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Wednesday 30 March 2011

Intel, Hungama Digital to launch HD movies' download service


This story first appeared in DNA Money edition on Thursday March 24, 2011.

World leader in computing innovation Intel is all set to offer a high definition (HD) movie watching experience to its customers. With the launch of its second generation core processor — Intel Insider — the US chip maker will be offering a service that will allow users to download and stream HD movies on their desktop/laptop computer.

The new service, offered in association with Hungama Digital, will make available a selection of popular Bollywood and international movies, including blockbusters from Yash Raj Films, Paramount Pictures, T-Series and Reliance Home Video.

Speaking on the sidelines of FICCI Frames 2011, R Sivakumar, managing director, sales and marketing group, Intel South Asia, said film lovers can now watch the latest blockbusters and favourite films in high definition format right on their PC. “The technology also offers a ‘proactive queue’ capability that will help consumers pre-download films ahead of the release date, and give them the ability to purchase those films, securely, even if they are not connected to the internet. This will allow consumers to start watching their movies immediately on the release date without waiting to download during peak traffic times. The technology is available on all the second generation core processor-based PCs with built-in visuals,” he said.

Movie buffs will be able to avail the new service within a month from now. To start with 50 movies in HD format and 100 movies in standard definition (SD) format will be available on Hungama Digital’s website www.hungama.com. Price points for each of these downloads are currently being worked out though a broad range would be anything from `10 for a catalogue movie going up to Rs199 for a new release.

Neeraj Roy, managing director and CEO, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt Ltd, said, “Financials are currently being worked out. The ratios would depend on the nature of arrangement we will have with the intellectual property rights owners. The idea currently is to launch the facility for movie downloads expanding the bouquet of choices gradually,” said Roy.

Interestingly, the Intel Insider technology when combined with IntelWireless Display (WiDi), will also allow streaming of premium, high-definition movies from a PC/laptop to an HD television, without cables.

Other short stories from the summit

Mumbai Mantra brings Sundance Screenwriters Lab to India

Mumbai Mantra, the media and entertainment division of the $7.1 billion Mahindra Group , has partnered with Robert Redford founded Sundance Institute to launch a new initiative called Sundance Screenwriters Lab in India. According to Rohit Khattar, director, Mumbai Mantra Media Ltd, the lab will provide an opportunity to budding Indian screenwriters to develop their works under guidance from accomplished scriptwriters from across the globe. The lab has already kick-started application process for their first workshop to be held in March 2012. As part of the open submission process, any Indian screenwriter can apply through the company website www.mumbaimantra.com. Also, there is no language barrier for submission of works.

S Kumars Online’s new avatar

S Kumars Online (SKOL), the e-commerce venture of apparel and textile major S Kumars Group, is launching a new portal for professionals associated with the Indian advertising, media and entertainment industry. The web portal, according to company officials, has been designed as a one-stop-shop (online resource) for people working with the bollywood film industry and those wanting to find work in the film, TV and advertising industry. SKOL is also entering into other media and entertainment related businesses like hiring of film equipment under the banner moviegear, state-of-the-art studio and conferencing facility christened bta:studio, a business vertical called Hexacan that  is basically involved in storing and shipping of film negatives / prints globally and a hi-end e-commerce vertical christened www.vto.in that facilitates online sales of apparels, jewellry, accessories, art etc. The vto vertical, according to Chandra Mundhra, managing director, SKOL, is largely targeted at the non-resident Indian (NRI) audience who do not have direct access to such a range of products.

Shemaroo riding the digital wave

Four decade old entertainment company Shemaroo is all set to capitalize on the popularity of digital distribution of its entertainment content. With a repertoire of approximately 2000 movies across genre, the company has invested close to Rs 25 crore in setting up a technology back-end that takes care of digitizing all the content they have accumulated over the years. The company is also innovating film / movie products to monetize the advent of 3G services being rolled out by various telecom companies. Pioneering a new concept, the company has created a bank of new products wherein a three hour movie has been edited into a 15 minute movie which can be viewed on new media devices like mobile phone, tablets etc. It currently has a bank of 30 such movies and has already tied up with Tata Docomo and Reliance Communications to make it available to their subscribers.

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