MUMBAI/MELBOURNE, 19 March 2024: Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios today announced (Kicked off by Karan Johar) at a glittering and spectacular media show in Mumbai their upcoming content for India, South Asia and other countries for 2024.
The array of series, movies, productions for for this region, Prime Video’s biggest market and the world’s biggest movie industry in India, encompassing all genres, was nothing but an OTT tsunami. Prime Video’s top brass graced the occasion as multiple announcements were made laced with the presence of prominent known, new actors and production teams.
Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, who at the brand’s flagship event – Prime Video Presents India, while talking about service in the country said, “For the last several years, outside of the US more people have signed up for Prime in India than anywhere else in the world. And in India more people sign up for Prime Video than any other benefit. Last year, India had the highest percentage of Prime Members stream Prime Video than any country in the world.”
Talking about the popularity of Indian content globally, Mike revealed that, “In any given week in 2023, Indian content was watched in over 210 countries and territories. In fact, Indian programming trended in the Top 10 on Prime Video worldwide for 43 of the last 52 weeks”.
Amazon Prime Video’s top brass from the US and India who occasionally were on the stage and spoke tot he media included Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Kelly Day, VP Prime Video International, James Farrell – Vice President, International Originals, Prime Video, Gaurav Gandhi – VP – APAC & MENA, Prime Video, Sushant Sreeram – Country Director, Prime Video India, Aparna Purohit – Head of Originals – India & SEA, Manish Menghani – Director – Content Licensing – Prime Video India and Nikhil Madhok – Head of Hindi Originals – Prime Video India.
In 2023, reports indicate, the N0. 1 OTT platform in India was Netflix, followed by Prime Video, Hotstar, ALT Balaji, Zee5, Aha, Voot, SonyLiv, MXPlayer, Jio Cinema and so on. Obviously, Prime Video’s target is to capture the No 1 slot. Netflix and Hotstar also have a massive range of content. More and more viewers globally are watching movies and shows (and now sports also) in homes. In western countries cinema halls/multiplexes are empty during weekdays.
The shift towards OTT is visible (Netflix is No.1 in Australia) leading to fierce competition among OTT platforms. Prime Video’s marketing push is relevant in this context. India is no exception.
Twenty/25 productions in different languages , coming up on Prime Video were announced at the event.
These included spy web series Citidal Honey Bunny, Matka King, Inspector Rishi, Revolutionaries, Rangeen, Andhera, Daring Partners, Follw Kar Lo Yaar, Ziddi Girls, Waack Girls, Bandwale, Ae Watan Mare Watan, Subedar, Sanki, Kantara- Chapter 1, House Full 5, Baaghi-4, Kanguava, Ikkis, Tare Bato Nain Aisa Uljha Diya, Call Me Bae, In Transit,…
The actors and production teams posed for photographs for the media and a few entertaining stage items were presented. I could see Karamveer Malhotra (our own from Melbourne) with the Andherra team (second right in photo). Anil Kapoor was there with the Subedar team, Tiger Shroff was with the Baaghi-4 team among others.
The report will be updated with more details soon.
