Star Utsav Joins Growing List on DD Free Dish in India

Star Utsav, now part of the
Disney India Group of channels

Digital Broadcast Vendor News notes yet another move by a subscription channel, Mumbai-based, Star Utsav  from June 10, 2020 has 'without pay' distribution on Door Darshan's DD Free Dish platform. Its Hindi language offerings cover the gambit of drama genres in prime time.  Anchoring the evening is Kasautii Zindagii Kay at 1900hrs, Mahabharat at 2000hrs and Nazar at 2300.

Star Utsav believes in specialising in dramas covering themes such as  mythology, romance, and fantasy. Such dramas are aimed for family friendly viewing.

Just a heads up that Star Utsav is part of the old Fox/Star stable now under the 'Walt Disney Company India' banner. 

Star Utsav Channel's history at a glance

Star Utsav was riginally launched in June 2004. The Star Utsav channel was converted into a Pay TV channel in August 2015. A foray into the UK market 2016-2018 proved unsuccessful after a dismal ratings performance. The channel currently is distributed via regional satellites and cable system deals to India domestically and abroad - in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Middle East nations, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore and the United States. 

BANGO Adds SUN Mobile in Hong Kong || Aim: Boost Billing Revenue 70%

Bango technologies Facilitate with Ease Google Play Store and Netflix payments for Mobile Subscribers 

Digital Broadcast Vendor News received from Bango plc, the major mobile commerce player of Cambridge, England  that it had launched its Direct Carrier Billing Platform on SUN Mobile in Hong Kong (May 22, 2020). The strength of Bango is its data processing that typically increases revenue by 20-40 percent, with some established operators achieving growth of more than 70 percent. It is not only in Hong Kong, but the Bango roll out has also been ain two other diverse mobile operators and locations, Entel in Peru and MTN in South Africa - all in a short space of time.  This means that those phone companies' subscribers can now pay for a massive array of content and services in Google Play and charging the cost to their phone bill, all powered by the Bango Platform a very proud British venture. 

What makes Bango a market leader in Direct Carrier Billing?

Pre and post-paid subscribers simply click-to-buy using carrier billing for instant access to their favorite games, music, movies and more. Interesting fact mentioned on tango.com - 80% of the highest spenders in Taiwan (lookalike audience) made in-app payment for the products and services in which they were engaging.

Top executive quote of the day:

Paul Larbey, CEO Bango PLC. Photo Credit: Bango

Paul Larbey, CEO at Bango

"Ever more operators across the world standardize on the Bango platform to bring mobile commerce experiences to their customers."

Mr Larbey says: "In addition to activating payments in Google Play and other app stores, Bango technology enables operators to offer third-party products bundled with their customer plans or marketed directly to their customers through Facebook and other platforms."

To ensure continuous revenue growth from carrier billing across these new routes, Bango technology will be applied to increase payment success, user acquisition and engagement.

Google Play is not the only collaborator with Bango. Netflix in Mexico already has a massive project with Bango in Mexico. The British company, established in 1999 is publicly listed on the London AIM exchange. The company is firmly entrenched with global merchant players including Amazon, Google and Microsoft. Bango was chosen by Youtube in November 2019 to handle the billing for YT's subscription based monthly TV package.

Bango has also other achievements from industry peers as this photo depicts: AIM AWARDS 2012 - Best Technology Award

Picture above shows, left to right:

David Snell, Partner and AIM Leader, PwC; David Worlidge, Merchant Securities; Susanna Reid, awards presenter; and Peter Saxton, Bango plc (winner). Photo: AIM AWARDS Organisation