MxMIndia

Tag: Disney Star

  • The Indian Premier League broadcast rights auction in June will impact the landscape of Indian media, writes Shailesh Kapoor

    On the field and off it: The big IPL year

     

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    Shailesh KapoorThe biggest sporting event in India is currently underway. With each passing year, IPL seems to only grow in stature and brand value. This time, there are two new franchises, and the spectators are back in the stands too, albeit with a cap of 25 per cent. More franchises mean more matches and more talent on display, all of which eventually leads to higher monetization and valuation of brand IPL.

     

    But the eyes this year are not just on the ongoing IPL but also on what’s to follow on the IPL front over the next few weeks. IPL broadcast rights are up for renewal, and we are set to see a fierce battle in the auctions scheduled for mid-year.

     

    IPL is a crown jewel for Disney (Star), not just in India, but even worldwide. Hotstar, on the back of IPL, contributes more than 30 per cent to Disney+’s global subscriber base. Needless to say, Star India will stretch itself beyond its limits to retain both television and streaming rights.

     

    But there’s the newly-merged entity that goes by the working title Zee-Sony, which is a serious contender. Sony has been down the IPL road before, being the first ones to put their money on it, when the league was only an experiment, not a proven success story. With the combined might of two big networks, Star India’s competition is tougher than it was five years ago.

     

    Add Reliance (Viacom) to the mix, and we have a three-way tussle for IPL rights on the cards. BCCI’s decision to not go for combined bids this year makes things even more interesting, because it puts streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video into the reckoning, along with Google and Facebook.

     

    No amount of speculation can prepare us what may eventually happen when the e-auction commences on June 12 this year. But whatever the outcome is, it will shape the landscape of the Indian media industry for the next few years, even the next decade.

     

    The television industry is India has been struggling for relevance, despite being the medium with the highest reach, and by some margin too. IPL (and cricket in general) is one of the few things that keeps television relevant to the times, as far as media planning and buying goes. Digital viewership may have gone up, but television remains the dominant medium of sports consumption. The entire television industry, and the advertisers’ group (brands and media agencies), will be keenly awaiting the outcome.

     

    Till then, there’s some real cricket on the grounds to keep us busy. For another seven weeks, the cricketing action will continue to enthrall millions across the nation. It will also act as a reminder for the potential bidders everyday, on how big the opportunity in front of them is.

     

  • Celebrate the return of Tata IPL 2022 back to Indian shores

    MS Dhoni in new campaign of Star Sports

    By Our Staff

     

    Star Sports, the official broadcaster of IPL, has launched #YehAbNormalHai campaign featuring MS Dhoni. The campaign is to celebrate all the excitement and the return of IPl to Indian shores. Tata IPL 2022, to be precise. Scheduled to start from March 26, 2022.

     

    Speaking about the #YehAbNormalHai campaign ahead of TATA IPL 2022, Sanjog Gupta, Head – Sports, Disney Star said: “The Tata IPL 2022 campaign seeks to recruit millions of TV viewers and digital users across the country. Structured in four phases, the campaign turns the spotlight on fan frenzy and unique situations typically associated with the tournament as well as the distinct proposition of this year’s edition. #YeAbNormalHai adequately represents this, tying it with the social context of people discovering a “new normal” in their lives. The launch phase of the campaign strives to create a sense of excitement for the start of the 15th season, which promises to be the biggest ever.”

     

  • Together with Sequoia India and Sikhya Productions

    NatGeo films series on Indian women entrepreneurs

    By Our Staff

     

    National Geographic has joined hands with Sequoia India to spotlight the inspiring journeys of Indian women entrepreneurs with its brand-new digital series – ‘She Builds’. The six-part series of short digital films will touch upon the lives of seven successful Indian female founders, who are defying the odds by taking risks, dreaming big, and driving innovation in India.

     

    The series, which will air over two weeks, will feature innovative and inspiring entrepreneurs like Neetu Yadav & Kirti Jangra, Animall, Ashwini Asokan, Mad Street Den, Ghazal Alagh, Mamaearth, Prukalpa Sankar, Atlan, Rashi Narang, Heads Up For Tails, Divya Gokulnath, BYJU’S.

     

    Said Kevin Vaz, Head – Network Entertainment Channels, Disney Star: “At National Geographic, it is our constant endeavour to bring stories that take our audiences on an immersive, inspiring and sympathetic journey. With ‘She Builds’, we are delighted to bring motivational stories of seven women entrepreneurs who have contributed in changing the narrative of women leadership in India. We understand that short-form content presented in an interesting manner are appreciated and preferred by our audiences, so we are bringing these stories in bite-size formats and premiering them on our highly engaged social media platforms.”

     

    The films were produced in collaboration with Guneet Monga, CEO & Founder, Sikhya Entertainment Private Ltd. and Executive Producer for an Academy award winning film, and directed by Vijayeta Kumar.

     

    Added Gayatri Yadav, CMO, Sequoia India and Southeast Asia: “At Sequoia India we have been privileged to meet ambitious and successful women entrepreneurs who challenge the status quo every day, building game-changing businesses to be the pioneering leaders they are. Their stories are inspiring, relatable, and incredibly uplifting. But they just don’t get told often enough. We are very grateful to our founders for giving us this opportunity – and sparking a flame that we hope will inspire many.”

     

  • Executes 24-hour roadblock to drive awareness

    Disney Star helps Tata Sky rebrand to Tata Play

    By Our Staff

     

    Disney Star network executed a 24-hour roadblock for Tata Sky to drive awareness for their recent rebranding campaign as Tata Play.

     

    Said Kevin Vaz, Head – Network Entertainment Channels, Disney Star: “Disney Star is thrilled to associate with Tata Sky at a critical juncture in their 18-year journey, as they rebrand themselves as Tata Play. This 24-hour network roadblock across all the entertainment channels of Disney Star demonstrates the strength of our network and the pivotal role it can play to support brands in their business transformation efforts. Our entertainment network’s rich experience and unparalleled reach of 700 million monthly unique viewers makes us the platform of choice for advertisers to derive the maximum investment value.”

     

    Added Harit Nagpal, MD & CEO, Tata Play: “The 24- hour roadblock on the Disney Star network has helped create massive awareness across India, of Tata Play and its offerings right on Day 1 of the launch. Disney Star teams across various channels worked closely with the Tata Play team and amplified the message through their well-known characters, and created many other value-adds which added further ammunition to the execution. It was an absolute delight to work with Disney Star network who brought all their resources together to provide a seamless execution for this brand transformation campaign.”

     

  • As head of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility

    Disney Star appoints George Cherian to head comms & CSR

    By Our Staff

     

    George Cherian
    George Cherian

    Disney Star has announced the appointment of George Cherian as Head of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In this role, he will be responsible for overseeing all strategic communications and CSR efforts for the Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution (DMED) business in the country which includes television network, streaming platform and studios. George will report to K Madhavan, Country Manager and President, The Walt Disney Company and Star India and will join the India leadership team that drives Disney Star businesses in the country.

     

    Said Madhavan: “We are at an exciting juncture of our growth story and strongly believe that communication is one of the key drivers in establishing a brand’s stature. As the country’s leading media, entertainment and digital network, we have a strong and compelling story to tell. We are delighted to welcome George to the Disney Star team to help us communicate our vision, strategy and commitment to the Indian market, and to the various external stakeholders.”

     

    Added George: “The combination of an industry that is on the cusp of exponential growth and a brand that is trusted and respected by millions of people the world over, could not have made for a more convincing case for me to join Disney Star. I look forward to the opportunity of building the Disney Star brands in India and working with some of the most talented professionals in this industry.”