Times Internet

2021-08-14T23:25:48Z

2405:201:D002:39CC:DC04:7987:700A:1803:

{{short description|Indian Internet technology company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Times Internet
| logo = TI New Logo.png
| logo_size = 160px
| logo_caption =
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1999}}
| location = [[Gurgaon]], India
| key_people = {{ubl|Satyan Gajwani ({{small|[[Vice chairman]]}})| Puneet Gupt ({{small|[[Chief Operating Officer|COO]]}})}}
| area_served = India
| products = {{plainlist|
*[[MX Player]]
*[[Gaana.com|Gaana]]
*MensXP
*[[Cricbuzz]]
*Gradeup
*[[MagicBricks]]}}
| industry = {{plainlist|
*[[Internet services]]
*[[Entertainment]]
*[[Lifestyle (sociology)|Lifestyle]]
*[[Sport]]
*[[News]]}}
| subsid = [[Times Internet#Subsidiaries and products|See below]]
| website = {{URL|www.timesinternet.in}}
| parent = [[The Times Group]]
}}

'''Times Internet''' is an Indian [[internet]] technology company, based in [[Gurgaon]], which owns, operates and invests in various internet-led products, services and technology. It is the digital arm of [[the Times Group]], the largest media conglomerate in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiapost.com/biggest-names-in-music-rock-gaana-show/|title=Biggest names in music rock Gaana show|website=India Post|language=en-US|access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref> Times Internet currently owns and operates 39+ digital products across news, sports, music, video, trivia, spirituality & a suite of transaction-led market-places across real estate, personal finance, education, jobs, table reservation, etc.

Through its [[venture capital]] arm TVentures, Times Internet has invested in over 50 start-ups in the technology space such as logistics provider Delhivery, bus aggregating platform [[Shuttl]], ed-tech platform [[BYJU'S|Byju's]], gaming platform MPL among others.

Times Internet reaches over 450 million monthly visitors who collectively spend over 13 billion minutes across all its products and services.

== History ==

=== 1999–2012: Initial years ===

In its initial years, Times Internet primarily focused on digital media—handling the online versions of the [[The Times Group|Times Group]] which is owned by [[Sahu Jain family]]. Some major print publications includes [[The Times of India|Times of India]], [[The Economic Times|Economic Times]] and [[Navbharat Times]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://inc42.com/startups/times-internet-gautam-sinha/|title=Times Internet's Gautam Sinha On Turning A Legacy Media Company into A Conglomerate Of 37 Digital Startups – Inc42 Media|date=26 December 2016|work=Inc42 Media|access-date=18 May 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Times Internet ventured into multiple new categories with mixed success. It entered social networking and e-commerce with Indiatimes but was unable to scale the business.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Times Internet Scaling Down E-commerce Operations}}</ref> The company achieved success with [[MagicBricks]], an online real estate platform launched in 2006 and iDiva, a women's lifestyle portal in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://content.magicbricks.com/property-news/magicbricks-com-awarded-the-best-online-realty-portal/58736.html|title=Magicbricks.com awarded the best online realty portal|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/idiva-com-wins-2-million-hearts-in-6-months/articleshow/4673665.cms|title=iDiva.com wins 2 million hearts in 6 months|date=19 June 2009|work=The Economic Times|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>

=== 2012–2017: Early investments ===

Times Internet gradually transformed from a media-led company to a technology-led company. It became a conglomerate of multiple digital products, each operating independently within the group.

Times Internet made a series of acquisitions—buying majority stakes in MensXP in 2012,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/times-internet-acquires-mens-lifestyle-portal-mensxp/articleshow/17390674.cms|title=Times Internet acquires men's lifestyle portal MensXP|date=27 November 2012|work=The Economic Times|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref> [[CricBuzz]], Coupondunia and Dineout in 2014,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/66587/times-internet-acquires-cricbuzz|title=Times Internet acquires Cricbuzz|work=Cricbuzz|access-date=18 May 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techinasia.com/india-times-internet-acquires-dineout-to-add-restaurant-reservations-service|title=Tech in Asia – Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem|website=www.techinasia.com|language=en-US|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news/times-internet-acquires-majority-stake-in-coupondunia-5933236617_1.html|title=Times Internet acquires majority stake in Coupondunia|last=indiainfoline.com|access-date=18 May 2018|language=en}}</ref> Taskbucks in 2015,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vccircle.com/times-internet-acquires-majority-stake-taskbucks-15m/|title=Times Internet acquires majority stake in Taskbucks for $15M|date=16 November 2015|work=VCCircle|access-date=19 May 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> 'The Viral Shots' and WillowTV in 2016. In 2016, it also forged a strategic alliance with [[Haptik]], an AI-enabled chatbot service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/06/haptik-an-india-based-mobile-concierge-service-raises-11-2m-from-times-internet/|title=Haptik, an India-based mobile concierge service, raises $11.2M from Times Internet – TechCrunch|website=techcrunch.com|language=en-US|access-date=30 May 2018}}</ref> The company launched its startup accelerator, TLabs in 2012 through which it invested in upcoming digital startups like Delhivery, Pratilipi etc.

Times Internet also launched multiple new digital products—Happy Trips in 2014,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.exchange4media.com/Digital/Times-Internet-launches-travel-portal-HappyTrips.com_54652.html|title=Times Internet launches travel portal, HappyTrips.com|work=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media|access-date=31 May 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> ETMoney and NewsPoint in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/et-moneys-big-billion-feat/articleshow/60822247.cms|title=ET Money's big billion feat|date=25 September 2017|work=The Economic Times|access-date=31 May 2018}}</ref> Also in 2015, Times Internet launched ''Samayam'', a website that provides news in Tamil, Telugu and [[Malayalam]] languages.<ref>{{cite web|date=3 November 2015|title=Times Internet launches Samayam – digital news & infotainment brand in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam – Exchange4media|url=https://www.exchange4media.com/digital-news/times-internet-launches-samayam-digital-news-infotainment-brand-in-tamil-telugu-and-malayalam-62223.html|access-date=16 July 2020|website=Exchange4media|language=en}}</ref> In association with [[HDFC Bank]], it launched 'Times Points HDFC Bank Debit Card', an exclusive co-branded debit card in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news-top-story/times-internet-associates-with-hdfc-bank-to-launch-%E2%80%98times-points-hdfc-bank-debit-card%E2%80%99-116081100715_1.html|title=Times Internet associates with HDFC Bank to launch 'Times Points HDFC Bank Debit Card'|last=indiainfoline.com|access-date=31 May 2018|language=en}}</ref> It also ventured into video streaming with BoxTV in 2012 but shut it down in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://the-ken.com/story/times-internet-mx-player/|title=Times Internet acquires MX Player. For $200 million – The Ken|date=24 January 2018|work=The Ken|access-date=18 May 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

As its portfolio kept growing, Times Internet built Colombia, a full stack [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] led ad-tech network that united all its digital products on one central platform. Through this platform, it was able to move & monetize users across its various digital properties, based on consumer interests & needs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://inc42.com/startups/times-internet-gautam-sinha/|title=Times Internet's Gautam Sinha On Turning A Legacy Media Company into A Conglomerate Of 37 Digital Startups – Inc42 Media|date=26 December 2016|work=Inc42 Media|access-date=30 May 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2017–2019: Continued investments ===
Times Internet continued to acquire and launch multiple new digital products across the consumer technology space. It launched ET Insure in February 2017,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/insure/times-internet-launches-etinsure-com-to-simplify-insurance-buying-claims/articleshow/56962174.cms|title=Times Internet launches ETinsure.com to simplifyinsurance buying, claims|date=4 February 2017|work=The Economic Times|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref> BrainBaazi in February 2018, and ET Prime in April 2018. It acquired 'House of God' in December 2017<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://inc42.com/buzz/times-internet-house-of-god-spiritual/|title=Times Internet Acquires Spiritual Content Startup House Of God; Enters The Country's $40 Bn Religious Market|date=18 December 2017|work=Inc42 Media|access-date=18 May 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> and partnered with [[Tencent]] to invest $115 million in [[Gaana.com|Gaana]] in February 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-27/tencent-is-said-to-lead-115-million-deal-in-india-music-startup|title=Tencent Is Said to Lead $115 Million Deal in India's Gaana|date=27 February 2018|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=18 May 2018|language=en}}</ref>

On 28 June 2018, Times Internet acquired MX Player, the world's largest video player for $140 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/27/times-internet-buys-mx-player-for-140m/|title=India's Times Internet buys popular video app MX Player for $140M to get into streaming – TechCrunch|website=techcrunch.com|language=en-US|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>

On 20 February 2019, Times Internet re-launched MX Player as a video streaming platform, with over 100,000 hours of premium content across movies, TV and web shows etc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/story/54399_Times-Internet-to-launch-new-avatar-of-MX-Player-on-February-20|title=Times Internet to launch new avatar of MX Player on February 20|date=6 February 2019|website=www.afaqs.com|language=en-US|access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref>

On 15 April 2019, Times Internet revamped its brand identity to reflect its new "Everything. Everyday." ethos that desires to bring people closer to their interests and aspirations everyday.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://timesinternet.in/|title=Times Internet: Everything. Everyday.|website=timesinternet.in|access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=November 2020}}

On 24 April 2019, Times Internet participated as a lead investor in $35.5 million (Rs 2.50 billion) Series-A funding round of Mobile Premier League (MPL).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/startups/mpl-secures-rs-250-cr-from-go-jek-arm-sequoia-india-times-internet/69016272|title=MPL secures Rs 250 cr from Go-Jek arm, Sequoia India & Times Internet – ETtech|last=www.ETtech.com|website=ETtech.com|language=en|access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref>

== Subsidiaries and products ==
List of digital products owned and managed by Times Internet as of May 2019.<ref name=":1" />
{| class="wikitable"
!Product
! href="CricBuzz" |Description
!Note
|- href="HDFC Bank"
|Ahmedabad Mirror
|News portal focused on Ahmedabad
| rowspan="15" |News
|-
|[[Bangalore Mirror]]
|News portal focused on Bengaluru
|-
|[[Ei Samay]]
|News portal in Bengali
|-
|ET ([[The Economic Times]])
|Business & financial news platform
|-
|ETimes
|Entertainment news portal
|-
|Indiatimes
|News and infotainment platform
|-
|[[Maharashtra Times]]
|News portal in Marathi
|-
|Miss Kyra
|Entertainment, lifestyle, and fashion news portal
|-
|[[Navbharat Times]]
|News portal in Hindi
|-
|[[NavGujarat Samay]]
|News portal in Gujarati
|-
|NewsPoint
|News aggregation portal
|-
|[[Mumbai Mirror|Pune Mirror]]
|News portal focused on Pune
|-
|[[The Times of India|TOI (Times of India)]]
|News portal in English
|-
|[[Vijaya Karnataka|Vijay Karnataka]]
|News portal in Kannada
|-
|{{anchor|Samayam}}Samayam
|Infotainment and News portal in Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil
|-
|Astrospeak
|Astrology and horoscope service
|
|-
|BaaziNow
|Live video and gaming platform
|
|-
|CouponDunia
|Deals discovery platform
|
|-Deals discovery platform
|-
|- href="Tencent" |[[CricBuzz]]
| href="IBM" |[[CricBuzz]]
|Cricket infotainment platform
|
|-
|CricPlay
|Cricket Fantasy App
|extinct
|-
|Databack
<td>Data savings service
</td>
|<tr><td>Dineout
</td><td>Table reservation service
</td><td></td></tr>
|-
|ETMONEY
|Personal money management service
|
|-
|[[Gaana.com|Gaana]]
|Music streaming platform
|<tr><td>[[MX Player]]</td><td>Video player and streaming platform</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Get Me a Shop
</td><td>Offline to online eCommerce service
</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Happy Trips
</td><td>Travel guide & information portal
</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>iDiva
</td><td>Women's lifestyle portal
</td><td></td></tr>
|-
|[[MagicBricks]]
|Real estate listings & information portal
|<tr><td>MensXP
</td><td>Men's lifestyle portal
</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Speaking Tree
</td><td>Spirituality platform and network
</td><td></td></tr>
|-
|Taskbucks
|Reward based discovery platform
|
|-
|TechGig
|Technology platform and community
|
|-
|Times Card
|Lifestyle focused credit cards
|
|-
|[[TimesJobs.com|Times Jobs]]
|Jobs listings portal
|
|-
|Times Prime
|Digital subscriptions platform
|
|-
|Whats Hot
|Local guide to your city
|
|-
|[[Willow (TV channel)|Willow]]
|Cricket broadcast platform
|
|-
|Gradeup
|Exam Preparation App
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/times-internet-to-cross-1000-crore-net-revenue-this-fiscal-116102501068_1.html}}

== External links ==
* [http://timesinternet.in/ Times Internet], Official website of Times Internet
* [https://www.ebreakingnews.net/search/label/Tech TechNews Updates]
{{The Times Group}}

[[Category:Web portals]]
[[Category:Companies of The Times Group]]
[[Category:Indian news websites]]
[[Category:Online companies of India]]
[[Category:Indian brands]]
[[Category:Privately held companies of India]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Haryana]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:Companies based in Gurgaon]]

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Times Internet