UTV Software Communications Ltd.
 | This article reads like a press release or a news article or is largely based on routine coverage or sensationalism. (October 2020) |
Formerly | United Television Software Communications Pvt. (1990–1998) |
|---|---|
| Subsidiary | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Media conglomerate |
| Founded 📆 | 22 June 1990 |
| Founders 👔 | Ronnie Screwvala Zarina Screwvala |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | , , |
Area served 🗺️ | |
Key people | Mahesh Samat (Managing director) |
| Products 📟 | Cable television, publishing, films, music, video games, broadcasting |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| Parent | Star India (The Walt Disney Company India) |
| Divisions |
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| Subsidiaries |
|
| 🌐 Website | www |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
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]
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.
- Bindass
- Bindass Play (Defunct)
- UTV Action (formerly Bindass Movies)
- UTV Movies
- UTV Stars (Defunct)
- UTV Movies International (International service available in North America, United Kingdom)
- UTV World Movies (Defunct)
Partnerships[edit]
The UTV Group’s relationships include the following.
- UTV is credited as a co-producer with 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures for ‘The Namesake’, ‘I Think I Love My Wife’ and ‘The Happening’ through UTV Mauritius and USA.
- UTV is associated with Verizon, Vodafone and Airtel and over 80 telecom companies worldwide for mobile game publishing, new media and online gaming through UTV Indiagames.
- UTV is associated with Coca-Cola, PepsiCo/Pepsi, Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motor Company, Hindustan Unilever, P&G, Cadbury, Airtel, Reckitt Benckiser, Godrej and Johnson & Johnson for sponsorship and branding relationships across various TV channels and content titles.
- UTV has partnered with Virgin Comics to create original superhero franchises across platforms exclusively for the imprint.
- UTV has worked with Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. in the console gaming business through UTV Ignition Games.
- UTV has relationships for television content with Star India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, National Geographic Channel and Sun TV.
References[edit]
- ↑ "UTV Software Communications > Company History > Media & Entertainment > Company History of UTV Software Communications - BSE: 532619, NSE: UTVSOF".
- ↑ "Walt Disney set to take control in UTV". Hindustan Times.
- ↑ "Walt Disney to more than double UTV stake to 32%". The Economic Times. 19 February 2008.
- ↑ "Disney To Acquire Controlling Interest In UTV Software Communications Limited (UTV) In India". The Walt Disney Company. 31 January 2012.
- ↑ "UTV expands Toons division". Indiantelevision.com. 25 October 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ↑ "Walt Disney offers to acquire UTV for about Rs 2,000 crore".
- ↑ "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
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- Blanked or modified
- UTV Software Communications
- Mass media companies of India
- Companies based in Mumbai
- Television production companies of India
- Entertainment companies of India
- Film organisations in India
- Indian dubbing studios
- Software companies based in Mumbai
- Software companies established in 1990
- Mass media companies established in 1990
- Indian companies established in 1990
- 1995 initial public offerings
- Disney India
- Disney acquisitions
- 2012 mergers and acquisitions
- Producers who won the Best Feature Film National Film Award
- Producers who won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award
- Producers who won the Best Debut Feature Film of a Director National Film Award
- Producers who won the Best Children's Film National Film Award
