iWorld
Planetcast forays into OTT segment
Mumbai: Planetcast Media Services Limited (formerly Essel Shyam Communication Limited) today announced its foray into OTT segment by introducing its OTT solution targeted towards existing broadcasters and non-TV content owners. Planetcast OTT is a new, turnkey OTT solution for media companies, publishers and content creators to build advanced OTT app and web based entertainment ecosystem and deploy it in a highly cost effective manner.
Planetcast OTT solution is aimed towards exponential increase in ROI for broadcasters, media companies, video content owners and publishers who wants to take their content over the top. Planetcast OTT empowers the customers to quickly launch, manage and monetize new OTT offerings.
Planetcast, with its OTT solution will break the glass ceiling which prevents passionate media companies and content owners from making OTT market entry due to the high cost attached to it. An out of the box solution, it enables the customers to deploy premium OTT experience within the time limit and within their budget. Planetcast OTT solution will have a simplistic interface which does not require engineers to manage or build services, Planetcast is very clear about OTT product offering, its to make customer’s life simple and hassle free.
Commenting on the occasion, M.N Vyas, Executive Director, Planetcast said “Indian market is responding positively towards OTT services and media companies are highly optimistic about tapping into the fast growing opportunity OTT offers. Media companies were not able to do so due to high cost and ambiguity in the market, Planetcast OTT solution will put an end to all this as it will enable the media companies to launch quick, cost effective and easy to manage OTT services across all connected devices.”
Commenting on the occasion, Sanjay Duda, Chief Marketing Officer, Planetcast said “The global OTT market is projected to surpass $64.9 billion by 2021 , its too big a business not to be done. Media companies and content owners can increase their business exponentially through OTT offerings and I am confident that they will find a like minded partner in Planetcast. Our solution is cost effective, easy to deploy and easy to manage. Our two decades of successful broadcast industry operations is the biggest differentiating factor behind Planetcast OTT solution.”
Planetcast will give a sneak peek into its OTT solution at Broadcast India 2016, Mumbai, booth number B-212-1. The product will be available in December 2016.
iWorld
Prime Video to stream Tamil thriller Exam from May 15
Seven-episode series from National Award-winner A. Sarkunam streams in India and 240-plus countries
MUMBAI: Prime Video announced on April 27th that Exam, a taut seven-episode suspense drama set against the crucible of high-stakes competitive testing, will premiere on May 15th in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Written and directed by A. Sarkunam, a National Award-winner, the series is produced under the Wallwatcher Films banner by the creative duo Pushkar and Gayatri, who have previously delivered Suzhal: The Vortex (both seasons) and Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie for the platform. Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan lead the cast, with Abbas in a pivotal role.
The show will stream in Tamil with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada, and subtitles in 15 languages, including English, a distribution sweep that underscores Prime Video’s push to globalise Indian regional content.
Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India, framed the series as both timely and commercially astute. “Exam is a very timely and relevant story that captures the emotional intensity of competitive exams and masterfully transforms it into a thrilling high-stakes drama,” he said. “We believe it is a story that will resonate deeply with millions.” Madhok noted that it was a privilege to once again collaborate with Pushkar and Gayatri following the success of Suzhal and Vadhandhi.
For Pushkar and Gayatri, the series is as much a moral reckoning as a thriller. “With Exam, we wanted to dig into ambition, injustice, and those moral crossroads that people face when pushed to the edge,” the creative producers said. “At the heart of this story is a young woman who refuses to remain powerless. Her journey is not about glamorising defiance, but about exploring the emotional and ethical cost of standing up to a system stacked against her.” They described Prime Video as “an incredible collaborator” and “the perfect home” to bring the series to global audiences.
Wallwatcher Films, which Pushkar and Gayatri founded and run, has been on a productive streak with the platform. Beyond Exam, the company is also readying Vadhandhi Season 2 for Prime Video, making the duo one of the platform’s most active regional creative partners.
The real exam, it seems, is for Prime Video itself: can a Tamil drama about systemic injustice and a young woman’s defiance crack audiences from Chennai to Chicago? If Pushkar and Gayatri’s track record is anything to go by, the answer is likely yes, and the results will be out on May 15th.
