News Headline
India heading towards oligopoly in sports broadcasting: Zeel Sports Business CEO Atul Pande
The events in 2012 could be an indicator at how the sports business will look going forward. An oligopoly, with two primary broadcasters driving the business. This is a similar model to what happens internationally, where one or two large broadcasters drive the business and share most of the content and the platform play. Sports viewing will become more expensive, innovation will drive broadcaster hooks to drive affiliation, and High Definition will start becoming a real player in the business. By definition, therefore, being marginal will not remain an option. And yes, some definitive steps will be made towards profitability.
This was a very LIVE heavy year. Almost 50 days of live India cricket, and more than 200 days of international cricket from other boards. Fully loaded IPL with nine teams, all the key European football leagues broadcasting most of their wares, new Indian leagues coming up with live products ensured that the sports enthusiast has enough to watch throughout the year.
Sports penetration increased to 22 million households. The genre share continues to hover around 6 per cent. Most of this is now split between two broadcasters and they are must have bouquets to have for any platform worth its value in a very scattered broadcasting market.
Internet continued to emerge as a credible platform. With more than three million tablets in India and 15 million broadband users, and growing at a substantial rate, it will become a platform of choice for some users eventually, and it continues to be a space to watch out for. Ten Golf launched an iPad and iOS application for live streaming and the response has been very encouraging. We will see much action on the Streaming side of the business in this area, and pricing scenarios will begin to evolve this year as the user base settles down.
Indian cricket changed hands once again on record payouts. Cricket viewership growth remained tepid across the board. Football continued its spectacular growth by increasing its reach to 11 million households and in the metro markets it is a credible and a driver product. While the other sports remained marginal, they continue to demonstrate growth and build affiliation. Football content prices are now starting to demonstrate the cricketsque growth rates of the 90s and will put the revenue model of the product under pressure going forward.
Much touted digitisation has commenced, and could be a game changer for the industry. As I write this, there is confusion on the ground but the landscape is quite positive. Clearly, sports will become a part of high value packs of the operators and full pricing delivery will kick in for discerning customers. To that extent, delivered penetration at the platform level will improve for all players, driving significantly enhanced revenues at the erstwhile analogue customer and the platform levels. This revenue action has been demonstrated at the DTH operators for the last couple of years, and the same should translate at the analogue level now. The key issue I see is the timing of the new industry structure, which may set back the real delivery by a few months as the packaging, MSOs and their LCO brethren settle down in the new regime.
The other issue that will become transparent and lead to debate is the whole pricing paradigm around niche, and especially sports channels. My hypothesis is that some of the current channels at their current pricing will find it difficult to sustain their operations and the regulator will have to look favorably at pricing changes for key sports channels. There is a market for highly niche, high value channels that needs to be developed. High value and pay per view solutions will have to be considered and approved to help these products retain their quality and their business models. This is an imperative, which cannot be postponed anymore, and the niche and sports operators will have to espouse these causes with the decision makers.
As we move to a new stage in the sports broadcasting arena, I also see a new dawn in the rural sporting landscape. This is one area where, because of the way sports channels have evolved and have become largely urban, up market products, there has been lack of focus, and initiative. I forecast 2013 as the year when we will see the birth of some rural leagues in India. I see Kabaddi and Kushti (Wrestling) as products, which will garner immediate traction and will be able to generate sponsor support too. The interesting thing to notice would be placement of these products – how do the sports channels with their urban mindset deliver these products to their eventual viewers and build credibility in this segment. So watch this space for some interesting action.
As the sports broadcasting has moved to the next stage in India, the last few years have been extremely trying financially for the business. The financial model which has evolved mandates that 70 – 80 per cent revenue of the business comes out of the subscription vertical, and most of the acquisition strategy is built around that. The industry has been suffering because the cable analogue side of the business has not supported it as much as it should, and I hope in 2013 all of us collectively are able to drive that part of the business for consumer and enterprise value.
We deserve it, to support our viewers, our investors and other stakeholders to achieve their ambitions. And above all, to help support local Indian sport and sportsmen, who deserve continued backing from the key stakeholder – the broadcaster – who helps monetise the industry. Make us healthy folks, and watch us give back to them to drive Indian sport to the glory it deserves!
Have a terrific 2013.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
