Viacom18 Launches VOOT to Compete With Hotstar and Netflix

Team VOOT at the launch event. (Photo: Viacom18)

Viacom18, the media and entertainment company, launched its digital VOD platform VOOT, in India.

VOOT will be an advertising led VOD platform and will be available for free on iOS, Android and web.

VOOT will house popular characters from across networks – from Nick characters like Dora, Spongebob, Motu Patlu to external popular characters like Chhota Bheem and Pokemon.

In another first for an Indian OTT player, VOOT has launched with the largest repository of original content. VOOT Originals will roll out shows in both long and short formats across genres like comedy and drama.

Bollywood actors Gulshan Grover, Baba Sehgal, Alok Nath and a host of celebrity scriptwriters and directors will be front-lining these shows. Furthermore, Viacom18 will move its entire content library, including Colors, MTV and Nick, to be digitally available only on VOOT.

• Will be available on iOS, Android and web on 29 March 2016
  
• Lines up the biggest repository of kids’ characters in India – from Dora to Motu Patlu to Chhota Bheem.
  
• Viacom18 consolidates 17000 hours of network content into VOOT
  
• Gulshan Grover, Baba Sehgal, Alok Nath and a host of celebs will frontline VOOT Originals
  

India is on the cusp of a digital boom with over 400 million internet users and 200 million+ smartphone users spending a significant amount of time online with entertainment and allied content being the prime driver. As more people move towards consuming content online, it is time for Viacom18 to move into the world of connected screens. Hence VOOT.

<b>Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18.</b>

With digital advertising led video-on-demand category set to develop into a $1bn business opportunity, Viacom18 plans to capitalise on an aggressive mix of business, content and marketing strategies.

VOOT will also be offering its new original comedy web series Chinese Bhassad written by Raahil Qaazi (Co-writer of Do Dooni Chaar) and directed & produced by Saurabh Tewari. A talk show with a ‘twist’; called Sinskari, starring Alok Nath & produced by Monozygotic is also set to keep you in splits this April!

VOOT will be available for free on iOS, Android and web and delivered over mobile and WiFi networks.

VOOT will be competing with the likes of Netflix and Hotstar in India.