World
Facebook inks deals with celebrities, publishers to boost ‘Live’
New York: In a move to popularise video streaming feature Facebook Live among its 1.65 billion users, the social networking giant has signed deals with nearly 140 media companies and celebrities to create videos, the media reported on Wednesday.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Facebook will pay over $50 million to video creators. Its partners include BuzzFeed, CNN, the New York Times, Vox Media, Mashable, Huffington Post and celebrities like new-age guru Deepak Chopra, actor-comedian Kevin Hart and top chef Gordon Ramsay, among others.
“We wanted to invite a broad set of partners so we could get feedback from a variety of different organisations about what works and what doesn’t,” Justin Osofsky, Facebook’s vice president of global operations and media partnerships, said in an earlier statement.
Facebook and YouTube are fighting to become the leader in online video streaming.
Facebook, during its quarterly earnings call recently, announced that its users watch 100 million hours of video each day and that 500 million people watch video daily on the social network.
Facebook has begun testing the ability to share live videos on the networking site for people across the world.
“Live lets you show the people what you’re seeing in real time — whether you’re visiting a new place, cooking your favorite recipe, or just want to share some thoughts. No matter where you are, Live lets you bring your friends and family right next to you to experience what’s happening together,” Facebook posted.
According to WSJ, the highest-paid publisher is BuzzFeed which is expected to receive $3.05 million for broadcasting live between March 2016 and March 2017.
Second is New York Times which is set to receive $3.03 million for a 12-month deal. CNN is at third with a $2.5 million deal.
“Facebook is an advertising powerhouse and accounts for nearly 20 per cent of US mobile ad revenues, according to eMarketer, it has yet to tap into digital video as a major revenue source, unlike Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube,” the report added.
The first reports about Facebook paying media companies and/or celebrities to create live video were out in March this year.
The live-streaming feature was first launched for celebrities last year and then rolled out to all.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.