Sports Channels in India (Current & Upcoming) - Broadcast Rights, General Discussion, News & Updates

[simplydrew]

And one more psg match live on sports18 sd this sunday at 5:30pm twist in the tale is this time not live on hd of sports18 on sports18 hd channel Atalanta vs inter match live

was unsure about whether to like this post or not after seeing sports 18 name. they doesn't deserve to broadcast tennis at all. Sony ESPN was the best for this. still have beautiful memories of it.
wounds of Paris masters 1000 haven't healed yet.
what's the use of having rights when you don't have any proper channels to broadcast semi final and final matches on major channel. yes it was available but only on HD channel. first get proper channels and distribution and then buy any sports rights.
when Star sports started so many channels, that time many people started arguing that what's the need of so many channels for sports. now they all can understand why there's a need of more than one channel to broadcast sports matches.

 

[simplydrew]

Right now they have more properties and less channels.

it's like shopping half of the store and having just one carry bag. Viacom needs to learn from Star and Sony. declaration of 8 channels and not starting any after so many months!!

 

[RdX]

Right now they have more properties and less channels.

I know even they launching sequel channels like Sony or Star not possible airing live of all properties match and contents, but they're Acquired Rights mainly for their 3 to 4 OTT platforms, Broadcasting Rights with Sports 18 is just promote OTT platform streaming. Except IPL, most of properties are Reliance Viacom18 Acquired Rights are combined Package Streaming and TV Broadcasting Rights.

 

[iDJ]

I know even they launching sequel channels like Sony or Star not possible airing all properties match/content, but they're Acquired Rights mainly for their 3 to 4 OTT platforms, Broadcasting Rights with Sports 18 is just promote OTT platform streaming. Except IPL, most of properties are Reliance Viacom18 Acquired Rights are combined Package Streaming and TV Broadcasting Rights.

It's too compliment their tv network too. Sony and Star has sports as a hit property. Zee compensates with high budget movies. Viacom has nothing special apart from GECs to appeal the masses to get anything past Colors. Bouquet is not that important. Nick and MTV can be easily replaced.

 

[simplydrew]

I know even they launching sequel channels like Sony or Star not possible airing live of all properties match and contents, but they're Acquired Rights mainly for their 3 to 4 OTT platforms, Broadcasting Rights with Sports 18 is just promote OTT platform streaming. Except IPL, most of properties are Reliance Viacom18 Acquired Rights are combined Package Streaming and TV Broadcasting Rights.

they declared 8 channels few months back like Star and Sony but not in picture. I'm worried about if and when they'll start but whether they'll have any distribution or not

 

[RdX]

they declared 8 channels few months back like Star and Sony but not in picture. I'm worried about if and when they'll start but whether they'll have any distribution or not

Not only Sports 18, other Colors Branded cineplex channels too not available most of DTH and Cable TV platforms, Viacom18 weaker than Goldmines, Enterr10, Raj TV Network in channel distribution sector.

 

[dino29]

Does that mean ISL will move to Viacom? It's a Star and Reliance collaboration.

I do not believe this information, still relationship between the two seems to be quite cordial as has been for many years in the past

 

[iDJ]

I do not believe this information, still relationship between the two seems to be quite cordial as has been for many years in the past

While Jio removed Hotstar Mobile plans from their prepaid offering. Airtel is offering a new ₹181 plan today with extra benefits.

 

[IMprabhu7193]

Sports 18 1 HD added on Tata Play @ 487

 

[dino29]

At the rate the big rights are being bought by Star and Viacom18. Zee and Sony will suffer.

they lost CSA rights to Star now in next cycle bought by Viacom18.

Then Australia and Big Bash rights went to Star from next season.

Lost rights of 2024 Olympics to Viacom18

Lost out for IPL rights to have some rights they overpaid to Star to get only the tV rights of ICC events from 2024 to 2031 by which time majority of Indians would be in OTT(remember for next 5 year IPL rights Viacom paid the same amount for OTT as Star paid for TV expecting to make profit)

The one rights they have was the ILT20 now with the SA20 schedule release we see that both will most probably clash at the same time and imo the better players are in SA20 compared to ILT20

I think slowly but surely sports broadcasting is going to be a 2 horse race between Star and Viacom18

It is true that Sony has lost out on renewing many key sporting event rights as well as not able to acquire other important rights... Let's wait n see if equation changes in the future.. Issue with zee paying high amount to star/disney for acquiring ICC Events TV rights is not that OTT will gain prominence in the future and TV as an entertainment medium would b left behind hence causing loss to zee .... Infact linear tv will continue to grow and hold strong for next 15 or 20 years while OTT will also expand its footprint but still not become a mass medium for accessing content.

Problem is that Non India Cricket Matches do not getting good ratings barring some key matches which r of interest hence be it on TV or OTT ad revenues remain quite less for such matches. This maybe one of the reasons why star/disney decided to offload the TV Rights of next cycle of ICC events but retained digital rights as it would help cater to niche audience as well as help in boosting content on disney+hotstar keeping in view growth in OTT sector which is expected in coming years.

In my opinion sony needs to review its content strategy in not only sports but other genres too as it is rather weak or does not have presence in many genres. Zee - Sony merger can hugely help in redrawing the strategy & define key areas where both the broadcasters need to focus on. If sony-zee fails to acquire major sporting events then it should exit sports genre and put its resources in strengthening other areas where it has strong foothold or require the push. Zee had earlier exit sports channel business bcoz of same reason.

Actually sports as a genre is quite cost intensive & requires lot of investment, more so broadcasters are able to get return to investment or earn profit at a very later stage that too when they have rights of some events will garner high viewership.... A channel can also somehow invest in low key sporting events and run the channel but it does not get desired audience hence is not quite productive. These days even rights of major football, tennis , other events like WWE, Olympics / Commonwealth Games etc. & even cricket rights of home matches of different countries too cost quite a lot but revenue earned from it is quite small as compared to IPL, India Cricket (except when Indian Cricket Team tours these nations).

Big advantage that sports channels bring to a broadcaster is to make its bouquets attractive & helps in delivering good subscription numbers. It also immensely helps for better reach of all its channels as operators cannot ignore signing agreement with respective broadcasters or not updating RIO on regular intervals to bring onboard new channels