Ott

Will take action to stop vulgarity on OTT in the name of creativity: Thakur

Taking a tough stand on complaints against content on OTT platforms, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said vulgarity and abusive language was not acceptable in the name of creativity. Addressing a press conference here, Thakur said the government had taken a serious view on complaints of vulgarity and abusive language in content on OTT platforms and will not hesitate to take tough action to stop this trend. "These platforms were given freedom for creativity and not for obscenity and when one crosses the limit, then hurling abuses in the name of creativity cannot be accepted at all," Thakur said. "If there is a need to change the rules, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will not hesitate. It will take tough action to stop vulgarity and abusive language," the minister said. In January, Thakur had batted for creative autonomy and said adequate safeguards were in place to monitor content on OTT platforms. "Creativity should not be reined in, it

Post-Disney+Hotstar exit, a quest for finding HBO's new home from March 31

The five-year Disney-HBO deal was up for renewal in March this year

Top headlines: Philanthropy by India's rich falls, airlines step up hiring

Business Standard brings you top headlines at this hour

Telcos claim of usage fee violates net neutrality principles: COAI

Firing a fresh salvo in the revenue share debate, industry body COAI on Monday said the demand of telecom operators for a reasonable usage fee' from OTT communication service providers towards network use is "fair and rational", and would drive the digital infrastructure while contributing to the economy. Just days after Internet and Mobile Association of India's (IAMAI) assertions that demand for 'revenue share' was an underhanded attempt to violate net neutrality, COAI returned fire saying it is "misleading" to state that Net Neutrality principles will be violated. "Certain entities with vested interests are misdirecting the issue of the need for a regulatory framework for the communication OTTs and the need of usage charge to be paid by OTTs to the TSPs, by bringing in the aspect of Net Neutrality in a misleading manner, to make it a populist issue," SP Kochhar, Director General of COAI, said in a statement, without naming IAMAI. The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI

Telcos' demand for 'usage charge' from OTTs fair: COAI hits back at IAMAI

The COAI said that there seems to be a lack of appreciation of the fact that net neutrality pertains to non-discriminatory treatment of content which has no nexus to the usage fee issue

IAMAI opposes demands to share revenue, pay compensation to telcos

COAI has been advocating for a model where online platforms are made to pay 'usage charges' to telecom operators

Filling Big Tech shoes: Game begins for India's tryst with mass app economy

Domestic alternatives for mass consumption apps by Google, Meta or Twitter are still few and far between

Netflix announces to roll out paid password sharing service in 2023

In October last year, the streaming giant had announced the 'Profile Transfer' feature to prevent password sharing that had been rolled out to all members globally

I like to know the director's world, says filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra

''Only in an OTT show there is no pressure of finding a known face''

Mickey's copyright adventure: Early Disney creation to be public property

The version of the iconic character from "Steamboat Willie" will enter the public domain in 2024. But those trying to take advantage could end up in a legal mousetrap

Netflix plans to expand early feedback programme to more subscribers

Netflix currently has a small group of about 2,000 subscribers for its Preview Club programme which the company is planning to expand to "tens of thousands" more subscribers across the globe

Twitch rolls out 'Shield Mode' to enhance safety, along with new features

Streamers can pre-set multiple safety settings that can be activated with a push of a button whenever higher protections are necessary

Have OTT players pay telecom firms usage charges, COAI writes to DoT

Telcos point out that based on global estimates 56% of telco bandwidth is used by OTT communication platforms and in India it is even higher due to the proliferation of users which are over 400 mn

TMS Ep309: Tax Rationalisation, OTT Content, Equity Market, Population

Why is India Inc batting for the small guy? What makes India's top OTT stories click? Is Indian stock market losing steam? What's the future of world population and India's share in it? Answers here

What makes India's top OTT stories click?

While several big budget shows failed to make a mark on streaming videos, budget shows like 'Panchayat' and 'Delhi Crime' won the audience's heart. What makes some stories connect to viewers?

Calling for regulation only of communication OTTs, need compensation: COAI

Asserts that OTTs ride on telcs' network infra without paying fees while consuming huge amounts of bandwidth

Goyal calls for self-regulation within entertainment industry on content

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday asked the entertainment industry to self-regulate content of programmes on televisions and over-the-top (OTT) platforms as some of them are beyond acceptable standards within the Indian cultural landscape. He said that some form of self-regulation and some levels of decency in the presentation of India, Indian families and culture needs to be there. "I do believe that some form of self-regulation within the media and entertainment industry is called for. On the one hand, we talk of our culture, rich tradition, our heritage, our family value systems and on the other hand, some of what we see on television and OTT platforms, certainly is beyond what is ordinarily acceptable standards within the Indian cultural landscape," the minister said. He wondered if any of the Indian families use the kind of language that is sometimes reflected on some of these OTT shows. "I do not know if it helps in sell your product any better. I suspec

Storytellers ride the OTT boom to feed growing demand for streaming video

An eclectic bunch of content factories have emerged to feed growing demand for streaming video

Vodafone Idea launches Vi Max postpaid plans with OTT benefits and more

The Vi Max plans are available in four price brackets with free calls, OTT benefits, and night unlimited data benefits being standard across all plans

TMS Ep293: OTT apps, Collegium system, IPOs this week, Crypto mining

Do we have a way to regulate OTT apps now? Is it time to rethink the collegium system of judicial appointments? Are the IPOs opening this week worth your money? What is crypto mining? Answers here