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Tag: Multi Screen Media

  • Backed by three sponsors PWL can rake in over Rs 25 crore in debut year

    Backed by three sponsors PWL can rake in over Rs 25 crore in debut year

    MUMBAI: Kartikeya Sharma and Vishal Gurnani’s joint venture Pro-Sportify’s decision to foray into wrestling is off to a flying start. The league has roped in Dabur Chyawanprash as the title sponsor while cola giant Thums Up has joined in as powered by sponsor. Jaguar Lighting has also been roped in as co-sponsor. 

    Gurnani and Sharma are both buoyed by the preparation. “We are all set for Pro Wrestling League season 1, we kick off today at seven and its certain that the sport will emerge as a clear number two after cricket in India” said the duo.

    The telecast rights of the league is with Multi Screen Media (MSM) and the network is planning to dish out the tourney in three different channels. Sony Six will relay the English feed while Sony Pal and Sony Max will broadcast the Hindi commentary.

    The network in association with DDB Mudra has unveiled an intriguing campaign to garner high number of eyeballs. “We are extremely happy with the marketing campaign that they have done. Over 600,000 television minutes spread across numerous channel with separate creatives for man and woman. It cannot get any better” said the duo.  
        
          
    A senior media planner on condition of anonymity said, “Wrestling as a sport in popular in India, it’s just it has never been packaged properly. They are putting in some serious money and the network is also promoting it aggressively too. Moreover the league will be aired on Sony Pal which is an FTA available on Sony Pal so with BARC Rural data in now I won’t be surprised if they emerge as the number two after cricket. Overall in my opinion the first year will create the buzz, but the packaging and follow ups will decide the long term fate.”

    If sources are to be believed then the league has already raked in close to Rs 20 crore as sponsorship revenue and have a few deals are still at the last stage. “I think season one will generate close to Rs 25 crore. Which will be shared among Sony and Pro-Sportify. The broadcasting rights were given to MSM for a little more than 100 crore” said a source.          

    The league kick-starts today (10 December 2015) and will conclude on 27 December 2015. The matches are slotted at a prime time slot of 7 Pm. 

  • ESPN offers expanded role to Ramesh Kumar and Sambit Bal for India operations

    ESPN offers expanded role to Ramesh Kumar and Sambit Bal for India operations

    MUMBAI: As ESPN expands its presence in India through the recently announced collaboration with Sony for co-branded Sony ESPN channels and digital media, Ramesh Kumar and Sambit Bal are taking on expanded roles in the ESPN’s business in India and beyond.

     

    Kumar will take on the new role of Vice President, Head of ESPN India and South Asia.  In his new role Kumar will oversee all day-to-day operation of ESPN’s multimedia future in India and help drive the strategic growth of ESPN in India and the subcontinent.  That includes oversight of ESPN’s leading digital properties including ESPNcricinfo, ESPN FC and the forthcoming local edition of multisport ESPN site and app in India. He will report to ESPN international executive vice president Russell Wolff. He will continue to be part of ESPN’s regional Asia Pacific leadership team.

     

    “Ramesh has been a strong business leader who understands the richness and complexity of India and the competitive marketplace and product dynamics across the subcontinent, Under Ramesh’s leadership, our business in India has continued to evolve and grow, serving Indian fans in new ways, while also becoming an important part of ESPN’s business regionally and globally” said Wolff.

     

    Kumar, who joined ESPNcricinfo 15 years ago, has most recently been Head of ESPNcricinfo and ESPN India, overseeing the ESPNcricinfo. Kumar also played an important role in developing ESPN’s agreement with SONY. 

     

    Sambit Bal in his new broader role, will serve as Editor-in-Chief, ESPN India/South Asia. In the role, he will continue to be responsible for all ESPNcricinfo editorial content (written, video and audio). He will also overseeing all editorial content for the new India multisport ESPN.com site and app which is scheduled to launch by June 2016. Bal will take a leading role in growing ESPN’s global coverage of tennis.  He will report to both Kumar and Patrick Stiegman, Vice President and Editorial Director, Digital and Print Media.

     

    “Sambit’s strong editorial background, voice and journalistic distinction, combined with an acute eye for great talent and content, make him a perfect fit for this role, He has been instrumental in establishing ESPNcricinfo as the most trusted and comprehensive source for news, commentary and information around cricket, and will now be instrumental in delivering the same level of excellence to our coverage of multiple sports for fans in India and beyond” said Stiegman

     

    In October, ESPN and SONY Pictures Networks in India (previously Multi Screen Media) reached a long-term collaboration that will bring new offerings to Indian sports fans including new SONY ESPN sports channels and a new multisport website and app. This collaboration between two of the most respected brands in Indian media and sports will provide a powerful portfolio of sports rights and the leading collection of digital sports assets in India. 

  • IPL: Sanjeev Goenka’s New rising wins bid for Pune team, Intex wins Rajkot

    IPL: Sanjeev Goenka’s New rising wins bid for Pune team, Intex wins Rajkot

    MUMBAI: The speculations are finally over. The Indian Premier League (IPL) will be an eight team affair in 2016 as the Board Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) auctioned the two new franchises, Pune and Rajkot. Sanjeev Goenka’s New Rising won Pune franchisee while the Rajkot team is owned by the mobile phone manufacturer Intex.

     

    The two interim teams will not get a slice of BCCI’s franchise revenue instead Goenka’s will dish out Rs 16 crore, while Intex will pay Rs 10 crore to the board as they acquired the franchises for the respective amount in the reverse bidding process.  

     

    Pune and Rajkot will now have the option to choose from the top five players of CSK and RR. This will be decided during a players draft on 15 December 2015.

     

    After series of controversies, rounds of introspection, intervention by the Supreme Court of India, the BCCI decided to ban the N Srinivasan owned Chennai Super Kings and Raj Kundra’s Rajasthan Royals for two years.

     

    The decision posed a grave threat to the IPL fixture that would have otherwise been curtailed to an event with just six teams, and hence a lower number of matches. With the inclusion of the two new teams the tourney is back to eight teams. So the official broadcaster Multi Screen Media will have the same time span to monetise the cash rich league. 

     

    The rights acquisition cost were sold at $1 billion for a period of ten years to Multi Screen Media (MSM) which will conclude after 2017 edition.

  • Sony’s Power Couple to launch on December 12; five sponsors roped in

    Sony’s Power Couple to launch on December 12; five sponsors roped in

    MUMBAI:  After Indian Idol, Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa and Khatro Ke Khiladi, Sony Entertainment Television is all set bring another international format – Power Couple, to India. Hitting Indian television screens from December 12 onwards, Power Couple will be a one and half hour show and will be aired on Saturday and Sunday at the 8.30 pm time slot. Indiantelevision.com had reported earlier that SET would bring the Israeli reality show produced by Colosceum Entertainment to India.

     

    The channel has roped in Ponds as the presenting sponsor and Priyagold Snakker and Ching’s Secret – I love Desi Chinese as powered by sponsors.. Besides, Power Couple also has Iodex and Dettol as the co- sponsors for the show.

     

    The channel will also be airing strips of the show from Monday – Friday at 10 pm for 30 minutes, to run viewers through the journey of the contestants. Power Couple will be a 26 episodes series that will run for 13 weeks.

     

    Power Couple will be hosted by Bollywood couple Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan. The show celebrates the essence of true love as it gauges how far couples will go to prove their undying affection for each other. Pratyusha Banerjee-Rahul Raj Singh, Naved Jaffrey-Sayeeda, Jesse Randhawan-Sandeep Soparkar, Apoorva Agnihotri-Shilpa Saklani, Aamir Ali-Sanjeeda Sheikh, Delnaz Irani-Percy Karkaria, Salil Ankola-Ria Banerjee, Shawar Ali-Marsela, Ashmit Patel-MehakChahal, and Rahul Dev-MugdhaGodse will among the participants.

     

    Speaking about the show, Multi Screen Media (MSM) CEO NP Singh said, “The good thing about Sony is whether we bring a show for the domestic market or for the international market, we are known for the bringing the best shows to the country. Sony has introduced some of the best reality to India like Indian Idol, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Khatro Ke Khiladi and Dus Ka Dum which become very popular. Power Couple, our next international offering, was originally produced by Israel-based Dori Media. The producers plan to launch the show in US and UK as well. One of Sony’s greatest strengths in programming is that we’ve led right from the front in non-fiction content and in fiction as well. We have recently launched season two of Parrvarish and initial response is good.”

     

     

    Talking to Indiantelevision.com about the promotional activities, SET SVP and head marketing Anup Vishwanathan, said, “We have planned a 360 degree campaign to promote Power Couple. It will be 8 week campaign for us including digital, radio, television and print outside and inside the network. We are also running a contest on social media where we are asking people to upload their and pictures and tell us about why they want to be the part of the show. We have already received 7000 entries for the same and shortlisted 400 couples.” SET has roped in Leo Burnett as the creative agency which worked with SET’s internal creative team for the show.

     

    Colosceum Entertainment CEO Lalit Sharma said, “Basically we have been doing all sorts of reality shows from Splitsvilla to Roadies to Masterchef. This is a reality show in the positive space and this is an answer to any negative warrism kind of show. It’s high time that one should get into the positive mode and that’s made us believe that this will work.”

     

    The production house has tweaked the format for its Indian audiences. Talking about the same, Sharma added, “The Israelis are more into showing skin, while Indian culture doesn’t allow that and that is one of the major changes we have made in this show. Besides, we have also changed the task format according to our needs.”

     

    Power Couple has been shot in Goa in beautiful villa named Power Couple Villa.  While Sharma did not mention figures, speaking about the production cost he said, “Power Couple is an expensive show. It’s cost is three times the Roadies cost.”

  • MSM – TNA postpones ‘TNA Mumbai’ live event

    MSM – TNA postpones ‘TNA Mumbai’ live event

    MUMBAI: IndianTelevision.com had reported earlier that Multi Screen Media’s (MSM) sports TV channel Sony Six will be broadcasting three live Total Nonstop Action (TNA) wrestling events to be held in Mumbai from 2 – 4 December.

     

    However, Multi Screen Media (MSM) and TNA Wrestling, the international professional wrestling entertainment organization, has jointly announced today (26 November 2015) that the TNA One Night Only: Mumbai live event has been postponed to 2016 to a yet-to-be decided date.

     

    “The postponement is primarily due to logistical issues around the time of the event. As soon as the new dates are firmed up, it will be announced in an update,” informed the press note.

  • BARC Week 44: Sony Pal enters top ten Hindi GEC; DD National exits list

    BARC Week 44: Sony Pal enters top ten Hindi GEC; DD National exits list

    MUMBAI: MUMBAI: Star Plus has continued to maintain its leadership position. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd’s (Zeel) free to air (FTA) channel Zee Anmol and Hindi general entertainment channel (GECs) have bagged the second and third position respectively. Multi Screen Media (MSM) FTA channel Sony Pal entered the top ten channels of Hindi GECs list. However, DD National which was earlier in the top ten list failed to hold on its position in week 44 of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India all India (U + R) data. 

     
    Star Plus led the Hindi GEC genre with 787584 (000Sums), while Zee Anmol bagged the second position with 729701 (000Sums).  Zee TV secured third spot with 694864 (000Sums).

     
    Colors dropped to fourth place with 694582 (000Sums) followed by  Life OK at number five position with 534129 (000Sums).

    Star India’s FTA channel Star Ustav stood at the sixth spot with 511090 (000Sums), whereas Sony Entertainment Television was in the seventh position with 342113 (000Sums).

     

    Sab TV grabbed eighth spot with 336141 (000Sums), while Rishtey which was on tenth slot in previous week stood at ninth spot with 263955 (000Sums) followed by Sony Pal in the tenth slot with 252727 (000Sums).

  • Impact of DAS on Sports Ecosystem

    Impact of DAS on Sports Ecosystem

    DAS  (digital addressable system) is here to stay. Despite the shortcomings, the hiccups in the implementation of the first two phases, the government has announced that it will not extend the deadlines of December 31, 2015 for phase III areas and December 31, 2016 for phase IV, when the entire country is expected to be digitised. After complete switchover, cable TV services will be available only through set top boxes in India.

     

    We, at the Indiantelevision.com are starting a new section – ‘The Impact of DAS’ through which thought leaders, experts from the television ecosystem will share their thoughts, ideas, and say their piece on the subject. We are beginning with the impact of DAS on the sports broadcasting ecosystem. 

     

    Our first expert for the section is Sony Six and Sony Kix Business Head Prasana Krishnan. Sony Six and Sony Kix are a part of the Sony Pictures Network (earlier known as Multi Screen Media Network.) 

     

    Excerpts:

     

    How big an impact has phase I and II digitisation made when it comes to subscription revenues?

     

     

    Digitisation is a very significant and essential step for unlocking the true subscription potential.  It is designed to benefit all stakeholders including content owners, broadcasters, distributors and consumers as it brings addressability and transparency into the system.  We are still in early stages of this and full addressability is still some time away but the overall impact on subscription revenues has been very positive. 

     

    From a sports broadcaster’s point of view are you happy with the two phases of digitisation?

     

     

    The first two phases of digitisation have primarily focused toward catering to the change in the 4 metro’s and households in cities with over 1 million in population.  The experience and progress has been quite positive as the consumer in India is today getting unprecedented access to sports content.  The analog regime had some capacity limitations which often meant prioritisation of sports and ignoring niche interests.  Digitisation has been a key factor behind the growth of non-cricket sports viewership in the country as it has enabled access to such content on a consistent basis.  While the overall progress in these markets is very positive, the full potential is still to be unlocked and a lot still remains to be done in terms of full addressability, channel packages, etc.   

     

    Is the sports broadcasting industry in a subscription positive scenario? Or we are still ad dependent?

     

    Globally, sports broadcasting is primarily driven by subscription and in some cases, it can be even as high as 90 per cent of total revenues.  In India, dependence on ad spends is still very high and I think it will continue to be so in the foreseeable future.  But the share of subscription revenues has seen a good increase in recent years with the advent of DTH sector and digitisation and will hopefully continue to grow. 

     

    Are sports like Football, Badminton which are hugely popular but attract limited advertising profitable assets for a sports broadcaster?

     

    With spur in economic developments and maturing viewership preferences, sports viewership in the country has moved from a single sport to a multi-sport consumption. Compelling alternate sports have now taken a step ahead, and we are seeing their popularity permeate down amongst the Indian audiences leading to increased overall demand for alternate sports.  While certain sports like cricket are extremely advertiser friendly due to their format, others like football, badminton, etc have higher limitations in terms of advertising.  But these sports can be profitable especially with the advent of digitisation and the improving subscription market.

     

    With phase III and IV scheduled do you see a substantial upward growth in subscription revenues?

     

     Digitisation is clearly beneficial for sports broadcasting and some of the benefits are already visible from the first two phases.  Phase III and phase IV will help in continuing this growth and would be clearly positive for the industry.

     

    How can a non-cricket sport or a sport with limited ad room turn profitable for broadcasters?

     

    We are currently in a very exciting decade for sports consumption with viewership patterns and preferences showing a particular change over the previous years.  Non-cricket sports have been at the forefront of growth in the country and fans are increasingly connecting with these sports.  Eventually, profitability is clearly a factor dependent on viewer acceptance besides costs.  It is not possible to have a generic answer that applies for all non-cricket sports as it would be a case specific.  If a particular sport has found strong viewer acceptance, profitability will definitely follow irrespective of advertising inventory constraints.

  • Multi Screen Media rebrands as Sony Pictures Networks

    Multi Screen Media rebrands as Sony Pictures Networks

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media, which was earlier known as Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India, has rebranded as Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) in India as the company marks its 20th year in the country. SPN will be a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

     

    It was back in December 2007 that SET India was renamed as Multi Screen Media (MSM). The then CEO of the company Kunal Dasgupta had said that the new name was reflective of the company’s evolution from a pure television broadcaster to a multimedia one. And that was exactly what the company did. Today, SPN’s bouquet of channels includes a range of channels like Sony Entertainment Television (SET), Max, Max 2, Sab, Pix, AXN, Aath, Mix, Six and Kix as well as the digital entertainment channel Liv.

     

    PlNow, as Sony completes its two decade run in the country, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) president of worldwide networks Andy Kaplan said of the re-branding, “Our channels in India represent an important part of Sony Pictures Television’s global portfolio and we are proud to be part of the fabric of the diverse Indian culture. As we celebrate bringing the best entertainment to viewers in India for 20 years, it’s only fitting that these networks be branded as part of our Sony family. Like the Sony brand, which stands for innovation, creativity and delight, SPN brings the same qualities to our viewers.”

     

    SPN CEO NP Singh added,  “As MSM, we’ve served television audiences worldwide for the last 20 years, during which time we pioneered new formats, new shows and actually set the trends for television entertainment. We changed the dynamics of how cricket and cinema were viewed on Indian television and contoured a variety of genres in TV entertainment. So while Kaun Banega Crorepati and Dus Ka Dum created new waves in television gaming, and Boogie Woogie and Indian Idol brought the commoner’s talent on the telly, we were also the first ones to embrace the cultural fabric of India by providing Sab – an out-and-out family humour channel.”

  • What the MSM-ESPN deal means

    What the MSM-ESPN deal means

    MUMBAI: When the enemy looks extremely threatening, you bring in allies to help you do battle. And if your ally is a friend-turned-foe of your enemy, it makes the war that much more interesting. And combative.

     

    We are referring to what’s about to happen in the Indian sports television ecosystem. Multi Screen Media India (Sony Entertainment Television India) has struck a deal with the US-based mega sportscaster ESPN Inc under which it will be helping bring in the brand once again into the country as its partner. 

     

    ESPN was Star TV’s former mate in Asia until 2012 wherein they ran and distributed channels in several Asian countries jointly including in India.

     

    The current MSM-ESPN agreement is for the long term and will be for India and the Indian sub-continent. The joint venture will see new co-branded sports channels, a multisport website and an app rolling out over the next few months. The companies will also be working together to develop original sports programs, something which has been sorely lacking in India, with the exception of a couple of them on Star India’s sports channels.

     
    As a first step of the union, MSM’s sports channel Sony Kix is being rebranded as Sony ESPN.

     

    It’s interesting that the two are exchanging vows at the time they are.

     

    The IPL bids are slated to take place next year and the buzz is that Star India is likely to take the bidding to close to the $4 billion mark for all rights. With Sony-ESPN combining their resources and putting up a common front, they are quite likely to put up a stiff fight against Star India. (Others who could throw in a bid include Zee Telefilms and Discovery’s Eurosport). And not just at the IPL auctions but also for all the other sports rights when they come up for renewal.

     

    “However,” a high ranking Sony International Television executive told Indiantelevision.com, “there is no way pricing for the IPL could go up four times. A multiplier of two times or three times over the previous bid is conceivable but above that will make it a big losing proposition.”

     

    What’s also of interest is how Disney is shaping its presence in India. Its family entertainment initiatives got a leg up when it invested in acquiring Ronnie Screwvala’s UTV a few years ago. This deal gave it access to UTV Motion Pictures as well as channels such as Bindass and Hungama.

     

    Disney India recently severed its distribution alliance with IndiaCast Media – part of Viacom18 and has been reaching out to satellite and cable TV platforms to strike deals with them directly.

     

    Now with Disney’s sports offshoot ESPN partnering with MSM, one will have to see whether the latter’s distribution arm MSM Media Distribution resources will be used to shore up the efforts of the distribution team at Disney India. Or will the two work totally independently?

     

    Sports programming in India is likely to also get a shot in the arm. ESPN is renowned for its studio-based shows and live coverage of events. Live sports content in the deal includes major US college football (including the College Football Playoff and comprehensive coverage of the college football bowl season); major US college basketball (including the March Madness NCAA Championship Tournaments); NCAA college sport championships from baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer; Boxing (including Premier Boxing Champions and ESPN’s Big Fights Library); X Games; ESPN Films Emmy-Award Winning 30 For 30 documentaries amongst others.

     

    What’s also relevant is the fact that both ESPN and MSM are going hell for leather after digital content properties too. The duo has its eyes on developing a co-branded localized multi-sport website and app, which will provide coverage of cricket, football, tennis, the NBA, badminton, field hockey and more. The sports content – both video and text – will be delivered on MSM’s OTT platform Sony Liv, and sonyliv.com as well as highly popular cricket portal espncricinfo.com.  

     

    Each of these websites, television channels and OTT platforms will be used to cross promote each other, giving it tremendous marketing heft.  Additionally, their social media presence is to be beefed up in order to give sports lovers a destination to engage with each other and with their sports stars.
     
     

    The whole in this case is going to be greater than the sum of the two parts. With the entry of a rejuvenated ESPN into India, the entire sports broadcasting ecosystem is likely to see rapid improvements as more money will be pumped in by both Star and the American sportscaster along with MSM.

     

    And this is going to be a win-win for the various administrations, associations, players and professionals,   team owners, and vendors involved in sports and sports broadcasting – and ultimately the sports fan.

  • MSM & ESPN collaborate to launch sports channels in India; Sony Kix rebranded

    MSM & ESPN collaborate to launch sports channels in India; Sony Kix rebranded

    MUMBAI: Disney’s sports broadcaster ESPN, which exited the Indian market in 2012, is yet again eyeing the lucrative market here albeit with a different joint venture partner. 

     

    After dissolving its 50:50 joint venture with Star India in 2012, ESPN has now joined hands with Multi Screen Media (MSM). The two companies have entered into a long-term agreement in India and the Indian subcontinent.

     

    Through the collaboration, MSM and ESPN will bring new offerings including new co-branded sports channels and as well as a multi-sport website and app. The companies will also be exploring avenues on developing original sports programs.

     

    As a part of this deal, MSM’s sports channel Sony Kix will be rebranded as Sony ESPN. The two companies will also launch other new channels in the coming months. Along with Sony Six, all the channels will deliver a powerful sports lineup to sports fans.

     

    In collaboration with MSM, ESPN will launch a co-branded localized multisport website and app, which will provide coverage of cricket, football, tennis, the NBA, badminton, field hockey and more.

     

    MSM’s OTT platform Sony Liv will also benefit from the collaboration, increasing its current sports offerings significantly. 

     

    ESPNcricinfo, the digital cricket destination in India and globally, will continue to deliver comprehensive coverage and will complement and cross-promote the new digital properties and sports channels.

     

    Among the new co-branded multisport website, sonyliv.com and espncricinfo.com, sports fan will receive sports content from across categories, geographies and time zones.

     

    There will be a robust social media presence for the new co-branded media platforms and, an online programming guide for television.

     

    Components of the collaboration require regulatory approvals, for which the process is currently underway.

     

    Multi Screen Media CEO NP Singh said, “Our partnership with ESPN is just what the sports aficionado has been waiting for. Stylized, insightful sports content presented by the best sportscasters in the business. For consumers in India and the subcontinent, sports television viewing will change dramatically since they will soon have access not only to more content but also the widest array of sports lineup, ever available.”

     

    He further added, “MSM’s association with ESPN is holistic and embraces both television and digital formats. Not only are we about to set the frontiers in sports content and distribution but we will most likely set the trends as well. Going further, both companies will also explore collaboration on the development of other original sports programs.”

     

    ESPN International executive vice president and managing director Russell Wolff said, “ESPN’s focus around the world is simple: to serve sports fans. This exciting, long-term collaboration between ESPN and MSM will serve Indian sports fans with exceptional products, content and coverage through the combined strengths and expertise of our two companies, which each have a strong heritage of leadership and innovation in India. We are very excited to be working with Sony, one of the leading television channels in India, on the opportunities that lie ahead.”

     

    MSM’s current sports rights portfolio in India includes the UEFA Euro 2016, top European football leagues (including La Liga, The FA Cup and Serie A), the NBA, the NFL, the IRB Rugby World Cup, UFC, TNA Wrestling and NASCAR amongst others.

     

    ESPN will add to that by delivering more than 1000 hours of programming per year from its portfolio of sports rights, original programming and studio programs. Live sports content in the deal includes major US college football (including the College Football Playoff and comprehensive coverage of the college football bowl season); major US college basketball (including the March Madness NCAA Championship Tournaments); NCAA college sport championships from baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer; Boxing (including Premier Boxing Champions and ESPN’s Big Fights Library); X Games; ESPN Films Emmy-Award Winning 30 For 30 documentaries amongst others.

     

    In its previous 16 year long stint in India via the joint venture with Star India, ESPN Software India operated ESPN Star Sports’ India ops. The channels under it included ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket. Over the last few years post the exit of ESPN, Star India’s sports game has been upped by several notches with the launch of multiple sports channels under the Star Sports brand name as well as lucrative leagues for sports  such as Kabbadi, football et al.

     

    With MSM and ESPN’s ambitous plans to launch multiple sports channels as well as original sports properties, the sports broadcasting scenario is likely to receive a major impetus. Moreover, with competition heating up in the space, when the rights for the marquee tournament – Indian Premier League (IPL) come up for bidding again in 2019 the acquisition price is likely to sky rocket.