Media giants Network 18 Media & Investments and Sun Network Ltd have announced a strategic alliance to launch one of the country's biggest distribution entities by name Sun18. The alliance also marks the entry of Network 18 Group into the Indian television distribution space.
Sun18 was the first pan-India distribution company and aims to become one of the dominant players in the around Rs 16,000 crore pay-TV subscription market over the next two years.
As part of the agreement, Sun18 will distribute a total of 33 channels across all platforms in India via all networks including Cable, DTH, IPTV, HITS and MMDS from Network 18, Viacom18, Sun Network and Disney India Network.
The 33 channels distributed by Sun18 include Colors, MTV, Nick, Vh1, Homeshop18, CNN-IBN, CNBC-TV18, CNBC-Awaaz, INB-7, INB-Lokmat, The Disney Channel, Disney XD, Hungama TV, Sun TV, KTV, Sun News, Sum Music, Chutti TV, Adithya, Gemini TV, Teja TV, Gemini News, Gemini Music, Navvulu TV, Kushi TV, Surya TV, Kiran TV, Udaya TV, Udaya Movies, U2, Udaya Varthegalu, Ushe TV and Chintu TV.
With these 33 channels, the Sun18 bouquet will become the highest GRP delivering bouquet in the Indian television space. The option to aggregate third party channels is also one of the opportunities this venture will seek to explore. As part of the strategic alliance, the business has been structured uniquely, whereby two now companies are being formed by name Sun18 Media Services North Co and Sun18 Media Services South Co.
Sun18 South will manage the South India market (non Hindi-speaking-markets) and will be operated by the Sun Network, while Sun18 North will manage the rest of India markets and will be operated by the Network18 Group, the company said.
Network18 said Haresh Chawla (Group CEO-Network18 and Vaicom18) will head the Sun18, as its CEO and Director, whereas Rajesh Kamat (Group COO-Viacom17 and CEO-Colors) will be the COO of Sun18 North. Tony D'Silva will head Sun18 South, as its CEO
Network18 Group Founder Raghav Bahl said, "This partnership extends Network18's presence into yet another critical component of the Indian television and entertainment space. In Sun Group, we have found a partner that not only complements our own strengths, but is also as ambitious to change the landscape of the Indian broadcasting industry. Distribution is one of the high-growth areas in this industry and we are excited to now have a presence in this part of the business as well."
Chairman & Managing Director of Sun Network Kalanidhi Maran said, "Sun18 is a very important initiative for us in the distribution platform business and is being created with the vision of better leveraging our very successful television brands across the country. Network18 is one of the best managed media enterprises in India and in them we believe we have found an alliance partner to fuel our distribution plans for the rest of the country."
