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Tag: Fox

  • UFC enters into distribution deal with ESPN

    UFC enters into distribution deal with ESPN

    MUMBAI: UFC and ESPN have entered into a distribution agreement this month according to reports. As a result of this deal, ESPN and its subscription-based broadband service, ESPN+, will offer mixed martial arts fans a new array of UFC matches and special programming under a new rights deal unveiled on Tuesday.

    ESPN+ will exclusively stream 15 live UFC events under the title of “UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night”. Each will deliver a full card of 12 UFC bouts.

    ESPN will make available an array of UFC content across its cable networks and digital outlets, including an exclusive 30-minute special on its linear networks previewing upcoming bouts and breaking down match ups leading up to each UFC pay per view event, along with hundreds of hours of UFC library programming and re-airs of current UFC PPV events.

    ESPN+ was launched on 12 April at $4.99 (Rs 336) per month with a mix of content, including select games from MLB, NHL and out-of-market MLS games.

    “I couldn’t be more excited to partner with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN on an agreement that will continue to grow our sport. UFC has always done deals with the right partners at the right time and this one is no exception,” said UFC president Dana White.

    Fox signed a seven-year television deal with UFC in 2011 and, late last year, put in a roughly $200 million bid to secure those rights.

    “We will now have the ability to deliver fights to our young fan base wherever they are and whenever they want it. UFC’s fan base is among the youngest in US professional sports, with a median age of 40 and an audience comprising 40 per cent millennials,” White added.

    In addition to the live events and content included in the ESPN+ subscription, fight fans will be able to purchase and watch the UFC’s own streaming offering, UFC Fight Pass, for a separate cost, via the ESPN outlet.

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  • Disney’s OTT plan not contingent on Fox deal: Bob Iger

    Disney’s OTT plan not contingent on Fox deal: Bob Iger

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger has said that the company’s plan to launch a direct-to-consumer entertainment streaming service does not hinge on completing its deal to acquire key 21st Century Fox TV and film assets.

    Speaking to Wall Street analysts about the company’s fiscal second quarter earnings, Iger said that the pending $52.4 billion buyout would enhance Disney’s offering. But the streaming service was envisioned prior to the Fox deal coming together and will be rooted in content carrying Disney’s gold-plated imprints: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.

    The fate of Disney’s deal to buy 21st Century Fox has grown murkier in the past week as Comcast is taking steps to mount an all-cash counterbid that could put pressure on Disney to sweeten the terms of its all-stock takeover of 20th Century Fox, FX Networks, National Geographic Global Networks, and Fox’s regional sports networks.

    “It’s not dependent at all on the assets we’re buying from Fox,” Iger said. He emphasized that Disney is committed to making the bulk of its film and TV library available exclusively on its proprietary streaming service in order to make sure it is a must-have for families. That marks a significant investment from Disney in the decision to forgo third-party licensing coin.

    Iger said content from the Nat Geo channels would be a natural fit with the Disney-branded streaming service. Fox’s regional sports cablers will also be boon to the ESPN Plus sports streaming service that launched last month. But he reiterated that both services were conceived before the Fox assets were in the picture.

    Disney’s family-focused streaming service will launch by the end of 2019. The timing is dictated in part by the end of Disney’s theatrical output deal with Netflix, in order to ensure that recent Disney titles will have their pay-TV window on Disney’s service. Disney also needs time to develop original content for the service. Iger said more details on the original content plan will be revealed “in the coming months.”

    Iger did not address the potential for a showdown with Comcast over the 21st Century Fox assets, nor did he address Comcast’s bid to buy out the Sky satellite platform. Disney is set to acquire Fox’s 39 per cent stake in Sky, or more if Fox’s acquisition of the remainder of Sky is completed before the Disney-Fox acquisition is final. Comcast’s $31 billion bid for all of Sky has thrown a wrench in Fox’s plans for Sky. Fox sought to buy up the remainder of Sky for about $15 billion but the deal, first struck in December 2016, has been under heavy fire from U.K. lawmakers and bogged down in a regulatory review.

  • Disney must bid for Sky after Fox deal: UK Takeover Panel

    Disney must bid for Sky after Fox deal: UK Takeover Panel

    MUMBAI: If Disney’s proposed acquisition of Fox proceeds, the former has to make a mandatory offer to the holders of ordinary shares in Sky, according to the UK’s takeover code. The UK Takeover Panel has informed Disney, Fox and Sky of its ruling.

    Disney, the owner of Walt Disney Studios, has made a $66 billion bid to take over 21st Century Fox, which owns 39 per cent stake in Sky. According to the rules of the Takeover Code, Disney will be required to make the mandatory offer to the holders of ordinary shares in Sky as a result of Fox’s stake of approximately 39 per cent in Sky.

    Within 28 days of completion of its acquisition, Disney would have to make a bid of 10.75 pounds a share. Disney can evade the bid in certain circumstances; one if Fox acquires 100 per cent of the ordinary shares of Sky or any other third-party acquires more than 50 per cent of the ordinary shares of Sky. Comcast Corporation already announced earlier it was considering making an offer for Sky.

    “At this stage, Sky Shareholders are advised to take no further action.  Further advice to Sky shareholders will be announced in due course,”  Sky said amid this complexity.

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  • Uday Shankar sole media exec in top-100 powerful Indians list

    Uday Shankar sole media exec in top-100 powerful Indians list

    MUMBAI: Sharing the space with the likes of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mukesh Ambani and Virat Kohli is the torchbearer of the Indian broadcast sector, Star India’s Uday Shankar. Indian Express’ list of most powerful Indians has ranked him at 69, making him the sole representative of the entire broadcast industry of the country.

    Those who made the top 100 include people from various walks of life–politicians, Bollywood actors, businessmen and cricketers. In December 2017, Shankar was bumped up from the position of Star India CEO and chairman to 21st Century Fox Asia president. Taking pride in Shankar’s work, 21 Century Fox executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch and CEO James Murdoch commented, “Uday’s new role will enhance our strategic focus across all of Asia and enable us to further capture opportunities, building on the transformation Star India has driven in our most important growth market.”

    Under Shankar’s leadership, Star India has grown by leaps and bounds. In September, Star successfully won a Rs 16,347.50 crore bid for IPL’s global media rights across platforms. He also leads the company’s video business across entire Asia for both Fox and Star and is closely involved with the parent company’s key leaders, including Rupert Murdoch and his sons, on key strategic initiatives in the region.

    Holding the reigns of a global media powerhouse, Shankar has expanded Star India into regional language channels and produces close to 17,000 hours of content each year in eight languages. Shankar’s mantra for success has been to string together a group of high-calibre executives who understand the territory and carry out the work precisely.

    The network has grown into two major areas–entertainment and sports. The latter has seen the inclusion of several non-cricketing properties, thanks to Star, such as Pro Kabaddi League, Indian Super League and leagues for sports like table tennis, badminton, etc. Lately, the network has even carved a niche for itself in the OTT space with Hotstar.

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  • 21st CF spins-off into new live news & sports co Fox

    21st CF spins-off into new live news & sports co Fox

    MUMBAI: After the blockbuster acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company, the former has announced that it will spinoff into a new brand Fox’ that will seek to replicate its own success in the newly focussed verticals of live news and sports brands.

    Using fiscal 2017 as a base, the new Fox is expected to have annual revenue of $10 billion and EBITDA of $2.8 billion. The company will have an investment grade balance sheet conservatively levered with a maximum of $9 billion of new gross debt or under 3 times net leverage on day one.

    Fox will hold iconic branded properties Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Sports, Fox Television Stations Group, and sports cable networks FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Big Ten Network (BTN). It will also include the company’s studio lot in Los Angeles and equity investment in Roku.

    This new entity will own the top cable news channel in the US and the most-watched business news channel, as well as a station group, which is present in nine out of the 10 largest metro areas. Under sports, it holds the rights for NFL, MLB, World Cup Soccer and NASCAR.

    Fox will have a strong financial profile, supported by peer-leading growth and differentiated free cash flow generation, and will be positioned to continue to deliver consistent growth driven by affiliate rate increases, retransmission growth and strong advertising demand for its live content and entertainment product.

    21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch said: “The new Fox will draw upon the powerful live news and sports businesses of Fox, as well as the strength of our broadcast network. It is born out of an important lesson I’ve learned in my long career in media: namely, content and news relevant to viewers will always be valuable. We are excited by the possibilities of the new Fox, which is already a leader many times over.”

    The remaining business of the company has been combined with Disney in a $52.4 billion acquisition including all its film and TV studios, cable entertainment networks and international TV business. Disney will also acquire FX Networks, Fox Sports Regional Networks, Fox Networks Group International, Star India, and 21st Century Fox’s interests in National Geographic Partners, Hulu, Sky, Tata Sky and Endemol Shine Group.

    Murdoch said that the deals are crucial to paving way for a new Fox and a better Disney. “We have always made a commitment to deliver more choices for customers; provide great storytelling, objective news, challenging opinion and compelling sports. Through today’s announcements, we are proud to recommit to that promise and enable our shareholders to benefit for years to come through ownership of two of the world’s most iconic, relevant, and dynamic media companies. They will each continue to be leaders in creating the very best experiences for consumers.”

    The spin-off transaction will be taxable to 21st Century Fox, but not to its shareholders.  The new Fox will receive a step-up in its tax basis commensurate with the amount of the corporate tax relating to the spin-off that will generate annual cash tax savings over the next 15 years.

    Following the spin-off, Fox expects to continue to pay shareholders a strong regular dividend, with the initial rate to be determined prior to the completion of the spin-off. Prior to completion of the spin-off, new Fox will pay an $8.5 billion cash dividend to 21st Century Fox, representing an estimate of such tax liability. If the final tax liability of 21st Century Fox is less than such amount, the first $2 billion of that adjustment will be made by a net reduction in the amount of the cash dividend to 21st Century Fox from new Fox. The amount of such tax liabilities will depend on several factors, including tax rates in effect at the time of closing as well as market values of Fox following the closing.

    Upon closing of the spin-off transaction, 21st Century Fox’s shareholders would receive one share of common stock in new Fox for each same class 21st Century Fox share currently held.  Following the separation, new Fox would maintain two classes of common stock: Class A Common and Class B Common Voting Shares. Details of the spin-off transaction distribution will be included in the registration statement that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    As part of the definitive agreement with Disney announced today, 21st Century Fox shareholders will receive 0.2745 Disney shares for each 21st Century Fox share in the merger.  The per share consideration is subject to adjustment up or down for certain tax liabilities arising from the spinoff and other transactions related to the acquisition. Terms of the transaction call for Disney to issue approximately 515 million new shares to 21st Century Fox shareholders, representing approximately a 25 percent stake in Disney on a pro forma basis. The transaction values the merged 21st Century Fox business at $28 per share using a reference Disney share price of $102 and at nearly $30 per share based on Disney’s closing share price on December 13, 2017. This equates to a total enterprise value of approximately $69 billion.

    The merger is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approval.

    Combining with Disney are 21st Century Fox’s critically acclaimed film production businesses including Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Searchlight 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, who have brought The Americans, This Is Us, Modern Family, The Simpsons, and so many more hit TV series to viewers across the globe.

    New Fox Assets

    Fox News Channel (FNC): 24-hour all-encompassing news service dedicated to delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. FNC has been the number one cable news channel in the country for 63 straight quarters, and more recently has been the top basic cable network.  FNC is available in approximately 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.

    Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX): Home to some of the highest-rated and most acclaimed series on television as well as the most sought after sports properties, it is viewed by nearly 100 million households each month, airing 15 hours of primetime programming a week, as well as major sporting events and Sunday morning news.  Through the Fox Now app, Fox viewers can watch full episodes of their favourite Fox shows on a variety of digital platforms, while enjoying enhanced interactive and social capabilities around those shows.

    Fox Business Network (FBN): Financial news channel delivering real-time information across all platforms that impact both Main Street and Wall Street, Fox Business Network has been the number one business network for four consecutive quarters. FBN launched in October 2007 and is available in more than 80 million homes in major markets across the United States. The network has bureaus in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, DC and London.

    FOX Television Stations Group: One of the nation’s largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 28 stations in 17 markets and covering over 37 per cent of US television homes. This includes a presence in nine out of the 10 largest metro areas in the US including seven duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Washington, DC and Houston; as well as duopolies in Phoenix, Minneapolis, Orlando and Charlotte. 

    FS1 and FS2: FS1 is a popular sports cable network launched in 2013 in approximately 90 million homes boasting nearly 5,000 hours of live event, news and original programming annually. FS1 has several pillar sports: college basketball and football, MLB, NASCAR, NFL (ancillary programs), international soccer, Bundesliga, UFC, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and USGA. Major events televised on FS1 include the US Open, MLB Postseason, the FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cup and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019. FS2 was founded in 2013 and is focused on extreme sports, including skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross, surfing, mixed martial arts, BMX and FMX. FS2 is available in approximately 50 million homes.

    Big Ten Network: The first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering America’s most storied collegiate conferences. Covering over 1,000 sporting events each year, including football, basketball, Olympic sports and championship events and award-winning original programming, in-depth studio analysis and classic games. The network is in approximately 50 million homes across the United States and Canada, including carriage by all the major video distributors.

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  • 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.

     

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  • 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.

  • Fox-Sky deal: CMA to examine how it impacts plurality, standards, 21CF expects constructive review

    Fox-Sky deal: CMA to examine how it impacts plurality, standards, 21CF expects constructive review

    MUMBAI: UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set out more details about what it intends to examine in its investigation into the proposed takeover of Sky Plc by 21st Century Fox, which owns STAR India.

    21st Century Fox (21CF) has welcomed the publication by the CMA of the Issues Statement. “We look forward to the CMA process and engaging in a thorough and constructive review,” it stated in a press release.

    On 20 September, Karen Bradley, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport referred Fox’s proposed takeover of Sky to the CMA on public interest grounds.

    The CMA will now examine how the deal would impact media plurality and broadcasting standards in the UK.

    The issues statement sets out the proposed approach to assessing the impact of the merger. Anyone wanting to provide submissions is invited to do so based on the areas and questions outlined in the issues statement.

    The CMA is required to report to the Secretary of State with its recommendations within six months of opening the investigation.

    Anne Lambert, Panel Chair, said: Today (10 October) we set out the scope of our investigation and the issues on which we will focus. We now invite submissions on these specific matters so we can thoroughly examine the relevant evidence.

    The CMA will use its extensive experience of investigating different issues in a wide range of sectors to thoroughly and impartially investigate the proposed takeover.

    “Once the investigation is complete we will report back to Karen Bradley for her to make a final decision,” Lambert stated.

    The 21CF release added: Reference is made to the announcement made on 15 December 2016 by the 21st Century Fox Board and the Independent Committee of Sky that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended pre-conditional cash offer by 21st Century Fox for the fully diluted share capital of Sky which 21st Century Fox and its Affiliates do not already own. The full terms and conditions of the Acquisition are set out in the announcement which was published on 15 December 2016.

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  • Lachlan Murdoch opens up about Fox & Star TV’s billion-dollar EBITDA target

    Lachlan Murdoch opens up about Fox & Star TV’s billion-dollar EBITDA target

    MUMBAI: The billion-dollar EBITDA target for Star India is not just talk. 21st Century Fox executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch stated this firmly at the Goldman Sachs  Communacopia 2017 conference mid-last week.

    Labeling the billion-dollar target as Fox’s second highest priority at present, while speaking with Goldman Sachs analyst Drew Borst, Murdoch further waxed eloquent calling Star TV the group’s “greatest growth asset.”

    “We are on track to hit the billion-dollar EBITDA mark by 2020, which we have flagged for a few years  now,” he said, explaining that Star’s successful  IPL bid of $2.55 billion would not have happened if there was any doubt.

    “We strongly believe in…and we would have not bid for it at that price without being absolutely confident that we can hit out 2020 target. There are a lot of assumptions within that in terms of how we will monetise the IPL and also the growth that we have already seen in the Indian advertising market,”  he emphasised.

    The acquisition of the 61 per cent of satellite TV powerhouse Sky in the UK for $15 billion has been accorded the highest priority status for the group, Lachlan  revealed at the investor confab.

    He highlighted that the group believes the transaction is on course to get completed by mid-2018. That’s taking into consideration Britain’s culture and media secretary Karen Bradley’s decision to refer the acquisition to the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) on both, plurality and broadcast standards.

    “We are disappointed that it has taken us six months to come to this point of view to refer to the CMA,” he said. “Especially as the regulator Ofcom has agreed that we can get through on the plurality arguments with certain concessions that we have made. Also there’s no grounds…and the secretary in her own words said that the Ofcom, her regulator, was unequivocal in saying there were no grounds on broadcast standards. Having said that, as we are likely to be referred, we would like to be referred as early as possible.”

    In fact, almost as if taking heed of what Lachlan was saying Bradley did refer the Sky bid to the competition watchdog – a process that is likely to take 24 weeks – just as the week was coming to a close. The Murdochs have said that they will work closely with the CMA  to expedite its go-ahead.

    Lachlan further stated that Fox will continue its focus on its five core television brands – National Geographic, FX, Fox Sports, Fox News and Star television in Asia. “Our entire content and  distribution strategy is built around these brands , strengthening them and the shows that are associated with them in a way to make consumers engage deeply with them across multiple platforms,” he explained.

    The older of Rupert Murdoch’s two sons was categorical in stating that the industry is being forced to go directly to the consumer.  “I don’t think  there will be any major media company on this planet which will not go direct to the consumer with a product launched in the short to medium term. ”

    He, however, cautioned that care should be taken to not damage the current profitable ecosystem in the process of building a direct connect with viewers. Hence, the group has been investing hundreds of million of dollars into its core  five  brands in content and programming.

    “Every one of them is on every new digital multichannel video programming distribution (MVPD) platform that exists out there,” he said. “We have to have must-watch-entertainment and sports associated with valuable brands,” he added.

    He stated that, even in the US, the industry is only at the very beginning of the over-the-top (OTT) distribution to the world.

    “The models that are evolving…there would not be a single successful model,” he elaborated. “Our channels are fully distributed over the entire cable and satellite TV universe. We have our own authenticated apps where we put our brands in our own ecosystem on an app  – which Comcast and AT&T Direct TV customers can get. Then, you have the new DMVPD and SVoD services. Plus, you have a direct to consumer for a bouquet of channels. There will be tremendous competition amongst all these, which is good for the consumer, and he will win out. All you have to do is produce great content, and you will do well out of it.”

    Murdoch clarified that Fox’s fundamental belief is that the consumer should be able to access its shows anywhere and everywhere; that exclusive content deals are something it rarely signs, if at all.

    “We believe that the exclusivity of content to a platform is detrimental to the consumer experience as well as to the content-owner.  We have been moving over to a model that is non-exclusive,” said Lachlan. “I would like to have our content on as many platforms as possible. We have noticed that in every single case of digital MVPDs we have earned in multiples of what we earn per subscription in the traditional distribution world. Also, the DMVPD allows us to significantly upsell our advertising because of the consumption data we get.”

    He added that Fox varies its model depending on the market. “In some markets there are low broadband speeds, so we take the route that suits that market and we are happy that we have several models in different markets.”

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  • Nielsen estimates US TV homes for ’17-’18 season at 119.6 mn

    Nielsen estimates US TV homes for ’17-’18 season at 119.6 mn

    NEW DELHI: Nielsen’s latest national TV household universe estimates for the United States says there are 119.6 million TV homes for the 2017-18 TV season. In contrast the total number of Indian television homes estimated by Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC India) earlier this year stood at a shade over 183 million.

    Additionally, the percentage of total US homes with televisions receiving traditional TV signals via broadcast, cable, DBS or telco, or via a broadband Internet connection connected to a TV set is currently at 96.5 per cent, an increase of 0.5 percentage points from last year’s estimate, according to data released by Nielsen last week of August 2017.

    Nielsen uses US Census Bureau, combined with information from the national TV panel, to arrive at advance TV universe estimates in early May. It then distributes final universe estimates before the start of each TV season.

    But to put things in perspective, Indiantelevision.com would say that the population of the US in 2017, as per figures available, stood at 326,474,013, which is about 4.34 per cent of the world population. In contrast, as per United Nations data, the population of India is approximately 1.3 billion.

    The number of persons aged two and older in the American TV households is estimated to be 304.5 million, which represents a 0.9 per cent increase from last year. Increases in US Hispanic, black and Asian households were also seen, due to estimated increases in population growth and TV penetration, Nielsen said.

    So, what is the annual American TV season that Nielsen is referring to? According to Wikipedia, it means the 2017-18 network television schedules for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States that covers prime time hours from September 2017 to August 2018. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2016–17 season. The commercial networks include NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS and The CW, while PBS or public broadcasting service is excluded from these calculations. The CW data is not included on the weekends since it does not carry network programming.

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    The 2018 national American universe estimates by Nielsen reflect real changes in population since last year and updated TV penetration levels, differentially calculated for qualifying market break and age/sex demographic categories.

    Nielsen applies TV penetrations to convert the total household and population estimates to TV households and persons therein. The 2018 TV penetration for US households was estimated based on data collected during the recruitment of homes for Nielsen’s people meter panel.

    Nielsen’s national definition of a TV household states homes must have at least one operable TV/monitor with the ability to deliver video via traditional means of antennae, cable set-top-box or satellite receiver and/or with a broadband connection.

    Again, in the Indian context, as per data collated by Indiantelevision.com in the public domain, while total TV homes stand at 183 million, total television viewership stood at 28.9 billion impressions in Week 34 of BARC India ratings. The previous 13-week average viewership was approximately 27 billion, showing a rise of seven per cent.

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