BIG CBS Networks Pvt. Ltd.: A new joint venture between Reliance and CBS

On August 18, 2010, Reliance Broadcast Network (RBN), a subsidiary of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, announced that it completed a negotiation with the U.S. based CBS Studios, a division of CBS Corp., to create a joint-venture named BIG CBS Networks Pvt. Ltd., for operating television channels.

In a filing submitted by RBN at BSE, it said that BIG CBS Networks Pvt. Ltd. would be a 50:50 joint venture between RBN and CBS Studios. The new organization would operate, market, and promote various television channels in the South Asian region including Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Pakistan.

It also said, "The JV will, at start, see the creation of three new English entertainment channels, customised for the Indian market offering audiences immediate access to new and current CBS programs,"

BIG CBS Networks Pvt. Ltd. will showcase channels in Hindi and entertainment channels in regional languages in the next phase.

With the market presence of RBN coupled with CBS’s top-class TV content, BIG CBS intends to cover a big market share in the rising television industry of India.

BIG CBS Networks Pvt. Ltd. is the first foray of Reliance group into the television industry of India. Aside from Reliance, CBS also have some other joint-venture projects in India.

Reliance BIG Picture is hiring two new senior executives

In the last few months, Reliance BIG Pictures replaced three top level executives. Now, the company appointed two new senior executives to its core management team.

From an industry source, it has been found out that Priti Shahani, who served as Senior vice president marketing, distribution and syndication in Studio 18, will join Reliance Big Pictures as Head of strategy and marketing. She will serve as a key member involved in determining the overall strategy for the company.

Shahani was one of the founding members of ‘Studio 18,’ the movie producing arm of Television 18. She has been working with the company since 2006 and played a crucial role in creating new revenue streams from movies by introducing the syndication for Jab We Met’s satellite rights.

It is believed that Priti Shahani will join Reliance in the middle of June 2010. In March 2010, she left Studio 18. She is considered to be one of the best marketing professionals in the industry.

Utpal Acharya, Vice President, programming, distribution and production, Inox Leisure would join as Head of distribution which includes all the major media including theatre, television and digital format. His joining date has not been decided yet.

Acharya worked with Sony Pictures, Shringar Films and UTV Motion Pictures. He was also in Studio 18 when the company was formed. Then in 2007, he joined multiplex chain, Inox Leisure.

Both Shahani and Acharya will report to Sanjeev Lamba, CEO, Reliance BIG Pictures.

Reliance BIG Picture COO- film distribution, Kamal Gianchandani, is going to join PVR Pictures as CEO. He will leave after the release of Raavan Hindi movie in June 2010.

Jawahar Sharma, Reliance BIG Pictures COO - international film business and Gayathiri Batra, Reliance BIG Pictures regional head also left the company.