iWorld
BookMyShow Stream partners with Star Entertainment
Mumbai: BookMyShow Stream, India’s largest home-grown TVOD streaming platform from the house of BookMyShow – India’s leading entertainment destination entered into a content partnership with Star Entertainment Pvt Ltd, India’s premier distributor of independent international films. This strategic partnership aims to bring the finest of international cinematic content from the house of Star Entertainment every month to Indian audiences through BookMyShow Stream available for both rent and buy options.
In a short span of time, the uber-convenient Transaction Video-on-Demand (TVOD) category has gained popularity in India’s burgeoning OTT space and BookMyShow Stream has carved a niche for itself by offering a versatile mix of specially curated content across films and long-form content series for a wide, loyal and digitally savvy consumer base.
Following the resounding success of Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom, brought to India by Star Entertainment which premiered in English, Hindi and Tamil on BookMyShow Stream, the partnership is set to unveil an impressive line-up of films including the much-anticipated blockbusters of the year, such as Devil’s Deal, Assassin and Point Men. These exceptional films are scheduled to premiere on BookMyShow Stream, starting 10 November, 2023, offering Indian viewers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the splendour of these cinematic masterpieces from around the world.
Speaking on the partnership with Star Entertainment, BookMyShow COO – Cinemas Ashish Saksena said, “The TVOD space in India has grown considerably and paying for specific content that audiences want to watch has become a popular way of experiencing on-demand content when it comes to discerning Indian consumers. On BookMyShow Stream, cinephiles over the past two years have increasingly shown a clear preference towards titles that they want to watch and opting to rent or buy as per their convenience. This partnership with Star Entertainment will not only cement BookMyShow Stream’s selective and specially curated slate of foreign language content that spans languages across the world but will also enable their access to a wider audience by localising them in Indian languages.”
Star Entertainment Pvt Ltd dircetor Kimaya Hemdev emphasises the universal appeal of storytelling, transcending geographical boundaries: “In our pursuit of delivering the world’s finest content to India, we have discovered that exceptional stories know no borders. Regardless of their origin, these narratives resonate with audiences worldwide. The remarkable success of Korean content in India stands as a testament to this truth. At Star Entertainment, our unwavering commitment to bridging cultural divides and bringing these universal stories to Indian audiences remains our utmost priority.”
This partnership reflects the shared commitment of BookMyShow Stream and Star Entertainment to expand the horizons of entertainment in India. The partnership is not just about bringing international gems to Indian screens; it also paves the way for a broader array of global content to become accessible to Indian audiences.
India has been swept up in the Korean wave, with phenomena like Squid Game taking the world by storm amidst the surging popularity of K-pop and K-dramas. The prevalence of these cultural phenomena highlights that the barrier of language is no longer a hindrance. Stories now traverse geographical and linguistic frontiers, captivating the hearts of audiences across India. To meet the growing demand for international content, companies like Star Entertainment make substantial investments in dubbing and localising foreign films, ensuring that these captivating narratives can be enjoyed by diverse Indian audiences.
iWorld
MS Dhoni invests in Kuku, joins Kuku TV as brand ambassador
Cricket icon backs AI storytelling platform, fronts Kuku TV campaign
MUMBAI: MS Dhoni has invested in Kuku and joined its short-form drama app Kuku TV as brand ambassador, signalling a high-profile bet on India’s fast-growing AI-led content space.
Kuku, a mobile-first storytelling platform, operates across formats with apps such as Kuku TV for micro-dramas, Kuku FM for audio content and Guru for learning-led entertainment. Founded in 2018, the company has scaled rapidly, crossing 350 million installs and building a catalogue of over 20,000 titles across multiple Indian languages.
Dhoni said his decision to invest and partner with the platform was driven by its distinct approach to storytelling and its strong growth trajectory. MS Dhoni said, “I chose to invest in Kuku, and also come on board as the ambassador for Kuku TV, because the platform really stood out to me. It has built a differentiated entertainment experience for audiences across India, spanning multiple languages and formats. The growth has been impressive, and I connect strongly with the founders, who come from small towns like mine and have built something of this scale. I believe in their vision of building an AI-driven storytelling platform from Bharat, for Bharat, and for the world.”
Founded by Lal Chand Bisu, Vinod Kumar Meena and Vikas Goyal, the platform positions itself at the intersection of technology and storytelling, using AI to create and distribute bite-sized content tailored to mobile audiences.
Sharing his perspective, Kuku co-founder and CEO Lal Chand Bisu said, “MS Dhoni is known for backing bold decisions that others might hesitate to take. At Kuku, we are also taking bold bets. That spirit of unconventional thinking resonates deeply with us.”
Adding to this, Kuku co-founder and COO Vinod Kumar Meena said, “Our beloved Thala is one of the rare personalities with truly nationwide appeal. As we build Kuku for all of India, that connection makes him a natural fit for us.”
Further, Kuku co-founder and CTO Vikas Goyal said, “MSD has a unique understanding of people. As we build for both creators and consumers, that perspective will be incredibly valuable, especially as we continue strengthening our AI-driven storytelling stack.”
Backing the momentum, Panthera Peak Capital managing director Nikhil Bhandarkar said, “Kuku’s vision, execution, and clarity of thought are exceptional, qualities that closely mirror MS Dhoni’s approach. We are excited to partner with the team as they build Kuku into a global entertainment platform.”
To mark the association, Kuku TV has rolled out the campaign Dhoni Watches Kuku TV, anchored by a brand film that plays on Dhoni’s instinctive decision-making. Built around short, engaging stories delivered in minutes, the campaign highlights the platform’s promise of quick, compelling entertainment.
With Dhoni stepping in as both investor and face of the brand, Kuku appears to be doubling down on its ambition to take AI-driven storytelling from India to a global audience, one short story at a time.
