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Derek O'Brien and associate, the company promoted by quizmaster Derek O'Brien, intends to expand overseas in a big way in the next two years.
The company is already operating in Muscat, Dubai, Kuwait, Doha and Dhaka. It now plans to enter United States, Africa and some other Asian markets.
"We want to enter those markets in US, Asia and Africa where the Indian diaspora is strong for making knowledge interesting and helping people and brand grow," said O'Brien, chief executive officer.
The company was looking at fee based income of around six crore of rupees from the overseas operations within the next two years, he noted.
"Within next two years, we want to equate our income from international market to our current income, which is around six crore of rupees," explained O'Brien. The show in USA would be on-air by end of March 2006.
Derek O'Brien and Associate is a 100 per cent owned company held by O'Brien and his colleagues. In 2000, 10 per cent stake was divested to Singapore based KB group for $ 1 million, which was later brought back in 2002 at a close price, O'Brien added.
As of now, the company does not have plan for divesting its stake, he confirmed. Currently, the company is conducting shows for television channels, including Zee TV, Times Now, Doordarshan and Sony.
Meanwhile, Sony Entertainment Television will shortly be coming up with the Cadbury Bournvita Quiz Contest - Confidence Champion with Derek O'Brien and Shonal Rawat, the first runners up at the Miss Asia Pacific contest at Philippines in 2003.
"This will be the first Indian show with a format that will combines knowledge as well the confidence of the participants," he explained, adding, "After selecting 1000 students from around one lakh nominations, the viewers will get to see the final 90 who have proved their mettle through various elimination rounds." The champion will get a chance to fly to the Seven Wonders of the World with his/her parents.
