ITV

Tag: Studio 18

  • Sony Pictures India appoints media specialist Gayathiri Guliani

    Sony Pictures India appoints media specialist Gayathiri Guliani

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment India has appointed Gayathiri Guliani as head of International Distribution for Indian language films.

    With over 19 years of experience, media specialist Guliani will be responsible for distribution and syndication of local language content in overseas diaspora markets and to identify newer markets to expand the footprint of Indian movies.

    A seasoned professional with experience ranging across broadcasting and motion pictures in international distribution and business development, Guliani has spear-headed the international distribution, marketing and syndication for over 26 films. Her last assignment was with Reliance Big Pictures where Guliani has worked on the successful movie, 3 idiots, which created a benchmark in being one of the highest overseas film grossers of all time. She has worked on other successful movies like Rock On, Jab We Met, Singh is King, Welcome, Ghajini to name a few.

    Speaking on her appointment, Sony SPE Films managing director Vivek Krishnani said, “At Sony Pictures India, we are committed to strengthening our international distribution network for local films. With the growing overseas contribution of India movies, we are happy to have Gayathiri on the team, who with her vast experience will work closely with the global Sony Pictures offices and help drive the growth in the international business”.

    Commenting on her appointment, Guliani said, “Sony is a brand with global vision, the leadership is iconic. It is a wonderful opportunity to be here and grow the international markets and take our Indian films to new frontiers. I look forward to a successful innings”.

    Prior joining Sony Guliani has worked with brands such as Reliance Big Pictures, Studio 18, Sahara One Motion Pictures, Channel V, Star TV to name a few. She has been a recipient of ‘Young Achievers Award 2014’ by WWI (Whistling Woods International) Academy for her contribution in International Business. As part of her independent work, she was also honored by the Consulate General of China (2015) for promoting Indo-China bilateral and cultural exchange between both countries.

  • Sony Pictures India appoints media specialist Gayathiri Guliani

    Sony Pictures India appoints media specialist Gayathiri Guliani

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment India has appointed Gayathiri Guliani as head of International Distribution for Indian language films.

    With over 19 years of experience, media specialist Guliani will be responsible for distribution and syndication of local language content in overseas diaspora markets and to identify newer markets to expand the footprint of Indian movies.

    A seasoned professional with experience ranging across broadcasting and motion pictures in international distribution and business development, Guliani has spear-headed the international distribution, marketing and syndication for over 26 films. Her last assignment was with Reliance Big Pictures where Guliani has worked on the successful movie, 3 idiots, which created a benchmark in being one of the highest overseas film grossers of all time. She has worked on other successful movies like Rock On, Jab We Met, Singh is King, Welcome, Ghajini to name a few.

    Speaking on her appointment, Sony SPE Films managing director Vivek Krishnani said, “At Sony Pictures India, we are committed to strengthening our international distribution network for local films. With the growing overseas contribution of India movies, we are happy to have Gayathiri on the team, who with her vast experience will work closely with the global Sony Pictures offices and help drive the growth in the international business”.

    Commenting on her appointment, Guliani said, “Sony is a brand with global vision, the leadership is iconic. It is a wonderful opportunity to be here and grow the international markets and take our Indian films to new frontiers. I look forward to a successful innings”.

    Prior joining Sony Guliani has worked with brands such as Reliance Big Pictures, Studio 18, Sahara One Motion Pictures, Channel V, Star TV to name a few. She has been a recipient of ‘Young Achievers Award 2014’ by WWI (Whistling Woods International) Academy for her contribution in International Business. As part of her independent work, she was also honored by the Consulate General of China (2015) for promoting Indo-China bilateral and cultural exchange between both countries.

  • Studio 18 gears up for first Bollywood release

    Studio 18 gears up for first Bollywood release

    MUMBAI: TV18 group’s film division, Studio 18, is gearing up to make its first foray into Bollywood. It will be releasing Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s romantic comedy Honeymoon Travels Private Limited on 23 February The movie directed by Reema Kagti is will be released worldwide with 50 prints.

    In the pipeline are six other releases namely Raaj Kumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol starring Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan and Kya Love Story Hain from VR Entertainment starring Tusshar Kapoor and Ayesha Takia.

    Studio 18 was set up last year by Raghav Bahl, along with Sandeep Bhargava, the former head of Sahara Motion Pictures. Since then it has roped in the likes of Ashoka Holla, Tanuj Garg and Gayatri Batra.

    Talking about the appointments Bhargava says, “The three have had experience in releasing some of the biggest money-spinners overseas including experience in syndication, festivals, new market development and exploitation of emerging media.”

    The international division, with offices in the US and UK, will market and distribute in-house productions and external acquisitions in foreign markets.

    Adds Holla, “The focus will also be on broadening the appetite of the overseas audience by being first-movers in presenting an alternate menu to them. This division of Studio 18 intends to assemble a diverse slate – that is mainstream Bollywood features of viable sizes, genres and set-ups and exploit them through a bouquet of available rights to the maximum.”

  • TV18 to raise Rs 2 billion, open to print entry

    TV18 to raise Rs 2 billion, open to print entry

    MUMBAI: Raghav Bahl-promoted TV18 is raising Rs 2 billion through a fresh equity issue to fund its organic and inorganic expansion plans.

    The company is keen to acquire a business newspaper, completing the chain across television channels, internet and print. Sources say TV18 is eyeing financial daily Business Standard where Uday Kotak is the largest shareholder and the others include Financial Times and Great Eastern Shipping.

    TV18 has mandated HSBC and will raise Rs 2 billion through a qualified institutional placement (QIP). The funds are being kept ready as the company plans to expand its business and is also hunting for opportunities in new areas.

    “We are going for a QIP issue of Rs 2 billion,” confirms TV18 Group managing director Bahl. “We have several expansion plans. We are also looking at an opportunity in the business print space but nothing has come up,” he adds, while defending against any suggestion of pursuing talks with Business Standard.

    The QIP issue will involve a small dilution as regulations make it mandatory for Network 18, the holding company for TV18 and Global Broadcast News (GBN), to own at least 51 per cent in the news ventures. The current holding of Network 18 in TV18 is 53 per cent while in GBN it is 57 per cent (post-IPO).

    Network 18 also has non core TV businesses in Studio 18 and Shop 18. The company expects Studio 18, which is engaged in movie business, to rake in a revenue of Rs 1 billion in the first full year of operations. The plan is to produce a movie every month. In Shop 18, the 24-hour television network dedicated to home shopping, trial runs have been conducted and the call centres are coming into place.

    Network 18 has already raised a debt of Rs 700 million which will take care of its current funding needs, the source says while not ruling out further fund raising exercises in future.

    TV18 houses two business channels, CNBC TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, a clutch of internet properties, financial wire service Crisil Marketwire (which was recently acquired and renamed Newswire 18) and an e-broking venture with partners.

  • Network 18 announces film foray; sets up Studio 18

    Network 18 announces film foray; sets up Studio 18

    MUMBAI: Network 18, the holding company of TV18 Group, has officially announced its foray into the big money game — movie business.

    The company launches Studio 18, a full spectrum division that will mark the group’s entry in the motion picture business. With this the company is also planning to launch a home video label for Studio 18.

    The announcement confirms news first put out (in June) by Indiantelevision.com that TV18 promoter Raghav Bahl was floating a company that would be involved in producing and distributing movies.

    Studio 18 will look into the aspects of acquisition, production, syndication and distribution of full-length feature films. Based in Mumbai, the company will have its distribution offices in London and New York, according to an official statement.
    Studio 18 will be headed by former Sahara-One Motion Pictures COO Sandeep Bhargava while Priti Shahani will lead the marketing division. Additionally, she will also be heading the syndication and distribution business for the company.

    The company has also roped in former UTV Motion Pictures VP international & acquisition Ashoka Holla to head the international distribution and acquisitions business. He will also be responsible for launching and driving the Home Video label for Studio 18.

    While, former Percept Picture Company production business head Chitra Subramanian, who was instrumental in developing and producing several movies like Hanuman, Malamaal Weekly, and Corporate, will head the production division. She has in the past worked closely with filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Priyadarshan, Nagesh Kukunoor and Madhur Bhandarkar.
    Deepti Chawla will head the creative function. She comes with a background in advertising and film-making and can be credited for effective packaging of films like Hanuman, Malamaal Weekly and Corporate.

    Sibashish Sarkar has been appointed as CFO. Sarkar has spent 13 years across various FMCG and other industries, working with organizations like Godrej Sara Lee, Shaw Wallace & Hindustan Cables. The last three years have seen him in Entertainment companies like UTV and Percept Picture Company where he has played a strategic role in financial restructuring and been instrumental in setting systems and processes for the business.

    Vandana Malik and Sanjay Ray Chadhuri, both founding shareholder-directors of the TV18 Group, will act as creative advisors for Studio 18.

    Speaking at the launch, Raghav Bahl, TV 18 Group managing director, said: “We are excited about our entry into India’s dynamic entertainment industry. Studio 18 is a key component in our strategy to transform Network 18 into a full-play media conglomerate, with a leadership position in motion pictures, news broadcasting and internet portals.”