ack in 1981, much before television sets had even started becoming a regular fixture in Indian households, Ronnie Screwvala started a cable TV company, Network, in Mumbai that catered to the city�s upmarket Cuffe Parade residents. That Screwvala�s three-hour channel - for which he charged a princely sum of Rs 200 per month - was a decent success is incidental. What is critical is the fact that somewhere, that early venture helped lay the foundations of a media entity that has today diversified into various areas of content creation. A media entity that goes by the name of UTV Software Communications, and has stakes in the television content, animation, post-production, motion picture production and distribution, and broadcasting spaces. That Network also marked the beginning of Screwvala�s soaring career as an entrepreneur and media professional is merely stressing the point.

As a part of its pursuit of scalability, UTV unveiled its maiden initiative in the broadcast space last year - kids� channel Hungama. Screwvala believes the kids� space is where UTV�s growth will come from, both vertically and horizontally. And by horizontal growth he means getting into merchandising. ... more