The streaming video service will be run by Viacom18, the joint venture between Viacom and India's Network18, which operates such TV networks as Nickelodeon India, Nick HD+, MTV India, VH1, Comedy Central and flagship Hindi entertainment outlet Colors, among others.
Promising a mix of domestic and international content, Voot is an advertising-supported service, which will be offered free to consumers at launch.
It will take on a host of competitors, such as the recently launched Netflix India, Fox's Star India-backed hotstar, Hooq, backed by Warner Bros., Sony Pictures and Singapore Telecom, as well Indian film major Eros International's ErosNow, among others.
Viacom18 CEO Sudhanshu Vats told THR that Voot would also launch "a subscriber based service in due course." Further details as to monthly pricing and whether the subscription service would come ad-free or with limited ads, will be announced later.
Star India's hotstar is an ad-supported free service, while Netflix launched its India service in January 2016 starting with a basic package of about $7.35 (500 rupees) per month. The ad-free ErosNow offers a limited-content free service, while monthly subscriptions start at 70 cents (49 rupees) with a premium HD service at $1.45 (99 rupees). Hooq's ad-free service is offered at a monthly price of about $2.90 (199 rupees).
Vats said Voot will draw on Viacom18's 10,000-plus hours of content in addition to a slate of original programming. Also included in the mix is what Vats describes as "content around content," such as specially curated extra footage from the network's long-running local remakes of reality shows, which include Big Brother and Fear Factor, among others. Movie content will be made up of over 250 local titles, including some from the company's banner Viacom18 Motion Pictures whose catalog includes hits such as Queen and sports biopic Mary Kom.
While details of international content will be revealed at the time of launch, the service will also include kids programming from Nickelodeon India. In addition, the service has also acquired digital rights for shows that otherwise air on rival networks, such as Discovery Kids, Turner International's Pogo and Cartoon Network and Disney India's Hungama channel. Foreign content includes Mr Bean Animated, Mr Bean Live, Pokemon, Transformers and Kate and Min Min. Local shows include popular properties such as Chotta Bheem, Mighty Raju, Kid Krrish and Tales of Shiva.
In terms of original content, Voot will include shows such as Badman, a comedy starring veteran Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover known for his long career playing famous onscreen villains, who gets to relaunch himself as a hero. Another comedy series, Soadies, revolves around a Delhi-based family obsessed with MTV India's popular reality show Roadies, which is known for the often rude behaviour of its contestants and judges.
Huge thanks to RegularCapital.com to alerting me to the news!
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