> NBC comes to India, New Movie Channel also

Global media and entertainment firm NBC Universal will acquire a 26 per cent stake in NDTV Networks plc, the holding company for NDTV’s entertainment and lifestyle channels, for $150 million with an option to raise the stake to 50 per cent in two years, according to a joint release issued here on Tuesday.

With an aim to form a long-term strategic partnership in India, NBC Universal has executed a memorandum of agreement with the country’s leading news and infotainment network NDTV.

“We are delighted to have NBC as our partner. This agreement is a significant step for us. Today, two pioneers in the television history of the world’s two largest democracies have come together to cater to a dynamic and demanding set of viewers,” NDTV Chairman and Joint Founder, Prannoy Roy, said.

"India will be a $5bn television market by 2011, with a couple of hundred channels and a lot of cable -companies," said Pete Smith, president of NBC Universal International, based in London. "It is incredibly competitive.

"That is the bad news, but the good news is the growth. This deal gives us a bouquet of channels, particularly the Hindi language channel Imagine."

The agreement also includes an option for NBC Universal to increase its stake to become an equal partner with NDTV in the joint venture firm through which NBC Universal is investing, subject to any necessary consents and approvals, the release added. The agreement is subject to NDTV shareholder’s approval. NBC Universal, a subsidiary of New York Stock Exchange-listed General Electric, came into existence in 2004 when General Electric’s NBC combined with the French media company Vivendi Universal Entertainment.

English film channels HBO and Star Movies will finally have competition.

Alliance Lumiere, owned by NDTV Imagine, the entertainment company of NDTV, is all set to launch an international film channel. The films will be distributed in India and abroad. They will also be marketed through DVDs and VCDs for private viewing.

Originally Posted by KingKrool

Yay! More trash on Indian TV! Way to go! Soon, Indian TV will be as bad as American TV. And before you say, hey Indian TV is bad, US TV is so cool, please see some of the day time shows in the US. Judge Judy, Judge Alex, half a dozen talk shows... per channel and a lot of other crap. We already have to deal with [K]Ekta, do we now have to deal with this trash too?