Eros Now, a leading over-the-top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform owned by Eros STX Global Corporation (NYSE: ESGC) (`ErosSTX` or `the Company`), a global entertainment company, today announced its partnership with Live Satellite Media, part of the ABS group, for seamless delivery of Eros Now, the premium service to underserved video-on-demand audience across India.
ABS Group is a pioneering and renowned Multiple System Operators (MSO) that offers a complete array of solutions, including digital-broadband and linear services to its vast network of customers across India. The deal will see ABS Subsidiary, Live Satellite Media distributing and enabling subscriptions of Eros Now through various modes, including but not limited to unique bundling, prepaid codes, and API integration of the SVOD platform across its extensive customer base.
Commenting on the partnership, Manpreet Bumrah, Senior Vice President - Distribution & Alliances, Eros Now, says: `India's OTT space continues to expand with the audience constantly looking for engaging content. This partnership is unique and enables us to tap into Live Satellite Media's massive distribution network of customers and serve them with Eros Now's enormous library of Bollywood movies, originals, music, short-format content, and more.`
Live Satellite Media, Atul B Saraf (CMD) adds, `At ABS Group, it is our constant endeavour to evolve with time and successfully deliver the best of the content offerings by great entertainment platforms across the country and help them reach the apex. By partnering with Eros Now, we can offer a unique experience of OTT platforms to our customers. We will leverage our 30 Years of distribution network management experience to ensure the service reaches the multi-cultural and multi-lingual audience at large.``
The deal comes at a time when the Indian OTT space has exploded and is set to become the world's sixth-largest OTT market by 2024 (PWC report 2020). However, it is the smaller cities and towns in the Indian heartland that are expected to accelerate this growth. A recent FICCI-EY report reveals that the share of regional language consumption on OTT platforms in India will cross 50% by 2025 from the 30% share it held in 2019, easing past Hindi at 45%.