By a correspondent
Neo Sports Broadcast Pvt Ltd has decided to do away with its cable distribution agreement with MSMD and rather distribute their channels through its in-house team. From April 1, 2014, One Alliance, MSMD’s distribution arm will cease to distribute the Neo Sports and Neo Prime channels respectively to the cable and HITS operators.
A statement issued from the office read thus: “Neo shares a fantastic relationship with DTH operators and other digital platforms and are confident that it will be able to build a similarly robust relationship with cable and HITS companies across the country. The dawn of addressability is a great opportunity for all of us; we are confident that we will be able to forge an equally robust and healthy relationship with cable companies as we start selling channels directly though our team.”
Neo has continued to distribute its channels through its in-house team to DTH and other digital distribution platforms even as it gave away its cable distribution rights to MSMD in 2010. Neo Prime and Neo Sports are currently available on all leading DTH platforms and also across all leading networks nationally and regionally.
Dilip Sharan, EVP, Distribution Platforms said that it is a step in the right direction to further build business keeping in mind the emerging digital landscape. “The suggestive Regulatory approach combined with digitalization clearly points that future distribution deals will be dictated by the relevant content that is made available to various audiences and the ability to work with the platforms keeping in mind the business issues and not entirely on the strength of the channels size in the bouquet, a prevalent practice in the analogue era. Our cable distribution deal with MSMD made better commercial sense in the analogue environment.”
Adding further he said, “Our dealing with the DTH operators has reinforced this line of thinking that standalone channels can make for a business case as much and as efficiently in a digital environment provided it can offer very relevant content that has significant traction in various category of sport; is attractively priced and above all, there is strong intent to engage with its business partner in building a mutually supportive business environment.”
In 2014-2015, Neo will be showcasing some of the biggest sporting events including French Open, Fed Cup, Davis Cup, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Bundesliga, US PGA etc.
