Tag: dominance

Nickelodeon continues to dominate the pole position as top kids’ network in India

Mumbai: Building the category through immersive storytelling and path-breaking innovation, Viacom18’s kids’ franchise, Nickelodeon has established leadership in the kids’ entertainment space and enjoys a cumulative network share of 32 per cent within the genre. The franchise today delivers the highest reach of 48 million kids’ weeks on week and boasts of the largest home-grown content library created through launching 11 successful IPs in 11 years, it said in a statement.

Closing the year on a high note and with a spirit to deepen engagement and connect, the pioneering franchise continues to top the charts with two channels, Nick and Sonic. With Nick in the first spot and Sonic at second in the kids’ genre for FY22, Nickelodeon continues to cement its position as a category leader.

Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “The kids’ category is one of the most exciting and dynamic categories in India. The young viewer has always been at the centre of our universe and understanding their evolving preferences has been of prime importance to us. Continuing to lead the demanding kids’ space is a testimony of our sincere efforts to ensure that we create stories and introduce kids to characters that are relatable, relevant and capture their minds and hearts. It is this connect that has allowed us to garner immense love from kids as well as patronage from our brand partners. As the leader of the category, we will continue to engage and innovate with our stories and reach out meaningfully to kids across screens and touch points.”

Building on an unparalleled leadership story, Nickelodeon leaves no stone un-turned as it plans for a fun-filled and unforgettable summer for kids that will bring back the touch, feel and play experience. The franchise is all geared to entertain its young viewers with an engaging and fun line up of characters, stories and priceless experiences replete with comedy, action and adventure. The stories will come to life across screens on the franchise channels Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr and Nick HD+ with all our home-grown character stories also being available on our digital destination Voot Kids.

Stories galore

Nick will see new stories of all of kid’s favourite toons with all new episodes of “Rudra,” “Shiva,” “Motu Patlu” and “Chikoo aur Bunty” as well as many blockbusters made for TV film premieres. This will include “Motu Patlu & The Secret of Devil’s Heart” that will premiere on 29 May and the first ever combo movie premiere of the super cool Shiva and Rudra film called “Rudra Shiva Vs Pirates Of Universe” that is all set to premiere on 24 April at 11:30 a.m on Nick and Voot Kids.

Further Soniv, the second leading channel in the kids’ space is all set to bring back the fun and thrill with new episodes of “Golmaal Jr,” “Pakdam Pakdai,” “Pinaki and Happy The Bhoot Bandhus.” Further catering to the ever-growing content demands of its young viewers the summer season is all set to introduce a new adventure filled ‘smurfiness’ with the much-loved international franchise, The Smurfs all set to entertain kids with their comic capers starting this June.

Kids will continue to be entertained on Nick Jr with many fairy-licious treats, pawsomeness overload and oinkastic adventures with all new episodes of “Butter Bean Café,” “Paw Patrol” and “The Peppa Pig.” The entertainment on Nick Jr will further see kids have a great time with the premiere of the year’s most popular pre-school series “Baby Shark,” making its Indian television debut in the month of May

Engagement galore

The summer will see fun and engagement galore on the franchise with key tentpoles that will spread the cheer amidst kids. Nick will see a fun banter fest helmed by the bros Chikoo and Bunty called “Roast Your Bro.” This will include a contest where kids get a chance to vote for their fav sibling and stand a chance to win exciting prizes like iPhone 13, laptops and tablets and engage in a whole lot of fun sibling banter. For Nickelodeon we have also partnered with Time Zone and Funcity as well as other malls across the country for fun meet and greets where kids will get to meet their favourite Nick toons. Apart from meeting their favourite toons, kids will also get to enjoy special combos through summer at Nirula’s and Dr Bubbbles. Sonic will continue to enthral kids and make them shout #SonicisHappyGoLucky with the super fun Bhoot Bandhus Happy and Pinaki through a cool watch and win content. The campaigns on Nick and Sonic will extend on digital and social media through fun games and virtual interactivity sessions. A high reach marketing blitz planned across markets that will include cross channel, outdoor, van activations, influencer marketing as well as presence in the ongoing IPL will ensure that kids across the nation are part of the summer-time fun on the franchise.

This summer is going to be special for kids. The entertainment bonanza has already begun with the ongoing celebration of World Creativity Week and inspiring kids to get creative with Nick. This has loads of fun activities planned for kids through the week including fun online creativity sessions with Playdate while also having fun on ground sessions with Bombay Drawing Room and Slam out loud amongst others.

April 20, 2022
Industry speaks on cable monopoly

MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is now looking at ensuring a level playing field for both the multi system operators (MSOs) and the local cable operators (LCOs). The regulator on 26 November came out with a recommendation paper which put a cap of 50 per cent on MSOs stake in any state. The recommendation paper aims at curbing the monopoly of MSOs.

“Currently there are no restrictions on the area of operation and accumulation of interest in terms of market share in a city, district, state or country by MSOs. It has been observed in some states that a single entity has, over a period of time, acquired ‘control’ of several MSOs and LCOs, virtually monopolising cable TV distribution in that market. Cases of market dominance by MSOs have been reported at various forums. Such monopolies/market dominance in the TV channel distribution market are not in the best interest of consumers and may have serious implications in terms of competition, pricing, quality of service and the efficient growth of the TV channel distribution market,” states the recommendation paper.

The regulator has now recommended that market dominance should be determined based on market share in terms of the number of active subscribers of MSOs in the relevant market. To evaluate the level of competition or market concentration in a relevant market, the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) should be used. The TRAI has also recommended that the threshold value for any individual/ ‘group’ entity contribution to the market, HHI should be not more than 2500.

ABS 7 Star CMD Atul Saraf

“We welcome the recommendation paper. If one has to see, there is monopoly of one or two players in few states like Punjab, UP etc. I feel 50 per cent is also huge; it should be reduced to 25 per cent to give a level playing field. The recommendation paper if implemented will give quality service to customers,” says ABS 7 Star CMD Atul Saraf.

According to Hathway Cable & Datacom MD and CEO Jagdish Kumar G. Pillai, the MSO, by definition, does not have a market share of more than 50 per cent. “We are not impacted by this. And then it is just a recommendation paper. What will be interesting is how the regulator will ascertain the percentage of one’s operation till the country is fully digitised. It is impossible to know one’s percentage share in the analogue phase,” says Pillai.

He adds, “It will impact some MSOs that are dominant players in few states.”

Hathway Cable & Datacom MD and CEO Jagdish Kumar G. Pillai

The recommendation paper states that MSOs that currently have more than 50 per cent stake in any state need not reduce their share, but cannot get into any further mergers and acquisition (M&A). “By this, the regulator has ensured that the MSOs are also not affected,” informs Pillai.

Through the recommendation paper, TRAI wants to ensure that there is no dominance of any player and that there is a level playing field for the LCOs, MSOs and the broadcaster.

The TRAI is laying down the rules for the future. “One never knows about the future in terms of technology and also the methods used by the MSOs to operate. The regulator has to think not for a couple of years, but 10-20 years down the line. The recommendation paper ensures that the LMOs and the MSOs on pan-India basis can co-exist and function rationally,” opines Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president Arvind Prabhoo.

Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation president Arvind Prabhoo

The 50 per cent cap will ensure excellent quality service, healthy competition and also keep costs in check. “The 50 per cent stake is still high, the regulator should keep the cap at 30-40 per cent,” he says.

According to Prabhoo, it is a progressive move by TRAI. “The authority is ensuring that there is no monopoly – vertical or horizontal and at the same time, is also ensuring that the LMOs have a choice. The LMOs welcome the move,” he states.

Ortel Communications president and CEO Bibhu Prasad Rath says, “As I understand, the authority, through this recommendation, is trying to restrict the building up of the market share by any individual /group entity through M&A/control of an entity over many MSOs and LCOs. This does not apply to us because of our differentiated business model being independent and expanding directly through last mile connectivity without going through any M&A or control of other MSO/LCOs.”

Rath thinks that a 50 per cent market share in a state for any MSO will be fair from a competition perspective. “So we do not see much problem in this. However, we believe that the market share should always be calculated by combining cable TV and DTH together as both aim to serve the same set of customers. The regulator has dismissed this argument which we think is unfair,” exults Rath.

Ortel Communications president and CEO Bibhu Prasad Rath

Rath also opines that any such regulation can be implemented smoothly when digitisation is fully put into practice. “In an analogue era, it is not practical to implement this. We hope the MIB will take care of these issues before notifying the same,” he states.

GTPL COO Shaji Mathews says that the monopoly guidelines have their origins from the analogue era when broadcasters had complained to the TRAI. Says he: “It was an issue which was faced by the broadcasters due to dearth of space on cable networks then; it is being addressed at a time when the country is moving towards digitization.”

Mathews feel that the recommendation paper doesn’t address two key points — one, when the cable networks join hands to fight against the broadcasters and two, when the broadcaster joins hands with a particular cable network to help them monopolise. “Both these issues which are the root cause to monopoly have not been addressed in the recommendation paper,” says Mathews.

Mathews also points out that though the recommendation discourages monopoly, it encourages those cable operators who are related to broadcasters to grow their base in areas where they until now had no base. “For the viewer to get good service and for the cable operators to exist and also run a profitable business, there needs to be a transparent and non-discriminatory system. The regulator needs to bring laws for content players,” concludes Mathews.

TRAI recommendations on monopoly or market dominance in cable TV services

November 27, 2013
TRAI to hold open house in Bengaluru on monopoly/market dominance in cable TV services

NEW DELHI: Stakeholders in the cable TV services have a platform to voice their opinion. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced an open house to be held in Bengaluru on issues relating to monopoly and market dominance in cable TV services.

TRAI sources told indiantelevision.com that only one open house is planned on the subject, based on the responses received.

Earlier, stakeholders had been given a final opportunity to give their comments by 1 July to its consultation paper on the subject issued on 3 June, and counter-comments by 8 July. The open house will be on 16 July.

The paper was aimed at wanting to know if stakeholders agreed that the state should be the relevant market for measuring market power in the cable TV sector or suggest alternatives.

In the first place, TRAI which said it had issued the paper at the instance of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, wanted to know if stakeholders agreed that there is a need to address the issue of monopoly or market dominance in cable TV distribution and how its ill effects can be addressed.

The paper contained a series of fifteen questions touching various aspects. TRAI has sought to know whether curbing market dominance and monopolistic trends as well as restrictions in the relevant cable TV market should be based on area of operation or based on market share.

Those who support the area of operation option need to specify how the area of relevant market ought to be divided amongst MSOs for providing cable TV service. While those who feel that the monopolistic trends should be based on market share, should specify the threshold value of market share beyond which an MSO cannot be allowed to build market share on its own. The open house will also concentrate on devising ways of achieving this in a market where a MSO already possess market share beyond the threshold value. Furthermore, TRAI also wants comments on the suitability of the rules defined in the paper in this connection.

Stakeholders had to give their views about the threshold value increase indicated by the regulator, or suggest defining restrictions.

TRAI also wanted to know if ‘control‘ of an entity over other MSOs/LCOs be decided according to the conditions mentioned in the paper or suggestion on alternatives. Stakeholders wanting different restrictions to curb market dominance have been asked to suggest these.

TRAI has apart from this, sought to know whether the parameters listed by it in the paper are adequate with respect to mandatory disclosures for effective monitoring and compliance of restrictions on market dominance in Cable TV sector, and the periodicity of such disclosures.

The regulator wanted to know of any amendments to be made in the statutory rules/ executive orders for implementing the restrictions.

July 9, 2013