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  • Credit Suisse sees huge opportunities for Hollywood in Bollywood

    Credit Suisse sees huge opportunities for Hollywood in Bollywood

    NEW DELHI: Despite ‘striking’ lack of infrastructure, India is one of the four BRIC countries that Credit Suisse believes has significant revenue and profit opportunity for global media companies over the near to intermediate term. The other three countries are Brazil, China and Russia.

    The report, “Indian Media: Opportunities for Hollywood in Bollywood”, says News Corp, Disney and Sony are best positioned among the biggest global media companies to capitalise on opportunities in India. This is due in part to their existing operations and in the case of Disney also due to recent acquisitions. This list could expand significantly, and Viacom, Time Warner and Discovery are already on the ground.

    The report says each of the four “emerging growth” markets may hold significant long term opportunity for global media but we believe that the opportunities to distribute content and leverage a traditional advertising and subscription revenue model are now in place in India.

    It is poised to continue rapid growth for several years as the multi channel TV business is evolving toward a digital platform that will expand the market as well as the ability for content providers to actually get paid.”We expect most if not all of the major media companies to establish ‘play on India’ at some point, says the report filed by Credit Suisse Global Media analysts William Drewary, Jolanta Masojada and Ashish Gupta.

    Cable networks, syndicated TV shows and film production as well as Internet and mobile content will be the main products sold into India – many of these businesses are already established, the reports adds.

    “There is a large local media infrastructure in the country as well, with many publicly traded companies – though market cap size is a fraction of the US based companies. We would expect consolidation opportunities in country for the global media companies and Disney has been active in this regard lately” says the trio.

    But there is a slight disturbing note. “The lack of physical infrastructure in India is striking – a fact noted by any we met as an impediment of sorts to building businesses in the country.

    “Rather than a conclusion, this is an issue that will evolve over time, and the entrepreneurial spirit and democratic/capitalist society should eventually override the physical infrastructure limitations. We believe there are major opportunities emerging in India and hope this report will help to highlight that.”

  • MIH Group forays into Indian internet and digital space

    MIH Group forays into Indian internet and digital space

    MUMBAI: MIH, part of the multinational media group Naspers Limited, is making a foray into the Indian internet and digital space.

    “MIH plans to develop internet and mobile applications for the growing online Indian market. India is an attractive market, which is forecast to show strong economic growth going forward. Internet penetration which is currently only at 4.5 per cent is expected to grow rapidly over the next five to ten years offering many opportunities in online communication. MIH seeks to capitalise on these opportunities in the long run by building strong online communication platforms. MIH Internet’s first office will be based in Gurgaon, Haryana,” said spokesperson for MIH Internet (India) Craig White.

    MIH operates pay television and internet subscriber platforms and related technologies in over 50 countries. Its significant operations are located in South Africa, elsewhere in Africa, Brazil, China, Thailand, The Netherlands, Greece and Cyprus. Given the huge growth in the internet and mobile VAS space in India, the group is now planning investments here.

    The group would be launching a range of innovative applications in the Indian internet and mobile space. Its aim is to create a personal reference world of entertainment and information, which can be accessed wherever you are, whenever you want.

    MIH creates media content, builds brand names around it, and manages the platforms distributing the content. The content is delivered in a variety of forms and through a variety of channels, including television platforms and internet services.

    With a view to expand offices across the nation, the group plans to set up its first office in Gurgaon and hire talent for various functions ranging from engineering, R&D, technology, creative, marketing, sales, support etc.

    The MIH group is exploring media opportunities in emerging markets where strong economic growth is expected. Within emerging markets the specific focus is on the BRICSA countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.

    In China, the group has an investment in the pioneer instant messaging platform, Tencent, which is a developer and operator of innovative real-time communication and online entertainment technologies and services. Tencent’s instant messaging product, QQ, processes more than three billion messages every day and is one of the top 10 portals globally.

  • Fifa World Cup final generates viewership of 313 million: ZenithOptimedia

    Fifa World Cup final generates viewership of 313 million: ZenithOptimedia

    MUMBAI: According to ZenithOptimedia, the Fifa World Cup final between France and Italy on 9 July generated a television viewership of 313 million viewers across 56 countries. The largest audience came from China, where viewership peaked at 71.5 million, followed by Brazil, Germany, Vietnam, Indonesia, France, Russia, the U.K., Japan and Italy.

    As per the study, Germany recorded an average match viewership of 11.8 million. The cumulative audience was 658 million, a 141-per cent increase on the 2002 World Cup. Germany’s 2-0 loss to Italy in the semi-finals was watched live by 29.7 million viewers in the host nation.

    The study revealed that four Asian nations (China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan) ranked in the top ten for audience totals. They accounted for 49 per cent of viewing among the top eleven. Japan recorded a 64-per cent fall compared to 2002 audience levels. In China, the cumulative audience fell 58 per cent compared to 2002, when the matches were broadcast in prime time and China had qualified for the World Cup for the first time.

    Viewership in the U.S. peaked at just 9.4 million, but the cumulative audience of 235 million was 48-percent up on 2002 and 55-percent up on 1998. This was largely the result of Univision, whose broadcast of the Argentina versus Mexico match was the most-viewed sports broadcast in the history of U.S. Spanish-language television, with 6.7 million viewers, as per the data.

    In the U.K., the BBC attracted 53 per cent of the cumulative audience, but ITV broadcast the highest-rated match: the 2-2 draw between England and Sweden, which generated an audience of 18.8 million. The BBC’s best audience was 16.3 million for the match between England and Ecuador.

    Largest World Cup television audiences in millions (2006):

    Cumulative audience/Highest audience:

    China 1,820 / 71.5

    Brazil 1,140 / 60.5

    Germany 658 / 29.7

    Vietnam 650 / 29.8

    Indonesia 589 / 23.5

    France 388 / 22.2

    Russia 369 / 12.9

    U.K. 362 / 18.8

    Japan 289 / 42.3

    Italy 278 / 23.9

    ZenithOptimedia’s specialist consultancy agency Sponsorship Intelligence (SI) is the official provider of 2006 Fifa World Cup audiences figures to both Fifa and its TV agency, Infront.

  • Yahoo! & Microsoft to merge online chat services

    Yahoo! & Microsoft to merge online chat services

    MUMBAI: In a significant development that the web business space witnessed, Yahoo! and Microsoft announced limited public beta testing of interoperability between their instant messaging (IM) services.

    This would enable users of Windows Live Messenger, the Next Generation MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger with Voice to connect with each other.

    To be made available to their consumers in the coming months, this interoperability between the two global consumer IM providers is expected to form the world’s largest consumer IM community, approaching 350 million accounts, informs an official release.

    Consumers worldwide from Microsoft and Yahoo! will be able to join the limited public beta program and exchange instant messages across the free services, see their friends’ online presence, view personal status messages, share select emoticons, view offline messages and add new contacts from either service at no cost.

    The new beta program will be rolled out in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada (English and French), China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK and US (English and Spanish).

    Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger with voice users in the US and more than 15 international markets can register to participate in the IM interoperability beta by visiting Yahoo! at http://messenger.yahoo.com or Microsoft at http://ideas.live.com, adds the release.

    Microsoft’s Windows Live Platform corporate vice president Blake Irving comments about the landmark agreement, “This first-of-its-kind interoperability between consumer IM leaders Microsoft and Yahoo! gives our customers tremendous control, convenience and freedom in their Web communication experiences with Windows Live. We’re proud to deliver this latest advancement in IM services that empower people to communicate with virtually whomever they want, wherever they want and whenever they want.”

    “Interoperability between IM services has consistently topped our users’ wish lists, and through the collaborative efforts between Yahoo! and Microsoft we are delighted to provide our combined global users with the ultimate IM experience. A new era for staying connected with friends and family is here, and the bridge between Yahoo!’s and Microsoft’s IM communities is bringing people around the world closer together,” adds Yahoo! Communications, Community and Front Doors senior VP Brad Garlinghouse.

  • Brazil stays soccer World Cup favourites on sports betting site

    Brazil stays soccer World Cup favourites on sports betting site

    MUMBAI: Now that the month-long soccer World Cup has reached the quarterfinal stage, only eight of 32 teams remain in contention for the trophy. World Cup favourites Brazil remains the bookmaker’s pick to win their sixth world championship at 5/2 odds.

    With the hopes of fans pinned on their national teams PinnacleSports.com, which claims to be the internet’s largest sports betting site, has announced updated odds on the eight
    remaining teams capturing soccer’s biggest prize.

    After a thrilling overtime victory over Mexico, PinnacleSports.com lists Argentina at 9/2 odds to become World Cup champions along with host-country Germany, who will face Argentina in the first quarterfinal match Friday.

    Meanwhile, Italy stands at 13/2 to capture their fourth World Cup following their controversial penalty-kick win over Australia.

    Despite uninspired play in both the Group stage and versus Ecuador, England currently stands at 7/1 to end the country’s 40-year World Cup drought. Meanwhile, PinnacleSports.com lists France (11/1), Portugal (14/1) and Ukraine (55/1) as long shots to emerge as world champions.

    PinnacleSports.com’s Simon Noble says, “Entering the tournament, Brazil was known for its explosive goal scoring ability, but after only allowing one goal in World Cup play, they appear to be equally skilled on the defensive end. Argentina has become a trendy World Cup pick with experts and bettors, but the young Argentineans next face the grueling task of playing the Germans in front of a hostile Berlin crowd. Although they advanced thanks to a controversial foul call in extra time, Italy, with their exceptional defense led by Buffon in goal, cannot be overlooked for the remainder of the tournament.”

    PinnacleSports.com is offering online betting options with limits of up to $50,000. For each match, Pinnacle Sports will offer three-way betting, low-margin Asian handicaps.

  • Phillips, Yahoo survey reveals the passion of soccer fans

    Phillips, Yahoo survey reveals the passion of soccer fans

    MUMBAI: With the football World Cup gaining momentum in Germany Fifa partners Philips and Yahoo! conducted an Ultimate Football Fan Survey.

    The aim was to gain more insight into how fans enjoy and celebrate the game. The results include more than 4,500 respondents from nine countries, including World Cup hopefuls such as Brazil, Germany and The Netherlands, all of whom provided their feelings and perspective on a variety of topics ranging from what they would give up for a ticket to the Fifa World Cup to which team will triumph as the champion.

    What makes a great football fan? According to the survey, 44 per cent of respondents in Argentina and 41 per cent of respondents in the U.K. said that a true football fan is someone who will support his or her favorite team even during a losing season. Other markets differ in their view of what makes a football fan a fanatic, including 23 per cent of Brazilian respondents who will watch every game of the season and almost 24 per cent of Italian respondents who said that they will paint their body in national colors to gear up for the matches.

    The survey also probed into what fans would do for a ticket to the final, including selling their car or even giving up well-deserved vacation. Adding to the fervor, an average of 15 per cent of the global respondents claim to watch more than 31 hours of football a month, with 30 per cent of the fans in Argentina responding that they think about the World Cup ‘every waking moment’ when not watching the games.

    Football and technology: A true match both on and off the field

    With many fans dreaming of attending this high-profile sporting event in person, the majority of sports enthusiasts watch from the comfort of the couch. An average of 89 per cent of survey participants stated that they typically watch a football match at home versus an average of only 25 per cent who will attend the games in person.

    For the fans at home, Philips provides home entertainment products to ensure they are immersed in the game. More than 45 per cent of respondents in Argentina, Brazil, the U.K. and Spain agree that a new Flat TV would create the perfect World Cup M home viewing experience.

    35 per cent of fans in Mexico think that a DVD Recorder with Hard Disk would enhance the experience. Providing a colorful element to the entertainment experience, Philips’ says that its Ambilight FlatTVs are ideal for sports aficionados and design-discerning individuals alike. Philips’ Ambilight sets create a better perceived image and expand the viewing area to ensure fans catch all of the action on the field.

    Although there is a certain thrill to attending the game in person, sports enthusiasts believe watching the World Cup at home certainly has its advantages. 57 per cent of survey participants believe they are in a better position to make an important judgment call in front of their television versus a referee on the field.

    A true football fan will always remember those great moments of the game that make the World Cup an exciting and dramatic international sporting event in the world. The great moments are more than a memory to many fans thanks to some of the technology that has changed the game of football. More than 50 per cent of global survey respondents said that instant replay is the technology that has most influenced the game of football.

    When asked which team will be the most feared nearly 70 per cent of the survey respondents named Brazil, which was also named by more than half of the survey respondents as the clear favorite to win the World Cup. The rest of the world will also have their eyes set on the Brazilian team with 64 per cent of respondents outside of Brazil watching this exciting team during the World Cup.

    With Brazilian football star Ronaldinho, who was selected by nearly 62 per cent of the global respondents as the best player in the world today, it’s no surprise that Brazil is the clear favorite to win the World Cup.

    According to the survey, an average of 46 per cent of the global respondents believe that Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in Mexico in 1986 was the greatest World Cup moment, while 26 per cent of the global respondents feel that Geoff Hurst’s hattrick was the best highlight in World Cup history.

    Keeping up with the FIFA World Cup™ away from home

    According to the survey, nearly 70 per cent of all respondents will follow their team’s progress on the Internet while away from the television; yet new technology allows fans to turn up their FIFA World Cup™ experience a notch further, even while at work or away from the computer.

    With time zones and work schedules posing a problem for the action, Philips DVD Recorders with Hard Disk enable sports enthusiasts around the world to control the game on their own terms, and never miss any of the action. Phillips says that its DVD Recorder with Hard Disk is the ultimate game and memory preserver, enabling users to record the game directly onto a DVD or preserve it on the unit’s hard disk drive.

    This survey was commissioned by Philips and fielded to more than 4,500 respondents throughout Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, The U.K., Germany, Italy, France, Spain and The Netherlands via the Yahoo! global network. The survey focussed on both male and female respondents over the age of 18 with at least one television in their home.

  • Amrita TV lines up Fifa World Cup specials

    Amrita TV lines up Fifa World Cup specials

    MUMBAI: With the countdown to the 2006 Fifa World Cup fast approaching, Amrita Television, is now running a Fifa segment in its news bulletins.

    For a duration of about six minutes, the World Cup tele-clip will include, a history of World Cup, team profiles and a general item on the warm-up matches.

    A reciepient of 15 Kerala State TV Awards, Amrita TV in preparation for the big sporting event, has already profiled participating teams including Brazil, Argentina, England, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Holland and Portugal. 

    The channels coverage of the World Cup will also feature famous personalities and celebrities selecting their favourite team, accompanying reasons for that selection.

    With the commence of the World Cup on 9 June, Amrita TV plans to invite guests on the breakfast show to analyse the game, telecast the Goal of the Day, with pop-ups on the sidelights of the day’s game. Another segment includes, Players to Watch.

    In addition, Amrita TV has also published a leaflet containing the match schedule for the World Cup, along with additional attractions on the Channel. It has been distributed free of cost, across various centres, informs an official release.

  • Fremantle beefs up ancillary rights operations in Latin America, Spanish speaking USA

    Fremantle beefs up ancillary rights operations in Latin America, Spanish speaking USA

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW) has appointed Jack Alfandary as vice president licensing and new business development.

    In this newly created position, Alfandary will be responsible for overseeing sponsorship, licensing and digital activity throughout Latin America and Spanish speaking USA for key FremantleMedia brands such as American Idol, The Apprentice, The Price Is Right and the upcoming Latin American and Brazilian local versions of the Idols format, Latin American Idol and Idolos Brazil respectively.

    Additionally, he will manage the company’s new business development initiatives in South and Latin America. Alfandary will be based in Miami and will report to Fremantle Productions Latin America managing director Latin America and Spanish speaking USA Carlos Gonzalez and FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas executive vice president Olivier Gers.

    Gonzalez said, “We are really excited to be launching Latin American Idol and Idolos Brazil in the region. The Idols format has been extremely popular with audiences around the world and Jack will be instrumental in ensuring the success of both local versions on and off-air. Jack will be invaluable to the Latin American operation and we’re pleased to welcome him to the team.”

    Gers added, “Latin America and Spanish speaking USA are increasingly important ancillary rights markets for us and Jack’s appointment is indicative of how seriously we view the region. We are really exited to have Jack on board and we are confident that, with his wealth of talent and experience, he will be a great asset to the team and really help further strengthen FremantleMedia’s position as one of the leading licensors and innovators in the Americas.”

    Alfandary joined FremantleMedia in January 2004 as a consultant. Prior to this, he was BMG senior director strategic marketing and business development. There he was responsible for the overall leadership of strategic marketing activities in Latin America and Spanish speaking USA including strategic alliances, new business development, partnership marketing, licensing, media buying and planning, advertising and promotions, catalogue and online marketing and new technology.