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Tag: K Sera Sera

  • Kahaani 2 producer free to choose digital distributor, says CCI, K Sera Sera offers ‘no comment’

    NEW DELHI: A film producer has the right to choose his own digital cinema provider, and there is nothing “unreasonable or anti-competitive” in keeping out other providers, the Competition Competotion of India has held.

    Rejecting an objection by K Sera Sera, a four-member bench comprising chairperson Devender Kumar Sikri and members S L Bunker, Sudhir Mittal and U C Nahata said there was no contravention of Sections 3 and 4 of the Competition Act 2002, on part of the producers of Vidya Balan-starrer Kahaani2 for entering into an agreement with two digital media service providers exclusively for the distribution of their movie. Indiantelevision.com reached out to K Sera Sera, and its media relations agency said they have no comment to offer.

    In a nine-page order, the CCI found nothing wrong with the agreement between the producers Pen Movies, UFO Moviez India and Real Image Media Technologies, after examining facts put on record by the informant K Sera Sera’s lawyer Rachit Batra and producer’s counsel Rishi Agarwala, appearing on behalf of Naik Naik & Co.

    The Commission said the producer of a movie/ content manufacturer, availing the services of digital cinema providers as a consumer, has the right to decide the digital cinema service providers of its choice to distribute its movies. K Sera Sera informed the Commission that the producers had entered into this “anti-competitive arrangement/ agreement” with a view to limit/ control the release of movie Kahaani 2.

    It had been alleged by K Sera Sera that the producers had provided the contents of its earlier movies for release through K Sera Sera’s technology on several occasions in the past. However, they had refused K Sera Sera to supply the content of movie Kahaani 2. 

    It had also been claimed that representatives of the producers circulated “a discriminatory dictat to various distributors, bookers and theatres stating that they would rule the digital cinema service market and kill the business of other digital cinema service providers such as the informant”.

    Thus, the informant K Sera Sera requested the commission to inter alia impose penalties on the producers for entering into anti-competitive agreement and direct them to discontinue their present practice of refusal to deal with the informant. However, lawyers of the producers enclosed copies of a news article dated 11 January 2017, regarding an FIR filed by the film production house of movie Force 2, Viacom18, against the informant (K Sera Sera) for online piracy. 

    The news article had reported that the movie Force 2 was released on 18 November 2016, and the pirated version of the movie was available in full length on various websites for unauthorised download and streaming soon after.

    It was reported that Viacom18 had developed an internal security mechanism, in the form of unique identifiers for each copy of the said film, before the digital content packages (DCPs) were distributed to the digital integrators in order to tackle the menace of online piracy and to identify the source of leak, if any. Investigations conducted by Viacom18 revealed that pirated copies had originated from the copy that was sent to the informant for digital integration.

    The commission observed: “Section 3(5)(i)(a) of the Competition Act clearly provides that application of Section 3 shall not restrict the right of any person to impose reasonable conditions as may be necessary for protecting any of its rights conferred upon under the Copyright Act, 1957.”

    It added that the decision of the producers to refuse to exhibit their movies through the Informant’s digital service, “with whom producers have had issues of piracy earlier, appear to be taken as a precautionary step to prevent any loss due to piracy…. It may be noted that the very objective of competition law is to protect the interest of consumers and the process of of competition. It is not concerned with the harm to the competitors unless that also leads to harm to the consumers. Thus, the Commission is of the view that the alleged conduct of the producers in refusing to provide the content of the movie ‘Kahaani-2’ to the Informant does not appear to be unreasonable and anti-competitive.”

    Also Read:

    Viacom18, Star India & B4U win case against pirated streaming in US

    ‘Force 2’ piracy: Viacom18 registers FIR; KSS blames it on a theatre

  • Unfair biz plaint against Warner Bros., Walt Disney, Fox Star; probe denial an error: Tribunal

    Unfair biz plaint against Warner Bros., Walt Disney, Fox Star; probe denial an error: Tribunal

    MUMBAI: The Competition Appellate Tribunal, for the second time in a year, has rejected the Competition Commission’s decision to dismiss a complaint of alleged unfair business ways made against Walt Disney, Warner Bros, Fox Star Studios and four other entities.

    The COMPAT, in a strongly-worded order, said that the CCI had committed serious error by declining to order an investigation.

    The complaint filed by K Sera Sera against the seven entities was rejected by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) after concluding that there was no prima-facie violation of competition norms, PTI reported. The watchdog dismissed the allegations twice, in April 2015 and June this year.

    The seven entities are — US-based Digital Cinemas Initiatives LLC, a joint venture, and its six stakeholder partners — The Walt Disney Company India, Fox Star Studios, NBC Universal Media Distribution Services, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros and Paramount Films India (respondents).

    “Rationally speaking, it would have saved time and efforts of all those involved in this matter if the Commission had ordered an investigation by the director general instead of once again more or less reiterating its earlier views,” the Tribunal said in the order.

    COMPAT said the “impugned order is set aside and the director-general is ordained to conduct investigation into the allegations contained in the information filed by the appellant (K Sera Sera)”. The investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in the Competition Commission of India (General) Regulations, 2009, the Tribunal noted.

    It was alleged that these entities indulged in anti-competitive practices in the digital cinema exhibition market, the PTI report added. It was alleged that Digital Cinemas LLC was formed with the aim of dominating and monopolising the market of digital cinema exhibition in India and elsewhere.

    In April 2015, CCI had rejected the allegations, and K Sera Sera approached the Tribunal, which asked the regulator to reconsider the matter.

    COMPAT stated: “on one hand, the respondents claim that their technology is voluntary, on the other, they create potential entry barriers by releasing their films only to those who opt for digital technology,” noting that it was “prima-facie anti-competitive.”

  • Unfair biz plaint against Warner Bros., Walt Disney, Fox Star; probe denial an error: Tribunal

    Unfair biz plaint against Warner Bros., Walt Disney, Fox Star; probe denial an error: Tribunal

    MUMBAI: The Competition Appellate Tribunal, for the second time in a year, has rejected the Competition Commission’s decision to dismiss a complaint of alleged unfair business ways made against Walt Disney, Warner Bros, Fox Star Studios and four other entities.

    The COMPAT, in a strongly-worded order, said that the CCI had committed serious error by declining to order an investigation.

    The complaint filed by K Sera Sera against the seven entities was rejected by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) after concluding that there was no prima-facie violation of competition norms, PTI reported. The watchdog dismissed the allegations twice, in April 2015 and June this year.

    The seven entities are — US-based Digital Cinemas Initiatives LLC, a joint venture, and its six stakeholder partners — The Walt Disney Company India, Fox Star Studios, NBC Universal Media Distribution Services, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros and Paramount Films India (respondents).

    “Rationally speaking, it would have saved time and efforts of all those involved in this matter if the Commission had ordered an investigation by the director general instead of once again more or less reiterating its earlier views,” the Tribunal said in the order.

    COMPAT said the “impugned order is set aside and the director-general is ordained to conduct investigation into the allegations contained in the information filed by the appellant (K Sera Sera)”. The investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in the Competition Commission of India (General) Regulations, 2009, the Tribunal noted.

    It was alleged that these entities indulged in anti-competitive practices in the digital cinema exhibition market, the PTI report added. It was alleged that Digital Cinemas LLC was formed with the aim of dominating and monopolising the market of digital cinema exhibition in India and elsewhere.

    In April 2015, CCI had rejected the allegations, and K Sera Sera approached the Tribunal, which asked the regulator to reconsider the matter.

    COMPAT stated: “on one hand, the respondents claim that their technology is voluntary, on the other, they create potential entry barriers by releasing their films only to those who opt for digital technology,” noting that it was “prima-facie anti-competitive.”

  • United Mediaworks & K Sera Sera merge ops; set aside Rs 100 crore as investment

    United Mediaworks & K Sera Sera merge ops; set aside Rs 100 crore as investment

    MUMBAI: K Sera Sera(KSS) Digital Cinema Private Limited and United MediaWorks (UMW) joined forces to become the third largest digital cinema player in the country.

     

    The two companies have decided to integrate their full operations and technology and use their combined energies to develop and consolidate their market position. Post the merger across content, technology and operations, the new venture will serve their existing 600 digital cinema theaters across the country. KSS’s Satish Panchariya will be the Chairman of the new company and UMW’s Ashish Bhandari will be the Managing Director.

     

    To fuel their expansion plans, both the companies plan to invest INR 100 crores over the next two to three years. This investment will be used to build state-of-art and scalable digital cinema technology and on ground servicing, while assisting in digital content security and distribution of the films. Over the next 2 years, the joint venture is aiming to capture 25% market share with presence in 2000 screens across India. 

     

    As part of their growth strategy, the two companies aim at reaching out to advertisers, targeting both, national and regional players and offer them pan India reach. Both the companies are working together to build a common technology platform for content acquisition, content processing and field servicing. The new platform will not only provide cost effective solutions to both multiplexes and single screen theatres, but also offer advertisers a wide reach across the country for better ROIs. Additionally, the companies will mutually work towards delivering best quality services and reaching out to the untapped market segments of India. They intend to serve the Indian cinema industry with best products and services. The exisiting workforce will remain unaffected in both of the companies.

     

    Speaking on the joint venture, United Mediaworks co-founder & joint managing director Ashish Bhandari said, “We are really excited to partner with K Sera Sera, as our goal has always been to support the growth of the Media and Entertainment industry. With this merger, we are aiming to expand our presence across India and create a benchmark for the entire industry in terms of technology and quality services. This collaboration is also an effort to revive and support the single screen theatres that face tough competition from the multiplexes in the industry.”

  • K Sera Sera opens miniplex in Abohar, near Chandigarh

    K Sera Sera opens miniplex in Abohar, near Chandigarh

    MUMBAI: After successfully launching a chain of miniplexes in several states and districts across the country, the film production and distribution company, K Sera Sera (KSS) has now launched a miniplex in Abohar, near Chandigarh in Punjab.

     

    This is the second KSS miniplex in Punjab launched within the last two weeks. The company had launched another one at Nawanshahr on 14 August. With the launch of the new miniplex, the total number of KSS screens has now reached 15.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, KSS chairman Satish Panchariya said, “It is a sheer delight to expand the miniplexes across the country. We aim to reach out to the movie enthusiasts and delight them with the latest technology in movie viewing. We have maintained to bring such delightful experiences to our viewers and we are working towards enhancing it even more.” 

    The new miniplex in Abohar will have high quality digital technology via satellite, lighting and high end acoustic sound system. It has got all the perks of a multiplex experience at a lower rate. To add to the experience, KSS also offers multi –cuisine food courts in the cinema.

     

    The miniplex also has a total of 150 seats for each of its two screens and uniform recliners, which can recline up to 150 degrees. 

  • K Sera Sera promotes Rajesh Pavithran as MD

    K Sera Sera promotes Rajesh Pavithran as MD

    MUMBAI: K Sera Sera is promoting Rajesh Pavithran as the managing director of the company. He was earlier the chief operating officer of Twenty Twenty Television, K Sera Sera’s subsidiary company which is engaged in the television content business.

    K Sera Sera’s chief financial officer Amar Panghal is being elevated to the position of additional director. Meanwhile, Parag Sanghavi, a promoter of the company, has tendered his resignation as MD of K Sera Sera.

    “The whole exercise is to professionalise the company. Pavithran will be made the MD while Panghal is being inducted into the board,” says Sanghavi.

    Kacon Sethi will continue as CEO of K Sera Sera’s television business. “It is a subsidiary company of K Sera Sera and she will continue to head it,” says Sanghavi.

    Pavithran, who was COO in Balaji Telefilms before joining K Sera Sera, will also be handling the music channel Lemon. Eternal Dreams, a media company promoted by ex-Sony executive Sapna Chaturvedi, has ended its association with Lemon. It was entrusted with the task of developing the channel.

    “We will no more be associated with Lemon or K Sera Sera in the capacity of consultants for running, operating or managing the channel,” says Chaturvedi.

  • K Sera Sera signs to buy 80 per cent in Lemon Entertainment

    K Sera Sera signs to buy 80 per cent in Lemon Entertainment

    MUMBAI: K Sera Sera Productions Ltd has is acquiring 80 per cent stake in Lemon Entertainment (formerly known as Hamara Samay TV News Network). K Sera Sera announced today that it had entered into a shareholder’s agreement with the promoters of Lemon Entertainment for this purpose.

    With this, Lemon Entertainment would become a subsidiary of K Sera Sera. The acquisition, however, is subject to regulatory approvals.

    “Indiantelevision.com was the first to report about the buyout and K Sera Sera’s plans to launch a music channel following this acquisition.

    Lemon Entertainment has launched the music channel, Lemon TV. The operations are being handled by Eternal Dreams, a company floated by Sapna Chaturvedi, as a turnkey project. Suguna Narayan has joined as CEO and Pradeep Chak as head of marketing, strategy and sales. Narayan comes from Time Out Mumbai where she was the CEO while Chak was vice-president of client servicing and new business development at Euro RSCG in Mumabi.

  • K Sera Sera launching music channel on 1 December

    K Sera Sera launching music channel on 1 December

    MUMBAI: K Sera Sera is launching a music channel on 1 December with an investment plan of Rs 250 million. With this, the production company will make an entry into the broadcasting space.

    K Sera Sera has bought out Hamara Samay TV News Network, the company that owns and operates music channel Jhankar TV. But the brand stays with the original promoters of Hamara Samay who will continue to run Jhankar TV. The distribution platform of Jhankar TV will, however, shift to K Sera Sera’s new music channel.

    “The distribution network which belonged to Jhankar TV will come to us as part of the agreement. The deals struck already with cable operators for carrying Jhankar TV will pass on to us. This will guarantee the distribution of our new channel on cable networks in the Hindi markets,” says Sapna Chaturvedi who will head the music channel.

    K Sera Sera’s idea of running a music channel is seen as a strategy to synergise with its movie production business. The company spends substantial amount of money for promoting its movies on music channels. Having a channel of its own would, thus, make strategic sense.

    Eternal Dreams, the company that Chaturvedi owns, will manage the operations of the channel as a turn key project and be paid a fee by K Sera Sera. “The programming will revolve around musical reality shows, contests, interactive programming, countdowns, music and entertainment,” says Chaturvedi.

  • Media stocks big gainers

    Media stocks big gainers

    MUMBAI: Sparked by a buoyant stock market, media stocks stood as big gainers on Monday. While the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex scaled a new high to end the day 56.10 points up at 13,186.89, strong activity was seen in media scrips like Balaji Telefilms, TV18 and Zee Telefilms.

    “There is a strong sentiment in favour of media stocks. Major action is happening in this sector and financial performances are improving,” said a market analyst.

    Balaji Telefilms gained 10.4 per cent in today’s trade, moving up from the previous close of Rs 158.55 to end the day at Rs 175. TV18 rose 10.18 per cent to close at Rs 898.55 while UTV went up by 9.26 per cent to Rs 221.75.

    Most of the other media stocks also firmed up with Zee Telefilms seeing a 3.62 per cent rise to close the trading session at Rs 337.65. Among the other gainers were TV Today (5.79 per cent to Rs 75.85), Sun TV (1.81 per cent to Rs 1264), Adlabs (1.88 per cent to Rs 365.55), K Sera Sera (1.43 per cent to Rs 31.95) and Bag Films (3 per cent to Rs 9.27). NDTV saw a marginal rise of 0.38 per cent with the scrip closing at Rs 236.30. Hinduja TMT, however, dipped by 1.48 per cent to Rs 519.15.

    “There is investment interest in media companies from private equity and non media players,” said an analyst in a brokering firm.

    A recent indication of this is the buyout of 51 per cent stake in Asianet by former chairman and BPL Mobile CEO Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Several media companies have also recently raised money through public offerings. Raj Television Network Ltd has just filed documents with the market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), for its initial public offering (IPO).

    “The media sector is set for further growth as digitalisation sets in. There is bound to be a rub-off effect in such stocks,” the analyst said.

  • Eros International in 2-year output deal with K Sera Sera

    Eros International in 2-year output deal with K Sera Sera

    MUMBAI: London-headquartered media and entertainment group Eros International that owns and distributes Bollywood content globally has announced a long-term output deal with the Mumbai-based production house K Sera Sera to co-produce and exclusively handle global distribution of its forthcoming films.

    Indiantelevision.com was the first to report that K Sera Sera and Eros were in negotiations for an output deal.

    “We have signed an MoU for a broadbased two-year output deal. We are working out the details,” says K Sera Sera managing director Parag Sanghvi. The deal is “for assignment of some of its rights for some of its forthcoming film projects.” Definitive agreement for assignment of the rights shall be entered between the parties at a later date.

    The deal gives Eros access to K Sera Sera’s entire output over a long term period, which is guaranteed to be at least 10 films. Projects in the pipeline include Nanhe starring Bobby Deol, Dombivili Fast directed by Abbas Mastan, and three Salman Khan films, including Partner directed by David Dhawan, informs an official release.

    With this deal, Eros expects to increase its presence in India through co-productions and the acquisition of distribution rights to include music publishing and more significantly, Indian cinema distribution, which accounts for over 50 per cent of the revenues of the Indian film industry.

    Says Eros chairman & CEO Kishore Lulla, “This deal demonstrates our content consolidation strategy as outlined at the time of our flotation. We are confident that collaborating with a successful production house like K Sera Sera will help accelerate our growth from co-productions and ensure a steady flow of content through our pipeline.”

    Adds Sanghvi, “We are delighted to be associated with Eros who have been pioneers in the Bollywood distribution and entertainment space for over three decades. This output deal allows us to focus on our core competency of film production.”

    Eros’s latest Bollywood venture has been Omkara, a Bollywood adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. As per the official release, the movie grossed box office revenues of $6.7 million in its first week of worldwide release in August 2006.