iWorld
India to see fourfold increase in OTT services by 2019: Calvin Koh
MUMBAI: According to the FICCI-KPMG Media and Entertainment 2014 report, with 168 million TV households, India is the second largest TV market after China. However, there is scope for further growth in India’s broadcast industry.
Concurring with the same is Singapore Exhibition Services assistant project director (communication events) Calvin Koh, who was in the city to speak about the upcoming Broadcast Asia 2015 Summit. The Summit will be held from 2-5 June 2015 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Koh says that the Indian broadcast industry is undergoing a big transformation. He informs that by 2019 India will see a fourfold increase in Over The Top (OTT) platforms as there will be major push for OTT service everywhere. “Sports broadcasting will be another catalyst for this change. TV is going to be everywhere, not just limited to television sets,” he says. Broadcast Asia 2015 will have its spotlight this year on a TV Everywhere! Zone.
With hurdles coming in way of a smooth digitisation process in India, Koh is still hopeful. “I don’t expect a sudden overhaul. India has the potential for increasing consumption for TV. Regardless of the hurdles, we need to see trendsetters in the broadcasting space,” he says.
He went on to explain that broadcasters today need to be present on multiple screens. With regards to sports broadcasting, the executive with 18 years of experience in the industry, remarks sports broadcasting will be a strong driver for content consumption in India. “India is doing well and we are confident,” he says.
For Koh, TV serials and films still are largely untapped markets and have strong potential to drive growth and reach audiences. He equates the growth for Bollywood films in the same manner as it worked for the successful proliferation of Korean dramas in non Korean markets.
When asked to list challenges faced by the Indian broadcast space, Koh says, “Content is of concern.” He says broadcasters and content creators need to come up with relevant stories that sell.
“Good content should also be materialized and repurposed to be consumed on tablets and mobile screens. With more broadband options, and faster upload times, there is variety and options of TV everywhere. Media analytics also help advertisers who views what where and at what time, which is essential,” he says.
With regards to OTT platforms and broadcasters, Koh says that they need to understand consumer behavior. “While there is no lack of potential, investments in infrastructure by the two and content should go hand in hand,” he concludes.
iWorld
Spotify rolls out ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge for artists
New badge and profile details aim to boost transparency in AI-driven music era.
MUMBAI: In a world where even playlists can have imposters, Spotify is adding a badge of trust. The streaming platform has begun rolling out a new ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge, alongside expanded artist profile details, as it looks to bring greater clarity to listeners navigating an increasingly complex mix of human and AI-generated music. The badge, currently in beta, will appear on artist profiles that meet Spotify’s internal criteria for authenticity. These include consistent listener engagement, adherence to platform policies and signs of a real-world presence such as live performances, merchandise or active social media profiles. Notably, profiles representing primarily AI-generated artists will not be eligible for verification at launch.
Spotify says the verification process will combine automated systems with human review, prioritising artists with sustained audience interest over those driven by short-term spikes. The rollout will be gradual, with the badge appearing across profiles and search results over the coming weeks. The company noted that more than 99 per cent of artists users actively search for are already included in the initial phase.
Alongside the badge, Spotify is also introducing a new artist details section within profiles. Available even for non-verified artists, the feature will highlight career milestones, release activity and touring history, offering listeners a more comprehensive view of an artist’s journey and output.
The move builds on Spotify’s broader push towards transparency, complementing existing features such as SongDNA, expanded song credits and AI attribution tools. Together, these updates aim to give users more context about what they are listening to and who is behind it.
As generative AI continues to blur the lines between creator and creation, Spotify’s latest update signals a clear intent: in the streaming era, authenticity is becoming just as important as accessibility.
