iWorld
Discovery+ bolsters content portfolio, changes pricing
KOLKATA: Discovery+ on Wednesday announced its largest content portfolio expansion to make it the go-to app for viewing families. Starting from June, over 100 new shows for Kids and library content from A+E Networks (including from History TV18) will be added to its content slate.
The platform has also changed its pricing. The old rate of Rs 299 will be available only till 8 June 2021, post which subscription will be priced at Rs 399.
With the largest addition to its content library across sub-genres like reality, sports, kids, learning, food, travel, history et al since its inception, discovery+ will be a one stop destination for wholesome a family viewing experience across seven languages, to include English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali, the company stated.
Covering shows from a wide array of genres, audiences across different age groups and interests will now have access to diverse exciting, informative and entertaining content. From fresh weekly episodes of key acquisitions like Hell’s Kitchen featuring Gordon Ramsay, the chef with a cult following, live races from thrilling 2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship, to highly appreciated motoring television series, Top Gear America hosted by Dax Shepard, Rob Corddry, and Jethro Bovingdon.
Be it walking with migrating elephants in Walking with Elephants ft. Levison Wood, or navigating love under overbearing mothers’ eyes in I Love A Mama’s Boy, along with new episodes of the most loved franchise Undercover Billionaire: Comeback City, the discovery+ audience is assured of entertainment in more ways than one.
The plaform will be expanding its library even further with the acquisition of global and local titles from the A+E Networks’ (including from History TV18) library. From top-rated reality TV series like Pawn Stars based on a family-owned pawn shop to America’s favourite treasure hunters, Storage Wars to OMG! Yeh Mera India, the longest-running and most successful History TV18 franchise hosted by Krushna Abhishek and Kumbh: Among The Seekers based on a famous religious festival amongst other enthralling titles, users will have world-class content available at their fingertips.
Adding to the delight, a special curated kids content slate including exciting and appealing new shows like Mr. Bean, Little Singham, Kids Baking Championship, My Little Pony, Hanuman, Mister Maker among other fun titles are to be introduced. Children will be able to immerse into the world of fantasy and never-ending adventure while increasing their knowledge through informative titles like How Do Animals Do That, MythBusters Jr, to name a few.
Expanding its local original production in 2021, with standout titles including Star vs. Food, Secrets of Sinauli: Discovery of the Century, Mission Frontline, Ladakh Warriors and Vande Bharat Flight IX 1344: Hope To Survival, the app has become home, to strong locally differentiated content in the real-life entertainment and learning space.
Discovery Inc South Asia managing director Megha Tata said: “We at discovery+, have always strived to provide world-class infotainment content to our users. Our partnership with A&E is a testament of how innovation for consumers remains core to discovery+ and reinforces our commitment to our audience by bringing to them content they like consuming under one platform. While we have our broad and engrossing portfolio for adults from varied genres, with the addition of kids we now have more content catering to the entire family. She also added, “We are confident that these additions will further strengthen our family, facts & fun premises that bring us close to our aspiration of being an aggregate platform catering to every member of the family.”
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
