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

[dino29]

If Viacom only has 9% stake. Will channels like Comedy Central, MTV and Vh1 continue after completely exiting? History Channel will also likely leave soon.

3 things can happen.

- Under Viacom18 all partners will continue to focus on respective areas / genres while also helping each other when needed

- ViacomCBS will largely exit (either by withdrawing stake or continue with less stake and less operational work) . If they completely exit then they might handover its channel licencing to Reliance and its chs will continue to operate

- ViacomCBS will completely end relation with reliance and either operate chs independently (some might shut down) or enter a pact with new partner

History TV18 will surely shut down as Disney has stake in A&E which is 50% owner in this venture with TV18. Later after non competition period expires, star/disney will relaunch it

 

[JollyLNB]

History TV18 will surely shut down as Disney has stake in A&E which is 50% owner in this venture with TV18. Later after non competition period expires, star/disney will relaunch it

Remember that History TV18’s predecessor The History Channel was launched by Star in 2003. Like the Nat Geo channels, it put its logo in the top left corner. It rebranded to Fox History & Entertainment in 2008, then Fox (History &) Traveller in 2011 and now it is Fox Life. Disney-Star may very well launch History under licence from A&E.

Hope that the channels with Viacom international brands (MTV, Nick, VH1-branded channels) are able to continue in some form of the other.

 

[dino29]

In future History will leave Viacom for Disney. It can feel the void of International content. Than you also got an experienced International sports player like Eurosport on board. The thing here is the money. Even CCI would approve it without any hassle. Network 18 + Viacom 18 + Discovery pact can work out great.

I do not think Discovery will b with viacom18 venture. Most probably Discovery (after acquiring Warner Media) will go for pact with sony zee. Also in US CBS Warner selling their JV channel CW

 

[dino29]

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

Eurosport will work out some agreement. 1Sports most likely will shut down or sell the channel

 

[dino29]

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.

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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.

Obviously bro, Viacom would not like to spend such huge amount on cricket rights, they would rather spend it on their own channels / programming. Also in India too their English GEC , MTV, Vh1 chs r not performing that well bcoz of internet, OTT capturing that audience. They will be cautious about investment.

Coming to Indian TV landscape , it will continue to grow and broadcasters be it indian or foreign will b very interested to venture in this market and seek opportunities where there is growth potential. In most other countries TV audience is in decline but India offers large scope to expand. Not only this thru Joint Ventures like these international broadcasters can also mark their presence in OTT space. All in all Indian TV market is in very exciting times bcoz all the changes happening here and around the world. Similar thing happened when Pay TV chs launched in India or when digitization happened but it had a different future vision, now it has further evolved and creating brilliant mix of options

 

[dino29]

'Viacom 18' is only in paper. Literally its TV 18- Viacom was melt down to just V as Reliance is the power centre. Usually any foreign media conglomerate partners with an Indian media, timely the foreign companion will gain the full authority. Here things are opposite. Even with 49% stake ViacomCBS doesn't showing their presence. Apart from their channel brands(MTV, Nick etc) no contribution in terms of contents from their assets. There is nothing coming with Viacom signature. By selling stakes and becoming a minority stake holder I think they wish for an exit from India.

Well it is lot of effort for foreign broadcaster to launch and run channels in India. Many enter as JV with Indian partner and most of the content strategy or operational steps is taken by Indian partner ... Ofcourse discussion happen with foreign broadcaster and there is never a one sided decision. Content is always localised for specific territory so here too u will see mix of original, local as well as indian adaptation of foreign concept shows

 

[dino29]

Sorry if this news is off topic but this wil definitely effect Indian market

BT has announced that it is in exclusive talks with Discovery to create a joint venture bringing together BT Sport and Eurosport UK

This is not for India. Only for UK and Ireland market

 

[dino29]

I think Viacom18 with new partners will launch English Movie Channel. Colors Infinity might b operated by TV18-Lupin-Comcast and viacom cbs might exit from it. In Infotainment too they might launch new channel once History TV18 shuts down

 

[federer.reddevil]

I just wish that the new sports channel that will be launched by TV18 has good pundits for the FIFA WC because the broadcast of the previous few FIFA WC have been very bad. They try to get Indian players for the coverage but the problem is most of them dont have really good communication skills.

In my opinion the World Cup that had the best pre and post match show was the 2006 one held in Germany which ESPN Star did a great job.

If you want to keep Indian players for the pre or post match shows have a hindi or regional language show where they would be comfortable rather than English.

Also ever since ESPN Star split and Star has been using EPL preshow even EPL has not been as good as before when Steve Mcmahon, Paul Masefield, Jamie Reeves etc used to analyse matches for ESPNStar. Seriously miss those good old days.

 

[Mylanji]

Why this will be done ? Viacom18 will have majority holder in this . They'll have 51% ownership like before so why they'll sell or rebrand Colors brand . I'm not understanding what you're trying to say

I'm saying this because if Viacom CBS is reduced to a minority stakeholder in Viacom 18, and if they exit from the JV, then there may be a tussle over who gets the rights to own the "Colors" brand. Though of course, Viacom CBS has clearly mentioned that "Colors" is their brand. They have displayed it on their official website as well.

This is the main reason why these scenarios would happen.