MAM
Seet & Elsky form Amity Entertainment
MUMBAI: Media industry veterans Richard Seet and Stephen Elsky have formed Amity Entertainment, a multi-faceted production, distribution and licensing company using financing secured from New York investment firm Angelo, Gordon & Co.
In creating Amity, Seet and Elsky acquired the assets to Tadpole Entertainment and two film libraries. These acquisitions provide Amity with an initial catalog consisting of two franchise properties – The Big Comfy Couch and the Ernest feature films – and over 120 feature films including several dozen desirable but previously undistributed martial arts titles.
“This is just the beginning of our mission to make Amity Entertainment one of the industry’s pre-eminent forces in production, distribution and licensing. Angelo, Gordon’s backing has allowed us to initiate a number of other acquisition, co-production and distribution negotiations, and we expect to be adding many additional properties to our portfolio in the months ahead,” said Amity chairman and CEO Richard Seet.
Elsky, who was named president and COO, added, “With the acquisition of The Big Comfy Couch, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary on PBS stations, and the addition of the Ernest franchise, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, we have two very successful properties on which to build the company.”
“This is Angelo, Gordon’s first private equity investment in an entertainment content company. With the proliferation of entertainment distribution both in the US and overseas, we see tremendous value in the long term build up of a content library and are delighted to be sponsoring Richard and Steve in this effort,” Angelo, Gordon & Co managing director Josh Brain.
Tadpole Entertainment markets the pre-school children’s program The Big Comfy Couch and has rights to distribute and license the Ernest feature films and other properties. Amity’s movie library features such stars as Tom Hanks, Kim Basinger, Jack Nicholson, Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins and Burt Lancaster.
Seet is a media industry entrepreneur. He was most recently founder and chairman of Seet Kummerfeld Prieb, a New York-based investment management and advisory company with transactions concentrated in magazine publishing, custom publishing, marketing/media information services and media support services. He previously CO-founded Qiosk.com which provided digital distribution of interactive magazines. He began his career as a principal with The Carlyle Group, following a stint as faculty research associate at the Harvard Business School.
Elsky is a 40-year veteran of the entertainment industry. Most recently, he led the successful re-launching of The Big Comfy Couch to PBS stations in the United States. Previously, Steve served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of High Five Entertainment and spent 12 years with Hearst Entertainment, where he was senior vice president. He began his career at United Artists Television where he served for 13 years and was general manager of operations.
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
