Here is another follow-up of our story on AOL India launch. Financial Express reports that AOL will soon launch its popular web-tools in India (we said that on August 22, and Economic Times reported it on August 29). AOL’s services will be portal based, and customized to Indian needs, FE reports. They are likely to be broadband-heavy, and will include online video programming and online TV. The movies will be from Turner’s TNT network, and animations from Cartoon Network. Initially, AOL is likely to offer its services for free. The report also claims that AOL Mobile will be customised to Indian needs before launch.
AOL India has refused to comment.
Rafat adds: I found out through sources that the internal AOL goal is to launch it in Q4, as mandated by AOL’s head of audience business Ted Leonsis. Knowing the glacial pace AOL works at, this probably really means only by December. AOL is working to get local content deals, but will use the majority of its existing U.S. content service for the launch.
Also, as we reported first, PG Ponnapa, the VP, is heading the consumer venture, and reporting to SVP, Maneesh Dhir has been the head of AOL India for while. Maneesh reports in to Steve Swad, AOL’s CFO in U.S. Ponnapa also has a dotted line to Leonsis, my sources say.
Related:
– AOL’s Entry Into Indian Market
– Exclusive: AOL To Launch In India Soon; Hires Key Staff
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