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The weather channel scouts for an India partner
MUMBAI: The Weather Channel, a US broadcaster that airs news, documentaries and other shows related to weather, is looking to enter India through a joint venture by the end of 2013. In an exclusive interview with ET, Chris Walters, COO, The Weather Channel, says: "We bring to the fore a great brand and great technology. But anything we do here has to be collaboration, and this is not about setting up an independent company."
The company says that it is in talks with five of India's biggest media conglomerates, and is considering a variety of models for the Indian market. "It might be primarily digital-led initiative and television could be a major component of it. It could be a 24-hour television channel. There can be branded inserts in other news channels. We also could bring the leading weather web presence and launch the mobile apps. We can join hands with mobile service providers and bring those apps to the market in local language. The JV could be all of these things or some of them," Walters said.
The broadcaster, which is jointly owned by NBC Universal, along with investment firms such as Blackstone Group and Bain Capital, has had a successful run in the US, with nearly 90% of American audiences subscribing to the channel. The company also has a prominent digital presence and offers customised weather forecasts to subscribers, and feeds weatherrelated information to other media outlets. "We believe some of the skills that we have, especially in providing accurate weather forecasts, can help businesses and consumers around the world. India is an important market for us," says Walters.
Talking about the scope of growth in India, Walters says in the US roughly a third of the population engages on the web with weather information. In India just 3% look at the web for any weather information. In China it's about 17%. "And that's a really, really small number. So I think we can bring compelling products and help this segment grow. This massive disparity in engagement leads us to believe that there is a compelling opportunity," he says.
Source: The weather channel scouts for an India partner - The Economic Times
Logo: Channel Website: National and Local Weather Forecast, Hurricane, Radar and Report
MUMBAI: The Weather Channel, a US broadcaster that airs news, documentaries and other shows related to weather, is looking to enter India through a joint venture by the end of 2013. In an exclusive interview with ET, Chris Walters, COO, The Weather Channel, says: "We bring to the fore a great brand and great technology. But anything we do here has to be collaboration, and this is not about setting up an independent company."
The company says that it is in talks with five of India's biggest media conglomerates, and is considering a variety of models for the Indian market. "It might be primarily digital-led initiative and television could be a major component of it. It could be a 24-hour television channel. There can be branded inserts in other news channels. We also could bring the leading weather web presence and launch the mobile apps. We can join hands with mobile service providers and bring those apps to the market in local language. The JV could be all of these things or some of them," Walters said.
The broadcaster, which is jointly owned by NBC Universal, along with investment firms such as Blackstone Group and Bain Capital, has had a successful run in the US, with nearly 90% of American audiences subscribing to the channel. The company also has a prominent digital presence and offers customised weather forecasts to subscribers, and feeds weatherrelated information to other media outlets. "We believe some of the skills that we have, especially in providing accurate weather forecasts, can help businesses and consumers around the world. India is an important market for us," says Walters.
Talking about the scope of growth in India, Walters says in the US roughly a third of the population engages on the web with weather information. In India just 3% look at the web for any weather information. In China it's about 17%. "And that's a really, really small number. So I think we can bring compelling products and help this segment grow. This massive disparity in engagement leads us to believe that there is a compelling opportunity," he says.
Source: The weather channel scouts for an India partner - The Economic Times
Logo: Channel Website: National and Local Weather Forecast, Hurricane, Radar and Report
