Times Television Network channels move to TheOneAlliance

TheOneAlliance will manage the collection of subscription revenue for ET Now, Movies Now, Times Now and zoOm

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Mumbai | February 6, 2013

In a significant move aimed at spurring the growth of its Pay TV business, Times Television Network (TTN) has entered into a strategic alliance with India's leading distribution company MSM Discovery Pvt. Ltd. (MSMD) for collection of subscription revenue for its channels. MSMD popularly known as TheOneAlliance is a joint venture between Sony's Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd. and Discovery Communications. The news and entertainment channels of TTN – ET Now, Movies Now, Times Now and zoOm – will now be exclusively distributed in India for collection of subscription revenue over the Cable (Analogue and Digital), DTH, IPTV and HITS platforms as a part of TheOneAlliance bouquet. TTN will however, undertake the marketing and channel penetration plans independently.

Times Group and Multi Screen Media have a long standing business relationship that spans mega properties such as the Filmfare Awards, a movie licensing deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, and an international advertising sales partnership for the US territory.

Making the announcement, Sunil Lulla, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Times Television Network said, “The Times Group and Multi Screen Media share a similar perspective on the broadcast industry and together we are poised to help grow the industry by ushering in transparency, value creation across the chain and by building strong brands.  The TTN channels reach over 100 million viewers in 30 million urban Indian households. ET NOW, MOVIES NOW, TIMES NOW and zoOm are strong brands each and have a loyal viewer base. As part of TheOneAlliance bouquet our channels will benefit from penetration in more homes and availability on a wider choice of packages. TTN and MSMD will together be able to effect realization of a fair share of subscription revenue as well as grow ARPUs (Average Revenue per User) of our premium content offerings.”

Commenting on the announcement, Man Jit Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Multi Screen Media India said, “TheOneAlliance is a robust distribution force and offers the best of entertainment to viewers. Addition of the TTN channels will further strengthen the bouquet and together we can ride the digitization wave to maximize the true potential of the business.”

TTN's channels will benefit from TheOneAlliance's scale, experience and expertise in successfully managing the Pay TV business of a wide variety of popular channels across content genres. With 24 popular channels such as Sony Entertainment Television, Discovery Channel, SET Max and SAB TV already a part of TheOneAlliance the addition of TTN's four channels that are leaders in their respective categories will further strengthen the platform and give both organisations a larger play in the marketplace.

Rajesh Kaul, President, MSMD said, “We are pleased to have the Times Television Network join TheOneAlliance family. The addition of TTN channels has further strengthened our already strong bouquet, moving from 24 to 28 premium channels. I am very proud that most of the channels in our bouquet are leaders in their respective genres. We have always emphasized on quality rather than quantity and this move reiterates the same.”

The multi-year deal between TTN and MSMD has come into effect from February 6, 2013.

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com