Sony six -New sports channel updates

[Niraj Rathod]

good news for sport lovers it will be launched after ipl in both sd & hd format.

 

[Amarjeet]

if it will be start before IPL then it will be better for us

 

[iS THAT ME]

if it will be start before IPL then it will be better for us

Yeah, that would be nice...wonder if there is any recent update...

 

[Gssran]

a Ad runing on Max that its coming soon, i don't know its for Ipl or Six.

 

[Gagan]

Hope they'll provide a HD version of it.

 

[Gssran]

if its launch before Ipl then its surely in HD.

 

[Gagan]

Not sure as i heard MAX HD will be there for IPL.

 

[Gssran]

No bro Sony apply for HD Licence for their all channels.

 

[iS THAT ME]

No bro Sony apply for HD Licence for their all channels.

They have special licences for launching HD licences...never knew that...

 

[Gagan]

Coming from Sony: Sports channel named Six​

The much-awaited launch of sports channel from Multi-Screen Media (MSM), which runs Sony Television, finally seems to be taking shape. The channel will be called Six.

According to three independent sources, the network was serious about getting a pure-play sports channel in its bouquet, even since the success of Indian Premier League (IPL). It is now evaluating the final contours to bid for the acquisition of Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) global media rights.

The broadcaster is believed to have elevated Nitesh Kriplani as business head of the upcoming channel. At present, he is the senior vice-president of MSM for business development and syndication. The creative duties for the channel has been given to Euro RSCG.

When contacted, Manjit Singh, CEO, MSM, said , “It is premature to comment on this right now." The network, since past few years, had already started acquiring big sports properties. Apart from the money-spinner IPL, it also owns rights to New Zealand cricket, FA Cup football, and NBA basketball. At present, these are being telecasted on Max, which shows a mix of sports and movies.

This will be the 11th sports channel in the industry. The entry will give Sony a platform to take on rivals STAR and Zee, who currently dominate the space with ESPN Star Sports (ESS) and Taj Television (owned by Zee network). Between these two networks, there are seven channels operated, which include ESPN, STAR Sports, STAR Cricket, TEN Sports, TEN Cricket, TEN Action+ and TEN Golf. Other channels include Neo Sports, Neo Cricket and DD Sports.

According to industry officials, the soft launch of the channel will happen during the fifth edition of IPL, which kicks off on April 4.

The official launch will, however, be dependent on whether Sony acquires the BCCI’s global media rights for six years. The bids for the same will be opened on April 2, during the marketing committee meeting to be held in Chennai.

“If Sony wins the telecast rights, the channel may kick off in July-August, during the India and New Zealand Test series here, as it will give much needed live content for the launch ,” said an official of a rival broadcasting sports network.

MSM runs seven channels, Sony TV, SAB TV, SET Max, Sony Pix, AXN, Animax and music channel Sony Mix, and has a 17.4 per cent market share in the Hindi general entertainment space. Its general entertainment channel Sony TV, held on to the top three among Hindi entertainment channels, backed with change in programming in past few months.

Sony Six could be launching on a bouncy wicket​

MUMBAI, MARCH 26:
Cricket ratings and ad spends are on a downswing. Sony Six slated to launch this year might be finding itself on a bouncy wicket.

In an already crowded space, being India's 14th sports channel is not going to be easy for the new channel from MSM (the owners of IPL's official broadcaster Set Max).

Shifting the IPL matches to the new channel might give it steady viewership for the six weeks of the tournament but MSM would face the challenge of filling it up for the rest of the year with equally riveting content to make a mark among the 13 existing sports channels (two from the Neo stable, five each from ESPN and Ten Sports and DD).

“The Sports market is full up now and a new channel will have to depend on subscription revenues with cost effective programming mix. Most channels are losing money due to cricket and this will be the biggest challenge for any new sports channel,” says Mr Atul Pande, CEO, Ten Sports.

MSM is expected to bid for the telecast rights to beam Indian cricket matches, which BCCI is going to decide on soon. “While getting the rights to Indian cricket will be an opportunity, it will also be expensive for the channel which has already spent a huge amount on the IPL. Sports like hockey, football and badminton will take a long time to gain acceptance. Sony Six has no option but to acquire or create its own properties,'' said an official from a sports broadcasting channel.

However apart from the BCCI's Indian cricket rights, the rest of cricket and non-cricket rights have already been sold to various broadcasters as part of long term deals. This leaves Sony Six with relatively less options to fill up its channel.

According to Mr Hiren Pandit, Managing Partner, Group M, “MSM is expected to make money after the first five seasons of the IPL and will leverage this to buy more properties. It will bid for the BCCI's India cricket rights and is expected to build its revenues based on these two large sporting properties. It needs a separate sports channel today as it will complete its bouquet.''

Mr Vinit Karnik, National Director, Sports & Live Events, Group M, added, “Sports channels have an acquisition-driven model and IPL is an impact property. It will continue to be the core property for MSM's sports channel which will add to its bouquet in the future.''

Meanwhile, Set Max claims to be slowly getting a trickle of associate sponsors for IPL 5. “We have most of the six associate sponsors of last year signing up this season as well. We will be able to hike the rates for the balance inventory once the ratings come in,” said Mr Rohit Gupta, President, MSM.