Turner to expand media biz

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Mumbai, Apr 10: Turner International Pvt Ltd, a division of Time Warner, is aiming to expand its entertainment business in India. Turner, which already offers content such as Cartoon Network, POGO, CNN, CNN-IBN, and HBO in India, will make animation films and launch a new Hollywood movies and series’ channel with Warner Bros in India.

Turner will start by making two animation pictures a year from 2009. “We are set to make a foray into animation theatrical business in India. The films initially will be in Hindi, but later on we might get into other languages as well,” said Stephen J Marcopoto, president, Turner International Asia Pacific Limited.

This means Turner will be using Indian mythological characters, and will be developing characters which will be having an Indian flavour. But nothing was specified by the officials of Turner regarding the content.

“We are still working on the content, but it’ll have an Indian flavour. Moreover, India is our highest priority market in the Asia Pacific region. India contributes about 30% to our total Asia Pacific revenue. Thus we are establishing a multi million dollar unit to develop and produce animated films,” commented Stephen “Initially these animated films will be released in India but later on it’ll be released in the overseas market as well.

Meanwhile Turner also partnered with its sister concern Warner Bros to launch a Hollywood movies and series’ channel. This partnership between Warner Bros and Turner to launch a channel is the first of its kind and has never happened before.

“This movie channel will be launched sometime later this year. We have also partnered with Alva Brothers to launch Hindi GEC. Both the channels will be aired sometime later this year,” said Stephen.