Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Alibaba Pictures to buy TicketNew

Alibaba Pictures, the movie and TV Content business controlled by the Chinese e-commerce giant, is in talks to buy a majority stake in Chennai based Orbgen Technologies Pvt. Ltd, which operates ticket booking platform TicketNew.
TicketNew, founded in 2008, who goes by only one name, charges a convenience fee from users for booking tickets. It also gets a small fee from theatre owners for software installation and app development. Alibaba Pictures was earlier known as ChinaVision Media Group Ltd. Alibaba acquired a majority stake in ChinaVision in March 2014 for $804 million. In China, Alibaba Pictures manages its ticketing business through subsidiary Tao Piao Piao.

The company has invested in Hollywood movies such as Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Star Trek Beyond. In October, Alibaba Pictures picked up a minority stake in celebrated Hollywood director Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, with an aim to co-produce and finance films for both global and Chinese audiences. Alibaba Picture’s entry could change the dynamics of ticketing, which is currently dominated by BookMyShow, the most funded internet company in this space.

TicketNew is a technology-led entertainment services provider, integrating movie theatres, film distributors, production houses, events and sports with consumers. TicketNew customer base comprises of ticket brokers, venue managers, affiliate marketers, ticket retail customers, sports professionals, concert and event promoters, and software vendors, among others. TicketNew Box Office Suite is installed in more than 1,000 screens in over 10 countries, covering a wide range from single-screen independent theatres to some of the largest cinema chains in the world.

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