Indian entertainment group Pyramid Saimira is moving into satellite TV.
Company, best known as a multiplex operator from South India, has pacted with U.K.-based Spize TV to launch TV channels by satellite in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Through a related company, Saimira Access Technologies, Pyramid earlier in the week acquired a 51% stake in Spize, which packages Asian and niche content for satcaster subscribers to Eutelsat's EuroBird-9 and HotBird satellites.
The enlarged Spize is expected to add Chinese and Spanish-language channels to its offering of Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Bangla and Gujarati bouquets and a South Indian bouquet of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Singhalese and Malay channels. Services will also include Bollywood movies and music from the B4U Group and cricket coverage.
"The partnership with Spize TV is a very crucial step in terms of our global entertainment strategy," said Pyramid Saimira managing director P. S. Saminathan. "With this venture, we will gain access into more new territories, which will help synergize and leverage our content significantly. This also sets us well on our way towards expansion in Europe."
Pyramid has 53 multiplexes and some 800 screens in India, Malaysia, Singapore and North America. Listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, its operations include film distribution, film and TV production, advertising, gaming and animation, food and beverages and property.
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