When Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd (PSTL) cast its net to acquire UK-based Aurona Technologies, the purpose was not merely to create a foot print in the animation and gaming business.
Will launch a website to offer content downloads, social networking
MUMBAI: When Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd (PSTL) cast its net to acquire UK-based Aurona Technologies, the purpose was not merely to create a foot print in the animation and gaming business.
The acquired entity, which also has an office in Hyderabad, is currently in the process of creating a portal which PSTL’s MD P S Saminathan describes as a foray into the “social networking” space.
Saminathan told DNA Money, “We will invest about Rs 7-8 crore for the launch of this site, which is likely to take off in the next three months. Aurona Technologies has earlier developed the website for the UK’s popular reality TV show Dancing with the Stars and it will now work on the ideation, software and processing for creating our social networking website.”
The social networking space in India has been witnessing a lot of action over the past two years with the launch of - BigAdda, Minglebox, Ibibo, Yaari, Indyarocks amongst others. However, Saminathan said that website would largely be a content-download site and social networking features would be secondary.
For the content requirements of the site, PSTL is expected to leverage the presence of its wholly owned subsidiary companies Pyramid Saimira Entertainment Limited (PSEL) and Pyramid Saimira Production Limited (PSPL).
PSEL deals with content agglomeration and distribution, while PSPL is a film and TV content production arm. PSPL primarily produces content in non-Hindi languages, starting with Kannada, Tamil and Telugu.
“We are strengthening our content production arm. We have currently got about 3.5 hours of content on air daily on TV channels in the south. This will see an addition of about 4 hours over the next 3 months. Once we start producing Hindi content, the demands to monetize the content will increase. Moreover, we are acquiring about 100 hours of content every month through PSEL,” Saminathan said.
PSTL will have to develop stickiness of content to get a revenue model in place, the target audience for which will be internet users in the southern part of India and NRI markets. Senior analyst Girish Swar from Anand Rathi financial services says, “The portal will help generate an additional revenue stream for PSTL.
However the percentage of contribution to the toplines is not likely to be more than 5%. The major revenue stream amongst for PSTL continues to remain their film-exhibition business.”
c_arcopol@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}