Jio to produce web series, compete with Netflix, Amazon Prime
In a plan to take over the home entertainment industry Reliance jio is set to take on the likes of Netflix and Amazon prime by launching its own web series.
This revelation comes as no surprise to Indians as Jio has already taken over the telecom sector and is now planning to be a complete solution.
As per recent reports, Jio’s web series is set to launch within the next six months; they will have their own production house well an exclusive TV series, accessible to all Jio Customers.
The move was made after Reliance analyzed the growing potential of shows provided by media giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime. The Amount of content consumed by the average Indian has also increases as a result of affordable tariff and data services offered by Jio.
While the market potential of the internet TV space is enormous, Indians are yet to get adapted to it entirely. Like everything that they bring, Jio aims to beings its services to the masses and will count primarily on its 215 million Jio subscribers to expand its user base.
The Jio Production House
Reliance believes the content market is still untapped and has thus hired a bunch of scriptwriters and content creators as an initial phase in setting up the massive production house.
Jio currently offers video content like new movies and web series through their in-house app: Jio Cinema. Reliance owned Viacom supplies the bulk of the content for the app. Reliance has also paired with studios like Eros and ALT Balaji as well.
Onboarding activities are going on as 25 creative minds were incorporated into the company to form a preliminary base. They will carefully analyze the success of Indian content on services like Netflix.
Even though the production house is set to starch from scratch, It will get be closely watched by the experts over at Eros and Balaji Telefilms who are set to guide the brand.
Jio is also not a newcomer into the market as it has its own, Jio TV services, which are offered exclusively to Jio users through a partnership with Hot star. Reliance is also holding top stakes in Viacom 18 and has a host of entertainment channels like Colors and MTV.
Jio hopes all this knowledge and experience can help it to enter the online content space and take on Netflix who they treat as their main competitor.
Preliminary Stages
While the top spokespersons acknowledge that reliance does not have the DNA to create content in the online space as its competitors, this won’t be for too long.
The company is never too short on funds, so it can bring in whoever they want for their team. Jio expects to out its first web series within 4-6 months.
The foundations for this has been laid a year back, and the preliminary stages involve capturing the audiences.
Jio expects this to happen through the recently launched JioGiga TV.
Their primary motive is to capture the audience with Giga TV and then slowly introduce their content to the audience.
Giga TV will support ultra HD formats and will ensure smooth and continuous transmissions through Jio, Fiber to home services, the Jio GigaFiber.
Customers benefits and offers
Like every other service, a web series will aim to disrupt the online content space and will we coupled with aggressive marketing and competitive tariffs to capture the market in as less time as possible.
It is not a daunting task for jio, as they stood head to head India’s significant telecoms in their fight for carrier supremacy.
The web series will probably be free for jio customers as they will get it bundled along with their recharges. Jio will try to eliminate the initial fee which is needed by amazon prime and Netflix for customer registration.
If the company is serious about their motives, then jio customers can expect to see the latest and viral Indian TV series for a fraction that they pay on Netflix. As always, Exclusive content is treated well by the Indian customers, and this will also present new opportunities for many talented Indians.
Can the competition withstand the initial onslaught?
Jio is set to hit hard at its competition, and they are not keeping this as a secret. Content giants such as amazon and Netflix have to step up their game if they want to fight with Jio for supremacy in the Indian content space.
Both Netflix and amazon prime are established very well around the world and have audiences ranging in several millions. But both are relatively inexperienced in the Indian market and may never come across a competitor as aggressive as Jio.
While Netflix’s charges are fixed, and they try to maintain the prices stable all around the world, amazon prime has a different approach. But it is evident that they will not be willing to drop down their prices to tackle head to head with Jio.
Instead, they will try to leverage on their international shows programs which jio will not be able to match. They will try to counter the difference in prices with quality content which seems to be the theme which is shaping up.
This will be a dangerous game as it hugely depends on the quality of content offered by jio. Amazon will rely on its prime exclusives which gather huge audiences. If jio can provide programs that match the quality offered by amazon and Netflix, then a clear winner will emerge.
Our Final thoughts.
Reliance’s strategy to provide an exclusive content platform will work for the Indian audience; this will see a lot of providers stepping up their game and improving their own plans and programs to tackle jio.
There is no doubt that the web series will be greeted well by the Indian audience.
All this mean that it is a perfect time to be an average Indian customer as we can expect rates to fall drastically.
