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April 10 2008
Turner for more TV channels, animation in India
Reuters News
(c) 2008 Reuters Limited
MUMBAI, April 10 (Reuters) - Turner International, a unit of Time Warner Inc , will launch more television channels and make animation films in India, which is set to become its top market in Asia-Pacific, a company official said on Thursday.
Turner, which recently bought a minority stake in Indian production firm Miditech Pvt Ltd for regional-language general entertainment channels, is looking for more partnerships and acquisition opportunities in the fast-growing market, he said.
"India is one of the highest priority markets for us worldwide and the highest priority market in Asia," Steve Marcopoto, president of Turner Broadcasting System in Asia Pacific, told reporters.
"It becomes the biggest market in the region this year, surpassing Japan, and we are committed to growing our presence."
Turner, which now operates the Cartoon Network and Pogo kids' channels as well as CNN-IBN news channel in a venture with Global Broadcast News Ltd , will launch an English-language entertainment channel and a production unit for animation films.
The "multi-million dollar" unit will make animated films and live action television content targeted at kids and families.
India makes up 30 percent of Turner's revenue in the Asia Pacific region, Marcopoto estimates. International business makes up a fifth of total revenue, he said, and is set to grow.
The new English-language entertainment channel, scheduled to go on air by year-end, will be a venture with group company Warner Brothers, Marcopoto said, a first for the company.
Its Hindi general entertainment channel, which will compete for a slice of the dominant segment, will also launch by year-end, he said. News Corp's Star India and Zee Entertainment have the biggest share of revenues here.
Turner's production unit will aim to make two animation films a year, with the first releasing in 2009, Marcopoto said. The company will seek local production and development partners.
"We see ample opportunity, driven by the demographics of a young audience, the fast growth of multiplexes and theatrical trends, with very little animated output in India now," he said.
"In time, the aspiration is to tap the talent and creative output here and take them to other markets," he said.
India's TV industry revenues are forecast to more than double to $11.6 billion over the next four years, making it the most lucrative market in Asia, research firm Media Partners Asia said.
But price controls and fierce competition are expected to weigh on margins and force consolidation in the industry. (Reporting by Rina Chandran; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)
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