Breaking Uday Shankar, James Murdoch to pick up 40% stake in Viacom18

[CloudCraze]

Not good move monopoly of Star, Zee/Sony and Viacom in sports Broadcasting Market, We need crazy sports channels like Neo Sports network, current market 1Sports and EuroSport channels really need investors/Investment from Uday Shankar and James Murdoch company

Absolutely right. Such investments are needed for a channel that is very difficult to operate like One Sports. When they do, there will be strong competition in the sports channel sector.

 

[Aksgr]

It's Network18 that's from RIL not Viacom.

I meant about viacom18. It's currently the weakest player. Making them strong will help to gain weightage for the "GAME"

 

[StoriesWithPK]

To correct it its actually 39% to 10%

ViacomCBS holds 49% and RIL owns 51% in the JV of Viacom18.

Udhay Shankar & Murdoch rumoured to take 40% and RIL is not diluting their share percentage, it will remain the same 51%.

So if everything goes as planned ViacomCBS will hold only 9%

 

[StoriesWithPK]

Eurosport wont acquire any major sports rights. Their parent company Discovery is in the process of merging with WarnerMedia in 3 months.

And HBO Max is rumoured to launch in India before House of the Dragons Premiere. By year end, we can see Discovery+ app folded into HBO Max.

So not sure they will allow even PE or anyone like Uday Shankar & Murdoch to invest in Eurosport right now.

 

[CloudCraze]

ViacomCBS holds 49% and RIL owns 51% in the JV of Viacom18.

Udhay Shankar & Murdoch rumoured to take 40% and RIL is not diluting their share percentage, it will remain the same 51%.

So if everything goes as planned ViacomCBS will hold only 9%

Bro ... then Viacom's power in the company will be completely reduced.

 

[StoriesWithPK]

Bro ... then Viacom's power in the company will be completely reduced.

That's what I am trying to convey. If this deal goes through then Lupa-TV18 doesn't even need to use the Viacom name.

Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA

ViacomCBS might not be keen on India as they have their own set of problems in the US - Triplecom Media iTap Founder and CEO Kunal Dasgupta

ViacomCBS doesn't see India as a key market. "ViacomCBS would have felt that it was not worth investing billions of dollars on cricket rights. If IPL requires a Rs 40,000 crore bid then that is a huge commitment, which ViacomCBS wouldn't have been comfortable with.

So it seems like a soft exit for ViacomCBS from the Indian market.

 

[Aksgr]

That's what I am trying to convey. If this deal goes through then Lupa-TV18 doesn't even need to use the Viacom name.

Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA

ViacomCBS might not be keen on India as they have their own set of problems in the US - Triplecom Media iTap Founder and CEO Kunal Dasgupta

ViacomCBS doesn't see India as a key market. "ViacomCBS would have felt that it was not worth investing billions of dollars on cricket rights. If IPL requires a Rs 40,000 crore bid then that is a huge commitment, which ViacomCBS wouldn't have been comfortable with.

So it seems like a soft exit for ViacomCBS from the Indian market.

Viacom has signed 10year agreement with RIL to carry their networks throughout indian subcontinent. From 2019. So no need to worry

TV18 Buys Control of Viacom Joint Venture in India

Mukesh Ambani's TV18 is to take operational and economic control of Viacom18, the joint venture with Viacom.

variety.com

 

[CloudCraze]

That's what I am trying to convey. If this deal goes through then Lupa-TV18 doesn't even need to use the Viacom name.

Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA

ViacomCBS might not be keen on India as they have their own set of problems in the US - Triplecom Media iTap Founder and CEO Kunal Dasgupta

ViacomCBS doesn't see India as a key market. "ViacomCBS would have felt that it was not worth investing billions of dollars on cricket rights. If IPL requires a Rs 40,000 crore bid then that is a huge commitment, which ViacomCBS wouldn't have been comfortable with.

So it seems like a soft exit for ViacomCBS from the Indian market.

If so, will it not significantly affect the future of Viacom's own brands like Nick, MTV, VH1 and Comedy Central channels in the Indian market? Or will any company have to take over the distribution of these channels?

 

[Stvnn]

If so, will it not significantly affect the future of Viacom's own brands like Nick, MTV, VH1 and Comedy Central channels in the Indian market? Or will any company have to take over the distribution of these channels?

Maybe distribution will be seen by Network18 itself, after exit of Viacom.

 

[rohan74]

If in future Uday Shankar and James Murdoch want to sell their stake they should not sell again to Walt Disney as they did with Star India and their won't be any Indians owned broadcasting channels except small players.