Bobbles.tv, the German provider of pay-TV packages for expats in Europe, has launched an entertainment platform for Indian viewers.
The line-up comprises 16 TV channels in Hindi and English including Bollywood blockbuster channel B4U Movies, B4U Music, Star Gold, Sony MAX and Zoom as well as India’s most watched news channels NDTV India, NDTV 24×7, Times Now and Aaj Tak.
Viacom18’s Colors, Star Plus, NDTV Good Times, NDTV Spice, Sony Entertainment Television (SET), Sony SAB, Life OK and Rishtey Europe deliver general entertainment, comedy, drama, lifestyle, reality TV and made-for-TV movies.
“As many as 1.5 million Indian people living in mainland Europe now have a convenient way to receive their favourite TV shows from home, via satellite or OTT, live or on catch-up”, Arnold C. Kulbatzki, CEO of operating company Bubbles Media, said in Hamburg. “We are really excited to offer this great new package. With bobbles’ simple, affordable, contract-free subscription, feeling closer to home has never been easier.”
Launched in August 2016, bobbles.tv distributes channels from around the globe, aiming to reach a potential audience of around 14 million people originating from Asia, Latin America and Africa, but currently living and working in Europe. In addition to its new offering for Indian viewers, bobbles.tv delivers programming to Chinese, Indonesian and Vietnamese expat communities, with further language packages to follow.
The DTH platform is available in Europe via Astra (19.2° East). Supported by MX1, the technical services subsidiary of Astra satellite operator SES, it also offers an OTT service for online viewing through connected TV sets or mobile devices. The bobbles app can be downloaded from iTunes (iOS) and Google Play (Android).
The Indian DTH satellite service comprises 12 channels for €19.95 per month. The required satellite receiver costs €69.95. The smartcard-based service uses Nagra encryption. The OTT service offers 14 channels for €12.95 per month. A combined DTH/OTT subscription comprising 16 channels is available for €24.95 per month. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time; the first month is free of charge.
Bobbles.tv’s partners include frontend designer TeraVolt while 3 Screen Solutions provided the app, frontend and user interface development and integration.