India’s Viacom18 yesterday (29 March) launched its advertising-led  VOD platform, VOOT, which will be available on iOS, Android and the web.

 

The platform aims to become the biggest OTT source of kids’ characters in India, hosting content featuring popular characters including SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer and Pokémon from across several networks.

Viacom18 claims the OTT platform has launched with the largest collection of original content in the Indian market, with more planned to roll out across a range of genres and long and short formats including six planned originals and India’s first ‘mockumentary’ Badman.

Gulshan Grover, Baba Sehgal, Alok Nath and a host of celebrity scriptwriters and directors will be leading these shows, with Viacom18 moving its entire content library to the digital platform.

“India is at the cusp of a digital boom with over 400 million internet users and 200 million+ smart phone users spending significant amount of time online with entertainment and allied content being the prime driver,” said Viacom18 group chief executive officer Sudhanshu Vats.

“As more people move towards consuming content online, it is time for Viacom18 to move into the world of connected screens. Hence VOOT.”