iWorld
Airtel launches cross operator music app Wynk
MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel launched its first cross operator product in the form of music application Wynk Music. Through this, customers of all telcos can access over 17 lakh songs in eight languages which includes: English, Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali.
With this launch, Airtel has now become the first operator to introduce an over-the-top (OTT) mobile application in the Indian market, which will work across mobile operators, enabling customers to stream, download and buy songs.
Wynk is a free to download application available on Android and iOS platforms. With the free version of the app, users can stream songs online and tune into internet radio. Customers will also be able to set any of the songs as their hello tune, purchase songs and albums (as mp3), and view lyrics.
Bharti Airtel director – consumer business Srinivasan Gopalan said, “With the proliferation of smartphones in the country, mobile phones have emerged as the most preferred platform when it comes to experiencing music on the go and accounts for almost 85-90 per cent of total digital consumption. We are introducing this segment to Wynk – an innovative platform that blends technology and music and present a whole new dimension to music uptake in the country. Given our legacy with music and our strong smartphone network, we are certain that Wynk will offer the best-in-class user experience and become one of the most sought after app.”
The app is available in two subscriptions – Wynk Plus, Wynk Freedom and is available ad-free.
Wynk Freedom subscription at Rs 129 is available exclusively to Airtel customers in 3G circles using Android phones will allow them to get all-inclusive unlimited streaming and download of music without incurring additional data charges. Wynk Freedom subscribers can stream or download up to 500 songs a month. Data charges will apply to Wynk Freedom subscribers after the 500 song limit.
With Wynk Plus, users can enjoy unlimited in-app song downloads and play music offline at Rs 99 on Android and Rs 60 on iOS. Airtel customers using Android phones can have a introductory price of Rs 29 on this.
Airtel customers can pay for all purchases on the app using their Airtel balance or bill. Other customers have the option to pay using online banking.
Users without a Wynk subscription are only allowed to stream up to 100 songs a month, after which they will be prompted to buy a Wynk Freedom subscription.
iWorld
Banijay Asia’s The 50 tops OTT charts with 8.1 million JioHotstar views
Reality competition becomes most watched show on JioHotstar in debut week.
MUMBAI: Fifty contestants walked into a palace, but millions of viewers showed up for the drama. Reality competition The 50, produced by Banijay Asia, has emerged as the most watched show on JioHotstar, clocking 8.1 million views in its debut week. The figure, reported by Ormax Media, places the show at the top of the OTT viewership charts and marks a strong opening for the digital reality format.
Adapted from a popular French format, The 50 brings together 50 personalities from television, digital platforms, music and reality shows inside a grand palace setting. Over the course of a 50 day competition, participants form alliances, compete in unpredictable tasks and navigate eliminations as the field steadily narrows.
Guiding the game is a mysterious figure known as The Lion, an unseen game master whose voice introduces twists, challenges and strategic turns throughout the show, adding an extra layer of suspense to the contest.
What distinguishes The 50 from typical reality competitions is its audience driven prize structure. Instead of the winner taking home the final reward, the prize is awarded to one of the winner’s registered followers through the show’s dedicated app. The mechanism effectively turns viewers into participants, allowing fans to have a direct stake in the outcome.
The contestant lineup features a mix of television actors, reality stars and digital creators, including Karan Patel, Urvashi Dholakia, Divya Agarwal, Mr Faisu and Dushyant Kukreja, each bringing their own fan following to the show.
With its blend of celebrity personalities, strategic gameplay and interactive viewer participation, The 50 has quickly carved out a strong foothold in India’s digital entertainment landscape. Its 8.1 million views in the opening week underline the growing appetite for large scale reality formats designed specifically for OTT audiences.
