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TV ad revenue in China is second largest to Japan in Asia
MUMBAI: The ad revenue in China has been growing at the rate of 12 per cent a year. It reached $ 3.4 billion in 2004. This makes it second to Japan in the Asia Pacific region. The cable and satellite revenue reached $ 2.5 billion.
One of the sessions on the first day of Frames was China: What’s Up in Entertainment. Media Partners Asia executive director Vivek Couto pointed out that C&S revenues refer to basic television. Pay channels are now starting to come in through set top boxes. They could reach one million subscribers by the end of the year.
This is however a very small percentage of the market which consists of 120 million cable homes. National broadcaster CCTV corners a third of that market. The advertising pie is fragmented. For instance the top four companies in the outdoor ad market take 20 per cent of the revenue. A lot of the other operators are mom and pop outfits. CCTV takes up around 30 per cent of the revenue. Couto noted that foreign broadcasters still do not have a level playing field. While China’s distribution infrastructure is superior to India’s the programming lags behind due to government laws.
“Digitising of networks is happening ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However the uptake of STBs is not as good as it could be. Another area of debate is the revenue sharing between pay broadcasters and MSOs. As is the case in India there is talk about using the telephone to deliver services like broadband.”
Tom Group CEO and executive director Sing Wang said that sports marketing is worth $ 5 billion. This is driven by events that cover a variety of sports. The online and mobile marketing is worth $ 1.9 billion. India could take a chapter from this and not give up on the Internet though the going has not been easy for the likes of Satyam.
The key to growth of the net in India is developing infrastructure. What is helping the Internet in China is that since it is new it is very liberal as far as regulation is concerned. Over the next three years this market could grow to $ 7.5 billion.
On the television front China produces 20,000 hours of programming. Only a quarter of this is aired. Now Chinese companies are looking to expand abroad so that their content reaches a wider audience. There is also some attempt now to make sitcoms that appeal to viewers. On the flip piracy in China is amounting to $2 billion a year.
Wang added that on the film front China has a long way to go in terms of unlocking potential. That is because there are not many multiplexes. 200 Films were made in China last year but the box office is only worth $200 million. Another factor hindering growth is that the government only allows for 20 films to be imported. However things could look up with multiplexes expected to come up in the next three to five years.
As far his company is concerned Wang said that its net profit margin after tax is 26 per cent. That is because it does not spend lots of money advertising. Word of mouth advertising, which is done through parties, meetings has been very effective in helping it get customers. He also feels that the government in China and in India should not be afraid of foreign competition especially in the film sphere. “They have their market. We have ours.”
Also companies like Sony and Time Warner have done joint ventures with local Chinese companies. Whether this will work only time will tell. News Corp is different in that it has also invested in telecom in China.
MAM
India’s experience economy grows as live events market hits Rs 17,000 crore
EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow report finds 78 per cent Indians prefer experiences over products
MUMBAI: India’s live entertainment scene is no longer just about music, comedy or festivals. It is increasingly becoming a powerful stage for brands seeking deeper connections with consumers.
A new report titled Beyond Attention, Into Immersion by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow suggests that India’s experience economy is entering a strong growth phase, driven by consumers who are choosing memorable moments over material purchases.
According to the study, the country’s live events ecosystem, which includes concerts, comedy tours, festivals and immersive exhibitions, is estimated to reach around Rs 17,000 crore in 2025. The growth reflects a broader cultural shift in how Indians spend their time and money.
The report finds that 78 per cent of Indian consumers now prefer spending on experiences rather than physical products. From attending concerts and festivals to participating in interactive brand installations, audiences are increasingly seeking engagement, community and shareable moments.
This change in consumer behaviour is particularly evident among younger audiences who want to participate rather than simply watch. Instead of passively consuming entertainment, many now look for experiences that allow them to interact, express themselves and connect with like minded communities.
For marketers, this shift has turned experiential marketing into a strategic priority rather than a promotional add on. Brands are moving away from interruption driven advertising and towards immersive formats that allow consumers to discover, test and emotionally connect with products.
The report suggests that experiential marketing now plays a role across the entire consumer journey. It can spark brand discovery, strengthen storytelling, encourage product trials and ultimately influence purchase decisions and loyalty.
The impact is already visible. Post event surveys conducted among 7,450 attendees at major events including Lollapalooza India and concerts by Ed Sheeran and Guns N’ Roses highlight the effectiveness of these experiences.
Around 59 per cent of attendees recalled brands they interacted with during the events, while 55 per cent said those interactions increased their likelihood of purchasing from the brand. A further 63 per cent reported that brand activations actually enhanced their event experience rather than distracting from it. Nearly 29 per cent also said the interaction improved their perception of the brand.
Brands are also changing the way they approach events. Instead of simply putting logos on stages or banners, companies are building experiences into the fabric of the event itself.
Financial services brands, for example, are offering early ticket access, exclusive lounges and curated event experiences for cardholders. Fashion and beauty companies are using festivals to showcase products through pop ups, interactive installations and social media friendly spaces that encourage visitors to share their experiences online.
The scope of experiential marketing now stretches far beyond live entertainment. Retailers are designing experiential stores where customers can explore products in lifelike environments. Entertainment platforms are extending popular intellectual properties into immersive exhibitions and fan events. Technology is also playing a growing role through augmented reality and virtual try on tools that blend digital discovery with physical interaction.
Cultural festivals remain one of the most powerful platforms for such engagement in India. Celebrations such as Navratri and Holi bring together large communities, emotional participation and heightened consumer spending. For brands, these moments offer an opportunity to become part of the celebration rather than simply advertise around it.
Despite the momentum, the report notes that some companies still hesitate to adopt experiential marketing at scale. Budget constraints, limited expertise and uncertainty around measuring return on investment remain common concerns.
However, the growing body of data around consumer engagement and brand impact is gradually addressing these challenges. More marketers are expected to allocate a larger share of their budgets to experiential formats over the coming years.
Taken together, the findings point to a clear trend. As consumers seek meaning, memories and moments worth sharing, live experiences are emerging as one of the most powerful ways for brands to stay relevant in a crowded media landscape.
