Viacom18 Launches Digital VOD Platform VOOT

A media and entertainment company, Viacom 18, has launched its digital video on demand (VOD) platform named VOOT. The launch was made today at an event in Mumbai.

VOOT will be an advertising led VOD platform available on Android, iOS and the web. It is designed to offer 17,000 hours of network content available across multiple genres and languages, over mobile and WiFi networks. It will also frontline VOOT Originals by scriptwriters and directors which will include celebrities such as Gulshan Grover, Baba Sehgal, Alok Nath, and others.

Under the VOOT Originals, the platform has planned six shows for its launch phase. One of which is a mockumentary, Badman, written and directed by Soumik Sen and co-written by stand-up comedian Anubhav Pal. The film will have Gulshan Grover playing that part himself. Another show, Soadies, a comic spin off of the popular MTv show Roadies, is also unveiled at the launch which will have Baba Sehgal in the lead role.

Besides, VOOT originals will also offer a repository of kids’ characters in the Indian OTT space. It plans to house popular characters across networks like Dora, Spongebob, Motu Patlu to external popular characters like Chhota Bheem and Pokemon.

Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO of Viacom18, said, “India is on the cusp of a digital boom with over 400 Mn internet users and  200 Mn+ 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.”

Apart from the original content, Viacom18 will move its entire content library including COLORS, MTV and Nick, to be digitally available only on VOOT, competing with Sony LIV and HotStar.

VOOT has its target audience in line with Viacom18’s. Sudhanshu added that VOOT will be Viacom18’s singular gateway to quality and differentiated content in the digital medium.

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