MUMBAI: Continuing to establish its Live RED strategy from two ends, ie, product to channel and consumers gratification to characteristics is this English Entertainment channel.
Sony Pictures Networks' (SPN) AXN a few months ago launched a new brand positioning with a new look and feel catering to the changing audience taste. With a more intelligent action offering, the channel witnessed better performance from the south of India than the overall market. With 40 per cent viewership share coming from Kerala followed by 36 per cent from Hyderabad, AXN India sees its traction coming from the upwardly mobile young people of 15-35 age group.
To build upon its familiarity and characters, it has initiated a mixed content proposition consisting of new shows and returning shows with new seasons. It is all geared up to air four new shows starting this weekend in their "Fresh From the US" slot. Two brand new shows that have been added to its library are – Bull and MacGyver whereas the other two are new seasons of cult shows - Supernatural and Elementary.
From taking various steps for its consumer behaviour association to what it stands for, the channel's efforts at show and characterisation has worked well. It recently rolled out its HD feed, and has numerous advertisers on board from the automobile and ecommerce categories like Pepperfry, Amazon and eBay.
"Whenever we launch a new show under this slot, we make sure that the character, show premise and the grade of the show helps building our strategy. We want to cater to both influencers for whom it is about bringing new shows hot from the US and to the adapters community who are easing into the English entertainment space. They not only watch new shows but also see certain old shows right from the beginning. So when we bring fresh shows from the US, they are available throughout the year," said SPN India executive VP and business head English Entertainment cluster Saurabh Yagnik.
The channel, which currently has a market share of 18-20 per cent,will continue to back its investments to fulfill its vision to get 30 per cent market share by the end of 2017.
It might also look at producing local content for the viewers though that will not be the core of their strategy. "International shows will be the core for AXN. The viewers come to us for that," voiced Yagnik. " If we get into local programming, what we need to be mindful of is the kind of properties we put in the channel today are on top of the line through the production quality. Whatever we do here, we have to deliver to their values and standards. It could be something going forward."
The story of the young and quirky Angus MacGyver, with unconventional problem solving abilities & vast scientific knowledge will be highlighted in MacGyver every Saturday at 11 pm.
Whereas it's other new show, Bull will air on Sundays at 11 pm. Brilliant, brash and charming Dr. Jason Bull is not just another psychologist but the ultimate puppet master. He Combines psychology, human intuition and high tech data to win in high-stake trials. The show revolves around the ubersuccessful psychologist and his impeccable style.
AXN is also raising its entertainment quotient on weekends with brand new seasons of iconic shows at 10 pm. The season 12 of Supernatural will be aired on Saturdays whereas detective Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson in Elementary season 5, will be seen solving mysterious cases every Sunday.
“At AXN, our aim is to offer a wide range of shows across genres that provide mind rush, edge-of-the-seat entertainment and desirable characters. FFUS is one such property that gives all three. It also helps in building the English GEC category – Getting to watch new shows in good quality on their TV sets certainly discourages viewers from downloading content. It’s a win-win situation," concluded Yagnik.
