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  • With Star India, Disney emerges as India’s largest M&E firm

    With Star India, Disney emerges as India’s largest M&E firm

    MUMBAI: Unlike the US, where the merger of The Walt Disney Co and 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets is between two near equals, the scenario in India is totally different. 21st Century Fox’s India venture Star India is a $1.7 billion dollar media and entertainment behemoth while Disney India is a minnow with just about $150 or so million in sales, including its theatrical releases, TV businesses, and merchandising and licensing of the Disney characters and brands.

    For long, the mouse house has struggled to attain scale in India, like it has done in China with its $100 million box office theatrical releases and successful Shanghai Disneyland but it has not attained the success it would have wanted.

    Acquiring Ronnie Screwvala’s UTV half a decade ago gave Disney four channels—Bindaas, Hungama TV, UTV Action and UTV Movies, apart from a film production studio which it shuttered last year despite having
    a huge hit in the Aamir Khan starrer Dangal.  Other channels in its portfolio include Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney Channel HD, and Disney Junior HD.

    The acquisition of Star India with its 61 channels, stakes in DTH operator Tata Sky, VOD service Hotstar, and in-film production and distribution has in one fell swoop catapulted it to the number one media and entertainment company status in India.

    However, it’s most likely that Star India chairman & CEO Uday Shankar will be given the mandate to steer and drive the enthusiastic young and new management team in Disney India, in synergy with Star India.  Shankar has been focused on regional language entertainment channel expansion, sports and Hotstar at the powerful media firm–a portfolio he has grown since he took over in 2007.

    Disney India is run by Abhishek Maheshwari–who was elevated to that position recently–following the promotion of Mahesh Samat as executive VP & managing director for South Asia.  How Shankar will manage the operations and whether he will restructure the management there will become clearer over the next few months.

    Star India has lacked kids channels in its portfolio; the addition of the Disney channels will help complete that. 

    Its Hotstar service has the most complete international portfolio and has had exclusive access to fresh Disney content, shows from HBO, Fox, CBS, and Showtime. And with it, Disney India will get more than 70 odd million active users consuming a multiple billion minutes a month of content.  

    “It is going to be an unrivalled media and entertainment powerhouse,” says a media observer. “All other media companies pale in comparison in the country.”

    The Tata Sky stake immediately brings into the Disney fold a satellite TV distribution platform making it a first for the company. UK satellite TV distributor Sky will most likely be the second one if the Murdochs’ bid for it in the UK gets the go-ahead from local authorities in time. 

    Of course, the arrangement in India will give Disney access to the world’s most valued cricket league, the IPL, for which Star India bid aggressively this year–some say too much. Then there are other sports activities that it automatically gets, like the leagues for kabaddi, football, hockey, and badminton. But being a part of Disney will aid its larger partner, too; it will have the facility to dip into the former’s massive cash trove to aid Shankar’s aggressive growth and entrepreneurial urge whether on video-streaming expansion or in sports.

    Interesting times are clearly on hand for the media and entertainment business in India.

    Also read:

    Comment: The rise and rise of Uday Shankar

    Disney to buy 21st Century Fox assets for $52.4 billion

    Disney expected to announce 21 CF buyout tomorrow: media reports

    Now, Comcast in talks to buy 21st Century Fox

  • Disney to buy 21st Century Fox assets for $52.4 billion

    Disney to buy 21st Century Fox assets for $52.4 billion

    MUMBAI: It’s a deal that boggles the mind in terms of its scale.  The Mouse House has snared the Fox. After weeks of speculation, the Walt Disney Company and Twenty First Century Fox today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Disney to acquire 21st Century Fox, including the Twentieth Century Fox film and television studios, along with cable and international TV businesses. The price: a much lower than expected and  speculated $52.4 billion in stock (subject to adjustment).  

    The acquisition, says a jointly issued press release, will allow Disney to create more appealing content, build more direct relationships with consumers around the world and deliver a more compelling entertainment experience to consumers wherever and however they choose.

    For the acquisition to happen, 21st Century Fox will immediately have to separate the Fox Broadcasting network and stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FS1, FS2 and Big Ten Network into a newly listed company that will be spun off to its shareholders.

    Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of 21st Century Fox will receive 0.2745 Disney shares for each 21st Century Fox share they hold (subject to adjustment for certain tax liabilities).

    The exchange ratio was set based on a 30-day volume weighted average price of Disney stock. Disney will also assume approximately $13.7 billion of net debt of 21st Century Fox.

    The acquisition price implies a total equity value of approximately $52.4 billion and a total transaction value of approximately $66.1 billion (in each case based on the stated exchange ratio assuming no adjustment) for the business to be acquired by Disney, which includes consolidated assets along with a number of equity investments.

    Combining with Disney are 21st Century Fox’s critically acclaimed film production businesses, including Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Fox 2000, which together offer diverse and compelling storytelling businesses and are the homes of Avatar, X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool, as well as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Hidden Figures, Gone Girl, The Shape of Water and The Martian—and its storied television creative units, Twentieth Century Fox Television, FX Productions and Fox21, which have brought The Americans, This Is Us, Modern Family, The Simpsons and so many more hit TV series to viewers across the globe. Disney will also acquire FX Networks, National Geographic Partners, Fox Sports Regional Networks, Fox Networks Group International, Star India and Fox’s interests in Hulu, Sky plc, Tata Sky and Endemol Shine Group. 

    “The acquisition of this stellar collection of businesses from 21st Century Fox reflects the increasing consumer demand for a rich diversity of entertainment experiences that are more compelling, accessible and convenient than ever before,” said The Walt Disney CO chairman & CEO  Bob A. Iger. “We’re honored and grateful that Rupert Murdoch has entrusted us with the future of businesses he spent a lifetime building, and we’re excited about this extraordinary opportunity to significantly increase our portfolio of well-loved franchises and branded content to greatly enhance our growing direct-to-consumer offerings. The deal will also substantially expand our international reach, allowing us to offer world-class storytelling and innovative distribution platforms to more consumers in key markets around the world.”

    “We are extremely proud of all that we have built at 21st Century Fox, and I firmly believe that this combination with Disney will unlock even more value for shareholders as the new Disney continues to set the pace in what is an exciting and dynamic industry,” said 21 st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch. “Furthermore, I’m convinced that this combination, under Bob Iger’s leadership, will be one of the greatest companies in the world. I’m grateful and encouraged that Bob has agreed to stay on, and is committed to succeeding with a combined team that is second to none.”

    At the request of both 21st Century Fox and the Disney board of directors,  Iger has agreed to continue in his position at  The Walt Disney Company through the end of calendar year 2021.

    “When considering this strategic acquisition, it was important to the Board that Bob remain as chairman &  CEO through 2021 to provide the vision and proven leadership required to successfully complete and integrate such a massive, complex undertaking,” said Disney lead independent director Orin C. Smith.  “We share the belief of our counterparts at 21st Century Fox that extending his tenure is in the best interests of our company and our shareholders, and will be critical to Disney’s ability to effectively drive long-term value from this extraordinary acquisition.”

    The acquisition will enable Disney to accelerate its use of innovative technologies, including its BAMTECH platform, to create more ways for its storytellers to entertain and connect directly with audiences while providing more choices for how they consume content. The complementary offerings of each company enhance Disney’s development of films, television programming and related products to provide consumers with a more enjoyable and immersive entertainment experience.

    Bringing on board 21st Century Fox’s entertainment content and capabilities, along with its broad international footprint and a world-class team of managers and storytellers, will allow Disney to further its efforts to provide a more compelling entertainment experience through its direct-to-consumer (DTC) offerings. This transaction will enable Disney’s recently announced Disney and ESPN-branded DTC offerings, as well as Hulu, to create more appealing and engaging experiences, delivering content, entertainment and sports to consumers around the world wherever and however they want to enjoy it.

    The agreement also provides Disney with the opportunity to reunite the X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool with the Marvel family under one roof and create richer, more complex worlds of inter-related characters and stories that audiences have shown they love. The addition of Avatar to its family of films also promises expanded opportunities for consumers to watch and experience storytelling within these extraordinary fantasy worlds. Already, guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort can experience the magic of Pandora—The World of Avatar, a new land inspired by the Fox film franchise that opened earlier this year. And through the incredible storytelling of National Geographic—whose mission is to explore and protect our planet and inspire new generations through education initiatives and resources—Disney will be able to offer more ways than ever before to bring kids and families the world and all that is in it.

    Adding 21st Century Fox’s premier international properties enhances Disney’s position as a truly global entertainment company with authentic local production and consumer services across high-growth regions, including a richer array of local, national and global sporting events that ESPN can make available to fans around the world. The transaction boosts Disney’s international revenue mix and exposure.

    Disney’s international reach would greatly expand through the addition of Sky, which serves nearly 23 million households in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy; Fox Networks International, with more than 350 channels in 170 countries; and Star India, which operates 69 channels reaching 720 million viewers a month across India and more than 100 other countries.

    Prior to the close of the transaction, it is anticipated that 21st Century Fox will seek to complete its planned acquisition of the 61 per cent of Sky it doesn’t already own. Sky is one of Europe’s most successful pay television and creative enterprises with innovative and high-quality direct-to-consumer platforms, resonant brands and a strong and respected leadership team. 21st Century Fox remains fully committed to completing the current Sky offer and anticipates that, subject to the necessary regulatory consents, the transaction will close by June 30, 2018. Assuming 21st Century Fox completes its acquisition of Sky prior to closing of the transaction, The Walt Disney Company would assume full ownership of Sky, including the assumption of its outstanding debt, upon closing.

    The acquisition is expected to yield at least $2 billion in cost savings from efficiencies realized through the combination of businesses, and to be accretive to earnings before the impact of purchase accounting for the second fiscal year after the close of the transaction.  

    The terms of the transaction call for Disney to issue approximately 515 million new shares to 21st Century Fox shareholders, representing approximately a 25% stake in Disney on a pro forma basis. The per share consideration is subject to adjustment for certain tax liabilities arising from the spinoff and other transactions related to the acquisition. The initial exchange ratio of 0.2745 Disney shares for each 21st Century Fox share was set based on an estimate of such tax liabilities to be covered by an $8.5 billion cash dividend to 21st Century Fox from the company to be spun off. The exchange ratio will be adjusted immediately prior to closing of the acquisition based on an updated estimate of such tax liabilities. Such adjustment could increase or decrease the exchange ratio, depending upon whether the final estimate is lower or higher, respectively, than the initial estimate. However, if the final estimate of the tax liabilities is lower than the initial estimate, the first $2 billion of that adjustment will instead be made by net reduction in the amount of the cash dividend to 21st Century Fox from the company to be spun off. The amount of such tax liabilities will depend upon several factors, including tax rates in effect at the time of closing as well as the value of the company to be spun off.

    The boards of the two companies  have approved the transaction, which is subject to shareholder approval by 21st Century Fox and Disney shareholders, clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, a number of other non-United States merger and other regulatory reviews, and other customary closing conditions.

    Also read:

    Disney expected to announce 21 CF buyout tomorrow: media reports

    Comment: The rise and rise of Uday Shankar

  • Disney expected to announce 21 CF buyout tomorrow: media reports

    Disney expected to announce 21 CF buyout tomorrow: media reports

    MUMBAI: The Mouse House is closing in on the Fox.  Media reports have emerged that Disney’s bid to acquire the Murdoch-owned 21st Century Fox (21 CF Fox) group’s entertainment assets is near closure. The price being talked about is anywhere between $60 billion and $68 billion and an announcement is expected by tomorrow–Thursday, the media reports say.

    The deal being worked out will see Disney pocketing 20th Century Fox movie and television studios; 22 regional cable networks dedicated to sports; Fox’s stake in the Hulu streaming service; cable networks such as FX and National Geographic; and a stake in UK-based satellite TV major Sky and the Indian operations of its Asian jewel Star India, which is expected to have an EBITDA of $1 billion by 2020. Star India alone had been valued at between $14 billion in 2016 by local brokerage house Edelweiss.

    Since then, Star India has acquired the rights to the BCCI’s prized T-20 cricket league- the Indian Premier League (IPL)-for the next five years as well as expanded its bouquet of channels in regional languages and launched free-to-air channel Star Bharat along with a slew of other new initiatives. This apart, its OTT platform, Hotstar, has also scaled up in customer base, apart from making test launches in Canada and the US with local product and paid pricing.

    “The valuation has most likely moved further northward. We estimate it to be around $20 billion or more now,” says an investment analyst, refusing to be identified. Newspaper reports have, however, put a price of around $13.7 billion dollars on Fox Networks Group International cable channels – which includes Star India, channels in Brazil, Mexico and other Latin American nations, which probably means the Indian bouquets valuation could be in the $10 billion range.

    Acquiring Star India will give Disney the much needed scale in one of the more promising markets in the world. It acquired local niche broadcast-cum-film and TV production network UTV in 2012 and has a healthy licensing and merchandising business in India but it would surely like more. The Star India acquisition-when it goes through-will give Disney all that and plenty more.

    Industry observers have been a little puzzled by the sudden decision by the Murdochs to exit entertainment and just continue to control the relatively smaller and leaner Fox broadcast network, Fox News and Fox Sports.

    “The acquisition-if it does happen-will lead to seismic changes in the media and entertainment world globally,” says a media commentator. “It heralds an era wherein the only thing that is certain is the uncertainty that has become the hallmark of the entertainment economy. Today’s media giants can become tomorrow’s minnows, thanks to the changes in the way consumers are consuming entertainment and technological leaps. Apple, the telcos and the FANGs look set to become the leaders tomorrow.”

    Also Read:  Comment: The rise and rise of Uday Shankar

    James Murdoch could be next Disney CEO: FT

     

     

  • James Murdoch could be next Disney CEO: FT

    James Murdoch could be next Disney CEO: FT

    MUMBAI: Fox boss James Murdoch, according to a report by the Financial Times, is being considered as a potential successor to Walt Disney chief executive Bob Iger if the two companies reach agreement on a possible takeover.

    Disney began holding on-and-off discussions to take over some of Fox’s major assets last month. The sale would include Fox’s movie studio, cable channels and international units–Sky and Star India. It could be worth more than $60 billion and would reshape the global media landscape.

    According to the FT, Rupert Murdoch and his younger son, James, could take senior roles at a combined company if a deal is struck. Igeris due to retire in 2019 and James Murdoch, currently chief executive of 21st Century Fox and chairman of the satellite broadcaster Sky, is a possible successor.

    Comcast, the US’s largest cable operator and owner of NBC Universal, the TV network and movie studio company, is also reported to be assessing a bid, as is Verizon, the largest US telecoms group. Other reports that have come in state that even Japanese major Sony has also evinced interest. While CNBC reported that a deal could fructify next week, a Reuters report stated that no one is in  a hurry to strike a deal and that regulatory clearances will take their own due course.

    Neither company was immediately available for comment. “No promises have been made,” one person briefed on the talks told The FT.

    According to the FT, the Murdochs favour a deal with Disney as they believe it poses the lowest regulatory risk.

     

    Rendez-vous with James Murdoch at MIPCOM 2014

    James Murdoch bets big on Star India; expects $1 billion EBIDTA  by 2020

    Rupert and James Murdoch to host PM Narendra Modi in New York

  • Disney, Pixar’s John Lasseter accused of misconduct, takes leave

    Disney, Pixar’s John Lasseter accused of misconduct, takes leave

    MUMBAI: Now it’s the turn of Pixar cofounder and Disney chief creative officer John Lasseter to lose his halo. The animation legend has apparently taken a leave of absence from the company following alleged misconduct and missteps. The leave is expected to be for six months.

    A number of reports appearing in the US media have Pixar employees over the years alleging that Lasseter hugged them or kissed them wantonly. In fact, many employees were petrified to come out in the open and talk about their sordid experiences with the twice Oscar winner wherein he intruded on their private personal spaces or commented on their bodies. Many stated that they had got used to his moves and even found ways to avoid. Some partners, over the years, chose to discontinue working with the studio, according to media reports.

    In a memo to his company staff Lasseter stated : “I’ve recently had a number of difficult conversations that have been very painful for me. It’s never easy to face your missteps, but it’s the only way to learn from them. I have always wanted our animation studios to be places where creators can explore their vision with the support and collaboration of other gifted animators and storytellers. This kind of creative culture takes constant vigilance to maintain. It’s built on trust and respect, and it becomes fragile if any members of the team don’t feel valued. As a leader, it’s my responsibility to ensure that doesn’t happen; and I now believe I have been falling short in this regard.”

    Disney response to the media on the allegations and Lasseter’s sabbatical read as follows: “We are committed to maintaining an environment in which all employees are respected and empowered to do their best work. We appreciate John’s candor and sincere apology and fully support his sabbatical.”

    The last few months have seen a spate of senior executives and talents in Hollywood fall from grace following allegations that they abused their positions and made sexual advances or indulged in questionable behavior. Among these: Harvey Weinstein, Amazon’s Roy Price, actor Kevin Spacey, and director James Toback. Now the name of Lasseter has been added to the list of alleged sexual offenders.

    Surely, the characters Walt Disney Animation or Pixar – whether Woody from Toy Story or Moana from the Disney hit Moana – created must be cringing and holding their heads in shame.

  • Now, Comcast in talks to buy 21st Century Fox

    Now, Comcast in talks to buy 21st Century Fox

    According to several reports, 21st Century Fox is on the block and Philadelphia-based cable TV conglomerate Comcast is interested. Comcast has approached Fox about acquiring most of the company. Reportedly, Verizon, the biggest wireless carrier in the US, has also thrown its hat into the ring. Earlier in the month, Disney was also in talks with the Rupert Murdoch company for a possible acquisition.

    Comcast and Verizon have inquired about Fox’s movie and television studios, entertainment cable networks and international businesses. Comcast, which owns NBC Universal, would achieve global reach if it acquires Murdoch’s stake Star and Sky among other 21st Century Fox properties.

    A deal between Comcast and Fox could radically change the media landscape, consolidating some of the biggest entertainment properties in the world.

  • Walt Disney elevates Abhishek Maheshwari as country head

    Walt Disney elevates Abhishek Maheshwari as country head

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company has announced the appointment of Abhishek Maheshwari as country head for India. 

    Maheshwari, who joined Disney in 2012, will now be responsible for all of Disney’s businesses reporting to Walt Disney International executive vice president and managing director South AsiaMahesh Samat.

    “Disney brands continue to grow across platforms and consumer segments in India,” said Samat. “Abhishek is an astute and transformative business leader. Since joining the company, he has championed and driven strategic changes that have positioned our businesses to achieve consistent significant growth.” 

    Maheshwari has held several leadership roles in corporate strategy and business development, consumer products and interactive and, most recently, as the head of Integrated Media Networks. 

    Prior to working for The Walt Disney Company, Maheshwari worked for Kubera Partners, and McKinsey & Co. at its US and India offices.

    “It is a privilege to lead Disney India and I am greatly encouraged by the talent, passion and commitment of our teams across the organisation. Together, our team will focus on bringing the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars and our home grown brands of Hungama, Bindass and UTV to Indian audiences and provide great consumer experiences across all our businesses,” said Maheshwari.

    The company’s Indian business was recently consolidated under a South Asian hub integrating Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam under the leadership of Mahesh Samat.

  • Disney, Sony YAY!, Green Gold support Kids Karnival

    Disney, Sony YAY!, Green Gold support Kids Karnival

    MUMBAI: Krazy Kids Karnival, a kids’ event with innovative fun and engagement activities for toddlers-to-teens, has been planned on 14 and 15 October at City Park, near MMRDA Office, Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

    Skechers Kids are the title sponsors. Disney Channel, Sony YAY!, Green Gold Animations, Pillsbury, Kidzania, Fru2go, Jungle Magic, and JAMMS are their other partners.

    The carnival is organised and conceptualised by Meltwater Events and KFORKIDS. At the event, 10-15 workshops will be held on storytelling, science lab, art and craft zone, adventure camping.

    Meltwater Events director Navin Todi said, “We realised there is need of a place where the family could spend quality time with their kids in a safe environment. This event will provide opportunities to combine entertainment with knowledge for kids.” Meltwater director Niphul Jain, “It is not only about having fun but also about learning and development.”

  • Disney pushes brand bindass as it merges with bindass Play, enters OTT space

    Disney pushes brand bindass as it merges with bindass Play, enters OTT space

    MUMBAI: It’s hardly a week since Disney India rebranded its movie channel UTV Movies, and now the network has consolidated its two channels — that is bindass and bindass Play. Along with that, in its promise to be omni-present across platforms, bindass will launch an OTT platform for the millennials who want to consume content on-the-go.

    The brand bindass will undergo a transformation this month-end, and after the consolidation with bindass, what will happen to bindass Play is anybody’s guess.

    With the addition of OTT, bindass will have complete presence across linear and digital platforms, providing the users with more opportunities to interact with the brand. Also, the bindass channel will represent a variety of content in a refreshing new packaging.

    Disney media networks and interactive vice president Abhishek Maheshwari said, “The first big initiative we are taking is that we are launching a bindass app in the next few weeks. The idea is to interact with our consumer directly and they can view all our content on one place and to create an engaging platform. We will start with the content we have and, going forward, we will start building content on the basis of consumer preference — this is the key initiative we are doing with bindass.”

    About the ad rate, Disney India says it believes in going with story and finding out the best deal to integrate the brand in the content.

    The network is bringing together branded content, original shows, contemporary music and movies on a single platform – bindass. “The second is that — we are re-packaging bindass. As we look at the evolution of the brand, bindass was launched a decade ago, and the brand stood for entertainment for the millennials, the core remains the same but how stories are told is evolving, and now when we will have a digital presence not on just one platform but on multi-platform along with the linear presence while coming up with the bindass’ new look.”

    bindass Play was launched in 2014, when Siddharth Roy-Kapoor was heading Disney India. bindass Play replaced UTV Stars as the network wanted to build on a youth-centric brand.

    The channel was launched with 13 shows like Tia’s request, Tweet Meri Beat, Ishq Messenger and among others, allowing viewers to choose his/her playlist from social media.

    The rebranded channel will have more music and movies, 13 hours of Hindi music spread across the day, every day, starting with five hours of uninterrupted hit in the morning including viewers’ favorite Selfie Wala request show and two-hour block of Tia’s Request show injects a ton load of energy in the evening.

    Four hours of great stories are to be enjoyed through the day including everyone’s favorite Yeh Hai Aashiqui and the latest show in the bindass stable – Dil Buffering, which launches on 29 September. The weekends have a little extra with a movie every afternoon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

    “For Dil Buffering, we have a fairly aggressive marketing campaign around that. We will be pushing the brand bindass, not the channel bindass,” Maheshwari added.

    Maheshwari informed: “In music, we see lots of engagement from the audience, therefore we will go with 13 hours’ music. We have also done social media integration, and we will continue to do more. Also, we have seen a decent amount of interest in movies. We will have movies in the slot called Filmwaag. The idea is to air movies that appeal to the youth.”

    Last year, with Girl in the City (followed by The Trip and Girl In The City Chapter 2), bindass led the wave of disruption with an omni-content, multi-platform strategy to win over millennials in a rapidly evolving digital space with outstanding success.

    “We launched three major web series Girl In the City season 1, 2 and The Trip, and we saw phenomenal success. We have got 180 million views across Facebook and Youtube. The core of web — whichever format and medium they are using — is great storytelling, and that’s what brand bindass stands for. Also these are the sponsored content, we worked with brands. We integrate their stories as the part of the content but the core again be true to the story. Even the music was independently featured on Hungama, iTunes etc.”

    bindass will now welcome a slew of new series which will kick off with the launch of Dil Buffering and TereLiye Bro in the next two months.

    The 10-episodic series Dil Buffering is a love story which will go on air from 29 September at 7pm time slot with simulcast on all Youtube Facebook and TV. The channel has tied up with brands like Micromax, Tinder, Sofy and Ginger by lifestyle. The channel is in talks for their next web series.

  • Hotstar to stream Emmy Awards in India on 18 Sept

    Hotstar to stream Emmy Awards in India on 18 Sept

    MUMBAI: It is bringing the world to India and taking India to the globe!

    Ahead of its launch in a “few international markets in the next couple of months” Hotstar, ranked number one by App Annie  in terms of MAUs, is also bringing the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards to Indian viewers. live.  This is even as the research firm KalaGato reported 73 per cent jump in Hotstar’s market share, that is expected to spurt with the addition of Emmys, CBS, and GoT.

    For Hotstar, which has over 100,000 hours of drama and movies in nine languages, and covers every major global sporting event, the Emmy countdown has now begun.  As the excitement builds up, viewers of the India’s leading video-on-demand service will be able to tune in to the awards simulcast on 18 September, at 530 am on 18 September 2017 from 8 pm onwards. Thereafter, the ceremony will be available in the Hotstar library from Tuesday, 19 September.

    Indiantelevision.com spoke to the Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan on Friday evening, but he sought queries on email, which have been sent.

    With a whopping 149 nominations across 23 shows that it has licensed from American studios, Hotstar is the home of the Emmys and will be the only digital platform in the country to telecast simulcast the event. Viewers will have the opportunity to watch the much-anticipated ceremony along with the rest of the world, from wherever they are. This year, the event will be hosted by Stephen Colbert, previous Emmy Award winner and host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

    From the Hotstar library, acclaimed shows like Westworld, Feud, Veep and Big Little Lies lead the extensive list with the most number of nominations. Other favourites include Night Of, This is Us, Silicon Valley, The Wizard of Lies, among others. Through their partnership with the world’s largest studios, like HBO, Disney and Showtime, Hotstar has managed to bring the most celebrated international shows to India, under the Hotstar Premium bucket.

     

    (For our readers: We, at indiantelevision.com got an email from Hotstar communications agency Text100 on 16 September at 11:19 pm after the Emmy Award Hotstar telecast press release was published on 16 September at 9:22 am. It had already been indexed by the Google News bot.  The Text 100 email read as follows

    “Request you to disregard the announcement in this email. The information contained in it is incorrect. Hence, please do not publish it or use it in any form of story. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

    Another email followed from Text100 at 11:49 pm. It said:

    “As discussed, request you to disregard the previous communication on Hotstar live streaming the Emmys. The information is incorrect. Hence, please do not use it in any form of story. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

    Here’s the link that was published – http://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/over-the-top-services/hotstar-to-live-stream-emmy-awards-in-india-on-18-sept-170916?amp

    We have chosen to use the strikethrough text mode to inform readers that the story has been cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience caused by the incorrect information provided by Hotstar’s agency, Text100. We adhere to the highest editorial standards and our effort is to  bring you the most accurate information possible. Always – Editor

    (Updated on 17 September 2017 at 10:57 am)

    Later in the day we got another email from Text100 stating that the Emmy Awards would be streamed on 18 September from 8 pm onwards. So now you know when to watch your favourite awards show on Hotstar. Hence, we removed the strikethrough mode and updated the story.

    (Updated on 17 September at 6:43 pm)