Breaking Sony is in talks to buy a stake in Network18

[KAR]

Disney+ Hotstar may be the only *official* way, but it is not the only way. I completely agree that it has become horrible with all sorts of advertising even for VIP members. Unskippable ads for up to 60 seconds really ruin the experience.

On a different note, Star channels are very difficult to watch live on mobile compared to other networks, and even then only Jio has somewhat reliable streaming, while Airtel and Vi/Vodafone subscribers are mostly screwed.

They should have a plan like prime. Just Charge Monthly or Yearly. VIP & PREMIUM Sucks sometimes. Personally I'm Premium subscriber.

 

[KAR]

585 messages expected merger but merger called off.... It's very .

Forget it! We can't do anything.
I hope Comcast,Warner set up a network in india.

 

[marvel44]

Disney+ Hotstar may be the only *official* way, but it is not the only way. I completely agree that it has become horrible with all sorts of advertising even for VIP members. Unskippable ads for up to 60 seconds really ruin the experience.

They never promised *Ad-free* experience with VIP, if u assume that its your fault (More over they are offering ad free Specials, compared to competitors they better off) . How can anyone expect to breakeven the money that bought those high budgeted movies and premium sports with ₹399 an year. If u want quote on quote ad free experience there is a way of that Subscribe to premium. If people are paying ₹999 for services like Zee5 and SonyLIV they can happily pay for Hotstar Premium @ 1499 that offers high quality premium stuff from HBO, FX and Disney.

 

[saketk11]

Disney+ Hotstar may be the only *official* way, but it is not the only way. I completely agree that it has become horrible with all sorts of advertising even for VIP members. Unskippable ads for up to 60 seconds really ruin the experience.

On a different note, Star channels are very difficult to watch live on mobile compared to other networks, and even then only Jio has somewhat reliable streaming, while Airtel and Vi/Vodafone subscribers are mostly screwed.

traditonally ad revenue was largest source of income for Tv channel.
now we ,with higher disposable income, looking to skip tradintal tv and switching on to OTT, where apart from VIP/premuim, we also pay for data usage on 4G/broadband network.

My personal opinion, now many youtube blogger are earning money with their vblogs , and if we skip ads on youtube then their earning decreses.

so i adopted method/rule to benifit all.

whenever youtube/OTT plays ads, i just PRESS MUTE and keep my EYES CLOSED for say 30 seconds.

This has some Physical benifit, with ever incresing screen time and screen become smaller and smaller, from tv, to laptop to mobile . strain on our eyes getting incresing day by day.

so closing eyes and also looking at long distance say 20 feet intermedialy while watching toward screen reduces spends.

Secondly ads gets played, blogger/ott earn money. Most of us are on ulimited plan or daily plan, so no worry for excess data used.

thirdly advtiser doesnt know that we are manupulating him by NOT WATCHING ads.

 

[JollyLNB]

They never promised *Ad-free* experience with VIP, if u assume that its your fault (More over they are offering ad free Specials, compared to competitors they better off).

There is a fine line between acceptable advertising and intrusive advertising. I will not be surprised if even Premium starts showing ads in the next five years or so. But the ads that are shown should not stretch on and on for more than 30 seconds with no option to skip. Non-skippable ads are fine for 30 seconds but not more.

 

[Mylanji]

Since the merger is confirmed as "cancelled/called off", can this thread be closed?

 

[dino29]

There is a fine line between acceptable advertising and intrusive advertising. I will not be surprised if even Premium starts showing ads in the next five years or so. But the ads that are shown should not stretch on and on for more than 30 seconds with no option to skip. Non-skippable ads are fine for 30 seconds but not more.

Agree buddy but there is big investment going into acquiring content rights, current subscription rates r too less for hotstar to earn profit. What is needed is price correction of content rights and platforms will pass on benefits to us
On another note, as discussion was going on about this topic... CW channel in US is a JV b/w WarnerMedia and CBS. If u notice most of Warner shows r with Viacom18 here. So indirectly they r in some partnership here too. Consolidation is happening bcoz in new era only companies which r having strong presence in all spheres will get success... It is extremely difficult for most individual companies to achieve this goal hence agreement r entered

 

[Aksgr]

Since the merger is confirmed as "cancelled/called off", can this thread be closed?

No it's not confirmed. Every link says merger is off as per 2 people we know who are close to matter .. I don't know who these people are.
Still discussion and negotiation going on. Sony won't give up especially after shutting down bunch of channels awaiting for merge

 

[Raj323]

Since the merger is confirmed as "cancelled/called off", can this thread be closed?

Yes plz close this thread

 

[Aksgr]

Yes plz close this thread

Give a confirmation link which says this merge talks is officially off table. To close thread