BoxTv: Times Internet launches new online video-streaming site

New Delhi: Times Internet Ltd (TIL) launched video service BoxTV, which will provide access to movies and short films. “Based on a freemium model, BoxTV will make some content available on an ad-supported free-to-user basis, while others will be available on a monthly subscription model,” TIL CEO Satyan Gajwani told reporters. The service, currently available through invitation basis, will be made available to users at large in India, the UK and the US in next few months, he added. The monthly subscription fee for users in India would Rs 199, while it is $4.99 in the US and £4.99 in the UK. [caption id=“attachment_452337” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  BoxTv screengrab of site.[/caption] The website seems targeted at NRIs will full- length movies in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telegu and Kannada. Other languages like Bengali, Punjabi and Gujarati will also be introduced. TIL said it has a library of over 3500 full-length movies, 500 short films and 2,000 TV episodes. The company however declined to comment on investments made or targetted revenues saying “it is still too early to talk about the numbers”. BoxTV representative say that they have partnered with companies like Sony Pictures, UTV, Shemaroo and Rajshri for content and is in discussion with 30-40 firms globally for expanding its content portfolio. Asked if the paid model would work in India, Gajwani said though initially it would be difficult, but users would eventually move to the paid platform. “We have a strong (content) portfolio and once people use and see the quality of service, I’m sure they would sign on. However, we see a majority of paid users coming from the UK and US now as the paid model is more established in these countries, but India should also reach there soon,” he added. PTI