UTV Software Communications

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UTV Software Communications Ltd.
Formerly
United Television Software Communications Pvt. (1990–1998)
IndustryMedia conglomerate
Founded22 June 1990; 33 years ago (1990-06-22)
Founder(s)sRonnie Screwvala
Zarina Screwvala
Headquarters
Mumbai
,
India
Key people
Mahesh Samat (Managing director)
ProductsCable television, publishing, films, music, video games, broadcasting
ParentDisney Star
(The Walt Disney Company India)
Divisions
Subsidiaries
  • First Future Agri and Developers
  • IG Interactive Entertainment
  • Smriti Irani Television (50%)
  • UTV Communications (USA)
  • UTV Indiagames
Websitewww.utvgroup.com

UTV Software Communications (abbreviated as UTV) is an Indian mass media conglomerate. UTV was incorporated as United Television Software Communications on 22 June 1990 by Ronnie and Zarina Screwvala.

The company later became public, on 27 November 1995, and was renamed to UTV Software Communications effective 19 March 1998.[1] UTV was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Indian National Stock Exchange, and its motion picture division, UTV Motion Pictures Plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

In August 2006, The Walt Disney Company acquired a 14.85 percent stake in UTV.[2] This was subsequently hiked to 32.1 percent in 2008, the same level as UTV's founders Ronnie Screwvala and Zarina Screwvala.[3] The remaining shares were publicly traded. Disney eventually increased its ownership in UTV to 100% in 2012, making UTV Communications Software a wholly owned subsidiary.[4]

History[edit]

In 1996, Disney contracted the UTV Group to dub its distributed feature film library into Indian languages. During this year, the company’s in-flight entertainment division, which was supplying Air India only, started catering to other international airlines.

In October 2005, after a $10 million outsourcing partnership with US-based BKN New Media Inc., UTV Toons moved to expand to 200 employees and purchased additional software licenses.[5]

Acquisition by Disney[edit]

Between 2007 and 2011, UTV was targeted for an acquisition by Fuse Global and Global Media Fund. Both corporations had approached UTV Software Communications and made several attempts to play a role in becoming a financier to the studio, but neither deals materialised.

The Walt Disney Company acquired a 50.44 per cent stake in the company, making them the majority shareholder and bringing the company into the Disney group, and in 2011, Disney offered to acquire the outstanding shares of UTV Software Communications held by public shareholders and stakeholders of the company in a deal valued around Rs 20 billion (US$297 million).[6] Upon the buyout, the company was delisted from both the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company in 31 January 2012, being re-organised under The Walt Disney Company (South East Asia) Pte Ltd.

Film production and distribution[edit]

Main article: UTV Motion Pictures

UTV ventured into film distribution in 1996 with its UTV Motion Pictures Plc. division. UTV Motion Pictures portfolio includes Hindi-language movies, regional South Asian movies, domestic animated features and international productions and co-productions. The studio's rights and distribution are currently held exclusively by The Walt Disney Company India which uses UTV Motion Pictures as the exclusive distributor for its films in South Asian markets. It has filled this role since 2013.

Television production[edit]

UTV started off producing television content and advertisements, partnering with Indian state-broadcaster Doordarshan in 1990. With the entry of satellite television to India, UTV expanded its functions and produced television programmes for other Indian TV channels, such as Zee TV and Star Plus.

In 1995, UTV produced India's first daily soap opera, Shanti, for Doordarshan. UTV was also contracted by Disney to dub its cartoons in Hindi. Revenues from the television segment increased by 31% from Rs. 1,006 million in the previous year to Rs. 1,317 million during the year primarily because of the growth in the television business. The segment reported a profit of Rs. 54 million, compared to Rs. 180 million in the previous year.

The following is the complete list of TV programmes produced by UTV:

Title Channel
Back to the Floor BBC World
Bhabhi Star Plus
Bollywood Inc. BBC World
Bombay Talking Zee Cafe
Business Bytes BBC World
C.A.T.S. Sony Entertainment Television
Chakravyuha DD National
Chamatkar DD National
Chooha Mantar Hungama TV
Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka Zee TV
Choti Maa Zee TV
CNN Indiadotcom CNN
CNN Style South Asia CNN
Dance India Dance Zee TV
Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati Bhava? Life OK
Ek Se Badhkar Ek Zee TV
Face to Face with Karan Thapar BBC World
Full Toss Inter School Cricket Hungama TV
Gajab Desh Ki Ajab Kahaniyaan Imagine TV
Gee Boom Bha Gemini TV
Gol Gol Gulam Hungama TV
Hard Talk India BBC World
Hero - Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai Hungama TV
Hip Hip Hurray Zee TV
LOC:Life Out Of Control Star Plus
Kabhi Hero Kabhi Zero Hungama TV
Kabhie To Nazar Milao Sony Entertainment Television
Kehta Hai Dil Star Plus
Khichdi Star Plus
Maayke Se Bandhi Dor Star Plus
Meher DD National
Pan Asia - Journey in Asian Cuisine Star World
Rakt Sambandh Imagine TV
Saanp Seedi Zee TV
Saaya Sony Entertainment Television
Salanam Vijay TV
Sanya Hungama TV
Sarhadein Zee TV
Sea Hawks DD Metro
Shagun Star Plus
Shaka Laka Boom Boom Star Plus
Shanno Ki Shaadi Star Plus
Shanti DD National
Shararat Star Plus
Shisha Hungama TV
Shubh Vivah Sony Entertainment Television
Smriti Star Plus
Sohni Mahiwal DD National
Sondha Bandham Sun TV
Special Squad STAR One
Style! BBC World
Stuntmen of Bollywood National Geographic Channel
Bournvita Quiz Contest Zee TV
Tiger Hungama TV

Broadcasting[edit]

In 2004, UTV launched Hungama TV, a kids channel for the South Asian market. This channel was sold to Disney India in 2006.[7] Hungama TV was re-integrated into UTV Software Communications after it became a subsidiary to Disney.

Partnerships[edit]

The UTV Group’s relationships include the following.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "UTV Software Communications > Company History > Media & Entertainment > Company History of UTV Software Communications - BSE: 532619, NSE: UTVSOF".
  2. ↑ "Walt Disney set to take control in UTV". Hindustan Times.
  3. ↑ "Walt Disney to more than double UTV stake to 32%". The Economic Times. 19 February 2008.
  4. ↑ "Disney To Acquire Controlling Interest In UTV Software Communications Limited (UTV) In India". The Walt Disney Company. 31 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "UTV expands Toons division". Indiantelevision.com. 25 October 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Walt Disney offers to acquire UTV for about Rs 2,000 crore".
  7. ↑ "UTV sells Hungama TV to Walt Disney for $30.5 mln". One India.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 19°06′42″N 72°51′39″E / 19.111709°N 72.860738°E / 19.111709; 72.860738

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