Start-up to stardom: An access of the growth of E-ticketing firm ‘book my show’

Abstract

With the rise of E-Cinemas, Indians are watching movies like never before. As per data released by Statista, a media research agency, it is believed that nearly 20,000 movies hit the theatres every year, making India the largest movie producer worldwide. Movies are a way of social bonding for families given the multiplex culture in Urban areas. With the proliferation of technology and the reach of 4G, there is also the convenience of buying tickets online. Gone are the days of long queues and non-availability of information regarding show timings. The emergence of online ticketing platforms have simplified the hassles of buying tickets through counters and increased audience showing up in theatres. The present study makes an attempt to study the rise of ‘Book My Show’, an online ticketing company who pioneered the model of selling movie tickets online during the early 2000s when Indian laws were not so favourable. Being an innovative start up, the company is a game-changer who transformed the movie experience of cinema goers in India. It has touched the prestigious $ 1 billion valuation recently. The paper investigates the rise of the company to its present state by a thorough study of all the aspects of business. Through an in-depth secondary data reference the study analyses the factors that contributed to the rise of the company. The study is important as it explains techno-preneurship as a medium of disrupting traditional markets. The current study is organised as follows: Part I explores the business model of the company, how it negotiated its presence in the market and some nuances related to strategy which propelled its growth. Part II explores the dimensions of digital media that helped the company to scale up exponentially.