Bristol-based ESPN has joined with India’s Multi Screen Media in a long-term agreement to serve sports fans in India and across the Indian subcontinent. They will bring new offerings to Indian sports fans including new Sony ESPN sports channels and a new multisport website and app.
In collaboration with Multi Screen Media, ESPN will launch a co-branded localized multisport website and app, which will provide coverage of cricket, football, tennis, the NBA, badminton, field hockey and more. Components of the collaboration require regulatory approvals, for which the process is currently underway.
Russell Wolff, executive vice president and managing director, ESPN International, said in a statement, “ESPN’s focus around the world is simple: to serve sports fans. This long-term collaboration will serve Indian sports fans with exceptional products, content and coverage through the combined strengths and expertise of our two companies.”
According to the research by KPMG, the Indian sports market has been held back financially because it lacks a defined sports culture. Potentially it could have a value equal to 1 to 5 percent of India’s annual gross domestic product of $1.87 trillion.
The global sports industry, according to the KPMG report, is worth up to $600 billion, including sports manufacturing, retail, tourism, sports medicine, venues & infrastructure, media & hospitality and merchandising.
