MAM
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
Worldwide Travel Insurance for Indian Travellers: How to Find a Plan Without Geographic Gaps in Your Protection
Travelling to more than one country can make insurance selection more complex, because a policy that looks broad at first may still leave certain destinations, transit points, or regions outside its scope. For Indian travellers, this can lead to gaps in cover during a medical emergency or travel disruption abroad.
Here’s a guide to understanding how worldwide coverage works, which plan types to review, and how to check for geographic exclusions before choosing a policy.
Why Geographic Coverage Matters in Travel Insurance
When travellers look for the best travel insurance, medical cover and premium often get early attention, but geographic scope matters just as much. A policy may appear broad while still limiting cover in certain countries, regions, or travel routes.
This can affect hospital access, emergency support, evacuation terms, and non-medical benefits. For Indian travellers visiting more than one destination, checking where the policy applies is an important way to avoid gaps in protection.
Types of Worldwide Travel Insurance Plans Available to Indians
Worldwide travel insurance may be available in different formats, and each one should be reviewed based on the route, trip pattern, and list of destinations.
Single-Trip Travel Insurance
This type of policy is generally chosen for one overseas journey with fixed departure and return dates. It may suit travellers visiting one country or more than one destination during the same trip. The policy still needs to be checked carefully to confirm whether every destination on the itinerary is covered during the full travel period.
Multi-Trip Annual Insurance
This type of plan may be suitable for travellers who visit different countries several times a year. It can be useful only when the policy’s covered regions match the countries included across those trips. Before choosing it, travellers should check trip duration limits, region-wise exclusions, and whether all intended destinations are covered under the annual plan.
Region-Specific Plans
Some policies are built for selected regions rather than for the whole world. These plans may be arranged by destination groups such as Asia, Europe, or broader international zones. They may be suitable in some cases, but they should be reviewed carefully if the journey includes stopovers, connecting countries, or travel beyond the listed region.
Comprehensive Worldwide Plans
These plans are usually reviewed by travellers who want broader international cover across multiple destinations. However, a plan described as worldwide may still have country-wise limits, separate terms for certain regions, or limits on healthcare access and emergency services. The wording should therefore be checked in detail before relying on the description alone.
Key Coverage Areas That Ensure Global Protection
A worldwide policy should be reviewed for the coverage points that matter when travel includes more than one country or a wider international route. These areas help show whether the plan is suitable for broader overseas travel and not limited to only a few listed destinations.
● Cover that applies to all countries listed in the itinerary, not only the main destination.
● Cover for transit stops and connecting countries that are part of the planned journey.
● Clear mention of excluded countries, restricted regions, or destinations not covered under the policy.
● Emergency medical and assistance support that remains available while travelling across different countries.
● Evacuation and repatriation terms that continue to apply during multi-country travel.
How to Check for Geographic Exclusions Before Buying
Geographic exclusions are often found in the detailed wording rather than in the headline promise of the plan. A careful review before purchase can help travellers understand whether the policy matches their travel route.
● Check the destination list in the policy schedule.
● Read whether excluded countries, sanctioned regions, or restricted zones are mentioned in the wording.
● Review whether transit stops and connecting destinations are mentioned as covered travel locations.
● Check if medical network access differs across countries even when the policy appears globally valid.
● Read whether adventure activities, cruises, or remote locations have separate geographic conditions.
● Review assistance and claim support terms to see if they apply equally across all covered destinations.
Conclusion
A travel insurance plan cannot be judged only by premium, destination label, or the word worldwide term alone. For Indian travellers, geographic scope needs close attention because exclusions and regional limits may affect how the policy works during the journey. A careful review of plan type, covered locations, medical support, and destination-specific terms may help reduce avoidable gaps.
