MAM
PVR Cinemas expands its footprints in the Southern market with the launch of its 10th multiplex in Telangana
MUMBAI: PVR Ltd., the largest and the most premium film exhibition company in the country, announced the launch of its 8th multiplex in the city of Hyderabad, today. The 6-screen property is located in a convenient location at Hyderabad Next Galleria Mall in Musarambagh, Hyderabad. Designed on the boutique cinema concept and equipped with advanced in-cinema technologies, the new multiplex offers enhanced cinematic experience to the movie patrons. With this launch, the total screen count of PVR Cinemas stands at 58 screens at 10 properties in the state of Telangana, augmenting its growth in southern region with 260 screens across 43 PVR properties.
The new PVR Cinemas is easily accessible owing to the metro connectivity from across the city. The property spreads across an area of 26,630 sq. ft. with a seating capacity of 985 seats. It is integrated with world-class technological solutions like BARCO 2K projection system that regulates brightness and vibrant colours to ensure razor-sharp picture quality. In addition to this, the auditoriums are equipped with Dolby 7.1 surround sound and next-generation 3-D, bringing an exceptional digital movie experience with excellent visuals and audio quality. Further, the UHB 3D system is brighter in comparison to the conventional 3D system as the Harkness Silver and White Screens aids in delivering an exceptional video quality. With an array of digital first features and a host of hospitality services, PVR reinforces its focus in enabling a seamless movie viewing experience at the theatres.
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Joint Managing Director, PVR Ltd. said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of our new boutique property in Hyderabad. This is the first launch of this year and we look forward to continue with our expansion plans in FY 2019- 2020, across the country. Innovation and the endeavor to introduce new concepts and offerings have been at the core of our business strategy and we are certainly positive that the new multiplex in Hyderabad will be well received by the movie patrons.”
He added, “I, on behalf of the whole PVR team would like to thank the L&T Realty Ltd. to let us be a part of their sound property, Hyderabad Next Galleria Mall in Musarambagh, and we look forward to a resounding association.”
Mr. Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Ltd., said, “With this launch we reiterate our focus in introducing new concepts, specially developed to offer enhanced experience to our patrons at the theatres. With advancements in technological solutions, it is equally imperative to identify customer preferences to be able to establish a connect with them. The new multiplex integrated with state-of-the-art technological solutions and plush interiors stands as a unique property with a comfortable yet classy ambience, perfectly, designed for movie goers.”
The interior décor of PVR Musarambagh is designed on the theme of theatrical Art, carrying the characteristics of art deco style. The theatre celebrates distinctiveness with the elements of art decor. Additionally, PVR cements its ardent consumer-centric approach by offering a wide range of gourmet delicacies and with the Quick Tix facility at the box office, a seamless experience is guaranteed to the customers at PVR theatres.
With this opening, PVR stands at a total screen count of 754 screens at 162 properties in 64 cities.
AD Agencies
Abhay Duggal joins JioStar as director of Hindi GEC ad sales
The streaming giant brings in a seasoned revenue hand as the battle for Hindi television advertising heats up
MUMBAI: Abhay Duggal has a new desk, and JioStar has a new weapon. The media and entertainment veteran has joined JioStar as director of entertainment ad sales for Hindi general entertainment channels, adding 17 years of hard-won revenue experience to one of India’s most powerful broadcasting operations.
Duggal is no stranger to big portfolios or bruising markets. Before joining JioStar, he spent a brief stint at Republic World as deputy general manager and north regional head for ad sales. Before that, he put in three years at Enterr10 Television, where he ran the north region for Dangal TV and Dangal 2, two of India’s leading free-to-air Hindi channels. The north alone accounted for more than 50 per cent of total channel revenue on his watch, a number that tends to get attention in any sales meeting.
His longest stint was at Zee Entertainment Enterprises, where he spent over six years rising to associate director of sales. There he commanded the Hindi movies cluster across seven channels, owned more than half of north India’s revenue across flagship properties including Zee TV and &TV, and closed marquee sponsorships across the Indian Premier League, Zee Rishtey Awards and Dance India Dance. He also handled monetisation for the English movies and entertainment cluster and the global news channel WION, a portfolio that would stretch most sales teams twice his size.
Earlier in his career Duggal closed what was then a Rs 3 crore single deal at Reliance Broadcast Network, one of the largest in Indian radio at the time, before that he helped launch and monetise JAINHITS, India’s first HITS-based cable and satellite platform.
His edge, by his own account, lies in marrying data and instinct: translating audience trends, inventory signals and client demands into long-term partnerships built on cost-per-rating-point discipline rather than short-term deal chasing. In a media landscape being reshaped by streaming, fragmented attention and AI-driven advertising, that kind of rigour is increasingly rare and increasingly valuable.
JioStar, which blends the scale of Reliance’s Jio platform with the content firepower of Star, is doubling down on its advertising business at precisely the moment the Hindi GEC market is getting more competitive. Bringing in someone who has spent nearly two decades doing exactly this, across some of India’s most watched channels, is a pointed statement of intent. Duggal has spent his career turning audiences into revenue. JioStar is clearly betting he can do it again, and bigger.
