TV18 inks media outsourcing alliance with Infosys

The company, to be called Source 18, has signed its first client, National Geographic Channel

The TV18 Group, which owns channels such as CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNN-IBN and IBN 7, is currently being seen as an aggressive group that is moving rapidly beyond its traditional business of television.

The media company, which has a significant presence on the Web and is also aiming at the print media soon, has ventured into the media outsourcing service space. In a strategic alliance with Infosys BPO, the TV18 Group has launched a new company called Source 18. This company will provide a full spectrum of services such as digital archiving and meta-tagging, repurposing content, workflow charting, ideation, re-editing, transcoding and quality control to media and entertainment companies globally.

TV18 inks media outsourcing alliance with Infosys

Source 18 will also provide other services such as promo production, traffic management, uplinking and inventory management, besides analytics, finance and accounting services, order management, rights management and even HR services.

Haresh Chawla

Haresh Chawla, group CEO, TV18, says that the launch of this new venture is part of the group’s strategy to address all aspects of the media value chain.

As partner, Infosys BPO will bring on board its global delivery capabilities, its technological knowhow and process understanding. TV18, on the other hand, will bring in its knowledge and expertise in the industry. Source 18 has already got its first client, National Geographic Channel, which has signed on for repurposing its archived and current content for the mobile platform.

Source 18 will also utilize the services of Tangerine Digital Entertainment (TDE), a company floated by Puneet Johar, ex-senior vice-president of STAR India. TDE specialises in content repurposing and media process outsourcing.

Media process outsourcing is a new sector for media companies. Last year, the TV18 Group’s arch rival, the NDTV Group, tied up with Genpact to launch a similar service in the country. It is estimated that the global media and entertainment industry will touch the $2 trillion mark by 2008, and that creation of content in multiple formats across media platforms is the need of the hour for all broadcasters as they are looking at delivery of content through multiple platforms; it also brings down the cost for the broadcasters.

Have news to share? Write to us atnewsteam@afaqs.com