MSM & ESPN collaborate in India; Sony Kix rebranded
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Technoglitch
Core Member
When the enemy looks extremely threatening, you bring in allies to help you do battle. And if your ally is a friend-turned-foe of your enemy, it makes the war that much more interesting. And combative
Sports programming in India is likely to also get a shot in the arm. ESPN is renowned for its studio-based shows and live coverage of events. Live sports content in the deal includes major US college football (including the College Football Playoff and comprehensive coverage of the college football bowl season); major US college basketball (including the March Madness NCAA Championship Tournaments); NCAA college sport championships from baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer; Boxing (including Premier Boxing Champions and ESPN’s Big Fights Library); X Games; ESPN Films Emmy-Award Winning 30 For 30 documentaries amongst others.
Additionally, with the entry of a rejuvenated ESPN into India, the entire sports broadcasting ecosystem is likely to see rapid improvements as more money will be pumped in by both Star and the American sportscaster with MSM.
Indian Television Dot Com | What the MSM-ESPN deal means
Sports programming in India is likely to also get a shot in the arm. ESPN is renowned for its studio-based shows and live coverage of events. Live sports content in the deal includes major US college football (including the College Football Playoff and comprehensive coverage of the college football bowl season); major US college basketball (including the March Madness NCAA Championship Tournaments); NCAA college sport championships from baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer; Boxing (including Premier Boxing Champions and ESPN’s Big Fights Library); X Games; ESPN Films Emmy-Award Winning 30 For 30 documentaries amongst others.
Additionally, with the entry of a rejuvenated ESPN into India, the entire sports broadcasting ecosystem is likely to see rapid improvements as more money will be pumped in by both Star and the American sportscaster with MSM.
Indian Television Dot Com | What the MSM-ESPN deal means
Ajai
EntMnt Addicts
ESPN Sony plans to launch new channels and other initiatives to take on the sports juggernaut's 21st Century Fox-owned former partner Star.
ESPN is returning to India after it ended its 18-year-old joint venture with 21st Century Fox-owned Star network two years ago.
This time, the sports network powerhouse has partnered with Sony Pictures Television's India unit Multi Screen Media, whose existing sports portfolio, in addition to its range of entertainment networks, includes three channels — Sony Six, Sony Kix and Sony Six HD.
According to the companies, the partnership plans to launch new co-branded channels, starting with Sony Kix being rebranded as Sony ESPN though MSM will continue to retain the Sony Six brand. Also planned are digital properties, which will add to ESPNCricinfo.com, the long-running online cricket platform retained by ESPN after it exited the ESPN Star Sports broadcasting joint venture.
“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, which each have a strong heritage of leadership and innovation in India,” said ESPN International executive vp and managing director Russell Wolff.
“MSM’s association with ESPN is holistic and embraces both television and digital formats,” added MSM CEO N.P. Singh, “Not only are we about to set the frontiers in sports content and distribution but we will most likely set the trends as well.”
ESPN parent The Walt Disney Company has a strong presence in India with its local unit offering diverse entertainment content both in TV and film. But when it comes to sports, MSM is a major player given it has rights to the popular Indian Premier League cricket franchise. MSM also offers diverse international content, such as FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, and basketball from the NBA, among other sports.
However, in addition to being a major entertainment networks operator, Star is considered the market leader in sports in India with its six channels offering content, such as the Cricket World Cup, the English Premier League and Formula One racing, among others.
Modeled after the English Premier League, IPL offers a heady mix of cricket and Bollywood with stars owning some of the teams, such as actorShah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders.
IPL's success has inspired other leagues to promote less popular sports such as soccer, badminton, hockey and even the traditional Indian contact sport of kabaddi.
The recently launched Pro-Kabaddi League that airs on Star Sports has been well-received, mirroring an IPL-style formula of mixing sports with Bollywood with some teams partly owned by stars such as Abhishek Bachchan. Similarly, Star Sports' newly launched Indian Super League features local soccer teams, again some part-owned by Bollywood stars such as Ranbir Kapoor, which aims to expand the sports broadcasting market beyond cricket.
according to a recent KPMG industry report.
In addition to local content, ESPN Sony will offer over 1,000 hours of ESPN programming per year, such as the March Madness NCAA Championship, U.S. College Football playoffs and boxing, among others. Also included are ESPN films, such as the Emmy-winning 30 For 30 series, which features films from Barry Levinson, Peter Berg, Steve James, Brett Morgen and Ice Cube.
ESPN Returns to India in Sony Deal - Hollywood Reporter
ESPN is returning to India after it ended its 18-year-old joint venture with 21st Century Fox-owned Star network two years ago.
This time, the sports network powerhouse has partnered with Sony Pictures Television's India unit Multi Screen Media, whose existing sports portfolio, in addition to its range of entertainment networks, includes three channels — Sony Six, Sony Kix and Sony Six HD.
According to the companies, the partnership plans to launch new co-branded channels, starting with Sony Kix being rebranded as Sony ESPN though MSM will continue to retain the Sony Six brand. Also planned are digital properties, which will add to ESPNCricinfo.com, the long-running online cricket platform retained by ESPN after it exited the ESPN Star Sports broadcasting joint venture.
“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, which each have a strong heritage of leadership and innovation in India,” said ESPN International executive vp and managing director Russell Wolff.
“MSM’s association with ESPN is holistic and embraces both television and digital formats,” added MSM CEO N.P. Singh, “Not only are we about to set the frontiers in sports content and distribution but we will most likely set the trends as well.”
ESPN parent The Walt Disney Company has a strong presence in India with its local unit offering diverse entertainment content both in TV and film. But when it comes to sports, MSM is a major player given it has rights to the popular Indian Premier League cricket franchise. MSM also offers diverse international content, such as FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, and basketball from the NBA, among other sports.
However, in addition to being a major entertainment networks operator, Star is considered the market leader in sports in India with its six channels offering content, such as the Cricket World Cup, the English Premier League and Formula One racing, among others.
Modeled after the English Premier League, IPL offers a heady mix of cricket and Bollywood with stars owning some of the teams, such as actorShah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders.
IPL's success has inspired other leagues to promote less popular sports such as soccer, badminton, hockey and even the traditional Indian contact sport of kabaddi.
The recently launched Pro-Kabaddi League that airs on Star Sports has been well-received, mirroring an IPL-style formula of mixing sports with Bollywood with some teams partly owned by stars such as Abhishek Bachchan. Similarly, Star Sports' newly launched Indian Super League features local soccer teams, again some part-owned by Bollywood stars such as Ranbir Kapoor, which aims to expand the sports broadcasting market beyond cricket.
according to a recent KPMG industry report.
In addition to local content, ESPN Sony will offer over 1,000 hours of ESPN programming per year, such as the March Madness NCAA Championship, U.S. College Football playoffs and boxing, among others. Also included are ESPN films, such as the Emmy-winning 30 For 30 series, which features films from Barry Levinson, Peter Berg, Steve James, Brett Morgen and Ice Cube.
ESPN Returns to India in Sony Deal - Hollywood Reporter
