Paytm to launch ad platform; Netflix, Amazon Prime in trouble over content

Paytm will launch a new advertising platform Paytm Ads. India is looking into the possibility of censoring content on online streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Paytm to launch ad platform

Digital payments unicorn Paytm is reportedly launching a new advertising platform Paytm Ads.

“It has already started onboarding brands to buy advertising space on the web and mobile apps. The company is currently running a pilot with select brands including Redtape,” an Entrackr report quoted sources as saying Thursday.

The report also said that Paytm executive Saloni Malhotra will be leading the new business. Malhotra’s LinkedIn bio mentions her post as vice president at Paytm Ads, since the last five months.

Paytm could try to build a full-featured network marketing platform, similar to that of Alimama, Entrackr added, citing the sources.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China-based Alimama is Alibaba’s marketing technology and big data platform.

Realme, Oppo to stop online-exclusive launches

Smartphone brands Realme, Oppo and Vivo will soon stop with the online-exclusive launches on their devices in the market from January.

Realme has given an official communication to offline retailers about this. Whereas Oppo and Vivo have agreed in principle to restrict any online-exclusive play on their smartphones, the Economic Times reported, citing sources Friday.

The development comes at a time when brick-and-mortar stores have continued protests over etailers’ deep discounting schemes.

The three brands have decided to stop online launches from January as they have agreements with online sellers until December, the ET report added. These three brands have around 30% share of the Indian smartphone market, as per the latest data from tracker Counterpoint Research.

Govt to probe Flipkart and Amazon’s deep discounting

The government is probing etailer giants Flipkart and Amazon over the alleged predatory pricing, the minister for commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.

"E-commerce companies have no right to offer discounts or adopt predatory prices. Selling products cheaper and resulting the retail sector to incur losses is not allowed," Goyal was quoted as saying by ET.

Warning of stringent action as per the law for any violation, he said detailed questionnaires have been sent to these companies and their response is awaited.

The e-commerce majors accounted for over 90% of $3 billion goods sold during the festive season that commenced on September 26 and ended on October 4, according to market researchers Redseer.

Censorship qualms hit Amazon, Netflix in India

India is deliberating the possibility of censoring content on online streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, Reuters reported citing a source.

The development follows several months of complaints, legal deliberations concerning allegedly obscene-offensive content being flagged from these over-the-top or OTT platforms.

Film and television censorship bodies like the Central Board of Film Certification or CBFC moderate public content in India. However, there are currently no such regulations on censorship of content on OTTs like Amazon Prime, Netflix, AltBalaji, Ullu, Voot, Vuclip, Hoichoi, Yashraj Films, Arre and Zee5.