UTV launches UTV Palador; movie channel, DVD label lined up

UTV has launched a new business vertical, UTV Palador, which is a 360 degree initiative including theatrics, a DVD label and a world cinema channel. Rakeysh Mehra, of ‘Rang de Basanti’ fame, will hold a 26 per cent stake in it

After foraying into broadcasting, animation and movies, UTV has launched a new business vertical, UTV Palador, which is a 360 degree initiative created around world cinema. Rakeysh Mehra, the director of the popular Hindi movie, ‘Rang de Basanti’, is a partner in this venture, holding a 26 per cent stake.

UTV Palador has 1,000 world movie titles from 20 countries under the name of Olive Collection. These are movies that have won more than 3,000 awards at Cannes, BAFTA, Venice and other festivals. UTV will invest Rs 70 crore in the venture.

The initiative also includes the launch of a world cinema channel, which will be called Olive Television. It is expected to launch in the second quarter of this financial year, much after its youth channel, Bindass. It will be overseen by two directors, Mohan PO and Gautam Shiknis.

UTV is eyeing 20 per cent of the non-Indian language movie channel genre by 2009, when this segment is expected grow to Rs 1,500 crore. Another initiative within this venture is the theatrical launch of movies. It will initiate world cinema theatres by screening Olive Collection films in about 20 theatres in the country. There will also be the Olive DVD Collection, which will release world cinema titles in phases.

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