Technoglitch
Core Member
The founder-promoter of a regional-language entertainment broadcasting company sits with his legs stretched out as he watches the epic contest between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the final of the French Open.
There is excitement in his tone and then, suddenly, the topic shifts to Mukesh Ambani. A note of worry creeps in. “What do you think of Ambani’s entry into the media and entertainment business with the takeover of Network18 and TV18? Will there be space for many or it will be confined to the big boys only? It will be no more fun being a small player,” he says, looking out of the window of his living room into the dark, breezeless night.
For media entrepreneurs who are struggling to find cash and profit, there is reason enough to dread the future. The business landscape is changing fast, costs are multiplying, revenues are getting consolidated and the tentacles of the big networks are spreading wide. Star, Zee, Multi Screen Media (MSM) and Viacom18 are already ruling the Hindi entertainment broadcast market.
The only player outside this ring is Sahara One and it is languishing at the bottom of the ladder. Nobody knows why the channel exists, what purpose it serves and how long it can continue in this fashion.
So, the first reality has already bitten: Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) are out of reach of those whose pockets are not deep. Lured by the revenue scale of these channels, a few old hands like former Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea (with private equity backing), NDTV and Turner (with former Star India CEO, content Sameer Nair at the helm) tried, but soon they burnt their hands and took leave of the Hindi GEC game.
http://www.televisionpost.com/television/watch-out-for-mukesh-ambanis-media-play/ | TelevisionPost.com
There is excitement in his tone and then, suddenly, the topic shifts to Mukesh Ambani. A note of worry creeps in. “What do you think of Ambani’s entry into the media and entertainment business with the takeover of Network18 and TV18? Will there be space for many or it will be confined to the big boys only? It will be no more fun being a small player,” he says, looking out of the window of his living room into the dark, breezeless night.
For media entrepreneurs who are struggling to find cash and profit, there is reason enough to dread the future. The business landscape is changing fast, costs are multiplying, revenues are getting consolidated and the tentacles of the big networks are spreading wide. Star, Zee, Multi Screen Media (MSM) and Viacom18 are already ruling the Hindi entertainment broadcast market.
The only player outside this ring is Sahara One and it is languishing at the bottom of the ladder. Nobody knows why the channel exists, what purpose it serves and how long it can continue in this fashion.
So, the first reality has already bitten: Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) are out of reach of those whose pockets are not deep. Lured by the revenue scale of these channels, a few old hands like former Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea (with private equity backing), NDTV and Turner (with former Star India CEO, content Sameer Nair at the helm) tried, but soon they burnt their hands and took leave of the Hindi GEC game.
http://www.televisionpost.com/television/watch-out-for-mukesh-ambanis-media-play/ | TelevisionPost.com
