B4U (network)
Indian television network
title: "B4U (network)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["foreign-television-channels-broadcasting-in-the-united-kingdom", "television-stations-in-india", "british-indian-mass-media", "television-channels-and-stations-established-in-1999", "hindi-cinema", "1999-establishments-in-the-united-kingdom", "television-broadcasting-companies-of-india", "mass-media-companies-of-india", "television-networks-in-india", "television-companies-of-india", "hindi-language-television-channels-in-india"] description: "Indian television network" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B4U_(network)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Indian television network ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox Network"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| network_name | B4U Network |
| network_logo | B4U Logo.png |
| broadcast_area | Worldwide |
| network_type | Television Network |
| key_people | Ishan Saksena (CEO, B4U Network (Europe) Ltd.) |
| headquarters | Mumbai, India (B4U Television Network India Limited) |
| founded | 1999 |
| founder | Lakshmi Mittal, Kishore Lulla |
| parent | Sony Pictures Network India (India), Abercross Holdings Ltd. |
| website | |
| logo | B4U Logo 2022.png |
| :: |
| network_name = B4U Network | network_logo =B4U Logo.png | broadcast_area = Worldwide | network_type = Television Network | key_people = Ishan Saksena (CEO, B4U Network (Europe) Ltd.) | launch_date = | headquarters = Mumbai, India (B4U Television Network India Limited) | founded = 1999 | founder = Lakshmi Mittal, Kishore Lulla | parent = Sony Pictures Network India (India), Abercross Holdings Ltd. | past_names = | website = | logo = B4U Logo 2022.png | name =
B4U is a television network focused on Bollywood based entertainment. The network operates the seven channels B4U Movies, B4U Music, B4U Kadak, B4U Bhojpuri, B4U Aflam, B4U Plus and B4U Hitz 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 Motion Pictures, which is a media and entertainment production subsidiary.
Company history
B4U (Bollywood For You) was created in a joint venture between steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, cinema executive (and Eros International owner) Kishore Lulla, and Gokul Binani. Eros International was the largest distributor of Hindi films globally and they promoted the launch of B4U Movies which would also broadcast new movies a few months after theatrical release. Ravi Gupta was the first CEO of B4U Television Network from 1999 to 2003.
The network began with the August 1999 launch of B4U Movies digital TV channel in the UK on the Sky Digital platform as a subscription package along with Sony Entertainment Television. The launch was surrounded by 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 have been using it to send mailers promoting its service. Within six months the channel also launched on TV platforms in the US, Canada, European and Middle Eastern countries. After B4U Movies, B4U launched a second channel dedicated to music called B4U Music in 2000.
B4U signed a deal with FTV to broadcast Indian fashion shows throughout the world as well as more local events. In 2001, the network won 9 Promax Awards. The network then ventured into movie production in 2002, co-producing all films produced by iDream.
The Zee Network announced in 2001 that is bought a stake in B4U Television Network.
The network was the media sponsor Mayor of London's 2007 Diwali Festival in Trafalgar Square.
In 2012, Eros International announced it planned to buy 76% of B4U Television Network. In 2017, Abercross Holdings (a British company led by cricketer Alex Loudon and Issam Hamid) announced it bought a majority and controlling stake in B4U Television Network.
Television channels
Current channels
::data[format=table title=""]
| Channel | Launched | Language | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B4U Movies | 1999 | Hindi | Movies | |
| B4U Music | 2000 | Hindi | Music | |
| B4U Plus | 2015 | Hindi, English | GEC/Movies | Only outside India |
| B4U Kadak | 2019 | Hindi | Movies | |
| B4U Bhojpuri | 2019 | Bhojpuri | Movies | |
| B4U Hitz | 2024 | Hindi | Music | |
| :: |
Defunct channels
::data[format=table title=""]
| Channel | Launched | Closed | Language | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B4U TV | 2000 | 2001 | Hindi | GEC |
| Ashirwaad Classic | 2013 | 2015 | Hindi | Movies |
| Movie House | 2015 | 2019 | Hindi | Movies |
| Dhamaka Movies B4U | 2022 | 2024 | Hindi | Movies |
| B4U Aflam | 2013 | 2023 | Arabic | Movies |
| :: |
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 in Bollywood as well as in Punjab, where it partners with other leading film studios. They distribute Lollywood movies as well.
It first produced Bhai, which starred Suniel Shetty, Kader Khan and Kunal Khemu. In 2015 they started distributing Pakistani films by distributing Karachi Se Lahore worldwide. The latest film, they had distributed was Mahira Khan starred Pakistani romantic comedy film 7 Din Mohabbat In.
List of B4U films
::data[format=table title=""]
| Year | Film | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Mother India | Hindi | only worked with Blu-ray in 2007 |
| 1997 | Bhai | co-production with The Culture Company | |
| 2000 | Dhadkan | Distribution | |
| 2006 | Family - Ties of Blood | co-production with Excel Entertainment | |
| Dil Apna Punjabi | Punjabi | ||
| 2007 | Hattrick | Hindi | |
| Life in a... Metro | |||
| 2008 | The Infidel | English | co-production with Slingshot Productions & Met Film Production |
| Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! | Hindi | ||
| 2009 | Dulha Mil Gaya | ||
| Dev.D | |||
| Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge | |||
| Agyaat | |||
| Aagey Se Right | |||
| 2010 | Sukhmani - Hope for Life | Punjabi | |
| Mel Karade Rabba | |||
| Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai | Hindi | ||
| Peepli Live | |||
| 2011 | Patiala House | ||
| Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap | |||
| 2015 | Bin Roye | Urdu | |
| Karachi se Lahore | |||
| 2016 | Ghayal Once Again | Hindi | |
| Janaan | Urdu | ||
| 2017 | Kaabil | Hindi | |
| Rangreza | Urdu | ||
| 2018 | 3 Storeys | Hindi | |
| Pataakha | |||
| Baazaar | |||
| 2019 | Romeo Akbar Walter | ||
| Parey Hut Love | |||
| 2021 | Vijay The Master | Hindi (dubbed) | |
| Chakra Ka Rakshak | |||
| 2022 | Agent | Hindi (dubbed) | |
| 2023 | Mrs Undercover | Hindi | |
| 2024 | Eagle | Hindi | Distributed along with UFO Moviez |
| :: |
References
References
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/relativity-and-b4u-announce-joint-venture-in-india-259631451.html
- https://b4utv.com/corporate/contactus.php
- "B4U sells majority stake to Abercross Holdings for £20 million".
- B4U Television. (2001-10-02). "B4U – Bollywood charms, global audience". B4utv.com.
- (2003-04-24). "Ravi Gupta no longer B4U CEO".
- https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/delhi-noida-bridge-set-to-beat-deadline-199112901057_1.html
- "Screen Digest – UK's Asian channels fight for market share".
- Palan Barakrishnan. (2002-02-25). "Tigers in a prize fight". Guardian.
- [http://www.indiantelevision.com/newsletter/150999/zee15999.htm The Indian CAB&SAT Reporter - ZEE TO LAUNCH TV WORLD] {{webarchive. link. (13 December 2004)
- https://web.archive.org/web/20001018200007/b4utv.com/b4uinfo.htm
- https://www.afaqs.com/news/4342_b4u-completes-two-years
- "The Indian Cab&Sat Reporter".
- (7 December 2001). "B4U strikes gold-n-silver at Promax & BDA Asia 2001 Awards". Indiantelevision.com.
- (2002-08-29). "B4U ties up with iDream; to be co-producer in all its films". indiantelevision.com.
- https://www.exchange4media.com/international-news/b4u-accuse-zee-of-hostile-take-over-bid-1954.html
- (2007-10-18). "B4U Network to celebrate Diwali in London". Indiantelevision.com.
- https://www.bizasialive.com/eros-international-to-buy-out-b4u-network/
- https://londonlovesbusiness.com/former-england-cricketer-invests-20m-into-indian-media-giant/
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