GECs
India one of the fastest growing markets for eBay: Whitman
MUMBAI: Online auction major eBay Inc. will focus this year on consolidation and integration of the acquisitions it had made in 2005. The company had bought internet phone company Skype Technologies, real estate company Rent.com and consumer review site Shoppong.com Inc.
eBay Inc. president and CEO Meg Whitman, who was on her first visit to India, told reporters here that the company would continue to look at acquisition opportunities but the focus would be on “consolidation and integration” this year.
Being bullish on India, Whitman said it was one of the fastest growing markets for eBay along with China, Korea and a few other countries in the Asia Pacific region. In 2004, eBay acquired India’s most popular online shopping site, Baazee.com.
“Though the internet base in India is low, it is growing at a fast pace. We are looking forward to the increase in broadband penetration as it accelerates the growth of online trade,” she said.
eBay India has two million users across 240 cities in India and the most popular items sold on the site are jewellery, mobile phones and digital cameras. Globally, eBay has 181 million users.
eBay, which was built on auction-style trading, is seeing growth in fixed-price format. “Today, 34 per cent of the trade on the site takes place in the fixed-price format,” she said.
When asked what precautions eBay was taking against counterfeit products, Whitman said the company was partnering with 14,000 intellectual property rights owners who can identify such items.
After the acquisition of Baazee.com, the Indian operations have gained from eBay’s global presence. “One-third of our business now comes from cross border trade. Sellers from India have access to buyers from nearly 100 countries. An Indian seller sells to an international buyer every nine minutes,” said eBay India country manager Gautam Thakar.
Though the top six towns in India account for 40-45 per cent of eBay India’s trade, rapid growth is coming from the small towns. Sellers are also coming from these places and micro enterprises. “There is width and depth in the marketplace. A piece of jewellery sells every five minutes, a mobile handset sells every seven minutes and a digital camera every 46 minutes,” Thakar said.
EBay India chairman Avnish Bajaj also expressed optimism in the growth of e-commerce in India.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
