Country India, United Kingdom Launch date 1999/2000 Founded 1999 | Availability National
International Type of business Television | |
Key people Lakshmi Mittal, Kishore Lulla, Gokul Binani, Bharat Shah Founders Gokul Binani, Lakshmi Mittal, Kishore Lulla Profiles | ||
B4U is one of the world's leading Bollywood television networks that was formed and jointly owned by Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, movie producer Kishore Lulla, Bharat Shah and London-based industrialist Gokul Binani. The network operates the four channels B4U Music, B4U Movies, B4U Aflam and B4U Mobile which are at present available on more than 8 different satellites, in more than 100 countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In addition the company operates B4U Films, media and entertainment production subsidiary.
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Company history
In 1999 the newly formed network launched B4U Movies and B4U Music in the UK on the Sky Digital platform as a subscription package along with Sony Entertainment Television. The launch was surrounded in controversy, with rival network Zee TV claiming that B4U had stolen its database of subscribers in the UK. The B4U management claimed that they had got hold of the database from ex-employees and has been using it to send mailers promoting its service. The network went on to launch the channels in the USA, Canada and the Middle East by the end of the year.
By 2000 B4U had established itself as a leading brand in Bollywood entertainment for the Indian Diaspora. As well as expanding into Europe, Africa and Asia, The network debuted in India to popular acclaim. B4U brand awareness increased after the company signed a deal with FTV to broadcast Indian fashion shows throughout the world. The network also became involved in local level promotions like showing Indian fashion shows in theatres, promoting new faces and organising fashion shows and contests throughout India and the world. The Network gained further international attention and acclaim after winning 9 Promax Awards in 2001. By this time the B4U company was a main rival to Zee TV and Sony in the Indian broadcasting market. The network then ventured into movie production in 2002, co-producing all films produced by iDream. In addition the B4U network started to produce much more local content for the various local versions of its channels.
B4U Today
The network has a strong presence in Indian culture and is one of the 'Big Three' Indian television networks to operate worldwide. The B4U brand is now well known over the world, with the network staging many high-profile events such as the Times of India new talent searches, and the Mayor of London's annual Diwali Festival in Trafalgar Square.
B4U Films
B4U Films (alternatively named, B4U Productions Plc. )is a wholly owned subsidiary of B4U TV Ltd. (B4U), Mumbai based media and entertainment production company. It was started in 1997, and handles the motion picture production and distribution of B4U.
B4U Films produces films both in Bollywood as well as in Punjab, where it partners with other leading film studios.
It first produced, Bhai, which starred Suniel Shetty, Kader Khan and Kunal Khemu. Bhai failed at the box office, but later helped with the home-production of Bollywood 1957 classic movie, Mother India. The latest film, they had distributed was Mel Karade Rabba.