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Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
How language streaming services Hoichoi, Aha shake up entertainment market
The numbers seem small. In 2024, streaming video generated ₹35,600 crore in advertising and pay revenues from 125 million subscribers, according to Media Partners Asia premium Listen to This Article Eken Babu is an unlikely detective. The rotund, balding character was created in 1991 by the late author Sujan Dasgupta for Bengali magazine Anandamela. Eken Babu became a web series on Hoichoi, a Bengali streaming service, in 2018. The show is now in its eighth season. Eken Babu's popularity prompted Hoichoi's parent, SVF Entertainment, a major studio and distributor based in Kolkata, to produce a film featuring the character in 2022. This May saw the release of the third film in the franchise, Eken: Benaras e Bibhishika. Hoichoi, a subscription-based service, which launched in 2017, now makes a small profit Disclaimer: These are personal views of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of or the Business Standard newspaper
India.com
21-05-2025
- India.com
Rs 22,400 crore scandal revealed, how film piracy scam is devastating the Indian entertainment industry
Piracy has been a global issue faced by almost every film industry across the globe. Surprisingly, India is the world leader for online video piracy with approximately 90.3 million users. Second on the list is Indonesia with 47.5 million and the Philippines with 31.1 million users. A report by Media Partners Asia, studied by Economic Times and EY, backed the study. The Indian film industry has been the victim of online video piracy. Days before a film gets a theatrical release, the film has already been available on multiple pirated sites. Films like Raid 2, Sikandar, Jaat, and many such films fell prey to piracy and were reportedly released a day before the release date. A senior Maharashtra police officer, during a conversation with ET, highlighted the growing concerns of Indian films being leaked on multiple sites ahead of it's premiere. 'There is a growing trend of movies, especially Hindi and Tamil films, being leaked on the day before the release. In such cases, the role of an insider is suspected,' said the police officer. Trade analyst Girish Wankhede emphasised the key points where leaking films is likely to be an insider's job. 'Piracy before the day of release of a film implies that it is an insider job… post-production studios, content delivery agencies, and nefarious elements in exhibition companies,' highlighted Girish. A report by EY-IAMAI Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) found that a majority of 51 per cent of Indian users consume pirated content. The source was likely to be illegal streaming platforms, mobile apps, social media, torrents, and many more. Most importantly, application like Telegram allows users to download large files, contributing to many pirating of content. Adding further, Subhash Chandra, chairman Emeritus of Zee and Essel Group, highlighted that 'Pirated content has been one of the quietest sources.' 'Terror networks don't survive on ideology alone. They survive on money, and pirated contents is one of their quietest sources,' said Zee In a shocking turn of events, a report of 2023 revealed that pirated content alone caused a huge loss of Rs 13,700 crore for theatres and Rs 8,700 crore for OTT platforms running in India. The report further revealed that pirated content has severely affected mid to small budget films. On the other hand, big-budget films manage to cut a deal with multiple streaming platforms despite the content leak. Many producers assert that their films become a target when there's a buzz during the pre-release of a film. Looking forward to the likelihood of becoming the next target, many turn to online piracy. Although online piracy inflicts a financial drain, it increases public viewership. To tackle online piracy, industry experts are pushing forward for a 'multi-layered' technology, pushing piracy to the far end. Trade expert Girish highlighted that companies are building and practicing dividing films into three encrypted parts, which can only be accessed by a password verification. However, this technology is currently under development, but it is likely to prove effective against online piracy. A company, BLOCK X Technologies, is collaborating with production houses to filter out pirated content with the advancement of Artificial Intelligence. This is likely to help eliminate pirated content with the help of AI bots. This technology is proposed for long-term use in the industry.
Broadcast Pro
06-05-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Piracy hampers growth of India's digital media sector: MPA
The report sheds light on the major economic damage caused by online piracy across India's vibrant creative sectors, particularly the film, OTT and television industries, and underscores the urgent need for coordinated action across industry and policy stakeholders. A new report by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) reveals that digital piracy continues to pose a significant threat to India's burgeoning online video sector and the broader creative economy. The study, titled The Impact of Piracy on India's Online Video Sector and Creative Economy, has been released in partnership with Media Partners Asia and highlights the severe economic and legal repercussions of online content theft. According to the report, piracy cost India's creative economy a staggering INR 22,000 crore ($2.6bn) in 2022, with nearly 70% of these losses tied to the online video sector. The study also estimates that India witnessed around 73bn visits to piracy websites in 2022, the highest globally. These visits deprive legal platforms of viewers and advertisers, undermining subscription revenues and discouraging investment in local content production. The report notes that piracy not only hinders revenue generation but also poses risks to consumers, including malware threats, data breaches and exposure to online scams. In addition to economic losses, the Indian government lost an estimated INR 5,000 crore in tax revenue due to digital piracy in 2022. The situation also translated to a loss of approximately 8.9 lakh jobs that could have been created within the creative and digital sectors. In response, the MPA is calling for stronger enforcement measures, public awareness campaigns and collaborative efforts between the government, industry and technology platforms to combat the growing piracy challenge. The report emphasises the urgency of implementing technological solutions and updating regulatory frameworks to safeguard the creative economy. The findings highlight the need for immediate and concerted action to address the impact of piracy, which threatens not only economic growth but also India's aspirations to be a global hub for digital media and creative content.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Unchecked piracy could cost online video industry $2.4 billion in revenue: Report
India's online video sector, valued at an estimated $4.2 billion in 2024, is facing a serious threat from rampant digital piracy , which could result in substantial economic losses and job losses by 2029 if not urgently addressed. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India much better equipped to target cross-border terror since Balakot India conducts maiden flight-trials of stratospheric airship platform Pakistan shuts ports for Indian ships after New Delhi bans imports from Islamabad A new report by Media Partners Asia , in collaboration with the IP House and the Confederation of Indian Industry, unveiled at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, revealed that digital piracy led to losses of $1.2 billion in 2024 alone, with approximately 90 million users accessing pirated content during the year. The report projects that, without intervention, the number of users consuming pirated video content could surge to 158 million by 2029, with total cumulative losses reaching $2.4 billion. This trend could further hinder growth in a sector already challenged by low SVOD penetration and constrained advertising revenue, it noted. Live Events However, the report said that the implementation of effective anti-piracy measures could help India's digital video industry recover $1.1 billion in lost revenue, reinvest $0.5 billion into content creation, and generate approximately 47,000 jobs by 2029. In addition, these efforts could drive the creation of over 158,000 direct and indirect jobs between 2025 and 2029, bolster platform sustainability, and enhance tax contributions. At WAVES 2025, a panel discussion titled "Piracy: Safeguarding Content through Technology' convened global leaders in media, law, and cybersecurity to evaluate the impact of piracy on the digital content economy and outline potential countermeasures. Moderated by Neil Gane, Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific at IP House, the discussion underscored the growing consensus that piracy has evolved from a marginal issue into a mainstream threat requiring coordinated, multi-dimensional responses. Vivek Couto, Managing & Executive Director at Media Partners Asia, emphasised the financial toll of unchecked piracy. 'Online piracy is expected to cost the industry over 10% in lost revenue between 2025 and 2029,' he said. 'But effective anti-piracy enforcement could drive a 25% increase in legal video service users and unlock a $0.5 billion boost in content investment, raising the total value to $3.8 billion by 2029.' He urged stakeholders to shift the piracy narrative from one of protection to potential, especially as India's digital video economy continues to grow. Dr Shruti Mantri, Associate Director at ISB Institute of Data Science, drew attention to the overlap between digital piracy and cybercrime. 'Piracy often involves malicious tools like trojans, ransomware, and spyware. Users between 24 years old are particularly vulnerable,' she said. She advocated for widespread public awareness and educational initiatives, emphasising that prevention must start with informed consumers. She also announced a Digital Piracy Summit being organised by ISB in partnership with CBI and Interpol on 9–10 July. Addressing anti-piracy efforts in the sports sector, Anurag Kashyap, Head of Anti-Piracy Operations at DAZN, a British over-the-top sports streaming and entertainment platform, described a proactive approach. 'Our strategy is built around the three Ds: detection, disruption, and deterrence. We start enforcement even before the event goes live,' he said. He added that invisible watermarking plays a key role in tracing leaks. Anil Lale, Head of Legal at JioStar, stressed the need for strong enforcement. 'The biggest deterrent is prosecuting the pirates. Law enforcement must identify the source of leaks and stop playing catch-up,' he said. He emphasised that prevention should be proactive rather than reactive. Praveen Anand of Anand and Anand Associates highlighted the need for both technological tools and judicial reform. 'Tools like AI, blockchain, and watermarking are crucial. But we must also make camcording difficult with measures like metal detectors. Timely legal action is essential to create deterrence,' he noted.
The Print
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
India's screen entertainment market to touch USD 17 billion by 2029: Report
As per the report, with online video will contribute USD 8.6 billion, making it the largest revenue segment by 2029, driven by affordable data, mobile penetration, and the rise of localised digital content. New Delhi [India], May 4 (ANI): The screen entertainment market in the country is estimated to touch USD17 billion by 2029, driven by digital platforms and sustained by television and movies, according to a joint report by Media Partners Asia (MPA), IP House and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Television, while slightly declining, remains a close second at USD 6.8 billion, underscoring its widespread reach and cultural inertia across Indian households. Movies are set to earn USD 1.9 billion, recovering steadily through hybrid release strategies and multiplex revival, as per the report. Together, the three formats signal a shift from traditional to digital, while still coexisting in a hybrid, multi-screen future, the report added. According to the report, by 2029, one in every two dollars in India's screen economy will come from online video, accounting for 50 per cent of all screen entertainment revenue, surpassing television and redefining how the nation watches its stories unfold. The joint report projects total content investments to reach USD 7.5 billion by 2029, and online video is set to match television's share of spending for the first time. From just 15 per cent of investment in 2019, online video will rise to 43 per cent by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5 per cent. Meanwhile, TV's share has steadily declined from 67 per cent to 43 per cent, following the shift in consumer viewing behaviour, the report added. As one of Asia's largest video content markets, India's content investment has already reached USD 5.8 billion in 2024, nearly doubling since 2019. This growth is led by premium VOD platforms fuelling demand for original, regional, and mobile-first content. India's online video sector generated an estimated USD 4.2 billion in 2024, with 75 per cent driven by advertising and 25 per cent from subscriptions. Premium video-on-demand platforms–across freemium (ad-supported) and SVOD models–are gaining traction in a market historically shaped by user-generated and social video platforms, with SVOD alone contributing USD 1 billion. Yet, SVOD household penetration remains well below regional benchmarks, largely due to the persistent challenge of digital piracy, which also suppresses advertising revenue for freemium services. The report highlights that despite its scale and momentum, India's online video sector faces significant revenue and growth constraints due to unchecked digital piracy–targeted anti-piracy measures offer a clear path to recovery and reinvestment. In 2024, approximately 90 million users accessed pirated video content, resulting in USD 1.2 billion in revenue loss–equivalent to 10 per cent of the legal video industry, as per the report. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
