Voot
{{short description|Defunct Indian subscription video on demand service}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Voot
| logo = Voot website logo.png
| owner = Viacom18
(2016–2023)
| company_type = Streaming
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2016|3|29|df=yes}}
| current_status = Replaced by JioHotstar
| dissolved = {{End date and age|2023|8|9|df=yes}}
| successor = JioCinema
| area_served = India
United Kingdom (Virgin Media only)
United States (Sling TV only)
| location_city = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| industry = {{hlist|Entertainment|Mass media}}
| type = OTT platform
| products = {{flatlist|
}}
| services = {{flatlist|
- Film production
- Film distribution
- Television production
}}
| parent =
| commercial = Yes
| registration = Optional
| language = {{ubl|Hindi|English|Bengali|Marathi|Gujarati||Tamil|Telugu |Malayalam|Kannada}}
}}
Voot was an Indian subscription video-on-demand and over-the-top streaming service owned by Viacom18, a joint venture between Reliance Industries, Network18. The service was initially launched on 4 May 2016. It initially launched as an advertising-supported service, before introducing a subscription tier in 2020 under the Voot Select banner.
History
Launched in March 2016, Voot initially operated as an advertising-supported service.{{Cite news |title=Viacom18 launches video-on-demand platform Voot – The Economic Times |newspaper=The Economic Times |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/media/viacom18-launches-video-on-demand-platform-voot/articleshow/51606120.cms |url-status=live |access-date=2016-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224122151/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/media/viacom18-launches-video-on-demand-platform-voot/articleshow/51606120.cms |archive-date=24 December 2016}}
In February 2020, Voot introduced a paid subscription service known as Voot Select, offering exclusive original series, and early access to selected programmes before their television premiere.{{Cite web |date=4 March 2020 |title=Viacom18 launches Voot Select, a subscription-based video streaming service |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/viacom18-launches-voot-select-a-subscription-based-video-streaming-service/article30980114.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305170039/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/viacom18-launches-voot-select-a-subscription-based-video-streaming-service/article30980114.ece |archive-date=5 March 2020 |access-date=2020-03-06 |website=businessline |language=en}}
In April 2022, Reliance Industries and Paramount Global announced additional financial backing from Uday Shankar and James Murdoch's Bodhi Tree Systems to expand their streaming business. This would include Reliance's competing JioCinema service being brought under Viacom18.{{cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=27 April 2022 |title=James Murdoch's Bodhi Tree, Reliance, Viacom18 Strike $2 Billion Deal to Create Giant Indian TV and Streaming Company |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/asia/james-murdoch-bodhi-tree-reliance-viacom18-2-billion-deal-1235242692/ |access-date=20 May 2022 |website=Variety}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-17 |title=Bodhi Tree-Viacom18 deal: Why the new deal points towards Reliance's aggressive push in broadcasting business |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/bodhi-tree-viacom18-deal-why-the-new-deal-points-towards-reliances-aggressive-push-in-broadcasting-business-377624-2023-04-17 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Business Today |language=en}} The agreement was approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in September 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=CCI approves merger of Jio Cinema OTT platform with Viacom18 |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/cci-approves-merger-of-jio-cinema-ott-platform-with-viacom18-347904-2022-09-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113081308/https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/cci-approves-merger-of-jio-cinema-ott-platform-with-viacom18-347904-2022-09-22 |archive-date=13 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=Business Today |language=en}}
The two services initially co-existed, but Voot began to wind down and migrate its content to JioCinema in August 2023, beginning with sports rights such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and upcoming rights to the Indian Premier League.{{Cite news |last=Laghate |first=Gaurav |date=2022-10-06 |title=Viacom18 to shift sports content to JioCinema |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/viacom18-to-shift-sports-content-to-jiocinema/articleshow/94667721.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-05-30 |issn=0013-0389}} New series of Voot originals began premiering on JioCinema in June 2023.{{Cite web |last=Jha |first=Lata |date=2023-08-09 |title=Voot folds into JioCinema; users now free to migrate |url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/vootjiocinema-merger-complete-viacom18-s-voot-joins-jiocinema-boosting-content-lineup-and-customer-engagement-11691562670196.html |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=mint |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-15 |title=Viacom18 completes merger of JioCinema and Voot OTT platforms, majority subscribers transitioned |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/viacom18-completes-merger-of-jiocinema-and-voot-ott-platforms-majority-subscribers-transitioned/article67197460.ece |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=BusinessLine |language=en}}
In August 2023, Voot was shut down in favour of JioCinema.
Programming
Voot had content from Colors TV, MTV, Nickelodeon, and other Viacom18-owned television channels. It also hosted Bollywood films for streaming.{{Cite web|url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/viacom18-launches-video-on-demand-platform-voot_6055981.html|title=Viacom18 launches video-on-demand platform Voot|website=Money Control|date=29 March 2016 |access-date=2016-11-07|archive-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108063622/http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/viacom18-launches-video-on-demand-platform-voot_6055981.html|url-status=live}} It had produced several 'Voot Originals' shows for streaming as well. In the children's segment, it worked on shows in Malayalam.{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/JUouupMyF9AzfUN1Vw7NNJ/Digital-platforms-mainstream-regional-content.html|title=Digital platforms mainstream regional content|first=Shuchi|last=Bansal|date=11 October 2017|website=Live Mint|access-date=18 April 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418112104/https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/JUouupMyF9AzfUN1Vw7NNJ/Digital-platforms-mainstream-regional-content.html|url-status=live}}
In March 2021, it was announced that Voot Select would add original programming from U.S. parent company Paramount Global's upcoming global streaming service Paramount+, as well as selected CBS and Showtime original series.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 11, 2021 |title=Paramount Plus Content Finds Home on India's Voot Select (EXCLUSIVE) |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2021/streaming/global/paramount-plus-india-voot-select-viacom18-1234928412/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317051724/https://variety.com/2021/streaming/global/paramount-plus-india-voot-select-viacom18-1234928412/ |archive-date=March 17, 2022}}
=Original series=
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Network 18}}
{{VOD services}}
Category:Subscription video on demand services
Category:Defunct subscription services
Category:Defunct video on demand services
Category:Indian entertainment websites
Category:2016 establishments in Maharashtra
Category:2023 disestablishments in India
Category:Indian companies established in 2016
Category:Mass media companies based in Mumbai
Category:Mass media companies established in 2016
Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2023
Category:Internet properties established in 2016