ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • The Switch delivers Wimbledon 2023’s international live video with state-of-the-art connectivity and reach

    The Switch delivers Wimbledon 2023’s international live video with state-of-the-art connectivity and reach

    Mumbai: The Switch, a leading provider of production services and live video delivery, provided international connectivity and transmission for the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, which took place from July 2023. Supporting IMG Studios in the UK and the main international rightsholders, including ESPN, Tennis Channel and Stats Perform, The Switch’s expertise in first-mile connectivity and robust network reach bought live feeds of the world’s premier grass court tournament to millions of fans worldwide at low latency and in unparalleled quality.

    Supporting the British Grand Slam tournament, The Switch installed a dedicated private dark fiber ring into the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in Wimbledon to deliver tournament feeds to IMG Studios at Stockley Park, West London, where all the production for coverage of the competition is handled. This dedicated network delivers 100-200Gb capacity, ensuring every live feed from every court at Wimbledon is delivered to fans seamlessly. The flexible fiber network ensured redundancy and allowed capacity to be spun up and down as needed.

    The Switch Sr VP of operations George Lopez noted: “Wimbledon is one of the most prestigious live events in tennis, and it was critical fans could enjoy every second of the action uninterrupted. This project brought together The Switch’s long-standing heritage supporting major Grand Slams with our knowledge and expertise in delivering high-value sports content, which meant the main broadcast partners and rightsholders could rely on us to deliver bigger and better coverage. We’re proud to play a central role in bringing this much-loved tournament to more fans than ever worldwide.”

    The project combined The Switch’s top-tier IP infrastructure and its deep experience delivering live coverage of the world’s foremost sports events to ensure uninterrupted transmission – including the largest stadium Point of Presence (POP) the company has built to date. The Switch carried all feeds from all 18 courts at Wimbledon, plus behind-the-scenes content and beauty shots.

  • Network18’s TV News business beats industry trends, registers 26 per cent revenue growth in Q1

    Network18’s TV News business beats industry trends, registers 26 per cent revenue growth in Q1

    Mumbai: Network18’s TV news business has registered a solid 26 per cent revenue growth in the first quarter of the current financial year, despite continued weakness in the overall advertising environment.

    Beating the industry trends, India’s largest TV news network registered a revenue of Rs 337 crore in the first quarter of current fiscal, as compared to Rs 266 Crore for the same period last fiscal. 

    The growth is despite five per cent YoY decline in news industry inventory consumption.

    News18 was able to drive growth powered by the increase in viewership shares and a strong focus on IP-events led advertising revenue. Viewership gains in key markets over the last few quarters have enabled the network to push up pricing, helping the revenue growth.

    “The network’s revenue during the quarter was up 26 per cent YoY, driven by the strong growth in advertising revenue. Ad revenue growth was underpinned by the strong viewership gains that the network has achieved over the last year which has helped improve pricing of certain channels. Network advertising inventory increased while the genre declined. The network also saw a strong traction in monetisation of IP-led events,” the company said. 

    TV18 News network continues to strengthen its position, crossing 12 per cent all-India viewership share in the news genre. The network maintains its leadership position in key markets with News18 India, CNN News18, and CNBC TV18 leading the viewership charts in respective genres.

    News18 regional channels are number one in five key markets including UP/Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, MP/Chhatisgarh, making the news network top choice of viewers in the Hindi speaking markets. 

    With 20 domestic channels, TV18 is the biggest News network in India with highest weekly reach and widest presence across Indian languages. The news network reaches 180 million consumers on a weekly basis.  

    Both its national news channels- News18 India and CNN News18-continue to be the leaders in their respective markets. 

    News18 India commands 15.6 per cent viewership share in the Hindi genre as well as the top position in evening primetime. CNN News18 is the number one English news channel with 33.4 per cent market share in the genre.

    CNBC TV18 continues to be the undisputed leader in the English Business News genre with over 80 per cent overall share and over 90 per cent viewership share during the market hours.

  • Is Reliance the front runner to be Disney Star India’s strategic partner?

    Is Reliance the front runner to be Disney Star India’s strategic partner?

    MUMBAI: Last week, Bob Iger’s statement that Disney was looking for an out – either totally through a sellout or a joint venture partner in Disney Star India sent tremors across the entire media ecosystem.

    From the outside, Star India seems to be doing well with its general entertainment channels Star Plus lording over the space like a colossus. It has also been seeing its channels’ fortunes rise in some of the regional languages.

    Yes, the sports business appears to be under pressure as the network refused to invest top dollar for digital rights of the IPL, ISL and several other important sports properties. And the recently concluded IPL was allegedly a millstone, reportedly not even recovering what was invested.  Or at least that was what was being claimed by the Reliance owned rival Viacom18 and Sports18 which is now led by former Star India CEO Uday Shankar.

    At least one professional believes that there is a possibility that Iger and Ambani could get into bed for the complicated Indian market. And that’s Investment analyst Karan Taurani of Elara Capital. Predicts he in a newsletter Elara Diet Report released last week: “We believe there is also a likelihood of Viacom 18 (73 per cent  owned by RIL/TV18, 11 per cent TV ad market share)- the third largest broadcaster after Zee/Sony and Disney, becoming a strategic partner with Disney India as the former is aggressively seeking to make inroads in the media segment (TV via TV18/NW18; digital via Jio Cinema).”

    Taurani also is pretty bullish on the continued sustainability of television as a business, despite all the soothsayers saying that it is headed south.  “As per our assessment, unit economics of the TV business is strong, led by healthy profitability margin (30-32 per cent  EBITDA for larger broadcasters core TV business, ex OTT losses),” he writes in the report. “We continue to believe that despite converging growth rate, linear TV medium is a key mode of mass campaigning for larger advertisers (FMCG contributes 45 per cent to TV ad revenue), given the reach/scale it has. Digital has the potential to grow, but unit economics are not yet proven. We, thus, prefer the linear TV business from a profitability standpoint and believe it will be a win-win for India despite tepid growth rates, as digital is an expensive medium. This may be a challenge to scale at mass – digital ARPU for a consumer with major OTT platforms subscriptions and data costs is around Rs 1,500, 4x higher than that of TV ARPU (Rs 350). “

    Overall, his opinion is that an exit or strategic change in Disney Star India bodes well for the overall market with peers such as Zee, Sony, Viacom18 and Sun TV gaining. He explains: “This could enable a strategic shift in the ‘go to market’ strategy, in turn benefitting other players to gain market share. Disney India enjoys strong recall across genres such as urban GEC, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and sports, which together contribute 65 per cent  to India’s TV revenues. TV may become further consolidated post Z-Sony merger with top two players (Z-Sony and Disney India) commanding around a 60 per cent ad market share, leaving little or no potential for peers to gain (or spike) market share.”

    If Taurani’s prediction of Reliance and Disney forging a marriage come true, it will be a homecoming of sorts for the savvy mover and shaker Uday Shankar. Already, he has been shopping aggressively at Disney Star India and has managed to recruit many senior  executives from there for his charge.

  • ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy tour successful in New Zealand and Australia

    ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy tour successful in New Zealand and Australia

    Mumbai: The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy tour recently concluded its successful visits to New Zealand and Australia, following its previous stops in India. The prestigious trophy, which holds immense significance in the world of cricket, has been capturing the hearts of fans worldwide.

    The trophy arrived in Auckland, where it paid homage to the iconic Eden Park stadium. This historical venue witnessed the exhilarating semi-final clash between New Zealand and South Africa in the 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Grant Elliott, the hero of that match, graciously welcomed the trophy and occupied a specially designated green seat, marking the spot of his memorable six that secured victory for the Black Caps in the penultimate delivery.

    Fans in Auckland were delighted to catch a glimpse of the coveted trophy as it toured popular locations, including Viaduct and Mission Bay, amidst the scenic beauty of the city. The tour culminated in a grand finale in downtown Auckland, leaving cricket enthusiasts in awe.

    Melbourne, the cricketing heartland of Australia, was the next destination on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy tour. The prestigious MCG stadium hosted a tribute to the legendary Shane Warne, where the trophy stood beneath the newly renamed Shane Warne Stand. Fans gathered around the statue of the late spin legend, reminiscing his outstanding player-of-the-match performance in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 1999 semi-final between Australia and South Africa. The city’s vibrant spirit was on display as the trophy made its way to renowned locations such as the famous Hosier Lane.

    The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy tour continues to captivate cricket fans globally, spreading excitement for the upcoming tournament. The next stop on this extraordinary journey will be in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: FanCode secures exclusive digital rights for India

    FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: FanCode secures exclusive digital rights for India

    Mumbai: FanCode, India’s premier sports destination, will exclusively livestream the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in India. FanCode has acquired the rights from 1Stadia and will live stream all the matches across India on its digital platform. The World Cup will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 20 July 2023 and will take place across nine vibrant cities, showcasing the pinnacle of women’s football. The final will take place on August 20.

    Football fans can watch all the action on FanCode’s mobile app (Android, iOS, TV), TV app available on Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Jio STB, Samsung TV, Airtel XStream, OTT Play and www.fancode.com

    FanCode will provide fans with an unparalleled viewing experience, as all 64 matches of the Women’s World Cup 2023 will be live-streamed on the platform. Football enthusiasts in India can now enjoy the thrilling action, as well as exclusive match highlights and clips throughout the competition.

    FanCode co-founder & CEO Yannick Colaco said, “We are excited to bring one of the biggest global sporting events to Indian fans. Stars like Alexia Putellas, Megan Rapinoe, Marta, and Sam Kerr have become household names in India for young girls and boys. The tournament is a celebration of women’s football, and we are committed to providing fans with a great experience”.

    1Stadia CEO and co-founder Sangeet Shirodkar said, “Partnering with FanCode to bring the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 to fans in India is a significant step for 1Stadia. FanCode’s extensive reach and strength in the IPTV domain make them an ideal partner to deliver the tournament to a wide range of viewers. Women’s sports, especially in the digital streaming space, have gained maximum traction and appeal, and we are excited to leverage this momentum to showcase the extraordinary talent and competitiveness of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Together with FanCode, we are confident in our ability to captivate and engage audiences across India, driving viewership to new heights.”

    FanCode’s partnership with 1Stadia and FIFA underscores its dedication to promoting and expanding the reach of women’s sports. By offering an inclusive platform that showcases the

    FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, FanCode continues to be at the forefront of revolutionising sports consumption in India.

    As part of the partnership, FanCode will also exclusively livestream FIFA Beach World Cup, FIFA U17 World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for later in the year.

    FanCode is offering tour passes at affordable prices for fans apart from monthly and yearly subscriptions.

  • “Will request GST council to reconsider tax on online gaming” – Rajeev Chandrasekhar at CNN-News18 Town Hall

    “Will request GST council to reconsider tax on online gaming” – Rajeev Chandrasekhar at CNN-News18 Town Hall

    Mumbai: Amid the criticism over the 28 per cent goods and services (GST) tax on online gaming, minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that he would “go back to the GST council and may be request it for consideration on the new regulatory framework”. He was speaking in the inaugural session at CNN-News18 Town Hall’s Delhi edition.

    “GST Council is not the Government of India. The council is represented by all state governments. It is a federal organisation. State governments and finance ministers have come together and created a GST framework. That is a consequence of three years of their work. While we may quibble with the findings, we have to recognize the process of creating a framework, which has started in January 2023,” he said.

    The GST Council on 11 July decided to impose a 28 per cent tax on the turnover of online gaming companies, horse racing and casinos.

    “We are only in the nascent stages of creating a sustainable, permissible online gaming framework. It is better to slowly progress and evolve these frameworks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that in digital space do everything for the next decade… It is better to do it right than to do it fast,” the minister said.

    Centred around the theme, ‘India’s road to 2024 Elections,’ The Delhi chapter of ‘CNN-News18 Town Hall’ is aimed at facilitating discussions with policy makers and opinion leaders to understand how political parties plan to captivate the attention of the voters. The discussions revolve around various topics such as policies, manifestos, and strategies employed by each party.

  • During the Chandrayaan-3 launch, ONTV provided a seamless viewing experience for commuters across Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bangalore

    During the Chandrayaan-3 launch, ONTV provided a seamless viewing experience for commuters across Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bangalore

    Mumbai: ONTV, India’s leading transit media advertisement brand, has announced the successful live streaming of the highly anticipated Chandrayaan-3 launch. As the exclusive live-streaming partner for the event, ONTV provided a seamless viewing experience for commuters across Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bangalore, enabling them to witness this historic moment in India’s lunar exploration.

    Chandrayaan-3, a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, aimed to demonstrate end-to-end capabilities in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. The launch took place at 2.35 PM IST on Friday, July 14, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

    ISRO Chairman S Somanath arrived at the mission control to oversee the launch, as the countdown began for India’s second attempt to soft-land on the Moon. If ISRO pulls off this mission successfully, India will join an exclusive list of just three other countries that have managed a soft landing on the Moon—the United States, the erstwhile Soviet Union, and most recently, China. Both the United States and the Soviet Union crashed many spacecraft before they successfully landed on the Moon. China was the only country to succeed in its first attempt with the Chang’e-3 mission in 2013.

    ONTV’s extensive network and technological expertise allowed audiences to be part of this momentous occasion. Commuters could conveniently watch the live stream showcasing India’s remarkable achievements in space exploration.

    ONTV, India’s only transit media advertisement brand, takes pride in offering unique and engaging content while fostering a sense of national pride among its audience.

    “We are delighted to have provided commuters nationwide with the opportunity to witness the Chandrayaan-3 launch through our exclusive live-streaming services,” said ONTV founder & managing director Tarun Pugalia. “Our goal is to connect with the masses and bring significant moments like this directly to their daily lives. By showcasing India’s advancements in space exploration, we aim to inspire and instill a sense of awe and wonder among our viewers.”

  • 400 bikers kickstart Hyderabad chapter of MotoGP Bharat’s city tour

    400 bikers kickstart Hyderabad chapter of MotoGP Bharat’s city tour

    Mumbai: The countdown to MotoGP Bharat was initiated in Hyderabad on Sunday with the multi “City Tour” initiative that was launched with great enthusiasm and response amidst 400 riders who participated in a controlled ride starting from Dhruva College of Fashion Technology, HiTech city, riding in a loop and back to increase the awareness around MotoGP among the community of race enthusiasts of the city.

    This event, much like other MotoGP Bharat events propagated the philosophy of “Roads are for riding” and “Tracks are for racing” and encouraged young and aspirational riders to become aware of this global IP and forge a strong sense of camaraderie with the biking fraternity of Hyderabad city and across the state.

    “Hyderabad has given confidence and wings to MotoGP Bharat’s City Tour initiative. It turned out to be a resounding success, with participants embracing the thrill of riding through the city streets. This event marked the beginning of an exciting chapter, and we look forward to bringing the MotoGP Bharat experience to more cities across the country,” commented the Indian promoters of MotoGP – FairStreet Sport MD and head of city tours Sushant Shrivastava.

    The turnout of female riders at the event was equally encouraging. This notable participation also reflected on the growing prominence of women as part of the biking community and how MotoGP has been successfully appealing with both the genders globally.

    With the Hyderabad chapter coming to a successful conclusion, the race will now proceed to Ahmedabad on 23 July, which is the next venue for the City Tour.

    Besides the ride, the event showcased a slice of the MotoGP atmosphere including mega DJ shows, bike stunts, food stalls, selfie booths, 360 VR and gaming booth at the event.

    Host state, Uttar Pradesh will welcome the bike enthusiasts of Hyderabad and other cities as the caravan will proceed across the country before culminating in Delhi on the race weekend in September, from where participants will ride to the iconic Buddh International Circuit for the race that takes place from 22-24 September 2023.

    In addition, head of marketing, Rohit Sharma and AVP, brand alliances, Shaan Ahuja also played a pivotal roles in conducting the event.

  • Pro Panja League to be broadcast in USA on Willow TV

    Pro Panja League to be broadcast in USA on Willow TV

    Mumbai: Pro Panja League (PPL) on Friday announced its renewed partnership with Willow TV, the leading broadcaster of cricket and combat sports in the United States. This partnership aims to bring the exhilarating professional arm wrestling from India to the US, where the game is quite popular and at the same time, strengthen the fan base globally.

    Last year, Willow TV telecast the Ranking Tournament across the USA and Canada, which was held in Gwalior in July 2022. This year, the matches will be telecast live from (9:30 EST) onwards. Fans can look forward to witnessing the strength, endurance, and intense competition that makes the Pro Panja League one of the most exciting and rapidly growing sports leagues in the world.

    “We are elated to join hands with Willow TV once again and continue our mission of promoting arm wrestling as a competitive sport. Willow TV has a fantastic track record of delivering high-quality sports content to fans, and we believe this partnership will play an important role in expanding the reach of Pro Panja League in the United States,” said  Pro Panja League, co-founder Parvin Dabas.

    Willow TV Chief Operating Officer Todd Myers said, “Willow TV has been entertaining sports fans for two decades in North America. We are thrilled to add the Pro Panja League to our list of world-class events. The PPL is going to be non-stop action which will keep Willow subscribers on the edge of their seats”.

    Willow TV is the only 24×7 live cricket channel in the USA, with several hundred days of live cricket covered annually, and is also home to the Indian Premier League in the region. Willow has exclusive agreements to be the official broadcaster of The International Cricket Council (ICC), Indian Premier League (IPL), England Cricket Board, Cricket Australia, Cricket South Africa, West Indies Cricket Board, Sri Lanka Cricket, Bangladesh Cricket Board, Pakistan Cricket Board, Zimbabwe Cricket, Pakistan Super League and others.

    Pro Panja League season one will take place between 28 July 2023 and 13 August 2023 and will be broadcast LIVE on Sony Ten 3 SD and Sony Ten 3 HD channels.

  • FairStreet Sports (FSS) and OTB Strategy collaborate for MotoGP activations in India

    FairStreet Sports (FSS) and OTB Strategy collaborate for MotoGP activations in India

    Mumbai: OTB Strategy, a leading marketing agency renowned for its expertise in marketing and advertising, promotion, and community building is delighted to announce its collaboration with FairStreet Sports (FSS), a prominent race promotion company based in Noida, for a series of exhilarating multi-city activations for MotoGP Bharat in India. This partnership aims to enhance the reach of MotoGP, engage motorbike enthusiasts, and create an unforgettable experience for fans across the country.

    OTB Strategy, renowned for its expertise in Marketing and Advertising, promotion, and community building, will play a pivotal role in executing a comprehensive marketing campaign. The agency’s vast experience and strategic approach will help create widespread awareness, excitement, and engagement for MotoGP Bharat events in India.

    The multi-city activations will take place in nine major Indian cities, namely Ahmedabad, Kochi, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Goa, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Delhi NCR. Each city will witness an array of thrilling activities, including mall activations, community-building initiatives, and engaging promotions, all geared towards fostering a deep connection between MotoGP and motorbike enthusiasts in India.

    Through this partnership, OTB Strategy and FSS aim to unlock the immense potential of the Indian market for MotoGP Bharat, recognizing the growing passion for motorsports and the enthusiasm of the Indian audience. The collaborative efforts will ensure that MotoGP Bharat reaches a broader audience, attracts new fans, and establishes a strong fan base in India.

    OTB Strategy CEO Abhishek Sharma shared his thoughts on the partnership, saying, “We are thankful to be associated with FairStreet Sports for this groundbreaking initiative, and even during the launch we did the Bikers ride and have been happy to work with FairStreet since a year now. City Tour Activation shall bring in a lot of excitement, where there will be a bikers road show, stunt shows, rock concerts, influencers and of course an opportunity to win/get tickets for the MotoGP Bharat on 22, 23 and 24  September’2023.”

    “We look at a larger and longer association with MotoGP Bharat. Our team is eager to leverage the marketing prowess to promote MotoGP Bharat and build a vibrant community of motorbike enthusiasts across India. Together, we aim to redefine the MotoGP experience and bring it closer to the hearts of Indian fans.”, added Sharma.

    OTB Strategy Sports director Ajitabh Rajan quoted, “This is for the first time MotoGP is coming to India and is a matter of great pride for all of us and especially for the sports fraternity. We, as OTB Strategy are committed to delivering an exhilarating experience to all sports lovers and the biker’s community. We thank FairStreet Sports for their trust in us. The way we have been working since the beginning and the Launch ride, we shall continue to do our best.”

    OTB Strategy and FairStreet Sports (FSS) are poised to revolutionize the MotoGP Bharat experience in India through their combined efforts. With a strategic focus on marketing and advertising, promotion, mall activations, and community building, the partnership aims to establish MotoGP Bharat as a premier motorsport in the Indian market.

    FairStreet Sports chief operating officer Pushkar Nath Srivastava expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to join forces with OTB Strategy for these multi-city activations. Their expertise and strategic approach align perfectly with our vision of expanding the reach of MotoGP Bharat in India. We believe this partnership will create unforgettable experiences for fans and ignite a new era of motorsports enthusiasm in the country”.