iWorld
The Screen Patti partners with Brand Factory to tell the millennials’ story with ‘Weekends’
Mumbai, 21st September, 2018: The Screen Patti (TSP), a The Viral Fever (TVF) channel, has announced partnership with Brand Factory for its upcoming web show ‘Weekends’, the story of three absolutely different young men working in the same office, trying to make some valuable time to have fun, find love and make money.
The trailer for the show has just been released and can be viewed at https://bit.ly/TSPWeekends.
‘Weekends’ is a comedy that reveals the plight of millennials in their workspace, trying to find that elusive work-life balance. Constantly juggling the demands of the office and their desire to have fun, the hallowed ground of the weekend is where the lines are drawn. A working weekend completely messes with their zen. The only thing that gets them going is a weekend spent doing what their hearts want.
Directed by Harman Wadala and written by Parikshit, Talha, Jatin & Shivam, the show features popular actors Gurpreet Saini (Pari), Prabal Punjabi (Kevin) and Pranay Manchanda (from Baked & The Aam Aadmi Family as Rakesh aka PPT).
Amrit Raj Gupta, Channel Head – The Screen Patti said, “Weekends is a show about three men and them being torn between work and their personal lives that often take a beating because of unwanted assignments at ungodly hours. We have a terrific cast on board that has surely delivered a stellar performance.”
Vijay Koshy, Head – Brand Partnerships, TVF, said, “With a twist of humor, TSP’s Weekends embodies the current working class that struggles to find time to focus on self in this harsh competitive world. Since the beginning, we knew that this show is meant for brands that try to solve the problems of this generation. Kudos to the team at Brand Factory from the future group for believing in this show & partnering with the TSP family! The TVF network has now made inroads to new categories like Fashion Retail, Real Estate and Health sector”.
Roch D’Souza, Chief Marketing Officer, Brand Factory said, “Todays Millennial audience is constantly looking for validation on social media for their behaviour be it fashion, lifestyle etc. There is a growing phenomenon of ‘living to share on social media’, and hence reaching out to the youth through the TVF Weekends web series was a great opportunity. We feel it’s a perfect fit as it depicts the day to day life of a corporate employee, the type of audience that shops at our stores. Collaborations with content creators is a major Part of Brand Factory’s digital strategy ahead and we plan to create some amazing Branded Content”
Tune in to watch three young men learn the art of juggling their personal and professional lives and making memories along the way, starting 28th September. The 5-episode show will be released on TVFPlay (2 episodes initially) and YouTube, with one episode going live every Friday.
iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
