Ten Sports Network

Sony Pictures to acquire Ten Sports from Zee

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) today announced that SPN and its affiliates have entered into definitive agreements to acquire TEN Sports Network from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE) and its subsidiaries for 385 million U.S. dollars. Completion of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition will add South Asia’s leading sports network to SPN’s existing portfolio of channels.

The TEN Sports channels being acquired include TEN 1, TEN 1 HD, TEN 2, TEN 3, TEN Golf HD, TEN Cricket, TEN Sports that operate in several countries including the Indian sub-continent, Maldives, Singapore, Hong Kong, Middle East, Caribbean.

TEN Sports holds broadcast rights to major cricket boards (South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe). In addition, Ten Sports holds rights to wrestling (WWE), football (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, French League, English Football League Cup), tennis (WTA Events, ATP events), golf (European Tour, Asian Tour, Ryder Cup, US PGA Championship, LPGA Tour, Professional Golf Tour of India and Golf Channel Block), athletics (Asian Games, Commonwealth Games), motor sports (Moto GP) and cycling (Tour de France) events.

Long a television destination for sports fans, SPN sports properties include cricket (IPL, CPL, Ram Slam), football (FIFA 2018 World Cup Russia, UEFA Euro 2016, FIFA World Events including FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 in India, European and South American Qualifiers for FIFA WC 2018, FIFA Confederations Cup, LaLiga, Serie A, FA Cup, Copa America Centenario, International Champions Cup), tennis (Australian Open, ATP 1000 and 500 World Tour Events, Champions Tennis League), fight sports (TNA, UFC, Pro Wrestling League), basketball (NBA) as well as NFL and Premier Futsal.

Comment from NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India

“I welcome TEN Sports to the Sony family. The acquisition of TEN Sports Network will strengthen SPN’s offering for viewers of cricket, football and fight sports, complementing our existing portfolio of international and domestic sporting properties. It also aptly demonstrates SPN’s commitment to providing a broad range of sporting entertainment to fans across India and the sub-continent.”

Comment from Andy Kaplan, President, Worldwide Networks, Sony Pictures Television

“India has been a strong driver of Sony Pictures’ growing networks business for two decades, and sports continue to play a significant role in that growth. The acquisition of TEN Sports, following the launch of SONY ESPN channels, will mean that our Indian networks would reach over 800 million viewers and broadcast many of the most popular and prestigious sporting events in the world.”

Comment from Punit Goenka, Managing Director, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE)

“This is a landmark deal for ZEE and a step towards a strategic portfolio shuffle as we grow our general entertainment business both in the domestic and overseas markets. While we have grown our sports business over the last 10 years through acquisition of content at competitive prices, our focus now is on transforming ourselves into an all-round media and content company, comprising of five verticals, viz. broadcast, digital, films, live events, and international business; and we continue to move rapidly towards our set business goals. While I have always been proud of our sports business, I strongly believe that Sony will add more value to it by taking it to even greater heights. I wish them all the success.”

August 31, 2016

Sony Pictures to acquire Ten Sports from Zee

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) today announced that SPN and its affiliates have entered into definitive agreements to acquire TEN Sports Network from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE) and its subsidiaries for 385 million U.S. dollars. Completion of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition will add South Asia’s leading sports network to SPN’s existing portfolio of channels.

The TEN Sports channels being acquired include TEN 1, TEN 1 HD, TEN 2, TEN 3, TEN Golf HD, TEN Cricket, TEN Sports that operate in several countries including the Indian sub-continent, Maldives, Singapore, Hong Kong, Middle East, Caribbean.

TEN Sports holds broadcast rights to major cricket boards (South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe). In addition, Ten Sports holds rights to wrestling (WWE), football (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, French League, English Football League Cup), tennis (WTA Events, ATP events), golf (European Tour, Asian Tour, Ryder Cup, US PGA Championship, LPGA Tour, Professional Golf Tour of India and Golf Channel Block), athletics (Asian Games, Commonwealth Games), motor sports (Moto GP) and cycling (Tour de France) events.

Long a television destination for sports fans, SPN sports properties include cricket (IPL, CPL, Ram Slam), football (FIFA 2018 World Cup Russia, UEFA Euro 2016, FIFA World Events including FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 in India, European and South American Qualifiers for FIFA WC 2018, FIFA Confederations Cup, LaLiga, Serie A, FA Cup, Copa America Centenario, International Champions Cup), tennis (Australian Open, ATP 1000 and 500 World Tour Events, Champions Tennis League), fight sports (TNA, UFC, Pro Wrestling League), basketball (NBA) as well as NFL and Premier Futsal.

Comment from NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India

“I welcome TEN Sports to the Sony family. The acquisition of TEN Sports Network will strengthen SPN’s offering for viewers of cricket, football and fight sports, complementing our existing portfolio of international and domestic sporting properties. It also aptly demonstrates SPN’s commitment to providing a broad range of sporting entertainment to fans across India and the sub-continent.”

Comment from Andy Kaplan, President, Worldwide Networks, Sony Pictures Television

“India has been a strong driver of Sony Pictures’ growing networks business for two decades, and sports continue to play a significant role in that growth. The acquisition of TEN Sports, following the launch of SONY ESPN channels, will mean that our Indian networks would reach over 800 million viewers and broadcast many of the most popular and prestigious sporting events in the world.”

Comment from Punit Goenka, Managing Director, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE)

“This is a landmark deal for ZEE and a step towards a strategic portfolio shuffle as we grow our general entertainment business both in the domestic and overseas markets. While we have grown our sports business over the last 10 years through acquisition of content at competitive prices, our focus now is on transforming ourselves into an all-round media and content company, comprising of five verticals, viz. broadcast, digital, films, live events, and international business; and we continue to move rapidly towards our set business goals. While I have always been proud of our sports business, I strongly believe that Sony will add more value to it by taking it to even greater heights. I wish them all the success.”

August 31, 2016

ZEEL files Ten Sports sale details with BSE

MUMBAI: Further to the announcement of the acquisition of its Ten Sports Network by Sony Pictures Networks India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issued a disclosure report to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) giving further details of the deal.

ZEEL stated that the sports broadcasting is housed under two companies: Taj TV Ltd, Mauritius and Taj Television (India) Pvt Ltd. The first is a step down foreign subsidiary which is involved in the broadcasting and distribution of sports content through the TEN brand of TV channels owned by it and has broadcasting rights to various sports events, including those from five cricket boards. Taj Television, a domestic wholly owned subsidiary, acts as an exclusive agent in India for down-linking, marketing, distributing and ad sales of the channels owned by Taj TV.

It further elaborated that the sports broadcasting business contributed Rs 631 crore (net of inter company transactions), constituting 10.79 per cent of the consolidated revenue and a loss of Rs 37.20 crore in FY2015-2016.

The sale deed involves SPN India, picking up ZEEL’s entire stake in the Indian subsidiary. Taj TV Mauritius would on a slump sale basis be selling its sports broadcasting business to Aqua Holdings Investments, Mauritius and MSM Asia Ltd, UK –affiliates of Sony Pictures Networks.

The company states that the entire transaction would take four to five months to be completed and is subject to regulatory approvals and also certain precedent conditions being fulfilled.

August 31, 2016

ZEEL files Ten Sports sale details with BSE

MUMBAI: Further to the announcement of the acquisition of its Ten Sports Network by Sony Pictures Networks India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issued a disclosure report to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) giving further details of the deal.

ZEEL stated that the sports broadcasting is housed under two companies: Taj TV Ltd, Mauritius and Taj Television (India) Pvt Ltd. The first is a step down foreign subsidiary which is involved in the broadcasting and distribution of sports content through the TEN brand of TV channels owned by it and has broadcasting rights to various sports events, including those from five cricket boards. Taj Television, a domestic wholly owned subsidiary, acts as an exclusive agent in India for down-linking, marketing, distributing and ad sales of the channels owned by Taj TV.

It further elaborated that the sports broadcasting business contributed Rs 631 crore (net of inter company transactions), constituting 10.79 per cent of the consolidated revenue and a loss of Rs 37.20 crore in FY2015-2016.

The sale deed involves SPN India, picking up ZEEL’s entire stake in the Indian subsidiary. Taj TV Mauritius would on a slump sale basis be selling its sports broadcasting business to Aqua Holdings Investments, Mauritius and MSM Asia Ltd, UK –affiliates of Sony Pictures Networks.

The company states that the entire transaction would take four to five months to be completed and is subject to regulatory approvals and also certain precedent conditions being fulfilled.

August 31, 2016

WWE’S destiny live on smackdown

MUMBAI: The destiny of all WWE Superstars will be determined on the first-ever live SmackDown onWednesday, July 20 at 5:30am IST on Ten Sports Network. A draft will be conducted by respective General Managers as to which talent will be chosen exclusively for Monday Night Raw® or SmackDown.

For the first time in history on back-to-back nights, these two distinctive brands (Monday Night Raw and Tuesday’sSmackDown) will compete with each other for television ratings, live events, and pay-per-views.

“This is an exciting new era for WWE in which we will yet again reinvent ourselves by creating a second night of compelling live television,” said Kevin Dunn, Executive Producer, WWE.

“The new live format of SmackDown is something that WWE viewers in India have been waiting to experience. Our audience is eagerly anticipating the live draft and can’t wait to see what in store for their favorite Superstars,” said Rajesh Sethi, Global CEO, Ten Sports Network

With 878 original episodes, SmackDown is the second longest-running weekly episodic program in U.S. television history, only behind Monday Night Raw at 1,203 episodes.

June 22, 2016

WWE’S destiny live on smackdown

MUMBAI: The destiny of all WWE Superstars will be determined on the first-ever live SmackDown onWednesday, July 20 at 5:30am IST on Ten Sports Network. A draft will be conducted by respective General Managers as to which talent will be chosen exclusively for Monday Night Raw® or SmackDown.

For the first time in history on back-to-back nights, these two distinctive brands (Monday Night Raw and Tuesday’sSmackDown) will compete with each other for television ratings, live events, and pay-per-views.

“This is an exciting new era for WWE in which we will yet again reinvent ourselves by creating a second night of compelling live television,” said Kevin Dunn, Executive Producer, WWE.

“The new live format of SmackDown is something that WWE viewers in India have been waiting to experience. Our audience is eagerly anticipating the live draft and can’t wait to see what in store for their favorite Superstars,” said Rajesh Sethi, Global CEO, Ten Sports Network

With 878 original episodes, SmackDown is the second longest-running weekly episodic program in U.S. television history, only behind Monday Night Raw at 1,203 episodes.

June 22, 2016

TEN SPORTS Network says ‘Never Stop’

MUMBAI: Ten Sports Network today (29 March 2016) announced a new identity for its bouquet of sports channels with ‘Never Stop’ as the network positioning. Taking forward the bold, young, dynamic, dauntless outlook for the Network.

As earlier flashed by Indiantelevision.com, the network will also be re-branding its existing bouquet of channels as TEN 1, TEN 2, TEN 3 and TEN 1HD respectively. The new logos and positioning will be officially unveiled on air on Friday, 1st April 2016.

Ten Sports Network Global CEO Mr. Rajesh Sethi, said, “As a sports network, we have been continuously providing high quality sports programming from across the world, for our viewers. Over the years, we have been enhancing our sports offerings, starting with the launch of TEN SPORTS in 2002, followed by the launch of a 24X7 cricket channel, TEN CRICKET in August 2010, the only dedicated golf channel in this part of the world, TEN GOLF, in March 2012 and then a premium HD channel, TEN HD, in April 2012. In August 2015, TEN SPORTS embarked on a new journey with the launch of a consolidated network rebranding – the TEN SPORTS Network, as well as the launch of TEN GOLF HD to offer the best of golf in HD. Our rebranding effort signals the start of a new era, a contemporary and energized approach to how the network views its sport sphere, with maximum excitement and engagement for its viewers.”

Elaborating further on the new channel identity, Sethi added, “As we bring across a variety of sports and sportainment for our viewers from across the world, at times it becomes a hurdle to allocate content to a particular sports-specific channel. In order to break free from sports-specific channels, we are taking the numeric route. We strive to bring international-quality sports to our viewers and we want them to watch sports as it is consumed internationally with numeric-based channels. It is our endeavour to ‘Never Stop’ delivering sporting action to our fans.”

“TEN SPORTS Network’s logo as well as the individual channel logos, have been designed keeping in mind the elements of action and dynamism, as well as immediacy and the spirit to achieve. These powerful thoughts behind the logos point to the Italic nature of the fonts used. The flame has been an intrinsic part of TEN SPORTS’ identity since inception and it has consciously been retained to maintain a connection with viewers, even while it is now surrounded by the new and dynamic network and individual channel fonts,” the network explained through a media statement.

Post rebranding, the network will be spreading content equally amongst all the channels so that viewers are exposed to the maximum of sports programming. TEN 1 will focus on WWE Weekly Shows & Specials, TEN 2 on UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup & other football content, as well as US Open, Moto GP and Tour de France, while TEN 3’s primary focus will be Cricket from South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. Among the HD channels, TEN 1 HD will broadcast the best of content from across the TEN SPORTS Network’s SD Channels while TEN GOLF HD will primarily showcase premium golf content including the European tour, Asian Tour, Rider Cup and US PGA Championship.

As a part of its rebranding, Ten Sports Network will also roll out a brand new logo for TENSPORTS.COM which has now become synonymous with the TEN SPORTS Network. TENSPORTS.COM will showcase extensive live sports content with a special focus on Video-On-Demand. The live streaming will include top-class football content from UEFA Champions League and Europa League, including matches that are not broadcast on TV, as well as content from Ligue 1, I-League, Cricket from across the five boards, Tennis, Golf, Moto GP multi-angle feeds and much more.

The brand refresh will also be accompanied by an extensive new programming rollout which will be developed via insights from new media and fan involvement to the greatest extent. Ten Sports Network has already started producing content in Hindi and plans to expand into other regional languages as well, going ahead.

March 29, 2016