Job Wise - My first job experience

I was working in US corporate environment for the very first time and was not used to the work culture.

Gaurav Mendiratta, founder and director, AKG Technologies (NyooTV) discusses his first job experience

My first job was at Comcast, a leading cable company and internet service provider in the US in September 2005 immediately after I graduated from University of Pennsylvania. I got this job through an online portal. I worked at Comcast for over 4 years. I started at a salary of US $65000.

Key challenges

I worked in the capacity of senior product development engineer, this designation being a senior one set very high expectations from me. This made me nervous at that time as I had just graduated from college and was quite raw.

In addition, since I was working in US corporate environment for the very first time, I was not was not used to the work culture and coming from India, I had inherent inhibitions speaking to the senior management. The challenge was breaking the communication barrier due to the Indian approach to hierarchy driven culture which I feel made it harder for me to interact with the senior management.

On the technology side, my job entailed working on cable technologies and one does not learn about cable technologies like modems/routers in college. I had to learn from scratch, how to create and define cable standards. The crucial aspect here is that this creation and definition did not impact just my job or my company but impacted the entire cable industry. This was no doubt a steep learning curve and it was challenge that in fact honed my skills well and brought out the best in me.

Important lessons

There was a phase at Comcast, when the work pressure was minimal and I felt underutilized. Therefore on an impulse, when I was with my boss and other team members I abruptly discussed my ‘minimal assignment’ status at work. I walked into my boss’s cabin and said that there are no assignments. I did not realise the extent of my inappropriate behaviour at that time because I said something which was to be discussed in private and not in front of other team members as it sends out a very negative and demoralising signal to others.

My boss at that time very politely told me that he would get back to me and refrained from reacting at that time. Later he sent me a well-crafted email which was in no way harsh yet whose content sent out a strong message about what I should be doing productively when the actual work pressure is minimal especially with my given designation.

This email remains with me even today and each time I feel I one of my team members have minimal work (and this email has been a great source of inspiration for me as an entrepreneur) I go back to this email and get the act together

Akshay and Anushka at NyooTV Event to promote Patiala House

NyooTV.com, online and social partner for Patiala house created a record of sorts as it managed to bring together more than 1,00,000 fans prior to the release of the film. With online marketing of films gaining ground, NyooTV is clearly emerging as a leader in online entertainment space. As the film’s release draws closer, the excitement surrounding it is heightening! A few lucky winners of the facebook contests (on the Patiala House Facebook fanpage) who flew in from different parts of the country got the opportunity to meet their favourite stars, Akshay and Anushka at a glitzy event at Novotel, Juhu in Mumbai on 8th February.

Akshay and Anushka were overwhelmed at the support they received on the Facebook fanpage. Akki who is also producing the film, went on to say that Patiala House was his best film till date. Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Gaurav Mendiratta, Founder & CEO of Nyootv.com said, “It gives me immense pleasure to be associated with Patiala House which we will cherish forever. We are sure with the kind of impressive fan garnered on Facebook, social media today has evolved as a robust entrainment base. We wish the movie a great box office success.”

To promote the movie in the online space, Nyootv.com had come up with innovative promotional campaigns on Facebook ensuring maximum fan following on Facebook. These promotions included interesting online contests and one- on- one live chats on the Patiala House fanpage on Facebook with the lead pair of the film.

NyooTV announces a documentary series on the story and music videos of popular band Euphoria

Mumbai, August 25, 2010: NyooTV; India's first Online Social TV announces a documentary series on the journey of India's most loved band Euphoria through their landmark music videos. The series will be called "Hind Rock n Roll" and will be produced by Mr. Gaurav Mendiratta, Founder and President of NyooTV. This is a unique initiative by NyooTV in association with Euphoria to create exclusive content and provide their followers with never before stories and experiences related to the videos of 14 classic Euphoria songs.

Fronted by doctor rocker Palash Sen, Euphoria has always had a special place in the hearts of Indian music lovers with hits like "Dhoom" "Maaeri" "Gully" and "Mehfuz". They are known as the biggest and the most prolific band in the subcontinent, with 4 chartbuster albums, a "best of" compilation record, hit singles and live concerts across the globe. Euphoria is known for their earthy and fresh music videos, which were instrumental in launching the careers of famous Bollywood actresses like Neha Dhupia, Rimi Sen and Vidya Balan.

The documentary will be webcast on www.nyootv.com in a series of 14 bi- weekly episodes, approximately 10-15 minutes in duration. The first episode will be webcast on the 17th of September 2010. This date coincides with the release date of the first ever Euphoria promo, "Dhoom Pichuck Dhoom" which took the world by storm on the 17th of September 1998. Shot in Varanasi, this video introduced Euphoria and marked the coming of age of popular film maker Pradeep Sarkar, who has directed films like "Parineeta" and the latest blockbuster, "Lafangey Parindey". The other directors included Dibakar Bannerjee of "Love Sex aur Dhokha" and "Khosla ka Ghosla Fame", Amitabh Bhattacharya, Dhiraaj Bannerjee and award winning documentary film maker Vikram Mishra.

The episodes will be available for free viewing on www.nyootv.com and will be bundled with contests and exciting prizes like autographed CD's, tickets to Euphoria concerts and a chance to meet Dr. Palash Sen and the band.

Commenting on this venture, Mr. Gaurav Mendiratta, Producer of the documentary and Founder and President of NyooTV.com said, "We have always believed in giving premium quality content to our viewers and are focused on providing them with what they want. We noticed that there is a lot of curiosity and demand to have Euphoria's popular music videos on www.nyootv.com and hence we approached Dr. Sen to acquire the necessary permissions for the videos. We wanted to offer our viewers a lot more than just the videos, so we decided to produce this documentary series. We are sure that a lot of people will appreciate this venture as this is a nice way to relive old memories for both the band and their fans. We are really looking forward to telling this story to the viewers and reintroducing them to their favourite band."

Expressing his views on this initiative, Dr. Palash Sen, Youth Icon and lead vocalist of Euphoria said, "The only thing permanent in life is change. People spend more time surfing the internet than in front of TV Shows, and so the medium of entertainment has changed. Our music is timeless and it is like a journey and we have so many fellow travellers. I know the Euphoria caravan will grow with NyooTV. It is a pleasure to know Gaurav. Like minded, progressive and part of our caravan. I know he'll carry our music to millions of internet junkies around the world. Hope all will sing along, dance along and Dhoom with us through our journey."

AKG Ties Up With Shemaroo Entertainment for Online Video Service – 10th March 2010

AKG group is pleased to announce its tie up with Shemaroo Entertainment for on-line video services. Shemaroo will be providing AKG with premium video content for NyooTV.com, its social TV network. Gaurav Mendiratta, CEO and Founder of AKG group, arrived in Mumbai last night to ink this deal. In a press release from AKG headquarters in Philadelphia, Achalesh Amar, VP - International Business Development, shared some more insight into this path breaking deal.

Shemaroo has been at the forefront of the infinitely exciting Indian Entertainment Industry since four decades. No surprise then, that the brand has become synonymous with quality entertainment in the country today generating an immense amount of respect, trust and goodwill from its partners and vendors. Acquiring and distributing various rights for use on cable, satellite, internet and home video over the years, Shemaroo has now evolved and emerged as the top source of Broadcast Content for leading Entertainment Channels and is today popularly known as a major 'Content House' for Hindi films. In Sony Entertainment Television, Shemaroo is a joint venture partner with Sony Pictures Entertainment, USA. NyooTV is India's first Social TV network hence the coming together of the two companies was but natural.

The press release further stated that, NyooTV is the latest to enter the field of media streaming. You can now see your favourite movies and TV shows anytime, anywhere. NyooTV is one of the very few media streaming companies that promise to provide good quality, legal and unlimited content to its viewers. NyooTV's competitive edge is the technology it is running on. It will ensure great user experience because even at low bandwidth speeds it will provide high quality legitimate free content.

NyooTV is India's first Social TV Network, where you can use your Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter account to login into NyooTV. All your friends automatically show up in NyooTV when they join the portal. You can see what your friends are recommending, what they are commenting on etc. You can even chat with friends while watching an interesting video! said the press release.

NyooTV aims to provide, premium global video content like TV shows, Top Bollywood films in full length including New Hindi movies as well Old Hindi movies, Bollywood news, New Bollywood songs, events and sports events of interest to Indian consumers, whenever and wherever they want it. We would also include Bollywood trailers for the latest films just so the users can preview what they can expect in the movie.

AKG Group signs a deal with NDTV Imagine – 20th Dec 2009

AKG Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (one of several entities forming the AKG Group) has signed a deal with NDTV imagine for procuring the on-going and past TV shows for its Social TV network, NyooTV.com. Famous and popular prime time shows like Jyoti, Bandini, Basera, Meera, etc. will now be available on NyooTV. Other than these shows some of the past shows like, Seeta Aur Geeta, Jasuben Jayantilal Joshi ki Joint family, Ramayan, Main teri Parchhai hoon, Kitani Mohabbat hai, and a lot more can be seen on NyooTV. One can also catch up with the missed out episodes of their favourite show!

In a press release from the AKG Group, its Business Development VP, Supriya Bambawale explained that, NyooTV is an online and mobile video service that offers latest hit Hindi TV shows, latest Bollowood movies and clips, anytime, anywhere in the U.S. and India absolutely FREE. NyooTV aggregates and offers premium Indian entertainment content across new media platforms and digital entertainment devices.

Sharing more information she also said that, NyooTV showcases a large compilation of videos from leading content companies, including Shemaroo Entertainment, ENCORE International, Amar Chitra Katha and now NDTV Imagine. Users can choose from numerous primetime TV shows and latest Bollywood flicks of all genres – be it New or Old Hindi movies. Viewers can pick from a wide array of popular Hindi TV shows. Users can also catch up with sports events, live shows, award ceremonies, interviews with stars, Bollywood trailers, Bollywood movies, Bollywood music videos and Bollywood songs, etc.”

Director for Software Development, Saravanan M P. further elaborated that, NyooTV is one of the very few media streaming companies that promise to provide good quality, unlimited content to its viewers. NyooTV’s competitive edge is the technology it is running on. It will ensure great user experience with the help of adaptive streaming technology.

NyooTV's focus is on User Experience in terms of

• Free Legitimate Content
• High Quality
• Best of the breed look and feel

“Just think about it - how many movies/ shows do you watch without checking out reviews or without friend's recommendations... Now NyooTV makes it easy to recommend and share with your friends not just movies but TV Shows and events as well. The interface with social networks like orkut, facebook and twiter makes it easier for users to keep their friends updated about the latest recommendations!!” chipped in Achalesh Amar, VP, Product Development.

So log on to NyooTV.com and watch your favourite videos right from your browser and mobile, anytime, for FREE with full episodes of TV shows, full-length movies, web originals, and clips of just about everything. NyooTV is the place to watch and enjoy premium videos from the biggest names in entertainment.

About AKG Group:
Based in Philadelphia, and founded in January 2009, the AKG Group is operated independently by a dedicated management team of professionals with offices in Bhopal, Mumbai and Philadelphia. Its flagship product - NyooTV - aggregates and offers premium Indian entertainment content across new media platforms and digital entertainment devices currently to Indian audiences in US and India for FREE. NyooTV’s operation would be expanded worldwide with an aim to provide premium global video content of interest to Indian consumers, whenever and wherever they want it. This content would be available on internet, mobile and other internet enabled devices.

Prof. Kartik Hosanagar on the board of AKG Group – 20th Dec 2009

In a press release from Philadelphia, Mr. Achalesh Amar, VP, Product Development, AKG Group welcomed Prof. Kartik Hosanagar to the board of directors.

Kartik Hosanagar is an assistant professor of Information and Operations Management at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. Professor Hosanagar´s research interests are in Internet commerce with a special emphasis on online media delivery and Internet marketing. His past work has addressed how consumers locate media using filters such as search engines, recommenders and comparison shopping engines and how firms in turn deliver media to the consumers over the Internet infrastructure using Content Delivery Networks and other overlay infrastructure. Prof. Hosanagar has several awards, publications and research papers to his credit.

"Prof. Kartik Hosanagar's presence would bring sheer experience and dynamism to the BOD of AKG Group. His direction would help navigate the group through different challenges that are faced by a startup. Putting his money where his mouth is, Prof. Hosanagar will also function as an investor in AKG Group, thus signaling his confidence in the pioneering work done at AKG" added Mr. Amar.

AKG Group is based out of Philadelphia and has offices in Mumbai and Bhopal. Developed in-house, its flagship product - NyooTV - aggregates and offers premium Indian entertainment content across new media platforms and digital entertainment devices currently to Indian audiences in US and India for FREE. Anyone can watch and enjoy premium videos from the biggest names in entertainment industry on NyooTV.

NyooTV brings a whole new world of entertainment with its innovative technology, rendering a viewing experience unmatched in quality. Registered users can get continuous updates about the latest movies by following NyooTV through social networking sites like Facebook, Orkut and Twitter.

NyooTV aims to provide, premium global video content like TV shows, Top Bollywood films in full length including New Hindi movies as well Old Hindi movies, Bollywood news, New Bollywood songs, events and sports events of interest to Indian consumers, whenever and wherever they want it. It would also include Bollywood trailers for the latest films just so the users can preview what they can expect in the movie.

NyooTV to offer Exclusive online release of "13th Day – An Untold truth" - 6th January 2010

NyooTV.com is India's first Social TV Network and one-stop shop for premium visual entertainment. Employing adaptive streaming, a revolutionary technology, NyooTV has moved visual entertainment another few giant steps along the evolutionary path. As we speak, thousands of videos are available for viewing on www.NyooTV.com. NyooTV provides premium global video content of interest to Indian consumers, whenever and wherever they want it, for FREE. This content would be available on the internet, mobile and other internet enabled devices.

NyooTV is an online and mobile video service that offers latest hit TV shows, movies and clips. Based in Philadelphia, and founded in January 2009, NyooTV is the flagship product of AKG Technologies Inc. NyooTV aggregates and offers premium Indian entertainment content across new media platforms and digital entertainment devices to Indian audiences all over the world.

Being a pioneer in its field, today NyooTV started a new trend of Movie launches - for the first time a movie would be available to the public for free on the web, the day it is being released and with the launch of 'The 13th Day - An Untold Truth'. Priyanka Chopra was the Guest of Honour at the DVD Launch Event yesterday in Mumbai.

'The 13th Day - An Untold Truth', Directed by Raajeev Walia, produced by Chand Mishra, I.M.S Reddy and Film Division of Brahma Kumaris, is an offbeat movie deals with the untold truth about what transpires between death and the 13th day (“terawheen”). This is a very spiritual and thought provoking movie.

NyooTV showcases a large compilation of videos from leading legitimate content owners. NyooTV has also partnered with leading production houses - TV Networks for television content. Users can choose from numerous primetime TV shows and latest Bollywood flicks of all genres. Viewers can pick from a wide array of popular TV shows. Users can also catch up with sports events, live shows, award ceremonies, interviews with stars, Bollywood news, trailers and clips from forthcoming films, etc.

NyooTV brings complete integration with Facebook, Myspace and Twitter (more social networks would be added in near future), enabling users to comment, share and recommend videos to their friends on all social networks. You can easily see what your friends like, what movie/show is popular and watch it right away. You can see what your friends are recommending, what they are commenting on etc. You can even chat with friends while watching an interesting video ensuring enhanced user experience and thereby making the online content watching social.

NyooTV.com promises to provide good quality, legal and unlimited content to its viewers. NyooTV's competitive edge is the adaptive streaming technology it is running on. It will ensure great user experience because even at low bandwidth speeds it will provide high quality legitimate free content.

AKG Group Launches NyooTV - 28th Dec 2009

NyooTV is India's first Social TV Network and one-stop shop for premium visual entertainment, informed Ms. Supriya Bambawale, Vice President, Business Development, AKG Entertainment Pvt. Ltd (one of several entities forming the AKG Group) from their Mumbai office. We have moved visual entertainment another few giant steps along the evolutionary path, with the launch of NyooTV. Users now have the ability to watch their favorite videos right from their browser and mobile, anytime, for FREE with full episodes of Hindi TV shows, full-length Bollywood movies, web originals, Bollywood music videos and clips of just about everything. chirped in Ms. Bambawale, speaking informally with the reporters.

AKG Group is based out of Philadelphia and has offices in Mumbai and Bhopal. Developed in-house, NyooTV aggregates and offers premium Indian entertainment content across new media platforms and digital entertainment devices currently to Indian audiences in US and India for FREE. Anyone can watch and enjoy premium videos from the biggest names in entertainment industry on NyooTV.

NyooTV brings a whole new world of entertainment with its innovative technology, rendering a viewing experience unmatched in quality. Registered users can get continuous updates about the latest movies by following NyooTV through social networking sites like Facebook, Orkut and Twitter.

NyooTV aims to provide, premium global video content like TV shows, Top Bollywood films in full length including New Hindi movies as well Old Hindi movies, Bollywood news, New Bollywood songs, events and sports events of interest to Indian consumers, whenever and wherever they want it, quipped Ms. Bambawale from Mumbai. We would also include Bollywood trailers for the latest films just so the users can preview what they can expect in the movie.

Just think about it - how many movies/ shows do you watch without checking out reviews or without friend's recommendations... Now NyooTV makes it easy to recommend and share not just movies but TV Shows and events as well!! added Ms. Bambawale.

About AKG Group:
Based in Philadelphia, and founded in January 2009, the AKG Group is operated independently by a dedicated management team of professionals with offices in Bhopal, Mumbai and Philadelphia. Its flagship product - NyooTV - aggregates and offers premium Indian entertainment content across new media platforms and digital entertainment devices currently to Indian audiences in US and India for FREE. NyooTV's operation would be expanded worldwide with an aim to provide premium global video content of interest to Indian consumers, whenever and wherever they want it. This content would be available on internet, mobile and other internet enabled devices.