HBO expects 20 pc revenue hike next year

New Delhi, Dec 12: Home Box Office (HBO), a 24-hour english movie channel expects 15-20 per cent hike in its revenue from India next year, beginning with 550 million dollars box office movie 'King Kong'.

''We are looking for 15-20 per cent increase in revenue in our Indian business in 2007,''HBO South Asia Country Manager Shruti Bajpai told reporters here.

Revealing its strategy, Ms Shruti said the channel would hit the television first with Hollywood blockbuster 'King Kong', besides eleven other blockbusters movies and fifty-two exclusive premiers.

''Four to five brand new HBO original series will be aired next year to tap the market,'' Ms Bajpai said, adding that HBO would also follow the customisation of the Indian viewers.

Commenting on the conditional access system (CAS), Ms Bajpai said after its implementation, the choices would be at viewers' hands.

Launched in year 2000, presently HBO has its reach in more than 26 million households in the country.

Moreover, Ms Bajpai said docu-drama 'Tsunami-The Aftermath', a mini series will be premiered on the HBO Channel on December 26.

The film, shooted on location at Phuket and Khao Lak in Thailand, is written by Morgan Abi and directed by Britain-based Indian filmmaker Bharat Nalluri.

This film is made by HBO films in association with the BBC.

''This is second time we are coming together with the BBC to produce a series, the first time being for producing the famous series 'Rome', which premiered on HBO earlier this year,'' Ms Bajpai said.

UNI