ITV

Tag: Asia-Pacific

  • India: 40 per cent smartphone users stream live videos; leads in new subs

    India: 40 per cent smartphone users stream live videos; leads in new subs

    MUMBAI: There is a rise of 5G networks and consumers subscribing to the network. By 2022, there will be a growth in mobile broadband to 6.1 billion unique subscribers. Forecasting the trends in telecom sector across the world, Ericsson Mobility Report has pointed out that approximately half a billion users will be connected to 5G networks by 2022.

    North America (NA) will dominate the industry with nearly 25 per cent of 5G subscriptions in 2022. Asia Pacific will fall next with about 10 per cent of the share.

    The Middle East and Africa will shift from predominantly GSM/EDGE only to approximately 80 percent of users being connected to WCDMA/HSPA and LTE. The report further points out that the mobile subscriber base is estimated to scale 6.8 billion with over 95 per cent people being connected to 4G or 5G networks.

    Ericsson chief strategy officer and technology officer Ulf Ewaldsson opined that almost 90 per cent of smartphone subscriptions are on 3G and 4G networks today, and standardised 5G networks are expected to be available in 2020. He further added that 5G would help automation, IoT and big data.

    The world added 84 million new mobile subscriptions during the third quarter of 2016 with India leading regarding net additions with 15 million, with China closely following with 14 million new mobile subscribers.

    The report points out that the mobile video traffic will grow 50 per cent every year through 2022, accounting for about 75 per cent of all the mobile data traffic. Social media traffic will be the second type of traffic that will dominate the mobile traffic growing 39 per cent each year.

    As for as live streaming is concerned, two in every five smartphone users are interested in live streaming apps in India and other high-growth countries like Brazil, Indonesia and Oman. The reports suggest that the figure dropping to one in every five smartphone users in the United States of America.

    Along with 5G and Mobile Broadband, IoT will also see significant growth, with approximately 29 billion devices connected to the internet, out of which 18 billion of the devices relating to IoT.

  • India poised to emerge as lucrative market for UHD STBs

    India poised to emerge as lucrative market for UHD STBs

    MUMBAI: The growing inclination of people towards ultra-high definition video viewing can be attributed as a major reason for the 4K Set-Top Box’s (STB) market growth. According to a report by Grand View research, the global 4K STB market size is projected to reach US$7.18 billion by 2024.

    The demand for media-rich home entertainment services among consumers is increasing and is anticipated to fuel market growth. Improved standard of living owing to increased purchasing power is positively impacting the industry growth. The growth is further fostered by favorable government initiatives, large-scale digitization programs, and mandatory installation of set top boxes.

    Valued at at over US$ 50 million in 2015, the is projected to witness high growth over the next eight years, especially in countries such as Korea, Taiwan, and China.

    India is poised to emerge as a lucrative market for UHD STBs with the country expected to witness a CAGR substantially higher than the regional average. DTH operators like Tata Sky, Videocon, Airtel, etc have launched UHD STBs and are attempting to achieve a higher rural penetration with affordable regional packages.

    The increasing penetration of 3D and 4K TVs and escalating demand for large screen displays are fueling the demand for Ultra High-Definition (UHD) STBs. Smart features such as STB operability through voice commands given by Remote Control Unit (RCU) is garnering high potential.

    Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) 4K STBs accounted for over 20 per cent of the market share in 2015 and are expected to witness considerable growth over the forecast period. Increasing broadband penetration can be attributed as the major reason for the rise in the market share of IPTV 4K Set-top Box devices. The IPTV set top box product segment is projected to gain traction owing to benefits such as integration of TV, PC, home phone, and wireless devices offering a high quality of viewing experience to the end-users.

    Key industry participants include ZTE Corporation, SAGEMCOM, Arion Technology, Roku Inc., and Infomir LLC. Manufacturers are emphasizing on UHD STBs incorporated with interactive 4K content to gain a competitive edge in the industry.

    Technology giants such as Apple Inc. have managed to make their mark in this competitive industry. The Apple TV device aids the streaming of OTT content and other videos over the internet. The launch of advanced OTT devices such as Google Inc.’s Chromecast media streaming device and Amazon’s Fire TV STBs have opened up new avenues in the industry.

  • India poised to emerge as lucrative market for UHD STBs

    India poised to emerge as lucrative market for UHD STBs

    MUMBAI: The growing inclination of people towards ultra-high definition video viewing can be attributed as a major reason for the 4K Set-Top Box’s (STB) market growth. According to a report by Grand View research, the global 4K STB market size is projected to reach US$7.18 billion by 2024.

    The demand for media-rich home entertainment services among consumers is increasing and is anticipated to fuel market growth. Improved standard of living owing to increased purchasing power is positively impacting the industry growth. The growth is further fostered by favorable government initiatives, large-scale digitization programs, and mandatory installation of set top boxes.

    Valued at at over US$ 50 million in 2015, the is projected to witness high growth over the next eight years, especially in countries such as Korea, Taiwan, and China.

    India is poised to emerge as a lucrative market for UHD STBs with the country expected to witness a CAGR substantially higher than the regional average. DTH operators like Tata Sky, Videocon, Airtel, etc have launched UHD STBs and are attempting to achieve a higher rural penetration with affordable regional packages.

    The increasing penetration of 3D and 4K TVs and escalating demand for large screen displays are fueling the demand for Ultra High-Definition (UHD) STBs. Smart features such as STB operability through voice commands given by Remote Control Unit (RCU) is garnering high potential.

    Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) 4K STBs accounted for over 20 per cent of the market share in 2015 and are expected to witness considerable growth over the forecast period. Increasing broadband penetration can be attributed as the major reason for the rise in the market share of IPTV 4K Set-top Box devices. The IPTV set top box product segment is projected to gain traction owing to benefits such as integration of TV, PC, home phone, and wireless devices offering a high quality of viewing experience to the end-users.

    Key industry participants include ZTE Corporation, SAGEMCOM, Arion Technology, Roku Inc., and Infomir LLC. Manufacturers are emphasizing on UHD STBs incorporated with interactive 4K content to gain a competitive edge in the industry.

    Technology giants such as Apple Inc. have managed to make their mark in this competitive industry. The Apple TV device aids the streaming of OTT content and other videos over the internet. The launch of advanced OTT devices such as Google Inc.’s Chromecast media streaming device and Amazon’s Fire TV STBs have opened up new avenues in the industry.

  • DishTV launches Kids Active in partnership with Shemaroo

    DishTV launches Kids Active in partnership with Shemaroo

    MUMBAI: Value added services has been a focus area, a clear differentiator and an integral part of our offering. By not leaving any stone unturned in order to provide a wide range of content and services to its subscribers, DishTV Asia’s largest DTH brand has partnered with Shemaroo, one of India’s leading entertainment content houses that provides learning and entertainment to launch a new premium service called Kids Active and enhanced its bouquet of value added services to 10.

    With the launch of Kids Active service, the DTH category’s most trusted brand has doubled their active services since last six months. Kids Active offers original content ranging from exciting stories, movies, songs, scientific experiment series and many more shows.

    Kids Active is packaged 24X7, ad free infotainment service for kids in the age group of 6-12 years. With the activation of the service, subscribers get an opportunity to view Tales of Akbar & Birbal in English, animation songs, jungle tales, children’s movies and show promos, Grandpas treasure of wonderful stories and fun learning with scientific experiments.

    DishTV CEO said, “We are delighted to announce our specialty offering targeted at the youngest generation. Kids segment is an area which is constantly in focus for us. Launch of Kids Active service is yet another step for us to enhance our value added services portfolio and cater to a wider set of audience.”

    Kids Active is a premium ad free subscription based service targeted at enhancing the TV viewing of DishTV’s young subscribers. This service will be available as a free preview till the 24 October, after which a nominal amount of Rs 25 per month will be charged. This Kids Active service will be available on channel number 514 on DishTV.

    Dish TV is Asia Pacific’s largest direct-to-home (DTH) company and part of one of India’s biggest media conglomerate – the ‘Zee’ Group. Dish TV has on its platform more than 575 channels & services including 22 audio channels and over 55 HD channels & services. Dish TV uses the NSS-6 satellite platform which is unique in the Indian subcontinent owing to its automated power control and contoured beam which makes it suitable for use in ITU K and N rain zones ideally suited for India’s tropical climate. The company also has transponders on the Asiasat 5 platform and on the SES-8 platform which makes its total bandwidth capacity equal to 828 MHZ, the largest held by any DTH player in the country.

  • DishTV launches Kids Active in partnership with Shemaroo

    DishTV launches Kids Active in partnership with Shemaroo

    MUMBAI: Value added services has been a focus area, a clear differentiator and an integral part of our offering. By not leaving any stone unturned in order to provide a wide range of content and services to its subscribers, DishTV Asia’s largest DTH brand has partnered with Shemaroo, one of India’s leading entertainment content houses that provides learning and entertainment to launch a new premium service called Kids Active and enhanced its bouquet of value added services to 10.

    With the launch of Kids Active service, the DTH category’s most trusted brand has doubled their active services since last six months. Kids Active offers original content ranging from exciting stories, movies, songs, scientific experiment series and many more shows.

    Kids Active is packaged 24X7, ad free infotainment service for kids in the age group of 6-12 years. With the activation of the service, subscribers get an opportunity to view Tales of Akbar & Birbal in English, animation songs, jungle tales, children’s movies and show promos, Grandpas treasure of wonderful stories and fun learning with scientific experiments.

    DishTV CEO said, “We are delighted to announce our specialty offering targeted at the youngest generation. Kids segment is an area which is constantly in focus for us. Launch of Kids Active service is yet another step for us to enhance our value added services portfolio and cater to a wider set of audience.”

    Kids Active is a premium ad free subscription based service targeted at enhancing the TV viewing of DishTV’s young subscribers. This service will be available as a free preview till the 24 October, after which a nominal amount of Rs 25 per month will be charged. This Kids Active service will be available on channel number 514 on DishTV.

    Dish TV is Asia Pacific’s largest direct-to-home (DTH) company and part of one of India’s biggest media conglomerate – the ‘Zee’ Group. Dish TV has on its platform more than 575 channels & services including 22 audio channels and over 55 HD channels & services. Dish TV uses the NSS-6 satellite platform which is unique in the Indian subcontinent owing to its automated power control and contoured beam which makes it suitable for use in ITU K and N rain zones ideally suited for India’s tropical climate. The company also has transponders on the Asiasat 5 platform and on the SES-8 platform which makes its total bandwidth capacity equal to 828 MHZ, the largest held by any DTH player in the country.

  • Online security top concern in Asia Pacific: Internet Society survey

    Online security top concern in Asia Pacific: Internet Society survey

    NEW DELHI: Online security is an area that warrants most urgent attention from policymakers, according to a recent Internet Society (IS) survey on Policy Issues in Asia Pacific.

    “As trust online has become a key issue for Internet users throughout Asia Pacific, it’s clear that people feel that current policies are not doing enough to protect their privacy and security online,” IS said in a statement from Singapore.

    The survey polled almost 2,000 end-users from across the region on their attitudes towards current Internet policy issues. Access is still the primary concern for stakeholders, but Internet security has become top of mind, replacing cloud computing as the second-most followed topic by respondents, as tracked by the annual study.

    Moreover, 58 per cent of respondents in the 2016 survey thought cybercrime needed to be addressed by governments, followed by connectivity (47 per cent), data protection (45 per cent) and privacy (44 per cent).

    As connectivity has improved over the past year –70 per cent stated that they had experienced better Internet speed and 55 per cent saw a drop in the cost of their Internet subscription — users are turning their focus to online trust.

    “The results of this year’s survey show that stakeholders in the region hold connectivity and security as paramount and feel these need urgent attention from governments,” Internet Society’s Regional Bureau Director for Asia-Pacific Rajnesh Singh was quoted in the official statement as saying.

    “As trust online has become a key issue for Internet users throughout Asia Pacific, it’s clear that people feel that current policies are not doing enough to protect their privacy and security online,” adds Singh.

    The elements of trust online are multi-faceted and are reflected in the survey’s findings. A large proportion of respondents cited data protection (77 per cent) as crucial for building confidence in the Internet. More than half also felt that consumer protection (54 per cent), transparency (51 per cent) and the ability to communicate confidentially (51 per cent) were more important than content, service, technology and applications (45 per cent).

    While many believed that policies regarding online security in their country were largely compatible with their human and civil rights, this view did not extend to privacy online. The survey reveals that 59 per cent of participants did not believe their privacy was protected online.

    Internet users were also doubtful about the impact of online security policies on their online activities. Over half indicated these policies have not increased their confidence in being able to use the Internet securely and only 34 per cent agreed that the current online security policies appropriately address the real threats and risks encountered online.

    The Internet Society is an independent source for global Internet information and thought leadership. It is also the organizational home for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and has members and chapters around the world. For the 2016 survey, maximum respondents were from South Asia (67 per cent), followed by South-East Asia (17 per cent), East Asia and Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific Islands.

    To a lesser degree, Internet users were also following developments around cloud computing (46 per cent), e-commerce (44 per cent), big data (44 per cent), consumer protection (43 per cent), the Internet of Things (43 per cent), freedom of expression (40 per cent), online child protection (38 per cent), content filtering (37 per cent), censorship (36 per cent), and net neutrality (34 per cent).

    Internet access was of greater importance to specific sectors and sub-regions, particularly rural dwellers (69 per cent) and those living in the Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand (77 per cent).

    Respondents also opine that governments should have more people’s involvement in policy-making related to Internet. About 77 per cent of respondents say that they have not had an opportunity to participate in public consultations for government policy-making for the Internet in the past year. This figure was higher for those between 15 to 24 years old (85 per cent) and those in the private sector (84 per cent).

    Conversely, the proportion of those who have had the opportunity to participate was higher for those who identified with civil society (34 per cent) and those who live in Southeast Asia (33 per cent). The minority (23 per cent) who have had a chance to contribute to policymaking learned of these opportunities mainly through email (63 per cent). Other means included personal invitations (46 per cent), social media posts (40 per cent), government websites (26 per cent), media or press coverage (24 per cent), word of mouth (19 per cent), government press releases and advertisements (15 per cent).

    According to the IS survey, respondents accessed the Internet through various means: more than a quarter went online mainly through wireless or cellular (41 per cent) or through DSL (26 per cent) networks. The rest were using optical fibre (19 per cent), cable (12 per cent) or dial-up (2 per cent).

    Those who spend more than one-third of their income on Internet connectivity used cellular (28 per cent) more than any other means. By contrast only 6 per cent of senior citizen respondents used cellular connectivity. Women mainly used wireless Internet (43 per cent).

    Some 73 per cent of respondents also use the Internet for business purposes, the bulk (68 per cent) of which are between 25 to 44 years old. Business use was drastically lower among those who spend more than one-third of their income on Internet connectivity (51 per cent) and among rural dwellers (54 per cent).

    Those who spend more than one third of their income on Internet connectivity had mobile data as the primary mode of access available to them daily (74 per cent) with residential connection (67 per cent) and office Internet (49 per cent) trailing behind. A similar pattern is observed among rural residents. Perhaps, not surprisingly, mobile data is also the leading source of everyday access for respondents between 15 to 24 years old (78 per cent). There was a lower overall availability of private establishments with free Wi-Fi in rural areas. Southeast Asia, on the other hand, had a higher than average concentration of free Wi-Fi in cafes (67 per cent), restaurants (57 per cent), and shopping malls (54 per cent).

  • Online security top concern in Asia Pacific: Internet Society survey

    Online security top concern in Asia Pacific: Internet Society survey

    NEW DELHI: Online security is an area that warrants most urgent attention from policymakers, according to a recent Internet Society (IS) survey on Policy Issues in Asia Pacific.

    “As trust online has become a key issue for Internet users throughout Asia Pacific, it’s clear that people feel that current policies are not doing enough to protect their privacy and security online,” IS said in a statement from Singapore.

    The survey polled almost 2,000 end-users from across the region on their attitudes towards current Internet policy issues. Access is still the primary concern for stakeholders, but Internet security has become top of mind, replacing cloud computing as the second-most followed topic by respondents, as tracked by the annual study.

    Moreover, 58 per cent of respondents in the 2016 survey thought cybercrime needed to be addressed by governments, followed by connectivity (47 per cent), data protection (45 per cent) and privacy (44 per cent).

    As connectivity has improved over the past year –70 per cent stated that they had experienced better Internet speed and 55 per cent saw a drop in the cost of their Internet subscription — users are turning their focus to online trust.

    “The results of this year’s survey show that stakeholders in the region hold connectivity and security as paramount and feel these need urgent attention from governments,” Internet Society’s Regional Bureau Director for Asia-Pacific Rajnesh Singh was quoted in the official statement as saying.

    “As trust online has become a key issue for Internet users throughout Asia Pacific, it’s clear that people feel that current policies are not doing enough to protect their privacy and security online,” adds Singh.

    The elements of trust online are multi-faceted and are reflected in the survey’s findings. A large proportion of respondents cited data protection (77 per cent) as crucial for building confidence in the Internet. More than half also felt that consumer protection (54 per cent), transparency (51 per cent) and the ability to communicate confidentially (51 per cent) were more important than content, service, technology and applications (45 per cent).

    While many believed that policies regarding online security in their country were largely compatible with their human and civil rights, this view did not extend to privacy online. The survey reveals that 59 per cent of participants did not believe their privacy was protected online.

    Internet users were also doubtful about the impact of online security policies on their online activities. Over half indicated these policies have not increased their confidence in being able to use the Internet securely and only 34 per cent agreed that the current online security policies appropriately address the real threats and risks encountered online.

    The Internet Society is an independent source for global Internet information and thought leadership. It is also the organizational home for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and has members and chapters around the world. For the 2016 survey, maximum respondents were from South Asia (67 per cent), followed by South-East Asia (17 per cent), East Asia and Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific Islands.

    To a lesser degree, Internet users were also following developments around cloud computing (46 per cent), e-commerce (44 per cent), big data (44 per cent), consumer protection (43 per cent), the Internet of Things (43 per cent), freedom of expression (40 per cent), online child protection (38 per cent), content filtering (37 per cent), censorship (36 per cent), and net neutrality (34 per cent).

    Internet access was of greater importance to specific sectors and sub-regions, particularly rural dwellers (69 per cent) and those living in the Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand (77 per cent).

    Respondents also opine that governments should have more people’s involvement in policy-making related to Internet. About 77 per cent of respondents say that they have not had an opportunity to participate in public consultations for government policy-making for the Internet in the past year. This figure was higher for those between 15 to 24 years old (85 per cent) and those in the private sector (84 per cent).

    Conversely, the proportion of those who have had the opportunity to participate was higher for those who identified with civil society (34 per cent) and those who live in Southeast Asia (33 per cent). The minority (23 per cent) who have had a chance to contribute to policymaking learned of these opportunities mainly through email (63 per cent). Other means included personal invitations (46 per cent), social media posts (40 per cent), government websites (26 per cent), media or press coverage (24 per cent), word of mouth (19 per cent), government press releases and advertisements (15 per cent).

    According to the IS survey, respondents accessed the Internet through various means: more than a quarter went online mainly through wireless or cellular (41 per cent) or through DSL (26 per cent) networks. The rest were using optical fibre (19 per cent), cable (12 per cent) or dial-up (2 per cent).

    Those who spend more than one-third of their income on Internet connectivity used cellular (28 per cent) more than any other means. By contrast only 6 per cent of senior citizen respondents used cellular connectivity. Women mainly used wireless Internet (43 per cent).

    Some 73 per cent of respondents also use the Internet for business purposes, the bulk (68 per cent) of which are between 25 to 44 years old. Business use was drastically lower among those who spend more than one-third of their income on Internet connectivity (51 per cent) and among rural dwellers (54 per cent).

    Those who spend more than one third of their income on Internet connectivity had mobile data as the primary mode of access available to them daily (74 per cent) with residential connection (67 per cent) and office Internet (49 per cent) trailing behind. A similar pattern is observed among rural residents. Perhaps, not surprisingly, mobile data is also the leading source of everyday access for respondents between 15 to 24 years old (78 per cent). There was a lower overall availability of private establishments with free Wi-Fi in rural areas. Southeast Asia, on the other hand, had a higher than average concentration of free Wi-Fi in cafes (67 per cent), restaurants (57 per cent), and shopping malls (54 per cent).

  • India lucrative market for 4K UHD STBs: Grand View Research

    India lucrative market for 4K UHD STBs: Grand View Research

    MUMBAI: Here’s a view on the demand for 4K or ultra high definition (UHD) set-top boxes (STBs) in India.

    American research firm Grand View Research Inc has forecast in a new report that India is “poised to emerge as a lucrative market for UHD STBs with the country expected to witness a CAGR substantially higher than the regional (Asia Pacific) average. Several DTH operators such as Tata Sky, Videocon, and Airtel have launched UHD STBs and are attempting to achieve a higher rural penetration with affordable regional packages.”

    The report says that the APAC 4K STB market was valued at just over $50 million in 2015 and will witness a high growth over the next eight years with India leading the charge.

    The Grand View Research Inc analysis states that the global 4K STB market size is projected to reach $7.18 billion by 2024. The growing inclination of the global public towards UHD video viewing can be attributed as the major reason for the 4K STB market growth.

    The demand for media-rich home entertainment services among consumers is increasing and is anticipated to fuel market growth. The growth is further fostered by favourable government initiatives, large-scale digitization programs, and mandatory installation of set-top boxes. Improved standard of living owing to increased purchasing power is positively impacting the industry growth.

    The initiatives undertaken by the Federal Communications Commission for supporting third-party STB manufacturers is paving the way for the expansion of the Ultra High-Definition (UHD) STB industry. The market is anticipated to gain traction in Asia Pacific owing to the strong presence of low-cost set-top box manufacturers, especially in countries such as Korea, Taiwan, and China.

    The increasing penetration of 3D and 4K TVs and escalating demand for large screen displays are fuelling the demand for UHD STBs. Smart features such as STB operability through voice commands given by remote control unit (RCU) is garnering high potential. The computational capabilities of STBs in combination with the advent of quality standards to satiate growing customer expectations have culminated in the STB market growth.

    Further key findings suggest:

    Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) 4K STBs accounted for over 20 per cent of the market share in 2015 and are expected to witness considerable growth over the forecast period. Increasing broadband penetration can be attributed as the major reason for the rise in the market share of IPTV 4K Set-top Box devices.

    The IPTV STB product segment is projected to gain traction owing to benefits such as integration of TV, PC, home phone, and wireless devices offering a high quality of viewing experience to the end-users.

    Key industry participants include ZTE Corporation, SAGEMCOM, Arion Technology, Roku, and Infomir. Manufacturers are emphasizing on UHD STBs incorporated with interactive 4K content to gain a competitive edge in the industry.

    Technology giants such as Apple have managed to make their mark in this competitive industry. The Apple TV device aids the streaming of (Over-The-Top) OTT content and other videos over the internet. The launch of advanced OTT devices such as Google Chromecast media streaming device and Amazon’s Fire TV STBs have opened up new avenues in the industry

  • India lucrative market for 4K UHD STBs: Grand View Research

    India lucrative market for 4K UHD STBs: Grand View Research

    MUMBAI: Here’s a view on the demand for 4K or ultra high definition (UHD) set-top boxes (STBs) in India.

    American research firm Grand View Research Inc has forecast in a new report that India is “poised to emerge as a lucrative market for UHD STBs with the country expected to witness a CAGR substantially higher than the regional (Asia Pacific) average. Several DTH operators such as Tata Sky, Videocon, and Airtel have launched UHD STBs and are attempting to achieve a higher rural penetration with affordable regional packages.”

    The report says that the APAC 4K STB market was valued at just over $50 million in 2015 and will witness a high growth over the next eight years with India leading the charge.

    The Grand View Research Inc analysis states that the global 4K STB market size is projected to reach $7.18 billion by 2024. The growing inclination of the global public towards UHD video viewing can be attributed as the major reason for the 4K STB market growth.

    The demand for media-rich home entertainment services among consumers is increasing and is anticipated to fuel market growth. The growth is further fostered by favourable government initiatives, large-scale digitization programs, and mandatory installation of set-top boxes. Improved standard of living owing to increased purchasing power is positively impacting the industry growth.

    The initiatives undertaken by the Federal Communications Commission for supporting third-party STB manufacturers is paving the way for the expansion of the Ultra High-Definition (UHD) STB industry. The market is anticipated to gain traction in Asia Pacific owing to the strong presence of low-cost set-top box manufacturers, especially in countries such as Korea, Taiwan, and China.

    The increasing penetration of 3D and 4K TVs and escalating demand for large screen displays are fuelling the demand for UHD STBs. Smart features such as STB operability through voice commands given by remote control unit (RCU) is garnering high potential. The computational capabilities of STBs in combination with the advent of quality standards to satiate growing customer expectations have culminated in the STB market growth.

    Further key findings suggest:

    Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) 4K STBs accounted for over 20 per cent of the market share in 2015 and are expected to witness considerable growth over the forecast period. Increasing broadband penetration can be attributed as the major reason for the rise in the market share of IPTV 4K Set-top Box devices.

    The IPTV STB product segment is projected to gain traction owing to benefits such as integration of TV, PC, home phone, and wireless devices offering a high quality of viewing experience to the end-users.

    Key industry participants include ZTE Corporation, SAGEMCOM, Arion Technology, Roku, and Infomir. Manufacturers are emphasizing on UHD STBs incorporated with interactive 4K content to gain a competitive edge in the industry.

    Technology giants such as Apple have managed to make their mark in this competitive industry. The Apple TV device aids the streaming of (Over-The-Top) OTT content and other videos over the internet. The launch of advanced OTT devices such as Google Chromecast media streaming device and Amazon’s Fire TV STBs have opened up new avenues in the industry

  • Regional market contributes 12 per cent to Cartoon Network Enterprises

    Regional market contributes 12 per cent to Cartoon Network Enterprises

    MUMBAI: It was a big deal for a 90s kid from non-metro India to get hands on a Batman or Superman figurine. A Justice League T-shirt would have bowled them over because authentic merchandise shopping was a ‘city’ thing, for the sheer lack of access. Hence, counterfeits thrived.

    Since then, the merchandising industry in the country has come a long way given that consumers can now access their favourite character-driven consumer products at the click of a button online, sitting at home. As Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) director Anand Singh rightly pointed out, e-commerce has helped Cartoon Network expand the licensing and merchandising business to the regional and Tier I and Tier II markets as well.

    CNE is the licensing and merchandising arm of Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific.

    “Earlier, there was a restriction of location, one could have limited inventory per character, pilferage and cost of carrying inventory, and promoter cost added to very high overheads, which made the business difficult. But, e-commerce has revolutionised the process, by adding another distribution channel. The cash-on-delivery proposition has allowed the assortment of products to be exposed to potential consumers in newer markets,” Singh informed.

    Singh shared that 30 per cent of the business done by CNE comes from e-commerce with double-digital growth rate. The merchandising and licensing division itself has grown three times since 2014, thereby identifying e-commerce as one of the key growth drivers.

    Close to 12 per cent of CNE’s business currently comes from the emerging regional markets, including a significant chunk from the north-eastern states.

    “We have recently tied up with a brand called Dukes from Hyderabad.
    There is a company called Kishna Snacks from Guwahati which has done amazing work with the promotional license for Batman Vs Superman, and Tom and Jerry,” Singh said.

    While ease of access through online shopping has been a major boon to the business made in regional markets, it’s the willingness of local and regional brands that have augmented growth. The country’s new-found love for Hollywood superhero movies can be credited for this acceptability.

    And, since CNE also represents the Warner Brothers Consumer Products IP portfolio for south Asian markets, its proposition for the regional markets has only increased. The portfolio includes hit favourites like Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, Superheroes from the DC portfolio such as Batman, Superman, Flash, along with various WB movie franchises such as Harry Potter series and TV shows such as F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and Big Bang Theory, etc.

    “We see a lot of interest from the regional FMCG and food and beverage players. It all comes down to the resonance with these classical franchises. Brands have come to realise that buying licenses to these properties is not as expensive as they thought it was. There was a general assumption in those markets that being regional players it would be too much to go after global franchises. But, that mindset is changing and more and more regional players are opening up to the idea,” he said.

    According to industry guesstimates, currently, licensed merchandised market for character IPs or franchises for kids stands at Rs 5000 crore, growing from Rs 3500 crore, last year. Without sharing any figure, Singh asserted that, though CNE may not add huge numbers to the network’s top line, it’s a highly profitable business.

    In 2012, Cartoon Network Enterprises was expecting a turnover of Rs.1,650 crore in the next three years as against a Rs.850 crore turnover previously, according to media reports (source:
    licensing.org)

    Of the major 500 licensees, CNE handles close to 135 across India and south Asian markets with more than 5000 SKUs on retail across mass distribution, modern trade and e-commerce. Currently, CNE South Asia looks after the territories of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, which will be added later this year.

    CNE’s most recent tie-ups include strategic partnerships with Myntra for apparel and fashion accessories and a DTR (direct to retail) deal with Future Group across product categories.