MAM
Media Partners Asia for one-city test bed CAS rollout
MUMBAI: Even as the government issued a notification on the basic tier in a post-conditional access systems (CAS) environment, media research and publishing company Media Partners Asia (MPA) today released an independent research report on the introduction of CAS in India.
The report provides an in-depth analysis of the current ground realities that will dictate CAS rollout and its impact on India’s media and entertainment economy.
The key conclusions of the report are as follows:
*Successful CAS implementation could boost the entertainment economy long term
*Economic and logistical realities make CAS implementation a non-starter
*Mandatory CAS implementation will adversely impact consumer demand and weaken the fundamentals of India’s entertainment economy
*A test-bed CAS rollout in one city and a simultaneous push for alternative subscription-based television platforms will provide greater insurance for consumers, operators and broadcasters.
“Our research shows that CAS implementation, in its currently proposed form, will not achieve the government of India’s stated aims of driving affordability and choice for consumers and building an addressable cable TV industry,” MPA executive director Vivek Couto says.
“As a result, we recommend that the government of India should intervene to pursue its vision of a consumer-friendly addressable cable TV industry. This would involve focusing on a test-bed rollout of CAS in one city and a simultaneous push for alternative subscription-based TV platforms. Such an approach would protect consumer interests and contain damage to India’s media and entertainment economy.”
Also read the detailed report:
MPA Research Paper 8 dated 8 May 2003 – Sunrise or Sundown – the impact of CAS on India’s media and entertainment economy – a strategic analsysis
Brands
Burda Media sells BurdaLuxury to Jaipur Capital in Southeast Asia push
Deal hands regional media portfolio to Singapore investor eyeing luxury growth
MUMBAI: Burda Media has agreed to sell its Southeast Asia-focused business, BurdaLuxury, to Jaipur Capital, marking a strategic shift for both companies as they double down on their respective growth priorities.
The deal will see Jaipur Capital acquire BurdaLuxury’s media operations across Thailand, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The portfolio spans content marketing and media brands in travel, luxury and aviation, giving the investor a ready-made regional footprint and a sizeable audience base.
Jaipur Capital plans to build on this foundation to create a premium media network in Southeast Asia, blending high-end editorial with scalable digital platforms. As part of the transaction, all BurdaLuxury employees, including its management team, will move to the new owner, ensuring continuity as the business enters its next phase.
For Burda Media, the sale is part of a broader strategy to sharpen its focus on core European markets while scaling investments in digital-first opportunities. The company will, however, maintain its interest in the region through Burda Principal Investments, its global growth capital arm.
“This transaction reflects our commitment to sharpening our international focus while ensuring that BurdaLuxury continues to thrive in Southeast Asia,” said Burda Media CEO Jan Wachtel, adding that Jaipur Capital recognises the strength of the brands and teams involved.
Jaipur Capital, meanwhile, is betting big on the region’s appetite for premium content. “This acquisition significantly strengthens our premium content ecosystem,” said Jaipur Capital director Vikas Johari. He highlighted the business’s strong digital tilt, with 46 per cent of revenues coming from online channels, alongside a diversified presence across five markets.
The numbers tell a compelling story. BurdaLuxury clocks 48 million annual page views and reaches more than 40 million followers on social media, with no single market contributing over a quarter of total revenues. Jaipur Capital now aims to expand these brands further into Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, while also exploring opportunities in the Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
With this deal, Burda Media trims its global footprint to focus on depth over breadth, while Jaipur Capital steps onto a bigger stage in the premium content space. If execution matches ambition, this could be a defining chapter for luxury media in the region.
