UTV-ASTRO's BINDASS Announces the Appointment of Ramon Chibb as Its VP-Head of Content and Operations

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

BINDASS, India's first 360-degree entertainment brand for Young India, has announced the appointment of Ramon Chibb as the Vice President-Head of Content and Operations. Brand Bindass will kick start with a Hindi GEC channel scheduled to launch in mid 2007. In his new role, Ramon will be responsible for programming, production, scheduling, FPC planning, promo planning, On-Air Programming, Operations and traffic for Bindass.

Ramon brings with him 12 years of experience in the Media and Entertainment industry. Prior to joining Bindass, he was VP Content (New Media) at DMCL the digital arm of Zee Telefilms. He was also the Head of Programming and Production at National Geographic Channel and The History Channel, where he created and directed Mission Udaan.

"I'm delighted to be joining the Bindass team at its exciting pre-launch phase ", and look forward to this opportunity to build a vibrant brand, with superior entertainment programs specially designed for Young India", says Ramon Chibb.

"Ramon brings with him years of rich experience, innovative thinking and true passion. I am extremely happy to have him on board Brand Bindass and look forward to him leading our programming and production initiatives to deliver unique entertainment content, "says Zarina Mehta, CEO, Bindass.

Brand Bindass is scheduled for launch in mid 2007 and has an outlay of Rs.200 crores (Rs.2 billion). India's first local youth entertainment brand, Bindass will be a 360 degree entertainment venture & will include the entire gamut of entertainment: television channels, a mobile channel, 3 websites, creation of original games, merchandising, retail & nation wide ground events providing Indian Youth with an array of choices. These include the launch of multiple channels across languages in India and Southeast Asia. UTV had earlier entered into a business co-operation arrangement with Astro to set up kid's channels in Malaysia and Indonesia. Astro Ceria successfully launched on the Astro platform last year. Today in Malaysia 4 of the top 5 kids shows are on Astro Ceria.

Note to the Editor:

UTV Software Communications Ltd. is India's foremost Media & Entertainment Company with leadership position in 4 Verticals that includes Motion Pictures, Broadcasting, TV Content and New Media (i.e. Animation and Gaming). Listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange. The Walt Disney Company holds a strategic stake in UTV who has subsidiaries for its businesses across India, the UK and USA.

UTV Motion Pictures pioneered the Studio Model in India with operations encompassing Production, Marketing, Distribution and International Co-Productions. Strategic relationships with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney and Sony Pictures along with Will Smith's Overbrook have positioned UTV as the only South Asian Company in the International Movie Space. Recent releases include Mira Nair's "The Namesake" and under-Production M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening". Its Indian slate includes the BAFTA nominated Rang De Basanti with a slate of over 12 movies on the floor, along with its International Co-Productions makes it the largest Movie Studio in South Asia.

In New Media, UTV has one of the largest 3D Animated facilities located in Mumbai and after it acquiring controlling stakes in two Gaming Companies i.e. India Games (India's largest Mobile Gaming company) and Ignition UK (Console Gaming) along with it having under Production three of the largest Animation movies to come out of India in the next 2 years, it has carved a space as the premier New Media Company in South Asia.

In Television Content, a business with which UTV was founded, the company produces and markets over 20hrs of Television programmes a week in multiple languages.

UTV Broadcasting Ltd (UBL) will be launching a bouquet of channels that it will also distribute. This includes India's first Youth Entertainment Brand and related channels called "Bindass", a World Cinema Channel entitled "Olive TV" and a slue of other Channels to be announced soon. After the roaring success of its Kids Channel - Hungama Tv to the Number 1 position in 18 months. More information on the group is available at www.utvnet.com

Source: Bindass (Business Wire India)

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