Themes: Marketing
Pub Date : 2009
Countries : India
Industry : Entertainment
Likewise, STAR group5 forayed into film entertainment, while UTV6 completed financial closure for majority stake
in Indiagames7 . UTV also launched three new channels – a youth-oriented one under the Bindass brand, UTV Movies
in the Hindi movie category and UTV World as an English movie channel. It also forayed into regional (Telugu) film
entertainment by acquiring film distribution rights. Walt Disney’s increased stake in UTV to 32.1% added to UTV’s
media clout in India. Thus, favourable FDI regulations encouraged foreign participation that led to the emergence of
media conglomerates in the industry – like Network18’s8 expanded presence through joint ventures with Viacom
International9 and Jagran Prakashan. Thus, the industry quickly transformed from a consolidated industry with few dominant segments into a highly
fragmented one to include everything from television, film entertainment and print media to radio, animation, gaming,
online advertising, music, sports, Out-Of-Home (OOH) media and live entertainment.
Growth of the Indian E&M industry was highly visible from the success of TV and film entertainment. Growth in the
TV sector that projects industry and economic growth as well was fuelled by technological advancements, convergence
of media, increase in the number of channels and categories, increased fragmentation of audience, growing presence
of regional programming, growing demand for content and low barriers to content creation. Many other segments followed suit. Print media made its mark away from the traditional newspapers and magazines.
Initiatives like launching new magazine titles, new newspaper editions, alliances and digitisation initiatives led to its
impressive growth. Likewise, launch of many private FM radio channels gave a revolutionary turn for the radio segment. Apart from these conventional media, new and emerging segments have successfully contributed to industry
growth. Online advertising quickly gained momentum with growing literacy levels, increased use of PCs and rise in
Internet penetration levels in the country. Beginning with Internet as a tool to source information, online services
progressed towards offering utility services like bill payments, ticketing and banking. Gradually, introduction of online
games and video downloads made online services a significant mode of entertainment. Collaboration of film producers
with gaming companies and other international companies to produce animated movies and games gave a boost to
animation and gaming segments too. Other areas like OOH advertising, live entertainment and sports also had their
share of contribution to the Indian E&M industry.
5] Launched in 1991 as a pioneer of satellite television in Asia, STAR group broadcasts a wide array of channels across different genres.
Turner-Miditech's Planned Launch of 'Real' Channel in India:Will it Succeed?
Film entertainment, on the other hand, has leapt forward in every aspect right from the film technology to movie
themes, exhibition and distribution, finance and marketing, etc. This growth was triggered by factors like corporatisation,
international co-productions, increase in the film marketing spend, rise in the number of multiplexes and growing
presence of digital cinema. Above all, new revenue streams beyond the traditional box office – selling home video
rights to companies like Moser Baer, T-Series and Shemaroo, television rights to television broadcasters and distributors,
online rights for full movie downloads to Internet service providers and obtaining remaking rights – brought significant
changes in film entertainment. Further, selling movie merchandise like accessories, apparel, stationery, toys, etc., also
brought additional revenues to the film producers. Thus, on an overall basis, Indian film entertainment accounted for
a cumulative growth of 17% during 2004–2007.
6] India’s first integrated global media and entertainment company that creates, aggregates and disseminates content of different genres across varied distribution platforms.
7] Indiagames is India’s mobile and online games company and a leading global mobile game publisher. It is engaged in publishing and developing games across all major
technology platforms including online and mobile and are distributed through partnerships with mobile operators in over 75 countries.
8] One of India’s leading media conglomerates with interests in television, Internet, filmed entertainment, mobile content and allied businesses.
9] The world’s leading entertainment content company, consisting of BET Networks, MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures. It engages audience across different platforms from
television to motion pictures and digital platforms with approximately 145 channels and 300 online properties in 160 countries and territories.