Sony LIVis an Indiansubscription video-on-demandover-the-topstreamingservice owned byCulver Max Entertainment.Sony LIV was introduced in 2013[2]as the firstOTTservice inIndia.[3]As a streaming service, it provideslive sports,original titles,other content titles from its own networks and content titles in India licensed from third-parties such asLionsgateandITVamong others. The Sony LIV content library includesfilms,TV shows and series,and sports.
 Sony LIV logo | |
| Type of business | Streaming |
|---|---|
Type of site | OTT platform |
| Available in | |
| Headquarters | |
| Country of origin | India |
| Area served | Canada, Europe, Middle East, Indo-Pacific, South Asia, and United States |
| Owner | Sony Pictures Networks[Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd] |
| Industry | |
| Products | |
| Services |
|
| Parent | Sony |
| URL | www |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Required[a] |
| Users |  33.3 million (paid; May 2023)[1] |
| Launched | 22 January 2013 |
| Current status | Active |
History
editSony LIV was launched on 23 January 2013.[4]
LIV Sports
editLIV Sportswas launched on 1 June 2014 by Culver Max Entertainment[5](as a new sports streaming service exclusively for sports properties). LIV Sports was the official mobile and internet broadcaster for the2014 FIFA World Cupstarting 12 June 2014. LIV Sports aired both live and video-on-demand match content with statistics and analysis.[6]
Sony LIV first revamp (2018)
edit
Sony LIV underwent its first revamp and started to stream live television channels. Since then, Sony LIV has added many shows and movies to its portfolio. On 1 November 2018, Sony LIV andLionsgateentered a multi-year content[7]deal.
Sony LIV second revamp (2020)
editSony LIV revamped its content and interface in May 2020 usingAWS Cloud.[8]
Sony LIV was launched as a streaming service in the United States onSling TV,streaming all the shows available in India on the app.[9][10]
On 15 January 2021,WWE Network[11]was launched in India through Sony LIV.
Sony LIV was launched inCanadaon 14 October 2021.[12]It was launched in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore on 25 February 2021. On 12 June 2021, as part of Europe Phase-1, Sony LIV was launched in France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK (9 April 2021). On 1 October 2021, as part of Europe Phase-2, Sony LIV was launched in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden.[13]
Content
editCurrent broadcasting rights
edit- 2022 Asian Games(2023)[14]
- US Open(2022–24)[15]
Overview
editSony LIV's core library consists of 18+ years of content from Culver Max Entertainment's channels includingSony TV,Sony SAB,Sony AathandSony Marathi;and more than 700+ movies, which means a total of 40,000+ hours of television show coverage in Hindi and English.[4]
History
editVarieties of anime originals fromAnimaxwere available on Sony LIV to stream. After shutting down a linear TV channel on 18 April 2017,Animax[16]was made available exclusively as a digital streaming channel in India from 7 July 2017 to 7 May 2020.[17]
Sony LIV also streamed cricket matches played byPakistan.[18]
Beginning with the 2022US Open,Sony Pictures Networks India will have the exclusive live television and digital rights to the US Open in India through 2024. As of August 2023, US Open would livestream on Sony LIV.[15]
Sony LIV Originals
editSony LIV has streamed a number of originalstreaming televisionseries. The first-ever original was a Gujarati web series titledKacho Papad Pako Papad[19]and it is streaming since 2017.
Sony LIV underwent a revamp in its appearance in June 2020.[20]Since then, Sony LIV provides their original shows in 5–7 languages.
Genres
editSony LIV features content in the following key genres: comedy, crime, drama, horror and action.[21]
Viewership
editAs of August 2015, Sony LIV had reached about 25 million views on a monthly basis.[22]
Sony LIV security flaw
editOn 20 December 2019,Bengaluru-based security researcher Ehraz Ahmed discovered asecurity flawin the Sony LIV app, that allowed to fetch sensitive user information such as profile picture, email address, date of birth, name and phone number of its registered users.[23]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^Optional in India, but monthly subscription is required to access additional content.
References
edit- ^"SonyLIV has 33.3 mn paid subscribers globally, 40,000 hours of content: NP Singh".18 May 2023.
- ^Laghate, Gaurav (2013)."Sony Launches Video on Demand".Business Standard India.
- ^"avatar - Gravatar Profile".En.gravatar.com.Retrieved22 July2022.
- ^abDeb, Debabrata (15 July 2018)."The ultimate SonyLIV review: Everything you need to know".finder India.Retrieved2 July2020.
- ^"Multiscreen Media Launches Liv Sports".The Hindu Business Line.2 June 2014.
- ^"2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Live Online Streaming Available Through Sony LIV Application".Indiantvinfo.com.14 February 2018.Retrieved14 February2018.
- ^Laghate, Gaurav (1 November 2018)."Sony LIV, Lionsgate India partner to offer premium content".economic times.
- ^"Sony LIV Grows Subscriber Base Tenfold and Enhances Streaming Platform Supported by AWS".
- ^"Watch Live Indian TV Channels - Shows and Movies Online | Sling TV".Sling.com.Retrieved4 June2020.
- ^Palermo, Philip (31 May 2020)."Sling TV Adds Sony Pictures Networks India's SonyLIV VOD Service".Cord Cutters News.Retrieved4 June2020.
- ^Dua, Priyanka (16 January 2021)."SonyLIV Launches WWE Pack At Rs. 299; Offering Five Profiles And Offline Content Download".Gizbot.com.Retrieved16 January2021.
- ^Ramachandran, Naman (14 October 2021)."Indian Streamer SonyLIV Launches in Canada with Family Saga 'Tabbar' (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved18 February2023.
- ^Ramachandran, Naman (18 June 2021)."Indian Streamer SonyLIV Sets Global Expansion Plans With 40-Strong Slate (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved14 April2023.
- ^"Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 in 2023: Preview, schedule and how to watch live".Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2023.Retrieved24 December2024.
- ^ab"Sony Pictures Networks India to air US Open in India through 2024".
- ^"Sony to shift Animax channel to SonyLiv".Indian Television Dot Com.13 April 2017.Retrieved5 December2019.
- ^"Animax Asia Channel Removed from 'Sony LIV' Streaming App".Animenewsnetwork.com.17 May 2020.
- ^"Cricket Archives PSL 2021 Live Streaming & TV Channels, Pakistan Super League 2021".Cricketzine.com.31 January 2021.
- ^"2017: The year OTTs went regional in India".Indian Television Dot Com.4 January 2018.
- ^"SonyLIV".Sonyliv.com.Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2021.Retrieved22 July2022.
- ^"Frequently Asked Questions".sonyliv.com.Retrieved28 October2020.
- ^"Sony to move its video streaming service SonyLIV to a fee-based model".11 September 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 3 September 2015.Retrieved31 August2015.
- ^"SonyLIV Fixes Flaw That Could Allow Attackers to Fetch User Information".NDTV Gadgets 360.20 December 2019.Retrieved23 December2019.
