The word “IPO” always makes headlines.
ACK Media, which had acquired Indian comic brands – Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle – and more recently, Karadi Tales, is considering at IPO within the next 12-18 months, reports DNA. The proceeds will be used to fund the launch a General Entertainment Channel (GEC), which would require an investment of Rs. 100 crore. Channels currently targeting kids include Pogo, Cartoon Network, CBeebies, Disney, Toon Disney and Hungama TV.
What’s most interesting is the introduction of new content, and a new character in Tinkle – a 12 year old girl called Nina, and her adventures in the 1950s, apparently based around historical events…glimpses of George McDonald Fraser’s Flashman? Perhaps. More Nancy Drew than Flashman, though. ACK will produce mobile games and web content around Nina.
ACK Media has already started animating content from Tinkle. Before they launch a GEC, they’re going to produce content for DTH and Home Video; the idea, according to Samir Patil, CEO and founder of ACK Media, is to retain the IPR for the animation. They had acquired Bangalore based Quitemen Studio, which will focus on gaming, and now have plans to set up an animation studio in Mumbai. They’ll employ around 20 artists in the studio. Some samples of the animation of Shikari Shambu and Suppandi are up on YouTube – 1, 2, 3, 4.
ACK is also planning a separate website for Amar Chitra Katha (they already have the domain name amarchitrakatha.com) before the end of the year; the Tinkle site is up and running.
Also see out coverage of what another company – Geodesic Information Systems – is doing with classic Indian content they acquired to digitize – Chandamama. Geodesic has chosen to also provide the content in indic languages online, while ACK appears so far has online content in English only.
Related:
– Q1-09 Results: Geodesic Profit Up 18 Pc QoQ At $13.61 Million; Mundu IM To Be Bundled With Medion Handset In Europe
– Chandamama Launches Hindi, Tamil And Telugu Portals; Archives Inaccessible
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3 Comments until now.
Which world are the owners in? 100 Cr. to do a GEC? Ask any TV or PE guys they’ll tell you thats what you need to keep side for 1st year losses – if you are lucky.
Today, Tata Sky and Dish take 4 cr a piece to carry your channel and then another 25-30 for Delhi and Mumbai and as you add up the rest of the country you are looking at about 50-70Cr. just in carriage fees.
Then comes marketing and capex and we havent even gotten to content.
They would be better off becoming content company and sell their content to channels like 9X, Imagine and a host others desperate for god content (not a typo :-))
Although this old as hell, i think the previous comment is right, they ought to be content creators, licensing their content to others and getting it produced by studios without spending too much money on their own.
from what i have heard they have gone into the production business themselves which is ridiculous.
they could put together a bouquet of content for less than 10 Crore upfront and then rotate the monies that come in. that would be plenty to put together 2-3 animated series as well as a bunch of live action shows under the ACK brand.
its been a year to date.. i wonder how much progress they have made !