Adlabs Films to be renamed Reliance MediaWorks

[AvidWatcher]

In line with the rebranding of Reliance Entertainment to Reliance Big Entertainment, the media and entertainment arm of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) is now in the process of rebranding its Adlabs multiplex business.In the next two weeks, the Adlabs brand name will slowly be phased out and will be replaced by Big Cinema. For instance, Metro Adlabs will now be called Metro Big Cinema while the popular Fame Adlabs will similarly be rechristened as Fame Big Cinema. This exercise will be done across the country in the next two months.Reliance Big Entertainment president Rajesh Sawhney confirmed the development stating that rebranding was in line with its aim of ensuring one brand name across all its entertainment verticals, such as Big FM, Big TV, its DTH service and Big Pictures, the production company to name a few. In fact, the company will also start screening Indian films across 200 theatres in the US under the Big brand franchise this month. Called the ‘Big cinema’ chain, it will screen Hindi and regional languages films from India as well as movies from the Asian sub-continent to cater to the growing Indian diaspora in the US.However, ADAG is not changing the company’s name — Adlabs Films — at the moment. But eventually, a name change is also on the cards for Adlabs Films, which will encompass the ‘Big’ brand name — in tandem with the other entertainment brands of the group. The whole process of rebranding will entail the change in brand communication from the physical elements which is signages to branding on tickets to the paraphenelia used in the multiplexes.With a presence across 43 cities across 54 locations and 158 screens, Adlabs Cinemas COO Tushar Dhingra said: “The transition will take place at one go across all the locations. We have witnessed an instant makeover when our mother brand was launched, hence we have the wherewithal to it once again.”Post the takeover, Mr Dingra said they managed to speed up the multiplex business significantly from one cinema launch a year to one a week. Last year, Adlabs launched 100 screens. Reliance Entertainment is building a vertically-integrated studio under the ‘Big’ brand. George Sores recently paid $100m for a 5% stake in the company.

 

[Sushubh]

oh crap. big is such a bad name as a brand name.

 

[icar]

In an audacious foray into Hollywood, Reliance Big Entertainment (RBEL), the entertainment arm of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), is learnt to be in negotiations to produce three major movies featuring mainstream Hollywood stars. A large delegation from ADAG is currently preparing for a major international announcement on May 19 at the Cannes film festival, where these plans will be unveiled. This will be the first time an Indian entertainment firm makes an entry into Hollywood.

According to ADAG insiders, RBEL could announce a slew of international films. The group is trying to rope in Hollywood actors like Tom Cruise, George Clooney and Will Smith. The buzz is that ADAG is also trying to line up Angelina Jolie for the announcements at Cannes.

The movies will target the global audience and will be mainstream Hollywood releases. When contacted, a Reliance-ADAG spokesperson denied the development. The estimated deal size is said to be in the region of $300 million, one of the biggest inked by an Indian entertainment company.

It is unclear whether the company is planning to ink deals with Hollywood studios or with the stars themselves. It is also not clear if the Hollywood stars will finally make an appearance at the ADAG event at the festival.

What is clear is that the ADAG delegation will throw light on its larger entertainment vision for global and Indian markets, which includes its multiplex operations in the West Coast of the US as well as the DTH, animation and film production plans.

Recently, RBEL, which runs cinemas in India through its Adlabs subsidiary, entered the US market under the brand name ‘BIG’. The company has acquired more than 200 theatres across 28 locations in North America, including New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, San Jose, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Seattle.

These will be used to screen Bollywood and other regional language movies from India and movies from other Asian countries. It has also bought a US-based theatre management company to operate the US chain and has set up a distribution company to license rights.

RBEL is focused on both international and domestic projects, and its vision is to become one of the major entertainment companies worldwide. The entry into mainstream Hollywood projects is in tandem with this vision.
For Hollywood actors and producers, partnering with an Indian entertainment company would ensure South Asian audiences, apart from having a strong producer and distributor who is able to explore new markets and concepts. The Hollywood plans are in addition to a slew of other announcements on its India plans (first reported in ET on May 10) which ADAG is expected to make in Cannes later this week.

In February, when George Soros invested $100 million in RBEL, the internet, media and entertainment arm of ADAG, for a 3% stake, valuing the company at $3 billion, the move took everyone by surprise. The primary reason was that most of the businesses — held under RBEL — were either at the planning stage or characterised by earnings potential rather than actual earnings.

However, going by the recent spate of activities and the number of acquisitions that RBEL has undertaken, the plans seems to be gaining momentum. Three months after the last investment, RBEL has been in talks with private equity biggies like Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company (KKR), billionaire investor Carl Icahn, Japan’s Softbank and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority for selling 10% for a valuation of $5 billion.
ADAG goes to Hollywood with blockbuster plans- Entertainment-Media / Entertainment -News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

 

[Sushubh]

Reliance Mediaworks is the new name of Adlabs Films

 

[sagar 6465]

Anil Ambani Group firm Adlabs Films, today said it will change its name to Reliance MediaWorks Ltd, as it reflects its identity as a
diversified film and media services company.
Adlabs Films to be renamed Reliance MediaWorks- Media-Media / Entertainment -News By Industry-News-The Economic Times