Anil Ambani, Spielberg join hands to form Amblin Partners

The Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Entertainment and acclaimed Hollywood director Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks on Thursday announced formation of Amblin Partners — a new film, television and digital content creation company.

Participant Media led by Jeff Skoll and Entertainment One (eOne), a leading US-based media company, are also part of the joint venture.

“Together with Reliance Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures, they will work closely with Amblin Partners to develop and produce specific content for the new venture, in addition to exploring opportunities for co-productions and other content,” the company said in a statement here.

Amblin Partners has a mandate to develop and produce films using Amblin, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant banners as well as Amblin Television, a long-time leader in quality programming.

Spielberg, announcing the joint venture, said, “We are honored to continue our long-term association with our dear friend, Anil Ambani and his team at Reliance. We have had the opportunity to develop and produce wonderful films, thanks to their ongoing support.”

Anil Ambani said, “We are delighted to continue our now seven-year-strong relationship with our valued partner, Steven Spielberg and extend this alliance to the formation of Amblin Partners with Jeff Skoll. We look forward to the combination of Steven’s passion and integrity with Jeff’s unique socially-conscious vision to create uplifting and quality content to entertain global audiences.”

DreamWorks Studios and Participant Media have collaborated on many Academy Award-nominated films such as ‘Lincoln’ and ‘The Help’ as well as the critically-acclaimed ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’, and the recently released ‘Bridge of Spies.’

Amblin Partners’ film projects at various stages of production include ‘The BFG’, and ‘The Light Between Oceans’, scheduled for release by Disney in 2016; ‘The Girl on the Train’, (October 2016); ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ (first quarter of 2017) and ‘Ready Player One’, a co-production between Amblin Partners and Warner Bros Pictures, which is scheduled to be released in December of 2017.

Upcoming shows from Amblin TV include ‘All the Way’, an HBO movie directed by Jay Roach and starring Bryan Cranston, with an air date to be announced shortly; and ‘American Gothic’, a summer series that will air on CBS and begin production in February 2016.

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Vodafone launches 4G services in India starting with Kochi

Vodafone India on Tuesday entered the 4G services arena, starting with Kochi, as it looks to take on market leader Bharti Airtel and the upcoming launch by Reliance Jio Infocomm.

The country’s second largest mobile operator will shortly launch the services in Trivandrum and Calicut. While, it plans to launch 4G in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata by March next year.

Testing of 4G services in these locations has already commenced and Vodafone has partnered with leading global technology service providers for the network roll-out.

The company has invested Rs 700 crore in Kerala towards network expansion for 3G and 4G in the last 18 months.

“Vodafone’s global expertise and experience of launching 4G across 19 countries gives us a better understanding of this technology and the needs of the 4G customer,” Vodafone India MD and CEO Sunil Sood said in a statement.

The company’s 4G service in Kochi will be available from December 14, which is built on a fibre backhaul, and is supported by its own new 3G services on a network of 2100 MHz.

Vodafone said it has become the first telecom operator in Kerala to offer 2G, 3G and 4G services on its own network.

Bharti Airtel on August 6 had announced launch of its 4G mobile phone services and now covers over 350 towns. Reliance Jio, the telecom arm of the cash-rich conglomerate Reliance Industries is likely to start 4G voice and data services in December.

While, Idea Cellular is planning to launch 4G services in 750 towns across 10 circles by the first half of 2016.

Asked about the capital expenditure plans for this year, Sood said it is likely to be on the lines of last year, when the company invested about Rs 8,500 crore.

Vodafone India had successfully acquired additional 4G (LTE) spectrum in 5 circles — Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Kerala and Karnataka in February 2014 auctions. These circles together contribute close to 50% of the total data revenues for Vodafone India.

Globally, Vodafone has launched 4G in 19 countries.

Vodafone said its 4G-LTE services can be accessed from 4G enabled handsets offered by leading smartphone manufacturers available across the country.

The company is offering 4G at the rates of 3G and packs range from Rs 29 for 120MB data to 20GB for Rs 2499.

Kerala is a significant growth market for Vodafone India with data revenue growing over 75 per cent annually.

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