UTV, WB ink 110-movie deal for UTV Action

UTV Broadcast has stitched a 110-movie deal with Warner Brothers International Television Distribution for both feeds (Hindi & Telugu) of its movie channel - UTV Action.

As per the agreement, the deal will run for an initial period of two years, and will be subject to renewal once the two-year term comes to an end, say company sources.

While the price paid for the deal could not be ascertained from the UTV stable during the time of filing the report, industry experts state that the cost paid can be around Rs 5 lakh for the Telugu rights, and Rs 10 lakh for the Hindi rights for each movie.

Through this deal with WB, the channels will enhance their movie banks with titles such as The Lord of the Rings, The Dark Knight, Shoot Them Up, Most Wanted, Cradle to The Grave, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, Blue Sea, Golden Compass, and Get Smart Jason X.

Commenting on the association, Manasi Sapre, programming head, UTV Action and UTV Action Telugu says, "WB has some of the best action films in its library, and this association will create for Indian viewers, fast access to this content."

Kunal Mukherjee, marketing head, broadcasting, UTV says, "This will also help significantly reduce the telecast window gap of a movie between an English movie channel, and its dubbed version on our channel. Therefore, if the viewer watched the dubbed movie a month after its English telecast earlier, he can now watch the same movie dubbed in his language within a shorter time span."