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  • Times Prime joins hands with MUBI to offer hand-picked cinema to its members

    Times Prime joins hands with MUBI to offer hand-picked cinema to its members

    MUMBAI: Times Prime, a premium lifestyle membership, has entered into a strategic partnership with the curated film streaming service, MUBI, to bring Indian and international cinema to its members through its two film channels MUBI INDIA and MUBI WORLD. Times Bridge, the global investments and partnerships arm of the Times Group, sculpted this partnership between Times Prime and MUBI to expand MUBI’s reach among India’s digitally-savvy populace. MUBI is part of Times Bridge’s portfolio of global companies that includes Uber, Airbnb, Coursera, Smule, Headspace, Houzz, Wattpad among others. Through this collaboration, Times Prime members will get to savour MUBI’s distinguished content of internationally acclaimed, hand-picked cinema for 90 days. 

    Times Prime business head Vivek Jain said, “MUBI introduces a new exquisite movie every day on each of its film channels, and its ever-changing line up resonates well with Times Prime’s vision of improving the everyday lives of its members. Our members will gain access to MUBI’s collection of hand-picked films from new directors to award winners from around the world, including films that can’t be found elsewhere.” 

    MUBI founder and CEO Efe Cakarel said, “We’re thrilled that MUBI is now part of the Times Prime membership. This collaboration will add great value to Times Prime’s members, allowing them to discover incredible and interesting movies from India and around the world every day.”

    Times Bridge investment operations SVP Viral Jani said, “Indians are embracing subscription-based services and their willingness to pay for truly unique and high-quality content is at an all-time high. Enabling MUBI’s partnership with India’s most prominent digital membership will keep us at the top of this trend and fuel MUBI’s growth further in the world’s second-largest internet market.”

    At an introductory price of Rs 999, Times Prime’s premium lifestyle membership now offers exclusive access to 13 premium memberships. In addition to MUBI, these include a Zee5 subscription worth Rs 599, HBR Ascend worth Rs 1699, Gaana+ by Gaana worth Rs 399, exclusive access to TOI+ the ad-free online version of the world’s largest circulating newspaper, ETPrime membership worth Rs 399, FreshClub subscription worth Rs 399, Healthify Smart Plan worth Rs 1498 and FitCoach membership worth Rs 999. Customers can easily recover their membership fee within the first week and save up to Rs 60,000 every year, making Times Prime the most comprehensive and cost-effective premium subscription service available in India.

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  • MUBI and PVR Cinemas partner to launch ‘Mubi Go’

    MUBI and PVR Cinemas partner to launch ‘Mubi Go’

    MUMBAI: Curated streaming service MUBI and PVR Cinemas – the largest cinema chain in India, announced that they have partnered to launch the cinema-going initiative MUBI GO in India this Friday. 

    As part of a MUBI subscription, members will now receive one complimentary ticket every week to see a film that has been hand-picked by MUBI in any PVR Cinema, via the MUBI GO app. 

    MUBI GO launches with Rian Johnson’s KNIVES OUT as its first ‘Film of the Week’, featuring an all-star cast including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis and Toni Collette. KNIVES OUT hits PVR Cinemas across the country this Friday, and is a witty and stylish modern-day murder mystery that follows the investigation of the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), led by Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). 

    The nationwide initiative with PVR Cinemas means that MUBI GO users will be able to redeem tickets for the selected films in any PVR Cinema across India in its hugely popular Classic seat category at all mainstream auditoriums. Available to download on iOS and Android mobile devices from Friday, the MUBI GO app will list PVR Cinema schedules for the current ‘Film of the Week’ based on user locations, as well as show the film selection for the upcoming week.

    MUBI GO expands to India after a successful launch in the UK, where members have enjoyed box office hits like ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD and JUDY to specialty titles like THE SOUVENIR and BORDER. 

    PVR Ltd  joint managing director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli commented, “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with MUBI, MUBI GO is a new programming and marketing initiative that will put a spotlight on a curated set of character and narrative driven movies. PVR taking action to promote and celebrate more films and more storytellers is a healthy enhancement to the cinematic ecosystem, our partnership with MUBI is a step in the same direction.”

    MUBI founder and CEO Efe Cakarel said, “I could not be more excited to launch MUBI GO with PVR Cinemas in India. It is a big milestone for us, with it being the second territory where we’ve introduced the initiative. After launching our film channels MUBI INDIA and MUBI WORLD this month, our members can now not only watch amazing hand-picked films online, but also in real cinemas across the country.”

    Commenting on the association,  PVR Pictures CEO Kamal Gianchadani said, “At PVR, we always try to innovate and push the envelope. This tie up dispels the myth that cinemas and OTT cannot collaborate. Because PVR is the top choice for blockbuster movies, many customers don’t realize that we screen more elevated and celebrated films than anyone else in the country. Our collaboration with MUBI will help us expose more movie goers to specialized films and increase their theatrical success.”

    From Friday, MUBI members will find MUBI GO included in their existing subscriptions, and new members can subscribe for an introductory price of INR 199 for three months.

    Subscriptions include MUBI GO and MUBI’s curated streaming service, which is home to an incredible collection of hand-picked films. Every day new films are introduced to each of its film channels including, MUBI WORLD, which presents acclaimed international films like MOONLIGHT, and MUBI INDIA, which is fully dedicated to Indian cinema and features cult classics like Kamal Swaroop’s OM DAR-B-DAR to films like BINNU KA SAPNA from rising star Kanu Behl. 

  • Oscar-winning executive producer Guneet Monga joins MUBI India as content advisor

    Oscar-winning executive producer Guneet Monga joins MUBI India as content advisor

    MUMBAI: Following the recent announcement of curated global streaming service, MUBI’s expansion into South-East Asia, Guneet Monga joins the company as content advisor for India as it expands its operations in the region. Times Bridge and MUBI announced a strategic investment and partnership last year.

    Monga is an Oscar-winning executive producer and BAFTA-nominated producer, having won an Academy Award for her short film ‘Period. End of Sentence’, and has to her credit films including the smash hits like ‘The Lunchbox’ and ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’.

     At MUBI India, Monga will take forward the overall programming and acquisitions strategy for MUBI India. She brings with her a wealth of experience within the Indian film industry that will help define the content profile.

    MUBI founder and CEO Efe Cakarel said, “We bring great cinema to audiences across the globe, and in recent years have localiSed our service to cater to film lovers in more countries and more languages than ever before. With our upcoming launch in India, following our recent Malaysia launch, we are thrilled to expand our value proposition with the introduction of bespoke channels to showcase content from across the region, appeal to local tastes, and champion the work of local filmmakers.”

    Film producer Guneet Monga said, “I've been a fan of MUBI for many years now. To see a new curated film everyday through my own little window to the world of cinema, has brought me unparalleled joy. And now, as the MUBI India content strategy consultant, I am thrilled to be a part of the Times Bridge – MUBI partnership, and share with the Indian audiences the delight that this platform can be. Looking forward to bringing movies from across languages and film industries to MUBI India and watching them with the rest of the country. I will, alongside this wonderful opportunity, continue to produce movies and build my company, Sikhya entertainment.”

    Times Bridge sr vice president, investment Viral Jani said, “As part of our India playbook for MUBI, we want to build a strong connection with the Indian content ecosystem and drive strategic partnerships for wider distribution. We are excited to have Guneet on board to advise on content strategy & acquisition for MUBI India. We look forward to jointly working on localising the MUBI experience for India to bring curated high quality movie consumption experience to viewers.”

    As part of Times Bridge’s investment in MUBI, they will also be providing the company with local market expertise, talent outreach and access to commercial and festival partnerships.

    MUBI recently announced that it is expanding into South-East Asia, with offices now open in Kuala Lumpur running a localised service for the platform, and further plans to launch across more territories in the fast-developing region.

    By the end of the year, MUBI India will host a channel dedicated to curated Indian cinema as part of its offering to audiences here.

  • Times Bridge invests in MUBI streaming service

    Times Bridge invests in MUBI streaming service

    MUMBAI: The investment arm of the Times of India group, Times Bridge, and Danish film-maker Nicolas Winding Refn have invested in specialty streaming service MUBI. The terms of the deal remain undisclosed but are understood to be similar to the revised arrangements under which China’s Huanxi Media became a backer in November 2016 according to a Variety.com report. In that deal, Huanxi paid $2 million for a 1.6 per cent ownership stake, valuing MUBI at $125 million.

    Unlike the global leaders in streaming with all-you-can-eat content menus, MUBI operates by operating a limited and rotating selection of just 30 movies. It contends that curation (selection by humans, not algorithm) creates a community of active users. After 10 years in operation, it currently claims 8 million registered users.

    Times Bridge, which counts stakes in Uber, Vice and AirBnB, regards the investment as strategic. It will provide MUBI with local knowledge, talent outreach and commercial and festival partnerships. India, which is currently waking up to streaming video, already represent MUBI’s third largest market. Subscriptions are sold at Rs 500 per month in India and at $8.99 in the U.S.

    “MUBI is an original idea with a decade’s worth of proven appeal amongst fans of independent cinema worldwide. Film is inextricably linked to India’s heritage and, in a country with rapidly-changing tastes, we are confident that the MUBI platform will delight a meaningful audience seeking high-quality, curated, global cinema,” said Rishi Jaitly, CEO of Times Bridge.

    Winding is expected to provide advocacy and add brand value to the company which already counts Working Title’s Eric Fellner as an angel investor. Winding Refn previously produced new brand identity for MUBI.

    “Times Bridge have shown a highly sophisticated understanding of our business and our goals in the region. India is a unique opportunity for us to engage with a passionate community with deep cultural ties to film,” said MUBI’s founder and CEO Efe Cakarel, in a statement.

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