Bengali streaming giant, Hoichoi, has reported a noteworthy 40% spike in direct subscriptions and a 60% increment in individual watch-time per subscriber, compared to the previous year. These figures were announced by the company recently, reflecting a continuous and substantial growth in its consumer base.
The platform is actively diversifying its content portfolio, planning to roll out 24 original web series and three theatrical films in the coming year. Beyond its stronghold in West Bengal, the company is also expanding its outreach in Bangladesh, catering to the Bengali-speaking demographic and exploring prospects to engage the Bengali diaspora in the Middle East through strategic partnerships and innovative offline marketing.
Hoichoi’s co-founder, Vishnu Mohta, shared, “The uptick in OTT consumption has maintained its pace, even post-lockdown. We are dedicated to offering invaluable content and avoiding underpricing, with our focus staunchly placed on acquiring and retaining a paying customer base.” Mohta emphasized the company’s unwavering commitment to investing in a diverse range of shows to ensure consistent and quality output.
Among the slew of upcoming titles are Durgo Rawhoshyo, featuring Anirban Bhattacharya and Sohini Sarkar, and Chemistry Mashi, starring Debasree Roy. Additionally, Hoichoi anticipates the launch of new seasons of popular series like Ritwik Chakraborty’s Gora and Nikhoj, starring Tota Roy Choudhury and Swastika Mukherjee.
To enhance its international presence, Hoichoi is engaging in content syndication deals in multiple languages and has collaborated with JioCinema to provide dubbed Hindi versions of its shows and movies. A key objective for the forthcoming year includes exploring avenues to introduce content in languages like Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, through selective partnerships, while retaining the intellectual property rights of the syndicated content.
The establishment of ‘hoichoi Studios’ marks a significant development in the company’s journey, allowing it to cultivate its exclusive content pipeline for theatres. The new films developed under this initiative will premiere on Hoichoi after their theatrical releases, contributing to the platform’s burgeoning profitability.
Hoichoi’s robust expansion strategy and diverse content offerings are emblematic of a platform that is progressively solidifying its position in the competitive OTT landscape. The company’s meticulous focus on premium content and sustained subscriber base highlights its potential to emerge as a pivotal player in the global streaming market, continually broadening its reach and enriching its content repertoire for audiences worldwide.
