ITV

Tag: Star India

  • De-mon contributes to lower international ad revenue at 21st Century Fox

    BENGALURU: Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox (TFC-Fox) reported five per cent decline in net income attributable to TFC-Fox stockholders (net income) for the quarter ending 31 March 2017 (Q3-17, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding periods of the previous fiscal.  The company’s Q3-17 net income was $799 million as compared to $841 million in Q3-16. As reported by us earlier, (21st Century Fox outlook on Star bullish despite $30 million DeMon Hit), TFC-Fox CFO John Nallen, in conversation with analysts had admitted that Star too ‘got affected’ from last quarter to first quarter of 2017 to the extent of $30 million.

    Demonetisation in India partially contributed to the drop in revenue in Q3-17 going by some statements in TFC-Fox’s earnings release for Q3-17. The company’s press release says: “International advertising revenue decreased 18 percent from lower advertising revenues at Star India due to the absence of the prior year broadcast of the ICC Cricket World Twenty20 matches and the effect of the Indian government demonetization initiatives on the general advertising market. Quarterly OIBDA at the international cable channels increased 44 percent from the prior year quarter primarily reflecting lower sports programming costs at STAR India and higher contributions from Fox Networks Group International (FNGI).”

    Advertising revenue in the current quarter increased 15.5 percent to $2,203 million from $1,907 million. Affiliate Fees in Q3-17 increased 7.5 percent to $3,160 million from $2,939 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Content revenue in Q3-17 declined 9.2 percent to $2,078 million from $2,288 million in Q3-16. Other revenue increased 30.9 percent to $123 million from $94 million.

    Overall TFC-Fox revenue in the current quarter increased 4.6 percent to $7,564 million as compared to $7,228 million in Q3-16. Total operating income before depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) for the quarter increased 3 percent to $1,938 million from $1,881 million in the year ago quarter.

    Commenting on the results, TFC-Fox executive chairmen Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch said, “We delivered a quarter marked by operational momentum and strong domestic affiliate fee growth. We continue to demonstrate our ability to capture opportunities to grow distribution of our domestic portfolio of video brands, whether through established MVPD partners or new digital entrants such as Hulu’s recently launched live television service. We made progress in the quarter against our key strategic priorities, exemplified by our creative successes across screens, from theatrical releases Logan and Hidden Figures to new FX debuts of Legion, Feud and Taboo. Our proposed combination with Sky, which was recently approved unconditionally by the European Commission, will advance another of our strategic priorities, driving innovation for customers. We remain confident the proposed transaction will be approved by the end of the calendar year following a thorough review process.”

    Three segments contribute to TFC-Fox numbers: Cable Network Programming (Star India is a part of Cable Network Programming); Television; and Filmed Entertainment.

    Cable Network Programming

    Cable Network Programming quarterly segment OIBDA increased 5 percent to $1.45 billion and revenue increased 2 percent to $4.02 billion.

    Expenses were consistent with the prior year quarter as higher entertainment programming and marketing costs at FX Networks and National Geographic Channels, higher National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) rights costs at FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and higher National Basketball Association (NBA) rights costs at the regional sports networks (RSNs) wereoffset by lower sports rights costs at STAR India due to the absence of the prior year broadcast of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Twenty20 matches.

    Domestic affiliate revenue increased 8 percent reflecting continued contractual rate increases led by Fox News, FS1, the RSNs and FX Networks. Domestic advertising revenue was flat over the prior year period as the impact of higher ratings at Fox News and FS1 was offset by lower revenues at the National Geographic Partners businesses. Domestic OIBDA contributions were equal to the prior year quarter as higher contributions from Fox News were offset by lower contributions from FX Networks and National Geographic Channels.

    International affiliate revenue increased 5 percent driven by local currency growth of 7 percent partially offset by negative currency impacts from the strengthened U.S. dollar. International advertising revenue decreased 18 percent from lower advertising revenues at Star India due to the absence of the prior year broadcast of the ICC Cricket World Twenty20 matches and the effect of the Indian government demonetization initiatives on the general advertising market. Quarterly OIBDA at the international cable channels increased 44 percent from the prior year quarter primarily reflecting lower sports programming costs at STAR India and higher contributions from Fox Networks Group International.

    TELEVISION

    Television reported quarterly segment OIBDA of $190 million, an increase of 52 percent as compared to the prior year quarter driven by 30 percent revenue growth reflecting increased advertising revenue and continued growth of retransmission consent revenues.

    Quarterly advertising revenues grew 39 percent from the corresponding period of the prior year driven by the broadcast of Super Bowl LI and the inclusion of one additional National Football League divisional playoff game, partially offset by the impact from lower general entertainment ratings, led by the absence of American Idol, which concluded its final season in the prior year. The segment results also included higher sports programming costs associated with the broadcast of Super Bowl LI and the additional National Football League divisional playoff game.

    FILMED ENTERTAINMENT

    Filmed Entertainment generated quarterly segment OIBDA of $373 million, a $97 million decrease from the $470 million reported in the same period a year-ago. The OIBDA decrease in the current quarter was driven primarily by lower film studio contributions reflecting difficult comparisons to last year’s strong worldwide theatrical performance of Deadpool and the home entertainment performance of The Martian, partially offset by higher television production contributions from higher subscription video-on demand revenues led by the licensing of The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story and higher network revenue.

    Quarterly segment revenues decreased $65 million to $2.26 billion, primarily reflecting lower worldwide theatrical and home entertainment revenues partially offset by higher television production revenues. Quarterly results also included the successful theatrical performances of both Logan and Hidden Figures, which have grossed approximately $600 million and $230 million in worldwide box office, respectively.

  • Star India’s Parul Sharma puts in her papers

    MUMBAI: Parul Sharma, after 14 years with Star TV in India, has decided to enter the next orbit of her professional as well as creative life. She however plans be be around in a different avatar. “I’m only leaving Star, but not communications,” she says.

    A rewarding career in broadcasting and media management has given her the privilege of interacting with opinion makers from politics, journalism, business, bureaucracy, academia, arts and entertainment. “They’ll continue to be an intellectual asset and inspiration,” she says.

    In a career spanning over two decades, she had the opportunity to be a part of the media evolution in India.

    As the Star TV corporate communications head and spokesperson, she was responsible for developing strategies for the group’s 40 properties. “A leadership role in India’s largest media network has taught me how innovative thinking alone could generate growth in these challenging times,” she says.

  • Pro-Kabaddi and Vivo sign five-year title sponsorship deal

    MUMBAI: Pro-Kabaddi League has signed on Vivo as the title sponsor for five years. The upcoming fifth Pro-Kabaddi season will have contests with up to 12 teams and more than 130 matches spread across 13 weeks. Vivo Pro-Kabaddi Season 5 will kick off in July 2017 on Star Sports.

    Through this association, Vivo aims to strengthen its consumer connect with the audience across India as Pro-Kabaddi League is the second most followed sport after cricket. This will help in achieving a stronger brand recall and excellent visibility for the brand.

    Speaking about Vivo Pro-Kabaddi, Star India managing director Sanjay Gupta said, “Vivo happens to share a common vision with Star Sports to make Pro Kabaddi one of the finest leagues in the world. Vivo coming on board as the title sponsor is a significant milestone in the growth story of the league. Star Sports will continue its efforts to elevate the stature of the sport further.”

    Pro Kabaddi has seen a phenomenal growth over the last four seasons with packed stadia and record viewership numbers, emerging as a benchmark for sports leagues in India. Significantly, the high popularity of Pro Kabaddi has evoked continually surging sponsor interest. This fast-growing interest from across the ecosystem reflects the national appeal of the sport.

    Speaking on the occasion, Vivo India CEO Kent Cheng said, “This association is important for us as Pro Kabaddi League has reached incredible heights and now proudly stands as one of the most successful leagues in India.”

    Earlier seasons have shown that Kabaddi is a sport the popularity of which cuts across all audience. With this association, Vivo aims to target the right audience and capture the hearts of Indians.

  • SC stays new TRAI tariff, asks Madras HC to complete hearing in four weeks

    MUMBAI: The Supreme Court of India has granted a stay on TRAI’s new tariff orders. A division bench of the court comprising Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose agreed to the demand of Star India, thus staying the new tariff order and interconnect regulations. 

    Industry sources told www.indiantelevision.com, “The apex court has asked the Madras High Court to complete the hearing within four weeks.” “The case will be heard on a day-to-day basis from 12 June — the date of the next hearing scheduled by the Madras High Court,” the sources added.

    The Supreme Court today (Monday, 8 May) heard the appeal by Star India and Vijay TV challenging the order of the Madras High Court which refused to stay the DAS tariff order of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. TRAI TV reference interconnect offer (RIO) and Quality of service order (QoS) had formally come into effect on 2 May following the order of the High Court.

    High Court Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar had directed the main petition of the broadcasters to be heard on 12 June. However, the court had said Section 3 of the Tariff order and all other consequences of such implementation/enforcement would be subject to the outcome of the main petition. The broadcasters had challenged the order of TRAI on the grounds that it had no jurisdiction over content, and that it actually came under the Copyright Act, which is not administered by TRAI, but by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, as of last year.

    Apart from the tariff order which had originally been issued on 10 October last year, the regulator also issued the DAS Interconnect Regulations on 14 October, and the Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Digital Addressable Systems) Regulations issued the same day (10 October).

    Also Read:

    Hearing of Star – TRAI case begins before MHC chief justice

    Decks cleared for TRAI tariff order implementation as HC declines stay (updated)

  • Star India appeal in SC challenging TRAI’s HC verdict slated for Monday

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is expected to hear on 8 May the appeal by Star India and Vijay TV challenging the order of the Madras High Court refusing to stay the DAS tariff order of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Kehar had earlier this week said the matter would come up for hearing in due course.  

    Meanwhile, TRAI TV reference interconnect offer (RIO) and Quality of service order (QoS) came into effect from 2 May following the order of the High Court.

    High Court Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar had directed the main petition by Star India and Vijay TV to be heard on 12 June. However, the court had said Section 3 of the Tariff order and all other consequences of such implementation/enforcement would be subject to the outcome of the main petition.

    The broadcasters had challenged the order of TRAI on the grounds that it had no jurisdiction over content, and that actually came under Copyright Act, which is not administered by TRAI.

    Apart from the Tariff order which had originally been issued on 10 October last year, the regulator also issued the DAS Interconnect Regulations which had been issued on 14 October last year, and the Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Digital Addressable Systems) Regulations which had been issued on 10 October last year.

    Also Read:

    Hearing of Star – TRAI case begins before MHC chief justice

    Decks cleared for TRAI tariff order implementation as HC declines stay (updated)

  • Kamal Haasan to host Bigg Boss’s debut on Tamil TV

    BENGALURU: Endemol Shine’s Big Brother format under its Indian sobriquet Bigg Boss is all set to make its Tamil television debut on Star India’s Tamil GEC Star Vijay on 18 June 2017. The host of the show will be Indian film icon Kamal Haasan. The format of the show will be the same as the Bigg Boss season 10 format that closed in end January this year on Network 18’s Hindi GEC channel Colors. The Kannada version’s season 4 which also closed in mid-January on Network 18’s Colors Kannada was quite successful.

    Sources at Star Vijay claim that the show on their channel will be on an even bigger scale than the Hindi version. They say that an exclusive and a massive house, bigger than the Hindi version, was being built at EVP World Theme Park in Chennai.

    “We are keen to leverage the uniqueness of the format , the reality appetite of Tamil audiences and a great host like Kamal Haasan, not only to drive ratings, but to put out cutting edge and innovative content,” said Vijay TV GM Krishnan Kutty.

    On his first foray into television, Haasan said, “When Vijay TV approached me to play host , I funnily quipped , who better than me right, all my life have been under a constant watch and have been judged on whatever I have done , public or private. But, now roles are reversed as I would stand with the audience and watch these celebrities in the house survive this ordeal.”

    Bigg Boss Tamil will air on weekdays (Monday to Friday) at 900 pm and between 830pm and 10pm on weekends. The show would see the coming together of 15 celebrities in a posh house with all the amenities but who are completely cut off from technology and the outside world for 100 days. The channel is filtering participants. It says that people from varied backgrounds are being spoken to and the reception has been enthusiastic, given Kamal Haasan is the host.

    Sources say that a massive marketing plan has been formulated with more than 400 outdoor sites, full page advertisements in all the leading English and Tamil dailies and weekly magazines and Radio Specials have been planned as well. Digital tie up has been firmed up with Facebook, Twitter and Google they aver.

    While details of sponsors and major advertisers were not available at the time of writing, the channel says that national advertisers who have experienced the euphoria of Bigg Boss Hindi are the primary movers. However, Chennai is a powerful and strong retail market and hence the local market will also be an active participant, they say.

  • No advancing of Star India hearing in TRAI tariff case: SC

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has declined early hearing of an appeal by Star India and Vijay TV against the order of the Madras High Court refusing to stay the DAS tariff order of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Kehar said the matter would come up for hearing in due course.   

    The matter was raised through a mention by counsel for Star TV, as the TRAI TV reference interconnect offer (RIO) and Quality of service order (QoS) are to come into effect from tomorrow following the order of the High Court.

    High Court Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar had directed the main petition by Star India and Vijay TV to be heard on 12 June. However, the court had said Section 3 of the Tariff order and all other consequences of such implementation/enforcement would be subject to the outcome of the main petition.

    The broadcasters had challenged the order of TRAI on the grounds that it had no jurisdiction over content, and that actually came under Copyright Act, which is not administered by TRAI.

    The Court said the petitioners had not made out a strong and prima facie case for interim stay. It also said that it had noted that the situation prevailing on 3 March 2017 when the order was issued and that prevailing today ‘has not changed so drastically’ as to warrant an interim stay. The Court said that it had also kept in view the larger public plea made by the Government counsel.

    Earlier, TRAI had issued the orders on 3 March after getting the green signal from the apex court even as the broadcasters case was pending in the High Court.

    Apart from the Tariff order which had originally been issued on 10 October last year, the regulator also issued the DAS Interconnect Regulations which had been issued on 14 October last year, and the Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Digital Addressable Systems) Regulations which had been issued on 10 October last year.

    The orders can be seen at:
    http://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Tariff_Order_English_3%20March_20…
    http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/QOS_Regulation_03_03_2017.pdf
    http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Interconnection_Regulation_03…

    Also Read:

    Hearing of Star – TRAI case begins before MHC chief justice

    Decks cleared for TRAI tariff order implementation as HC declines stay (updated)

  • SintecMedia & Lotame bring dynamic audience targeting to broadcast TV

    MUMBAI: SintecMedia and Lotame have announced plans for an integration that will deliver audience segments from the Lotame DMP directly to SintecMedia’s frontend proposal system, OnBoard. SintecMedia is the preferred broadcast management for linear and digital, and a software partner for over 300 of the top media brands including CBS, ABC, AT&T, Star India, Seven Australia and Sky.

    By connecting detailed viewership data with Lotame’s audience data, local sellers can offer enhanced targeting to clients. The partnership enables media companies to understand how targets overlay with their available inventory for more accurate pricing and scale during the proposal phase, and then optimize delivery across TV, video and mobile platforms for added value end-to-end.

    As major media companies announce cross-channel audience targeting products for advertisers, local broadcasters have been largely left out of such offerings, even as they compete most directly with digital audience targeting options such as search and social media. This partnership delivers a competitive product that unlocks audience targeting across TV, video and mobile platforms, creating a game changing offering for media companies.

    “As broadcasters, we are very pleased to see these kinds of partnerships develop because it shows that innovative companies are investing in the broadcast advertising ecosystem. These solutions provide a key benefit – a one-stop answer that enables cross-screen audience sales and improved yield optimisation for our advertising clients,” said Pearl TV MD Anne Schelle. Pearl is a business organisation of eight local TV broadcasting companies who operate more than 220 local stations.

    The partnership allows sellers to build audience-targeted proposals in real-time and deliver against audience goals more accurately using continually refreshed audience data. Clients who use Lotame’s TV DMP can now more easily index audiences against day-parts and programs on linear programming by passing that data to SintecMedia for execution and optimization. Additionally, SintecMedia clients can now use Lotame’s TV DMP to access and send 1st, 2nd and 3rd party audience data to SintecMedia’s platform. Sellers will be able to deliver competitive products to buyers, streamline and automate audience-based sales, and increase inventory demand and profit.

    “The partnership delivers the next level of multi-platform audience targeting at scale to local broadcasters,” said Lotame director of television & video innovation Ryan Reed. “SintecMedia and Lotame are both focused on maximizing profitability and control for media companies across TV, digital and mobile, and this partnership gives broadcasters the tools to compete in today’s fragmented marketplace.”

    “Workflow is the major issue facing broadcasters as they move to offer audience targeted products to buyers,” said SintecMedia president Lorne Brown. “This partnership drives the kind of ‘fast, easy, and big’ solutions that sellers need to compete with the walled gardens at the local level.”

  • Decks cleared for TRAI tariff order implementation as HC declines stay (updated)

    NEW DELHI: The Madras High Court has declined a petition to stay the tariff orders for cable TV by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India slated to come into effect from 2 May 2017.

    Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar directed the main petition by Star India and Vijay TV to be heard on 12 June. However, the court said that Section 3 of the Tariff order and all other consequences of such implementation/enforcement would be subject to the outcome of the main petition.

    The broadcasters had challenged the order of TRAI on the grounds that it had no jurisdiction over content,, and that actually came under Copyright Act, which is not administered by TRAI.

    The Court said the petitioners had not made out a strong and prima facie case for an interim stay. It also said that it had noted that the situation prevailing on 3 March 2017 when the order was issued and that prevailing today ‘has not changed so drastically’ so as to warrant an interim stay. The Court said that it had also kept in view the larger public plea made by the Government counsel.

    This implies that TRAI is now free to implement its tariff order, reference interconnect offer (RIO) and Quality of service order (QoS) from 2 May.

    The Court took note of the point made by TRAI counsel P Wilson that every broadcaster would publish its Reference Interconnect Offer on 2 May 2017. Any distributor interested in entering into an agreement would hold discussions with the broadcasters and agreements would be signed by 1 June 2017.

    However, the commercial operation/transactions under the agreement can start only from 1 September 2017.

    Although the Indian Broadcasting Federation had been impleaded and supported the plea for interim stay, the court said it had come to understand that many of the members of the IBF “are now in favour of the impugned interconnect regulations and the tariff order.”

    The Court had also allowed the All-India Digital Cable Federation which has around 10 MSOs operating pan-India under its wing to intervene and had opposed the plea for interim stay.

    Earlier, on 28 March, both the broadcasters had not pressed their plea for stay of the order after TRAI told the court that implementation of these orders had been postponed from 2 April to 2 May. TRAI had issued the tariff order, Quality of Service, and Reference Interconnect Agreement orders after getting clearance on 3 March from the Supreme Court.

    Hearing on the petition has had a chequered history with three judges recusing themselves. Though it was not clear, it appeared that the judges Justice S Nagamuthu, Justice Anita Sumanth and later Justice Govind Rajan had received letters which prompted them to withdraw from the case.

    The fresh petitions became necessary as the matter is being heard afresh by the bench headed by the chief justice

    Apart from the Tariff order which had originally been issued on 10 October last year, the regulator also issued the DAS Interconnect Regulations which had been issued on 14 October last year, and the Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Digital Addressable Systems) Regulations which had been issued on 10 October last year.

    The orders can be seen at:
    http://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Tariff_Order_English_3%20March_20…
    http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/QOS_Regulation_03_03_2017.pdf
    http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Interconnection_Regulation_03…

    Also read: Star – TRAI copyright case: In dramatic turn, Madras HC judges withdraw

    TRAI notifies tariff order implementation from 2 May, RIO in 60 days

  • HC orders on Star plea for stay on TRAI tariff today

    NEW DELHI: Orders are expected to be pronounced tomorrow on the application by Star India and Vijay TV in Madras High Court seeking a stay of the tariff orders issued by the regulator last month and slated to become effective 2 May 2017.

    Arguments concluded tomorrow after both the broadcasters and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India concluded their arguments.

    The broadcasters, who have challenged the jurisdiction of the TRAI in issuing relating to TV content, had on 28 March decided not to press for stay after the Court was informed by the regulator that it had decided to defer implementation of its tariff orders to 2 May instead of 2 April.

    TRAI had issued the tariff order, Quality of Service, and Reference Interconnect Agreement orders after getting clearance on 3 March from the Supreme Court, which had then directed the High Court to conclude the matter within sixty days.

    The case by the two broadcasters is that content falls under Copyright Act and does not come under the ambit of TRAI. The matter came up for hearing earlier this week in a bench headed by Madras High Court Chief Justice Indira Banerjee.

    Hearing on the petition, which has had a chequered history with three judges recusing themselves, commenced anew as it had gone before a new bench with the Chief Justice and Justice M Sundar.

    After counsel for the broadcasters, counsel for TRAI, Union of India, and the intervener All India Digital Cable Federation will be heard.

    Though it was not clear, it appeared that the judges Justice S Nagamuthu, Justice Anita Sumanth and later Justice Govind Rajan had received letters which prompted them to withdraw from the case.

    The fresh petition became necessary as the matter is being heard .

    Apart from the Tariff order which had originally been issued on 10 October last year, the regulator also issued the DAS Interconnect Regulations which had been issued on 14 October last year, and the Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Digital Addressable Systems) Regulations which had been issued on 10 October last year. The orders can be seen at:

    http://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Tariff_Order_English_3%20March_20…
    http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/QOS_Regulation_03_03_2017.pdf
    http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Interconnection_Regulation_03…

    Following these regulations, the broadcasters had filed an amended petition and TRAI had also replied to the same last week. Concluding his arguments for the broadcasters, senior counsel P Chidambaram argued that TRAI’s action of fixing tariff for TV content was in violation of the Copyright Act. He also submitted that TRAI did not have the jurisdiction to fix tariff since the exploitation of IPR was part of the Copyright Act.
    Also Read:

    Hearing of Star – TRAI case begins before MHC chief justice