iWorld
Viewster adds Red Bull Media House content
MUMBAI: The VOD service Viewster has added to its catalogue a slew of sports and culture content from Red Bull Media House, which will be available on demand for viewers in the UK, Benelux, Germany and the Nordics.
The content package includes Red Bull Art of Motion, which showcases the disciplines of free running, parkour and martial arts; Red Bull Beat Battle, featuring epic dance battles in a range of styles; Red Bull Tops seasons one and two, highlighting the best of the best in a range of extreme athletics; and Red Bell Cliptomaniacs, a compilation of sports and action footage. Also part of the deal is Ryan Doyle Travel Story, a travel doc that features Ryan Doyle, a world champion in freestyle running.
“Five years ago, when consumers wanted to be entertained, they switched on the TV. Today, they are turning to the web and on-demand video services,” said Viewster CEO Kai Henniges. “Smart brands like Red Bull with its media company Red Bull Media House have recognised this and are now looking at new distribution channels that will introduce their content to new audiences. By making content available on-demand, sports and music fans worldwide can watch this unique content whenever and however they choose. And with our ever-increasing library of film and TV content also available, it’s not surprising that we’re continuing to see month-on-month growth worldwide, as audiences discover new and interesting content.”
“As the models for providing content continue to evolve, Red Bull Media House is committed to engaging audiences with high-quality programming on the platforms that are relevant to them,” added Red Bull Media House chief commercial officer Alexander Koppel. “Digital options are an integrated part of our delivery system, and we look forward to sharing compelling content with Viewster’s expansive audience.”
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.
