iWorld
BBC Studios inks deal with Lionsgate Play in India
NEW DELHI: BBC Studios has signed a new content catalogue deal with Lionsgate Play, marking the first-ever partnership between the streaming service in India and the British production powerhouse. The new deal bolsters the premium Lionsgate Play content portfolio with a fresh raft of bold, British drama.
Lionsgate Play recently made its independent foray in the Indian OTT landscape. The streaming service is currently available on Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Amazon Firestick and via Airtel Xstream, Jio Fiber and Vi Movies and TV.
Under the agreement, viewers will receive five exciting scripted dramas selected for the Lionsgate Play platform, spanning science fiction, period and contemporary genres to cater to a wide range of viewing interests:
· Brexit: The Uncivil War – Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and an ensemble cast of British talent, the show dives into the activities and strategies behind the ‘Vote Leave’ campaign building up to the European Union referendum of 2016. Produced by House Productions.
· Class – Written by stalwart Young Adult novelist Patrick Ness and set in the iconic universe of Doctor Who, the eight-episode series centres around the Coal Hill School and a group of four classmates-turned-unlikely allies, as they battle against the invasion of the alien Shadow Kin. Produced by BBC Studios and executive-produced by Steven Moffat.
· Les Misérables – An extraordinary cast of A-list actors, including Dominic West (The Wire) and Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite), bring this epic adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel Les Misérables to life, telling the story of fascinating characters caught up in poverty and the unrest of post-revolutionary France. It is produced by Lookout Point and BBC Studios.
· Pure – This critically-acclaimed comedy drama centres around 24-year-old Marnie, as she moves to London for the first time and struggles to control her intrusive obsessive compulsive disorder. It is based on Rose Cartwright’s book of the same name and offers a frank, sympathetic window into mental health. Pure is produced by Drama Republic.
· SS-GB – An epic period drama produced by Sid Gentle Films and based on the novel by Len Deighton, SS-GB dives into a sobering alternative history. It is 1941, and the Germans have won the Battle of Britain. Detective Douglas Archer finds himself working under the brutal SS in occupied London.
BBC Studios distribution (South Asia) VP Stanley Fernandes said, “These programmes represent the cutting-edge of both BBC and British storytelling as a whole, and we’re really excited to bring even more choice to the discerning Indian viewer, through this deal with Lionsgate. In the midst of India’s dynamic streaming and entertainment landscape, we’re pleased that British drama and formats continue to find new platforms and an enthusiastic public reception in the region, and that these stories are accessible to as wide an audience as possible.”
Lionsgate South Asia and Networks SEA MD Rohit Jain said, “We are delighted to have partnered with BBC Studios. Indian audiences have always enjoyed British content and the unique content line up provided by BBC Studios covers various genres of entertainment. It is classic, powerful and ground-breaking. We are confident our viewers will be swooped into another world.”
iWorld
Beware: Fake war lockdown notice mimicking official government order circulates on WhatsApp
The spoof document mimics an official government order but opens to reveal a jester and the words “April Fool”
MUMBAI: It looked official. It had the Ashoka Emblem. It had the formal layout of a government circular. And it was called “War Lockdown Notice.” Thousands of WhatsApp users across India forwarded it in a panic — only to open it and find a cartoon jester waving cheerfully above the words “April Fool.”
The document, which circulated rapidly on Tuesday, was designed to look like a genuine government order, carrying enough official-looking detail to alarm recipients and prompt frantic resharing. The punchline was the entire point. The danger, however, is real.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has cautioned citizens that sharing fake messages and rumours carries serious consequences. In severe cases, it could result in police action or imprisonment.
The warning is timely. Viral hoaxes dressed up as official government communications have a long and damaging history in India, stoking panic, spreading misinformation and, in some cases, triggering real-world consequences. A forged document bearing the national emblem, however briefly intended as a joke, is no laughing matter in the eyes of the law.
April Fool’s Day or not, WhatsApp forwards deserve a hard look before the finger hits share. The jester on that document was not the only fool in the room.
