Monday, 28th April 2008

INFO BOX

India is Second Largest Wireless Network in the World
Indiantelevision.com, Financialexpress.com, allheadlinesnews.com, retailnu.wordpress.com, 26th Apr 2008

India has become second largest wireless network in the world after China by overtaking USA, according to CTIA (International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry):

* Total wireless subscribers (GSM, CDMA & WLL(F)) stood at 261.09 million, at end March 2008
* 10.16 million wireless subscribers have been added in March 2008 as against 8.53 million wireless subscribers added in February 2008
* 10.40 million telephone connections (Wireline and Wireless) have been added during March 2008 as compared to 8.49 million connections added in February 2008
* The total number of telephone connections reaches 300.51 million at the end of March 2008 as compared to 290.11 million in February 2008
* The overall tele-density is 26.22% at the end of March 2008 as against 25.31% in February 2008. In the wireline segment, the subscriber base has increased to 39.42 million in the month of March 2008 as against 39.18 million subscribers in February 2008.


SPORT SHORTS

* Eurosport has acquired the rights to broadcast the 2008 HSBC Asian Five Nations (A5N), a newly formed rugby tournament featuring five 15-a-side Asian teams. Teams competing in the inaugural event include the Arabian Gulf, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan and Korea. Select matches will be broadcast LIVE on Eurosport for four weekends, starting with tomorrow’s opening match between Korea and Japan. Japan and Korea are the two top teams in Asia, ranking #18 and #23, respectively, on the IRB World Rankings. Hong Kong ranks at #30, followed by Kazakhstan at #32 and the Arabian Gulf at #36. The A5N is part of the four newly formed tiers of elite competition involving 25 Asian rugby teams and is considered a key channel for promoting, developing and expanding rugby throughout Asia. It will give players in this region the chance to perform in front of a significantly expanded TV audience. Sportcal, 25th Apr 2008

* Chinese state media says the country has 574 million cell phone users, equal to about 44% of its population. The official Xinhua News Agency says the number of mobile phone users at the end of March grew by 27.3 million since the end of 2007, as fixed-line users switched to mobile services because of lower rates. It quoted the Ministry of Industry and Information as saying Saturday China's fixed-line operators lost 4.4 million subscribers in the first quarter, leaving 361 million fixed-line users. China has 1.3 billion people. telecomasia.net, 28th April 2008

* Heavy marketing of South Korean telco KT’s Mega TV on-demand IPTV service is continuing to hit the company’s profit margins. With KT spending a reported 16% extra on marketing, Mega TV’s subs base rose 75% to 567,230. The company is aiming for 1.5 million by the end of 2008. Heavy spending on marketing new services such as IPTV is being seen as the way to drive growth in a market where broadband penetration stands at over 90%. Mega TV’s major competitor, HanaTV, is also pumping cash into its service and is not expecting to see returns on its investment for a while. CEO of Hana TV’s owner, Hanarotelecom, Cho Shin said that the company would have to wait three to five years before IPTV became profitable, with break even set at 2 million subscribers. HanaTV had 860,000 subs at the end of March and is forecasting 1.6 million by year-end. But both have even more investment to make, with real-time broadcasting expected to launch in the coming months. Rapid TV News, 27th Apr 2008

* India’s Dish TV has reached 2.5 million net subs, with 500,000 more signed up and waiting for connections. The DTH operator added 285,000 new subscribers in the three months to the end of March, meaning 1.04 million added over the past year. Dish said its service accounts for 59% of the gross Indian pay-DTH market. Zee-backed Dish said that carriage fees from channels would be one of the company’s new revenue streams in its next financial year, along with gaming. ARPU drivers will be higher channel offerings and the launch of niche channel bouquets. Meanwhile, the company’s board of directors has approved capital raising of Rs12 billion (US$298 million). That rights issue would be in addition to debt of Rs4 billion already lined up. Dish needs the cash to fund its expansion as the sector grows more competitive. Rapid TV News, 27th Apr 2008

* StarHub has launched a location-based mobile advertising service that offers marketers an advertising platform targeting consumers in key locations across Singapore. The service, using Nokia Siemens Networks’ solution, allows marketers to push specific marketing SMS to StarHub’s customers when they are in the proximity of pre-defined zones, such as a shopping mall. Germaine Ng Ferguson, StarHub assistant general manager of advertising sales, said the service would be attractive to advertisers in consumer retail and entertainment sectors and be most useful to those conduct frequent road shows around the island. StarHub is the latest operator in Singapore to jump on the mobile ad bandwagon. Rival M1 launched a similar service with Singapore Press Holdings last November covering more than 70 shopping malls in the city-state. telecomasia.net, 28th April 2008

* FC Barcelona has established a new football school in Hong Kong, its first such development in Asia. The school has been set up in association with Hong Kong club Kitchee and the Primera División club's official sponsor Fortis. The main objective of the new football school is to train and develop promising youngsters between the ages of six and 11 by applying Barcelona's sports model and training methods. Barcelona already has schools in Mexico, Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and new sites will shortly be inaugurated in the USA and Dubai. Football Insider, 25th Apr 2008

* World Wrestling Entertainment has announced that WrestleMania XXIV will be the first Sports category title ever to be released on Blu-ray disc in the US, Europe, Australia and Canada. The double disc set goes on sale on 20 May 2008, the same day as a three-disc DVD version. WWE home entertainment and books VP Joel Satin says, “It’s natural that WrestleMania 24, the biggest sports entertainment event of the year, is not only the first WWE® title but the first Sports title to be released on Blu-ray. This Blu-ray two disc release includes the entire four hour WrestleMania XXIV event in Orlando, Fla., and the complete 2008 Hall of Fame induction ceremony, plus the never-before-televised 24-man Battle Royal. Indiantelevision.com, 26th Apr 2008

* Major League Baseball (MLB) will officially launch its new cable network on January 1, 2009. MLB Network will broadcast baseball programming 24 hours a day, including 26 live Saturday night games during the regular season. The network, approved by the owners last year, is expected to be available in 47 million cable and satellite homes when it launches. MLB will have a 66.7% ownership stake, with the remaining shares to be held in a partnership with Time Warner Cable, DirectTV and Cox and Comcast. Sports Media, 25th Apr 2008

* A Swedish appeals court today reversed an earlier court decision relating to television broadcasts of Swedish soccer’s top-tier Allsvenskan, in a ruling that represents a blow to Kentaro who is half-way through a five-year deal to distribute the rights. The court issued a ruling blocking, Swedish free-to-air commercial broadcaster, TV4 from showing the 36 matches a season that are the subject of a damages claim worth SKr100 million ($15.4 million) from pay-television broadcaster, Canal Plus. Kentaro risks a fine of SKr4 million a game if TV4 shows any more of the disputed games, pending arbitration decision on the case. Canal Plus, which accuses Kentaro of 'selling the same rights twice,' had asked the court to issue an interim injunction to prevent TV4 from showing any of the 36 matches until a ruling on the case is made. Sportcal, 25th Apr 2008

* The five sports that tried unsuccessfully to join the Olympics for 2012, plus baseball and softball, the two sports ejected from the programme for those games, have been given an opportunity by the International Olympic Committee to make their case for inclusion in the 2016 games. The news comes after the IOC this week sent the seven sports, including golf, karate, roller sports, rugby union sevens and squash, a letter confirming that they would form a shortlist of sports to be considered to join the programme for the 2016 games. The federations representing the sports will have the opportunity to make a presentation to the IOC's executive board in June next year. The executive board will then make a recommendation to the IOC congress in October 2009 in Copenhagen at which the sports programme for the 2016 games will be decided. Sportcal, 25th Apr 2008


MORE NEWS

Asia/Broadcast: Pay TV and Broadband Revenues to Reach US$120 Billion by 2017

Leveraging economic growth, investment and competition, Asia’s pay-TV and broadband industries have grown at an average annual rate of 22% in the past five years, and generated more than US$53b in sales in 2007. The figure is projected to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11% to hit US$86b by 2012, and on a longer term, to grow at a CAGR of 8% to reach US$120b by 2017.

That’s according to Media Partners Asia’s (MPA) recently-released Asia Pacific Pay-TV and Broadband Markets 2008 report which measures consumption and value of multi-channel video and broadband services over distribution networks including cable, satellite, fiber, ADSL and mobile, across 16 markets in the region.

MPA executive director Vivek Couto said, “Digitization and broadband penetration is growing rapidly in Asia, boosted by growing economies of scale in platform operation; technological change and lower equipment costs; and the availability of wider programming options. Near-term risks include softening economic growth as well as deteriorating global credit conditions and equity markets, while longer-term risks converge around regulation. Encouragingly, the broad fundamentals of the region in general, and markets such as India in particular, remain strong.”

The report also suggests that in the short term, lower economic growth may dampen pay-TV and broadband demand in mature markets and restrict advertising growth, as global financial concerns are likely to reduce available capital in emerging markets. It also states that the risks may be averted with robust regional economic growth which will bolster demand, advertising prospects, financing options, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

In addition, findings indicate that there is scope for progressive change to regulations which have continued to limit rewards and returns for media investors and distributors as well as profitable growth and investment, and increase uncertainty in the long term in key regional markets including Taiwan, China and India. Television Asia, 28th Apr 2008

China/New Media: May Day for Chinese HDTV

Forget Torch Relay demonstrations. The Beijing Olympics are already here, especially for those wealthy Chinese who own HDTV sets. China Central TV will launch its HDTV service on May 1, a national holiday in the country, and as part of the build-up to the Olympics. The channel, called CCTV-HD, will air sports, TV plays, features, documentaries, entertainment, music and financial programmes 24 hours a day. It aims to be a high-quality channel to promote Chinese culture, the spokesman said. Ahead of the Games, the audience in China can enjoy the live broadcast of the UEFA European Football Championship on the HD channel in June. During the Games, the channel will broadcast as the "Olympic HD Channel" and offer live broadcasts of all events and the opening and closing ceremonies.

By 2015, China says it plans to cover the whole country with wired, wireless or satellite HDTV signals and end analog broadcasting, according to officials. About 90% of the population is to receive HD channels via wireless digital TV technology within a few years. BBC Monitoring, reporting the local Xinhua news agency, says at present only eight cities, namely Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, can receive HDTV programmes. Rapid TV News, 27th Apr 2008

Asia/General: Asia’s Turn for Olympic Places

There are 17 Beijing Olympic qualification spots available. There will be 23 very happy athletes at the end of the Asian Olympic Qualification Regatta being held this weekend in Shanghai, China. Many have just finished taking part in an Olympic Solidarity and FISA Supported Talent Identification Camp that was organized through the Chinese Rowing Association and Shanghai Water Sports Centre. The training camp had 21 nations take part and was managed by three “FISA Coaches”, Stani Slavova Andreas Leichtfuss and Frank Rogall. Chris Perry, FISA Development Consultant for Asia who oversaw the camp was impressed by the enthusiasm of the teams taking part and the synergy they developed with the coaches who each had a group of athletes they worked with. “The coaches did a great job with the teams and there was a really positive atmosphere,” stated Perry.

The size of the camp meant that the Shanghai Water Sports Centre had to call in additional equipment in cooperation with the Chinese Rowing Association to make the event possible and deal with the various logistical issues of hosting such a large number of athletes and coaches. These teams are now focused on a first day of heats and repechages. The ever increasing rowing talent in Asia has meant that for the first time seeding of athletes has become a necessity. Competing for spots in four events, the men’s single (six places), lightweight men’s double (three places), women’s single (five places) and lightweight women’s double (three places), athletes from 24 countries will be getting to know the Shanghai Water Sports Centre intimately. Perry explained that it is the biggest number of entries ever at a qualification event and there is considerable depth of talent including 23 entries in the men’s single. “The semis and finals are going to be tough. We should have some really exciting racing.” says Perry.

Riding on the results from last year’s international races and recent training, Japan’s lightweight women’s double of Misaki Kumakura and Akiko Iwamoto are looking good as is Iraq’s men’s single representative Haidar Nozad. The Iraqi team of three has been training in Tunisia before heading to Shanghai. Despite Iran’s short competitive rowing history, they have been coming along in leaps and bounds under former Romanian Olympic coach Nicolae Gioga. Iran used the Seville training centre for their qualification build-up and have entered teams in all four events.

China qualified boats at last year’s World Rowing Championships and in Shanghai they hope to add a men’s single to their growing Olympic team. Liang Zhang is a hot favourite in the men’s single. Palestine is sending Mark Gerban to qualify in the men’s single. Gerban, who usually races as a lightweight rower, has been a regular on the international scene over the last three years and has used Germany as his training base for much of this time. Hong Kong and Singapore both have strong entries in the women’s single. Ka Man Lee will be racing for Hong Kong and Singapore is boating Kim Hiok Elesie Lim. Aiming for her third Olympic Games, but this time in the lightweight women’s double, Thailand’s Phuttharaksa Nikree will join Anupong Thianjam to aim for one of the three double’s spots.

A total of 94 athletes are competing, 54 men and 40 women. Racing starts with heats on Friday 25 April with repechages and semifinals taking place on Saturday followed by finals on Sunday 27 April. Worldrowing.com, 25th Apr 2008


ARTICLES, COMMENTS, INTERVIEWS & OPINIONS

Indian Premier League Also a Hit Among Overseas Audience

The hype and the glitz around Indian Premier League (IPL) is not limited to India. Around eight million people from countries across the world are glued to the game that is essentially being played between eight Indian teams on the Indian soil. “The international viewership of IPL from Asia, Middle East, the UK and the US so far can be estimated to be around 7-8 million people (per match),” said Venu Nair, president, South Asia, World Sports Group (WSG), the sports marketing and management agency that won the international media distribution rights of IPL from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Nair claims to have generated $100 million (Rs402 crore) by selling telecast rights to various companies across these markets. WSG has paid BCCI $1.026 billion for has the next 10 years for these rights. “The kind of response IPL among generated overseas audience is (usually) seen only during tournaments such as the (Cricket) World Cup,” he added.

In Australia, each match has attracted up to around 3,50,000 viewers. According to Australian telecast rights for sports channel Network Ten, which won the IPL Australian $10-15 approximately million for five years, the viewership from the five metros of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, has ranged between 81,000 and 360,000 viewers in the past one week. “The IPL viewership has exceeded our expectations,” said Gus Seebeck, sport marketing and publicity manager, Network Ten. “Maybe it was because Australian players performed well. The overall excitement that was built around IPL also got many people interested,” he added. The free-to-air channel that generates revenues primarily through advertisements, claims to have received impressive response from advertisers. While telecommunications company Primus Telecommunications’ brand iPrimus came on board as the primary sponsor, fast food chain McDonalds Corp., media conglomerate Sony Corp. and retail chain Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd joined in as on-air sponsors.

In the UK too, IPL has been a huge hit. Setanta Sports GB Ltd, a leading sports broadcaster in Europe had more than 100,000 viewers watching each IPL match on the first weekend. The channel is subscription-based where viewers have to download packages for 10 pounds a month. The channel so far focused mainly on Rugby and football but it added cricket to its offerings for the first time with IPL. “IPL is a new entity and we didn’t know what to expect of it in the UK, especially since it does not have any English player but we find that nearly 10% of our homes are watching IPL,” said Richard Brooke, director, Setanta Sports. Apart from the subscription money, the network has also found Blue Square, a British gaming and betting company to sponsor the telecast. “With the kind of response we have received from IPL, we are going to get into cricket more seriously now,” added Brooke.

Comic Business Shreyas Navare Dubai-based Arab Digital Distribution (ADD) that won the 10-year telecast rights to IPL for its sports channel ART Prime Sports, is also pleased with its long-term decision. The network, so far, charged viewers Rs740 per subscription but it doubled the amount to Rs1,530 a month for the packaged that included IPL. “There has been a 10-15% surge in our subscriber base of 120,000 in the Middle East for the month of April and May because of IPL,” said V. Shivkumar, head of channel distribution, ART Prime Sports. The network has also signed up a leading construction company Al Barakah as their presenting sponsor.

In the US, IPL is being aired on the two leading direct-to-home platforms Dish Network and Direct TV for $59 a month. Although the viewership numbers were not ready yet, the executives said they were expecting a tremendous response. “After India lost in the last cricket World Cup, the morale was down among Indian cricket lovers. Initially, there was not a great response among cricket loyalists in the US,” said Rohinton Maloo, managing director, Cutting Edge Media, a division of MediaScore Associates, an advertising sales and strategy company. “But after the first weekend, there is a huge demand for IPL matches on the television and Internet,” he added.

The Internet has proved to be a popular medium for non-resident Indians. According to WSG’s Nair, the official IPL website received more than 3.5 million hits in the first weekend by users overseas. In addition, Willow TV Pvt. Ltd, a portal streaming IPL matches live to North America, claims to have got a remarkable response from users. The website charges users $59 for the service and has a active user base of approximately 150,000. “The user response has been much better than the T20 World Cup and a hundred times better than ICL,” said Manish Bagga, vice-president, Willow TV.

In India, Sony Entertainment Television, the official broadcast partner of IPL, has already surpassed the overall average television ratings of the Twenty20 World Cup held in September 2000. According to estimates by TAM Media Research, the Mumbai-based television audience measurement agency, average television rating during the first three days of IPL was around 6.5, while the average rating during T20 World Cup was 4.14. livemint.com, 26th Apr 2008