MUMBAI: It was in February that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released its regulation on the role of content aggregators and since then, several changes have taken place in the structure of the existing aggregators. While MediaPro decided to split post the regulation, good news is that aggregators IndiaCast UTV Media Distribution and TheOneAlliance are still standing strong in their respective joint ventures.
Announcing the strong allegiance is the MSM Discovery (MSMD) joint venture TheOneAlliance which will continue to be the authorised sole and exclusive distribution agent for Multi Screen Media, Discovery Communications India and TV Today Network to various distribution platforms – Cable (both analogue and digital), DTH, HITS, IPTV and hotels and commercials establishments.
“As per the TRAI regulation, we will now be the exclusive agents for MSM, Discovery and TV Today,” informs TheOneAlliance president Rajesh Kaul.
While the distributor earlier had 28 channels in the bouquet, with Times Television Network (Times Now, ET Now, Movies Now and Zoom) moving out from the bouquet, to set up its independent distribution team, TheOneAlliance will now have 24 premium channels to distribute.
“It was a mutual decision to part ways. We have a strong bouquet and we would like to concentrate on that,” adds Kaul.
Apart from the current 24 channels distributed by MSMD, the network will be making heavy investments in the form of new channels such as Max 2 – a contemporary Hindi movie channel showcasing Indian cinema, Pix HD, AXN HD and a new entertainment channel from the MSM stable.
“We have one of the most stable and dynamic distribution partnerships in the industry. Given the current strength and the aggressive future investment plans of our partners, TheOneAlliance will continue to excel as the powerful leader in the industry,” he says.
TheOneAlliance’s plate seems to be very tempting with MSM acquiring premium sporting properties for its sports and entertainment channel, Sony Six. The channel currently broadcasts sporting events like NBA, UFC, TNA Wrestling and Australian Open tennis along with the Indian Premier League and is home of international football for the next five years with exclusive rights to telecasting the world’s largest sporting spectacle FIFA World Cup 2014 – Brasil & FIFA World Cup 2018 – Russia along with UEFA EURO 2016.
It is not just MSM that is launching new channels, but Discovery Communications India too is set to increase its channel offerings with: Investigation Discovery (ID), a suspense Hindi entertainment channel, TLC HD and Animal Planet HD.
Over the course of the next one year, both the networks are looking forward to launching new channels in both SD and HD across different genres. “We have huge plans of launching many more channels in different genres in the next one year. Our bouquet will only grow from strength to strength,” says Kaul.
“We believe in nurturing and fostering positive and strong relationships with our partners which is mutually beneficial to both and we are happy to extend this partnership to the future also. We are very confident that TheOneAlliance is perfectly enabled to monetise the valuable and exclusive premium content that we produce and acquire,” MSM CEO N.P Singh said through a statement.
Added Rahul Johri, EVP and general manager – south Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific and head of revenue, pan-regional ad sales and southeast Asia, “Discovery has a very strong partnership with Sony and we are fully committed to TheOneAlliance. It is Discovery’s endeavour to provide the Indian viewers with the finest entertainment and TheOneAlliance will continue to distribute our eight current channels and our new launches across India.”
The 24 premium channels distributed by TheOneAlliance include: SET, Max, Max 2, Sab, Mix, Pix, Six, AXN, Animax, Aath, Discovery Channel, Discovery Channel Tamil, Animal Planet, TLC, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Kids, Discovery HD World, Sony HD, Six HD, Pix HD, Headlines Today, Aaj Tak and Tez.
