The big news from the business world today is that Disney is going to be establishing a couple of new children’s entertainment channels in India as a way to strengthen its foothold on the subcontinent. Forbes reports:
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What? It could happen. |
When asked why he robbed banks, Willie Sutton famously replied “Because that’s where the money is.” Andy Bird has a similar rationale for The Walt Disney Company’s move into India: “If you’re in the children’s business, you want to be in the place where there are more children than anywhere else in the world,” the president of Walt Disney International explained in a telephone interview from Mumbai.
Bird has just handled the $30.5 million acquisition of Hungama, a children’s television channel in the country that broadcasts in Hindi, and that joins the Disney Channel and Toon Disney on the subcontinent.
Part of the deal will see The Disney take a 14.9% stake in UTV Software Communications, an Indian conglomerate that owns film and television assets, including – until now — Hungama. It means the next step for Disney could be into India’s glitzy movie industry. “We are actively working in the film business and looking for Disney branded movies in the Bollywood market,” said the British-born Bird. [Link]
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p>This moves seems like a good one for Disney for exactly the reason mentioned in the first paragraph above. The growing middle class has a lot of children and children love being exposed/corrupted by western culture (even wholesome western culture). Why not be part of the delivery device, especially given that the advertising dollars that follow could end up being quite lucrative?
Time Warner has already benefited from first-mover advantage among U.S. media companies in India, controlling half the market share for children’s TV with its Cartoon Network and Pogo Channels. But Bird is not worried. “The Walt Disney Company is looking at a broader perspective in growing in India,” he said. “We’re more focused on building up franchises and brands across different sectors than in what our competitors are doing…” [Link]
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p>Personally I hope that the possibility of domestic “foreign” competition will make Bollywood movies watchable better. I have to believe that the scripts that Disney backs will be a little better than the usual stuff I am exposed to out of Bollywood (Abhi tries to stifle laugh). Before you point it out I realize that I am a Bollywood curmudgeon. Please don’t recommend any films to me. 
Bollywood, the popular name for the Hindi language film industry, also beckons as Disney will now co-produce UTV’s films.
“We have access to an important film-making capital, which is exciting because Bollywood’s family values resonate with Disney’s,” said Andy Bird, president, Walt Disney International. [Link]
Public Radio’s Marketplace has a nice summary of this deal as well as its implications. It also mentions that India isn’t yet ready for a Disney World-Delhi. Phew!
no. NO! Everytime I try to get out, they pull me back in…
Is nothing sacred? oh hell, I am talking about the Rat… I already know– the only thing sacred to Disney is Le Almighty Rupee.
The hungama link above is from a contest and promotions website in India, the correct link for hungama tv is http://www.hungamatv.com
Abhi – if my honorary-desi hubby can watch Sholay and like (to the point he sings Mehbooba Mehbooba to me), in spite of my decided lack of tolerance for all things Bolly – then you, too, can learn to appreciate a flim or three.
strangles self
Sweet. The image of the Cinderella castle next to the Taj Mahal is one that makes me cringe.
Haha, I love the ears on the Taj Mahal – didn’t notice that until my second look.
In a Reuters Alertnet poll- India came in as the SIXTH most dangerous nation for children in the world. After Sudan, Uganda, Congo, Iraq and Somalia. In fact India is more dangerous than Palestinian territories, Afghanistan and Myanmar. Food for thought.
Wrt to your article, I wonder if Disney will need to start producing content in regional languages as well. Out of the 218 million children in India a great many wont be able to speak Hindi.
I for one welcome our new mousy overlords. Oh wait, this is not Slashdot…
Is a liking for Bollywood some sort of test of Desi-ness? I grew up in India and I can’t stand the s*** that Bollywood is. Something snapped in me when I saw the stuff that was made during the 90’s. Until then was fine. I can’t bring myself to check out what it’s like today.
Not that I don’t like Indian cinema ( != Bollywood). There’s a lot of good independent stuff. Not to mention the regional language movies.
Disney isn’t only in the film and TV business, a new disney store just opened up in Chennai and it is completely swamped with customers. When I drove by last week there were two peopel dressed up in ill-fitting disney costumes that were supposed to be Daffy Duck and Mickey Mouse. Get ready for the future.
It never ceases to amaze me how misinformed some people are about India’s geography. Delhi is approximately 400 km from Agra (read the Taj Mahal) and so good people, a Delhi disneyland would not be next to the Taj Mahal. Peace.
I was once told, no rather, commanded by someone who grew up in India, that to be real Indian male one must:
A. Follow cricket B. Follow Bollywood movies and listen to the music vigorously.
Funny, those two seem to me like the largest western imports into the country. And these people call us confused.
ChitraGandoo, thank you but I’ve lived in Delhi and I’ve been to Agra twice. The picture in the post wasn’t meant to be literal. Relax.
Abhi, Point taken! Just making sure it wasn’t another one of those posts where India is identified with the Taj Mahal, Snakecharmers and Dal Makhani 😉
ChitraGandoo you are more misinformed about Indian geography than others. Agra is about 200 Km from Delhi not 400 Km and with the pace Delhi is expanding geographically, day is not far when Agra will be another suburb of Delhi.
Just so everyone knows it, the distance between center of New Delhi (28.6376N, 77.2058E) and the center of Agra (27.1777N, 78.0093E) is 180.7124 km according to this resource.
Darn, that link was faulty this is the correct one:
http://www2.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html
hi!
is there a disney store in delhi, gugaon or noida? i really need this info. if anyone knows. pl post the location.
thanks a million
Pl. give location of Disney showroom in south Delhi or Faridabad.
I love the picture. it is so qute!!!