ITV

Tag: ESPN

  • CSI sports scores big with John Skipper on board

    CSI sports scores big with John Skipper on board

    MUMBAI: CSI Sports kicks off a winning streak. CSI Sports is gearing up for a game-changing move with the appointment of renowned sports television executive John Skipper to its board of directors. Skipper, the former president of ESPN, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks, executive chairman of DAZN, and co-founder of Meadowlark Media, will also serve as senior executive advisor to co-founders Richard and Craig Miele. His decades of global experience promise to bring a fresh playbook to the sports, streaming, and media arena.

    The announcement comes just ahead of Sportel, signalling CSI Sports’ ambition to level up its presence in the global sports content market. CSI Sports has also strengthened its executive team with HBO Sports veteran Mark Taffett as head of global live events, reality TV producer Brian Robinson as senior supervising producer of reality programming, and communications leader Chris DeBlasio of Showtime Networks as head of global communications.

    The organisation continues to invest heavily in global content acquisitions as it gears up for strategic partnership launches in 2026. With this stellar lineup, CSI Sports is clearly playing to win and redefining the rules of engagement in sports entertainment.

  • Hulu goes global as Disney drops Star and overhauls its streaming app

    Hulu goes global as Disney drops Star and overhauls its streaming app

    BURBANK: Disney is ditching Star. From 8 October, Hulu—until now available only in America and Japan—will become the entertainment brand for adult content on Disney+ in international markets. The move sets the stage for a full merger of Disney’s streaming apps next year, as the media giant tries to simplify its cluttered digital offering.

    The rebrand comes with a sweeping redesign of Disney+. Subscribers will encounter a new “For You” landing page, powered by algorithms that promise to learn viewing habits over time. A navigation bar across the top splits content by service—Disney+, Hulu and ESPN—whilst a “Live” hub corrals news, sports and round-the-clock streams into one place. New badges will flag season finales, fresh series and recently added films.

    Behind the scenes, Disney has rebuilt its recommendation engine from scratch. The new system will surface personalised suggestions across the platform, with user profiles made more prominent to keep viewing habits separate. The homepage gets a visual refresh too: a video carousel replaces static images, brand rows showcase the latest releases with cinematic artwork, and the overall design aims for something sleeker and more modern.

    Mobile users will see widgets arrive on iOS devices, offering one-tap access to shows and films. Disney promises “mobile-first” features in the coming months, though it has kept details vague. The company describes these changes as merely the opening salvo, with more updates planned before the unified app launches next year.

    The timing is no accident. Disney has been haemorrhaging money on streaming—its direct-to-consumer division lost $512m in the most recent quarter—and needs to cut costs whilst growing subscribers. Consolidating brands and improving discovery could help keep viewers hooked, reducing the churn that has plagued the industry. Whether audiences embrace the changes or simply long for the days when finding something to watch wasn’t quite so algorithmic remains to be seen.

  • Sportel Monaco flexes its muscles as sports media titans prepare to gather

    Sportel Monaco flexes its muscles as sports media titans prepare to gather

    MONACO: The sports media industry’s glitterati are preparing to descend on Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum next month, as Sportel Monaco returns for its flagship annual gathering from 20-22 October. The event, which has become the de facto marketplace for international sports media deals, is already showing signs of its strongest edition in years.

    Exhibition space is nearly sold out, with more than 70 exhibitors confirmed including heavyweight American networks ESPN and NFL, alongside European football powerhouses LaLiga and Bundesliga. Tech disruptors such as Sportradar, WSC Sports and Wurl will rub shoulders with traditional broadcasters in what promises to be a fascinating collision of old and new media.

    The 2025 programme reflects an industry in flux. Conference sessions will dissect how generative artificial intelligence is revolutionising production and fan engagement, while panels explore the streaming wars and new monetisation models that are upending traditional broadcasting. Private equity’s growing appetite for sports assets will also come under the microscope.

    Hollywood’s creeping influence on sports storytelling gets star billing with a panel titled Hollywood hits the paddock: F1 taking storytelling to the next level. The session reflects Formula 1’s remarkable transformation from niche motorsport to global entertainment phenomenon, aided by Netflix’s Drive to Survive series.

    LaLiga president Javier Tebas will deliver the event’s keynote address, while executives from Amazon Web Services, Liverpool FC, World Rugby and the Professional Fighters League are among those offering insights into their strategies.

    Networking remains central to Sportel’s appeal. A new Sports Bar will provide a relaxed environment for deal-making, while the Women’s Lunch returns after its successful debut last year, highlighting female leadership across the industry.

    “This year is already shaping up to be a great success,” said Sportel Monaco executive director Loris Menoni. “The programme is designed to reflect the very latest industry trends.”

    The Monaco gathering’s strength has convinced organisers to expand eastwards once again. Sportel Singapore will return on 24-25 March 2026, following strong Asian demand for the format.

    As traditional media companies grapple with cord-cutting and tech giants muscle into sports rights, Sportel’s marketplace function has never been more crucial. The Monaco edition will reveal whether the industry’s transformation is accelerating—or whether some old certainties still hold.

  • Parrot Analytics launches Sports Demand to put rigour into soaring media rights market

    Parrot Analytics launches Sports Demand to put rigour into soaring media rights market

    LOS ANGELES: : Parrot Analytics, the media analytics firm known for pioneering streaming valuation, has launched Sports Demand, billed as the most advanced global sports analytics system. The tool is designed to arm leagues, teams, broadcasters, streamers and sponsors with data-driven insights to navigate the fast-inflating sports rights market.

    Sports rights fees have surged in recent years, with Paramount’s $7.7 billion deal for UFC events, WWE’s $1.6 billion tie-up with ESPN, and the NFL’s equity-for-content swap with Disney underscoring the scale. Parrot says its system will allow buyers and sellers to measure fan engagement market by market, justify valuations, and extract stronger returns on investment.

    “For the first time, decision-makers can weigh the impact of acquiring a sports league against investing in scripted series or films, within a single framework,” said Parrot Analytics chief executive Wared Seger. By integrating with the firm’s Demand360 platform, Sports Demand lets clients benchmark sports against TV shows, films and on-screen talent.

    Capabilities include global fan mapping across 100 markets, integrated sports-entertainment benchmarking, empirical valuation models, content optimisation, and sponsor alignment analysis. Early adopters include leagues negotiating landmark streaming deals and operators launching direct-to-consumer sports services.

    Seger argued that in an attention economy where sports compete directly with films and television for time and spend, “rigorous, standardised data is essential.” 

    Sports Demand is now available worldwide to Parrot Analytics’ enterprise clients, with dashboard and API access for seamless integration into rights, content and sponsorship strategies.

  • Raj Kamal Singh, sports television’s reluctant pioneer passes on

    Raj Kamal Singh, sports television’s reluctant pioneer passes on

    Raj Kamal Singh, known simply as RK to friends and protégés, never quite fit the mould he was born into. A Haryana-cadre bureaucrat with the air of a genial civil servant, he somehow found himself reshaping Indian broadcasting in the 1990s. First came DD Metro, conjured up with Rathikant Basu and Urmilla Gupta to inject a dash of freshness into the government-owned Doordarshan’s lumbering edifice Then came ESPN India, and later ESPN Star Sports — ventures that took him from government files to live sport, a journey no “babu” had probably attempted before.

    At ESPN’s makeshift south Delhi office in the early days — a converted garment-export bungalow with half a floor to itself — Singh presided over what would become a generation-defining team. “He was the reason I found my calling in television,” recalls Anurag Dahiya, now the ICC’s chief commercial officer, who was one of the early recruits. RK, he said, was the avuncular figure in a scrappy start-up atmosphere, a mentor who mixed bureaucratic calm with private-sector mischief. He helped build up a pay television business for ESPN in cable television’s infant days. 

    “For us, he was an approachable CEO. (We could) walk into his cabin – just like a friend. (He was fond of) taking us for bowling…Opening his house for parties along with his loving wife and kids. (We went for) river rafting trips, His famous lassi During lunch that was open to all – endless memories that we all forever cherish with him – shining our careers,” adds NDTV special projects associate vice-president Rachna Oberoi. 

    Later came Zee Telefilms, where Singh sparred with cable operators, shrugged off boardroom spats and, with a trademark guffaw, told anyone who fretted: “It’s all part of business. You can’t take it very seriously. It will get sorted out.” It usually did.

    Colleagues remember a man who taught by example rather than sermon. Many he hired went on to lead, or to found, sports businesses across the globe. His greatest legacy was not the channels he ran, but the people he groomed.

    Eventually he walked away from the industry altogether, setting up a lodge in the forest  (if we have got it right) — a suitably idiosyncratic ending for a man who had long made light of television’s supposed seriousness. On 15 August he died of a heart attack, aged 75.

    The sports-broadcasting world owes him more than it realises. RK would probably chuckle at the thought, suited and booted as he was vaunt to be, dismiss the fuss, and pour another drink.

  • Netflix schools rivals as streamers ace June TV viewership charts

    Netflix schools rivals as streamers ace June TV viewership charts

    MUMBAI: Class is in session and Netflix is teaching everyone a lesson in domination. In Nielsen’s 50th The Gauge report for June 2025, streaming flexed its muscle once again, accounting for a record 46.0 per cent of total TV usage in the US. Leading the binge brigade was Netflix, which saw a 13.5 per cent surge in viewership over May, grabbing an 8.3 per cent share of total television minutes. That’s 0.8 points up month-on-month and enough to account for 42 per cent of streaming’s total gain in June.

    The platform’s winning streak was powered by its usual bag of tricks: original series Ginny & Georgia was crowned the most-streamed title of the month with a jaw-dropping 8.7 billion viewing minutes, while acquired shows Animal Kingdom and Blindspot together clocked 11.4 billion minutes. And just to put a cherry on top, Squid Game Season 3 dropped in the final three days of the month and still managed nearly a billion viewing minutes per day.

    Peacock wasn’t far behind on the podium, notching a 13.4 per cent usage rise fuelled largely by the new season of Love Island USA, which bagged 4.4 billion viewing minutes and ranked fourth overall. The streamer finished June with a 1.5 per cent TV share, up from 1.2 per cent in May.

    Much of the streaming spike can be chalked up to school being out. Kids and teens (aged 6–17) increased their TV usage by 27 per cent in June, with streaming accounting for 66 per cent of their total watch time. Netflix and Peacock saw viewership from this age group climb 32 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively.

    This cohort also powered up consoles and cable boxes, leading to a 41 per cent jump in the “Other” category home to video games and set-top box viewing far above the overall 14 per cent gain in that segment.

    Meanwhile, traditional TV continued its summer slump. Broadcast viewership dipped 5 per cent to an all-time low share of 18.5 per cent, slipping below the 20 per cent mark for the first time. Cable remained mostly flat but still ceded 0.7 share points to end at 23.4 per cent. Combined, cable and broadcast dropped from 44.2 per cent in May to 41.9 per cent in June.

    That said, the NBA Finals threw broadcasters a lifeline, ABC aired all seven of the month’s most-watched telecasts, including the NBA Trophy Presentation. On cable, Conference Finals on ESPN and TNT scored big, while news and special programming like Fox News’ Army 250 Parade and CNN’s Goodnight and Good Luck helped shore up ratings.

    With summer holidays in full swing and streamers rolling out irresistible content, one thing is clear: viewers are switching channels literally and figuratively. And if June is any indication, traditional TV might need more than just a timeout to catch up.

  • Disney’s magic numbers: Q2 2025 earnings cast a spell

    Disney’s magic numbers: Q2 2025 earnings cast a spell

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company’s Q2 2025 earnings have delivered a star-studded performance, with revenues climbing seven per cent to $23.6 billion, driven by robust gains in entertainment and experiences. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing — sports struggled with soaring production costs, keeping the magic somewhat grounded.

    In the spotlight, Disney’s entertainment segment sparkled with a 61 per cent surge in operating income, hitting $1.3 billion. Direct-to-consumer revenues also soared, thanks to a 2.5 million bump in Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, pushing the combined total to 180.7 million. The much-talked-about Disney+ subscriber base alone rose to 126 million, an addition of 1.4 million from the previous quarter.

    However, the sports division played a tougher game. Operating income tumbled by $91 million to $687 million, primarily due to bloated programming costs, which included airing three extra college football playoff games and an additional NFL clash. ESPN’s domestic advertising revenue shot up by 29 per cent, but it wasn’t enough to offset the spending blitz.

    Disney’s crown jewel — its experiences division — continued to enchant. Segment operating income hit $2.5 billion, a nine per cent rise, as domestic parks saw a 13 per cent boost in income, driven by higher spending and increased attendance.

    Net income soared to $3.4 billion from just $216 million a year ago, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) hitting $1.45, a 20 per cent year-on-year jump. Free cash flow surged over 100 per cent to $4.9 billion, thanks to lower tax payments and tighter cost control.

    But not everything was a fairy tale. Disney’s Star India JV posted a $103 million loss, reflecting ongoing challenges in the competitive Indian market. There was also a equity loss from India JV of ~$300 million driven by purchase accounting amortisation. Amounts for the current period include impairment charges related to the Star India transaction ($143 million) and content ($109 million). Tax expense in the current period includes the estimated tax impact of these charges and a non-cash tax charge of $244 million related to the Star India transaction. Amounts for the prior-year period include impairments of goodwill ($2,038 million).

    Looking ahead, Disney is waving its wand at a 16 per cent rise in adjusted EPS for the full year, expecting $5.75 per share, as it bets on double-digit growth in entertainment and a fresh direct-to-consumer push with ESPN’s new offering.

    Disney’s CEO Bob Iger summed it up: “Our outstanding performance this quarter underscores our continued success building for growth and executing across our strategic priorities. Overall, we remain optimistic about the direction of the company and our outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year.” 

  • CloudTV plugs in Harshad Wadivkar as new business head for monetisation

    CloudTV plugs in Harshad Wadivkar as new business head for monetisation

    MUMBAI:  CloudTV, India’s first certified Smart TV operating system, is switching to a higher gear on its monetisation plans with the appointment of Harshad Wadivkar as business head – monetisation. The move signals CloudTV’s growing ambitions to cash in on India’s fast-expanding connected TV (CTV) advertising wave.

    In his new role, Wadivkar will lead revenue strategies, forge fresh media partnerships, and unlock new monetisation channels across CloudTV’s platform, which today reaches more than 12 million viewers in regional markets across the country.

    A digital sales veteran with over 15 years under his belt, Wadivkar has previously clocked stints at Adscholars, Xapads Media, and Mediascope. His client roster reads like a brand who’s who — from DSP Mutual Fund and ESPN to Mahindra Auto and Jaguar Land Rover — and his agency links span GroupM, Madison, IPG, and Publicis. His knack for scaling revenues and building lasting partnerships makes him a prized recruit for CloudTV’s next growth lap.

    CloudTV COO  and co-founder Abhijeet Rajpurohit  said: “We are delighted to welcome Harshad aboard. His deep digital expertise and sharp monetisation focus will be pivotal as we strengthen our footprint in India’s rapidly evolving connected TV landscape.”

    With the CTV market shifting into overdrive, CloudTV is betting big on seasoned hands like Wadivkar to drive its revenue engine and bolster its standing as an indispensable advertising enabler for smart TV audiences.

  • Disney advances live streaming ad technology in the US

    Disney advances live streaming ad technology in the US

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Co has launched new advertising technology integrations to enhance live streaming monetisation on its platforms earlier this week. Advertisers can now programmatically bid on live inventory across Hulu and Disney+, including ESPN and ABC News content, through Disney’s proprietary ad server and Google’s Display & Video 360.

    Senior vice president of ad platforms Amy Lehman highlighted the advancement in ad technology, enabling automated workflows for live ad inventory. Senior vice president of addressable sales Jamie Power confirmed that platforms like Google’s DV360, The Trade Desk, Yahoo DSP, and Magnite are now certified to leverage viewership spikes during live events.

    The integration of Google’s Display & Video 360 instant deals via Disney’s real-time ad exchange (Drax) allows for rapid deal creation, streamlining the buying process. This builds on the existing Drax direct integration.

    Disney is also deploying dynamic ad insertion (DAI) for live events on Disney+, extending the technology already available on Hulu, to enable personalised ad experiences. Lehman emphasised Disney’s leadership in live streaming, combining technological expertise with ad technology to meet market demand.

    This move allows advertisers to target audiences during live events with increased efficiency and precision

  • Glance recruits digital exec Lalwani

    Glance recruits digital exec Lalwani

    MUMBAI: Tarun Lalwani has jumped ship from JioStar to take up the role of director of strategic partnerships, content strategy and design at Glance, the mobile lock screen platform.

    The move comes after a remarkably brief five-month stint at JioStar, where Lalwani served as senior director of digital licensing and partnerships following the merger of streaming services JioCinema and Hotstar.

    Lalwani brings a packed portfolio of digital content experience to his new position. Before his lightning-quick tenure at JioStar, he spent over three years at Viacom18, where he climbed to senior director overseeing digital licensing, strategic partnerships, user growth and content partnerships.

    His CV reads like a who’s who of India’s digital entertainment landscape, with previous roles at ESPN, Hotstar, IndiaCast and Wizcraft International Entertainment.

    At Glance, which transforms smartphone lock screens into content discovery platforms, Lalwani will likely leverage his extensive experience in forging partnerships across the digital content ecosystem.