Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Hollywood digital movies can be shown only on DCI compliant platform

Indeed, that involves a huge investment on the part of UFO Moviez. Sample this: they are investing Rs.1.5 million per screen and adding 60-80 theatres every month, which means they’ve already invested Rs.1.13 billion in digitising theatres with Rs.90-120 million of additional investment every month. And so far, over 350 movies, aggregating around 350,000 shows have been played on UFO, earning revenues of around Rs.175 million, so there’s going to be quite a while before UFO can start churning out money. But the objective, as Kanwar reiterates, was to scale up, & fast. UFO has received VC funding of $23 million from 3i Group.

Working as it does on the bottoms up principle, UFO is becoming a rage in Class B & C centres. Having been constantly riled by the piracy malady, production houses including the most successful ones like Yash Raj Films & Filmkraft Productions are supporting this technology. But in cities, quite some theatres, particularly multiplexes like PVR, Fun Cinemas, Adlabs et al have refused to play ball. Then, the ‘shark’ effect has also been felt in India. Says Sathyam (a multiplex in the South that uses DCI technology) COO Tan Ngaronga to B&E, “Quality of image & sound (in DCI) is far superior than any other technology that is developing in India so far... (also) Hollywood digital movies can be shown only on DCI compliant platform...”
For Complete IIPM Article, Click here

Source: IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's Initiative

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Raping the future, on their own???

Ask any malnourished, starving or a bonded girl child & she would plead that it is better to have a life like this than to be raped.

Hence; in 21st century, modern Rapecivilizations no longer belong to the gentle. On the contrary, it is a society of ignominy, shame or dishonour where even children can’t sleep peacefully. South Africa, better known as ‘The rape capital’ of the world has one of the highest incidence of child rape cases in the world. According to government statistics, 20,000 children are raped every year. At least 50 face such fate every day. Shockingly, a young African has greater chance of being raped than being educated. Yet it’s not just Africa alone. The state of Colorado in the US has experienced one in four women raped or harassed. National violence against women survey in the US in 1998 stated that more than 6.8 million women are victims of rape of which 29.3% are children. An Equity Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) study revealed 15,000 cases of sexual harassment is registered in the US annually. American Association of University Women (AAUW) survey in 2002 revealed that 83% of girls have been sexually harassed, & 78% of boys have been sexually harassed from 8th to 11th grade. The worldwide sexual assault statistics by George Mason University states that in Peru, South America, 90% girls (aged 12 to 16) who gave birth, from pregnancy due to rape.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click here

Source: IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's Initiative

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

1,2,3... Starbucks goes back

Starbucks has pulled out its application for its India foray from the Foreign Investment Promotion StarbucksBoard (FIPB), a month later it was asked by the Indian government to rework its application for the second time this year. The disappointment was clear, though the modest comment from the official spokesperson was – “We remain excited about the great prospect that India presents to Starbucks.” Though apprehensive, it expressed its willingness to offer high-quality coffee, handcraft ed beverages, legendary service and the exclusive Starbucks experience to customers in India in the coming future. However, the government’s shilly-shallying on the issue of FDI in retail is not the only reason for Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain retailer, to back off. The mounting disparities between Starbucks’ soon-to-be India partners – V. P. Sharma and Kishore Biyani are believed to be greatly responsible. Grapevine has it that Starbucks is now reconsidering its foray with RPG Group as its prospective partners.


For Complete IIPM Article, Click here

Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006

An IIPM and Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's Initiative