AFTER the Indian cricket team’s ouster from the ICC World Cup 2007, the worst fears of advertisers and media agencies have come true. According to latest numbers released by the TV audience measurement firm Audience Measurement and Analytics Ltd (aMap), television viewership of World Cup matches has been shaved off by over 50% since India’s exit.

aMap’s data reveals that gross rating points (GRPs) of the matches have plunged to 13.89 from a GRP levels in excess of 40 during India matches. For instance, the GRP of the Australia vs South Africa (March 24) fixture, which was the first game after India’s exit, was 22.98. GRP for Tuesday’s West Indies vs Australia game (March 27) crashed further to 13.89.

Compare these numbers with the GRPs of matches where India played. India’s first match with Bangladesh delivered a GRP of 46.67. The game against Bermuda delivered a GRP of 40.75, while the ratings shot to 54.53 for the crucial match with Sri Lanka. The GRP for the World Cup opener between West Indies and Pakistan (March 13) was also a modest 36.83. aMap’s GRP figures for the first half of the matches also showed similar trend. (more…)

Neo Sports has announced the details of its Pan Asian expansion as part of its mission to be a Pan Asian cricket channel by the middle of 2007. These markets include the Middle East, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Shortly, the cricket dedicated channel will also commence broadcasting in Malaysia and Singapore.

Neo Sports Broadcast Pvt Ltd CEO Shashi Kalathil said, “in barely three months of our commercial launch in india, we have succeeded in a comprehensive Pan Asian roll-out. Asia is a very important market for us as it is an amalgamation of cultures and nationalities with a huge indian ethnic community.”

The revenues from the Pan Asian operations of Neo Sports outside india, between subscription and advertising are expected to add up to approximately $ 26 million in 2007-2008 with an approximately 30 per cent EBiDTA margin, as incremental cost for international operations is relatively insignificant since the bulk of the costs are already absorbed in the indian operations, informs an official release. (more…)

The Nimbus Communications now plans to float three sports channels at an investment of Rs 350 crore. The company has raised Rs 135 crore on Friday from Deutsche Bank in the form of bonds, which is exchangeable into impartiality after a year at a market value of approximately Rs 200 per share. Deutsche Bank will hold a 10 per cent stake in Nimbus Communication. The company will exploit its internal accruals of Rs 80 crore for financial support in new projects.

First channel will be launching in October, and it will be a cricket channel. Money raised by Nimbus Communications will be used in creating the infrastructure for the new channels and for the purchase of upcoming telecast rights. The second channel will be forthcoming in April 2007, which will a sports entertainment channel. The third channel, to be launched in September 2007 and will be enthusiastic to be a news channel. The channels will increase its paw marks across Asia to Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, West Asia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. For the Pakistan territory, Nimbus has approved Pakistan-based GEO TV.

Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Ltd has entered into a tie-up with Sirasa TV ,the leading Channel of Sri Lanka’s , owned by Maharaja Group, Sri Lanka. SABTNL will be providing concepts and technical expertise and produce the programmes jointly with Sirasa TV, the company informed the BSE and the NSE today.

Sab TV is now a part of Sony Entertainment Television, it was re-launched with a refreshing new look and feel. In its new avatar Sab has moved from being a comedy-centric channel to a general entertainment channel. Sirasa TV is the Sinhala language channel, it has the highest gross rating points of any channel in Sri Lanka. The programme content comprises entertainment, news and current affairs.