iWorld
Texas Instruments outlines mobile TV opportunities at seminar
MUMBAI: Advances in mobile digital TV technology and the impact this growing industry will have on broadcasters, content providers and consumers.
These subjects were dwelt upon by Texas Instruments VP and manager worldwide strategic marketing Doug Rasor.
He delivered the closing keynote during the Society of Broadcast Engineers’ annual conference a few days ago in the US. He said, “Mobile TV combines the two most popular consumer products of our time, the mobile phone and television, providing broadcasters, networks and content providers access to an untapped market of 1.6 billion cell phone subscribers for their programming.”
However, he noted that to make the mobile TV industry a realistically affordable service for consumers, an ecosystem based on open standards is key. “Open standards such as DVB-H enable all players of the mobile TV market to address the market on a more even playing field, from handset manufacturers to broadcasters to service providers. This fosters stronger competition, lowers consumer prices and enables faster service deployment of compelling content and services to consumers.”
In preparation for service rollouts that are expected to begin next year the DVB-H ecosystem is actively participating in consumer trials worldwide that are proving out business models, consumer preferences and opportunities
for additional revenues. The trials have shown strong consumer interest and willingness to pay between $10 and $15 monthly for services. “With mobile TV services, consumers will be able watch live TV programming on their cell phone to ‘snack’ on 10-15 minutes of news, sporting events, weather and other content throughout the day which promises to create a new revenue stream for broadcasters and advertisers,” Rasor said.
Closing his remarks, Rasor reminded the audience that in order to make the mobile TV market successful, content is also a key consideration. “Just like TV programming, consumers want interesting and compelling content to watch. If the right mix of entertainment, news, sports and pop-culture programming isn’t available for cell phones, mobile TV will not meet its full potential to reach billions of cell phone users worldwide over the next five to ten years.”
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
