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SPN to acquire TEN Sports for $385MN
Rebecca Hawkes
| 01 September 2016
Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India has agreed to buy Ten Sports Network from Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) for $385 million, subject to regulatory approval.
sonyespnThe network comprises the channels TEN 1, TEN 1 HD, TEN 2, TEN 3, TEN Golf HD, TEN Cricket and TEN Sports, and operates across the Indian sub-continent, as well as in the Maldives, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
“I welcome Ten Sports to the Sony family,” said NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India. “The acquisition of TEN Sports Network will strengthen SPN’s offering for viewers of cricket, football and fight sports, complementing our existing portfolio of international and domestic sporting properties. It also aptly demonstrates SPN’s commitment to providing a broad range of sporting entertainment to fans across India and the sub-continent.”
Ten Sports holds broadcast rights for the cricket boards of South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. In addition, football is represented on the network through the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, French League and English Football League Cup. WWE wrestling, as well as WTA and ATP tennis, and golf from the European Tour, Asian Tour, Ryder Cup, US PGA Championship, LPGA Tour, Professional Golf Tour of India and Golf Channel Block are also carried, while Le Tour de France and Moto GP round out the slate along with athletics from the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
These properties will now be combined with SPN sports rights, which include IPL, CPL and Ram Slam cricket, and football from FIFA 2018 World Cup Russia, UEFA Euro 2016, FIFA World Events including FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 in India, European and South American Qualifiers for FIFA WC 2018, FIFA Confederations Cup, La Liga, Serie A, FA Cup, Copa America and the International Champions Cup. SPN also broadcasts tennis (Australian Open, ATP 1000 and 500 World Tour Events, Champions Tennis League), fight sports (TNA, UFC, Pro Wrestling League), NBA basketball and NFL and Premier Futsal.
“India has been a strong driver of Sony Pictures’ growing networks business for two decades, and sports continue to play a significant role in that growth,” said Andy Kaplan, president, worldwide networks, Sony Pictures Television. “The acquisition of Ten Sports, following the launch of Sony ESPN channels, will mean that our Indian networks would reach over 800 million viewers and broadcast many of the most popular and prestigious sporting events in the world.”
Wishing Sony success in “taking [our sports business] to even greater heights,” Zee’s MD Punit Goenka said it was “a landmark deal for ZEE and a step towards a strategic portfolio shuffle as we grow our general entertainment business both in the domestic and overseas markets.”
Zee will now focus on becoming “an all-round media and content company, comprising of five verticals – broadcast, digital, films, live events, and international business,” added Goenka.
Rebecca Hawkes
| 01 September 2016
Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India has agreed to buy Ten Sports Network from Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) for $385 million, subject to regulatory approval.
sonyespnThe network comprises the channels TEN 1, TEN 1 HD, TEN 2, TEN 3, TEN Golf HD, TEN Cricket and TEN Sports, and operates across the Indian sub-continent, as well as in the Maldives, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
“I welcome Ten Sports to the Sony family,” said NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India. “The acquisition of TEN Sports Network will strengthen SPN’s offering for viewers of cricket, football and fight sports, complementing our existing portfolio of international and domestic sporting properties. It also aptly demonstrates SPN’s commitment to providing a broad range of sporting entertainment to fans across India and the sub-continent.”
Ten Sports holds broadcast rights for the cricket boards of South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. In addition, football is represented on the network through the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, French League and English Football League Cup. WWE wrestling, as well as WTA and ATP tennis, and golf from the European Tour, Asian Tour, Ryder Cup, US PGA Championship, LPGA Tour, Professional Golf Tour of India and Golf Channel Block are also carried, while Le Tour de France and Moto GP round out the slate along with athletics from the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
These properties will now be combined with SPN sports rights, which include IPL, CPL and Ram Slam cricket, and football from FIFA 2018 World Cup Russia, UEFA Euro 2016, FIFA World Events including FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 in India, European and South American Qualifiers for FIFA WC 2018, FIFA Confederations Cup, La Liga, Serie A, FA Cup, Copa America and the International Champions Cup. SPN also broadcasts tennis (Australian Open, ATP 1000 and 500 World Tour Events, Champions Tennis League), fight sports (TNA, UFC, Pro Wrestling League), NBA basketball and NFL and Premier Futsal.
“India has been a strong driver of Sony Pictures’ growing networks business for two decades, and sports continue to play a significant role in that growth,” said Andy Kaplan, president, worldwide networks, Sony Pictures Television. “The acquisition of Ten Sports, following the launch of Sony ESPN channels, will mean that our Indian networks would reach over 800 million viewers and broadcast many of the most popular and prestigious sporting events in the world.”
Wishing Sony success in “taking [our sports business] to even greater heights,” Zee’s MD Punit Goenka said it was “a landmark deal for ZEE and a step towards a strategic portfolio shuffle as we grow our general entertainment business both in the domestic and overseas markets.”
Zee will now focus on becoming “an all-round media and content company, comprising of five verticals – broadcast, digital, films, live events, and international business,” added Goenka.
