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The latest edition of "Streaming in India" newsletter has just dropped on The Streaming Lab. Did you know that amidst the Times Group split, Vineet Jain's MX Player is undergoing a strategic evolution? Discover how MX Player is navigating financial challenges and embracing collaborative content strategies to stay ahead in India's dynamic streaming landscape. Vineet Jain v/s Samir Jain - who got what as part of the Times Group split? Why did the Amazon deal fall through? Go ahead and subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/dSseDEF8

Perhaps its a coincidence that Bob Iger just yesterday said Disney is still playing catch up on its OTT tech stack, but below is a quick recap of my thoughts post Mobile World Congress and the challenges Tier 1 OTT buyers face. Sounds like Disney might be faced with some of the same. Quick summary, tech buyers should: 1. Help consumers navigate the increasingly complex streaming world. Don't add to complexity - focus on simplifying and unifying. 2. Make the right tech bets. Choose a solution that offers you flexibility to pivot as the market and consumer expectations evolve - this requires a cloud based, modular, open API architected solution. 3. Direct AI investment at the most valuable problems. Improve your acquisition, retention and monetization models through directed investment and continual experimentation. Most importantly, take the leap! Analysis paralysis will only put you further behind!

Off the heels of MWC 2024, Telco Operators and Tier 1 content distributors confront unique challenges in an almost saturated market as they prepare to compete with larger players in video streaming. Tier 1 customers in media, entertainment, and sports grapple with the dilemma of investing in technology to meet market demands while considering the risk of acquiring a platform that lacks the ownership and agility necessary for growth. Key challenges include: How to enhance content discoverability? Determining the future positioning of their platform. Leveraging AI for innovation and enhancing consumer satisfaction. In our latest Quickplay blog, Paul Pastor dissects the top three concerns echoed by Tier 1 tech buyers and offers insights on approaching them with long-term growth and flexibility in mind. Read it now! https://lnkd.in/gHTevBtc Looking to partner with a vendor to future-proof your strategy? Get in touch with us at hello@quickplay.com. #ott #streaming #tech 

Date of Ullu Digital IPO: Get all the information on this day's IPO for the adult streaming service Ullu! https://ift.tt/R1Iu3cm Date of Ullu Digital IPO: Get all the information on this day's IPO for the adult streaming service Ullu! Date of Ullu Digital's IPO: Ullu, the biggest adult streaming over-the-top business in India, is about to launch its initial public offering (IPO) and has completed all necessary procedures. The IPO of Ullu OTT platform has piqued the interest of many in the stock market, and they also want to know more details about Ullu Digital IPO. contents Owl Digital IPPO's present state What will the business do with the proceeds from the IPO? Date of Owl Digital IPO For your knowledge, let us inform you that Ullu Digital is the biggest over-the-top (OTT) adult streaming platform in India, with over 25 lakh paying customers. Ullu has already sent the draft documents for its first public offering (IPO) to SEBI, the Indian stock market regulator. Following which, the Ullu Digital IPO date is something that everyone is interested in knowing as the Ullu IPO is imminent. As a result, we will provide you the Ullu Digital IPO date as well as a wealth of other crucial details on this IPO in today's article. Owl Digital IPPO's present state The market regulator SEBI has received all of the draft documents and IPO hardware from the biggest adult streaming over-the-top provider in the nation. Ullu Digital is asking the market for between Rs. 135 and Rs. 150 via its IPO. We would like to advise you that, based on the information we have received, this firm plans to issue 62.6 lakh additional shares, which will not be for sale. In addition, let us inform you that, should SEBI approve Ullu's IPO, it would surpass all previous SMI offerings in the nation, which have been disclosed by Spectrum Talent Management in its own IPO. There were 105 business owners. Since Ullu Company had already published its IPO in the market by the time it received SEBI clearance, the IPO of Ullu Digital is now in the draft stage and is still seeking approval. What will the business do with the proceeds from the IPO? With a 95% ownership in the business, Vibhu Agarwal and his wife Megha Agarwal are the current proprietors of Ullu Digital Company. Zenith Multi Trading DMCC, a public stakeholder of the business, owns the remaining 5%. Consolidated data indicates that the firm will collaborate with the physicians from the IPO on the creation of its new package, technology, staffing, etc. In addition, the business will use the medications it obtained from the IPO for marketing and other business needs. Date of Owl Digital IPO Speaking about Ullu Digital, the firm date of its IPO has not yet been disclosed since it is still in the draft stage. By April of the following month, the Ullu Digital IPO might go live if SEBI approves the disclosed offering. Let us also inform you that after the Ullu Digital IPO's conclusion, you will be able to pu...

Significant strategy changed. India is definitely a booming market for players to invest, and very excited to see this is happening, but it’s also important to be aware of the challenges and huge diversity in India. User behaviors and purchasing powers are very different among tier of cities. How to align the content with local cultures, and reach out to not only the 5% of the moderns but also the majority of India is a next step and main factors to penetrate into India market. Looking forward to it. #anime #businessdevelopment

Everything is Digital 🛜💻 booming #ad industry moving to $1tn in annual revenue, thus, becoming a core revenue stream for entertainment and media businesses that depend on targeted advertising to generate incremental ROI, especially as streaming services mature. The ground is all set for global M&A’s across the entertainment companies, who envision for higher market share. According to PwC’s Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2023-2027, global advertising revenue is projected to increase from $763.7bn to $952.6bn, representing a compound annual growth rate of 4.5%. Advertising has become a core revenue stream for entertainment and media businesses that depend on targeted advertising to generate incremental ROI, especially as streaming services mature. This market expansion opens opportunities for the industry to further grow revenue channels as tech companies such as Apple and Netflix leverage their robust data collections to develop targeted advertising, demand-side platforms (DSPs) and supply- side platforms (SSPs) to reach consumer wallets. #adtech #dsp #dmp #ott #mobileads #trilliondollars #startups #hotstar #amazon #netflix #reliancejio #marketshare

With Max Launching in 7 Asian Markets, Warner Bros. Discovery Eyes Rapid Growth for Streamer: “This Is a Big One” Max debuted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan on Nov. 19. Nearly four-and-a-half years after Max launched in the U.S., Warner Bros. Discovery‘s streaming platform finally debuted in several key Asian markets this week. On Nov. 19, Max became available to customers in Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as the five biggest Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. Outwardly, the long delayed introduction of Max into some of the fastest-growing economies in the world may seem odd, especially as streaming rivals Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ have established strong footholds in many of these markets. But the reality was that WBD had various licensing agreements across the Asia Pacific region, which took years to run their course. Indeed, the company’s distribution deal with Foxtel doesn’t expire till 2025, allowing Max to launch in Australia next year. Still, there’s some upside to coming to market later than your rivals, that’s according to JB Perrette, president of global streaming and games at WBD and James Gibbons, WBD’s president of Asia Pacific. Ahead of the most recent seven-country Asian rollout of Max, The Hollywood Reporter spoke to Perrette and Gibbons over Zoom about WBD’s strategy for Max in the region, which differentiates the service from other streamers, as well as updates on other markets. Let’s start by talking about the seven-country rollout for Max in Asia Pacific. JB PERRETTE The exciting thing is, we’ve got a whole set of markets that we’re still not in. This is the beginning, it’s just a start. When we came in and closed [the Warner Bros. Discovery merger deal], the company’s previous administration was getting ready to launch in Southeast Asia, and so this has been two years coming. But we’re super excited because this is sort of the last of our big regional “replatformings.” We did the U.S. in May of 2022-23. We did Latin America in February of this year. We did Europe in May and June. And now [Asia] is the last of the big replatformings. There’ll be additional rollouts and launches coming after that. But, this is a big one and it’s an exciting one because it’s the most different than anything we’ve done before because we’re going from a two-generations-ago HBO Go product to a much bigger and more expansive and better content offering with Max. A much better product experience with Max and more distribution partnerships and entry points for consumers thanks to the work that James and his team have been doing with all of our partners. And so, it’s a big day for us.

In the preceding year, MX Player, once celebrated for its versatile media capabilities, encountered financial challenges despite its considerable user base. With over 17 crore monthly users and expansions into diverse verticals like short videos, music streaming, and gaming, MX Player ascended to become India’s leading video streaming app by 2021. However, its revenue model, primarily reliant on advertising, grappled with sustaining profitability, notably due to its predominantly tier 2 and tier 3 city-based user demographic, favoring free content consumption. Consequently, MX Player observed a decline of 17% in advertising revenues in FY23, coupled with a spending ratio of ₹120 for every ₹100 earned, underscoring financial constraints. Looking forward to 2024, MX Player's financial trajectory remains uncertain. Despite its widespread acclaim, it confronts ongoing challenges in generating adequate revenues to offset operational expenses. The emergence of competitors offering more cost-effective subscription plans, alongside the aftermath of the post-pandemic funding constraints, further compound the situation. Rekindled talks of a potential acquisition by Amazon at nearly half the acquisition price by Times Internet in 2018 signify prospective shifts in ownership. In this dynamic landscape, MX Player is compelled to innovate its revenue streams and adapt to evolving market paradigms to ensure its long-term viability. As deliberations regarding its acquisition unfold, the outcome will provide valuable insights into the strategic direction of both MX Player and the broader digital content streaming industry.

Alibaba Group has sold $357 million shares of China video streaming platform Bilibili with current market value at $4.5 billion (22/3/24).  Bilibili share price has decreased -5.8% YTD, -54% in last 12 months and -42% in last 5 years. Read - https://lnkd.in/g6Bs4gBb follow Caproasia | Driving the future of Asia Alibaba Group has sold $357 million shares of China video streaming platform Bilibili with current market value at $4.5 billion (22/3/24).  Bilibili share price has decreased -5.8% YTD, -54% in last 12 months and -42% in last 5 years.  Earlier in March 2024, Alibaba group has disclosed China state-owned enterprises or foreign sovereign wealth funds partial ownership in more than 12 Alibaba entities in sports, health, logistics & China consumer services.  Sovereign wealth funds with Alibaba entities ownership are from Singapore, Malaysia, UAE & Qatar.  The filing is submitted to United States & Hong Kong following an inquiry from United States Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).  In late February 2024, Alibaba Group has invested as the largest investor in the latest $1 billion funding round into artificial intelligence (AI) startup Moonshot AI at $2.5 billion valuation.  Moonshot AI was founded in April 2023 by Yang Zhilin.  In 2016, Yang Zhilin founded a company using AI technologies Recurrent.ai, with the same team founding Moonshot AI in 2023.  Earlier in February 2024, Alibaba Group announced a $25 billion share buyback program targeting to buyback 3% of outstanding stocks yearly equivalent to $12 billion yearly.  Alibaba Group current market value is around $180 billion (9/2/24).  Earlier in January 2024, Alibaba co-founders Jack Ma & Joe Tsai have bought $202 million of Alibaba Group shares with Joe Tsai family office Blue Pool Management buying $152 million of Alibaba shares in 2023 Q4 and Jack Ma buying $50 million of Alibaba shares in 2023 Q4.