New Delhi, Mar 31 (IANS): Viacom18 has launched its digital video-on-demand (VOD) platform VOOT, for which it has consolidated 17,000 hours of network content featuring celebrities like Gulshan Grover, Baba Sehgal, Alok Nath and others.

An advertising-led VOD platform, VOOT is available for free on iOS, Android and web.

Celebrities will frontline VOOT Originals -- shows in both long and short formats across genres like comedy and drama -- while the platform will also have a repository of children's characters Dora, Motu Patlu, Chhota Bheem and more.

Furthermore, Viacom18 will move its entire content library, including Colors, MTV and Nick, to be digitally available on VOOT.

The launch of the platform was planned well keeping in mind that India is at the cusp of a digital boom with over 400 million internet users and over 200 million smart phone users spending significant amount of time online, said Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18, said in a statement

"Entertainment and allied content are the prime driver. As more people move towards consuming content online, it is time for Viacom18 to move into the world of connected screens. Hence, VOOT," Vats said in a statement.

The VOOT bouquet of offerings will include fresh, new content mix, keeping in mind the varied demands of the consumer base. Six originals have been planned for its launch phase, and is all set to introduce a mockumentary "Badman".

Written and directed by Soumik Sen and co-written by stand-up comedian Anubhav Pal; this four-part film has Gulshan Grover playing himself.

"Soadies", a comic spin-off of "Roadies", will feature Baba Sehgal in the lead role.

There's also a comedy series "Chinese Bhassad" as well as a talk show with a twist "Sinskari" starring Alok Nath.