MUMBAI: MSM Discovery is adding sports channels to its entertainment, infotainment and news stable, entering into a three-year distribution pact with Neo Sports for an undisclosed amount.
The company, which operates under the OneAlliance brand, will get to distribute Neo Sports and Neo Cricket on cable and HITS (Headend-In-The-Sky) platforms. Neo will continue to keep the DTH side of its distribution business.
Says Multi Screen Media CEO Man Jit Singh, “Having Neo with its coverage of BCCI cricket complements the strength the bouquet draws from IPL and gives our bouquet the two largest cricket properties and a year round sports presence. TheOneAlliance has a significant presence in every genre and is the strongest distribution bouquet in India.”
MSM Discovery will distribute the channels from 1 September. "There is a short transition phase. TheOneAlliance will distribute the channels from 1 September. Neo will continue to distribute the two channels on DTH," says Neo Sports Broadcast president affiliate sales Arun Poddar.
Neo Cricket has the rights of all the BCCI events in India till 2014. Its line up for the next few months include the Australia and New Zealand tour. Neo Sports, on the other hand, showcases football, tennis, golf and other sporting properties.
"We are the only distribution platform which offers the best of channels in all genres including sports. We will be distributing the Neo channels on analogue and digital cable and HITS platform," says MSM Discovery president Rajesh Kaul.
TheOneAlliance has in its family channels like Sony, Max, Sab, Pix, AXN, Discovery, Discovery Travel and Living, Animal Planet, Aaj Tak, NDTV 24X7, NDTV India and NDTV Profit.
Says Neo Sports Broadcast chairman Harish Thawani, “TheOneAlliance and Neo Sports Broadcast distribution deal is a strategically sound arrangement. The OneAlliance has proven track record of quality distribution and Neo Sports Broadcast has key properties on Neo Cricket and Neo Sports. This deal will provide an extremely robust platform for higher reach and empower the viewers to consume quality sports properties."
