UTV launches digital media arm; to invest Rs 1.2 billion

Mumbai: UTV Software Communications has launched its digital media arm under the brand name UTV New Media. The new division will house mobile, online and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services.

UTV New Media will invest approximately Rs 1.2 billion over the next two years to create a combination of Internet space with a portfolio of 10 portals targeted at specific need groups across business with UTVi, technology with Channeltimes.com, CXOtoday.com, enterpriser.in and techtree.com.

The company recently acquired a 76 per cent controlling stake in IT Nation for Rs 150 million. IT Nation is an online infomediary that focuses on technology markets, covering enterprises, technology resellers and general consumers.

The digital music library comprises 20,000 music titles of Hindi and regional movies, including Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu, which will be available under its short code 59995. This was launched with the music of Jodhaa Akbar and will be followed by Akshay Kumar forthcoming film Singh is Kinng.

UTV New Media is also planning to tie-up with 65 mobile operators globally to distribute mobile content.

UTV New Media CEO TN Prabhu says, "Our objective is to create a digital entity covering the domains of business, finance, entertainment - TV, films, music, gadgets and technology. This we plan to do in a device agnostic manner. That is wherever the user has a device to access, we will have content to deliver."

The company also launched utvi.com, which is the website for UTV's English business news channel. The focus of this site is interactivity through blogs, which are by invitation.

UTV also created a new channel called 'The techtreee on UTVi' through its synergy with the IT Nation's consumer site Techtree.com.

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