Moving Picture to launch infotainment channels in metros

Moving Picture Company (India) Ltd is gearing up to launch a 24-hour city specific interactive infotainment channel by November 2005. The company, which is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), will first launch the channel as 'Delhi One' for the Delhi market on a trial basis.

After evaluating the response in Delhi, the company will launch 'Mumbai One' in Mumbai,' 'Kolkata One' in Kolkata and 'Bangalore One' in Bangalore.

These will be regional language channels and will be covered in the first phase. The company will then launch channels in other Indian cities.

"We have got principal approval from the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) to uplink our city specific channel from Delhi. After Delhi, we will be launching these channels in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata." Rajesh Sharma, managing director, Moving Picture Company (India) Ltd, told Business Standard.

The company will be investing around Rs 20 crore for setting up infrastructure and upgrading equipments for its new channel. The company also plans to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to raise funds.

The company with a turnover of exceeding Rs 10 crore as on March 31, 2005 eyes 25 per cent growth by the end of the current financial year.

The company already has state of the art animation studio in Film City, Noida and plans to set one such studio in Mumbai.

The company has numerous programmes on Indian television including 'Popkorn' on Zoom, 'Current Bollywood' on Set Max and the daily morning show, 'Subah Savere' on DD National.

Recently, the company received orders worth US$2 mn to be executed in the next 18 months from Roseberry Global FZE, Hamariya Free Zone, Sharjah.

As a part of the work order, the company has got production and exclusive distribution rights for a 13X11 minites three dimensional (3D)animation series and for two international documentaries, 'The Politices of Reincarnation' and 'Dead Men Walking' as well as production of 30 second infomercials, which forms the total package of the deal.