I&B ministry wants OTT contents like Netflix, Amazon Prime under its purview

I&B ministry wants OTT contents like Netflix, Amazon Prime under its purview

New Delhi: The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has proposed bringing under its purview the contents being streamed on the several over-the-top (OTT) platforms, said a top ministry official said on Tuesday, July 7.

At present, OTT platforms that are digitally streamed falls under the domain of the Ministry of Information and Technology (IT).

“OTT being a digital platform will fall under the purview of the Ministry of IT but now we are proposing a decision that the content should fall within the purview of I&B ministry,” said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare.

He said, “There is a need for convergence of various ministries (in this regard), particularly in the ways changes are happening, (it) is extremely necessary”.

Khare rued that regulatory regimes in India have been developed as per the platforms and the country has no regulations as of now for the emerging media like OTT players.

Out of “five different media print, radio, TV, films and OTT four of them have certain kinds of regulatory practices and one is unregulated”, he said adding that currently a film released on OTT is not covered under the Central Board of Film Certification as it not exhibited as a film there.

Recently during the lockdown, several OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Zee5, ATLBalaji have witnessed a huge jump in their subscription.

As movie halls are also closed due to lockdown, several production houses have released their movie directly on OTT, bypassing theatrical releases.

While talking about the convergence, he said that telecom and media & entertainment should be on equal footing in terms of adjusted gross revenue (AGR).

“What happens to AGR in telecom has to be applicable in the M&E sector. We cannot have two different rates of AGR for the telecom sector and M&E sector for DTH providers. So there is a need for convergence,” the secretary said.

He also stressed on the need to have a level-playing field, but quickly added that this does not mean that all would be brought under a “very heavy regulatory structure”.

The focus of the government in the last few years has been on “less regulation but more effective regulation”.

Khare, who also holds HRD secretary portfolio, said that now the role of online platforms in the education sector has expanded after the pandemic.

He said that there is also a need to link human resources development with media and entertainment as post-pandemic there are several videos on online learning.

“In this sector, we can easily transform India”s education,” Khare said.

Delhi HC declines to grant interim stay on airing Netflix series Hasmukh

Delhi HC declines to grant interim stay on airing Netflix series Hasmukh

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday, May 5 declined to grant interim stay on the airing of Vir Das’s Hasmukh on Netflix, dismissing a plea that had claimed the fictional series maligned the reputation of advocates.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva dismissed the application moved by lawyer Ashutosh Dubey.

The main petition seeking a permanent injunction on the airing of the show is pending and listed for hearing in July.

Netflix, represented by advocate Saikrishna Rajagopal, said in the court that an injunction on the show would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Constitution.

It has argued that there are several judgments that say lawyers as a class cannot be defamed.

Hasmukh is a web series starring Vir Das in which, the protagonist, in each episode, murder professionals from various facets of life who have committed some wrong and then performs a stand-up act on such people.

Sunil Chetri posts screenshot of Fan asking for his Netflix ID, Netflix responds

Sunil Chetri posts screenshot of Fan asking for his Netflix ID, Netflix responds

Sunil Chhetri took to social media to reveal that a fan had messaged him to ask for his Netflix ID and password

Sunil Chetri posted the screenshot of the message and wrote

“Jersey X

Autograph on a picture X

Reply to the post X

Video wishing the neighbour’s son’s pet dog X

Here’s someone who has priorities straight and it’s really making me want to consider the demand.”

Michelle Obama documentary to debut on Netflix on May 6

Los Angeles:  A top-secret documentary feature about former first lady Michelle Obama is set to start streaming worldwide on Netflix from May 6.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the doc shares its title with Michelle Obama’s best-selling 2018 memoir “Becoming” and recounts some of the same histories of her life.

“Becoming”, like the best documentary feature Oscar winner “American Factory”, comes from Higher Ground, the production company run by former President Barack Obama and the former first lady, which has an exclusive pact with the streamer.

The documentary marks the feature directorial debut of cinematographer Nadia Hallgren known for her work on “Trouble the Water”, the 2008 indie about a couple surviving failed levees, bungling bureaucrats, and their own troubled past and a portrait of a community abandoned long before Hurricane Katrina hit.

“Becoming” also picks up where that story left off by following her on the 34-city tour that she undertook while promoting her book.

“Those months I spent traveling meeting and connecting with people in cities across the globe drove home the idea that what we share in common is deep and real and can’t be messed with.

“In groups large and small, young and old, unique and united, we came together and shared stories, filling those spaces with our joys, worries, and dreams. We processed the past and imagined a better future. In talking about the idea of ‘becoming,’ many of us dared to say our hopes out loud,” Michelle Obama said in a statement.

The former first lady also addressed the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “It’s hard these days to feel grounded or hopeful, but I hope that like me, you’ll find joy and a bit of respite in what Nadia has made. Because she’s a rare talent, someone whose intelligence and compassion for others comes through in every frame she shoots.

“Most importantly, she understands the meaning of community, the power of community, and her work is magically able to depict it.

5 Best travel web series on Netflix to fuel your wanderlust amid lockdown

5 Best travel web series on Netflix to fuel your wanderlust amid lockdown

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the worst affected sector has been travel in terms of economy. But, not being able to step out of the house, doesnt mean you can’t explore. In this crisis situation, best you can do is sit at home and feed your wanderlust by binge-watching these travel web series in Netflix.

Netflix to reduce traffic on telecom networks by 25 pc to mitigate congestion

Netflix to reduce traffic on telecom networks by 25 pc to mitigate congestion

New Delhi: Video streaming major Netflix on Tuesday, March 24 said that it will reduce traffic on telecommunications networks by 25 per cent while maintaining the quality of service for users in India, as part of its efforts to help mitigate network congestion amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Companies like Amazon Prime Video are also temporarily lowering bit rates a measure of how much data is being transferred to ease pressure on telecom network infrastructure.

Consumption of digital content has gone up manifold as people are forced to stay indoors as almost the entire country is under lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19.

“Given the crisis, we’ve developed a way to reduce Netflix’s traffic on telecommunications networks by 25 per cent while also maintaining the quality of our service. So consumers should continue to get the quality that comes with their plan – whether it’s Ultra-High, High or Standard Definition,” Netflix VP Content Delivery Ken Florance said in an emailed statement.

He added this will provide significant relief to congested networks, and the measure will be deployed in India for the next 30 days.

The company, which has over 167 million users globally, has already undertaken similar measures in Europe. It doesn’t provide country-specific subscriber numbers.

Netflix typically has many different streams for a single title within each resolution. This action would result in removal of the highest bandwidth streams, and so, subscribers will continue to have access to the service they have paid for (Ultra-High Definition, High Definition or Standard Definition) depending on the device they use.

In India, Netflix has a significant number of subscribers on the Mobile Plan which is Standard Definition.

Netflix’s rival, Amazon Prime Video on Monday had said that it has begun efforts to reduce streaming bitrates in India. Bitrate usually determines the size and quality of video and audio files. Higher bitrate indicates better quality.

The Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) had written to the government urging issuance of instructions to streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and others to initiate measures that will ease pressure on network infrastructure, which is needed for “critical” functions at this juncture.

“We support the need for careful management of telecom services to ensure they can handle the increased internet demand with so many people now at home full-time due to COVID-19. In India, we’ve already begun the effort to reduce streaming bitrates whilst maintaining a quality streaming experience for our customers,” an Amazon Prime Video spokesperson had said.

A Hotstar spokesperson had said that the company’s video streaming is based on adaptive bitrate streaming, which ensures that it is “lean” in internet consumption. However, the company said it is “prepared to reduce the bitrate for our HD streams, should the need arise”.