VOOT SELECT SHOULD BE AMONG TOP 2-3 SVOD PLATFORMS: VATS

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Viacom18 announced the expansion of its digital portfolio by launching Voot Select – the company’s newest foray into the Subscription Video On Demand (SVoD) services. The platform will house over 30 originals and global content through partnerships with international studios, over 1500 movies and will stream over 35 live channels.

It will also offer content from the Viacom18 portfolio of channels on the digital platform 24 hours before the episodes debut on TV.

Speaking about the network’s platform agnostic, content-first strategy, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO & MD, Viacom18, said, “In a short span, Voot has already emerged as one of India’s largest OTT platforms with 100 million MAUs and 100 billion watch minutes.

It is India’s most engaged platform with an average TSV of 50 minutes. With projections of aggressive growth in Fibre to Home, Viacom18 is ready to go digital first. Voot Select is our premium SVoD offering developed to cater to this growing connected TV audience.”

He added that India is now ready for subscription video on demand, and the numbers will keep growing. “You need to have substantial subscribers to make the right investment.

We already stand out in the AVoD space. Our platform is twice bigger than the other two platforms together. We are very confident that we should be amongst the top two or three platforms in the country. Our confidence comes from our ability to make great content and our progressive ability to bring good quality products with technology and engineering.

The question is not about how long you take to launch, but it is about being ready and at the right time,” Vats pointed out.

What the Voot Select pricing looks like

Speaking about Voot’s business strategy at the launch event, Gourav Rakshit, COO, Viacom18 Digital Ventures said, “Voot is the outcome of Viacom18’s vision to create a future-ready digital business catering to the evolving digital entertainment needs of every Indian.

It is with this focus and a content first approach that we have built Voot Select as a premium platform providing an enhanced viewing experience for our users.

Voot Select is ‘made for stories’ that are differentiated and compelling and with them we are determined to be the most sought-after content destination for every Indian.”

On the cost front, the company announced that the service will be available for Android, iOS and web users for Rs 99 per month or Rs 999 for an annual subscription.

A limited period introductory offer of Rs for the annual subscription was also announced.

The platform will exclusively showcase popular daily talk shows such as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Graham Norton Show and more. It will also offer a wide array of global content experiences through content partnerships with content studios like CBS, CBS All Access, Showtime, Sony Pictures, Fremantle, BBC, Endemol Shine and more. Speaking about the unique proposition of the platform, Ferzad Palia, Head - Voot Select, Youth, Music and English Entertainment, Viacom18 said, “Voot Select has been carefully crafted and designed for today’s ‘on-demand’ generation.

We’re proud to give to India a destination that has the country’s largest showcase of stories ranging from Hindi and regional originals, live television channels from across the world, the widest variety of top-drawer international content to ‘24 hour-before-TV’ premieres of our TV network content. Ad free, Multi-screen access and a solid recommendation engine will further add to a great entertainment experience for our subscribers.”