Movies can be between 1-3 minutes long and users actually pay Rs 500 /- to upload and participate in the contest. Contests are held at two levels - “entry level” and “jury level”. Users submit their entries into the “entry level” category. Only winners from the ‘entry level’ category are eligible to enter the ‘jury level’, where the films are judged by jury members like Farhan Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Rahul Bose, Ashutosh Gowariker, Anil Kapoor and other prominent celebrities. Entries to the ‘entry level’ are voted for by users as well as other peers.

While I found 1-2 somewhat interesting short films on the site, most of the content is still behind a paid subscription wall (users pay $5 to get access to older entries). Also, I find the site overtly complicating in terms of their contests and voting rules etc.

• Yahoo India launches Local Beta, OrderMonger plans expansion
• WatchIndia launches Internet TV Portal for Indians
• Info Edge planning other verticals ?

Comments

• March 31, 2008, Nishi commented: What a great way to populate your website with lots of videos:) Here is a very similar website, of course for a western audience- http://www.howcast.com/ Howcast pays film makers to post videos (http://www.howcast.com/help/guides/1454-Can-I-Start-Earning-Money-Before-My-Video-Becomes-Popular) But Filmka is clever. They get paid to host them!
• March 31, 2008, Gaurav commented: Pranav, The site says "Filmaka Membership is now free and films can be submited in English and all Indian Languages." Not sure if that means free uploading. This is a good idea to get serious filmmakers to create good content, but I think the approach needs to change. In this era of piracy, where you can easily get all the new Bollywood/Hollywood movies off the Internet or next door DVD store, how many people will pay $5 (is it lifetime?) to the site to view short movies? As you pointed out, the site is confusing. There are too many elements in the form of points, cash rewards, jury and what not. The ticker on the homepage adds to the confusion.

Eros has been pretty aggressive when it comes to distribution via new and emerging media channels. They already have partnerships with Comcast, YouTube and Sky.

Joost is the new P2P based Internet TV startup founded by ex-Skype founders. I’ve taken a test drive of Joost and was really impressed with the quality of service.

via BS

• YouTube gives SET India copyright nightmares
• How to find the right VC ?
• Filmaka India - where user generated movies compete

via IndianTelevision 

• Sabeer Bhatia enters social networking market with ApnaCircle
• ByIndia.com puts itself up for auction on eBay
• The top open source social networking platforms

If you still have doubts about why partnering with the right VC is crucial, read this and this.

• How hot is consumer Internet space in India ?
• Swedish incubator IQube plans India entry
• VCs pump $928 million in 2007 in India, a 166% YoY jump

• Goal to become the world’s single largest wireless network by year end
• 16,000 Crores will be invested for network expansion in FY08
• The company will cover 23,000 towns
• DTH network will be launched by end of year

FLAG Telecom has reported profits for the first time and plans are to expand from 40 to 60 countries. The Yipes brand will be going global leveraging the FLAG network.

Several other tidbits in the rest of the story.

• Bogus: Zapak buys Sony Online Entertainment
• Google Adsense for mobile advertising in India
• 3G, spectrum allocation delayed till year end

Comments

• July 19, 2007, Saurabh Chandra commented: Considering the speed with which wi-max plans are being rolled out by reliance, they may just do it. The strange thing is they have rolled wi-max (in bangalore) targeting home segment rather than office. So the connection needs a user/pass everytime you login making it difficult to configure in office environment. Anyways, people (like me or my friend's company) have figured work arounds and it is a reliable and fastest 2 MBps connection you can get in bangalore! The other wimax provider aircel is no way as fast or wide spread.

WatchIndia

The subscription package costs $25 /- month and can be viewed anywhere except in India.

via release

• Filmaka India - where user generated movies compete
• Eros International signs deal with Joost
• YouTube gives SET India copyright nightmares

Comments

• July 18, 2007, Mike commented: I saw that and they have couple of cool channels online india tv
• July 22, 2007, Stella commented: Just watched there the latest most revealing interview with Salman Khan...really nice! The layout looks live and attractive...of course the preliminary subscribtion is required, but you've got a free trial there for 2 days.
• February 29, 2008, nikhil commented: this nautanki.tv is such a rip-off. I used their content on my blog. Many people viewed it and i am supposed to be paid when a user views their content~~~yet my account balance shows that i havent earned anything....and i am so sure that many people saw that content (since there are comments for that post)~~~yet i havent earned a single penny~~~i am never goin to use their content again......i hope the rest of you all become wise too~~dont use nautanki.tv~~~it doesnot pay~~~better you use google adsense only
• March 2, 2008, rjvedanta commented: @ nikhil these new start ups are fraud i wonder how the VCs give them fundin.may be dumb investment managers

“I have an exclusive relationship with Sify in the internet space for Indian Idol. If I find the popular programme on YouTube, I would prefer it is removed from the site rather than an arrangement of revenue sharing.”

via FE

• Eros International signs deal with Joost
• TinselVision plans social networking site
• How to find the right VC ?

Note that this survey was for music videos on TV. Contrary to the above figures, digital music is far less prevalent in India, thanks to the miserable Internet penetration.  Music downloads on mobile are gaining popularity, with 1/3 of the respondents having downloaded a song to their mobile and 56% ready to purchase music playing mobile phones.

You can read the entire story at Business-Standard.

While on the topic of Indian music, SoundBuzz was considering a pricepoint of Rs 25/- per download (via contentSutra). Even if the Internet adoption in India were to increase, I’ll remain skeptical about the possibility of users paying Rs 25/- per download. Admit it or not, we, as a community are cheap. Bargain hunting is in our genes. Rs 25/- seems just too much to pay for a song download.

What say you ?

Comments

• June 29, 2007, Erik commented: Do those include Indians within the United States and other countries, or just residents of India?
• June 29, 2007, pranav commented: Erik, The above survey is for Indians residing in India only. However, I can attest to the fact that this is true for Indians residing anywhere in the world..

Internet advertising is poised to emerge as the fastest growing segment over the next five years.

US will be the largest but slowest growing market at 5.3% CAGR by 2011.

via BS

Well, they just announced the launch of the DesiHits! iTunes store. The catalogue of digital music currently includes Bollywood, Bhangra, urban Desi fusion, Desi hip hop and R&B, as well as World beats and popular mainstream hits. With this, they are the first and only Bollywood based desi iTunes store.

Great idea. Will it work ? well, when it comes to Indian movies and music, piracy is rampant. We hate to pay for Bollywood music and some how, easily manage to get the latest songs off the net.

What do you think ?

Comments

• June 8, 2007, Shubham commented: India is growing and Indians wordwide are also growing. Even if some of them believe in purchasing their music legally then this venture can become a success. Piracy is a major concern and the fact that there is no RIAA for Indian Music is also a problem.
• June 8, 2007, Anumks commented: You are correct. When it comes to music and movies we hate to pay for it. I have always managed to get free downloads.. Not only that while I was in the US, I have seen my friends managed to get free TV shows.. I mean the entire TV programming online.. pirated... I doubt the idea of opening the iTunes store. I would be more interested to see a blooywood blog... I could get more current and updated information of bollywood from many place. What I meant about bollywood blog is that, I want it to be a more of the following Bollywood gossip I want to see gossip pictures I want to see stories made out of pictures (which include bollywood stars) Cartoons made out of them and gossip about it Personally Iam more interested in Web2.0 stuff thats what I do in my blog (please visit http://go2indiaweb20.com )however I was also planning to start a bollywood gossip blog as I said above.. but cannot find time... Anyway if anything out there like that let me know.
• June 9, 2007, Gaurav commented: I think this is a good try. I doubt desis will buy too many Bollywood songs but, non-desis might. Also, non-Bollywood songs would be popular among NRIs (read so called "ABCDs") and non-desis.
• June 11, 2007, pranav commented: gaurav, which non-bollywood songs do you refer to ?
• July 28, 2007, amit commented: Have you actually checked out their site www.desihits.com Nice site that provides much of the Bollywood and Bhangra blog you may be looking for as well as new radio shows and podcasts every day

Moreover, with 500 Hollywood titles, Moser Baer has earned a spot at Cannes Festival, where they can directly negotiate and interact with production companies in the US. Pricing for international titles will be Rs. 100 tops.

Moser Baer will release a few of the latest Hindi titles - ‘Life Mein Kabhi Kabhi’, ‘Ek chalis Ki Train’, ‘Apne’ - Rs 34 for a DVD and Rs 28 for VCD, one month within the movie’s mainstream release.

Entire story in BS.

Comments

• June 5, 2007, Jay commented: Well, all this sounds good. Has anyone tried to get their hands on any of the DVDs? I went to a Moser Baer dealer atleast 4 times and each time, he had movies that I had never even heard of. Super flops for Rs.38 is way to expensive in my book! I would not even watch those movies if they given to me for free.