Tag: OTT Platform

  • India bans Pakistani OTT platform for web series against national security of India

    India bans Pakistani OTT platform for web series against national security of India

    The Indian government has banned the Pakistani OTT platform Vidly, after the release of the first three episodes of the series —“Sevak: The Confessions”.

    As per Kanchan Gupta, Senior Adviser at Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in New Delhi, the series is “determined to be detrimental to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India.”

    “Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, using emergency powers under IT Rules 2021, has issued directions on 12 December 2022 for immediate blocking of the website, 2 mobile apps, 4 social media accounts, and one smart TV app of #Pakistan-based OTT Platform Vidly TV,’ he said in a series of tweets.
    “Govt of India action against Pakistan-based Vidly TV follows the web-series “Sevak: The Confessions”, which was determined to be detrimental to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, and public order in the country,” the tweet added.
    “Action against Pakistan-based Vidly TV follows the assessment that the provocative and wholly untrue web-series “Sevak” was sponsored by Pakistan’s info ops apparatus. First (of 3) episode was released on 26.11.2022, anniversary of Pakistani terror attacks on Mumbai in 2008,” it concluded.
    Sevak stars Amara Malik, Adnan Jaffer, Mohsin Abbas Haider and Hajra Yamin.

  • Sana Javed gets a special supporter in Shoaib Malik, defends her by sharing ‘personal experience’

    Sana Javed gets a special supporter in Shoaib Malik, defends her by sharing ‘personal experience’

    Pakistani A-list cricketer Shoaib Malik has responded to the on-going controversy of popular actress Sana Javed.

    The Khaani star landed into hot waters after a number of fashion models and makeup artists in the Pakistani entertainment industry called her out for “rudeness and impudence,” while many came to her defence.

    However, the 40-year-old cricketer sided with the supporters of the actress and said that she has “always been kind and courteous” towards him and others.

    “I have known Sana Javed for quite sometime now & have had the opportunity to work with her multiple times, from my personal experience I can only say that she has always been kind & courteous towards me & the people around us,” Malik wrote on Twitter. 

    Sana’s “self entitled attitude” was first brought to light by model Manal Saleem who accused the actress of audacity.

    Shoaib Malik gives his two cents on Sana Javed controversy

    The Aye Musht e Khaak diva responded to his support with a thank you and starry eyed emoji.

    It is to be noted that the behavior of Pakistani film and drama actress Sana Javed has been called inappropriate by other personalities of the industry, while several posts made by other artists on social media also went viral.

    Model Fareeha Sheikh wrote a 4 page long note against Sana Javed on her Instagram account after which there were queues of posts against Sana’s negative attitude.

    In her post, Fareeha Sheikh termed Sana Javed as unserious and said that “she is not the only victim of Sana Javed’s bad behavior but there are many others like her.”

    Talking about the incident that happened to her, Fareeha Sheikh said that Sana Javed does not like to see any other artist in front of her and she needs special protocol, she looks down on others.

    Make-up artist Ikram Gohar has also said about the incident that happened to him: Not knowing how to do it, Sana Javed stopped him from using the bathroom of his house for 4 hours, forcing him to go to a nearby restaurant and use the bathroom.

    ALSO READ: ‘Because of this woman, karma is a bitch’: Faysal Qureshi’s daughter Hanish exposes Sana Javed

  • Fawad Chaudhary to expand UrduFlix to boost local digital streaming

    Fawad Chaudhary to expand UrduFlix to boost local digital streaming

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain attended a meeting with Mr Farhan Gauher, the CEO of Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform UrduFlix to discuss the future of the digital space and more opportunities for the OTT platform in an important meeting.

    UrduFlix, which was launched earlier this year with government support has risen as the leading OTT platform emerging from Pakistan. With back-to-back releases of original content from the platform, it has been slowly taking over the digital place – all the while putting Pakistan in the race of streaming platforms, with a first of its kind emerging from Pakistan.

    In the meeting between the federal minister and Farhan Gauher, the future of UrduFlix as a platform – and how it could be leveraged as one of Pakistan’s finest contributions in the digital space was discussed. Fawad also discussed the future of the platform in terms of its streaming services, and what new opportunities lie ahead for it.

    UrduFlix was launched as Pakistan’s first-ever Urdu OTT platform which raised the expectations with brilliant new content and has kept the surprises coming. The platform has also garnered great feedback from the audiences after multiple series including Lifafa Dayan, Khudkush Muhabbat, Dulhan Aur Aik Raat have been streaming online. The platform is officially live for download for viewers on Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Roku TV.

  • Mahira Khan says she was scared of doing Indian projects

    Mahira Khan says she was scared of doing Indian projects

    Mahira Khan has opened up about the ban on Pakistani artists in India, saying said she was “scared” to sign web series on Indian platforms.

    Talking about the ban on Pakistani artists, Mahira in an interview with Film Companion, said: “I guess, having experienced it firsthand, it’s just sad. When I think about it… I mean, we have all moved on.”

    “That’s what we do, if we don’t have this, we do something else. That’s what happens. But I feel like a great opportunity for the entire subcontinent to come together and collaborate was lost. I think it might happen again. Who knows?” continued the actor.

    Khan, who will narrate one of the short stories, Guriya in an upcoming Zee5 series, said that she received offers for other digital projects but turned them down.

    “A lot of the other series were offered to me and at that time… I don’t know if anybody will understand when I say this, I was scared. I was genuinely just scared. It wasn’t about what people say, I was just like, ‘I don’t know if I want to go there.’ And there was some content which was amazing, and I didn’t want to miss out on it,” shared the actor.

  • Netflix plans to cancel password sharing with friends

    Netflix is reportedly testing a new feature to restrict users from sharing their passwords with those who don’t live with the owner of the original account.

    According to a report in BBC, some Netflix users have reported seeing a a pop message on their screens saying: “If you don’t live with the owner of this account, you need your own account to keep watching.”

    “This test is designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorised to do so,” a Netflix’s spokesperson told the news media publication. “In the trial, users can verify they are allowed to access the account by a code, sent via text or email.”

    However, the video steaming giant, which has more than 200 million subscribers across the world, has not made the final decision about whether the company will roll this out across its network.

    It is pertinent to add that, Netflix’s terms and services say: “The Netflix service and any content viewed through the service are for your personal and non-commercial use only and may not be shared with individuals beyond your household.”

    Earlier this year, Netflix announced that it will release more than 70 movies this year across comedy, drama, family and other genres, a lineup that underscores the streaming service’s growing prominence in the film business. It added that it plans to release a new movie every week for the entire year of 2021.

  • Teaser of Mahira Khan’s first production ‘Baarwan Khiladi’ is out

    Mahira Khan took to her Instagram to share the teaser of her first production-project, Baarwan Khiladi, with the caption ‘Bismillah’, and tagged the cast and crew of the project in the post.

    The teaser suggests that Baarwan Khiladi is a cricket themed web-series. It will be released on Pakistan’s leading on-demand video streaming platform Tapmad.

    Earlier, in an interview with Gulf News, Mahira opened up about trying her hand at production.

    She said that the reason why she is getting into production is because it is something she always wanted.

    “To be honest, I’ve always been inclined to getting behind the camera,” she said.

    The series has been written by Shahid Dogar and directed by Adnan Sarwar, the man behind Motorcycle Girl. The cast of the web-series includes Danyal Zafar, Shahveer Jafry and Kinza Hashmi, Saba Faisal, Sarmad Khoosat and Khaqan Shahnawaz.

    Baarwaan Khiladi has reportedly been shot inside the Walled City of Lahore and Shahveer in an Instagram story revealed that shooting lasted a month and a half. While a release date has not yet been announced, the series will stream on Tapmad, a South Asian streaming service.

  • Hareem Shah to make her acting debut on UrduFlix

    Hareem Shah to make her acting debut on UrduFlix

    TikToker Hareem Shah is all set to foray into the world of acting with a web series on Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform – UrduFlix.

    According to a press release, UrduFlix will be featuring the TikTok star in a never-seen-before avatar in a new Urdu web series. Expected to release on the streaming platform after its launch, the web series will star the debuting actress in a lead role.

    Shah is one of Pakistan’s most influential social media celebrities, famous for her TikTok videos.

    Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform, UrduFlix will provide viewers with access to original Urdu series, films, web series, drama serials, and Urdu dubbed Turkish dramas. The platform aims to bring in a plethora of new-age content from original to already popular dramas and films.

    Earlier, it was announced that Alizeh Shah will be featuring in UrduFlix’s first exclusive web series Dulhan aur Aik Raat.

  • Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform to launch in January

    Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform to launch in January

    Weeks after Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry announced that his ministry is all set to launch Pakistan’s first OTT (over-the-top) platform, Emax Media has announced that it will be launching the country’s first Urdu OTT platform. Called UrduFlix, the platform will offer original and exclusive content in Urdu worldwide.

    According to a press release, “UrduFlix will provide viewers with access to original Urdu films, series, documentaries, cartoons, and Urdu-dubbed Turkish dramas.” It will also offer already popular dramas and films to its subscribers.

    Talking about the launch of the platform, Farhan Ghauhar, founder of UrduFlix said: “We are excited to announce the launch of Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform that will have a recognisable connection to our unique entertainment offerings.”

    “With the on-demand streaming culture on the rise around the world, we want to play our part in putting Pakistan and Pakistani content on the global market as well, and compete with international players,” he added.

    An OTT media service is a streaming media service offered directly to viewers via the Internet. OTT bypasses cable, broadcast, and satellite television platforms, the companies that traditionally act as a controller or distributor of such content.

    UrduFlix is expected to launch in mid-January 2021.