Regulatory Announcement

 
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RNS Number : 2448G
Indian Film Company Limited (The)
28 January 2010
 
 
28 January 2010
The Indian Film Company enters into a strategic distribution tie-up with YouTube
 
The Indian Film Company ("IFC or the "Company"), the specialist film investment company, today announced a strategic
distribution tie-up with YouTube. 
 
As part of this partnership, Striker will be the first ever Indian film feature to premiere on YouTube internationally at
the same time as it is released in cinemas throughout India on 5 February 2010. The film will be accessible on the Studio
18 Channel on YouTube (www.youtube.com/studio18). 
 
The move aims to provide a wide cost-effective distribution platform for such high content features that do not get an
international theatrical release because of an atypical star cast. By providing customers a legitimate viewing option, it
is hoped that the move will also minimize the effect of piracy and offer customers a quality and on demand option for
watching the latest film. 
 
In order to ensure that revenues from the Indian theatrical release are maximised, the film will not be available for the
traffic originating from India.  In the US, Striker will be available for rent, while outside the US, it will be available
for free viewing, to be monetised through an advertising -share model. 
 
Set in a Bombay slum in the mid '80s and based on true-life accounts, Striker  is directed by Chandan Arora and stars
Telugu actor Siddharth Narayan (Rang De Basanti ) alongside Anupam Kher, Aditya Panscholi, Padmapriya, and Vidya Malavade.
Arora's previous work includes Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh  and the critically acclaimed Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon.
 
Commenting Sandeep Bhargava, CEO of the advisory to The Indian Film Company, said, "Once again the IFC is setting an
industry standard. By releasing the film on YouTube at the same time as its Indian theatrical premiere, we massively
increase the numbers of people able to see the film, at the same time as helping to ensure the success of the theatrical
release in India where it will be paid for."
For further information, please contact:
Enquiries:
The Indian Film Company Limited
Sandeep Bhargava                                                                                   Tel: +91 226 629 1723
Grant Thornton Corporate Finance (Nominated Adviser)
Fiona Kindness                                                                                         Tel: +44 207 383
5100
Elara Capital (Broker)
Raj Bhatt/Mary Phelan                                                                              Tel: +44 207 486 9733  
Pelham Bell Pottinger
Alex Walters/Francesca Tuckett                                                              Tel: +44 207 337 1500
Notes to Editors
The Indian Film Company (the 'Company') is a specialist film investment company which was admitted to trading on the AIM
market in June 2007 and raised GBP 55 million in order to invest in a diverse portfolio of Indian films targeted at the
Indian audiences across varying genre, language and budgets. 
The Company is part of the Network 18 Group, with Network 18 Parties' holding 
80.38% of the Company's issued share capital and managed by Film Investment Managers (Mauritius) Ltd., which is jointly and
equally owned by Viacom Inc. and BK Media Mauritius PVT. BK Media Mauritius PVT is owned by Raghav Bahl, the founder and
controlling shareholder of Network 18.
TIFC uses the services of STUDIO 18, India's largest vertically integrated motion picture company, to distribute, exploit
and market its bouquet of in-house productions, co-productions and acquisitions. Studio 18 is part of Viacom 18, a 50/50
joint venture set-up between Viacom and Network 18. 
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange