CANNES: India was everywhere at the Palais in Cannes as Mipcom 2007 kicked off this morning and even the weather gods seemed to have got into the act.The climate was pleasant as the market welcomed thousands of delegates attending the world‘s biggest television market.
Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India CEO Kunal Dasgupta opened proceedings for the high-powered Indian presence at Cannes by offering a detailed overview of the third largest TV viewing market after China.
Marking out television as the engine of Indian media industry growth, Dasgupta said revenues are projected to triple by 2011.
Offering a macro view, he outlined key industry drivers as:
Development of content for niche viewers
Pricing remains a key driver, whether it is for cable subscription, film tickets or newspaper prices
Increased consumerism and increased advertisement spend by marketers fueling further growth
Use of technology for special effects, animation and other creative work leading to better quality of media products
Enabling regulations related to broadcasting, print and radio by the Government
Not surprisingly, the opportunities thrown up by India‘s young population increasingly exposed to, and hence aspiring for, a better lifestyle, and therefore willing to spend more on entertainment was one of the cornerstones of his speech.
While touching on the complexities that the Indian market represented, Dasgupta‘s focus was clearly on the advantages India offered on the global media map and the opportunities on offer for international players looking to do business in India.
Television:
Production/co-production of content including animation
Broadcasting of TV channels
Distribution of TV channels through cable and new delivery platforms like DTH and IPTV
Technology transfer for digital content creation
Marketing of TV rights/air times
Strategic investment in existing companies in broadcasting, distribution and content
Adapt show formats
Dubbed movies
Branded European blocks
Radio:
Investment in FM and satellite radio
Content creation for radio channels
Marketing of air times
Films:
Production/co-production of films
Processing, distribution and exhibition of Bollywood films
Shooting of overseas films in India
Development, distribution and exhibition of Hollywood/overseas films
Training for technical and functional areas of film making
Supply of hardware to film studios
Music:
Creation of content for film and non-film music
Marketing of film and non-film music
Strategic investment in local music companies
Print:
Strategic investment in news and non-news publications
Tie-ups for providing content to Indian publications
