iWorld
Netizens step into Covid warriors’ shoes through VMate
MUMBAI: The Internet’s new-found sensation are people disguised as policemen and doctors to express their gratitude towards and pay respect to the frontline corona warriors. Several such videos have appeared across social media boards wherein users have extensively used a new virtual sticker, launched by trending short video app VMate – one of the most downloaded social media apps globally, in the honour of the corona warriors, who have put their lives at risk to ensure that people stay safe during the novel virus outbreak.
When a user accesses the sticker, he appears dressed as a policeman, with uniform and sunglasses that have become synonymous with cops, and then as a doctor, with surgical robe, mask and stethoscope. Also part of the sticker is some hands that appear at the bottom of the screen and clap in the honour of the frontline warriors.
Link – https://www.facebook.com/603006289860852/videos/258225705558653/
The text appearing along with the sticker urges all to clap so that the policemen, armymen, doctors and nurses can be felicitated. It further makes a reference to the users themselves, suggesting that even those who are adhering to the lockdown norms are helping in the ongoing fight against the novel virus. The voiceover in the backdrop of the sticker says, “Bharat aur Bharat-vasiyon ki rakshha karna hamara param kartavya hai. Har Bharatiya swasthya rahe yeh hamari zimmedari hai. Hum hamesha aapke saath hain (It is our prime duty to safeguard India as well as all Indians. It is our responsibility that all Indians remain healthy. We are always with you)”.
This comes even as several doctors and policemen have converged to VMate in the wake of the lockdown to raise awareness and dispel misinformation concerning Covid-19. Besides, some of the reputed media groups, such as Punjab Kesari and Dainik Jagran, too joined VMate in bolstering the front against the novel virus. Recently, Indian government’s citizen engagement platform MyGovIndia also launched a profile on VMate to provide real-time official information to people and promote Aarogya Setu, a mobile application developed by the government to connect essential health services with the people of India. The 64th edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio show ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was also streamed live through the profile.
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.
