In line with Reliance Entertainment’s plans to try and improve monetization by launching subscription services in partnership with ISPs and telecom operators, Zapak has tied up with You Broadband to launch Zapak Plus subscription services for its broadband subscribers.
According to TRAI’s quarterly performance report for the quarter ending March 2011, YouBroadband had 325,993 total Internet subscribers, of which 253,492 were broadband subscribers. It has the fifth largest broadband subscriber base in the country, behind BSNL (7,494,193 subscribers), Bharti Airtel (1,432,134 subscribers), MTNL (947,611 subscribers) and Hathway (346,046 subscribers).
ZapakPlus gives users legal access to games like Ashes Cricket 2009, Dirt, Taxi Racer etc. ZapakPlus has tie-ups with publishers like MumboJumbo, Hipsoft, Codemasters (in which Zapak has a significant stake), Abolutist among others and claims to offer more than 120 PC games including Ashes Cricket 2009, Winter Challenge, ATM Mudracer, Taxi Racer 2 and others, across categories like action, arcade, sports, strategy, racing and casual games.
Remember that this isn’t the first instance of a tie-up between distributors and ISPs for games over broadband in India: for many years now, Indiagames has provided its Games On Demand service to consumers through multiple ISPs. What’s interesting to note, is that the Indiagames’ GoD business became profitable last fiscal, with 80,000 paid subscribers and revenues of Rs 8.19 crore.
ZapakPlus Pricing On You Broadband
Online, without a telecom operator deal in place, Zapak Plus is priced at a monthly subscription of Rs 99, and a quarterly subscription of Rs 247, in case of online payments, and Rs 149 and Rs 297 respectively, for cash on delivery payments.
What’s interesting is that in case of the You Broadband deal, the pricing appears to be the same for a monthly subscription, at Rs 99, but the three month plan is more expensive at Rs 297. As an introductory offer, the three month plan is available for Rs 249. Wonder how they arrived at the pricing, and how much Zapak makes from all this.
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You Broadband & Cable India Ltd is majority owned by Citigroup Venture Capital International, and has filed has filed a draft red herring prospectus with the Securities & Exchange Board of India, eyeing an IPO.
Related
– Zapak Launches Subscription Based Gaming Service Zapak Plus
– Indiagames Reports Rs 2.47 Crore Profit For FY11; Revenues Up 37%
