ITV

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  • Inox to enter into film distribution

     
    MUMBAI: Inox Leisure Ltd, has announced its entry into film distribution.

    The company has acquired exclusive distribution rights to heavyweight titles such as Garam Masala, Rang De Basanti, Family, Jaaneman, Apharan and Kyonki for the Bengal, Mysore and Rajashtan territories.
     
     
     

    Inox CEO Manoj Bhatia says, “We feel the time is just right for INOX Leisure Ltd. to enter the distribution segment. Given our success with exhibition, this is a natural extension of our business.

    “Operating a distribution company will give us greater control over the supply chain and bring us one step closer to an integrated set up. Inox has an impeccable track record and is highly regarded by customers, the film industry, investors, business institutions and the banking sector for bringing about greater transparency and professionalism to the cinema industry in India.”
     
     
     

    Aroon Sharma will head the distribution set up of Inox, which will have distribution offices in Kolkatta, Jaipur and Bangalore.

    In the first phase, the company has invested close to Rs 50 million to bring in titles like Garam Masala (Akshay Kumar, John Abraham), Rang De Basanti (Aamir Khan), Family (Amitabh Bacchhan, Akshay Kumar), Jaaneman (Salman Khan, Priety Zinta), Apharan (Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar) and Kyonki (Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor).

    While, in the second phase, the company will look at international content from International markets, informs the official release.

  • Inox to enter into film distribution

    MUMBAI: Inox Leisure Ltd, has announced its entry into film distribution.

    The company has acquired exclusive distribution rights to heavyweight titles such as Garam Masala, Rang De Basanti, Family, Jaaneman, Apharan and Kyonki for the Bengal, Mysore and Rajashtan territories.
     
     

    Inox CEO Manoj Bhatia says, “We feel the time is just right for INOX Leisure Ltd. to enter the distribution segment. Given our success with exhibition, this is a natural extension of our business.

    “Operating a distribution company will give us greater control over the supply chain and bring us one step closer to an integrated set up. Inox has an impeccable track record and is highly regarded by customers, the film industry, investors, business institutions and the banking sector for bringing about greater transparency and professionalism to the cinema industry in India.”
     
     

    Aroon Sharma will head the distribution set up of Inox, which will have distribution offices in Kolkatta, Jaipur and Bangalore.

    In the first phase, the company has invested close to Rs 50 million to bring in titles like Garam Masala (Akshay Kumar, John Abraham), Rang De Basanti (Aamir Khan), Family (Amitabh Bacchhan, Akshay Kumar), Jaaneman (Salman Khan, Priety Zinta), Apharan (Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar) and Kyonki (Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor).

    While, in the second phase, the company will look at international content from International markets, informs the official release.

  • US-based Starwin Media to enter Asia Pacific media industry

    MUMBAI: The California-headquartered Starwin Media Holdings Inc has entered into an agreement of intent to acquire majority control of Strategic Media International Limited, a Hong Kong corporation — parent company of three corporations that are currently publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the other publicly traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
     
     

    These four publicly traded corporations are the holding corporations of the premier leading media corporation in the Asia Pacific region. This acquisition is subject to due diligence, states an official release.

    Strategic Media International Limited is one of the largest privately owned media corporations in the Asia Pacific region, which owns movie- distribution networks, production companies, video & audio distributions, major advertising companies, major newspapers in Hong Kong, and a 350-acre movie city for movie and television productions. The corporation, that is publicly traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, is a telecommunications and broadband corporation, and has developed and built a broadband infrastructure in major cities in southwestern region of China to accommodate Starwin Media Holdings Inc’s IPTV platform, the release adds.
     
     

    “Our acquisition into these four publicly traded corporations will provide us with direct ownerships into mega media power house in Asia Pacific, and has become a part of our market entry strategy to establish our presence in the Asia Pacific media industry, and to build our branding as the global preeminent media powerhouse,” president of Starwin Wendyfer Zhong said.

    “This acquisition exercise will also generate new value to all of our existing shareholders, bringing annual revenue and net asset value into Starwin,” he adds.

  • HK-based Intra-Asia Entertainment to enter China’s digital TV sector

    MUMBAI: The Hong Kong based media firm Intra-Asia Entertainment Corporation has announced that its subsidiary Intra-Asia Entertainment will pursue equity investments and operating roles in the digital television industry in China.

    Since its inception in May 2005, the Hong Kong firm has invested $ 10 million to establish a joint venture company (JVC) with Hubei Provincial (Chu Sky) Broadcasting and Television Network.

    The joint venture states that it is committed to the digital transformation of the cable television broadcasting in Hubei Province, which has a population of approximately 63 million and currently has a cable television subscriber base of over 5.7 million. Industry experts project that the number of cable television subscribers in the province will exceed 18 million by the year 2015.

    Intra-Asia Entertainment will be responsible for all of the businesses previously operated by Hubei Provincial, including the transmission of digital cable television programmes, the consolidation of programming, and development of the JVC.

    Intra-Asia Entertainment will gradually expand into mobile terrestrial and satellite digital television as a complement to its digital cable television activities. Right now the management is in the process of researching relevant industries and has entered into negotiations with a television broadcasting network operating Shandong Province and other provinces.

    Intra-Asia Entertainment Corporation CEO Joseph Visconti said, “Digitalisation is an inevitable trend in global television broadcasting. Our subsidiary is developing cooperative relationships with provincial departments of broadcasting and television in several regions throughout China. In 2003, as a first step in the digital transformation of the television broadcasting industry, The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) tentatively established a new cable television infrastructure comprised of digital, transmission, service and supervisory platforms.

    The Chinese government will require all Chinese television programming to be broadcast digitally by the year 2015, and our subsidiary has exclusive rights for digital television operations, and as a supplier of set-top terminal boxes, in a number of provinces.”

  • K Sera Sera to enter all India distribution

    MUMBAI: Production house K Sera Sera has announced its plans to enter film distribution market nationally.

    The company already has its own distribution offices in Mumbai, Delhi and the Nizam, which together cover 60 per cent of the film revenue market.

    For distributing movies in Delhi and Nizam territories, the company got into a tie-up with Bangalore-based PVR Cinemas.
     

    As the first step towards going national, the company is expanding its reach to Mysore and Central Provinces as well, according to an official communique.

    “Today multiplexes attract a growing audience and are proving to be a powerful option for extending the reach of films and sustaining box office performance. The CP and Mysore belt covers over 437 multiplexes. PVR Bangalore, for instance alone has 11 screens. This is one reason why when we decided to expand our distribution network, we chose Mysore and CP as our next stops,” says K Sera Sera Productions CEO Kacon Sethi.

    Besides the films under the K Sera Sera banner, the company has distributed films like Black, Dil Maange More, Raincoat and Tango Charlie in its existing distribution network.

    With the network now expanding nationally, the company plans to distribute over 20 films in the next one year. It has already signed up two such distribution deals and is negotiating with other filmmakers.
     
     

    “Despite the growing corporatisation of the Indian film production houses, film distribution still remains caught in the traditional unorganised matrix. We plan to bring modern marketing and risk management techniques in this business. I am confident that for the newer generation of film makers, used to dealing with body corporates will find this a welcome alternative,” Sethi said.

    “The company’s move of going national with film distribution will also provide a solid foundation for further growth, new revenue streams and help making K Sera Sera a complete entertainment company,” added Sethi.

    Apart from motion picture distribution K Sera Sera’s business operations include motion picture production and television content production. The company has recently announced its intention to raise Rs 600 million from the capital markets.

  • New DTH satellite provider to enter Asia

    MUMBAI: Space TV, the Tata Sons and Star group 80:20 joint venture for a DTH service in India is finally in sight, and action is hotting up in the direct-to-home satellite arena as well.
     
    ProtoStar, a Bermuda corporation with principal US operations in San Francisco, California, has secured initial equity funding from two private equity investors New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and SpaceVest that will kickstart its ambitions to acquire and operate high-power geostationary satellites optimized for direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television and broadband Internet access services in the Asia-Pacific region.

    ProtoStar’s planned footprint will reach over 3 billion people in India, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, the Philippines and South East Asia.
     
     

    According to a statement issued by the company, its system will enable in-country partners to offer subscribers a technically advanced, reliable, cost effective satellite television package, providing a robust subscriber experience. ProtoStar’s first satellite is planned for launch in mid-2006.

    Philip Father, ProtoStar’s CEO, described the company’s business model as timely. “Much like we saw in North America and Europe, Asian markets are deregulating in order to meet market requirements for DTH services. ProtoStar is well positioned to offer optimized DTH capacity to its operator customers, meeting critical broadcast needs. We’re extremely pleased to have the support of two of the most respected VC firms in the industry – NEA and SpaceVest.”

  • Exit ‘Idol’, enter refurbished, reslotted SET

    MUMBAI: After Indian Idol, what? That has been the question on many a mind as Sony Entertainment Television prepares to bid adieu to its big ticket reality show which has created such a frenzy. A whole lot actually. Idol’s finale on Saturday will be followed up with new shows, changes of time slots and sprucing up of current properties.

    Heavy duty programming rejigging is what SET will witness all this month, SET business head Tarun Katial has revealed to indiantelevision.com.

    Already up and running is Batliwalla House No 43 slotted at 9 pm every Friday launched last week.
     

    On the cards now, is the reslotting of Aahat 2 which will shift position from 9 pm on Fridays to the Idol slot at 9:30 pm.

    Slotting into the vacant Thursday 9:30 to 10:30 pm space will be Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin and Yeh Meri Life Hain, both of which will return to their original four days a week run. Jassi… will air at 9:30 pm and Yeh Meri… at 10 pm.

    One show that is getting the heave ho is the twins separated at birth tale Hum Do Hain Na that launched last August. Shortly taking its place is “a very different passionate love story” Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Hain from soap factory Balaji Telefilms. KYHPH will air at 8 pm Mondays through to Wednesdays.

    One positive going for KYHPH will probably be that none of Balaji’s heavyweight “K” soaps air at the same time on Star Plus. So there will be no head-to-head as it were.
     
     
     
    ‘JASSI’ MAKEOVER WITHIN NEXT 15 DAYS

    Coming to current properties, lead character Jassi in Jassi Jaissi.. will finally adorn the much awaited new avatar and the plot promises to get a lot thicker in no less than 15 days. One point of note is that Katial has no plans to take Jassi.. off air anytime in the foreseeable future. So where the story is now headed will be worth watching.

    Ayushmaan (the Indianised Doogie Howser MD), meanwhile, will be refurbished with the essential tweaking that the property currently demands, says Katial.

    And as for Indian Idol, although it bids adieu in the next four days, it will return for its second season in the second half of 2005, he promises.

     

    Thats the action for the month of March. Will SET manage to capitalise on the impact made by Idol. That’s the million dollar question.