| MUMBAI:
UFO Moviez is targeting a revenue of Rs 500 million by showing the Indian Premier
League (IPL) matches across 1,000 screens in India, presenting a case for rich
dividends in future from theatrical exploitation. The
company has so far signed contracts for 650 screens and hopes to seal deals that
would enable it to spread its net across 1,000 screens during the course of the
event. "We
are expecting a gross revenue of around Rs 500 million in the first year,"
Valuable Group (the holding company of UFO Moviez) strategic advisor - corporate
affairs Charu Satam tells Indiantelevision.com.
Though
the ticket charges will remain the same, the company will show advertisements
during strategic breaks before and after the innings. "The
box-office collection will be divided equally between cinema owners and UFO Moviez,
while we will also exploit commercial opportunities during the match. We won't
show ads after every over or wicket but before the start of the match, during
two strategic breaks per innings and before the presentation ceremony," Satam
said. UFO
Moviez has roped in Ford Figo as the main sponsor, while Hero Honda, Tata Photon,
Union Bank and Samsung have joined as associate sponsors. The
company has also selected 70 venues across India where it will organise UFO T20
Hungama Carnival. For the same, it has got Fosters, Provogue and Thane Janata
Sahakari Bank as carnival sponsors.
Says
UFO Moviez MD Sanjay Gaikwad, "With a target of showcasing the IPL across
1,000 cinemas, we have got into strategic alliances with multiplexes and single
screen cinemas across the country including Tier II and III cities. As no major
Bollywood films will be released during this IPL, this will serve as profitable
alternate revenue generating entertainment content for the exhibitors." In
Mumbai itself, UFO Moviez has signed 49 theatres for the IPL matches including
multiplex chains like Cinemax, Inox, Fame, PVR, Big Cinemas and Movietime apart
from theatres like New Excelsior, Meghraj Cinema, Movie Gem Cinema, Ashok Anil
Theatre, Tilak Talkies, Jai Ganesh, Saaz, Kulraj Broadway, Star City and Broadway
Theatre. | 
