Latest news with #AirtelDigitalTV
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Let's Talk Media: From Tiny Toons to Titan Tussles!
Dear Readers, Hope this finds you well, as we dive into the ever-shifting sands of the Indian media landscape . As this marks our inaugural newsletter, we are particularly excited to share the truly fascinating shifts we've been observing, and as always, our community of sharp minds is the first place we turn to for insights. Let's dig in, shall we? This week, the digital tide continues to pull everything in new directions, creating some of the biggest waves in unexpected corners. In today's edition we are looking at the growth in Kids' TV, the strategic cost-cutting crusades by major OTT players like ZEE5, and the fiery tariff disputes in the DTH sector involving giants like Airtel Digital TV , ZEE, Sony, and Tata Play . We'll also examine the evolving debate around star power versus story power in marketing as brands adapt to this dynamic environment. First up, a truly compelling development in a segment often overlooked in the broader media discussions: Kids TV genre still a star in the age of streaming? This piece delves into how the kids' television genre is performing on traditional TV, even with the meteoric rise of digital platforms. It explores how this genre is adapting, maintaining its viewership, and also exploring other avenues to stay relevant. Read here. ZEE5 aims to slash operating losses by up to 60% in FY26 This is a significant move from ZEE5. In a market where growth has often overshadowed profitability, their focus on drastically cutting operating losses signals a maturity in the OTT space. What strategies do you foresee them implementing to achieve this ambitious goal? And what does this mean for the competitive landscape? Read to know more. Star Power vs. Story Power: What really drives engagement in modern campaigns? This authored piece brings up a timeless debate that's taking on new dimensions in the digital age: Is it the celebrity endorsement or the compelling narrative that truly engages audiences today? Given the cost-cutting measures by OTTs, how do you see brands balancing these two forces? Are we seeing a genuine shift towards story-led marketing? Click here to know more. OTT platforms scripts new strategies to cut cost This article highlights a broader trend across Indian OTT platforms – a collective embrace of cost-cutting. It feels like the era of "growth at all costs" is fading, replaced by a push for sustainable growth. How do you think this will impact content creation and consumer pricing in the long run? Read here. And speaking of pricing and distribution, we're seeing some serious fireworks in the DTH space: Airtel Digital TV removes ZEE channels amid tariff disputes Looks like tariff disputes are heating up! Airtel Digital TV has cut ZEE channels, reminding us that even in the digital age, carriage fees and content rights remain a huge battleground. What's your take on these ongoing disputes? Click here. Sony moves Bombay HC to challenge TDSAT stay on Tata Play disconnection Sony is challenging a TDSAT stay concerning Tata Play. These legal battles are crucial because they set precedents for how content is distributed and monetized. How do you think the courts will navigate these complex commercial disputes, especially with consumer impact in mind? Read here. Whew! That's a lot to chew on, but that's what makes this industry so exciting. Tag us on LinkedIn (ET BrandEquity) with your thoughts. Stay tuned for the next edition of the Media & Entertainment newsletter, coming to you every Friday. Until next time, keep those brilliant brains churning! —Team ETBrandEquity
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Airtel Digital TV removing Zee channels from base packs over price hike
Mumbai: Bharti Airtel-owned direct-to-home (DTH) company Airtel Digital TV said it is removing Zee Entertainment channels from its bouquets due to a recent price hike by the broadcaster, mirroring an ongoing dispute between Sony Pictures Networks India and Tata DTH company will adjust pack prices to account for the removal of Zee channels and place the broadcaster's offerings on an a la carte basis, requiring subscribers to opt for Zee channels separately.'Due to recent changes in broadcaster tariffs, Zee Network channels will no longer be part of the Airtel DTH base packs. These pack prices will be adjusted accordingly,' an Airtel spokesperson said. 'All Zee network channels are available on Airtel DTH and can be added individually to the list of subscribed channels at their respective MRPs via channel selection options." In January, Zee and Sony Pictures Networks India raised the price of their base bouquets by over 10%. Broadcaster JioStar implemented the steepest hike, increasing the price of its base bouquet by 18% to ₹110. While Zee and Airtel Digital TV have not disclosed the financial terms of their deal, the DTH company is estimated to pay ₹300–400 crore annually in subscription fees to the broadcaster. Sources familiar with the matter said Airtel Digital TV is resisting the price hike by Zee, as the company and other DTH operators aim to control costs and return to profitability. A Zee Entertainment executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the broadcaster has no dispute with the DTH company, as the two had signed a reference interconnect offer (RIO) agreement specifying the terms and conditions for interconnection earlier this year. 'I don't understand what the dispute is, because Airtel Digital TV has signed a RIO agreement with us and also implemented the price hike to its subscribers. We are waiting for them to send us the subscriber reports, providing the number of subscribers who are taking our channels and bouquets, and we will bill them accordingly,' the executive added. 'Distribution platforms have to reallocate content spends to reflect the new market dynamics — particularly in the wake of the creation of broadcasting giant JioStar, which has extracted its pound of flesh from the market,' a veteran TV distribution executive said, adding that with overall average revenue per user (ARPU) stagnating, distributors are now compelled to reallocate budgets based on each network's strength. JioStar currently has 34% of the TV viewership market, while Zee holds 17% and Sony Pictures Networks accounts for less than 10%. Recently, Sony Pictures Networks, a Sony Group Corp-owned entity operating under the legal name Culver Max Entertainment, approached the Bombay High Court to challenge a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal order, which had restrained it from proceeding with a disconnection notice issued to Tata Play. While staying the disconnection notice, TDSAT had also directed Tata Play to pay ₹40 crore to the broadcaster within two weeks, as part-payment against its claimed dues of ₹128 crore. The tribunal stated that this amount would be adjusted against the liability to be determined during the final hearing. A recent report by EY and the All India Digital Cable Federation said India's pay-TV subscriber base dropped from 151 million in 2018 to 111 million in 2024 — a loss of 40 million subscribers. The report also projected a further decline, with pay-TV households expected to fall to between 71 and 81 million by 2030. The decline has been attributed to rising channel costs, increased competition from over-the-top platforms and the growing popularity of free, unregulated services such as DD Free Dish.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Airtel Digital TV removing Zee channels from base packs over price hike
Mumbai: Bharti Airtel-owned direct-to-home (DTH) company Airtel Digital TV said it is removing Zee Entertainment channels from its bouquets due to a recent price hike by the broadcaster, mirroring an ongoing dispute between Sony Pictures Networks India and Tata Play . The DTH company will adjust pack prices to account for the removal of Zee channels and place the broadcaster's offerings on an a la carte basis, requiring subscribers to opt for Zee channels separately. 'Due to recent changes in broadcaster tariffs, Zee Network channels will no longer be part of the Airtel DTH base packs. These pack prices will be adjusted accordingly,' an Airtel spokesperson said. 'All Zee network channels are available on Airtel DTH and can be added individually to the list of subscribed channels at their respective MRPs via channel selection options." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Crossout: New Apocalyptic MMO Crossout Play Now Undo In January, Zee and Sony Pictures Networks India raised the price of their base bouquets by over 10%. Broadcaster JioStar implemented the steepest hike, increasing the price of its base bouquet by 18% to ₹110. While Zee and Airtel Digital TV have not disclosed the financial terms of their deal, the DTH company is estimated to pay ₹300–400 crore annually in subscription fees to the broadcaster. Live Events Sources familiar with the matter said Airtel Digital TV is resisting the price hike by Zee, as the company and other DTH operators aim to control costs and return to profitability. A Zee Entertainment executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the broadcaster has no dispute with the DTH company, as the two had signed a reference interconnect offer (RIO) agreement specifying the terms and conditions for interconnection earlier this year. 'I don't understand what the dispute is, because Airtel Digital TV has signed a RIO agreement with us and also implemented the price hike to its subscribers. We are waiting for them to send us the subscriber reports, providing the number of subscribers who are taking our channels and bouquets, and we will bill them accordingly,' the executive added. 'Distribution platforms have to reallocate content spends to reflect the new market dynamics — particularly in the wake of the creation of broadcasting giant JioStar, which has extracted its pound of flesh from the market,' a veteran TV distribution executive said, adding that with overall average revenue per user (ARPU) stagnating, distributors are now compelled to reallocate budgets based on each network's strength. JioStar currently has 34% of the TV viewership market, while Zee holds 17% and Sony Pictures Networks accounts for less than 10%. Recently, Sony Pictures Networks, a Sony Group Corp-owned entity operating under the legal name Culver Max Entertainment, approached the Bombay High Court to challenge a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal order, which had restrained it from proceeding with a disconnection notice issued to Tata Play. While staying the disconnection notice, TDSAT had also directed Tata Play to pay ₹40 crore to the broadcaster within two weeks, as part-payment against its claimed dues of ₹128 crore. The tribunal stated that this amount would be adjusted against the liability to be determined during the final hearing. A recent report by EY and the All India Digital Cable Federation said India's pay-TV subscriber base dropped from 151 million in 2018 to 111 million in 2024 — a loss of 40 million subscribers. The report also projected a further decline, with pay-TV households expected to fall to between 71 and 81 million by 2030. The decline has been attributed to rising channel costs, increased competition from over-the-top platforms and the growing popularity of free, unregulated services such as DD Free Dish.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Airtel, Tata Play call off DTH merger talks
Bharti Airtel has officially called off discussions with the Tata Group regarding a potential merger of their Direct-To-Home (DTH) businesses. The telecom giant, through a regulatory filing said that both parties have mutually decided to terminate the discussions after failing to arrive at a "satisfactory resolution." #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Code of war: India and Pakistan take their battle to the (web)front Forex reserves show a pauperised Pakistan, a prospering India Pakistan conducts training launch of surface-to surface ballistic missile Tata and Bharti groups were finalising the merger between their loss-making DTH businesses, Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV, respectively, in February. The merger as supposed to take place through a share swap and would have helped bump up Airtel's non-mobile revenues through convergence. ET Online Bharti Airtel's exchange filing. Airtel was expected to own a majority stake of over 50% in the merged entity, as per an ET report from earlier this year. Tata Play, India's largest DTH provider, was originally Tata Sky and began as a joint venture with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. The Walt Disney Co took over that stake when it acquired Murdoch's 21st Century Fox in 2019. Live Events Airtel Digital TV is housed in Bharti Telemedia Ltd, which in turn is a wholly owned arm of the listed flagship Bharti Airtel. Tata Sons, the holding company of the diversified conglomerate, owns 70% of Tata Play, having bought out Singapore investment firm Temasek Holding Pte's 10% stake in April 2024 for Rs 835 crore ($100 million), valuing the company at $1 billion, down a third from its $3 billion pre-pandemic valuation.
Reuters
17-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Tata Sons' move to boost stake in Tata Play gets Indian regulatory clearance
March 17 (Reuters) - Tata Sons' acquisition of an additional 10% stake in Tata Play from an affiliate of Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings has received regulatory clearance, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said on Monday. The deal to buy Baytree Investments (Mauritius) Pte's holding in the direct-to-home (DTH) and digital content distribution platform will raise Tata Sons' stake to 70%. Walt Disney (DIS.N), opens new tab owns the remaining 30% of the joint venture. Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV are close to merging their satellite TV businesses, creating a $1.6 billion entity, as they seek to navigate the ongoing shift of subscribers to digital streaming, as per media report. Tata Play and Airtel Digital TV accounted for more than 35 million paid subscribers as of September last year, representing more than half of India's 60 million DTH subscriber base, according to a government report.
