UTV to launch new motion picture brand 'Spotboy'

New Delhi, May 16: Spurred on by the rise of UTV Motion Pictures as a player to reckon with national and international film projects like 'The Namesake' and 'Life In a Metro', the production company is all set to launch its second motion picture brand 'Spotboy' to take the vision of the company to the next level.

The move is in line with the business expansion plan followed by most international production companies to help bring diverse projects within the same studio through different brands.

It is coming close on the heels of international tie-ups by UTV with US-based Fox productions for 'The Namesake' and 'I think I Love My Wife' and a two-movie contract with Will Smith and Night Shyamalan's next production.

Ronnie Screwvala, CEO of UTV, says, ''Our business has grown manifold and we have numerous projects underway. Also, we are entering new markets and going international in the coming months, which made this the appropriate time for us to launch 'Spotboy Motion Pictures'.'' Dwelling upon the profile of the new company, Mr Screwvala said,''This brand will take over some existing projects but will largely develop its own fresh content. This is a typical business expansion plan followed by most international production companies and provides the company with bandwidth and thinking flexibility. It also helps bring diverse projects within the same studio through different brands.'' Heading the new UTV venture will be Vikas Bahl, Business Head, SAB TV. Vikas has been appointed to head this new venture as Executive Vice-President.

In his previous position as Business Head, SAB TV, Vikas built SAB as a strong player in the GEC space in the last 18 months by more than doubling its ratings and revenue and building a strong brand in a hugely cluttered environment.

''Vikas brings with him experience from across the entertainment and the brand building space. His out-of-the-box approach to business and creative abilities will help take UTV Motion Pictures to new heights,'' Screwvala said.

''After entering the motion pictures space just four years ago, UTV's red-green-blue stripes have made frequent appearances on the big screen and have become iconic of the new wave of Indian cinema. ''Taking India's creative and production abilities to the international market is our next big task and we all look forward to it. India is not just an IT hub, but also the home to many great creative minds. Through the setting up of the new venture, we hope to provide these creative minds a world platform,'' Screwvala added.

UTV Motion Pictures pioneered the studio model in India with operations encompassing production, marketing, distribution and international co-productions. Strategic relationships with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney and Sony Pictures, along with Will Smith's Overbrook, have positioned UTV as the only South Asian Company in the International Movie Space.

While it has to its credit release of the internationally-acclaimed Mira Nair's 'The Namesake', it is also co-producing with Fox studios the under-Production M Night Shyamalan's 'The Happening" Further, it has a slate of over 12 movies on the floor, which combined with its International Co-Productions, make it the largest Movie Studio in the South Asia.

UNI