MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company, which gobbled up UTV Software Communications last year, is building four specific lines of business in India centring around five brands.

Television, Film, Digital Media and Consumer Products will be the four verticals Disney will focus on. "We have five franchises - Disney, UTV, Marvel, Bindass and the newly acquired Star Wars - to play around in India. The acquisition of UTV has given us 250 million new consumers in this market that we couldn?t reach before," said Disney International MD Andy Bird.

Consumers already have a strong relationship with two of those five brands, and seek them in at least three of those core businesses.

Delivering the keynote address at Ficci Frames 2013, Bird said that with the acquisition of UTV and the creation of the new Walt Disney Company India, Disney became India?s leading film studio and TV producer. "We are now one of India?s leading broadcasters, reaching more than 100 million viewers every week across the country. The UTV deal also positioned us as a significant player in the digital media space, thanks to Indiagames, the number one mobile gaming company in this market. And, just as importantly, the deal gave us the brilliance and vision of Ronnie Screwvala ? the man behind UTV?s incredible rise ? to build The Walt Disney Company in India.?

What was the thinking behind buying UTV? ?When we made the decision to buy UTV, we did it with two considerations in mind ? the first was to create a diverse company in India; but also importantly it was to acquire the talents of Ronnie Screwvala to run the new company. As many of you know, Ronnie is a rare breed of entrepreneurs who has successfully built UTV and embraced Indian and Western cultures. I am so proud to count Ronnie as one of my friends and to have him lead the Walt Disney Company in India with his magnificent creative management team,? Bird said.

He also spoke about Disney in India being different from what it is elsewhere. ?The Walt Disney Company India will be unlike any other Indian media company: none will have the breadth of brands and franchises that TWDC India will have. No other Indian media company will have the breadth of businesses we will have and no other Indian media company will connect with generations of consumers like The Walt Disney Company India will do.

?In India, we have built a creative prowess, second only to that found in the U.S. We have creative teams here in India who produce a slate of diverse films, produce a spectrum of original TV programming across our networks, build mobile games and applications and create style guides for our consumer products business. We are building a company that is far greater in scope than just one business, or being defined as being just in distribution and marketing. We are building the Indian Walt Disney Company.?

Bird is excited about working with Indian talent, in-front and behind the camera, to create local franchises and look to export this talent to markets outside of India - offering opportunites for talent in Hollywood movies. ?The Disney-UTV team is already working with their colleagues at Disney, Pixar, Marvel and now Lucas to innovate and produce even better product for here in India. Our Interactive team is working very closely with our Japan team - where we do the most amount of innovation in interactive and mobile outside the US - to really take this space in India to the next level and be ready for the Broadband wave that India will no doubt see."

The aim at the end of the day is to build a content, creative, brand and franchise company in India. ? Of course, I have not touched on our Live Entertainment business as that is a work in process..so watch this space,? Bird added.

He also spoke about the rapid rise of new technology and the fact that India?s more recent focus on this sector means that the country is capable of the kind of instantaneous shifts and opportunities in the media and entertainment space that simply are not possible in countries like the U.S. that will literally have to rip out existing infrastructure in order to replace it with the new technology that will drive the future. ? That?s an expensive proposition and one that will slow critical change in some of those more established markets ? while India has the chance to define itself with the latest technology and innovation unencumbered by the remains of technology that defined the last century.?

Differences in Markets: Disney recognises that there are different markets around the globe and it is no longer ?domestic? versus ?international?.

?We recognize that each market we enter essentially needs its own ?Disney? company ? with strategies and products and messages that are compatible with the culture and relevant to local consumers. And we see tremendous opportunity in rapidly emerging markets like China, Russia, Latin America, South Korea ? and, of course, India ? so connecting with consumers in these regions is a key strategic priority for Disney, and will be integral to our future growth," Bird said.

That?s why Disney?s strategy for each region reflects local market realities and opportunities. "Our approach here in India is focused on media and entertainment ? because that?s where we see the greatest potential for Disney, not only because the industry here is poised for a huge leap forward, but because of the rapidly rising middle class of consumers and their traditional focus on the family," Bird noted.

?This is radically different than our strategy in China, for example, which is much more restrictive on the content imported into the country. In China, we?re focused on building our presence and our brand by telling Disney stories through theme parks and a strong retail effort. Likewise, our China strategy is quite different from our approach in Latin America, where we?re transitioning Disney from a high-end, rather elite brand, into the broader mass market.

?The Disney brand will remain strong and clear and everything we do anywhere in the world will reflect the brand values consumers know and trust ? but each market will dictate how consumers access and interact with that brand. At the Walt Disney Company, we believe that in stories we find the imagination needed to envision a better tomorrow, and the inspiration to make that vision come true. This belief guides how we act as a company, and how we connect kids, families, and friends first with each other, and then with the causes they care most passionately about,? Bird stated.

Meanwhile, Disney Media Networks co-chair and Disney-ABC Television Group president Anne Sweeney spoke about the importance of understanding audiences and what they aspire for. That is why Disney is in the field everyday listening to kids, parents in terms of who they are what they do and what they aspire for. Then Disney builds stories around this. This is the strategy that Disney decided to do back in 1996 when Sweeney joined the company. "At that time there was confusion about the brand identity of Disney Channel. By doing research which focused on the quality of conversation with kids and parents rather than on the quantity Disney channel was able to become a powerhouse," she said.

Sweeney also noted that to make great content at times one has to make unexpected choices. She gave the example of ?Hannah Montana? where Miley Cyrus, an unknown, was cast as the channel spotted her potential. ?We decided to take the riskier road and that led to greater reward," she said.

Speaking on localisation, Sweeney said Disney started doing local shows in India in 2011. "We have five local shows in production," she added. "We also have a further four pilots in the pipeline. We celebrate cultural events like Diwali and Holi.?

Sweeney said that it is important to strike a balance between adapting foreign formats and creating truly original content. She also touched on technology saying that one can make feature film content on a television budget. "One could do things that a few years ago were considered unthinkable. The drama ?Lost?, for instance, used CGI," she averred.

MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky and media conglomerate Disney are working together to create a new television channel, Sky Movies Disney.

The new channel will be the home of new and classic Disney and Disney/Pixar movies in the UK and Ireland.

This is the first time that Disney has been involved in a co-branded linear movie channel anywhere in the world. It is also the first time that viewers in the UK and Ireland will be able to watch all new blockbuster Disney-branded movies, as well as classics from the past, on one single channel.

The launch of Sky Movies Disney builds on Sky and Disney?s 24-year relationship in the UK and forms part of a new wide-ranging agreement between the two companies, covering further movies, and Disney Channels, across multiple platforms and devices.

Launching in time for Easter on 28 March 2013, Sky Movies Disney will show films like ?Brave? and ?Wreck-It Ralph ?in their first pay TV window. Future releases that will be available include ?Oz: The Great and Powerful?, ?Monsters University? and ?The Lone Ranger?.

The new movies will be available on Sky Movies Disney from around six months after they have ended their run in cinemas and will be exclusive to Sky Movies for at least a year.

Alongside new releases, Sky Movies Disney will also offer a library of classic Disney films, including ?Bambi? and ?Pinocchio?, as well as Disney/Pixar films such as ?Finding Nemo?, ?Cars? and ?A Bug?s Life?. Live action titles such as ?Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man?s Chest? and ?National Treasure? will also be available.

In addition to broadcasting in standard and high definition on the Sky Movies Disney channel, all of the new and classic movies will be available to view on demand and on the go.

Sky TV customers will be able to watch movies on the move with Sky Go, on their smartphone, tablet, laptop or MacBook. NOW TV, Sky?s new internet TV service, will also offer easy and flexible access to the Disney titles to customers who buy the Sky Movies monthly. Disney films available in 3D will be shown on the Sky 3D channel.

In addition to the launch of the new channel, the agreement gives Sky Movies the first subscription pay TV movie rights in the UK and Ireland to other titles distributed by Disney, including new movies from Lucasfilm, and also Marvel Studios features such as ?Iron Man 3? and ?Avengers Assemble?, which will be broadcast across the Sky Movies portfolio of channels.

In addition to movies, the agreement covers Disney?s TV channels - Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior - which will continue to be made available to Sky customers, alongside a new HD version of Disney Junior, launching in April. All Disney-branded channels will also continue to be available on Sky Go across a range of internet-connected devices.

Additionally, Sky will launch a dedicated Disney section on its popular On Demand service, offering hundreds more hours of catch-up and library shows.

Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch said, "The launch of Sky Movies Disney is great news for our customers and builds on the strong relationship that Sky and Disney have enjoyed for more than 20 years. We?re delighted that an entertainment company of Disney?s international stature has chosen to work with Sky on its first co-branded linear movie channel. This is a world-first collaboration that will excite millions of families and further strengthen our market-leading movies service."

Sky Movies director Ian Lewis said, ?Disney?s movies are loved by all ages and generations, so we?re delighted to be bringing this new channel to millions of families at no extra cost. Sky Movies Disney will be the home of new and classic Disney and Disney/Pixar movies and will offer all new titles at least a year before other TV channels or subscription services. The combination of Disney?s fantastic movies and Sky?s award-winning innovation means that customers will have the chance to enjoy the very best of Disney on their own terms, whether that?s watching on demand, on the move or in 3D."

Disney president Europe, Middle East and Africa Diego Lerner said, "In launching these new initiatives, we are underlining Disney and Sky?s shared goal: bringing high quality, creative entertainment to audiences in the UK and Ireland. The ways in which people watch TV and movies have changed immeasurably in the past 20 years, but consumers always seek out Disney?s great stories and memorable characters."

Disney Europe, Middle East and Africa senior VP, GM, media distribution Catherine Powell said, "Through the launch of Sky Movies Disney, we will offer viewers our broadest range yet of popular current and classic Disney and Disney/Pixar films, featuring many of our much-loved stories and characters.

?Building on the strong performance of our movies and Disney channels in the UK and Ireland, this agreement will not only increase the range of Disney entertainment being made available, but also the devices and platforms that viewers will be able to enjoy them on."

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and Starz have inked a new, multi-year agreement that extends their exclusive first-run output premium pay TV deal.

As a result, Starz will have the exclusive pay television rights to Sony Pictures? theatrical releases through 2021. The previous agreement between the two companies had covered motion pictures released theatrically through 2016.

Commencing with 2005 theatrical releases, Starz has been the exclusive first-run pay television home for the exhibition of Sony Pictures? films including titles from Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, TriStar, and Screen Gems.

Starz had recently renewed its exclusive long-term licensing agreement with Disney-ABC Domestic Television, a division of The Walt Disney Company, for theatrical releases from The Walt Disney Studios through 2015.

The new SPE-Starz agreement provides movie content for all Starz platforms including its linear STARZ and ENCORE channels in standard definition and HD, subscription VOD services in standard definition, HD On Demand and 3D On Demand, and online streaming services, including the recently launched Starz Play and Encore Play.

Big, hit Sony titles coming in 2013 exclusively on pay television to the STARZ channels and services include: The Amazing Spider-Man, 21 Jump Street, Zero Dark Thirty, The Vow, Men In Black 3, and Resident Evil: Retribution.

"Starz and Encore subscribers have enjoyed the consistently stellar theatrical product from Sony, and we are thrilled to extend our exclusive partnership into the next decade," said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht.

"Starz will continue to offer the richest premium TV viewing experience for our subscribers and distributors for years to come thanks to Starz? growing original programming slate, along with the robust lineup of new blockbuster Sony releases and our deep movie library."

"Starz has been a terrific partner and we are excited to be extending our relationship with them through the 2021 slate," said SPT President, U.S. John Weiser.