MAM
Viacom looks to let go off video rental chain Blockbuster
MUMBAI: Media conglomerate Viacom is looking to sell video rental chain Blockbuster. The unit has had a bad time as of late and a group of private equity buyers are said to be interested in the property.
New technology such as video-on-demand which is growing in use has badly impacted Blockbusters revenue. In addition DVDs are becoming increasingly cheaper courtesy store discounts. Of course there is the ever present menace of illegal online downloading of movies.
A report in the Wall Street Journal indicated that Viacom is holding discussions with a group of private equity firms including Thomas H Lee, Blackstone and Quadrangle. Viacom has an 82 per cent stake in Blockbuster.
Another report in Media Guardian informs that the first Blockbuster store opened in Texas in 1985. It grew rapidly and has 8,500 outlets with 48 million members. Last year it began offering DVDs for sale alongside its rental business. It is facing tough competition from discount retailers such as Wal-Mart. If the deal goes through it could be valued at nearly $2.5 billion
Brands
Aptronix unveils ‘Big & Beyond’ campaign, opens largest store in Hyderabad
Naga Chaitanya, Sobhita front push as retailer expands premium Apple experience
HYDERABAD: Aptronix has rolled out its most ambitious brand push yet with the launch of the ‘Big & Beyond Aptronix’ campaign, alongside the opening of its largest retail store in India.
The campaign features actors Akkineni Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala as brand faces, signalling a sharper focus on aspirational, experience-led retail as the company scales its presence in the premium Apple ecosystem.
At the centre of the rollout is a new 8,000 sq. ft. flagship outlet at Sarath City Capital Mall, now the largest Aptronix store in the country and among the biggest Apple Premium Reseller formats in India. The space is designed to offer immersive product discovery, personalised guidance and integrated service support, positioning the store as more than just a point of sale.
The campaign itself leans into themes of scale, ambition and accessibility, aiming to connect with a younger, increasingly design-conscious generation of Apple users. By pairing celebrity appeal with in-store experience, Aptronix is looking to deepen emotional engagement while reinforcing its premium positioning.
A key pillar remains its ‘Limitless Aptronix Exchange’ programme, which offers customers simplified upgrade paths, transparent pricing and wider access to Apple devices. The initiative has been central to driving adoption by making high-end technology more approachable for a broader audience.
Premium Lifestyle and Fashion founder & owner Sutinder Singh said the new store reflects a long-held belief that Indian consumers should have access to the best Apple retail experience without compromise. He added that the campaign’s celebrity faces mirror the brand’s core values of elegance, ambition and confidence.
Aptronix CEO Meghna Singh said the ‘Big & Beyond’ theme reflects how the company operates, with a focus on building a best-in-class retail experience. She noted that the Hyderabad launch and the campaign together signal Aptronix’s intent to set new benchmarks in the category.
With this dual push of scale and storytelling, Aptronix is not just expanding its footprint but also redefining how premium tech retail is experienced in India.
