Breaking News: MSM, ESPN join hands to launch co-branded channels, Sony to rechristen as Sony ESPN
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16-10-2015, 01:34 PM
Post: #1
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MSM, ESPN join hands to launch co-branded channels, Sony to rechristen as Sony ESPN
MUMBAI: American sports media brand ESPN is set to make its comeback to the Indian market after a gap of more than three years, courtesy of its long-term agreement with Multi Screen Media (MSM), a key player in India’s sports broadcast ecosystem.
While the structure of the deal is under wraps, the two companies will collaborate to launch new sports channels in the coming months, besides a co-branded localised multisport website and app that will provide coverage of cricket, football, tennis, the NBA, badminton, field hockey and more. The agreement will also see MSM’s football-oriented channel Sony Kix getting rebranded as Sony ESPN. Sony Six, however, will retain its identity. Components of the collaboration require regulatory approvals, for which the process is currently underway, the two companies said in a joint statement. ESPN was earlier present in India via its joint venture (JV) with Star Sports, earlier known as ESPN Star Sports. That JV was disbanded in 2012 with Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox (then News Corp) buying out ESPN’s 50 per cent stake for $335 million. Pursuant to that deal, ESPN was bound by a three-year non-compete clause. Now that the non-compete clause has ended, the iconic sports brand has once again turned its attention to the Indian sports market, which is on a major growth trajectory, thanks to the launch of local sporting leagues. Interestingly, while ESPN’s parent company The Walt Disney Company has presence in India through its subsidiary The Walt Disney Company India, which has interests in TV, digital, motion pictures and consumer products, ESPN has decided to enter India by partnering MSM. The combined might of MSM and ESPN will challenge the domination of Star India, which has been aggressively building up its sports business ever since it took control of the erstwhile ESS India business and rechristened it Star Sports Network. Backed by heavy investments, Star has secured BCCI and ICC rights apart from building a strong repertoire of local leagues like the Indian Super League (ISL), Pro Kabaddi League, Hockey India League and Indian Badminton League. It also boasts of strong football properties like Bundesliga and English Premier League. MSM, which has IPL as its tent-pole property, has a strong presence in football with properties like FIFA, UEFA Euro, La Liga, Serie A, and FA Cup. It also has a long-term deal with NBA, besides fight sports properties like UFA and TNA Wrestling. It will be interesting to see whether or not the two companies will jointly bid for sports rights going forward. Asked if MSM and ESPN will bid for upcoming sports rights jointly, MSM EVP and business head sports Prasana Krishnan said, “This will be evaluated on an ongoing basis.” The timing of the collaboration also coincides with cable TV digitisation, which is currently in its third phase, the deadline for which is 31 December. The entire country is expected to switch to digital by the end of 2016. Cable TV digitisation will bring in addressability, which will help broadcasters to grow their subscription revenue in a big way. Globally, subscription revenue is a big driver for sports but not so in India due to non-addressability. However, that is expected to change with digitisation. Nevertheless, challenges are galore as the multi-system operators (MSOs) are still not able to monetise their investments in Phases I and II due to dispute with local cable operators (LCOs) over revenue share. Talking about the collaboration, MSM CEO NP Singh said, “Our partnership with ESPN is just what the sports aficionado has been waiting for. Stylised, 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 line-up, ever available.” “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 programmes,” added Singh. ESPN International EVP and MD Russell Wolff added, “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, each of which has 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 Sony Liv will also benefit from the collaboration that will significantly increase its current sports offerings. 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. 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, NASCAR and more. ESPN will add to this repertoire by delivering more than 1,000 hours of programming per year from its portfolio of sports rights, original programming and studio programmes. Live sports content in the deal includes major US college football (including the College Football Playoff); major US college basketball (including the March Madness NCAA Championship); NCAA college sport championships from baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer; boxing (including Premier Boxing Champions); X Games; ESPN films such as Emmy-winning ’30 For 30′ and more. |
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16-10-2015, 01:37 PM
Post: #2
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RE: MSM, ESPN join hands to launch co-branded channels, Sony to rechristen as Sony ESPN | |||
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