iWorld
Shemaroo associates with ‘Lalbaugcha Raja’
MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment, one of India’s leading integrated media content houses, acquires rights for the live feed of one of the most popular Mandals of Maharashtra – ‘Lalbaugcha Raja’ for mobile, Internet and DTH platforms. Shemaroo Entertainment will distribute content of Lalbaugcha Raja (video and images) to all the telecom operators.
Consumers will now be able to enjoy live darshan & ‘maha aarti’ of Lord Ganesha on their mobile and TV sets. It will be available on Shemaroo’s latest android app “Gods” and few other select mobile apps. One can also SMS – “SELBR” to 56060 to enjoy the Darshan, post which, a link will be received on the mobile set and one can enjoy live darshan of ‘Lalbaugcha Raja’ by simply clicking on it. Live Darshan of Lalbaugcha Raja will be available from 25 August 2017 onwards. Consumers who want to enjoy the Live Darshan on their TV will have to subscribe to the devotional service from their DTH Operators. Live Darshan will be available on Airtel – Om Shakti (Service No 674), Tata Sky- Devotion (Service No 1051), Dish – Bhakti Active (Service No 1069)& Videocon – D2H Darshan (Service No 481).
Shemaroo director Jai Maroo said, “It feels great to be blessed with an opportunity to distribute the Live Darshan of Lalbaugcha Raja to lakhs of devotees across India on various platforms. Every year we make an effort to make the Darshan easier and a better experience for our consumers. Hence, this year it is also available on our own app – Gods. Also expanding the number of platforms means reaching to a wider audience. We also take pride in the fact that Shemaroo is one of few companies in India that offers such a wide range of content to all the platforms where entertainment is consumed.”
Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshostav Mandal secretary Sudhir Salvi added, “We are glad to continue our association with Shemaroo for seven consecutive years. It is through Shemaroo’s efforts that these devotees are able to enjoy the Darshan of Lalbaugcha Raja in the comfort of their homes.”
iWorld
Youtube rolls out major creator and monetisation upgrades
New tools, bigger thumbnails and shopping perks aim to keep the platform ahead in the video race.
MUMBAI: Youtube has just turned up the volume on its creator tools because when the competition is fierce, even the biggest platform knows it needs to hit refresh. Neal Mohan, CEO of Youtube, has announced a wide-ranging set of platform updates designed to boost creator tools, open new monetisation avenues and enhance the overall user experience. The changes span content discovery, advertising solutions, safety features and global partnerships.
Among the most practical improvements, Youtube has increased the maximum thumbnail file size from 2MB to 50MB, allowing creators to upload higher-quality visuals for their videos. The platform has also expanded access to localised thumbnails, enabling creators to tailor video previews for different regions and audiences.
On the monetisation front, Youtube has widened access to its Shopping Affiliate programme, giving more creators the ability to earn through product recommendations. It has also introduced a unified advertiser and creator suite called Youtube Creator Partnerships, aimed at streamlining brand collaborations and campaign execution.
Creative tools are receiving a boost with expanded access to Effect Maker, a web-based platform that allows creators to build interactive effects. The tool now integrates with Veo 3, further advancing content creation capabilities.
Youtube is also investing in social impact with a $20 million global teen wellbeing programme in collaboration with Google.org, focused on supporting youth mental health and digital wellbeing.
For content discovery, the platform has introduced a new grid layout for Shorts in mobile search results, making it easier for users to browse short-form videos. New gifting features such as Gifts and Jewels have been rolled out for vertical live streams in South Korea, opening additional avenues for fan engagement and creator earnings. The company has also added NanoBanana to its Youtube Create app, continuing to expand its suite of mobile content creation tools.
On the safety side, Youtube has expanded likeness detection technology to include government officials, journalists and political candidates, aiming to prevent misuse of identity on the platform.
Finally, Youtube has partnered with FIFA for the FIFA World Cup, signalling a continued push into sports content and global event collaborations.
From bigger thumbnails to smarter shopping tools and safety upgrades, Youtube is clearly playing to stay on top proving that even the biggest video platform knows when it’s time to hit the refresh button.
