ITV

Tag: APAC

  • Worldwide 4K TV shipments to surpass 30 million units in 2015

    Worldwide 4K TV shipments to surpass 30 million units in 2015

    MUMBAI: 4K TV shipments are expected to grow by 147 per cent in 2015, despite overall two per cent fall in TV sales, as per the worldwide TV market report from Futuresource Consulting.

     

    Global TV sales rose in 2014 by three per cent to reach 235 million units, with trade value up to $94 billion. The TV market landscape remains varied across the globe, with some regions, such as Latin America, experiencing significant growth, caused by the Brazilian World Cup and the start of analogue switch-offs in the region, which are set to continue beyond the forecast period. 

     

    Europe, too, enjoyed three per cent growth. APAC, however, saw declines during 2014 but remained the largest region for TV demand, accounting for 37 per cent of shipments. With saturation in many countries within the region relatively low, Futuresource expects growth to return in the coming years.

     

    The report anticipates that trade value globally in 2015 will fall by three per cent to $91 billion. This decline in sales value is due mainly to a continued depressed market in China as well Russia’s economic issues. Economic uncertainty continues to affect many markets in Europe, contributing to expected declines in many countries across the continent.

     

    However, according to Futuresource, the decline won’t last, with larger screens and 4K models being adopted faster than previously forecast. Whilst industry opinion on curved screens remains mixed, strong growth is expected from them in 2015, with the growth in the 4K market helping their performance. Meanwhile, Smart TV continues to grow its share of the market, although not at the pace previously anticipated.

     

    “Although we expect to see a decrease in worldwide shipments in 2015, Futuresource expects the TV market to recover well in the longer term. In the coming years Futuresource believes that replacement demand will increase with sets bought at the start of flat panel boom being upgraded. Also, the shift in consumer preference to larger screen sizes will help the performance of 4K sets,” said Futuresource Consulting senior market analyst Jack Wetherill.

  • JWT appoints Gaurav Lalwani as APAC business director for J&J

    JWT appoints Gaurav Lalwani as APAC business director for J&J

    MUMBAI: J. Walter Thompson has appointed Gaurav Lalwani to the role of Asia Pacific business director on the agency’s Johnson & Johnson portfolio, which includes Listerine and other J&J over-the-counter brands.

     

    Lalwani’s appointment reflects the agency’s expanded remit on J&J’s Listerine business across the Asia Pacific region.

     

    Based in Singapore, Lalwani will head up a new team servicing Listerine across APAC, and will also work with J. Walter Thompson’s global Listerine team in New York.

     

    Lalwani, who has over 15 years of integrated brand experience across FMCG, prestige skin care, automotive, and the financial services sectors, joins J. Walter Thompson from Leo Burnett Singapore, where he was senior regional director for integrated content on the agency’s SK-II and P&G fabric care brands across Asia.

     

    He was responsible for launching SK-II’s #ChangeDestiny platform across Asia, and led the collaboration with Huffington Post and Fitch to take #ChangeDestiny across digital and in-store platforms. Lalwani also led the creation of the first ever voice-based mobile platform for Tide in India, this drove the brand’s purchase intent, and consumption.

     

    “Lalwani is joining the agency after a period of significant growth and his appointment is a reflection of our drive to further strengthen the senior team at JWT. I am thrilled he is joining us as brings a proven track record of leading global businesses and his integrated approach will be of great value to his client portfolio,” said J. Walter Thompson Singapore CEO Peter Womersley.

     

    “JWT Singapore has managed to create perfect balance between hunger and wisdom. I am thrilled to be joining the agency at this exciting time,” added Lalwani.

  • Discovery Networks APAC acquires Setanta Sports Asia

    Discovery Networks APAC acquires Setanta Sports Asia

    MUMBAI: Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP), a division of the pay-TV programmer Discovery Communications, has acquired Setanta Sports Asia Limited, a premium sports channel specialising in rugby.

     

    Discovery Networks International president JB Perrette said, “The acquisition of Setanta Sports Asia is an important investment for Discovery as we further build scale and expand our business in Asia. Just over a year ago, Discovery gained a controlling interest in Eurosport – a bold play that took our company into the exciting arena of sports, Similar to the strategy we have adopted for Eurosport, we will look to build on the strengths of Setanta and fortify its leadership as a must-have sports channel across Asia.”

     

    Perrette further added, “We will continue our steady investment in premium sports for Asia. The recent investments in the exclusive media rights for Champions League in Singapore on Eurosport, and now Setanta Sports Asia, demonstrate our commitment to building our portfolio and presence in the region. We are also very pleased to have Peter Hutton, who joined us a few months ago as CEO of Eurosport, leading the strategy of our newest global brand. Peter has excelled in the sports media business and his extensive international experience in multiple markets, including Asia, will boost our momentum.”

     

    Reaching more than 42 million homes across 16 countries, Setanta Sports Asia is one of the fastest-growing sports channels in Asia. It super serves passionate fans with some of the best rugby league and union events from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The acquisition is bolstered by Setanta’s five-year renewal of SANZAR (South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) rights, including all home international matches, plus Super Rugby – both of which represent some of the most sought-after rugby union properties. In addition to the SANZAR rights, key programming includes European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, National Rugby League, Aviva Premiership and Guinness Pro 12.

     

    In total, Setanta Sports Asia airs more than 500 rugby matches per season on HD and SD feeds across the region. The channel’s multi-device player, Setanta Sports Plus, is accessible through online, tablets and smartphones.=

  • CNN is most watched international news brand in APAC: Ipsos Survey

    CNN is most watched international news brand in APAC: Ipsos Survey

    MUMBAI: Newscaster CNN has maintained its number one position as an international news brand in Asia Pacific, according to the latest Ipsos Affluent Survey.

     

    The channel reaches to 34 per cent upscale consumers and 53 per cent to the C-level executives every month. The independent survey also reveals significant audience growth for CNN on both its TV and digital platforms.

     

    On TV, CNN is the most watched international news brand in Asia-Pacific in daily, weekly and monthly reach. As per the survey, the channel has 47 per cent more viewers each month than the next placed news channel and 125 per cent more viewers than the leading business and finance news channel.

     

    The survey further reveals that in digital, CNN’s monthly reach is 51 per cent higher than the next largest brand. CNN’s lead is even more clear-cut in key target groups with an 80 per cent advantage with top management and 64 per cent with business decision makers.

     

    CNN also recorded substantial growth in TV and digital consumption. In TV, there was strong growth in daily (+13 per cent), weekly (+11 per cent) and monthly (+six per cent) audience numbers. These numbers surge when it comes to International travellers (+49 per cent weekly) and luxury spenders (+29 per cent weekly).

     

    In digital, the monthly digital reach increased by 11 per cent and was most significant in the key target groups of international business travellers (+72 per cent) and international leisure travellers (+57 per cent).

     

    Even in India, CNN is the number one international news brand for top management with a 39 per cent lead in multiplatform reach over BBC. On TV, CNN reaches twice as many top management viewers on a daily basis and 41 per cent more on a monthly basis than BBC World News. Among India’s affluent audience, CNN is yet again the international news leader as a multi-platform brand reaching more than one-in-five upscale consumers (22 per cent). On TV, CNN is the most watched international news brand reaching 16 per cent more viewers each month than BBC World News.

     

    The lead continues on digital platform as CNN reaches 42 per cent more audiences than BBC each month. CNN also recorded substantial growth in audience numbers across all platforms including multi-platform (+28 per cent), digital (5.1 times) and TV in weekly (+35 per cent) and monthly (+24 per cent).

     

    CNN International Asia Pacific vice president advertising sales Sunita Rajan said, “This is a spectacular result for CNN and a testament to the commitment we made to our audience – to provide first-class content across multiple platforms. Our audience’s appetite for global news and staying connected has never been greater. In response, we’ve boosted our resources across television and made major investments in digital including an integrated newsroom, designing a new responsive website and creating a slate of new dedicated digital content. These survey results show unequivocally that CNN is the number one international news brand and the first choice for affluent consumers.”

  • India’s ad spend estimated at 13.3 per cent by Magna Global Forecasts 2015

    India’s ad spend estimated at 13.3 per cent by Magna Global Forecasts 2015

    MUMBAI: In its latest study of global media owner advertising revenues, covering 73 countries, Magna Global estimates that ad revenues grew by more than 5.5 per cent this year, to reach the half-trillion mark ($512 billion). Advertising sales will grow by more 4.8 per cent in 2015 to reach $536 billion.

    Some of the most significant revisions in the 2015 forecasts are found among BRIC markets. China and Brazil advertising revenues are still predicted to grow by a decent amount (+8.6 per cent and +5.9 per cent, respectively) although two to three points below previous expectations. Russia is the single biggest negative revision, due to the combination of declining energy prices and the partial withdrawal of Western investors amidst geopolitical tensions; the 2015 advertising growth forecast is cut from 7.0 per cent to 0.8 per cent.

    India will, thus, become the most dynamic among the four BRICs, with an expected ad spend growth of +13.3 per cent following a similar pace of 2014 (+13.2 per cent).

    The general elections that took place in the first part of the year generated massive incremental spend. The outcome of the election, bringing a new BJP-led Government to power, improved business and consumer confidence, is what prompts ad growth forecast in the coming year. The new government is also committed to invest billions in order to connect millions of rural Indians to broadband internet, in a plan advertised through a recent meeting between the new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

    Magna Global global forecasting director and author of the report Vincent Letang said, “In 2014, the long-awaited European recovery finally came in time to partly offset a weaker- than-expected growth in the US and the BRICs. In 2015, the lack of non-recurring events, the continued slowdown of the BRICs and the deflationary effects generated by the rise of digital media will inhibit global advertising growth, in a slight disconnect with the positive acceleration in the macro-economic environment.”

    The report highlights that in the APAC, within digital, the fastest growing formats are social (+58.6 per cent growth), followed by video (+37.6 per cent growth) and search (+25.5 per cent growth). Mobile spend on social formats continues to lead the way, and other formats will follow.

    Television remains the dominant format for advertising spend in APAC, and spend will grow by 3.5 per cent this year and represent slightly over 40 per cent of all advertising dollars. Broadcast television continues to dominate the TV landscape, although multi-channel television is gaining share due to slightly higher growth rates, and by 2019 will represent nearly one quarter of TV dollars. Print continues to lose market share, and newspaper and magazines together will represent less than one in five advertising dollars this year. This is down from one third of all spending as recently as 2008.

    APAC will continue to be one of the stronger regional drivers of global advertising spend, although its lead on the global growth rate continues to narrow. Its total share of global ad spend will only increase slightly between this year and 2019, from 29 per cent to just over 30 per cent of total spend.

  • 500 million multichannel TV homes in APAC: CASBAA

    500 million multichannel TV homes in APAC: CASBAA

    MUMBAI: The Asia Pacific now boasts of 500,639,000 multichannel homes, as per CASBAA’s Asia Pacific Multichannel TV Advertising 2015 book.

     

    The pay TV advertising market continues to grow in APAC with an estimated +9.4 per cent, y-o-y increase for 2014.

     

    CASBAA CEO Christopher Slaughter said, “Our latest report reinforces the fact that the Asia Pacific is truly the growth engine for the multichannel TV industry today. When we look at non-terrestrial TV connections, 61 per cent of homes in Asia now receive multichannel TV and the region is poised to strengthen its leadership as the largest multichannel video market globally in terms of subscribers.”

     

    ZenithOptimedia head of forecasting Jonathan Barnard added, “Television is the dominant advertising medium in Asia Pacific, attracting 40 per cent of all ad expenditure this year, and ZenithOptimedia forecasts it to grow at an average of 5 per cent a year until at least 2016. Meanwhile online video offers high-quality content that viewers can watch whenever they want and – using smartphones and tablets – wherever they want. Video advertising as a whole will remain the best way to build brand awareness and engagement for many years to come.”

     

    Data sourced from The Ericsson Consumer Insight Report 2014 says that OTT services and digital delivery are increasing with demand content constituting an important part of consumers viewing habits, specially streaming and a greater acceptance of paying for non linear TV content.

     

    The report also showed a 25 per cent increase in consumer willingness to pay for anywhere access compared to 2012 and a growing trend of using tablets and smartphones. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Festive season propels Indian smartphone market

    Festive season propels Indian smartphone market

    KOLKATA: The festive season has pushed the Indian smartphone market with a quarter-on-quarter growth of 27 per cent in Q3 of the current calendar year 2014 to propel it as the largest growing smartphone market in the APAC region.

     

    The overall mobile market stood at 72.5 million units in Q3 2014, registering a 15 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth and a 9 per cent year-on-year growth, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

     

    “With 44 million units shipped in CY 2013 and the current market scenario hinting at 80 million plus shipments in CY 2014, we have a big chunk of end-user market which is awaiting refresh. To add to this, new initiatives on the 4G front are expected to be rolled out, which should spark up demand in the smartphone market in CY 2015,” said IDC India senior market analyst Karan Thakkar.

     

    However, phablets are hitting a stagnancy which has been one of the key reasons for consumers opting for smartphones, the IDC said.

     

    “With 6 per cent of the overall smartphone market, phablets are observed to be hitting a plateau. Smartphones are seen as the sweet spot for consumer preference. However, consumers need larger screen sizes to enjoy media content and with the 4G rollout expected in CY 2015, we expect the phablets segment to pick up again,” said IDC India research manager, client devices Kiran Kumar.

     

    Interestingly, Micromax is fast crawling up to challenge Samsung, the market leader. Market share for Micromax stood at 20 per cent in Q3, up by two per cent from the previous quarter while Samsung’s market share is 24 per cent.

     

    The Q3 results reveal the second consecutive quarter of over 80 per cent year-on-year shipment growth for smartphones, reflecting robust end-user demand for the category in the devices market in India.

     

    The share of smartphones in the overall mobile phone market stood at 32 per cent in Q3 2014, which is a considerable increase over 19 per cent in the same period a year ago.

     

    According to the Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped a total of 23.3 million smartphones in Q3 2014 compared to 12.8 million units in the same period of CY 2013.

  • Globecast and MEASAT to distribute HGTV across Asia

    Globecast and MEASAT to distribute HGTV across Asia

    MUMBAI: MEASAT Satellite Systems has decided to tie up with Globecast to distribute Scripps Networks’ channel HGTV which will cater to the home and lifestyle category in Asia.

     

    The channel will launch on 4 December with content on property, hybrid construction, design and extreme spaces. HGTV will be beamed off MEASAT 3.

     

    Globecast Asia senior VP of sales and marketing Soo Yew Weng said, “Globecast is honoured to work again with MEASAT and Scripps Networks’ in bringing HGTV to audiences in Asia. Globecast looks forward to HGTV becoming as popular here as it is in the US, where it has been ranked as the number one lifestyle brand, reaching over 99 million households.”

     

    Globecast provides playout, content preparation and select post-production services for all four of Scripps Networks’ regional channels-HGTV, Asian Food Channel, Food Network and Travel Channel across the APAC.

     

    Says MEASAT senior VP sales and marketing Raj Malik, “MEASAT is delighted to continue working with Globecast to bring more high quality programming to Asia. We see great potential in HGTV and look forward to be part of its launch to the market. With the addition of HGTV, MEASAT’s 91.5 degree E video neighbourhood has grown to 57 HD channels distributed and remains Asia’s strongest C-band HD platform.”

  • “Carriage fees make the market place beyond reach in India”: Derek Chang

    “Carriage fees make the market place beyond reach in India”: Derek Chang

    Shy and reserved is what you could use to describe him. Open minded is another term. But Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI) managing director of APAC operations Derek Chang is far from shy about growing his network of lifestyle oriented content for TV and internet in the region.

     

    Chang has delved in all parts of the media industry with companies such as DirecTV, Charter Communications, The Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network, GlobalCenter and TCI Communications/AT&T Broadband.

     

    While SNI has successfully created niche content in the US, it has yet to enter India and Chang is well aware of the restrictions and regulations of the country. His network produces over 2000 hours of original lifestyle programming annual put out on channels Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.

     

    In a freewheeling chat with indiantelevision.com’s Sandhya Sutodia, on the sidelines of Indian Digital Operators’ Summit (IDOS) 2014, Chang spoke about the network’s future plans to grow itself in the country and the region.

     

     

     

    What is the spread of SNI in Asia Pacific?

     

    Scripps Networks owns and operates four channels across the Asia Pacific region including Asian Food Channel, Food Network, Travel Channel and HGTV, which will be launched at the end of the year. HGTV will debut on StarHub in Singapore as the first regional channel dedicated to the growing home and lifestyle category in Asia. Our preparations for the launch of the channel are very simple. Talks are on with distributors to launch it across the whole of Asia along with other operators. Scripps Networks launched HGTV in the US 20 years ago, and the network has grown markedly since then. It is now the number one upscale network for women. We have seen an increasing demand for high-quality lifestyle content all around the world and are excited to continue the HGTV brand’s global expansion, starting with the Asian region.  

     

    How do you market the channels in APAC?

     

    We work with distribution partners to help market our products. They help us market our product and run events in creating interests, on air promotion for our content. I am responsible for designing and executing growth strategies in the Asia Pacific region for Food Network and Travel Channel, both of which are available to viewers in selected Asian markets. My focus is on leveraging the Scripps brand across all distribution platforms in the region as well as managing regional programming and marketing strategies.

     

    Scripps Networks Interactive has ambitious goals to significantly broaden its presence in Asia, including wider distribution of our lifestyle brands and programming capabilities.

     

    How important is the APAC region for the company? What is your model of operation?

     

    We originated in US and that is the most significant market for us. Now we are investing globally and nationally. Right now the US contributes most of the revenue to the company. Asia Pacific is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US based company and contributes a small per cent to the overall international business. Asia Pacific is a small business. We have not set any targets from this market yet. However we see attractive growth opportunities.  In the UK, our channel UKTV is a 50:50 JV with BBC Worldwide. In Canada, we have a partnership with Shaw Media. In some places we work in partnerships and it is not always necessarily a subsidiary of the US-based company.

     

    Are you looking at any such partnerships in India?

     

    We are evaluating our strategy in Asia and in India too. It depends on how we see the potential market and the success model. The potential market has its own characteristics and challenges and we have faith in our brands and content.

     

    Content is what drives the media industry across the world but in India it is not yet content. Are you looking at increasing your advertising subscription?

     

    Yes, we try to increase our advertising subscription wherever we work. With growing demand for high quality home lifestyle entertainment in Asia, we keep looking for better revenues.

     

    How do you view the digitisation drive in India?

     

    It seems to me that India has been talking about digitisation from quite some time. And the industry is addressing all the challenges. Executives with lots of experience pointed out the challenges at the IDOS sessions. Slow work but yet progress is there.

     

    Carriage fees is a factor that is crippling Indian broadcasters? How would you deal with it?

     

    I have not experienced it yet so I would not be able to comment on it well. The hope is that it goes down and that would reduce one of the barriers for us. We have a unique situation here as it increases the investment of programmers and broadcasters and it is a challenge. It makes the market place beyond reach for many. We have to believe that it will come down.

     

    Given the diversity of languages in India, what would be your choice of language when you enter?

     

    The content would be in English and after exploring other markets and if we feel that the content would be attractive to that particular market, we might think of other languages. We have not made any decision about what we want to do in India. We want to see the demographics first.

     

    Tell us something about existing Asian Food and Travel Channels?

    As a leader in lifestyle programming, Scripps Networks Interactive owns the food category in Asia with iconic lifestyle brands such as Asian Food Channel and Food Network. People are drawn here because of the rich food culture, and AFC (Asian Food Channels) is a platform that celebrates all that the region has to offer. AFC has built a strong viewership across Asia and we will continue to fulfill our viewers’ demands with new and exciting original content and initiatives, which is in line with plans to expand our presence in the region.

     

    They will serve the company well as we invest in the channels, work to broaden their distribution on all platforms, and explore new business relationships throughout the region.

     

    Tell us more about the programmes on HGTV?

    HGTV will premiere with a robust line up of top-rated programs about property, hybrid construction, design and extreme spaces. Hit programs such as Property Brothers, Kitchen Cousins and The High Low Project, will entertain and inspire viewers with fresh ideas and authentic stories on how to find and love their own dream home. As a continued commitment to cater to local audiences, Scripps Networks will also produce localised original short-form content exclusively for the launch of HGTV in Asia, based on the popular series, Extreme Homes.

  • McCann Worldgroup promotes Prasoon Joshi to APAC chairman

    McCann Worldgroup promotes Prasoon Joshi to APAC chairman

    MUMBAI: McCann Worldgroup has promoted Prasoon Joshi to McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific chairman.

     

    In this position, he will focus, along with McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific president Charles Cadell and, McCann Worldgroup Greater China CEO Jesse Lin, on driving client businesses through collaboration and integration across one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

     

    Joshi is currently McCann Worldgroup South Asia president as well as McCann Worldgroup India CEO. Joshi, Cadell and Lin will focus on delivering integrated approaches and communications solutions for clients by leveraging all of McCann Worldgroup’s broad capabilities and resources.

     

    McCann Worldgroup chairman and CEO Harris Diamond said, “Prasoon has built a model for the network by delivering integrated ideas to drive growth for our clients across India. His brand-building talent has been acknowledged globally. With our clients increasingly looking for multiplatform communications solutions to drive growth, the combined leadership team of Prasoon, Charles and Jesse will help all of our agencies in the region to take full advantage of these opportunities.”

     

    Recognised as one of the advertising and marketing communication world’s top creative leaders, Joshi this year headed the Cannes Lions Titanium and Integrated Jury.

     

    Joshi first joined McCann India in 2002 as executive VP and national creative director. In 2006, he was named McCann Worldgroup South and Southeast Asia executive chairman and regional CD. Under his leadership, McCann Worldgroup India has built its position as the most creatively awarded agency in the market while also expanding its multiplatform capabilities. As part of this expansion, last year it acquired the direct marketing and database company End to End Marketing Solutions which, like McCann, has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai.

     

    Joshi said, “We are extremely well positioned for continued growth and I look forward to building on the momentum we’ve seen across the network. McCann Worldgroup is boldly entering this new era of advertising with leadership who realise the value in globalisation. Our capacity to effectively craft local communication with global leverage means we can solve our clients’ biggest marketing challenges.”