Category: iWorld

YuppTV joins hands with Sun Network to launch 10 channels

MUMBAI: Yupp TV, the Over-The-Top (OTT) platform has recently announced a strategic alliance with Sun Network. With the alliance, YuppTV will launch 10 channels in four regional languages namely Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The OTT platform will make channels like Surya and Kiran in Malayalam, Sun TV, KTV, Sun Music, Tamil channel Adithya TV, Gemini TV, Gemini Movies & Gemini Comedy in Telugu and Kannada channel Udaya TV for its MENA viewers.

The move will add more content to YuppTV’ s entertainment platter that boasts of over 25,000 hours of video content in its catalogue.

Speaking on the partnership, Yupp TV founder and CEO Uday Reddy said, “As the leading digital entertainment provider for expats from the South Asian community, we pride ourselves on making the latest content available to our users across the world. By entering into partnership with Sun Network, one of the largest TV networks in South India, we will curate even more regional entertainment options to add to our already impressive library.”

“The partnership with Yupp is yet another initiative in line with our strategy to improve Sun TV’s presence on digital networks and beef up distribution through a variety of OTT platforms worldwide”, says Sun TV Network Limited president Mahesh Kumar.

The OTT provider for South Asian content, YuppTV, already has content partnerships with leading television networks to provide 200+ channels in the South Asian region.

February 2, 2016
YuppTV joins hands with Sun Network to launch 10 channels

MUMBAI: Yupp TV, the Over-The-Top (OTT) platform has recently announced a strategic alliance with Sun Network. With the alliance, YuppTV will launch 10 channels in four regional languages namely Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The OTT platform will make channels like Surya and Kiran in Malayalam, Sun TV, KTV, Sun Music, Tamil channel Adithya TV, Gemini TV, Gemini Movies & Gemini Comedy in Telugu and Kannada channel Udaya TV for its MENA viewers.

The move will add more content to YuppTV’ s entertainment platter that boasts of over 25,000 hours of video content in its catalogue.

Speaking on the partnership, Yupp TV founder and CEO Uday Reddy said, “As the leading digital entertainment provider for expats from the South Asian community, we pride ourselves on making the latest content available to our users across the world. By entering into partnership with Sun Network, one of the largest TV networks in South India, we will curate even more regional entertainment options to add to our already impressive library.”

“The partnership with Yupp is yet another initiative in line with our strategy to improve Sun TV’s presence on digital networks and beef up distribution through a variety of OTT platforms worldwide”, says Sun TV Network Limited president Mahesh Kumar.

The OTT provider for South Asian content, YuppTV, already has content partnerships with leading television networks to provide 200+ channels in the South Asian region.

February 2, 2016
Q3-2016: UFO Moviez revenue up 16.5 percent, EBIDTA up 1.1 percent

BENGALURU: Indian digital cinema distribution network and in-cinema advertising platform, UFO Moviez Limited (UFO) reported a 16.5 percent YoY growth in consolidated income from operations (TIO) for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter) at Rs 144.49 crore as compared to Rs 124.05 crore, but declined 2.5 percent as compared to Rs 148.25 crore. The company reported 1.1 percent higher YOY operating profit or EBIDTA for the current quarter at Rs 44.15 crore (30.6 percent margin) as compared to Rs 43.67 crore (35.2 percent margin) but declined 1.1 percent as compared to Rs 44.66 crore (30.1 percent margin).

Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore.

The company’s PAT in Q3-2016 increased 1.1 percent YoY to Rs 16.03 crore (11.1 percent margin) as compared to Rs 15.85 crore (12.8 percent margin) and declined 2.6 percent QoQ as compared to Rs 16.46 crore (11.1 percent margin).

“In the third quarter of fiscal 2016, UFO continued to deliver healthy growth in core business revenues and profits,” said UFO founder and managing director Sanjay Gaikwad, “Theatrical revenues sustained healthy momentum led by rate hike in H1FY16 and wider movie releases during the festival season. In-cinema advertising continued to deliver healthy performance, driven by volume-led sales growth. We launched UFO Framez today by opening registration for DSA’s across India. The excitement for UFO Framez is incredible and we believe that in-cinema advertising will get impetus from the retail advertisement opportunity.”

“We made substantial progress during the quarter operationally as well as strategically,” said UFO joint managing director Kapil Agarwal. “Our focus on leveraging on our existing platform continued to deliver positive results. Simultaneously, we continued to expand our synergistic business Caravan Talkies. We added 67 new vans during the period, expanding our network through 91 districts. This business is expected to cash breakeven during the second half of fiscal 2017. Overall, we aim to build momentum in both core and new businesses and are excited about the future growth prospects of

UFO Moviez.”

Let us look at the other expenses reported by the company.

Total Expenses in Q3-2016 at Rs 119.62 crore (82.8 percent of TIO) increased 19.9 percent YoY as compared to Rs 99.73 crore (80.4 percent of TIO) and was 2.9 percent lower QoQ as compared to Rs 123.22 crore (83.1 percent of TIO).

The company’s expense towards purchase of digital cinema equipment and lamps in the current quarter more than doubled (2.35 times) YoY to Rs 18.21 crore (12.6 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 7.74 crore (6.2 percent of TIO), but reduced 25.8 percent as compared to Rs 24.55 crore (16.6 percent of TIO).

The company paid 13.3 higher amount towards advertisement revenue share in Q3-2016 at Rs 11.65 crore (8.1 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 10.28 core (8.3 percent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter and was 3.2 percent more QoQ than the Rs 11.29 crore (7.6 percent of TIO) .

Further, the company paid 6.7 percent YoY more towards VPF share at Rs 18.18 crore (12.6 percent of TIO) as compare to Rs 17.04 crore (13.7 percent of TIO), but declined 9.1 percent as compared to Rs 19.99 crore (13.5 percent of TIO).

February 2, 2016
Q3-2016: UFO Moviez revenue up 16.5 percent, EBIDTA up 1.1 percent

BENGALURU: Indian digital cinema distribution network and in-cinema advertising platform, UFO Moviez Limited (UFO) reported a 16.5 percent YoY growth in consolidated income from operations (TIO) for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter) at Rs 144.49 crore as compared to Rs 124.05 crore, but declined 2.5 percent as compared to Rs 148.25 crore. The company reported 1.1 percent higher YOY operating profit or EBIDTA for the current quarter at Rs 44.15 crore (30.6 percent margin) as compared to Rs 43.67 crore (35.2 percent margin) but declined 1.1 percent as compared to Rs 44.66 crore (30.1 percent margin).

Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore.

The company’s PAT in Q3-2016 increased 1.1 percent YoY to Rs 16.03 crore (11.1 percent margin) as compared to Rs 15.85 crore (12.8 percent margin) and declined 2.6 percent QoQ as compared to Rs 16.46 crore (11.1 percent margin).

“In the third quarter of fiscal 2016, UFO continued to deliver healthy growth in core business revenues and profits,” said UFO founder and managing director Sanjay Gaikwad, “Theatrical revenues sustained healthy momentum led by rate hike in H1FY16 and wider movie releases during the festival season. In-cinema advertising continued to deliver healthy performance, driven by volume-led sales growth. We launched UFO Framez today by opening registration for DSA’s across India. The excitement for UFO Framez is incredible and we believe that in-cinema advertising will get impetus from the retail advertisement opportunity.”

“We made substantial progress during the quarter operationally as well as strategically,” said UFO joint managing director Kapil Agarwal. “Our focus on leveraging on our existing platform continued to deliver positive results. Simultaneously, we continued to expand our synergistic business Caravan Talkies. We added 67 new vans during the period, expanding our network through 91 districts. This business is expected to cash breakeven during the second half of fiscal 2017. Overall, we aim to build momentum in both core and new businesses and are excited about the future growth prospects of

UFO Moviez.”

Let us look at the other expenses reported by the company.

Total Expenses in Q3-2016 at Rs 119.62 crore (82.8 percent of TIO) increased 19.9 percent YoY as compared to Rs 99.73 crore (80.4 percent of TIO) and was 2.9 percent lower QoQ as compared to Rs 123.22 crore (83.1 percent of TIO).

The company’s expense towards purchase of digital cinema equipment and lamps in the current quarter more than doubled (2.35 times) YoY to Rs 18.21 crore (12.6 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 7.74 crore (6.2 percent of TIO), but reduced 25.8 percent as compared to Rs 24.55 crore (16.6 percent of TIO).

The company paid 13.3 higher amount towards advertisement revenue share in Q3-2016 at Rs 11.65 crore (8.1 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 10.28 core (8.3 percent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter and was 3.2 percent more QoQ than the Rs 11.29 crore (7.6 percent of TIO) .

Further, the company paid 6.7 percent YoY more towards VPF share at Rs 18.18 crore (12.6 percent of TIO) as compare to Rs 17.04 crore (13.7 percent of TIO), but declined 9.1 percent as compared to Rs 19.99 crore (13.5 percent of TIO).

February 2, 2016
Netflix’s Hastings expects linear TV to diminish like landlines have

MUMBAI: Do you know what’s driving Netflix as it continues on its mad rapid expansion around the globe? Well, CEO Reed Hastings gave some insights to German TV anchor Claus Keiber in an interview to Digital Life Design (DLD) station recently. Hastings indicated that he believed that linear television is on the brink of extinction.

“It has been a breakthrough for 50 years and has enabled consumers to watch movies at their own comfort rather than going to a theater,” he said. “However, today people want to watch content on different screens. There used to be a lack of diversity and of different voices during the era when the three major networks dominated the entertainment space in the US. Today, consumers want to make it personalized with updated and improved applications which are the aspects of internet TV. Eventually, these new forms will replace the linear television TV just like fixed lines were by mobile phones.”

When asked if the linear TV will manage to retain a viewership niche, he agreed, saying that “there is always a tendency to romance the past.”

He rued the fact that internet TV has no authoritative voice, but that shortcoming is more than made up by the fact that it is a platform which offers a broader diversity including more opinions and experimental content.

“Every technology has its losses and gains. These days, anyone can produce and can also have a television network”, added the IT engineer. “Linear TV networks are adapting and putting their content out on the Internet. The other international networks might also convert themselves into internet networks.”

Netflix’s big challenges going ahead – after its recent expansion into 130 countries – are producing locally in the markets it has launched, getting the right price points for consumers and finally getting a leg in to China. Hastings revealed that the company is already in talks with local partners as well as government departments to get a license.

“We need to be patient. Apple took six years from 2005 to 2011 in negotiating and binding relationships in China before launching their I-phone. We are looking forward to a decade where Chinese middle class would want to embrace the content that we provide”, he pointed out. “Currently, bloggers in China think that House of Cards is a documentary on the US.”

February 2, 2016
Netflix’s Hastings expects linear TV to diminish like landlines have

MUMBAI: Do you know what’s driving Netflix as it continues on its mad rapid expansion around the globe? Well, CEO Reed Hastings gave some insights to German TV anchor Claus Keiber in an interview to Digital Life Design (DLD) station recently. Hastings indicated that he believed that linear television is on the brink of extinction.

“It has been a breakthrough for 50 years and has enabled consumers to watch movies at their own comfort rather than going to a theater,” he said. “However, today people want to watch content on different screens. There used to be a lack of diversity and of different voices during the era when the three major networks dominated the entertainment space in the US. Today, consumers want to make it personalized with updated and improved applications which are the aspects of internet TV. Eventually, these new forms will replace the linear television TV just like fixed lines were by mobile phones.”

When asked if the linear TV will manage to retain a viewership niche, he agreed, saying that “there is always a tendency to romance the past.”

He rued the fact that internet TV has no authoritative voice, but that shortcoming is more than made up by the fact that it is a platform which offers a broader diversity including more opinions and experimental content.

“Every technology has its losses and gains. These days, anyone can produce and can also have a television network”, added the IT engineer. “Linear TV networks are adapting and putting their content out on the Internet. The other international networks might also convert themselves into internet networks.”

Netflix’s big challenges going ahead – after its recent expansion into 130 countries – are producing locally in the markets it has launched, getting the right price points for consumers and finally getting a leg in to China. Hastings revealed that the company is already in talks with local partners as well as government departments to get a license.

“We need to be patient. Apple took six years from 2005 to 2011 in negotiating and binding relationships in China before launching their I-phone. We are looking forward to a decade where Chinese middle class would want to embrace the content that we provide”, he pointed out. “Currently, bloggers in China think that House of Cards is a documentary on the US.”

February 2, 2016
Ditto TV goes OTT first with ‘before TV’

MUMBAI: Zee Digital Convergence Limited’s Over The Top (OTT) platform DittoTV now allows viewers to enjoy their favourite content from the channels under Zee Group before airing it on television through their new feature titled ‘before TV’.

The feature is in line with the company and group’s continued focus on content and service innovations for the consumers.

Talking about this new initiative, ZDCL CEO Debashish Ghosh said, “The fact that more and more people are finding it easy to cut away from appointment viewing and watch their chosen entertainment anytime, anywhere, has only driven consumer expectations higher and upped the ante for OTT platforms the world-over. While, original content will remain one of the key drivers and focus of DittoTV’s global operations, serious innovations will help give our consumers something new and engaging all-the-time, every time. before TV is one such step in this direction.”

The company has recently created an original content titled as Life is Music and also plans to launch music based documentary titled as Chords of Change, which will feature musicians narrating their stories of their struggle and registering their protest in various zones across the country through their music.

The platform is focused on markets like the US, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Asia Pacific and some parts of Africa. It will also carry non-Indian content shortly in the markets where it has been launched.

February 1, 2016
Ditto TV goes OTT first with ‘before TV’

MUMBAI: Zee Digital Convergence Limited’s Over The Top (OTT) platform DittoTV now allows viewers to enjoy their favourite content from the channels under Zee Group before airing it on television through their new feature titled ‘before TV’.

The feature is in line with the company and group’s continued focus on content and service innovations for the consumers.

Talking about this new initiative, ZDCL CEO Debashish Ghosh said, “The fact that more and more people are finding it easy to cut away from appointment viewing and watch their chosen entertainment anytime, anywhere, has only driven consumer expectations higher and upped the ante for OTT platforms the world-over. While, original content will remain one of the key drivers and focus of DittoTV’s global operations, serious innovations will help give our consumers something new and engaging all-the-time, every time. before TV is one such step in this direction.”

The company has recently created an original content titled as Life is Music and also plans to launch music based documentary titled as Chords of Change, which will feature musicians narrating their stories of their struggle and registering their protest in various zones across the country through their music.

The platform is focused on markets like the US, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Asia Pacific and some parts of Africa. It will also carry non-Indian content shortly in the markets where it has been launched.

February 1, 2016
Netflix snaps up global rights to India’s ‘Brahman Naman’

MUMBAI: Netflix has acquired the exclusive global rights of the hilarious coming-of-age comedy Brahman Naman,from Indian indie director Q.

The film will be available exclusively for Netflix members around the world later this year.

Set in Bangalore in the 1980s, Brahman Naman follows the exploits of Naman, a quick witted, high school quiz champ who leads his hopelessly nerdy friends on a trip to Calcutta to win a major college prize. Young, smart and full of heart, the trio are determined to win the quiz – and to lose their virginity along the way.

Revered internationally as one of India’s most vital and provocative indie filmmakers, Q’s latest cinematic cocktail takes the classic American teen comedy, sharpens it with bawdy British word play, and hurls it in the face of the establishment with a fresh Indian cast. The film premiered last week at the prestigious World Drama Competition at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

“Brahman Naman is Indian cinema at its boldest; fast, furious and raucously funny. It’s a movie that will delight adolescents of all ages, and we’re excited to bring this hilarious tale to our members around the world,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

Written by Naman Ramachandran and produced by Steve Barron and Celine Loop, Brahman Naman is Q’s latest film, following Gandu, Tasher Desh and Ludo. Brahman Naman stars Shashank Arora as Naman, Tanmany Dhanania and Chaitanya Varad as his sidekicks, and features Vaiswath Shankar, Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy and Sid Mallya.

February 1, 2016
Netflix snaps up global rights to India’s ‘Brahman Naman’

MUMBAI: Netflix has acquired the exclusive global rights of the hilarious coming-of-age comedy Brahman Naman,from Indian indie director Q.

The film will be available exclusively for Netflix members around the world later this year.

Set in Bangalore in the 1980s, Brahman Naman follows the exploits of Naman, a quick witted, high school quiz champ who leads his hopelessly nerdy friends on a trip to Calcutta to win a major college prize. Young, smart and full of heart, the trio are determined to win the quiz – and to lose their virginity along the way.

Revered internationally as one of India’s most vital and provocative indie filmmakers, Q’s latest cinematic cocktail takes the classic American teen comedy, sharpens it with bawdy British word play, and hurls it in the face of the establishment with a fresh Indian cast. The film premiered last week at the prestigious World Drama Competition at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

“Brahman Naman is Indian cinema at its boldest; fast, furious and raucously funny. It’s a movie that will delight adolescents of all ages, and we’re excited to bring this hilarious tale to our members around the world,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

Written by Naman Ramachandran and produced by Steve Barron and Celine Loop, Brahman Naman is Q’s latest film, following Gandu, Tasher Desh and Ludo. Brahman Naman stars Shashank Arora as Naman, Tanmany Dhanania and Chaitanya Varad as his sidekicks, and features Vaiswath Shankar, Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy and Sid Mallya.

February 1, 2016