GECs
Thema targeting cable delivery in India
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: European broadcaster Thema TV, which has five channels in its stable, is targeting India and Asia aggressively through DTH and cable platforms and has lined up Baby TV and lifestyle channel Wine TV for launch later this year.
According to a senior executive of the France-based Thema TV, “India seems to be an exciting market and we would be looking at being available on the DTH platform(s) as well as cable networks here.”
At present in India, Thema TV has a non-exclusive distribution agreement for Trace MCM, Euro News and Euro Sports News with Dish TV, which is 20 per cent owned by Zee Telefilms. Trace MCM, the urban music channel, was launched recently via Dish TV.
The Thema TV executive, in Delhi for the formal launch of EuroNews on Dish TV’s DTH platform on Tuesday, added that though the Indian cable TV market looks a bit “fragmented and complex,” has the potential generating revenue.
“For the time being, we are looking at investing in Asia and India region. We expect revenues to flow in later,” he added.
In this regard, Thema is open to the idea of setting up a formal office in India for marketing and distribution purpose in partnership with Indian partner(s). “We are studying the options,” the company executive explained.
In a bid to test the Indian market —- “even if we manage to get a small slice of the cable TV market here” —- Thema TV is poised to launch Wine TV in July via Thaicom 3 and later Baby TV in an encrypted form for cable ops to pick up the signals.
Though Thema TV and EuroNews senior execs insisted talks are on with Indian cable networks for carriage of Euro News on cable networks as a pay channel, some cable ops, present at the launch party at the French Embassy in Delhi, clarified that they would not be interested in another pay channel, especially when “bandwidth and infrastructure is limited.”
However, Thema TV, a tripartite venture amongst two European media companies and a France-based entrepreneur, who holds 80 per cent equity stake in this less- than-a-year-old company, is excited about the fact that Baby TV, a channel designed for pre-school kids, would definitely have a “market in Asia, especially in a country like India.”
Interestingly, Thema is exploring possibilities of being available on other DTH services as and when they come up in India, including Space TV and Sun group’s proposed direct broadcast service. But Indian pubcaster Doordarshan’s subscription less DTH platform, DD Direct Plus, is still not on the European broadcaster’s radar screen, despite it being “an interesting concept.”
Meanwhile, EuroNews is hoping that it would be able to make a dent in the Asian market where it has invested till now close to half a million dollar, mostly on transponder lease cost.
EuroNews is Europe’s news channel covering world news from a European perspective in a choice of seven languages. It broadcasts simultaneously in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
Launched on 1 January 1993, as the first multilingual pan-European news channel, EuroNews claims to be reaching 155 million households in Europe, The Middle East, Africa, Asia and North and South America via cable, digital satellite and through terrestrial channels.
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
