Bangalore-based online DVD rental company Seventymm has received $12.5 million (Rs 50 crore) from NEA Indo US Ventures. This will be the third round of funding for Seventymm, which now has a total capital of around $22 million. While DFJ with ePlanet Ventures had invested $2 million in 2005, the rest was raised from Matrix Partners in 2006. NEA Indo-US Ventures’ MD Ms Vani Kola will be joining the Seventymm board, according to this report. Last year Seventymm had acquired Delhi-based online DVD rental firm Madhouse, which had received angel investment of $228,000.
There is a lot competition in the DVD rental segment in India with entry Reliance ADAG’s Big Flix and Nimbus Communication’s Showtime. ADAG was also reported to be in talks to buyout Seventymm after it made its entry into the DVD rental segment. Nimbus communications also made an entry into this segment in May this year with their entertainment rental and sale business called Showtime. Then there is also Moser Baer, who has released DVD and VCD movies at a price of Rs 34.
Unlike Big Flix, Seventymm does not plan to go into retailing side of the business. This round of funding will be used for expanding the reach of the business and home delivery services. Seventymm currently operates in six cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh with a team of 400 people. It also claims to have a consumer base of 70,000 people and is adding 7,000 consumers a month, has an ARPU of Rs 250. Seventymm currently offers more than 18,000 titles covering Hindi, English, 11 regional languages and plans to take these upto 25,000 titles, adding both new releases and old ones.
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I think that Big Flix' move to do the online-offline is a great one-two combo, in terms of convenience. Online rental requires a lot of planning, and actually often more legwork. I've often picked up DVDs from my local store at the spur of the moment, on the way home from work – I just walked into the store, saw the DVDs that were on display and picked even a mediocre movie, just because I felt like watching *any* movie. On the other hand I've often lamented them not having an online catalog, which makes browsing and booking movies much easier. Big Flix' model fulfills both needs.
Indeed, in the DVD rental wars (as they shall be known when we tell of them to our grandkids) I think that Big Flix will win. Read my post on why I think so: http://www.moneyvidya.com/blog/?p=369