Tag: ODI World Cup

  • TV will rule over digital for ODI WC viewership

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    While there is a proliferation of the digital media with many media organisations and marketers betting big on the medium, television continues to rule, as of now. As per the monthly study conducted by Axis My India, 47% of respondents expressed their intention to tune in via traditional television, utilising DTH or cable services. Demonstrating the increasing influence of digital trends, 27% indicated their inclination to follow the event on their mobile devices. A notable 9% exhibited enthusiasm to experience the tournament live by planning to attend matches at the stadium.

     

    The survey inquired about respondents’ awareness of the forthcoming 2023 ODI World Cup being hosted in India. Encouragingly, 70% of participants confirmed their awareness of this prestigious sporting event taking place in the country. It highlights the fact that a substantial majority of respondents are cognizant of the global cricket event’s occurrence on Indian soil, reinforcing the event’s prominence and reach among the surveyed audience.

     

    The survey sought to ascertain respondents’ preferences regarding their anticipated viewing platforms for the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup set to unfold in India. The findings reflect a diverse array of choices. Notably, These preferences underscore the multi-faceted avenues through which individuals are gearing up to engage with the international cricket spectacle, embracing both traditional and contemporary viewing modes.

     

    The findings are part of Axis’s India Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI), shedding light on significant media consumption trends. The report highlights a 1% decrease in media consumption from the previous month, with 19% of families indicating increased media engagement. The survey also delves into consumer behaviour during festive sales, where 23% of participants express continuity in their engagement with e-commerce platforms, with additional 11% intending to do first time online shopping this year. Furthermore, the anticipation surrounding the 2023 ODI World Cup is reflected in the diverse choices of viewing platforms, with 47% opting for traditional television and 27% embracing digital channels.

     

    The survey used Computer-Aided Telephonic Interviews and included 5048 participants from 35 states and UTs. Among them, 68% were from rural areas and 32% from urban areas. In terms of regions, 22% were from the North, 24% from the East, 28% from the West, and 26% from the South of India. Among the participants, 62% were male and 38% were female. Looking at the largest groups, 29% were aged between 36 and 50 years old, while 27% were aged between 26 and 35 years old

     

    Commenting on the CSI report, Pradeep Gupta, Chairman & MD, Axis My India, said, “As we stand on the threshold of the much-anticipated 2023 ODI World Cup on our home turf, we are poised to witness how brands strategically align themselves with this grand event. The widespread recognition and enthusiasm surrounding the tournament offer an ideal backdrop for brands to forge impactful connections with diverse audiences. With media consumption trends diversifying across linear television, digital platforms, and live stadium experiences, this global spectacle will beckon marketers to seize the opportunity and become a part of the cricketing fervor, with this spectacle happening during the peak festive season it will be an added advantage for brands.”

     

    Other key findings

    • Consumption of media (TV, Internet, Radio, etc.) has increased for 19% of families, depicting a decrease in media consumption percentage by 1% from last month. The net score, which was -7 last month is at -4 this month. Media consumption remains the same for 58% of families

    • Overall household spending has increased for 55% of the families, which is a decrease by 3% from last month. Consumption remains the same for 35% of families. The net score, which was +46 last month is +45 this month.

    • Spends on essentials like personal care & household items have increased for 41% of families, which marks a decrease by 3% from last month. Consumption remains the same for 40% of families. The net score, which was at +23 last month has dipped to +22 this month.

    • Spends on non-essential & discretionary products like AC, Car, and Refrigerators have increased for 6% of families, which is the same as last month. Consumption remains the same for 87% of families. The net score, which was 0 last month is at -1 this month.

    • Expenses towards health-related items such as vitamins, tests, healthy food has surged for 34% of the families. This reflects an increase in consumption by 1% from last month.  Consumption remains the same for 47% of families. The health score which has a negative connotation i.e., the lesser the spends on health items the better the sentiments, has a net score value of -15 this month.

    • Mobility has increased for 9% of the families, which is an increase by 2% from last month. The net score, which was -2 last month has improved to -1 this month. Mobility remains the same for 81% of the families.

     

    Festive Shopping trends

    • The survey delved into consumers’ intentions regarding their shopping preferences for the upcoming festive season. Notably, 23% of respondents plan to shop more during the festive period as compared to last year. Additionally, 28% of participants revealed their intention to maintain their spending habits at the same level as before, hinting at a stable consumer sentiment. These responses highlight the potential shifts in consumer behavior and their possible impact on the market.

    • The survey explored respondents’ prior and potential involvement in festive sales organized by e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart. Significantly, a notable 23% of participants confirmed their past participation in such events and expressed their intent to maintain this pattern this year as well.  Additionally, 11% of those who had not engaged in festive online sales before expressed their interest in participating this year. Conversely, 7% acknowledged their previous engagement but revealed their decision not to partake this year.

    • Of 23% of those who intent to maintain the pattern this year, 44% said they will be shopping more through e-commerce mediums as compared to last year.  These insights provide a comprehensive understanding of consumers’ past and evolving attitudes towards e-commerce festive sales, shaping strategies for these platforms.

    • The survey explored participants’ inclinations towards investment in the Indian stock market or other financial assets in the upcoming months. Notably, a mere 6% expressed an intention to invest more, while 10% indicated plans to invest less. Meanwhile, 5% are projected to maintain their investment levels. These insights provide a snapshot of the current sentiment towards financial market investments, emphasizing the diverse attitudes among the surveyed individuals. Notably, a significant 79% still don’t invest in stocks.

    • The survey inquired about participants’ perceptions regarding the potential movement of the stock exchange (SENSEX) beyond the threshold of 70,000 before the festive period of Dussherra/Diwali this year. Encouragingly, 46% of respondents who invested expressed optimism that such a milestone could be achieved. Furthermore, 8% were uncertain about the market’s trajectory. These findings underscore the diverse range of opinions prevalent among respondents, reflecting the complex and multifaceted nature of stock market predictions.

    • The survey delved into participants’ perspectives on the government’s economic policies and their perceived influence on the nation’s growth. Impressively, 64% of respondents expressed a confidence in the effectiveness of policies such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.

     

  • Free-to-stream: Will subscription models survive?

     

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    Shailesh KapoorThe much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup, scheduled tomorrow (Sep 2), marks the start of a busy cricketing scene. The action is equally hectic off the field too. The start of the Asia Cup also coincided with the news that Viacom 18 has bagged the rights for BCCI-organized bilateral series in India over the next five years.

     

    Viacom 18/ JioCinema’s entry into sports has disrupted the landscape in 2023. From being a driver of paid subscriptions, cricket is now playing the role of reach aggregator on OTT. The Asia Cup is available for free streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, and the ODI World Cup that follows will go the same way. Indeed, the era of paid sports content in India maybe over. It’s only a matter of time that sports channels on TV go free-to-air as well.

     

    With the no. 1 sport in the country (and by some margin) being available for free, the state of several other sports, including football, tennis, wrestling, etc. hangs in balance. Will they continue to be “premium” offerings that get smaller audiences who are willing to pay for them? Or will the networks hope to expand the reach of these sports by making them available free? The question, of course, extends to television too.

     

    Are we going back in time, by shunning subscription models in favor of those dependent on advertising? Far from it. For the last several years, almost all major players, in the streaming space in particular, but also in linear television, have over-rated an average Indian’s inclination to pay for content. They have priced their products at levels that are untenable, and then gone on to offer handsome discounts, to the extent of 50-75% at times.

     

    But the core question is not about the price alone. It is: “Why pay at all?” Changing a market’s mindset from free to pay is an arduous task. We have seen how niche channels lost out once the NTO effects kicked in a few years ago. Outside the top 10 cities in India, paying for data, however low the rates maybe, itself is a choice to make. Stand-alone subscriptions are not even serious considerations. Reluctantly but inevitably, platforms have consented to being a part of aggregator bundles, where the ARPUs are much lower. A Jio-Netflix deal was announced just last week.

     

    It may seem like an extreme position to take, but the days of pay content in India, especially when it comes to mainstream content that’s targeting a wider demographic, may be numbered. The major GECs going free-to-air in the next 2-3 years is not ruled out either. It would just take one of the top 4 to make the move and grab the top spot, and things may look very different overnight.

     

    All hail the advertising economy!

     

  • The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

    Courtesy: iplt20.com

     

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    Shailesh KapoorThe 16th edition of Indian Premier League is in its last leg now. The 2023 edition has been the most closely-fought of the 16, and by some margin. At the time of writing this, five games are left in the league stage, and yet, only one team (2022 winners Gujarat Titans) have qualified for the playoffs. Seven of the remaining nine are in the reckoning for the remaining three spots, though two of them have only an outside mathematical chance.

     

    How IPL manages to grow in stature year-on-year is quite extraordinary. And it’s not just growth in commercial stature (viewership, revenue, etc.). The impact of IPL in shaping Indian and international cricket is unmistakable. The meteoric rise of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the last six weeks is a topical example. Jaiswal’s humble background makes for a great underdog or rags-to-riches story. He’s almost certain to earn an India cap this year itself. But it’s difficult to imagine how that would have happened if there was no IPL.

     

    From a media perspective, IPL pretty much stands at the last marquee media event standing in India. The clutter of infinite options has fragmented audience consumption over the last decade, and it seems that days of a hit show that will unify the entire country (or even the Hindi markets) are long gone. But IPL bucks that trend. To borrow a term from the theatrical business, it’s the biggest ‘pan India’ property in business today.

     

    By offering IPL free to stream, JioCinema has managed to add to the property’s stature, by giving it recognition as a brand of the ‘masses’. Premium properties can be mass too, and IPL is a fine example of that. One hopes that JioCinema doesn’t relook at this proposition next year, now that the platform has entered the SVOD business.

     

    There’s another big-ticket cricket event later this year, the ODI World Cup in India. The ODI format is in a bit of a no-man’s-land, sandwiched between the popular entertainment offering of T20 and the connoisseur-backed Test cricket format. ICC is not the most nimble-footed organisation, which is why the ODI format continues to drag on. In the process, it’s damaging the global prospects of the sport of cricket irrevocably. Logically, this should be the last ODI World Cup. It’s only imminent that curtains are drawn on this format sooner than later.

     

    But nevertheless, the 2023 ODI World Cup will be a commercial success, especially because it’s being held in India, which opens up a wide array of advertising and association options for Indian brands, that are not available in an overseas tournament.

     

    But even as its best, a World Cup (ODI or T20) cannot match the brand power of IPL, an idea that continues to grow bigger with time.

     

    This column is taking a summer break, and restart from Friday, June 16, 2023