India’s VOOT Unveils Subscription App for Kids’ Content

Viacom18’s on-demand platform VOOT in India has launched an ad-free kids’ app priced at 99 rupees ($1.40) a month.

VOOT Kids will offer up more than 20,000 videos, e-books, stories and quizzes targeted at kids between the ages of 2 and 8. Content is available from Nickelodeon, WarnerMedia, Green Gold Animation, CBeebies, TV Asahi, Sony Music, Hasbro, Mattel, Lego and more.

“Viacom18 has grown over the years by focusing on white spaces that are challenging and yet have tremendous potential,” said Sudhanshu Vats, group CEO and managing director of Viacom18. “As a network, we have been the undisputed leader in kids’ entertainment content for the past five years. Our digital play VOOT is the second-largest video-on-demand platform in the country today. VOOT Kids is a synergy of these two growth stories from the house of Viacom18. Marking our sharper segmented foray into the world of subscription-based VOD, VOOT Kids is India’s first and only multiformat kids’ app offering fun and learning. No other kids’ app offers watch, read, listen and learn all at one place.”

Gourav Rakshit, COO of Viacom18 Digital Ventures, added, “The foray into the subscription space with VOOT Kids is the first step in our journey towards building an entire digital ecosystem under brand VOOT. VOOT Kids has been built on the three pillars of product experience, content and safety. In VOOT Kids, we are bringing an offering that is child-friendly, yet parent-focused and gives them an opportunity to bond with an immersive co-consumption experience. Our brand philosophy of ‘Masti Mein Acchai’ reflects our mission to make screen time meaningful.”

Saugato Bhowmik, business head for VOOT Kids, noted, “VOOT Kids is a category-creating product in the space of digital fun learning that caters to needs of discerning Indian parents who seek meaningful screentime that aids in holistic development of the child’s mental, emotional and social faculties. The app has the largest and most versatile offerings in the space of toon videos, e-books, audio stories and fun quizzes that provides children with a parent-controlled, safe and entertaining content destination.”