Sad News HBO and WB to exit Indian market from 15th December

[Esmail]

I see future of cable TV and DTH on decline in next 4 to 5 years unless until data charges go very high

Tariff of wireless data will increase but wired broadband will be available at affordable prices, so ppl will move to wired home broadband connections along with OTT subscription.

 

[shawl_who]

Ok, the news is sad.... but this is whats gonna happen. They'll find an Indian broadcast partner, and provide their movie library to them.
So, we may see some new english movie channel from Zee, Star etc.... players who can afford, all such carriage fees costs.

Just like VH1 channel, which is distributed by Zee brand, has managed to survive... and its not that, its ratings are high... its just that they ve d money to run d channel even under losses.... and channels like 9x0, Spark etc have met their fate of shutdowns... same happened with BBC entertainment, and ITV Granada.

 

[The Lonelier Island]

Ok, the news is sad.... but this is whats gonna happen. They'll find an Indian broadcast partner, and provide their movie library to them.
So, we may see some new english movie channel from Zee, Star etc.... players who can afford, all such carriage fees costs.

Just like VH1 channel, which is distributed by Zee brand, has managed to survive... and its not that, its ratings are high... its just that they ve d money to run d channel even under losses.... and channels like 9x0, Spark etc have met their fate of shutdowns... same happened with BBC entertainment, and ITV Granada.

It's better that way. With only 4 English movie players left in the business now. Our bills will come down. I remember people being upset when MGM shut down. Than Times acquired the library and we got to enjoy all James Bond movies in HD on satellite tv.

Second part is a whole different scenario. If I am not wrong Indiacast is currently distributing Vh1. Viacom can promote and sell expensive live events using Vh1 brand. 9XO might have shut down because of cost cutting post pandemic. For Big CBS Channels, BBC Entertainment and ITV channels delayed digitalization is to be blamed. If digitalization happened just 2-3 prior to when it happened. We could have still had these niche channels.

 

[The Lonelier Island]

HBO's confidence in Indian market always seemed very low to me as they were the last among English Movie players to introduce an HD feed. At a time they were airing movies shot in 4K downgraded to SD in India.

 

[bandelguy]

The English movie channels continue to push only recent blockbuster movies mainly. There are movies which are getting repeated once or/ twice a week on the same or other channel.

No channel is showing many movies from the 1950- 90s.

HBO has catalogue from 1950s or prior to that and the classic movies are shown in western markets / other Asian territories. Even the MGM library has not been exploited much ,except when Zee MGM was there.

Star Movies has become the defacto home of the Marvel and Disney movies. No old movies are shown.

Even the premise of Star Movies Select and &prive HD showing niche movies has gone much diluted these days.

There was a time before the advent of Star movies HD/ HBO hd ( around later nineties and early 200s) when these channels used to show old western movies, small indie and budget movies.

 

[shawl_who]

Only a handful of MGM movie library are getting played on other channels, they really had a vast collection !!

 

[JollyLNB]

This is for revisiting the olden days of HBO, way back in 2005 when the logo was in the top left corner.

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[bandelguy]

Only a handful of MGM movie library are getting played on other channels, they really had a vast collection !!

Only tip of the MGM iceberg is seen in India.

 

[KGF]

The English movie channels continue to push only recent blockbuster movies mainly. There are movies which are getting repeated once or/ twice a week on the same or other channel.

No channel is showing many movies from the 1950- 90s.

HBO has catalogue from 1950s or prior to that and the classic movies are shown in western markets / other Asian territories. Even the MGM library has not been exploited much ,except when Zee MGM was there.

Star Movies has become the defacto home of the Marvel and Disney movies. No old movies are shown.

Even the premise of Star Movies Select and &prive HD showing niche movies has gone much diluted these days.

There was a time before the advent of Star movies HD/ HBO hd ( around later nineties and early 200s) when these channels used to show old western movies, small indie and budget movies.

Not many watch those old movies aside from old people who are not the target audience for advertisers. Disney (Marvel) movies get more ad revenue and watch time and hence the channel pushes it a lot. It also helps that Star is owned by Disney.

 

[KGF]

Only tip of the MGM iceberg is seen in India.

Which is the best channel for English movies currently in India according to you? MN+ airs a lot of old movies.