In the telecom industry right now, there is one offering that is being decisive for the consumers when it comes to selecting a prepaid, postpaid or broadband plan, and it has to do with content. All the telecom operators are offering free subscriptions to their over-the-top (OTT) platforms to lure the subscribers. These platforms bring easy video content access to subscribers from various content providers like ALTBalaji, HOOQ, ZEE5 and more. While Bharti Airtel offers a subscription to its Xstream service, Vodafone has its own Vodafone Play application. Previously, the Vodafone Play content was only accessible from the Vodafone Play app. However, now the telecom operator has launched a mobile website to allow the subscribers to access this on-demand video content on web.
Vodafone Play Features
The Vodafone Play app and website avails on-demand video content for Vodafone subscribers, and it offers free Bollywood, Hollywood, regional & international originals, movies, TV shows, live TV, web series and more. The Vodafone Play app curates content from content providers like Lionsgate Play, SonyLIV, ZEE5, ALT Balaji, Shemaroo Me, Sun NXT, Eros Now, Hoichoi, Hungama and more. The Vodafone Play app, in total, offers more than 300 Live TV channels to the subscribers. Further, the application also provides some other features which include direct Chromecast to TV, show timings and show start reminders, touch controls for volume and brightness, pause and play on Live TV, ability to download and stream favourite content offline.
Vodafone Play Live TV Channels
The interesting thing to note about the Vodafone Play application is that it does not only bring VOD content for the subscribers, but it also offers Live TV channels alongside the OTT content. There is only one other telecom operator out there, Bharti Airtel, which offers an application pairing both of these things. The availing of Vodafone Play on the web means that Vodafone subscribers will be able to enjoy Live TV channels on their browser. This is especially convenient for the people who currently who are using a smartphone with low space. The Vodafone subscribers will not have to download any additional app, and they can simply visit the website to access the content on their phone.
Reliance Jio Lagging Behind in Website Live TV Access
It is worth noting that Reliance Jio was the first telecom operator to make bundled content offerings mainstream in India and to accomplish the purpose of providing Live TV and on-demand content services, the telco offers the JioTV and the JioCinema which offer Live TV and OTT content respectively. Now, the JioCinema app also gives access to content to Reliance Jio users on the website, but Reliance Jio is yet to avail web access for Live TV, meaning that currently there is no web substitute for the JioTV app for Reliance Jio subscribers.
Airtel Xstream Also Launches Web Version
Another telecom operator, Bharti Airtel, has also launched its Xstream website which avails online OTT and Live TV content to the subscribers. This means that Vodafone and Bharti Airtel are the two telcos which are shipping Live TV content service through the web in addition to providing it through an app.
