Indiatimes (58888) Acquires Aananda Audio Video Digital Music Rights

Close on the heels of Indiatimes’ recent strides in the Mobile music arena comes a significant content acquisition alliance with Aananda Audio Video (AAV), the largest music label in Karnataka. With this move, Indiatimes (58888), a division of Times Internet Limited (TIL), has increased its market share to more than 60% of the Kannada mobile music downloads. Karnataka is the largest regional market in mobile music monetization. This marks a significant step towards TIL's evolution into a major digital music rights manager.

According to TIL CEO Rishi Khiani, “With this recent alliance with AAV, we are expanding our footprint in the mobile music segment, and we will continue to do so going forward. This is a core element of our strategy to grow in the digital entertainment segment. You can expect more to come from 58888,” he added.

“Changing trends in the mobile music business gives us fillip to join hands with an experienced and India’s largest media conglomerate - the Times Group. We are entering into a pact, with an objective of providing quality mobile music and leveraging our partner’s experience in monetization and massive marketing strength,” says Mr. Mohan Chabria, Managing Director of Aananda Audio Video..

About Times Internet Limited:

Times Internet Limited (TIL) is the Internet and Mobile venture of India’s largest media house – the Times Group. Times Internet Network generates over 400mn pageviews per month through their flagship portal Indiatimes.com. In the mobile space, Indiatimes 58888 is the largest direct-to-consumer SMS and IVR shortcode, accessed by over 50mn consumers across all telecom operators in India. 58888 offers VAS services such as news, bollywood gossip, cricket scores, astro information, and a host of other fun, easy-to-use mobile applications.

About Aananda Audio Video (AAV)

AAV, the brainchild of Mr. Mohan Hariram Chabria, has been in the trade since 1999. Currently, AAV boasts of 4000 Kannada film songs, devotional songs and popular music. Besides acquiring audio rights for music, AAV has also produced films, TV soaps and serials and helped corporate and MNCs build their ad campaigns. AAV’s 300-strong dealer networks across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Bombay include leading retail chains like Big Bazaar, Landmark, Music World, Temptation M and Planet M.

Groove to your favourite Bollywood tracks at the tip of your fingers with ZoOm Box


ZoOm India’s hottest destination for Bollywood content has taken a step further in reaching out to its audience with the launch of its latest initiative- ZoOm Box. This video jukebox is an interactive music show wherein viewers can choose their favorite song simply by sendin an SMS to the number provided i.e. 58888 powered by indiatimes. The viewers can also comment on the songs and even dedicate a song through the channel

In the show, ZoOmbox, which will be aired every monday to sunday 11am to 12 noon, audience can vote for their favourite movie songs and the song that receives the maximum votes will be played on ZoOm. There will be contests in which the person who sends the maximum votes in an hour gets the ‘gift of the day’ courtesy ZoOm and to add to the excitement, the name of the winner will be displayed on the screen.

Commenting on the channel’s latest initiative, Bala Iyengar, Business Head, Zoom said, “We are quite excited to announce the launch of ZoOm Box. This latest show from ZoOm is all set to cater to audiences who are constantly looking out for instant entertainment. This show format is created keeping in mind the need to interact more with the viewers and provide them with their favourite Bollywood content.”

“The launch of ZoOm Box is focused at serving the growing consumption of video entertainment via tele devices amongst the youth in India. This service will enable users to listen and comment on their favourite songs of Tinsel Town and enjoy Bollywood even while on the go” added Rishi Khiani, Chief Executive Officer, Times Internet Limited.