News Broadcasting
MPA forecasts Asia Pacific online video opportunity at US$35 billion by 2021
MUMBAI: According to a report by Media Partners Asia (MPA), Asia Pacific online video revenue is expected to reach US$35 billion by 2021, an average annual growth of 22 per cent from US$13 billion in 2016.
China will remain the largest market, accounting for 76 per cent of Asia Pacific online video revenue by 2021. Japan, Australia, Korea and India will also be significant, in aggregate accounting for 17 per cent of regional online video revenue by 2021.
The report, entitled Asia Pacific Online Video Distribution, covers 14 markets, tracking the growth of advertising and subscription-based online video, as well as mobile and fixed broadband.
Commenting on the report findings, MPA executive director Vivek Couto said, “The growth of broadband, combined with slow but progressive change in content licensing, is driving demand for online video services. However, the distribution of driver local content online is modest, especially outside of China, India and Korea. This is evident in Southeast Asia, where broadband penetration is growing rapidly but from a low base in most markets. Telecom operators in these markets are investing in broadband networks and integrating with online video platforms to help drive subscriptions. This allows online video operators to utilize carrier billing, overcoming market limitations in payment infrastructure. It’s a bet to drive online video consumption in the short term and ARPUs in the long term.”
Online video advertising accounted for less than 15 per cent of Asia Pacific digital ad spend in 2015. This share will grow to 22 per cent by 2021. Online video ad sales will reach approximately US$22 billion by 2021 versus US$9 billion in 2016, a 19 per cent CAGR. China will represent more than 70 per cent of the online video advertising pie by 2021.
In the online subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) segment, MPA expects total paying customers to grow from 177 million by 2016 to 360 million by 2021, with China contributing the majority. SVOD revenue will reach US$13 billion by 2021, a 28 per cent CAGR from US$3.7 billion in 2016.
China will again contribute the majority, representing more than 80 per cent by 2021. The Southeast Asia SVOD opportunity will grow rapidly but from a low base, representing about US$200 million in revenue by 2021.
Asia Pacific fixed broadband subs will reach 345 million in 2016, and grow to 425 million by 2021. Average broadband household penetration will grow from 35 per cent in 2016 to 41 percent in 2021. Mobile broadband will reach 79 per cent of the Asia Pacific population by 2021, versus 46 per cent in 2016.
News Broadcasting
Mihir Bhatt appointed as chief content officer at News18 Studios
The media veteran brings two decades of experience across television, digital and radio to one of India’s biggest broadcast networks, Disney+ Hotstar, Discovery+
NEW DELHI: Network18 has a new strategist in the building. Mihir Bhatt, one of Indian media’s more versatile operators, has joined News18 Studios as chief content officer, stepping into a role that will see him shape content strategy, build multi-platform properties and drive brand partnerships across the network.
Bhatt brings more than two decades of experience spanning television, digital and radio, with a track record of doing something rare in Indian media: combining editorial ambition with hard commercial results. At Times Network, where he served as managing editor and chief business officer of Times Influence, he built one of the industry’s more respected content studios, launching marquee properties such as the India Economic Conclave, the Times Now Summit and Leaders of Tomorrow. He also pushed the network into premium OTT territory through tie-ups with Disney+ Hotstar and Discovery+.
His resume stretches well beyond the studio. Bhatt has led Global Investor Summits for multiple state governments, worked alongside the World Economic Forum and played a pivotal role in launching the Indian Pickleball League. Earlier, as editor of Zee Business, he pioneered investor education initiatives that are still cited as industry benchmarks.
At News18 Studios, Bhatt will report to chief executive S Shivakumar and will oversee the studios execution vertical alongside revenue verticals covering emerging markets and campaigns. Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar and Nimar Sarkaria will work under him.
Rahul Joshi, managing director and editor-in-chief of Network18 Group, made the announcement in an internal communication. “Mihir’s ability to build enduring brands, foster strategic partnerships and navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our position and explore new avenues of growth in the Studios business,” Joshi said.
In a media industry lurching between disruption and reinvention, Network18 has bet on a man who has spent two decades thriving in exactly that chaos. Whether he can do it again, at greater scale, is the question worth watching.
