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Nimbus gears up for convergence
Mumbai
based television software production and airtime sales company
Nimbus Communications is making a big time foray into the
Internet biz with the intention of transforming itself into
a powerful e-media company. The Harish Thawani promoted
venture would be the first company to offer free Internet
access in India. It has struck a marketing arrangement with
Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. The group has already paid VSNL
RS 200 million for a fixed number of subscribers. A subsidiary
christened Nimbus Online would look after Internet access.
It also is working on creating an array of vertical portals
under the banner name NirvanaZone.com and it is intending
to pump in RS 201.5 million in content for the portals.
It is expected to launch on 15 February, 2000. The mother
portal (NirvanaZone.com) would focus on C-2-C and B-2-C
areas and is expected to be the "one stop shop for the funky
and cool minded people". The portal boasts to have everything
from cricket to dating. 1,200 hours of cricket programming
is already in the process of being converted into streaming
media. The company is known to have a joint venture formed
with the Industrial Development Corporation of India (IDBI).
The company is forecasting an ambitious three million page
view target three months from its launch.
Nimbus Communications' two television channels are expected
to be launched this year. One would be a women-centric channel
and the other one an entertainment channel called Showbiz
TV. The latter is expected to be launched by July 2000.
Nimbus has not ignored the lucrative radio business. It
also will launch eight FM radio channels and make its content
synchronise with the group's Internet business.
The media giant is already ready to come out with the RS
1.92 billion IPO to fund its plans.
It appears as though Mr Thawani is not leaving any stone
unturned in the era of convergence and hoping to be well
ahead in the race. He already has Mr Chandra leading the
race with Internet access, a bouquet of television channels,
distribution, satellites and satellite telephony. Will Thawani
replicate the success achieved by India's Murdoch Mr Subhash
Chandra?
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