Gaming, for instance, has become a part of everyone’s life.”
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It’s all about ‘what I want’ and ‘I want it now’, says Rajneel Kumar about audience attitude
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Nickworld is designed from a child’s perspective, which is why it is visually simple, graphically attractive and easy for kids to discover content on their own. Keeping in mind children’s online safety, the app does not connect to any social site. Also, parents needn’t worry about their mobiles/tablets as the screen gets locked once the video starts rolling. Nickelodeon plans to market the app on all franchises including TV and online destinations, along with the entire advertisement eco system.
So how does the channel plan to monetise Nickworld, available on Android for free and for Rs 55 only on iOS for an ad-free experience? “For any app, it is the advertisement atmosphere that helps us get the money,” says Kumar about the app which will be available not only on phones with 3G but also low connectivity ones.
With plans to make more and more on-air content available online and ramp up its gaming segment, doesn’t Kumar subscribe to the popular view that kids are already spending too much time watching TV or playing with gadgets rather than playing outside? “Our channel fully agrees with the view and that is why we have campaigns like ‘Let’s just play’ wherein we switch off content on TV with an aim to encourage ‘active play’ in children’s lifestyle,” quips Kumar.
Kids
Gokuldham Goes English with 3D Series Launch
Hindi version hits 80 million views in six months, English premiere drops 12 Feb on dedicated channel.
MUMBAI: Gokuldham Society just got a bilingual upgrade and it’s speaking fluent fun. Neela Mediatech is rolling out the English version of its hit Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 3D animated series, hot on the heels of the Hindi edition’s runaway digital success.
Launched just six months ago, the Hindi 3D avatar has already racked up over 80 million views, proving that Jethalal’s antics, Bhide’s lectures, and Popatlal’s endless bride hunts translate brilliantly into animation especially for a new generation of young viewers who’ve never caught the live-action show on TV.
The English-language premiere lands on 12 February on the freshly minted Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 3D Animated Series English channel. The move opens Gokuldham’s doors wider to English-speaking families across India and the diaspora, letting non-Hindi speakers dive straight into the neighbourhood chaos without subtitles.
Neela Mediatech founder Asit Kumarr Modi captured the spirit behind the expansion, “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah was created to celebrate togetherness and shared happiness. The response from audiences across India has strengthened our belief in these stories. Presenting the 3D animated series in English allows us to connect with families who may not speak Hindi but relate to the same values and emotions.”
This isn’t a one-off experiment. Neela Mediatech is quietly building a full Gokuldham universe beyond the small screen. TMKOC Rhymes already sings in 12 Indian languages, with more international versions in the pipeline. On the gaming front, TMKOC Play offers 12 interactive titles, headlined by the addictive Gada Electronics Game that keeps kids (and nostalgic adults) tapping away.
From prime-time TV to animated shorts, nursery rhymes, mobile games, and now bilingual streams, Gokuldham has morphed into a multi-platform, multi-language family empire. Whether you grew up laughing at Sodhi’s Sardar jokes or you’re just meeting the gang for the first time, the Society’s doors are officially open in English and the views suggest plenty of people are walking right in.
