2100 కోట్లకు Ee-TV చానళ్ళ అమ్మకం...రామోజీ విజయమా...ఓటమా?

లిఫ్టుబాయ్ లతో పేపర్లు, తోటమాలులతో చానెల్స్ నడిపే సత్తా ఉన్న మీడియా మొఘల్ రామోజీ రావు తన చానళ్లను అమ్మకాలకు పెట్టారన్న వార్తలు నిజమని తేలింది. Network 18 and TV 18 లకు E-TV చానల్స్ అమ్మేసారు. 
అప్పుల ఊబి నుంచి బైట పడటానికి రామోజీ ఈ పని చేసారా? లేక ఇది వ్యూహాత్మక ఎత్తుగడా? అన్నది తేలాల్సి ఉంది. విస్తరణ తప్ప అమ్మకం అనేది తెలియకుండా ఇన్నేళ్ళు రామోజీ వ్యాపారం సాగిన విషయం మనకు తెలిసిందే. ఏదిఏమైనా...ఆయనకు మేలు జరుగు గాక.   

ఈ అమ్మకానికి సంబంధించి ఐ..బీ.ఎన్. లో ఒక వార్త వచ్చింది. 
(సోర్సు: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/network18-group-to-acquire-etv-become-debtfree/217448-7.html )

 Network 18 and TV 18 announced an expansion into regional news and entertainment on television through a Rs 2,100-crore acquisition of ETV channels. Both the companies also announced rights issues for themselves, each amounting to Rs 2,700 crore. The proceeds will be used to make both the companies debt-free, finance the ETV acquisition, and fund working capital requirements.

Importantly, Raghav Bahl,he Promoter of Network18 and TV18, will retain management and 51 per cent control over both Network18 and TV18. In addition, both companies will gain access to Infotel, which is RIL's new 4G Broadband Digital Platform.

బోర్డు ఆఫ్ డైరెక్టర్ల మీటింగ్  

The Board of Directors of TV18 Broadcast Limited (TV18) at its meeting on Tuesday approved the acquisition of 100 per cent interest in regional news channels in Hindi namely ETV Uttar Pradesh, ETV Madhya Pradesh, ETV Rajasthan and ETV Bihar and ETV Urdu channel (ETV News Channels), 50 per cent interest in ETV Marathi, ETV Kannada, ETV Bangla, ETV Gujarati and ETV Oriya (ETV non Telugu General Entertainment Channels) and 24.50 per cent interest in ETV Telugu and ETV Telugu News (ETV Telugu Channels).

TV18 will have board and management control of ETV News Channels and ETV non Telugu GEC Channels. The Board has approved an outlay of up to Rs 2,100 crore for this acquisition. TV18 also has an option to buy the remaining 50 per cent interest in ETV non Telugu GEC Channels and an additional 24.50 per cent interest in ETV Telugu Channels.

At a board meeting on Tuesday, January 3, Network 18 Media & Investments Limited (Network18) approved a rights issue of equity shares to raise an amount up to Rs 2,700 crore at a price to be determined by the Board in compliance with regulatory requirements, but not exceeding Rs 60 per equity share.

At a board meeting on Tuesday, January 3, TV18 Broadcast Limited (TV18) also approved a rights issue of equity shares to raise an amount up to Rs 2,700 crore at a price to be determined by the Board in compliance with regulatory requirements, but not exceeding Rs 40 per equity share.

The promoters of Network18 will be subscribing to their entitlement in full. The promoters also reserve the right to subscribe to any unsubscribed public portion of the rights issues. Raghav Bahl, t, has informed that promoter companies have entered into an arrangement with Independent Media Trust, a trust set up for the benefit of Reliance Industries Limited, to secure the funding required for this purpose.

Further, Raghav Bahl, Founder and Promoter, shall continue to retain Management and 51 per cent Control over Network18 and 51 per cent control over TV18 through Network18.

Both the companies will be filing the draft letters of offer for their respective rights issues shortly.

ఈ-టీ వీ ఘనత ఇదీ 

ETV is one of the leading TV Networks in South India. It is also among the top five most popularly viewed networks in the country. ETV Channels were one of the first entrants in the regional markets and have a considerable viewership base. One of the key strengths of ETV Channels is their ability to attract and retain loyal viewers who are regular watchers of the quality content on these channels. TV18 is confident of taking these regional channels to even greater success with its strategic inputs, improved content/programming strategies and operational synergies.

Ernst & Young (P) Limited (E&Y) acted as advisors for financial and tax due diligence and valuation of the assets. The legal due diligence was carried out by Khaitan & Co.

On a combined basis, TV18 will be offering a unique mix of national and regional channels catering to diverse genres like Hindi and regional entertainment; general news in English, Hindi and regional languages; business news in Hindi, English and regional languages; music; kids; devotional and infotainment channels. Including the soon-to-be-launched services/variants, this combined bouquet of over 25 channels will be the most powerful and potentially profitable TV operation in the country, especially since India's television industry is on the verge of a digital revolution.

రిలయెన్స్ చేయూత 

Independent Media Trust ("Trust"), a trust set up for the benefit of Reliance Industries Limited, has agreed to fund the Promoters of Network 18 and TV18 to enable them to subscribe to the proposed Rights Issue announced by both the companies today. The Promoter Companies of Network18 and TV18 and the Trust have entered into a Term Sheet under which the Trust would be subscribing to the Optionally Convertible Debentures to be issued by the Promoter Companies.

Reliance will leverage its deep understanding of the Indian markets - consumer insights, technological expertise, and the ability to build & manage scale - to make this a "win win" partnership. This will create value and be accretive to the shareholders of RIL.

Raghav Bahl and his team will continue to have full operational and management control of both the companies. Bahl and the current Promoter Entities of Network18 and TV18 will continue to retain control over Network 18 and TV18. RIL reposes full faith in the current leadership and management team of Network18 and TV18.

The investments in these media properties are being made by RIL through an independent Trust which will have eminent individuals as Trustees, thus preserving the management, operational and editorial independence of these media companies.

The investment by the Trust in the Promoter Companies of Network18 and TV18, and the arrangement between Network18/TV18 and Infotel for the acquisition and distribution of content on the Infotel platform, is one of many such partnership initiatives being undertaken by Infotel.

The combination of India's leading TV content provider, with a bouquet of nearly 25 channels, and Infotel, will be a significant step in bringing a high quality "live TV" experience to broadband customers across the country. Likewise, Network18's market-leading web portals and e-commerce operations will provide several value added services to Infotel's broadband subscribers. This unique alliance is expected to differentiate Infotel and create value for all stakeholders. IBNLive.com is owned by Network18. CNN-IBN is owned by TV18. 

(Text courtesy: IBN-LIVE)
(Photo Courtesy: vebtoday.com)