Wednesday, 2nd February 2011

BROADCAST

=>  The Indian DTH market is on the verge of a revolution, according to RNCOS (analyst), following an increase of 37.5% in subscriber base over 2009 with larger number of subscribers expected in the near future. RNCOS’ Indian DTH Market Forecast to 2012 says DTH subscribers is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14% in 2011-2013 to reach 35.7 mil by 2013. Growth is attributed to options that DTH service providers offer to subscribers and with entry of new players in the Indian DTH industry, competition is getting intense. Currently, the Indian DTH market is served by 6 private players – Dish TV, Tata Sky, Sun Direct, Big TV, Airtel Digital TV and Videocon D2H.

=>  ESPN announced that they had withdrawn their offer to host Copa America this summer. ESPN wanted to buy English-language rights for TV and internet broadcasts in the USA but when Traffic Sports were awarded the internet rights, they withdrew their bid. Argentina will serve as the host of the tournament, beginning July 1 to 24. Traffic Sports is a controversial company that has bought contracts of players and smaller clubs in addition to media rights in a wide-ranging soccer business strategy. With the internet rights to Copa America, it is unclear whether they will develop their own way to show matches online or sell the rights.


CONTENT

=>  Universal Networks International rolled out its first HD channel in Southeast Asia, with Universal Channel HD now available on Telekom Malaysia's IPTV platform HyppTV. Last year, UNI's launched its first HD channel in Asia, Universal Channel HD Japan, with further HD rollouts slated for the year ahead. Highlights for Universal Channel HD in Southeast Asia include Law & Order: Los Angeles and Outsourced.


DATA

=>  Online and mobile media were the growth engines for the entertainment content market, which is worth around $320 bil, according to Futuresource Consulting. Analyst’s data showed that growth in 2010 of consumer expenditure on online and mobile entertainment outstripped traditional packaged media, theatrical and TV.  Online grew 23%, while expenditure on mobile media grew by more than 15%. Rise of digital content delivery through mobile and online is expected to continue to drive revenues, and forecasts that during the period 2009-2014 each will be post a CAGR of 16% and 24% respectively.

=>  Research from Nielsen and Yahoo! showing how and when mobile devices are used has revealed a compelling opportunity for content providers and advertisers alike to complement the TV viewing experience. 86% of mobile Internet users, and 92% of 13-24 year olds, are use mobile devices simultaneously with TV, with 71% frequently/occasionally doing so. 23% search for more information related to the commercials they saw as they were watching TV and 24% used mobile to browse content on the internet related to what they were watching. 44% were watching online video, such as YouTube and Yahoo! video, on their mobile device when browsing consumer products/services.


EVENT

=>  Fresh doubts were raised about Qatar hosting the World Cup in 2022 after hundreds of ticket-holders were refused entry to the Asian Cup final in Doha. Organizers blamed latecomers for the events at the 40,000-capacity Khalifa Stadium in which 3,000 fans, including 700 with valid tickets, were locked out of the final between Japan and Australia amid claims of overzealous security and stewarding. The Asian Cup had run relatively smoothly up until then, albeit low crowds for some matches. Japan beat Australia 1-0 after extra time to be crowned Asian champions for the fourth time. Australia hosts the next Asian Cup in 2015 and will see the introduction of a prize purse of $10 million, to be shared between the top 3 teams.

=>  South African Football Association will bid to host the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup. The pledge was made two days after securing the hosting rights to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. We are going to continue to talk to FIFA about it (2014), Jordaan told BBC Sport. It's important that these competitions come to Africa. SAFA vice-president, Danny Jordaan, confirmed this with BBC Sport., saying that it was important that these competitions come to Africa but of course, will not take that decision outside the context of further engagement with FIFA.

=>  The ICC confirmed its decision to relocate the India v England match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, originally scheduled for Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 27 February, to Bangalore on the same date. The ICC outlined a schedule of works that needed to be carried out at Eden Gardens ahead of the ground’s other scheduled fixtures on 15, 18 and 20 March. As such, an inspection team will visit Kolkata again on 7 February to assess progress in line with that schedule. The BCCI responded to the ICC by nominating Bangalore as preferred alternate venue for the India v England match, a recommendation the ICC agrees to.


OTHER NEWS

=>  A committee probing irregularities in awarding broadcast rights for Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi have found evidence of fraud and recommended filing criminal charges against officials of Prasar Bharati, rights-holder and parent company of Indian state broadcaster, Doordarshan. BS Lalli, PB’s chief executive, has already been suspended. Last week, UK’s high commissioner in India waded into a row over unpaid bills by organisers of the games, saying that PB was wrong to block payment of £13 mil ($21 mil) to SIS Live, the UK company that provided host broadcast TV production facilities and services for the games, and claims that it is still owed 30% of its Rs2.5-bil ($52-mil) fee.

=>  Federation of International Cricketers' Associations has lashed out at India’s BCCI for non-payment of $6 mil in prize money Champions League Twenty20 competition 2010. The matter relates to a dispute between BCCI and commercial rights holder, ESPN Star Sports. But FICA member, Cricket Australia, said that player payments were the responsibility of BCCI. The 2nd edition of the Champions League saw participation from 10 club team across 6 countries. IPL team Chennai Super Kings had won the tournament. In 2008, ESS secured commercial rights for the CL T20 after paying US$975 mil for 10 years.