'We Have Made the Highest Returns From Internet Investments'

Summary

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Masayoshi Son is the original maverick of the internet space. He is also its biggest investor. After all, how many people can claim to have invested $3 billion (Rs 13,500 crore) into some 800 internet companies, continuing to bet on something that others had long given up on? Then, the President and CEO of Japan's SoftBank Corp. hasn't lost any money. He has made some $7.5 billion (Rs 33,750 crore) on exits, and the holdings in the listed companies in his portfolio are currently worth $22 billion (Rs 99,000 crore). Much of that (and maybe more) will flow to his hands over the next few years as more companies (one estimate is 20 a year) in the portfolio make initial public offerings. Son, now 48, is currently busy with his next big bet-an internet Protocol (IP) TV project. Dubbed TV Bank, it will bring all major TV channels together on the internet and deliver video content over broadband. Son was in India recently to rope in the country's leading TV channels to his TV Bank project. Between meetings in Delhi, a highly unassuming Son found time to talk to BT's Sahad P.V. Excerpts:

What is the purpose of your visit to India?

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Extract

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'We Have Made the Highest Returns From Internet Investments'

I am working on my next big venture. It's called TV Bank (an IP TV project that will deliver television on broadband). We will provide a platform for all major TV channels in the world and integrate their content on the internet.

When do you expect to launch this venture?

We will have the commercial launch by end of March next year. We have started the beta test in Japan.

What exactly is TV Bank? Are you planning to become a Googl...

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