MUMBAI: Eros Now, the cutting-edge digital over-the-top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform owned by Eros International Plc, a global Indian entertainment company, announced its agreement with Vayam Technologies Ltd to distribute the OTT platform across districts of Uttar Pradesh through its common service centres (also known as Jan Seva Kendra). Eros Now will be part of Vayamtech's business to customer (B2C) services that provide access to village-level entrepreneurs (VLEs), hosted on its platform.
Eros Now's availability at nearly 20,000 common service centres, one of the largest government-approved online service delivery channels, across 21 districts in Uttar Pradesh will enhance the reach of the leading online video streaming platform and shall cater to more than two million consumers in the rural areas of the above mentioned state.
Eros Now CEO Ali Hussein said, "The alliance between Eros Now and Vayamtech is a result of our common belief in using the power of the internet to offer the best services to customers across India. The people of rural India are increasingly using the internet for their daily needs, and it has now become imperative for businesses to offer rural audiences with seamless access to services. Eros Now's distribution through Vayamtech network of common service centres will offer the massive audience base the best of online video streaming service."
As per the Internet & Mobile Association of India's (IAMAI) report, rural India houses 227 million active internet users, 10 per cent more than urban India's about 205 million, as of November 2019. The association, therefore, acts as a perfect distribution mechanism for Eros Now through common service centres (multiple-services-single-window delivering government and private essential services) that will not only deepen Eros Now's reach in the state but also aims to bring socio-economic upliftment in rural areas.
Vayam’s know-how and familiarity of working for people at bottom of the pyramid extends across multiple states reaching millions of rural citizens. Adhaar Enrolment, Census and Surveys, e-district, CSCs, Facilitation Centres, Banking, Insurance, Product Delivery etc. have facilitated in reaching out to 70 per cent of rural population residing in states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
Vayamtech executive director Jitendra Tiwari added, "OTT platforms across India are witnessing huge demand and adding Eros Now in Vayamtech's services will result in revenue yielding for the brand by benefiting the customers with easy access to online entertainment. Uttar Pradesh is a massive market and our common service centres across 21 districts in the state is an ideal model for the delivery of the entertainment platform."
Uttar Pradesh is certainly one of the biggest Hindi speaking markets and Eros Now's massive content catalogue comprising over 12,000 Bollywood movies, original shows, short-format content category Quickie, music and more will offer the best of online entertainment experience.