iWorld
Airtel Digital TV & JOP Network partner to launch ‘Hollywood Masala’ – a collection of blockbuster Hollywood movies in Hindi
MUMBAI: Airtel Digital TV, the DTH arm of Bharti Airtel and JOP Network Pvt Ltd, India’s leading content house, today joined hands to launch an innovative channel – Hollywood Masala, which offers a collection of premium Hollywood movies dubbed in Hindi. The first-of-its-kind channel will enable customers to enjoy Hollywood blockbusters in Hindi.
The ad free service will be available on channel number 188 on Airtel Digital TV at just Rs. 45/- per month. The channel will showcase movies from across genres including Action, Comedy, Romance, Sci – Fi, Drama and Horror, catering to the unique preferences of customers. Airtel DTH customers can now enjoy popular Hollywood movies like Da Vinci Code, Social Network, The Smurfs, Batman Vs Superman, The Adventures of Tintin et al. amongst others, in Hindi.
Urvi Agarwal – Director, JOP Network Pvt Ltd, said “We are glad to launch Hollywood Masala – a service that showcases premium Hollywood blockbuster movies on a platform like Airtel Digital TV, one of the largest DTH players in our country. The service is targeted at the Indian masses of all age groups who enjoy watching Hollywood movies but in their preferred language – Hindi!”
Richa Kalra, Product Manager – DTH, Bharti Airtel said, “At Airtel, customer delight is pivotal for us and we are always innovating for newer ways to enrich their lives. The launch of Hollywood Masala is in line with this endeavor and aims to offer customers the joy of watching their favorite Hollywood blockbusters in Hindi without any language hindrance.”
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.
