BackDiscovery launches Discovery Plus, new streaming service for India
Priced at ₹299 per year, the service will offer content in eight languages-- Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali and Marathi
PremiumNEW DELHI: Factual entertainment network Discovery has announced its foray into the video streaming space in India with the launch of Discovery Plus, its subscription-based platform.
Priced at ₹299 per year, the service will offer content in eight languages-- Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali and Marathi.
Discovery curates content across 40 plus genres including science, adventure, food, lifestyle and others, sourced from brands such as Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, BBC, TLC, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, ID, Food Network, HGTV, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Motortrend and VICE. This is the network’s first streaming service in India though it has specific platforms for other countries such as those in Europe.
“All the video streaming players in India are focusing on scripted entertainment, there are no offerings really for factual entertainment though there may be a small percentage of programmes on specific platforms," said Megha Tata, managing director – South Asia, Discovery adding that the company has recognized that the consumer today is moving from linear to non-linear viewing and prefers entertainment at his own time and of his own choice.
In the initial phase, Discovery will reach out to a 25 million strong base of core TV infotainment consumers across tier-one and tier-two towns, defined as those who watch over three hours of infotainment every month, the company said in a statement.
The library encompassing over 4,000 hours of content will feature top talent like Bear Grylls (Running Wild with Bear Grylls, Man vs Wild), Josh Gates (Expedition Unknown), Jeremy Wade (River Monsters, Mighty Rivers), Ed Stafford (Into the Unknown) and Buddy Valastro (Cake Boss), include kids-friendly shows like Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman, Crikey! It’s The Irwins, Kids Baking Championship, The Cute Ones, How Do They Do It? The Great Indian Factory and more, documentaries and specials like Racing Extinction, First In Human, The Great Migration, Terra, Sherpa, India Emerges: A Visual History, Apollo: The Forgotten Films.
Bear Grylls’ Man vs Wild episode with superstar Rajinikanth will premiere on Discovery Plus ahead of television. In addition, Issac John, business head – Digital (South Asia), Discovery, said the company was also looking to develop original content for the streaming service.
“In a digital world that’s laden with hours and hours of scripted content, Discovery Plus offers a unique and untapped opportunity for us to build on the trust of the flagship brand and offer content that truly powers people’s passions across verticals as varied as adventure, science and lifestyle to name a few," John said.
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