Sri Adhikari Brothers set to launch digital play platform in two months

Markand Adhikari and Gautam Adhikari promoted television channel Sri Adhikari Brothers is gearing up for a digital play, even as it strengthens its regional television as well as film distribution businesses.

“We will be launching our digital content platform in the next two months. We are working on sourcing and streamlining content and setting up team,” Manav Dhanda, Group CEO, Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network, told BusinessLine .

Dhanda refused to divulge any further information about the platform or its offerings.

Sri Adhikari Brothers had launched a television channel SAB TV, which was later sold to Multi Screen Media (Sony Entertainment) in 2002.

Speaking on its television business, Dhanda said company will focus on the regional market. Recently, it had launched Dhamaal Gujarat — a youth-focused channel. Besides this, the company runs Mastiii, MaiBoli, Dabang, Dillagi and LC1 (targeted at rural market with a population of 1 lakh and below).

Asked if the company is also looking to enter the Hindi GEC (general entertainment channel), Dhanda said the company was watching the space carefully and intends to launch it in the current calendar year.

The company said it is also aspiring to create a niche in the film production and distribution business. “We have a pipeline of 7-8 films. We want to be present across verticals and not just limit ourselves to television.”

On whether the company was looking at English GEC as a category, Dhanda said, the company was not looking at genre currently as it didn’t have the right kind of content needed for the business.

Dhanda refused to give any revenue or investment numbers citing silent period. Sri Adhikarai Brothers had previously sought a nod from the market regulator to rejig its businesses and sharpen focus on broadcast, content and publication wings.

Its board had approved the proposal to demerge and consolidate the broadcasting business housed in the wholly-owned subsidiary companies of TV Vision viz UBJ Broadcasting, HHP Broadcasting Services and MPCR Broadcasting Service into TV Vision. The board had also given nod for the listing of TV Vision, which would unlock the shareholder value.

The board has also approved consolidation of the publication business of the group and subsequent demerger to Marvick Entertainment Pvt Ltd (to be changed to public company).

The restructuring will result in creation of two more listed entities, where existing shareholders would become shareholders in the same proportion to their holding in SAB TV.

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