B4U
Encyclopedia
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 and London
-based industrialist Gokul Binani. The network operates the three channels B4U Music
, B4U Movies
and B4U Mobile which are at present available on more than 8 different satellites, in more than 100 countries including the USA, UK, Europe
, Middle East
, Africa
, Mauritius
, Canada
and India
.
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.
's annual Diwali
Festival in Trafalgar Square
.
B4U Rogers 834
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
television networks that was formed and jointly owned by Indian steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
magnate Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Narayan Mittal is an Indian steel magnate. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company....
, movie producer Kishore Lulla and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based industrialist Gokul Binani. The network operates the three channels B4U Music
B4U Music
B4U Music is a music-themed digital TV channel available on more than 8 different satellites, in more than 100 countries including the USA, UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Mauritius, Canada and India...
, B4U Movies
B4U Movies
B4U Movies is a Bollywood movie digital TV channel based in Mumbai available on more than 8 different satellites, in more than 100 countries including the USA, UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Mauritius, Canada and India...
and B4U Mobile which are at present available on more than 8 different satellites, in more than 100 countries including the USA, UK, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Company history
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
platform as a subscription package along with Sony Entertainment Television
Sony Entertainment Television Asia
For the version in India, see Sony Entertainment Television .Not to be confused with Sony Entertainment Television , the SET version in Indonesia, Hong Kong and Fiji....
. The launch was surrounded in controversy, with rival network Zee TV
Zee TV
Zee TV is an India-based satellite television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, which broadcasts various programmes in Hindi and other regional languages of India. Broadcasting is also present in various nations of South Asia, Europe, the Middle East,...
claiming that B4U had stolen its database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
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
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far 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
Brand awareness
Brand awareness is a marketing concept that enables marketers to quantify levels and trends in consumer knowledge and awareness of a brand's existence...
increased after the company signed a deal with FTV
FTV
-Related to television:*Fairchild TV, a Canadian Cantonese television network*Fashion TV, a television network*First Time Video*Federalna televizija, a public service broadcasting organization of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina*Filipino TV, a Canadian...
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
Promax Awards
PromaxBDA Awards honor design and marketing work in the advertising and promotions business from a company or individual that is broadcast, published or released in their respective markets....
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 LondonMayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
's annual Diwali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
Festival in Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
.
External links
B4U Rogers 834