Whistling Woods International Embraced New Media Trends – Hosted Masterclass on OTT Platforms for the School of Media & Communication

Mumbai: Over the course of an exhilarating day, Whistling Woods International (WWI) showcased its global credentials by hosting a noteworthy masterclasses for the School of Media & Communication (SMC). The session witnessed industry expert share valuable insights on the dawn of the streaming era, and details its impact on traditional viewing patterns and methodologies. As the day drew to a close, the students of Asia’s premier Film, Communication and Creative Arts institute were left with a holistic understanding of the OTT space and a renewed appreciation for the creative field.

The session began with Mr.Chaitanya Chinchlikar, Vice President, WWI, introducing Mr. Ashish Pherwani, Partner, Media & Entertainment Advisory Services, Ernst & Young, to a packed auditorium. Mr. Ashish Pherwani shared insights on the topic of new entertainment avenues and emphasized the need for balance – exploring new creative fields while staying true to one’s DNA.

The conversation subsequently turned to the rise of streaming, and the increasingly prominent role played by OTT platforms. Sharing his insight into the industry, Mr. Ashish Pherwani also shared the importance of advertising revenue to Indian streaming platforms such as Hotstar and Voot, and contrasted it with the subscription based models of Netflix and Amazon Prime. While highlighting the demand for original content in the industry, he stated, “There is a lot of scope for content creation and you guys are the future.” With the session coming to an end, Mr. Ashish Pherwani had a final piece of advice for the young film and media aspirants, “You need more knowledge to survive in this industry. You are in college now, but never stop reading and learning”.

As the session came to a conclusion, the guest was presented with a token of appreciation amidst the applause of a packed auditorium.